Classless King: I Absorb Anything I Kill

Chapter 4

The capital city of Valdris was a monster.

Aleric had seen drawings, heard descriptions, but nothing prepared him for the reality. Stone buildings rose four, five, six stories high. Streets paved with actual cobblestones, not dirt. Shops with glass windows displaying goods from across the kingdom.

And the people. Thousands of them. More people than Aleric had seen in his entire fourteen years combined.

"Stay close," Enzo said, one hand on Aleric's shoulder as they navigated the crowded streets. Helena walked on his other side, clutching her purse nervously.

They'd arrived three days early. The ceremony required registration, medical examination, and fitting for ceremonial robes.

Their inn was modest. Clean but cheap. Other noble families stayed in actual mansions owned by relatives in the capital. The Swore family had no such connections.

"It's fine," Aleric said when he saw his mother's embarrassed face. "I don't need luxury. I need focus."

The next day, they went to the Registration Hall.

Hundreds of fifteen-year-olds crowded the massive building. All dressed in their best. All buzzing with nervous energy.

"Name?" A bored clerk asked when they reached the front of the line.

"Aleric Swore."

The clerk checked his list. "Lord Enzo Swore's son. Verified. Stand over there for your examination."

The medical exam was humiliating.

Aleric stood shirtless while three mages prodded him with glowing hands. They measured his mana channels. Tested his physical condition. Whispered to each other.

"Readings are... unusual," one mage said.

"Define unusual," another replied.

"Channel development is below 25%. But the density is odd. Almost compressed."

"Compressed? That doesn't make sense."

"I know. But look at the readings."

They argued for ten minutes before finally stamping his paperwork. "Approved for ceremony. Though I'll be honest, young man. Your prognosis isn't good."

"I know," Aleric said.

The ceremony was scheduled for noon. That morning, Aleric couldn't eat.

"You need to eat something," Helena fussed. "You'll need your strength."

"I'm not hungry."

She looked ready to cry. "Sweetie, I know you're nervous. But whatever happens today, we love you. Your class doesn't matter to us."

Aleric hugged her. "I know, Mom. Thank you."

But it mattered to him. It mattered more than anything.

---

The Awakening Hall was a cathedral of stone and crystal.

The ceiling stretched a hundred feet high. Massive pillars carved with ancient runes lined the walls. At the center, on a raised platform, stood the Awakening Stone.

It was bigger than Aleric expected. A crystal monolith fifteen feet tall, perfectly smooth, glowing with internal light that shifted through every color imaginable.

Hundreds of people filled the hall. Nobles in the front rows. Wealthy merchants behind them. Commoners in the back, craning their necks to see.

King Aldric sat on a throne at the front. An old man with white hair and a kind face. Beside him, his advisors and court mages.

"Welcome!" The King's voice carried through the hall without shouting. Magic amplification. "Today, you young men and women will discover your potential. Your place in this world. Approach the Awakening Stone with courage and humility."

An official stepped forward. "When your name is called, approach the stone. Place both hands on its surface. The stone will resonate with your mana and reveal your class, affinity, and status. Is everyone ready?"

Nervous nods from the crowd of candidates.

"Then let us begin. First candidate: Adrian Blackwood!"

A tall boy in expensive robes strode forward. Placed his hands on the stone.

The crystal glowed green. Pulsed. Letters appeared in the air above it, visible to everyone.

[ADRIAN BLACKWOOD]**

[CLASS: 4TH - EARTH KNIGHT]

[AFFINITY: EARTH]

[POTENTIAL: ABOVE AVERAGE]

Applause. Adrian's family cheered. He bowed to the King and stepped aside, grinning.

"Next: Sophia Crane!"

A girl with red hair approached. The stone glowed orange.

[SOPHIA CRANE]

[CLASS: 3RD - FIRE ADEPT]

[AFFINITY: FIRE]

[POTENTIAL: AVERAGE]

Polite applause. Sophia looked disappointed but tried to smile.

The ceremony continued. Most candidates awakened between 2nd and 4th Class. A few hit 5th. One lucky boy reached 6th, causing a stir.

Then came the name Aleric had been dreading.

"Roderick Thorne!"

Roderick walked forward like he owned the place. His ceremonial robes were pristine white with gold thread. He placed his hands on the stone with complete confidence.

The crystal exploded with red light. Bright, intense, overwhelming.

[RODERICK THORNE]

[CLASS: 6TH - CRIMSON FLAME KNIGHT]

[AFFINITY: FIRE (HIGH)]

[POTENTIAL: EXCEPTIONAL]

The hall erupted. People jumped to their feet. Even the King looked impressed.

"Congratulations, young Thorne," King Aldric said. "A 6th Class awakening at fifteen. You have a bright future ahead."

Roderick bowed deeply. As he turned to leave the platform, his eyes found Aleric in the crowd. He smiled. That same smug, superior smile.

More names. More awakenings. The excitement from Roderick's reveal slowly faded.

Then: "Aleric Swore!"

The crowd whispered. Aleric heard bits and pieces as he walked down the aisle.

"That's the war hero's son."

"I heard he's defective."

"Poor thing. This will be embarrassing."

Aleric blocked them out. Focused on the stone. Each step felt like a mile.

He reached the platform. Climbed the steps. Stood before the Awakening Stone.

Up close, it was beautiful. The colors shifted like liquid light. He could feel the power radiating from it.

