Gymnasium B no longer looked like a school facility.
Floodlights glared overhead, scanning devices hummed, and Awakening Bureau officers in black coats stood like statues at every exit.
Students whispered anxiously.
"It looks like a crime investigation…"
"Who caused the crystal to explode yesterday?"
"What if they find an S-rank monster?"
Charles quietly kept to the back, lowering his presence.
Lance elbowed him. "Bro… this is heavy-duty. My flame is shaking."
Arianna glanced around sharply. "They're serious. The Bureau can't ignore an awakening anomaly."
Charles forced his expression to stay calm even as his stomach twisted.
The system chimed softly:
[Warning: High-level detection devices present]
[Concealment Protocol Enhanced — 91% Efficiency]
[Suggestion: Stay calm and maintain low emotional output]
Easy for you to say, Charles thought nervously.
Then the doors opened.
Inspector Varron Creed entered.
Silent. Sharp. Cold.
His presence alone quieted the entire gym.
"Students," Creed announced, "We are conducting a secondary evaluation. Yesterday's abnormal energy spike must be confirmed and contained."
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
Charles swallowed.
Please don't look at me. Please don't look at me.
Creed's gaze swept the room once… then moved on.
Charles exhaled faintly.
---
The Exams Begin
Each student stepped onto a glowing platform that displayed their mana signature, class, and threat level.
Damian Crowe
Rank: A
Class: Shadow Lancer
Stability: Excellent
Threat Level: Moderate
Damian grinned as if he owned the gym.
Tomas Gale
Rank: C
Class: Wind Sharpshooter
Reed Voss
Rank: D
Class: Iron Defender
The students clapped politely.
Then—
"Arianna Velhart."
Arianna stepped onto the platform gracefully.
Golden-white energy burst around her like a rising star.
Arianna Velhart
Rank: S
Class: Celestial Sword Maiden
Stability: High
Threat Level: Low (Controlled)
The room murmured in awe.
Then—
"Lance Harrow."
Blue flames circled him, swirling around his fists.
Lance Harrow
Rank: B+
Class: Bluefire Vanguard
Stability: High
Threat Level: Low
Lance smirked. "Flawless as always."
Finally—
"Charles Reyes."
Charles's heart froze in place.
Lance whispered, "You got this, bro."
Arianna whispered, "Trust yourself."
Charles stepped onto the platform.
The system activated instantly:
[Warning: Direct Scan Detected]
[Concealment Protocol Overclocking…]
[Divine Elements Suppressed]
[Projecting Fake Profile…]
The hologram blinked.
---
Fake Awakener Profile
Charles Reyes
Rank: F
Class: Bishop
Stability: Low
Affinity: Light (Minor)
Mana Capacity: Below Average
Threat Level: Minimal
Silence.
Then—
Snickers.
Whispers.
"He's still F-rank? Looooser."
"A Bishop? Who even wants a Bishop?"
"That guy will work as guild staff forever."
Damian grinned smugly. "Pathetic."
Arianna clenched her fists but said nothing.
Charles just lowered his head.
Good.
Let them think I'm harmless.
But Inspector Creed didn't laugh.
He frowned and approached.
Charles's pulse spiked.
Creed held up his wrist scanner.
A blue wave swept over Charles—
BEEP—BEEP—ERROR—BEEP
The scanner glitched.
Creed raised an eyebrow.
"…Strange."
Another scan.
This time, the device produced a different reading:
---
[Mana Growth Pattern Detected]
Type: Skill-Based Growth
Awakening Style: Proficiency Dependent
Mana Scaling: Increases only when Bishop skills improve
Threat Level: Low
---
A Bureau officer nodded.
"Oh, a Skill-Growth Bishop. Rare, but harmless."
Another said, "They grow only when they train healing and support skills. They're safe."
Creed looked at Charles a moment longer.
"…Your mana felt abnormal yesterday," he murmured, "but today it reads… stable."
He stepped back.
"Mark him as a low-threat proficiency-type support class."
Relief flooded Charles's chest.
---
The Bureau's Conclusion
Creed turned back to the whole gym.
"You are all cleared.
The abnormal mana surge recorded yesterday did NOT come from any of you."
Students exhaled.
Charles nearly collapsed from relief.
Arianna watched him suspiciously.
Lance grinned at him with a thumbs-up.
Charles smiled weakly.
But inside…
If they knew what I really am…
---
Trouble Awaits at Home
Charles arrived home exhausted.
He opened the apartment door—
"MEOW!"
Midnight jumped into his arms like a furry cannonball.
"Whoa—buddy, calm down. What happened?"
The system flashed:
[Alert: Rift Fragment Detected Inside Residence]
[Location: Dining Table]
[Stability: Critical]
[Potential Danger: HIGH]
Panic shot through his body.
Charles ran to the dining area.
A cracked purple stone sat on the table—pulsing with dark mist.
Charlie pointed at it innocently.
"Big bro, the rock is alive!"
Christian added, "Midnight won't let us touch it!"
Midnight growled at the fragment.
The system chimed:
[Quest Available: Neutralize the Rift Fragment]
Time Limit: 1 Hour
Difficulty: High
Quest Rewards:
• +15 Points
• SSS Passive Skill (Locked): Lightbearer's Apostle
Charles froze.
"An SSS passive…?"
A preview window appeared:
---
[LIGHTBEARER'S APOSTLE — SSS PASSIVE]
Reward locked until quest completion.
Preview Effects:
• Complete immunity to mind control
• Complete immunity to curses and debuffs
• Reflects 20–40% physical & magic damage
• Amplifies all light and healing abilities
• Heavy suppression of demons
• Automatic holy barrier
• Enhanced anti-boss combat capability
---
Charles felt his blood run hot.
"This… is completely broken."
The fragment cracked again.
CRACK.
A tiny claw pushed through.
The demon emerged.
Charles inhaled sharply.
"…I accept."
The system flashed:
[Quest Accepted]
[Countdown: 59:59]
Midnight hissed, ready for battle.
Charles stepped forward.
"Let's finish this before the Bureau senses anything."
---