Max Miller sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in his head. His classroom, with its sleek, polished walls and advanced tech, hummed with energy. The sunlight streamed through smart glass, casting soft, filtered light across the room, but the brightness did little to ease his growing tension. Today wasn't just another day—it was The Awakening, the day when every 17-year-old would step into the Genesis Gateway and choose their future.
Around him, students murmured and whispered, their voices blending with the hum of the room's equipment. Holographic desks floated before them, each displaying details of the class groups they had been learning about for years: Knights, Archers, Mages, Support, and the notorious Miscellaneous group for those who chose non-combat roles. Today, no one wanted to end up there. It wasn't about fighting for everyone, but combat classes commanded respect.
Max shifted in his chair, adjusting his posture. He wasn't nervous about the system—he was confident, and while he liked attention, it had to be the right kind. He wanted respect, not pity or ridicule. His gaze drifted to the Awakening Grounds outside, where the tall, ancient Awakening Pillars stood like sentinels, waiting for the day's ceremony.
The world had been waiting for this moment too. The Genesis Gateway would present every student with a blank, white room where they would choose their Class and Myth. There were five broad class groups, but each class was unique. Even if two people chose the Knight class, their abilities and names would be different. And then there were the myths—Greek, Norse, Hindu, and Egyptian—each shaping a person's powers based on their alignment. Max had spent countless hours thinking about it, preparing for this day.
He had always admired Karna from the Mahabharat—the archer with incredible skill and a tragic fate. Archery seemed to fit him. Max was quick, precise, and calculated. But he also knew that the system had its own way of working. No one could be sure what they would get.
"Alright, everyone!" Mr. Caldwell's voice boomed through the room, cutting through the murmurs. The tall teacher stood at the front, his holographic desk flickering with soft blue light. "It's time. Gather your things and follow me to the Awakening Grounds. Today, you choose your path. Your Class, and Myth will determine the rest of your lives. Think carefully."
The room fell silent as students began to gather their things. The weight of his words sank in as Max rose from his seat, heart pounding faster. This was it. The desks powered down in unison as they made their way through the pristine hallways of the school. Holographic banners floated overhead, displaying words of encouragement: "Choose Wisely" and "Your Future Awaits."
Outside, the Awakening Grounds stretched wide, the towering Awakening Pillars standing in a circle, glowing faintly. Max could feel the energy in the air, a hum of anticipation as drones buzzed above, monitoring the event. His classmates gathered around, some excited, others visibly nervous. Max's eyes scanned the crowd, spotting familiar faces—students like Arlen, who strutted confidently to the front. Arlen had been talking non-stop about aiming for a Knight class, hoping for something flashy, like a Lightning Knight, but no one could be sure. The system had its own way of choosing what suited you.
Max took a deep breath as he approached the line. This was the moment that would change everything.
Max stood, waiting anxiously for his turn as the other students entered the Genesis Gateway one by one. The tension around the Awakening Grounds grew heavier with each class announcement, rippling through the crowd as every new class, myth, and Potential was revealed.
Arlen, always the center of attention, strutted confidently into the Gateway. The students watched, waiting with bated breath as Arlen disappeared into the white room of the system. Moments later, he reemerged, surrounded by a faint crackle of electricity.
"Storm Knight of Tyr, Nornir System, Potential 8," the system's voice echoed across the grounds. The murmurs of admiration spread instantly. Potential 8 was nearly unheard of—only 1 in 10 million could handle that level, and yet Arlen had achieved it.
"Of course Arlen got something like that," someone whispered.
"He's got the resources to handle an 8," another added quietly.
Next up was Inara, the school's top student. She entered the Gateway with her usual composure, and when she reappeared, there was a faint golden glow around her.
"Elemental Mage of Ra, Aether System, Potential 7," the system announced. Inara had received—a Potential 7, something rare but manageable, especially for someone of her skill level. It was the kind of Potential that appeared 1 in a million times, a true mark of someone exceptional.
"She'll rise fast with that class," someone in the crowd muttered, impressed.
Other students followed. Greg, a quiet boy from a poor background, emerged as a Spirit Archer of Artemis, with a Potential 5—a solid, middle-range Potential that would give him a chance to succeed without the overwhelming challenge of higher levels. There were murmurs of relief from his friends; Greg wouldn't struggle, but he wouldn't rise to the top easily, either.
When Jenna was called, she walked into the circle with an air of confidence. A few moments later, she reappeared, surrounded by a faint glow.
"Sunblade Knight of Helios, Olympian System, Potential 6."
The crowd responded with a mixture of respect and awe—Potential 6 was higher than the average range of 3-6 but still good. Jenna had chosen wisely, and her class was bound to gain her the recognition she sought.
Then, the most striking figure of the group stepped forward: Sophia. The moment she entered the Gateway, the attention of every boy in the crowd locked on her. With long, flowing hair and eyes that seemed to glisten under the sunlight, Sofia was the definition of beauty. Max, usually composed, felt his heart skip a beat as he watched her.
