Chapter Two
Mundane Verse — Earth, Western Faith Alliance
"Damn! This is so peak! Just six chapters in and I already feel like I'm about to explode into peakness!"
The voice was so coarse it sounded like boulders being ground together, echoing happily through a single-bedroom apartment. Arthur's obsession with the new novel, Prodigy's Ascension to OPness, had gone completely over the top.
"Hahaha, Ethan is so goddamn broken. With this, he's won first place in the entrance exam for the best academy in the world. I'm so envious — having girls so beautiful they could topple nations, all looking at him like he holds their hearts."
"Well, at least it's good that the top ten women aren't brain-dead." He paused. "Oh — I think I heard there's a game based on this novel. Let me check."
With that, he searched quickly on HeavenSearch. The moment he found it, he exclaimed, "How?! How is the second-place girl, Claire Silvermoon, this beautiful?! God, please send me there so I can enjoy my life surrounded by women."
He spoke solemnly to himself about how the world had never been fair.
Suddenly, the lights flickered twice in quick succession, and the world turned hazy.
His body then dropped to the floor as if a puppet with it's strings cut
This phenomenon happened four more times at different locations. Well — three times, technically, since the last person it happened to, got hit by Truck-kun in the African Faith Alliance, Mandom.
───
Sun City — Awakening Day
"Aeron! Wake up!"
A pillow slammed into Aeron's face.
"Five more minutes…"
Another pillow hit him.
"Your Awakening Ceremony is today!"
Aeron finally opened his eyes.
His neon-violet hair was an absolute mess, sticking out in every direction as he stared at Olivia.
"You're fifteen years old. How are you still this difficult to wake up?"
"It's a talent."
"You already tested your talent last year. Remember how that went?"
Aeron's expression twitched.
"Cruel."
Olivia grinned. "Get dressed."
Aeron dragged himself out of bed and glanced at the mirror.
For a moment, the joking expression disappeared.
One year ago, his Talent Testing had produced the lowest aptitude result ever recorded.
The whispers had started almost immediately.
People who used to approach him suddenly avoided him. Even those who had grown up alongside him began treating him differently.
And the girl who had once promised that she would marry him when they grew up had eventually broken that promise.
Aeron stared at his reflection for another second before forcing a smile.
"Whatever."
He wasn't going to let one result decide his entire life.
Downstairs, breakfast was waiting.
His mother was preparing the table while his father was already eating. Jasmine sat nearby, watching the doorway with an amused expression.
"You're late," Jasmine said.
"I was preparing myself mentally."
"You were sleeping."
"Exactly. Mental preparation."
His father laughed. "Your sister is learning disrespect from you."
Jasmine pointed at Aeron. "He deserves it."
Aeron pulled out a chair.
"Enough fighting. We have an important ceremony today."
Olivia raised an eyebrow. "You're the one who was almost late."
"Details."
The family laughed.
For a brief moment, Aeron forgot about his Talent Testing.
This was what mattered to him.
His family.
───
Sun City was packed with fifteen-year-olds heading toward the Association's Awakening Hall.
Aeron walked through the crowd with Olivia and his parents when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Aeron!"
He turned and immediately grinned.
"Jake!"
Jake Asamoah came rushing toward him, his usual energetic expression plastered across his face. His twin sister, Alyssa Asamoah, followed behind him at a much calmer pace.
Jake stopped in front of Aeron.
"You're actually here! I thought you'd oversleep and make us wait."
Aeron looked offended.
"I would never do something like that."
Olivia snorted.
Jake pointed at her. "See? Even your sister doesn't believe you."
Alyssa shook her head. "None of us do."
Aeron laughed.
The three had known each other since childhood. They had trained together, played together, gotten into trouble together, and spent countless afternoons arguing over things that none of them could remember anymore.
Today was simply another day they were facing together.
Jake cracked his knuckles.
"I wonder what I'll get."
"You're nervous," Alyssa said.
