Once they were finished with the low-grade professions, it was time for Ethan and the others who had been separated at the beginning of the recruitment process.
This time, the Awakeners with high or special mid-grade professions could choose the university they wished to join, except for those with Creator-type professions such as Formation Master, Potion Master, Blacksmith, or Portal Maker, since these professions were automatically assigned to the Visionary University.
The Visionary University specialized exclusively in Creator-type professions and only recruited students with such professions.
Unlike other universities, it did not compete with them but instead maintained close connections, as it supplied the other universities with essential resources and crafted materials.
In truth, the Visionary University functioned more like an organization than a traditional university.
Another peculiar university was Valiant University, which only accepted professions with elemental attributes.
Aside from Visionary University and Valiant University, there were also Monarch University, Sanctum University, Warrior University, Guardian University, Mystic University, and Legion University.
While Visionary and Valiant University showed little interest in rankings or competition, the rest were fiercely competitive, to the point that conflicts between their students often escalated into outright fights.
As usual, Ethan's turn came last.
For some reason, as soon as he stepped forward, all the recruiters except those from Visionary University and Valiant University gathered around him.
"Kid, your profession is new, with unknown potential. It seems strong now, but it could either become even more powerful or much weaker. Whatever the case, Sanctum University will make sure you reach your full potential," said Sanctum's recruiter confidently.
"Don't listen to that idiot," the Warrior University recruiter snapped. "He's just trying to scare you into joining his university. You'd be better off joining Warrior University if you actually want to become strong."
Ethan could already tell where this was going.
Before the argument escalated, he raised his hand, signaling that he wanted to speak.
"I'm grateful for all your offers," Ethan said calmly, "but I've already made up my mind. I wish to join Monarch University."
The Monarch University recruiter immediately grinned.
"You heard the kid. Now scram!" he said, shooing the others away and stepping forward.
The recruiters of the remaining universities simply glared at Monarch University's recruiter and gave up, sighing.
There was no other way.
Ethan had made his choice.
They couldn't force him now, could they?
"Great choice, kid. Unlike the other universities, we don't specialize in just one thing. We've got students with all kinds of powerful professions competing against each other under one banner. It's the perfect place to grow stronger."
"By the way, you can call me Instructor Shawn." He introduced himself and gestured for Ethan to join the group bound for Monarch University.
Among them, Ethan noticed several high-grade professionals.
He moved to stand among them.
Almost immediately, he could feel eyes on him and hear whispers.
"Your profession is a new one, right? Necromancer, was it?"
Ethan turned toward the voice and saw a girl with a stoic expression, arms crossed.
It was the same one who had awakened the Winter Caller profession.
It only took a single sentence for him to find her rude for blurting out his profession so casually without even introducing herself, especially since they were from the same batch and would soon be classmates at the same university.
"Excuse me? Do you need something from me?" Ethan asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Nothing," the woman replied. "I was just curious about your profession."
"If you're curious, then just ask," Ethan said sharply. "Don't go around announcing someone's profession out loud."
The woman frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Yes," Ethan replied bluntly. "You were rude for calling out my profession when you hadn't even introduced yourself."
The woman stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly processing his words.
"Forgive me. I didn't realize I was being rude," she finally said, placing a hand on her chest. "My name is Raiya Snowhart, and my profession is Winter Caller. It's nice to meet you."
Ethan sighed softly. "I'm Ethan Ashenfall, and my profession, as you already know, is Necromancer. Nice to meet you, too."
"You've learned Detection Sense, haven't you?" Ethan asked curiously. "Is that how you found out about my profession?"
Detection Sense was an innate ability that every Awakener possessed from birth, but it could only be used after awakening a profession.
With this skill, one could perceive another person's level and profession.
Of course, it could not reveal attributes or skills, as its use was strictly limited to identifying level and profession.
However, learning Detection Sense would be extremely useful, and there have been assumptions that mastering it to a much higher degree could produce magnificent effects.
Ethan had never learned it, or perhaps the old man had simply been unwilling to teach him, always saying that he would be able to learn it himself once he awakened his profession.
"Yes," Raiya replied with a nod.