The boys around him were barely able to contain themselves, their whispers filled with awe and longing.
"She's so... perfect."
"I'd die just to get her to look at me."
Even Max, who tried to keep his emotions in check, felt a strange warmth in his chest. Sophia was a presence that couldn't be ignored. When she stepped out of the Gateway, her skin glowed silver, her eyes shimmering with power.
"Silverstream of Athena, Greian System, Potential 9."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Potential 9—an almost legendary level, with only 1 in a billion able to achieve it. Sofia stood there, radiant, her beauty and power undeniable. Even the teachers couldn't hide their astonishment.
Max swallowed hard, trying to focus. He couldn't afford to get distracted, not now.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Max heard his name.
"Max Miller."
Max stepped forward, his heart racing. The ground beneath his feet vibrated slightly as he approached the circle. When he stepped into the glowing ring, the world around him vanished into a white void.
The Genesis Gateway presented him with his options, and ten class names hovered before his eyes:
Flash Knight
Red Archer's Fury
Watermaster's Wrath
Bladesong Guardian
Thunder Fist
Soulfire Mage
Doombreaker
Frostwind
Sentinel Stormblade
Shadowrune
Max felt a rush of excitement as he scanned the names. His heart pulled toward Red Archer's Fury—it aligned perfectly with his skills. Confident in his choice, he reached out and selected it.
But then a message flashed across the screen: Class unavailable.
Max blinked in confusion. Unavailable? That couldn't be right. He tried again, but the same message appeared. Panic began to bubble up inside him. He quickly moved on to another class—Watermaster's Wrath—but again, the system rejected him.
Class unavailable.
Max's breathing quickened. He felt the panic rising in his chest as he tried class after class, only to be rejected each time. Bladesong Guardian, Thunder Fist, Flash Knight—none of them worked. His mind raced. Was he going to leave the Awakening classless? He had never heard of such a thing happening. Desperation clawed at him.
Finally, with no other options left, he selected the last class on the list: Shadowrune.
To his surprise, the system accepted it.
Max exhaled in relief, but the relief was short-lived. When the system moved to the Myth Selection, another message appeared:
Class does not match any available myths.
Max froze. No match? That was impossible. There were only four myth systems—Greek, Norse, Hindu, and Egyptian. Every class aligned with one of them, if there are multiple myths, one may choose.
Then, the system flashed another message:
Creating new system...
Max's eyes widened as the system generated something entirely new.
New Myth System created: Abyssal Dominion.
A chill ran down his spine as the name appeared on the screen. He had never heard of the Abyssal Dominion. The name felt dark, ominous, and unlike anything he had expected. But before he could process the information, the system moved to the Potential Selection.
Max had expected to see the usual scale from 1 to 10. He had hoped to recive at least a 6 or 7. But instead, another unfamiliar message flashed:
Default Potential: G.
There was no number—just the letter G.
Max's heart sank. This wasn't supposed to happen. The average student received a Potential between 3 and 6. Top students were 7, which was already rare—only 1 in a million. Potential 8 was 1 in 10 million, and Potential 9 was practically legendary, with only 1 in a billion. Potential 10 was received by the founders of the 3 of 10 major clans, the three most powerful figures in the world. But he got G? He had never heard of such a thing.
Hyperventilating, he struggled to comprehend what was happening. His mind raced with questions. Was he going to be experimented on? What would happen if he couldn't progress?
Before he could make sense of anything, the system confirmed his class and myth, and suddenly, he was back in the Awakening Grounds. The transition was so quick that he almost stumbled, but when he looked around, he realized something was wrong.
The sky had darkened.
Thick, swirling clouds loomed above the grounds, casting shadows over the students. The air was heavy, oppressive, and a strange energy hummed through the atmosphere. The once-bright day had turned into something ominous.
The students began to murmur, looking up at the sky.
"What's going on? Is it a storm?" someone asked.
"Why did it get so dark all of a sudden?" a teacher muttered, glancing nervously at the sky.
Max's heart pounded in his chest. He knew, deep down, that the storm was connected to his Awakening. But no one else seemed to realize it. They were too focused on the strange weather, trying to figure out what was happening.
As the storm raged overhead, the system's voice rang out:
"Shadowrune of Abyssal Dominion, Potential: Error, [announcing closest known potential, Potential:10 "
Max stood frozen, the air around him buzzing as the announcement of his class hung in the atmosphere. The Shadowrune part had echoed out clearly, but at the exact moment his myth system—Abyssal Dominion—was to be revealed, a massive crack of thunder ripped through the sky, drowning out the rest of the announcement.
The students around him jumped at the sound, startled by the sudden storm overhead. Max's heart raced as he looked up at the swirling clouds, a dark storm of shadows and crackling energy. It wasn't just any storm—it was tied to his Awakening, but no one else seemed to make that connection.
