My Pheonix System

“Huh …. You're still at 1 star”? The teacher’s voice echoed in disappointment as he stared at Lucien's essence results that were displayed on the screen. “At this rate Lucian you'll never become an official  hunter” sighed the teacher while he shook his head staring at Lucien. “Why can't you be like your peers? You need to put in more effort so you can earn your place amongst them if you want to qualify for a decent hunter academy and become useful to society” He reprimanded him.

“Harry is already in the late stages of 2 stars. Why can't you be more like him and match even a fraction of his effort?” Lucian’s jaw tightened as he met the teacher's eye for a second

“Ok teacher I understand I'll try harder” reluctantly he assured his teacher and turned back towards his seat.

Commotion erupted through the crowd. Some burst into laughter while others whispered

“I guess trash will always be trash”

“Seriously, what’s the point? Dead weight like him won’t last a week in a portal!”

“HAHAHA …. I don't even know why he keeps trying it's obvious he's got no talent … if I were him I'd just give up and focus on school at least he'll get a job as a construction worker”

“Damn that was mean …. Hahaha”

 the classroom made jest of his trash talent. Every mocking laughter tugged at the strings of his heart. 

“I train using breathing techniques and physical exercises everyday yet my strength isn't improving.”

I keep wondering why fate keeps playing these games with me” he thought to himself while seated down, until a hand firmly grabbed his shoulders and gave them a few reassuring taps.

“Don't listen to their bullshit Lucian as far as I am concerned whatever they're saying doesn't matter I know We’ll figure this out.”

 

“Harry, how?  what haven't I tried my mana essence doesn't seem to improve”

Lucian's sense of helplessness was justifiable. Despite all his training and meditation, his cultivation showed little to no progress. Most of his classmates were already in the mid-stages of 2 star or nearing advancement into 3 star the official stage of a hunter, while he remained stuck at 1 star, the beginning cultivation stage, no matter how hard he tried. At this rate his hopes and dreams of becoming the number one hunter was uncertain.

 In the hunter world, the higher you rank means the stronger you are which also translates to more opportunities  and resources you get access to. On the other hand lower ranks most specifically  are treated like dead weight of society.

Hours later, the school was over and the sky was getting dark Lucian barely noticed. They walked the winding, quiet side roads back to their orphanage home.

“Look, you’re coming together with me to the hunter academy. I’ll make sure you can stay nearby. We’ll train every night.”

Harry’s optimism, fueled by his genius talent, felt like a distant fantasy to Lucian.

 “You don’t get it do you? You're at the peak of 2 star soon you will breakthrough to 3 star"

"You don't understand what it feels to be me I don’t belong there”

 “Then we change that! You and I, we always planned this. I’m not leaving you behind. We’ll start tomorrow. I’ll show you the advanced Mana Circulation techniques I learned.”

“They won’t work on me because I have a low mana pool, Harry… You know that.”

Harry sighed, stopping to face him. “Then we’ll find something that does. Don’t quit on yourself because of some number, Lucian.”

While they kept on walking their route led them into an alley suddenly.

A figure stepped out from the shadows blocking their path in the alleyway. His face was hidden beneath a hood, and he wielded a crude, jagged axe. His clothes were torn in places that suggested he was in a fight,

 “Don’t move,” the man snarled. His voice was hoarse, desperate.

 “The Association’s lap dogs are on my trail. 

"You two” he said pointing the axe at both of them,

 "will make fine hostages.”

Harry stepped in front of Lucian, hand already glowing with a swirling sphere of blue light. “you're one of those Rogue hunters on the run get lost,” he hissed under his breath “Stay back, Lucian.”

“Feisty huh? have it your way then”

The man sneered, and lunged at them instantly reducing the space.  Without hesitation Lucian shoved Harry away from the direction of the attack, taking the blow himself cleanly on his chest. The force slammed him into the stone wall with a force that erupted a violent gush of blood from his lips . The pendant around his neck clattered, blood seeping across its silver surface.

His vision blurred. “So this is how I finally ended up huh?… Tsk. I didn't even get the chance to see what I could’ve become. All because I’m too weak. Damn it…I can’t.. I… I don’t want to die.”

He tried to focus,  he lost consciousness.

“NOOOO …. Lucian!” Harry’s scream tore the air as he turned, fury igniting. 

The man sneered. “Pathetic… one down already. Now, be a good little boy. Don’t try to play hero …. there’s nothing you could do to stop me.”

“Shut up bastard.”

Harry retorted, trembling with fury. Sparks burst across his arms, swelling into arcs of lightning. His eyes locked on the rogue hunter, if looks could the man would have died a hundred times.

“A mage brat luckily for me you're the perfect hostage.”

 He dashed at him, his axe came down in a savage arc, whistling through the air.”

Harry sidestepped, a streak of lightning lashing from his palm forcing the man back.

 

“You picked the wrong guys to mess with,” Harry growled.

Blasting bolt after bolt in rapid succession. The rogue deflected the strikes with his axe, to carve out an opening for even a moment to counter attack.

But Harry gave him none. His mana surged, lightning condensing in his palm, shaping into a spear of crackling blue current. With a sharp thrust, he unleashed it—

CRAAAKK… BOOM!

The spear smashed into the rogue’s axe, ripping it from his grip and hurling him to the ground as sparks sent shocks through his body.

Two hunters in heavy armor arrived at the scene, their boots clanging against the stone. Harry stood there, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, while the rogue hunter lay on the floor, moaning in pain.

Spotting the unconscious Lucian laying limp by the wall in a pool of blood, their eyes widened in shock

“Damn it… he went after some kids.”

“Quickly cuff him before he causes more trouble. We’ll sort this out back at the Guild.”

One of them knelt briefly by Lucian, checking his pulse.

“ He's still breathing .. quickly Let’s wrap things up, this'll get ugly if the officials catch wind.”

Quickly one binded his arms with glowing chains.

Harry rushed over and dropped to his knees beside Lucian, panic breaking through his fury. Blood ran down his friend’s face, but his chest still rose and fell.

“Stay with me, Lucian,” he whispered, clutching his shoulder. “You’re not leaving me here. Not like this.”

For the first time in Harry’s life, his heart was crushed by the despair at the thought of losing Lucian, his best friend.

But in the depth of Lucian's subconsciousness a message appeared before his vision 

[ Conditions met. ]  

[ You have been chosen as host for the Phoenix System. ]