The Overlooked Hero Breaks the System

The soft hum of fluorescent lights filled the classroom.

Rei Kain rested his cheek against his palm, eyes drifting lazily to the window beside him. The sky was gray, a dull overcast stretching endlessly over the city. The occasional sound of pages turning, pens tapping, and whispered conversations filled the background, but he barely registered any of it.

At the front of the room, Ms. Evelyn, their homeroom teacher, stood near the whiteboard, her posture relaxed as she spoke.

"...as I was saying, this weekend marks the Trinity Alignment, a rare celestial event that occurs once every thousand years."

She adjusted the thin-rimmed glasses resting on her nose, eyes scanning the class as she continued. "Historically, different cultures have attached various myths to this event—some saw it as an omen of disaster, others as a sign of change or awakening. Of course, there's no scientific evidence to support any of those claims, but it's fascinating how deeply such beliefs were ingrained in human history."

The classroom wasn't particularly engaged. Leon Crest, the class representative, sat near the front, his hands folded neatly over his desk. He was listening attentively, as expected.

Leon was the kind of person who made everything look effortless. Sharp blue eyes, neatly styled golden hair, and a natural confidence that made him stand out wherever he went. He was respected by students and teachers alike—not because he demanded it, but because he earned it.

To his left sat Elena Vaughn, the vice-rep and one of the top students in their year. She brushed a strand of deep crimson hair behind her ear, her emerald-green eyes skimming through the textbook in front of her. She was intelligent, poised, and had a presence that made people instinctively take her seriously.

Not far from them was Alan Vale, a well-known athlete who had a tendency to be loud but not necessarily mean-spirited. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, looking bored out of his mind.

Scattered throughout the room were other notable students—people who excelled in different areas, whether it was academics, sports, or leadership.

Rei's gaze eventually drifted back to the window. The sky hadn't changed.

He wasn't exactly friends with anyone here. Not that it bothered him.

He was just a student, same as everyone else.

Ms. Evelyn's voice pulled his attention back.

"Now, while modern science dismisses these celestial events as mere coincidences, ancient texts sometimes spoke of... unique phenomena occurring around the same time."

Rei lazily turned his attention to her. He wasn't particularly interested in astrology or myths, but something in her tone had shifted slightly.

Ms. Evelyn tapped the board with the back of her marker. "Some of these stories mention sudden awakenings, unexplained changes in the world, or individuals being... chosen."

Someone snickered near the back.

"Sounds like something out of a fantasy novel."

The class chuckled softly, but Ms. Evelyn didn't seem bothered. She smiled faintly. "Perhaps. But history is often stranger than fiction."

Rei glanced back at Leon, who was listening carefully, as if considering her words seriously. Elena, beside him, seemed skeptical but thoughtful.

Alan, however, rolled his eyes. "Well, if anything exciting is gonna happen, it sure as hell won't be during history class."

A few students chuckled again.

Ms. Evelyn simply adjusted her glasses. "Perhaps. Or perhaps history is already happening as we speak."

The clock above the whiteboard ticked softly. Less than ten minutes until the last period ended.

Rei shifted in his seat, already prepared to zone out again—

Then—

A thud echoed from the front row.

One of the students had suddenly slumped over their desk.

The room fell silent.

Ms. Evelyn took a cautious step forward. "Are you feeling alright?"

The student let out a shaky breath, their hands trembling slightly. Before they could respond, another gasp came from the opposite side of the room.

Then another.

More students began gripping their desks, their breathing ragged. Some clutched their heads as if in pain.

Rei felt it before he understood what was happening.

A strange pressure built in the air, thick and suffocating.

A dull, burning sensation spread through his chest, not painful, but unnatural. His vision blurred for a moment as the sound in the room seemed to distort.

The lights above flickered.

The air crackled with unseen energy.

Ms. Evelyn stepped back, confusion flashing across her face. "Everyone, remain calm—"

Before she could finish, golden light flooded the room.

It was blinding, swallowing everything in its path.

Rei's body felt weightless.

A voice—not Ms. Evelyn's, not any human's—echoed in his mind.

[Transferring Chosen Heroes…]

[Calibrating System…]

His thoughts blurred.

Then—everything went dark.