A knock at the door.
The sharp rap startled Ken from his window-gazing. The other heroes stirred awake as the door swung open, revealing the same armored guard from last night.
Guard: "His Majesty requests your presence in the throne room immediately," the guard said stiffly.
Daichi sat up, his hair sticking in all directions. "Whoa, already? I barely got any sleep—"
"Shut it," Takeshi snapped, already rolling out of bed with military precision.
Leo cracked his neck and stood, his face serious.
Ren adjusted his glasses silently.
Ken said nothing but moved toward the door.
Royal Palace – Throne Room
The guard led them through winding marble halls, each more opulent than the last. Golden statues lined the corridors, their gemstone eyes seeming to track the group.
Kaito whistled low under his breath."Man, they weren't kidding about this kingdom being loaded..."
Leo frowned. "Focus. We're about to meet an actual king. Don't embarrass us."
Daichi gulped, suddenly looking nervous.
Finally, the grand doors swung open—And there, atop a towering obsidian throne, King Aldenor sat in full battle armor, his piercing brown eyes analyzing each of them with a weight that made even Takeshi tense. Flanking him stood Vaelric and Marlin, their expressions unreadable.
Silence.
Then—
King Aldenor: "Welcome, heroes," the king's voice boomed, echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
"I have summoned you here because our world is dying."
Ren adjusted his glasses. "Dying?"
The king gestured sharply. Behind him, a magical projection shimmered to life—images of crumbling kingdoms, monstrous shadows pouring from volcanic fissures, entire cities reduced to ruin.
"The Abyss has awakened," the king continued darkly. "A force that devours worlds. You six—chosen heroes—are our last hope."
Takeshi crossed his arms.
Ken's fists clenched.
Chosen heroes...? This isn't some game. We could die.
Daichi, pale, whispered, "Uh... what if we say no?"
King Aldenor's gaze turned glacial.
"Then this world falls—and you will never see your home again."
A heavy silence.
Then Leo growled, "Tch. So we fight or we're stuck here. Fine."
The king smiled humorlessly.
"Today, your training begins. Tomorrow... you face your first trial in the Crimson Dungeon."
Ken met the king's stare head-on.
First magic... Now dungeons?
Behind his stoic face? He was already calculating how to survive.
The room was dead silent… until—
Kaito: "Umm... Your Majesty?"
He scratched the back of his head, trying to sound polite.
"How exactly are we supposed to fight demons or go into dungeons? We don't have any magic or sword skills… We've never fought anyone before."
Daichi: "Yeah! Shouldn't we, like... get powers or something first? Like super strength? Or flying? Or X-ray vision?"
King Aldenor gave a slow nod and turned toward Marlindor, the Head Mage.
King Aldenor: "Take them to the Inner Sanctum. It is time."
Marlindor bowed.
Marlindor: "Yes, Your Majesty."
He turned to the heroes.
"Follow me, brave ones. The Church of Gloria awaits. There, you shall receive the blessings of the Divine Azarith."
As the group walked through torch-lit marble halls...
Daichi: "Senpai! What do you think I'll get? Maybe flight! Or super strength! Or—oooh!—X-ray vision! L-Like Superman—"
Leo: "Oi, Daichi. This isn't an anime. No laser eyes. Just swords and magic."
They entered a massive marble chamber, bathed in divine light. A glowing crystal floated above a silver altar, humming with sacred energy. Arcane runes danced across the floor.
Vaelric Thorne was already waiting, arms folded behind his back.
Marlindor raised his staff, his voice echoing through the sanctum.
Marlindor: "By the will of Azarith, the Creator… awaken the Divine Core. Reveal the truth hidden within their souls!"
The crystal pulsed with power.
Kaito Nakamura – First Up
Kaito stepped forward, confident as ever.
The crystal exploded with golden light.
Crystal: Radiant Blade – S-Class
Twin glowing katanas materialized beside him.
Kaito: "Heh. I look like a final boss."
Leo Takahashi
The crystal flared silver as Leo stepped up.
