Today was January 1st, 3000.
This day marked the thirtieth Career Awakening held by humanity.
Yes, humanity had evolved, or rather succumbed, in the past decades. After the release of a game called "Get a Job" in the year 2710, it had changed humanity.
On the day of the game release, players all around the world opened accounts and logged in, but because of a malfunction and an unknown error, the game manifested itself into reality and brought its rules to Earth.
The developers tried to shut it down. Governments tried to erase it. But when the game's creator died and the source code vanished, there was no turning back.
Humanity had no choice but to adapt.
From that day on, a new force – the Career System – governed the world.
A system that assigned every human a "career," paying them automatically for performing tasks linked to their role. It offered power, wealth, and purpose to the ambitious and a cruel fate to those who failed.
For the first time, being "somebody" was not a dream. It was a system-determined privilege.
Yet the Career System had its flaws.
When it arrived, it did not come alone.
It brought dungeons, monsters, and anomalies, phenomena that twisted reality and birthed creatures from nightmares.
Still, humanity adapted.
New career paths emerged: Hunters, Medics, Chefs, Athletes, and thousands more, each fighting to keep a balance in this fractured world.
But with every decade came another Awakening, a mass event where humanity evolved further under the system's will.
Now, in the year 3000, the thirtieth Awakening had begun.
The large hall of Job Ford University was filled with noise. Students gathered in the hall, discussing and predicting the jobs they would get.
At the front of the large group of students was a podium.
On the podium was a large, circular blue rock. On it was the carving of a human hand.
Beside this unusual rock stood a man who looked to be in his fifties. He had grey hair and wore a brown tuxedo. On his face was a bright smile as he watched the students with amusement.
A little distance from the podium, five chairs were arranged like thrones, with a table of delicacies laid before them. On these chairs sat mature men and women, dressed in extravagant yet tasteful attire, radiating authority and an aura of royalty that demanded respect.
The room buzzed with tension, excitement, and curiosity. This was the day every student had dreamed of or dreaded since childhood.
The gray-haired man cleared his throat, his voice echoing across the grand hall.
"Attention, students of Job Ford University! The time has come for the thirtieth Career Awakening! Prepare yourselves to receive your careers, your roles in society, and your destiny!"
"Hey! It's Elder Wang Xian! He is a hunter."
"Isn't that the strongest Hunter? He came himself to host the Awakening?"
The chatter in the hall immediately hushed. Every eye turned toward the podium, anticipation thick in the air.
"Let us begin," the man said, stepping forward. "We will call each student one by one. Come forward when your name is announced and receive your Career."
A hush fell over the students, mixed with excited whispers. Some were already confident they would receive prestigious roles. They were the heirs of wealthy families who had accumulated more credit points before graduating, the prodigies of every field, and the sure-bets of society.
"Liang Wei!" the announcer called.
The first student — a tall, handsome boy with perfect posture and gleaming eyes — strode confidently to the podium. The crowd murmured in awe.
"Hey! It's Liang Wei! The best student of the year."
"I am sure he will get the job that will make him a millionaire in mere days."
Liang Wei placed his hand on the carved part of the stone, and the stone immediately turned red. A red aura surrounded him, sending a gust of wind across the hall.
Then, a green prompt appeared in midair in front of him, with a larger one projected for everyone to see. It displayed:
[Buzz! Career Path: Hunter]
[Buzz! Hunter's Role: Ranger]
[Buzz! Starting Equipment: Legendary Bow of the Azure Skies]
[Buzz! Per Kill: 1,200,000 L]
The applause was deafening. Everyone stared at him with envy.
"Wow! He earned a Supreme weapon in just his Awakening! I wonder what Rank he will reach after clearing two dungeons."
Fang Xian was unbothered by the tension and immediately called the next student, prompting Liang Wei to leave the podium.
"Chen Mei-Ling!"
The next student, a beautiful girl whose elegance and aura screamed nobility, floated to the podium.
"Ahh... She is so beautiful."
"Mei Ling, marry me after this, okay?"
She paid no one any attention as she walked up to the podium and followed the same procedure.
[Buzz! Career Path: Supernatural Medic]
[Buzz! Skills: Supreme Healing, Emergency Mastery]
[Buzz! Per Mission: 1,500,000 L]
The crowd cheered even louder, their admiration almost tangible.
"It's a mixed career!"
Then… silence.
"Ren Li!"
Ren froze. His palms grew sweaty. Everyone's eyes slowly shifted to him, and a few snickers rose from the back of the hall.
Ren's heart sank. He had no flashy appearance, no impressive family connections, and no confidence. He adjusted his glasses nervously and took a tentative step forward.
A group of upperclassmen leaned back in their chairs, smirking. One whispered loudly enough for others to hear, "Haha… look at this loser. He is probably going to get a janitor or something."
Another chimed in, "Yeah, or maybe a street sweeper! What a joke!"
"Hey, I know him! It's Ren Li, the UTTER FAILURE!"
Everyone laughed.
Ren's face burned red, and he muttered under his breath, "C'mon… just give me something normal…"
He reached the podium, hands trembling. The gray-haired announcer gave him a knowing glance, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Ren Li muttered inaudible words under his breath and slowly placed his hands on the stone. The stone turned green without drama, and the system displayed Ren Li's job.
[Buzz! Career Path: Supernatural Business]
[Buzz! Starting Business: Supernatural Pornstar]
[Buzz! Business Arena: The Haunt]
[Buzz! Personal Assistant: Ghost Queen Ling Feng]
The hall went silent.
A few students tried to stifle laughter. One even clapped mockingly.
Ren's mouth fell open. "The… Haunt?! And… porn… business?! What is this?"
Ren Li swallowed hard as he trembled on the large stone. He saw his face, details, and new job displayed right in front of him in a green prompt.
"The Haunt?! That place is scary! God dammit!"
At least he was not given a job associated with clearing dungeons filled with monsters.
[Buzz! You've earned a part-time Career: Dungeon Hunter]
[Buzz! You've earned a Hunter's Role: Assassin, Pornstar]
[Buzz! You've earned a personal assistant: Demon Queen Shen Li]
"Wait! What? Ah… Spoke too soon… Assassin? I lead the front line?! Damn it all. Dammit!"
Meanwhile, behind him, the students could not see his system. Careers like Pornography, Hacking, and Theft were hidden so no one could see them, making it easier for the government to act before the user used the ability.
Ren had nothing to worry about since his Career was acceptable for ages 18 and above.
"Hey, he has a hidden career… Guess who is going to be the government's dog?"
Everyone laughed.
The system was not done.
[Buzz! As a Businessman and Hunter, you've earned two Goals: Smut and Kill]
[Buzz! Per Kill: 1,000,000 L]
[Buzz! Per Smut: 1,800,000 L]
[Buzz! Per Mission: 5,000,000 L]
[Dungeons, Horror, Haunt have one thing in common: Supernatural]
[Smut, Pornstar have one thing in common: Lust]
[Your system has earned the identity: Supernatural Lust System]
The frustration on Ren Li's face slowly disappeared. A wide grin appeared in its place.
Greed embraced Ren Li like a mother's hug.
That's true. People with business careers earn much more than in other jobs, except for Supernatural, Pornography, and Hunter. My job is a mixture of all of it! I am going to be so rich.
"If this is how to be rich, then so be it…"
[Buzz! Prepare for your interview in the next 24 hours.]