In the middle of the Arena, a large slab of stone was placed in a vertical position.
This stone slab isn't an ordinary one, for sure. It is atleast 4 to 5 meters big with several runes carved on it.
"I heard that the outside world uses the awakening scrolls for convenience but this awakening stone of our clan has a special property. It enhances your existing Arcana while you are trying for the second awakening."
"I see… This is why there are a lot of 12-year-olds trying to participate this time," Azzy commented, hearing out Barbara's explanation.
"Yup." She nodded with a smile, "and you know, in the rarest cases, someone receives an additional soul skill. The last one to receive it was Lady Night. It happened 22 years ago."
"Eh?" Azzy widened his eyes in surprise, "Master is only 34 years old?"
"Hmm? You don't about it?" She looked at him as if he was that clueless.
Azzy thought his master is indeed awesome but didn't know she was this incredible. A 34-year-old who is a seven-star Arcana Master? She's indeed a daughter of heaven.
He replied, "I didn't pay much attention."
"She's my role model you know… There was one time…" Upon mentioning Avia, Barbara started to show her fanatic side…
"Young Miss Crescent, Young Master Garcia," At that time someone called these twelve-year-olds, making Azzy sigh in relief as he no longer wishes to stick with this cousin of his. Even her way of talking is a bit similar to Evelyn.
The only difference is that Evelyn can drag people into random dreams with her words while this cousin has the power of persuasion in her mouth. Whenever she talks, Azzy wasn't able to resist answering her questions or stopping the conversation.
"Everything is ready. Please…" A staff told them to join the line.
Both of them stood up from their seats and joined a line that's full of kids.
Azzy didn't know what kind of reputation Barbara has but no one dared to talk to either of them when he was with her. So, he thought, even though it's a pain, it's better to stick with her.
The adults stayed back in the waiting hall; meanwhile, Truman Ash, one of the Elders of the Death clan as well as the Master of Pavilion leads the kids to the Arena.
As Azzy stepped inside, he saw it was packed with an audience numbered atleast a thousand.
That's when he thought the clan is a lot bigger than he imagined. This pocket world is as big as a Province for a reason.
Unlike the usual atmosphere, the arena was filled with silence and no cheers escaped from anyone, trying to behave themselves.
"Wow, all the clan leaders gathered here…" "Is he the Clan head in the middle? It's my first time seeing him…" "I heard that all of them are peak rank-8 and our clan head is just a step away from becoming rank-10." "Yeah, I heard that rank-10 masters can regain their youth and live for another hundred thousand years?" "Well, in history, only the founders of hidden clans reached such rank before ascending to the celestial world of heaven."
All sorts of murmurings rang in Azzy's ears. Maybe, it's because he's a 3-star, his hearing improved quite a lot. The only problem was that he can't control it, yet.
Then, his eyes lay on the stone slab in the middle of a 500 sq.meter big platform.
"That is the awakening stone I was talking about," Barbara chirped from the side.
As everyone arrived, Elder Truman said, "eight-year-olds, the first-timers, gather on the right. Twelve-year-olds on the left."
Barbara and Azzy moved to the left along with others.
Elder Truman then bowed to the feeble looking old man, who sat at a certain section along with other clan leaders and elders. Avia and Evelyn also joined them.
The clan head nodded.
Elder Truman then addressed the audience, "everyone, welcome to our clan awakening ceremony. As you all know, first, our new generation will be awakening their soul cards through this wonderful relic left by our founder, Azrael Garcia.
Then, the second awakening ceremony will begin, where our talented young Arcana Masters will get the opportunity to increase their potential.
Ordinary people will become talented. Talented will become genius, the Genius will become Monsters, and the monsters will become the son or the daughter of heaven.
As for the second part, we have made a few changes, this time." Pointing at the section where Azzy and others stood, he continued, "These young Arcana Masters will not spar against each other but display their powers, sparring against with their senior disciples from all the Pavilions.
Of course, their seniors will hold back their strength and use the power equivalent to the candidate. Let's give a round of applause for this young generation who will become the future pillars of our clan."
After everyone clapped for a few seconds, he looked at the clan head to give permission.
Qridus Garcia then spoke in a whisper, "begin." Even though it's a whisper, it seemed loud and clear to everyone.
Elder Truman of the Ash clan then addressed the eight-year-olds to go towards the stone slab and place their palms on it.
One by one, they started to walk to the relic and did as they were told after bowing to the clan head and the clan leaders and Elders.
Azzy saw, as soon as their palms touched the relic, the runes that carved on it, started to glow for a few seconds while their soul cards awakened appeared before everyone.
The first time, when one's Arcana is awakened, it usually appears beside its Master.
He felt strange that his Arcana never appeared that way. Only a set of weapons appeared in his hands.
"Aleister Blood greets the Clan Head." A cute looking boy with messy hair and large eyes with bright red pupils bowed to others before placing his palms on the awakening stone.
Usually, the number of glowing runes indicates one potential. The higher the number, the greater the potential.
But, as soon as his palms touched the relic, more than 90 runes of 108 runes lit up, shocking the audience.
A soul card formed before the boy while a thick aura made of blood surrounded the eight-year-old.
The Crescent clan leader turned his head aside and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Francis. Your clan produced a genius with great potential. We haven't seen a situation like this for ten years."
The Blood clan leader, Francis Blood responded with a depressed tone, "but it's only 95. Another 5, it would have been great."
Even though he appeared a little bit disappointed, these 8-star Arcana Masters can feel even the minute changes that are happening in their body. The clan leader was indeed pleased with the result.
"This boy has the potential to become the next clan leader, Francis." The clan head commented as he strokes his long beard, staring at the boy.
"You are forgetting about Remia, Qridus." Francis reminded him, his daughter.
Being in the same generation, he's also one of the people who are closest to the Clan head, having the privilege to call him by his first name.
"That's right. I almost forgot about her. It's already been a thousand years. She had made a breakthrough to rank-8, right? Why is that irresponsible brat still playing out there?" Qridus then remembered this girl, who was always out there, trying to explore the mysterious world of Arcana.
He was displeased with the woman who is at least 7000 years old but doesn't know how to act her age.
Francis' expression turned sour.