Axel woke up suddenly at the first rays of sunlight filtering through the large windows of his room. He was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. His eyes moved frantically in the dim light, still trapped in the fragments of his disturbing dream.
It was something that happened every night, yet he never got used to it: flames spreading everywhere, people screaming and running, the stench of blood, his desperate cries still echoing in his ears, and its appearance.
Realizing sleep was now impossible, he threw off the soaked sheets and slipped into the hot water of the bathtub, leaving only his nose and mouth above the surface. The warmth calmed him, slowly washing away the lingering traces of the nightmare.
DING DONG
[Message to all boys and girls: breakfast will be served until 11 a.m. in the dining hall, and the ceremony will begin at 12. Thank you for listening.]
The sound of the speakers echoed through every room, and Axel's eyes immediately lit up like suns at the mention of food.
He jumped out of the tub like a hare and dried himself off so fast that some parts of his body were still wet, but he didn't care. He threw on the clothes they had given him and dashed out of the room, heading for the elevator. Once inside, he frantically pressed the buttons, trying to make the doors close faster.
As soon as he reached the floor, he simply followed his nose to the source, and when he finally stepped through the entrance, he almost dropped to his knees at the glorious sight before him.
Row after row of counters, all overflowing with food, just waiting to be eaten.
"Would you like something, sir?" asked one of the waiters politely.
"...Everything."
"Excuse me, what?" the waiter replied, thinking he had misheard.
Axel pointed from one side of the room to the other. "From there to there, I want all of it."
The waiter stared silently at the mountain of food the boy had requested, but since he was paid to serve, he followed the order. Soon, Axel's table was overflowing with plates.
"If this is a dying dream, then let me die happy," Axel muttered, and without the slightest hint of modesty or manners, he began eating like a wild beast.
More people started to arrive not long after, and it was clear that Axel was hard to miss, especially with his face buried in the food like that.
"Do you think he's from one of the poor districts?"
"Very likely."
"Hey, I'm from the poor districts too, but we're not that desperate."
Axel could hear them talking about him, but he didn't care. What he wanted was to hear if there was any interesting news—since back in the confinement camp, information barely made it through.
"I don't think any of the clans have arrived yet."
"They'll probably use teleportation platforms. They've got money, that's for sure."
In the Union Continent, aside from the Government, which managed Earth's affairs, there were four clans focused mainly on exploring the Inverted World. These clans were the Seraphim, Umbra, Aether, and Drakon.
Each of them had centuries of history, and due to their deep ties with the Inverted World, their descendants often awakened incredibly powerful spiritual weapons.
"But you want to hear something crazy? Rumor has it that Aria Luxoria has awakened as a Sinner."
COUGH! COUGH!
Axel, who had been eating a sausage, nearly choked from shock.
Originally, there weren't just four clans, there was a fifth: the Luxoria Clan. It was once considered the most powerful, holding two SSS ranks. But even so, nine years ago, it was completely wiped out, on both Earth and in the Inverted World, in one of the most catastrophic events in recent centuries.
"Is it true that she's the only survivor?"
"Absolutely. Out of the hundred thousand people, including clan members and civilians, she's the only one who made it."
"From what I've heard, all the clans wanted her, not wanting to lose the Luxoria legacy. But she chose to be placed under the Government's protection, and since then… no one really knows what happened. At least, not until yesterday."
Axel tried to keep a neutral expression, but his heart was racing. He couldn't believe such huge news hadn't reached the confinement camp, but then again, given the severe epidemic back then, maybe it was understandable.
He continued eating mechanically, ears tuned for more, but the conversation shifted and the other people nearby were discussing things he didn't care about. He sighed, disappointed.
As breakfast went on, the students around him grew more excited about the upcoming ceremony. But Axel's main concern still seemed to be eating, even though his stomach was about to burst. Eventually, he had to stop.
He stared at the pile of food he could no longer eat as if saying farewell to a beloved partner.