Crystal: Shield King – S-Class
A holy shield formed on his arm, shimmering with sacred power.
Leo: "Perfect. I'll protect everyone."
Ren Hayashi
The crystal shimmered like shifting glass, pulsing with strange rhythms.
Crystal: Chrono Seer – A-Class
A floating book circled him, and glowing runes formed around his eyes.
Ren (quietly): "Time... magic?"
Daichi Fujimoto
Daichi bounced forward like an excited puppy.
Crystal: Elemental Caller – A-Class
Four tiny spirits — earth, wind, fire, and water — floated around him.
Daichi: "Whaaaat?! I got little Pokémon?! This is AWESOME!"
Takeshi Moriyama
Takeshi stepped forward with quiet power.
The crystal dimmed to black flame.
Crystal: Abyss Flame Knight – S-Class
A cursed sword formed in his hand, flames licking up the blade.
Takeshi (gritting his teeth): "Tch. This power… it burns."
Ken Hanzashi – Last
Ken stepped forward.
Nothing.
The crystal went completely dark. Not even a flicker.
Whispers broke out across the chamber.
Vaelric: "Is the crystal… broken?"
Marlindor: "No… it's never done this before. According to the ancient texts…"
Suddenly—.
Ken's body was pulled into a swirling void. He floated in white space, surrounded by stars.
A tall, radiant figure appeared before him, dressed like a divine Greek god.
Azarith: "Yo."
Ken: "Where the hell am I?!"
Azarith: "Relax, kid. You're in my divine zone. I'm Azarith. The god who made this world. So… how is it?"
Ken (deadpan): "It's alright."
Azarith (dramatic): "ALRIGHT?! Bro, I handcrafted those twin moons with love and you're telling me it's alright?!"
Ken (sweating): "Okay okay! It's beautiful! I've barely seen anything outside the castle, but I'm looking forward to it."
Azarith: "Good. You haven't even seen the catgirls yet."
Ken: "C-Cat…girls?!"
Azarith: "Oh yeah. Elves. Dwarves. Bunnyfolk. Beastkin. Dragonoids. You'll love 'em."
Ken imagines a busty bunny girl in revealing
clothes. He slaps both cheeks.
Ken: "FOCUS. Why didn't the crystal react?"
Azarith (smirking): "Because you're not just some hero. You're the one. The kingdom you're in? It's corrupt. King Aldenor bans all other races. Racist bastard. I chose you to change that."
Ken: "But I have no powers…"
Azarith: "You do now."
He snapped his fingers. A glowing screen appeared in front of Ken.
"ADMIN ACCESS GRANTED"
•Goku-level Strength (Ultra Instinct not included)
• Super speed
•All Magic Types Unlocked (Read the damn manual)
•∞ MP/Stamina (wink, Have fun~)
•Incubus Mode (100 lovers=free levels!)
Ken: "…SUPER STRENGTH LIKE GOKU?!"
Azarith: "Figured you'd like that. Didn't you say you worshipped him?"
Ken: "Damn right I do!"
Ken: "But… wait. What's 'Incubus'... and what's with the wink after the stamina thing?"
Azarith leaned in, whispering something in Ken's ear.
Ken's eyes shot wide. He blushed. Hard.
Ken: "A-A WHAT?! I LEVEL UP BY SLEEPING WITH GIRLS?!"
Azarith (smirking): "Or you can grind the old-fashioned way — kill monsters, slay demons, etc. But option A is more fun."
Ken: "I don't even talk to girls… I'm stoic!"
Azarith: "Girls love the mysterious type, bro. You'll sleep with at least 100 women. Mark my words."
Ken: "A… HUNDRED?!"
Azarith clapped his shoulder and laughed.
Azarith: "Hahahahaha… Relax, kid. You've got this."
The divine space began to collapse around them.
Azarith: "Now go. Lead them. Protect the weak. Be the king this world deserves. Show Aldenor how a real ruler acts."
Ken's vision faded—he gasped awake, sweating and breathing heavily.
