The newbies all line up while Haruki and his team were in the back of the pack. "Damn! I'm getting excited!" Jacob said, his eyes glimmering in excitement. Trish put her hand on her hips as she stared at the long line. "This is gonna take a while." Marco equally excited as Jacob was smiling wryly. "I wonder what kind of power we will awaken?" Haruki on the other hand narrowed his eyes as he stared at the front.
Bellona then snapped her fingers as a golden apple appeared in her hand. Minerva took this chance to explain. A large progection appeared in the sky showcasing the golden apple in its full glory.
"What do you think that is Magus?" Haruki asked Magus telepathically.
Minerva coughed once and held the golden apple in her hands. "This is the Golden Apple, a magic item procured by the Lucius Theocracy to help those who have been displaced by the Nexus Singularity to survive. It has existed for thousands of years, it has been tradition to give to budding adventurers like you all. This is not just a magic apple though, It's filled with complex circuits and magic formula that could even make a court mage like me a run for her money. Many have tried to emulate this and failed. Their greed has led them to create faux apples to awaken more than once leading to their deaths. So if you ever find someone selling you another apple outside these walls, those are absolutely fake. They can only be consumed once. if you ever find yourselves with another legitimate apple in your hands..." She paused as she narrowed her eyes and looked at them one by one.
"You will die. The power contained within a single apple is enough for a single soul. More than than your soul will burn and erase you from existence completely." She said watching the expressions of people around her. She could even hear audible gulps as they stared at the apple nervously.
"But if you don't break the rules, you'd be fine." She said as she chuckled at their expressions.
Haruki rubbed his chin as he stared at the projection. "Not a bad bet. I'll have to see for myself then." He said as he stared at the first person to eat the apple with gusto. He suddenly erupted in flames while screaming.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!! Somebody help!!!!"
Minerva held her face as she sighed, "Calm down, would you?" She snapped her fingers and a blue magic circle appeared in her hand as a large ball of water shot forth towards the burning man. Bellona then smiled at the now calm man, "Congratulations! You've awakened Pyrokinesis!"
The man now calm casually lit his hands on fire. The flames danced and crawled all over his skin, not burning his clothes or skin. "Woah! This is awesome!" Minerva raised her brows towards her, "Go to the side and test your powers. Don't hold the line." She said as the man scratched his head and moved away towards the distance.
The four teammates looked at one another and cheered. "Woah! It's real!!!" Jacob said with complete jubilance. Marco nodded his head while Trish clutched her fists tightly. Haruki on the other hand mused to himself.
"Well whaddya know it works. Still though, there's something tugging at me towards it. A gut feeling that makes me want to consume it. Like that weapon rack."
Haruki on the other hand shook his head, "No, not like that. It's more of a desire. It tugs at my inhibitions and pulls me towards it. Magus, materialize a golden apple. A normal one with no gimmicks and hide it on my shadow."
Time passed and soon enough it was his team's turn to consume their apples. Haruki then stared at Jacob and marco who were infront of him, too eager to consume the apple. "Please be an OP power! Please be an OP power! Please be an OP power!" Jacob chanted as he closed his eyes while holding the golden apple. "Calm down Jacob. The power you recieve is random and the most fitting one." Minerva said making Jacob gulp nervously.
He took a bite. Then another. Until he has finished consuming the entire apple. "Huh? I don't feel any different." He said as he stared at himself. "Try swinging your wooden sword." Minerva suggested. He nodded and picked up a wooden sword laying on the ground. As he swung his blade towards the training dummy along with the training dummy was shattered into pieces. The remains of the dummy flew across the arena and lodged itself into a wall. Embedded inside it creating a large crater.
He stared at his hands, "Awesome!" Minerva nodded her head, "A growth type huh. Not bad." Bellona then handed Marco another apple. "It's your turn mister." Marco nodded his head and devoured the apple with gusto.
As he finished he feel reinvigorated. He felt like his youth came back to him. He felt like he was ten years younger. His body was surrounded by wind. He grinned from ear to ear as he dashed towards the training dummy as he punched and kicked the dummy the wind following along with him. The training dummy was almost instantly torn to shreds after he was done. He wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled like a kid. "Nice!"
Trish then tugged at Haruki's sleeves, her eyes glimmering. "Kaz, Can I go first?" Haruki smiled at her as he rubbed her head, "No worries kiddo. Go ahead." She held her head and clicked her tongue, "Don't mess up my hair!" She ate the apple almost instantaneously.
As she finished eating. A burst of mana shot forth from within her body. She held her body as her former tranquil expression warped into anguish. Her hands erupted in purple flames as chains dropped down from them. She shouted as she slammed the chains covered in purple flames towards the ground. The ground shook and scorch marks of hellfire was left in the ground along with a large crater.
Minerva's eyes gleamed as she scrutinized Trish. "A potential mage has just been born." She grinned as she stared at the girl. Haruki rubbed his chin, "This girls not bad." Bellona then stared at Haruki and smiled, "It's your turn Kaz! Don't disappoint me now!" She said with a beautiful smile. He smiled perfunctorily, making minerva sigh as she stare at Haruki.
"Alright Kazama Haruki eat your apple." Haruki scrutinized the apple as he tilted it while staring at it. "EAT. IT." Minerva demanded. However Haruki tossed it on the air multiple times. Minerva popped a vein on her forehead, "Do you wan't me to revoke your status?" Haruki smiled at them. As he quietly and discreetly switched the apple with a fake one as he tossed it on the air. No mana fluctuations no nothing just a simple sleight of hand.
He then ate the apple and finished it in almost an instant. "There. Happy?" Minerva clicked her tongue as she glared at Haruki, "Feel anything different?" Haruki shrugged his shoulders and picked up his bow. He aimed towards a training dummy and coated the arrow with black mana and red lightning.
He let go of the arrow as it sped through the dummy with frightening speed instantly obliterating the dummy and piercing through it empedding itself on the wall. Then it exploded sending debris everywhere. Minerva fixed her glasses, "An enhancement type? Not bad... For a man like you." She said as she sighed.
"Allright you maggots! This is no time to relax! Now that you've all gotten your powers... I will now present to you a choice! Walk away now or proceed towards the Rank Assessment Exam!" She said as she crossed her arms. "You all now have sufficient ways to protect yourselves from danger. The choice is up to you. Spend your days in peace or become an adventurer as you venture forth as unveil the mysteries of this world!" Everyone stared at one another, yet not a single soul stepped away.
Minerva smiled, "Very well, Don't regret it."