Chapter 1 : Talent panel
It was the beginning of the warm summer in Iron-Veil City, and the energy was filled with the enthusiasm of youth. Michael had just graduate from high school and he felt great. He had high marks and if he demonstrated strong talent in Stellarion he would be able to go into the elite talent camp Nirvana supported by the Empire. All the sacrifices his parents had made had not been in vain. After celebrating with his friends, he returned home under their envious eyes. Where there are winners there are always losers and that is the law of this world. If you compare people, there will always be those who succeed better than their peers, and nothing could change that. Whether he succeeds in going to Nirvana or not, he would still have a bright future. Only five people had a chance to go into the training camp in their school, and Michael had succeeded in taking one of the chance. Without a special circumstance the chance of them meeting each other again were low so they had a heartfelt farewell meal together one last time.
Returning home, he met his mother, who had already received the news from him through the phone. She was also excited. Rose worked as a secretary for one of the Ford arm industry of Iron-Veil City, and she didn't have a high salary, so she had high hope for her son. She couldn't wait to tell her husband after his return from work. Their Bryant family consisted of Michael, the mother Rose, the father Laurent and the youngest daughter Mira. They didn't have a lot of money but they were very close. Rose's son being happy gave her joy. She asked
"Did you already choose a career path?".
Hearing this, he smiled. She already knew he wanted to be a pilot. She just wanted confirmation he didn't change his mind. His response was the same.
"I want to be a pilot, ma'. I still haven't changed my mind. I am going to succeed".
A hint of unconcealable worry appeared in her eyes. Being a pilot was not without risk. She knew what he wanted to do, but before it was still far away. Now that he was so close to success, she didn't know how to react. But she still took on a strong front and forced a smile. She had to accept the fact. Success doesn't come without risk.
The father Laurent came back approximately 20 minutes later with his younger daughter he fetched from school. Surprised by the news that his wife had concealed from him, his mind went blank. Then an exited expression appeared on his face. He took his son and hugged him. Working in construction, he knew better than most how hard life was.
"When you make money, don't forget me and buy me some good clothes", Mira intervened. She had just finished her first year of high school and looked at her brother, her gaze betraying a hint of envy and joy. Mira was a bright and pretty girl. She had matured early due to her tough upbringing. Just like most teenage girls, she had a lot of insecurities and worries. Seeing her elder brother succeed made her feel good.
"Don't worry, I will buy you the prettiest most functional clothes", Michael smiled. Being an evolver brought a lot of money. Let alone clothes, he would make her an evolver when he had the chance. After all, it was a lot easier to build a career in this path if you had resources. He received a scholarship from the school and the city because of his hard work. It wouldn't be a problem to support his sister after becoming an evolver.
Exhausted from all those congratulations, he returned to his room, letting his family immersed in their joy. He still had a one last thing to do. He entered his VR capsule given to all graduates by the city. He immersed himself in darkness until in his senses the familiar HUD appeared with all the icons representing different kinds of software. He selected the one name "Stellarion" with great enthusiasm. After all, it was his first time accessing the game, and he had waited for this moment for what felt like forever. You could only access the game after graduating.
"Welcome to Stellarion,", a warm feminine electronic voice, sounded in his ear. Immediately after, a window for login appeared. Entering his credential would prove that he had graduated, and he would not have to enter them in the future. The program would remember him. After entering his information and confirming that he had graduated, he entered the game for the first time in his life. Stellarion was particular immersive futuristic VR game world. It resembled a lot of realities, except it was more advanced. Shortly after logging in, he appeared in a beginner town in a plaza with trash-like equipment on his body. Even though it was called a beginner town, it appeared to be as prosperous as the real Iron Veil City where he lived. The surrounding stunned him.
"Every thing look so real" he murmured in his thought. Looking around and clenching his fists, it felt like he just teleported from his room to the same reality in another universe. It felt unreal. Michael learned about this in class, but hearing about this and seeing this for the first time stunned him. The place where he appeared in the game was randomized, but it was still in the human territory in a beginner town. You also couldn't change your appearance in the game, so you had the same appearance in reality, and you would directly appear in a beginner city after your first log in. One of the particularities was that everyone would receive a talent from the start, too. Remembering his training in school, he focussed on the icon on the bottom right where a menu appeared showing his inventory, a map, his talents money and resources and the button to log off. He selected the map, saw that he appeared in the north-western innermost part of the human territory. He zoomed in on the map until he saw the name of the town and the buildings.
The town was named "Afron". After selecting the Temple Of Blessing, a trajectory appeared on the map like a GPS. He just had to follow the trajectory to reach the building. It was close. Passing players higher level than him and other NPCs, he reached the temple in no time. The temple was the most magnificent building in the town bar none. It looked like Notre Dame but more modern and blue neon like light around it. He met other beginners but none of his classmates. The town he appeared in was randomized after all and the human territory was huge. A line of beginners were waiting in line in front of the altar at the end of the temple, where a priest was giving them their blessing. Behind the altar a statue of a female angel of great beauty12 feet tall had been erected at the end of the temple, utterly majestic. Every time someone would receive a talent, a vision would appear in the temple on the ceiling. Of course, the stronger the talent, the stronger the blessing. After waiting for his turn, he finally arrived in front of the priest who gave him an orb.
"Please place your hand on the orb" the priest said indifferently. It was the period where rookies would appear, the end of the year for all graduate. Yet none of the people that appeared created a strong vision. He was of course not in a good mood. His colleagues in other towns had all had D level talents. Some even reaching C and an unparalleled genius had appeared in the Eastern territory with a B rank talent 'Elemental Sword Blessing'. The first B rank talent in the Human race.
Michael, nervous and overjoyed ignored the tone of the priest and placed his hand on the orb.
*Ding* *Congratulation. You have awakened the F rank talent, 'Body Strengthening'. Your profession has changed to 'Warrior Apprentice'*. A weak vision appeared on the ceiling.
The panel that appeared before him stunned him. He almost fainted on the spot, his vision darkening. He read it and read it again to make sure that he didn't make a mistake, but no matter how he wished it, there was no such mistake. His reading comprehension was good, and he had truly awakened a trash talent. In a daze, he stepped to the side under the disappointing gaze of the priest. He didn't pay much attention to Michael. He had seen too much people with such disappointing blessings. It took a few second for Michael to regain his calm. He still had a strong mental fortitude. It was just that it was too much of a disappointment. A lot of hard work went to waste. He could still go to some of the top university with great marks, but he would not be able to attain the top training camp and become an elite pilot. He left the temple thinking about what he would have to say to his parents.
Just he was about to leave the temple, a message appeared in front of him :
*Ding* *Congratulation you awaken the EX-rank talent 'Infinite Talent Evolution' your profession will evolve with your profession*
At this point, a strange change appeared on the statue behind the altar. The angel eyes seem to have come to life looking at Michael. A hint of a gentle smile appeared on his lips filled with appreciation. Since the beginning of the game, the angels in the temples has never reacted. They just seemed like decoration behind the altars. But for the first time, an amazing change had occurred. That was his temple vision representing his talents. Yet as soon as it appeared it disappeared and the very few who had seen it attributed it to an hallucination... Michael having the angel behind his back didn't notice anything.