[Residual Abyss creatures have been cleared, please exit the shelter in an orderly manner]
The muffled broadcast echoed in Chu Xiu's ears, and he reached out to pull up the steel insert board in front of him, climbing out from under the desk.
What met his eyes was a classroom with a cold and austere style, the air still lingering with a scent of gunpowder.
Unlike the classrooms in his previous life with large floor-to-ceiling windows and warm, white walls with wooden desks, here the walls were rough, unpainted military-grade explosion-proof walls, and the desks and chairs looked like Cold War-era military products without any frills.
Looking out through the fist-sized air holes, above was a dark, impenetrable sky, shrouded in lead-gray clouds, below the playground was littered with the corpses of mutated creatures, and the flanks of anti-aircraft turrets were still rotating with their red-hot barrels.
The foul smell of burning corpses wafted up, filling Chu Xiu's nostrils, making him almost gag.
Even though he had been in this world for almost three months, he still couldn't get used to it.
Yes, Chu Xiu was a transmigrator, crossing from a just-graduated corporate drone to a third-year high school student.
According to memories in his mind, this was a world similar to Blue Star.
It's just that in 2028, a mysterious power later referred to as the "Abyss" descended upon the world.
No one knew what exactly the Abyss was, only that since then the sky often ripped open with rifts, countless powerful and terrifying monsters emerged from them, relentlessly destroying everything in sight like tireless killing machines.
Even with powerful firearms, humans retreated step by step against the seemingly endless tide of monsters, for even when all monsters were exterminated, losses had already been incurred.
Luckily, the connection with the Abyss also opened a path towards the Extraordinary for humanity.
Humans entering the Abyss would awaken their [Talent] and [Profession], and could explore different Abyss Worlds, gaining powerful strength.
Now, it was 2067.
Thanks to countless ancestors' sacrifices, the Human Race finally gained a foothold, paving a road with blood and bones, and opened an era of universal awakening.
"Awakened ones..."
A look of yearning appeared in Chu Xiu's eyes.
No one could remain indifferent to the allure of Extraordinary Power.
And becoming an Awakened is simple, every third-year high school student can sign up for the awakening trial near graduation, survive, and become an Awakened.
However, the mortality rate is high, exceeding sixty percent.
Moreover, most people awaken to useless low-level [Talents] and everyday [Professions].
So, even though the temptation of Extraordinary Power is strong, less than half sign up each year.
Chu Xiu himself was hesitant, always pondering during this time.
As someone who had lived in peace in Huaxia for years, suddenly being asked to risk his life, it was hard to make a firm decision immediately.
Just as Chu Xiu was contemplating, a tall young man walked over and patted his shoulder.
"Ah Chu, the sign-up for the awakening trial has started, are you going?"
The visitor had a square face, broad frame, and paired with his muscular build, he exuded a strong sense of oppression.
This was Zhang Qingshan, the original owner's childhood friend, also the class monitor, with whom he had a very close relationship, growing up like brothers with no secrets.
Seeing the sign-up form in the other's hand, Chu Xiu sighed lightly, knowing it was time to make a choice.
After thinking it over carefully in his mind, he seriously said: "Qingshan, I'm going."
This was not a momentary impulse from Chu Xiu; in fact, from the first day he arrived in this world, he had consulted a vast amount of information about the Abyss, thoroughly understanding its dangers.
In such a perilous world, an ordinary person without strength is like a rootless duckweed, no matter what achievements they make, they could be destroyed by an Abyss invasion at any time.
Once confronted with Abyss creatures, one can only wait to be slaughtered, torn to pieces in despair by their sharp claws!
Rather than living every day in fear, placing all hopes on others, Chu Xiu wanted to grasp his fate in his own hands.
Even if he died in the Abyss, that would be his own choice.
Of course, there was another key factor contributing to Chu Xiu's decision, as a transmigrator, he was not entirely without support.
In his mind was an ancient black tome, which transmigrated with him.
Currently, this tome cannot be opened, but Chu Xiu can feel that once he enters the Abyss and contacts Extraordinary Power, it will "awaken".
"Although I don't know what this ancient book is used for, it's at least worth a gamble."
Chu Xiu made up his mind.
Upon hearing his answer, Zhang Qingshan hesitated with the sign-up form in hand, did not put it down immediately, but asked again: "Ah Chu, have you thought it through?"
"Your academic performance is so good, you could certainly attend university in the Inner Ring City, settling there; it's said that the Abyssal Rift appears less than a minute before High Tier Awakened rush to handle it, ordinary citizens don't even notice."
"There's no need to risk life and limb with us."
Zhang Qingshan spoke gently, but Chu Xiu understood his meaning.
Although it's necessary to enter the Abyss to determine the exact awakened Talent and Profession, there are traces beforehand, with Energy Level being one of them.
Energy Level represents the total amount of unactivated Extraordinary Power within a body, the higher the Energy Level, the stronger the potential awakened talent is; even if it's the same Talent, such as [Endurance], a high Energy Level person might awaken as [Endurance (B+)], while a low Energy Level is likely [Endurance (E)].
The average Energy Level for ordinary third-year students is determined to be 1.0, while Chu Xiu's is only 0.8.
In contrast, Zhang Qingshan's is as high as 8.5, ranking among the top three in the grade.
Not to mention Chu Xiu's physical fitness and combat skills scores are also very ordinary.
Going into the Abyss like this is indeed too risky.
However, the mysterious tome in his mind gives him the courage to take a chance.
"Don't worry, Qingshan, I've thought it through carefully." Chu Xiu smiled faintly.
"That's good," Zhang Qingshan let out a breath and heavily patted Chu Xiu's shoulder: "Ah Chu, you've always been smarter than me, I trust your judgment."
"Later come with me to meet our club members, and some of my girlfriend's girlfriends, give a heads-up, it'll be good to have mutual support when entering the Abyss."
"No matter how dangerous the Abyss is, we'll brave it together as brothers!"
Upon hearing this, gratitude shone in Chu Xiu's eyes; Zhang Qingshan and his girlfriend Chu Qin were top-ranking students in the grade with broad connections, having them in the Abyss would indeed increase survival chances.
He said little, just punched Zhang Qingshan, all understood without words.
In the following half month, Chu Xiu seized every opportunity to hone his survival skills, strengthen physical reserves, and focused intensely on reading a large amount of Abyss-related knowledge.
He did not place all hopes on his special ability.
With tense preparation, time flew by, and finally, the day of the awakening trial arrived.