Dissolve...
"Hello, I... I... I am Max... King... No, no, ah, sorry... My name is Kingston Max. Ah, no..." An adorable 8-year-old boy stood in front of a grand mirror, clutching a piece of paper, practicing his lines nervously.
"Ufff... Fuuu..." Little Max Kingston took deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
"Hello, my name is... name... Max Kingston! Perfect! I've got it!" he exclaimed, jumping in excitement.
"Young Master, the entrance ceremony is about to begin. Are you ready?" A kind, soothing voice called from outside the room.
"Yes, Linda, I'm ready," Max replied cheerfully, stepping out of his room.
"Oh, Young Master, you look absolutely handsome and adorable today," Linda said with a smile as she noticed Max's neatly dressed attire.
"Th-thank you, Linda," Max replied shyly, his cheeks turning pink.
Seeing his cute reaction, Linda felt a rush of affection and thought to herself, "Kawaii!"
They both got into an electric car and headed toward the academy. Today was a big day for Max—his first day at a new academy, filled with hope and excitement. As they reached the grand gates of Heaven Talents Academy, Max took a deep breath and stepped out of the car.
"Young Master, this time, make lots of friends, okay? Good luck!" Linda encouraged him with a bright smile.
"Thank you, Linda," Max replied in his soft, sweet voice before confidently walking through the academy gates alongside other children his age.
---
Inside the academy hall...
"Welcome, little ones, to Heaven Talents Academy! I am your Headmaster, Fungsuk Wangdu, but you can call me Fuwa!" An elderly man in an extravagant suit, with white hair and a matching beard, addressed the children in a booming voice. He looked about 65 years old and held a wooden staff for dramatic effect.
All the 8-year-olds—boys, girls, and perhaps some who preferred not to say—sat quietly in rows, their curious eyes fixed on the stage. Their numbers were in the thousands.
"Before you join this prestigious academy, you must have heard of its long and glorious history. If not, allow me to enlighten you," Headmaster Fuwa began, his voice reverberating through the hall. "This academy was founded thousands of years ago by my ancestor, Tungsuk Wangdu. Over generations, the Wangdu family has elevated it to unparalleled heights. And now, under my leadership, I aim to make it even greater! This academy has produced countless legendary figures who have ruled the world with their talents..."
For two long hours, the headmaster droned on about the academy's history and its achievements, leaving most of the children squirming in their seats.
Finally, the lecture ended.
"And that, my young prodigies, is the illustrious history of Heaven Talents Academy. Now, we will conduct your Talent Test. Based on the results, your personalized schedules and groups will be assigned. Each group will line up before a glowing green fragment. Place your hand on it, and it will reveal your unique talent."
The headmaster gestured to the teachers.
"Teachers, activate the Talent Seeker Fragments!"
The room buzzed with anticipation as the fragments glowed brighter, signaling the beginning of the tests.
"Children, wait patiently for your turn. The first student, Number 101, please step forward and place your hand on the Talent Seeker Fragment. Keep your mind calm," instructed Teacher Xu to a line of 100 children under her guidance.
There were 12 such lines, each supervised by a teacher who gently explained the process to ensure the children quickly adapted to the situation.
When Teacher Xu called the first number, a girl stepped forward onto the stage. Her silver, shining hair gave her an ethereal, fairy-like beauty that mesmerized everyone in a single glance. The boys were instantly captivated, and even some girls (possibly harboring a crush) couldn't help but admire her. Jealousy spread among the other girls as all eyes fixated on her.
The angelic child confidently approached the glowing green fragment and placed her right hand on it. A screen lit up, displaying her details:
| Name : Lisa Morningstar
| Age : 8 years
| Talent : Holy Healer (Locked)
| Growth Rate : 100% (Godspeed)
Teacher Xu gasped in astonishment upon seeing the results.
"A Godspeed Growth Rate?! And she's from the Morningstar family! I'll need to ensure she receives special attention," Teacher Xu thought, her heart racing.
Lisa calmly walked off the stage and sat in a nearby chair.
"Number 102," Teacher Xu announced.
As the number was called, a boy rose from his seat and confidently strutted onto the stage. His light red hair and royal demeanor immediately marked him as someone of noble birth. Smirking, he placed his hand on the fragment.
| Name : Alex Nightstar
| Age : 8 years
| Talent : Fire (Locked), Unknown (Locked)
| Growth Rate : 99% (Godspeed)
Teacher Xu froze in shock, her face turning pale with sweat dripping down her forehead.
"The successor of the Nightstar family?! I must tread carefully!" she thought as she composed herself and quickly moved on.
"Next, Number 103."
Another boy stepped forward and placed his hand on the fragment.
| Name : Hendrix Drixen
| Age : 8 years
| Talent : Summon (Locked)
| Growth Rate : 90% (Godspeed)
The test continued smoothly, with each student revealing impressive talents and growth rates.
Finally, it was Number 199's turn.
A boy with an innocent and nervous expression approached the stage. This was Max Kingston. He placed his hand on the fragment, his heart pounding. The screen lit up with his details:
| Name : Max Kingston
| Age : 8 years
| Talent : Not yet awakened ( TEAR )
| Growth Rate : 1% (Worm Speed)
A wave of silence swept through the room as the results were revealed.
"Worm speed?!" whispered a few students, struggling to hide their snickers.
Max stood there quietly, his small fists clenching tightly. Teacher Xu glanced at him with a mix of pity and curiosity, wondering what fate awaited this peculiar boy with such a low growth rate.
"Hey, worm..." a kid from the group stood up and shouted at Max, making all the other children burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
The very thing Max had feared was now happening. He had practiced so hard in front of the mirror, rehearsing different confident speeches, jokes to break the ice, and ways to make friends. But his first impression had completely flopped, and now the details on the panel had turned him into a joke.
Fear crept over him, sweat started to form, and he began to shake slightly.
"N...no, I'm not a worm... I... I'm Max Kingston..."
[A wisp of memory has ended. The awakening process has begun...]
"NOOOO... Hahhh..."
Max jolted awake, sitting upright in bed, his entire body drenched in sweat. His face was filled with an expression of fear, as if he had just been living inside that dream. But it wasn't just a dream—it was the reliving of his first childhood trauma, something he had long forgotten.