A group of staff members in formal black robes wheeled forward a tall, liquid-black mirror on an ornate silver frame. The mirror stood nearly ten feet high, its surface rippling like living obsidian oil, faint void tendrils occasionally licking at the edges.
Professor Elias Voss raised his hand, voice carrying across the silent dome.
"This is the Abyss Mirror — a Mythic-grade artifact and one of the university's founding treasures. It has witnessed the awakening of legends for five decades."
The students stared, awestruck and star-struck. Gasps and hushed whispers filled the air as the mirror's surface shimmered with an otherworldly depth that seemed to pull at the soul.
"Those who wish to awaken will stand before it," Voss continued. "If you awaken, the mirror will display your class information clearly. If you do not… it will remain void. Now… let the awakening begin."
Nervous energy crackled through the crowd. Alex's heart hammered in his chest. He prayed silently — At least an Epic class… please, anything but Nameless. Chloe gave him a soft, encouraging smile, her modest frame shifting slightly in her navy skirt and stockings. Ethan was visibly twitching, pink hair bouncing as he bounced on his heels.
Lucas stood calm on the surface, but inside, he remembered the cheap, low-tier crystal ball that had rejected him two years ago. This time was different. This time, he had a real chance. He believed — no, he knew — he would succeed.
Professor Voss floated higher into the air, his wheelchair humming with mana as he oversaw the process. Staff began calling names.
"Marcus Wright!"
A tall boy stepped forward. The Abyss Mirror rippled. A fierce warrior image materialized — an armored figure wielding a massive sword. Text appeared beside it:
Class: Iron VanguardGrade: Rare
Cheers and groans mixed. The boy looked relieved.
Names continued. Some awakened Common or Uncommon classes and walked away with slumped shoulders. Others received Rare or Epic, sparking excited murmurs.
"Ethan Cole!"
Alex and Chloe both wished him luck. Ethan gave a shaky thumbs-up and walked forward, nerves making his pink hair tremble.
He stopped before the mirror.
The surface churned violently, then stabilized. A striking image appeared — a flamboyant figure surrounded by swirling, colorful flames and illusions, dancing across a battlefield like a mad performer.
Text bloomed:
Class: Chromatic Jester
Grade: Epic
Ethan's eyes widened. He threw his head back and laughed wildly, pumping his fists in the air. "Yes! Epic! Hell Yeahhh!"
Headmaster Voss nodded with clear appreciation. "Well done."
Back in the professors' observation lounge, the live feed showed Ethan's celebration.
The plump professor slapped his knee, laughing heartily. "What a good seedling! I want to make him my personal student!"
A lean professor with grey-tinted glasses and a sly face countered with a smirk. "Like, he will join you, Professor Harlan. Dream on."
The plump one scoffed and started cursing back. Their argument grew louder until a warm, energetic woman professor stepped in. She had golden hair framing a soft, kind face, but her body was devastating — full, heavy breasts straining against her blouse and a busty, rounded ass that made her chair creak when she moved.
"Gentlemen," she said with a gentle smile, "please. Let's focus on the ceremony."
Both men twitched but immediately stopped arguing, respecting her presence.
Back in the dome, Vivienne Laurent glanced sideways at Lucas. She had been observing him from the moment he arrived. One of her lackeys had sent a picture earlier of him stepping out of the Crimson Phantom. Her breath had caught — she knew exactly how valuable and status-heavy that car was. Her family owned the Silver Thorn Guild, currently ranked 5th. She understood power and legacy better than most. That was why she had approached him first — to get close before others could.
But Lucas had grown silent after their initial small talk, his attention now fixed on the mirror.
A new name was called.
"Damien Blackthorn!"
The entire dome went almost silent. Some students shifted with visible fear.
Damien Blackthorn — heir of one of the top 3 guilds, Domination — walked forward with swagger. He was taller than Lucas, broader, with sharp features and an aura of someone who had never been told "no" in his life. Cockier than anyone, he cared about nothing except his own superiority.
As he passed behind Lucas, his shoulder deliberately slammed into him — hard.
Lucas flinched from the impact, a spike of pain shooting through his arm, but he kept silent, jaw tight.
Damien didn't even glance back. He continued walking as if Lucas were beneath notice.
Whispers broke out immediately.
"What grade do you think he'll awaken?"
Another student scoffed. "Even if he only gets a Rare class, his family will pour bloodline enhancements into him anyway. You know who his grandfather is, right? One of the founding Awakeners — an SS-rank powerhouse."
The other nodded with clear displeasure. "Yeah… who doesn't know?"
Damien stopped before the Headmaster, gave a shallow, arrogant bow, then stepped in front of the Abyss Mirror.
Damien Blackthorn stood before the Abyss Mirror with the arrogant confidence of someone who had never known true failure. His broad shoulders were squared, chin lifted high, a smug smirk playing on his lips as if the mirror itself should feel honored to reveal his destiny.
The liquid-black surface churned violently the moment he stopped in front of it. Dark tendrils of mana lashed outward like living shadows before coalescing into a single, terrifying image.
A colossal figure materialized — a knight clad in midnight armor wreathed in swirling black and violet flames. In one hand, he held a massive obsidian Greatsword that seemed to drink in light itself. In the other, a cracked eclipse orb that radiated pure destructive power. The figure's eyes burned with cold, absolute dominance.
Text began to form in glowing silver runes beside the image:
Class: Eclipse Devourer
Grade: Legendary
The entire dome erupted.
Gasps turned into shouts. Students stood from their seats. Even some of the staff exchanged stunned glances.
"Legendary…!" "Eclipse Devourer — that's a combat class with both destruction and absorption traits!" "He's Apex for sure!"
Damien's smirk widened into a full, arrogant grin. He raised one hand in triumph, basking in the attention as if the result was never in doubt. The mirror's surface rippled one final time before settling, confirming the class with a deep, resonant chime that echoed through the hall.
Professor Elias Voss nodded slowly from his floating position, a rare look of approval crossing his ancient face.
"Eclipse Devourer — Legendary grade. Damien Blackthorn, you are hereby placed in Apex."
Damien gave another shallow bow to the Headmaster, though his eyes burned with superiority. As he stepped away from the mirror, he cast a deliberate, mocking glance toward the crowd — specifically in Lucas's direction — before returning to his group of sycophants who immediately surrounded him with congratulations.
Back in the professors' lounge, the plump Professor Harlan nearly choked on his drink.
"Legendary on the first try? That boy's bloodline is truly monstrous!"
The lean, sly-faced professor with grey glasses leaned back with a knowing smirk. "Of course. With that grandfather, anything less would be an embarrassment."
The golden-haired woman professor with the devastating figure simply watched the screen in silence, her soft face showing quiet contemplation while her full breasts rose and fell with a measured breath.
In the dome, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically. The bar had been set impossibly high on the very first major awakening of the day.
Alex's fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white. Chloe stood close beside him, her peach-shaped butt shifting nervously in her pencil skirt as she glanced between Alex and the triumphant Damien.
Lucas, however, remained perfectly still. His blue eyes followed Damien's retreat with cold calculation. The shoulder check from earlier still throbbed faintly, but Lucas didn't show even a flicker of anger on his face.
He simply waited.
His turn would come soon enough.
And when it did, he had no intention of playing by anyone else's rules.