"Hey, she’s coming down. Why not just go ask her?" Huang Yunmu leaned lazily against the back of his chair, speaking in a tone dripping with indifference.
"That depends on whether she'd be willing," Lin Mowen replied, adjusting his glasses. His voice, as usual, was calm and detached.
Indeed, to protect the privacy and safety of ability users, especially rare ones at C-level and above, the authorities kept a tight lid on information about abilities. Detailed data about one’s abilities was rarely made public, and those who had awakened rarely shared details unless they trusted someone or had specific reasons to do so.
At this moment, Zhou Peixue had returned to her seat. The moment she sat down, her best friend Xu Suxue immediately leaned in with curiosity. Xu Suxue’s high ponytail gleamed like smooth silk under the light.
Although her facial features were not overly delicate, she exuded a refreshing and lively aura. Her slim waist and straight legs gave her a light, almost springy appearance, as if she could leap up at any moment.
"Peixue, Peixue, what’s your ability? It looked amazing! What does your ability mark look like? Let me see, let me see!" Xu Suxue asked eagerly like a child, while attempting to lift Zhou Peixue's sleeve.
"B+ Ice-type—‘Frostfall,’ here." Zhou Peixue replied helplessly, pointing to her thigh.
Following her motion, one could see a faint bluish circular magic-circle-like pattern glowing faintly through the denim of her jeans. In the center of the circle was an intricate snowflake symbol radiating a frosty sheen.
"Wow, that’s so cool!" Xu Suxue exclaimed with sparkling eyes, captivated by the snowflake emblem.
Though the surrounding students didn’t openly inquire, it was clear they were all secretly observing. A B+ ice-type ability was undeniably exceptional, and the intense resonance during Zhou Peixue’s awakening had made her the focus of everyone’s attention.
Her awakening had sparked numerous discussions, but the ceremony resumed quickly as the teacher called the next name, restoring a brief silence in the hall.
"Grade 12, Class 5—Huang Yunmu."
Huang Yunmu stood up from his seat, his expression a mix of complexity and forced composure. With a faint, uneasy smile, he walked toward the awakening platform. His steps seemed casual, but his clenched fists in his pockets betrayed his inner tension.
Once on the platform, he took a deep breath as white light engulfed him. The scanning beam slowly moved over him, accompanied by a low humming sound from the equipment.
Moments later, faint energy ripples appeared on his body, and his muscles slightly expanded, exuding a sense of strength. Looking down at his arms, he seemed to be feeling the surge of new power within him.
The scholar beside the device leaned in and softly announced the result: "D-level, enhancement-type—comprehensive muscle strength and endurance enhancement." The voice wasn’t loud, but students near the stage caught the result.
The audience reacted minimally. D-level enhancement abilities were neither rare nor particularly noteworthy.
As Huang Yunmu descended from the stage, his expression was a mix of disappointment and relief. He gently touched the ability mark on his shoulder—a pattern resembling muscle fibers, intricately designed and full of tension, radiating a bright yellow glow along its lines. It visually embodied the strength characteristic of enhancement types.
Returning to his seat, Huang Yunmu sighed and said to Gu Yuan and Lin Mowen, "Well, enhancement-type it is. At least it’s not a failed awakening."
Gu Yuan patted his shoulder, offering consolation, "D-level isn’t bad. At least it’ll be useful in dangerous situations."
Huang Yunmu shook his head, his gaze fixed on the awakening stage as he replied with a hint of dejection, "But I hoped for a B-level or at least a C-level ability... Something that would make my dad proud."
Lin Mowen adjusted his glasses and spoke calmly, "Awakening results aren’t everything. Improving an ability depends on effort afterward. Besides, D-level is decent."
"Alright, I get it," Huang Yunmu sighed, leaning back in his chair. His eyes lingered on the awakening stage, his fists clenching and unclenching as waves of frustration rolled through him.
He turned his head slightly, not wanting anyone to see his expression. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his emotions, but his gaze still betrayed his disappointment and helplessness.
As the awakening ceremony continued, it became clear that there were both winners and losers. Some students successfully awakened E-level or D-level abilities, which, while not particularly powerful, were enough to open up more opportunities for their future. Their faces were filled with joy as they eagerly showed their ability marks to others.
