## **Chapter 2: Awakening Begins** The moment Yanluo opened his eyes, he sensed it—the change. No longer did he feel the dull ache of a broken body, nor the suffocating burden of a hospital bed. The sharp scent of disinfectant and the weight of regret had vanished. Instead, he found himself in a shabby, one-room apartment. The ceiling sagged, the walls were damp, and the furniture seemed on the verge of collapse. Yet, to Yanluo, this was freedom. This body, though unremarkable, moved smoothly without the sting of pain. It breathed easily without gasping. For the first time in years, he truly felt... alive. He walked to the mirror, running a hand through his tangled black hair. The face staring back at him felt foreign—his jaw was sharper, shoulders broader, yet the eyes... those eyes remained the same. Cold. Watchful. Isolated. Stepping outside, he was struck by a reality that was stranger than any dream. People were flying. It wasn't an illusion—actual humans soared through the air, some clad in radiant armor, others shrouded in shadows. Down an alley, a brawl erupted, but these fists were not ordinary; they unleashed waves of wind and flames. A man roared, sending his opponent hurtling away with a surge of pure energy. Yanluo's breath hitched. “What... kind of world is this?” Just then, a sharp pain sliced through his skull. He sank to his knees, clutching his head as a flood of memories surged in—memories that weren't his own but belonged to the original inhabitant of this body. Kim Joo-hwan. Age: 18. An orphan. A scholarship student at one of the top Cyrux universities. He was smart. Quick-witted. But also shy, withdrawn, and constantly bullied for his lack of power. In this world, power was everything. The ones who awakened—known as Cyruxes—were humans given a system when they turned 18. This system displayed their name, age, height, weight, skill slots, and most importantly, their rank. Ranging from F to SSR, these ranks determined your destiny. Your value. Most awakened had only one skill slot. Having two was rare. Three was celebrated and five? Legendary. Joo-hwan had none… or at least, he hadn’t until now. To make matters worse, Joo-hwan had never awakened. He was paralyzed by the fear of failing. Bullies tormented him, especially one named Kwon Chen, the arrogant son of an S-rank Cyrux. After enduring so much pain, Joo-hwan swallowed a handful of poison pills the night before his Awakening Ceremony. He never made it. Until now. “...What a damn coincidence,” Yanluo muttered, rubbing his temples. “Tomorrow’s the Awakening Test.” That night, he lay on the hard mattress, gazing at the cracked ceiling. The previous Yanluo—bitter, broken, betrayed—might have shed tears. But this new Yanluo? He felt something entirely different. Opportunity. --- **The Next Morning.** Before the sun had fully risen, he dressed and headed out for the university. He blended into the crowd, but the whispers followed him. “Wait… that’s Kim Joo-hwan?” “He’s still alive?” “LOL. He actually showed up for the test? What a delusional loser.” Yanluo didn’t bat an eye. He kept moving, his steps steady and calculated. In the courtyard, over 135 students gathered, buzzing with anticipation. Professors and staff looked on from an elevated stage. Among them stood the headmaster—a tall man in his sixties with sharp eyes. A telepathic wave swept over the crowd. “All students, report to the main field immediately.” Some students flinched. Yanluo remained unfazed. His eyes darted around, scanning faces, expressions, movements. Like in his past life, he couldn’t help but analyze and catalog it all in his mind. A habit of a stalker, now turned survival instinct. Once everyone was gathered, the headmaster stepped forward and delivered a brief speech. “Remember, not everyone will awaken. Only 30% of you may succeed. But today, destiny awaits.” Then the crystals appeared—massive, glowing gems mounted on dark pedestals. Students formed lines, and the Awakening Test began. One by one, they placed their hands on the crystal. Some faced instant rejection. Others awakened laughable skills—cooking, washing, dancing, and more. Then came the top three. Kwon Chen stepped up first, a smirk on his face. His hand touched the crystal. A burst of crimson light shot into the sky. “Rank: S” “Skill Slots: 2” “Skills: Shadow Daggers (Combat - Assassin), Phantom Blink (Movement - Assassin)” The crowd erupted in cheers. “Incredible! An S-rank!” Next was Ryu Han, the prince of the college. Girls nearly swooned as he approached. Golden light exploded around him. “Rank: SS” “Skill Slots: 3” “Skills: Steel Body, Flash Step, Dragon Strike” Even the professors were in awe. Finally, the goddess herself—Nam Gung Seo-yeon—graced the platform. Silver-blue energy enveloped the field. “Rank: SS” “Skill Slots: 3” “Skills: Ice Manipulation, Angelic Barrier, Mist Cloak” The air crackled with admiration. And then… it was Yanluo’s turn. Snickers echoed behind him. “Hope the crystal rejects him outright.” “He should’ve died with his parents.” Yanluo ignored them. He reached out, pressing his palm against the crystal, ready to face whatever came next. The whole courtyard shook beneath their feet. A colossal beam of **black and white light** shot upward, piercing the sky. Gasps erupted from the crowd. Professors stood there, mouths agape. *“W-What’s happening?!”