Gift

On the other side of the gate stood a city unlike anything Phantom had ever seen.

Towering bio-structures intertwined with intricate networks rose high, accompanied by floating crystalline formations that grew alongside massive trees. Self-sustaining domes, terraced gardens, networks of bio-transportation, residential areas, medical facilities, and industries—all came together to form a breathtaking city.

It was cyberpunk with an organic twist. Greens, yellows, browns, and other vibrant plant colors adorned every corner, showcasing a seamless unification of nature and architecture.

After all the children passed through the gate, Mother stopped to address them.

"We are in Nexus City, one of the many urban hubs where countless beings make their residence. It is one of the Great Three Cities of the Ni Territory. So please adhere to the following rules. For now, we are all C-class citizens and, as such, are restricted to C-class designated areas. Follow me closely as we head to a biotemple—a Genesis Core—for your naming ceremony. Once you receive your names, your status may improve, granting you greater access to the city. But for now, follow the rules. If you break them, even I won't have the power to help you."

Whether it was an explanation or a thinly veiled threat, the warning was clear. Mother then led the EG5-C Cohort toward a tube connecting the base section to the upper levels of the city. Their destination: a biotemple or, more specifically, a Genesis Core, one of the largest and most significant architectural structures in any city.

SpEG5-31407C was thrilled, though he wasn't the only one. The situation felt surreal to everyone. None of them had ever left the confines of their spawn station before, and experiencing life outside for the first time was electrifying.

As the hundred spawns ascended in the tube, they watched the greenery of the base fade below. They were moving into a higher level of the city. Through the clear glass of the tube, they saw marvels—houses that seemed alive and in motion, crystalline organic materials lining the streets and structures, painting the cityscape in dazzling colors. This level was far more advanced and modern than the green, grounded city they had left behind.

The tube continued to rise, offering glimpses of the city's complex, web-like engineering. Then, suddenly, the clear glass darkened, cutting off their view. They continued their ascent in darkness until the elevator came to a stop.

The doors opened into a pristine hallway, reminiscent of their spawn station. The walls gleamed white, clean, and metallic—or was it something else entirely? They walked through the corridor into a waiting hall, where three other cohorts were already gathered. These must be the B and A cohorts of the EG5 group, SpEG5-31407C thought.

At the far end of the hall, a receptionist stood behind a desk, presumably to register each cohort for the naming ceremony. Mother instructed the spawns to wait as she approached the desk to register them.

Even from a distance, SpEG5-31407C could sense the receptionist's hostility toward their Mother—and, by extension, toward them. The disdain was almost tangible, but it wasn't just the receptionist. The other groups in the hall—the B and A cohorts—also regarded the C cohort with undisguised contempt. It was clear they didn't belong.

But this didn't matter to most of them. All they cared about was the turning point of their lives when they would finally receive names to call their own. Being referred to by their spawn serials had defined their entire existence so far. The thought of being called by a name instead was exhilarating, and the prospects of upgrades only heightened their excitement.

Suddenly, the lights in the hallway dimmed, and a projection of a woman appeared in the air.

"Greetings to our latest cohorts. The journey must have been long, but soon it will be well worth it. Today is a special day for you all—a chance to change your destiny and move toward a better tomorrow. But before we begin, you all must be furnished. We will take a short break so that you can have a meal. You will be led to dining stations. Please enjoy and have your fill. Once you are done, we will proceed with the three rites of the ritual."

The projection of the woman disappeared, and ushers dressed in white arrived to guide the cohorts to the dining area. This time, there was no division—A, B, and C cohorts were all led to the same destination, served the same food, and seated in the same area. However, the spawns segregated themselves; the A, B, and C cohorts had no interest in mingling with one another.

When the food arrived, it was pure bliss for many of the spawns. Most of those in B and C had never seen, touched, smelled, or tasted anything like it. The A cohort, however, seemed well acquainted with such meals.

SpEG5-31407C couldn't help but cry as his tongue savored real food for the first time. The texture, the savory taste—every bite was heavenly. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their meal.

