Raze Arcwell was confident, cheerful, proud—and when someone pushed him too far, there was a hint of ruthlessness beneath the smile.
He had to be.
Because in a world ruled by Nexas, the nexasless learned to sharpen everything else.
At Lionel Academy, the first semester was universal for all students. Everyone—no matter their background or ability—studied the basics together.
After that, students would be split into departments based on their intelligence, combat talent, and, most importantly… their Nexas.
For three straight weeks, one student had dominated every written exam.
Raze Arcwell—Rank 1.
The teachers noticed.The elite heirs noticed.And the students whispered.
A nexasless boy shouldn't be able to beat the geniuses of Lionel Academy.But every time the scoreboards flashed, his name shone at the top like a challenge to the entire system.
Roger Castellan—a friendly, talkative boy from a modest family—nudged him.
"Bro, you do realize everyone here hates how smart you are, right?"
Raze smirked."Let them hate me for something I can control."
Roger laughed."That's what I like about you. No fear."
That was how their friendship started—a single conversation on day one, and suddenly, Roger had become the loud, reliable partner Raze never asked for but secretly appreciated.
But today was different.
Today wasn't about intelligence.
Today was the Ability Assessment—the test everyone had been waiting for.
Students stepped forward with all kinds of Nexas displays:
—some made their bodies glow with hardened skins or metallic shifts—some created shockwave bursts using pure kinetic control—some manipulated gravity pockets—others bent sound, light, or matter itself—while a few showcased strange gifts that couldn't be easily categorized
Nexas energy shimmered across the arena in a chaotic, beautiful variety of colors, shapes, and effects.
Every student showed off what made them unique.
And in the middle of that storm of gifts…
stood one boy with no glow.No aura.No Nexas.
Raze Arcwell.
Still, Raze didn't shrink back.He stood tall, shoulder to shoulder with the strongest ability-users in the academy.
Because unlike them, he had prepared all his life.
At age six, he was learning pressure-point combat.At eight, his father made him run miles with weighted bands.By ten, he was sparring with adult instructors.By sixteen, his body was the result of a decade of harsh, relentless training.
He earned his strength the hard way—without shortcuts, without a Nexas, without fate's blessing.
Roger glanced at him again as instructors gathered the students in a line.
"Alright, Raze. This is your big moment."He grinned. "You nervous?"
Raze exhaled slowly.
"Nervous? No."His eyes hardened, burning with the defiance of someone who refused to bend."This is the day I prove I belong here."
A booming voice echoed across the field:
"FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS — STEP FORWARD FOR THE ABILITY TEST!"
The ground vibrated from the sheer mix of Nexas being released.
Students trembled in excitement.The air crackled with possibility.
And in that overwhelming storm of gifted fighters…
one boy stepped forward with nothing but discipline, skill, and unbreakable resolve.
The nexasless Arcwell was ready.
The test was about to begin.