Chapter 2

Jael hurried back into his rundown apartment room as soon as he got home.

He unraveled the package to reveal a circle with several complex inscriptions and runes etched on its surface.

The sole window in his apartment provided enough light to see so Jael cleared the floor and laid the circle down.

The ritual circle expanded and widened until it acquired the size of an extra large bowl.

A thin crack was running from the center of the circle to the edges. The awakening ritual circle was broken but Jael wasn't surprised, his parents' letter had already given him an heads up.

Jael stood at the center of the circle before he started chanting the necessary incantation to kick start the array.

The array began to glow gold as a powerful pressure filled the room. Jael's black hair fluttered even with the absence of wind and the golden inscriptions flowed into Jael.

Power filled his muscles and flesh. For a moment, Jael felt like he could sunder the entire world. He felt indestructible.

[Initializing...]

[Starting up the ultimate bloodline system.]

[Not enough power.]

[Startup failed.]

Jael was still enjoying the sensation of having powers so he did not see the messages appearing and disappearing as they came.

The array started to shake and it emitted breaking noises. Jael's body felt like a magnet as it began to siphon more power from the awakening ritual array.

After a moment of Jael unknowingly drawing power from the array, the array groaned and buckled.

The originally thin crack was expanded in an alarming manner until it tore the array into separate halves that dimmed and lost power.

Black dots began to fill Jael's vision as he slumped on the floor.

'It failed?' Jael's expression was distraught as he thought this.

He couldn't hold on anymore and he lost consciousness.

*****

When Jael woke up, it was dark outside. His stomach grumbled but Jael ignored it.

He couldn't believe the high level awakening ritual circle failed. He was still as powerless as before.

He had used his life savings to buy a medium awakening ritual array previously but it didn't rouse his ability. When he read his parents letter about their gift, he was hopeful and overjoyed.

Now everything went back to how it was before. No, it was even more devastating than the original scenario. At least then, he didn't know a high level awakening ritual would work on him.

At least in the past, he had hope to look towards. Right now, he only felt overwhelming despair surging through him.

A few years ago, earth mutated and an outbreak of a strange energy happened.

Most people call this strange energy ether, mana or even magic.

This energy transformed the earth. Numerous subdimension zones opened and new ones are still being discovered. Humans awakened dormant powers hidden within them.

The sad thing is that, not everybody can be an awakened. Some might awaken their powers early, late or never even glimpse what their powers is in thier current life.

Jael was part of those people without powers.

Thankfully, humanity discovered a way to push those dormant powers out. It was through the awakening ritual arrays.

The arrays were divided into low, medium or high level awakening ritual arrays.

Jael had though he had hope since there was arrays even if his ability didn't want to come out naturally.

Now, reality had shut down his assumptions mercilessly.

Was he really destined to be a useless person all through his life? Will he continue to struggle under those with powers?

He hadn't been able to get his hands on a high level awakening ritual array because of the way people in authority monopolized it so hope had sprouted when he saw his parents' letter.

He thought he still had a chance. He didn't know this world didn't want him to be strong.

Jael picked himself up and freshened up. Today was the birthday of his beloved girlfriend. He had to go visit her and he didn't want his depressing thoughts to bother her.

He wore his only presentable cloth. A black trouser along with a white shirt. He managed to buy it for situations like an interview but now wasn't the time to be stingy.

He would use it to visit his girlfriend first.

Jaeo took the gift box he had prepared beforehand before leaving for his girlfriend, Stacie's place.

Stacie's situation was better than his. Her appearance was stunning too. He did not know why she liked him, all he knew was that he loved her.

She was one of the motivation for his quest of growing stronger. He wanted to protect her and provide for her.

Jael rang the door bell when he got to Stacie's house. A young guy with permed hair answered.

Jael recognized him. He was one of his schoolmates.

The government let go of any distinction between college and high school. They were both combined into an eight year course.

Education was important but power was even more important. Every school curriculum changed to accommodate the earth's mutation.

Jael was in his in 7th year along with Stacie.

When the guy saw Jael, he wanted to slam the door in Jael's face until amusement took over his features.

He opened the door, "Come in Jael. Stacie is waiting for you."

When the boy said Stacie was waiting for him, he smiled and his eyes took on a malicious tint.

Jael reigned in his confusion.

He was wondering why Stacie didn't let him know that she was going to have a birthday party.

She even told him specifically that she wasn't celebrating it this year.

A harmless fireworks show conjured by somebody's ability lightened up the hall. Stacie was holding a guy's hand as she smiled to the girls and boys surrounding her to give their congratulations or gifts.

Jael's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach and he remained where he was.

He didn't want to believe whatever he was seeing.

After everybody gave their congratulations and gifts, a girl approached Stacie. Jael knew her, she was Stacie's best friend. She had always been an ardent opposer of their relationship. She always advises Stacie to leave him.

"Where is Jael?" Stacie's best friend, Gina asked with a smile that did not seem like a smile.

Stacie snorted as she clutched the arm of her male companion tightly.

A tiny seedling of hope sprouted in Jael's heart but his supposed girlfriend's next words uprooted it thoroughly.

