Chapter 6: The Awakening Rite [3]
The grand hall of the temple was filled with dazzling lights as the Awakening Rite began.
All around Sector C, participants stood on their respective glowing platforms with hands placed on crystal orbs.
One by one, brilliant lights began to erupt from their bodies as they successfully awakened.
Blue, purple, green and crimson lights representing different rank of classes erupted around the hall.
Cheers and gasps of joy echoed throughout the chamber as young Arbiters awakened one after another.
Two guys standing on platforms right beside Klein also awakened successfully.
They looked at their [Arbiter Panel] which is like a personal status window that every awakener gets after awakening to look at their class and skills.
"Damn! I got Blade Warrior!" the guy on the left exclaimed excitedly, pumping his fist.
The one on the right laughed loudly. "I got Fire Guardian! I’m set for life!"
Klein stood silently on Platform No. 17 with his hand pressed firmly against the crystal orb.
Nothing happened.
Seconds turned into nearly a minute. While everyone around him was bathed in colorful radiance, Klein’s platform remained painfully dim.
He let out a deep, bitter sigh as disappointment settled heavily in his chest.
’...As expected,’ he thought, a self-deprecating smile forming on his lips. ’I really won’t awaken after all.’
From outside the boundary line, Arwen’s gaze narrowed ’How is that possible? He clearly has a strong affinity for spirit energy... I’ve seen it myself. Why isn’t anything happening?’
Cynthia bit her lower lip and looked even more anxious than Klein.
Just as Klein was about to pull his hand away from the crystal orb-
BOOM-!
A sudden, violent surge of energy erupted from deep within his body.
Brilliant golden energy exploded outward, enveloping his entire body in a radiant glow.
The light was so pure and overwhelming that it instantly outshone every other color in the surrounding area.
The entire Sector C fell into stunned silence.
Even the priests who were conducting the ceremony froze in shock and their eyes widened in disbelief.
The golden light continued to intensify, swirling around Klein like flames.
Small sparks of crimson energy flickered within the gold, creating a breathtaking mix.
Klein’s eyes widened in shock.
He could feel something stirring up inside his chest as the black heart was pounding violently, pumping golden blood through his veins.
[The Seraph of Eternal Regret is watching you with trembling eyes.]
System messages only he could see in his status window flashed across his vision.
Arwen’s gaze widened "Klein..."
Cynthia’s eyes sparkled with relief "That’s... beautiful."
Murmurs exploded across the temple once again.
"Golden light... doesn’t that symbolize the highest grade?"
"Who is that guy?"
"Look at the intensity! Even Lady Evelyne’s awakening wasn’t this bright."
From the VIP balcony, Evelyne von Langford leaned forward slightly.
’As I thought...’ she murmured to herself,. ’This boy... he’s no ordinary talent.’
Meanwhile, Klein stood frozen on the platform, bathed in brilliant golden light, feeling the immense power surging through him for the first time.
"Urgh..."
Suddenly a splitting headache hit him and he clutched his head in pain ’W-What is... happening’
His status window popped up in front of him.
⋆——————✧╰──╮ ARBITER PANEL ╭──╯✧——————⋆
[Name: Klein Faress (?)]
[Age:21 (?)]
[Race: Human (?) High-elf (?)]
[Class: Spirit-Cursed Sovereign]
[Titles: The Cursed Child, Dual Contractor ]
﹄ The Cursed Child: You were born from the ashes of two fallen divinities. A child who should not exist, carrying the resentment of ruin and the regret of heaven. Fate itself rejects your existence, yet refuses to let you die.
﹄ Dual Contractor: The only being capable of forming contracts with both pure Spirits and malevolent Curses.
[Rank: F-]
[Attributes: Spirits, Curses]
[Talent: Extraordinary]
[Traits: Resurgent Soul]
﹄ Resurgent Soul: Even in death, you refuse to perish. Your will to survive is unnatural. Grants greatly enhanced regeneration and resistance to fatal wounds.
