Successful Awakening

Seconds ticked by, and Michael could almost hear his heart pounding in his chest. Each student was allocated 30 seconds with the awakening orb—any longer was pointless, as it had been proven through countless trials over the years.

Ten seconds passed.

Fifteen seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Twenty-five seconds…

Just as the teacher began to move, ready to dismiss Michael—whose heart had already sunk into bitterness—the awakening orb under his hands suddenly flared with a brilliant light.

Instantly, a warm sensation coursed through Michael's body, clearing his mind as a newfound surge of strength flowed through him. The manifestation that accompanied every new Awakener soon followed.

A black, gloomy energy swirled around Michael, enveloping his body. A dark staff briefly materialised in his hand for a fleeting moment before vanishing into nothingness.

Michael stood frozen, momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events, until the teacher's voice, equally startled, snapped him back to reality.

"Michael Norman has successfully awakened a class: Necromancer!" the teacher announced.

"Another one?!"

"Necromancer, huh? That sounds powerful and maybe a little bit… evil?"

"Be more confident in your speech brother. It's evil as fuck!"

"Yeah, but honestly? As long as I can awaken a class, I wouldn't even mind if it involved selling my body!"

"Just admit that you're horny bro."

Just like before, the hall erupted in murmurs, though the reaction was more subdued than it had been earlier. It couldn't be helped—unlike the excitement over Lilian Stone's unexpected awakening or the awe surrounding Brian Lian's transformation into a super-genius, Michael's presence at school had always been… negligible.

But that wasn't going to be the case any longer…

Only a few of his classmates from Class 3, Section N8, were present in the hall, and there were even fewer faces he could recognise. It wasn't wrong to say that he didn't know any of them personally.

"Good, good, good," the teacher in charge of the ceremony repeated his word thrice, visibly pleased. It wasn't that he knew Michael; rather, it was a surprise to see three Awakeners emerge from a ceremony he had expected to yield none. 

Such results were rare, and a complete failure in Awakening wouldn't have shocked him or anyone.

"Come stand beside me and wait," the teacher gestured, motioning for Michael to join the other two Awakeners.

"Yes, teacher."

Still in a daze, Michael nodded and obeyed. Seeing a new comrade, Lilian and Brian gave him a brief nod of acknowledgement, which he returned automatically.

In truth, Michael's attention wasn't on his surroundings at all. He could barely catch the bits of murmurs his classmates were whispering about him, he was just too preoccupied to care.

His attention was fixed on what had just appeared before his eyes.

A blue, transparent panel that floated before his sight:

*****

[ Name: Michael Norman ]

[ Race: Human ]

[ Class: Necromancer Apprentice ]

[ Level: 1 ]

[ EXP: 0/100 ]

[ Strength: 1.3 ]

[ Agility: 1.4 ]

[ Constitution: 1.2 ]

[ Intelligence: 4.5 ]

[ Attribute Points: 0 ]

[ Skills: Undead Summoning, Undead Revival ]

[Talent: Infinite Evolution]

[ Class Skill: Contract Slot {0/2} ]

[ Gift: Mark Of Origin ]

*****

Michael's mind hardly processed the details displayed on the panel. It was only now that he realized what had just happened.

He had awakened! He had really awakened!

A wave of relief and joy washed over him, loosening the tension that had been weighing on his shoulders, making him finally feel relaxed. While this was only the beginning, the most critical hurdle was cleared. No matter what came next, now that he had awakened, his future brimmed with new possibilities.

Michael let out a deep sigh of relief and turned his attention back to what was left of the Awakening Ceremony.

Only six students remained, and in about four minutes, it could come to a conclusion. Each student would soon return home, left to ponder their future based on the outcome of their awakening. 

Now that he no longer felt nervous, Michael's mind was free to wander.

The most pressing realization was his awakened class: Necromancer.

Truth be told, Michael knew little about Awakeners or their classes beyond what was taught at school and overheard in passing. What he did know was that classes were generally categorized into three broad types: Combat, Support, and Lifestyle.

Necromancer seemed like a mix of Combat and Support, but Michael wasn't entirely certain of that.

The school provided only a general understanding of Awakeners, without delving deeper into the subject. Perhaps the higher-ups believed that students who were unlikely to awaken didn't need to know more and would benefit more from using their time on their studies or cultivation.

There was a common belief that if one cultivated before awakening could lead to the activation of a secondary class, given that the person had talent. This made cultivation a widely encouraged practice overall.

