"I don't ask for much. "
The teacher continued.
"Even if you don't awaken an A-rank talent like Lucian would, I would be satisfied with a rank-C or even rank-D talent. But the most important instruction I will give to you all is to survive."
Her eyes flickered towards Lucian for a second as she blinked before turning to the rest of the students. However, it was only one of her eyelid that blinked!
"You all are the hope of humanity, the future leaders of tomorrow. Don't let us down!"
…
The town's Mayor as well as the schools principal and other high council members stood on the second floor of the building.
They stared below at the students, most especially at Lucian.
Principal Thomas suddenly chuckled. "They sure look cozy."
Mayor Grant gave a faint smile as he responded. "Lucian is a good guy and my daughter is not to bad. They are a match made in heaven."
The high council members nodded their heads in unison as they chipped in.
Suddenly the Principal spoke. "Are you sure about Lucian?"
The Mayor's smile froze for a split second before confident smile appeared on his face.
"To obtain that item, I risked my life. My strength reduced all the way to level 40 Super Soldier realm. You think I would joke around with something like this?"
The Principal wanted to say something but then sighed and kept quiet.
A glint flashed through the Mayor's face. After all the sacrifices he made. His daughter, his strength, joining those people? He wasn't going to let anyone stop his rise.
…
The instructor looked at the time and said seriously, "The time has arrived. Prepare to enter the portal!"
The students immediately started entering the portal one after the other.
Soon, it was Lucian's turn. He felt Veronica clutching his arm tightly.
Lucian smiled at her cuteness and then pulled her along with him as they entered the portal.
The portal was a blue film-like substance that seemed more like a membrane than a bubble.
Suddenly, Lucian felt as though he was falling through an endless abyss. Then an extremely sickening feeling assaulted his brain, as though he had drunk 20 bottles of vodka simultaneously.
His head felt incredibly dizzy, and he instantly staggered but regained his footing.
It wasn't until after stabilizing himself for a few seconds that he realized he was already on solid ground.
He opened his eyes and was greeted by an extremely vast open space.
It was as though he had entered another world entirely. But he knew this world as simply the Galactic Tower's lobby.
Rumor was that no one had ever reached the end of the Galactic Lobby, as it was incredibly massive in size and endless.
"Bleergh!"
He heard the sound of people vomiting and noticed that they were his classmates.
Not even Veronica nor Chris were able to hold it in. But as an experienced alcoholic in his previous life, Lucian was quite used to this feeling.
Suddenly, he looked up as countless beams of golden light descended from above and enveloped the students one after the other.
Lucian reached for his spear but wasn't really surprised by the appearance of the golden light. The instructors in the academy had told them what to expect before entering the Tower. It was the awakening of talents.
As soon as the golden light landed on the students one by one, within a few moments, the chat channel was in a frenzy.
"Fuck! It's time to awaken your talent!"
"So excited! I don't know what level of talent I will awaken. Hope it's not too bad!"
"Yeah! I'm so worried that I've awakened a shitty talent!"
---
Very soon, holographic images of people's skills started floating above their heads.
[E-rank Talent Awakened: Strength Enhancement (When using talent, host's strength is doubled)]
"Haha! I awakened an E-rank combat talent! An E-rank talent! My strength is more than doubled too!"
Another student laughed heartily.
[E-rank Talent Awakened: Speed Enhancement (When using talent, host's speed is doubled)]
"Haha! I am speed enhancement. When using talent, the speed is doubled too!"
"Mine isn't bad either! My hearing is strengthened, and when I use my innate ability, my hearing ability is doubled."
"Fuck! Mine is actually a D-rank elemental talent, wind manipulation!"
At that moment, two beams of golden light enveloped both Veronica and Chris at the same time.
A holographic image appeared right above them.
[C-rank Talent Awakened: Ice Manipulation (Conjure and control the ice elements around you)]
[A-rank Talent Awakened: Blue Flame Manipulation (Condense incredibly hot blue flames to overwhelm your enemies)]
The instant these two holograms appeared, everyone within the lobby seemed to have sensed it as an incredible amount of mana burst out of the two like a dam.
Ice enveloped Veronica's surroundings as snowflakes fluttered around her, while on the left, incredibly powerful blue flames erupted from Chris's hands and eyes, and even his hair floated with blue flames.
They even started melting the surrounding snowflakes like candle wax.
"W-what the hell!?"
"A C-rank talent and an A-rank talent appearing at the same time!? It must be Lucian for sure!"
"It's no wonder the mayor dotes on him a lot. Even his daughter seems to have rubbed some luck off him and awakened a C-rank skill."
The students watching sighed in jealousy.
"Wait a minute. That isn't Lucian but his best friend, Chris."
The golden light faded, and the mana emanating from Chris also receded as he learned to control his strength, revealing who he was.
"What!?"
"How's that possible!?"
"First Veronica, now Chris?"
"This is making me look forward to the monstrous talent Lucian would unlock!"
Lucian was quite surprised seeing both his girlfriend and his best friend awaken high-level talents. Their futures would surely be limitless when they cleared the first floor of the Tower and exited to the outside world.
Just as Lucian was about to say something, a golden light suddenly slammed directly into him.
"BOOOM!"
Suddenly, Lucian felt an extremely vast but warm energy enter his body. It seemed to be searching for something inside of him before settling directly at the center of his heart.
The vast energy faded, leaving Lucian wanting more from it. However, he still couldn't feel anything.
In frustration, he opened his eyes.
He could feel the entire plaza had turned incredibly silent. Even Chris and Veronica gaped in shock as they looked above his head.
"I-it can't be!"
"H-how could such a talent appear on him!?"
"It's impossible!!"