"Unfortunately, your life force wasn't enough to activate the Soul Sphere and trigger an awakening. I never imagined that anyone would ever achieve the minus possibility."
"No..." Rentaro slumped to his knees with wavering eyes. He watched the events of his previous life replay over and over again.
"Return to your seat Mizuno." Alister said with a harsh tone and a cold glare.
Rentaro's eyes wavered uncontrollably, the look in Alister's eyes said it all. It was either he leave on his own, or Alister would remove him by force if necessary.
Rentaro sniffled, then immediately regained his composure.
"Yo... He actually got it." A whisper flew.
"That's impossible... The minor possibility is a possibility that has been determined completely rare and unlikely to get!"
The minor possibility (-F) was a myth created throughout the ages as some of lie to encourage the young ones to train hard and develop a body that can accommodate a decent grade.
It theoretically did not exist, yet somehow, Rentaro managed to get it.
"The minor possibility is equivalent to a failed awakening... Are you saying his life force is so pathetic that he couldn't so much as awaken even an F-tier talent!"
"Man... The minor possibility is as good as death."
The boy who awakened the F-tier talent brightened up a bit, although his chances of survival were slim, it was nowhere compared to the fate that awaited Rentaro.
"If that guy knows what's good for him, he should his life now. No one that useless can survive the sanctuary."
Rentaro heard each word, every statement that came out of their mouths, but it didn't affect him as much as it should.
All his life he had gotten the same treatment over and over again, so this was the least of his worries.
He stood up from the ground with an expressionless face, he wasn't going to give these people the pleasure of watching him loathe in his own failure, he refused to.
He returned to his seat besides Eliza and forced a smile, trying to pretend like everything was alright when clearly it was not.
But what he got in return made his bone shiver.
Eliza forced a smile as well, but her eyes became cold and detached, her disappointment wasn't something she could easily mask given the results of his awakening.
"I'm sorry Eliza..." He rubbed his elbows nervously as he sat.
"Yeah... I'm sorry."
Around them, more awakenings continued. Most were successful with the range of C-B-tier, and most were almost complete failures that ranged from F-E, but they still held more importance and value than Rentaro.
The chattering voices around Rentaro and Eliza grew distant, that was until one voice cut through the silence that hung between both of them.
"Eliza Morgan... Your awakening is as beautiful as it's owner."
Ethan Kaiser stood in front of them with one hand politely extended.
He carried himself with confidence that was fitting his achievements, and for a good reason to. He was one of the top awakeners of today's ceremony that drew the loudest reactions, awakening the A-tier talent — The Warrior's Will.
A spirit will known for its potency and raw offensive power.
"Your support will is the last and perfect addition to our party, why don't you join us?"
Immediately after their awakenings, forming a party was a crucial necessity, and also one of the most challenging parts of the Talent Awakening Ceremony.
An assimilator's fate was decided from this very moment, it was common knowledge that it's impossible to survive on your own in the Sanctuaries.
The Sanctuaries were divided into 50 levels, with each harboring their own several threats and dangers, and of course, was more dangerous than the last.
To curb this danger while moving up, assimilators usually group themselves into parties with each member possessing a unique ability that contributes to the success of their team.
Eliza took his hand without hesitation, and a smile stretched across his face. "Your addition will be of a great benefit to our party. Chrome and Lillian have already made the decision to join us. Together, we can clear the Sanctuaries and ensure humanity's survival."
Ethan was very picky about the kind of assimilators that would join him, and their abilities weren't a joke either.
Lillian awakened the talent of the Beast Will, a talent that heightened her senses to unimaginable levels. Her physical strength didn't just increase, it was magnified. No object or person could escape her enhanced sights, not even in pitch darkness. And no sound escaped her ears.
Then there was no Chrome, the shield of their team. The Guardians Will sharpened not just his resolve, but also his defenses. He was literally the ultimate shield that nothing could penetrate.
"That's awesome. Thanks for having me!" Eliza screamed with excitement, in a sense, it was literally the ultimate team if her support class was put into the equation.
"Congrats Eliza, you found a team that will keep you safe in the sanctuary, at least I won't have to be worried about you." Amidst her excitement, Eliza completely forgot that Rentaro was literally right next to her.
All heads turned to look at him, but none of their expressions were welcoming.
"Hm?" Ethan leaned in and it took a closer look, then he burst into a sudden laughter. "Wait, you're that kid who couldn't awaken even an F-tier Spirit Will. Man, failed awakenings were considered F-tier, but to think you managed to awaken something that redefines failure."
"Hey Eliza, you two seem pretty close." Lillian spoke up. "You know him?"