* one exclaimed in disbelief. The headmaster squinted, a flicker of curiosity dancing in his eyes. “Kim Joo-hwan, show us your system window,” he ordered, his tone steady yet commanding. Yanluo hesitated, caught off guard. Instead of responding, he froze in place. In his mind, a system screen flickered to life—no, not just one, but two. [SYSTEM 1: Base Window] Name: Kim Joo-hwan Age: 18 Rank: D Skills (2 Slots): - Shapeshift [Unique | Level 0] - Evolve [One-time Use | Max Level] Description: Shapeshift enables transformation into another person’s physical form. Evolve allows one skill to reach its ultimate potential. Status: Not awakened (Until ceremony activation) [SYSTEM 2: Seeker System – SSR Rank] Owner: Yanluo Rank: SSR Skill Slots: Infinite Active Skills: None Available Tabs: - **Store:** Trade SP for skills or items. Types and quality vary randomly, no guarantees of usefulness. - **Wheel:** Spin for rare rewards or random boosts using SP. # NOTE = Risk: Overuse in public could lead to backlash or hostility. Visibility to others is turned off by default. # NOTE = - **SP (Seeker Points):** Points gathered through morally questionable actions (e.g., mockery, theft, insults, humiliation). His heart raced. *Two systems? Infinite slots? SSR rank?* This was a secret he couldn't afford to reveal. But there was a hitch—he had no skill to conceal them yet. Not even a single one. And here he was, under the scrutiny of the entire school. If someone caught a glimpse of either system window, he’d be torn apart like a lab specimen—or worse, labeled a freak. Then, a flicker caught his eye on the Seeker interface. A subtle message appeared: [You can earn SP by performing evil actions.] Current SP: 0 He bit his lip, feeling the weight of desperation. *Desperate times require desperate measures.* With a steely gaze, he faced the crowd. His voice rang out across the now silent courtyard. “You all think you’re something special? Especially you, Kwon Chen,” he sneered, pointing at the overconfident bully. “You’re just a musclehead riding on your dad’s coattails.” Gasps rippled through the crowd. “People like you should be cleaning floors, not pretending to be heroes.” And just like that— [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] [+1 SP earned.] In a flash, his total SP climbed to 1422. A new tab appeared before him. The Store. He mentally clicked on it. Skills whirled before him like a slot machine. [Store: Random Skill Pool] - Body Enhance [Uncommon], cost = 800 SP - Knife Throw [Uncommon], cost = 600 SP - Customizer [Rare] ← Description: Lets the user create a false system interface for public viewing. Functions as a disguise (exclusive on user’s demand). A sly grin crept across his face. *This is just what I need.* [Purchased “Customizer” for 1200 SP. Remaining SP: 222] [Skill activated.] Just in the nick of time. He turned toward the headmaster and said smoothly, “Apologies, sir. Here’s my system window.” [SYSTEM: F-RANK | 3 Skill Slots] Name: Kim Joo-hwan Rank: F Skills: - Sweeping - Dancing - Cooking The crowd blinked in confusion. *Three slots at F-rank?* It seemed ridiculous. But the skills? Complete garbage. Laughter erupted. Even the bully couldn't suppress a smirk. “Figures. Born trash, die trash.” But only Yanluo understood the gamble he was taking. This deception had consequences. If anyone uncovered the truth, the school could quickly turn hostile. If his skills grew too potent too fast, he’d attract unwanted attention. And the Store? It was a ruthless game. SP didn’t guarantee anything worthwhile. For every decent skill, there were a dozen useless ones lurking. He’d have to keep mocking, scheming, and stealing to gain more power. *This wasn’t a gift—it was a curse wrapped in opportunity.* Still, he felt a thrill inside. He had devised a way to navigate among wolves while wearing the skin of a sheep. And no one—not the headmaster, not Kwon Chen, and certainly not the gods—could stop what was about to unfold next.
