Michael sat in silence, his mind a storm of thoughts and emotions. The weight of Uriel's words hung heavy in the air, each revelation sinking deeper into his already troubled mind. He had expected a challenge—something worthy of the title of "Champion"—but this… This was far beyond what he had imagined. If he had known his start would be so fraught with danger and disadvantage, he might have chosen a different path, a different talent. But regrets were pointless now.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice carrying a weary edge. "Before I ask my next question, I need to know... Is that everything I'm up against?" Michael wanted to be prepared for the worst, but he was quickly realizing that his imagination couldn't even begin to grasp the full extent of this new world's dangers.
Uriel's blue eyes sparkled with a mix of sympathy and something that almost resembled mischief. "Well," she began, her tone light but the words heavy, "all gravity talent users are being hunted by vampires, and you don't have a weapon or any money."
Michael's heart sank further. He stared at Uriel, who seemed to be enjoying his reaction a little too much. "You're really getting a kick out of this, aren't you?" he muttered, more to himself than to her.
Uriel's expression softened, and she sighed, her earlier amusement fading. "I won't lie, watching you process all this is a bit entertaining. But I do understand it's a lot to take in. So, let's break it down."
Michael nodded, trying to brace himself for whatever was coming next. "Okay, first can you explain the talents and grades to me before we continue? Also, why are vampires hunting gravity talent users? And what exactly are these heaven-blessed individuals?"
Uriel was taken aback that Michael wasn't given this basic information beforehand. She began to wonder what her father was thinking, sending his champion into such a precarious situation with so little preparation. "Alright," she said, shifting to a more serious tone. "Let's start with talents and grades."
"In this world, talents are innate abilities that individuals awaken as they approach adulthood. Every teenager's talent is assessed and awakened when they enter high school, at the age of fourteen. It's a mandatory process, regulated by the government. Talents are ranked from SS, the highest, down to F, the lowest. This grading system is also used to gauge each individual's overall strength. Most prodigies awaken with an E Rank talent, and many are racing to reach D Rank before the official school assessment."
Michael felt a small wave of relief. The grading system was simple enough to understand, similar to the classifications he was familiar with in his previous life. But he knew there was more to this world than just the grading of talents. "Alright, that makes sense. Now, tell me about these heaven-blessed children."
Uriel's eyes gleamed with a strange mix of respect and wariness. "The heaven-blessed are exactly what their title implies. They are children chosen by the heavens to lead their generation. They're given the best circumstances, talents, and opportunities to excel and rise above the rest."
Michael frowned, sensing that there was more to the story. "And who or what exactly are 'the heavens'?"
Uriel paused, as if carefully choosing her words. "My father, Yahweh, is the presiding God of this universe. Because he governs multiple universes, he created the heavens—an entity tasked with managing and overseeing each world under his jurisdiction. The heavens ensure balance and maintain order. However," she hesitated, her tone growing darker, "they weren't too pleased to see my father's champion—you—being a non-native. So, they're bending a few rules to give their chosen ones a significant edge."
Michael's frown deepened, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach. "Why would they do that? Why do they need to give their children more power?"
Uriel met his gaze, her eyes reflecting a truth she knew would not be easy to accept. "Because their goal is to kill you three and prove they're still proficient in their role as this world's overseers."
Michael felt a cold chill run down his spine. Every time he thought he had grasped the scope of the challenge, the reality seemed to expand, revealing new layers of complexity and danger. He found himself wondering if forfeiting the contest was even an option, but something deep within him rebelled at the thought. He wasn't a quitter, and he had never backed down from a fight, no matter how hopeless it seemed.
"How worried should I be about this new development?" Michael asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him.
"Not any more worried than you were before," Uriel replied with a small, almost comforting smile. "The heavens can't cause you direct harm or interfere with your personal decisions and actions. However, their children—the heaven-blessed—will be worthy adversaries in the days to come. So, don't just focus on outmatching the other two champions. You need to prioritize defeating this entire world, only then will you truly emerge victorious."
Michael felt a flicker of determination ignite within him. Despite the overwhelming odds, something about the sheer scope of the challenge began to stir his competitive spirit. He was about to ask Uriel more about the vampires when a sudden sound interrupted his thoughts.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"WAKE UP, MICHAEL!"
Michael's head snapped towards the door, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't sure who or what was about to come through that door, but he knew that his journey was truly about to begin.