The classroom was filled with a quiet tension. Every student in the room sat upright, eyes fixed on the instructor at the front. Today was an important day—one that determined their future.
Kaelen leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. He wasn't nervous, nor was he excited. He simply watched, waiting. The lecture wasn't anything new. By now, every fourteen-year-old in the world knew how the system worked.
"Awakening," Instructor Gaius began, his deep voice echoing through the hall, "is the foundation of power. It is the process of stepping beyond mortality and into the world of the strong. Every one of you is born as Soul 0, but not everyone will awaken."
The room remained silent. They all knew this. They had heard it a hundred times. But this wasn't just theory anymore. Today, it became real.
"When the time comes, some of you will receive the call. Within 24 hours, you must accept or reject your trial. If you accept, you will be transported into a mental world, where your soul will be tested." Gaius paused, scanning the students. "Should you succeed, you will return as a Soul 1, with your own unique ability. Should you fail... well, I don't need to tell you what happens then."
A few students swallowed nervously. The consequences of failure weren't openly discussed, but everyone had heard the stories.
Kaelen didn't react. He had long since accepted that fear was useless. If he got chosen, he would accept. If he didn't, then that simply meant he had to find another path to power.
At that moment, a sharp ringing sound echoed in his mind. A voice—cold, emotionless—spoke directly to him.
[Potential detected. Awakening trial available.]
Kaelen's fingers twitched slightly, but he showed no reaction. The system had chosen him. He glanced around the room. Judging by the wide eyes of a few others, he wasn't the only one.
Gaius smirked. "Looks like some of you have received your call. You have 24 hours to decide. Choose wisely."
---
Later that night, Kaelen sat in his small apartment, staring out the window. His younger sister, Lilia, was fast asleep in the next room.
[Do you accept the Awakening Trial? Y/N]
He exhaled slowly. He had already made his decision.
"Yes."
The world around him twisted. His vision blurred, and in an instant, he was gone.
---
[Welcome to the Awakening Trial.]
Kaelen found himself standing in an endless void. Shadows stretched infinitely in every direction, shifting and twisting like a living thing. A presence loomed above him, unseen but undeniable.
"Your trial begins now."
A low growl echoed in the darkness. Something was coming.
Kaelen smiled. "Let's begin."