Chapter 12: The Awakening (1)

Chapter 12: The Awakening

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The bell rang, echoing through the hallways and signaling the end of the one-hour break and the beginning of the second half of the school day. Students hurriedly returned to their classes, the chatter of excitement and anticipation filling the air. Unlike the morning sessions, which focused on mundane subjects like mathematics and physics, the afternoon was dedicated to honing their unique talents and undergoing rigorous training.

This dual curriculum had been the norm ever since the Great Convergence, an event that had reshaped the world and unlocked extraordinary abilities within ordinary people. Schools had adapted, blending traditional education with specialized programs designed to nurture these newfound powers.

Today's class, however, was unlike any they would experience in the future. It was a rare and momentous occasion that occurred only twice a year: The Awakening.

Zephyr had his hand on his desk, folded into a makeshift pillow for his head. His bangs had shifted to one side, revealing his closed eyes. Though he appeared peaceful and comfortable, Zephyr was neither asleep nor resting.

In his mind, the system interface was open, a complex web of information and commands only he could see. He was in constant communication with Zero, the entity guiding him through the intricacies of the interface, meticulously preparing for the Awakening. He couldn't allow the future protectors of the planet to awaken with their current, subpar talents, could he?

The highest current rank among his classmates was A rank. For most, an A rank was a significant achievement, something to be celebrated and proud of. But Zephyr was far from satisfied. With his own talent ranked at X, a rank so rare and powerful it was almost mythical, how could he accept a team composed of mere A and B ranks?

His thoughts were a whirlwind of calculations and strategies, each decision carefully weighed. Enhancing his classmates' abilities was not just a mission—it was a necessity. The fate of the planet rested on their shoulders, and Zephyr knew they needed to be stronger, better, and more capable than they currently were.

The classroom around him buzzed with the nervous energy of his peers, but Zephyr was a still point in the chaos, his mind far away in the depths of the system interface. As the Awakening ceremony approached, he focused on his goal: to elevate his team to their true potential, ensuring they were prepared for the challenges ahead.

The serene expression on his face belied the intensity of his inner world, a world where the future was being shaped with every silent command he issued to Zero. Zephyr was ready to challenge destiny, one talent at a time.

Speaking of talents, Zephyr felt a headache coming on just thinking about his own. Forget about saving the planet; he might as well rule the universe while he was at it. His abilities made the system's cheats look like child's play. Just how desperate was the system to grant him such immense power?

Internally shaking his head, Zephyr pushed the thoughts about himself to the back of his mind, refocusing on the task ahead. He had roughly ten minutes until Miss Lauren walked into the classroom, and in those ten minutes, he intended to create a miracle.

The system interface shimmered in his mind's eye, a complex array of data streams and algorithms. Zephyr navigated it with ease, his fingers subtly twitching as he issued silent commands. Zero, ever attentive, responded instantly, adjusting parameters and preparing the enhancements.

As the seconds ticked by, he could feel the weight of the impending Awakening. This was his moment to ensure that the future protectors of the planet would awaken with the power they truly needed. Zephyr was ready to perform the impossible, to create a miracle within the confines of those precious ten minutes.

He started with the person with the lowest-ranked talent.

Sam McCarthy. A helpless smile formed on Zephyr's lips. Couldn't this be considered shooting an arrow at one's own leg?

Sam had wished for an ice talent and indeed received one. However, it was an ice talent of the lowest rank, barely a flicker of potential. Zephyr sighed, feeling a mix of amusement and frustration.

"Zero, adjust Sam's talents and ranks. Ice Talent, SSS Rank. First skill, Freeze. Second skill, Ice Storm. Third skill, Frozen Wonderland," he commanded, his imagination running wild as he named each skill.

Zero prompted for more details, and Zephyr obliged, painting vivid pictures of each ability in his mind.

"Freeze," he began, envisioning Sam's first skill. "A touch that can instantly halt any movement, encasing objects or opponents in solid ice within seconds."

"Ice Storm," he continued, picturing a swirling vortex of icy shards. "An attack that summons a tempest of razor-sharp ice, capable of slicing through anything in its path and creating an impenetrable barrier."

"And Frozen Wonderland," Zephyr finished, imagining a world transformed. "A skill that turns the battlefield into a glacial paradise, altering the terrain and summoning ice constructs to fight alongside the user."

He provided as much detail as he could, describing the visuals, the sensations, and the impact of each skill. The more he explained, the more he could see it coming to life within the system interface. Zero processed the information, recalibrating Sam's talent with precision and efficiency.

The seconds ticked away, but Zephyr remained focused, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities. He knew this was just the beginning. One by one, he would elevate each of his classmates, transforming them from ordinary students into extraordinary warriors.

