A Variant Life Socket! I

It was such a shock that even Gem Master Azazel paused, his enhanced senses also initially seeing the single glow of light that represented one Life Socket, but uniquely…

Its size was much bigger than a normal Life Socket.

And…

"Not circular?"

His voice was akin to a boom as others quickly focused and realized it too.

On his chest, there was a singular glow, yes.

But it wasn't a circle like every Life Socket was known to be, but something holding sharp edges that looked like multiple triangles!

The moment Gem Master Azazel confirmed this, his gaze became cloudy as he spoke out sternly.

"Variant Life Socket. Stand by for an Analysis."

…!

A variant Life Socket.

Something that wasn't understood by the masses!

It very rarely occurred, but even when it did happen in the past, it wasn't something good.

It made for good studies and research on the different Life Sockets out there, but most of the time…Variant Life Sockets were defective Life Sockets.

The words smashed into Alexander's head like a hammer as he walked off the stage, ignoring the gazes of others as he wanted to understand himself.

Ever since the golden dust of the Primal Life Gem fell on him and he underwent this change, he felt like he had a new vision of his body as he could look inside of himself in a way that even he couldn't believe.

He could see his chest and back without turning around or using a mirror, he could even see the soles of his feet without raising them.

He could also see…the massive Life Socket that occupied his chest.

It was…seemingly a collection of pointed triangles- nine triangles at that!

If he could give it a name, it seemed like an Enneagram.

A nine-pointed star!

When he gazed at it, it felt grand and pristine- like something so far above that it didn't even make sense for it to be on him.

But before he could study it any further…

He heard the calm steps of someone he recognized quickly.

And he raised his head to see on the stage a now visibly nervous Claire, her fists clenched in defiance as she was staring daggers towards a few groups among the few hundred who had begun to whisper the word 'Defective' among others as they pointed towards him.

The Son of the Four-Link Gem Master Julius-

with a defective Life Socket!

It was a shocking development as whispers would, of course, be spread by those who had always looked at his position and privilege with envy.

Alexander didn't even pay it any heed, but it had gotten to Claire as she went up next.

"Gem Master Azazel."

Her voice was respectful and sharp as she pulled the attention of all eyes here.

She faced the crowd of young men and women with sharp eyes as behind her, Gem Master Azazel moved his hand with a hint of hesitation before he crushed the Primal Life Gem above her.

The Daughter of the other Branch Leader. Surely, she wouldn't be a complex case like Alexander, right?

This was the thought in his head as in the next moment, Claire's body began to tremble as a bright flash of light bloomed on her chest!

A bright light.

One that outclassed all others before it as wondrously, a burst of golden brilliance even shot upwards as if to announce something. 

It was only after this blinding light died down that everyone got a chance to see just what had risen on Claire's chest.

And…

…!

Everybody was forced to pause with their mouths agape, their jaws barely hanging on their mouths!

On the side of the stage, Alexander smiled while speaking out silently.

"And you were worried this whole time?"

The one who was more tense than he was.

At this moment…

Her chest shone with five dazzling lights.

Lights that caused even Gem Master Azazel to stare blankly before he shouted out.

"A Five-Link Gem Master!"

It was like a bomb had exploded.

Those waiting to awaken and those who had awakened stumbled back at the sheer reality of what was ahead of them, and even Claire herself…she seemed frozen as she looked at her chest as if she couldn't believe it

A Five-Link Gem Master!

More pristine than even the two Branch Leaders of the Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline.

Someone with a grand future- someone that could be cultivated to be a pillar of not just the Asmodeus Bloodline, but even for the other three Human Lineages!

The moment that the shout of Gem Master Azazel echoed out, the skies flashed and boomed with a clap of thunder and lightning as the figure of a muscular middle-aged man with radiant blue wings of light behind his back appeared.

One of the two Mortal Branch Leaders.

Claire's Father. 

The Four-Link Gem Master with the famous Gem Recipe termed the Lightning King- Gem Master Axel!

His eyes pulsed with tendrils of lightning as from the skies, he flashed again to appear beside his daughter, his eyes burning with waves of joy as if he were looking at the most precious thing in the world.

It didn't take long before, from the bottom of the Ancestral Mountain, and even from above, other Gem Masters began to appear.

At this moment, there was only a single being who seemed to be the center of the world.

Her chest shone with five circles of light.

Her eyes held a hint of fear as she wanted to turn toward the one friend who could calm her.

Towards the young man who was always by her side.

She could barely see him and his supportive smile as he was all alone on the side of the stage.

Everyone was surrounding and suffocating her, and his figure looked extremely lonesome in the distance with nobody around him.

Moments later, the stout figure of her Father was in front of her as Alexander's figure was taken away from her eyes entirely.

It was the advent of a star that shone entirely too bright- a star that momentarily overshadowed and took attention away from a young man whose chest was burning with silent brilliance!