Awakening Ceremony

Tina and Seth, sat on the back, while a middle-aged woman with wavy brown hair, and a middle-aged man with a trim beard and thick eyebrows sat in front.

It was the first time for Seth to ride a car in this world. Just as he thought, it was similar to his previous world, the car has Air Conditioning and a smooth comfortable leather seat.

The two individuals were Tina's mother and father. They both run the White Cloud Inn together since they don't have the talent to become a puppeteer.

Everyone can cultivate a Goliath Puppet. But to become a certified puppeteer, a Green Quality Attachment Ability is required. It was set by the Puppeteer Association, created by the people who found the Ancient Ruin buried underground.

Puppeteers have the privilege to obtain combat techniques, combat puppets, supporting techniques, divine fruits, divine treasure, and permit to leave the perimeter of the city.

Ordinary people are basically a bird in the cage in this world. So it was significant for people to become a puppeteer if they want to travel the world.

There are currently three powerhouses that existed in the Goliath Continent: Federation, Puppeteer Association, and Heavenly Families. None was stronger than the other. They didn't fought, openly at least.

Seth shook his head(mind) and recalled that it was now June 15 180 A.P, the awakening ceremony of June.

The average population of a medium stronghold is about 3 million, hence, medium strongholds would hold an awakening ceremony every month on the 15th day. It would be held in City Square.

The City Square, aka Tree Plaza Square, is the largest plaza in Stone City.

It could be said that the plaza is a small forest amidst society.

The plaza has 30-meters tall trees planted methodically and well-maintained flowers. Every year, it would draw hundreds of thousands of people to gawk at its beautiful and peaceful scenery.

It was nothing more than a stress-relieving environment. Puppeteers would never dare to cultivate in public areas.

Today is an exception, however. The business was booming. Hundreds of stalls were stationed at the side of stone walkways. The green plaza was continuously filled with people. Today was a special day for youths who reached adulthood and their parents.

It's the day of the Awakening Ceremony.

Tina—with Seth's in her arm—and her family walked through the stone walkways and entered the center of the plaza.

The 30-meters tall trees were already distant from the spacious area. Instead, they saw a gigantic tree, that reached out the clouds, in the center.

In the deeper part of the leaves, with Seth's incredible eyesight, he could see a contour in the foliage.

Confused, Seth focused his vision, what he saw made his mind froze.

It was a gigantic mantis!

The mantis was camouflage among the lush leaves of the enormous tree. It was nearly as tall as a 15 story building. Seth could only vaguely discern its shape, but he knew its appearance would be terrifying.

Seth started sweating in his mind.

He just realized that this world has overgrown in size. Enormous mountains, Vast Plains and Seas, and the enemy of mankind—Gigantic Beast.

It was his first time seeing a combat puppet—which was certainly not a Gigantic Beast, or else it would have already started mass slaughtering—since the 3 powerhouses banned the usage of Combat-type Goliath Puppets inside the strongholds.

"Tina, don't fall behind," Tina's father seriously said. She could easily get lost in the tide of people.

Seth doesn't know if they couldn't see the Gigantic Mantis, or they already knew about it as they continued towards the stone platform—surrounded by a huge crowd—without hesitation. It wasn't their first time in here, obviously.

About 800 youths were near the stone platform. The excitement and nervousness were visible on their faces.

This moment would decide the fate of their lives. Once they become a puppeteer they would have a chance to obtain unimaginable wealth, freedom, and power.

"You would definitely awaken a high-quality ability, Tina!" Tina's mother spoke, trying to remove her anxiousness.

"Good luck, You can do it," Her Father also cheered her. Although plainly, Tina could feel his worry.

Tina walked to the children near the stone platform with a determined expression.

It wasn't long before the person in charge of the Awakening Ceremony arrived.

It was a muscular old man with glasses, who abruptly walked inside the stone platform from out of nowhere.

