Awakening E-class Talent, System Arrives

Western Military Region Command Headquarters.

"Report!"

"Enter!"

A soldier with a ramrod-straight posture pushed open the heavy doors and walked in. Holding a folder in his left hand, he offered a military salute to the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Military Region standing before him.

"Chief, the cause of this Beast Tide has been identified. The Azure Dragon Fortress was attacked by Night Cat Demons and Wind Demon Wolves. Their combat strength was generally Bronze rank, with the highest reaching Gold rank, and they have already been repelled by Colonel Huang Ming. This is the third Beast Tide launched by the exotic beasts within the last three months."

"The attacks from the exotic beasts are becoming increasingly frequent. We must take corresponding measures. Draft a document immediately to lower the admission standards for Martial Arts Universities. Any Ability User or martial artist with a combat-type profession and a D-class talent or higher may apply for admission without an entrance exam."

The Adjutant looked astonished. "Chief, won't it be difficult to explain such a lowering of standards to the Ministry of Education?"

The Chief's face flushed with anger instantly. "Explain what to the Ministry of Education? Martial Arts Universities aren't under their jurisdiction. Can they repel a Beast Tide by relying on academic subjects? Just do as I say."

"Yes!" The Adjutant saluted and exited the command headquarters.

"Sigh, the front lines are becoming more and more strained." The Chief furrowed his brows deeply.

Shancheng, Class 5, Grade 3 of Shancheng No. 1 Middle School. "Ring-a-ling." The bell for the end of class rang.

Lin Hao stretched and stared blankly out the window.

"Dummy, tomorrow is Awakening Day. Do you want to be a martial artist or an Ability User?"

Lin Hao didn't even turn his head; he knew from the voice that it was Fang Yao speaking to him.

"Sigh, it's not up to us to decide what we awaken. If I don't awaken anything at all, will you support me, little girl?" Lin Hao felt a wave of depression. He had been transmigrated for sixteen years and still didn't have a decent cheat code.

"Sure, no problem." Fang Yao smiled faintly, like a lily in full bloom.

The entire class was stunned by their conversation. Who was Fang Yao? She was the goddess in their hearts. Over the three years of high school, countless boys had confessed to her, and she hadn't even bothered to acknowledge them.

Lin Hao paid no attention to the murderous glares from the male students; he had grown accustomed to it over the last three years. Fang Yao was Lin Hao's only friend in high school, and the same was true for her.

Before long, the bell for class rang. A middle-aged man in his forties with a receding hairline walked in. He was Gao Wenhai, the homeroom teacher of Class 5, Grade 3, and he was holding a stack of documents.

"Students, I have good news to share. The Military Department has just issued a Red-Header Document. The qualification requirements for this year's Martial Arts University exams have been lowered. Any combat-type Ability User or martial artist with a D-class talent or higher may apply for admission without an entrance exam. Tomorrow is Awakening Day, so everyone must prepare well and seize this hard-won opportunity."

Before the teacher could finish speaking, the classroom erupted into a frenzy, filled with howling. They knew what this meant: as long as they awakened a decent combat profession, they could enter a Martial Arts University without an exam, receive better training, and make a name for themselves.

Only Lin Hao did not join in the cheering; instead, his brows were tightly locked.

The military lowering admission standards means the war at the front lines is getting desperate. I have to awaken a decent profession tomorrow, or I won't even be able to protect my family. Having lived two lives, he immediately realized the gravity of the situation. Among the entire class, only Lin Hao grasped this.

After school, Lin Hao bid farewell to Fang Yao and headed home. As soon as he stepped through the door, he smelled the aroma of food.

"Grandma, I'm home!" Lin Hao greeted his grandma, who was in the kitchen.

"You're back just in time; dinner is almost ready," his grandma's voice came from the kitchen.

"Oh, you're back, Xiaohao." A girl of about twenty-five with a graceful figure walked out of a room. "Your sister found out you're awakening tomorrow and has been pestering me to take her to find you." The girl wore a look of mock resentment.

This girl was Lin Hao's aunt, Lin Yueyue. During her university days, she had been the dream lover of many boys. She had awakened a Painting skill, and after graduating, she stayed home to paint, using her talent to supplement the family's income.

Just then, a cute little girl with a bun hairstyle and a princess dress ran out from another room upon hearing the noise. Seeing Lin Hao, she immediately threw herself into his arms. This little girl was Lin Hao's sister, Lin Xiaorou, who was six years old and just starting elementary school.

"Big brother, you're awakening tomorrow! Do you want to be a martial artist or an Ability User?" Lin Xiaorou asked, blinking her cute, large eyes.

Lin Hao picked her up. "I don't know. What if I awaken a life-type skill like your aunt?"

Lin Hao's grandma walked out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of soup. "Awakening a life-type profession would be just fine. It would save you from fighting and killing out there; don't end up like your parents, leaving me to bury my own child. Dinner is ready, go wash your hands."

The three of them obediently lined up to wash their hands in the bathroom.

Lin Hao's parents had unfortunately sacrificed themselves six years ago while defending against a Beast Tide. Lin Hao was ten at the time, and Lin Xiaorou was less than a year old. In Lin Hao's memory, his parents were rarely home; they had rushed to the front lines shortly after Lin Xiaorou was born. He and his sister had been raised by their grandma.

