1: Awaken 9 SSS-level talents

China, Jiangnan City No. 2 High School.

Today is the Talent Awakening Day for the third-year high school students.

Two hundred years ago, the Land of Divine Punishment descended, and monsters invaded Blue Star, ushering in the era of universal awakening.

Inside the Awakening Room.

A row of school leaders sat on the high platform. In the center, the balding Old Principal gave a speech:

"...Students, ever since Dugu, one of the four Great Human Emperors, died in battle two years ago, the demon race has taken the opportunity to counterattack. The situation for our human race has become quite dire... This is the worst of times, and it is also the best of times!

As everyone knows, no one in our human race has awakened an SSS-Rank Talent for a hundred years.

With Dugu's fall, everyone is eagerly awaiting the birth of a new Human Emperor."

"I hope you all can seize this opportunity, actively awaken your Talents, and forge ahead. Perhaps the next Human Emperor will emerge from among you!"

After the Old Principal finished speaking, the students were all fired up, feeling like they could slap their deskmates in excitement.

Only one boy in the back row, with short black hair and striking looks, had a face full of shock.

"Holy crap, am I dreaming?"

Demon invasions, Talent awakenings... Su Yan instinctively reached for his thigh, preparing to give it a pinch, but felt something wasn't right.

"Huh, why is my leg so smooth? It actually feels pretty good to the touch?"

He turned his gaze and unexpectedly met a pair of resentful eyes.

"No kidding, you're touching my leg!"

His deskmate, Tang Xia, said in disbelief:

"Su Yan, to think I always treated you like a brother, and you actually dare to grope me while I'm sleeping?"

Hiss, his deskmate is a girl?

Not a fat guy?

Su Yan was stunned and couldn't help but look down under the desk.

He saw his female deskmate wearing a cool short skirt, with a pair of straight, well-proportioned fair legs completely exposed.

Her skin was delicate and smooth; the feel was very good.

A bit of black safety shorts peeked out from the edge of the skirt. Seeing this, Su Yan immediately felt displeased.

No way, guarding against even a gentleman?

Guarding even against a deskmate?

Before Tang Xia could swat away his groping hand, Su Yan quickly withdrew it and coughed:

"Ahem, wrong leg, my mistake."

"Wrong leg? Then where else were you planning to touch?" Tang Xia glared at him huffily.

What kind of suggestive language is this!

Su Yan was speechless. He glanced at his female deskmate's face, intending to end this chaotic dream.

He pinched his own thigh hard, but stood up with a cry of pain.

Ah, hiss, it hurts, hurts, hurts!

Is this for real? I'm actually not dreaming?

At this moment, everyone's gaze turned toward Su Yan, their faces full of surprise.

The Old Principal, who had just finished his speech, frowned and asked, "Student, is there something the matter?"

Su Yan's head was buzzing. After being dazed for two seconds, he suddenly pointed his finger at the gloating Tang Xia and said:

"Reporting to the Principal, my deskmate applies to be the first to awaken her Talent."

"Oh, who is your deskmate? Stand up so I can take a look."

Hearing this, the Old Principal's brow unfurrowed, and he asked with a smile.

"Goddammit..."

A sound of teeth grinding came from beside him. Tang Xia stood up reluctantly, feigning grievance:

"Principal, I was just speaking casually. You don't have to take it seriously."

The Old Principal laughed, "I appreciate students with courage. No need to be modest; you'll be the first."

Crack!

The pen in Tang Xia's hand snapped... With her hair in a high ponytail and wearing her school uniform skirt, Tang Xia was forced onto the Awakening Stage.

Under the guidance of the staff, she placed her hand on the crystal.

Soon.

"Tang Xia, B-rank Talent: Fire Mania!"

As soon as the awakening result came out,

The room was filled with admiration, and the school leaders on the high platform nodded one after another in praise.

Lively discussions broke out around them:

"Awesome! No wonder she dared to be the first on stage to awaken.

Tang Xia actually awakened a B-rank Talent, and a very powerful Fire-type one at that!"

"Yeah, a B-rank Fire-type. In previous years, that would definitely rank in the top five of the whole school. This year's ranking certainly won't be low either!"

Su Yan lay in his seat like a salted fish. Having just merged his memories, he seemed a bit dazed.

This transmigration was so sudden.

However, listening to the discussions around him, Su Yan more or less agreed.

According to his memories,

Awakened Talents are divided into ranks.

