Chapter 1: The Prologue of Fate

The void was silent, as if even the flow of time had come to a standstill.

A faint crack appeared noiselessly, with dim light seeping through, rippling into the endless darkness. Although weak, the light carried an undeniable power, quietly stirring the tranquility of the abyss.

Deep within the crack, light and shadow intertwined, projecting fragments of different worlds.

In a scorching desert, a colossal statue crumbled into ruins, its broken visage buried in sand, with hollow eyes staring blankly at the sky;

In the icy depths of the ocean, a floating city was swallowed by the tides, shattered structures faintly glowing in the gloom;

Amidst a battlefield in the mountains, tattered banners fluttered, bloodstains everywhere, flames illuminating the sky. The cold wind carried ashes into the boundless heavens.

These scenes flickered in and out, appearing and vanishing, as if their existence was no more than fleeting projections, destined to be forgotten.

A deep, detached voice suddenly broke the silence, tinged with amusement and endless indifference:

"Let me see... this time..."

A pale hand slowly emerged from the crack, elegant yet merciless. With a flick of its slender fingers, it plucked an invisible string. Ripples spread outward, penetrating the images and shattering every world into fragments.

The light and shadow splintered like a shattered mirror, disintegrating into countless specks of light, which then retreated into the depths of the crack. The glow of the crack dimmed, and the pale hand withdrew, leaving the void once again in utter stillness.

----------------------------------------

Xiyao Nation, Yaoxing City, Guanqing District

Inside a luxurious high-rise apartment, the decor exuded opulence. The spacious living room was covered in a rare beast-hide rug, and masterpieces by international artists adorned the walls, showcasing the extraordinary wealth and taste of the owner.

Outside, the city basked in the serene beauty of dawn.

"Ring... Ring... Ring..."

Breaking the morning tranquility, a piercing phone alarm echoed through the room. Gu Yuan turned over in his bed, reaching out lazily to fumble for the phone.

"Hello... Who is it?" he asked groggily, clearly not fully awake.

"Gu Yuan! Where are you?! Today is the Awakening Day!" A panicked voice shouted from the other end.

"Awakening Day? Crap! I overslept! I'll be right there!" Gu Yuan jolted upright, the drowsiness wiped clean from his face.

"Hurry up! If you miss today, you'll have to wait another year!" The voice continued urging.

Gu Yuan hung up hastily, shot out of bed like an arrow, quickly washed up and dressed, and rushed out the door with his shoelaces untied.

----------------------------------------

This was a world plagued by mutant beasts. Thousands of years ago, these creatures invaded from unknown dimensions, their overwhelming strength and ferocity driving humanity to the brink of extinction. Cities were devastated, lands were left barren, and humanity's living space was drastically diminished.

Even with advanced technology, humanity struggled to fight back.

Until one day, a portion of humanity awakened supernatural abilities. These individuals displayed extraordinary powers: some could manipulate natural elements, others could heal injuries, enhance their physical bodies, or even control minds.

With the help of these "Awakened," humanity reorganized its defenses and fought back, creating a fragile balance with the beasts. However, this balance was far from stable. The threat of invasion loomed constantly, and internal divisions among humans only added to the complexity.

Gu Yuan was born in such tumultuous times. An orphan, his parents were high-ranking Awakened who left behind considerable wealth. However, they perished heroically in a rare beast tide the day he was born.

Despite their sacrifice, they left Gu Yuan a hefty compensation and their amassed wealth, granting him a comfortable life.

But today marked a turning point in his destiny—Awakening Day.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Each year on Awakening Day, all 18-year-olds underwent a ceremony to awaken their abilities. Abilities were ranked from F to A, with higher ranks indicating greater power and potential, paving the way for a brighter future.

Those who failed to awaken or had low-ranking abilities could live on as ordinary people but would struggle to protect themselves in this perilous world.

Today’s awakening results would determine each person’s future—whether they would become an Awakened, embarking on a challenging journey, or continue living as ordinary humans, struggling to survive in a dangerous world.

----------------------------------------

Gu Yuan sprinted all the way to the school auditorium, panting heavily by the time he arrived. The Awakening Ceremony had already begun. The auditorium doors were shut, and voices of teachers and murmurs of the crowd could be heard inside.

He paused, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and carefully pushed open the side door. A beam of glaring light spilled through the crack.

Guanying High School was the most prestigious school in Yaoxing City, renowned for its top-tier faculty and advanced training facilities for the Awakened.

The auditorium was the heart of the campus, with a grand domed design. Its interior was softly lit and elegantly decorated, combining modernity with solemnity.

Each year, the Awakening Ceremony was held here, providing a dignified and sacred environment for students about to awaken.

Inside, the hall was packed. Students sat neatly in their designated seats, their eyes fixated on the Awakening Platform at the center of the stage.