The divine light from the crystal had faded, but the tension still choked the room like smoke. The six heroes stood frozen in place, unsure of what to say.
Royal Advisor Vaelric Thorne stepped forward slowly, his expression cold as steel.
His boots echoed sharply against the marble floor.
Vaelric: "Marlindor… What is this nonsense? The crystal didn't react to him. Try again."
Marlindor, the Head Mage, kept his gaze on the now-silent crystal. His voice was low, but final.
Marlindor: "The Divine Core does not make mistakes… and it does not repeat."
He turned to Vaelric.
Marlindor: "If it did not react to him… then he is not one of the Heroes."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the temple. Several nobles watching from the gallery exchanged whispers.
Daichi Fujimoto rushed to Ken's side, his shoes skidding slightly on the polished floor.
Daichi: "Senpai! Are you okay? You're sweating so much…"
Ken exhaled slowly, a hand pressed against his temple.
Ken: "I'm fine… just a headache."
The ache from the divine vision still pulsed behind his eyes, like fire coiled beneath his skin.
Takeshi Moriyama scoffed, crossing his arms with a sneer.
Takeshi: "Tch. Looks like he's just dead weight."
Leo Takahashi hesitated. He looked at Ken, then back at the silent crystal. Finally, he offered a quiet nod.
Leo: "Don't worry, Senpai. Even if you didn't get a class, I'll have your back."
Ren Hayashi adjusted his glasses with a cool flick of his fingers, his tone completely emotionless.
Ren: "Technically speaking, he'll only slow us down. Perhaps he can support us—carry supplies, cook, fetch potions. We protect him, he carries our gear. Efficient."
Kaito Nakamura, ever the laid-back one, yawned and stretched his arms behind his head.
Kaito: "I mean… yeah. Better than leaving him behind."
Daichi lowered his gaze, guilt tightening in his throat.
Daichi: "Senpai… I'm sorry."
Ken offered a weak smile.
Ken: "It's okay, Daichi. I'll manage."
From the side, Vaelric watched them all, his expression twisted with disdain.
Vaelric (muttering): "Pathetic…"
He turned sharply, his cloak flaring behind him as he marched out of the chamber.
A towering room of obsidian and gold. Glowing braziers lined the walls. Massive stained-glass windows bathed the throne in red and blue light.
At the far end, King Aldenor Valemont sat tall upon his throne, his armored fingers curled beneath his chin. Beside him stood Queen Seraphina, her hands clasped nervously, and Princess Elowen, arms crossed in disinterest.
The heavy doors creaked open.
Vaelric entered briskly, dropping to one knee at the foot of the dais.
Vaelric: "Your Majesty. Your Highnesses. A complication has arisen."
King Aldenor didn't move.
King Aldenor: "Speak."
Vaelric: "One of the six summoned heroes… failed to awaken. The Divine Crystal remained silent."
A beat passed.
Then—
BANG!
The king slammed his fist into the armrest, the sharp crack echoing through the hall.
King Aldenor: "WHAT!? That's impossible! The summoning ritual was flawless!"
Vaelric: "It is true, my king. The crystal gave no response. Not even a flicker of energy."
Princess Elowen scoffed, rolling her eyes.
Princess Elowen: "Then what's the point of keeping him? He's useless. Just a random commoner from another world. Father, we should cast him out."
Queen Seraphina stepped forward quickly, placing a hand on the king's arm.
Queen Seraphina: "Please, dear… he was summoned with the others. Perhaps there's more to him than we understand."
King Aldenor's face twisted with fury.
He slapped her hand away.
King Aldenor: "ARE YOU MAD, WOMAN?!"
Queen Seraphina gasped, stepping back, one hand flying to her mouth.
King Aldenor: "He is a disgrace! An embarrassment to this kingdom! And you ask me to give him a chance?!"
Silence fell over the court.
Then, after a long breath, the king composed himself.
King Aldenor: "Very well. Gather the people. Summon the six heroes to the grand balcony… including that useless one."
Princess Elowen: "You're still showing him to the public?"
