Chapter 2 – The Star That Fell
The night sky split open with a streak of emerald fire.
From beyond the highest cloud, a shard of light pierced through the atmosphere, silent yet searing. It danced between clouds like a living thing, trailing a tail of glowing particles that shimmered against the darkness. Those who happened to look up that night would later call it a star. Others said it was an omen — a gift from the heavens or a warning from the gods.
But no one knew the truth.
The forbidden creation — the Omnitrix — had entered its new world.
It descended quietly, burning through layers of unseen data and ethereal code that formed the boundary between reality and the Tree. The moment it broke through, faint ripples ran through existence itself. In the depths beneath the world, the System — the divine program that governed every mark and class — flickered.
For a fraction of a second, its perfect harmony faltered.
Then it recovered, as if nothing had happened.
Almost nothing.
---
Country A, Province C
Morning light filtered through a cracked window in the small dormitory building. The faint hum of the city beyond — the chatter of merchants, the ring of blacksmith hammers, the buzz of hover-carts — filled the air.
Inside one of the upper rooms, Jennifer Ray sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at her reflection in the faintly glowing glass tablet beside her. Her hair, dark with a soft blue tint under the light, was tied loosely. Her eyes — sharp, curious, but often tired — scanned the time flashing on the display.
Waking Ceremony: 08:00
She exhaled.
"Today's the day," she whispered to herself, trying to sound braver than she felt.
A loud knock broke the silence.
"Jen! You awake?"
That was Lina, her best friend — always energetic, always talking faster than her thoughts.
Jennifer smiled faintly. "Barely."
"Come on! You can't 'barely' today!" Lina's voice carried through the door. "It's our mark day! What if you get something amazing like an Arcane Archer or a Knight?"
"I'll settle for anything that lets me eat three meals a day," Jennifer muttered, standing up.
When she stepped outside, Taro was waiting too — tall, relaxed, and pretending not to be nervous. He flicked a pebble off the walkway and grinned. "If you end up as a Knight, don't forget us little people."
Jennifer smirked. "You mean especially you."
Lina laughed, linking arms with Jennifer as the three walked toward the city square, where banners fluttered in celebration.
---
The Waking Ceremony was held once every year — the day each young citizen of Country A awakened their Mark, the System's gift that determined their class and future.
The city square shimmered with floating symbols, each representing one of the Class Paths: Warrior, Mage, Summoner, Assassin, Support, Transformer, Life, and a dozen others.
Everyone dreamed of being chosen by the great combat classes — the ones that earned fame and fortune in the game-like structure of this world.
But not everyone had a choice.
---
"Hey, Jennifer! Over here!"
Three classmates waved — Mira, Kane, and Ruth. They'd arrived early and were already standing in the registration line. Mira smiled, her long blonde hair gleaming in the sun. "You made it! I was starting to think Province C folks move slower."
Kane chuckled. "Don't tease them, Mira. They'll need their confidence when they get Life classes."
Jennifer raised a brow but didn't rise to the bait. "Don't worry. I'll remember to cook you something nice when you break a nail in battle."
That earned a laugh from Taro, and even Ruth — quiet as ever — smiled faintly.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Then, the Ceremony Overseer — a tall woman in silver robes — lifted her staff. The square hushed.
"By the blessing of the Tree and the System that binds all roots," she intoned, "we begin the Waking."
---
The Scans Begin
Mira was the first to step forward.
She placed her hand on the glowing sphere. Light swirled around her, scanning her soul resonance.
[Scanning…]
[Analyzing soul pattern…]
[Multiple pathways compatible.]
[Manual class selection unlocked.]
Gasps of admiration rippled through the students — only a few each year had the ability to choose.
A shimmering screen appeared in front of Mira:
> Available Classes:
• Mage
• Support
• Life
• Combat Master
She didn't hesitate.
"I choose Mage."
[Confirmed: Mage Class – Basic Tier Established]
Blue light enveloped her. The crowd cheered as the mark appeared faintly on her wrist — elegant and swirling like mist.
---
Kane went next.
[Scanning…]
[Multiple pathways compatible.]
[Manual selection unlocked.]
> Available Classes:
• Warrior
• Knight (Advance Path — Locked)
• Assassin
• Combat Master
Kane grinned. "Warrior."
The sphere glowed red.
[Mark established: Warrior]
He flexed proudly. "Told you it'd suit me."
---
Lina stepped forward nervously.
[Scanning…]
[Manual selection unlocked.]
> Available Classes:
• Support
• Life
• Summoner
Lina bit her lip, thinking. "Support — Lightweaver path."
[Confirmed: Support – Lightweaver]
A warm golden glow surrounded her. The students applauded.
---
Taro came next, calm as always.
[Scanning…]
[Manual selection unlocked.]
> Available Classes:
• Assassin
• Scout
• Combat Master
He didn't even glance twice. "Assassin."
[Mark established: Assassin]
Dark symbols flared briefly around his shadow before fading.
---
Then came a shift.
The fifth student stepped up — and the sphere pulsed differently.
[Scanning…]
[Limited compatibility detected.]
[Manual selection unavailable.]
A hush fell. That meant the System itself would assign the class.
[Mark identified: Blacksmith (Life)]
There were soft murmurs — it wasn't bad, just… ordinary.
Three more students followed. None could choose.
[Mark identified: Cook (Life)]
[Mark identified: Scout (Support)]
[Mark identified: Alchemist (Life)]
By now, the Overseer had begun quietly marking them in her records — the "fixed marks," as people called them. There were usually only a few each year.
This year, there would be five.
And the last one was about to step forward.
---
Jennifer's Turn
Jennifer took a deep breath. Her friends gave her encouraging smiles — Lina with both thumbs up, Taro with a calm nod, Mira mouthing you got this.
She placed her hand on the glowing sphere.
Warmth spread through her palm. Then — the light flickered.
[Scanning…]
[Analyzing soul resonance…]
[Limited compatibility detected.]
[Manual selection unavailable.]
Her heart sank. She wasn't one of the chosen.
[Synchronizing mark automatically…]
[Error detected.]
[Recalibrating… Searching alternate paths…]
The sphere turned emerald. Its glow intensified — waves of data rippled across the square. The Overseer's eyes widened.
[System Override Detected]
[Unknown Pattern Found]
[Forcing Synchronization…]
The mark burned itself into Jennifer's wrist — a swirl of living green light, shaped like gears and circuits that pulsed faintly with life.
[Mark identified: TRANSFORMER]
The crowd gasped.
Even the Overseer's composure broke. "A Transformer… that class still responds?"
Jennifer blinked, confused. "Transformer?"
"It's… rare," the Overseer managed, forcing calm. "And difficult to awaken fully. But not impossible."
Lina grabbed Jennifer's arm. "Jen, that's… legendary!"
Taro frowned slightly. "Or dangerous."
Jennifer stared at the mark glowing faintly beneath her skin.
She didn't know it yet — but the System wasn't the only one watching.
High above, unseen by any of them, a faint emerald flicker crossed the morning sky once more.
The Omnitrix had found its echo.