Sage stood in the middle of SONA.
Alarms blared overhead.
A sharp voice crackled from the speakers:
> "All students and returnees, proceed to the Hall of Asphalt."
The once-silent campus erupted into chaos.
But Sage's mind wasn't on the noise.
> [QUEST: FAILED — TARGET NOT ELIMINATED]
[MERCY IS NOT OPTIONAL]
[PENALTY: STAMINA -99.8%]
What the—?!
> [CURRENT STAMINA: 0.02%]
[NECESSARY FOR LIFE SUSTAINABILITY]
[RE-EVALUATION: 6 HOURS]
So the System really meant kill...
> [STAMINA DECREASES UNTIL DAILY REQUIREMENTS ARE MET]
[REQUIREMENT: EAT 1KG OF MEAT, 300 PUSH-UPS]
300?! He could barely do twenty.
"Hey, you!" A man barked, brushing past. "Get moving, Zeta trash."
He glanced back. "No wonder he's sweating buckets."
Sage could barely move.
Every muscle screamed. His body felt like a sack of broken bones tied together with regret.
Breath scraped his throat like gravel. His vision flickered with red warnings.
---
The Hall of Astral Resonance loomed ahead—
a vast domed chamber of black stone, veined with starlight.
The sky above shimmered with drifting constellations.
Twelve great rings hovered in motion, each glowing a different color, pulsing with ancient power.
A circle of radiant glyphs lit the center of the floor: the Pact Circle.
Sage stood at the back of the line—Zeta Tier. Lowest of the low.
He swallowed, mouth dry with copper and dust.
> "Welcome to SONA," the voice echoed through the hall.
"Here, we do not separate by age, gender, or background. Only tier matters."
Four glowing rings lit up: Alpha. Beta. Delta. Zeta.
> "We begin with the Pact Ceremony. Line up by rank."
---
Sage's legs wobbled.
> [SYSTEM PENALTY: 0.019% STAMINA. REASON: COWARDICE]
[YOU CHOSE MERCY OVER EFFICIENCY]
[RE-EVALUATION: 5 HOURS]
Thanks, System. Real compassionate.
He watched as students step into the glyph circle, one by one.
Each time, a student glowed—resonating with one of the Twelve Rings.
Power. Recognition. Cheers.
Then—his turn.
Sage dragged himself forward.
Eyes glanced his way, then away. Zeta-tier wasn't worth watching.
The ceremony master didn't even look at him.
> "Next," she said, bored.
He stepped into the glyph.
And…
Nothing.
He reached inward. Focused. Called out.
Still nothing.
Then—the System.
> [CANNOT ACCESS OTHER RINGS]
[PROCESS INCOMPATIBLE WITH SYSTEM]
[EFFECT NULLIFIED]
[PERFORM QUESTS TO POWER UP]
"Do something," Sage muttered. "They're all watching—"
> [STAMINA: 0.18%]
The silence dragged.
Seconds passed.
No light. No spark.
The ceremony master cleared her throat.
> "...No Pact detected. Zeta-class. Move along."
---
Laughter rippled from the Alpha section.
Cold smirks followed. Even some Zetas looked away.
Sage stood frozen.
Shame and confusion battled in his chest.
His body begged him to fall. His pride told him to run.
But instead—he walked.
Slow. Upright. Through the stares and sneers.
> "Faker."
"How'd you even get in?"
He sat alone on the farthest step and looked up at the drifting stars.
But unknown to him , the worst was yet to come.