He placed his palm against the orb. A soft, bluish light enveloped his hand, spreading out in gentle waves that shimmered across the surface.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.
They had all anticipated the light to glow even brighter, revealing the ability Axel possessed. Instead, to their utter shock, the marble orb gradually dimmed, and the light vanished without a trace.
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Even Modret found it difficult to comprehend what had just occurred. His eyes remained fixed on Axel, his expression frozen in disbelief, as Axel slowly retracted his hand from the marble.
A wry smile flickered across Axel's face. He turned his head and gave Modret a brief, composed glance.
Modret collected himself and returned a calm smile. "Don't worry about what I said," he murmured with a light tone, referring to the earlier moment when he had joked about finding a replacement for Axel in case it turned out he had no ability.
This was a world overflowing with magic, full of secrets and ancient knowledge. There had to be a way around this.
Modret pushed the thought aside, choosing not to dwell on it.
Axel seemed to understand what Modret meant without needing words. His smile deepened faintly as he walked over to stand by Modret's side, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable, as though nothing of importance had just occurred.
Modret couldn't help but wonder. If he were the one in Axel's place, could he have maintained such composure?
He silently acknowledged the boy's poise. Whether Axel's confidence came from his belief in Modret or from something unknown, Modret could not tell. But he had a lingering feeling that the situation was far from simple.
Ronald finally recovered from his own shock after Axel took his place beside Modret. He cleared his throat, stealing a glance at Axel, then gave him a small, respectful nod.
His attention shifted to a different youth in the crowd. He called the boy forward.
Most people expected yet another disappointment.
Instead, the marble orb suddenly glowed with a pale blue light, and moments later, a line of words shimmered into view above it, spinning slowly before solidifying in midair.
[Ability: Farmer]
[Grade: C]
Stunned silence gripped the room once again.
Everyone turned to look at the youth, who stood there dazed. He looked like he had just returned from tilling the fields. His hair was unkempt, dirt clung to his boots, and his clothes smelled faintly of soil.
For a heartbeat, confusion rippled through the crowd. Then their expressions shifted. Respect bloomed in their eyes.
Despite how underwhelming the ability sounded, the young man had officially awakened. That alone set him apart from the countless who never would. And more importantly, it was a C-grade ability.
That was something only one in ten thousand awakened could claim.
A few girls in the hall cast flirtatious glances toward him, intrigued by his sudden elevation in status. The boy, however, remained lost in a daze, struggling to comprehend that someone like him had truly awakened.
Modret looked at the youth and smiled faintly. "How lucky," he thought, then quickly moved on from the matter.
Ronald, too, allowed a faint smile to rise on his lips.
"Your ability will be quite useful in agriculture and growth. In time, we will discover more about its full potential." He gently patted the boy's shoulder.
"Stand to the side. When this is over, you will follow me to the treasury where you may select a cultivation technique."
The youth nodded and quietly walked to the side.
Jealousy shimmered in the eyes of nearly everyone present. Of course, this did not include Modret and Axel. Modret already had access to countless techniques, and Axel…
Ronald began calling up the next group of youths.
Eventually, his gaze fell on Modret. He had deliberately saved his nephew for last.
"I hope he awakens something powerful. If he doesn't… it would be truly disappointing," Ronald thought silently, praying in his heart.
He forced a smile as Modret stepped forward and placed his hand on the orb.
The entire hall grew still.
Every breath was held in anticipation.
Would Modret awaken, or would he, too, turn out to be like the others?
Eyes locked onto his pale, slender hand, resting quietly against the marble. A hush fell over the hall.
Suddenly, Modret's expression shifted ever so slightly. A translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
[Please select an ability you would like to display.]
[…]
Rows upon rows of options filled his vision. From his most powerful, the SS-grade Null Fire, down to the lesser-known abilities he had collected.
He stood momentarily stunned.
"So, thanks to the Awakening Roulette, I have already bypassed the usual process. I've long since awakened."
Although he possessed multiple abilities, he had always assumed that because he acquired them in an unusual way, they were somehow different. Now he understood the truth.
A smile played at the corners of his lips.
"In that case, I have nothing to worry about. I can keep spinning the roulette and awaken as many abilities as I desire."
As long as there were enemies to kill and shadow fragments to harvest, Modret was like a bottomless abyss, overflowing with abilities.
"One day, if I awaken every single ability in this world, will the system start giving me the same ones all over again?" he mused, amused at the thought.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he focused.
"What should I display? An A-grade ability?"
His thoughts drifted briefly to his parents in this life. He remembered their hopeful smiles and encouraging words.
"They're probably waiting for good news. Maybe I should give them a surprise."
Modret smiled, then made his decision.
A heartbeat later, gasps echoed throughout the hall.
Before everyone's eyes, glowing golden words appeared midair, radiating an overwhelming divine presence. Waves of energy rolled off the glowing letters, shaking the hearts of all who witnessed them.
[Ability: Null Fire]
[Grade: SS]
Ronald's eyes locked onto the radiant letters. His body stiffened.
Around him, everyone stared wide-eyed, rooted in place, unable to look away.
SS grade?
What did that even mean?
For a moment, they thought it was a dream. But even after pinching themselves, the holy pressure from the SS-grade ability pressed on them like a divine mountain.
Their disbelief gave way to awe.
Axel's expression was especially complex. A quiet smile formed on his lips.
"I expected nothing less from my young master."