I floated in my swimming pool, staring at my status screen.
[Status]
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Name : Billion Ironhart
Race : Human
Class : N/A
Laws : N/A
Level : 0
Talent :
- Generator 1
- Essence : 0/5
Attributes :
- Strength: 8
- Constitution: 7
- Dexterity: 10
- Psynapse : 7
Unused Stats: 0
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My Dexterity had finally hit 10. I liked this feeling, there was a noticeable change in my body, like I had broken through some invisible barrier and the path to greatness had officially begun.
"This talent is too overpowered. Four hours of training, and I got a whole 1 unit of stat."
Excitement buzzed through me. If I used this talent properly and kept upgrading it, I was sure I'd always be ahead of my peers.
But there was a catch. I couldn't use it back to back—not because of the energy absorption itself, but because of the sheer strain I had to put my body through to generate that much energy. However, if something else was generating energy and all I had to do was absorb it, things would be different.
I smirked. Very different.
I glanced at the time and sighed.
'I should get out. It's already five. Grandma's about to arrive.'
I left the pool and headed straight to my room. After a proper shower, making sure I was spotless, I got dressed—black pants, a light blue formal shirt and sprayed on some cologne to smell presentable.
Grandma, Elena Ironhart, was a no-nonsense woman. Strict. Tough. She valued discipline, silence, and professionalism above all else. After losing her son and daughter-in-law, she became even more rigid. The only time I ever saw her smile was with me.
She held a high-ranking position in the military and even had influence in the capital. It was her decision to send me to Avenue Academy, my mother's alma mater, to honor her memory. Otherwise, with Grandma's connections, I could have easily joined any academy in the capital. She was a strong, powerful and influential woman.
I stepped outside, the cool evening breeze brushing against my face as I waited at the front entrance. The sky had turned a deep shade of orange, the sun dipping below the horizon. I checked the time 5:55 PM. Right on schedule.
A few minutes later, the distinct hum of an approaching vehicle filled the air. A sleek, armored black car rolled up to the driveway, stopping smoothly in front of me. The doors unlocked with a quiet click.
The back door opened, and she stepped out.
Elena Ironhart.
She wore her usual military attire—crisp, dark black uniform, polished boots, and a badge that gleamed under the fading sunlight. Her black hair was tied into a neat bun, and her sharp, brown eyes landed on me instantly.
She gave me a once-over and smiled a little.
I straightened my posture instinctively.
"Welcome home, Grandma."
She nodded, stepping forward with the controlled precision of a soldier. As she passed, she spoke again.
"Too much cologne."
I followed her inside, holding back a laugh.
We went inside, and I sat across from her on the living room couch.
She stared at me for a few moments before speaking.
"So, how did your awakening go?"
I smiled.
"It was successful. I awakened a talent as well."
Her faint smile vanished, and her eyes widened slightly.
"You got a talent?"
"Yes."
Her expression returned to its usual stoic calm almost instantly.
"What kind of talent?"
I gave her a brief explanation, telling her how I managed to increase my Dexterity from 9 to 10.
She sat there in silence, thinking. I wished I could see what gears were turning in her head.
Finally, she stood up.
"Come. It's your last day before probation. Let me make dinner for you."
I smiled and nodded, following her into the kitchen.
***
She moved swiftly around the kitchen, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows. The sharp scent of sizzling spices filled the air as she flipped something in the pan, her eyes focused on the task at hand.
I sat on the kitchen stool, watching her work. She didn't often cook, but when she did, it always felt special. She reached for the knife, expertly dicing vegetables before tossing them into the pan. Without turning to face me, she spoke.
"Your talent is definitely an advantageous thing for you, but that does not give you leeway to relax on your training. Am I clear?"
"Yes," I answered without hesitation.
She gave a small nod before her voice softened slightly.
"I have always raised you to be a man of principle and values, just like your father. I have rarely hidden any important information about the situation our world is facing. So, I would like it if you worked even harder, using your talent to its full potential, to always keep yourself safe."
I nodded. I planned to do that. I had a mission to accomplish.
Elena stirred the contents of the pan, letting the aroma settle in the air before speaking again.
"Now, let me tell you what I think of your talent. I know some details about the talents that other people, and even some of the strongest warriors have awakened. I have seen talents that level up, but never one that allows upgrades as well."
Hearing that, I couldn't help but feel special.
She continued.
"So your talent has great potential. But you should understand—the greatest benefit of your talent is not its ability to provide you with more stats. It it the ability to absorb energy and generate Essence from it. The ability to increase your stats should be considered secondary."
I leaned forward slightly, listening attentively.
"Because of your talent, you will be exposed to Essence way before anyone else. You should always try to feel it, understand it, follow it. The more you learn about Essence, the more powerful you will become."
She glanced at me then, her sharp eyes holding my gaze.
"For example—if you used the stored Essence as an attack, how would you use it? Are you simply going to punch and transfer it through your fist? Or can you find a unique way to apply it? Oh, and your talent is called Generator, not Essence Generator, which means there's a chance it could evolve to generate something else too."
I thought about the implications of her words. She was right. Essence and how I utilized it would be the key to my growth and the possibility it could generate something else was there as well.
"So you will have three things that will make you powerful—your class, if you manage to snatch a better one, your talent's ability to give an extra boost to your stats, and most importantly, your ability to control Essence."
I agreed with her. Everything she said made perfect sense.
Then, a glint appeared in her eyes, something rare….excitement.
"After hearing about your talent, I just had a wild idea. Would you like to hear it?"
I sat up straight.
"Yes. What kind of idea?"
She crossed her arms, her tone shifting slightly.
"So, you start at Level 0 and gain 5 stat points per level to distribute among four different stats. In total, you will gain 125 stat points by the time you reach Level 25."
She let that sink in before continuing.
"Normally, people don't distribute their points evenly, but even if someone started with balanced stats of 10 at Level 0, they still wouldn't reach 50 in all attributes before their class selection."
I frowned, trying to follow where she was going with this.
"So here's my idea—why don't you try to surpass 50 stat points in all attributes before hitting Level 25?"
My eyes widened.
She smirked.
"I would even suggest going as high above 50 as possible. I'm sure it would give you access to some incredible class choices."
I processed her words. No one in recorded history had ever reached 50 points in all attributes before class selection. If I did this, I'd be in completely uncharted territory.
Right there and then, I decided, I was going to do it.
Even if I had to gruel myself day and night, I was going to do it.
I stood up from sheer excitement, and just as I was about to squat—
"Billion, sit."
I stopped mid-squat, coughed awkwardly, and sat back down quietly.
I waited patiently while Grandma prepared dinner.
After she finished cooking, we sat across from each other, the dining table between us. The meal was simple yet hearty, just like every dinner she made. I ate quietly, knowing this was the last meal we'd share before I left.
Grandma set down her spoon and looked at me with those sharp, unwavering eyes.
"Billion, take care of yourself."
I nodded, chewing my food.
"Eat properly. Don't skip meals just because you're training."
"I won't."
"Train properly. Don't get complacent."
"Yes, Grandma."
She exhaled, her eyes softening just a little.
"You are the only family I have left."
I lowered my spoon.
"I know."
"Then act like it. Don't do anything reckless. Keep your head down when needed, and fight when it matters. And keep your talent a secret as long as possible ok."
I grinned.
"I'll make you proud."
"You already do."
That caught me off guard. I stared at her, but she had already picked up her spoon again, as if she hadn't just said something that heavy.
I clenched my fist under the table.
"I'll come back stronger."
She nodded once. "Good."
We finished the rest of our meal in silence.