When the thunder faded, there was an eerie silence. The word Shadowrune rippled through the crowd, confusion spreading like wildfire.
"Shadowrune? What's that? Is it a mage class… or Miscellaneous?" someone asked, bewildered.
"I've never heard of a class like that," another student added, their brow furrowed in confusion.
The students exchanged puzzled glances. Max swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure, but the weight of their stares pressed down on him like a suffocating blanket. He wanted to disappear, but before anyone could press him further, the storm above intensified, drawing everyone's attention back to the swirling darkness.
The sky roiled with ominous clouds, twisting and turning in ways that seemed unnatural. It held for a few more moments before slowly, almost reluctantly, dissipating, leaving the air still and the world eerily quiet. Max felt a brief moment of relief. The storm had taken the focus off him. No one had paid much attention to his strange class.
As he stepped out of the circle, trying to blend back into the crowd, a curious student approached him.
"What myth did you choose?" they asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
Max hesitated for a moment, his heart still pounding. "I went with the Nornir System."
Just as Max thought he might slip away without further questioning, another student called out, "What about your Potential?"
Max's stomach twisted. He had hoped to avoid this. His mind raced for an explanation, but before he could stop himself, the words slipped out. "10," he said, forcing a weak smile.
A hush fell over the students around him. Then, almost immediately, a burst of disbelieving laughter erupted from a nearby group.
"Hah! Stop lying, man. For real though, what did you get?"
Max's forced smile didn't fade. "No, really. It's 10."
The disbelief spread like wildfire. Whispers broke out among the students, and soon the murmurs turned into outright chatter.
"Did he just say 10?"
"No way, no chance he got Potential 10!"
"Only the legendary people has ever gotten that... and thats the one that barely survived!"
More students began to gather around, eyes wide with shock. Potential 10 was the stuff of legends, the kind of Potential you only heard about in old stories. It was said that only three people in the world had ever managed to survive it, and even they were broken, their lives spent in constant struggle to live. The idea of anyone getting a Potential 10 was unthinkable.
"Are you sure?" a voice cut through the crowd, louder than the others. It was Mr. Caldwell, their teacher, his expression one of shock and disbelief. He stepped forward, his tall frame looming over Max. "Potential 10?"
Max could feel the weight of the teacher's gaze, the disbelief and concern written across his face. Mr. Caldwell had been a strict but fair instructor, always guiding students to make practical, well-thought-out choices. The idea of a student picking 10 was beyond reckless.
"I didn't—" Max began, but before he could finish, another teacher, Ms. Hartford, a woman with sharp features and a severe expression, approached.
"Lie? of course you did, just to get into a good university? Child you may not know this but Potential 10 are almost killed as soon as they become know" she said, her voice dripping with pity. "Even the best warriors in history avoided associating with them. Why would you do something so foolish? "
The whispers of the other students grew louder. Only the stories of ancient heroes—people who had faced near-impossible odds—spoke of it. Even in those tales, the cost of Potential 10 was unimaginable. As every race tries their best to kill them, even their own race members kill them out of jealousy or envy.
The shock in the crowd turned to quiet judgment. The students began muttering to each other, exchanging glances as they looked at Max like he had signed his own death sentence.
"I thought he was smarter than that," one student whispered.
"Maybe he's trying to impress someone," another suggested, though the doubt was clear in their voice.
Max's mind spun. He hadn't chosen Potential 10. The system had assigned him Potential G, something he couldn't explain. But he knew better than to try to explain it now—no one would believe him. His only choice was to go along with the lie, even though it seemed like madness.
"I didn't think—" Max tried to explain, but Mr. Caldwell cut him off with a stern shake of his head.
"Clearly, you didn't," the teacher said, his voice soft but filled with disappointment. "You should have said maybe 8 or even 9 if you wanted to lie, lie realisticly, something you could handle. You don't come for a rich enough background to be able to support such potential."
Ms. Hartford added, "You'll be lucky if you survive till the tutorial."
Max stood there, silent, as the crowd's whispers continued. He had become the center of attention, but it wasn't the good kind. He wasn't admired or respected—he was pitied, even scorned. They didn't understand what had happened, and Max wasn't ready to explain it.
As the teachers moved away, shaking their heads in disbelief, the students began to disperse. The Awakening ceremony was over, and they had a week before the tutorial began—a week to explore their abilities, check the system, and understand their new powers.
Max watched as his classmates gathered in groups, sharing excitement about their new classes, their plans for the future, and their goals. But Max stood alone, his mind racing with confusion and fear.
The Abyssal Dominion was a myth system no one had ever heard of, and his class—Shadowrune—was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Worse still, his Potential didn't even fit into the known scale. Potential G was a mystery, and no one knew what it meant.
His Awakening hadn't just been strange—it had been unprecedented. And while everyone else was celebrating and preparing for the tutorial, Max knew that his path would be far more dangerous than anything he had imagined.