The large hall fell into silence as the white-robed priests stepped forward, their movements synchronized and measured.
Each of them carried a small, glowing crystal in their hands, their faint light casting eerie reflections across the walls.
These were not ordinary stones. These were Magic Crystals, valuable energy sources used not just for awakening but also to boost superpowers.
They were rare and highly sought after, even used as currency for rare items and upgrades.
As for why they were bringing these crystals out? This is the awakening crystal that is being used is brand new, replacing the last one that had been completely drained.
Yesterday, a new awakner who had awakened his superpower drained the crystal of its power, leaving it completely empty and full of cracks, which meant it had to be replaced.
And because these are new crystals, they need to be infused with the magic crystals before they can be used, which is why the white-robed priests were doing just that.
Each crystal was carefully placed into a hollow in the massive awakening crystal, and as they did, the light within began to shift, cycling through the spectrum from white to red.
It was a breathtaking sight, and the awakeners were transfixed. As the process continued, the crystal's aura grew more intense until, finally, it was ready.
A loud humming sound filled the air, the crystal's glow reaching a fever pitch.
Meanwhile, Ethan, who was watching all of this, suddenly remembered something as he asked the system in his mind.
'Hey, System, didn't I have a task about controlling my charm aura? Shouldn't I have gotten a reward for that?'
The system hesitated for a moment before a soft giggle echoed in his mind. [Oh... yeah, about that. You actually completed it a while ago, but I, uh... got distracted and forgot to tell you. My bad~.]
Ethan sighed. "Seriously? What if I never asked? Would I have just missed out on the reward?"
[Of course not! I would've told you... eventually.]
A soft chime rang in his mind as the notification finally updated.
[Spontaneous Task Completed!]
Spontaneous Reaction – Your charm aura is always active. Observe how people react to you and attempt to suppress or control it. (1/1)
[Reward: 10 Incubus Points and 5 Incubus Coins.]
Ethan shook his head. "Unbelievable. Guess I'll have to keep track of these things myself."
[I prefer 'charmingly distracted,' but this would not happen often unless I am once again distracted with something more exciting~]
'Huh, what does that mean??' Ethan asked in his mind but got no response.
However, his attention was drawn back to the awakening process.
One of the priests stepped forward, addressing the candidates. "You will be called one by one. Step forward, place your palm on the Awakening Crystal, and allow the energy to flow into you. Do not resist it. Simply relax and let it do its work."
As he spoke, the first candidate was ushered into the circle, the bright light of the crystal washing over him.
"Please begin," the priest said, his tone calm and measured.
The candidate closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he placed his palm against the crystal. For a long moment, nothing happened.
A moment later, the crystal pulsed, sending out a faint glow around his hands. Tiny, glowing particles floated into the air, moving toward the examiner and the priests.
The examiner raised his hand, capturing the particles in a controlled wave of energy. His eyes flashed for a moment as he processed the information. "D-Rank. Enhanced Speed."
A sigh of relief escaped the boy's lips. D-Rank was something that can let him live a comfortable life as long as he worked hard.
Not an outstanding ability, but not weak either. A priest handed him a small holographic card, his personal Awakening Record, which contained all his details.
Soon, one by one, the students stepped forward, each undergoing the same process. The Awakening Crystal released its energy, the particles were analyzed, and the rankings were declared.
Some received E-Rank or F-Rank, their faces filled with disappointment, while others received C-Rank or B-Rank, casing them to cheer as they celebrated.
Then, it was time for the Moonshade twins.
Evelyn stepped forward first, her platinum blonde hair flowing behind her as she confidently placed her hand on the crystal. Almost immediately, the crystal flared, a powerful surge of energy pulsing outward.
The glow was noticeably stronger than the previous awakenings, and a few murmurs rippled through the crowd.
The examiner caught the released energy particles, his expression unreadable as he processed the information. Then, with a nod, he announced, "S-Rank. Lunar Manipulation."
An audible gasp filled the air, and the room erupted in cheers.
It was the highest rank anyone had gotten so far.
Gasps echoed through the hall. A-Rank superpowers were rare, and Lunar Manipulation was an ability tied to celestial energy, granting incredible control over light and gravitational forces. This was an ability far beyond the ordinary.
Everly followed next. The moment her hand touched the crystal, the glow intensified once more, almost identical to her sister's. The examiner barely had to process the particles before he spoke again.
"S-Rank. Solar Manipulation."
The crowd cheered, the hall buzzing with excitement.
Not only had two S-Ranks been revealed, but their powers were also linked. Evelyn controlled the light of the moon, and Everly controlled the sun's rays. Together, their abilities could influence the very world around them.
Then, others were called who were all excited as they were hoping to continue the streak, but their hopes were dashed when they all received low-rank superpowers.
Finally, it was Lucas's turn. The boy stepped forward, a smug grin on his face as he placed his hand on the crystal. The glow was bright, but not as strong as the twins'.
The examiner analyzed the released particles, his expression shifting slightly. Then, after a moment, he declared, "A-Rank. Graviton Grip."
There were a few whispers and murmurs, but no one was particularly surprised. An A-Rank ability wasn't something to sneeze at.
But Lucas was not happy about this as he wanted to use his superpower to amaze the Moonshade twins so that they will leave Ethan and come to him instead.