Cherreads

Chapter 5 - Chapter 2 :Awakening Ceremony 1

Renji woke up to the harsh buzz of his alarm clock. Sunlight crept through the thin curtains into his small, messy room, cutting across half-folded uniforms and an old martial arts poster pinned to the wall. He blinked the sleep away and groaned, dragging himself out of bed.

He pulled on his usual faded t-shirt and jeans, trying not to care. His phone screen was blank again—no calls, no messages. Not that he was expecting any.Even the strange fuggy and shadowey figure with a cold and sharp dangerous red eyes,who is supposed to be his father never called.But he remembered his name "Cain" yes "Coin Kurozawa" so that means my full name is "Renji Kurozawa" really ?

He trudged down the cracked stairs of his apartment and into the street where school life had already started to buzz. As he neared the academy gates, laughter and chatter flooded the air like birdsong.

Inside class, Mr. Ains stood at the front, wearing his signature sharp glasses and blue t-shirt tucked into formal trousers. He was always calm, the kind of man who didn't raise his voice but still made everyone fall silent.

"Today," he said, scanning the room, "is your Awakening Ceremony."

Gasps. Whispers. Someone in the back muttered, "Already?"

Mr. Ains raised a hand. "Yes. Maybe our next hero is in this very room. But remember—your life matters too. Not everyone awakens something powerful. Still, every ability counts. Even a mole's."

Renji swallowed. He had no expectations, and yet—he hoped.

Soon they were all on the big yellow school bus, headed toward the main courtyard of the Swap Region's Awakened Academy. The ride passed in a blur of nerves, chatter, and jokes.

The Awakening Courtyard glowed in soft golden hues, filled with stone pathways, ancient pillars, and at its center, the shimmering Awakening Stone — a relic said to react with the soul itself.

Students lined up. Everyone looked nervous. Even the loudest ones had gone quiet.

Max stepped up first. He placed his hand on the stone. A soft brown light flickered.

"Mole-type, F-rank," the guide called. Snickers from behind. Max walked away red-faced.

Claire stepped up, hand trembling. White feathers burst out.

"Chicken-type, E-rank." The crowd laughed hard.

Jake followed. His eyes gleamed briefly, glowing a green hue.

"Lizard-type, D-rank."

Then came Emily. She bounced lightly, and her aura shimmered pink.

"Rabbit-type, D-rank."

Sam stepped forward. Serpentine tattoos slithered across his arms.

"Snake-type, C-rank." Some people clapped.

Lucy walked up quietly. Her bunny traits were cuter, more refined.

"Rabbit-type, C-rank."

Tom stepped forward confidently, cracking his knuckles.

"Rat-type, C-rank." He grinned, soaking in the murmurs.(All awakened in Bronze Rank)

Then the courtyard quieted. A single name whispered through the line:

Denji.

He walked with a calm confidence, tall and composed. He was almost six feet tall with deep brown skin, short black hair, and amber-yellow eyes that seemed to glow slightly even without powers. His athletic build made him stand out—lean but muscular, like someone used to training, fighting, surviving.

Everyone watched. Some held their breath.

Denji raised his hand and placed it on the Awakening Stone.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

BOOM!

The sky cracked as a blast of yellow lightning shot out from the stone. It lit the entire courtyard, tendrils dancing across the air and forcing everyone to shield their eyes. A golden crown-shaped aura burned around Denji's body like a halo, and the ground beneath him cracked slightly from the raw pressure.

Gasps turned to silence. Even the birds stopped chirping.

Mr. Ains stared, his glasses glowing slightly from the reflection. "That's… impossible."

The system registered the reading.

"S-RANK — Lightning Type!" the stone guide called out.

People screamed. Phones came out. Teachers stood frozen.

Then someone said it out loud:

"It's the first S-rank ever awakened in the entire Swap Region…"

Everything changed in that moment.

Back in the courtyard, Renji felt his heart drop. He stared at Denji, who stepped down calmly, the golden aura fading.

He wasn't just strong. He was legendary.

And in that instant, Renji felt something rise inside him—not envy, not fear. Something deeper.

More Chapters