Розділ 1

"We now know the greatest lie of humanity. That all individuals are equal. That people have unlimited potential. These claims are false. The discovery of reincarnation has shown that only the chosen ones have unlimited potential, and the rest of us have much less. Much less."

Tad Harrington turned off the video in the darkness of his bedroom. Today was the day. The day of his rebirth. After today, he would never be the same. There was no going back. His inner strength would be laid bare for all to see. In public. In front of his peers. But no matter what Tad did, he couldn’t calm the butterflies in his stomach. To distract himself, he launched his favorite online role-playing game, Star Guilds. It didn’t help.

The anniversary of his month-long suspension from school was approaching. The fight had led to the suspension of both Tad and his abuser, even though Tad had done nothing. He was the victim. He had been attacked and even ended up in the hospital with a concussion, but the school refused to admit that Tad was innocent. “You participated—you get the same punishment.” There was no justice. There was no justice. Tad tried to focus on the game, treating his group, but it was in vain. Both tanks were already dead. He couldn’t stop thinking about the many bullies who had harassed him throughout his childhood.

The bullies found him. No matter how much he tried to hide, to hide his weaknesses, they somehow knew. Tad had a huge target painted on his back, visible only to his tormentors. His mother moved him from one school district to another, avoiding his previous pursuers, but it never helped. The new bullies found him, as if they could smell him. The smell of weakness. Why did he have to be so weak?

He shook his head to clear his thoughts and return to the game, but it was no use. His character was part of an alien race known for their brutality, physical strength, and skill with weapons. But instead of fitting into the mold and becoming a powerful warrior, Thad had chosen to be a healer. It wasn’t optimal, but it was how he liked to play. To be unique. Special. Even in this world, Thad had trouble fitting in.

A light knock on the door. His mother.

"Then… We have to go. The last day for your rebirth."

Everyone had to be reincarnated after their fifteenth birthday, but not before their sixteenth, and tomorrow was his birthday. Reincarnation was mandatory. The Bureau of Reincarnation hunted down those who didn't go willingly. The potential consequences were too serious not to be reincarnated. Every citizen had a duty to be reincarnated, though most reincarnations were unsuccessful.

A small insectoid creature landed on Thad's hand. Another Titanspawn. Thad slapped the lifeless shadow, but it swam away unharmed, only to circle around again. This creature resembled an octopus, but with blades on the tips of each tentacle. Despite the blades, it was harmless. Titanspawn could do no harm. Even in the darkness of its room, it was black, like the blackest shadow, devoid of any color. He slapped it a second time. His attack on the tiny Titanspawn was futile. Only the highest-ranking destroyers had the power to destroy Titanspawn. Titanspawn were mindless. Lifeless and random, like molecules floating in a room. But that didn't fit Thad's experience. Titanspawn were attracted to Tad. He attracted them. “Coincidence,” the experts declared.

“There?” Her mother’s voice came through the door once more.

Deep down, Tad knew his rebirth would be a failure. He had done nothing remarkable in his life. How could he become special overnight? He hid his feelings and chased away his hopes. Hopes that his rebirth would be exceptional. It was no use dreaming. Dreams could be crushed.

Tad's mother knocked on the door.

"I know, Mom... I'll get dressed."

Tad had dressed hours ago, but he had still stepped over piles of trash to get to his closet. No one was allowed in his room. The bed was the only clean-looking thing in the room; it was the one thing Mom wouldn’t compromise on. If he didn’t give her the sheets, blankets, and pillows every week, she would barge in to take them. Tad thought it was her way of showing him that she still cared. It meant a lot to him. Mom was always on his side. His only ally. Even his little brother didn’t seem to resent him. If Dad were alive, he probably wouldn’t resent him either.

He stumbled out of the room, facing his mother's small smile that made little wrinkles form at the corners of her eyes. It was the smile she used when she knew she was making him do something difficult.

“Liam, we’ll be back in a few hours.” Mom shouted over her shoulder as she closed the front door.

Липка тиша огорнула їх, коли мініатюрний титанівський виплід притиснувся до забризканої краплями дощу шибки переднього вікна, переслідуючи Тада. Він заліз у кабіну напівпричіпної вантагівки матері, і вони рушили до Бюро Відродження. Його мати була далекобійницею і залишала його з братом на дні. Можливо, це було тому, що їй потрібна була перерва, Тад не був упевнений.

Вони проїжджали через своє крихітне містечко Клірвотер. Населення всього міста не досягало й чотирьохсот, але в штаті був лише один центр переродження — у столиці, за три години їзди.

Тад першим порушив тишу. «Ти ж була цивільного рангу, правда, мамо?»

Вона кивнула. «Після переродження мій силовий показник становив лише сім. Середній цивільний має десять, тож я була слабшою навіть за звичайну людину».

«Ти розчарувалася?»

«Спершу. Прийшлося відмовитися від деяких мрій, але я з цим змирилася. Я все ще могла знаходити речі, які робили мене щасливою. У світі миттєвої слави й сили мало хто зрозумів би привабливість тихого життя. Воно мені пасувало».

Тиша на решту автомобільної поїздки була відчутною. Він дивився у вікно, як титанівські виплоди повільно поглинали небо. Це було майже непомітно, але якщо пильно стежити, можна було розгледіти хвилі. Пульсації, наче серцебиття, коли титанівські виплоди просувалися все далі й далі в небо.