He placed both hands on the smooth crystal surface.

Nothing happened.

Five seconds passed, then ten, then fifteen 

The whispers grew louder.

"Why isn't it activating?"

"Is he broken?"

"The stone works, right?"

The official frowned, drawing forward. "Young man, are you channeling your mana?"

"I'm trying," Aleric said through gritted teeth.

He pushed. Tried to force his mana into the stone. But his channels were still barely functional. The energy trickled out like water through a pinhole.

"Let me check," the official said. He placed his hand on the stone beside Aleric's. The crystal glowed immediately, confirming it worked fine.

The crowd laughed. Nervous, uncomfortable laughter.

"Perhaps he's a null?" someone suggested. "Someone with no mana at all?"

"Impossible. Everyone has mana."

"Then what—"

CRACK.

A sound like breaking glass. The Awakening Stone shuddered.

Everyone went silent.

The stone's light changed. From the shifting rainbow to solid, absolute black. Like someone had carved a hole in reality.

"What—" The official stumbled back.

The black light spread. Covered the entire stone. Then words appeared. But they were different. Not floating in the air. Carved directly into the crystal surface, glowing with dark light.

[ALERIC SWORE]

**[CLASS: ERROR]

[CLASSIFICATION: UNDEFINED]

[STATUS: CLASSLESS]

[AFFINITY: NULL]

[POTENTIAL: CALCULATING...]

[CALCULATING...]

[ERROR]

[SYSTEM CANNOT DEFINE]

The hall exploded.

"Classless?!"

"What does that even mean?!"

"I've never heard of that!"

The King stood. "Officials, explain this. Now."

The head mage rushed forward. Examined the stone. "Your Majesty, I... I don't understand. The stone is functioning properly. But it's classifying him as neither 1st Class nor 10th Class. It's saying he has no class at all."

"Is that even possible?"

"In theory, no. Every human has a class, even if it's 1st. But this..." He looked at Aleric with something like fear. "This is unprecedented."

Roderick's voice cut through the chaos. "So he's worse than 1st Class? He's not even good enough to be a servant?"

Laughter. Cruel, mocking laughter.

"He's not just weak, he's nothing!"

"The stone rejected him!"

"How pathetic!"

Aleric stood frozen. His hands still on the stone. The black light still emanating from where he touched.

This was worse than anything Drake had done. Worse than the rooftop. Worse than death.

Because this was his second chance. His fresh start. And the universe was telling him he still didn't matter.

Someone threw food. An apple core that hit his shoulder.

Guards didn't stop it. Maybe they thought he deserved it.

More laughter. More mockery. The sound crashed over him like ocean waves.

His vision blurred, not with tear but With rage.

Then, something changed.

The blue text that only he could see appeared. But it was different, morelike aggressive. 

[UNAUTHORIZED CLASSIFICATION DETECTED]

[OVERRIDING STANDARD AWAKENING PROTOCOL]

[WARNING: SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY ERROR]

[CLASSLESS STATUS: CONFIRMED]

[INTERPRETATION: YOU EXIST OUTSIDE THE NORMAL HIERARCHY]

[EXPLANATION: YOU ARE NOT 1ST CLASS]

[YOU ARE NOT 10TH CLASS]

[YOU ARE ZERO CLASS]

[ZERO = NO LIMITS]

[ZERO = NO RESTRICTIONS]

[ZERO = INFINITE POTENTIAL]

[SPECIAL ABILITY UNLOCKED: ABSORPTION]

[YOU CAN TAKE ABILITIES FROM DEFEATED ENEMIES]

[YOU CAN GROW BEYOND ALL CLASSIFICATIONS]

[WARNING: STARTING FROM ZERO MEANS EXACTLY THAT]

[YOU BEGIN WITH NOTHING]

[ABSOLUTELY NOTHING]

[BUT YOU CAN BECOME ANYTHING]

Aleric's hands trembled on the stone.

"Zero," he whispered.

The crowd kept laughing. Kept mocking.

Roderick stepped forward. "Did everyone hear that? He whispered 'zero'! Even he admits he's worthless!"

More laughter.

But Aleric wasn't listening anymore.

He lifted his hands from the stone. Turned. Faced the crowd.

His expression was completely calm. Empty. Like a mask.

"You're right," he said. His voice didn't carry. Most people couldn't hear him.

But Roderick could. "What?"

"I said you're right," Aleric repeated, louder. "I'm Classless. I'm zero. I'm nothing."

He started walking. Down the platform. Through the center aisle.

"But zero is interesting," he continued. Each word measured. Precise. "Zero is where you start counting. Zero is the point where everything begins."

He passed Roderick. Didn't look at him.

"So thank you. For reminding me. I'm at zero."

He reached the exit. Turned one last time.

"Which means the only direction I can go... is up."

Then he left.

Behind him, the Awakening Hall was chaos. People arguing. Officials scrambling. The King demanding explanations.

But Aleric heard none of it.

He walked out into the sunlight. His parents rushed after him.

"Aleric, wait—"

"I'm fine," he said. And surprisingly, he meant it.

Because for the first time since arriving in this world, he understood something.

He wasn't weak because of some defect. He wasn't limited because of bad luck.

He was Classless because he was meant to forge his own path. No templates. No restrictions. No ceiling.

Just infinite, terrifying potential.

"They'll see," he muttered. "They'll all see."