Lemuria City. Lemurian Hunter Academy.
"Listen carefully. This is your final awakening ceremony."
The instructor's words resonated in the hearts of every student in the field.
Rows of students stood in nervous clusters while teachers called names from a registration list. Some students whispered excitedly to their friends. Others remained silent, staring at the crystal pedestal as though their fate was already written there.
Among them stood a young man named Aaron Emegrey.
Compared to the restless terrified crowd around him, Aaron Emegrey appeared unusually calm. He stood with his hands in his pockets, quietly observing the ceremony as if he were watching a performance rather than participating in it.
The reason for his composure was simple.
Aaron was not originally from this world.
Four months ago, he had been an ordinary university student on a planet called Modern Earth. His life there had been painfully normal. He attended lectures, worried about exams, late nights gaming, and occasionally wondered what it would be like to live inside one of those fantasy novels he enjoyed reading.
Then one evening, everything went dark.
When he woke up again, he found himself inside the body of another eighteen-year-old boy with the exact same name.
After a brief period of confusion, he realized he had transmigrated.
The world he now lived in was far more dangerous than his Earth. Monsters roamed the wilderness outside every city, and survival depended heavily on the power granted by one's Awakened Class. Those with strong combat classes could rise to fame and wealth, while those with weak or non-combat classes often lived quiet and normal lives.
And now the day of awakening had finally arrived.
Two centuries had passed since the Collapse, when rifts tore through reality and flooded the world with creatures that belonged in nightmares.
The First Opening Cataclysm destroyed everything.
Humanity had nearly fallen, but luckily, the age of Awakeners arrived, individuals whose bodies evolved, granting them classes and abilities that defied anything humans thought was possible outside of fantasy books.
The war had been brutal, lasting decades, but eventually humanity clawed back its survival. Now, the age of eighteen represented a possibility, a chance to join the ranks of those who shaped the world rather than merely existed in it.
And today, in the city of Lemuria City, another group of students was about to take their first step into that dangerous world.
The awakening ceremony, officially called the Class Change Ceremony, was being held in the athletic field of Lemurian Hunter Academy.
"We will proceed, Place your hands on the stone. If you've awakened, it will respond. If not...you know your fate," Instructor continued.
Every student present understood how important this moment was.
Because once a Class was awakened, it could never be changed.
Whatever you get is who you are until the day you die.
Your future.
Your status.
"Aaron, seriously you look way too relaxed."
The voice came from the boy standing beside him.
That boy was Rei, one of the few friends the original Aaron had during his school years. Rei as tall, thin, and currently sweating as though he had just run a marathon.
Aaron glanced at him.
"You're shaking," he said.
"Of course I'm shaking!" Rei whispered fiercely. "This is the awakening ceremony! My entire future depends on what happens today.
Aaron tilted his head slightly. "Worrying about it won't change the result."
"That's easy for you to say!"Rei groaned. "What if I get an E-rank class? My dad is going to start looking for a replacement son. 'What if I get Herbalist? I'm dead then.'
Aaron shrugged, the motion loose and unbothered. "Then you'll make the best potions in the city and sell them for stupid money. Relax."
Rei stared at him like he'd grown a second head.
Classes in this world were ranked from E to S, with E being the lowest and S representing the rare geniuses who could change the fate of cities. Even within combat classes, the difference between ranks was enormous.
Someone with an S-rank combat class could become a legendary hunter.
Someone with an E-rank class might struggle to survive outside the city walls.
"I'd be happy with a C rank," Rei continued nervously. "A B rank would be incredible. If I somehow get an A rank I might actually faint on the spot."
Aaron chuckled softly. "Try to stay alive long enough before you touch the crystal."
Before Rei could respond, the ceremony officially began.
One of the academy instructors stepped forward and raised his voice booming across the field so the entire stadium could hear him.
"The awakening ceremony will now begin. When your name is called, step forward and place your hand on the Awakening Crystal. Your Class and rank will be announced immediately."
The first student was called.
A boy stepped forward and nervously touched the crystal.
