The central plaza was filled with a structured, almost ritualistic anticipation, as if everyone present shared the same silent belief that this moment would define destinies in an absolute way. Young people stood aligned in rows, families gathered around, watchful and judgmental gazes everywhere, and at the center of it all, the crystal — large, translucent, with a surface that seemed to absorb more than it reflected. It was not merely an object; it was a mechanism of social classification.
Among the youths, Kael did not stand out for prominence, but for the lack of it. His body was lean, built more for endurance than strength, his shoulders slightly hunched as if accustomed to yielding space rather than claiming it. His dark hair fell unevenly over his forehead, partially covering dull gray eyes that seemed to observe more than react. His expression carried neither visible anxiety nor confidence — it was an unstable neutrality, typical of someone who expects little, yet fears exactly what might come.
Names were called with mechanical regularity, and each response from the crystal generated small, predictable ripples through the crowd.
"Combat System Rank B."
The approval was moderate, almost procedural.
"Magic System Rank A."
In this case, gazes sharpened, and murmurs carried more weight.
Everything operated within a rigid pattern, and it was precisely this pattern that sustained the collective sense of security in that event.
When the name "Kael" was called, there was no significant reaction. He stepped forward with controlled movements, avoiding anything unnecessary, and as he stopped before the crystal, the examiner spoke without even raising his eyes.
"Place your hand."
Kael obeyed without responding, pressing his palm against the cold surface.
The first second was empty. The second, anomalous. The light appeared, but not in a stable form; it flickered, faltered, as if the crystal itself was encountering resistance while processing something. One of the observers murmured, barely disguising it:
"That's not normal…"
Another responded, hesitant:
"Have you ever seen something like this before?"
The instability lasted longer than it should have.
Kael's perception shifted as his vision dimmed slightly and an interface appeared, clean and direct.
"Fatal error detected."
The sequence continued without pause.
"Incompatible system."
The examiner frowned slightly now, actually paying attention.
"What happened to the crystal…?"
The interface proceeded.
"Applying alternative protocol."
And then, without hesitation:
"Inverted System activated."
The crowd's reaction came late, but it came.
"Inverted system? Is that a joke?"
"He managed to break his own system."
Voices began to overlap, forming a rapid collective judgment.
Kael still watched the interface as the final lines appeared.
"Base condition altered."
"All metrics inverted."
"Good luck."
The screen disappeared without any further explanation.
The examiner showed no interest in investigating. He simply recorded the result and stated, dryly:
"Invalid result. Next."
Kael remained still for a moment, until an assistant approached and said impatiently:
"You're done. Move."
The shove came immediately after, enough to displace him, and he lost his balance, falling hard against the ground. Laughter followed almost instantly.
"He couldn't even receive a proper system."
"Pathetic."
Kael did not respond. There was no response available. But the interface reappeared.
"Damage received."
"Conversion applied."
"+1 Strength."
He remained on the ground a moment longer than necessary, not due to incapacity, but processing. When he stood, the difference was subtle, but real: more stability, less hesitation in his movement.
He understood exactly what was going on.
It was at that moment that Rian approached, his upright and confident posture standing in sharp contrast to Kael.
"I knew you wouldn't disappoint."
His smile was light, calculated.
"But you still managed to be worse than I expected."
Kael kept his eyes on him, without answering. His confidence wasn't enought to respond Rian.
Rian tilted his head slightly, analyzing.
"So tell me… what exactly does an 'Inverted System' do?"
Kael's silence was interpreted as inability.
Rian laughed.
"You don't even know? That makes this even easier."
Without warning, he stepped forward and shoved Kael again, this time with more force. Kael fell, the impact harsher than before, but the response came immediately.
"Damage received."
"Conversion applied."
"+2 Strength."
The progression was not linear. That detail settled quickly. Kael stood again, now visibly steadier.
Rian narrowed his eyes.
"You're… strange."
Kael spoke for the first time, his voice low and direct.
"Hit me again."
One of the onlookers laughed, confused.
"He asked to get hit?"
Another shouted:
"Go on! Hit him, Rian!"
Rian did not laugh this time.
"Have you gone insane?"
Kael kept his gaze fixed on him.
"Just do it."
There was a brief but significant pause.
"You're trying to test something…", Rian said, now more analytical.
Kael did not confirm, but he did not back down either.
Rian exhaled lightly and smiled again, now with a different intent.
"Fine. If that's what you want…"
He moved forward, and this time there was no shove. The strike came directly — a clean punch, without restraint. The impact was strong enough to draw a collective reaction from the crowd. Kael fell once again, but the interface appeared immediately.
"Damage received."
"Conversion applied."
"+5 Strength."
The increase was significant. This was not random. It scaled.
Kael stood up with a different level of control than before, without haste, but without instability. The change was already noticeable, even to those who did not understand what was happening.
Rian took half a step back.
"This isn't right…"
Kael spoke again, in the same steady tone.
"Again."
The voice that once hesitated to leave his throat now carried conviction.
The crowd no longer laughed the same way. Because even without understanding the mechanism, they had begun to perceive the effect. And the effect did not follow the rules everyone there believed in.
If damage generated strength, then it was simple what he had to do.
This was far from a flaw.
And that raised a possibility that had not yet been spoken aloud, but was already forming in an inevitable way.
Perhaps Kael possessed a power that could surpass them all.