The platform was a silver-white circular device, surrounded by intricate runes glowing faintly with energy. It was clearly a piece of sophisticated technology designed for awakening latent abilities.

Gu Yuan kept his head low and moved stealthily to avoid drawing attention. He quickly scanned the room and spotted a familiar chubby figure waving at him urgently. He hurried over.

"Thank goodness!" Gu Yuan sighed in relief, crouching and weaving through the rows to reach his class’s seating area. He slid into a seat next to the chubby figure.

"Thanks, fatty. I’ll treat you to a meal later," Gu Yuan said, catching his breath.

The boy, Huang Yunmu, was slightly overweight and had a perpetually friendly smile. Despite his casual attire, his branded watch and limited-edition sneakers hinted at his wealthy background.

Huang Yunmu’s father was a core member of the school’s board, giving him an air of confidence and privilege. More importantly, he had been Gu Yuan’s childhood friend, and their bond had always been strong.

"You finally made it! Half of our class has already gone up! If I hadn’t stalled for time, you’d have missed it for sure!" Huang Yunmu whispered urgently.

"Yeah, right. Don’t flatter yourself," said Lin Mowen, sitting on the other side. He passed Gu Yuan a bottle of water, his tone flat.

Lin Mowen was the opposite of Huang Yunmu. Tall and slender, he had a scholarly air accentuated by his black-framed glasses. Though his words often carried a sharp edge, he was dependable.

Gu Yuan accepted the water with a grin. "If it weren’t for Fatty’s call, I really would’ve missed it."

The trio kept their voices low as they chatted. Around them, the other students were focused on the ongoing ceremony. Gu Yuan took a deep breath, calming his nerves after the rush.

Just then, the teacher’s voice echoed through the hall: "Class 3-5, Zhou Peixue."

The crowd’s attention shifted to a young woman standing up from her seat. Zhou Peixue walked gracefully toward the stage, her tall figure and delicate features exuding an icy elegance that kept others at a distance.

Her movements were confident as she approached the Awakening Platform. The silver-white circular device began to hum softly, and a beam of white light enveloped her.

Runes glowed brighter, and the room grew colder. Gu Yuan looked down to find frost forming on his water bottle.

"Activate the barrier!" one of the Grand Scholars called out urgently.

Another swiftly operated the control panel, and a transparent barrier rose around the platform, isolating Zhou Peixue from the crowd.

The icy aura that had filled the room was contained within the barrier, and the temperature quickly returned to normal. Yet the students remained silent, the chilling sensation still lingering in their hearts.

Gu Yuan stared at the frozen water bottle in his hand, shaking it lightly. "Just the awakening can affect the surroundings this much... that’s at least a C-rank ability."

Lin Mowen glanced at the bottle, then lowered his head in thought before speaking gravely: "It’s probably more than that."

Gu Yuan frowned slightly, his gaze returning to Zhou Peixue on the stage. He knew the environmental reaction during an awakening was a key measure of an ability’s rank.

The higher the rank, the more significant the reaction. For an F-rank awakening, there was almost no noticeable phenomenon. An elemental fire awakener, for example, might only produce a tiny spark that quickly fizzled out, leaving no impact on the surroundings.

E-rank awakenings showed slight improvements, such as a small flame that lasted for a few seconds but was unstable, with minimal temperature changes in the vicinity.

D-rank awakenings started to exhibit tangible effects: the flame would grow larger, capable of igniting objects, and the surrounding air would become noticeably warmer, creating a faint heatwave.

C-rank awakenings represented a qualitative leap. The flames could cover several meters, radiating intense heat waves and generating a palpable sense of pressure on nearby observers.

B-rank awakenings were even more astonishing. Flames would surge skyward, temperatures would spike dramatically, and the ground might bear scorch marks. Such awakenings could leave an entire auditorium in awe.

As for the rare A-rank and the exceedingly rare S-rank awakenings, the scale of their environmental impact could only be described as catastrophic. A-rank awakenings might ignite vast areas instantaneously, while S-rank awakenings could unleash phenomena akin to natural disasters, shaking the entire awakening site.

Reflecting on this, Gu Yuan refocused on Zhou Peixue. The chilling aura earlier wasn’t something that could be explained by a mere C-rank awakening.

In that instant, her surroundings had undergone a dramatic transformation, requiring a Grand Scholar to activate the barrier for containment. Such a phenomenon was already approaching or surpassing the standards of a B-rank awakening.

Lin Mowen murmured, "The awakening’s reaction doesn’t just indicate strength; it’s also a sign of future potential. Her ability is undoubtedly extraordinary."

Gu Yuan nodded, yet an inexplicable mix of emotions welled up within him. The unknowns of awakening not only sparked anticipation but also stirred an undercurrent of unease.