'I have one. Holy SHIT, I have a Super gene.'
Talon stepped into the waiting room, his mind still in shock. The moment the orb had glowed green replayed over and over, almost making him feel like he was floating.
But before he could process it further, a heavy weight slammed into him, nearly sending him stumbling.
"OOMPH," Talon grunted, staggering back as arms wrapped around him like a vice. "Jason, what the hell!"
"DUDE, YOU MADE IT!" Jason practically shouted, shaking him like a rag doll before pulling him into a bone-crushing hug.
"Jason-" Talon gasped, struggling against the grip. "I'm glad you're happy, but I kind of need my lungs, man!"
Jason dropped him with a grin so wide it was ridiculous. "This is insane. We're both Supers! The odds were crap, but we both got it!"
Talon straightened his shirt, still catching his breath, but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, we did. Guess we're on our way to the frontlines soon, huh?"
Jason clapped him on the back, nearly knocking him forward again. "Damn straight. Just wait until they see what we can do! We're gonna crush it out there."
Talon shook his head, laughing. "Let's focus on getting through the next phase first. I don't think they hand out frontlines passes just because the orb liked us."
Jason flopped into one of the waiting room chairs, kicking his feet up on the one next to him. "Okay, sure. But hey, where's Alice? She's probably still up, right?"
Talon hesitated for a second before answering, his voice quieter. "She didn't make it. Red orb."
Jason's grin faltered for a split second, then he nodded, his usual energy returning. "Damn. But you know her... she's not going to let that stop her. She'll probably end up commanding our fleet or something once she makes it into the officer's acadamy like she hoped to."
"Probably," Talon agreed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "She'd probably be better at it than both of us combined anyways."
"Absolutely." Jason sat up straight, his grin returning in full force. "Alright, no time for sappy stuff. We've got a second phase to dominate. You ready?"
Talon smirked, sitting beside him. "Born ready."
---
As they waited, Talon's gaze wandered across the room, taking in the mix of excitement and nervous energy radiating from the other new Supers. Then, he spotted her.
Mira.
She stood in the corner, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning the room like a hawk watching its prey.
Talon groaned internally. 'Of course, she's here.'
When her gaze landed on him, she strode over with that same peacock stride she always had, a faint, prideful smile tugging at the edges of her mouth.
Talon noted she also looked a little envious.
It was subtle, but he saw it.
And he relished it.
"Well done, Talon," she said, her voice neutral but with just a hint of approval. "Another Super in our family. I'm sure they'll be very pleased. Make sure you don't waste it."
Talon nodded stiffly. He could already imagine the family's reaction back home, the instant calculations, the strategies being formed around it. His parents weren't just proud of the accomplishment, they were already weighing how much stronger their standing would be if his rank turned out to be something rare.
"Yeah," Talon replied, forcing his tone to stay even. "Wouldn't want to disappoint."
Mira didn't miss a beat, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Good. Just remember what the family has done for you, it's time to pay them back."
Talon bit back a retort as she walked away, leaving him and Jason in a cloud of tension.
Jason, leaned over as they watched her walk away, disgust evident on his face. "You two have fun family bonding time?"
Talon rolled his eyes. "Oh, the best. Just makes me feel all warm and happy inside."
Jason snickered, nudging him. "At least you know they care."
Talon let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah. Care about the family name."
The announcement for the second phase cut their conversation short, pulling their attention back to the task ahead.
---
Soon, the remaining students were called back into the main hall, unlike before, every single student who reached this phase had a massive smile on their face.
"Damn, look at that," Jason whispered, his eyes wide as they entered.
At the far end of the hall, a massive transparent wall dominated the space, it taking up the entire width and height of the room.
Behind it, sat the proper awakening orb, an obvious contrast to the smaller, simpler orbs from the first phase.
This one was enormous, its surface intricate with glowing lines that pulsed in rhythmic waves, shifting through hues of a rainbow.
Talon found himself momentarily stunned, his earlier nerves replaced by awe. 'That's what determines our future,' he thought.
No pressure at all.
Jason leaned closer, nudging him with his elbow. "You think it's supposed to be that big, or are they just compensating?"
Talon smirked, "knowing the Concord? Probably both."
Jason snorted, earning a stern glance from an instructor, but it only seemed to fuel his amusement.
They all sat down in their designated seats as Principal Kellen took the stage again, a small smile playing at the corners of his usually stern mouth.
"Congratulations, cadets. While fewer of you passed than we anticipated, you have each earned your place here today. All 231 of you have a Super gene, which you shall awaken in but a moment."
He gestured toward the massive transparent wall, the machinery beyond it humming with energy. "The next phase is the final step in your awakening. Behind this wall lies the primary awakening room. Each of you will step inside, place your hand on the second orb, and it will channel the energy of your Super gene."
Talon glanced at the orb, readying himself for whats to come.
Kellen's voice pulled him back. "The orb will measure how much energy it takes to propel your gene to the next ascension. The result will be displayed as a light, the color corresponding to the rank of your gene."
Jason leaned over, whispering, "You ready to see a mythical silver light pop up for me?"
Talon rolled his eyes, but a smirk tugged at his lips. "Sure. Just don't cry when it's gray."
Jason grinned, unbothered.
Kellen continued, his tone laced with pride. "The colors are as follows: gray for common, green for uncommon, blue for rare, purple for epic, gold for legendary, and silver for mythical, the rarest of them all."
The room buzzed with quiet murmurs, cadets daring to dream of their potential.
