1 Chapter 1 - Lucky or not?

Nibiru City, Thoth High School - Classroom 357

In the center of a very large city was a magnificent academy that had a river channel running through the middle. On the other side of the channel in a spacious classroom there were dozens of students seated in the lotus position while mediating, like a room full of Buddhist monks seeking enlightenment. There were nearly invisible lights swirling all around their bodies making the surroundings appear rather magical.

"No slacking off! You're entering your third year in a weeks time! In a mere two years you all will graduate, and what's after that? If you have not become a magi by your fifth year there will no place for you outside of this city's walls! No sects or universities will want anything to do with you, unless you're a peak warrior! Then, maybe you can spend your life guarding some noble brat with more talent than yourself. However, those savage creatures beyond the county walls will still tear you to pieces if you aren't well prepared."

The man shouting was the class teacher Mr. Turner, a middle-aged man with both hands at his waist, washed the entire room full of training students in saliva as he continued to rant.

"You may have had an easy time up until now, but it's my job to turn you adolescent punks into respected scholars or fierce warriors! This is the age of magic! To follow this path is to shape your own destiny! To travel down any other path is merely walking the path of the snacks! That's right snacks! The nightmare beasts don't care about your dreams or comfort, they will eat you!

"By the end of the year, I aim to have each of you wimps reach the sixth level of the Hard Body Realm. Only students who reach the sixth level and pass all courses with at least a gold star will be promoted to the Magi class. However, any student who reaches the sixth level can be promoted to the next year. If you can't at least do this, I refuse to pass you."

"Am I speaking to myself?"

"No sir, Teacher!" shouted all the students in unison.

"Well have I made myself clear?" asked Mr. Turner impatiently.

"Yes Sir!"

"Excellent. We reviewed the proper method of improving your mystic origin. Tomorrow, I expect to see some level of improvement in each of you! I will not allow any poor results in the quarterly assessment! If you can show me significant improvement, I'll recommend you to the advanced classes. All right, class dismissed."

~Swish

To Mr. Turner's astonishment, the moment he said the word 'dismissed' the seemingly diligent class grabbed their things and vanished like a tornado of excitement. He was simply stunned. He should have guessed that these punks weren't seriously lost in their own reflections. Kids these days were more rebellious, but what could he do?

"Oh?" Mr. Turner was surprised to see that three students in the back of the class were truly still lost in meditation, as if they hadn't noticed any commotion at all. This made him feel a little gratified. Maybe he might find a gem or two in this batch, after all. He pulled out a tablet like device and checked the profile of the kids in front of him.

"What do we have here? A Graham? The Mayor's daughter huh? Already at the fourth level at a mere 14 years old? Nice...next," after checking a pretty girl wearing red wit pigtails in her hair, Mr. Turner moved on to a strapping young lad in stylish overalls who was clearly releasing some slight origin strength. "Oh yeah? A brat from the Sinatra clan? Fifth level?! Yeah, they ain't normal indeed."

"As for this one...tsk." Mr. Turner sneered when he saw who the final student was He didn't even need the tablet to identify this young man. "As a teacher I shouldn't call anyone trash but come on...how could this brat even bother to stay in this school. A waste like this needs to be in the mortal schools. He can't even hope to qualify."

Mr. Turner was frustrated, but inwardly he thought it was truly a pity. He had never seen another student work harder than this one! He had never seen another athlete give more of his heart and soul to every competition! However, no matter how much effort he put in his talent...just didn't cut it. As a result he was often bullied. However, this brat was truly strong of heart! He would fight back with everything he had no matter who challenged him! Whether he won or loss he would stay on his feet and hold his head up high the entire time, unless he was knocked out.

And knocking him out was nearly impossible.

The kids begin to call him the mad mortal, and stayed away from him.

"He's not even at the third level, that's the worst this year. Sigh...well I'll root for you Riot. Fight hard."

Meanwhile, on the training platform Casino Riot was breathing in a peculiar rhythm as he absorbed the origin energy in the surroundings and refined it into his own mystic origin. As the origin energy entered his body it felt like it was falling into a bottomless pit that could never be satisfied. However, after awhile he actually became aware of a limit! The distance of this limit would probably be twice as far as when he first sensed the limit of the first level.

In Casino's opinion this was probably the starting point for normal people. Maybe those with high talent started even closer, but he wasn't sure. All he knew was that cultivating had always been far harder for himself than it seemed to be for those around him. Of course, he wasn't really discouraged. Casino had always had a proud personality, with an outrageous amount of confidence in himself. It was as if this pride came directly from his soul. He had never doubted that he would one day dominate everything.

To Casino, this was a given.

To Casino, being weak was merely temporary.

Of course he had no idea why he believed this. It was almost as if it was programmed in his head to believe so.

His eyelids suddenly twitched a bit, before they lifted to reveal a pair of deep hazel eyes. He woke up from his meditation thinking, "I'm only a step away from the third level, finally. Of course, who knows how long this step will truly take. Sigh...god, why is it that you toy with me so?"

Casino had been stuck at the second level for the last two years. This was a lot slower then all his classmates. Previously he had just managed to scrape by because of his outstanding perfect prism star grade average and insane work ethic. He entered the second level of the Hard Body realm just in time to be accepted into high school, and there wasn't another strength assessment until this year! Now he was doomed to fail if he didn't breakthrough to the sixth level!

It was common knowledge that if one couldn't reach the sixth level by the age of 17, then they would likely never reach level 9 in their lifetime.

