Chapter 3: Supernatural Ability Awakening
"I'm late!!!"
With a steamed bun stuffed in his mouth, Su Ke sprinted toward the school at the fastest speed he had ever used in his life.
At this moment, he wished his family owned a car. It was not that they could not afford one, but rather that his school and his parents' workplaces were all close to home, so there had never been an urgent need.
Because it was not urgent, the matter had been delayed again and again.
After rushing all the way, Su Ke finally arrived at school just before 8 o'clock. He nearly choked on the bun—no, that was not quite right.
"Ha—hoo—ha—hoo… Oh my goodness… I finally made it…"
Using the last of his strength, Su Ke entered the classroom, sat down, and immediately collapsed onto his desk.
At this time, the homeroom teacher, Zhao Gang, was almost finished with his so-called "pre-battle mobilization."
Zhao Gang said unhappily, "How can you still be late on such an important day?"
Perhaps because today was special, he did not want to affect Su Ke's mindset, so his tone was relatively mild.
In truth, Zhao Gang was strict with Su Ke only because he was worried about him. Su Ke's academic performance was poor, and Zhao Gang genuinely feared that he would have no good path after graduation.
Although Su Ke had a good relationship with Wang Zhong and Lin Ning, they could not support him for a lifetime.
At any time, when a teacher scolds a student, it means they still care and still have hope for them. If a teacher ignores you entirely, it means you have already disappointed them beyond saving.
Su Ke took a moment to catch his breath. "Sorry, teacher. I was too excited last night and didn't sleep well."
Zhao Gang sighed. "Such a small matter can excite you like this. If you awaken a powerful Supernatural Ability in the future, you'll have to face demonic beasts."
"At that time, what matters most is a calm mindset, just like your teacher here, who can remain calm no matter what happens."
At that moment, a mouse suddenly scurried out of a hole in the wall and ran to Zhao Gang's feet.
Hearing a sharp squeak, Zhao Gang looked down.
"Ah!!! A mouse!!!"
Zhao Gang abruptly raised his foot and stomped down. This time, he even used his Supernatural Ability, shattering the entire podium.
The mouse was instantly flattened into a "mouse pancake."
Mouse: Inform the other house mice—no need to save dinner for me tonight.
Students: …What about staying calm?
Seeing the strange looks from the students below, Zhao Gang realized what had happened and coughed awkwardly twice.
"Ahem. In short, everyone relax during today's Supernatural Ability awakening. Whether you awaken a good ability or not, you can still contribute to society."
"Alright, stop staring. Line up immediately. Class monitor, organize the discipline."
"Yes, teacher."
Lin Ning stood up.
"Everyone, stand up and line up in the hallway."
After a series of orderly steps familiar to anyone who had attended school, the students finally arrived at the plaza.
A stage had been set up there, with a crystal ball placed at its center. Countless soldiers and police officers stood guard around it, ensuring that not even a fly could get close.
Presumably, the mouse earlier had been living here for quite some time.
A row of people sat on the elevated platform, clearly the school leaders and city officials.
At this moment, the principal stood at the podium with a microphone.
"Students…," he began.
A long speech followed.
"I would now like to introduce today's leaders, including Vice Mayor Ning Dinghai…"
More speeches followed.
"At this important moment, I would also like to say a few words…"
Those who understood, understood.
Everyone was nearly falling asleep while standing. Su Ke had not slept well to begin with, and now he was swaying, his eyelids barely staying open.
"Alright, that's all I have to say. Next, the Awakening Ceremony officially begins!"
As soon as those words fell, everyone instantly woke up.
Su Ke quickly took out a voice recorder and pressed the stop button.
'Great. I'll never suffer from insomnia again.'
Do not ask why Su Ke brought a voice recorder to school. Those who had experienced it would understand.
The awakening order was arranged by class.
Spirit Energy First High School had 10 classes in the second year, and Su Ke's class was Class 4.
Although there was no official ranking among the classes, everyone understood the reality.
Students with strong family backgrounds, solid connections, outstanding talent, or excellent academic performance usually gathered in the first 3 classes.
Although cultivation could only begin after awakening a Supernatural Ability, it was already possible to roughly judge one's talent beforehand.
Su Ke remembered a girl in Class 1 named Lan Bingxuan. She was the eldest daughter of the Lan Family, Yan City's top family.
Since the age of 10, her body temperature had been abnormally low, yet she was not sick and was instead extremely healthy. This was because her ice-element talent was exceptionally high, already showing signs in childhood.
After awakening, she would undoubtedly awaken an ice-element Supernatural Ability.
She was not the female lead. This book had no female lead.
Wang Zhong was similar. His strength was far greater than that of his peers, and his muscles were unusually well developed.
Someone like him would most likely awaken a strength-type Supernatural Ability.
The reason he was not in the first 3 classes was simple. First, he wanted to stay in the same class as familiar people.
Although he had relatives elsewhere, Su Ke was his only true friend outside of them.
Second, Zhao Gang was his uncle.
And since Wang Zhong was there, Lin Ning naturally followed.
Thus, the three of them became classmates.
They did not mind. After awakening, they would formally study Spirit Energy User knowledge in their third year, and classes would be reorganized based on talent and strength.
As the Awakening Ceremony officially began, everyone's hearts tightened.
The first to step forward was naturally Lan Bingxuan from Class 1, the acknowledged top student of the entire school and the campus belle.
She slowly walked to the crystal ball and placed her hand upon it.
The crystal ball erupted with dazzling blue-white light, and a chill spread outward.
The commander beside the crystal ball asked, "Can you describe your ability?"
This was done to protect the students' privacy. Generally, only the Supernatural Ability type, talent level, and category were announced.
As for detailed skills, they would be recorded in personal files.
Concealment was allowed, but those files would later be submitted to the education bureau system. Universities and official organizations would view them, and incomplete information would naturally lead to lower evaluations.
As for showing off later, that was beyond their concern.
Authenticity was not an issue. A mid-grade spirit tool, the Mirror of Truth, was present, and a newly awakened student could not deceive it.
"Yes."
Since abilities would be used in battle sooner or later, there was no point in hiding them now.
"Lan Bingxuan. Ice-element. Earth-rank Talent. Combat type."
The moment the announcement was made, shocked exclamations erupted below the stage.
"Oh my god! Earth-rank Talent, and combat type! I'm dying of envy!"
"Being envious is useless. She's the favored daughter of heaven and the future heir of Yan City's top family. It's only natural."
"I don't ask for much. As long as my talent reaches Excellent-grade, I'll be satisfied."
"Excellent-grade? You should know that in each awakening ceremony, Common-grade and Good-grade talents make up nearly 80%."
"Ordinary people like us should just pray for a Good-grade talent."
"Silence!!!"
The commander roared.
He did not use any spirit tools, yet his voice thundered across the entire plaza.
The overwhelming pressure instantly quieted everyone.
"Next!"