The year is 2070.
I lay flat on the rooftop of Westvale High, the rough concrete pressing into my back as I stared up at the sky. A pale blue canvas, streaked with soft clouds, stretched endlessly above me. The world looked so calm from up here, so deceivingly peaceful. Hard to believe this was the same Earth that had changed so drastically fifty years ago.
Mana.
The word itself carried weight. Ever since it appeared, it changed everything — the air, the animals, the people. Dungeons emerged across continents, monsters crawled from the cracks of reality, and the rules of the old world crumbled.
And me? I was just a kid now. Again.
In my past life, I was an office worker. Just another nameless face among millions, dragging my feet through crowded subways, eating microwaved meals, and sleeping to repeat the same day. A boring, ordinary life. No passion. No legacy.
Then I died. Not in some dramatic explosion or heroic sacrifice — just a slip and fall. A cracked skull on a bathroom tile. And somehow, I ended up here. Reincarnated as a boy named Alex Carson, in a world where magic was real.
Lucky? Maybe. Terrifying? Definitely.
I had no cheat skill. No prophecy. No system whispering in my ear. Just memories of a tired man and a second chance in a world where everyone awakened a skill at seventeen.
Everyone.
Even if it was useless — a weak skill that barely did anything — every person awakened something. No one was left behind, and no one could predict what they'd get.
That thought always sat heavy in my chest.
A bell echoed across the school, loud and shrill. Fifth period.
I sighed and pushed myself off the ground, brushing dust from my blazer. My legs felt stiff from lying too long, but I walked to the rooftop door and headed down the stairs, blending back into the rhythm of the day.
...
Our classroom buzzed with energy.
Miss Lira, our homeroom teacher, stood at the front of the class. Her short dark hair framed sharp eyes that could silence a room in seconds. But today, she looked... relaxed. Almost excited.
"Alright, everyone," she said, hands clasped together. "Tomorrow is your Awakening Day."
The room erupted into gasps, whispers, and fist pumps.
I leaned back in my chair as my deskmate Jayden elbowed me with a grin.
"It's finally here, man!"
Miss Lira continued, "As you know, every person awakens a core skill on their seventeenth birthday. Some will be combat-related. Some might support roles. Some may seem useless at first — but don't forget, even the smallest ember can spark a wildfire."
She smiled gently.
"Tomorrow morning, be at school by 8 o'clock sharp. We'll be taking the school bus together to the Hunter Association. Your Awakening will begin at exactly 10 o'clock. Be well-rested. Eat a proper breakfast. And don't be late."
There was an unusual hush when she finished. The kind of silence that followed when everyone realized this was real. That their lives could change forever tomorrow.
My life included.
...
The streets of Westvale buzzed with life as students spilled out from the school gates. I walked beside Jayden, who was practically vibrating with excitement.
"I've been dreaming of this day since I was ten," he said, stretching his arms behind his head. "I'm gonna awaken something awesome. Maybe a flame spear or shadow blades."
I smiled. "You're already planning your skill?"
"Of course! My dad used to be an elite hunter, remember? Before the accident. He always said our blood runs strong. I bet I'll awaken something combat-worthy."
Jayden's father had been a well-known B-rank hunter before he lost a leg in a dungeon collapse. Since then, Jayden had carried the weight of continuing that legacy.
"And what about you, Alex? You think you'll awaken something cool?"
I shrugged. "Doubt it. I'll probably get something like… spark-making or bread-warming."
Jayden snorted. "You're underselling yourself, man. I can feel it — you've got something hidden in you."
If only he knew how right — and wrong — he was.
He nudged me with his elbow again. "No matter what it is, it's gonna be better than old Herman's skill. You remember his? 'Shoe Dryer' or something?"
I laughed. "Yeah. Every time he takes off his shoes, they automatically dry. It's ridiculous."
"Still, he got hired at a gear shop. Said the boss liked how he kept the storeroom dry. Even a dumb skill can get you somewhere."
Jayden wasn't wrong. There were stories of people making decent lives with the weirdest skills. You didn't need to be a combat genius to survive. Just persistent.
...
Home was a modest two-story house on the quieter side of Westvale.
Warm yellow lights glowed through the windows as I pushed open the door.
"Alex!" my mom called from the kitchen. "Wash up. Dinner's almost ready!"
I kicked off my shoes and walked in. The smell of grilled chicken and seasoned rice filled the air.
Dad was setting the table. He gave me a nod. "How was school?"
"Same as always," I said, heading to the sink. "Except, you know… tomorrow."
He chuckled. "Yeah. Big day."
By the time I sat down, my younger sister Nora had already taken two bites from her plate. She was ten and had more energy than anyone I knew.
"Are you gonna become a fire mage?" she asked with wide eyes. "Or maybe someone who summons dragons?"
I ruffled her hair. "Guess we'll find out tomorrow."
Mom placed the last dish on the table and sat down. "No matter what skill you awaken, Alex, we're proud of you."
Dad raised his glass of water. "To new beginnings."
We clinked our glasses and dug in.
The conversation at dinner wandered between school stories, monster reports on the news, and mom scolding Nora for feeding scraps to the neighbor's cat again. I laughed more than I expected. It felt normal. Comfortable.
After helping clean up, I went upstairs to my room. The soft glow of the desk lamp lit the pages of a worn notebook. I flipped through doodles, class notes, and half-baked dungeon theories.
I glanced at the clock: 9:03 p.m.
Only hours left before everything changed.
I climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling. Sleep didn't come easy, not with my heart racing like this. What if I awakened something completely useless? Something like "Mild Breeze Generation" or "Instant Nap"?
Still, a part of me — that old, tired soul from my past life — whispered something else.
You have a second chance. Don't waste it.
My eyes slowly closed as I tried to imagine what tomorrow would be like. The Hunter Association building, the glowing awakening chambers, the pressure in the air. Would it hurt? Would it be instant? Would I feel different?
No one ever really described it in detail — it was personal, unpredictable. Everyone's experience was different. But one thing was certain: after tomorrow, I'd no longer be just a regular student.
Whatever tomorrow brings… I'll face it head-on.
Because this is my story now.
The story of Alex Carson.
And it's just beginning.