Michael stood there, frozen, his mind in utter confusion. Around him, the murmur of the young contestants and the tumult of the arena faded away, as if drowned in a fog. The words he had just heard still echoed in his head:
[The host system is now waking up.]
A part of him wanted to believe that he had misheard, but another part knew that this was not a simple dream or hallucination. This was real. And it was terrifying.
The murmurs among the youngsters quickly grew louder, attracting the attention of those patiently waiting their turn. Michael, his eyes fixed and his expression absent, seemed completely disconnected from the reality around him. This unusual attitude quickly fueled the curiosity and judgments of the other participants.
A boy with spiky blond hair leaned toward his neighbor, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"You think he gave up before he even touched the pillar? Look at him, he looks like he's going to faint!"
The remark elicited a stifled laugh from the neighbor in question, a sturdy boy with a round face.
"Maybe he's figured out he doesn't stand a chance here. This kind of place is for real talent, not dreamers."
Further down the line, a girl with long black hair, dressed with a discreet elegance that betrayed her belonging to an influential family, eyed Michael with a mixture of contempt and disinterest.
"This is pathetic," she murmured to a friend. "Why come here if you're going to lose your nerve in front of everyone?"
Her friend, a younger girl with rosy cheeks, nodded sympathetically.
"Maybe he's just too nervous… Not everyone is used to this kind of pressure."
But the compassion wasn't shared by all. An older boy, probably a noble from a martial house judging by the richness of his clothing, crossed his arms and began speaking loudly enough for Michael to hear.
"Someone should tell him this is an awakening test, not a play. If he wants to get attention, he should at least pretend to have talent."
These words triggered a wave of laughter from the group around him. Some looked at Michael with mocking smiles, others with malicious curiosity, waiting to see if he would react.
"I bet he'll run away before he gets to the pillar," a young man joked, provoking another burst of laughter.
However, not everyone shared this mocking spirit. A silent girl with piercing eyes, placed a few rows behind Michael, frowned as she watched him. Unlike the others, she seemed intrigued rather than amused. She muttered to herself, "It's not just fear… There's something wrong with him."
But her voice was lost in the growing hubbub. The taunts continued to fly, and Michael, however, did not move.
A boy with an angular face approached slightly, wearing a wry smile.
"Hey, are you going to stay like that all day? If you're scared, you can still go home, no one will judge you... well, not too much."
[ Ding ]
The cold, relentless mechanical voice rang out in his head again, erasing all external perception.
These comments flew, but Michael did not hear them. His attention was entirely focused on his mind. Ignoring the taunts, he took a deep breath and tried something unusual, as if it were natural. He mentally called out:
"System? Are you there?"
To his surprise, the same cold, mechanical voice answered almost immediately, ringing in his mind like a bell.
[ I am Host. The system is operational. ]
Michael felt his heart race, a mixture of apprehension and excitement coursing through him. He clenched his fists to hide the trembling in his hands and asked, in an inner voice,
"Who are you? Introduce yourself."
The voice continued, still calm and emotionless:
[I am the Universal Reputation System.]
"The Universal Reputation System? What the hell is this?"
[This is not a delusion, host; it is reality. My primary objective is to support the host in their quest to become the most powerful being across all universes. This system is based on the fundamental principle that true power is inseparable from recognition. ]
These words hit Michael like a wave. "The most powerful being across all universes?" he repeated inwardly, unable to hide his disbelief. But before he could ask more questions, the system continued.
[ To accomplish this objective, I am equipped with advanced functionalities tailored to your needs. Would you like a detailed presentation? ]
Michael mentally nodded, curious yet slightly nervous.
"Go ahead, explain your functions to me."
The system responded with clinical precision:
[ The role of the Universal Reputation System is to provide the host with the means to grow in strength and influence. Here is a summary of my main features:
1- Reputation Points: Every interaction the host has with other living beings generates reputation points. These points are accumulated based on the emotions, thoughts, or impressions others have of you, whether positive or negative. Any attention directed toward the host contributes to increasing these points.
2- Copy: Reputation points can be used to copy any traits, such as cultivation talent, skills, objects, and even unique abilities. However, there is one restriction: points cannot directly influence the host's cultivation level.
3- Final Goal: Ultimate power lies in the combination of raw strength and influence. This system guides you to become an unmissable figure, a legend recognized across all universes. ]
Michael remained silent for a moment, digesting this information. He now understood the system's essence: becoming famous, even iconic, was the key to unlocking his true potential. But this raised an important question.
"Are you saying I have to be seen, heard, admired, or even feared to progress? That I can't simply hide away and cultivate in silence?"
The system replied without hesitation:
[ Correct. The host's growth relies on their ability to attract attention, no matter its nature. ]
A shiver ran down Michael's spine. He understood what this meant: he couldn't be a shadowy figure, quietly evolving. This system pushed him to step into the spotlight, to embrace fame or infamy, whatever it took to move forward.
A faint, bitter smile crossed his face. "So, you want to make me a legend, a figure impossible to ignore."
[ Correct. The more recognized the host is, the more their potential will be unlocked. Does the host have any further questions? ]
Michael paused for a moment, but before he could ask more questions, he heard the mocking voices around him again.
"Look at him, he hasn't even moved an inch."
"Pathetic. Maybe he should give up before even touching a pillar."
These words made him lift his gaze slightly. He couldn't respond directly yet, but one thing was certain: with this system, those laughs would soon be silenced.
Michael Osiris stood tall, his eyes fixed on the crowd that continued to sneer at him. A spark of determination shone in his gaze as he clenched his fists. "With all the books I've written in my past life, I never liked protagonists who stayed in the shadows. Thanks to this system, I'll become the rising star of planet Nova!" he thought.
