Solo Leveling: Monarch of Knowledge

Chapter 1 - 1: Not again!

Some say villains or heroes are made, others say that they are born.

But in reality, everything is different for every individual.

The circumstances of their upbringing can change everything.

Not always, though.

....

Inside a sleek, modern office building, tension filled the air. Harsh voices bounced off the polished walls of the conference room as a group of employees argued over a failed task for a major client. Accusations flew back and forth, but it wasn't long before all fingers pointed at a silent worker seated at his desk nearby.

Adam sat there, his posture calm, his fingers tapping methodically on his keyboard. He didn't bother to defend himself as his name came up repeatedly. His dark eyes flicked toward the group, betraying a flicker of disappointment, before he returned his focus to his work.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Ali, his closest friend in the office, whispered urgently as he crouched beside Adam's desk.

Adam sighed, gathering his belongings with deliberate slowness. "Why should I?" he replied, his voice steady but resigned. "This place is toxic. Staying here brings no benefits, and honestly, I'm too lazy to argue with people who've already made up their minds."

Ali stared at him in disbelief. "Adam, they're firing you! You're just going to let them win?"

Adam slung his bag over his shoulder and gave a small shrug. "Why should I waste my energy fighting a battle I can't win? The world only cares about the powerful, the rich, the famous. People like me? Immigrants with no connections, no power, we don't stand a chance."

His words hung in the air like a heavy weight.

"But they're wrong." Ali pressed, his voice tinged with desperation. "You didn't do anything!"

Adam met his friend's gaze briefly, a faint smile playing on his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Doesn't matter. The moment they decided to blame me, it was over."

Without another word, he turned and walked away. He could feel sympathetic gazes from some of the other workers, but he ignored them. Sympathy wouldn't pay his bills.

....

Adam was a young black man of Senegalese ethnicity, born in Dakar. His family had moved to Italy when he was just three years old,

I felt a bead of sweat roll down my neck as the being side eyed me, with its expression unreadable. Then it straightened, coughed theatrically, and said, "Today's a special occasion! You'll pick the orb yourself."

I stared at it, my suspicion growing. 'This is pure bullshit.' I thought, but I could see no way out of this situation. Resigned, I stepped closer to the box. The orbs pulsed softly, their glow hypnotic. My hand moved on its own, drawn to a light blue orb that seemed to hum with an inviting warmth.

But i also saw a grey orb calling me so i just picked both as a revenge, for the first time in my existence i decided to fight back!

The moment I touched them, the orbs merged into my chest, sending a jolt of energy coursing through me.

"No!" the golden being's voice rang out, sharp and panicked. "Not again!"

A portal erupted into existence behind me, its swirling edges crackling with energy. I felt an irresistible force pulling me backward.

"Wait, what's happening?!" I tried to yell, but my voice was drowned out by the roar of the portal.

"Fuck!" the being shouted, throwing its paperwork in frustration. "Father's going to send me to a lower world for this!"

Those were the last words I heard before the portal consumed me.

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