"Next… Alex Blake," the instructor's voice rang across the stage, calm yet deliberate.
Alex's heart skipped a beat.
Finally… it's me.
His palms sweated as he stepped forward, every eye in the College Square turning toward him. Whispers erupted instantly.
"Tch… Blake's son?"
"His father is an A-Level Lightning Ability user… this kid better not be trash."
"Genetics don't lie — tiger father, dog son? Let's see."
Alex clenched his jaw. Pressure weighed down on him like a mountain. He could feel every gaze, every expectation — some hopeful, some judgmental, some predatory.
He advanced toward the Awakening Pillar, the fist-sized crystal sphere gleaming atop the silver column.
Black and gold streaks of light shimmered faintly in the orb as he drew closer, causing students to murmur in awe.
Black and gold… looks cool… maybe a strong ability? thought many of them, anticipation crackling in the air.
Even Dean Reinhardt Vale arched an eyebrow, nodding approvingly. If this turns out well, we may finally have a B-Level… or better.
Alex's mind, however, raced faster than anyone knew. Just… survive this. Don't embarrass yourself.
He placed his palm on the orb.
A miniature beam of black-and-gold light danced upward. The orb pulsed softly — beautiful, mesmerizing — yet the intensity… seemed underwhelming.
The instructor stared closely, frowning.
"Hmm… let's see…"
Seconds later, the orb flared, then dimmed.
"F-Level… Puppet System."
The words fell like a hammer across the square.
Shock froze the crowd.
Laughter burst from every corner.
"F-Level!?"
"Puppet… what?!"
"That's the weakest rank in existence!"
"Even my grandma could beat him with that!"
Some students whispered, others openly ridiculed, shaking their heads. Even a few instructors blinked, doubting the orb's reading.
Alex's father had been a mighty A-Level Lightning user. This… this was a disgrace.
The principal, Headmaster Thorne, leaned back in his seat, disappointment etched across his features. He had expected better, but knew the reality: the level locked the potential. Even a great system like Puppet could not overcome an F-Level ceiling.
Alex felt his face pale. I'm crippled… useless…
He knew the brutal truth: power levels dictated everything. An A-Level ability, even at base strength, could easily outclass a C-Level or even B-Level. And here he stood, the lowest of the low.
But then, a faint mechanical tone whispered in his mind:
[Host detected. Awakening successful. Puppet System bound.]
[System initializing… Legion Master protocol detected.]
[Dominion Core unlocked.]
Alex froze. His heart leapt. His eyes widened.
Legion Master… Dominion Core…
He almost screamed — almost. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain calm. His pulse raced, exhilaration coursing through every vein. The cold, precise voice of the system resonated in his mind, reassuring yet alien.
[Host's Puppet System has evolved. New talent: Dominion Core recognized. System fully operational.]
The crowd, still laughing and mocking, had no idea what had just happened. All they saw was Alex Blake, the F-Level Puppet boy, standing awkwardly on stage.
The instructor's jaw nearly dropped. What is he doing? Laughing at his own failure?
"Thank… you," Alex said softly, bowing ever so slightly, keeping his composure. Then he turned and left the stage.
Inside his mind, he scoffed at the mortals surrounding him:
F-level Puppet System… what does that have to do with me?
They don't know. They'll see… one day.
Soon, this short-sighted world will tremble before the godly legion I've built.
And with that, Alex Blake vanished from the stage, leaving whispers, ridicule, and stunned silence in his wake.
The seeds of a godly commander had been sown — unseen, unheard, and underestimated by all.