However, many left the stage with dejection. Those who awakened F-level abilities could only muster faint glimmers of light at their fingertips, unable to manifest any tangible power. Some even failed to form visible ability marks and were left to accept their fate. The murmurs of their peers ranged from comfort to ridicule, creating a complex atmosphere in the hall.
"Another F-level. Compared to that, I guess my D-level isn’t so bad," Huang Yunmu muttered, his brow furrowing as a conflicted look crossed his face. He leaned back in his chair with a faint hint of self-deprecating humor.
Indeed, according to statistics:
* 30% of people awaken F-level abilities and are deemed “failed awakeners.”
* 35% achieve E-level basic abilities.
* 20% gain practical D-level abilities.
* Only 10% awaken at C-level, making them rare.
* As for B-level and A-level, the probabilities shrink to just 4% and 0.9%, respectively, nearing mythical levels.
"Another F-level. With those odds, I guess D-level’s not so bad after all," Huang Yunmu repeated, with a faint smirk of self-consolation. Half-reclining in his seat, he observed the F-level awakeners leaving the stage, their downcast expressions revealing their despair.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"True enough," Lin Mowen remarked evenly, adjusting his glasses.
Huang Yunmu huffed softly, his gaze flitting to the B+ Zhou Peixue. With a tinge of envy, he remarked, "Looking at her, a B+ is definitely something to brag about. If it were me, I’d be showing off for sure."
The teacher’s voice interrupted, calling the next name, "Grade 12, Class 5—Lin Mowen."
Lin Mowen stood, calmly adjusting his glasses. His measured steps carried him to the awakening platform, drawing the attention of his peers with his composed demeanor.
"Still as cool-headed as ever," Gu Yuan noted with a mix of admiration and envy.
"Yeah, watching him, I feel even more nervous," Huang Yunmu muttered.
As Lin Mowen stepped onto the platform, the white light enveloped him. The scanning beam moved methodically, while the hall fell into a hushed anticipation. Suddenly, the glow from the device softened, and invisible ripples radiated outward from Lin Mowen. The scholar’s expression shifted, hinting at surprise.
"A mental-type ability?" murmured one scholar, their gaze betraying intrigue.
Slowly, a complex neural network pattern emerged on Lin Mowen’s forehead. The blue-violet light emitted a sense of depth unique to mental abilities, with tiny starlike dots flickering on the intricate mark.
"Pseudo B-level, mental-type ability—‘Web of Perception,’" the scholar announced.
Lin Mowen nodded slightly, his expression calm. As he descended the stage, murmurs of admiration and envy rippled through the hall.
Returning to his seat, Huang Yunmu couldn’t help but whisper, "Mowen, pseudo B-level? And a rare mental type at that. You’re the second strongest in our class after that B+!"
Lin Mowen glanced at him and replied evenly, "It’s just pseudo B-level. It’s still a ways from true B-level."
"Come on, don’t downplay it!" Huang Yunmu clicked his tongue.
"Don’t be modest," Gu Yuan interjected. "A rare mental ability already sets you apart. Pseudo B-level is impressive enough."
Lin Mowen glanced at Gu Yuan, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, but he remained silent.
Gu Yuan took a deep breath, adjusted his collar slightly, and rose from his seat. His steps were steady, his expression calm, as he made his way to the awakening platform. On the surface, he appeared composed, but inside, his emotions surged like a storm.
"Gu Yuan’s parents were so powerful. His awakening has to be remarkable, right?"
"Maybe it’ll be an A-level, or even higher!"
"Hmph, no matter how strong, it’s just luck. Nothing special," came a scornful murmur from the corner.
The whispers among the crowd grew louder as many pairs of eyes followed him intently. Since abilities often had a genetic component, and Gu Yuan’s late parents were exceptionally powerful ability users, he had naturally become the center of attention.
Gu Yuan ignored the murmurs, walking straight to the awakening platform and standing at its center.
White light immediately enveloped his body. The scanning beam moved slowly, and the machine emitted a deep, resonant hum, subtly different from the rhythm of previous awakenings.
Suddenly, faint energy waves radiated from Gu Yuan, rippling around him as if the air itself trembled.
"Spatial fluctuation?" a scholar muttered, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes as he quickly examined the data on his tablet.
