章 1: The Awakening Ceremony

Megacity I sector III.

The sun beat down on Aegis Academy, its harsh light reflecting off the cracked concrete of the plaza where the graduating class of 235G stood huddled.

It had been 332 years since the apocalypse, and the scars of that time could still be found all over the city. Everyone present was nervous, as they all stood to witness the ancient ritual that was about to unfold.

Today was the Talent Awakening Ceremony, the day these young people would discover their worth in this unforgiving world.

Talents, supernatural abilities awakened by the chaos of the apocalypse, were the key to survival. With them, humanity had fought back the monsters and carved out a life in this chaotic world.

Talents were all known to have ranks, ranging all the way from F, to SSS. A powerful Talent was a ticket to the good life, a place among the city's elite.

Everyone in the crowd became absolutely silent as they gazed at a man in blue robes as he stepped on the stage. Magister Vance, the Academy's grizzled Headmaster, raised his staff, its tip topped with a blue orb.

Behind him, a massive blue crystal shimmered, its surface swirling with nebulous energy.

"The first student," Magister Vance' voice echoed across the plaza. "Jace Thornton!"

A lanky boy with a mop of unruly brown hair stepped forward, his face pale. He clasped the hand of his friend, a stocky redhead named Leo, on his shoulder.

"Wish me luck, Leo," Jace choked out, his voice barely audible.

With a nervous laugh, Leo squeezed Jace's shoulder. "Knock 'em dead, buddy!"

Jace walked with to the crystal, his heart pounding against his ribs. He placed his trembling hand on its cool surface, and the air crackled with energy.

The crystal pulsed with an intense blue light, a glow that also came from Jace's own body.

A shimmering system window materialized in the air before him, displaying his name and a single, glowing letter: "C."

"Jace Thornton! Awakened Talent: Enhanced Strength (Rank C)!"

The crowd erupted in a cheer. A C-rank Talent, while not the coveted A or S rank, was still a valuable asset. Jace's chest puffed out with pride. He ran back to Leo, earlier he was nervous, but now he was beaming with confidence.

"See that, Leo?" Jace boasted, a smirk plastered across his face. "Got a C rank talent, seems I'll be becoming a part of the big leagues."

Leo managed a thin smile. "Yeah, well, you wouldn't forget your old buddy when you're living the life right?"

Jace scoffed. "Don't worry, bro. We'll find a place for you in my new life, maybe as my equipment cleaner."

Magister Vance cleared his throat, silencing the crowd. "Next, Amelia Rose."

A girl with reddish brown hair stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the crystal. Unlike Jace, she was completely calm, seemingly ready to accept her fate, whatever may be.

As she placed her hand on the crystal, silence suddenly descended the plaza. The light show repeated, the crystal and Amelia's body glowing brightly. This time, however, the hovering window displayed a different letter: "D."

Magister Vance sounded disappointed as he spoke. "Amelia Rose – Awakened Talent: Elemental Manipulation (Fire) (Rank D)."

The entire crowd wore a look of utter disappointment on their faces. A D-rank Talent was barely enough to secure a decent job, let alone a life of luxury. Amelia, however, remained unfazed. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, and a small ember flickered in the palm of her hand, seemingly defying the scorching sun.

Magister Vance called out another name, and the ceremony continued. Meanwhile, in the buzzing crowd, a beautiful girl with flowing blonde hair and purple eyes, tugged on the sleeve of Alister, a boy known for his raven hair and striking yellow eyes.

"Alister," she spoke softly, sounding somewhat afraid, "do you think I'll get a powerful Talent?"

Alister, being the realist that he was, offered a small smile. "It's hard to say, Yanzi. These awakenings are notoriously unpredictable."

Yanzi's smile faltered, a shadow creeping across her cute face. A powerful Talent was the key to a secure future, something she desperately craved.

"Don't worry, Yanzi!" Chase, a slightly bulky guy standing beside Alister, interjected. "You haven't gone yet! Keep your chin up."

Yanzi offered a weak smile. "You're right, of course. Besides," she added, squeezing Alister's hand tightly against her chest, "I have my own good luck charm, right?"

Alister's cheeks flushed a warm red. "Yanzi, don't say things like that," he mumbled, flustered.

Chase chuckled. "She's got a point, though. Having a genius like you for a friend is bound to rub off on us. We're destined for greatness, right, champ?"

Alister could feel his blush deepening under their scrutiny. He was considered a prodigy, well known for his exceptional scores in combat training and his near-unmatched control over his mana reserves, the attention always made him feel self-conscious. Everyone, it seemed, pinned their hopes on him to be the star of this year's awakening ceremony.

