The sun was just rising, painting the skies in shades of gold and orange, when Michael opened his eyes. His heart was already beating faster than usual, a nervousness he couldn't seem to calm. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the agitation that was brewing inside him. Today was not a day like any other. It was the day of awakening.
Michael sat up slowly in bed, his hair a mess, and stared at the ceiling of his small room for a moment. Fifteen years of waiting had led him here. It was finally time to find out if his efforts, his sacrifices, and his willpower would pay off. But deep down, a part of him couldn't help but doubt.
He shook his head to chase away these thoughts. "No," he muttered to himself. "Not today. Not now."
Michael stood up and quickly got ready. As he pulled on his clothes—a simple but clean outfit he had carefully set aside for the occasion—he heard footsteps in the hallway. He stepped out of his room to find his mother, Lyris, already standing in the kitchen, preparing a special breakfast.
"Good morning, Mom," he said softly.
Lyris turned around, a tender smile lighting up her tired face. "Good morning, my boy. Are you ready for today?"
Michael shrugged slightly, trying to hide his nervousness. "As ready as I can be."
His mother came over and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You've worked hard for this moment, Michael. No matter the outcome, know that we're proud of you."
Michael nodded, touched by her words. They were joined by Robert, his father, who entered the room, stretching. He stopped when he saw his son.
"Well, look at this. My son, ready to face this ceremony," he said with a proud smile. "Today is your day, Michael. No matter what happens, remember that you have a family behind you."
A short while later, Miria and William, his younger brother and sister, came running into the room, still in their pajamas but excited about the importance of the day.
"Michael! Michael!" William cried, his eyes shining. "You're going to be super strong, huh? Like in the stories?"
"Of course he's going to be strong," Miria replied with a confident smile. She looked at Michael with eyes full of admiration. "You're already our hero, big brother."
Michael knelt down and gently ruffled his siblings' hair. "Thank you, both of you. I'll do my best." »
Breakfast was simple but warm, marked by encouragement and reassurance. When it was time to leave, the entire family accompanied Michael to the door.
Lyris hugged her son one last time. "Be careful, and be yourself. No matter what anyone says, you're already special to us."
Robert placed a firm hand on Michael's shoulder. "Good luck, son. Come back with news."
Michael thanked them all before walking away, his bag on his shoulder. The road was long, but he felt ready.
The site of the awakening test was in the regional capital of Soltharion, several hours from Veraelis. Soltharion was the capital of the Auralis region, one of the five great regions of the Solinthar Empire. The other regions—Feranor, Caldaros, Sylmeris, and Zyrthar—were equally important, each with its own capital and ruler.
The governors of the regions of the Solinthar Empire were more than just administrators. Each governor was a being of power beyond humanity, a living force embodied that symbolized the supremacy of the empire. These legendary figures, chosen directly by the emperor himself, were both the protectors and guarantors of imperial order within their respective regions.
Becoming a governor was not simply a matter of noble lineage or political support. It was a more complex process. Each governor had transcended the limits of what ordinary mortals could conceive. They were considered to be cultivators of an exceptional level.
In the Solinthar Empire, certain families were renowned for their martial power or their ancient loyalty to the imperial crown. These families, often referred to as "Noble Houses," formed the backbone of the social elites. Each house possessed its own unique heritage: ancestral combat techniques, legendary artifacts, or a particular affinity with certain elements, weapons, or a certain type of cultivation.
The martial arts families, on the other hand, were a class in their own right. Some had humble origins but had risen through the generations thanks to raw power and absolute discipline. They formed the fighting elite of the empire, often called upon to train imperial soldiers or accompany governors on their quests. These families often had a semi-independent status, operating almost like small private armies, but always under the indirect tutelage of the emperor.
At the top of this hierarchy sat the Imperial Family, the direct line of the Emperor of Solinthar. The Solinthar Empire is said to have been founded by an ancestor of the Solary family, the current Imperial family. Since the empire's founding, most of their descendants have been geniuses who are renowned throughout the continent.