"I don't know where he is. I told him I wasn't celebrating my birthday. He should be somewhere." Stacie said with contempt oozing from her every word.

"Well, you really delivered more than the bet required. You had him wrapped around your finger." Gina said and the youths surrounding Stacie laughed.

'A bet?' Jael shook his head to clear the dark thoughts jumping around.

'Their relationship, their joy and their times together was a bet?'

Another boy grinned, "He's still wrapped around her finger."

"I really want to see his face when he discovered Stacie dated him to fulfil a bet." A girl interjected and the rest echoed her words.

Jael grinned but his smile looked eerie and disturbing instead of giving off its usual warm vibes.

He began walking towards Stacie. He didn't stop to argue with these people seeking his hurt. He didn't have power to overcome them anyway. He would get his revenge some other way.

Jael only memorized their faces.

He stood before Stacie.

"Happy birthday my love." He congratulated as he presented his gift.

The boy that Stacie was holding on to grimaced. He removed Stacie's band from his own before facing Jael.

The boy pushed Jael roughly, "Who are you calling your love? Don't cheapen her!"

Jael tried to recall where he saw the boy's familiar face. Then it clicked. He was one of the rich second generations that was present among the 7th years.

This world had been divided into two categories. The first category are the ones that are rich and powerful while the second group are those without wealth or powers.

These people without strength or money are the commoners while the other group enjoy their so called nobility.

This boy, Max was one of those type of nobility descendants. He had money, power and connections. He wasn't somebody Jael could really go against right now.

A sneeze in his direction might get Jael implicated.

Jael had stumbled but he righted his posture before picking up the gift that had fallen to the ground.

He didn't clean any dirt that might have stained the gift before he gave it to Stacie again.

Some of Stacie's friends had whipped their phone out to record what was going on.

Jael did not mind it. He had enough experience being an internet sensation. He was numbed to that kind of thing. Besides, he couldn't really stop them. Even if he destroyed their phones, the videos would still leak.

He knew that his story would be on everyone's lips by tomorrow but he shrugged off any nagging worries that might disturb him. He only focused on hearing what Stacie had to say.

The creepy smile didn't fall from Jael's lips. It was like a permanent brand.

"You heard everything." Stacie said as she studied his face. Her words were affirmations instead of questions. Even if their dating life was fake, they had spent quite some time together. She knew things about him.

It was obvious that he was upset but Jael noticed she didn't really care.

It felt like all those months filled with their joy, sorrows and love vanished quietly into nothingness.

Jael chided himself.

He was the only one that felt love. For her, it was a game used to pass time and at the same time, it was used to fufil the requirement of the bet she had.

Jael wanted to laugh and at the same time, he felt like shedding tears as well. His emotions were just going through a rollercoaster.

Stacie didn't even feel apologetic. That was the source of Jael's heartbreak.

She sighed, "That makes things easier then. Everything between us was a bet so you should run off to your little rundown shack now."

Jael stared at her, "Why?"

Jael wanted her to say the truth in her heart. He wanted it to be the premise to make him cut her off from his life totally and completely.

He wanted to see her true face.

She looked at him with a complicated stare.

"I would not lie. The thing with you was interesting and fun but that is all it is going to be. A fun pastime." She smiled, "Whereas, do you really think I would be satisfied with a person of your caliber? Did you really think you can give me what I want?"

Jael did not interrupt as Stacie's male companion fixed a gloomy gaze on him.

"You are poor. You have no merits except for being good at some courses that don't deal with abilities. A total liability." Stacie continued before she gave a gesture for the paused party to resume.

Stacie smacked the gift in Jael's outstretched hand to the floor.

"Forget about me and don't pester me in the future or I won't be responsible for the consequences that might result." Stacie said before going back to the conversations around her.

Jael didn't pick up the gift again.

The gift box had scattered because of the poor materials used to make it while the contents rolled out. The contents was a circular bottle containing a scenting liquid. It was a perfume bottle.

Jael had worked hard for months in order to buy this gift but his intentions had been trampled.

"Stacie, that perfume is the third version of The Elegant Seductress Collection, are you sure you don't want to accept it?" Somebody asked enviously.

"He seemed to really work hard on getting you a gift." Another feminine voice said in mockery.

"No, I don't. Throw it in the waste bin. I don't want to see it." Stacie ordered with a cold voice.

Murmurs commending Stacie rang out.

A storm brewed within Jael as he clenched his fists. Jael had never wanted power as much as he did now.

He wanted to have the feeling of having the world at his fingertips again. He wanted to grow stronger. He want to have the ability to decide his own fate and the fate of his loved ones.

Jael did not leave immediately and that fact got on Max's nerves.

"Drag him out." Max instructed coldly and burly men dressed in black came out of the shadows to Jael's side.

They dragged Jael out roughly before slamming the door on his face.

Jael sat immobile for a few seconds before he picked himself up.

He started his trek home as his thoughts churned within him.

He felt like a fool for believing that someone who was friends with his bullies can truly love him. He was the clown acting a one sided show as Stacie and her friends watched in amusement.

Their relationship just put him in a spot. Everything went on the worse turn.

He wants revenge and power, he just don't know how to get it in this world that would love for him to remain useless forever.