Hope's physical capabilities were impressive.

At age twelve, he could easily defeat warriors five years his senior. He wielded a sword, spear, bow, and other weapons flawlessly.

Cautiously, he was introduced to monsters at fifteen. Humanity watched his progress eagerly.

He was brought before the monster. Still with the dagger with which he slew his instructor years ago. The weapon still seemed to have that heavy smell.

The boy was placed before the monster. He was told that he had to kill it and that this was one of his many duties.

To save the world, he wouldn't only have to fight humans but also different creatures.

Hope would have to face many monsters and a terror he had never seen before, and he had to be ready for that.

Mentally and physically, he was truly competent. Standing before the hunchbacked creature, he was confident that he would defeat it without any problems.

With the dagger in his hand, he looked at the creature, and Hope saw fragments. These were parts of the prophecy that were coming out of the monster's body and heading towards him.

The boy had never seen anything like this before; he had never imagined that he could see fragments, although it seemed that he was mistaken.

Numbers flashed through Hope's mind. Unorganised, wild figures that he couldn't control or read.

This was a system that nested in his being, although it was still asleep. The most powerful force that would decide his future and help him fight countless monsters.

Unfortunately, this system refused to activate at this moment. The flying fragments around Hope remained unreadable.

The numbers were just nonsense in his head that he couldn't use.

He was disappointed. It was hard, having such a great destiny, but not being able to use it.

Hope couldn't reach this power, although he faced the creature confidently, sure he could handle it.

The problem was that he couldn't.

He was immobile before the beast. Not a single muscle obeyed, and he nearly choked, collapsing on the ground in his vomit. The boy couldn't even scream.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

He who wanted to subdue the world couldn't conquer his own body.

The prophecies said nothing of such an outcome, which was an unbelievable shock for both the city and the waiting globe. They repeated the test multiple times, each of which nearly killed Hope.

The system in his being was still asleep. With no signs of waking up.

It was untouched power he couldn't use. The uncontrolled fragments became a reason for his downfall.

His standing worsened over the years. No one dared to gamble with his life, so he continued to enjoy every privilege.

The prophecies still spoke in his favour, yet he could prove nothing. Against humanity's greatest threat, he of all people was hopeless.

Then someone called him Despair. The name stuck, and it became his new title.

His situation at the academy was particularly troublesome. He was no longer appreciated by his teachers, and almost all the students despised him.

They always called him Despair, as if to never let him forget his failure.

Most of the pupils didn't dare to do this to his face. Especially his peers, because they knew very well what the boy was capable of.

He had to prove his strength several times and beat the students severely.

"I may not be able to subdue monsters because I can't control my body, but I will beat guys like you to the ground any day." He even called out and fulfilled it when he broke the hand of the best student in the school's graduating class.

His appearance in the city also caused a stir among the people. He heard the name Despair many times, which hit his self-esteem even harder.

The boy couldn't fight against the population. It would be embarrassing, so he had to endure the situation.

Holding that the prophecy wouldn't be wrong he patiently waited for the time when the prophecy would be fulfilled.

Nearly three years had passed since his first failure. He was approaching the age when everyone was required to appear before the gods.

At this ceremony, they choose your path. Decide your future, grant you power while assigning specific fragments to gather, and officially make you a Binder.

Every child dreamed of becoming a Binder, especially when growing up on tales of their heroic deeds.

It was hard not to desire the mythical powers they possessed. They were cool and seemed untouchable.

Defending the world was a point of pride and prestige. Not everyone had the right or ability to do so.

For Hope, there was never any question. No options. He was born to be a warrior, to form bonds with the strongest gods, to collect all the necessary prophecies, and to be the leader of the world's safety.

No one asked him what he truly wanted. Nobody gave a damn about his ambitions or feelings.

An individual could never stand above society. The majority's interests would always come first, and nothing could oppose that. It was the power of democracy. The force that stands from ancient times.

Hope didn't even know what he wanted. It seemed like he didn't have a choice; all he knew was obedience.

Before gaining any credibility there was no one to lead. Weak followed strong, but he was still vulnerable himself.

When it came to monsters, Hope kept failing. Fear wasn't what paralysed him. His entire body resisted; he was powerless as something inside him screamed.

It was only three days away from adulthood. The day, he would meet the gods.

Moreover, he wasn't confident. He feared that he would fail again and eventually turn into real Despair.

It was ironic, the planet's Hope without any hope in himself.

'Perhaps the prophecy is wrong. What if there is no hidden power, and I am just a guy?'

This was his daily thought.

'But it is always right.'

He was alone in his room, pondering when he heard a knock.