As the boy walked, he was looked at with hate as he continued forward. His name was Oliver, but he was better known as Soulless because of how he looked. His skin was pale, his hair silver like iron. He liked the name Soulless more than his real name, even though it was used as an insult.
The boy was hated because his father was a demon and his mother was an angel. He was sent away with his demon father while his mother blamed the demon for deceiving her. The demon was killed much later, leaving Soulless alone.
He sat down in a corner, a cold smile on his face.
"Tomorrow is the day I turn sixteen, and the day I awaken my power," he said to himself.
Suddenly, a foot slammed into his face.
"Stupid boy. You'll only get a common-grade spark."
In this world, powers were called sparks. There were nine different ranks: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Legendary, Chaotic, Mythic, Demonic, Heavenly, and Godly.
Soulless looked up at the man and smiled.
"Oh, are you mad because your family was killed?" Soulless said, bursting into laughter.
The man spat on him and walked away.
"Damn it… that hurt like hell," Soulless muttered with a frown.
Hours passed, and morning finally came. As Soulless awoke, a sound echoed in his ear.
"Spark: soul control
Passive Skill Unlocked: Soul Eye.
Kill 15 F-rank monsters to obtain your first skill."
Soulless smirked.
"Isn't that interesting? And I'm supposed to be soulless," he laughed.
Still sitting in the corner, he slowly stood up, starving.
"I guess I'm neither good nor bad, since it's unknown."
Soulless walked toward the forest and soon reached a small lake. He washed his body in the cold water when suddenly a stranger threw clothes onto the ground beside him.
"You must be Oliver, better known as Soulless. You will come with me to the Hero School," the man said calmly.
After putting on the clothes, Soulless looked at the man and saw a gray-colored spot on his body. The voice returned.
"Passive Skill: Soul Eye.
Allows you to see weak spots on a target's body.
Each successful hit changes the color of the weak spot.
Landing ten consecutive hits triggers a powerful strike."
The man looked at Oliver.
"My name is Liam. Are we ready to head out?"
Soulless quickly nodded and followed him.
Hours later, they arrived at their destination. A massive golden building came into view. Soulless watched as children entered the building.
Suddenly, Liam shoved Soulless inside, but he was intercepted by someone.
"Boy, you can't come here to the Academia!"
Soulless was pushed out hard. Liam was nowhere to be seen.
"Then what was the point of coming here…" Soulless muttered.
He slowly walked into the Black Forest, a place known for monsters ranging from F-rank to C-rank.
As he walked, he heard growling. An F-rank wolf leapt at him.
"Damn it!"
Using Soul Eye, he spotted the wolf's weak spot—bright red, right on its head. This wasn't his first fight. He struck the wolf quickly, triggering small purple lightning effects.
He continued attacking, reaching nine hits. Suddenly, the wolf bit into him, but Soulless landed the tenth punch.
A massive burst of damage erupted, killing the beast.
"You have killed one F-rank monster.
Kill one more to unlock the skill: Soul Taker."
Soulless made a fire and began cooking the wolf. He was starving.
"I won't forgive these people. I'll kill them all if I have to."
Soulless was known as heartless for a reason.
Just as he was about to eat, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Would you like to collect the Soul Shard?"
Even though he didn't understand what it meant, Soulless nodded yes. Power was power.
The shard disappeared.
Soulless continued eating, barely alive from starvation. When he finished, Liam suddenly appeared.
"Didn't I take you to the Academia? What are you doing here, boy?"
Liam grabbed Soulless and brought him back, enrolling him into the Academia.
By nightfall, Soulless received his own room. He explored it with excitement—his first space ever. He jumped onto the bed like a child receiving candy. The room was huge, with a kitchen and even a bathtub.
"I will be leaving now, Oliver. Do not forget my name," Liam said as he walked away.
"One more thing—you start school tomorrow. Or die. Either one."
A man entered the room carrying a plate of fancy food. Soulless devoured it like a starving animal. The man left quickly.
Soulless went to sleep.
The next morning, he woke early and took a shower. It took a few tries to turn it on, but he adapted quickly. After finishing, he noticed clothes laid out on the bed—clearly from Liam.
"Why is he different?" Soulless wondered. "Everyone else hates me."
Suddenly, someone burst into the room. A man with a cocky smirk stood there.
"I will be your master. My name is Alex, and I will teach you how to fight."
Soulless followed Alex into the training yard, his steps slow and cautious. The space felt heavy, like the ground itself had absorbed years of combat. He kept his hands loose at his sides, unsure of what Alex expected from him.
"Stand there," Alex said, pointing to an open patch of dirt.
Soulless obeyed, his eyes scanning the area. He activated Soul Eye, but the world didn't immediately change. His vision blurred slightly, a dull ache forming behind his eyes.
So it isn't free, he realized.
A low growl crept through the air. An F-rank beast stepped forward, smaller than the one he fought in the forest, but faster. Its movements were sharp, unpredictable.
Soulless hesitated.
The weak spot flickered red on the creature's shoulder—then vanished.
"Tch…" Soulless clicked his tongue. "So it doesn't stay still."
He lunged anyway, misjudging the distance. The monster swiped him aside, claws grazing his arm. Pain flared, and he stumbled back.
Alex didn't move. "Focus. You're watching the power, not the enemy."
Soulless clenched his teeth and steadied his breathing. He forced his gaze to settle, ignoring the sting in his arm. The weak spot reappeared—faint, unstable.
He struck once. Then again. On the third hit, the red glow shifted.
"What?" Soulless muttered.
His fourth punch missed entirely. The beast tackled him, knocking the air from his lungs. He rolled away just in time, coughing.
I'm sloppy, he admitted. Yesterday was luck.
On his sixth strike, his vision darkened. Soul Eye burned, draining him faster than he expected. His arms felt heavy, slower with each movement.
"Enough," Alex said sharply.
With a swift motion, Alex stepped in and dropped the monster in a single blow.
Soulless stayed on one knee, breathing hard.
Alex looked down at him. "You rely on your ability too much. Right now, you're weak. But…" He paused. "You learn fast."
Soulless wiped blood from his lip and smirked faintly. "Then teach me not to be."
Alex's grin widened. "That's the first smart thing you've said." Soulless remained on one knee long after the monster fell.
The dirt pressed cold against his palm, rough enough to scrape skin, but he barely noticed. His breathing came in short, uneven bursts, each inhale burning his lungs. The ache behind his eyes pulsed faintly, a reminder of how recklessly he had used his spark.
So this was the cost.
Alex's footsteps moved away from him, unhurried, as if the fight had already faded from his thoughts. That bothered Soulless more than the pain. Being ignored always did.
Get up," Alex said at last. His voice wasn't sharp, nor mocking. It was simply firm.
Soulless clenched his jaw and forced himself to stand. His legs trembled as he straightened, a weakness he tried—and failed—to hide. He rolled his shoulders, wincing when pain shot through his arm.
Alex turned back to him. "You almost collapsed."
Soulless scoffed quietly. "I didn't."
"You would have," Alex replied. "Another minute, maybe less."
Soulless didn't argue. He hated that Alex was right