Michael reached a transfer portal on the outskirts of Veraelis. These imposing structures, built from special materials infused with Qi, allowed instant travel between the major cities of each region. The portals were manned by guards and activated by cultivators.
After presenting his pass, Michael stepped into the portal's glowing circle. The experience was brief but intense: a feeling of dizziness followed by a flash of white light. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in the Soltharion transfer station.
The regional capital was breathtaking. Unlike Veraelis, marked by its modesty and limitations, Soltharion was overflowing with grandeur. The cobblestone streets were wide and immaculate, lined with carefully trimmed trees. The buildings, built of white stone and adorned with gilding, seemed to shine in the sunlight.
In the center of the city stood an imposing palace, the residence of the regional governor, Eryon Valthar, a high-ranking cultivator whose reputation extended far beyond Auralis. This colossal building, with its soaring towers and hanging gardens, symbolized the power and wealth of the region.
Michael walked through the city, fascinated by everything he saw. The streets were bustling, filled with young people from all over the region who had come to participate in the awakening test. Some seemed nervous, others excited, but all shared the same determination.
The test site stood out as a true architectural marvel. The amphitheater, carved into the hillside, stretched out in concentric terraces, each level forming a perfect arc. Its white stone seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, while banners in the colors of the Empire fluttered proudly in the wind. At its center, a vast circular arena opened, surrounded by pillars engraved with ancient inscriptions. These engravings told the stories of previous champions, of cultivators who, by their success in the test, had marked the history of the Empire of Solinthar.
Michael stepped into the dense crowd, surrounded by a tumult of voices. The conversations of the young people and their families reflected a mixture of excitement, apprehension, and hope. Some spoke out loud, others whispered, but all seemed focused on what awaited them.
A stocky boy, his face round and reddened by stress, was talking to a friend who accompanied him:
"Do you think they'll really be able to measure our potential in just a few seconds? I feel like it's too short... What if I can't concentrate?"
His friend, a little taller and calmer, shrugged.
"They know what they're doing. They've been doing these tests for generations. But if it makes you feel any better, I'm sure that even if you fail, they'll give you another chance."
The boy shook his head, his brow furrowed. "No, there is no second chance. Not for me. My parents put everything they had into getting me here."
A little further away, a group of young people from noble families were chatting loudly. One of them, a haughty-looking boy with neatly combed hair, seemed particularly confident.
"I bet no one here can match my talent," he said, patting his chest.
A young girl, probably from the same class as him, rolled her eyes.
"Don't even think about it, I heard from my older sisters that there will be very talented people this year. For example, there is a rumor that one of Governor Valthar's sons is participating. Do you think you are more talented than him?" she said with a mocking smile.
The boy, stung, gritted his teeth but did not answer, provoking laughter from the group.
Michael, who had been content to listen distractedly to the discussions around him until now, felt his attention crystallize on this remark. He glanced discreetly towards the group, curious about this mention of Governor Valthar's son.
The girl who had spoken had a mischievous expression, clearly pleased to have provoked a reaction. The boy she had just teased stared at the ground, visibly annoyed, while the others burst into nervous laughter, no doubt relieved not to be in his place.
"One of Governor Valthar's sons, huh?" Michael thought, his brows slightly furrowed. This name was not foreign to his ears. Governors were almost mythical figures for the majority of the inhabitants of the empire, and Valthar, the ruler of Auralis, was renowned for his power and influence. That one of his descendants was naturally participating in the test aroused curiosity – and perhaps a certain apprehension.
"As they say, dogs don't make cats, the child of a tiger must have one too. I can't wait for this ceremony to begin." Michael thought as he moved away from the group.
A few moments later, a strange silence took over the place, as if an invisible wave had swept away the cacophony of discussions. The laughter, the murmurs, the raised voices disappeared in a breath. All eyes converged on a group of five people who had just appeared at the entrance to the amphitheater. Their gait, their haughty bearing, and especially the overwhelming aura they gave off were enough to impose an atmosphere of gravity.
