In this world, children learned one simple truth very early:
Power decides everything.
Those without strength died during Red Gate outbreaks.Those with weak talents survived… barely.And those with strong talents became adventurers—humanity's shield against extinction.
Shinsuke Seiya had known this truth since he could walk.
He didn't have a home. He had the Adventurer Guild.
His earliest memories were of stone floors, iron doors, and the smell of blood mixed with medicine. He remembered guild healers rushing past him, adventurers returning with broken limbs, and alarms signaling monsters had breached somewhere nearby.
Other kids had parents.
Seiya had the Guild.
They fed him.They trained him.They prepared him for the same cruel world that had killed the people who brought him into it.
No one ever lied to him.
"You were found near a Green Gate," an instructor once said bluntly. "Your parents died protecting you."
Seiya didn't cry. He was too young to understand what he had lost—but old enough to understand why survival mattered.
Life in a post-gate world wasn't gentle.
By age six, Seiya was already doing endurance runs.By eight, he could read monster tracks like a map.By ten, he had crossed the Blue Gate—just like every child destined for awakening.
The Blue Gate wasn't about power.It was about staying alive.
Seiya survived by hiding, waiting, and striking only when necessary. When he returned three days later, thin and exhausted, the instructors exchanged knowing looks.
"That kid doesn't panic.""That's dangerous… or special."
Now, Seiya was fifteen.
And today was awakening day.
The plaza near the Green Gate was crowded. Hundreds of teenagers stood in rows, all in the same simple uniform. Parents, guardians, and guild members watched from behind reinforced barriers.
Some kids were nervous.Some were excited.Some were already crying.
Seiya stood quietly among them.
To his left was Arata, a loud boy who dreamed of being a frontline warrior.
"I hope I get a strength-type talent!" Arata laughed. "Even Rank C would be fine!"
To his right was Mina, a calm, bookish girl.
"I just want something useful," she whispered. "Healing… or support."
Seiya nodded.
"I just want to survive," he said honestly.
They laughed, thinking he was joking.
A Guild official floated above the plaza, voice amplified.
"Today, all of you will enter the Green Gate together.""Remember—awakening happens inside the gate. What you receive will shape your future.""One step forward… and there is no turning back."
The Green Gate shimmered.
One by one, the youths stepped through.
The moment Seiya crossed the threshold…
The world shifted.
Endless forest stretched in every direction. Trees taller than any city building, their leaves glowing faintly, letting through strange, filtered light. The air was thick, alive, and almost… watching.
Everyone froze.
Then, the system voice echoed.
Talent Awakening Initiated
Golden lights surrounded people one by one.
Cries rang out.
"I did it! Rank B Talent: Flame Blade!""Rank C Talent: Stone Skin!""Rank D… damn it…"
Arata shouted in joy.
Talent Awakened: Rank B — Berserker Frame
Mina smiled softly.
Talent Awakened: Rank C — Healing Pulse
Cheers, sobs, laughter—it was happening everywhere.
Not just here. Across the entire world, inside every Green Gate, millions of youths were awakening simultaneously.
Then—
Everything darkened.
Not just Seiya's vision.Everyone's.
The forest dimmed. The system stuttered.
"…Error…""…Error detected…"
Gasps spread across the crowd.
"What's happening?!""Is this normal?!"
Red text flashed in the air—visible to all.
System recalibrating…Unknown interference detected…
Across the globe, the same message appeared.
Guild headquarters panicked.
"This is happening everywhere!""It's not a single gate!"
The darkness lasted only seconds. Then light returned. The system resumed.
Talent Awakening Complete
Relief washed over everyone. They checked their statuses again. Nothing seemed wrong.
Except for one thing.
Seiya hadn't seen his result.
His vision lingered in darkness longer than the others.
And deep within him, something stirred.
Not the system. Something older. Something that didn't belong.
Finally, text appeared—visible only to him.
Host recognizedSSS+ Rank Talent Awakened[Chaos Heir]
The words burned themselves into his vision.
No cheers. No announcements. No one else reacted.
