I stepped out of the shimmering blue portal, my backpack sagging under the weight of [Core]s.
Before me was a dark isolated room with the only source of light being the Portal behind me.
I exited the room as I entered a vast ivory hall, where clusters of students—some who had died early within the Portal, others who had triumphed against dungeon BOSSES like I had—stood gathered, waiting for the final few to emerge.
They were my classmates.
As I moved forward, curious eyes flicked in my direction. But no one approached. By now, they all understood I wouldn't speak—not to them, not to anyone. It had been that way for months, ever since my mother passed.
Amid the scattered conversations, a girl in an elegant dress stood chatting idly with her friends.
Claire.
The moment she saw me, she hesitated…
I prayed inside my head that she wouldn't approach me!
I didn't want talk to her!
Claire finally sighed and walked toward me with face full of determination.
'Hmph!! I will definitely make him talk to me!' She thought to herself.
"Are you okay?"
She asked with genuine concern, but I remained silent.
She had been my girlfriend for as long as I could remember—until she suddenly wasn't. She had left me just before I lost my mother.
But what had truly shattered me was the fact that, while I had spent my days tending to my dying mother, she had been with my best friend, Rowan. That back stabbing bastard! I hoped for the goblins to defile him!
At the time, I hadn't had the energy or the time to confront them. Not until Claire herself had decided to "come clean" and end things on her terms.
Seeing that I still wouldn't respond, Claire's expression twisted with frustration.
"Are you seriously planning to just keep ignoring me forever? …We've known each other since we were kids, Lucian! Can't you stop being so petty for once and at least try to understand where I'm coming from?"
"I am sorry I hurt you. I am sorry I stole your best friend from you, I know you care about him more than me. But Rowan is going through hard time too, I can't help him. I don't know if you can, but at least be there for him!"
I saw tears in her eyes but they failed to stir my heart!
I knew I was being petty and even cruel. But why should I be the only one left to suffer?
She chose to cheat on me... and I chose to treat her like a stranger who never mattered.
After a few more harsh words and a sharp glare, Claire stormed back to her friends as she threw occasional, scathing glances my way—like some vengeful ghost unable to move on.
I mentally noted to observe Rowan from the distance and help the traitor if I could!
What can I say... I am both a saint and a simp!
With that, I turned and left the Ivory Hallway, making my way to the Academy entrance. The lobby buzzed with life—students and parents chatting excitedly, some celebrating victories while others consoled their crying children.
Crying like babies, I awakened a trashy F Rank class, do you see me crying?
I shifted my focus elsewhere.
I needed to sell the [Core]s in my backpack, but government regulations wouldn't allow it without an Awakener License.
So, I had to get that first.
Leaving the Academy grounds, I walked a few minutes through the bustling city streets until I stood before a towering skyscraper marked with a bold emblem—[AB].
The Ascension Bureau.
A single entity with branches spanning the world, responsible for managing Awakeners, regulating Portals, overseeing research, laws, policing, and virtually every supernatural affair. Their authority was absolute over anyone below an S-Rank.
Their direct superior being the High Council!
And this particular branch housed the equipment needed to measure my potential and grant me the license I required.
I stepped through the automated doors and into the lobby, where Awakeners moved in and out, most here to update their ranks. I walked to the reception desk. The woman behind the counter greeted me with a warm smile.
"I would like to apply for an Awakener License."
She nodded gently as she retrieved a form, and placed it on the counter. "Please fill this out and submit it to the examiner available in the Evaluation Wing—down the right corridor. He will explain the rest. Have a pleasant day, sir."
With that, she returned her attention to her invisible-screen computer, leaving me to glance over the application. Taking a pen from the desk, I moved to an empty seat nearby and skimmed the form.
It asked for details regarding my mental stability, my criminal record—if any—and, most annoyingly, an essay on my thoughts about Portals and Awakeners.
I scoffed. Why do I need to write an essay for something I already attend school for?
After a few minutes, I finished scrawling my responses and stood, heading toward the right corridor—marked with a large sign that read Evaluation Wing.
Inside, my gaze flicked across the spacious hall, taking in the various equipment: combat dummies to test one's strength, VR pods to test combat, massive screens displaying the current top-ranked Awakeners, and at the center of the room—an elevated glass pedestal holding a round transparent crystal. The device that would soon confirm what I already knew.
In the corner, a middle-aged man in a white lab coat sat hunched over his phone as he tapped away at whatever game had his attention.
Without even glancing up, the examiner extended a hand. "Application."
I approached and handed over the form with both hands.
He arched a brow, momentarily surprised, because polite youngsters were a rare breed these days.
My mother had drilled manners into me since childhood. I might have found her lessons old fashioned at the time, but out of respect for her, I had always followed them. Being polite had become a habit now… though it didn't stop me from cursing inwardly when necessary.
"Place your hand on the crystal and wait for it to flash. It reacts to your Class, not Mana... so don't embarrass yourself trying to force anything into it," the examiner 'instructed', gesturing toward the pedestal.
I took a steady breath and stepped forward. My heart was steady for some reason. I was not at all afraid....
The crystal would soon mark me as the lowest of the low—F-rank, the ultimate disappointment.
Yet, all I wanted was to get this over with.
Shaking off these distracting thoughts, I pressed my palm against the cool surface. For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then, the crystal pulsed faintly before emitting a dim blue glow that felt a bit hot.
I watched as a single letter materialized within the crystal's depths: [D].
Huh?
I was stunned.
The Crystal was a magical device extracted from the Evolution Portals themselves, and supposed to be an infallible tool for assessing Awakener potential. It was absolute, or so I thought.
But my Status Window had marked me as F+ Grade potential… whatever that plus meant.
Apparently, the Crystal disagreed.
"Wait here," the examiner didn't seem to think twice, already turning toward one of the side rooms with my application in hand.
Was it malfunctioning? Or was it simply unable to measure my potential?
I paced the hall, my mind racing, trying to make sense of what the Crystal meant.
Soon, I shrugged it off!
Twenty minutes later, the examiner returned, holding a small card between his fingers.
"Here. Don't lose it unless you're dying to pay a fine and waste both our time. The door's that way—show yourself out."
Having said that, he was already back to tapping his phone, done with me.
I have never seen a more enthusiastic government employee! I felt sorry for this guy's family, if he got one that was.
I shook my head and examined the card.
[Awakener]: Lucian Vale
[Rank]: F
[Potential]: D Grade
It looked like nothing more than a metallic credit card. Surprisingly hard to break even if I used my full strength.
The Awakener License was an indispensable tool for every registered Awakener, granting access to Portals, authorizing trade, and even linking to the banking system.
They hadn't even bothered testing my combat ability or strength.
Because every new Awakener, regardless of potential, started at F-Rank anyway.
Did this middle aged guy assume I just awakened, and decided not to waste time testing me?
But again, he was obligated to ask me that, not assume it. This was an unprofessional conduit.
I seriously condemned it with a loud voice that never escaped my mind!
With a shrug, I shoved the card into my pocket and exited the room.