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Level Up to Apex

JD_Suthir
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Chapter 1 - Prologue

I'm Zeil—eighteen years old, with two younger sisters who mean everything to me. Our parents died when I was just twelve. I didn't have time to break. I couldn't afford to. I had to step up, take care of them, and keep moving forward.

For six long years, I've waited for this day: the Awakening Ritual.

In our world, everyone goes through it when they turn eighteen. It decides your profession—Guard, Hunter, Mage, Soldier… or, if you're truly exceptional, Royal Commander. You're ranked based on three things: physical strength, mana capacity, and mental stability.

I don't have any of those.

But I'm still here. I'm still walking into that ritual—not for power, but for my sisters.

The ritual began, and one by one, everyone received something. Most of them were assigned as Soldiers or Guards—nothing surprising there. But then someone became a Mage.

Zenrey Sone.

He's well-known in our village—basically a local legend. A natural talent. People called him a prodigy even before the ritual. Honestly, it wasn't a shock when he got the Mage rank.

After a few more people, it was finally my turn.

I stepped into the ritual ring slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. For a moment, the magical sphere glowed—an unnatural yellow, like the morning sun breaking through thick clouds.

But then… it stopped. Just like that, the light vanished. No rank. No profession. Nothing.

Once again… I was a nobody.

Then, an unfamiliar sound chimed.

[Welcome to the Cosmic System]

I didn't know what it meant, but it clearly said "Cosmic System." Then something else appeared in front of me:

[Age – 18]

[Strength – 7]

[Agility – 8]

[Potential – Unable to Calculate]

I know I'm weak, but… am I really this weak?

This is embarrassing. I need to close this see-through window before anyone sees it.

But something felt different from what I imagined. Everyone was still looking at me, but no one reacted to the window. No whispers, no pointing, no laughter.

Is this something only I can see?

I stepped out of the ritual ring, and the others continued like nothing happened.

Eventually, the ritual ended. Seventy-nine teenagers participated. Seventy-eight of them received ranks or professions.

The only one left out… was me.

Zenrey Sone was the only one who became a Mage. A few became Hunters. Most became Soldiers or Guards.

I walked home, drowning in the weight of disappointment. But as soon as I saw my sisters, the heaviness lifted. Their ultimate weapon—those unbeatable, cute expressions—struck me right in the heart.

I'll never let those smiles disappear.

But before anything else, I need to find a proper job. Something steady. Something that lets me feed them.