A hundred years ago, the sky broke.
It began as a thin violet scratch across a cloudless morning. People stopped, stared, confused. Some took pictures. Others called their friends. Children pointed at it as if it were a new star.
Then the crack widened.
Reality split open like torn cloth, and from the glowing rift poured creatures that belonged nowhere near a human world—demons with burning wings, claws dripping with black fire, and eyes that glowed with hunger.
Cities fell within hours.
Civilization collapsed within days.
This event became known as the Demon Apocalypse.
Humanity did not win.
Humanity simply survived.
Fortress cities were built.
Academies were founded.
Dungeons emerged like open wounds in the land.
And at sixteen, every human awakened a profession, talent, and rank—tools given by some unseen system to help them resist extinction.
Today was the day Aren would awaken his.
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The Awakening Plaza was huge—an open circle surrounded by old fortress walls reinforced with shimmering protective arrays. Hundreds of students gathered in neat lines, all sixteen, all nervous.
Above them stood the Awakening Obelisk, a massive pillar carved from obsidian and runes older than written history. Its surface pulsed with soft white light, like an ancient heart remembering how to beat.
Soldiers lined the area:
Trainees with simple armor,
Soldiers and Captains with polished gear,
Lieutenants, Commanders overseeing the process.
Demons had breached the outer barrier last month—security was tighter than ever.
"Ingrid!"
A girl stepped out, trembling slightly. She placed her hand on the Obelisk.
A wave of blue light wrapped around her.
Profession: Water Mage (C)
Talent: Fluid Mind (C)
The instructors nodded. A solid, respectable awakening.
Next.
"Darin!"
A boy with fiery hair. Flames erupted from the Obelisk.
Profession: Flame Warrior (B)
Talent: Burning Force (B)
People clapped. Darin grinned proudly.
"Mila!"
Grey light flickered weakly.
Profession: Scout (D)
Talent: Keen Eyes (D)
She looked down, disappointed, but managed a small smile as her parents hugged her.
More names followed:
F-rank.
E-rank.
A few C-ranks.
One A-rank that caused murmurs of admiration.
Then the announcer's tone sharpened, respectful.
"Kale!"
The crowd went silent.
Kale—a broad-shouldered youth with confident eyes—walked forward like the plaza belonged to him.
The Obelisk exploded in golden light.
Profession: Titan Fist Warrior (S)
Talent: Indestructible Body (S)
Gasps.
An S-rank awakening was the highest achievable in their world. The kind of power that pushed someone into elite military forces, maybe even Commander rank in the future.
"Kale is insane…"
"He's guaranteed a big future."
"Our city's strongest student this year!"
Kale smirked arrogantly, basking in the praise.
Aren watched from the back, quiet, hood pulled low. He didn't feel envy or fear—only a strange calm. He had trained alone in ruins for years, learning to endure cold, hunger, and isolation.
He wanted strength—because weakness got you killed in this world.
"Next—Aren."
Whispers broke out instantly.
"The quiet one."
"Doesn't talk to anyone."
"He practices archery without arrows—just pulls the string and stares."
Aren stepped forward.
He placed his palm on the Obelisk.
Nothing happened.
One second.
Two.
Three.
People snickered.
"Did it break?"
"Maybe he has no profession!"
Then the world shook.
KRRRRAAAAAA—BOOOOOM!
A pillar of black-violet energy exploded upward, spiraling into the sky like a cosmic spear. The ground cracked. Students stumbled back. Instructors shouted in panic.
The Obelisk's runes went wild.
"What rank is that?!"
"That's not SSS!"
"Is that a demon reaction?!"
A cold, steady voice echoed inside Aren's mind:
Profession: Void Archer (Unique)
Talent: Limitless Evolution (Unique)
A translucent panel appeared:
STATUS PANEL
Name: Aren
Profession: Void Archer (Unique)
Talent: Limitless Evolution (Unique)
Level: 1
Experience: 0 / 100
Free Stat Points: 10
Attributes
Strength: 8
Constitution: 10
Agility: 14
Perception: 20
HP: 100
MP: 50
Skills
Void Flicker Arrow (F)
Spatial Awareness (F)
Basic Archery (E)
The panel faded.
Aren exhaled slowly.
Everything felt… sharper. The world's edges clearer. The air heavier, humming faintly around him like stretched fabric.
Then the noise returned.
"What the hell is Unique rank?!"
"Sounds like below F-rank!"
"That black light means a defect!"
"Kale got S! This guy got trash!"
Kale laughed loudly.
"Void Archer? Void means nothing. Good luck fighting a goblin."
Aren didn't respond.
Not because he was intimidated—
but because something deeper, something ancient, was stirring beneath the ground.
Someone else sensed it.
A tall instructor stepped forward: Kane.
His calm presence quieted the crowd.
A veteran soldier, known for precision and discipline, not praise.
He studied Aren carefully, eyes narrowing.
Then he extended a hand and moved it slowly through the air near Aren's shoulder.
The air rippled.
Kane's eyes widened slightly.
He whispered:
"…Spatial distortion?"
Aren swallowed. "Is… Unique bad?"
Kane shook his head.
"Not bad. Unknown. And unknown things are the most dangerous—especially to the enemies who don't understand them."
He leaned closer.
"That awakening… I've only seen distortions like that in ancient ruins."
Kane stepped back.
"The Academy Trials begin in one hour. If your combat ability matches what I sensed… then we will speak again."
No promises.
No guarantees.
But the hint was clear—
Prove yourself.
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Far below the plaza, hidden by layers of sealed ruins and forgotten caverns, something enormous stirred.
Stone chains trembled.
Ancient runes flickered.
A single colossal violet eye opened in the darkness.
A dragon's eye.
Its voice rumbled like a storm trapped underground:
"Void… in a human?"
A slow, amused growl followed.
"Interesting."
Aren walked away, unaware of the awakening beneath his feet.