The hall grew quieter the mont the first na was called.
Not complete silence, but the scattered murmurs faded until what remained was a tense hush filled with shallow breathing and restless shifting.
A young man stepped forward. He had broad shoulders, calloused hands, and eyes that were trying very hard not to show fear.
Two explorers stood beside the assessnt machine, and one of them gestured calmly.
"Place your palm on the crystal and release your mana slowly."
The young man swallowed, nodded, and pressed his hand into the shallow indentation.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then a faint glow spread beneath his palm and the crystal humd softly.
Without realizing it, many people leaned forward.
Arthur included.
The machine remained silent for several heartbeats, long enough for the man’s jaw to tighten and long enough for several awakeners to squeeze their fists.
Then..
BEEP.
The sharp sound cut through the hall.
The explorer leaned toward the display panel, scanning the runes, and his brows lifted slightly.
"Well I’ll be damned..."
That alone caused a ripple to spread.
The explorer turned toward the raised platform.
"Elentalist class. Talent rank B."
The words landed like a small explosion.
Whispers burst out instantly.
"B rank?"
"Did he say B?"
"That’s high, right?"
The young man froze, and for half a second he did not even react.
Then his eyes widened.
"M-?"
The explorer nodded.
"Congratulations."
The atmosphere shifted and Arthur felt it clearly.
An invisible line had just been drawn between ordinary and valuable.
On the platform, several division commanders leaned toward one another and began speaking in low voices. Short sentences, and quick argunts.
Third Division Commander Halvek snorted.
"We’re short on ranged damage."
Second Division Commander Mira replied smoothly.
"And we’re short on elental control."
Fourth Division Commander Rask crossed his arms.
"Doesn’t matter. My division lost two Elentalists last month."
The exchange grew sharper, not loud and not chaotic, but edged with competition.
Arthur watched with interest, even commanders fought over talent.
That showed the worth of strong pieces in this world.
Eventually, Captain Veylor raised a hand.
"Sa procedure as always."
The arguing stopped.
An explorer stepped forward holding a small tallic disc. It was flat and smooth, with faint glowing symbols etched across its surface.
He pressed a finger to the center, and several tiny light segnts appeared, each displaying a different division symbol.
The explorer turned to the B rank awakener.
"You’ll place your hand here. When the lights spin, you focus on nothing. Whatever symbol remains lit is your assignnt."
The boy hesitated, then nodded and placed his palm on the disc.
The lights began to rotate, slow at first and then faster, until the symbols blurred into streaks.
The boy’s breathing grew shallow. Then the disc stopped.
One symbol remained glowing. As the explorer leaned closer.
"Fourth Division."
A brief silence followed.
Before Commander Halvek clicked his tongue, while Commander Mira sighed faintly.
Commander Rask let out a satisfied breath as he stood. He was tall and thickly built, with scars running across his neck and jaw.
He looked at the boy. "You’re mine."
There was no smile, and no praise. Just that statent.
Yet the boy looked like he had just won the lottery.
Rask gestured sharply.
"Take him to certification."
And squad captain stepped forward. "Gold squad."
As Another ripple spread.
Gold squad, this was the high talent unit, reserved for the few B and A ranked explorers.
The boy nodded repeatedly, almost bowing, as he followed the squad captain toward the side exit.
Arthur watched him go.
A single test, and one number. And an entire future had already shifted.
He did not feel jealousy or bitterness. Only understanding.
This world did not pretend to be fair. It only pretended to be honest to the strong.
Quiet buzzing filled the awakeners.
"That could be ..."
"If I get B..."
"I’ll settle for C..."
"Anything but F..."
But the explorer in charge raised his voice cutting through the noise.
"Next."
Another young boy stepped forward. He appeared thinner, but also more nervous as his eyes darted while he placed his hand on the machine.
Soon, the glow appeared, then the hum followed. But a shorter pause this ti.
BEEP.
The explorer barely glanced at the display as he announced.
"Warrior class. Talent rank E."
The difference in delivery was brutal. Flat, and uninterested.
The young man’s shoulders slumped.
"Oh..."
The explorer had already turned away before making the boy move on with the process.
"Disc."
The boy walked to the selection disc, as he placed his hand, and waited.
Lights spun, and then stopped.
"Second Division." the explorer announced coldly again.
But Commander Mira did not react. As a squad captain finally waved lazily.
"Bronze squad." the Low talent unit for F and E ranks.
The boy nodded weakly and followed.
Arthur’s jaw tightened slightly as he watched the boy leave the assessnt hall.
This was how it worked. You don’t just receive a rank.
It goes on to define your worth.
He glanced around. Many awakeners had gone pale.
So stared at the floor. So swallowed repeatedly.
Hope and fear mixed together in dangerous proportions.
Another na was called.
Then another.
F rank.
E rank.
E rank.
F rank.
Faces fell.
Dreams shrank quietly.
Then, "C rank. Rogue class."
The tone changed.
Not in excitent, but acknowledgnt.
A few nods.
"Silver squad." Mid talent unit.
A squad captain gave a small clap in acceptance.
Arthur began to understand the system of Grimwatch clearly.
Gold squad. Silver squad. Bronze squad.
Three visible tiers.
Although simple, but it felt brutal and effective.
He folded his arms loosely. So where would I fall?
His mana, his channels.
They were strange.
Yet he already fought better than most of these people.
Because his strength did not originate from mana.
It originated from intent.
Would the machine even read that?
Arthur’s lips twitched faintly.
If it spits out trash, fine.
If it spits out gold, fine.
I’ll climb either way.
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