Michael wasn't certain if this limited information was unique to Woodstone Public High School No. 3, but he knew one thing for sure—there was no discrimination between classes.

No class was considered inherently "overly weak," as each class theoretically had limitless potential. An Awakener's power depended solely on their own efforts and abilities. According to the teachers, this even applied to Lifestyle classes like Tailors, which were said to hold extraordinary potential.

Michael wasn't sure how true this claim was, but he suspected he would find out soon enough. After all, he was now an Awakener—someone who should earn him recognition from the government.

Just as Michael mulled over his thoughts and was about to inspect the mysterious panel that had appeared in his mind earlier, the teacher's voice pulled him back to the present.

"Alright, that's it for today," the teacher announced. 'For those of you who failed to awaken, remember that failure to become an Awakener doesn't mark the end of our future. During the early days of the apocalypse, at least half of our ancestors—those who played a crucial role in ensuring humanity's survival and advancement—were ordinary people. So what if you didn't awaken?"

A murmur spread among the downcast students below the podium, their spirits lifting at the teacher's words.

Even Michael couldn't help but find himself impressed by the teacher's words. However, he couldn't ignore the harsh reality that awaited them outside the hall. Perhaps some of the students already understood this grim truck, but for now, they needed something to cling to and help them feel better.

One must know that while this world was technically more advanced than Michael's original one, it wasn't all sunshine for the average person out there.

For example, traditional jobs, like bankers, had long become a thing of the past, along with many others. Only a handful of establishments still employed humans for the tasks that machines could do—either out of financial strain or because they wanted to be "classy" like some high-end hotels.

For most people in this world, life was a daily struggle against poverty, with few employment opportunities available for them.

It was only after arriving in this world that Michael truly came to appreciate a saying from his old life: technology can be both a blessing and a curse.

This desperation to escape their current circumstances was one of the reasons why these students so desperately wanted to become Awakeners.

If Michael hadn't awakened, he would have been on the receiving end of the teacher's encouraging words as well. 

He knew he was truly lucky.

Sensing his words had struck a chord, the teacher nodded in satisfaction before speaking again.

"The college exams for both regular colleges and cultivation academies are just three months away. Make sure to use this time wisely and prepare seriously. Remember, just because you don't need to attend school again after today doesn't mean you can afford to slack off. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" The students, including Michael and the two other newly Awakened, responded in unison.

"Alright, you're dismissed!"

As the students made their way out of the hall, the teacher turned to Michael, Lilian, and Brian. With a warm smile, he said, "You three, follow me to the principal's office."

Meeting The Principal

The moment the teacher overseeing the awakening ceremony left the hall with Michael and the two other new Awakeners, they encountered two more teachers—a man and a woman—on their way to the principal's office.

Trailing behind the male teacher was a girl who seemed to be around 17 or 18 years old. Following the female teacher were five younger students: two boys and three girls.

From the brief conversation between the teachers, Michael learned that the students accompanying them had also successfully awakened.

The girl following the male teacher was also from class three, like Michael, though he didn't recognize her. This wasn't surprising; after all, Woodstone was a public school with over 600 students in class three alone. The grade three alone was divided into nine sections, each accommodating up to 100 students per teacher. 

Although the classes rarely reached full capacity—since that would make even the spacious classrooms feel cramped—there were typically no fewer than 60 students per section.

The five students behind the female teacher, however, were from class one. Michael deduced this from their younger appearance but was still surprised by the number of Awakeners from that class. In fact, he was astonished by how many students had successfully awakened this year in general.

Including the students from class three, a total of nine students had awakened. While this might seem small compared to Woodstone's overall student population, it was significant. 

Even in class one, which consisted mostly of 16-year-olds—the age group most likely to awaken—rarely had this many(4) awakened in a single year.

In Michael's time as senior high, the total number of students who had successfully awakened, from his time in class one through class three, including the older students, had barely exceeded twelve. And most of those Awakeners had been from class one. This year, however, not a single student from class two, where most students were 17 years old, had awakened.

Therefore, the number of Awakeners at Woodstone Public High School this year was unusually high, and the success of class three was particularly remarkable—downright abnormal though the reasons remained unknown.

While Michael was lost in his thoughts, they soon reached before the principal's office.

Upon reaching the door, the female teacher stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Principal?" she called out.

"Come in," a voice responded from within.

With permission granted, the female teacher took the lead to open the door and walked into the room.