"SpEG5-31407C, make sure you eat your fill, because this is the last time you'll have something like this," jeered SpEG5-31405C, one of the worst bullies in the group. But SpEG5-31407C was too busy enjoying his meal to care about the taunts.

"Looks like he's already on it," added SpEG5-31409C, flicking her finger toward him as she chuckled at the sight of SpEG5-31407C devouring his plate like nothing else mattered.

"Just ignore them, 31407C. After today, you'll no longer have to endure their humiliation," said SpEG5-31400C kindly.

Once the cohort finished eating, they returned to the hall, where the projection from earlier reappeared to explain the three rituals. The first was the Genomic Rite, where their genes would be recorded and enhanced in preparation for the next stage, the Awakening. During the Awakening, their bioflux energy would be stimulated through unique frequencies tailored to their genetic profiles. Finally came the Naming, where they would receive their names and be assigned their new classes.

For those who awakened gifts, a showcase would follow, allowing prospective parents to evaluate them for adoption. This privilege was available to A-class citizens and wealthy B-class citizens. A-Gamete donors were allowed to reclaim their spawns and raise them to adulthood, but only if both donors consented. For spawns with only one donor, adoption was impossible.

The three rituals proceeded smoothly. Among the A cohort, all the spawns awakened gifts, while 70% of the B cohort did the same. In the C cohort, however, only 10 out of the 100 spawns awakened gifts: SpEG5-31400C, SpEG5-31473C, SpEG5-31409C, SpEG5-31405C, SpEG5-314014C, SpEG5-31458C, SpEG5-31499C, SpEG5-31485C, SpEG5-31472C, and SpEG5-31407C.

Everyone had expected most of the list to awaken gifts, but no one could believe it when the worst of them, SpEG5-31407C, did as well. He had consistently performed poorly in every aspect—physically, mentally, and biologically. What were the odds that he would awaken a gift?

Yet there it was: he had awakened a gift. It was a null gift, but it was still a gift.

SpEG5-31407C was thrilled. Was he going to receive an upgrade? Then, finally, the names were announced, and he was bestowed the name Eryndor along with the family name Maximus, which belonged to one of his donors. He held his breath as he awaited the announcement of his new class.

"Eryndor, Class C citizen."

Of course, he thought bitterly. Awakening a gift didn't always ensure a class upgrade. Mother was proof of that. Eryndor glanced at SpEG5-31400C, now known as Rayden Emir, an A-class citizen with an Aethiris gift called Tempest. Rayden's gift allowed him to perform incredible feats, from creating storms to stunning opponents to manipulating bioelectricity. It was undoubtedly worthy of an A-class rank.

How could he ever compare with his null gift, Root, which only generated errors whenever anyone tried to assess its potential?

The two were now in entirely different worlds and wouldn't be meeting again anytime soon. Even Eryndor's biggest bullies, SpEG5-31405C and SpEG5-31409C, had moved to A-class. They were now known as Jake Marley and Hailey Dobrinov, respectively. Jake had awakened a Praedonis gift called Forge, while Hailey had received a Morphis gift called Weaver. Both gifts were powerful, and Eryndor could only imagine how much more arrogant they would become with their newfound status.

Soon, the ceremony ended, and they were officially citizens of the Ni Realm. Eryndor had his name and a gift. As long as his gift could improve, there was still a chance for an upgrade.

For now, he wanted nothing more than to explore the city that was to be his new home. He also needed to find a job. Unlike the A and B named, who received advanced credits, C-class citizens had to actively work for their sustenance.

As Eryndor wandered through the structures of the Genesis Core, his curiosity led him to the kitchen area. His cravings for something nice to eat distracted him from the rest of the group being escorted to the C-class housing area.

He sneaked into the kitchen and spotted a piece of cake on a table. Stealing is wrong, he thought, but how long would it be before he had the chance to taste something like this again? His desire for the cake overcame his better judgment, and he dug in.

Just then, a chef walked in and caught him in the act. The chef immediately started to chase him.

Eryndor didn't know it yet, but this chase was the beginning of his real life.