The moment Lucas stepped fully into the colossal awakening dome, the whispers erupted like sparks on dry mana-crystal.
"Who is he…?"
"Do you know him? I've never seen that face before…"
"Damn, that's a hot cake… I want to eat him alive."
"This guy is hoarding all the looks. Unfair."
"Dude, look at his watch — that's a rare piece from the Eclipse Collection. Only twelve exist."
Ethan Cole's head snapped around at the growing buzz. His pink hair shifted as he narrowed his eyes at the newcomer. The guy was undeniably handsome — sharp jaw, piercing blue eyes, muscular build filling out the black blazer and neck t-shirt perfectly. Ethan's usual cocky smirk faltered for half a second.
"Who the hell is that guy?" he muttered. "He looks almost as good as me."
Chloe Bennett turned her gaze toward Lucas as well. While the crowd continued praising his striking appearance, her eyes narrowed slightly. There was something uncomfortably familiar about him — the same strong jawline, the same intense blue eyes as Alex's father. She glanced sideways at Alex.
Alex was gritting his teeth in silent anger, jaw clenched so tight the muscle jumped. His hands were curled into fists at his sides. Chloe kept her silence, but a small knot of unease formed in her stomach.
Lucas walked deeper into the hall with that same unhurried, predatory confidence, one hand still casually in his pocket. The Crimson Phantom key fob pressed against his thigh like a trophy.
A woman detached herself from a nearby group and walked straight toward him.
She wore a fitted yet layered red dress with a soft outer shawl draped elegantly over her shoulders, the fabric flowing around her curvy yet well-proportioned body. White stockings hugged her legs, and her short, shoulder-length blonde hair fell in soft waves. Warm amber-brown eyes sparkled with quiet confidence as she approached with a faint, inviting smile.
The entire crowd held its breath.
She stopped in front of Lucas and extended her hand gracefully.
"I'm Vivienne Laurent," she said, voice smooth and warm.
Lucas looked at the girl who, in his previous life, wouldn't have given him a second glance. Now she was approaching him on her own. Life really could flip in a single moment.
He took her hand, grip firm but not aggressive.
"I'm Lucas," he replied simply, deliberately omitting the Vanderbilt surname.
Vivienne's brows rose slightly at the lack of family name, but she didn't press. Instead, she started a casual conversation — light comments about the tension in the air, the beauty of the dome, how exciting the awakening season always felt.
Alex let out a long, irritated sigh.
Ethan leaned closer to him. "Something wrong, bro?"
Alex shook his head, refusing to explain. His eyes stayed locked on Lucas, who was now chatting easily with the beautiful blonde.
Suddenly, the entire dome fell into absolute silence.
A swirling portal of silver and violet mana tore open in the center of the vast space. From it emerged an old man seated in an ornate wheelchair. He looked frail — thin silver hair, wrinkled skin, body slightly hunched — but the aura radiating from him was devastating. The air grew thick, heavy, pressing down on every shoulder in the hall. Even the floating mana-lamps dimmed in his presence.
Every student, every staff member, maintained utmost silence.
The Headmaster of Seoul Awakener University, Professor Elias Voss, scanned the young faces with sharp, ancient eyes.
His voice echoed through the dome without amplification, clear and commanding.
"I will not waste your time with long speeches or empty encouragement. You already know what awakening means. You know the ranks. You know how classes are graded."
He leaned forward slightly in his wheelchair, the pressure in the room intensifying.
"What you need to understand today is this: the moment you awaken and receive your class, your place in this university — and in the world — is decided."
"Low-Tier classes — Common to Uncommon — will be placed in the group known as Nameless. You will train separately. You will be overlooked. You will fight for scraps."
"Mid-Tier classes — Rare to Epic — will join The Proven. This is where most of you hope to land. You will receive proper resources, proper guidance, and a respectable position among your batch."
Professor Voss paused, letting the weight sink in.
"But above even The Proven… there exists Apex."
A ripple of excitement and fear swept through the crowd. Alex's breathing quickened. His mother had once been Apex. The legends of Evelyn Vanderbilt's dominance during her time here still echoed in these halls.
"Only those who awaken Legendary classes are granted entry into Apex," the Headmaster continued. "They receive the best instructors, private training zones, and direct sponsorship from the university and major guilds. They are the ones who will shape the future."
A quirky student with purple slid-back hair nervously raised his hand.
Professor Voss hummed in acknowledgment.
The student asked, voice trembling slightly, "Headmaster… what if someone awakens a Forbidden Mythic class?"
The old man brought a thin smoking pipe to his lips, took a slow puff, and huffed out a short laugh that carried genuine amusement.
"Well… there has never been one here in my lifetime. If your batch really produces one, we will see."
Far away, in a private observation lounge, a group of professors watched the live feed on a massive screen.
A plump professor with round glasses scoffed loudly.
"If we get even a few Mid-Tier awakenings, we'll be lucky. Forget about that forbidden Mythic nonsense."
The other professors laughed along with him, but the laughter carried a note of deep, unspoken longing.
Back in the dome, Lucas stood quietly among the crowd, blue eyes gleaming with dark hunger.
Professor Elias Voss remained seated in his ornate wheelchair, the devastating pressure of his aura still pressing down on every soul in the dome. His ancient eyes swept across the sea of young faces once more, sharp and unrelenting.
"I know some of you feel this is unfair," he continued, voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "That every awakened should receive the same treatment. That talent, bloodline, and class should not dictate your future so harshly."
He leaned forward slightly, the mana in the air growing heavier.
"If you think like that… It's better you leave now."
A heavy silence blanketed the dome. No one moved. No one dared breathe too loudly.
"Because the world outside these walls is not fair," Voss went on, tone cold and matter-of-fact. "The races we fight in the Gates are not the same. Some are born with overwhelming strength. Some are born fragile. The monsters do not care about your feelings of equality. They care only about who is stronger."
He paused, letting the words sink deep.
"So if any of you still harbor pipe dreams of fairness… leave now. Walk out that door before the awakening begins. There is no place for such illusions here."
The silence stretched. Not a single student moved. The weight of his words crushed any lingering idealism.
Voss gave a small, satisfied nod.
"Good. Then we understand each other."
He straightened in his wheelchair.
"There will, however, be a merit-based system in place. Your efforts will be rewarded according to your tier."
"The Nameless will receive 1,000 merits every month. How you use them is up to you — for training resources, private sessions, or basic equipment."
"The Proven will receive 10,000 merits per month."
He let the number hang in the air for a moment.
"And for those who reach Apex… you will receive 100,000 merits every month."
A collective intake of breath rippled through the crowd. 100,000 merits was an astronomical sum — enough to purchase rare mana crystals, private S-rank instructors, or even custom Epic-grade weapons.
"So the better your tier," Voss concluded, "the greater your benefits. There are many more privileges you will discover in due time."
He raised one wrinkled hand, the silver portal behind him swirling brighter.
"Now… let us begin the awakening."