Chapter 2 - Lord Gomorrah

After disconnecting from his Abyssal pod, the first thing Mel did was remove the relapse cable from the slot behind his neck, while checking the time. More out of habit than necessity. Still, it was a crucial step to ensure he hadn't violated any Abyssal Regulations.

Disobey the regulations, and the consequences were swift: excommunication by the government and a manhunt by every faction, both inside and outside the Federation. Essentially, you'd become an outcast, hunted down and used as a stepping stone if captured.

But Mel didn't dwell on that. He had no time. As he stepped out of his pod, he called out, "Aasha, show me the new sequence of the Pride of Gomorrah."

[Affirmative.]

A gruesome battlefield holographically materialized before him, bodies of humans and beasts scattered across the ground. A demon carved a heart from a human's chest, while elsewhere a human decapitated a demon. The sight was enough to turn anyone's stomach, but Mel felt only one thing: disappointment.

"Maybe I should've held my archers back, used the spearmen as guards instead of sending them all as reinforcements," Mel thought, analyzing the battle's outcome.

"Aasha, give me a bird's-eye view from the beginning and turn on the enemy and friendly indicators." The image shifted as the beasts' skin turned red and the humans' green. The scene zoomed out until the whole battlefield was visible, the colors clearly marking each side.

"Play."

Mel scrutinized his strategy, searching for any mistakes, major or minor. Every detail mattered, especially today, because...

"I guess it's time."

That thought crossed his mind as he turned off his comms and noticed a sudden drop in temperature. An orange tear in reality appeared in the center of his room, sucking in the air around it.

He glanced at the link Miss Hun had sent. His eyes lingered on the battlefield image once more—more bodies now, and the human-to-demon ratio had shifted. His hand trembled.

"Is it really time?"

"Morning, Me-me."

Before he could answer his own question, a woman in her mid-twenties appeared next to the portal, arms crossed and smiling warmly.

"Mom, you're here?" Mel asked. The woman, Ker, his mother, would've been considered the most beautiful woman in the world in his previous life. Here, she was just the norm.

"Of course I'm here. How could I miss my favorite boy's big day?" She smirked, her eyes fixed on the portal. Mel followed her gaze and sighed, understanding what it signified.

The Second Awakening ritual. A mandatory part of the school curriculum for every student under a Noble House's servitude—rich or poor, warrior or noble, Variant or not. Everyone had to go through it. 

The ritual was usually performed at the start of a student's final year, right before heading off to a university or military academy to continue their training. Officially, it was to increase the chances of survival in the Abyss. Unofficially, it was the government's way of separating the sheep from the wolves, determining who deserved resources and who would serve as cannon fodder. 

That thought weighed heavily on Mel's mind.

"Ma…" Mel muttered.

"Me-me, you haven't even worn your uniform yet!" Ker exclaimed, rushing to his wardrobe after realizing he was still in a T-shirt and jeans.

She opened the wardrobe to find it a mess—shoes where shirts should be, old clothes mixed with new. She sighed, exasperated by her son's disregard for tidiness.

"You see the portal, right? You're going to be late! I don't know how many times I've told you, time is everything…"

"Ma…"

"…If you disrespect people's time, they'll do the same to you. Especially for an event this big, one that could change your future—"

"MA!" Mel's shout startled her. She turned, holding his uniform in her hands.

"Yes, dear?"

"Do I really have to do this?"

"You already know the answer, Me-me," she said, walking toward him with the uniform.

"I know, but… maybe we could ask Aunt Hun to do it later. Or better yet, here at home, where you can watch me. Like when I was a kid."

"Oh, Me-me, you're still a kid," Ker said, smiling. "But in life, you only get a few chances to be something. Either you take them, or you let them pass. I won't force you, but I'd hate to see you regret not trying. So, if not for yourself, then at least do it for me. Okay?"

Mel looked at her for a moment, then nodded, taking the uniform and heading to the bathroom to change.

"Why are you changing in the bathroom?" Ker teased. "There's nothing there I haven't seen before!"

But Mel ignored her, muttering as he closed the door behind him, "It's always been for you."

…

As ominous portals formed around the white pillar, humanoid figures began to emerge. These beings, while human in appearance, displayed various features that made one question that fact—pointed ears, shark-like teeth, and even a monkey's tail on one of them. Despite their varied appearances, they all wore the same uniform, reminiscent of the posh attire favored by medieval nobles.

It was a bizarre sight, yet perfectly normal in the context of the Awakening ritual. Every parent wanted their child to achieve the best possible result, knowing it could determine whether they would rise to the top of the food chain or remain trapped in the endless race for survival.

"Welcome, students. It's good to see you all on time. To spare you from any further anticipation, let's begin the ritual," Miss Han said as she called the first batch of students by register order. Some stepped forward eagerly, while others hesitated, nervous about what was to come.