Their clothes, sober but elegant, bore gold and silver patterns, indicating their high rank. These individuals seemed to be from another category, and their mere presence provoked a mixture of fascination and fear in the spectators. Each of them radiated a unique energy, almost tangible, but harmonious, as if these formidable forces had been skillfully mastered.
One of the five, a man with a slender silhouette, advanced with a measured step. His hands, crossed behind his back, added an impression of calculated authority. His features were sharp and marked by a cold assurance. When he spoke, his voice, although calm, carried effortlessly to every corner of the square.
"Welcome, all," he said, bowing his head slightly. "I am Kael, and I have the honor of overseeing this awakening ceremony for the Auralis region."
A murmur of excitement briefly rippled through the crowd, before silence fell again under the weight of the man's aura. He swept his gaze over the gathering, making sure each person understood the solemnity of the occasion.
With a graceful movement, he snapped his fingers. In an instant, five immense pillars burst forth from the ground behind the group, as if they had always been there, concealed by some mysterious force. Each pillar, carved from gleaming white stone, seemed to pulse gently, as if alive.
"These pillars," Master Kael continued, his tone solemn, "are ancient artifacts, infused with the energy of the original Qi. They are designed to resonate with each individual's inherent talent. The ceremony will be simple: when it is your turn, you will only have to place your palm on a pillar. It does not matter which one, because they are all the same. The pillar, if it detects a talent, will respond with a color, corresponding to your level of potential." He gestured broadly at the pillars.
"Talents are classified into five ascending levels. The color and rank associated with them are as follows:
Grey: Low-rank talent.
Green: Basic-rank talent.
Blue: Intermediate-rank talent.
Purple: Advanced-rank talent.
Red: High-rank talent."
He paused, allowing the words to sink in.
"Those of us here are the examiners of this ceremony, and we will stand beside each pillar to guide you and analyze the result. You will form five lines, one in front of each pillar. I want to make it clear that no matter your rank or expectations, this test never lies. Accept the result with dignity and use it as a starting point, not an end."
The murmurs began again among the crowd, but this time they were more controlled, filled with a mixture of hope, apprehension, and respect. Kael looked around the assembly one last time, then stepped back slightly to take his position near the central pillar. His colleagues did the same, each adopting a straight and solemn posture.
Michael, watching the scene, felt a mixture of fascination and tension grow within him. These pillars, these ranks, this ceremony… All of this represented more than a simple test. This was a door to an uncertain future, and he knew he was not the only one who thought so. At this moment, the entire assembly shared that same feverish energy.
Michael took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic beating of his heart. Master Kael's speech had left a lasting impression on him, as it had on the rest of the young people present. Without wasting any more time, he walked with measured steps towards one of the queues that had quickly formed in front of the pillars. The atmosphere was dense, almost palpable, filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
As he advanced to take his place in one of the queues, a sudden noise made him lose all his means. The mechanical noise resonated in his mind clearly, a strange creaking, as if something powerful had just been activated. Then, to his amazement, a robotic voice, cold and devoid of any emotion, invaded him.
[It is detected that it has now been 15 years since the host arrived in this world.]
Michael, his eyes wide, felt his heart tighten in his chest. He was not sure if he had heard correctly. A wave of confusion invaded his mind.
[ Ding ]
The words resonated in him with an unexpected force. He froze in place, his gaze turning livid, the ground beneath his feet suddenly feeling uncertain. His mind grew fuzzy, a multitude of questions racing through his head.
"Did I hear wrong? Did I dream it?" he thought, unable to comprehend what was happening. His mind wandered, trying to piece together the pieces of what had just happened.
And then, the robotic voice rang out again, as if it were coming from somewhere beyond human comprehension.
[The host's system is now waking up.]
The words lodged deep in his mind. Each syllable, each inflection seemed to mark him, like a truth he wasn't ready to hear.
"I… I have a system?"