"Hey, the-one-who-entered-through-the-backdoor, you're not gonna fail the awakening are you? I heard that there are certain incapable people who fail the awakening. A dreg like you should just stop wasting the energy of the expensive Awakening Stone,"
A sudden loud voice was heard inside the classroom, as everyone turned to the back to see a fat student talking to another student.
"Eh isn't that Mo Fan? the one who failed the exams and entered through the back door?"
"Tch, figures. I was wondering why he was here, no way someone like him could pass the exam properly."
Snickers rippled across the room, And Mo Fan, who heard all this simply stayed silent.
Mo Fan didn't say anything. If it was a different day, he would've thrown all sorts of insults at Henchman Zhao Kunsan, however, he wasn't in the mood today.
On one hand, it was because he was truly very nervous.
While on the other hand, he didn't know why the black pendant he wore around his neck was incessantly shaking.
"Zhao Kunsan what did you say!?" Another student stood up, Zhang Xiaohou, Mo Fan's long time friend confronted the fat student.
"Hah? who here doesn't know that Mo Fan could never get in here in terms of grades?" Zhao Kunsan sneered.
Tension was rising between them until a lighthearted, sing-song voice suddenly interjected.
"What's wrong with a back door? In the end, becoming a mage isn't about grades you know~ You awaken, you win! simple as that!"
The students turned to the speaker as they saw blonde boy lounging on his chair with a lazy expression.
Mo Fan knew that voice. He turned his head to meet the golden eyes of the blonde boy grinning at him.
"Yo~ Mo Fan! Changed your mind all of a sudden? I thought you weren't planning to bother with high school."
The tone wasn't mocking, it was like an old friend poking fun just to get a rise out of him.
Hearing this familiar tone, Mo Fan's nervousness eased somewhat as he smirked back at the boy.
"When did you get that impression Yan Qing? Don't you know I've always wanted to study hard and become a mage?"
Yan Qing blinked once, then burst out laughing.
"Pfft—did a stray lightning spell hit you and rearrange your brain or something?"
Mo Fan narrowed his eyes before smirking back. "What about you? Shouldn't the elementary school be a few blocks away from here?"
The jab hit its mark. as Yan Qing's tried to suppress the twitch in his eyes.
As friends who've known each other since they were kids, Mo Fan knew the exact words to say to rile him up.
Indeed, while he was the same age as Mo Fan, Yan Qing had the appearance of a cute boy with a short stature, a late bloomer who could easily be mistaken for someone still in middle school.
And although this has done wonders for him in the past, gaining the favors of those aunties next door and the attention of his fellow female classmates using the power of cuteness.
The fact that he hadn't grown an inch since then was a sore point.
Regaining his composure, Yan Qing suddenly sat straight and looked at Mo Fan seriously.
"Don't worry, Mo Fan. When I'm still handsome at forty, I'll make sure to help you find a wife."
Snickers rippled through the classroom at Yan Qing's shameless remark, and just like that, the earlier tension dissolved into the background, their playful back-and-forth shifted the atmosphere.
"Alright everyone settle down now! we shall start conducting the awakening ceremony soon!" Their Homeroom Teacher, who was also their Magic Advisor, Xue Musheng shouted.
Hearing this, everyone quickly sat straight and paid attention, even Yan Qing and Mo Fan at the back became quiet.
The awakening would be conducted in front of numerous people. The student's name was called out, and then they would go up front to place their hands on the Awakening Stone in front of the Magic Advisor.
Everyone became nervous, as this ceremony alone will determine their future path.
Many students hoped that they would be able to awaken the element they want.
Some simply hoped that they can awaken an element to begin with.
Particularly-
Mo Fan, someone who just a few months ago lived in a world ruled by science, and has found himself transported into this parallel world run by magic.
And the other was a reincarnated individual who's been living his new life in this new world for 16 years-
*ACHOO*
The sudden noise shattered the solemn mood. Every head turned toward the back of the room, where Yan Qing sat rubbing his nose.
Feeling the weight of dozens of stares, Yan Qing scratched his cheek with a sheepish look.
"Ah… sorry about that. someone must be talking about me again."
A few chuckles rippled through the class, easing the tension.
"Now i'm going to call your names one by one, and all you need to do is come here and place your hands on the crystal ball!"
....
...
..
.
'Hah~ although I already told myself I'd accept it if I don't awaken any talent for magic—'
Yan Qing's thoughts trailed off as he pressed a hand against his chest. His heart was pounding faster than he liked to admit, each beat echoing louder than the chatter around him.
"Next-"
On the outside, he wore the same lazy grin, swinging his legs casually against his chair as though nothing could faze him.
But inside—
'Sixteen years waiting for this day...'
His golden eyes flickered toward the Awakening Stone at the front, reflecting a rare seriousness.
Looking at Mo Fan, Yan Qing knew he was also nervous, as a person who had crossed from a different plane If his physical body was different from the people from here, then that'd be one of hell of a joke.
"Next-"
'Fortunately for you, your the chosen protagonist of this world- not only awakening two rare elements, but also having your own cheat!'
Yan Qing glanced at the strange necklace Mo Far wore.
Although he didn't go far watching the anime, only finishing season one and just dropped it.
He knew the necklace Mo Fan wore can be considered the cheat item that protagonist has to have.
'As for me? even after living here for so long my cheats hasn't even showed up!'
The thought of stealing the necklace never once crossed his mind, after all he was his friend.
