Chapter 21: The Awakening Ceremony

The Awakening Ceremony

The awakening ceremony had begun.

One by one, students seated on the mandala began to glow as their voids came alive, drawing the awe of the juniors who watched the spectacle unfold.

"Look, what's that forming over her head?" a young boy whispered, pointing to one of the awakening students.

"That one! Why is the image above him breaking apart?" another exclaimed, his voice tinged with nervous excitement.

Various phenomena unfolded in the void projections above the students, each as unique as the individual awakening. Then suddenly, a piercing chill spread across the assembly.

This wasn't the cold of winter but an oppressive, soul-freezing frost that silenced the chatter in an instant.

"Whose awakening is this powerful?" a senior whispered in awe, his breath visible in the icy air.

"Even with the planetary force stabilizing our body, the pressure is unbearable. What about the juniors? They're unawakened—how can they handle this?"

 "oh oh oh.. Look, someone fainted over there, I was saying these unawakened juniors can't handle it."

A wave of energy rippled through the crowd, and several students fainted from the sheer intensity.

At the center of it all, Yasmine sat cross-legged on the mandala, her eyes shut tightly. Her body levitated slightly, icy blue energy radiating outward as frost formed around her.

"She needs containment! Quickly!" shouted a teacher.

Ms. Sanders snapped out of her daze and formed a shimmering shield around Yasmine, muttering under her breath, "Even with my shield, this chill is even making me uncomfortable...…"

Above Yasmine, her void began to project. It was vast, dark, and serene, with a single brilliant celestial body radiating icy light. The figure became clearer: a shimmering star encased in a shell of blue frost.

"Look, look. There…. what is that blue thing over that sister's head?"

"Doesn't that look like Hoth Planet from Star Wars?"

"It's a cold star!" someone gasped.

"No, that's a manifestation of her ice affinity!"

Teachers and students alike stared in amazement.

Ryan Cooper, the 5th-grade teacher, broke the silence. "Ms. Sanders, it appears your student has awakened an ice affinity. Congratulations—Vice-Principal Gaius must be thrilled."

Ms. Sanders beamed with pride. "Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Yasmine is indeed a talented student with boundless potential."

Ms. Sanders was very satisfied. You should know that a teacher's standing doesn't only represent her own power but also of their students.

"Absolutely. I only wish I had such a prodigy in my class."

Principal Peterson watched with bated breath. Finally, a student with an elemental affinity had awakened from this school.

"This cold star is a powerful source of ice energy," Peterson thought to himself. "If nurtured properly, she could become a cornerstone of human civilization's strength."

"Her void contains icy environment, perfect for her inner strength and affinity with the cold element"

Suddenly, another surge of cold energy burst from Yasmine, frosting the mandala beneath her and sending icy tendrils toward the assembly.

Ms. Sanders turned pale. "Mr. Cooper, I need your help! I don't think I can contain it without manifesting my own planet, it will disrupt the other students' awakening."

"On it!" Cooper said, layering another barrier around Yasmine.

The energy finally stabilized, leaving a faint frost lingering in the air.

Just as everyone exhaled in relief, a blood-red energy erupted from another corner of the mandala, shocking everyone back into tense silence.

This time, the teachers were ready. Two rushed forward to shield the energy immediately, but the darkness clawed at their barriers, as if alive.

"What is that?" one teacher asked, his voice trembling.

"That's no ordinary void," another replied.

"That's a swirling abyss.. Damn... We need help here." shouted teacher B.

Above Scott, a swirling projection appeared—a chaotic, abyssal galaxy with tendrils of darkness spiraling from its core.

"That's NGC 6166," Vice-Principal Gaius said grimly as he stepped forward. "A supermassive black hole at its center, acting as a gateway to the dark domain."

Gaius added another layer of shielding as he muttered under his breath, "This boy will be a walking disaster if we don't guide him carefully."

The dark energy continued to pulse, powerful and unyielding, radiating greed, ambition, and a sense of overwhelming corruption.

"The resonance is undeniable," Gaius continued, his voice heavy. "The universe has given him an affinity with the chaotic and destructive nature of demons. It suits him perfectly."

The assembly remained silent, the oppressive atmosphere stifling.

While Yasmine's icy affinity represented serenity and control, Scott's affinity was the opposite: raw, unfiltered chaos. The swirling abyss reflected his ambition and the temptation of unchecked power.

But Gaius reminded himself of an old truth:

Power is neither good nor bad—it depends on the one who wields it.

This corruptible power has made numerous extremist organizations that are active in the middle-east and African region. No matter how many are rooted out, they appear like mushroom shoots on a rainy day.

Just then, the projection dimmed and blood red energy was absorbed by him, only empty void was left behind. Scott's energy contracted within, and he woke up. He looked like a big bad guy from every game one could imagine, like Madara. 

and he had red eyes, yup... definitely looked like a villain.

The ceremony continued, but the air was heavy with tension, and no one would forget what they had witnessed.