"I'm excited."
"Your hands are shaking."
"They're excited too."
Aeron laughed.
"Don't worry. Whatever you awaken, I'll still be stronger than you."
Jake stared at him.
"That's a bold statement from someone who got the lowest Talent Testing result in history."
Aeron put a hand over his chest.
"Why must you remind me of my darkest days?"
"Because it's funny."
Alyssa sighed.
"You two haven't changed at all."
Together, they entered the Awakening Hall.
───
The Awakening Hall was enormous.
Hundreds of fifteen-year-olds filled the chamber, accompanied by parents, relatives, and spectators. At the center stood a massive crystal surrounded by layers of intricate formations.
An examiner stepped onto the platform.
"Today, each of you will awaken your Affinity and Innate Gift. Pay close attention to what these two things mean."
The hall quieted.
"An Affinity is your natural compatibility with a particular power system, element, concept, or force. It does not automatically give you the ability to manipulate that thing."
Several students looked surprised.
"If you awaken a Fire Affinity, for example, you do not suddenly gain the ability to freely control fire. You must learn a fire technique. The same applies to Water, Lightning, Wind, Earth, Space, Gravity, and every other affinity."
He continued.
"Your affinity determines which techniques you are compatible with and capable of learning. The technique itself determines what you can actually do."
Aeron nodded.
That was exactly how the system worked.
The examiner raised his hand.
"Your Innate Gift is different. An Innate Gift is an ability you possess from birth, and it may manifest one or more Skills depending on its nature and grade."
A massive display appeared.
F → E → D → C → B → A → S → SS → SSS → SSS+
"Higher grades generally possess greater potential, but your final strength will also depend on cultivation, techniques, comprehension, experience, and how you develop your abilities."
The first student stepped forward.
The crystal activated.
Affinity: Earth
Innate Gift: Stone Skin
Grade: E
The boy's face immediately lit up.
A few people applauded.
The examiner nodded.
"Next."
A girl stepped forward.
Affinity: Wind
Innate Gift: Swift Step
Grade: C
Skill: Wind Step
The girl stared at the result in excitement.
"Wind Step!"
She quickly left the platform while her friends celebrated.
Another student stepped forward.
Affinity: Fire
Innate Gift: Flame Heart
Grade: B
The hall erupted in murmurs.
"A B-rank already!"
"That's pretty rare!"
The student walked away proudly.
More awakenings followed.
A boy awakened Metal Affinity and an E-rank Reinforced Body Gift.
A girl awakened Light Affinity and a D-rank Purification Gift.
Another student awakened Ice Affinity and a C-rank Cold Resistance Gift.
One student received Lightning Affinity but an F-rank Gift.
Another received Wood Affinity and a B-rank Vitality Enhancement Gift.
Some students received impressive results.
Others received ordinary ones.
A few received nothing particularly remarkable at all.
Yet every student left the platform carrying a different expression—excitement, disappointment, pride, confusion, or relief.
Jake watched the ceremony closely.
Then his name was called.
"Jake Asamoah."
Jake grinned.
"Finally."
Aeron slapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't embarrass yourself."
"Watch me."
Jake stepped onto the platform and placed his hand against the crystal.
The formations activated.
A sharp crackle echoed through the hall.
Affinity: Lightning
The crowd murmured.
Then another display appeared.
Innate Gift: Quick Study
Grade: C
Skills: Rapid Learning, Skill Retention
Jake's eyes widened.
"C-rank!"
He clenched his fist excitedly.
"I'll take it!"
Aeron laughed from the crowd.
"Not bad, Jake!"
Jake turned toward him.
"You saw that? I'm officially amazing now!"
"You're still you."
"That's the problem!"
A few people nearby laughed.
The examiner motioned for the next student.
"Alyssa Asamoah."
Alyssa walked onto the platform.
She placed her hand against the crystal.
A soft blue light spread across its surface.
