67 My wife in disguise 2.0

Zeros, what are they?

Aren't they quite strange?

The literal meaning is that they have nothing. They have zero amount of something, or maybe nothing at all.

Levels defined by numbers have existed for so long. The 'special ones' ranked from 1 to 10, ten being the highest.

Back then their only purpose was fighting to defend the zeros, in wars, in catastrophes. The zeros though, they had jobs like doctors, nurses, normal soldiers, bookstore owners, and government officials.

They had influential positions, but the 'special ones' were always above them physically.

As the years passed the zeros grew tired. They wanted to be at the top. They wanted more. They were greedy. They developed technology far from what the special ones could ever imagine. They had invented things that could pose a threat to them. The more powerful they grew, the stronger their greed was.

Soon enough, the zeros hunted them down. One by one until they all vanished. Magic spells, potions, superpowers…. they all disappeared and became myths.

Witches, wizards, werewolves, zombies. Just name them. They all became unrealistic fictional stories to scare children.

Yes, centuries ago they vanished. Only one kind survived. The 'special ones' the ones who the zeros envied.

They survived a small amount of them, but they survived.

Their extraordinary abilities were for survival now. Things changed. They thought they could teach the zeros their ways and help them become stronger so they could protect themselves, but unfortunately, all they met was a disappointment.

Now, the zeros were hunting them down.

They passed as zeros and learned to hide their abilities.

They formed a group of determined men and women. They created 'The Academy.' They needed to solve this issue and training their younger generations was for the best. Obviously, not all the special ones are powerful.

The lowest levels passed as normal human beings while the stronger ones had to hide their abilities and never show it in public.

As the decades flew by 'The Academy' grew stronger and stricter.

Now, the zeros had forgotten about their existence and they had more freedom. They still needed to help the reckless generation train their abilities so that history doesn't repeat itself.

What if zeros started fearing or envying them again?

Surely, now with the new technology they had developed, the special ones would be in danger.

It sucks. It really does. Aren't they the same? They both have the same human DNA. The only difference is the unique cells in their bodies that make them 'special'.

Either way, they successfully established powerful families across the world. They were all responsible for reproducing more special ones.

Some zeros differed from the past, and they could coexist with special ones. That's how the half-bloods came to be.

Usually, their level would be low and they would live like the rest of the zeros, aka normal humans.

When these new events happened, the academy started making new rules. The disciplinary system in their schools was way stricter and students were to train their knowledge of their abilities and to manage them excellently. Their learning sessions were twice harder than the zeros.

Not only did they have to learn what zeros learned, but they also needed to master their own special power.

When it was first introduced it was hard for the special ones to get accustomed, but as the years went by it became normal.

Since most of the students were average levels like 4-6, there were rarely any 7's or 8's. The 9's and 10s had become extinct.

No one had met one in thousands of years.

The ones who would mark above average weren't always good people. Some of them wished to become gods. This was extremely wrong. Therefore, the academy developed another solution.

When people would leave behind that special part of their life they erased their memories of it. Sometimes, their relatives remained with this special life, but it prohibited them from mentioning anything to those who left that part of them behind.

Those who made these chooses were usually 2,3 and 1's. Of course, since they ranked below average, they didn't feel the need to be part of this special society.

Some higher levels would also choose normal lives because they liked the normal human life better.

Now, for those who were greedy and wanted more power, their memories were erased. As their punishment, they would also forget all their other relatives.

Leaving them alone in the world and knowing nothing of themselves. Sometimes it would make them go crazy, but in rare cases, they would create a new life for themselves and live happily like the rest of the humans.

The academy didn't care. As long as no one threatened them, they didn't pay attention to it.

It was harsh, but under these rules, the academy taught powerful leaders. From presidents to royalty. They were placed to put order in the world and use their abilities to make everything better.

Teachers at the academy, guards that would protect the school and the students, and even guardians who were trained to help keep the balance in power. They were to get rid of greedy ones and corrupt people.

Ashlyn would usually refer to them as the academy's dogs. They were just like assassins working under the academy's orders. She didn't have a good impression of them, and neither did she like the student guardians being trained.

They were rude and arrogant!

Anyway….

The Academy!

Their goal was to make perfect generations of special ones so that one day they and the zeros could coexist in peace again.

"Ashlyn! Are you paying attention?"

Ashlyn looked up at her teacher. The sudden yell quite startled her, but come on! She repeats the same history way too many times. It was getting boring.

"I'm paying attention." She responded.