"...If you don't mind, could you tell me the principle behind Detection Sense?" Ethan asked.
"It's pretty simple but very hard to master," Raiya explained without hesitation.
"By channeling your Awakened senses, you can perceive the spiritual wavelengths emitted by another Awakener. Each wave carries a distinct signature tied to their class and level. Once recognized, your mind automatically decodes the information."
"Hard to put into words... You know how bats 'see' using sound? They send out tiny signals and read what bounces back. We do something similar, except our signals are energy waves that we sense with our minds, which have been strengthened by spiritual energy."
"Hope it helps."
"It does. Thank you," Ethan nodded.
"Well, I think she explained the core principle,"
Ethan thought, glancing at the instructor, Shawn, who was still finalizing some matters with the other recruiters and the managers of the Awakeners' Hall.
"But that alone isn't enough to actually use it."
Ethan closed his eyes and began to feel the changes in his senses brought about by his awakening.
Human senses were limited, but once someone became an Awakened, those senses underwent an evolution.
They became capable of perceiving multiple levels and wavelengths of existence.
This was primarily related to the spiritual energy one possessed after awakening a profession.
However, even as unawakened humans, many used special training methods to prematurely sense these waves.
Once they became Awakened, their perception of these waves would strengthen instantly, allowing them to use Detection Sense almost immediately.
"Let's see... I have to use my senses to learn the level of an Awakened by detecting the supernatural waves they emit," Ethan murmured as he concentrated.
Before trying it on others, he decided to focus on himself.
He reasoned that if he could sense it on himself, he would be able to do it on others as well.
At first, he felt nothing.
Minutes slipped by before a fleeting sensation brushed the edges of his awareness, a mild gust gliding through his senses.
He reached for it, and soon seven such gusts danced past, each whispering through a different layer of perception.
The moment he grasped the pattern, a fragment of information appeared in his mind.
---
[Profession: Necromancer]
[Level: 7]
---
"I think I got it," Ethan said, opening his eyes and glancing at Raiya, who had been silently observing him.
"Is it okay if I test my Detection Sense on you?" he asked.
"Okay," Raiya agreed, narrowing her eyes slightly.
Ethan nodded and extended his perception toward her.
He focused on the same kind of spiritual wind he had sensed within himself, and soon enough, he felt distinct waves somewhat similar to his own.
In the next moment, another fragment of information surfaced in his mind.
---
[Profession: Winter Caller]
[Level: 6]
---
"Your profession is Winter Caller, and you're level 6," Ethan said.
"You learned Detection Sense?" Raiya asked, eyes wide with disbelief.
"I did, thanks to you," Ethan smiled, turning around just as Instructor Shawn approached their group.
Raiya, however, was still staring at him, stunned.
"It took me three days just to sense the waves, and another three to fully master Detection Sense," she thought, her eyes trembling. "But he, in just a few minutes, not only sensed the waves but also mastered it completely. What kind of ridiculous talent is this?"
To Raiya, Ethan suddenly seemed like the most talented person in the entire world.
"Let's get going," Instructor Shawn said, sending a quick message on his device.
A glowing white circle with intricate patterns and symbols appeared in front of them, and a moment later, a person manifested out of thin air.
"This is Instructor Haruto. He'll be taking us to the university," Shawn introduced, and the students bowed respectfully.
Instructor Haruto narrowed his eyes, scanning the group carefully.
The longer he observed, the more surprise appeared on his face.
"This batch," he muttered. "I've never seen one with such high potential. Compared to the batches from other Awakeners' Halls, this one shines like a moon among stars."
His gaze landed on Ethan, and his surprise turned into shock.
"You even have a student who's already reached level 7?" Haruto said in awe.
"We can discuss that later, Haruto. For now, take us to the university," Instructor Shawn said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Right," Haruto nodded, calming himself.
He raised his hand, activating a skill.
Instantly, the same glowing white circle with intricate runes and symbols manifested beneath everyone's feet, and in the next instant, the entire group vanished from the arena and reappeared somewhere else.
...
[A/N: If you enjoyed the chapter, please consider adding it to your library and supporting it with some Power Stones. Arigato!]