Zane opened his eyes feeling drowsy and confused. He woke up to darkness and above him were the small dots of light that represents stars in the night sky. As Zane looked at the beautiful stars, he noticed that they gave off a faint white mist. With every breath the mist filled his body with a cool refreshing feeling that allowed his mind to slowly obtain more clarity.

Zane’s first coherent thought was that the lights above him were not real stars. The light above him felt too close to be real stars and he never felt real stars emit any energy. His second and far more frightening thought was that this was not his room.

Zane immediately tried get up from of his back but found that he could not move his arms or his legs. Although he could feel each limb, he received no response. It did not matter how much he strength he applied, how much he demanded or begged his body would not move.

Why can’t I move? Is there something holding me down? Zane thought as he tried and failed to turn his head. I’ve probably been captured, but why would someone capture a classless person like me? I don’t think I’m being held down by restraints so it either something magical or a potion that’s preventing me from moving.

As time flowed Zane’s mind became more active and his thoughts came one after the other. I fell asleep in my own bed so I must have been taken from the orphanage. Did they take me without anyone noticing? Did they take any others? Did they harm anyone? Did they kill anyone?

Out of all his thoughts the one that indicated that those close to him, the people he considered his family may have been killed filled him with the most fear and panic. What if they are dying right now? Dying while I’m laying down staring at these stupid fake stars. The more Zane thought about the situation he found himself in, the angrier he felt.

Who did this, why are they doing this to me and why can’t I move? Zane asked himself. He took deep breaths as he tried to calm himself down and push away the feeling of helplessness that started to rise in his mind.

Calm down this isn’t the first time you have been in a bad situation. After he had this thought Zane began to repeat a mantra. This mantra helped him focus his mind during his training and at times of emotional turmoil.

As Zane repeated his mantras his anger was brought under control and the feeling of panic flowed out of him. But the fear stayed. Not only did the fear stay but it continued to increase. The fear was instinctive and uncontrollable. It would not stop for reason or logic. It certainly would not stop for something as insignificant as a few comforting words. The fear spread through every corner of his mind and filled every fiber of his being.

The fear had only one message to give. He was going to die.

If he did not move, he would die. If he did not scream for help, he would die. If he didn’t do something he would die. As Zane’s fearful heart pounded fiercely against his chest a strange warmth started to spread through his body. With this warmth came the ability to move his body. Nothing much just a twitch of his fingers. A movement that the average person would not notice if they weren’t paying attention.

“Amazing” a mysterious figure stated. He towered over Zane emitting a cold and dangerous feeling. “With no training or skills, you were able to break free from my spell. It makes me wonder how dangerous you would become if you were allowed to develop with such a powerful bloodline.”

When the mysterious figure appeared above Zane his fear increased explosively. After the fear, the panic returned surging through his mind like a tsunami. Both emotions told him that this mysterious figure would bring him death.

Zane felt like he was on fire. His heart rate had increased again and with it came a burning strength that filled his body. A strength that would allow him to move and to fight against this mysterious figure. The path to life was finally shining down on him.

“Good effort but we cannot have you breaking free now” the mysterious figure stated. The voice was monotone and genderless but, to Zane it seemed like the most terrifying voice that has ever existed.

The mysterious figure raised its hand which gave of a white glow. This glow illuminated a blank white mask that had no opening for the nose, eyes. or mouth. When the white glow finally receded so did Zane’s strength.

“Do not be scared” the mysterious figure said. “I have come to give you the gift of death. This gift will prevent you from suffering hardships. It will grant you peace, freedom and you will never experience any pain.”

Zane didn’t care about what his killer had to say. He knew his death was certain the moment he felt the burning energy leave him.

Zane could see the mysterious figure raising his arms holding a large knife outlined in a white glow. His heart and mind became calm as he faced his death. A death that came without warning or explanation. The mysterious figure allowed the knife to fall slowly on to his chest and slowly pierced his flesh.

Right before piercing his heart the mysterious figure stopped. “You should be thanking me” the mysterious figure declared. “Very few creatures have the opportunity to have me personally bestow this gift.”

This bastard Zane thought. I should be grateful for you killing me.

“In your next life try to be less outstanding.”

As the knife finally pierced his heart Zane let out a scream that expressed his fear, anger, panic, and unwillingness.

“No!!” Zane roared, as he tumbled out of his bed.

He floundered on the ground with his body covered in sweat. Zane breathed heavily as he managed to get himself into a sitting position. His back was against the wall as he stared at his sweat covered sheets. When he looked around, he did not see the mysterious figure. The ordinary brown wooden ceiling didn’t have any fake stars on it. Zane got up and took a few steps to his window which was opposite the door to his room. As the morning sunshine washed over him, he took slow steady breaths.

“So, it was a dream” Zane calmly stated. His right hand reached for his heart as he felt a wave of fear wash over him. “Although it was a dream the pain was extremely realistic.”

“Status” Zane called out.

Status

Level 1

Name: Zane

Age:16

Race: Human Ⅰ

Class: None

Health (HP):280 Health Regen (HR):1.4/min

Stamina (SP):360 Stamina Regen (SR):18/min

Mana (MP):300 Mana Regen (MR): 2.4/min

Stats

Strength:39

Dexterity:34

Endurance:36

Vitality:28

Intelligence:30

Wisdom:24

Perception:32

Willpower:33

“What happened?” Zane wondered.

“Zane are you okay? A gentle voice asked through the door. “I heard someone scream.”

