The next day at the Sterling family estate was filled with tragedy, sorrow, and despair. The oldest member of the family, Summer's grandfather, passed away due to old age. His life had been full of dreams—dreams of staying young and powerful. Yet, the old man died with his greatest wish unfulfilled: to witness the rise of the Sterling family.
As the family gathered for the cremation, the air was heavy with grief and pain. Summer's uncle, aunt, cousins, parents, and all those close to the family came to pay their respects.
Summer gazed at his grandfather's lifeless body one last time, his heart aching. He clenched his fists, silently vowing to fulfill the wish his grandfather had cherished—a wish that now burned within him from the beginning.
"Goodbye, Dull-blade... ah no—Summer!" one of the boys sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
"See you at the graduation ceremony, if you even show up," another chimed in, his tone equally condescending.
Summer's so-called friends, who had once been close, now relished in his misfortune. They felt a twisted sense of superiority, knowing that their paths led to prestigious futures as elite Evolvers, while Summer—unable to awaken his Evolution Gene—seemed destined for obscurity.
They laughed inwardly, their farewells mixed with disdain.
But not all of them were so heartless. Some in the group tagged along, more out of habit than genuine malice, feeling a vague sense of sympathy. However, it was his real friends who stood out amidst the crowd—those who had never wavered in their loyalty to him.
Roger, a tall boy with advanced lens technology attached to his eyes, stepped forward, giving Summer a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Summy, take care. And don't miss the graduation ceremony, alright?" His voice was steady, lacking the condescension that dripped from the others.
Beside him, Liliana, a beautiful red-haired girl with a vibrant personality, took off her sunglasses and offered Summer a warm, if teasing, smile. "Yeah, you still haven't treated us to that break-up celebration," she joked, her tone light, trying to lift the mood. There was a spark of mischief in her eyes, but it was undercut by a genuine concern for her friend.
Summer managed a weak smile in response, appreciating their effort.
"I'll think about it," he replied, his voice a bit strained, but the presence of his real friends offered a small comfort amidst the storm of emotions.
As they walked away, Liliana glanced back over her shoulder, her expression, a little sad. Who knows when they would meet again, altogether —Summer, Julia, Roger and herself. Remembering the old days, she couldn't help but tear up.
Summer watched them go with a expression of melancholy.
"Will everything be the same again?"
.....
The next morning, at 10 AM:
"Here, take this." Without further explanation, his father handed him a glossy card with the title: Apex BioSystems.
Summer's face reflected confusion and a tinge of guilt for his past disrespectful remarks toward his father.
His father continued, "Apex BioSystems offers the best Gene Awakening Pool available. If you still want to pursue your goal, this is your last option. But the chances are slim. It cost nearly all of our savings—90 million dollars." He winced at the cost and glanced at Summer's brother, Salvatore. "You should thank your uncle. He contributed the money from his own pocket."
Salvatore smiled warmly. "What are you saying, brother? It's all about our future. He's not just your son, but mine as well."
"Champ, go for it. If you fail, we'll still be here for you."
Summer felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. He understood how much 90 million dollars meant to them, knowing they had nearly gone bankrupt. The weight of responsibility almost suffocated him. What if he failed? Their situation could become even worse.
Despite the pressure, he knew he had to move forward.
"Thank you, Uncle. I will never forget your kindness," he said sincerely.
Salvatore's smile broadened, and he shrugged it off.
"The appointment is at 4 PM. Don't miss it," his father had warned before leaving the room.
Summer wanted to apologize for his disrespect the previous day, but his father, along with his uncle, was already gone.
Time passed as he browsed the intergalactic net, researching Apex BioSystems and occasionally chatting with his sweet little sister, who was by his side, engrossed in the holographic display.
"Sum-Sum, are you finally going to become an Evolver like those in the videos?" she asked innocently. Despite being only six years old, she was remarkably perceptive.
"It's not certain, sweetie," Summer replied, glancing at her.
"Ohh, if that happens, will you leave me, Sum-Sum?" she asked, her eyes welling up with tears at the thought.
Summer felt a pang of helplessness. It was true that he might have to leave someday, one way or another.
"Sweetie Silia, it's time for your bath. It's getting late," their mother called sternly as she entered the room.
"Ooh, coming, Mommy!" Silia replied, hurrying to her mother's side, her worries momentarily set aside.
"M-Mom!" Summer called out, trying to apologize, but she left without a glance, clearly upset.
Summer shook his head wryly. "Did I do the right thing? Did I hurt their hearts unknowingly because of my stubbornness?"
He sighed and muttered to himself, "Alright, I should leave now."
Checking the time on his display, he grabbed his car keys and headed out. He chose a smooth, shiny white car and drove for about 30 minutes before reaching his destination.
"It's large!"
Summer muttered in awe as he gazed at the massive round building, nearly 500 meters in diameter. It was about one-third the size of a Level 10 skyscraper.
Nervousness gripped him as he stepped out of the car and observed the crowd. Rich-looking people and officials in sharp suits mingled with AI robots, all neatly arranged.
"Are all these people here for the awakening?" he wondered aloud.
The security was tight, but after presenting his unique card, Summer was allowed inside.