UnHero: The Crowned Phantom System

A week had passed, and Kael had taken the SWI evaluation as mandated, and nothing had changed for his records.

The spirit weave integration score remained the same—5%. Still valued as unawakened. A failure.

And now, he stood among a sea of students in Razor Phantom College's Grand Hall of Ardent Spectra, waiting for the end-term awarding ceremony to conclude.

The vast auditorium shimmered with a fusion of magic and technology, an architectural marvel that symbolized the society's progress.

Ethereal banners drifted above, their inscriptions shifting between glowing golden letters and arcane symbols, each reflecting the names of past prodigies.

The ceiling was a grandiose mirage, shifting between a cosmic skyscape and the spiraling mana currents, forming an ever-moving color and energy.

Illuminated pathways wove through the space, guided by artificial mana flow nodes, adjusting dynamically to the steps of those walking. Floating holo-scrolls displayed the ceremony's agenda, their crystalline surfaces reflecting runic projections into the air. At the heart of the hall was the grand stage, an elevated platform with interlacing silver threads of arcane circuitry, pulsing in resonance with the spirits of those standing upon it.

Kael stood amidst the crowd, his presence unnoticed and overshadowed by the brilliance of those who had earned their place in the light. He exhaled softly, his posture relaxed, as if the results meant nothing to him. But the world had its narrative that he needed to flow with.

"And now, let us celebrate the pinnacle of this term's achievements! "

The voice of the head administrator rang with amplified clarity, projected seamlessly across the hall through resonance glyphs embedded in the walls. The crowd erupted in cheers as the top-ranking student stepped forward—Liam Droid.

A figure of elegance and power, Liam stood at the center of the stage with an air of absolute confidence. His uniform bore the insignia of the Phantom Veil Class, the highest echelon of Razor Phantom College, embroidered with mana fibers that glowed in synchronization with his energy. His spirit grade had soared past 42%, making him the strongest student in the entire university.

With a composed gesture, Liam raised his hand. A ripple of resonant energy spread through the stage as his strongest spirit manifested.

A brilliant celestial falcon materialized beside him, its wings of pure white flame exuding an aura of regality. Though only in a miniature form because of the limitations of spirit grades under 50%, the falcon's presence alone was enough to silence the murmurs in the hall.

"Liam's spirit, the Zenith Aerie…" a student whispered in awe.

"Is it already this refined at 42%?" another murmured.

The falcon spread its radiant wings, and a soft sonic tremor rippled through the air—evidence of its potential to command aerial dominance. As it perched on Liam's shoulder, the admiration for him grew.

Kael remained still.

This was expected. Liam had always been the golden prodigy, a beacon of brilliance that others could only hope to chase.

The ceremony continued, and more names were called.

Among them was another familiar figure, Aldric Ferris, Kael's stepbrother.

Unlike Liam, Aldric carried a composed but ruthless demeanor. At 35% spirit grade, he was among the strongest students in the college, and his recognition was inevitable.

As he stepped onto the stage, he extended his hand, summoning his spirit into existence.

A serpentine wraith, coiled in a translucent silver mist, emerged beside him. Its form flickered between tangible and ethereal, its hollow eyes gleaming with an ominous glow.

"Aldric's spirit… the Veilborn Serpent."

"The manifestation is already so defined… its stealth abilities must be terrifying."

Kael watched, expression unreadable.

The ceremony continued, each prodigy summoning their spirits—

Selene Morvain's Azure Specter, a ghostly wolf that left shimmering blue footprints in the air. Reiner Keld's Crimson Gigas, a humanoid construct of molten rock, radiating an oppressive heat. Viel Astraea's Whispering Sylph, an ethereal fairy that could twist the wind at will. Each was a display of power, a glimpse into their future as dominant figures in society.

Kael stood in the crowd, unseen, unmentioned.

Amidst the shifting glow of mana-infused banners and the murmuring crowd, Kael felt a presence. Subtle, lingering. It was the kind of gaze that didn't belong to the ordinary spectators caught up in the grandeur of the ceremony.

He didn't turn his head, didn't react. Instead, he kept his posture indifferent, his gaze locked onto the stage as another name was called, another spirit manifested. But in his peripheral vision, he caught sight of a figure seated on the reserved balcony, separated from the general audience by a faint shimmer of protective runes.

A government official.

The man was clad in a dark military-style coat with a woven crest at the collar, a division insignia Kael didn't immediately recognize. He was speaking into an earpiece, his fingers resting lightly against the device.

"No fluctuations, no anomalies detected." The official's voice was barely above a whisper, transmitted seamlessly through his secure line.

"You're sure?" A second voice crackled through his earpiece, faint but authoritative.

"I used Omen Sight just now. Nothing. His spirit presence is negligible—5%. No deviation from recorded values. It's like he's still just… normal."

The line was silent for a moment before the response came.

"Then he is a failure."

The official exhaled through his nose, casting one last glance at Kael before rising from his seat. Without another word, he turned and disappeared through the restricted exit, his presence vanishing as if he had never been there.

Kael, meanwhile, did nothing.

He hadn't heard the words, but he had felt the scrutiny. Yet, as always, he disregarded it. The world was free to draw its conclusions.

As the last names were called and the last of the prodigies took their place, the once-lively ceremony began to settle into murmurs and shifting footsteps. Students and officials alike dispersed, some lingering in discussions about their upcoming placements, others already celebrating their secured spots among the elite classes.

Kael, moving with neither hurry nor hesitation, navigated through the dispersing crowd toward the Evaluation Board—a large, glowing display hovering above the administrative hall. It listed the newly assigned class sections, prioritized by rank.

With a soft hum, the interface flickered before presenting his results.

