The after-results of the ceremony felt unreal.Michael remained on his seat as the hall slowly became empty, looking at how the failed candidates moved toward the exits with sad looks and their fallen shoulders. Federation guards directed them strictly but not unkindly—after all, these teenagers would still work for the mega cities in other roles. Manual labor, factory work, administrative positions in the lower districts. Useful, just not *valuable*.
The distinction between those two words had never felt more stark.
"All successful Awakeners, remain seated," Instructor Kane commanded, his voice cutting through the murmurs and quiet sobbing. "Your processing will begin shortly. Failed candidates, began to Exit Hall C for questioning and discharge procedures."
Michael saw them leaving , having a mixed emotion of both relief and guilt in him. Relief that he wasn't part of them. Guilt that his success meant someone else's continued poverty, someone else's dashed dreams. The original Michael Norman's memories supplied faces, names—academy classmates he'd trained alongside for months. Jessica, who wanted to become a Mage to help heal her sick mother. Marcus, who hoped to join the Federation's elite guards to bring honor to his family.
All failures now. All going back to lives of silent despair.
*This world is really brutal,* Michael thought, not for the first time. *But at least I have an opportunity to change my fate. To change Mia's fate.*
The nine successful Awakeners sat scattered throughout the massive hall-like islands in a sea of empty chairs. Michael recognized a few faces: Lilian Stone, the Martial Artist who'd awakened first, sitting with rigid posture and barely contained excitement. Carlos Ben, who'd awakened as something called a "Blazing Serpent" and had caused quite a stir with his crimson-gold light display. A few others whose names he hadn't caught, their looks ranging from blissful to cautiously optimistic.
And then there was Michael, the Shadow Summoner, whose awakening had been met with mutters of sadness and repulse.
*Let them belittle me,* he thought, a feeling of resistance growing in his heart. *Let them think I'm weak. I know what I have.*
His attention went back to the system panel showing in his vision, invisible to everyone else. He'd been exploring with it mentally during the tail end of the ceremony, and found out he could minimize and make it bigger with just a thought, could bring up different screens and information with ease.
It was intuitive in a way that felt like either the system was reading his mind, or his mind was adapting naturally to link with it. Either possibility was unsettling and intriguing.
Michael focused on his stats again, really studying them this time:
---
**Stats:**
STR: 1.2
AGI: 1.3
CON: 1.1
INT: 1.5
**Free AP:** 4
---
The numbers were pathetically low by any standard. A normal, untrained human supposedly averaged around 1.0 in each stat, which meant Michael was barely above baseline. His Intelligence was his highest attribute at 1.5, which made sense for a class focused on summoning and control. But his Constitution at 1.1? That was dangerously low. One good hit from a monster and he'd probably crumple like wet paper.
*Fragile,* he thought grimly. *Everyone said Shadow Summoners were physically weak, and the numbers don't lie.*
But he had four free Attribute Points to distribute. That was something. He could boost his Constitution immediately, matke himself slightly less likely to die from a stiff breeze. Or he could invest everything into Intelligence, maximizing his only strength from the start.
*No, not yet,* Michael decided, forcing himself to be patient. *I don't understand enough about how the stats interact, how the class scales, what strategy would be optimal. I need to research first, plan properly. Wasting these points on a hasty decision could cripple me later.*
The discipline required to not immediately spend his points felt almost physical, but he managed it. Barely.
"Awakeners," Instructor Kane called out, drawing Michael's bringing back to the present. "Congratulations on your awakening. Your lives have changed as of this moment. You are not ordinary civilians of the Federation—you are now assets, investments, and most importantly, *weapons* against the threats that still hunt humanity."
The instructor's face was not readable as he walked to the stage, his boots making noise in the now empty hall. "You will be sent to the Super Class division of this academy, where you will receive training, equipment, and preparation for entering the Gods Domain. Your education will be brutal, dangerous, and will push you to your limits."
Michael felt his pulse quicken. Super Class. He'd heard rumors about it during the mandatory academy training—an elite program for Awakeners only, completely separate from the regular curriculum that normal candidates suffered through.
"You will also," Kane continued, "be required to register with the Espers Association immediately. This is not optional. This is Federation law. Your class, grade, initial stats, and Mark of Origin must all be officially documented. Failure to follow results in classification as a rogue Awakener, with all the legal consequences that entails."
A chill went down Michael's spine. Rogue Awakeners were hunted, he knew from the original owner's memories. The Federation did not tolerate unsanctioned power, and did not allow Awakeners to operate outside their control. It made sense from a governance perspective—people with supernatural abilities needed oversight, regulation, containment.
But it also meant Michael's freedom was about to become heavily monitored.
*Will they detect the system?* he wondered nervously. *Will their scanners pick up on Infinite Shadow Extraction? Is that why the system had that warning, that [REDACTED] classification?*
"Before we proceed to registration," Kane said, his eyes circling across the nine Awakeners, "I want you all to understand something important . Awakening is not the end of your journey—it is the beginning. Many Awakeners die within their first year. Many more fail to progress beyond the early levels, trapped by their own limitations or poor decisions."