DING DONG
[The ceremony is about to begin. Please make your way to the main reception hall.]
At the announcement, the students stood up from their seats and began heading toward the mentioned hall. Axel followed them from behind, holding his stomach in satisfaction.
It didn't take long to arrive. As they passed through the large doors, they found themselves in a massive hall, impeccably decorated, with a large stage facing hundreds of seats that already looked quite comfortable.
The students began to take their places in an orderly fashion, and soon after, people began stepping onto the stage, causing a wave of murmurs. There were about twenty of them, each more well-known than the next. They were Sinners from the Government who had repeatedly protected people from monster invasions and accomplished great feats in the Inverted World. One person in particular stood out among them.
She was a woman with long black hair and violet eyes, with a strong and athletic figure. Yet she gave off a dangerous aura that warned others not to get too close.
From what Axel could hear, her name was Yuna Valoria. Besides her beauty, she caught everyone's attention because she was a former member of the Aether clan. At only 25 years old, she had reached S-rank and was rumored to be capable of achieving SS-rank by the age of 30, possibly even breaking the record to reach SSS-rank. But those were just rumors, as reaching that rank was no easy task.
Suddenly, the lights went out, and two holographic figures appeared on stage and began to speak.
"Welcome, everyone," said the younger holographic figure.
"I'm glad to see you all here. I am the current President of the Government, Kaelan Draven. The person next to me needs no introduction—a hero who has protected our continent countless times and who will be the headmaster of the academy you are entering: Marcus Steele."
A huge round of applause broke out among the students, which the man returned with a slight nod.
Kaelan Draven continued:
"Today is a special day. Not only are you starting a new chapter in your life, but you'll also have the chance to learn from the best. You'll be given all the tools necessary to become the future defenders of our world. In the academy, you'll learn everything you need to survive the Inverted World. But there's one thing you must never forget: spirit weapons are not just tools for fame, pride, or wealth. They are the hope left to us by our ancestors, meant to bring humanity back to its former glory."
Another loud applause followed, and then it was Marcus's turn to speak again.
"This year, a total of 1001 people have awakened as Sinners, this includes all of you and the members of the clans, which I believe it's time for them to enter."
As he spoke, the hall's doors opened, and around a hundred people entered. Although they were far fewer than those already present, their aura and confidence outclassed the others.
They were divided into groups by clan. The first bore the symbol of a six-winged angel: the Seraphim. The second showed a coiled dragon: the Drakon. The third featured a glowing tree: the Aether. The fourth had a black skull: the Umbra. Finally, the last group was just a single girl bearing a two-headed phoenix: the Luxoria clan.
Axel's gaze locked on that girl. Her cherry-pink eyes and hair were burned into his memory. What had changed, however, was the coldness in her gaze, one that barely hid a raging storm within. It was subtle, almost invisible, but for someone like Axel, who had to read others to survive, it was impossible to miss.
He had to use all his strength not to smile oddly and to keep a neutral expression.
'Not yet. She might not be the answer I'm looking for,' he repeated to himself over and over to stay calm.
The clan members sat in the front rows, as if it were their rightful place, allowing Marcus to continue.
"Welcome," he said in a neutral tone, which the newcomers answered with indifferent nods.
For the clan members, attending the academy meant little. Their clans' knowledge and techniques were far superior. Still, they were required to attend due to an agreement between the Government and the clans.
"Well then. We'll have time to get to know each other during your time at the academy. For now, let's move on to the event you've all been waiting for."
With a signal, one of the people on stage removed a cloth, revealing a cube with strange engravings.
"As few of you may know, this stone holds a large amount of spiritual energy and will allow you to awaken your spirit weapons. Let the first person come forward."
A monitor above the stage lit up with a girl's photo and her personal information—name, surname, age, and place of birth.
The girl stood up nervously, being the first to be called, and with unsteady steps walked up to the stage. There, she was instructed to place her hands on the stone. The girl obeyed, still nervous, and as soon as her hands touched the cube, the engravings glowed briefly. To everyone's surprise, a beautiful spear materialized from the red moon-shaped tattoo on her wrist.