The nervous murmur of the crowd swelled as Magister Vance boomed, "Yanzi Vance!"

Yanzi squeezed Alister's hand one last time, her purple eyes sparkling with hope and a touch of fear. "Wish me luck, darling," she murmured, her words sending a jolt through Alister.

"Y-yes, of course," he stuttered.

"Good luck now Yanzi." Chase yelled as he waved at her as she left.

As Yanzi walked gracefully towards the crystal, whispers followed her.

"There she is, the Academy's angel!"

"She's no angel but a goddess!"

"The hottest girl this year, no doubt."

"I wonder what kind of Talent she'll get?"

"You know, it isn't fair that Alister is gifted with both the skill and the love of our goddess."

"I was heartbroken when I first found out they were a thing."

Arriving on stage, she placed her hand on the crystal, and the entire plaza held its breath. The now-familiar light show erupted, covering Yanzi and the crystal in an ethereal glow. But this time, the hovering window displayed a different symbol: a blazing "A."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. An A-rank Talent! It was a rare and coveted power, granting its wielder immense potential and a life of privilege. Magister Vance's voice boomed with a hint of awe, "Yanzi Vance! Awakened Talent: Lightning Control (Rank A)!"

Yanzi's face lit up with pure joy. She rushed back to Alister, a bright smile practically illuminating her face. Throwing her arms around him, "Seems like your good luck rubbed off on me after all!"

Chase whistled, his eyes wide with admiration. "Congratulations, Yanzi! That's amazing!"

As the applause subsided, Magister Vance stroked his beard, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

'If Yanzi, with her notoriously poor mana control, could awaken an A-rank Talent, then I can't help but wonder what our academy's prodigy, Alister, would awaken.' The old man smiled slightly, the thought was getting him excited.

Recently, monsters had become increasingly powerful, causing the city's top guilds to put pressure on the academies to intensify their training in order to increase the chances of awakening powerful talents.

Contrary to what some believe, a powerful talent would not be born in a weak vessel; as such, it was always necessary for students to be trained rigorously to enhance their chances. At least then, those who awakened weak talents would not be useless and could still manage a basic job if they secured a place as a guild member.

And so, Alister, with his well-toned physique, combat prowess, and excellent mana control, was surely destined to awaken a powerful talent, or at least everyone believed he would.

Magister Vance getting more and more excited decided to abandoned the predetermined order, his voice booming through the plaza, "Alister Hazenworth! Your turn has come!"

Alister's jaw dropped. He hadn't expected the principal to call him forward so suddenly. A feeling of excitement and fear coursed through him.

Hundreds of eyes were now fixed on him, their expectations a heavy weight on his shoulders.

He straightened his posture, took a deep breath, and strode towards the crystal.

"You can do it darling, I believe in you." Yanzi yelled as she waved her and at him, wishing him good luck.

"Go make history bro, awaken some bizzare talent that will leave everyone stunned in slience." Chase said, clutching his fists, his body practically beaming with excitement.

Alister paused and gazed at them momentarily, then smiled, proceeding to continue on towards the crystal.

"Guess it's the moment of truth huh?"

"I wonder what sort of bizarre talent he's gonna awaken, I mean Yanzi awakned an A rank talent right, then he should at least awaken S rank then."

"How bizarre would it be if he awakens a trash talent?"

"No way, don't be dumb."

"But you know, it would be kinda fun if he did."

"A prodigy with a trash talent, it has a nice ring to it."

As his hand touched its cool surface, a gasp escaped his lips. The familiar blue glow erupted, but this time, it was different. It intensified with each passing second, growing into a blinding white light that engulfed the entire academy grounds.

A collective scream ripped through the crowd as they scrambled to shield their eyes. The light intensified, then condensed into the form of a colossal dragon, its wings outstretched, its roar echoing through the air.

The ground trembled beneath its booming roar. It was a talent awakening unlike any they had ever witnessed at an awakening ceremony.

As the light slowly subsided, the dragon dissolved, leaving behind a absolute silence. Everyone, from Magister Vance to the last student, stared at the crystal, their eyes wide with shock, impressed and confused they didn't know what to make of what just happened. One thing was for sure, Alister's talent had to be a powerful one.

The principal, wore an expression of shock as he approached the hovering window that displayed Alister's Talent. He cleared his throat, his voice barely a whisper, "Alister Hazenworth... his awakened Talent is…"