Arc 1 – The Seed of the Abyss.
We were all gathered in the schoolyard, everyone who turned eighteen today.
In front of us was a big stage. The principal was there. Teachers. Even the mayor of the city.
And scouts too, standing sharp-eyed, ready to spot any talent and snatch them up for their universities, offering bonuses that could change a life in an instant.
That crystal in the middle of the stage—big, glowing blue.
Nobody knows why it works. Not the scientists, not the teachers, not even the so-called superhumans. So say it’s energy, so say it’s alien tech, I say nobody has a damn clue.
What everyone does know? The night D-Night hit, crystals like this started clawing their way out of the ground. And when people touched them... they changed. Just like the plants and animals. Only difference was, for humans, they slapped a prettier word on it—awakening.
The students around were whispering, so nervous, so trembling with excitent.
I could see it in their faces and hear it in their breathing — everyone was nervous.
I was still standing there in the crowd.
But every eye was on —sharp, cold, dripping with contempt.
"Pathetic."
"Trash."
"Waste of space."
The words slamd into again and again, each one heavier than the last. Their laughter stabbed like knives, their disgust pressing down on like a mountain.
And then—
"Shen Yan!"
Her voice cut through the noise. Soft, clear, beautiful. A voice I could never mistake.
i Lin. My sister.
She pushed through the crowd, her long black hair flowing behind her like silk.
She wore a white blouse that clung tight against her chest, the top two buttons teasingly undone, and a short red skirt that shimred in the sunlight.
Her thin legs caught every eye as she ran—half the boys forgot to breathe.
And then she leapt forward, throwing herself against , her arms around like a shield.
"Don’t worry, Shen Yan! Your sister is here!"
She stood in front of , proud and defiant, pointing her finger at her chest with a confident smirk.
"I will protect you! No matter what happens tomorrow, I’ll keep you safe!"
The crowd fell silent for a heartbeat—then the laughter exploded.
"Hahaha! Did you hear that? His sister has to protect him!"
"Trash so useless even his sister pities him."
"Look at her, acting like a knight—hahaha! Is Shen Yan the damsel now?"
"Damn, she’s hot though. What a waste, tied to garbage like him."
My face burnt, my chest twisted. i Lin’s words were ant to save —but all they did was hamr in the truth.
I wasn’t the genius anymore.
I wasn’t the future anymore.
I was just trash, hiding behind my sister.
But of course, it couldn’t just end there.
So pathetic people had to open his mouth.
"Look at her... the goddess of the school." His eyes were literally watering as he hugged his books to his chest. "Why does she have the trashiest brother in the world?"
Another one whispered, "If I had a sister like i Lin, I would devote my life to her! I would even bark like a dog if she asked !"
"Shut up, fool," soone else said, but I could see his nose dripping as he stared at her legs.
Even my so-called best friend stood there, eyes flowing with tears as he clutched his chest. "i Lin... why, why do you waste your love protecting him? Don’t you see? He’s just... trash..."
I almost laughed. A goddess of the school, admired by everyone.
And yet she was my sister.
The goddess’s brother... the most pathetic trash.
But then everyone went silent as the principal spoke into the mic.
"Welco, students." His voice echoed across the ground. "Today is the day you all have been waiting for. The day you awaken your bloodline."
He looked at us with sharp eyes. "This is the mont that will decide your future. So of you will awaken great bloodlines and shine like stars. So of you will awaken weak ones, but rember—even weak bloodlines can grow if you have the will and courage. Strength is not only in blood but also in heart."
The crowd straightened up. So looked nervous, so excited. I could almost feel their hearts beating faster.
"And now," the principal raised his hand toward the glowing blue crystal, "we will begin the Awakening Ceremony!"
Yeah, yeah. Nice speech. But we all know the truth—weak bloodlines end up as cannon fodder. Pretend otherwise if it helps you sleep, Principal.
That’s the reality of this world.
One by one, students stepped up to touch the crystal.
So awakened common bloodlines. The mont the light showed their result, they dropped to their knees and cried. Their futures were already sealed.
