"—Next, Class Eight of Abyssal Edge Academy—student Gregory Barlow."
On the high platform, the voice of the Federal Combat Energy officer rang out loud and clear, echoing beneath the domed ceiling of the Hall of Divine Appraisal.
From below, a towering youth—broad as a fortress—strode forward. His heavy, deliberate steps carried a power that seemed to shake the air, his presence radiating a pressure that made those nearby instinctively hold their breath.
His appearance instantly drew a wave of gasps from the onlookers.
"What a massive build!"
"Is he even human? Looks like a descendant of the Giantkin from Demon Mountain!"
Even the middle-aged officiant could not help but glance twice, thinking to himself:
A fortress of flesh and bone… With a good talent, this frame could reach unimaginable heights.
His tone softened slightly as he spoke:
"Place your hand upon the Pearl of Communion."
"At once, sir!"
Gregory grinned and laid his broad, shield-like right palm gently against the mythical artifact floating at the center of the dais—the Pearl of Communion.
In that instant, the entire sphere blazed with a torrent of violet light!
The radiance burst forth more brilliantly than it had for any candidate before him. Purple light poured down like a waterfall, bathing the Hall in a dreamlike glow.
"Such brilliance… at least an A-rank!"
"By the gods, that build really is something!"
Amid the officiant's mingled astonishment and delight, glowing runes unfolded in the air:
[Grade Twelve · Class Eight · Gregory · Level: 3]
[Awakened Talent: A-rank · Wrath of Floro]
"Congratulations—you have passed the appraisal."
"Your talent has reached A-rank. You are eligible to apply for the Abyssal Edge Special Funding Card."
With solemn respect, the middle-aged official handed him a crystal card engraved with the emblem of the Federation:
[Credit Limit]: 2,000,000 Federal Spirit Coins
[Validity]: One month only, to be used solely for the cultivation of a Godslayer
The students below erupted in an instant.
"Whoa! An A-rank! We've finally got a real genius here!"
"Wrath of Floro is one of the strongest combat talents among all A-ranks!"
"The Federation's just handing him money—how awesome is that?!"
Gregory himself walked down from the high platform as if he stood a head taller than the sky, his stride brimming with pride.
"Ha! Alex, am I… pretty impressive too?"
He waved the crystal card in his hand with a wide, goofy grin.
Alex merely chuckled, saying nothing—just tilted his chin toward the stage.
Gregory blinked, then followed his gaze—
A slender figure was stepping up onto the platform.
She had a petite frame, sleek black hair tied into sharp twin tails, delicate features, and eyes carrying a hint of weariness. Dressed in a plain black hoodie, a lollipop resting at the corner of her lips, both hands buried in her pockets—she radiated a lazy air, yet beneath it was an edge as keen as a blade.
She didn't look the slightest bit like a "genius."
—Lois, Class One.
Her only interaction with Alex had been carrying the flag together during a school flag-raising ceremony.
And yet, Alex remembered her vividly.
Because in his previous life, she had been the only one in Fifth High to awaken an S-rank talent.
Even more crucial—her turn on the platform came right after Gregory's—
Completely shattering the "glory" he had just built up.
"Watch closely," Alex said with a faint smile.
This time, it would be someone else's turn to have their jaw drop.
Lois lifted one delicate hand and pressed her pale palm against the Pearl of Communion.
In an instant, the world seemed to lose its color.
A burst of crimson divine light erupted from the sphere like a burning solar corona, flooding the entire hall with its radiance.
"R… red light?!"
"What rank is that talent?!"
Someone's startled cry broke the silence, and the crowd collectively held its breath.
The middle-aged official was already staring in shock.
"Crimson light… an S-rank! It's actually S-rank!"
At that moment, a violent ripple of space suddenly bloomed in midair.
A gray-robed elder—eight feet tall, with an aura as deep as an abyss—descended as if from the heavens, tearing through the void to land directly before the Divine Appraisal dais.
—The Principal, Level 80 Godslayer-tier, [Thousand-Mirror Magus] Gu Weir!
"It's… the Principal!"
The middle-aged official quickly bowed in salute.
Gu Weir merely raised a hand, making a subtle gesture for silence, his gaze fixed upon the crimson brilliance of the awakened talent.
For a long while, the runes in the void finally solidified:
[Grade Twelve · Class One · Lois · Level: 3]
[Awakened Talent: S-rank · Shadow]
—Shadow!
A top-tier, rare combat talent.
Known to be capable of advancing to SS-rank or even higher, its potential was limitless. The God-King of the Star Sea, Shadow Abyss, was among the most powerful inheritors of this bloodline.
"This… this is truly…"
The middle-aged man murmured in awe, then quickly regained his composure. Stepping forward, he presented three lavish gifts with both hands:
A Federal Crystal Card, credit limit: 5,000,000 Federal Spirit Coins.
An Abyssal Edge VIP Card, granting the highest privileges throughout the city.
A Saint-Runed Contract Voucher, redeemable for a full set of superior-quality equipment usable up to Level 20.
Gu Weir went even further. Clapping his hands once, he drew from his robe a belt engraved with draconic scale sigils, its divine light surging like the flow of stars.
[Equipment Name]: Dragon's Roar · Shining Belt
[Rank]: Mythical
[Special Effect]: While worn, monster-hunting experience gain is doubled (lasts for five days).
"Child, this is the gift Fifth High has prepared for you," Gu Weir said warmly, his deep voice resonating. "You have the chance to ascend the Hall of the God-Kings—do not squander this gift of destiny."
Faced with such glory, Lois merely held her lollipop between her lips and smiled faintly.
"Thanks, When I become a God-King one day, I'll treat you to hotpot."
"Hahaha!" Gu Weir threw his head back and laughed, nodding in delight.
The crowd below was in an uproar.
"She… she really awakened an S-rank!"
"A phoenix has actually risen here!"
"Lois must be the center of the whole city now!"
Among the onlookers, Gregory stared at the crystal card crumpled in his hand, then glanced at the lavish set of gifts in Lois's possession. His expression slowly stiffened.
"…Was I… a little too full of myself just now?"
"You're not the first, and you won't be the last," Alex replied with a light chuckle, patting his shoulder.
"But don't worry—your moment in the spotlight… might still come back to you."
Before the words had even faded, the voice of the middle-aged official rang out again from the high platform:
"The final candidate—Class Eight of Abyssal Edge Academy, Alex Elliott!"
The entire Hall of Divine Appraisal fell silent at once.
Every gaze turned instinctively toward the young man—
Dressed in his school uniform, calm in demeanor, his eyes sharp as a blade.