Chapter 3 - The Breaking Point
1110 Words
The night passed quietly.
Kai didn’t sleep much.
He lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, replaying the same moments over and over again. The crystal. The voice. The laughter. Rex’s fist.
Level Zero.
It didn’t fade.
By morning, the ache in his body had settled into something dull but constant. Every movement reminded him of it, but he didn’t slow down.
He got up, changed, and left the house without eating.
The streets were already active. People moved with purpose, conversations blending into a steady hum. For most of them, nothing had changed.
For Kai, everything had.
When he arrived at the academy, the atmosphere felt different from the day before. The excitement from the awakening had settled, replaced by something more structured.
Groups had already formed.
Ranks had begun to matter.
Kai stepped through the gates, ignoring the looks that followed him. Some recognized him immediately. Others only needed a second glance.
Word had spread fast.
He walked past the courtyard where students had gathered in clusters. Conversations lowered as he passed, then picked up again once he was out of earshot.
“…that’s him.”
“Level Zero.”
“I heard the system glitched or something.”
“No, that’s just what he got.”
Kai didn’t react.
He entered the main building and made his way toward his classroom.
Inside, most of the seats were already taken.
No one spoke to him.
No one called him over.
He walked to the back and sat down, his movements quiet, controlled.
The chatter in the room continued, but there was a noticeable gap around him. The empty seats nearby weren’t by accident.
It was intentional.
A few students glanced at him, then quickly looked away.
Others didn’t bother hiding their expressions.
The door opened and the instructor walked in, bringing the room to order.
“Settle down,” he said.
The conversations faded.
The instructor placed a tablet on the desk and looked around the room.
“Yesterday marked your awakening. From this point forward, your ranks will determine your training, your opportunities, and your future paths.”
His gaze moved across the students before pausing briefly.
On Kai.
Only for a second.
Then it moved on.
“Starting today, you will be grouped based on your ranks. Higher-ranked individuals will receive advanced training, while lower ranks will follow standard development programs.”
Murmurs spread through the class.
Kai already knew where he stood.
Or rather, where he didn’t.
The instructor continued, listing out groups and assignments.
Names were called.
Students stood and moved, joining their respective groups.
C-Rank and above gathered near the front.
D-Rank and below were directed toward the back.
Kai stayed where he was.
His name wasn’t called.
At first, no one noticed.
Then someone did.
“Hey,” a voice said. “You didn’t call Kai.”
A few heads turned.
The instructor paused, glancing at his tablet.
For a brief moment, his expression shifted.
Then he cleared his throat.
“Kai Draven,” he said. “You… will not be assigned to a standard group.”
The room went quiet.
Kai’s gaze lifted slightly.
“What does that mean?” someone asked.
The instructor hesitated before answering.
“It means his case is… irregular.”
A quiet laugh came from somewhere in the room.
“Because of Level Zero?”
More whispers followed.
The instructor didn’t respond to them.
Instead, he looked directly at Kai.
“You will report for individual evaluation later,” he said. “Until then, observe.”
Observe.
That was it.
No training.
No group.
Just… watch.
Kai held his gaze for a moment before looking away.
“Understood,” he said.
The class resumed.
Students moved into their groups, discussions picking up again as they compared placements and expectations.
Kai remained in his seat.
Unmoved.
Unincluded.
Time passed slowly.
The lesson continued, but he barely paid attention. His mind drifted, thoughts circling back to the same question.
What exactly was he supposed to do?
By the time the class ended, the room emptied quickly. Students left in groups, their voices filling the hallway outside.
Kai stayed seated until most of them were gone.
Then he stood and made his way out.
The hallway was crowded, but the space around him remained clear. People avoided brushing against him, stepping aside just enough to keep their distance.
He didn’t mind.
Or at least, that’s what he told himself.
As he turned a corner, a familiar voice reached him.
“Well, if it isn’t Level Zero.”
Kai stopped.
Rex stood a few steps ahead, leaning casually against the wall. A couple of others were with him, their expressions already amused.
“Didn’t see you in any group,” Rex continued. “Guess even the academy doesn’t know what to do with you.”
Kai didn’t respond.
He tried to walk past.
Rex pushed off the wall and stepped into his path.
“Where are you going?”
Kai’s eyes lifted slightly.
“Move.”
The word was quiet.
Rex smiled.
“You really haven’t learned anything.”
Before Kai could react, a hand shoved him back.
Harder than before.
Kai stumbled, his shoulder hitting the wall behind him. Pain flared briefly, but he stayed upright.
Rex stepped closer.
“You don’t get to walk around like nothing happened,” he said. “Not after yesterday.”
Kai met his gaze, something sharper behind his calm expression now.
“What do you want?”
Rex’s smile widened slightly.
“Nothing complicated.”
His fist came forward.
Kai saw it this time.
He tried to move.
But he wasn’t fast enough.
The удар landed against his jaw, snapping his head to the side. The impact sent him off balance, his vision flashing white for a second.
He hit the ground this time.
The hallway went quiet.
People were watching.
No one stepped in.
Kai pushed himself up, his head spinning slightly.
Rex didn’t give him time.
Another kick landed against his side, forcing the air out of his lungs.
Pain spread faster this time.
Deeper.
Kai’s hand tightened against the floor.
He tried to stand again.
Another hit followed.
Then another.
Each one heavier than the last.
The noise around him faded.
The voices.
The footsteps.
Everything blurred together.
All that remained was the impact.
The weight.
The feeling of being completely overpowered.
Kai’s vision dimmed at the edges.
His body felt heavier with each passing second.
He couldn’t keep up.
Couldn’t fight back.
Couldn’t even stand.
Somewhere in the distance, he heard laughter.
Then it faded too.
The last thing he felt was another удар.
Then—
Nothing.
- Writer