Talon couldn't help but exchange a look with Jason. For a moment, hope flickered between them.
'What if...' he thought, shaking his head quickly to keep himself grounded.
Kellen's expression turned more animated. "Common powers, while useful, often have limited applications. Uncommon and rare abilities tend to provide stronger combat or utility capabilities. Purple and above? Those are powers that can shift battles or reshape the world around you."
Talon clenched his fists, his mind racing. 'Just let me get something decent. If it's better than Jason's, it's a win in my book.'
Kellen's tone grew stern. "But do not mistake this for a lottery of guaranteed greatness. The odds of rare or higher ranks are exceedingly low. Most of you will awaken with a common or uncommon power, and that's no failure."
Talon felt his stomach knot at the reminder, but Kellen pressed on.
"For example, there are Titans, A ranks, who have risen to greatness with common powers. What matters isn't the starting point, it's how far you take it. You already stand above 98% of the population by awakening. That alone gives you the chance to dream bigger than most can imagine."
The room quieted, a heavy mix of nerves and anticipation settling over the cadets. Talon exhaled slowly, trying to calm the pounding in his chest.
Kellen paused, allowing the cadets a moment to absorb his words before gesturing toward a group of individuals standing off to the side. Each was dressed in a mix of uniforms and attire that screamed authority.
"Beside me, you see representatives from several factions, major corporations, and the Solaris Concord itself. They are here for one reason: to scout and invest in new talent. If you choose to reveal your rank during the awakening, the process will be explained shortly. These representatives will witness your potential firsthand and may extend sponsorships or contracts. This could mean resources, training, and opportunities to accelerate your growth."
Talon blinked, his attention shifting to the group. He hadn't even noticed them until now.
His stomach immediately sank.
"Oh no," he muttered under his breath.
Jason leaned closer. "What? What's wrong?"
Talon's eyes locked onto a familiar figure in the group. Standing poised and composed, his mother was among the representatives. She wasn't just here as a parent, she was here as a representative of the Graves family. As one of the most prominent military dynasties in Concord space, their presence was expected, but that didn't make it any easier for Talon.
"Why the hell is she here?" he hissed.
He should be told of these things!
Jason followed his gaze. "Wait, is that…?"
"Yes," Talon interrupted, already feeling the weight of her scrutinizing gaze. "She's going to want to see my rank."
Jason chuckled nervously. "Man, at least your family shows up."
Before Talon could respond, a wave of whispers broke out among the cadets as Kellen gestured toward the massive transparent wall. With a press of a button, the wall turned black, concealing the orb behind it.
Kellen nodded toward one of the Concord representatives, who stepped forward with an air of confidence. The man wore a crisp, dark uniform that seemed to absorb the light, his demeanor calm and professional as he addressed the room.
"As Director Kellen mentioned," the man began, his tone measured, "the wall can remain opaque, ensuring your results are private. If you choose this option, only those you invite into the awakening chamber will know the nature of your gene. The choice is yours, and it will not affect the outcome of your awakening in any way."
Talon exhaled slowly, his eyes darting toward his mother again. The knot of anxiety in his chest tightened as he tried to ignore the feeling that her gaze was boring into him.
Jason nudged him, breaking his thoughts. "Well, this just got a lot more interesting."
Talon muttered back, his jaw tightening. "Interesting is one way to put it."
The Concord representative pressed a button on a small device, and the black wall turned transparent once more, revealing the glowing orb behind it. "During your awakening, you will have the option to make your rank public or switch it back to private. Simply press the button beside the awakening screen. Like this."
He pressed the button again, and the wall shifted back to black, concealing the orb. The room was silent as the cadets absorbed the demonstration.
"This transparency is important," the man continued, gesturing toward the gathered representatives. "It ensures we can assess your potential at this early stage with complete accuracy. It also provides us with the confidence to offer you resources and opportunities tailored to your rank."
His voice dropped slightly, gaining a sharper edge. "Understand this, cadets: this is your one and only chance to reveal your true rank. The machine is calibrated specifically for human standards, and it will no longer work after this ceremony as intended. While other devices exist to measure gene potential, they can be tampered with. Once you learn to manipulate energy, you may even obscure your own results with a machine just like this. But for now, this machine is absolute."
Next to Talon, Jason leaned in, whispering just loud enough for him to hear. "Sheesh… intense, isn't he?"
Talon stifled a grin, whispering back. "I think it's part of the act. Scare us into taking it seriously."
The representative's tone shifted to something lighter, almost encouraging. "That said, we respect both choices. If you choose to keep your rank private, there's wisdom in that. It means keeping your cards close to your chest, an advantage in its own right. However, those who reveal their rank openly will receive resources based on their demonstrated potential. Higher ranks naturally command more support."
The man gestured toward the orb, his expression serious once more. "Here's how it works. The machine will inject energy into your gene. The amount of energy it requires to fully awaken determines your gene's rarity. The rarer your gene, the better your power, the more energy it consumes. When you step into the chamber, you will technically still be an F-rank human. But by the time the process is complete, you'll emerge as an E-ranked Super. Soldiers, as we call them. Faster, stronger, just better."
Jason nudged Talon again, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Man, I can't wait. What do you think your rank will be?"
Talon shrugged, though his mind was already racing. He glanced at his mother, her expression one of composed pride as she watched him from across the room. The weight of her expectations pressed down on him, but he steeled himself.
'I'm sorry, Mother,' he thought, clenching his fists. 'But I'm not here to meet your expectations. Today, I'm doing this for me.'