ZERO RANK — Episode 1: Rank Zero

# ZERO RANK — Episode 1: Rank Zero The world changed when mysterious dimensional Gates began appearing without warning. Beyond them existed monsters, strange energy, and dangers humanity had never encountered before. At the same time, certain humans began awakening supernatural abilities. These Awakened became humanity's defense against the creatures inside the Gates and were ranked according to their strength and potential. Malik Cross has waited for the day he would finally awaken. Frail and physically weaker than most people around him, Malik believes awakening could finally give him the chance to become someone powerful. Instead, his result leaves everyone stunned. **RANK: 0.** Malik has almost no measurable strength, speed, mana, or combat ability. Rank 0 is so low that he is treated as if he barely awakened at all. The result is humiliating, but Malik refuses to accept that a number will decide his future. Determined to prove himself, Malik enters a low-level Gate despite being completely unprepared for real combat. The moment he encounters a monster, reality hits him. Malik is too weak. His attacks barely hurt the creature, while every attack from the monster threatens to kill him. He is beaten down, injured, exhausted, and pushed to the point where survival seems impossible. As Malik lies near death, something hidden inside his awakening finally responds. **DEVOUR — LEVEL 1** **ABSORPTION RATE: 1%** Malik doesn't fully understand what Devour is or why his normal awakening test failed to detect it. He only understands one thing: if he wants to live, he has to fight. With almost nothing left, Malik forces himself back onto his feet. He uses everything around him, fights through the pain, and barely manages to defeat the monster. The creature falls. Malik collapses beside it, believing the nightmare is finally over. Then Devour activates again. Energy begins leaving the dead monster and flowing into Malik's body. **DEVOUR SUCCESSFUL.** **1% ABSORBED.** For the first time, Malik feels something inside himself change. The world called him Rank 0. **But Rank 0 was only the beginning.**

# ZERO RANK ## Episode 2 — “ONE PERCENT” ### OPENING — INSIDE THE GATE Silence. Malik kneels beside the monster he just killed. Blood runs down his arm. His breathing is heavy. A glowing screen floats in front of him. **DEVOUR SUCCESSFUL** **ABSORPTION RATE: 1%** Malik stares at it. **MALIK:** “Devour…?” His entire body suddenly tightens. **THUMP!** Malik grabs his chest. **MALIK:** “AGH!” Heat spreads through his muscles. His wounds still hurt. His body is still exhausted. But something is different. He looks down at his hands. They aren't shaking anymore. Another screen appears. **TARGET: FANG RAT** **AVAILABLE TRAITS DETECTED** **STRENGTH** **AGILITY** **BITE FORCE** **SCENT** Then— **SELECT ONE ATTRIBUTE** Malik's eyes widen. **MALIK:** “One?” He looks toward the dead monster. Then at his injured body. He remembers how fast the Fang Rat moved. **MALIK:** “Agility.” The screen changes. **AGILITY SELECTED** **1% ABSORBED** A faint pulse travels through Malik's legs. He slowly stands. For the first time since entering the Gate— Standing doesn't feel impossible. Malik looks at the monster. Then at his hands. **MALIK (thought):** “I took something from it.” --- ## SCENE 2 — SURVIVE FIRST A distant growl echoes through the tunnel. Malik immediately freezes. His excitement disappears. **MALIK (thought):** “Right.” He looks around. He's still inside a Gate. Still alone. Still Rank 0. And still badly injured. **MALIK:** “Figure it out later.” Another growl. Closer. Malik grabs the broken weapon from the ground. **MALIK:** “First…” He forces himself forward. **MALIK:** “I get out alive.” --- ## SCENE 3 — THE DIFFERENCE Malik moves through the tunnel. Every step hurts. But his movements feel slightly lighter. He jumps across a small crack in the floor. He lands. Malik stops. Looks back. Earlier, he struggled to clear something smaller. **MALIK (thought):** “That wasn't normal.” He tests his leg. Moves left. Then right. Not fast. Not impressive. But better. **MALIK (thought):** “One percent…” Malik smiles slightly. **MALIK:** “I'll take it.” **GROWL!** The smile disappears. **MALIK:** “Yeah. Time to go.” --- ## SCENE 4 — SECOND MONSTER Malik rounds a corner. Another Fang Rat stands between him and the exit. His face drops. **MALIK:** “You've got to be kidding me.” The monster notices him. Malik raises his broken weapon. His hands begin shaking again. The Fang Rat charges. Malik remembers the first fight. The claws. The pain. Nearly dying. His feet almost refuse to move. **MALIK (thought):** “MOVE!” The monster leaps. Malik dodges. **SWISH!** The claws miss his face by inches. Malik hits the ground. His eyes widen. **MALIK (thought):** “I dodged it.” The Fang Rat turns. Malik stands. This time— He's watching its feet. Its shoulders. Its movement. The monster attacks again. Malik moves first. **SLASH!** The broken blade cuts across its side.