Following the stoic guide, it didn't take long before Zack and Anthony reached the weapon selection hall. It was a sleek, neon-lit chamber beneath Sky Pillar City's Awakening Center.
The hall's polished steel walls, embedded with holographic displays, showcased rows of high-level Rank 1 magical weapons—swords, spears, daggers and other weapon —organized by type on automated racks.
Each weapon thrummed with energy, their surfaces etched with glowing circuits that hinted at their monstrous origins.
***
From what Zack knew these weapons were forged from slain monsters' remains. But to understand the ranks of these magical Weapons, it was necessary to first understand the ranks of monsters and humans first.
Greenhorn rank was the lowest rank amongst the monsters, spanned low, mid, and high sub-levels, their parts were used for crafting low, mid and high Rank 1 weapons respectively.
Above them were the, Fiend rank monsters also divided into low, mid and high sub-levels —their parts yielded Rank 2 weapons of low, mid and high levels respectively.
Human ranks contained the: Drifter rank(low, mid and high sub-levels) for newly awakened individuals.
Followed by the Expert rank also containing(low, mid and high sub-levels).
Whispers and rumors spoke of a rank beyond Expert, but its name remained a mystery to Zack whose knowledge was about the ranks were too shallow.
***
The dazzling array of weapons all around the hall, their lights reflecting off the hall's chrome floor, left Zack and Anthony awestruck in a mere moment, their pulses racing with anticipation as they both fervently stared at the weapons.
"Snap out of it, boys. Time's ticking,"
the guide said, his voice calm but edged with the fatigue of a long shift in the city's chaos.
Zack quickly snapped back to attention, noticing two girls already in the hall, each gripping a weapon.
One stood tall, her blue braided hair stark against her matte-black combat suit, her fierce brown eyes scanning the room. Her lean frame, barely curved, suggested agility, her gauntlets humming with embedded tech. Just from her posture and the calm confidence that radiated. Zack was certain she'd be able to ace the awakening trial.
The other girl, curvaceous yet poised, drew eyes with her striking beauty. Long, wavy white hair flowed past her shoulders, framing a red full-body combat suit and black boots. Her crimson eyes, vivid against her white hair, locked onto a thin, one-handed sword that pulsed faintly.
Zack forced his focus elsewhere distracting himself from her breath taking beauty, musing to himself,
'Is the guide bored or just overworked? Sounds like he's said that line a hundred times today haha.'
Zack headed to the spear section, his choice instinctive. Spears had been his weapon since childhood, honed under Grandpa Kai's grueling drills in the countryside.
The rack displayed a dozen high-level Rank 1 spears, crafted from peak Greenhorn monsters. After testing their balance, he chose a double-bladed staff, its curved, pointed blades gleaming on a sturdy shaft. Twirling it one-handed, he marveled as it caught the hall's neon glow, shimmering like a digital blade.
"Zack Starshot,"
the guide called out, his voice cutting through the hum of the twirlings.
"Yeah?"
Zack replied subconsciously, pausing his twirl. He glanced in the direction toward the arena, where Anthony stood with the two girls behind the guide. Anthony clutched dual short daggers, their edges flickering with mystical energy.
"It's time. Lets head for the arena"
the guide said, striding toward the arena's elevator.
Zack ran and quickly caught up with the group, greeted by Anthony's infectious grin.
"Damn, bro, you're a pro with that double-bladed spear!"
Anthony said, flipping a dagger with a flourish. Zack smirked, leaning into the banter to ease his nerves.
"Who said I'm only good with double-bladed spears? I'm just as good with every other spear out there,"
he boasted.
Anthony's black pupils sparkled with mischief.
"Since when did you become such a show-off?"
he teased, dodging an imaginary jab.
The group—Zack, Anthony, and the two girls—laughed, their voices echoing off the hall's sleek walls. Anthony seized the moment.
"I'm Anthony Britney, and this is my new best bud, Zack Starshot. Care to share your names, ladies?"
Zack was just about to facepalm when the unexpected reply came from the white-haired girl, her tone cool but approachable.
"I'm Diana Frostblade. This is my childhood friend, Alexa Benson."
She nodded toward the blue-haired girl, whose gauntlets buzzed faintly as she smiled towards Zack and Anthony in acknowledgement.
"Focus, kids. Arena's waiting,"
the guide snapped, his patience worn thin by the incessant chatter of the group.
Anthony grinned wider.
"Alright, Diana Frostblade, Alexa Benson, And my bro Zack Starshot See you guys when we all become Drifters!"
Zack nodded at the trio, his voice steady.
"Good luck."
"Good luck,"
Diana and Alexa replied together, their voices low but resolute.
The group stepped into the elevator, emerging into the Awakening Center's vast arena, where holographic screens amplified the crowd's roars. The urban sprawl loomed beyond the center's reinforced glass dome, scarred by monster attacks. The four split silently, each heading to their designated energy barrier, hearts pounding with the promise of power.
Inside his dome, Zack stood beside the protector, gripping his double-bladed spear. The barrier's electric hum vibrated through the floor, its digital runes flickering in sync with the arena's pulse.
"Your batch will face the low-level Greenhorn monster, steel ape. Nod once for more details about the moste—"
the protector began, his voice clipped but before he could finish, Zack shook his head firmly.
"I'm ready,"
he said, low and resolute, his training drowning out doubt.
The protector's eyes flickered with pity, as if questioning Zack's confidence in this monster-ravaged world. He leaped to the dome's edge and tapped a console. The arena floor hissed open, revealing a two-meter-tall steel ape, its metallic skin gleaming like polished chrome under the arena's stark lights. The chains on its neck and limbs snapped free with a sharp clang, mere moments after its reveal,echoing like a gunshot.
Zack leaped back twice ready for action even before the monster was released, brandishing his double-bladed spear in a defensive stance, muscles coiled.
At that moment the world faded—the crowd's muffled cheers, the protector's silhouette, his own racing thoughts buried deep. Only Zack, his spear, and the steel ape remained, its iron hide glinting with pure primal menace.