Arata laughed loudly, showing off his status. Mina was being congratulated by a Guild examiner. Everything seemed normal.
Only Seiya stood frozen.
A translucent blue panel unfolded before his eyes. Calm. Silent. Personal. As if it existed only for him.
Status Window
Name: Seiya ShinsukeRace: HumanAge: 15Level: 1
Talent:▶ SSS+ Rank Talent — Chaos Heir+ (Press "+" for more details)
Seiya swallowed. A plus sign?
Before he could think further, stats appeared.
Base Attributes
Physical Strength: 50Agility: 48Vitality: 55Intelligence: 70Perception: 60Mana: 100Mental Resistance: 80Luck: ???
Most people had luck between 5–20. Some top adventurers reached 30–40. But this… the system couldn't even read it.
Skill Slots
Active Skills: — EmptyPassive Skills: — EmptyCombat Techniques: — NoneTalent-Derived Abilities: — Locked (Conditions not met)
Zero skills. Zero techniques. Nothing obvious.
Yet a strange calm settled over him.
Equipment
Weapon: NoneArmor: Standard Awakening Uniform (No stat bonuses)Inventory: Beginner Survival Pack, Guild Identification Token
Simple. Clean. Almost empty.
Yet… too quiet.
The system usually explained awakened talents. Rank descriptions. Compatibility notes. Warnings.
But for Chaos Heir? Nothing.
The talent wasn't showing its hand yet.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"Careful there, kid," said a tall A-rank swordsman, scars along his jaw. Calm, experienced. "Looks like the awakening hit you harder than most."
Seiya turned slowly, still dizzy. The status panel floated faintly before his eyes.
Then a new window appeared, glowing faintly purple.
Chaos Heir — Plunder Ready?
Target detected: Guild A-Rank SwordsmanOptions:1️⃣ Plunder Talent2️⃣ Plunder Active Skills3️⃣ Plunder Passive Skills4️⃣ Plunder Equipment5️⃣ Cancel
Seiya froze.
Plunder?
The system panel continued:
Caution: Plunder success guaranteed only on targets ≤2 tiers above hostTarget Tier: A-Rank (Tier 3)Host Tier: SSS+ Talent (Tier 0)Success Probability: 92%
Seiya's heart raced. He could take it. Right now. And the swordsman would never know.
Yet instinct held him back. He had just awakened. He didn't know what this talent really was.
Still… a small thrill ran down his spine.
If I just… try one skill… just to see…
The panel glowed brighter.
Selected Option: Plunder Active Skill — Draw Sword
Seiya's fingertips brushed the swordsman's shoulder.
Instantly, a subtle twitch passed through the swordsman's mind. He didn't notice, didn't suspect a thing.
Seiya felt a surge of power. A new slot appeared:
Active Skills: Draw Sword (Lv.1)
Plunder Successful. Target unaware.
He stepped back, shaky but exhilarated.
The swordsman glanced at him. "You okay, kid? You look pale."
Seiya blinked, forcing a small smile. "Yeah… just… processing."
Arata's voice snapped him out. "You okay? You went blank just now!
Seiya blinked and forced a small smile.
"Yeah. Just… processing."
"What'd you get?" Arata asked eagerly, puffing his chest. "Mine's Berserker Frame! Rank B! The instructor said it's perfect for frontline fighters!"
Mina leaned in as well, curiosity in her eyes.
it's a C Rank talent," Seiya said carefully. "Something sword-related… nothing flashy." although it came with an active skill Sword skill
Arata grinned. "Whoa a C rank talent with a sword skill? Hey, dude you are on roll you can definitely reach Tier 2 in the future."
Mina smiled gently. "Yea Seiya You'll be fine, Seiya."
No suspicion. No doubt.
Seiya relaxed slightly.
The Guild official raised his hand.
"Awakening ceremony complete! All participants, proceed to the exit point!"
The Green Gate shimmered. One by one, the youths returned to the real world—cheering, crying, dreaming of the futures that awaited them.
Seiya stepped through last.
The moment he crossed… the blue panel vanished.