[Name: Kael Veyne]

[Spirit Weave Integration: 5%]

[Status: Unawakened]

System: None {...}

Mana Bandwidth Power Synchronization (MBPS): 1 - 5

[Assigned Class: Section 3-F

| Wisp Designation] (Low-tier classification for students with limited or no spirit affinity.)

[Contracted Spirits: None]

Vitality: F rank—Normal

Aetherflow / Mana: No data

WRAITHLINK (Spirit Synchronization): Unawakened/No data

Reflect: No evaluation

Endurance: No data

Ascendance: No data

Agility: No evaluation

Luck: No Evaluation

Strength: No evaluation

[Passive Skills]: No data

[Inborn Talents]: No data

A subtle shift in the crowd's energy. Some barely spared a glance at the board before moving on, their eyes drawn to the higher-ranked students who had awakened powerful spirits. Others, the ones who bothered to check, smirked or whispered among themselves.

A Wisp-class designation.

It was the mark of the barely significant. A title was given to those whose spirit presence was too faint to make an impact—if it even existed at all. And the line below it confirmed what everyone already believed.

[No contracted spirits recorded.]

A public affirmation of Kael's irrelevance.

And yet, despite the blatant classification of his weakness, he had still been placed within a mid-tier class.

Section 3-F.

Not in the elite ranks. Not among the valued. But also, not at the absolute bottom of the academy's hierarchy.

A contradiction.

To most, an unawakened student should have been placed in a remedial or near-dismissal category, ranked alongside those unable to grasp even the fundamentals of the spiritscape theory.

Even without a contracted spirit, even with an empty core, his placement among the mid-tier classes was a direct result of his theoretical knowledge and unmatched skills among his peers. It was an unspoken truth.

With his understanding of the spirits, his grasp of resonance, tactical applications, and magical principles on paper, he excelled.

There were even whispers that, in pure theory, he rivaled the top-ranking students.

Yet without a spirit… without a true awakening…

It amounted to nothing.

Kael took one last look at the display before turning away. He had seen enough.

Kael walked with a measured pace, weaving through the students, who were busy conversing and making their way out of the hall. The illuminated pathways beneath their feet adjusted dynamically, pulsing in sync with their steps. Before he could reach his transport, a familiar presence intercepted his path.

Evelyn.

She was standing outside, dressed in an elegant, form-fitting robe of ivory silk, embroidered with delicate silvery threads that shimmered under the hall's light. Her golden eyes, which usually carry an air of warmth, held something more calculating beneath their glow as her gaze met Kael's frame.

Surrounding her were a few academy officials and high-ranking students, including Aldric, who stood beside her like a poised noble awaiting recognition. They were engaged in conversation, with Evelyn gracefully congratulating her son, her tone filled with pride and maternal affection.

Kael could have ignored them, and he was so close to his transport, the hovering vehicle already waiting for him. But Evelyn's gaze shifted, settling directly on him.

Then she called out.

"Kael, dear." Her voice was gentle, the perfect cadence of concern laced with an almost sorrowful tone. "A moment, please."

Kael didn't stop walking.

But Evelyn was a master of control. She stepped forward with a soft, measured motion, positioning herself directly in front of him. The golden hue of her eyes flickered under the lights, but this time, they weren't warm like sunflowers and were like polished amber—beautiful, but cold.

"You'll ignore your stepmother?" she asked, loud enough for the bystanders to hear. Her voice carried a delicate weight, a subtle grief as if she were heartbroken by his indifference.

Kael stopped, exhaling softly through his nose. He knew this game.

Then Evelyn took a step closer, lowering her voice to a whisper—one that only he could hear.

"You're just like your mother—clinging to a status that no longer exists, pretending to be more than what you are."

Kael's fingers twitched.

"It's pitiful. No mother to embrace you after all your… achievements. If there is, that is..." The mockery in her tone was razor-sharp, veiled under a soft smile.

His breath stilled for just a moment, but then he let out a chuckle.

Kael turned his head slightly, meeting her gaze. And when he spoke, his words were just as soft, just as deliberate.

"No matter how you twist it… no matter what words you spin…"

A smirk ghosted over his lips.

"Everyone knows my mother—Seraphine Veyne—was a national beauty, a sensation across the city. Something you could never be."

Evelyn's breath hitched.

A flicker of something—brief, but undeniable—passed through her expression. The students nearby, unaware of their hushed exchange, only saw what came next.

Evelyn, in an almost theatrical motion, gasped softly. Her hand reached toward her chest as if struck by an unexpected wave of sorrow. Then, before anyone could register what was happening, she rushed forward in a gentle, fluid motion.

Like a mother desperate to console a wayward child.

"Oh, Kael…" she murmured, her voice thick with sadness. "I never know what to do with you… Always so distant and so resentful."

Her arms stretched ever so slightly as if to reach for him, to pacify his imagined fury.

"Please, just accept me," she whispered, her voice carrying the perfect tremble—one that invited sympathy from anyone watching. "I only wish to be your family."

Kael's jaw tightened. Every word was a lie. A performance crafted to perfection.

Without another word, he turned his back on her and continued toward his transport.

As he neared, the hovering vehicle's door shifted—nanoparticles unraveling like fluid metal, revealing the interior in an instant. He stepped inside, but just before the door was sealed, he spoke one last time.

"You will never be my mother. Not now. Never. Not for all eternity."

The door closed, locking her out.

Anthony, his driver, barely spared Evelyn a glance before the vehicle lifted into the air, engines humming as they sped away from the academy.

She exhaled slowly, her fake sorrow melting into something colder. Then, she sighed—placing a delicate hand against her temple, as if pained yet understanding.

When she turned back, the other students were already murmuring among themselves, casting Kael's pitiful glances while regarding Evelyn with admiration.

She smiled. A soft, pained smile. The expression of a mother who had tried everything. And with that, she won the moment.