## **Chapter 2: Awakening Begins**
The moment Yanluo opened his eyes, he sensed it—the change. No longer did he feel the dull ache of a broken body, nor the suffocating burden of a hospital bed. The sharp scent of disinfectant and the weight of regret had vanished. Instead, he found himself in a shabby, one-room apartment. The ceiling sagged, the walls were damp, and the furniture seemed on the verge of collapse. Yet, to Yanluo, this was freedom. This body, though unremarkable, moved smoothly without the sting of pain. It breathed easily without gasping. For the first time in years, he truly felt... alive.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
He walked to the mirror, running a hand through his tangled black hair. The face staring back at him felt foreign—his jaw was sharper, shoulders broader, yet the eyes... those eyes remained the same. Cold. Watchful. Isolated.
Stepping outside, he was struck by a reality that was stranger than any dream. People were flying. It wasn't an illusion—actual humans soared through the air, some clad in radiant armor, others shrouded in shadows. Down an alley, a brawl erupted, but these fists were not ordinary; they unleashed waves of wind and flames. A man roared, sending his opponent hurtling away with a surge of pure energy.
Yanluo's breath hitched. “What... kind of world is this?” Just then, a sharp pain sliced through his skull. He sank to his knees, clutching his head as a flood of memories surged in—memories that weren't his own but belonged to the original inhabitant of this body. Kim Joo-hwan. Age: 18. An orphan. A scholarship student at one of the top Cyrux universities.
He was smart. Quick-witted. But also shy, withdrawn, and constantly bullied for his lack of power. In this world, power was everything. The ones who awakened—known as Cyruxes—were humans given a system when they turned 18. This system displayed their name, age, height, weight, skill slots, and most importantly, their rank. Ranging from F to SSR, these ranks determined your destiny. Your value. Most awakened had only one skill slot. Having two was rare. Three was celebrated and five? Legendary. Joo-hwan had none… or at least, he hadn’t until now.
To make matters worse, Joo-hwan had never awakened. He was paralyzed by the fear of failing. Bullies tormented him, especially one named Kwon Chen, the arrogant son of an S-rank Cyrux. After enduring so much pain, Joo-hwan swallowed a handful of poison pills the night before his Awakening Ceremony. He never made it. Until now.
“...What a damn coincidence,” Yanluo muttered, rubbing his temples. “Tomorrow’s the Awakening Test.” That night, he lay on the hard mattress, gazing at the cracked ceiling. The previous Yanluo—bitter, broken, betrayed—might have shed tears. But this new Yanluo? He felt something entirely different. Opportunity.
---
**The Next Morning.**
Before the sun had fully risen, he dressed and headed out for the university. He blended into the crowd, but the whispers followed him. “Wait… that’s Kim Joo-hwan?” “He’s still alive?” “LOL. He actually showed up for the test? What a delusional loser.” Yanluo didn’t bat an eye. He kept moving, his steps steady and calculated.
In the courtyard, over 135 students gathered, buzzing with anticipation. Professors and staff looked on from an elevated stage. Among them stood the headmaster—a tall man in his sixties with sharp eyes. A telepathic wave swept over the crowd.
“All students, report to the main field immediately.”
Some students flinched. Yanluo remained unfazed. His eyes darted around, scanning faces, expressions, movements. Like in his past life, he couldn’t help but analyze and catalog it all in his mind. A habit of a stalker, now turned survival instinct.
Once everyone was gathered, the headmaster stepped forward and delivered a brief speech.
“Remember, not everyone will awaken. Only 30% of you may succeed. But today, destiny awaits.”
Then the crystals appeared—massive, glowing gems mounted on dark pedestals. Students formed lines, and the Awakening Test began. One by one, they placed their hands on the crystal. Some faced instant rejection. Others awakened laughable skills—cooking, washing, dancing, and more. Then came the top three.
Kwon Chen stepped up first, a smirk on his face. His hand touched the crystal. A burst of crimson light shot into the sky.
“Rank: S”
“Skill Slots: 2”
“Skills: Shadow Daggers (Combat - Assassin), Phantom Blink (Movement - Assassin)”
The crowd erupted in cheers. “Incredible! An S-rank!” Next was Ryu Han, the prince of the college. Girls nearly swooned as he approached. Golden light exploded around him.
“Rank: SS”
“Skill Slots: 3”
“Skills: Steel Body, Flash Step, Dragon Strike”
Even the professors were in awe. Finally, the goddess herself—Nam Gung Seo-yeon—graced the platform. Silver-blue energy enveloped the field.
