025 ELECTROCUTION
New feature: Personal Information.
A new icon appeared on the app—a cartoon head. Damen tapped it. Instantly, his own profile flashed across the screen:
Name: Damen Dark
Rank: G
Strength: 11 | Charm: 10 | Meta: 11 | Command: 11
"So, I can even check my own attributes. No need to be tested in the machines anymore," he said, a wide grin spreading across his face.
The new features were incredibly useful, and they came at the perfect time.
He spent the rest of the night scanning the usual faces in the gym. Now he knew exactly who the highest ranked Metas were, and he added them to his favorites list- all of them Rank F or E.
He also poured over the meta transmutation list in the transmutation room. It was time to get another skill.
He already had a defensive skill, "Summon Shield," and an escape skill, "Flash Dash," but he lacked a main attack. He flipped through every skill on offer in the machines and considered their strengths and weaknesses.
By dawn, he had made his choice.
The next day, when Dorin arrived at the gym, Damen was already waiting.
"Oh, Damen! Why are you here? Shouldn't you be celebrating your graduation?" Dorin asked, clearly surprised.
"Celebration is a waste of time. I need a new meta skill," he replied matter-of-factly, his eyes sharp.
Dorin raised an eyebrow. "What skill are you looking at?"
"Electrocution," he said confidently.
"Electrocution? That's a Rank G skill… are you sure you want to learn it? this skill is among the strongest in its rank but its cumbersome to use because it requires close physical contact."
"Yes. I spent all night researching. This is the best choice," he said firmly, leaving no room for doubt.
Electrocution was the strongest meta skill in its rank, but executing a strike was notoriously difficult. Most rookie Meta heroes favored ranged attacks—they were far easier to use.
Damen, however, thought differently.
He wanted to master close combat, and with his Flash Dash ability, closing the distance to an enemy was effortless. For him, range was no obstacle….it was an opportunity.
"Alright," Dorin said, nodding. "The meta training fee will be 1,000 Aurs."
"I'd also like to upgrade the rank of my Summon Shield ability too," Damen added.
"Well, you know about that too?" Dorin asked, intrigued.
Even meta skills had ranks, just like heroes themselves. The weakest skills started at H and could develop on its own by frequent use. But as a hero grew stronger, sometimes their ranks could lag behind.
So, new meta chips were developed to upgrade these skills, bringing them in line with the user's growth.
"Which skill do you want to upgrade?" she asked.
"Summon Shield—upgrade it to Rank G," he replied decisively.
"That will cost an additional 1,000 Aurs," Dorin said.
Damen handed over the Aur card without hesitation, already focused on mastering his newfound powers. When he was done training, all his skills including Flash Dash would be at Rank G.
He would become the strongest meta in his rank.
There was still time before Damen's high school classes began, so he dedicated every moment to training at Heroes' Gym.
He tackled every course related to close combat, mastering each of his meta skill with precision. He even experimented, combining different abilities to create unexpected and devastating effects.
For Damen, training his combat skill wasn't merely to improve his scores in school… it was a matter for survival.
Dorin watched Damen grow stronger day by day. Her suspicions about him being the city's serial psychic attacker had long vanished, especially since the random psychic attacks had ceased entirely leaving them with no new leads to follow.
After three months of relentless training, Damen finally stepped back and assessed his progress. A satisfied smile curved his lips.
"I've grown stronger… Meta High School, here I come."
-----
Damen stepped onto the grounds of Melrose Meta High School No. 2—the school he had chosen.
There were other, arguably better options, but his decision on this school was deliberate. The reason was simple: this school was just a block away from the City Council Building.
With his mining range now vastly improved, he could continue mining DemCoins from the regular patrons of Heroes' Gym even while attending classes or when he sleeps.
He registered at student support, and the manager quickly escorted him to his dormitory apartment.
Unlike most students, he didn't have to share a room—he had the entire apartment to himself.
The school's recruiter when he met Damen knew their school wasn't the best, so the only way to recruit Damen was to offer the best amenities. The private apartment room was part of that inducement.
Damen allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. This was the closest thing he had to a home.
Before Damen even finished unpacking, a knock echoed at his door. He opened it to find a tall, dark, and strikingly handsome guy his age, one hand loosely resting on the waist of a woman beside him.
"Hey, new neighbor," the guy said with a lopsided grin. "I'm Zairgid Arkuoma. And this is…" He glanced at the woman, drawing a blank.
"Moona," she snapped, pulling away slightly.
"Right. Moona," Zairgid repeated, unfazed.
Zairgid has the air of a scion of a rich family…he was one of the privileged in the city. Three months ago, Damen would never dream of meeting such people but now… they could even be friends.
"I'm Damen Dark," Damen replied, keeping his tone steady and not too humble.
"Dark? Hmm. Don't think there's a major family by that name in Melrose City," Zairgid mused, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Zairgid probably knows every scion of every major family who could afford to be placed in the privileged apartment dormitory. Damen wasn't one of them.
"No. Not from a major family. I'm just a regular guy," Damen said.
"A regular guy lands a premium unit like this in school? Come on," Zairgid said, leaning against the doorframe. "Unless you're one of those aptitude test prodigies who got full mark."
That was the reality of the situation- privilege in this world was reserved for the rich or… the geniuses who were born to enjoy such privileges.
Damen allowed himself a small smile.
The old him would've downplayed it, shrunk under scrutiny. But not here. Not anymore. He understood now that to be respected in this world, strength mattered and strength was nothing if concealed… it must be displayed to earn respect.
"Yup. One of those," he said without embarrassment.
Zairgid let out a short laugh. "Well, hell. Pleasure meeting you, genius." He extended his hand.
Damen shook it, firm and sure.
"High school," he thought. "This time, I won't disappoint."
-----
Just as Damen began to believe this new chapter might finally be peaceful, a violent crash echoed down the hall…followed by a roar.
"What was that?" Damen asked curiously.
It was the voice of another student.
"Who the hell took my unit?! I reserved this place for a year!" A figure stormed toward the door, his eyes blazing.