[ Congratulations ]
[ You have awakened a D-Rank Talent ]
[ Talent: Master of Left Hand ]
[ Affinity: Self ]
A faint glow flickered—then vanished.
[ Congratulations ]
[ You have awakened a C-Rank Talent ]
[ Talent: Iron Physique ]
[ Affinity: Self ]
This one drew a reaction. A few low murmurs rolled through the crowd.
[ Congratulations ]
[ You have awakened an E-Rank Talent ]
[ Talent: Fast Fingers ]
[ Affinity: Self ]
And just like that, the excitement dipped again.
One after another, students stepped onto the platform, pressed their palms to the crystal, and received their verdicts. After Mara, no beast-affinity appeared—only self-based talents. Useful, certainly, but lacking the prestige that came with commanding beasts.
Some results were respectable.
Iron Physique, for instance, greatly increased muscle and bone density. It wasn't glamorous, but any instructor would tell you it was a solid foundation—whether for combat units or heavy labor.
Others… not so much.
Fast Fingers. Steady Grip. Minor Reflex Boost.
They earned polite claps, strained smiles, and quiet disappointment.
The energy in the Awakening Center slowly bled away. The earlier excitement dulled, replaced by a tense, uncertain quiet.
Then—
It was Fatty's turn.
He swallowed and leaned toward the thin boy beside him. "H-Hey… maybe you should go first?"
The thin boy stiffened like he'd been offended. He adjusted his glasses—again—and shook his head hard. "No. No way. I'm… saving my luck."
Fatty opened his mouth to protest—I'm not stealing it, idiot—but—
"You there," Officer Bart called. "Step forward."
Fatty froze.
"…Y-Yes, sir."
His legs felt heavy as he climbed onto the platform. Each step echoed far louder than it should have. The crystal sphere waited for him, smooth and harmless-looking—yet somehow terrifying.
His hand shook as he raised it.
Please… anything decent, he begged silently. I don't want to be useless.
He pressed his palm against the crystal.
Nothing happened.
Seconds passed.
His heart hammered. Sweat slid down his temple.
Then—
Buzz.
Purple light exploded outward.
The reaction was violent—raw energy rippling through the air as glowing panels snapped into place above the sphere.
[ Congratulations ]
[ You have awakened a C-Rank Talent ]
[ Talent: Heavy Force ]
[ Affinity: Beast / Self ]
For a split second—
Silence.
Then chaos.
"A second beast talent?!"
"That guy? Seriously?!"
"So the fatty was the lucky one?!"
"C-rank though—does that even matter?"
"Are you stupid? Of course it does!"
"Rank's secondary once beasts are involved!"
Arguments broke out instantly.
Kael watched quietly.
Another beast-affinity, he noted. And combat-oriented.
Nearby, Sarah stared openly. "You're kidding," she muttered. "Since when was he this lucky?"
A few steps back, the thin boy had gone pale.
"Oh no… oh no…" he whispered, clutching his glasses. "Why didn't I go first? What if that used up all the luck? Oh no…"
Kael barely noticed him.
His attention stayed on the name.
Heavy Force.
Broad, he thought. But force-based talents rarely disappoint.
Officer Bart raised a hand. "Enough."
The noise dropped instantly.
"You," he said, pointing at Fatty. "Stand with Miss Mara. You'll wait there."
Fatty nodded, moving as if in a dream.
A beast talent… I actually got one…
Mara glanced at him and quietly shifted to give him space. Neither spoke.
The crystal dimmed.
Then came the thin boy's turn.
He stepped forward like a condemned man. His shoulders were rigid, his legs stiff, and when he lifted his hand, it shook so badly a few people winced.
He adjusted his glasses—out of habit more than need—and pressed his palm to the sphere.
The hall held its breath.
The crystal glowed.
Not violently this time, but steadily—waves of purple light spreading outward with calm certainty.
[ Congratulations ]
[ You have awakened a D-Rank Talent ]
[ Talent: Agile Force ]
[ Affinity: Beast / Self ]
The thin boy froze.
Then his knees nearly gave out.
"I—I did it?" he whispered.
The crowd erupted again.
"Another one?!"
"You've got to be joking!"
"Those two came together, didn't they?"
"Heavy Force and Agile Force?!"
Kael's eyes sharpened.
Force-based, he thought. Both of them.
The ranks differed, but the naming pattern was too clean to ignore.
Complementary, he concluded.
Sarah stared, dumbfounded. "…Since when did those two get blessed by fate?"
"Quiet!" Bart snapped.
The thin boy nearly ran off the platform, joining Fatty. Fatty stared at him for a second—then broke into a wide, disbelieving grin.
After that—
The ceremony sagged.
Five more students stepped forward. Five more hopes flickered—and died.
Self-affinity only.Low rank.Nothing special.
The Awakening Center grew tense.
Finally—
It was Sarah's turn.
She turned to Kael, grinning as always, hands on her hips. She looked relaxed.
But Kael saw the tremor in her fingers.
"Wish me luck," she said lightly.
"You won't need it," Kael replied. "You'll get what you want."
She blinked, then laughed awkwardly. "Now I feel silly for being nervous."
She nodded. "Alright. I'm going."
"Go," Kael said. "Show them."
The words carried.
Several heads turned.
Sarah froze, ears burning—but she straightened and marched forward.
All eyes followed.
She placed her palm against the crystal—not gripping it, just resting her hand there.
"Please… please…" she whispered.
Nothing happened.
Doubt crept in.
Then—
Boom.
The crystal answered.
Not purple.
Reddish-orange light erupted, fierce and overwhelming. Heat pressed into the air as the hall drowned in blazing color. Shadows vanished completely.
Gasps echoed.
Officer Bart stumbled back.
The crystal roared.
Above it, an enormous holographic panel unfolded—layered with sigils, complex and radiant, pulsing like something alive.
Then the words appeared.
[ Congratulations, Sarah Ardent ]
[ You have awakened an S-Rank Talent ]
[ Talent: Perfect Symbiosis ]
[ Affinity: Beast / Self ]
Silence.
Sarah stood frozen, her hand still on the crystal.
An S-rank.
The light burned on.
And everyone understood the same thing at once—
This ceremony had just rewritten the future.
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