Prologue

Phoenix Crest, a beacon of hope for humankind.

Long ago, Earth awakened its Mana. It should have been something exciting, something that would propel Earth into a new era, a realm of magic. But it was the complete opposite. Animals mutated into terrifying beasts, and plants became poisonous. A common sight for the average human was a moving vine that could tear them apart, rendering them into pieces.

To worsen matters, Earth's atmosphere underwent a mutation due to Mana, becoming toxic. All humans who had not awakened their Mana died simply by breathing. It seemed to be the end of humankind. Only a tiny portion of Earth's population had awakened their Mana, signaling the end of society as it was known.

People perished, cities crumbled, and vegetation and deadly beasts overtook the world. Strange portals even appeared globally, bringing more lethal enemies to eradicate humankind for good.

Was it truly the end? Of course not! Humans proved resilient, and those who managed to survive rebuilt society, creating cities like Phoenix Crest—a safe haven for those who had not awakened their Mana. Protected by a barrier that kept toxic gas at bay, fueled by the very mines underneath the city, Phoenix Crest was one of many such sanctuaries scattered across the globe. Yet, for Nolan Everhart, it was the only place he knew.

"Nolan, wake up, you little bastard," a burly man with a beard said, kicking a youth on the ground. "You need to go down to the mines to dig."

"What? Gregory? I just finished my shift an hour ago!" Nolan complained, his anger so intense that he wished to punch Gregory in the face.

"And do I look like I care? Old John has some back problems, and you're the one covering his shift. Move your ass and go to work!" Gregory said, kicking Nolan once again.

Old John was one of the oldest miners in Phoenix Crest, earning the respect of all miners and enjoying some perks like having a day off from time to time.

Nolan, on the other hand, had just turned 18, and for everyone in the mines, it was the perfect age to work harder.

"Embrace your youth and dig these mana stones, you brat! This is the only way you can earn your food!"

That was what the miners constantly said to him. It was a tough job, a hell of a life. If Nolan had a choice of doing something else, he would, but there was none.

His parents—both of whom had awakened their Mana—left when he was five, embarking on a mission outside. The toxic air posed no problem for them, just as it did for anyone who had Mana. However, there were many other dangers outside, and they never returned.

Nolan had no one. No one adopted him either. The only way for him to survive was to work hard, and the only place with constant hiring was the mines.

Working there was living hell. It was harsh to be underground, digging for mana stones in a hot environment, but the worst of all was the constant risk of rocks falling on you or encountering a subterranean beast that might kill you.

Because of all of that, the mines were always in need of workers, and Nolan was one of the unfortunate ones to work there.

After Gregory left, Nolan couldn't help but curse under his breath, "My 15-hour shift just finished, and just when I was about to sleep, I have to work again. Damn it. Am I going to work for another 30 hours straight? I hate my life!"

Nolan got up from his bed — just a blanket on the ground — and saw himself in a broken mirror inside his little shack. He was quite tall, measuring 1.84 meters, but his body was too skinny. It was hard to get enough food to sustain his needs. His hair was white, and his eyes devoid of life, almost colorless. Nolan couldn't remember if his hair and eyes had always been like that, or if they had changed after enduring the hardships of the mines. That was something he might never know.

With barely any strength left in his body, Nolan grabbed his pickaxe and a piece of bread, eating as he made his way to the mines. 'This bread is harder than stone,' he cursed, feeling his teeth suffer with each bite.

The streets of Phoenix Crest were bustling with people 24 hours a day. Some sold items on the street, others worked in stores or cleaning, some turned to a life of crime, and some toiled away in the mines. There were plenty of opportunities in Phoenix Crest, but almost all of them were pointless if one lacked Mana, like Nolan.

Nolan passed by a massive building, resembling a castle with a tall tower, which served as the core of the energy surrounding the city. It was the heart of the barrier that kept the toxic mist and the beasts at bay. This was the school where all the awakened individuals went, a place to hone their skills to defend not only Phoenix Crest but all of humankind.

'If only I had some ability in me, I could go there and live a decent life... Damn it!'

No matter how Nolan saw it, all he could think of was his misfortune. Not having Mana didn't guarantee a miserable life, but lacking it while working in the mines certainly did.

"Coming to work again? I just saw you go back home," a guard standing in front of the mines said.

The guard was called Henry, and he was one of the few who treated Nolan like a human being. One reason for this could be their similar age — both were 18 — and the fact that both had lost their parents!

But unlike Nolan, Henry had awakened his Mana, granting him a much better job as a guard.

"Old John took a break, and I am the lucky one to cover his shift," Nolan said.

"That sucks. I can pay you something decent to eat after you finish your shift as a way to recover from this hell," Henry said with a friendly smile.

Henry was a cool guy.

"Thanks, I will appreciate that. See you later, Henry."

"See ya."

Nolan went inside the mines below Phoenix Crest, not knowing that covering Old John's shift would change his life forever.