Tristan Kane

Several students around 15-16 years old are lining up to board a bus. These are the graduating students of Ashfall High who are currently heading for their last school camping trip to the countryside before they attend the military academy.

Over three centuries ago, the Earth was invaded by an extraterrestrial species known as the Varkans. Their arrival destroyed several countries, and billions of human lives were lost in the process. The Varkans were incredibly advanced, and their technology was far superior to anything that humanity had ever seen before. To defend themselves, the humans discovered a dormant power hidden within their genes which they later called [Legacies]. Those who awakened their Legacy were known as the "Awakened," and among them stood nine heroes who led the charge against the Varkans. These courageous individuals worked together to force the Varkans to retreat from Earth. However, before they left, the Varkans issued a warning that they would one day return to finish what they started. In the aftermath of the war, the nine heroes were widely respected for their bravery and heroism. Their families became known as the "Nine Heroic Families" and were entrusted with governing humanity, replacing the previous government.

Following the successful replacement of the previous government, a new law has been introduced that mandates all children aged 16 to attend a military academy, regardless of whether they possessed a Legacy or not. The primary aim of this initiative is to prepare the young generation to face the imminent threat posed by the return of the Varkans.

In the crowd of students, there was a noticeable young man who stood out due to his height of approximately 1.6 meters and age of around 16 years old. He had short black hair that added to his distinctive appearance.

He has a pair of glasses perched on his nose, which convey an air of intelligence. However, what sets him apart from his peers is the constant barrage of paper projectiles and kicks to his back from the kids behind him.

Tristan Kane was a young man belonging to the famous "Immortal Kane Family," known for their extraordinary self-healing Legacy. Despite coming from such a respected family, Tristan was the victim of constant bullying. The reason was simple - unlike other members of his family, Tristan had not yet awakened his Legacy, making him an easy target for ridicule and taunting.

In the current period, a person's worth is solely based on their awakened Legacies. Those who had bot awakened a Legacy are deemed to have no value and are often relegated to living in the slums, struggling to survive. However, Tristan was fortunate enough to be born into the Kane family, which gave him a chance to avoid this fate and potentially rise above his lack of Legacy.

Tristan's family, though bound by blood, was far from united. Tristan had never even laid eyes on his father, and his siblings harbored a deep disgust towards him. To make matters worse, his mother had passed away during childbirth, leaving Tristan to bear the brunt of his family's hatred and resentment.

As Tristan stepped onto the bus, he couldn't help but notice a familiar figure. The figure belonged to a young man who was tall and had a muscular build that filled the seat behind him. Tristan's heart sank as he realized that it was Billy West, the person who made his school days a living nightmare. Billy was not only the strongest student in their school but also the one who bullied Tristan the most.

Billy possessed a remarkable Legacy known as [Herculean Strength], which endowed him with the ability to lift objects weighing up to 300 kilograms.

Tristan's peaceful ride on the bus turned into a nightmare as soon as he sat down. Billy and his group of friends, without any warning, repeatedly kicked Tristan's seat and burst into laughter. Tristan, however, chose to ignore them and instead, put on his headset and hugged his bag tightly. He leaned on the bus window, trying to create a safe space for himself amidst the chaos.

"Hey, have you noticed that the nerd is being unusually quiet today?" One of Billy's friends commented.

Billy's voice dripped with malice as he spoke.

"Don't worry, I will make sure to make him work hard later at the camp when we arrive." His words were laced with a sense of foreboding, leaving no doubt in his friend's mind that he was planning something unpleasant for Tristan.

'This will be the last time that I will see them. I just have to endure this and all of this will be over once we are sent to different military academies' Tristan thought.

As soon as the teacher made sure that all the students were safely inside the bus, it departed from the location without any delay.

***

After several hours of travel, the bus finally pulled up to a picturesque scene - an expansive grassy field, bordered by a dense forest. The air surrounding the area was crisp and invigorating, imparting a sense of tranquility and calmness that was perfect for the student's final camping excursion.