King Aldenor: "Of course. We must uphold the image of unity. The people will see six heroes. They don't need to know that one of them is trash."
His voice turned cold.
King Aldenor (quietly): "Once the parade is over… we'll deal with him."
Vaelric bowed again, lips curling into a cruel smirk.
Vaelric: "As you command, my king."
Meanwhile… in the sanctum…
Ken stood apart from the others, gazing up at the fading light of the Divine Core. His fists trembled—barely.
But behind his calm eyes, something stirred.
A silent vow.
"Just you wait, Aldenor. I'll show you… what kind of king I really am."
Later.
Location: Grand Royal Balcony – Castle Valemont
The royal trumpets blared from the high towers, their piercing notes echoing through the stone courtyards and narrow alleys of the capital.
Thousands of people had gathered in the palace square below — merchants, nobles, knights, children, all craning their necks to see the legendary heroes from another world.
Flags bearing the royal crest snapped in the wind. Petals rained from above. The sun lit up the balcony like a divine spotlight.
Behind the grand marble arch, the six boys waited in silence.
Ken stood at the far end of the hallway, his back straight, eyes cold. He could feel the eyes on him — from the guards, the nobles,
and worst of all…
His so-called "allies."
Guard Captain: "Step forward, Heroes of Gloria."
The massive balcony doors swung open with a thunderous boom.
The crowd exploded in cheers.
"Heroes!"
"They came from another world!"
"Which one will slay the Demon King?!"
Kaito stepped forward first, flashing a cocky grin as he waved. The golden light of his twin blades shimmered on his back.
Kaito: "Sup, peasants."
The crowd roared.
Leo followed, solemn and noble, his silver shield strapped to his arm. The people applauded loudly, sensing his knightly aura.
Ren walked like a strategist, hands folded behind his back, his floating tome hovering.
Daichi waved like a puppy, almost bouncing.
Takeshi didn't even look at the crowd. Just walked out, arms crossed, cloak billowing.
He still earned the loudest cheers — people loved the cold, edgy type.
Then came—
Ken.
He stepped out… alone, silent.
There was no weapon on his back. No glowing aura. No holy gear.
Just a plain black uniform, wind rustling his sleeves.
For a second, the crowd was quiet.
Then… the murmurs began.
"Who's that one?"
"He doesn't have any equipment…"
"Is he… a servant?"
"Where's his class badge?"
From the royal balcony above, PrincessElowen leaned against the rail, rolling her eyes.
Elowen (whispering to her mother): "Ugh. Do we really have to parade him out here?"
Queen Seraphina said nothing… but her eyes lingered on Ken, worried.
Down below, nobles in fine clothes began to snicker, hiding laughs behind fans and gloves.
Nobleman #1: "Which hero is he supposed to be?"
Noblewoman: "The useless one, clearly. Maybe they summoned him by accident."
King Aldenor stood tall, his booming voice echoing across the square.
King Aldenor: "People of Gloria! Behold — the Six Heroes sent from another world by the grace of Azarith himself!"
Cheers erupted.
King Aldenor: "These brave souls shall undergo trials… and in time, slay the Demon
King and bring peace to our realm!"
He paused.
Then added, with a dark undertone:
King Aldenor: "Even the weakest among them… will serve in his own way."
Ken's fists clenched.
As the heroes turned to leave the balcony…
Ren chuckled.
Ren: "Looks like you made quite the impression, Ken-senpai."
Kaito: "No gear, no class, no presence. You really are the 'extra' of our party, huh?"
Daichi gave a sheepish smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Daichi: "C'mon guys… maybe he'll awaken something later…"
Takeshi didn't even look at Ken.
Leo, to his credit, said nothing — but his silence was heavy.
They think I'm weak.
They think I'm useless.
They have no idea… the power I carry now.
No idea what I saw.
No idea who I met.
No idea… what I will become.
Ken looked up at the sky — two moons hanging above like watchful gods.
"This kingdom laughs at me now."
"But one day… they'll kneel."