“Sorry Sophie” Zane replied while trying not to feel too embarrassed. “That was me that shouted. I had a bad dream.”

Zane walked over and opened door to find the shocked expression of an olive-skinned woman. She was five foot two, five inches shorter than Zane, with long black hair and green eyes. The look of shock soon morphed into one of amusement.

“A bad dream? You?” She replied. “Hehe, so even the great and fearless Zane is capable of having nightmares. What was your dream about? Did you show up to the Stadium naked or did you lose your favorite weapon?”

“First of all, I never said I have a favorite weapon” Zane answered. “Secondly why aren’t you making everyone breakfast? Don’t forget that I have a match in the Stadium today. Do you want me to fight on empty stomach?

“Calm down” Sophie replied while rolling her eyes. “I was working on breakfast before ‘someone’ started screaming like a child in need of saving.”

Sophie turned to her right and began walking towards the kitchen. “Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes. Try not to have any more nightmares before then.”

“It will probably take a long time before I stop hearing about this” Zane sighed as he started to close his door.

“I can guarantee that you will never stop hearing about this.” Sophie proudly declared from down the hall.

Zane had no choice but to close his door in defeat. Right now, he had something more important to think about. He had to figure out why all his stats had increased by five points. To do this Zane could look at his system messages.

Energy surge detected.

Analyzing…... Bloodline energy detected.

Bloodline energy is surging. All stats +5.

Bloodline awakening failed.

Zane was shocked as he read the messages. When did I get a bloodline? Zane thought to himself. He never felt any bloodline energy nor was there any indication on his status that he had a sleeping bloodline in his body. Could it be that dream that I had? It’s the only thing that makes sense. The burning energy must have been the power of his bloodline. Was that dream a test to awaken my bloodline? Does dying mean I failed? Zane new very little about bloodlines. They were not taught in school and his Teacher Isabelle only mentioned them. Zane decided to save the bloodline matter for a later date.

Zane walked to a barrel filled with water in the corner of his room. He took a rag hanging on the side, dunked it in water and started to wipe the sweat of his dark skin. Once he was done, he dunked his head of gray hair in the water and drank a few gulps. After drying himself he opened the storage box he kept at the end of his bed. Inside was some clothes and a grey cloth bag that was slightly bigger than a person’s palm.

Zane put on a battered gray shirt, gloves, belt, pants and shoes and attached the cloth bag to spot on the waist of his pants. To complete his outfit, he tied a grey headband to his head. These items that he wore had a very special meaning to Zane. He trained in these battered clothes for eight years and wore them for his first fight in the Stadium. The cloth bag and the outfit that he wore was the final gift that Teacher Isabelle gave him. The cloth bag was a well-known expensive item that was usually referred to as a special bag. Although the bag was only slightly bigger than his hand it could store a small arsenal of weapons.

After putting everything on Zane took a quick look in his space bag to make sure all his weapons were accounted for. He had looked over them the night before, but another glance would only help him. Next, he took a closer look at the clothing he was wearing through the system.

Item Name: Zane’s Training Headband

Item Type: Clothing

Level: 9

Durability: Infinite

Grade: Growth

Description: An ordinary cloth headband given meaning through blood and powerful magic.

Abilities: Gives a slight enhancement to the mind and soul. Improves training efficiency. Self-repairing. Int+2 Wis+2 Per+2 Will+4

Requirements: Soul Bound

Item Name: Zane’s Training Shirt

Item Type: Clothing

Level: 9

Durability: Infinite

Grade: Growth

Description: An ordinary cloth shirt given meaning through blood and powerful magic.

Abilities: Gives a slight enhancement to defense and endurance. Improves training efficiency. Self-repairing. End+4 Str+1 Vit+3 Will+2.

Requirements: Soul bound

Item Name: Zane’s Training Gloves

Item Type: Clothing

Level: 9

Durability: Infinite

Grade: Growth

Description: An ordinary pair of gloves given meaning through blood and powerful magic.

Abilities: Gives a slight boost to affinity with weapons. Improves training efficiency. Self-repairing. Str+6 End+2 Int+1 Dex+1

Requirements: Soul bound

Item Name: Zane’s Training Belt

Item Type: Clothing

Level: 9

Durability: Infinite

Grade: Growth

Description: An ordinary training belt given meaning through blood and powerful magic.

Abilities: Gives a slight boost to recovery. Increases training proficiency. Self-repairing. Vit+6 End+4

Requirements: Soul bound

Item Name: Zane’s Training Pants

Item Type: Clothing

Level: 9

Durability: Infinite

Grade: Growth

Description: An ordinary cloth pants given meaning through blood and powerful magic.

Abilities: Gives a slight enhancement to agility and endurance. Improves training efficiency. Self-repairing. Str+1 Dex+3 End+4 Will+2

Requirements: Soul bound

Item Name: Zane’s Training Shoes

Item Type: Clothing

Level: 9

Durability: Infinite

Grade: Growth

Description: An ordinary pair of training shoes given meaning through blood and powerful magic.

Abilities: Gives a slight enhancement to movement and balance. Increases training proficiency. Self-repairing. Dex+6 Str+2 End+2

Requirements: Soul bound

Although Zane views these six items as clothing, they were actually equipment. These 6 items that he trained with had been transformed by his teacher. Teacher, there is so much I don’t know about you. Zane took a deep breath to push back the sorrow that started to build up. Although Teacher Isabelle is not here anymore, I must keep moving forward. I’m going to have a nice breakfast, win my battle at the Stadium and everything will start to enter a normal pace. With a confident smile Zane walked out of his room.