There were a total of five academies in the Great Phoenix kingdom, and yes, many countries banded together to create several kingdoms, dynasties and empires, it all happened after humans started awakening abilities.
With the joining of different countries, it was apparent that there would still be some form of selectivity between the people.
The Great Phoenix Kingdom too was a union between five countries, so they also had five academies, one in each respective province which used to be individual countries.
Because of this, the journey to the academy was something of an interstate travel and not just a journey from one town to another.
Since Ren took a nap for the most part, he would just open his eyes occasionally to catch a glimpse of where they were at the moment, not that he knew the places or anything.
When he finally woke up, it was because someone had woken him up. Unsurprisingly, the girl sitting beside him didn't bother to wake him up once they arrived, it was the buy sitting behind his seat who did. 'Well, that's not good comradery…'
Once they came down from the bus, they weren't even allowed to take their luggage.
"Before you are let into the school proper, you have to undergo a compulsory evaluation that will determine your future in the academy."
'Ah yes, there was this,' Ren seemed to recall this part.
The evaluation was to give the academy the rough estimate of the student's abilities. There was nothing like those who performed excellently would get sent to a different class, no, the only thing that would happen is the students with excellent evaluations would be provided with better means to grow even stronger an improve on their strength. It was a world where the strong got recognised and the rest were left to try their best with just sufficient help or nothing at all. Anyone who hated the system could just work hard and they too would enjoy the privileges. The way it was, there was no need to waste limited resources on those who have an obscure future.
From there, the students were all taken to run the evaluation.
'This is also where our future will be decided, and our connection with the Akashic Records will be established,' Ren thought in his mind. He was focused during this part, since he would be able to identify some of the characters from the original story this way. He still wasn't sure if he was in the same year as the main character.
With establishment of the connection with the Akashic Records, people are able to awaken a class and get an ability that would ultimately determine their future.
For example, one person might awaken the class of a magician and get a fire related ability (skill), this means they ultimately will become a fire mage in future, while someone who gets a water ability (skill) will become a water mage in future. They can choose to develop further in their field or branch out, that is ultimately their choice, but what they are innately attuned with is the element they initially awaken. Also, there was also the fact that the degree to which they were attuned with the elements differ from person to person.
Since they were the last set to arrive, the evaluation began immediately starting from the first set to arrive.
"Alright! We'll begin the evaluation now!" Someone standing on the raised platform said in a loud enough voice.
More than a thousand students were present, it was sure to take some time before it was the turn of the last set to arrive.
'That's one long line that cannot be cut.'
"No. 1, Fay Kingsley, step forward." The sergeant handling the names called out before a young boy around the age of sixteen climbed the platform and walked to the middle where a huge purple prism was located. He was asked to place his hand on the ball which he did, then moments later, light was released from the prism, and another moment later, several whisps of flames spun around him faintly before quickly dying out.
'Well, guess that one awakened a weak ability and has poor talent, with that fire's strength,' Ren thought to himself. He already knew how these things were supposed to after all. The stronger the affinity and talent of the person, the grander the phenomenon. In this Fay's case, just some whisps of fire appeared, that had to be amongst the worst.
'In the novel, the main character and some side characters all had grand phenomena occur during their evaluation. For the main character, the clouds blackened a heavy rain began to fall… heh, I wonder what mine would be…' Since his character was never really discussed except for the fact that he a depressed loser, Ren had no idea what his class and ability would be.
Time passed quickly, there were some people who caused quite the phenomena, but nothing major or big, but that was when Ren heard a familiar name.
"No. 703, Linda Storm…"
'Linda Storm? Of course, this is the sort of name a major character will have, I mean, who bears storm as a last name?' Ren pushed his way forward until he was at the second line from the front.