As the class settled down, the teacher stood up and walked to the front of the bus. With a serious expression on their face, they began to lay down some ground rules for the students. In a firm but gentle tone, the teacher advised the students to be well-behaved and not to wander too far from the camp.

"Okay, let's get organized. I'd like all of you to form groups of 5 people each. These groups will be your companions for the duration of the trip. You'll be sharing meals, and accommodation, and participating in activities together. So, take some time to get to know your groupmates and make yourselves comfortable." The teacher's instructions were clear and direct, allowing everyone to understand what was expected of them.

Without wasting any time, the students efficiently organized themselves into groups, except for Tristan, who was always considered an outsider. However, everyone was taken aback when Billy suddenly grabbed Tristan's shoulder and raised his voice at the teacher. It was an unexpected turn of events for everyone.

"Sir! Since no one seems to want Tristan in their group, I would like to have him in my group." After considering the situation, the teacher agreed to the request, relieved that Tristan would not be left out.

Once the group had finished their discussion, the teacher allowed them to exit the bus. However, just as Tristan was about to leave, Billy leaned in close and whispered something threatening into his ear.

"Get yourself prepared because I am going to turn your upcoming camping trip into a nightmarish experience," Billy said with a mischievous grin on his face, hinting at the fact that he had something up his sleeve.

Tristan felt a wave of dread wash over him as he contemplated the idea of staying on the bus any longer. He quickly gathered his things and disembarked. As soon as everyone was off the bus, the teacher began to initiate the scheduled activities for the day. However, Billy and his henchmen took advantage of the teacher's lack of attention and subjected Tristan to a relentless barrage of kicks, pushes, and shoves throughout the day. Tristan was left feeling helpless and alone in the face of his tormentors' cruel and senseless behavior.

As the afternoon sun beat down on them, the teacher gave the students the task of building their tent for the night. Billy, who was not keen on manual labor, forced Tristan to build the tent on his own while they took a break. After the tent was finally complete, Billy and his companions callously kicked Tristan out of the tent and left him to sleep outside, alone and vulnerable to the elements.

Tristan was seething with anger towards Billy and his gang for relentlessly bullying him. Not only that, he was also resentful towards his classmates who stood idly by and watched, without ever lending a helping hand. To make matters worse, his teacher turned a blind eye to the situation and pretended not to notice the bullying. However, Tristan couldn't help but feel furious with himself for allowing Billy to get the best of him. He knew that he was no match for Billy's awakened Legacy, and even if he reported the bullying to the teachers, they would likely side with Billy because of his impressive awakened power.

Tristan, with a heavy heart and a cloud of anger hovering over his head, decided to take a long walk to clear his mind. As he walked aimlessly, lost in his thoughts, he found himself wandering into the dense forest. The trees towered above him, casting long shadows that stretched across his path. Despite the eerie silence that surrounded him, he felt comforted by the solitude of the woods. As he continued walking, he suddenly found himself standing in front of a small cave.

'Damn! The sun had already set and it was so dark already! I don't even know where I am or how I ended up here'

Tristan's eyes darted around the area, but all he could see was darkness. He had been wandering for hours, and now, as the sun had set, he realized he was completely lost. His mind raced with thoughts of how to find his way back, but he couldn't seem to get his bearings. Suddenly, a gust of wind came from the cave nearby. The whistling of the wind was eerie and haunting, yet it seemed to be calling out to him, tempting him to explore the dark and mysterious interiors of the cave. Despite his better judgment, Tristan felt a strange pull towards the cave, as if it held the answers he had been searching for.

Tristan hesitated for a brief moment, his heart beating faster as he stood before the gaping mouth of the cave. With a gulp, he reached for his flashlight, the cool metal of its body a reassuring weight in his hand. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, his eyes straining to see through the pitch-black darkness that lay ahead. With each footfall, he felt the crunch of gravel beneath his boots, the sound echoing off the walls of the rocky passage. Tristan knew he was taking a risk, but he couldn't resist the lure of the unknown that lay ahead.