The instructor's expression darkened. "The Gods Domain is not a game, despite its game-like systems. Death there means real death. You lose experience, you lose stat points forever, and if you die with not enough reserves, you lose everything. Your class, your levels, your Mark of Origin—all gone. You become a normal human again, assuming you even survive the revival process."
The whole group fell in silence . Even Lilian, who was literally vibrating with excitement, had gone pale.
"However," Kane's tone shifted a lil bit, becoming almost encouraging, "you have all displayed potential. Rare potential, in some cases." His eyes flashed quickly toward Carlos, the Blazing Serpent, then surprisingly toward Michael. "With proper training, proper caution, and proper ambition, you can rise far beyond what normal humans can achieve. You can become Transcendents, Kings, perhaps even Emperors if you survive long enough and push hard enough."
Emperors. The original Michael's memories supplied context—beings of such power they could level mountains, fight armies single-handedly, and alter weather patterns with their presence. Gods walking among mortals.
It seemed impossibly distant from Michael's current pathetic stats.
"Now," Kane gestured toward a side door that had opened, revealing a corridor lined with more Federation guards. "Follow me. We will proceed to the on-site Espers Association branch for your registration. Stay together, stay quiet, and do not attempt to activate your abilities within academy grounds without explicit permission. Unauthorized power usage will result in punishment ."
The nine Awakeners stood as one, a group of teenagers thrown suddenly into a world far bigger and more dangerous than anything they'd imagined. Michael joined the line behind the instructor, placing himself near the middle—not so far to the back as to seem afraid, not so far to the front as to draw any attention.
As they walked through the passage, Michael became aware of the stares from regular academy staff and remaining students. Some looks held envy. Others resentment. A few showed fear, as if these newly minted Awakeners had become different species entirely.
*Maybe we have,* Michael thought. *Maybe awakening really does separate us that fundamentally from normal humans.*
The corridor opened into a smaller holding area where several other groups of Awakeners waited—teenagers from other ceremony halls within the academy complex, all wearing the same mixture of excitement and trepidation. Michael counted quickly: maybe thirty or forty total across all groups. Out of how many thousands of candidates processed today?
The mathematics of survival were brutal.
A gentle ring interrupted his thoughts—his academy gave a communication device, a basic model that barely passed as smart technology. Michael pulled it from his pocket, his heart jumping when he saw the caller ID.
**Mia Stone - Guardian Contact**
His fingers trembled slightly as he accepted the monitored call. The academy recorded everything, but he didn't care.
"Michael?" Mia's voice came on, with anxiety and hope. "Michael, did you—did it work? Did you awaken?"
Just listening to her voice sent a wave of emotion hitting through him—the original owner's love and devotion mixing with his own growing attachment to the idea of this woman who'd sacrificed so much for a body that was no longer the same person.
"I awakened," Michael confirmed quietly, aware of the guards and other Awakeners nearby. "Shadow Summoner class. It's... it's a rare grade, Mia. I made it."
The sound that came through the speaker was somewhere between a laugh and a cry. "Oh thank god, thank *god*. I was so worried, I couldn't sleep last night, couldn't eat this morning, I just kept thinking—" She cut herself off, and Michael heard her take a shaky breath. "I'm so proud of you. Your parents would have been so proud."
Michael felt his throat tighten. "I couldn't have done it without you. Everything you've done for me—"
"Don't," she interrupted gently. "Don't start thanking me now. You'll make me cry, and I'm at work. Just... promise me you'll be careful when you enter the Gods Domain. Promise me you'll come back safe."
"I promise," Michael said, and meant it with every of his being. "I'm going to make everything better, Mia. For both of us. No more struggling, no more wondering if we'll make rent. I'm going to—"
"Wrap it up, Norman," one of the guards called out. "Registration processing is about to begin."
"I have to go," Michael said r. "They're taking us to the Espers Association now. I'll call again when I can, okay?"
"Okay. I love you, Michael. Stay safe."
The call ended before he could respond, leaving him gazing at the blank screen with his heart beating against his ribs. Had she ever said that so directly before? The original owner's memories were unclear on the details, emotions overwhelming specific recollections.
*I love you too,* he thought, even though she couldn't hear him. *And I'm going to prove it by becoming strong enough to protect you.*
"All Awakeners, move through the main doors," Instructor Kane announced. "Registration will be conducted in order. When called, approach the designated counter, provide all requested information, and do not attempt to falsify or omit any details. The Association's scanners will detect deception."
Michael joined the flow of nervous teenagers moving toward the registration hall, his mind still ringing with questions and plans. The system panel reduced at his mental command, placing itself into the corner of his vision like a power yet to be claimed.
*Shadow Summoner,* he thought, rolling the class name through his mind like a mantra. *Infinite Shadow Extraction. Whatever these abilities truly mean, whatever potential they hold—I'm going to master them.*
*I have to.*
*Because in this world, strength is the only currency that matters. And I refuse to ever be poor again.*
The registration hall doors open before them, showing rows of official-looking counters staffed by serious-faced Association employees. Holographic scanners hummed with silent menace, ready to take away secrets and caged souls.
Michael took a deep breath and took a step forward into his new life.
Into the beginning of everything.