"And that is the end of the final class of your school life! So, what are your plans from now on?"

Mr. Edward Harper asked a room full of students. It was the final day before vacation and the homeroom teacher had decided to ask the question that he asked every year to the graduating students.

‘oh boy, here we go.’ Blake, who was in the last row exasperated. One could clearly see the unhappiness in his face as he heard the question. He looked at the teacher, whose eyes were slowly scanning the classroom for his first target.

"Let's start with you, Ayden,"

Edward turned his gaze to the back row, and it passed over Blake before landing on an athletic guy, his blonde hair combed stylishly backwards, he looked like someone who would be very popular with girls.

Ayden who was engrossed in doing something on his phone was taken by surprise by this question. Jolted awake into the reality of classroom, he answered the question.

“I will be taking Spiribi tamer as my class, and join the special forces, probably"

Ayden said with a smirk. Getting the Spiribi Tamer class was rather hard. Him being 4th level, was only a single level away from getting a class, and with his growth rate, he was sure to get the class he wanted.

"Special forces? In your dreams Ayden, you are too stupid for that"

A voice raised from the front row, this was from a boy who wore glasses. This nerdy looking guy didn't even raise his head from the thick text he was reading when he said it. This was Rey, the regular class topper and the only level 5 student of the class.

"You want a fight, Rey?"

Ayden became furious seeing how he was called stupid, he was still not sure how this guy, Rey, managed to become level 5 so soon, passing him in getting to choose a class.

"Ahem."

Clearing his throat, Mr. Edward dismissed the situation and asked each of the other students of the class about their ambitions. And the replies were mostly, the names of the class they wished to get. Almost all of them wanted spiribi tamer class, the one that's said to be most powerful. But as the chances of attaining those attractive classes were proportional to their innate talent and their soul beast type, these kids could only wish that the forces of nature is kind enough to give them a good one.

Finally, it was the turn of Blake, An average looking boy with ink black hair and eyes,  but what made him different from the class was the fact that he hasn’t yet awoken his soul beast. He was the only one to not have a soul beast in the whole class.

"I want to be a researcher, studying about spirit powers,"

Blake faked a smile and answered the teacher,

Blake said it not because it was his wish, but what can someone who couldn’t even get a class do.He wanted to learn more about these powers and maybe, just maybe he could fix himself somehow. Understanding this notion, chuckles rose from the class. No one dared to openly laugh at him in front of the teacher, but still, Blake could see how most of the class was mocking him, the guy who was forever stuck at level 0.

Their mocking laughs were interrupted by the final bell. The final class of their school life was now over.

20 years ago in 1998, a cosmic wind, filled with mysterious particles blew through the solar system. Scientists predicted that Earth, being on its way, would face catastrophic disasters.

And it did indeed bring disaster to earth, the wind caused widespread changes to the Earth. Many of the wild flora and fauna on earth, being affected by this wind, evolved into something else, spirit beasts, and rampaged the Earth.

But it was not just the flora and fauna that went evolution. Humans also gained many abilities. And everyone above the age of 15 was able to form a soul shard and get their soul beast. And depending on their soul beasts, they gained unique skills and was able to level up and become stronger.

Wild spirbies rampaged through the earth, bringing down many cities and even countries. The mighty armies of the world that fought their way through two world wars were not able to stop this rampage and humanity was now living in isolated cities and towns, protected by towering walls or technological contraptions.

Leveling up 10 times allowed one to get another soul shard, and could absorb a spirit beast. This allowed them to gain the attacks and skills of the spiribies, or make them fight alongside you in a battle, depending on one’s class.

Blake was clearing out his gym locker, staying in the school any longer would be bothersome. Gathering all his belongings, he turned around to leave but was greeted by a group, led by Ayden, this group was very familiar to Blake.

"Already leaving?"

Ayden asked mockingly,

"You want to be a spiribi researcher right? why don't we show you some of our pets,"

Ayden emphasized the words 'spiribi researcher' when he said that.

"Just leave me alone Ayden, do you guys never get tired of this shit?"  Blake put the bag that he has filled into his back and tried to walk away from the group. But was stopped by a boy from the group who walked to his front.

"Don't be like that Blake, come on, take a good look at my EmberHound"

"awake, Emberhound!"

Ayden lifted his hand, his wristband that had a large orange-red crystal in it glowed in red. A  bright circle of red light formed in front of him and a Shape of a Hound materialized.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Emberhound had the shape of but was thicker than a normal Doberman. But its eyes were red and the fur glowing brown from the heat. It looked like something that was summoned from the hell.This beast had its long tongue out all the times, and its eyes were now focused on Blake.

