"This is truly incredible," I thought as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.
Just minutes earlier, I had escaped the scene of a murder, and now I found myself back in my dorm, questioning whether I had truly awakened the Authority I had just experienced.
There were simply too many shocking aspects to it all.
The first thing that struck me was its rank: Absolute.
To my knowledge, the highest rank previously achieved was Legendary, yet I had just obtained something even more powerful.
Next were the two abilities I had gained, which felt ridiculously overpowered.
While their descriptions were impressive, I needed to test them to confirm their potency.
I opened my profile, and a series of stats and skills appeared before me.
===Caedrel Ratton===
Level: 4 - Tier 0 Psionic
Exp: 34%/100%
Strength: F-
Agility: F
Stamina: F
Intelligence: F+
Luck: E+
Charm: F-
Authority: Author's Authority
Authority Mastery: G
Unlocked Authority Spells: [Inspect & Modify], [Mind Reading]
Skills:
[Innate] - Telekinesis [Current Comprehension: E+]
===Caedrel Ratton===
I examined the displayed statistics, frowning at the sight.
Typically, when opening one's profile, individuals can only see their level, skills, and authority. However, thanks to [Inspect & Modify], I was able to view all of my individual stats, which were rather disheartening.
Still, I wasn't naïve; I knew I was weak.
I ranked 3415 out of 3500 students.
But everything could change today, as a translucent message appeared before me.
[Do you wish to modify your character profile?]
"Yes," I replied without hesitation.
[You currently have 8 Grade Augments, 0 Authority Augments, 0 Skill Augments.]
'Grade Augments, Authority Augments, Skill Augments? What do those mean?'
[Grade Augments are the currency used to upgrade your stats through Modify. Each Grade Augment increases the stat of your choice by one increment. For instance, your Strength is currently F-; using a Grade Augment would raise it to F. If you used another, it would become F+. The same principle applies to Authority Augments and Skill Augments.]
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
Deep down, I had hoped to change my stats freely, but it seemed that wasn't possible.
"And how do I obtain more Grade Augments and the others?"
[Grade Augments, Authority Augments, and Skill Augments can be earned through Quests and Achievements. Quests will be assigned by your Authority, and Achievements will be determined by the world's rules.]
I nodded slowly, absorbing the information carefully to ensure I wouldn't forget anything.
Now came the challenging decision: how should I allocate my eight Grade Augments?
There were two main options.
I could either focus them on a single stat, boosting it to around D or C-Rank, or distribute them across all stats, making myself more of a jack of all trades.
The first option seemed more appealing to me, especially since I was a Psionic, which meant I didn't need much close-range strength. Psionic skills primarily relied on Intelligence, so I considered investing all my Grade Augments into that stat, hoping to elevate my [Telekinesis] to new heights.
After a few more moments of contemplation, my choice was clear.
Without wasting another second, I allocated all my Grade Augments to Intelligence.
[Intelligence has been modified.]
[Intelligence: F+ -> C]
A rush of power surged through me as I felt my mind expand in an instant.
'This really is incredible!' I thought, my smile growing wider.
I glanced at my nightstand where my smartwatch lay and decided to test my [Telekinesis]. I wanted to see just how much stronger my skill had become in mere seconds.
I extended my palm toward the watch, closed my eyes, and focused on pulling it closer.
'It's working! I can feel it moving toward me!' I thought, brimming with excitement.
In the next moment, I grasped it with my right hand.
[You have received the Achievement - Object Calling.]
[+1 Skill Augment.]
This was the first time I had successfully performed such a feat. Previously, I could only lift an object for about five seconds without trying to pull it in my direction, leaving me drenched in sweat afterward.
Now, I had used [Telekinesis] to achieve levels I had never imagined possible, and it felt exhilarating. I hadn't even struggled.
I put on my smartwatch and noted that I had a late afternoon class in less than an hour.
Suddenly, a distinct sound echoed in my mind.
[New Quest - Use Mind Reading on an important character.]
[Reward: 1 Grade Augment, 2 Skill Augments]
Before leaving my dorm, I used my Skill Augment on [Telekinesis], increasing my comprehension from E+ to D-.
New bits of information flooded my mind about [Telekinesis]. While they were minor, they provided me with fresh ideas on how to utilize my Innate Skill.
-Knock.
-Knock.
-Knock.
Just as I was about to step outside, three knocks sounded at my door.
'Who could it be? I rarely have visitors.'
I was a loner.
This could very well be the first time someone had knocked on my door.
With a frown, I creaked the door open, and my color drained from my face when I saw who stood before me.
The headmaster of the Royal Academy, one of the most powerful Awakeners in the world, Mona Litchester.
On top of being ridiculously overpowered, she was also one of the top beauties in the Royal Academy with students even going as far as to chase her romantically. And now that I could get a closer look, I could certainly understand why.
Her crimson hair framed her face in loose waves, the same fiery shade blazing in her eyes as they locked onto mine. There was an elegance to her posture, but the weight of her gaze made it clear — this was someone you didn't dare cross.
"Mister Caedrel Ratton," she said, her expression serious. "Please follow me; I have a few questions for you."
'Wait… the dead body! I never reported it!'