From F-rank to SSS-Rank.

The difference in strength between each rank is vast, like an unbridgeable chasm.

Starting from the weakest F-rank, the higher the rank, the greater the difficulty of awakening.

According to statistics from authoritative experts, 99.9% of the human race on Blue Star ultimately awaken a Talent no higher than B-rank.

Textbooks also say that

only one in a hundred thousand people can awaken an A-rank.

Only one in ten million people can awaken an S-Rank.

As for the top-tier SSS-Rank, the probability of awakening is extremely slim.

Not only have there been only four people so far, but no new ones have appeared in a hundred years.

Therefore, the B-rank Fire-type Talent Tang Xia awakened was already considered very strong.

On the Awakening Stage.

"Thank you, teacher."

Tang Xia breathed a complete sigh of relief, bowed to the staff, and a smile blossomed on her face.

Then, with her hands behind her back and her ponytail swaying, she returned to her seat and winked at Su Yan:

"Well? Is your 'daddy' amazing?"

Su Yan sat up straight and said dismissively, "Tch, it's just B-rank. In a bit, your 'grandpa' will awaken an SSS-Rank for you to see."

"Hmph, as if!"

Next.

"Li Qiang, D-rank Talent: Swift Wind Step!"

"Zhang Tao, C-rank Talent: Enhanced Crafting!"

..."Su Yan!"

At this time, it was finally Su Yan's turn.

Su Yan stood up confidently, instantly attracting everyone's attention again.

It had to be said that Su Yan had a good-looking shell.

Standing 1.8 meters tall, with a clean and handsome face and a warm, sunny smile, his looks would make any woman dazed.

Su Yan quickly walked onto the Awakening Stage.

The staff member asked, "Are you ready? Place your palm gently on the crystal and hold it for 30 seconds."

"Okay."

Su Yan nodded and pressed his palm against it as instructed.

In a moment, the crystal emitted a faint, lustrous glow. The light turned into countless threads, soaking into Su Yan's body.

Half a minute later, the light disappeared.

"Su Yan, S-Rank Talent: Tenfold Absorption!"

The staff member announced the result on the spot.

This result...

Boom!

Thunderous sounds of envy and admiration immediately erupted from below the stage. It was actually an S-Rank Talent!

The first S-Rank Talent in the history of Jiangnan No. 2 High School was born!

But soon, there was a burst of laughter.

Su Yan was left speechless.

[Tenfold Absorption (S-Rank): Possesses an extraordinary appetite and the ability to absorb nutrients at ten times the normal rate.]

Talents are divided into Combat Talents, Auxiliary Talents, and Useless Talents.

Combat Talents are suitable for fighting and are the rarest and most sought-after of the three.

Tang Xia's Fire Mania belonged to the Combat Talents.

Auxiliary Talents are suitable for logistical support, such as priests or life-related professions.

As for Useless Talents,

as the name suggests, their attributes have no practical value.

For example, a hundred years ago, someone awakened an SS-Rank Useless Talent—God-level Lethargy.

It's said that they are still in seclusion sleeping to this day, and besides being a super sleeper, it's completely useless.

And Su Yan's Tenfold Absorption was roughly the same.

Besides being able to eat and absorb, it seemed to have no value.

On the high platform,

the Old Principal, who had been so excited he was about to raise both hands, heard the name of the Talent.

His face filled with astonishment, and he sighed heavily:

"This is an S-Rank Talent!

It was expected to add another top expert to our human race and allow our school to finally hold its head high in Jiangnan City, but I didn't expect... Sigh, what a pity, such a pity!"

...The one who felt the most pity was none other than Su Yan himself.

Standing before the crystal, Su Yan was speechless for a long time until the staff urged him to leave.

"It's not a big problem; at least the foundation of an S-Rank Talent is still there.

As long as I can survive the early stages, I can still become a top powerhouse in the later stages just by relying on the attributes added by the S-Rank."

Thinking about it this way, Su Yan felt much better.

"Thank you, teacher."

After saying his thanks, Su Yan accepted reality and turned to walk back to his seat.

But before he had even taken two steps... [You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Otherworld Hero!]

[You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Chosen One!]

[You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Divine Spirit Shackles!]

[You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Supreme Authority!]

[You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Elemental Conversion!]

[You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Descendant of the Gods!]

[You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Supreme Attributes!]

[You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Eye of the Gods!]

[You have awakened an SSS-Rank Talent: Void Rift!]

...