When Ian received the instructions for awakening his aura, he noticed something else tucked inside the parchment—a small tag with the number 141 written on it.
Looking around, he saw that everyone else was holding a similar tag, each marked with a different number. While the group examined their numbers with curious expressions, the head instructor stepped forward and began to speak.
"Now that you've all received your awakening instructions, you've probably noticed those tags. From this point onward, these tags are your identities. We will call you only by the number on your tag."
Some trainees exchanged confused looks. The instructor smirked knowingly.
"In case you're wondering, your numbers are based on the strength of your initial reported power. So now… follow the instructor in front of you. They'll take you to your training rooms."
Ian's grip tightened on his tag. Over a hundred people here are stronger than me already… The thought sank heavy in his mind as he followed one of the trainers deeper into the stone corridors.
The trainer eventually led Ian and a few others into a small, rough-hewn chamber. Several stone slabs served as makeshift beds.
"This will be your room," the trainer said curtly before leaving without another word.
One of Ian's roommates tried to start some friendly small talk, but the atmosphere was tense. Instead, everyone—including Ian—sat down on the cold stone beds and began practicing their aura breathing right away. The boy gave up and joined them.
Hours seemed to pass quietly, until—
BOOM!
A deep crash echoed through the cavern walls. Everyone stopped their training instantly. Curious and on edge, they stepped out of their rooms to see what had happened. Ian followed the sound to a hallway a few chambers away.
There, a commotion was unfolding. A boy with messy orange hair stood facing a girl with flowing golden locks—though the girl was currently sprawled on the floor.
"How dare you lay your hands on a noble's body!?" the girl shrieked. "Do you think you'll survive after we leave here?!"
The boy's voice was low and scornful. "Hah. You were the one who started yelling and insulting me. I don't care if you're a noble. Here, only the numbers matter—and you'd better show me some respect. Got it?"
Ian's eyes flicked to their tags. The boy was No. 24. The girl was No. 28. A commoner ranked higher than a noble? Ian thought in surprise.
The girl grit her teeth. "These instructors have lost their minds—giving a noble like me such a small room, and then making me share it with commoners! These numbers are meaningless. You should bow before us nobles!"
Before she could finish, the orange-haired boy stepped forward and ground his boot down on her hand.
Her scream echoed off the stone walls.
"Sounds like you didn't listen to the head instructor," he growled. "Here, only strength talks. Noble or not, if I kill you right now, no one will care."
Ian's fists clenched. He wanted to step in—but before he could, a trainer appeared at the end of the hall.
The boy released her hand immediately and stepped back.
The trainer's voice was sharp and cold. "You're not allowed to fight outside of test sessions. If this happens again, you'll both be punished. And you—No. 28—if you start yelling like that again, you'll be dealt with."
The girl flinched, her earlier bravado gone. She lowered her head and nodded quickly.
Once the trainer left, the gathered onlookers began drifting back to their rooms. But the nobles had learned something that day—this was not a place where status could protect them.
Ian glanced at the golden-haired girl. I need to get stronger, fast… so something like that never happens to me.
He returned to his room and resumed his aura training.
Three days passed in the cavern. Food was scarce—only a single piece of potato was given to each trainee daily. Nobles complained constantly, but the instructors ignored them completely.
Finally, on the third day, Ian felt it—the faint pulse of energy inside him. His aura had awakened.
---