The sphere glowed with pale light for several seconds before displaying his result.
"Class: Iron Guard," the instructor announced. "Rank: C."
Applause rippled through the stadium.
Iron Guard was a defensive combat class. While it lacked flashy attacks, it was valued by many hunting teams for its durability.
Student after student stepped forward.
Some results were met with cheers.
Others with quiet disappointment.
"Class: Herbalist. Rank B."
"Class: Flame Adept. Rank E."
"Class: Stone Warrior. Rank C."
As the ceremony continued, the tension among the waiting students grew heavier.
Eventually, the instructor called another name.
"Rei Lang."
Rei stiffened immediately.
"This is it," he whispered.
Aaron patted his shoulder. "Try not to faint."
Rei shot him a desperate look before walking toward the crystal pedestal.
The entire stadium seemed to hold its breath as he placed his palm against the glowing sphere.
The crystal flickered with green light.
A moment later, the instructor announced the result.
"Class: Scout. Rank: C."
Rei forze.
Then a wide grin spread across his face.
A C-rank Scout was a respectable combat class specializing in speed and reconnaissance. It wasn't the most glamorous role, but it guaranteed opportunities to join hunting parties.
He practically ran back toward Aaron.
"I DIDN'T GET AN E RANK!" he whispered excitedly.
Aaron laughed quietly. "Told you."
Rei's excitement gradually settled, and he looked at Aaron with renewed nervousness.
"You're up next, Good Luck."
Aaron nodded.
Sure enough, only a few names later, the instructor spoke again.
"Aaron Emegrey."
Aaron walked toward the pedestal, feeling the weight of a thousand eyes.
He could feel the faint warmth of sunlight on his face as he approached the pedestal. The Awakening Core emitted a soft humming sound that resonated faintly in his chest.
For a brief moment, he wondered what kind of Class awaited him.
Combat class?
Support class?
Or something entirely different?
He placed his hand against the crystal.
The sphere flickered.
The light that emerged was dim, murky glow.
A few seconds later, the instructor's voice rang out across the stadium.
"Class: Laborer."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
The instructor continued.
"Rank: E."
The murmurs quickly turned into laughter.
'Laborer' was the punchline of the awakening world. It meant you had a bit more stamina for hauling bricks. In a world of fireballs and lightning, an E-rank Laborer was essentially a civilian with a fancy title. The "trash" of the academy, it offered almost nothing in terms of combat power.
In short, it was considered one of the worst classes a person could awaken.
Aaron removed his hand from the crystal.
He could hear the stinging whispers.
"An E-rank Laborer? Why did he even bother showing up?"
"Guess someone has to clean the monster dung out of the dungeons."
"So he's officially the trash of the class."
But strangely, he didn't feel particularly upset.
Maybe it was because he had already lived one life on Modern Earth, or maybe it was because he had never expected extraordinary luck in the first place.
Either way, he turned and calmly walked back toward Rei.
Rei looked horrified.
"Brother... that's... uh... that's not right."
He clearly didn't know what to say.
Aaron shrugged lightly.
"It could be worse."
Rei stared at him, genuinely confused. "Worse? Brother Aaron, you're officially the academy's designated pack-mule. What could possibly be worse than that?"
Aaron opened his mouth to answer.
But before he could speak, something strange happened.
A cold mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.
Ding.
Aaron stopped walking.
The voice continued.
[System initialization complete!]
[Player detected: Aaron Emegrey]
[Unique Ability: Effort Theft System Successfully Bound.]
Aaron's pupils shrank slightly.
System?
For a moment, memories of countless novels he had read on Earth flashed through his mind.
Then the voice spoke again.
[The player's growth is no longer bound by effort.]
[Player can steal the growth of others]
[System rule: All rewards obtained by the player will be Minimal Effort "Maximum Reward" with random amplification]
Aaron stood there, the "trash" of the academy, while the ceremony carried on around him.
He had the worst Class in the room. And suddenly, he realized that meant he was the only one who was actually going to have any fun.