It was supposed to be just another boring Monday.
Rain poured down on the cracked pavement outside Lin Mo's tiny apartment in District 17, soaking the rusted bike he never used. The streets were already flooded with students in black uniforms, some smiling nervously, some holding back their fear.
Today was the Awakening Ceremony.
Every high school senior in the country had to undergo the test. A simple scan of their mana signature would reveal their Class, their Rank, and most importantly... their Fate.
Lin Mo didn't expect much.
He was the quiet kid who always sat at the back. Skinny. Pale. Thick glasses. He looked like someone who couldn't even fight a chicken, let alone wield a sword.
But what no one knew was — Lin Mo was hiding something.
He had dreams. Strange ones. Of fire and scales, claws and wings, and a deep voice whispering from the darkness: "Awaken, heir of flame. Breathe, and burn the world."
He thought it was just some stupid fantasy.
Until today.
---
The gymnasium was filled with hundreds of students. Mana testers stood on the stage, surrounded by government Hunters in black coats. The lights buzzed overhead. One by one, students stepped up, placed their hand on the stone, and waited for the result.
"D-Rank. Elemental: Water."
"C-Rank. Swordsman."
"B-Rank. Support Class: Healer."
The room exploded in cheers whenever someone got a B-Rank or higher. People whispered, pointed, judged. The rankings defined your life. The difference between a noble and a nobody.
When it was Lin Mo's turn, the room got awkwardly quiet.
"…Is that the math nerd?" someone whispered.
"He actually showed up?"
"Bet he's F-rank. Or worse."
Lin Mo ignored them and stepped forward.
His hand touched the crystal.
Silence.
Then the crystal glowed—blood red.
A strange flame burst out of it, and a deep voice echoed from nowhere:
"Breath of the Dragon — Awakened."
Everyone gasped.
Then someone laughed. "What the hell kind of name is that? Sounds lame as hell."
"Probably just some C-rank fire skill."
"Yeah, like 'Candle Flame' or something."
Even the instructor was confused. "Uhh… Breath of the Dragon? Never heard of it. We'll have the guild database check it later."
No one knew the truth.
Not yet.
---
That night, Lin Mo walked home alone. The streets were empty. His mind was racing.
The moment the flame appeared, something inside him changed. He felt it. Power. Real, destructive power. And when he focused, he could feel it in his fingers. A spark. A warmth.
He snapped his fingers casually.
FWOOSH.
A massive flame erupted from his hand, blowing apart the dumpster in the alley.
Lin Mo froze.
"…Holy sh*t."
It wasn't some weak fire ability.
He was the only one who can see his ability rank
Rank:Unknown
What the hell.This is hella cool