Chapter 5: Awakening — II
The Awakening Pillar was silent.
No glow.
No pulse.
No reaction.
Jule's palm rested against the cold surface, unmoving.
Seconds passed.
Then—
Faint letters slowly surfaced on the stone, dim and colorless, as if carved by hesitation itself.
No elemental resonance.
No energy surge.
Nothing.
The professor's brows furrowed.
This… was abnormal.
Even an F-Rank produced some response—a flicker, a tremor, something.
But this?
This was emptiness.
The professor inhaled deeply, his voice heavy as he announced the result:
"G-RANK."
---
The silence shattered.
"Ohhh—look at that!"
Laughter erupted instantly.
"Our top student is G-Rank?!"
"I knew it! Books won't save you in this world."
"He's basically a normal human!"
The whispers grew sharper, crueler—like blades drawn eagerly.
"Did you hear? His girlfriend is Stella."
"Yeah. No way she stays with trash like that."
"With Tony awakening as A-Rank? This is over."
The crowd leaned in, savoring the fall.
---
Tony's eyes burned.
A slow, twisted grin stretched across his face.
"So it's G-Rank, huh?" he muttered darkly.
"Perfect."
He clenched his fists.
"After the ceremony, I'll break you so badly you'll never return. Then Stella will finally be mine."
Even his teammates felt a chill at the madness in his voice.
---
Jule heard every word.
But he didn't react.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't look back.
As he stepped away from the Awakening Pillar, his gaze was fixed on something only he could see.
A translucent blue screen floated calmly before his eyes.
Silent.
Absolute.
> [ SYSTEM INTERFACE ]
[ Class: Unique Class — Combat-Type ]
Jule's pupils contracted slightly.
Unique Class…
So the pillar hadn't failed.
It had been deceived.
His awakening was completely hidden.
A slow breath steadied his heartbeat.
Good.
---
"STELLA!"
The professor's voice rang out.
All eyes turned.
Without looking at Jule—even once—Stella walked past him.
No hesitation.
No concern.
No pause.
She didn't acknowledge his existence.
Jule had expected distance.
But not this.
For a brief moment, pressure tightened in his chest.
Then—
It vanished.
Replaced by clarity.
So this is your answer.
---
Stella placed her hand on the Awakening Pillar.
The reaction was immediate.
The stone erupted in blinding crimson light, so intense it forced students to shield their eyes.
The professor's voice trembled.
"S-RANK — COMBAT TYPE!"
The field exploded.
Gasps.
Shouts.
Shock.
"As expected!"
"Her father is S-Rank!"
"She was born for this!"
Students stared at her like believers witnessing divinity.
Stella withdrew her hand, pride shining clearly in her expression.
She returned to the crowd—but positioned herself far away from Jule.
No one dared approach her.
She stood alone.
Like a queen.
---
Jule observed quietly.
No anger.
No heartbreak.
Only confirmation.
I only stayed to see this, he thought calmly.
Now I'm certain.
She had never loved him.
Only the potential she imagined.
---
The ceremony continued.
Names were called.
Ranks were announced.
But Jule had already turned away.
Without attracting attention, he left the Awakening Grounds.
Strangely—
He felt light.
Free.
"If I'd stayed," he thought, "Tony would've humiliated me publicly."
He let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
"Power reveals truth faster than words."
---
He stopped in a quiet corridor and summoned the system again.
This time, he focused completely.
The blue screen expanded, sharp and clear.
> [ STATUS SCREEN ]
Name: Jule
Class: Unique Class (Combat-Type)
Authority: Locked
Compatibility: 100%
Hidden Trait Detected…
Initializing Parasite Core…
Jule's breath hitched.
Parasite…?
The screen flickered.
And a voice echoed deep inside his mind—ancient, calm, absolute.
> [ Welcome, Host ]
[ You are chosen ]
Jule closed his eyes.
A slow smile formed.
"Good," he whispered.
"Then let this world prepare itself."