In a firm tone, he murmured:
"System, display my status."
A translucent window appeared before his eyes, visible only to him:
[ Host: Michael Osiris
Cultivation Realm: None
Cultivation Talent: None
Unique Talent: None
Martial Skills: None
Reputation Points: 500]
Michael frowned at the number 500.
"How do I already have 500 reputation points when you've only just awakened?" he asked curiously.
The system's mechanical voice resonated in his mind:
[Ding. The system activated a few minutes ago. During this time, the host earned reputation points due to the mockery of other participants. Their disdain generated notoriety toward you.]
A smile spread across Michael's lips.
"So even their disdain benefits me? Interesting. I'm starting to understand how you work."
Michael watched the line slowly move forward, each participant approaching the crystal pillar in palpable tension. Some showed clear nervousness, while others tried to mask their unease with a false air of confidence.
A skinny, pale boy was next. His hands trembled slightly as he placed his palm. The air grew heavy with anticipation, but the pillar reacted only faintly. A gray, dull, flickering light barely rose above the surface.
"Lower rank talent!" announced the examiner, Kael, in a monotone voice, not even lifting his eyes from his register.
The boy lowered his head, his shoulders slumped in shame. He silently returned to the crowd, but the jeers were quick to follow.
"Seriously, he should have just not come."
"Even a rat would have more talent than that!"
Michael watched the scene carefully, his face impassive. "If even a lowly talent is subjected to this kind of treatment, I can't imagine the reaction for someone who has none…" he thought.
Then it was a young girl's turn. Unlike the previous boy, she stood straight, her head held high, her long hair neatly tied back. When she placed her hand on the pillar, a bright blue light burst forth almost immediately, casting bright reflections around her.
"Medium rank talent." Kael's voice had changed slightly, showing a hint of approval.
The young girl beamed and bowed her head respectfully before returning to the crowd. A few murmurs of admiration rose up:
"She was lucky."
"Mid-rank is not bad. She has a future."
Kael, the examiner, watched the girl leave, his face serious. "Hm, it's rare to see a blue light in this region. Auralis is not known for its promising talents. Even a mid-rank here is considered remarkable. Perhaps this girl has a chance to leave this insignificant province."
He turned his head to the next line, his cold, indifferent eyes settling on the next participant. A man in his thirties, his face marked by the harshness of life, stepped forward, visibly nervous. His hands were calloused, testifying to hard work, and his clothes were simple, almost tattered. He placed his palm on the pilar, and the silence stretched.
The pillar remained still. Not a single light escaped.
A murmur of shock ran through the crowd.
"No talent…" Kael said, his tone even flatter than usual.
The man seemed frozen in place, as if the world had just collapsed around him.
"Come on, move. You're wasting our time," one of the guards posted near the pillar growled, gently nudging him to leave his spot.
The snickers grew louder in the crowd:
"No wonder he looks like that. Zero talent, zero future."
"He should have stayed home, seriously."
The man looked away, clenching his fists to hold back tears, and slowly walked away, his head bowed.
Kael sighed inwardly. "Why do they insist on making these people with no potential go through this public humiliation?" If the pillar doesn't react, then they have no place in the world of cultivation. Yet, they cling to hope like insects to a flame. Pathetic."
Michael, meanwhile, watched all this with heightened interest. He felt a strange empathy for this talentless man. But a lingering thought comforted him: "I may have started at the bottom, but thanks to the system, I will change my fate. These mockeries will soon become cheers."
The parade continued. Gray lights, green, and sometimes even none at all. The examiners didn't have much work here, as superior talents were almost nonexistent in this region. But suddenly, a noticeable change occurred.
A young man stepped forward, his bearing different from the others. His clothes, although simple, bore a touch of refinement, and his face expressed an almost natural confidence. He calmly placed his hand on the pillar, and immediately, a purple light shot out, enveloping the space in an ethereal glow.
A stunned silence fell, quickly broken by Kael:
"Advanced-rank talent!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with rare excitement.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder:
"A purple light? That's incredible!"
"Who is this boy?"
After several similar evaluations, an aura of tension rose in the air as the next participant stepped forward. It was a young man with black hair and piercing eyes, dressed in a simple but elegant uniform. When he placed his hand on the pillar, a bright purple light illuminated the area, causing exclamations of surprise among the spectators.
"Advanced-rank talent!" the examiner declared with a hint of rare enthusiasm.
Michael, intrigued, murmured:
"System, scan him."
A new status window appeared in front of him:
[Name: Aren Valthar
Cultivation Realm: None
Cultivation Talent: Advanced Rank
Unique Talent: Speed (Basic Rank)
Martial Skills: None
Treasure: None ]
Michael's eyes widened as he read this information. "Aren Valthar… That name rings a bell. Oh, of course! Rumor had it that one of the governor's sons would be participating in the assessment today. So it's him."
He looked at Aren carefully. "A tiger's son is one too…" he thought, admiring the young man's poise. Then, an idea crossed his mind.
"System, I want to copy his advanced talent!" he thought with determination.
The mechanical voice sounded again:
[Ding. The host has used 350 reputation points to copy an advanced talent. Congratulations to the host for awakening an advanced talent.]
Michael felt a warm, powerful energy flow through his body. He opened his status window to see the change:
[Host: Michael Osiris
Cultivation Realm: None
Cultivation Talent: Advanced Rank
Unique Talent: None
Martial Skills: None
Reputation Points: 150 ]
A satisfied smile lit up his face. "This system is truly my most valuable asset. No matter how much they laugh today, soon, they won't be able to look away."
Michael stood still, patient, waiting for his turn while carefully observing the talents that continued to appear. A new era was beginning for him.