Typically, a single awakening of talent is the limit for most, with maybe one in a million having the chance for a second awakening! And any talent capable of a second awakening wouldn't be lower than B-tier.
The leap from F-tier to B-tier could totally flip Jessica's script!
More info floated before Mike's eyes, and he spaced out for a moment.
"Mike, Mike?" Cain waved his hand in front of Mike's face. "Dude, you're zoning out. What's on your mind?"
"I was just wondering what I'd do if I woke up with an SSS-tier talent."
"Get real!" Cain scoffed. "Mike, you're daydreaming."
The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and the chatter in the classroom began to die down.
Mike propped up a mirror with his palm, looking at his reflection.
If Jessica's F-tier talent could undergo a second awakening, what about his own SSS-tier talent? That was the big question on Mike's mind now.
The mirror displayed a note:
[Why are you staring at this handsome guy?]
[Alright, alright, SSS-tier talents can indeed undergo a second awakening.]
[To be precise, each SSS-tier talent can undergo up to nine awakenings!]
Nine awakenings?! Mike's breathing grew heavier. A second awakening was already one in a million, and he could awaken up to nine times?!
The [Eye of Truth] could reveal all kinds of information, which was indeed powerful. But for Mike, it still wasn't quite enough. It offered too little direct help in combat. If he could achieve a second awakening, the [Eye of Truth] would become much more useful.
With this new information, Mike felt a bit more at ease.
[One of the conditions for the second awakening: Reach level 300.]
Level 300?
For the current Mike, that still seemed a long way off.
"Mike," Cain muttered quietly from the side, "I swear you're getting more narcissistic by the day. Not sleeping in class is one thing, but grinning at yourself in the mirror? You're such a narcissist!"
...
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Mike stretched lazily and stood up, heading straight for Jessica. The other students stepped aside, clearing a path for him.
"All I did was put a small-time thug in the hospital, and these guys still remember it," Mike mumbled to himself, somewhat exasperated by his classmates' reactions.
When he had first arrived at this school, he had encountered a petty thief outside the campus. A conflict ensued, and Mike ended up sending the guy to the hospital, where he remained to this day.
The incident had spread like wildfire, and it wasn't surprising that his classmates were a bit scared of him. Mike had even earned the nickname "The Brute," though he didn't really care about these rumors; Cain was the one who kept him updated.
Approaching Jessica's desk, Mike stopped. She looked up just then, their eyes met, and she immediately lowered her gaze.
"Am I that scary?" Mike wondered aloud.
Due to her F-tier talent, Jessica was often left alone, as everyone was careful not to upset her during this sensitive time. Even attempts at comforting her were met with a polite nod and a smile.
This must be tough on her, Mike thought. He broke the silence, "What Class did you pick?"
Jessica, clearly not expecting "The Brute" to strike up a conversation, panicked a bit and blurted out, "I—I don't have any money..."
Mike was taken aback. "Do I look like a mugger? Even if I were after something, it wouldn't be your money!"
His comment turned Jessica's face even redder, her ears glowing hot. Mike decided not to tease her further and repeated his question, "Seriously though, what Class did you pick?"
Jessica timidly replied, "Mage."
For girls, mage and priest are definitely top picks. Jessica, despite her F-tier talent, had a heart set on battle, which led her to choose mage.
Unfortunately, she bet on herself and lost disastrously. As an F-tier, she was incredibly weak!
Mike continued, "You know about the Class Change Pool, right? It's a place where newbies can change their Class."
Jessica nodded. Coming from the Morrow family, which boasted Battle Chiefs-level powerhouses, her family had a deep heritage.
The Class Change Pool, which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single entry, was not something ordinary families could afford, but it wasn't too much for the Morrow family.
Jessica needed more than her F-tier talent to make a comeback; she needed a second awakening of her talent. The Otherworld Summoner was a key to unlocking this second awakening.
"I think you'd be a good fit for the Otherworld Summoner. Consider changing your Class," Mike suggested before turning and walking away.
He had said his piece; whether Jessica could change her fate was up to her now. After all, it was just a few words of help to a classmate, no big deal.
Jessica was left alone, sitting at her desk, lost in thought. "Otherworld Summoner, huh..."
She mulled over Mike's words. Even if she changed her Class, what good would it do? She was still F-tier, still unable to get past the first level of a newbie instance...
But she wasn't ready to give up just yet.
"Should I try it?" she whispered to herself, receiving no answer.
"Jessica, could you come out here for a moment?" A middle-aged man peeked halfway through the classroom door, his temples slightly gray and his expression stern, exuding an air of authority.
"Why does the vice principal want Jessica?" Cain glanced over and quickly lowered his head, whispering, "I heard that the Battle Chief from the Morrow family has been doing well in the Abyssal Plane recently, with a chance to advance to Battle Lord!"
Having a family with a Battle Chief and one with a Battle Lord were completely different ball games!
Cain analyzed seriously, "Jessica is said to be the beloved granddaughter of one of the Battle Chiefs. They had a lot of resources lined up for her, enough to boost her to at least a Battle General! Who would have thought she'd end up with an F-tier talent..."
Mike glanced at Cain, slightly exasperated, "Why do you keep up with all this gossip?"
"Mike, you just don't get it. You know my situation; I don't have any family backing, and I've got a ton of challenges ahead!"
Cain crossed his arms behind his head, hooked his toes under the desk, and leaned back, feeling a bit helpless. "The best I can hope for is to get into Warrior University. If I make it to Battle Soldiers, I'm set for life! If not, I might try to snag a job at the Mystic Market."
Cain's talent was only D-tier, and he didn't have a shot at a second awakening.
Mike patted his shoulder, not saying much more.
Outside the classroom, the vice principal's demeanor softened considerably, making him appear rather approachable.
"Jessica, don't feel pressured. Talent isn't everything. There have been cases in our race where someone with an F-tier talent has become a Battle Lord!" he reassured.
Jessica hung her head, biting her lip, remaining silent.
Indeed, there had been instances where someone with an F-tier talent had made a comeback. But Jessica knew the real story: that person had undergone a second awakening, turning their F-tier talent into an A-tier, and only then did they soar to the top. It wasn't the F-tier talent that made them a Battle Lord!
"There's no such thing as useless talent, only useless users of it"—this statement couldn't be more wrong!
With the same type of talent, F-tier has 1% effectiveness, D-tier has 100%, and A-tier has 1000%. The huge gap couldn't possibly be bridged by mere effort!
Jessica didn't want to resign herself to fate, yet she had to face the reality of her F-tier talent.
The vice principal continued in a gentle tone, "Jessica, I'm old friends with your grandfather. Before he left for the Abyssal Plane, his biggest concern was you."
"Now, we can only try to mitigate the losses. I've discussed it with your family, and we've decided to give you access to the Tower of Truth Class Change Pool. The mage path might not be right for you."
At the mention of the "Class Change Pool," Jessica suddenly looked up, a faint glimmer of hope sparking in her previously dull eyes.
A class change?
Otherworld Summoner?