"Yesterday, roars erupted deep in the Pacific Ocean, suspected to be a ninth-tier Beast Emperor breaking through. Coastal cities are advised to strengthen their defenses."
"A month ago, a lapse in the defense network of Liyang City, Chuansheng Province, led to a beast tide invasion, resulting in the tragic deaths of tens of thousands of citizens."
"Under the investigation of the eighth-tier expert, Swift Sword Li Qiang, results have been obtained, and a press conference will begin promptly at 9 PM tonight."
"Liu Yang, an outstanding graduate of Modu Awakener University, broke through to the fifth-tier yesterday and has officially decided to join the Ash Guild."
"After four years, an S-rank Awakener has once again appeared in Beautiful Country. The awakened category is elemental wind. This Awakener has already been specially recruited by Houston Awakener University."
"..."
After browsing the trending information.
Xu Jingming put down his phone and rubbed his temples hard, feeling a headache.
Based on the extra memories in his mind, combined with the information above, he could now confirm that he had indeed transmigrated.
The world he transmigrated to is called Blue Star, and its civilization and technological development are roughly similar to his previous life.
However, two important things were added: one is fierce beasts, and the other is abilities.
The former are extremely terrifying, bloodthirsty monsters that are rampaging across Blue Star.
The latter is the source of power that humans use to resist the invasion of fierce beasts.
"I just drank a bit too much at my graduate school graduation party, woke up, and transmigrated to another world. How can I even explain this?"
"And if I transmigrated, couldn't I at least get a better starting point?"
Xu Jingming was somewhat speechless.
According to the memories he had just gained, his predecessor was also named Xu Jingming, a third-year high school student at Jiangcheng Second High School.
Aside from his somewhat outstanding appearance, he was extremely ordinary in all other aspects.
Even the ability he awakened was only E-rank [Weak Current].
"Ability..."
Xu Jingming pondered, raising his right hand and snapping his fingers. Tiny blue and white electric arcs actually flickered at his fingertips.
If this skill were in his previous life, who knows what kind of sensation it would have caused.
But on Blue Star, it was nothing out of the ordinary.
This is because in this world, everyone can awaken an ability at the age of sixteen and become an Awakener.
abilities are strange and varied: some can control wind and fire, some can transform into beasts, and some can heal injuries... There are also quality differences between different abilities. According to Blue Star's rating, abilities are divided into nine ranks: SSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D, E, F.
Most people can only awaken D-rank or E-rank abilities.
Only a small number of people can awaken C-rank or B-rank abilities, and those who can awaken A-rank abilities are considered prodigies!
As for the higher S-rank, SS-rank, and SSS-rank abilities, they are even rarer, appearing only once every few years, or even decades.
In the ability awakening two years ago, without any surprise, his predecessor only awakened an E-rank ability, [Weak Current].
abilities are also divided into elemental, enhancement, mental, recovery, natural, and special categories.
His [Weak Current] belongs to the lightning-element ability under the natural category, one of the six major ability types.
Lightning-element abilities are considered quite good among many abilities.
But an E-rank rating alone destined that [Weak Current]'s lethality would not be too high.
For example, the electric arcs currently Entanglement around his fingertips have a damage output similar to, or even slightly weaker than, a stun gun.
"Did I transmigrate just to be a human stun gun?"
"I also want to dominate all directions with my fists and become a powerful expert..."
Extinguishing the electric arcs at his fingertips, Xu Jingming rested his right hand on his chin, sighing as he looked forward.
He was in a bright classroom; it was break time, and the surrounding classmates were chatting amongst themselves. In front of him was a blackboard.
In the bottom right corner of the blackboard, there was a college entrance exam countdown displaying '1' day.
In the Great Xia Nation where he resided, the college entrance exam is held annually on June 7th to select students for Awakener Universities for further training.
Today was June 6th, and the college entrance exam was scheduled for tomorrow.
You see,
Due to the existence of fierce beasts, Awakeners belong to a special class, revered by the populace and enjoying various privileges.
Simply put, Awakeners are superior to ordinary people.
Note that those who have awakened an ability are merely Awakeners and cannot control much power.
Only after a period of cultivation can one transform from an Awakener to an Ability User, gaining the power to directly confront powerful fierce beasts.
Ability Users are divided into nine ranks, from first-tier to ninth-tier.
Each tier is further divided into lower, middle, and upper sub-tiers.
However, even for the lowest first-tier lower sub-tier, it's impossible for an ordinary Awakener to advance without four or five years of cultivation.
But if one gets into an Awakener University and has a mentor's guidance, that process will be significantly shortened.
This is why the college entrance exam is so important.
However, with only an E-rank ability awakened, his chances of getting into an Awakener University were infinitesimally close to zero... "Didn't they say transmigrators get benefits? Where's the system? Help me out!"
Xu Jingming muttered to himself. No sooner had his voice faded than an electronic prompt sounded in his mind:
"deep blue system activating..."
"System activation successful. Newbie Gift Pack being issued..."
"Newbie Gift Pack issued successfully. Claim now?"
Listening to the prompt in his mind, Xu Jingming's eyes widened, and his mouth fell open:
"A system... it really exists?!"
After the shock, a burst of ecstasy followed!
As a transmigrator, he naturally understood what a system meant.
It meant he had the chance to defy fate and reach the pinnacle!
"Hoo—"
Xu Jingming let out a long breath, calmed himself down, and instead of claiming it immediately, he asked in his mind:
"What's in the Newbie Gift Pack?"
"200 Ability Points, and the S-rank ability [Violet Heaven Divine Lightning]."
"[Violet Heaven Divine Lightning], an S-rank ability?!"
Xu Jingming's eyes shone brightly, and his breathing quickened.
He didn't know what Ability Points were for now, but he knew about S-rank abilities.
This was a rare quality ability, hard to come by on the entire Blue Star!!
Just like the news article announced earlier.
The Beautiful Country, as powerful as the Great Xia Nation, only saw another S-rank Awakener after a four-year hiatus!
The Great Xia Nation itself hadn't seen an S-rank Awakener in two or three years!
And S-rank Awakeners, as long as they didn't perish halfway, all grew to become regional magnates! Guarding their respective territories!
"System, if I claim the Newbie Gift Pack, will I get an S-rank ability?"
Just to be safe, Xu Jingming confirmed again.
"Yes."
Xu Jingming's eyes lit up slightly upon receiving the affirmative answer.
S-rank ability!!
The chance to defy fate, he had it!
"Jingming, don't space out, Old Chen is here." His deskmate whispered.
Only then did Xu Jingming snap back to reality, realizing that class had already started at some point.
On the podium stood a middle-aged man with a flat top haircut; he was Chen Fan, the homeroom teacher of Class 5.
"After class, I'll claim the Newbie Gift Pack as soon as I get home."
Although his heart was burning with excitement, Xu Jingming knew that claiming the gift pack in the classroom was not a good idea.
So he suppressed his emotions and listened attentively to the lesson...