Chapter 1

Summer was approaching. "Jack Holland, you're expelled from school! Pack your bag, and get out right now!" Arthur Bratford, the homeroom teacher, shouted angrily as he pointed at Jack in the hallway of Crestfield High School. Jack clenched his fists, his face a mix of disbelief and anger. "What gives you the right to expel me?" Arthur looked at him with contempt. "You skipped classes, got into a relationship, and fought with other students. I have every right to expel you. Now, grab your bag and leave!" With that, he threw Jack's backpack out of the classroom, causing books to scatter all over the floor. Jack silently picked up his belongings as whispers spread among his classmates behind him. "How pathetic of him to be expelled right before the college exams." "He scores poorly on these tests anyway. It doesn't matter if he takes them. He's destined to lead a life of hardships." "I heard his girlfriend has dumped him too." Feeling lost and defeated, Jack walked out of the school gates. Suddenly, a van screeched to a halt nearby, and a guy with bleached hair jumped out. "That's him! He dared to go after our boss' woman. Let's teach him a lesson!" A barrage of blows rained down on Jack, leaving him dizzy and on the verge of unconsciousness. As he lay there, barely conscious, the guy spat on him and sneered. "Do you think you're good enough to chase after my boss' woman?" Not far away, a young couple leaned against a Ferrari. Shawn Cort turned to his girlfriend and asked casually, "Hey babe, is it okay if I beat up your ex?" Calista Powell cuddled up to him and replied, "He's a bad person, and he's just a useless brat. I wouldn't mind if you killed him." "Alright. Then, let's finish him off and dump him in the lake." The intense pain finally caused Jack to lose consciousness. When he awoke again, he found himself submerged in the lake. A wave of agony coursed through his body as he struggled to surface, but his arms and legs had been broken. What should he do? Was he really going to die? Jack was filled with despair. Suddenly, he felt a powerful current surge through his body. It was as if the electricity had a life of its own, coursing through him and bringing with it an excruciating pain. He felt as though he was being torn apart from within, every cell in his body writhing in agony. But just when the pain reached its peak, a warm sensation flooded into his mind. The warmth felt magical, rapidly sweeping through his thoughts and piecing together fragments of memory. From the moment Jack was born in the hospital to all the moments he had long forgotten, his life played out like a movie in his mind. Memories that had been tucked away in the corners of his consciousness now surfaced clearly. The current continued to surge through Jack. It was almost as if it were reshaping every part of him. His veins, blood vessels, and bones all seemed revitalized by the incredible energy. When Jack regained consciousness once more, he found himself washed up on the shore. "I'm still alive?" But it didn't take long for him to realize that something was off. His limbs, which had been broken, were now miraculously healed. What was happening? Looking around, Jack noticed that the storm raged on, and no one was there to witness the extraordinary scene. As he tried to move, he suddenly felt a surge of power within him. He focused on controlling it, and a surge of electricity erupted from his body, striking the water with a force that made it ripple and send fish leaping into the air. It was astonishing. At the same time, his mind underwent a transformation. His thoughts became incredibly clear, and his memory seemed to explode with newfound clarity. He could recall everything from his childhood onward with vivid detail and even make connections between past events. Jack decided to return home since his body was fully healed. He lived in the old shanty town of Perthter City, a place where the city's lower-income residents gathered. Upon returning home, he found his father, Jeffrey Holland, smoking, while his mother, Helena Flores, was crying. His younger sister, Joanne Holland, sat quietly at the table doing her homework. The atmosphere in the house felt tense. As Jack stepped inside, Jeffrey glanced at him and asked in a low voice, "Where have you been? You're soaked." "I accidentally fell into the lake," Jack replied. Jeffrey frowned and asked, "Mr. Bratford has just called to inform me that you've been expelled. Is that true?" Jack nodded. Jeffrey threw his cigarette onto the ground and shouted, "How could you disappoint me like this?" Helena's sobs grew louder. She couldn't accept the fact that her son had been expelled from school. Jack was in agony. After all, this was a huge blow to his parents. "Do you have any idea how much effort we've put into raising you? How could you be so disobedient?" Jeffrey continued angrily. Jack bore the weight of his parents' disappointment in silence but felt a surge of determination rising within him. He was resolved to turn things around and never let them down again. After enduring his father's wrath, Jack retreated to his room. As he sat there, he felt a newfound strength coursing through him, and his senses were sharper than ever. He was eager to discover whether everything that had happened was real. He pulled out various books, musical instruments, and chess pieces to experiment with. Music, chess, and calligraphy—he mastered them all instantly. Physics and mathematics? He grasped them effortlessly. Everything he had once struggled to understand now made perfect sense. This wasn't a dream. After a rush of exhilaration, Jack tried to calm his emotions down. He began to consider how to utilize his newfound abilities and what path he should take in the future. The college entrance exam, a term that instilled fear in countless students, now held a new significance for him. Once terrified by the thought of it, Jack was now filled with confidence and anticipation. He vowed not to let his parents down again. Just as Jack immersed himself in his studies, the door creaked open. Joanne tiptoed in. Her bright eyes sparkled with concern and hope as she whispered, "Don't be discouraged. I believe that you still have a chance to get into college." Joanne was two years younger than Jack, and she was the beloved daughter of Jeffrey and Helena. Not only was she beautiful and well-behaved, but she also consistently excelled in her studies. Jack felt a deep affection for her. He smiled and replied, "Don't worry. I'll work harder and not disappoint you." Joanne nodded and blinked rapidly as she blushed. "I feel… I feel like you're a bit different now." Jack's heart skipped a beat. "Different how?" "I can't quite put my finger on it. It's just that you seem more handsome, and your eyes are brighter now. It also seems like you've grown taller." Around noon, Jeffrey returned home carrying two packs of cigarettes and two bottles of alcohol. He said to Jack, "This afternoon, you're coming to school with me." Jack nodded. Normally, Jeffrey wouldn't splurge on cheap cigarettes or low-grade liquor, but today, it was clear that he was willing to go all out for his son.