Chapter 02 - Cheater

"Good morning, Zack! It seems that today, you are finally going to get rid of me, huh?" 

"Good morning, instructor Amanda."

Instructor Amanda was a blonde woman with shoulder-length hair in her early twenties. She was pretty and pretty friendly too, so all the students liked her enough to invite her to all the graduation parties. A lot of the hunters that graduated still kept contact with her as well, but for Zack, she was a bit too troublesome with her high positive energy.

"I have come for my final instruction and test."

"I see, that is good. While you have been unlucky until now, there is always a chance. If it doesn't work, this will be a good closure for you. You have done well in pretty much all the tests, you are fit, and you are smart. I am sure you can find success elsewhere. You don't have to risk your life like most people, and there is nothing wrong with that."

Despite Amanda's kindness, Zack couldn't ignore the truth of his situation. While he wanted to fight for himself to prove his worth as a hunter, the harsh reality was that without an awakened trait, his desire amounted to little more than a death wish.

Amanda's encouragement touched him, but it highlighted the stark contrast between his dreams and his capabilities. Zack lacked the essential power to face the monsters on equal footing without a trait to harness. It wasn't just a matter of skill; it was a matter of survival.

While others could rely on their innate abilities to defend themselves, Zack faced the constant threat of being overwhelmed by the creatures that lurked beyond the city walls.

Moreover, even if Zack somehow found the courage to venture outside the city, he faced another insurmountable obstacle: the guilds. These powerful organizations, comprised of elite hunters, held sway over the territories beyond the city walls. Without an awakened trait, Zack knew he would never be taken seriously by any guild, relegating him to the sidelines as others fought the battles he could only watch from afar.

In the end, Amanda couldn't teach Zack anything else, so she told him some jobs that he could find on her recommendation while they headed to the ritual room. 

The ritual room was where the academy students went to try to awaken their traits. It was basically a power spot that came to be after countless monsters were killed, and their blood was shed on the ground, enriching the soil with their vital energy.

Staying close to those places or even standing on them would let people awaken their traits and be able to use the system as well. Usually, it is only a matter of time before they start undergoing the ritual since every time they go, they feel the differences. They begin to feel the energy known as mana.

Regardless, Amanda had many friends in many spots, even outside the guilds. Still, she only recommended some jobs where Zack wouldn't have to work in one since she knew that it would be the same as torture for him. In any case, before long, they reached the ritual room and Zack decided to get over it in one way or the other.

The ritual room was a stark contrast to the chaos of the outside world. As Zack stepped inside, he was enveloped by a sense of calm and stillness, a sanctuary amidst the turmoil that raged beyond its walls.

The room was spacious, with clean, white walls that seemed to stretch endlessly upward, giving an illusion of vastness. Soft, ambient lighting cast a gentle glow, creating a serene atmosphere that soothed the senses.

Despite its simplicity, the room was heavily guarded, with armored guards stationed at the entrance. Thick, bulletproof glass reinforced the walls, a testament to the importance of the rituals conducted within.

Zack got in the center of the room and then faced the bulletproof glass. On the other side, he saw instructor Amanda waving at him with a smile, trying to encourage him. Sometimes, he wondered how she was able to do that all the time. It wasn't like he minded how people lived their lives, but at that point in time, he could no longer ignore it.

Still, in the end, Zack put away those thoughts as he didn't feel any changes in himself or in the room. He heard many times people talking about the feelings that they had in the ritual room, even before awakening their traits. Still, once again, he didn't feel anything.

Zack let out a sigh. Perhaps that was for the best. Sometimes, things just can't be helped, and one just has to accept them as they are. It was better than trying to deny reality and live in illusion forever.

"With this, I can finally move on… Hell no. There is no way I will give up. I will kill fucking monsters even if I have to die in the process time and time again. I don't care about your fucking magic. I will do things my way."

Zack stepped out from the center of the room and touched the entrance door, but as soon as that happened, he stopped when he heard the system's activation.

(Trait awakened.)

(Trait identified.)

Zack (Cheater) - Lv 01 (0/100)

HP: 140/140

MP: 140/140

SP: 140/140

Strength: 07

Intelligence: 07

Dexterity: 07

Constitution: 07

Spirit: 07

Focus: 07

Unallocated Points: 00

Skill List: Auto Aim Lv 01

Unallocated Skill Points: 00