CHAPTER 1: FIRST EVALUATION
In order to survive, humanity accepted that the existence of demons must be annihilated. However, even to this day, demons still exist — despite humans having slaughtered most of them."Humanity is being threatened by demons."
It's a fact that cannot be denied. These wicked creatures continue to kill without mercy.
Fortunately, the existence of the Great Constellations has granted hope to these lowly beings. From the beginning of this story, humans have received traits and fables from the constellations that support them. Though not everyone possesses these powers, the majority of humanity does.
Thanks to them, mankind has managed to survive — even if demons have yet to be completely eradicated.
In recorded history, only four individuals have ever received the strongest abilities. Their bloodlines are known as the Great Nobles. While only the originals bore the true power, their descendants still carry exceptional talent. Even now, these nobles wield their inherited strength, pursuing glory — not for themselves, but for the sake of humanity.
[But not everyone chosen by the stars]
Some were forgotten. Like me. Louis Feryl.
I don't hold any powers. Worse — my physics is pathetic. Myself mirrored the definition of lowly beings. It so damn hurts. Every day…every time, I always get beaten and mocked by others — just because I don't have the power. And whenever I come home, I always bring new bruises on my body. This world just doesn't care about the lowly. They just kneel before the strongest and crush the powerless beneath their feet.
When I was fifteen, I underwent a Constellations Evaluation, an event designed to measure the full extent of one's power and the skills one possesses. Through tireless, unrelenting labor and struggle, a specialized evaluation technology had finally been brought into being. This device, conceived by the Go-Tech Company in collaboration with a noble, was so exorbitantly priced that even fifteen years of my parents' combined salaries would not have sufficed to pay for a single use.
Yet, thanks to my school, I was granted the chance to experience it once. Only once.
The moment I stepped off the bus, the sight before me exceeded every expectation. The hall was resplendent and vast, far grander than I had imagined. A colossal, floating diamond hovered at its center, drifting along the inner curve of the dome and radiating waves of mana. Its sophisticated design imbued the space with a serene composure that felt perfectly composed. Many elements contributed to the hall's beauty, but that was merely its exterior. What, then, awaited within?
"Fuhh…" I drew a long, steadying breath, trying to calm my racing lungs.
Whose brilliant idea had it been to place more than two hundred stairs before the evaluation even began?
Once I had recovered my breath, I hurried after my teacher and classmates. My first thought was sheer disbelief: why in the world were they so unbelievably fast compared to me? I practically had to jog to keep pace with them, while they appeared utterly unbothered. Their bodies had clearly been honed through diligent effort.
Upon entering the hall, I found it far more hectic than I had anticipated. Staff members moved briskly about, tending to their clients' concerns, from the most trivial of issues to the gravest of errors. Had the school not arranged for students to take this test, I might never have witnessed the hall's orchestrated chaos with my own eyes. The first thing I saw was—
"Hello!"
A holographic figure bearing the name "Jena" materialized without warning directly before my, if I may say so, handsome face.
"Arggghh!" I recoiled, letting out a scream as if the very demons of the underworld had grasped my shoulders. "You scared me! What is that supposed to mean?!" Rage flared in an instant. To have a hologram appear so suddenly, exactly in front of you, was enough to make one's soul feel as though it might abandon the body entirely.
Jena extended her left palm, and with a graceful sweep of mana spiraling through the air, a card took shape. "Please take this card to confirm your identity. This card will be used in the meantime," Jena intoned in a synthetic yet clear voice, presenting the card to me.
The card looks ordinary despite having a horizontal gold-like line in the middle. I wondered, is it real gold?
"Meantime?" asked me, frowning.
"Yes. Which means after the evaluation, you will get your specifications for your fables or traits. This card will be used until you truly become an official hunter." said Jena.
"Okay, thanks for the card." I muttered, still frowning.
Soon, Jena leave. I sighed while looking at the card. The appearance not even close to my mum's precious platinum visa card. How does this ordinary can seduce me and help me through my career.
"I hope I will truly be a hunter…" my heart just spoke it. Yeah, sometimes I do realize that my idiot's dream about to be the top hunter just can stay as a daydream. Even now I don't know why I still have some fate over this career.
As I put the card in my left slack's pocket, I realized that…they were too fast that my eyes can't find their existence!
"How the hell can they vanish after just that small talk. Argghhhh!!!" I'm growling in frustration, though I realized many eyes are now staring at me.
Sighed. "Hmmm…how about I take a stroll? Who knows, this will be the last time I step in here. Plus, they surely will search for me anyway."
I walked along the main aisle. And as I thought, this building never failed to shock me. Who've ever thought that this aisle is so spacious that it can fit ten buses in a row! Nobles surely have the money, right?
As I walked, I saw a huge silver door that made my heart start to pound. What's in there, huh? My feelings of curiosity increased, wanna know what's inside the door.
Since the door doesn't say "STAFF ONLY", so I'm pretty sure that this room is accessible for public, right?
I opened the door. And I found a perfect definition of a library. No, it's not a library - this is the heaven of the library.
My jaw dropped, and my eyes were wide open to see the biggest library ever.
I look up to see if there's any hint about this place. And yeah… There are too many chandeliers on the ceiling. "Wow, I might be blind.". It's not just many…also gracious and super big. Oh man, I hope I can steal it.
That's what my mind said.
