3… 2… 1…
"Who's that?"
"Which school is she from?"
"She's quite pretty."
"Is she a hero's descendant?"
"She looks like a foreigner."
"I don't think she's from Country C."
Click. Click. Click.
A girl in a white shirt, blue tie, and a short navy skirt that swayed slightly with each step. Her thick jet-black hair fell softly over her shoulder, skin fair. Irises pale and white blue.
She moved through the crowd with quiet confidence, her eyes sharp and focused.
The murmuring students parted slightly as she walked past them.
Step by step, she approached the table.
Then stopped right in front of the orb.
The entire stadium watched.
An officer standing beside the table glanced at her.
"Details?" he asked.
"Mu Liani," she replied calmly.
"Silver Rings High."
"Seventeen."
The officer nodded and gestured toward the orb.
"Start."
Mu Liani stepped forward.
Without hesitation, she placed her hand on the orb.
Immediately, the sphere began to glow.
Soft light spread across its smooth surface.
For a moment, the entire stadium held its breath.
Whispers began spreading through the crowd.
"What do you think her rank will be?"
"Probably C… maybe B because she's pretty."
"Should we bet on whether or not she has a hidden trait?"
A boy scoffed.
"I bet she's nothing but a show-off."
"Trust me, rich kids are always like that."
Tia listened quietly from the side.
Hmm…
His eyes narrowed slightly.
These kids really don't know who they're talking about.
The orb's light lit brightly.
Then it slowly dimmed.
The screen flickered.
Words began appearing one by one.
Status: Awakened.
A collective gasp swept across the stadium.
The next line appeared.
Rank: A
Power Type: Predictive Instinct
Core Trait: Frost Affinity
A wave of shock spread through the stadium.
Their eyes widened, jaws dropped.
"A… an A rank! This is crazy!"
"And with a core power trait!"
"Not fair, not fair!"
"What a bright future ahead!"
"Maybe there is hope after all"
"Hey move, I wanna go next."
"No way, I was here before you!"
"Next," an officer called.
"Hah! I remember now. Her core trait. How could I forget such most powerful and dangerous core trait."
Tia watched as fates were being measured, future decided in seconds.
A boy fell to his knees crying as his system… all hope vanished from his eyes instantly.
Status: Awakened
Rank: D
Power Type: Strength Enhancement
Core Trait: Swordsmanship
"Damn, what a waste of trait."
"It's not that bad."
"He can make it in some unit. His core trait is nice."
"Next!" the officer called.
Tia moved forward, stepping out from the crowd.
It's now or never.
"Details."
"Ming Tia Xu." he replied, a cold sweat ran down his temples.
"Clifflong High."
"Eighteen."
The officer nodded toward the orb.
"Start."
Tia stepped forward.
What's the point of doing this when the result will be the same…
His gaze fell on the silent orb.
But what if it isn't?
What if it goes well… like the first exam?
What if… an S-rank awaits?
His chest tightened.
A strange feeling stirred deep inside him.
For some reason…
I feel like my life is about to change in a way I won't recognize.
His fingers tightened slightly, heart pounding as he slowly reached out.
Besides…
What's the worst that could happen?
Finally pressed his palm against the cold surface of the orb.
His heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears.
Thump.
Thump.
The stadium fell into complete silence.
Thousands of eyes watched.
Waiting.
The air felt thick.
Heavy.
Seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
The orb remained dull and lifeless.
A ripple of disbelief ran through Tia.
No…
No, this can't be happening.
I shouldn't have done this.
Whispers began spreading through the crowd.
"Did it fail?"
"Maybe he has no ability."
"Is this the system's fault?"
"Poor kid."
"What a failure."
"He should hurry and get out, my feet are aching."
One of the officers frowned and stepped forward.
"Next—"
Then suddenly—
The orb flickered.
A faint glow appeared beneath Tia's hand.
The light spread slowly through the sphere.
Tia froze.
An unfamiliar energy moved through his body.
His eyes widened.
"It… it's glowing," he muttered.
Was I wrong?
Did I judge too quickly?
A murmur moved through the stadium.
"No way…"
"Is he a high ranker?"
The orb began to vibrate.
Thin lines of cracked light spread across its surface.
The officers stiffened.
"What's happening?" one whispered.
The glow grew larger, then slowly disappeared.
The orb went dark.
Cold beneath his hand.
The stadium fell into uneasy silence.
Then symbols began appearing on the screen.
One examiner leaned forward, eyes widening.
"What the—"