In the 16 year's he's live he's known Mo Fan for 10 of those years.
He would never covet his friends belonging.
Secondly, he knew as the protagonist of this world Mo Fan will definitely face numerous challenges that no normal person could imagine.
The only thing he could do now was hope to awaken a good element, and hide behind the protagonist as 'Supporting Character C'.
Thinking about his future, Yan Qing couldn't help but also think about the past.
More specifically...
How he got here in the first place.
------
(In the Past)
Standing at a bus stop, a young man hunched over his phone, eyes bloodshot, fingers trembling as he tapped the screen.
He was playing Honkai: Star Rail—the shiny new release from M*hoyo that had the entire internet hooked.
For the past week, he had been grinding dailies like a man possessed, saving every scrap of Stellar Jade. And now, after all that effort, he had exactly 220 Jade left—enough for one last pull.
His pulse quickened. This was it. His final chance.
"Come on, Jing Yuan! Come home!" he muttered under his breath, as though prayer alone could sway RNGesus.
The light flared. The animation unfolded. Golden streaks filled the screen—
He froze.
[Yan Qing]
The name glowed mockingly across his screen.
For a long moment, he simply stared at it.
Then, like a dam bursting, came the scream.
"F***! What kind of s*** luck is this!? I grind for days, and you give me the budget Jing Yuan!?"
The sudden scream surprised everyone around him as several commuters waiting beside him edged away, whispering about the lunatic yelling at his phone. One mother even tugged her kid closer to her.
Realizing the stares, his ears went red. He hunched his shoulders, trying to bury his shame into the glowing screen.
As if to mock him further, a fat raindrop splashed against his cheek. Then another.
Within moments, the sky darkened.
"Seriously!?" he groaned, looking up at the sudden downpour. Around him, umbrellas popped open one after another.
Unfortunately for him, he was too busy staring at his phone all day that he forgot to even bring an umbrella.
Using his bag to cover his head he grumbled.
"What bad luck, first I lost my 50-50, then get stared at like a weirdo, now i'm drenched! what's next a lightning strike?"
Suddenly-
RUMBLE!
The loud roar in the sky made his heart drop, slowly looking up into the sky, he gulped.
"There's no that's actually gonna-" And those were his last words as his vision was encased by a flash of light,
BOOM!!
.....
....
...
..
.
Yan Qing blinked back to the present, lips twitching at the memory.
"And just like that, I wake up in this world… wearing this brat's face."
He muttered under his breath, brushing his fingers against his cheek. Smooth skin, sharp jawline still hidden under the softness of youth, silky golden hair that shimmered under the light.
'Well... I've gotta admit. Definitely an upgrade from my old face.'
Still, his expression soured.
The problem? His new body was a late bloomer. A painfully late bloomer.
Sure, the "cute younger brother" treatment worked wonders with aunties next door and even melted the hearts of some classmates—
But that wasn't what he wanted at all!
Cute? Good.
Handsome? Better.
Irresistibly dashing? That's the goal!
After dying in such a ridiculous way in his previous life, Yan Qing had sworn to cherish this second chance.
To live boldly!
To do the things he couldn't do in his previous life!
To experience romance!
'But…'
He sighed, slumping back in his chair.
"Guess I'll just have to wait until this body catches up."
For now, he could only endure the cruel irony of being trapped in a pretty-boy chrysalis, waiting to one day emerge as the dazzling butterfly he swore he was destined to be.
"Next, Yan Qing!"
"Ah?" He blinked. Had he really spent so long with his inner-monologuea it was already his turn?
"Heh! What's the hold up? Afraid you'll be like that dreg and fail to awaken anything?" Zhao Kunsan, who had just awakened the earth element, sneered loudly.
Yan Qing tilted his head lazily and fired back without missing a beat.
"Unlike you, even if I don't awaken an element, I'll still be able to find a pretty wife to live off of!"
The jab landed. Zhao Kunsan froze, face turning red as the class snickered.
Mo Fan and Zhang Xiaohou were especially loud.
"You—!"
"That's enough from both of you!" the teacher snapped, cutting him off. "We still have plenty of students to test, so hurry it up."
Yan Qing shrugged, ignoring Zhao's glare as he strolled to the front.
Standing before the Crystal Orb, he pressed his palm against it.
And not a moment later, the orb rippled with a blue light.
"It's the water element!"
"Hahaha! Water? Seriously? What are you gonna do, wash dishes?" Zhao Kunsan cackled.
Zhao Kunsan spared no time to jump and try to mock him.
Unfortunately for him, Yan Qing was too preoccupied to listen to his nor anyone's chatter.
Because in front of him—
"Ah…"
Slowly, his lips curled into a wide grin.
'Took you long enough.'
[Ding!]
-his long awaited cheat finally appeared.
[The Gacha System Is Now Online!]
------
[Authors Words]
And there we go first chapter done!
Kinda made this in a rush but I think I did good enough, gonna be busy with something for a few days so I can't ensure I'll update instantly.
I will admit im still not too adept at the scaling of Versatile Mage, so if there's any Masters out there with vast knowledge about the world, i'd appreciate it if you can tell how strong the verse is!
As you can see on the synopsis, obviously the MC's romantic interest will be Qian Renxue from Douluo Dalu! Who I prefer a whole lot compared to Xiao Wu.
Debating whether I should add another love interest to add some tension. maybe Gu Yuena, or someone from another verse.
Plans for the future, well anyway hope you enjoyed my chapter!
Ba-bye~!