Farhan realized it in the middle of combat.
Not during the kill.
Not during the allocation.
But in the *silence* between movements.
He wasn't using skills.
No techniques.
No named attacks.
No structured combat arts.
Everything he did—every dodge, strike, and kill—came purely from **attributes under absolute control**. Strength applied at the exact angle. Agility measured to the millisecond. Perception predicting intent before movement began.
That wasn't normal.
Not even for a Tier-2 awakener.
---
### **SYSTEM WINDOW**
> **Name:** Farhan
> **Tier:** 2 — Martial Apprentice
> **Talent:** ⚡ Lightning (Base Origin: F → Active State: Unclassified)
> **Stats:**
>
> * Strength: **42**
> * Agility: **50**
> * Endurance: **46**
> * Perception: **44**
> * Will: **48**
> **Power Points (PP):** **184**
> **Tier Progress:** + (2,500 PP required — Locked)
---
The goblin fell. Lightning faded.
Farhan didn't even breathe hard.
"That was clean," Daud said, staring. "Too clean."
Susant frowned. "You didn't cast anything. No skill chant. No activation."
Aditya nodded slowly. "You're fighting like someone who already finished learning—and chose not to use it."
Farhan said nothing.
But inside, the system responded.
---
### **SYSTEM INSIGHT**
> *Skill Framework detected.*
> *User currently compensating with raw attribute dominance.*
> *Recommendation: Structured skill acquisition will exponentially increase efficiency.*
So I *can* learn skills, Farhan thought.
He had simply never needed to.
Yet.
---
They regrouped outside the dungeon gate as evening settled. The city lights of Arkenfall flickered in the distance.
"That reminds me," Sajan said, breaking the silence. "We're applying to the **national universities** next season."
Susant grinned. "Top three only. Combat academies. If you get in there, your entire future changes."
"Minimum requirement?" Farhan asked.
"Tier 2," Daud answered. "Officially."
Farhan's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had already surpassed that—just not on paper.
"I'm applying too," a calm female voice said.
They turned.
She stood a few steps away, posture relaxed, presence sharp. Black hair tied back, eyes like honed steel.
"Zara," she said. "Lightning-blade specialist."
The system reacted instantly.
---
### **SYSTEM — TARGET SCAN**
> **Name:** Zara
> **Tier:** 2
> **Stats:**
>
> * Strength: **29**
> * Agility: **53**
> * Endurance: **32**
> * Perception: **47**
> * Will: **40**
> **Talent:** ⚔️ Lightning Edge (B-Rank Skill-Based)
> **Combat Profile:** Skill-oriented | High efficiency
Fast. Disciplined. Trained.
She studied Farhan openly. "You're Tier 2, but your movement density is wrong. Too heavy. Too refined."
Farhan met her gaze. "You notice well."
She smiled faintly. "Universities will notice more."
Then—
The air shifted.
Not pressure.
Not hostility.
Authority.
A man stood nearby without announcement. Plain clothes. Calm eyes. Presence so controlled it felt *absent*.
The system attempted to scan—
---
### **SYSTEM — TARGET SCAN**
> **ERROR**
> *Detection Authority Insufficient*
> *Partial information sealed*
> **Visible Data:**
>
> * **Affiliation:** Classified
> * **Threat Level:** ⚠️ Extreme
> * **Note:** Observation-Only Recommended
Farhan's spine tightened.
So this was the ceiling.
The man smiled slightly. "Relax. I'm not here to test you."
Zara straightened. "Instructor."
Instructor.
University-level.
Accomplice.
The man looked at Farhan. "Interesting foundation. Tier 2 body, Tier 3 output, Tier 4 compression."
Farhan said nothing.
"That kind of build either collapses," the instructor continued, "or becomes something… inconvenient."
Silence.
"If you're applying," the man added, "learn skills. Not to grow stronger—but to stop revealing how abnormal you are."
That was advice.
Farhan accepted it.
---
### **SYSTEM WINDOW (END OF CHAPTER)**
> **Tier:** 2 — Martial Apprentice
> **Stats:**
>
> * Strength: **43**
> * Agility: **51**
> * Endurance: **47**
> * Perception: **45**
> * Will: **49**
> **Power Points (PP):** **201**
> **Tier Progress:** + (2,500 PP required — Locked)
> **New State:** *Skill Learning Enabled (No skills acquired)*
---
Farhan looked toward the distant city—toward universities, instructors, and beings he could not yet measure.
Good.
A world that couldn't measure him was a world worth entering.
And this time, he wouldn't just survive it.
He would **learn how to dominate it properly**,