During dinner, Lin Yueyue shared her experience and explained various precautions for the awakening process. Lin Hao took note of every detail.

The next day, Lin Hao arrived at school early.

"Lin Hao, over here!" As soon as he reached the school gate, Lin Hao saw Fang Yao waiting for him.

"The teacher just said that since today is Awakening Day, we don't need to go to the classroom and should gather directly on the school playground." Seeing Lin Hao approach, Fang Yao hurried to meet him.

The two arrived at the playground, where many students were already standing.

In the center of the playground stood a stone over three meters tall. This was the Awakening Stone; anyone who reached the age of sixteen could awaken their talent by touching it. The talents of those who awakened were divided into nine levels from high to low: SSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Of course, those who awakened were in the minority; most people would not awaken at all. Students who failed to awaken would continue their academic studies and take a regular university entrance exam.

For those who did awaken, it depended on their talent level and profession. As long as you awakened a combat-type profession and your talent wasn't too poor, Martial Arts Universities would accept you. After all, martial artists or Ability Users with combat-type talents were simply too rare.

Just then, Principal Duan Cheng and a group of school leaders arrived at the podium. The students below had already formed lines under the guidance of their teachers.

"Students, today is Awakening Day. On behalf of the school and all the teachers, I wish you all a successful awakening of a great talent. Of course, those who don't awaken a talent shouldn't be discouraged. I hope you can get into a good academic university and continue to shine and contribute to our country in the future."

Listening to the principal droning on, Lin Hao sighed helplessly, As expected, no matter which world you're in, leaders' speeches are always long and tedious.

Half an hour later, the awakening ceremony officially began. Lin Hao's class was Class 5, so they had to wait a while.

"No talent, awakening failed."

"No talent, awakening failed."

"No talent, awakening failed."

Ten students went up in a row, and all of them failed. Lin Hao was stunned. Is the probability of awakening really this low?

The Principal and the school leadership shook their heads slightly. "This year's students are nothing special. Ten in a row, and not a single one could awaken." A teacher sighed helplessly.

"Let's keep watching. Didn't a student awaken an S-rank talent at the very end last year?"

"Are you talking about the Wind Ability User who awakened the S-rank talent last year? I heard he's already reached Silver Grade this year."

The Principal and the teachers discussed this on the podium while the awakening process continued below.

"B-class talent, Ability User, Fire elemental ability." The teacher in charge of the awakening beamed like a blooming flower; after dozens of students, they finally had a decent one.

"Class 3-5, Fang Yao." Before long, it was Class 5's turn. Hearing the teacher call her name, Fang Yao smiled at Lin Hao. "Dummy, wait for me to get back."

Lin Hao was full of anticipation. "Good luck!"

Following the teacher's instructions, Fang Yao placed her slender, white hand onto the Awakening Stone. Suddenly, the stone began to tremble violently, and then it erupted with a golden light!

Not only was the examiner stunned, but the Principal and all the students and teachers below were also dumbfounded. Everyone stood there with their mouths agape, unable to speak. After a long while, the examiner stammered, "Fang Yao, SS-rank talent, Martial Artist, Martial God!"

At this moment, Fang Yao's entire aura had changed, her body enveloped in a golden radiance that refused to fade.

Once Fang Yao finished her awakening, the Principal was the first to react. He shot up from his seat and arrived at Fang Yao's side in an instant, his wrinkled old face blooming like a chrysanthemum.

"Student Fang Yao, congratulations! You have brought glory to Shancheng No. 1 Middle School. Could you tell the teacher what profession you awakened?" The Principal looked at Fang Yao with increasing satisfaction. "Sigh, finally a good one, otherwise the school's resources would have been cut significantly next year."

Lin Hao was also happy for Fang Yao. Seeing her return, he gave her a thumbs-up. "Not bad. I'll have to ask for your guidance in the future, Fang Martial God." Hearing Lin Hao call her that, Fang Yao's face turned red. "What Fang Martial God? That sounds terrible! But I suppose I can look after you."

"Class 3-5, Lin Hao." The teacher in charge called out.

"Girl, I'm going to awaken now." Lin Hao said, walking toward the Awakening Stone. As a transmigrator, it wouldn't be too much to ask for an SSS-rank talent, right?

Lin Hao thought this as he placed his hand on the Awakening Stone, but after waiting for a long time, the stone showed no reaction. Lin Hao's face twitched. No way. Don't tell me I'm a loser. Heavens, are you trying to kill me? Just as the teacher was about to make the announcement, a faint blue light suddenly emerged from the stone. At that exact moment, Lin Hao felt something suddenly appear within his body. With a thought, a crackling sound emanated from his hand. Seeing this, the examiner quickly announced, "Lin Hao, E-class talent, Ability User, Lightning elemental ability!"

Lin Hao returned to Fang Yao's side with a face full of black lines. "Damn, just an E-class lightning talent. It's not even as useful as a stun baton." But suddenly, a prompt echoed in Lin Hao's mind: "Ding, detected that the host has awakened an E-class talent, Lightning elemental ability. Invincible System binding..."