Linda was a very beautiful girl, and she definitely had many boys blowing smoke out their ears for her already, but she was also one of the girls in the main character's harem… heh, a harem, imagine. Anyway, she was one of the girls who showed interest in Ray Stone because of his charismatic personality, his strength, and the fact that he was selfless and saved her life many times… the normal main character stuff.
'If she's here, that means Ray is also here.'
Ren already knew what her powers were and what phenomena she would invoke, so nothing caught him off guard.
Once she placed her hand on the glass prism, a light flashed, then just a few moments later, the clouds covered everywhere and snow began to fall seriously, it lasted for an entire minute, which was the standard for powerful phenomena, they it all went away.
Everyone was stunned, because she was the first person to have such a phenomenon. They all looked at her with gazes filled with amazement and admiration. Suddenly, the boys who looked like they would jump in front of her to make some conversation retreated, they had seen just how out of their league she was.
'If we are following the original story, then the next should be…'
"Next. No. 704, Ashley Woodwind."
'Yup, the unnecessarily overpowered healer with juggernauts for boobs who will follow the MC on whatever path he chooses…' Ren didn't even know he was gritting his teeth when this thought crossed his mind. Honestly, if she just wasn't there, he would have died many times over, but it was either her saying him, or plot armour holding Ray, the MC tight.
Here phenomenon was special. An angel descended, an angel with equally juggernaut tits… well, it descended upon her while a bright light shone from the sky. It was interesting to see that the same sky that was covered with clouds just now was so clear with the sun shining ever so brilliantly.
Anyway, since these all went just as in the original story, 'it means Ray was in the bus I took.'
Very soon, it was the destined time.
"No. 920, Ray Stone."
'The Main character.'
Just like in the novel, there was the same phenomena with rain showers that covered the entire academy, just like the others so far.
After Ray had wet everybody just after some guy dried the air with a strong fire phenomenon, there didn't seem to be any more surprises to be had;
"The last person, No. 1001, Ren Ashburn, come forward. Finally, I can rest." The sergeant said the last part under his breath. He felt over shadowed, even he didn't have such a powerful phenomenon during hiss evaluation, yet here were five youngsters causing phenomena like it was nothing… life.
Ren walked forward with a neutral expression on his face, he had really high hopes for himself. In this world, if you were weak, that was the beginning of your downfall. The original Ren in the novel had a strong ability, but he didn't know what it was, so he was eager to find out. Even then, he couldn't behave like these youngsters and act all shaky and all, no, he had to keep his composure.
"Place your hand on the magical Prism," he was instructed.
A moment after Ren placed his hand on the prism, a very brilliant light flashed, this alone was a phenomenon on his own, since this was the first time it was happening, ever.
"Why was the light so bright?"
"Did you see that? What's happening?"
"Damn, almost got blinded by the unexpected flash."
The students were all talking amongst themselves.
While they were still on the matter, "HEY! LOOK AT THE SKY!" A student shouted, causing everyone's attention to be drawn to the sky.
Unlike the others whose phenomena covered the entire school, the one they were witnessing now looked like it covered the entire sky.
"Hey, I am dreaming, right? Pinch my cheek for me."
"What is happening?"
"Is this an invasion from the army of Dhairgi Advanced Force?"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, NOT ON THE DAY I START MY LIFE PROPER."
The entire sky went pitch black, and darkness fell upon the entire land and sky. Violent clashes of thunder and lightning could be heard as huge lightning bolts fell from the sky in different places continuously. Like that, a huge bolt of lightning fell directly on Ren and his body was lifted up, as if that wasn't enough, the sky split open right above where the evaluation was being held and a giant sword came falling down. The sword itself was at least half the size of the entire academy and it looked like it would crush everything. Everybody was scared and on their knees, some crying, some pissed their pants already, while others just put their heads down. Many officials had even rushed out to understand what was going on.
At that moment, SIX bolts of lightning struck Ren and simultaneously, the sword pierced his body and disappeared, and then the clouds that had gathered slowly began to clear.
[Registered]
[Awakening System…]