Inside, a middle-aged man sat behind a desk. Michael recognized him—he was the principal of Woodstone Public High School No. 3, Mike Bill. It was rumoured that he was a powerful knight, though Michael wasn't sure of it since he had never seen the man in action.

Setting aside the document he had been focused on, Principal Mike turned and greeted the group with a smile.

"Nine Awakeners this year—heavens must truly favour our school," the principal remarked, visibly pleased by the turnout of students from his school this year. It was standard protocol for the new Awakeners to meet with the principal alongside their teachers, so he had anticipated their visit. Seeing no raising objections to his statement, he knew his assumption was correct.

With this confirmation, the smile on Principal Mike's face grew even brighter.

"I believe your teachers have already informed you why you're here, yes?" Principal Mike asked, glancing at Michael and the other students in his office.

"Yes, sir!" they replied in unison.

"Haha, there's no need to be nervous. What I'm about to tell you is probably something you are already familiar with, but it's still worth saying," the principal said with a light chuckle.

Michael and the other students subconsciously straightened their backs, their focus sharpening.

The principal was unbothered by their reaction and continued.

"As you know, being Awakeners, your life and future are no longer the same as those of ordinary people. Power and wealth are now within your grasp—if you're wise enough to seize them."

"Had you failed to awaken, you would likely be preparing to enter into an ordinary university to continue your education. If you possessed decent talent in cultivation, you might have tried to enter a cultivation academy. But you have successfully awakened! This means that, instead of attending a cultivation academy or any regular university, you'll be enrolling in an Awakened University, where you'll gain the knowledge and skills you need to know to be an Awakener."

"Some of you might wonder if going to an academy is unnecessary. After all, couldn't you just enter the Land of Origin on your own, like our ancestors, and forge your own path? While that is possible, anyone with a sensible mind would avoid such a risky approach. Why make things unnecessarily difficult for yourself?"

"So, right now, aside from entering the Land of Origin, which you now have access to, your top priority should be securing a place at an Awakener Academy."

"As for learning more about your new identity as an Awakener, you'll need to visit the Supers Association to register as an Awakener after this. This registration is vital as the association will provide you with better resources and detailed information about your new identity and responsibilities."

The principal then went on to elaborate on a few other points, some of which Michael and his peers were already familiar with, while others offered new insights.

After finishing what he needed to inform, Principal Mike dismissed the students and teachers, asking Brian to stay behind for a private discussion.

After leaving the principal's office, the teacher overseeing Michael's awakening addressed their group.

"As New Awakeners, you are required to register with the Supers Association within three days. Failing to do so is considered a crime. Though you have some time, I strongly recommend registering immediately if you're free."

"As the principal also stressed the importance of the upcoming college exams, you need to take it seriously. Just because you're Awakeners doesn't exempt you from academic testing. While the requirements might be less stringent compared to regular university students due to your status, your performance still matters, depending on the academy you plan to attend. Anyway, the Supers Association will provide you with more details on this during the registration, so make sure you don't delay it!"

"For those who aren't in their third year," the teacher addressed as he turned to the younger students from Class 1, "you can also attempt the college exams if you think you're well prepared for it. Most academies and the Federation permit this. However, most Awakeners who manage to awaken before their third year prefer to focus on home lessons while honing their skills as Awakeners, aiming for higher scores when they're ready to enter an academy."

With their advice delivered, the teacher and the two others offering additional guidance, they left the nine students and returned to the teacher's office.

There was no need to flatter the new Awakeners. These were no longer the apocalyptic days. While the teachers were softer with them compared to before, it wasn't to the point of bowing at their feet, but they certainly wanted to form a careful balance and neither wanted to offend them nor overly indulge them.

With the rise of cultivation, Awakeners were no longer the sole wielders of great power in the world. Ordinary individuals could also reach similar impressive levels of strength, though Awakeners remained a rare breed and more gifted.

Experienced teachers understood this dynamic well. They knew that leaving a good impression was enough since they didn't have any hidden agendas.

Registering As An Awakener (1)

The students felt uncertain and adrift after the teachers left, but not Michael. He already knew his path ahead and what he needed to do for that. His first priority was to register at the Supers Association, and the second was to inform his aunt about his awakening.

Fortunately, Michael was already familiar with the Supers Association. Even before he got transmigrated into this world, the original owner of the body had a basic understanding of it—common knowledge among the natives.

The Supers Association was an organisation that operated under the Federation. It was established by the new government after the apocalypse. The world now had only one ruling authority—the Federation, and beneath it were countries, states, and cities, all part of this new global order.