“Rank: SS”
“Skill Slots: 3”
“Skills: Ice Manipulation, Angelic Barrier, Mist Cloak”
The air crackled with admiration. And then… it was Yanluo’s turn. Snickers echoed behind him.
“Hope the crystal rejects him outright.” “He should’ve died with his parents.”
Yanluo ignored them. He reached out, pressing his palm against the crystal, ready to face whatever came next.
The whole courtyard shook beneath their feet. A colossal beam of **black and white light** shot upward, piercing the sky. Gasps erupted from the crowd. Professors stood there, mouths agape.
*“W-What’s happening?!”* one exclaimed in disbelief. The headmaster squinted, a flicker of curiosity dancing in his eyes. “Kim Joo-hwan, show us your system window,” he ordered, his tone steady yet commanding. Yanluo hesitated, caught off guard. Instead of responding, he froze in place. In his mind, a system screen flickered to life—no, not just one, but two.
[SYSTEM 1: Base Window]
Name: Kim Joo-hwan
Age: 18
Rank: D
Skills (2 Slots):
- Shapeshift [Unique | Level 0]
- Evolve [One-time Use | Max Level]
Description: Shapeshift enables transformation into another person’s physical form. Evolve allows one skill to reach its ultimate potential.
Status: Not awakened (Until ceremony activation)
[SYSTEM 2: Seeker System – SSR Rank]
Owner: Yanluo
Rank: SSR
Skill Slots: Infinite
Active Skills: None
Available Tabs:
- **Store:** Trade SP for skills or items. Types and quality vary randomly, no guarantees of usefulness.
- **Wheel:** Spin for rare rewards or random boosts using SP. # NOTE = Risk: Overuse in public could lead to backlash or hostility. Visibility to others is turned off by default. # NOTE = - **SP (Seeker Points):** Points gathered through morally questionable actions (e.g., mockery, theft, insults, humiliation).
His heart raced. *Two systems? Infinite slots? SSR rank?* This was a secret he couldn't afford to reveal. But there was a hitch—he had no skill to conceal them yet. Not even a single one. And here he was, under the scrutiny of the entire school. If someone caught a glimpse of either system window, he’d be torn apart like a lab specimen—or worse, labeled a freak.
Then, a flicker caught his eye on the Seeker interface. A subtle message appeared:
[You can earn SP by performing evil actions.]
Current SP: 0
He bit his lip, feeling the weight of desperation. *Desperate times require desperate measures.* With a steely gaze, he faced the crowd. His voice rang out across the now silent courtyard. “You all think you’re something special? Especially you, Kwon Chen,” he sneered, pointing at the overconfident bully. “You’re just a musclehead riding on your dad’s coattails.” Gasps rippled through the crowd. “People like you should be cleaning floors, not pretending to be heroes.”
And just like that—
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
[+1 SP earned.]
In a flash, his total SP climbed to 1422. A new tab appeared before him. The Store. He mentally clicked on it. Skills whirled before him like a slot machine.
[Store: Random Skill Pool]
- Body Enhance [Uncommon], cost = 800 SP
- Knife Throw [Uncommon], cost = 600 SP
- Customizer [Rare] ← Description: Lets the user create a false system interface for public viewing. Functions as a disguise (exclusive on user’s demand).
A sly grin crept across his face. *This is just what I need.*
[Purchased “Customizer” for 1200 SP. Remaining SP: 222]
[Skill activated.]
Just in the nick of time. He turned toward the headmaster and said smoothly, “Apologies, sir. Here’s my system window.”
[SYSTEM: F-RANK | 3 Skill Slots]
Name: Kim Joo-hwan
Rank: F
Skills:
- Sweeping
- Dancing
- Cooking
The crowd blinked in confusion. *Three slots at F-rank?* It seemed ridiculous. But the skills? Complete garbage. Laughter erupted. Even the bully couldn't suppress a smirk. “Figures. Born trash, die trash.” But only Yanluo understood the gamble he was taking. This deception had consequences. If anyone uncovered the truth, the school could quickly turn hostile. If his skills grew too potent too fast, he’d attract unwanted attention. And the Store? It was a ruthless game. SP didn’t guarantee anything worthwhile. For every decent skill, there were a dozen useless ones lurking. He’d have to keep mocking, scheming, and stealing to gain more power. *This wasn’t a gift—it was a curse wrapped in opportunity.* Still, he felt a thrill inside. He had devised a way to navigate among wolves while wearing the skin of a sheep. And no one—not the headmaster, not Kwon Chen, and certainly not the gods—could stop what was about to unfold next.
