Synopsis: "I was never meant to be here."
In a world where Gifts determine status and power, Saul Mayne stands at the top — a sword-wielding prodigy blessed by fate. Louis Hall follows closely, heir to a billion-credit empire with talent and pride to match.
Then there's Paul Wayne — a nobody.
No background. No family. No rank.
Just a strange tattoo on his hand and a broken system that shows a question mark where his identity should be.
He shouldn't even be at Diamond Academy, the elite combat school where future heroes are forged. But the invitation came. The uniform fit. The door opened.
Now trapped in a Sence that isn't his, Paul must navigate ruthless guilds, overwhelming talents, and an academy designed to chew up the weak.
But there's something wrong with this world.
And Paul Wayne might be the glitch that changes everything.
---
An academy setting. A mysterious system. A forgotten extra with no place in the script.
The truth behind his existence… starts now.
Chapter 0
[Saul Mayne] – 17 years old
A righteous, honest, and hard-working young man from a commoner background. He possesses extraordinary character and talent, and is widely recognized as a genius at the military academy. Though he carries the image of a hero, Saul hides a secret.
[Louis Hall] – 17 years old
The fourth-generation heir to Hallspire Group, a chaebol that competes for the number one spot in Belester. Narcissistic and elitist, he's the spoiled child of a powerful family. His inferiority complex toward Saul Mayne threatens to twist him into a villain.
"I have to be the best. I can't tolerate anyone above me."
These two were the characters everyone was talking about today. The stars of the story — the ones this world seemed to revolve around.
---
"Hero Association's Military Academy, Bel Branch. Class of 2025, Rank 1 Cadet, Saul Mayne."
This was happening right in front of me. Saul Mayne stepped forward as his name echoed across the enormous auditorium, filled with over 3,000 cadets and thousands more spectators. All eyes were on him.
> "He's Saul Mayne? Damn."
"He's so handsome!"
Whispers and swoons followed. Jealousy spread fast.
> "This is why they say your Gift is everything. Hard work means nothing when someone like him shows up."
"They say he's the best cadet in the past decade."
"Didn't they announce his Gift already? Something like... the Sword God's Protection?"
From the VIP stands — over a kilometer away — where guild representatives watched, I could hear them as clearly as if they stood beside me. Not just their voices — even their facial expressions.
Perhaps... this was my Gift?
> "Yeah, apparently he's protected by the world when it comes to swords."
"That's vague, but the academy always keeps details hidden."
"We called dibs on that kid, so hands off."
I recognized the voice. Serina Vale, Vice Commander of the Radiant Gale Guild, stood at the edge of the arena, silencing cadets with just her presence.
> "Dibs? Please. There's no such thing when it comes to cadets."
A rival guild associate scoffed.
> "Is that why Starlight Guide always comes in second?"
Serina smiled coldly — like someone who had seen blood.
> "Is that a challenge?"
"Relax. We still have three years before we can recruit any of them."
"Two years."
"You know early scouting is illegal, right?"
"Only if you get caught."
The VIP section grew tense with their silent war.
---
"Class of 2025, Rank 2 Cadet, Louis Hall."
The second protagonist of today's show stood. The heir to Hallspire Group drew admiration, not envy. People thought, "He's just born better." Like modern-day nobility, he ascended the stage with grace.
Louis and Saul stood side by side — rivals, opposites. Sparks seemed to fly between them.
They were the stars of the show.
---
Then where was I?
I wasn't on stage. I was in the farthest back seat of the auditorium, just one face in a crowd of thousands. No one knew my name. No one even looked my way.
> "Paul, what rank are you? I'm 2900."
The fat kid beside me spoke. His nametag read: Kim Ho Sup. Which meant... he might have a role later on.
> "Paul?"
"…I don't know."
I didn't want to talk. I didn't even know why he was speaking to me. Shouldn't I have been one of the two on stage?
> "Come on, you don't know your rank?"
"I said I don't know."
This world was survival of the fittest. And I… I wasn't fit. I was a boy with no connections, no background. I wasn't even supposed to be in this school. In this academy...
I was just an extra.
No —
I was a speck of dust.