The ring had no skill bonuses and was entirely ordinary, but at least it granted ten points of spirit. Better than nothing. Zayne accepted it quietly.
Do not underestimate how plain it looked. If he bought something like this outside, it would cost six to eight thousand dollars, nearly half the price of one of his kidneys.
This was why awakening and becoming a class holder was so expensive. Even a full set of the lowest tier ordinary gear cost a fortune. Rare, epic, and legendary gear were even more outrageous.
This is my personal support for the two of you. Work hard. Aim for level ten or higher. Norton looked at both Zayne and Nia with eager expectation.
Thank you, Norton. I will do my best.
Zayne thanked him and walked out of the office.
By now the awakening ceremony had ended. Some were delighted, others disappointed. But when they saw Zayne, their faces all showed the same expression.
Relief.
No matter what class they awakened or whether they succeeded or failed, at least they were alive.
Better off than Zayne, at least. He awakened as a Forbidden Spellcaster, which was practically a public announcement of a short life.
Human happiness always came from comparison. Standing next to Zayne, everyone suddenly felt their lives were not so bad.
Zayne.
Just as he was about to go home, Nia called out and walked over with her long strides, standing a step above him and looking down from the platform.
I advise you to think this over carefully. The more a Forbidden Spellcaster fights, the faster they burn out. I mean no harm. We are classmates, and I simply do not want you to die too quickly. Nia's tone was filled with pity.
Thanks for your concern, but I will pass on teaming. Zayne rejected her.
You. Nia glared. She had tried again and again to advise him, yet he refused to listen at all. Truly, no warning could save someone determined to die early.
Fine. Let go of the urge to help. Respect others' destinies. Nia reminded herself silently. She would no longer interfere in Zayne's life or death.
Tsk, who do we have here? Oh, it is our glorious SSS class awakener, Zayne.
A mocking voice sounded as Francis led a group of followers to block Zayne and Nia's path.
He was the young master of Ward Group, a tyrant in Old Shipyard Port High, openly pursuing Nia for ages.
Everyone knew Nia was Francis's reverse scale. This kid awakened a Forbidden Spellcaster and thought he could rise?
Nia wanted to drive Francis away at first, but remembering Zayne's stubborn rejection earlier, she suddenly decided to watch silently. Letting Francis rough him up a bit might help Zayne realize how dangerous Forbidden Spellcaster truly was. It was a profession that traded life for power.
Seeing Francis's cold stare, Zayne felt speechless. Women really were trouble. Three years in this school and he had never provoked anyone. Two sentences with Nia and trouble came right to his door.
Make way. I want to go home. Zayne did not want a fight.
Go home? To that filthy slum of yours?
Francis laughed.
You are technically an SSS class now. How about this? Beg me a little and I will arrange a full board security job for you in Ward Group. You can stop living in that sewer. I am doing you a favor.
His followers burst into laughter.
Zayne, you lucky bastard. You even get to join Ward Group as a guard. Hurry up and thank Francis.
As they mocked him, Zayne clenched his fists, breathing heavily, acting like he had been humiliated beyond endurance.
Do not push me too far. Zayne roared.
Francis flinched. After all, Zayne was technically a real Forbidden Spellcaster.
But then he smirked again. Forbidden spells cost the user dearly. What was Zayne going to do? Kill them both because of a few insults?
Zayne, I am being kind. How is that bullying? Francis reached out and tapped Zayne's cheek lightly.
It did no harm but was profoundly insulting.
The thrill of it made Francis grin. So what if Zayne was SSS class? Anyone daring to get near Nia deserved humiliation.
Zayne narrowed his eyes. He knew clearly that backing down now meant endless future humiliation.
If he wanted Francis to never dare touch him again, then Francis had to learn that Zayne was not a harmless rabbit, but a lion with fangs.
Zayne's eyes turned blood red.
Francis, you have gone too far. You forced me.
Forbidden Spell Worldbane Thunderfall.
Zayne shouted, raising one hand toward the sky. Dark clouds gathered instantly, lightning churning as silver arcs flickered through the layers.
Boom.
A pillar of thunder as thick as a man's thigh fell from the sky, connecting with Zayne's palm. In that moment he looked like a deity wielding lightning itself.
Countless students stared in terror. Was this truly a level one awakener?
As Zayne's raised hand fell, the thunder crashed beside Francis, blasting him backward and carving a massive crater into the ground.
Zayne, have you lost your damn mind?! Francis nearly wet himself. He only wanted to humiliate Zayne a bit, not provoke a death match. This lunatic had actually cast a forbidden spell?
If Zayne's aim had been slightly better, Francis would have been a charred corpse.
But Zayne did not answer. He raised his hand again.
Forbidden Spell Worldbane Thunderfall.
Shit. He has gone insane. Help. Someone help me.
Francis completely broke. A slight insult and Zayne wanted mutual destruction? Anyone would panic.
He tried to get up, but his legs were jelly.
Pull me up. Please.
He cried out to his followers, but they were all too busy running for their own lives.
You useless cowards. Francis cursed. Then, with another deafening boom, an even more terrifying bolt struck right beside him.
Francis froze. A foul warmth spread down his leg. The feeling of being one breath away from death was too much for the human body.
But at least the second bolt also missed. It was over. A tear slid down Francis's cheek.
Just as he thought that, an enraged voice echoed again like a reaper calling his name.
Forbidden Spell Worldbane Thunderfall.