'For once in my life, I want to be brave and follow my instincts'

Tristan cautiously stepped into the cave, his eyes adjusting to the dim light as he ventured further. At first, it seemed like a small, cramped space, but as he continued deeper into the cavern, his sense of scale shifted. The air grew colder and damper, and he could hear the faint sound of trickling water echoing off the walls. With every step he took, the cave seemed to stretch out farther and farther, revealing a labyrinth of winding tunnels and hidden chambers. Tristan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and trepidation as he made his way deeper into the unknown depths of the cave.

Tristan had been exploring the cave for what seemed like an eternity. The flickering light from his flashlight illuminated the rough, uneven walls and the jagged rocks on the ground. As he ventured deeper into the cave, he began to feel uneasy. He started to have second thoughts about exploring the unknown depths of the cave. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard a faint rattling sound that seemed to be coming from the depths of the cave. The sound echoed off the walls, growing louder and more distinct with each passing moment. It sounded like chains rattling against each other, and Tristan's heart began to race with fear. He was frozen in place, unsure of what to do next.

Tristan's curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he ventured further into the cavern, determined to discover the source of the strange noise. His footsteps echoed softly on the damp stone floor as he crept deeper into the darkness, his heart pounding with anticipation. After a few moments, he caught sight of a figure in the shadows, and his breath caught in his throat. It was a man, bound tightly in chains and lying motionless on the ground. Tristan's eyes widened as he took in the man's thin frame and haggard appearance, and he couldn't help but wonder how he had come to be there, all alone in the depths of the cave.

Tristan's heart sank as he drew closer to the man, his eyes tracing the heavy chains that bound him to the cave floor. The metal links glinted in the dim light, a stark contrast to the damp, rough walls that surrounded them. He couldn't fathom how anyone could be so cruel as to subject a fellow human being to such a fate, to leave them to suffer in the depths of this dark, dank cave. As he stood there, contemplating the man's plight, he felt a sense of determination rise within him. He would do whatever it took to free him from these chains and bring him to safety.

'He probably starved to death' Tristan thought as he kneeled in front of the man to see his face.

Out of nowhere, the man who had been lying motionless suddenly sprang to life, his eyes snapping open with an eerie intensity. In a split second, he launched himself at Tristan, teeth bared and aimed at his neck. Due to the close proximity, the man's teeth instantly found its way to Tristan's neck.

Tristan's neck suddenly erupted in a searing ache, as if a hot iron had been pressed against his skin. The pain began to radiate outwards, coursing through his veins and igniting every nerve ending in his body.

Tristan felt that his life had reached its final moments as he was experiencing the common phenomenon of having one's life flash before their eyes. As his consciousness started to fade, he couldn't help but reflect on how his existence had been incredibly pathetic and devoid of any self-respect. Throughout his life, he never defended himself when his siblings blamed him for the death of their mother. He never dared to confront those who tormented him. Even when faced with bullies, he never once stood up for himself.

Tristan was filled with deep remorse and wished he could turn back time to undo everything. He made a solemn promise to himself that if fate ever granted him another opportunity, he would make the most of it and never repeat the same mistakes. But the man in chains kept on munching on his neck and he kept on losing blood.

Tristan attempted to shove the man aside, but to his surprise, the man's seemingly frail frame belied an unexpected strength. The man appeared to be even more robust than Billy, who possessed the extraordinary Legacy of [Herculean Strength].

The severe blood loss caused Tristan's sight to get blurry as he struggled to keep his consciousness from fading.

As Tristan's consciousness began to fade, he is taken aback by the sudden surreal sight of a shimmering blue panel hovering in front of him that appeared out of nowhere, bearing words that seem almost too incredible to be true.

He thought that what he saw was not real, but rather a result of his mind playing tricks on him due to losing too much blood.

[Transfering the system...]

[Ding! Congratulations! The host has 100% compatibility with the Fe-]

As Tristan strains to read the words written in the blue panel, he finally reaches his limits and suddenly blacks out.