Affinity: Water
Then another result appeared.
Innate Gift: Keen Perception
Grade: D
Skills: Enhanced Senses, Detail Recognition
Alyssa calmly read the result.
Jake immediately approached her.
"D-rank. That's good!"
Alyssa smiled.
"It is."
Jake looked toward Aeron.
"Your turn."
Aeron's smile faded slightly.
His name had finally been called.
"Aeron Solmyr."
The atmosphere changed.
Everyone knew about his Talent Testing.
The boy with the lowest aptitude ever recorded was finally going to awaken.
Aeron walked toward the crystal.
He placed his hand against it.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then—
BOOM!
The entire crystal trembled.
The formations around it flickered violently.
Three different lights appeared simultaneously.
Affinity: Space — Unclassified
Affinity: Gravity — Unclassified
Affinity: Void — Unclassified
The entire hall fell silent.
Three affinities.
And none of them could even be classified.
The examiner stared at the display.
Then the crystal produced another result.
Innate Gift: Singularity
The screen flickered.
The crystal attempted to determine its grade.
Nothing.
It tried again.
The formations began to strain.
Then, finally—
Gift Grade: F
Silence.
A few students stared in disbelief.
"F-rank?"
"Three unclassified affinities and an F-rank Gift?"
"That doesn't make sense."
The examiner frowned.
"No Skills manifested."
Aeron looked at the display.
Then at the examiner.
"So... apparently the crystal doesn't like me."
A few nervous laughs escaped from the crowd.
Jake immediately called out from the crowd.
"That's ridiculous! Three affinities can't be worthless!"
Aeron looked toward him and smiled.
"Relax, Jake. I'm still alive."
Alyssa watched him carefully.
"You don't have to pretend you're okay."
Aeron gave her a small smile.
"I know."
Deep inside, however, something about the result felt wrong.
The crystal had struggled to read his Gift.
It couldn't properly classify his affinities.
And yet it had somehow produced an F.
Aeron didn't know it yet, but Singularity was not truly an F-rank Gift.
It was simply something the crystal could not comprehend.
For now, however, all Aeron had was a meaningless letter on a screen.
F
───
Outside the hall, Aeron, Jake, and Alyssa walked through the crowded streets.
Then a familiar voice called his name.
"Aeron."
He turned.
The girl standing behind him was someone he had known for years.
Aurelia Voss
The same girl who had once promised they would marry when they grew up.
She looked nervous.
"I was wrong. I shouldn't have abandoned you after your Talent Testing. I was scared about what people would say, and I thought your talent meant you wouldn't have a future. But I was wrong. I still love you, Aeron."
Aeron stared at her for a long moment.
"I forgive you."
Her eyes brightened.
"But that doesn't mean I'll take you back."
Her expression froze.
"Forgiveness doesn't restore trust. You made your choice, and I accepted it. I'm not going to pretend nothing happened."
She lowered her head.
"I understand."
Aeron turned away.
Behind him, she clenched her fists.
I'll get you back, Aeron.
As he walked away with Jake and Alyssa, Jake glanced sideways at him.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
Alyssa looked at him carefully.
"You don't have to pretend with us."
Aeron smiled.
"I know."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out three pieces of chocolate.
Jake's eyes immediately lit up.
"You had chocolate this whole time?"
"Emergency supplies."
"You're carrying emergency chocolate?"
"Of course. What kind of emergency preparedness do you think I practice?"
Alyssa shook her head.
"You're hopeless."
"Yet somehow, you two still hang around me."
Jake grabbed his chocolate.
"Free food."
Aeron laughed.
Jake looked ahead.
"So, what now?"
Aeron glanced toward the distant city.
"I don't know."
He smiled.
"But we'll figure it out."
His Awakening hadn't gone the way he had imagined.
His Gift had been labeled F-rank.
No Skills had appeared.
His three affinities remained unclassified.
And the girl who had abandoned him had returned far too late.