[Skills: Chains of the Forsaken, Spear Mastery (E-) ]
﹄ Chains of the Forsaken: You are bound by these cursed chains; you can’t break free from them.
﹄ Spear Mastery: Enhances the user’s proficiency with spears, increasing damage, speed, and precision with each attack.
[CONTRACTS]
﹄ She Who Speaks Ruins - The Mother of Curses
[MESSAGES]
﹄ The Seraph of Eternal Regret is watching you with trembling eyes.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━❍────────────────────
Looking at all the question marks in his panel, he blinked in confusion ’Why are there so many question marks...’
’Also... spirits and curses?’
Before he could process it any further, another sharp pain exploded inside his head.
"Urgh-!"
Klein groaned and clutched his temples tightly.
It felt like someone was hammering nails into his skull while simultaneously trying to rip it apart.
Flashes of images flooded his mind uncontrollably.
And he saw the image of a beautiful black-haired goddess reaching out to him with bloodied hands.
The golden light around him slowly began to stabilize, but faint black cracks occasionally appeared on his skin before vanishing just as quickly.
"Huff... Haa..." Klein breath was ragged and he slowly glanced around at the people who were staring at him in shock.
From outside the platform, Arwen’s face turned pale the moment she saw Klein stagger and clutch his head in pain.
"Klein!"
Without caring about the rules, she rushed forward, slipping past the stunned priests and stepped onto the platform.
She reached him just as the golden light around him began to dim.
"Are you alright?" she asked urgently, cupping his face with both hands.
Her eyes were filled with worry as she spoke "You looked like you were in so much pain just now..."
Klein looked at Arwen’s anxious face and gave her a faint nod.
"Yeah... I’m okay," he said softly, though his voice was hoarse. "It just hurt for a moment. I’m fine now."
Arwen didn’t look convinced. She gently wiped the sweat from his brow with her sleeve.
Before they could say anything more...
People from various powerful organizations who had been quietly observing suddenly rushed forward.
Guild recruiters, academy scouts, noble envoys, and even high-ranking government officials all moved toward Platform 17.
"Participant Klein Faress!" A tall man wearing the emblem of the Eclipse Guild called out loudly.
"I am Vice-Guild Master Harlan. We would like to offer you an immediate S-rank recruitment contract with full benefits and exclusive resources!"
Not even a second later, another voice cut through.
"Don’t listen to them!" A beautiful woman from the Celestial Holy Academy stepped forward.
"Klein, you belong at Celestial Holy Academy. We can offer you personal guidance from Saint-level instructors and priority access to high-rank Spirit Realms."
A noble envoy of a powerful count family pushed through the crowd. "The House of Valdorian would like to adopt you into our family as a direct descendant. You will be given land, wealth, and full noble status!"
Government officials in formal black suits also approached quickly. "The Central Federation offers you an immediate position in the Elite Response Unit with the rank of Lieutenant. We can guarantee your family’s safety and prosperity for three generations."
More and more people swarmed around the platform and some even started arguing with each other, trying to outbid one another.
Cynthia also rushed in and stood protectively on Klein’s other side, glaring at the crowd with hostility.
"Back off!" she snapped. "Give him some damn space, you little fuckers!"
Arwen grew even more irritated as she looked at the crowd ’I should just kill them all.’
Klein himself stood silently in the middle of the chaos, still trying to process everything that had just happened.
He looked at the people desperately trying to recruit him and felt strangely detached.
’Just a few minutes ago, I thought I wouldn’t even awaken...’
Now they were fighting over him like hungry wolves.
"Stop it."
At this time, they heard a woman’s voice and everyone turned to look at Evelyne walking toward the crowd.
They immediately parted ways and the bodyguards pushed everyone aside to make a path straight towards Klein.
Looking at him, she had a faint smile on her lips "I would like to talk to you personally, Mr.Klein."
Klein sighed in his heart ’She clearly know I would accept it to avoid the commotion right now.’
The situation had become too messy. If he rejected her outright in front of everyone, it might cause even more problems. For now, it was better to handle this privately.
"...Sure."