In his heart, Casino had already begin planning what to do once they kicked him out of school. No matter how much self-confidence he had, he knew it was impossible for him to go from the second level of the hard body realm to the sixth in one year, even if he had normal talent. This was completely a dream. He would delude himself. He'd have to grow stronger on his own from now on it seemed. "How tragic, why is this school so stingy? Don't they know that some geniuses take more time to mature?! How could they be so impatient? They are bound to miss out on this sparkling gem, I. A pity..."

If the school knew Casino's thoughts they would like die of laughter. Who was pathetic again? However, these were his true feelings.

"Yo, Lucky! How much could you really learn today bro, let's go already? Wake up, kiddo, come on!" an obnoxious voice entered the classroom and disrupted Casino's conversation with himself. There was only one person in this school year that would call him by the name Lucky. It could only be his childhood friend Capital Blacc!

"Lucky huh...my mother still calls me this as well...rather ironic. My luck seems to have been used up somehow...I must create my own luck."

Casino Riot stood up and glanced around at the three startled people who remained in the class room. He was wearing black clothes and stood at 5'11, which could be considered pretty tall for 14 years old. He ignored the suspicious and irritated looks and gathered his belongings before dashing out of the classroom, his buddy chasing up behind him.

"Must you be so annoying, Capp?" grumbled Casino Riot as the boys walked the school halls. He glanced out the windows and saw many students practicing or showcasing their talents. Some were competing in martial arts, while others were practicing magic spells. Things were levitating, igniting, freezing, and there were many marvelous sights. Of course there was also plenty of students who were enjoying leisure activities like swimming, or playing ball. Some were just talking to friends and others studied.

This was the magical era of humanity, the Magi Era!

In Year 1250 M.D. different powerful beasts suddenly invaded every country in droves, including the country Casino lived in, Avaria! The people lived in absolute terror for ten years before a solution was developed and introduced! The meta-humans that everyone feared were revealed to be regular humans who possessed supernatural potential. The source of the strange new abilities that kept appearing was origin energy!

All living creatures had the potential to use origin energy.

And origin energy existed almost every air existed!

Technology and magic had been made into one, taking science straight to extreme peak!

Humanity's counter attack against the magical beasts was broadcasted in every country and the world knew for the first time that there was such a thing as magic.

It was was wonderful time to be alive. Magic made having daily necessities incredibly easy. Poverty decreased a lot. No one knew for sure when the first magical discovery was made, the theory is that the government was visited by aliens years ago and slowly introduced the new technology to the world. There was no evidence of this, but the theory had so much momentum most people assumed it was true.

After subduing the magical beast swarms, origin energy and mana were thoroughly researched and unique applications were created all over for almost every field one could think of. This year, 1313 MD, the world had long ago entered this magical renaissance. In this era the school systems revolved around building up the strength and intelligence of the younger generation. Students were provided facilities and resources to train themselves and learn magic, and this initiative was provided funding by the taxes everyone paid.

However, these were deadly times. Criminals were no longer just petty robbers. They had real ability, and advanced methods. Not only that, previously regular animals had also been influenced by the era, and they had become vicious and merciless killers. Not to mention the remnants of the magical beasts still existed in the wilds! This was no longer a world were one could casually adventure outside with the main threat being other humans. Nature had become far more dangerous than before.

Every students number one goal was to study and get stronger!

Graduate as a Magi or Warrior!

Enter a Sect or University!

Travel the world!

This was the Avarian Dream.

"I'm sorry, did you die? Can I see dead people like that weird sense kid? Anyway, I'll send your mother flowers, then. That dad of yours though, ow!" Capital Blacc received a punch in the arm from Casino when he said the word dad, "All right buddy, just relax. Anyway, have you seen her yet?"

"No, stop asking. Forget about Violet, what level are you now?" Casino's eyes flashed with a nearly imperceptible light, but how long had Capital known him? He instantly noticed.

"You should know full well for yourself, no?" Capital frowned as he replied. Casino merely smiled, he really did know already. He was impressed that Capital had already reached the fourth level of the Hard Body realm. Capital sneered at him and said, "You have to be careful with that stuff man! We don't know if it's dangerous, you know? How about you Lucky, did you manage to breakthrough yet?"

Casino glanced at his friend and then turned his gaze back forward, "You have to do your best to reach the sixth level by the end of the year. Honestly, with your talent you should reach even the seventh level by then! Maybe even better! You have to train seriously."

"Yes, mom, I will," Capital Blacc rolled his eyes at this nagging best friend of his. "Still dude, its real strange that we haven't seen Violet at all after she got accepted into the special advancement class on the day after her birthday. I mean seriously, what's the deal?"

"What are they going to do, dissect her and harvest her organs? Relax, bro, she's fine." said Casino Riot before grinning cheekily, "Come on, let's go meet the gang. It's the anniversary, yeah?"

"Ah!" Capital Blacc punched his own palm, "I had almost forgotten! Maybe one of us will get the blessing this time, savvy?"

"I can't exactly be blamed for this, right? They decide who they belong too on their own." Shrugged Casino as they headed off the school grounds and into the bustling Nirbiru City.

Nibiru City covered 145 sq. miles and was full of tall and mid-sized buildings. The city was divided into three sectors, and Thoth High School was located smack dab in the middle of the middle sector. It would take them about three or four hours if they walked to the outer sector where they had to meet the gang. Even if they ran it would still take at least two hours.

"What kind a dork meditates for two extra hours after class? We could have been there by now, Luck!" Capital Blacc was complaining as they walked past yet another alley, when he suddenly stopped. "Hey! Lucky, do you remember this alley? From when we were kids?"

"Yeah," Casino stopped as well and turned back, "This was the alley that Bravo chased us into, and then we some how ended up in that alley in the outer sector. Totally weird."

"So, what do you say? Think we could do it again?"