A Spark In The Crowd

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"Are you okay?" a man approached Sam, concern in his voice.

Sam nodded slightly. "Yes," he replied, his voice weak and uncertain.

The chaos had finally settled. All the monsters lay dead, their strange bodies sprawled across the battlefield. The awakened warriors were being thanked by civilians, but their expressions remained grim—too much damage had been done before they arrived. Even among the awakened, some had fallen injured.

Healers rushed between the wounded, chanting softly. As they laid their hands on the injured, Sam watched in awe. Wounds sealed as if they had never existed, and even those who had collapsed stood again, revitalized.

Anna came up beside him. "These people are Healers," she explained. "They manipulate aether to restore the body's natural state."

Some can even reverse time on a person's wounds, erasing them completely." The young man from before walked over and extended a hand. "Name's Ken," he said with a grin.

"But no one like that's gonna come for ye'r, Ken." Before Sam could respond, a group approached, laughing loudly. Ken embarrassed but joined them easily. Sam watched them joke and tease each other, marveling at how quickly they bounced back from danger.

"They're used to it," Anna said, reading his expression. "They've accepted that peace won't come unless they fight for it."

Sam nodded with respect, then turned to Anna, about to ask her about what she'd said before disappearing during the attack. But before he could speak, another woman approached Anna. They spoke privately for several minutes, too far for Sam to hear.

Suddenly, a group of bikers roared into the area. They didn't attack, but their reckless behavior unsettled everyone. One of them knocked over a container of healing potions, laughing as if it were nothing.

The crowd grew tense. Sam clenched his fists. He saw himself in the injured, helpless against the strong. Just as he looked to Anna, thinking she would intervene, one of the bikers was sent flying off his bike.

Ken stood tall, fists clenched, defiant. The crowd stirred. A cheer rose as hope returned.

"You're gonna regret that," snarled one of the bikers. "I'll kill all of you."

"That's Rashford," Anna whispered. "A B-class awakened."

The bikers attacked. One summoned a writhing tentacle that bound Ken, another swung a massive club, slamming it into Ken's face. Blood splattered on the ground. Ken's knees hit the dirt—but his eyes still burned with fury. He spat blood, and with a roar, broke free from the tendrils.

But his allies weren't so lucky. Ken alone stood now, battered and furious.

"I'll kill you for hurting them!" he screamed, charging at Rashford.

Rashford sighed, unimpressed. He stepped forward and then suddenly he was infront of Ken, he placed a hand on Ken's face, and slammed him into the ground with brutal force. The earth cracked beneath the impact.

"What can a D-class weakling do against me?" Rashford sneered.

Sam's stomach turned. He couldn't take it anymore—the helplessness, the injustice. Just as he was about to rush in despite knowing he'd fail, Anna stepped forward.

"Stay here," she said calmly.

And in the blink of an eye, she vanished.

She reappeared at the center of the chaos. In a sweeping blur of motion, she knocked down Rashford's underlings with precision and force. The crowd froze, breath held.

Rashford chuckled. "S-class, huh? Let's see if you're worth the hype." he said in an mocking tune.

He vanished and reappeared in front of Anna, doing the same move as before—but she was gone before his strike landed. She teleported and then reappeared behind him and raised a hand. A pulse of energy burst forth, blasting Rashford through the air. He crashed into a metal container and fell limp.

Silence.

Then cheers. The crowd erupted with Anna's name, and Ken's, and his friends'. Sam stared at them—these people with power, standing between the weak and the monstrous. Something inside him shifted.

He wanted that strength.

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The Next Day

Sam entered Anna's office after wandering the city. He'd spoken with people, helped where he could. He'd begun to understand this world.

"So, what do you think of us?" Anna asked. "Of the world now?"

He hesitated, then said the only thing that truly burned in his heart: "How do I get strong?"

Anna smiled, teasing. "Oh… I like you."

Sam blushed but didn't back down.

"I called you for that very reason," she said seriously. "There's a place called Nova Sanctum, in City A. An elite academy where strength determines everything. No wealth, no status—only ability matters. Anyone over the age of 12 can apply to the entrance test and check if you are worthy for their teachings. Truly a place where the strong reign supreme."

"Which city are we in?" Sam asked.

"City M," Anna replied. Then she explained:

Cities A–E were the safest, filled with the wealthy and protected by advanced defenses. It's also the place where the 7 towers and the Awakened Association HQ was situated.

F–O were moderately safe but still prone to monster attacks. And most people lived here.

P–W were dangerous, guarded by elite warriors. It was also the borderline for humanity.

X–Z were uninhabitable, ruled by terrifying monsters even the strong dare not approach.

This send a chill down Sam's spine. But before Sam could ask more, a dwarf burst into the office.

"Edward," Anna said, rushing to greet him.

He was stocky, with gear straight from a fantasy novel. Anna spoke with him urgently. Then, turning to Sam, she said, "You'll get a crash course in this world before enrollment. Rest now."

She snapped her fingers, teleporting Sam back to his room. He collapsed onto the bed, mind racing.

This world was vast, dangerous, and filled with wonder.

And he wanted to belong in it.

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