Raze Arcwell carried many things.
Confidence.Cheerfulness.A quiet pride.
And when someone pushed him too far…a hint of something sharper, colder—a ruthlessness forged from years of being the powerless one in a world built for the powerful.
He never asked to be born without a Nexas.
But he refused to let the world decide his limits.
In Lionel Academy, the first semester gathered every student—prodigy, noble, ordinary, and elite—into the same classes. Only after the basics were completed would they be sorted into departments that defined their futures:
Hero.Defense.Support.Auxiliary.
And for three weeks, one name had hovered at the top of every written exam.
Raze Arcwell — Rank 1
People talked.
A nexasless boy shouldn't dominate the intellectual portion of the continent's strongest academy.A powerless kid wasn't supposed to outperform heirs of hero families.
But the scoreboard didn't lie.
Every week, when Raze's name appeared at the top, he could hear the murmurs behind him:
"Is he cheating?""He has no Nexas—how is he scoring that high?""Arcwells must be pulling strings. They have influence everywhere.""He's just lucky it's written tests… he'll break once the ability trials begin."
But one voice always cut through the noise—loud, bright, annoyingly enthusiastic.
Roger Castellan.
He nudged Raze's shoulder as they walked toward the testing field.
"Bro, you do realize the entire academy now officially hates you, right?" Roger whispered loudly enough for ten people to hear.
Raze smirked. "Let them hate me for something I have control over."
Roger snorted. "Man's out here spitting wisdom while I'm trying to survive basic math."
It was stupid banter. Ridiculous, even.
But Raze appreciated it more than he'd ever admit.
Because for once… he wasn't alone.
The Day Everyone Waited For
Today wasn't about books or theory.
Today was the Ability Assessment—the most anticipated exam of the first semester.
Hundreds of students filled the massive outdoor arena, their Nexas blazing like fireworks.
The entire sky shimmered with ability-light.
Many students there demonstrated their abilities, to their friends.
It was chaos.Beautiful chaos.
A living storm of raw power.
And at the center of it all—
stood a boy with no glow.No aura.No Nexas.
Raze Arcwell.
He did not command elements.He did not reshape matter.He did not twist space.
He simply breathed in… then out.
Standing firm.Unshaken.Refusing to fade into the background.
Others had gifts.
Raze had discipline.
At age six, he had studied anatomy and pressure points while other kids played with toys.At eight, he ran uphill with weights tied to his ankles until his legs gave out.At ten, he sparred with professionally trained bodyguards who underestimated him exactly once.At sixteen, his body carried a decade of scars, hardened muscle, and lessons carved through failed attempts and painful victories.
If Nexas users were forged by talent—
Raze Arcwell was forged by will.
Roger leaned closer.
"Alright. Be honest. How much are your hands sweating right now?"
Raze stayed silent for three seconds.
"…A little."
Roger laughed so loud four students turned around.
"At least you admit it! I knew you weren't a total machine—"
Raze gave him a sideways glare.
"Roger."
"What?"
"You're making it worse."
Roger gave him two thumbs up. "I'm here for emotional support."
Raze wanted to punch him and thank him at the same time.
The Instructors Gather
The long horn sounded across the field—deep and resonant.
Students snapped to attention.
Five instructors stepped forward, their capes fluttering under the pressure waves created by nearby abilities. One of them, a tall man with glowing eyes and a voice like thunder, raised a hand.
"FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS—!"
The arena trembled as ability energy flared around the field.
"STEP FORWARD FOR THE ABILITY TEST!"
Nexas users cheered.Some tightened their fists, ready to show off.Others cracked knuckles, stretched limbs, or whispered incantations.
The air buzzed with power and anticipation.
Raze stepped forward too.
No glow.No special effect.Just footsteps.
But he felt something.A heat rising in his chest.A fire that had burned since the day he was old enough to understand what he lacked.
Roger glanced at him."You ready?"
Raze let out a slow, focused breath.
"Nervous? No."
His expression sharpened.
"But I'm done being the powerless kid people whisper about."
He clenched his fists.
"Today, I show them why I'm here."
Roger grinned.
"Then let's shake this place, partner."
The Storm of Power
The instructors unleashed a blast of Nexas energy upward, marking the official start of the test.
The sky lit up like a battlefield.
Every students there had their own unique nexas, but raze had nothing,
And yet—
in the middle of that overwhelming display—
Raze stepped forward calmly.
No nexas.
No glow.
Just a boy with iron willwalking into a hurricane of gifted monsters.
A Nexasless challenger.
A boy who refused to kneel.
The Beginning of the Test
As the first group prepared their ability demonstrations, Raze tightened the straps on his gloves. His heartbeat steadied.
His turn would come.
And when it did—
he would show them all that even without Nexas…
he was not someone who could be ignored.
The nexasless Arcwell was ready.
The test was about to begin.