His hands were placed on his back like a wise sage. The youths, including Tina, were thrilled by the old man's arrival. Seth was also surprised.

"It's Sage Puppeteer Lucas!"

"What?! The president of Stone City's Puppeteers Association?!"

"Yeah! That Lucas!"

Seth heard a burst of chattering from the parents in the distance. The children were also excited. This was their idol!

The man who single-handedly eradicated a small size Gigantic Beast horde.

15 years ago, Stone City was almost destroyed, all Puppeteers were killed and the outer city was breached. But, Lucas in his Manticore suddenly appeared and drowned the Gigantic Beasts with a sea of fire.

Since then, he was appointed as the president of the Puppeteers Association in Stone City. He couldn't just be regarded as a savior but also an inspiration.

It was their goal to be as strong as him!

The muscular old man raised his hand.

Upon seeing his action, the place immediately became dead silent. His influence couldn't be underestimated!

"Formed four lines. two lines for the boys and another two lines for the girls." He said nonchalantly.

The youths immediately proceeded to make a line. They already knew the procedures of the Awakening Ceremony from their schools.

"The first row, please enter the platform." The Old Man said as he placed a Blue Orb on the circular table.

It was a soul core of a Blue realm Gigantic Beast. Although it was a Blue Soul Core, the quality of a soul core won't affect the awakening in any way, so they weren't ecstatic by the blue soul core. The old man was just rich to use a soul core of such quality.

The four youth entered the stone platform and approached the circular table near the muscular old man.

One by one, they placed their hands on the blue orb. Sure enough, the blue orb glowed light with different colors, indicating the quality of their attachment ability.

When the third youngster, with a Boonie hat, rested his hands on the blue orb, it suddenly glowed red.

"My son awakened a red quality attachment ability!" A lady with heavy make-up suddenly exclaimed. She realized her improper behavior and quickly suppressed her excitement. But her excitement was still visible on her face.

The parents looked at her with envy. A red talent can be considered a prodigy for medium strongholds. Her child would be then fervently invited by outstanding academies.

Before an individual become a puppeteer, they would need to graduate from an academy.

A good academy means they could educate their child the art of Goliath Puppetry better. They could also provide a better environment and resources.

Although there was a short uproar, the awakening ceremony didn't stop. It was already the fourth row, an ability comparable to the youngster with a Boonie hat never appeared.

It was mostly Grey Attachment Abilities. The youths who awakened them hung their heads with a lifeless expression.

They would never become someone great in this life!

"Next row!" The muscular old man said.

It was Tina's turned.

Tina approached the circular table with 3 other youths.

Being in the center of attention, Tina suddenly realized she was still hugging Seth.

She was too anxious she forgot to leave the pillow to his parents.

So embarrassing!

Her face turned red as she reached her hands towards the orb who regained its blue color. When her hands made contact with the orb, her mind jolted, she could feel something within her was unleash.

Tina regained her senses, she looked down and saw the blue orb slowly faded as it released a glow of grey light.

Tina's mind collapsed. Her previous embarrassment immediately dissipated from despair.

The three youths looked at her with sympathy and hoped they wouldn't be like her.

She would never achieve her dreams with a grey ability!

Tina walked to her parents with a desolate expression. They then went home.

Throughout the journey, the car was quiet. Her parents knew the feeling of having a grey ability, so they didn't comfort Tina. It wouldn't help. In fact, it would only worsen. What she needs is silence.

For the whole day, Tina cried in her room. Seth didn't care if he was drenched in tears. Tina was like a daughter and a best friend to him. If he can comfort Tina with his body, then he would willingly do it.

'Wait... That doesn't sound right,' Seth realized his thoughts would be misunderstood if heard.

'I wish I could help you...' Seth said as his consciousness slowly blurred.

Tina was already asleep from crying. Seth felt sympathetic as he went unconscious.

However, his sympathy disappeared when he saw the new words in his void mind in the morning.

[Phoenix Attachment Ability(Black)]