"Okay, then can you tell us the system the founders of the academy created to help students choose their special power?"

Ashlyn sighed and started explaining.

"That's a tricky question because not everyone can choose what their special power is. Some people get their own assigned power. They can try to master other elements in this world, but that's extremely dangerous. The most powerful people in history could only master 2. If you attempt to do more you will go insane and soon enough greed for more will be the end of you." She yawned and continued.

Why are they 'special' if they have the same human DNA as the rest?

Well, those unique cells allowed them to have a certain amount of control over air, water, fire/heat, or any other elements in the earth.

It's normal to produce an unbearable amount of heat, humidity, or to freeze things. Aside from this, the special ones were stronger, and they cultivated their abilities well enough they could teleport or elevate for a certain amount of time.

To produce water, ice, or fire out of your own body is extremely difficult.

It would have been something normal if they were thousands of centuries ago. Something the elders have failed to admit is that they were growing weaker. They aren't what they used to be.

They changed the system the founders of the academy created to fit this new modern world. Basically, they would have exams on how much process they've had over certain periods of time.

Their score in those tests would determine their place on the leaderboard. Sometimes kids would do so great they would immediately go into the top 5.

The top 5 had a final and harder test, though….

After being tested, their last obstacle was fighting against someone higher than them.

There was a list of all the students organized by how high they have gone. The lowest would fight the nearest highest every quarter of the school year. They had 4 chances every school year to go into the top 5.

For example, if the 4th place replaced the 3rd then the next quarter of the year they would fight the person in 2dn place and so on.

The students hated one thing about this system. They would fill the month of the end of every quarter with tests for the students, but they would do it at random.

There was never any kind of pattern, so it's not like students could be prepared. That's why they were forced to put effort into becoming stronger unless they want to fail and repeat the year.

"Class is dismissed."

Ashlyn brightened up, and she picked up her things. She heard the bracelet of the person behind her lit up and she sent them a glance full of pity.

She looked like a mess and extremely tired. That call on her bracelet means she has to go to her test room.

Ashlyn looked at her own and was extremely relieved.

She had passed all the other tests because her mother told her to.

Usually, she would stay in the 25th place because it was good enough. She would never attempt to go any higher.

It's not like she cared much about the competitiveness since she wanted to become an actress, anyway.

To fulfill her mother's wish, she worked like hell for the rest of the summer. The past 28 days were full of tests, which she aced and got into second place on the leader board.

To go from 25th place to 2dn was shocking, so the only way to prove that she didn't cheat is getting the person in the first place to approve of her skills.

'Don't judge a book by its cover.' That's what the principal always says.

That's why you should be careful because the one that seems the weakest amongst you all can be at a higher level than the rest,

That's why everything about every student is a mystery. No one except each other knew what level they were. The only way you could figure it out is if you come across them in the testing room to fight for a certain position on the leader board.

Therefore, all the little bullies in her classroom don't know she is currently in second place.

She had to admit. She felt pretty badass about it.

*******

Ashlyn excited the school, and she was now walking downtown.

Though she had never been a fan of her abilities, they had their perks.

Before she entered the town, she changed the people's perception of her. She also made them think she has a brown pair of eyes so that her red ones would not stand out to them. And she hid her aura as much as she could.

This was great!

That way she could walk around freely and no one would pay attention to her.

She's the only one who can do this. The reason her classmates don't like her is because of this exact thing. They know she can quickly expose them.

She can manipulate what people's eyes see with her own and as soon as her eyes see a person she can tell what level they are in, their unique power, their weaknesses, and strengths.

Her mother didn't want her to stay at the academy, but she had no choice but to enroll her. After all her eyes, many people want them. She's like the perfect weapon.

That's why keeping it low-key is what she's best at!

She bought some cotton candy and picked up her phone. She answered her mother's cal and smiled.

Her smile disappeared when she heard her bracelet beeping.

She focused on the guy a block away from her. His bracelet was beeping too.

Coincidence?

She frowned when her eyes could not identify his level or anything in particular.

"Huh? Is it because he's far?"

"Hun? Did something happen?" She heard her mother call her.

"Uh, nothing happened. Mom, I have to go. I'll call you after my last test! Wish me luck~"

She quickly hung up and ran back to the academy.

********

Please read the author's note. I have a very important announcement.

P.S I hope you liked this short backstory and snip of Ashlyn in her last year of high school. This is where the leads first met. Btw the boy at the end of the chapter is Conner lol.