In a world where power defines everything and those born without Talents are discarded as worthless, 18-year-old Kai is forced to scrape by in the shadows of Fort Varen. But when he stumbles upon a mysterious idle system—a secret ability that lets him grow stronger by allocating points into stats and skills—Kai’s path changes forever. With the system’s power, he can rival even the strongest warriors, but if anyone discovers his secret, he’ll become a target in a society where the weak are crushed and the strong rule without mercy. As Kai ventures into dangerous dungeons and the enigmatic Tower, he uncovers a truth that could shake the foundations of his world. Will he rise to power or be consumed by the very system that could make him unstoppable?
In Fort Varen, people like me aren't meant to survive. Strength rules here, and power determines everything—your status, your worth, and whether you live to see another day. The world has run on this brutal truth ever since the Tower appeared centuries ago. People say it changed the very fabric of reality, giving rise to what we now call Talents, unique powers that some are lucky enough to awaken.
But not me. I'm Kai, eighteen years old, five years too late to awaken any Talent, and living proof that not everyone gets to be lucky. In a world built on power, being Talentless is the same as being invisible—at least until someone decides you're worth noticing. Then you're not invisible anymore. You're just prey.
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The slums of Fort Varen were a patchwork of desperation. Rotting wood and crumbling stone made up most of the homes here, leaning against each other like drunks trying to stay upright. The air reeked of smoke, filth, and sweat, and the narrow streets were littered with broken dreams and discarded lives.
I walked carefully, sticking to the edges of the alleyways, my eyes scanning every shadow. In this part of the city, you either kept your head down or ended up in the gutter. People were too desperate to care about right or wrong, and if you had anything worth taking, someone stronger would take it.
My stomach growled as I clutched the small sack slung over my shoulder. Inside were the scraps I'd scavenged from the market earlier—mostly wilted vegetables and some stale bread. It wasn't much, but it would keep me alive for another day.
"Oi, Kai!" a voice called from behind me, loud and mocking.
I stiffened, my pulse quickening. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Bryn.
"Look at him," Bryn sneered as he and his gang of two lackeys stepped into view, blocking my path. "Still scurrying around like a rat. Tell me, Kai, how's it feel being the weakest thing in this city?"
I met his gaze, forcing myself to stay calm. Bryn wasn't the smartest, but his Talent—enhanced strength—meant he didn't need to be. He could break me in half with one hand if he wanted to, and I had no illusions that anyone would stop him.
"I don't want any trouble, Bryn," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Just let me pass."
Bryn's grin widened. "Oh, I'll let you pass, alright. After you hand over whatever you've got in that sack."
My grip tightened on the bag instinctively, and Bryn's eyes gleamed. "Oh, so you're feeling brave today?"
Before I could respond, he stepped forward and grabbed me by the collar, lifting me off my feet like I weighed nothing.
"You don't get it, do you?" he growled, his face inches from mine. "In this world, people like you don't get to keep anything. Not when people like me want it."
I could feel the weight of his words, the truth of them sinking into my bones. This was the way the world worked, and no amount of defiance was going to change that.
"Fine," I muttered, forcing myself to relax. "Take it."
He shoved me to the ground, snatching the bag from my hands and tossing it to one of his lackeys. "Smart choice," he said, smirking down at me. "Maybe next time, you'll remember your place."
The three of them walked off, laughing, and I stayed on the ground, clutching my ribs where I'd hit the cobblestones. My body ached, but the real pain was deeper, a hollow ache in my chest that no amount of food could fill.
---
I didn't go home right away. Home—if you could call the rickety shack I slept in "home"—was a place to sleep, not a place to feel safe. Besides, I knew better than to let anyone see me vulnerable, especially after an encounter with Bryn. The slums smelled weakness like blood in the water.
Instead, I wandered toward the outskirts of the city, where the Great Wall loomed over the horizon. It was a towering structure, massive and impenetrable, separating Fort Varen from the wilderness beyond. On this side, the city thrived—or at least, the strong did. On the other side, chaos reigned.
Out there, the Dungeons waited.
The Dungeons were a mystery, just like the Tower. No one knew where they came from or why they existed, but they were a constant in this world. Some said they were linked to the Tower, that the monsters inside were part of the same ancient force that had given rise to Talents. All I knew was that they were dangerous, and even the strongest warriors thought twice before entering one alone.
I stopped at the edge of the city, leaning against a crumbling stone wall as I stared out at the wilderness. The Dungeons were out there, just beyond the treeline, their entrances hidden and waiting.
People like Bryn could enter a Dungeon and come out stronger, richer, more powerful. People like me? We didn't stand a chance.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I hated feeling like this—helpless, trapped, powerless. I hated knowing that no matter how hard I tried, I'd never be strong enough to matter in this world.
But there was a part of me, a small, stubborn part, that refused to give up. I didn't know what the future held, but I wasn't ready to lie down and accept my fate. Not yet.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in shadows, I turned and began walking back toward the slums. Tomorrow would be another fight for survival. Another day of scraping by, of keeping my head down and hoping for a miracle.
But as I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming—something that would change everything.
I didn't know it yet, but the gears of fate were already turning. And soon, my life would never be the same.