"Show some love to our Blake here, will ya good boy"

Ayden said to the hound, petting it. The glowing red hot fur obviously had no ill effect on the master of the beast.

Blake could only gnash his teeth in frustration as he looked at his useless soul shard, a dull dark crystal that he wore around his neck.

With a pat on his back, the Emberhound prowled towards Blake, sparks flew from his fur as he walked.

Blake took a step back, there was nowhere for him to retreat as the lockers blocked his back. This scene had played out many times before, and Blake was rather accustomed to these bullying attempts.

In elementary school, Blake was this cheerful kid in the class, getting along with everyone. But it changed when he got into middle school. The students around him started gaining their spiritual powers and their soul beasts. slowly, the number of students who are yet to wake their spirit beasts reduced. And finally, it was only Blake. And when he finally formed a soul shard, it was this black crystal, duller than a lump of coal, and he had close to no spiritual power at all.

And such a prey would be the dream come true for any bully.

But Blake never gave up in front of any of those jerks, he would rather fight with a spirit beast or spiribi-human fusion and get beaten to unconsciousness than get bullied. And although he was lacking in his spiritual abilities, Blake had trained his physique every day, as that was his means for venting anger to the world.

Still, most of the time, he will get overpowered by many guys and their spiribi’s. Resulting in him getting beaten black and blue.

Today it seemed like Ayden was in a really bad mood. Blake remembered that this was one of the guys who had never stooped too low to come fight with someone like him. Well, he was here now, and the stage was set.

Blake wanted to make this guy pay, he wanted to slaughter this ugly dog that was walking towards him. An  Emberhound that was below 4th level should only have a maximum of 40 HP, there was no way Ayden would make the Hound attack him with any special attacks and risk getting into trouble, of that Blake was confident. And he knew exactly what the top weakness of this hound was, its fleshy tongue that was not covered in fur like all the other parts of its body. A plan started to form in his head.

The EmberHound was near him, and it jumped up to Blake, to push him down to the ground.

Blake took off and swung his heavy sports bag towards the dog that was airborne, smashing its head. Before the stunned hound could react, Blake's hands reached for its tongue; It’s only weakness. Grabbing the slimy tongue, that was dripping with an acid like substance, Blake rushed forwards. His intention was sure to sever the tongue of this bad doggy.

All this happened in an instant,This was only possible because Blake had practiced martial arts every single day, strengthening his mind and body, and the fact that the Hound was only level 4, making its strength and agility below that of an average human being.

The dog fell to the ground and was now dragged backward by its tongue.

The skin on Blakes' hands started burning away from the slimey acid, And finally went loose from his hands.

Blake only glanced at the Hound, now laying on the ground, and trying to get up, It was howling from the pain. Without pausing, Blake pounced forwards towards Ayden, who was dazed at what had happened in front of him.

~BAM~

Blake's right straight connected with Aydens' face, And this clean unexpected blow was enough to knock out a normal kid of this age. But his increased stats that came with the high level absorbed most of the blunt of the blow.

Regaining his composure, Ayden caught the retreating arm, then with his brute strength, he twisted and broke the bones of Blake's right hand. Grinding his teeth in pain, Blake threw a jab with his left arm, but it was also blocked, and finally a punch straight to his his face knocked Blake out of his consciousness.

Waking up to consciousness in a hospital, Blake was greeted by Rey’s sound

"What you did was stupid, and you owe me one."

Rey, who was sitting at the side of the bed where stood up and said this as he walked out from the room.

Blake looked towards the door Rey walked out through and smiled. His hands were covered in  plaster, his face filled with bruises. Seems like they didn’t stop the beating even after he was unconscious. And the words of Rey meant that somehow he saved Blake from this situation.

Blake was surprised that this cold guy actually saved him. Rey was never a sociable person. He chose books over friends and computer over girls. Blake felt even more grateful to Rey after thinking about this.

Although he was beaten black and blue today, Blake was happy. He was able to almost rip off the tongue of a spirit beast and do some damage to Jake, And he did this without any spiritual power, at level 0.

'Well even if I don't get spirit powers, I will just have to make up for it by some other methods' Blake thought.

Suddenly he felt something in his neck, looking down, he saw that his soul shard, which was pitch black, now surrounded with darkness. It was as if the crystal was covered in a thin fog , but it was not made of something, rather it was pure void, there was just nothing, even light around it.

Blake felt his spirit powers surge forth. And a status screen appeared in front of him. For the first time in his life, he got a level up notification.

Congratulations! you have leveled up! (+1)

And a status screen appeared before him,reading its title alone make Blake overflow with happiness.

Blake (Level 1)