Chapter 1: The 15-Year Grind
The Leap of Despair
The rain was freezing, washing away the blood on Lucian Vane's face. He stood at the edge of the bridge, his school uniform tattered and his body bruised. Behind him, the laughter of his bullies echoed in the dark.
"A piece of trash like you doesn't belong in this world," they had sneered.
Lucian closed his eyes. In this world, he was weak. He was a target. He was nothing. He took a final breath and let himself fall into the cold, dark abyss of the river below. But as his consciousness began to fade, a brilliant blue light pierced the darkness. Time froze.
[Condition Met: The Soul that Despairs of Weakness.]
[Do you wish to 'Level Up' in a world where Strength is the only Law? YES / NO]
With his last ounce of will, Lucian's finger twitched. He pressed [YES].
The Awakening (Age: 0-2)
The sound of a crying infant filled a dusty, cramped shack. A woman with tired eyes and calloused hands held the baby close. She was dressed in rags, a slave's collar tight around her neck.
"Look at his eyes... they are so clear," she whispered. "We will call him Lucian. Lucian Vane."
Lucian opened his eyes, but his mind was that of a grown man. Before him, a floating status bar appeared:
[Current Race: Human (Slave Class)]
[Current Points: 1.0 | Rank: H (Infant)]
[Unique Passive: 100% Point Absorption Unlocked.]
The Lesson of the Father (Age: 2)
By the age of two, Lucian was already observing the world with cold intelligence. One night, he sat by the fire with his father, whose back was covered in whip scars.
"Father... why are we trapped here?" Lucian asked, his voice small but his eyes intense.
His father sighed, his voice heavy with grief. "Lucian, in this world, freedom is bought with Points. And we humans... we are born with nothing."
He explained the cruel hierarchy to his son:
The Human Limit: "A human can never cross 100 points. We are born weak. But the 'Horned Ones' and 'Beast-Humans'—the Lords—they are born with 200 or even 500 points."
The Ranks: "H and G Ranks are for slaves like us. F and D Ranks are for the Warriors and Village Lords. Beyond that, from C to S Rank, are the Kings and Monsters who rule the continents."
The Path to Power: "To become a Lord, one must kill the current Lord in a Death Match. But no human has ever dared... because we lack the 'Mana' they possess. We are just toys for their entertainment."
Lucian looked at his father's scars. A cold fire ignited in his heart. If the limit is 100... then I will be the one to break it.
The Silent Hunt (Age: 3 to 15)
When Lucian turned three, while other slave children played in the dirt, he began his secret war. He found a poisonous soil centipede and crushed it with a stone.
[Target Killed. Points: +0.05]
He didn't stop. For the next 12 years, Lucian lived a double life. By day, he was the perfect, silent slave. By night, he ventured into the forbidden edges of the dark forest. He hunted everything—giant spiders, venomous snakes, and eventually, forest wolves. Each kill added to his power.
15 Years Later:
Lucian stood in the fields, his body lean and packed with explosive power. He kept his head low, hiding the aura that was beginning to leak from his soul.
[Status: 210 Points | Rank: G (Peak Human)]
[Skill Unlocked: Limitless Perception (Reflexes +50%)]
The Spark of Rebellion
The peace of the village was shattered by the arrival of the Village Lord's son—a cruel Beast-Human. He lashed his whip at Lucian's childhood friend just for failing to bow fast enough.
"Out of the way, filth!" the noble roared.
Before the whip could land, a hand caught it mid-air. The entire village froze. Lucian stood there, his grip like a vice.
"You've had enough fun for today," Lucian said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
The Lord's son trembled. "A human slave talks back to me? My father will have your head!"
The Village Lord, a towering beast-man, arrived. He looked at Lucian with disgust and activated his Scouter monocle. Lucian suppressed his aura instantly.
[Scouter Display: 15 Points (H-Rank Human)]
"A 15-point insect dares to touch my son?" the Lord sneered.
Lucian looked him dead in the eye, remembering his father's scars. "Next week is the 'Lord's Tournament'. I challenge you to a Death Match. If I win, the village belongs to me. If I lose, my life is yours."
The Lord burst into a thunderous laugh. "A slave wants to be a Lord? Fine! I accept. I shall enjoy snapping your neck in front of everyone."
As Lucian walked away, a final notification appeared:
[New Quest: Take the Throne.]
[Reward: Rank-F Promotion & Infinity Storage Skill.]
Lucian Vane smiled. The 15-year wait was over. The era of the "Slave" was dead. The era of the "Sovereign" had begun.
[To be continued in Chapter 2: The Fall of the Tyrant]