As the device continued its process, Gu Yuan’s ability mark gradually surfaced. It was a complex and profound design, resembling layers of folded space, glowing faintly with a mysterious white light that seemed distant yet captivating.
The students below burst into an uproar.
"It’s spatial-type!"
"Oh my god, that’s such a rare ability!"
"As expected of Gu Yuan, truly amazing!"
Gu Yuan looked down at the mark forming on his wrist, feeling a power he had never experienced before coursing through him. His heart raced, and a trace of uncontainable excitement appeared on his face.
He had heard of the rarity and strength of spatial abilities. At this moment, he envisioned a future where his power and status would rival his parents’.
However, just as he was immersed in this excitement, an odd stillness overcame him. It felt as if time itself had stopped. The world fell silent, and everything seemed frozen in that instant.
Gu Yuan alone remained aware of the faintest changes: the flow of air, the rhythm of breaths, even the beating of hearts, all slowed to a near halt.
This sensation was both unfamiliar and fascinating but lasted only for a fleeting moment. When he regained focus, everything had returned to normal, and time resumed its course.
He furrowed his brows slightly, a hint of doubt arising in his mind. Yet he quickly set it aside and focused on the upcoming results.
While the students below excitedly whispered and some even began to cheer, the machine’s hum gradually diminished until it finally ceased.
One of the scholars glanced down at his tablet, his expression subtly shifting with a mix of complexity and regret. He raised his head, fixing his gaze on Gu Yuan as he announced, "F-level, spatial-type. Ability description: miniature storage space."
In that instant, Gu Yuan froze.
His mind buzzed, and the anticipation that had filled his heart was drowned by an overwhelming wave of disappointment.
Before Gu Yuan could react, the scholar interrupted, his voice calm yet tinged with resignation.
"Yes, the ability allows you to store small items, with a capacity roughly equivalent to an average backpack." His expression was indifferent, as if he had long grown accustomed to such results.
The hall fell into a brief silence before erupting into a louder commotion. Some students whispered sympathetically, while others laughed openly.
"Good thing I at least got E-level. That’s slightly better than F-level. It’s such a shame about Gu Yuan’s spatial ability," said a girl who had just awakened an E-level water-type power, shaking her head in relief.
Others weren’t so kind.
"F-level spatial-type? That’s basically a walking backpack," one student mocked.
"Seriously, I thought it would be some incredible ability, but it’s just a storage locker?"
"Is his ability name ‘Portable Little Backpack’?" another joked.
In the corner, an F-level awakener murmured softly, "Don’t take it too hard, Gu Yuan. F-level isn’t the worst. At least you have a spatial ability. Mine is completely useless." His tone was bitter but carried genuine empathy, as he clearly shared the same sense of helplessness.
Gu Yuan’s fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white. He had never expected to be classified as F-level, let alone with such an impractical ability.
The gap between his expectations and reality, coupled with the whispered comments, laughter, and attempts at comfort as he walked back to his seat, was suffocating.
As Gu Yuan sat down, Huang Yunmu immediately patted his shoulder and laughed, trying to console him. "Don’t feel down, Yuan. Even if we’re not top-tier ability users, we can still live a good life!"
Gu Yuan remained silent, lowering his head.
Lin Mowen approached as well, adjusting his glasses. His voice was calm but carried a hint of encouragement.
"Don’t overthink it. Spatial abilities are rare. Even as F-level, there’s potential for growth. The initial rating doesn’t define the value of an ability—future development is what matters."
He paused, then added, "And remember, there are cases where people trained an A-level ability to pseudo-S-level."
Huang Yunmu muttered under his breath, "F-level? Even with training, it’s just going to become pseudo-E-level, right?"
Lin Mowen shot him a glance, his expression exasperated.
Gu Yuan looked down at his hands, his emotions a turbulent mix of disappointment and anger. Despite his friends’ continued attempts to comfort him, their voices seemed distant and hollow. He couldn’t bring himself to process their words.
Closing his eyes, he recalled the momentary stillness he had experienced earlier—the strange sensation of frozen time. Perhaps this wasn’t the end, but the beginning of something new.
Even if his current ability seemed ordinary, even insignificant, he knew it was only temporary.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly raised his head. A flicker of determination lit his eyes.
"This isn’t the end," he murmured to himself, making a silent promise to forge his path forward.