James stood before the ancient tablet, his eyes fixed on the strange, glowing runes carved into its surface.
Each rune shimmered and twisted as though it were alive, moving with an energy that sent chills down his spine.
The air in the room felt thick, heavy with anticipation, as if the very walls were waiting to see what would happen next.
James's other hand rested stiffly beside him, clenched tightly enough to turn his knuckles white.
His heart was pounding so loudly in his chest that he was sure everyone in the room could hear it.
'What grade of Soul Weapon will I awaken? What if it's Common? What if I'm stuck being mediocre for the rest of my life?' he thought, biting the inside of his cheek.
But he shook the thought off. No, he couldn't think like that. He had to believe in himself.
Still, the tablet in front of him felt like the gateway to his entire future, and the weight of it was enough to make his palms sweaty.
The night before, James had poured over every book he could find in the family library about Soul Weapons, staying up so late that his eyes were red and puffy by morning.
He had learned that Soul Weapons were ranked in grades, and the grade you awakened would mostly determine the entire course of your life.
The lowest grade was Common Grade, and it was, frankly, terrible. Those who awakened a Common Grade Soul Weapon were doomed to mediocrity.
Their strength wouldn't grow much, and they'd spend their lives struggling to keep up with even the average fighters.
People with Common Grade Soul Weapons often gave up on big dreams because their growth potential was like hitting a brick wall—it just wouldn't go anywhere.
Then there was the Uncommon Grade, the average grade for most people. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything special either.
Those who awakened Uncommon Grade Soul Weapons could live decent lives, but they wouldn't make waves or stand out in a crowd. In cities like this one, Uncommon was the norm.
Above that was the Super Grade, where things started to get exciting. Awakening a Super Grade Soul Weapon meant you were a cut above the rest, a shining star in a sea of average.
In larger cities or wealthier regions, this grade might not stand out, but here, in a mid-tier city that wasn't even in the top states, the Super Grade was considered the peak for most youths.
If someone awakened a Super Grade Soul Weapon here, they'd be celebrated, admired, and given opportunities that most people could only dream of.
Then came the rarer, more legendary grades: Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, and finally, the almost godlike Divine Grade.
These were the kinds of Soul Weapons that could change the world. Even a Rare Grade Soul Weapon was so uncommon that anyone who awakened one would instantly be seen as a prodigy.
Their future would be as bright as the sun, with doors opening to them that were closed to nearly everyone else.
James had dared to hope for a Super Grade. He didn't want to aim too high and set himself up for disappointment, but he also didn't want to accept anything lower.
Afterall, his future was not going to be easy if he was going to NTR every hidden boss in the world. He needed sufficient strength to protect himself!
As the tablet began to glow, James leaned forward, his eyes wide with anticipation. The runes started to shimmer more intensely, and a strange, eerie light began to radiate from the tablet.
The glow grew stronger, and then, all at once, the light turned grey.
The room fell silent.
James blinked, confused. Grey? That wasn't one of the normal colours he'd read about. Was this… bad?
The old man conducting the awakening ceremony froze in place, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. His jaw dropped, and he stared at the tablet as if it had just started speaking in tongues.
"What… what does grey mean?" James asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The old man finally snapped out of his daze, his face a mix of shock and disbelief. "Grey… grey means unclassified," he said, his voice trembling. "It's… it's Special Grade."
"Special Grade?" James repeated, the words sounding foreign on his tongue.
The old man nodded, clearly struggling to maintain his composure. "Special Grade Soul Weapons are… unique. They don't follow the normal ranking system. They're not Common, Uncommon, or even Super.
"They're… outside the system entirely. But what it does mean is that your Soul Weapon is at least as strong as a Rare Grade one, and maybe even stronger. It's… extremely rare and mysterious."
James's thoughts were racing. 'A Special Grade Soul Weapon?' He hadn't even considered that possibility.
He'd read about them in the books, of course, but they were so rare that they might as well have been myths.
These weapons didn't fit into neat little categories; they were unpredictable, mysterious, and often ridiculously powerful.
The old man scribbled the result onto a parchment, his hands shaking slightly. "You'll need to head to the main Forge now," he said, his tone far more respectful than before.
"The Forge?" James asked, his confusion evident.
"Yes," the old man said, giving him a curious look. He was probably wondering why James didn't know that simple information.
"Before you can summon or activate your Soul Weapon, your soul needs to be opened.
"The tablet determines your Soul Weapon grade, but the Soul Opening will reveal the weapon's form. It could be anything—a sword, a staff, a bow… Without the soul opening, your Soul Weapon is essentially locked. You can't use it, or even see what it is."
James nodded, absorbing the information. 'So this wasn't over yet.' If the grade was important, the form was just as vital. A Special Grade Soul Weapon might have a bizarre, unique form to match its status.
He stood and followed the old man out, his mind spinning with questions. 'What kind of weapon will it be?'
He didn't even care if it was strange or unconventional; he just wanted it to be strong!
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Any ideas fellas...
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Power stone Goal!
20 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
50 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
100 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.