It is currently the year 2099, May 27th, every occupation, career and dream were run by a group of people, Awakeneds, people with superhuman skills and some even surpass that of a monster abilities.
These Awakeneds aspire to be hunter and when aliens came to attack the earth through portals or gates now known as dungeons.
Hunters would go into these dungeons to hunt and kill aliens. Of course they get paid in large, depending on their ranks, even an E rank could get a pay of an average worker.
But sometimes even those who aren't awakened known as Normies try becoming hunters but most end up as porters for carrying spoils because of their lack in abilities.
Well it's believed only awakeneds can become true hunters, the rest can only dream.
"Today is the day that I prove it's not just a dream and it can become a reality!" Casper yelled at the top of his voice.
"Keep it down, some people are trying to live a normal life" Sophie banged on his room door.
"Well it's not my fault, I'm the only person in this house who acts abnormal"
Casper, eighteen and in his final year of high school, might be a Normie, but that didn't stop him from dreaming of becoming a hunter. He had already taken the entrance exams to join a hunter academy, yet the results hadn't shown up, leaving him restless.
"Yeah, whatever. Just keep your thoughts to yourself, okay? Finish up and come down for dinner," Sophie's voice sounded from the hallway.
Sophie, his twin sister, had awakened as an S-rank Elemental mage, a rare gift that granted her mastery over all elements. She often rolled her eyes at Casper's ambitions convinced that becoming a hunter without any abilities was nothing more than wishful thinking.
"Sure" Casper muttered as he dried himself off, the steam rising from his skin, a sign he'd just stepped out of the shower. His gaze wandered to the calendar on the wall. May 27th was circled in red, today, his results were expected.
Dressed quickly, he made his way downstairs just in time to hear his mother's voice from the kitchen.
"Careful, honey. You're going to trip if you keep rushing around like that." She had just finished setting the table for his father, who sat quietly at the dining table engrossed in a newspaper.
"Let him be, my love, if he can't handle that, then he should forget about becoming a hunter" He said not lifting his head from the newspaper.
"Oh dear, just because you're a hunter doesn't mean your son has to follow the same path," his mother replied heading towards the kitchen.
Casper took a seat across from his dad, who remained still, his attention seemingly glued to the paper.
"So, Casper, how's your training going?" his father asked finally breaking the silence.
"It's going well, but it'd be nice if I had a tutor" Casper admitted, his voice carrying a hint of frustration.
His father remained silent for a few seconds, as if contemplating his next words.
"I'm sorry about that, no one is willing to train a Normie" he replied, Casper had heard that reply countless times and it hurt all the time.
"Dad, why don't you teach me?" Casper asked, he already knew the answer but he just wanted to try again probably just a glimpse of hope.
"Casper, you know I can't… My ability is Fire control, a mage type skill, so I can't teach you anything combat and besides I'm already teaching Sophie" He replied
All this while his face hadn't left the newspaper. His dad was a C rank hunter, he was popular in his guild, Red Lotus Guild, one of the top guilds. He earned a large salary as a hunter, so living expenses wasn't a problem.
A knock sounded on the door, "I got it" Sophie ran for the door.
Soon after she joined them at the dining.
"Who was it?" Mum asked placing cabbage into her plate..
"Oh just the mailman" Sophie replied and threw an envelope at me. It was a letter from the academy, Milliards Hunter Academy, Casper was anxious, it was finally here.
"Don't just look at it, go on open it"
Sophie sounded curious like she actually cared about the results.
"Why don't you open your letter first sis?" Casper said trying to stall.
"C-mon I don't need to, we already know I passed"
She sounded cocky as always
Casper took a long breathe in and out.
He was nervous… really nervous.
When he finally opened it… his expression drop when his family noticed they just remained silent.
"I didn't make it but if I really want to enter I'll have to take the practical exam with the qualifiers and rank at the top" Casper said with a low voice.
"Rank at the top? That's impossible for a Normie"
After Sophie made that comment, there was an eerie silence
"Well honey, you could try again next year" His mum said with a faint smile trying to cheer him up.
"Yeah, I know you are hopeless and stupid but you should just try again next year" Sophie joined in cheering him up.
"Thanks a lot" Casper gave a little smile.