After receiving the information, Zero only needed a few seconds to refine the details and mold them into skills that corresponded with the laws of this universe. Zero's reasoning was clear: there couldn't be too many overpowered people running around the planet, and Zephyr's imagination was just too wild.

In his defense, Zephyr had a younger brother who needed constant entertainment and an old gatekeeper who regaled them with fantastical stories, fueling his boundless imagination. These influences had shaped Zephyr's creativity, leading to the extravagant skills he envisioned.

Zero worked swiftly, recalibrating Sam's abilities with precision.

Zephyr watched the process unfold within the system interface, a sense of satisfaction mingling with anticipation. As Zero finalized the adjustments, Zephyr could almost see the potential unfolding before him. Sam, with his newly enhanced abilities, would be a formidable ally, capable of both offence and defence.

Despite the limitations imposed by the universe's laws, Zephyr was determined to push the boundaries, to create a team that could stand against any threat. Each enhancement was a step towards that goal, a piece of the puzzle falling into place.

With Sam's talents adjusted, Zephyr shifted his focus to the next student, ready to continue his mission. Time was ticking, and he had a miracle to create.

As soon as Zero finished creating Sam's skills and talent, he bound them to the boy's soul. A system notification popped up.

{A dormant talent gene has been triggered by the creation of a new talent in Sub-System-User, Sam. Primary Fire Talent has been created, and the Ice Talent has been moved to the Secondary Talent position.}

{Note: the order of talents cannot be altered}

"Oh?" Zephyr was confused by the system's message. "Talent gene? Is that a thing?"

{Of course. How else do you think people from the same family sometimes end up with the same talents?}

"But talents aren't hereditary. There can't be a gene for something that's randomized," Zephyr argued. This was basic knowledge even his younger brother knew.

{Well, I can't say I'm surprised you humans see it that way,} Zero replied thoughtfully, ready to explain the concept. {Think of it like eye color. While a parent's eye color can be inherited by their child, the gene can also skip that child and even three generations ahead, appearing again in the fourth or fifth generation.}

{It's the same for talents. Sam's family has a very strong Fire Talent gene, making almost everyone in the family from his great-grandparents onward Fire Talent Awakeners. However, as years passed, the gene slowly regressed, becoming dormant and giving way for other talent genes to be inherited.}

{For Sam, someone in his family tree, tens or even hundreds of years ago might have had an Ice Talent. As for the duo awakening, you can thank the system for that. The chance that the others might also duo awaken can be considered quite high.}

Listening to Zero's explanation, Zephyr was enlightened. He thought back to his own talents but quickly dismissed that line of thought. A class of duo awakeners was a more entertaining and intriguing prospect at the moment.

Miss Lauren soon walked into the classroom, a cool, glasslike orb cradled in her hand. Its surface shimmered with an ethereal light, casting delicate reflections around the room.

"Greet," Zephyr's voice resounded in the class as the teacher walked towards her desk.

"Good afternoon, Miss Lauren," the class replied in unison.

Miss Lauren smiled at them, placing the round glass orb on the table and supporting it in place with her hands. "Good afternoon."

"Hope you had a nice break, Miss Lauren," Mirabella said, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"Yes, thank you," Miss Lauren responded warmly. "I noticed you all weren't in the cafeteria until the last few minutes, though," she added, her eyes scanning their faces for reactions.

The students shifted slightly, a few exchanging nervous glances. Miss Lauren's keen observation hadn't missed their absence.

"Oh, some of us didn't complete yesterday's assignments, so Zephyr and Brian helped us with it, Miss Lauren," Sydney was quick to reply before anyone could react suspiciously. Though startled by her quick lie, the rest of the class remained perfectly calm and acted along. Sam even scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, and Mike had a sheepish smile on his face.

Miss Lauren nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, it's good to see you all helping each other out," she said with a gentle smile. "But now, it's time for something far more exciting."

She straightened up, her hands still resting on the glass orb, which seemed to glow slightly brighter in response to her touch. "This will be your first afternoon class, and it means you'll now be awakening your talents. Is everyone ready?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Yes, ma'am!" the students replied in unison, their voices filled with a mix of excitement and nervous energy.

Feeling slightly more confident and hopeful, Miss Lauren gave the next instruction. "Everyone, please leave your seats and move the desks and chairs to the back of the classroom."

The students quickly complied, the sounds of scraping furniture filling the room. Once they had stacked the desks and chairs at the back, they were left with a wide, open space. Miss Lauren took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment to calm her racing heart. Fear and excitement mingled in her mind. This awakening could either make or break her.

Her hands trembled lightly as she lifted the glass orb, slowly injecting her Cosnergy into it. The orb responded, its glow intensifying and casting an ethereal light across the room.

Opening her eyes, she shut off her emotions, pushing aside her hopes and fears to focus entirely on her students. "We'll start now," she announced, her voice steady and authoritative.