Chapter 11: Awakening Day

"At present, no one can restrict personal freedom without concrete evidence of Aberrant transformation, let alone resort to vigilante justice."Wang Mingyuan looked into Su Zhan's eyes: "But Doberman is clever—his accusations against you are deliberately vague. His exact words were...

'Preliminary investigation suggests signs of human-guided Aberrant attacks at last night's party. Survivor Su Zhan is under suspicion with possible motive.'

Just like those online attackers, the wording is ambiguous and didn't originate the rumor storm, so they'll face minimal consequences.

These people don't matter—they're just bought trolls working for Doberman.

His approach doesn't constitute defamation severe enough for capital punishment.

If you can prove you're human, I guarantee even with Doberman's powerful connections, he'll serve at least six months.

This shows how much Doberman loved his brother—risking imprisonment just to target you."

"How can I prove I'm human?"

Su Zhan asked.

"There's a serum called Aberrant Truth Serum."

Wang Mingyuan's expression turned grave: "No Aberrant has ever resisted its effects.

However, the side effects are severe—permanent mental damage including psychosis, anxiety disorders, or even vegetative states.

It's only used in extreme cases, but we can request it."

"That's the only method?"

Su Zhan's chest tightened.

The cure sounded worse than the accusation.

Even if he were human, nobody would voluntarily take that poison unless absolutely desperate.

"Of course not."

Wang Mingyuan spread his hands: "Tomorrow is Awakening Day. Becoming an Awakened would instantly disprove all rumors."

Three hundred years since the Mist Invasion.

No recorded case of anyone possessing both Awakened and Aberrant abilities.

Never.

Su Zhan knew this well, but maintained his facade: "So fulfilling either condition could send Doberman to prison."

"Correct."

Wang Mingyuan nodded slightly.

"I understand. Thank you, Teacher Wang."

Su Zhan expressed sincere gratitude, playing the model student perfectly.

"Go rest now. Don't let those rumors affect you."

Wang Mingyuan waved him off with final advice.

Su Zhan descended from the rooftop.

In the corridors, students automatically parted like the Red Sea as he passed.

Several underclassmen girls huddled together whispering.

They immediately silenced when noticing him, pressing against the walls to scurry away.

"That's him..."

"I heard his parents also..."

"Shh! He's still within earshot."

On his way home, hushed voices trailed behind:

"He looked at me! Will he remember my face?"

"Stay back—don't let him target you!"

Su Zhan walked through the crowd expressionlessly.

Every student cluster stole glances at him before quickly looking away.

Doberman's scheme was masterful.

His nails dug deep into his palms without feeling pain.

Aberrant cells boiled beneath his skin, yearning to shred his human disguise.

But losing control would play right into Doberman's hands.

The school gates now had unfamiliar guards with bulging waist holsters.

Patrol cars circled twice as frequently as normal.

This is what you wanted, isn't it, Doberman?

That man who pretended to follow procedure during interrogation must be reveling in pushing Su Zhan toward destruction.

Making him public enemy number one.

Isolating him from the world.

Su Zhan didn't know how long his act could last.

When everyone looks at you like a monster.

When the entire world refuses to speak to you.

Solitude drives men mad.

Su Zhan admitted he was an Aberrant.

But every life he'd taken was in self-defense.

He wasn't like others who needed to "hunt."

None of that mattered.

Aberrants symbolized evil.

Existence itself was their original sin.

Like the ancient saying—"Those not of our kind must have treacherous hearts."

The true horror wasn't being treated as an Aberrant...

But that under such treatment...

Su Zhan actually began considering.

Perhaps becoming an Aberrant was the only path left.

Perhaps embracing darkness wasn't so unthinkable.

...

Next day.

Awakening Day—all Daxia students reached the mandatory age of 18.

Awakening represented Daxia's cruelest yet fairest social ladder.

Pampered young masters watching family legacies fade if they failed.

Slum-born nobodies elevating entire bloodlines overnight if they succeeded.

Villas. Privileges. Wealth. Beauties...

Things ordinary people slave lifetimes for, decided by sixty seconds of genetic tremors inside an Awakening Pod.

Thus every year on this day:

Some mortgaged homes for enhancement serums.

Some kowtowed at every temple begging divine favor.

Others hid blades in their sleeves.

These were gamblers staking family fortunes—even taking loans—on Awakening Serums.

Should their child fail, entire households would disappear.

Daxia's history books glorify Awakened legends but never record where failures go.

After all, "ordinary" is the world's most useless label.

Jiangcheng No.3 High School.

Black official vehicles parked at the gates.

Emblazoned with Daxia Awakening Bureau logos.

Fully-armed Aberrant Purge Division agents formed perimeter barricades.

At the field center stood three silver Awakening Pods.

Each pod connected to intricate tubing, with terminal screens displaying complex biodata.

White-coated technicians performed final calibrations.

"Line up by student numbers!"

The principal shouted through a megaphone.

Students queued in tense silence.

Some rubbed their palms incessantly.

Others prayed with closed eyes.

Most stared fixedly at the pods.

A Pandora's box of hope and terror.

"Heard last year's senior got A-grade ability—his whole family moved to upscale housing."

"My parents bought me Awakening Serum... hope it wasn't wasted money."

"What if we fail..."

"Then we're screwed! This is all luck!"

"Damn right. I prayed to Buddha, Mazu, God—every deity yesterday."

"Thought you were an atheist?"

Amidst the whispers, Su Zhan stood at the queue's end.

A ten-meter radius around him became no-man's land.

People avoided him like the plague.

Last night, his landlord begged tearfully to cancel the lease, offering double rent refund.

Only after Su Zhan's intimidating glare did he temporarily keep his roof.

Su Zhan gazed upward.

Media drones circled overhead, lenses fixed on these fate-deciding youths.

His eyes traveled further.

At the field's edge, Li Yuqin underwent special preliminary testing surrounded by officials.

Her father had clearly pulled strings.

But what truly captured Su Zhan's attention was the observation platform.

There stood Doberman in Aberrant Purge Division uniform behind the principal, those gilded pupils locked onto Su Zhan.

His rank insignia had been demoted one level.

Even formidable connections couldn't prevent his downgrade.