"No, I've never seen him before." She replied coldy, and all of a sudden, Eliza sounded like a completely different person from the Eliza he knew.
"W—What?" Rentaro's jaws dropped. He couldn't believe his ears. "What are you saying Eliza?"
"Hey failure." Ethan leaned in closer. "I'm being as generous as I can, so if I were you, I'd end it all between now and midnight."
Ethan's body trembled from his words. He was basically suggesting that he committed suicide.
"Let's go Eliza, we have to be together by the time the countdown begins. There's nothing more left for us here." Together, the newly formed party turned around to leave.
"Wait!" Rentaro shouted at the top of his voice, before he refused to give anyone the pleasure of seeing him cry and fear for his survival. But this?
"You can't just leave me Eliza!" Everyone spent their years training hard and honing their bodies in preparation for this day, but Rentaro? He spent his years caring and providing for the girl he fell in love with.
But now?
"After everything we've been through, all I've done to take care of you, you can't just leave me... I'll die." He said, squeezing his fists tightly.
"I don't think you understand Rentaro... The moment you failed at awakening, you were already dead."
Rentaro's eyes shot open in disbelief, her words cut through his heart like butter, easily and swiftly. In a thousand years, he'd never believe this would ever happen.
They all turned around left Rentaro on his knees, all hope, all aspirations he ever had. Eliza took it all away from him with a single statement.
..
Rentaro returned to his small house he managed to acquire by years of effort and hard work, it was evident, Eliza wasn't coming back anytime soon.
His dreams of becoming an awakener, the future he imagined and dreamt of with Eliza, they were all poured down the drain, washed out as bad blood and dirt.
And honestly? While that bothered him, it was the least of his worries.
To say he wasn't suffering from the results of everything would be a blatant lie. The mockeries and suicidal advice was eminent, but what he never expected was Eliza's betrayal.
But that wasn't on his mind right now, all that remained in his mind was the sanctuary and his death.
He wasn't backed by any party, as a matter of fact, those assimilators who awakened an F-tier talent and E-tier talent did the unthinkable.
In the history of mankind, this was the worst case of suicides recorded.
The total of Awakeners in the gymnasium exceeded 250, and a total of 50 awakeners had committed suicide. These suicides were part of the factors that dwindled the population of humanity. Was it advisable? Hell no.
But could you blame them?
Suicide was a far better option than facing whether it was that awaited them in the Sanctuaries.
And honestly, it was an option Rentaro actually considered, but he wasn't going to die twice.
He stood up quietly and stared out the window at the brilliant moonlight that shone down at the earth, he didn't even realize how quickly time had passed, and before he even knew it, five minutes was all that was left till midnight.
At midnight, everyone who went through the talent awakening ceremony, successful or not, will be transported into the Sanctuaries.
The Sanctuaries was in no way an ordinary place, what made it even scarier was, even awakeners were terrified of the dangers that lurks within it. And for someone like Rentaro who was unable to awaken? The dangers transcended to a level he couldn't comprehend.
The Sanctuaries were divided into 50 levels (as stated earlier), and each level contained beasts that were even more dangerous than the rest. These beasts hailed from different races, differed in ranks, and were also separated by power levels.
To progress to the next level, you had to obtain the Soul Stone that held the power to access the other levels. This Soul Stone resided in the heart of the each sanctuaries, protected by forces that transcended their humanity.
Only by completely clearing all levels could a race access the rare overwhelm mystical powers of the Sanctuaries and convert it to a gateway.
In the history of the human race, even the strongest of all awakeners only managed to clear just thirteen levels.
"Eliza." He couldn't get her out of his thoughts. She was out there, probably enjoying herself as much as she calm. In all honesty, her team was considered a bit too powerful, with the least rank being the B-tier Talent of Eliza.
[Warning.]
Suddenly, a blue holographic interface flared to life in Rentaro's sights.
[You will be transported into the first sanctuary in five minutes. It is advisable to prepare immediately.]
Rentaro nearly broke down as a cold mechanical chime entered his ears. It was probably the same voice that everyone in the gymnasium should be hearing now.
It advised preparation, but what could he do?
Even if he equipped the strongest armor, an impenetrable shield, and the sharpest blade. In his hands, those weapons became items, just a silly obstacle that slightly delayed the inevitable.
A small tear escaped his eyes as he thought about what kind of beasts rested in that hell. He couldn't even imagine it.
[10...9...8...]
As the timer counted down, those imaginations became more terrifying, and his heart skipped a few beats.
"Please..." He prayed to whatever voice that was interested to hear his pleas. "Save me... Please."
[You are being transported into the first sanctuary.]