Tough Trial

The moment the silver light of Mellissa's awakening illuminated the hall, the atmosphere shifted. The weight of history and expectation solidified in an instant, crashing down upon the gathered nobles like a roaring tide. The assembled families, both rivals and allies, fell into a stunned silence before the inevitable wave of cheers erupted.

"A silver grade!" someone in the crowd gasped, voice trembling with awe. "She's a B-grade talent!"

"She's truly worthy of the Ignisclade name," another murmured, eyes wide with reverence.

Mellissa, still standing on the awakening platform, clenched her fists. The power coursing through her veins felt intoxicating, the raw, untapped potential of her essence burning like a firestorm within her. She didn't need to look at her father to know his gaze was on her—measuring, judging. Approving.

Darius Ignisclade leaned back, the faintest smirk playing at his lips. His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable as he regarded his daughter. "That's it, Mellissa," he murmured, his voice just loud enough for those close by to hear. "You didn't disappoint."

At those words, the Emberbanes, standing nearby, stiffened. Their attention snapped away from Mellissa and toward their own son, Angus. The weight of expectation that had just been lifted from the Ignisclades now settled heavily upon them.

Angus Emberbane took a deep breath, suppressing the mounting pressure in his chest. His fingers twitched at his sides, betraying the turmoil he tried so desperately to conceal. He had to succeed. He needed to succeed.

—

In a dimly lit chamber away from the grand hall, a hologram flickered to life. A deep voice, edged with authority, resonated through the darkness, addressing the lone figure kneeling before it.

"Angus, do not forget the role you have been given and how important it is that you are successful today."

Angus kept his head bowed. "I understand. I intend to rise in ranks and become more than just an ember."

The voice from the hologram hummed in satisfaction. "Your parents have been loyal members, rising to become Ashbornes and even Infernals. They have already been provided with the tempered enhancer pills. Do not forget to use yours—it has been tampered with specifically to suit you. Your innate talent should be strong enough to act as a catalyst."

Angus swallowed hard, his mind racing. "Yes, my lord."

"Failure is not an option." The hologram flickered and vanished, leaving the room in suffocating silence.

—

As the ceremony continued, Zara stood tall before the crowd, his presence commanding and unwavering. His voice, rich with experience and authority, rang through the hall, slicing through the murmurs of excitement.

"Finally, after two failed batches, we have a successful awakening once more," he declared, his tone a careful blend of pride and expectation.

The crowd erupted in applause, exhilarated by the rising success rates. In the past hour, fifty-five candidates had stepped forward. Only fifteen had emerged victorious—three C-graders, five D-graders, and seven E-graders. Roy remained the exception, his earlier awakening still casting a long shadow over the event.

Despite the increased success rates, forty students had still failed. The harsh reality of the awakening process lingered, a silent reminder of the unforgiving nature of their world.

Yet amidst the celebrations, all eyes slowly turned to the next candidate—Angus Emberbane.

The Emberbane matriarch locked eyes with Darius's wife, her expression a volatile mix of frustration and anticipation. "Hmph, let's see if all our investments will bear fruit," she muttered.

Darius's wife only smiled, tilting her head ever so slightly. "Don't hold your breath."

—

Within his inner world…

Angus swam through the murky currents of his essence sea, his body weighed down as if shackled by chains of lead. The soul key's essence was draining rapidly, flickering like a candle against a storm.

"I don't get it," Angus thought, his heart pounding with dread. "I took the tempered enhancer pills—the modified version. Why am I not feeling its effects?"

Panic clawed at his chest. A horrifying realization struck him like a hammer to the gut. Was his innate talent not even strong enough for this?

His mind reeled. Am I truly lower than that bum, Roy? Damn it! Angus gritted his teeth, forcing himself forward against the crushing resistance of the essence sea.

Memories of the past flooded his mind—his parents' expectations, the organization's investments, the sheer cost of his potential failure. If he failed to awaken, the consequences would be dire. His family might sell him off to regain their resources. He had heard the whispers of noble families who dealt with failed awakeners, trading them to organizations that conducted experiments on human specimens.

The thought alone sent a shudder through his soul. No. No.

"It would be better if I died here than fail to awaken," he whispered to himself, pushing against the consuming void.

Outside, his body trembled. Blood trickled from his lips where he had unconsciously bitten into them. His mother's expression darkened, frustration and disappointment warring in her eyes. His father merely sighed, casting his gaze downward.

"After everything we did for him…" his mother seethed, clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Darius's wife chuckled, her tone dripping with mockery. "It must be painful, hmm? Watching all your investments go up in flames."

Darius himself remained silent, his gaze steady as ever, observing.

Angus's father exhaled sharply. "Come now, dear," he said, though his voice carried a hint of sarcasm. "It isn't over yet."

—

Back in the essence sea…

Just as the last flicker of hope within Angus began to die, something stirred.

A new warmth ignited in his dantian, an unfamiliar energy surging forth like a long-dormant volcano erupting to life. The soul key's dwindling mana was suddenly replenished, burning brighter than ever before.

Angus's eyes widened. "It waited… it waited until the soul key was almost drained before igniting!"

Elation surged through him as the weight on his body lifted. The essence sea, once suffocating and sluggish, now carried him upward with increasing speed.

"Yes!" He grinned, exhilarated. "With this, I should be at least a C-grade. I can still be useful!"

—

Outside, the hall was deathly silent. All eyes were locked onto the sigil forming above Angus.

Then—

A brilliant silver glow erupted, illuminating the entire chamber.

The silence shattered as the crowd roared in excitement.

"Another one rising from near failure to claim a B-grade talent!" Zara exclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of admiration and intrigue. "This batch truly hides dragons among men!"

The Emberbanes inhaled sharply, their tense shoulders relaxing as relief flooded their features.

Darius, for the first time that night, narrowed his eyes. His wife's smirk faded.

Angus, still breathless from the awakening, lifted his gaze and locked eyes with Mellissa.