Morning light slipped through the thin curtains of a small apartment on Midway Street. Theo Taylor slowly opened his eyes. For a moment he stared at the cracked ceiling above his bed. The room was silent except for the distant sound of traffic outside. He pushed himself upright. His body was thin and slightly frail, the result of years of poor meals and constant stress. Thick black curls framed his pale face. Behind his glasses, his eyes looked tired for someone his age. Theo swung his legs off the bed and stood. Another day. He moved through his routine quietly. A quick shower. Brushing his teeth. Combing his hair. Soon he was dressed in the standard Bedrock High School uniform. A white shirt, black trousers, and neatly polished shoes. He grabbed his bag and stepped outside. The morning air was cool as he began the familiar walk to school. Bedrock High School stood tall in the center of the district. Students filled the courtyard in small groups, laughing and chatting whi

Theo woke at 6:00 p.m., the fading evening light slipping through his curtains. He dressed quickly and stepped out, determined to begin the path he had chosen. After a thirty-minute walk, he arrived at the gym.The building stood tall with a black marble-like exterior speckled with white dots. Inside, the interior blended black and red marble across its thousand-square-foot space. The gym was equipped with machines designed for various training routines. In one corner stood two VR pods, advanced training chambers capable of simulating basic and intermediate demonic beasts for combat practice. Despite its impressive facilities, the gym was often quiet. Most people preferred focusing on developing their supernatural abilities rather than strengthening their physical bodies. The owner, Mark, was a man in his late twenties. He had an average but solid build, long red hair reaching his shoulders, and smooth, fair skin. There was an aloof air about him, as though he had grown accustomed t

Theo walked away from the scene in silence, his thoughts heavy.Did I make the right decision… or was I too rash?His jaw tightened.Zero’s calm voice echoed in his mind.“No, Master. Even if it appeared reckless, you made the correct choice.”Theo exhaled slowly and cleared his thoughts. Doubt would only slow him down.“I’ll focus on growing stronger,” he muttered. “Daily quests. Physical training. No distractions.”Then something struck him.“The final exams… they’re in two weeks.”For a moment, the weight of reality returned. Strength alone was not enough. If he wanted to survive in this world, he needed discipline in every aspect of his life.“I’ll prepare for the exams,” he said firmly. “But I won’t neglect my training.”And so his routine began.During the day, Theo buried himself in books. He reviewed formulas, revisited concepts, and pushed his mind as hard as he pushed his body.In the evenings, he trained relentlessly at the gym. He refined his movements, strengthened his mu

The water user moved first.With a flick of his wrist, two streams of water shot forward like cracking whips slicing through the air.CRACK!Theo's instincts exploded into action.He instantly dropped into a defensive stance."Iron Hide Guard."His muscles tightened as his skin hardened.SMACK!The water streams slammed into his torso.The impact forced the air from his lungs and pushed him half a step backward.HP: 100 → 95Pain spread across his ribs.Theo clenched his teeth.Even blocked attacks still hurt.The opponent attacked again.The water streams twisted through the air like snakes and lunged toward Theo from both sides.Left.Right.No escape."Moonstep."Theo disappeared.A faint afterimage lingered where he once stood.The water attacks sliced through empty air.Theo reappeared several meters ahead.Right inside striking range.Now."Claw Strike!"A sharp slash of energy shot toward the opponent.The water user reacted instantly."Water Wall!"A thick barrier of water sur

The arena formed slowly around him, as if reality itself was being constructed piece by piece. Towering stone walls rose into the air, enclosing the space in a massive circular structure. Dust drifted across the ground, carried by an unseen breeze that made the battlefield feel ancient and unforgiving. Theo stood at the center, his sword resting firmly in his hand. His grip was steady, far more confident than before. The unfamiliar weight he once felt was gone, replaced with something closer to instinct. Across from him, the demonic beast slowly lifted its head. Its lean body was built for speed, every muscle tightly coiled beneath dark skin. Its crimson eyes locked onto him, cold and calculating, as if it had already decided how this battle would end. A low growl rumbled through the arena, subtle but threatening. The creature did not rush forward recklessly. Instead, it observed him, studying him like prey worth understanding. Ding! Opponent Detected. Basic Speed-Type Demonic B