"Tch, here I was thinking you could actually make it" His dad sounded pissed and annoyed. "You should just give up on becoming a hunter, you'll never make it" He stood up and left the table
Casper's smile disappeared immediately on hearing his dad comments, "Maybe his dad was right" he thought to himself.
His mother walked to his side, she placed her hand on her sons shoulder comforting him.
"Honey don't listen to him"
"Yeah, Dad doesn't mean that, he maybe a jerk but…."
"Save it sis, I just want to be left alone for now" Casper cut her off and left for his room.
Sophie and His mum stared at each other for some minutes before his mum nudged Sophie to follow Casper. Sophie persisted but finally agreed to go when Mum threatened to ground her.
She walked upstairs, waltzed up to his room door and when she was about to knock Casper opened the door.
He was wearing a jacket…. the same one their dad used when he attended the Hunters Academy.
Dad had given it to him as his 18th birthday.
Shocked to see her, Casper immediately asked what she wanted.
"I wanted to comfort you but it looks like you don't need it"
Casper ignored her rash attitude and walked past her, he headed downstairs while his sister followed him from behind.
Sophie tailed him till he got to the door
He stopped and turned to her
"What's your deal?" he asked irritated.
She hesitated for a bit, just staring at Casper, which made him nervous. His twin sister wasn't any average girl, she was captain of her cheerleading club at their previous school, an S rank awakened who will go to his dream hunter Academy and to add it all up, she was a ten-out-of-ten, blond golden hair, blue pearly eyes and the body of a Greek goddess.
Guys literally trip just to get a glimpse of her.
Casper just couldn't help feeling a hint of jealousy.
"Where are you going?" She asked,. interrupting his thoughts.
"It's not your business Sophie" Casper replied opening up the front door but Sophie stopped him from moving any further.
"But it is, I am worried about you, I know you're probably going to go for the practical but you're only going to embarrass yourself"
Sophie paused for a while and let go of his arm.
"And honestly that could ruin my reputation, I don't want that, so please just don't participate"
All this while Casper didn't say anything, he looked straight into his sister eyes and it looked like she meant what she said.
He walked out and banged the door against her.
As he walked through the streets of New Orleans, he kept wondering why he was the only person born without an ability. His dad was a C rank Mage, his mum was also a C rank Mage and his own twin sister was an S rank.
"Then why?" Casper muttered to himself, he could feel tears sting his eyes as he tried to hold them back.
"Hey, Kid, You're not supposed to be here, this is a restricted area"
Casper looked up to notice a Police Officer and for some reason it kind of pissed him off.
"Wait, I'm not a kid and what do you mean by a restricted Area?"
The police officer looked at Casper like he was looking at a lost child, with that Casper started walking up to him with the intention of facing his frustration at the cop but he noticed the police officer was pointing at a sign which read "ABYSS, DO NOT COME NEAR".
"Kid, this is a Dungeon Area, you shouldn't be….." He stopped to look at Casper's Jacket.
"Oh umm sorry sir, I didn't know you were a hunter from the Red lotus Guild, please forgive my incompetence"
Casper was confused at first then he remembered that he was wearing his old man's jacket. He wanted to correct the cop but an idea crawled into his mind.
He should use the opportunity to see how a real dungeon looks like, it's not like he was going to go in the dungeon and besides he was just going to look at the surroundings.
"Took you long enough, take me closer to the dungeon" Casper said taking his new plan into action.
"Of course sir"
"Oh and can I get any weapons like a sword or dagger perhaps?"
The cop immediately brought a dagger for him, Casper examined it, he had expected a sword but the dagger was nice too.
"Thank you ummmm…."
"Edward, that's my name sir" The cop replied.
Edward led Casper to the dungeon and Casper was in awe when he saw the dungeon.
It looked like portals that you see in movies, swirling like a pool, blue in color, it looked surreal.
"The mana flowing from it indicates that it's a D rank dungeon"
Casper heaved a sigh of relief, he had a chance of surviving if a dungeon break were to occur.
"Well just wait here and other Hunters will be here any….." Before Edward could finish his sentence, an arrow went through his chest then another went through his head.
Casper couldn't move, his blood starting pumping fast, he covered his mouth to stop himself from vomiting.
Suddenly he heard cackling, he looked at the dungeon and it had a small opening with cracks on the other side.
Three goblins stood at the opening, one holding a dagger, one with a bow while the other with a staff.
They continued cackling as Casper stared at them in horror.