## Chapter 1 – Awakening
Two hundred years ago, the world changed.
The sky cracked open.
Reality itself seemed to collide with another world, and everything humanity once knew was shattered.
Dungeons appeared across the planet.
Creatures that once existed only in myths and legends began to emerge—goblins, orcs, trolls, and countless other races.
But humanity changed as well.
Some people awakened supernatural powers.
These individuals became known as **Awakened**.
In this new world, strength determined everything.
Wealth.
Status.
Respect.
Even family names.
Only the strong were worthy of carrying a surname.
And the strong all possessed one thing in common.
**Aura.**
An invisible pressure released by powerful Awakened.
The stronger someone became, the heavier their aura felt to others.
Today was the day many students would learn their fate.
Awakening Day.
---
Inside a large classroom, dozens of students waited nervously.
Some whispered to each other.
Others sat quietly, trying to hide their anxiety.
Among them sat a young man with black hair and calm eyes.
Ronan.
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, appearing far calmer than the others.
Ronan was well known throughout the school.
Not because of wealth.
Not because of family.
But because of his ability.
He was always at the top of every exam.
He was talented in sports.
And surprisingly, he was easy to talk to.
Teachers liked him.
Students respected him.
Though some secretly envied him.
Especially because of the girl sitting next to him.
Lia.
One of the most beautiful girls in the entire grade.
She leaned slightly closer to him and smiled.
"You're not nervous at all, Ronan?"
Ronan shrugged.
"A little."
She laughed softly.
"You're definitely getting a strong ability. Everyone knows that."
Several nearby students glanced toward them.
Some of them frowned slightly.
Ronan had always been the type of person people either admired…
or quietly resented.
---
At the front of the classroom stood a tall man in a dark uniform.
The moment he entered earlier, the room had grown noticeably quieter.
It wasn't because he spoke loudly.
It was because of the **pressure** he carried.
A faint but unmistakable **aura** filled the room.
Some students instinctively straightened their backs.
This man was a real Awakened.
And not a weak one.
On the desk in front of him rested a crystal sphere.
The Awakening Crystal.
The man spoke calmly.
"I will call your names one by one."
"When your name is called, come forward and place your hand on the crystal."
"The system will determine your class and talent."
The room grew silent.
Everyone understood one thing.
Awakening was largely determined by **luck**.
Some gained powerful abilities that could change their lives overnight.
Others received talents barely useful for survival.
The first name was called.
"Daniel Frost."
A boy quickly walked forward and touched the crystal.
The sphere lit up with a warm glow.
The instructor nodded.
"B-Rank Talent. Fire Manipulation."
Cheers immediately filled the classroom.
Daniel returned to his seat with a proud grin.
---
Several students awakened one after another.
C-Rank.
D-Rank.
Another B-Rank.
Then the instructor called another name.
"Lia."
She stood up confidently.
Before walking forward, she glanced at Ronan and smiled.
"Watch. I'm getting something good."
Ronan chuckled.
"We'll see."
Lia placed her hand on the crystal.
The sphere suddenly shone with a much brighter light.
The instructor's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"A-Rank Talent."
The entire classroom erupted in noise.
"Wind Control."
Students stared at her in amazement.
An A-Rank talent meant she was almost guaranteed a bright future.
Lia returned to her seat, clearly excited.
"Your turn will be even better," she whispered to Ronan.
---
Then another name echoed through the classroom.
"Victor Draven."
Instantly, the atmosphere changed.
Victor slowly stood up.
Tall, handsome, and confident.
But what truly set him apart was his name.
**Draven.**
A powerful family of Awakened within the city.
Unlike most students here, Victor already possessed a **surname**.
Something only the strong were allowed to keep.
Victor walked forward with a calm smile and placed his hand on the crystal.
For a brief moment—
Nothing happened.
Then suddenly the crystal exploded with brilliant light.
Students shielded their eyes.
The instructor stared at the screen in front of him.
Even his expression changed.
"S-Rank Talent."
Silence filled the classroom.
Then whispers spread like wildfire.
"No way…"
"S-Rank?!"
The instructor continued.
"Talent: Lightning Dominion."
Victor smiled faintly and glanced toward Ronan.
There was a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Then he returned to his seat.
---
Finally…
The instructor spoke another name.
"Ronan."
All eyes turned toward him.
Some students leaned forward with curiosity.
"Let's see what the genius gets."
"Probably A-Rank."
Ronan stood up and walked calmly to the front of the room.
His heartbeat sped up slightly.
But his expression remained steady.
He placed his hand on the crystal.
One second passed.
Then another.
Nothing happened.
A faint light finally flickered inside the crystal.
Weak.
Almost invisible.
The instructor frowned.
He checked the system display.
Then his voice echoed through the silent classroom.
"F-Rank Talent."
For a moment, nobody reacted.
Then laughter burst out across the room.
"Wait… seriously?"
"Ronan?"
"The top student got F-Rank?"
The instructor read the ability.
"Talent: Weak Assimilation."
"Effect: Gains minor physical traits from low-level creatures after killing them."
More laughter followed.
"Goblin muscles?"
"That talent is trash."
"He'll die in his first dungeon."
Ronan stood silently.
His face remained calm.
But something heavy settled inside his chest.
---
Victor suddenly stood up.
A smirk spread across his face.
"So all that effort for nothing?"
Some students chuckled.
Victor continued casually.
"This world isn't about studying, Ronan."
"It's about talent."
---
Lia slowly stood up as well.
But unlike the others, she didn't laugh.
She looked conflicted.
She walked over to Ronan and spoke quietly.
"Ronan… I think we both need some time."
Her eyes avoided his.
"Things are… different now."
Those words hurt more than the laughter.
She turned and walked back to her seat.
---
No one looked at Ronan with envy anymore.
No one looked at him with fear.
Because now he was simply…
An **F-Rank Awakened.**
---
But no one noticed the look in Ronan's eyes.
The humiliation.
The anger.
And something colder.
A silent determination.
Ronan slowly clenched his fist.
*So this world only respects strength…*
Then he made a quiet promise to himself.
*Fine.*
*I'll become the strongest.*
*And when that day comes…*
*No one will ever look down on me again.*