I Rank Zero

In the vast space of the universe at the end of creation stood a being.

A being that was radiating waves of power just from his presence.

This was a dark corner of space where no other being had ever been.

It was the only place capable of containing the man's power so long as he only breathed.

Any form of action that he would otherwise take would cause the universe to fold in on itself and collapse.

This would result in the destruction of any and everything that has ever been created.

The being knew that his time was about to end and that it was time to pass on his legacy.

Every achievement he had set out to complete had been accomplished, as he stood at the apex of all other beings.

Wanting to finally be able to rest, the forgotten being ended his existence yet, before doing so he sent out his blessing to the one and only person who would be able to wield his power.

***

Seven years ago the world changed.

It was just like any other day for all of mankind when something unexplainable happened.

People, ordinary people, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and children began to receive superpowers.

Powers that were so menacing they could change of life of a homeless man, to one that of a world leader.

But, humanity was not ready for these events, and when power fell into the hands of terrible people the whole world suffered.

So in order to escape or to find new places to grow people began to leave Earth.

These people traveled throughout the universe where they expanded and claimed new planets.

Whether some of the more powerful people destroyed these planets or the ones without power escaped to them. Either way, Earth was all but forgotten.

Yet, on that forgotten planet where humanity once resided lived a young man named Arthur.

***

"AHHHH!" Arthur's screams got cut short as he received yet another blow to the stomach.

"You fucking piece of trash," Said one of the boys beating him up.

"I'm so-"

Arthur gets cut off by another punch before he could apologize.

"Didn't we give you enough of a beating last time?" Another one of the boys says as he punches Arthur in the face causing him to collapse to the ground.

"Get him!" The third boy says as they begin to pummel with kicks.

"Ack-" Arthur cries out as he begins to spit up blood.

As Arthur is laying on the dirty ground getting beat and kick repeatedly without end, all he can think of, is why?

'Why? Why couldn't I be gifted a power?' I shout in my head.

'Why must everyone besides me be chosen?'

'What did I do to be punished like this?'

'Those fucking gods,' I curse.

*crack*

"Oh shit!" The first boy says.

That cracking sound was my ribs breaking and puncturing my lungs.

'That last hit must have been enough to satisfy them,' I laugh to myself as I watch them leave with tears in my eyes.

"Ugh," I mumble aloud.

'All I wanted was something to eat,' I say as I reach out my hand for the moldy dirt-covered bread.

Yet laying on the ground with every breath putting me through excruciating pain I still had enough energy to curse the gods.

'When people began getting powers it only took a month or so for humanity to realize that by praying to a god they could be gifted powers.'

'So ever since I found out I prayed every day to every god that I could possibly think of no matter what their specialty was.'

'I watched day after day as all the people around me got powers while I was left… forgotten.'

'I watch on as my own parents and sister got powers but left to fend for myself.'

'I was left of this rotten planet.'

'So now I offer up one final prayer. To the god that is like me forgotten and left to despair gift me your power so that I might rule over all those that left us!'

At that very moment, a light so bright clouded my vision.

[Name: Arthur]

Level: 1 (0%)

Health: 12%

Attack: 2

Defense: 0

Speed: 3

Mana: 10

Abilities - All abilities that you could have, are forgotten in time. (You will steal the abilities of every person you kill)

Mission - Slay all those who are forgotten. Your name resides in the shadows. There are no others like you: Kill everyone who still lives on Earth. (Reward: 5 levels, 50 mana, ability to travel through space)

Rank: Zero

As the light dimmed in front of me I was shocked to see a game-like panel in front of me.

'Ha!' I chuckle finally being blessed by a god.

As I read to the bottom of the screen a sinister smile crept onto my face.

'Well, if that's what is required so be it,' I manage to promise before passing out.

A couple of hours later I wake up.

"Huh… ah, fuck!" I curse only to be brought back to reality due to the pain in my chest.

'Haha, I can't believe it. Finally, after all this time I get blessed.'

Looking to my side I take another look at the screen in front of me.

Yet something distracts me.

Health: 8%

"Fuck me," I mutter.

I was still laying out on the ground bleeding from many different places.

'I can't die like this,' I say.

Gritting my teeth I make an attempt to sit up.

"ERRRrrr," I cry out just trying to move on to my hands and knees.

"Whew," I did it.

Looking down with my hands stretched to support me along with my knees I finally realize how bad of a shape I'm in.

There was dried blood that pretty much dyed my skin red.

It was nearly impossible to breathe and the pain was indescribable.

Not to mention the pounding in my head as a terrible headache set in.

'Get up, get up, get up,' I repeat over and over in my head.

Pushing up with my hands I move back and into a kneeling position.

Then rising one leg at a time I slowly get up. Before finally standing upright completely.

"Yes!" I say aloud.

But when I go to take my first step I immediately collapse back down.

Getting a mouth full of dirt I curse the situation that I am in.

Health: 5%