'I'm going to die.'
The thought cut through Nael's mind with crystalline clarity as he stared up at the abomination looming over him. His entire body trembled from pure terror.
The monster's form flickered between shadow and nightmare, its abyssal hollow eyes fixed on him with the patient hunger of an apex predator. Where its claws scraped against the dungeon floor, reality itself seemed to wither and age.
This thing clearly didn't belong here. Didn't belong anywhere mortals dared to tread.
[DING-!]
A chime interrupted his thoughts, and a series of warning messages appeared in his vision.
[ WARNING: CATASTROPHIC THREAT DETECTED. ]
[ UNIQUE GRADE ENTITY: GLOOM PREDATOR. ]
[ RECOMMENDED PARTY SIZE: 10 (MIN. LEVEL 10). ]
[ RECOMMENDED ACTION: IMMEDIATE EVACUATION. ]
The message was as terrifying as the creature itself, a recommended party of ten minimum level 10s. For him, alone at level 5, it wasn't a fight.
It was an execution.
Running away wasn't an option either.
He was trapped.
'I'm going to die.'
He repeated the dreadful line again and again. It settled in his gut like a stone.
His spear was gone, his body screamed in protest with every ragged breath, and the Gloom Predator was closing in, its silent approach more terrifying than any roar.
Then, another chime echoed, softer this time.
[ INVESTMENT #001 - STATUS UPDATE ]
[ Beneficiary: Mireille Solen ]
[ Calculation Complete. Return on Investment: Finalized. ]
[ Investment Grade: SSS ]
[ RIO = 100x ]
[ Distributing Returns... ]
[ ... ]
The messages hung in his vision, a bizarre, beautiful lifeline in the face of certain death. Nael's mind latched onto it even as the Gloom Predator's shadow fell over him.
'Investment? Returns?'
As he processed everything, a new hope ignited in his eyes, a desperate, wild flare against the encroaching darkness.
'I am an Investor. And I will stay as an Investor.' He made his choice decisively.
The pain, the fear, the certainty of death, they all faded into the background, replaced by a single, electrifying realization.
'I am still going to die.'
______ ____ _
(A Day Before.)
The Aethelgard City.
The Aethelgard Preparatory Lyceum, central pride of the city with its great marble dome towering like a crown, was overflowing with people today. Parents were clutching the hands of their children tightly, merchants were leaving their shops closed, and guards were struggling to keep this excited crowd in neat lines.
After all, today wasn't just another day. It was the long-awaited day of Awakening.
The day when every youth across the continent of Arathorne would step onto the Circle of Essence, have their destinies etched into their very souls, and receive the first glimpse of what fate had prepared for them.
Some would walk away as Warriors, Weavers, Healers, or something even greater: Sword Saints whose swords could split the mountains, Heroes whose names would echo through the ages, Archweavers who could reshape reality with a single thought.
While others would receive nothing remarkable and fade into the background of history, or be unable to undergo awakening, thus be forever marked as Mundane, a classification that carried no shame in words, yet crushed dreams all the same.
"I hope I can at least awaken a good Uncommon Class." One of the boys from the graduating classes muttered hopefully. "It's fine as long as it's a combat class."
"Uncommon?" scoffed another boy from behind. "I'm aiming for Epic at minimum. My family never produced anything below Rare."
"My grandmother was a Storm Weaver," a red-haired girl next to that boy smiled proudly. "I am confident I will get at least an Epic Class."
"Epic?" laughed another one nervously. "My father always said to dream big. So, it's either Legendary or nothing!"
"Hehe, you are all thinking too small," whispered the glass-wearing boy, his eyes gleaming. "What if someone gets a Mythic today? Can you imagine?"
"Haha, that would be amazing." Others exclaimed in anticipation. "Our academy would produce a Mythical Class after so long!"
'...' Nael, waiting in the nervous line of his classmates, shook his head with a faint smile. 'They're still so childish.'
Well, while their worries were true, and he himself would love to get a high-grade class, he also believed that one had a chance to grow and reach higher ranks with every class. They just needed to work harder and search for opportunities, use their classes to their fullest.
The city lord Oz was a prime example of this. With just an Uncommon grade 'Stone Knight' Class decades ago, he had risen through sheer will, tactical brilliance, and unrelenting discipline to command the City Guard and later govern Aethergard itself.
There are also rumors that he managed to evolve his class after reaching level 50. And now, many believe that he can easily rival those Epic Class Awakened. But...
'The real question,' Nael thought, putting his chin on his knuckles, 'isn't what Class you're given. It's what you do with whatever you get.'
"Next!"
Just then, the ceremonial herald's voice boomed louder across the plaza through the amplification crystals.
"Brennon, the son of Alistair!"
'Oh, it's the class president's turn.' Nael followed everyone's gaze to look at the handsome young man ascending to the Awakening platform, and then massive projection panels that were above the Awakening Crystal.
Suddenly, both the crystal and the young man glowed brightly in golden light.
A few moments later, the phenomenon ended, and the translucent display shimmered, revealing the results in glowing runes.
______
[ Class: Sun Knight ]
[ Grade: Epic ]
[ Primary Stat: Vigor ]
______
"Whoa! A [Sun Knight]!"
"An Epic Class!"
"Amazing!"
Waves of surprise and awe echoed through the crowd.
Nael ignored the commotion and squinted his eyes at the platform, watching their class president, Brennon, descending the stairs with that same confident stride he'd always carried.
'He's a 'Golden Boy' till the end, huh.'
Brennon had the looks, the brain, the impeccable family background, and flawless social skills. And now, he had a powerful Epic class to back them up.
'He gives off the 'Hero' vibe as well... I honestly envy him a little.'
While Brennon had everything, Nael practically had nothing, at least by the standards of the world.
He had no family. He wasn't strong. He wasn't a genius. He only had a small amount of money left by his late parents and his 'different' mindset, as described by some of the people he was acquainted with.
So yeah, like everyone else, Awakening was his only hope. His one and only chance to change his circumstances.
'Haha... It seems like I'm no different from the others...'
'Hmm?' Just then, Nael noticed something.
Several figures were emerging from the guests' side, some old with luxury robes and calculating eyes, others young with the bearing of seasoned Awakened.
'Are they... the recruiters?'
He guessed inwardly as they gathered around the young Sun knight, like moths to a brilliant flame.
'Yep, they are recruiters.'
Previously, he didn't give that much attention to them since they didn't show themselves this openly. But now...
'I guess they are only interested in the best.' Nael chuckled inwardly while wondering if there were scouts from the top ten academies as well.
Shaking his head from distracting thoughts, he focused on the ceremony, watching others undergoing awakening, waiting for his own turn.
'Hmm?' It was also at that moment that he noticed the state of the girl sitting beside him.
"Mira, is something wrong?" He asked worriedly. Mira, or Mireille, was his only friend in the academy. "Should I take you to the infirmary?"
"E-eh?" Mira glanced at him, startled. She was a girl with long, silky silver hair,
Her cerulean eyes, usually sharp and focused, seemed hazy and distant. They blinked slowly, as if she were struggling to process his words.
"N-no, I'm fine," she then murmured. "Just... a little dizzy. It's nothing really."
But it wasn't 'nothing'.
Nael could see the faint nervousness flickering deep within her pupils. Something was wrong, very wrong. 'But what could it be? She was fine just yesterday.'
"Mi-" before he could press her further, a sharp voice caught through the noise.
"Nael!"