A loud clamor erupted from the audience, and even Axel had to admit that the sight had been fascinating.
Back on the stage, one of the elder figures, Emily Widsong, an expert in evaluations, spoke in a calm but audible voice.
"No unique name. General name: Sapphire Spear. Growth grade: Lower-Positive."
Immediately, the girl's face darkened with disappointment.
Every spiritual weapon had what was called a growth grade, which indicated its potential for development. The grades were ranked as follows: lower (I-G), low (F–D), medium (C–A), high (S–SSS), and exceptional (Z). Each of these was further divided into three categories: negative, neutral, and positive.
In the girl's case, the highest potential her spiritual weapon could reach was grade G.
After her, people were called up one by one. Most received weapons with grades ranging from lower-neutral to medium-negative. A few exceptions managed to get a medium-neutral grade.
Then the atmosphere shifted. The next name belonged to a member of the Umbra Clan—Orion Umbra, to be exact. He was seventeen years old and the first son of the current Umbra Clan leader.
He walked with calm, silent steps, his posture straight and unbothered. His wavy black hair moved gently with his steps, and his ruby-red eyes were fixed on the stone at the center of the stage.
Once there, he placed his hands on the stone. Instantly, the carvings glowed dimly, and from the tattoo on his arm, a dagger materialized, covered in a dark mist.
"Unique name: Silent Night. Growth grade: High-Positive."
The room fell into a stunned silence before exploding into whispers. No one had surpassed the medium-neutral grade until now, and the fact that it was a member of the Umbra Clan who did it shocked everyone. But that wasn't all.
As Orion left the stage, the other members of the Umbra Clan stepped up one by one. Not a single one received below a medium-neutral grade.
Next, it was time for the Drakon Clan.
The first to approach was Cain Drakon. He was seventeen, with short dark red hair, black eyes, and a tall but lean build. His arrogant walk and sly smile made it clear what kind of person he was.
When he placed his hands on the stone, the carvings glowed bright red. His weapon materialized: a large hammer adorned with intricate carvings of dragons coiled around each other.
"Unique name: Raging Dragons. Growth grade: High-Positive."
A new wave of noise filled the room. He was the second person to receive a High-Positive grade.
"I was wondering why you called that bunch of trash before us," he said with a scornful laugh. "But now I get it. You didn't want them to feel too crushed by the gap between us."
His mocking words stirred visible anger among those from the government faction.
"If you're done, Mr. Cain, please step down and make room for the next participant," said the hologram of the president, locking eyes with him.
Cain obeyed lazily, and the next person stood, his cousin, Hiro Drakon.
"Don't embarrass yourself, little cousin, okay?" Cain said mockingly.
"Shut your mouth, Cian," Hiro replied coldly, brushing past him with a shoulder bump.
Hiro was fifteen, the son of the current Drakon Clan leader. Unlike Cain, he was slightly shorter, had blue eyes, and a noticeable scar on his face. His gaze was more serious and mature than his older cousin's.
He climbed the stage, nodded politely at those present, and placed his hands on the stone. Immediately, the carvings glowed a blinding fiery red. To everyone's amazement, a scaly, winged creature appeared, circling Hiro a few times before perching on his shoulder.
"So you've awakened a spirit," Emily Windsong remarked.
"Say it," Hiro told her, stroking the creature.
"Unique name not yet available. General name: Lesser Dragon. Growth grade... Exceptional-Negative."
Once again, the entire area erupted into chaos. Even those on stage couldn't hide their surprise.
It was known that in the last few decades, only one person had achieved that degree of growth: the current leader of the Seraphim Clan.
Hiro returned to his seat next to Cain and said mockingly, "Looks like you embarrassed yourself after all, cousin."
Cain didn't reply, but the way his hands gripped the arms of his chair made it clear just how angry he was.