Though the Awakening ritual carried great significance for these young Abyssal players, it was a relatively simple process divided into two parts. The first step required them to prick their finger and place it on the stone, which would then awaken both their household bloodline and their Abyssal Avatar—what some called their "True Form." The second and final part of the ritual was to help them materialise their Abyssal Avatar in their Abyssal plane to help defend their Abyssal core until their Duke's shield was up.

Parents often spent vast amounts of soul-points to ensure their children had an Abyssal bloodline, hoping it would give them an edge during the Awakening. However, bloodlines could also predetermine one's Sin, which sometimes led to unforeseen disadvantages or even disastrous outcomes. Yet many were willing to take that risk.

"Damian Chan."

The first name was called, and a blond-haired young man stepped forward. Without hesitation, he bit his finger, allowing the blood to drip out, and then pressed it against the pillar. Moments later, he collapsed, fainting face-first onto the ground.

Miss Han, unfazed, kept her focus on the top of the pillar. The rest of the class followed suit, ignoring the unconscious body as their eyes fixed on the flickering light at the pillar's peak.

A yellow spark ignited, briefly casting a flare that filled the room with an overwhelming sense of dread. After a few moments, the intense light receded, leaving behind a flame the size of a refrigerator, burning with a rage that seemed to reach deep into one's soul.

Within the fire, a daunting image took shape: thousands of towering figures clad in pitch-black armor with red, reptilian skin. Even their serpent-like tails moved in sync as they marched, swords in hand, ready for battle.

It would have been a bone-chilling sight, but the students remained calm. A few even smirked in mockery as they watched the display.

"Type of player: Lord 

Grade: E-rank 

Sin: Wrath 

Avatar: Legion Devil"

It quickly became clear why the class had such indifferent expressions as the engravings appeared on the white pillar, revealing the results of the Awakening.

For players below E rank, life was synonymous with dread. Even those at E rank faced a life of endless struggle, one defined by hardship and suffering until they either lost their lives or gave up on being a player. And even then, that decision was often a fate close to death.

As Miss Han read the engravings, she sighed and snapped her fingers. A glowing magic circle materialized beside her, shining brightly before revealing strange creatures resembling naked leprechauns with decomposed skin. Genderless and grotesque, these beings stood in formation, waiting for Miss Han's signal. After a brief pause, they nodded in unison and hobbled over to Damian like zombies in search of fresh prey.

Reaching him, they checked his vitals with surprising care before lifting him and carrying him to a quieter part of the room. These creatures were known as Manes, a type of summoned spawn Miss Han specifically used to aid unconscious players—a necessity given how many would fall during the ritual.

And indeed, one by one, the players underwent their Awakening, with most collapsing after their turn. Unfortunately, the majority of them ranked D or lower, as was expected. The chances of awakening a powerful bloodline were slim, especially at a Baron-owned school like this one. Still, there were always exceptions—rare talents, such as...

"Bertie Guggenheim."

As her name was called, a petite girl with blue skin stepped out from the crowd, her walk carrying a subtle, seductive sway that drew the attention of those with a taste for the exotic. Bertie's confident stride held everyone's gaze as she approached the pillar. Taking a deep breath, she bit her finger, letting yellowish blood drip out before pressing it firmly against the stone.

Like her classmates before her, she waited to fall unconscious. Seconds passed, but nothing happened. Confused, she glanced over at Miss Han, searching for guidance. However, the teacher remained focused on the pillar, her expression unchanged. Realizing that something unusual might be happening, Bertie turned her attention back to the pillar.

A flame began to flicker at the top—but this one was different. It wasn't the familiar yellow or red; it was blue, and rapidly grew until it was the size of a building. The class gasped in unison, their mouths agape at the sight. Miss Han, however, only smirked, shaking her head at the girl's remarkable display of talent.

But the pillar wasn't done yet. A wave of intense pride emanated from it, so powerful that it overwhelmed most of the students, leaving only Miss Han and a few others unaffected. Within the blue flames, an image took shape: a blizzard raging across a snowy plain. In the midst of the storm stood a creature that resembled an insectoid, like an ant, but far from ordinary. It stood tall on two legs, its crystal-blue exoskeleton shimmering in the fire's light, mesmerizing anyone who beheld it.

Though the image featured just one figure—unlike Damian's vast army—the truth was far more impressive. Bertie's Avatar was something extraordinary, so much so that even Miss Han couldn't help but comment.

"Not bad," she said, her voice steady as she announced the results.

"Type of player: Lord 

Grade: B-rank 

Sin: Pride 

Avatar: Ice Devil."

The room fell silent, the weight of the moment sinking in. A B-rank talent at their school was a rare discovery. Such individuals were destined for greatness, whether they chose to pursue the life of a player or sell their bloodline to the government for a fortune—either path leading to a comfortable, prosperous life. 

Bertie's grin stretched wide, brimming with pride as she glanced at Miss Han, who nodded approvingly. With a quick gesture, Miss Han directed one of the Manes to escort Bertie to a quieter area. She then returned to the register, ready to call the next name.

"Mel Meyers."

…