They were the sa as ... or maybe better. At least they had awakened sothing. Even if they were weak, they’d be sent to the frontlines, guarding the city walls.
So awakened uncommon bloodlines. They walked away smiling, relieved, even proud. At least they had a chance to fight for sothing more.
And then ca the turn of the ones everyone had been waiting for.
Chi Yan stepped forward, his chest puffed out, his every step dripping with arrogance.
He pressed his hand onto the crystal. The light flared, sharp and bright.
"Rare Bloodline! Thunder Tiger!" the announcer shouted.
The crowd exploded with praises for him.
"Wow! Rare bloodline!"
"That’s insane!"
"Chi Yan’s going for top universities for sure!"
Girls leaned forward, eyes sparkling.
"Chi Yan is so handso when he smirks."
"If he asked out right now, I’d say yes without thinking."
"He’s definitely going to join a top 5 university... maybe even the Top Guild."
Chi Yan raised his chin, swimming in their adoration, and then tilted his head just enough to smirk at —his way of saying, See the difference between us?
Next was Bai Shou. He swaggered up to the crystal like the entire ceremony existed just for him.
He touched the stone, and this ti the crystal burnt even brighter than before, a blinding golden light filling the hall.
"Legendary Bloodline! Dragonkin Bloodline!"
The place went insane. Students screaming his na, teachers practically falling out of their seats, and the scouts? Those vultures leaned forward like dogs sniffing at.
The boys around gasped.
"Holy shit! Legendary bloodline!"
"He’s basically guaranteed a spot in the capital university."
"Dragonkin! That’s beyond insane."
But the girls... they nearly lost their minds.
"Bai Shou! Look here! I’ll be your girlfriend!"
"Marry , Bai Shou!"
"Dragonkin bloodline—he’s basically a prince now!"
"Forget Chi Yan, Bai Shou is the real deal!"
Bai Shou grinned wide, his teeth sharp, his eyes locking directly on . He didn’t even need to say it—did you see that, trash? His gaze alone scread it.
And ?
I just stood in the crowd, every mocking cheer and jealous scream stabbing into like knives.
It was my turn now.
I gulped, but it felt stuck in my throat. My legs were heavy, every step toward the stage slower than the last. I could feel the sweat sticking to my skin.
Would I awaken or not? That question kept hamring inside my head.
"Yuck."
"Let’s see the trash awaken."
Yeah, I heard them. I was still here. I could hear every word.
Even when I looked at the principal, his eyes weren’t any different. Just the sa disdain, the sa contempt.
I hated it. I hated them all.
People think I’m funny. Always joking. Always making light of things. But that’s not really . That’s just how I cope.
When everyone turned their backs on , I broke. So I laughed. I played the fool. I made myself funny so I wouldn’t cry in front of them.
But the truth? I mind. I mind all of it. Every laugh, every whisper, every word of "trash" cuts inside. My blood boils with it.
Sotis I dream of the day I’ll slap them so hard their teeth will shatter. That’s the thought that keeps standing.
I touched the crystal.
It glowed.
My heart scread—yes! Yes! It’s glowing! I’m not trash. I’m not the one who won’t awaken.
But then... it stopped.
The glow stayed white. Plain. Empty.
The announcer cleared his throat, ready to declare my fate.
"Null Bloodline".
What?
Null Bloodline. The words stabbed into like a curse. My heartbeat went crazy, like it wanted to punch out of my chest.
My head spun. No... no... no... it can’t be.
My mind refused to accept it.
I knew it beforehand—I was trash. I had prepared myself for it. But still... reality is always different from imagination.
Even if you prepare for the worst, when it actually happens, it still breaks you from the inside.
"Null...?" Whispers spread through the crowd. "What’s that?"
"I’ve never heard of it."
"Is that even real?"
Nobody had. Not the students. Not the teachers. Not even .
I’d studied them all. Ten years of bloodline records, every skill, every evolution path—I could list them in my sleep. But ’Null’? Never. Not once. It wasn’t in any book, because apparently, I was the first idiot to get it.
The announcer froze, eyes flicking nervously to the principal. Then, like he’d found a way to spin it, he smirked and raised his voice loud enough for all to hear.
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