I take a peek on the left side, just saw a spacious counter - maybe to ask for any questions, and some massive wooden carved tables and chairs besides it. Nothing special.
Wait….
I squinted my eyes to confirm it.
Just what I see… so the name of this library is Elarion Library.
In this country… no, world maybe? Elarion Library is so well-known for having many magical books. Nobles assumes that the books are passed down from one generation to the next generations and finally gathers most of the books to fill it in the library's shelves.
And the most popular magic books of course Dallen Talismans. Though some said that it being hidden by the great sage of gold era, Darren Tayle in a valley that can be found at the most dangerous forest with the highest peak that almost piercing the sky, still no one can found it. It's not because they are lazy, instead they even make a contract by the devil just to track where exactly the location of these treasures.
But all of that became worthless when suddenly the king has ordered everyone whom involved in this treasure hunt to stop their efforts. The reason remain secret by the king and the government, however everyone can make a guess that it's due to the fanaticism of the hunt that resulting to make some people willing to make a pact of blood with the devils and take full-control of their body.
Magic books, huh? If I'm not mistaken, it can only be opened by someone who possesses the powers. I wondered what was in it.
Put that aside, Elarion Library, huh? Truly amazing.
Finished with all that praising, I peeked to my right and I saw so many shelves that were full of books and - thick. "Hmmm…who the hell will read thick books, time is gold ya know?" I said with a confidence voice and a proud face.
I walked through the aisle that connected to that section. Wanna know what kind of books we have here since the magic books are placed in an authorized section that needs some required conditions to fulfill?
Ancient skills, enlightenment sciences, ranking of the constellations…..
I randomly took one of the books with a dark purple cover and gold lettering—The Hierarchy of Universal Might: From Minor Stars to The Almighty. Sounds… complicated. I opened it, expecting at least some fireworks or magical glow since people said these books can be kinda "alive". But nope. Nothing happened. Just…pages.
"Guess I'm not chosen, huh?" I muttered, flipping through the first few pages. Anyway most of the stuff written was in some ancient language, totally unreadable. Except—
One sentence glowed faintly in blue.
["The Eyes of Truth Is Watching You."]
I closed the book instantly. "NOPE."
That gave me chills. What's that even mean?! Did I trigger something? Did I just get cursed?! Calm down. It's just a book. Right?
I quickly returned it back to the shelf—carefully, of course, like someone would return a cursed artifact—and continued down the aisle.
As I walked deeper, I noticed something odd. The shelves looked… endless. Like literally. No matter how far I walked, there were always more turns, more paths. It didn't feel like I was in a building anymore. More like… a realm.
I panicked. The more I walked, the more my surrounding turned blurred and white. Not long after, I saw something ahead. I ran toward it. And I discovered there is a table, a red book, a chair and a huge mirror that can perfectly fit me.
When I stand in front of the mirror. I can say that it was me,
But…
What happen to my appearance?
Why my hair turned white? Isn't it supposed to be black?
Why my brown eyes turned yellow despite brown?
Is this mirror have some sort of illuminate curse on it? Even my body looks taller and tougher in the mirror. It's all some sort of glow up, but why my eyes looks gloomy?I wonder where this magical mirror belongs to?
I'm surprised, my hands a bit tremble while my breathing turned faster. But when I look my hands it seems normal. I pluck out a piece of my hair, it's still black. What does this mean?
Anyways, it kinda handsome. Praised myself while placing one of my fingers on my chin.
I look at the table.
Oh, I forgot about this red book. I grabbed the book.
From the look of it, this book seems to be written in ancient times I guess?
I touch the book. It don't have tittle on it. I flipped it and surveyed inside the book. I don't find any…
Wait…
There's only one person that can be the savior.
[The Plotter of The Fate]
Another strange books? Why'd I always find this kind of books, huh?
I put back the book on the table and suddenly, a space that barely fit me appear besides the mirror. Maybe that's the way back?
I walked through it as I don't have to do anything there either. And just as I thought, the space seems to be the door that connect the realm to this world. I don't have clue what's that place about.
My phone vibrated. It turns out to be one of my classmates friends, Adam Rojez. I picked it up…
"Hey! Where have you gone?" I can tell from his voice that he hold his grudges to be patient rather to scold me.
"I take a.."
"Take what?"
"Take a shit out of me.. you know, stomachache?"
"Oh! Ok then…hurry up! Teacher might scold you if you don't get here soon."
"Where're you?" I asked with not too deep voice.
"Dellion Evaluation Hall."
"Roger that!"
He ended up the call.
I go straight to the counter and ask where is Dellion Evaluation Hall.
"You can turn left as you left this library, go straight until you see the left aisle." answered the staff that's was in charge with the low tone of her.
As I wanted to get out from the library, I almost forgot to ask for it. Fortunately, I just saw a girl holding a book along with her made me remind to ask this question.
"Miss, what kind of room is there?"
"Room?" she asked me as if she doesn't know what type of nonsense I was spouting.
"Yeah… I pick an ancient-like book and suddenly I transferred into a white room."
She kept silent while her eyes looks like she wanted to memorize something.
"Sorry, but I don't have any clues about that. I'm pretty sure that there's no such things here." she answered with having a 'someone who don't know about that' face.
Weird.
Nevertheless, I just said thank you and went right for Dellion Evaluation Hall. Maybe… just maybe, only I can access into that room?