"Class," the man began, his deep voice echoing across the room, "as I said yesterday—today is your awakening. Remember this: not everyone in the world gets such a chance, so embrace it."
The man stood tall at the front, his presence commanding silence. A long scar cut down the left side of his face, giving him a look that demanded respect. His eyes were pitch black, sharp and calm like a man who had seen countless battles. His hair, streaked with grey, spoke of age and experience—but his posture showed strength that had yet to fade.
The students straightened in their seats. The air in the room was thick—not from fear, but from anticipation.
"From here, we'll head to the training arena, where you'll find an Okirota," the man said. "An Okirota is a machine that connects your will to the gods. Through it, you may gain their attention—and perhaps even a few sponsors."
The class full of students stood up and followed the man as he walked out of the class towards the training arena.
I, Adrian Kade, was one of the students who stood and followed him. I wasn't anything special at school. I had the looks, sure, but that was it. Girls always fawned over the perfect ones, not the dull ones like me.
I'm not good at studying, I don't pull any baddies, and the only thing I'm good at is sports. But in this day and age—where the world has a Tower straight out of a webtoon cliché—sports mean nothing. So now, all I can do is hope I get a good sponsor. Someone like Zeus... or Thanatos.
We finally reached the Okirota. It was a cube—rectangularly large, with enough space for a person to walk in and stand comfortably. When we got there, we were told to form a line.
"Hey! Adrian!" said Theo, my close friend. My only real friend.
Since I had the looks, most guys tried to hang around me just to raise their own popularity. Imagine walking up to an introvert and acting like you're Jesus—that's how fake they were. Theo was different.
"Who do you think will get the most famous sponsor?" Theo asked with a smug grin. "I think it'll be me. What do you think?"
"Yeah, you might get a famous sponsor," I said, smirking. "But getting a strong one? That's absolutely zero. I mean, look at your personality— I bet the sponsor is probably weaker than all of them. Haha."
"Why do you hate, huh? Glaze me for once, bro. I know you'll glaze after this—just watch."
He had that stupid grin on his face, the kind that made you want to punch him and laugh at the same time. Typical Theo—always full of himself before doing something stupid.
While we were talking, other students were already stepping into the Okirota one by one. The room filled with bursts of light—some dim, some blinding—as names of gods and deities appeared above their heads.
But then, one name made the entire class go quiet.
"Lucielle Frosthart," the instructor announced.
A golden radiance engulfed her, swirling with faint notes of harp music and divine warmth. Then two names shimmered into existence above her—Athena, goddess of wisdom, and Apollo, god of the sun.
The room erupted in murmurs.
"Two sponsors?"
"No way…"
"That's Athena and Apollo! That's like… top-tier divine sponsorship!"
I glanced at Theo, who looked like his jaw had just divorced his face.
"Guess she's the main character," I muttered under my breath.
Then Theo was called forth.
He looked like a kid on Christmas morning, grinning from ear to ear as if he already knew how this would go. His steps were confident, shoulders straight, and for a second, I could swear he glanced back at me with that smug little smirk of his.
"Watch and learn," he mouthed before stepping into the Okirota.
The cube began to hum, glowing faintly with a deep blue light that slowly turned brighter and brighter—then boomed with divine energy that made the air vibrate.
A golden screen appeared above him, and the instructor's eyes widened.
[Theo Draven — sponsored by Ares, God of War]!
The class erupted into cheers and gasps.
Theo raised his fist in triumph, soaking in the attention like a celebrity on stage.
He looked back at me with that cocky grin.
"Told you I'd get someone famous."
Honestly, I was quite expecting it.
I mean—with his loud mouth, overconfident grin, and that "I'm destined for greatness" attitude—it was bound to happen.
He had that kind of energy the gods probably found entertaining.
Still, I wasn't about to feed his already inflated ego.
So I just crossed my arms, kept my expression blank, and thought to myself,
"Yeah, sure, Theo… enjoy it while it lasts."
"Adrian Kade!"
My name echoed through the arena, sharp and clear. For a second, my heart stopped. Then, like an idiot, I gasped out loud. it was only 29 eyes but it felt like a hundred were watching. Their stares felt like blades pressing against my skin.
Each step toward the Okirota felt heavier than the last. My palms were sweating, and my legs were shaking like I was walking toward my own execution.
Then, cutting through the tension, I heard a familiar voice—
"You got this, Kade!"
Theo.
I couldn't help but smile a little. Out of everyone in this academy, he was the only one who'd cheer for me without expecting anything in return. Guys like him… they're the ones you keep close. Not because they're perfect, but because they make the world feel a little less heavy.
I stepped inside the Okirota.
The air felt different—colder, heavier. The interior was made of some kind of metal, but it wasn't ordinary. It shimmered faintly under the light, tinted with a dark blue hue that gave it this almost… divine feeling.
As I moved further in, the sound of my footsteps echoed softly against the walls. At the center stood a small pedestal—simple, yet somehow commanding. On top of it rested a Rune Stone, glowing faintly with shifting symbols I couldn't understand.
It pulsed… like it was alive.
Rune Stones were relics that fell from gates after they were cleared. They contained raw mana that couldn't be absorbed directly, but could be harnessed for other purposes.
The man had instructed me to touch the stone. I reached out and placed my hand on it. The Okirota's door was shut, enclosing me inside, so no one could see what I was doing.
But… nothing happened. The stone remained still, unresponsive.
Was it because I was an introvert? Did the stone somehow reject me?
I'd heard that gods favored those who were entertaining.
…So, should I crack a joke or something?
Two minutes passed, and still there was no reaction. I was instructed to step out, and when I did, all I heard was laughter—insults hurled in my direction. Is this what happens to the less fortunate? I wondered, lowering my head as I left the arena, too embarrassed to meet anyone's eyes.
And when I left, I ran out, crying like a baby.
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Prime here!!
First chapter here go!! Please bless this with a power stone and a collection. Would be appreciated very much!!
Prime Out!!