The Supers Association was tasked with managing all supernatural beings in the Aurora Realm. Ordinary humans had to reach the level of a rank one Cultivator before they could register, whereas Awakeners were required to register immediately upon awakening, as their transformation into supernatural beings occurred the moment they awakened.

The Supers Association's mission was threefold: to protect the general public, oversee supernatural beings, and provide them with various benefits.

Michael made his way out of the school compound and onto the bustling street. After a moment, he spotted an empty taxi that happened to pass by and hailed it.

"To the Supers Association!" he said as he slid into the back seat.

"That'll be a dollar," the driver replied.

"Okay."

The Supers Association was far from Woodstone Public School. On foot, the journey would have taken Michael close to an hour, but by taxi, it would take no more than twenty minutes.

After settling into the passenger seat and the taxi rumbled along, Michael pulled his phone from his pocket. Normally, if the school were still in session, it would have been tucked away in his backpack. But with the college exams approaching and no formal need to attend classes, he had left most school-related items behind, aside from his school uniform.

Most of the senior high students who had come to school today had solely come for the awakening ceremony. After this, the school would likely feel noticeably emptier until exams concluded.

Though the technology in this world was more advanced than Earth's, it retained some familiar elements. The wealthy used floating cars, while the less well-off relied on traditional wheeled vehicles.

Holographic-display watches replaced phones for the wealthy, while others were content with traditional phones. Despite the world being a mix of old and new technology, somehow it all blended seamlessly—into a strange yet harmonious system that didn't feel out of place.

Michael decided to text his aunt instead of calling her. She worked as a cook at a fairly upscale restaurant, so she was likely still busy.

Keeping it brief, Michael sent a short message: I have succeeded in my awakening. 

Just as he was about to set his phone aside, an incoming call lit up the screen. It was his aunt.

Michael immediately answered the call.

"Aunt, aren't you at work?" Michael asked immediately. It was unusual for his aunt to answer so quickly, even on her days off.

"I still am," Aunt Mia replied. "I just happened to be on a short break when your message came through."

Michael believed her—he could hear the background noise confirming it.

"Mic," his aunt called, her tone hesitant as if she had something on her mind but wasn't sure how to say it.

"Ma?" Michael replied with a smile, already guessing what was it that she wanted to ask. 

He understood her disbelief—most parents were left in shock when their children awakened on their first try, let alone Michael, who had even less of a chance.

"Your message," Aunt Mia began slowly, then paused before continuing, "is it true?"

"It is, Aunt Mia. Today's my lucky day, haha," Michael chuckled softly.

Aunt Mia let out a small squeak of joy, clearly trying to keep her excitement in check.

Knowing she was still at work, Michael decided to wrap up the conversation so that she could get back to her work. "I'm on my way to the Supers Association now, Aunt. I'll talk to you when you get home."

"Okay, okay, okay! I'll transfer some money to you now. Grab something to eat for yourself and save a little for Lily when she gets back from school. I might be home a little late today."

"Yes, Aunt."

After exchanging a few more words, they ended the call.

Michael let out a sigh as a surge of happiness washed over him. Though he was originally from Earth, he had fully embraced his role as Michael in this world and cared deeply for his family here. 

Perhaps it had something to do with losing his parents early in his previous life.

In a way, both of the Michaels had endured difficult childhoods.

After ending the call, Michael closed his eyes to rest, ignoring the occasional glances from the driver, who seemed to want to ask something but was hesitant. Only now did Michael realize how tense he had been back at the awakening hall, leaving his spirit exhausted.

It felt like it had only been a few minutes since Michael decided to rest when he felt a nudge from the driver. 

"We're here," the driver announced.

Michael weakly opened his eyes, still a bit dazed, but the sight of the two-story building not far from him quickly cleared his mind and brought him back to focus.

"Your code, please," Michael requested.

"Here," the driver nodded and held up his phone, displaying a payment code. Michael scanned it with his own device, transferring the fare to the driver's account.

"Thanks for the ride!" Michael said as he stepped out.

"No problem! And congratulations on your awakening!" the driver added with a grin as he started the engine.

Watching the taxi drive away and hearing his greetings before parting, a smile appeared on Michael's face. If the driver wasn't certain when he overheard the conversation Michael had with his aunt earlier, he was now after seeing how focused Michael was on the Supers Association branch right after he got out of the car.

Shaking his head with a chuckle, Michael refocused. Taking a deep breath, he made his way toward the entrance.