Location: Earth - Sector 7, Human
Federation Military College
The next morning brought no warmth. Just regulation boots, iron discipline, and cold steel.
Manni stood quietly in the registration line, surrounded by thousands of teenagers aged
between 14 to 18. Some wore expensive armor-enhanced suits, their family crests glowing on their chests. Others wore standard Federation-issued uniforms. All of them had powers-or
thought they did.
He stood out.
Not because of his looks.
But because he had nothing. No crest. No gear.
No aura. Just... silence.
And in a world where power screamed, silence was weakness.
"He's the serum-less orphan," a voice whispered nearby.
"I heard he couldn't even afford a low-tier enhancement."
"Why is he even here? Military College is for elites."
"Tsk. Just wait-he'll be weeded out in the first month. Another zero."
Manni ignored them.
If only they knew.
If only they saw what he had seen—a throne of fire, nine banners of power, the DNA of ancient gods pumping through his veins.
He wasn't here to prove himself.
He was here to learn.
And to hide.
For now.
Earth Federation Military College -
Overview
After the Earth-Drakos War, the United Human Council passed the Mandatory Awakening Act.
Every human child-rich or poor-must attend 3 years of military college starting at age 15.
This law had one purpose:
"If you can't buy power, you'll be trained to earn it."
The colleges served three functions:
Combat & Martial Training
Weaponry and Tech Engineering
Awakening Assessment & Enhancement
Every student was graded on four core stats:
Physical Strength
Elemental Affinity
Combat Skill
Loyalty to Humanity
Those who passed were absorbed into the Military Families if they want to become solider
Those who failed... were sent to the Outer Patrol Units.
Most of them never came back.
Dorm Block: "Slum Rat's Hell"
Manni was assigned Dorm C-Block 19. Known among students as "Slum Rat's Hell."
Only the lowest ranked kids were placed here: orphans, debt-children, or serum rejects.
The room was small-concrete walls, a rusted bed, and a cracked window showing a training field.
His roommate arrived late.
A boy about his age, tall and broad, with dark eyes and knuckles covered in scars. He looked surprised to see Manni.
"You... didn't smell like fear," the boy said.
"Strange."
"Manni Kumar," he offered.
"Ravi Das," the boy nodded. "From Zone-9.
Parents dead. I was raised by scavengers."
Manni nodded. "Me too. Orphan."
They shook hands silently.
In this world, introductions were a luxury.
Inside the College's main plaza, thousands of students gathered.
Floating platforms, hovering drones, and Al robots controlled the process.
The crowd cheered as a girl stepped forward. She was from House Tiwari—one of the Five Gifted
Families.
"Anjali Tiwari. Fire Affinity: A-Rank. Strength:
B+. Combat Skill: A. Loyalty: 94%."
"Admitted to Elite Class 1."
The crowd roared.
More students stepped forward. Some had elemental affinities. Others wielded inherited weapons or cybernetic enhancement.
More students stepped forward. Some had elemental affinities. Others wielded inherited weapons or cybernetic enhancements.
Then... it was Manni's turn.
He stepped forward calmly.
The Al Drone hovered above him. A cold voice spoke.
"Name: Manni Kumar.
Status: No registered family.
Serum: None.
Enhancements: None.
Power Affinity: Undetected.
Strength: Normal.
Combat Skill: Low.
Loyalty: Unmeasured."
"Designation: Class F. Non-threat. Assigned to Physical Labor Training Unit."
The crowd laughed.
"Wow. Even the Al thinks he's useless."
"Class F?! That's worse than dogs!"
Ravi gritted his teeth nearby.
But Manni... smiled slightly.
The test couldn't scan his true power. His bloodline was hidden by the system. His dragon and vampire auras remained sealed unless he allowed them to emerge.
"Good," Manni whispered to himself. "Stay hidden. For now."
SYSTEM WHISPER (Only Manni Can See)
Your aura has been successfully suppressed.
Power evaluation: Masked as "Normal."
Hidden Traits:
"Strength: A"
"Speed: A+"
"Flame Affinity: S"
"Vampiric Reflex: S"
You are invisible to current Earth-level scanning.
Proceed as planned
Training - Survival Combat
Simulation
The next day, training began.
All students were thrown into the combat dome—
a massive forest-simulation filled with robotic
beasts, elemental traps, and fake Drakos clones.
Objective: Survive 24 hours. Alone.
Anyone who gave up early lost credits and rank.
Manni entered without a weapon.
Other students entered with swords, blasters, and suits.
Inside the dome, chaos broke out instantly.
Clones of hybrid beasts roared and chased after the students. Manni moved calmly, dodging attacks with supernatural agility, never triggering a trap.
One beast leapt at him.
He didn't strike back.
He simply moved aside-unnaturally fast.
It hit a tree and exploded.
He kept moving. Silent. Ghostlike.
"System," he whispered. "Show map overlay."
"System Access Denied. Trial Mode Active."
He smiled.
He didn't need the system.
He was hunting them.
Meanwhile, In Observation Room...
A group of instructors watched the screen.
"That Manni boy... he has no power, but his survival rate is perfect."
"No injuries. No attacks. But he's avoided 17 ambushes. Is it luck?"
"Luck doesn't dodge poison darts or read beast patterns like that."
"We should mark him. Maybe... a sleeper.
Keep him under surveillance."
Midnight - Inside the Dome Manni sat on a tree branch, unmoving.
Below him, a pack of simulation beasts circled.
He closed his eyes.
His body shimmered.
The hybrid form began to activate-just slightly.
Eyes turned slitted red.
Heat rose around him.
Time seemed to slow.
"Let's test it," he whispered.
He leapt down, and in four movements, destroyed the entire pack.
Not with power.
But with technique.
A week ago, he had no strength.
Now... he had power. Blood. Memory. Technique from ancient dragons and forgotten vampires surging within.
The beast fell.
"Trial Complete: Hidden Task Achieved."
Bonus System Points: +30
Stealth Mastery (Passive) - Gained
Mini Map Unlocked
He smiled.
The game was just beginning.
Back at College - Day 2 Rankings
To everyone's shock...
"Top survival rate: Manni Kumar.
Kills: 0. Injuries: 0. Time in dome: 24 hours exact.
Rank Promotion: Class D."
The laughter died.
The crowd grew silent.
And somewhere in the military command center, someone marked his name in red.
"Keep eyes on him. Something's... off."