Rebirth Of The Sealed Core: The Rise Of Billy Howell

CHAPTER 1 — THE SEALED ENERGY BREAKS

Billy Howell had always lived a quiet and ordinary life in Silver Heights. Every day felt the same. Wake up, go to work, get laughed at a little, then walk home with tired steps. Most people didn’t hate him, but they didn’t take him seriously either. To them, Billy was simply that unlucky kid who always messed up, always got the short end of the stick, and always looked like life beat him down one more time than necessary.

But Billy had learned to live with it.

Or at least, he tried to.

That Friday morning started like every other. Billy was rushing to his job at the delivery company, struggling to keep his bag from falling apart as he ran. Old Mrs. Harper from the bakery waved at him as he passed by.

“Slow down, Billy! You’ll trip again!”

He forced a smile. “I’ll be fine!”

Of course, the moment he said that, his foot caught the edge of a raised pavement tile, and he stumbled forward. He managed to stop himself just before falling completely. A man walking behind him snorted in laughter.

Same old Billy.

Same old bad luck.

He walked faster, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

When he reached work, the supervisor gave him the look he always got—that exhausted expression that said, Why did I get stuck with you again?

“You’re late, Howell.”

“I’m sorry, sir. Won’t happen again.”

“It always happens again.”

Billy lowered his head and didn’t respond. What was he supposed to say? That he tried his best? Nobody ever cared.

The day dragged on slowly. Billy was moving boxes in the warehouse when a loud rumble shook the ground. At first, he thought something heavy fell upstairs. But then the entire building trembled again—stronger this time.

A co-worker shouted, “Earthquake!”

Everyone rushed toward the exit, but Billy was near the back of the warehouse. Before he could move, a metal shelf beside him gave a loud crack and collapsed.

“Watch out!” someone yelled.

Billy tried to jump away, but the shelf smashed down on him. He felt a sharp pain shoot through his body as everything went dark.

He wasn’t sure how long he was unconscious, but when he opened his eyes, the warehouse was strangely quiet. Dust floated in the air. The shelf that fell on him was pushed aside—though Billy didn’t remember doing it.

His chest felt hot. Almost burning.

Then he heard it.

A voice. Calm, deep, and echoing from inside his head.

[Eternal Origin System initializing…]

Billy jerked upright.

“What… what was that?”

At first he thought someone was speaking near him, but he quickly realized the sound was in his mind.

[Scanning host condition…]

[Seal detected… Origin Core awakening…]

[Warning: Energy release imminent.]

Billy’s heartbeat hammered so loudly he felt his chest vibrate. Heat rushed through his veins like liquid fire. He tried to stand, but his legs nearly gave out.

“What’s going on? Who’s there?!” he shouted, though nobody was around.

Suddenly, an explosion of energy burst from his body, sending dust flying in all directions. Billy gasped for air as a glowing symbol appeared above his hand—something ancient and unfamiliar.

Then the voice spoke again:

[Host Billy Howell — your sealed core has awakened.]

“My… what awakened?”

[The Eternal Origin Core. A treasure hidden in your body since birth.]

Billy blinked, completely overwhelmed.

“I don’t understand. Why me? And what treasure?”

[The seal placed on your energy suppressed your potential for years. Without the seal, your true abilities would have appeared long ago.]

Billy frowned.

“So… I’m not naturally weak?”

[Incorrect. You were never weak. You were sealed.]

The words hit him harder than the fallen shelf.

All those years—people laughing at him, calling him useless, saying he’d never amount to anything. All those failures he blamed on himself. All the times he thought life simply hated him.

None of it was because he was worthless.

Something… someone… had sealed him.

“Why?” Billy whispered. “Who would do that to me?”

[Unknown. System memory damaged. Restoring slowly.]

Billy breathed heavily, trying to steady himself.

Then the voice continued:

[Congratulations, Host. The Eternal Origin System has officially bound to your soul.]

Before Billy could ask anything, glowing text appeared before his eyes, floating in the air like a hologram.

────────────

SYSTEM MENU

• Reward System — Active

• Task System — Active

• Exchange System — Active

────────────

Billy stared, stunned into silence.

“A… a system? Like in those novels?” he muttered.

[Correct. Beginning system orientation.]

Just then, footsteps echoed from outside the warehouse. People were coming back in.

Billy snapped out of his daze. The glowing text disappeared immediately.

He didn’t know what the Eternal Origin Core was… or why he was chosen… but one thing was clear:

Billy Howell’s life would never be the same again.

And for the first time in his entire life…

He didn’t feel weak.