Chapter 1 Awaken Day
The massive academy auditorium glowed with bright crystal lights banners hanging from every corner Rows upon rows of students nearly a thousand of them sat on polished wooden benches their uniforms crisp eyes sparkling with anticipation. Today was the day.
The day that would decide their worth.
The day of Awakening.
A colossal stone platform stood at the center of the stage Upon it like a relic from another world rested a jagged black crystal an Awaken Stone mined from the depths of ancient monster dungeons It shimred faintly pulsing like a heartbeat a reminder of the power it carried.
One by one students were called forward They stepped onto the stage placed their trembling hands upon the stone and within seconds light blood A whisper a feeling a word etched into their very soul That word beca their skill.
The crowd roared with every flash of brilliance.
"Wind Blades"
"Healing Aura"
"Fla Manipulation"
Every new skill was t with cheers and claps promises of glory money and fa.
At the back of the auditorium a boy sat quietly his posture rigid his eyes dark and distant Rai Ichiro Eighteen years old black hair ssy his uniform slightly worn from being second hand His hands trembled slightly on his knees though his face betrayed nothing.
Next to him sat no one His sister wasn’t here Yuki was too young to attend But he could still feel her fragile presence in his heart waiting for him at ho.
I can’t let her down.
The thought repeated in his mind like a mantra.
When his parents died in the monster wave of 2007 Rai had only been a child. Yuki even younger. Since then they had lived in the slums of Zone 4 ,surrounded by broken walls and garbage heaps He had seen children starve neighbors disappear in dungeon raids and people turn into corpses overnight.
And now his turn was coming.
Number 247 Renji Kuroda the announcer called.
A tall boy with sharp features and styled hair swaggered onto the stage The girls in the audience squealed He smirked confidently placing his hand on the Awaken Stone.
The crystal flared crimson.
"Skill-Blazing" Fist the voice bood..
The crowd erupted into cheers Fire danced around Renji’s hands for a brief mont before fading He grinned waving to the audience like a celebrity.
Renji sama soone shouted.
As expected from Kuroda heir.
Rai lowered his eyes Renji Kuroda his long ti torntor his academy rival Rich arrogant and blessed with talent Their lives couldn’t be more different.
Next Number 248 Rai Ichiro.
The words dropped like stones in his stomach.
Rai stood feeling the weight of hundreds of eyes pierce him Murmurs spread through the crowd.
The orphan.
Didn’t his parents die in the Wave.
Bet he’ll awaken sothing trashy.
He ignored them forcing his legs to move forward The stage seed endless The Awaken Stone pulsed faintly as though mocking his presence.
He placed his hand on it.
At first nothing happened Then faint dull light like a dying ember.
And in his mind a word.
"Garbage Collector..."
The announcer hesitated then repeated his voice echoing.
"Skill - Garbage Collector"
Silence...
Then laughter.
It started with a snicker Then spread like wildfire.
Hah Did he just...
Garbage Collector What kind of joke is that.
Hahaha He’ll clean dungeons maybe sweep monsters away.
Renji smirked from the side of the stage.
Guess trash attracts trash he sneered loud enough for the front rows to hear.
Rai’s ears burned His fists clenched but his face stayed blank Inside his chest twisted painfully.
Garbage Collector Really Is this what fate gave .
He stepped down each foot heavy the sound of laughter chasing him like knives His vision blurred.
But then....
"DING.."
A crisp chanical voice rang in his mind.
"Welco Host to the Garbage Warrior System."
"You are the first and only one worthy of this power."
"You can now level up by absorbing garbage and completing system quests."
Rai froze mid step His eyes widened.
What what was that.
He glanced around the crowd was still laughing no one seed to hear it His breathing quickened.
A system Like in the gas But no one else has a system No one even has a status window.
He forced himself to keep walking pretending nothing happened His legs trembled but he made it back to his seat
The voice echoed again..
"Quest - Generated Daily Clean Up"
"Objective - Absorb 10 kg Garbage"
"Reward - 50 EXP Weapon Scrap Dagger"
Hours later after the ceremony ended Rai walked ho through the narrow streets of the slum The sll of smoke rust and waste filled the air Cracked walls lined the path children played barefoot in puddles and stray cats dug through trash heaps.
For the first ti Rai looked at the garbage differently It glowed faintly in his vision marked with strange shimring outlines.
This is real..
He reached their small crumbling apartnt Inside his sister Yuki sat curled on a thin futon her silver hair falling across her pale face She looked up weakly and smiled.
Brother How was it What skill did you get.
Rai paused Her eyes sparkled with fragile hope He forced a smile.
Ah just sothing small Nothing special.
She pouted Don’t hide it from I know you’ll beco strong Brother.
His heart ached If only you knew.
Later that night after Yuki had fallen asleep Rai sat in the dark corner of their room He whispered softly.
"Status Window"
And then..
A blue screen flickered to life before his eyes.
GARBAGE WARRIOR SYSTEM
Host Rai Ichiro
Level 1
Title- Trash of Society
Class..
EXP– 0- 100
Passive Skills..
Absorb Garbage Locked..
Active Skills..
None..
Quests Available..
Daily Clean Up Collect 10 kg Garbage
Reward - Scrap Dagger 50 EXP
Defeat Lv 1 - Trash Monster
Reward - Skill Rust Punch
Rai’s hands shook His breath caught.
It’s real A system Just for .
He clenched his fists a fire lighting inside him for the first ti in years.
They called trash Fine If I’m trash then I’ll rise from the garbage itself I’ll beco sothing they can’t even imagine.
His lips curled into a faint smile.
The world will see what trash can do.
Chapter 1 End..
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