Chapter 1: The Worthless Rank
Arcadia City – Awakening Hall
Frank’s boots scuffed against polished marble, the kind that made dirt look like sin. He stood third in line now—two more names, then it was him. The crowd buzzed behind him. Families in flashy robes. Recruiters with visors flicking through profiles. News drones hovered above, catching angles that made it all look like a celebration.
It wasn’t.
Not for him.
The first kid stepped forward—a red-haired guy with nerves bursting out of his jawline. The Awakening crystal pulsed blue. Light swirled up, scanning him. The moment it dimmed, a golden crest shimmered in the air.
"A-Rank! Shadow Assassin class!"
The hall exploded. Screams. Applause. Three guild agents surged forward at once. Frank barely flinched. He just scratched the scar under his chin and kept his eyes on the floor. His turn was close. His stomach, empty. His throat, dry.
The girl in front of him stepped up.
The scan started.
"B-Rank—Ember Witch. Subclass: Infernal Needle."
Another burst of cheers. One of the agents whispered something and handed her a glowing card. She looked like she might cry. Or explode.