Derek, a brute of a guy towering above Kai Ciphera, glanced over his shoulder in disdain and said: "Hey, Kai! Still powerless, huh? No ability in your family tree, no ability in you, nothing to show for yourself. Tough break for you, dude." 

"So pathetic," said Jake, a different kid who was cracking his knuckles. "Why are you even showing up for school? You got no powers; therefore, you got no future." 

Kai ground his jaw and looked down. Then, words of mockery were eventually followed by demands. 

"Hand it over," Derek was saying, smacking a hand into Kai's chest. "All of it." 

Kai hesitated for a second, gripping the measly few bills left in his pocket. He didn't think this very much. Even a weak Level 1 Super Strength user would squash him in seconds. Kai's pride was set aside as he drew the money and put it in Derek's hand. 

"Now that's better," Derek said, snatching at the cash with a grin. "See? You do have a use, after all. Our little ATM." 

The group roared with laughter as they pushed Kai one last time against the wall and walked away, still taunting him until they vanished down the hall. Kai exhaled sharply, rubbing his arm. He knew he could never stand up for himself. In a world where power decides status, he could never hope to fight off a superpower user. He was indeed powerless. 

Ever since middle school, he had been a target for his lack of powers. He was the guy of behind-his-back whispers, while others turned to outright bullying once word got about his family never having produced a single ability user. It was a rarity in the Nova Continent—a world ruled by those endowed with supernatural talents.

Abilities like super strength and superspeed were the most common. Second were elemental users who controlled fire, water, or lightning and were revered in elite clans. The royalty of an elite specialty was at the top of the hierarchy, with the ability of families to monopolize powers so rare. But it wasn't just able users Kai hated. Further away was another menace: Monsters.

Creatures that tore their way through portals randomly and wreaked havoc on the continent. Their appearance two hundred years ago marked the birth of ability users, leading scholars to theorize about a connection between the two.

Ironically, the very people who bullied those below them were the very ones who held back the monsters. Clans and monopolist families controlled the various defense forces while growing wealthier through government contracts under the Avery Government. Kai clenched his fists.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

This was the world he was in, a society where power meant everything and the powerless were trod underfoot. But something deep within refused to accept that fate.  Anyway, he turned back to walk home since his house was a couple of blocks from school. Kai had only one parent. His mother died of an illness when he was young, and his father is just an underrated writer who hardly earns any money from his books.

Meanwhile, echoing through the empty streets were hurried footsteps as a lone man sprinted through dark alleyways, ragged and uneven breath. Clothes were torn, blood soaking his garments, as he clutched his side, where a wound lay hidden. Behind him, shadows shifted in pursuit, clad in black coats and featureless masks.

"Damn it…!" he hissed under his breath, staggering as pain shot through his body. "Early levels of Ergokinesis are too weak… I can't fight them like this!"

His mind raced. He only spent a few weeks honing his power. It was undoubtedly still not enough. Against assassins trained to eliminate ability users, he was outmatched.

"I'll get caught at this rate," he muttered bitterly. “No… I can't let them erase my master's legacy.”

A surge of determination flared within him as he reached into his core, channeling the last remnants of his energy. His body trembled as he extracted the power, shaping it into a glowing orb of pure energy.

"I'm sorry, Master," he whispered. "I wasn't strong enough to protect your legacy…"

With a final push, he released the orb into the night sky, letting it drift away unseen. The moment it disappeared into the darkness, a voice echoed behind him.

"There you are."

The man turned sharply, his breath catching as he realized he was cornered in a dead-end alley. The assassins moved in, their masked faces void of emotion.

"No loose ends," one murmured before a blade gleamed in the dim light.

A sharp pain pierced his chest. He gasped, his vision blurring as he collapsed onto the cold ground. The last thing he saw was the darkened sky above him, his final hope vanishing into the night.

One assassin tapped a communicator in his ear.

"The job is done. All Ergokinetics have been eliminated."

There was silence on the other end before a voice confirmed, "Understood. Return to base."

Without another word, the assassins disappeared into the shadows, leaving nothing behind but a lifeless body and a secret now floating far beyond their reach.