Golden Throne

However, reality is harsh, and even though he had an A-Rank ability, compared to the S-Rank powers that the twins had awakened, his ability was nothing.

So, his hopes were dashed, but he quickly recovered as he turned his gaze toward Ethan, a smirk forming on his lips.

Ethan knew what Lucas was thinking, and he felt a small twinge of annoyance. But there was no point in letting his emotions get the better of him.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, approaching the Awakening Crystal. The hall, which had been buzzing with chatter, slowly quieted down as everyone turned their attention toward him.

He reached out, pressing his palm against the Awakening Crystal. A familiar coolness spread across his skin, but something about this felt... different.

The crystal, which had responded smoothly to all candidates before him, suddenly dimmed.

Confused murmurs spread through the crowd.

"Did it break?"

"What's going on?"

"Maybe he doesn't have a power?"

The priests exchanged nervous glances. Even the examiner furrowed his brows, stepping forward slightly as if preparing to intervene.

Then, without warning—

BOOM!

The Awakening Crystal exploded with light, a golden radiance so intense that the entire hall was bathed in its glow. A shockwave surged outward, sending gusts of wind rippling through the room.

The floor trembled beneath their feet. Gasps and shouts filled the space as students shielded their eyes from the overwhelming brilliance.

Then, the real phenomenon began.

The sky, visible through the glass ceiling, darkened as thick storm clouds appeared out of nowhere. Lightning flashed, thunder rumbling loudly.

"What's going on?!" someone yelled.

"Why is the weather changing like that?" another voice asked.

The temperature in the hall dropped sharply, and an unnatural stillness filled the air—as if the world itself was holding its breath.

The priests fell to their knees, their eyes wide with awe.

"This… this is a divine phenomenon…!"

The examiner's face remained controlled, but his hands trembled slightly. "A reaction this extreme… there's only one explanation."

He raised his voice, speaking in a clear, steady tone. "It's an SSS-level superpower!"

A shocked silence filled the air, broken only by the occasional crackle of lightning.

Then, a sudden burst of wind tore through the hall, the glass walls trembling violently. Everyone staggered, struggling to stay upright.

"H-How is that possible?" someone whispered, their voice shaking.

Meanwhile, Lilith and her daughters shattered the glass wall that connected to the examination room and floated above all the students.

Then, Lilith waved her hand, and all of the students were enveloped in a protective shell that shielded them from the phenomenon.

She did the same for the examiner and the priests who were closest to Ethan.

But none of this mattered to Ethan as he felt his heart rate increase. Something inside him had awakened. It wasn't just a superpower—it was something far greater.

He felt a strange energy surging through his veins, something ancient and binding, something that whispered of control and influence.

The Awakening Crystal pulsed violently, not just releasing energy particles, but waves of raw power. The golden light wrapped around Ethan like a cloak, radiating authority.

The force was so immense that those nearby instinctively took a step back, their instincts screaming at them to submit.

Then, at the peak of the phenomenon—

A golden throne materialized behind Ethan.

It floated in midair, massive and regal, its presence undeniable. Its design was intricate, ancient symbols glowing along its edges. A weight of pure dominance radiated from it, pressing down on everyone in the hall.

Ethan didn't know how he knew, but somehow, he understood that the throne was part of him. It wasn't just a manifestation of his superpower; it was a symbol of his status.

And for some reason, he slowly walked toward the throne, and as he did, a flight of stairs appeared between the throne and him, allowing him to climb onto it.

A wave of awe swept through the crowd, the students staring up at him with a mix of shock and fear.

The examiner stared up at the throne, his face pale.

"By the gods… this is... even more powerful..."

But before he could continue, he suddenly felt a jolt in his mind as he forgot everything he had seen since Ethan started his awakening and stood motionless as if nothing had happened.

The same occurred with the priests and all the students, even Lucas, but surprisingly, not the Moonshade twins, who were too focused on Ethan to even notice.

However, their faces were a mixture of shock, happiness, and awe, their hearts beating fast.

"No way… Do SSS rank superpowers produce such a phenomenon?" Evelyn asked, her voice trembling.

Everly could not answer her sister's question, her thoughts swirling with excitement.

As for Ethan, he had no idea what was going on. His mind was a blur, the new sensations and feelings overwhelming him.

But even so, he couldn't help but wonder what would happen next.

"System, what the hell is happening?"

There was no response.

Ethan frowned. "Seriously, not now. I need answers."

This time, the system gave him a response, [Well, Master, this is unexpected.]