In the world of Elden, all beings awaken between ages 16 and 17. Here, the awakened is not the only path, but students use it as the fastest way to get stronger. And now, in the final years of their high school, Mike sits among his classmates, thinking this happened once in the past two times—only two have awakened for their class, and all at age 16, none at age 17, and now it's their final chance at the age of 18.
Everyone sits here in the hall nervous, some scared, as this is the last time they can awaken.
As they were waiting, their class teacher, standing at the head, said, "All of you relax. Although awakening is the surestand fastest way, don't forget I am as powerful as a Rank 2 awakened, and I am not awakened," teacher Ryan laughed and said, trying to relax them all. After all, with enough hard work, one can also succeed in other different supernatural paths; they just can't get in the exciting world of the Origin.
And one needs and key to there,
Which is the Origin System. Only the awakened can get the system. The system is itself is a cheat tool, as it makes one powerful by its level system, as in you kill monsters or similar other beings and gain EXP for it and grow in levels. You get stats and classes too.
And most important, you can go to the Origin world through your system, which is an infinitely expanding world. There are not only humans from their world but also all kinds of different races, elves, dwarves, and such.
In that world, everything is more real than real life. The danger is higher, the rewards greater, and most importantly, even the death is not permanent there. One can just resurrect after 24 hours with some penalty, which can be any stat reduction. That is why many want to awaken—not just for strength, but for the chance to step into that endless world and grow faster than anyone who stays behind.
For students like them, this ceremony decides their whole future. If they awaken today, their path opens. If not, they have to walk the long and slow paths of magic, martial arts, spirit training, or the other side paths. They can still get strong, but never enter the Origin world, never get the system, and never catch up to those who did.
So everyone sat there, waiting, hearts pounding, knowing this was truly their last chance.
Though among them was one confused guy rather than nervous, Mike Vester. 'What the fuck is this?' he thought as he looked around, finding himself in an unfamiliar place.
'Damn it, wasn't I just asleep in class? How the fuck did my whole class change?' he asked inwardly while keeping his expression neutral.
'Some shit is surely going on here,' he thought. Just as he was wondering what was going on, suddenly many memories began to appear in his mind, confusing him for a moment, but then he understood he just got the original guy's memories.
And the undeniable truth is that he has transmigerated in a this world.
The original guy had no talent. He didn't awaken his Soul Seed, the necessary requirement for a mage, nor the Life Seed, the necessary requirement to be a knight.
And the only chance left for him to be supernatural was to awaken. But after the last two failed tries, he got scared he would not awaken for the third time, so he bought a monster core—just a level 1 monster—and ate it, and just like that he died of mana poisoning since his untrained body with no Soul Seed nor Life Seed awakened, leading to mana poisoning him all because he read on some shady website that eating a level 1 monster core can increase the chances of one's awakening. This also led to the original Mike dying and the current Mike inhabiting the body.
"Sigh, I hope I awaken," Mike thought after absorbing all memories. Now seeing the magical world, he surely didn't want to be an ordinary here; he wanted to explore the vast magical world and all, and the only way is to be awakened. If not, he can only wait for a miracle encounter to happen.
'Hmm, I heard that travelers get a treat, but where is mine?' He inwardly asked as he thought it might happen when he awakened, probably… hopefully… surely.
As he finished that thought, the loudspeaker echoed, "Now we will start the awakening test. Everyone, line up."
The teacher pulled the cloth from the white orb on the table. It was the Awakening Orb. One's test with it determined whether they awakened or not. Ryan then looked at all of them and then selected a girl randomly.
He sighed and looked at the girl, who looked like she was going to cry. 'Poor soul, it's better if she goes first; otherwise, the tension might make her faint,' he thought.
She stepped toward the orb, her legs trembling. Then she placed her hand on it, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Just as Ryan thought she might faint, suddenly the orb glowed—bright and steady.
A soft blue light spread across its surface, and then the screen beside it showed:
"Lily Starlet—Awakened Class: Water Mage—B Rank."
The room exploded in whispers.
Ryan raised his head, surprised. She really awakened. Silence filled the hall for a moment before excitement burst among the students—now their hopes began to rise as they whispered among themselves about talent and luck.
"Holy shit, she got B-rank?!"
"No way… Lily? I thought she'd barely get anything."
"Water Mage too… That's a proper combat class!"
"Damn, now I'm nervous again."
Some students looked jealous, some excited, and some terrified that their turn was coming closer. A few sighed in relief—at least someone had broken the unlucky streak of the last two years.
One boy clenched his fists. "If she awakened, then I still have a chance."
Another girl muttered, "Please, please let me get even F-rank…" anything is fine…"
Meanwhile, Lily stood there frozen, staring at the glowing screen, her eyes trembling with disbelief before she slowly began to smile, tears forming.