Chapter 1: The Awakening Ceremony

In early August, Yun City was enveloped in a stifling summer heat, a characteristic humidity unique to the south.

The blazing sun, unobstructed by clouds, brazenly flaunted its brilliance across the sky, conjuring faint heat shimmers that danced above the asphalt roads.

It was the peak of noon, with temperatures soaring close to 35 degrees Celsius.

Most people would undoubtedly choose to seek refuge and comfort within air-conditioned rooms.

Yet, on this very day, the expansive sports field of a Yun City academy hosted several youthful figures, meticulously arranged into four distinct formations.

Half of them were delicate-skinned young women, while the other half comprised vibrant, spirited young men.

Unfazed by the relentless sun, their collective gazes were fixed upon the imposing statue that stood proudly before the school gates.

It depicted a man in an ancient, flowing robe, holding the Xuanyuan Sword, exuding the commanding aura of a leader. The sheer sight of it was overwhelmingly majestic.

As everyone eagerly awaited, the voice of an elderly man with a grizzled beard resonated in their ears.

“Students, I’m sure many of you have been eagerly anticipating the moment to awaken your abilities. But before that, I have a few words I wish to share with you all.”

The elder stood beneath the massive statue in the center of the field. Despite having no amplification device, his voice was remarkably clear.

“So-called abilities are the means bestowed upon us by His Royal Highness, the Human Emperor, to combat demons. Students, as you are about to become ability users, do you know your mission once you awaken your powers?”

As the words of the over-fifty-year-old principal concluded, the young students in the four neat formations responded in unison.

“To explore human development, to safeguard urban security, to never forget our original aspirations, to never forget our original aspirations, to never forget our original aspirations!”

Nearly a thousand students shouted together, their voices like a resounding bell, startling countless birds from the trees to fly far away.

Upon hearing this unified response, the grizzled principal first nodded in satisfaction. Then, he gazed at the truly magnificent four formations and continued earnestly.

“While you’ve likely heard many grand principles, I still wish to emphasize them once more today…”

The old principal’s admonitions were lengthy and repetitive.

Initially, the four formations remained silent, but as time passed, whispers and murmurs gradually began to rise.

“Ugh, does the old principal really need to be so detailed? We already know all this history! In 2050 CE, the global nuclear war erupted, destroying most of Earth. The Creator appeared, and to punish humanity for ruining the planet, all thermal weapons lost their function. Earth began to recover its vitality, giving rise to various demons and ancient creatures. This is all ancient history.”

“Exactly! And then humans activated abilities while resisting the demons. I can already guess what the principal will say next: don’t be greedy after awakening your ability, don’t forget your true self, don’t mock others—all that boring stuff.”

“Just bear with it a little longer. Based on my experience failing to awaken an ability last year, the principal will be done speaking in about half an hour!”

“Half an hour? This blazing sun is a bit much. I’m already sweating. Speaking of which, Your Royal Highness, the Human Emperor, please, considering how hard I’m enduring, bestow a good ability upon me later! I don’t need anything too amazing, just a transformation-type would be perfect!”

“Pfft, you wish! Transformation abilities are one in ten thousand. I’d be happy with something simple like fire control or lightning control!”

“I spit on that too! Fire and lightning control? Those are highly destructive abilities. And you call that ‘simple’? I say you shouldn’t be too optimistic. Look at that pretty-boy senior in the front row—I think he’s already seventeen this year and still hasn’t awakened an ability. How pathetic. Even if he awakens one this year, it’s far too late to start!”

“Shh, keep your voice down, don’t let the pretty-boy senior hear you!”

“Heh, what if he does hear? Even if he awakens an ability this late, it’ll probably just be trash anyway!”

****

Listening to the low whispers around him, filled with private remarks and the resentful, envious epithet of ‘pretty-boy senior,’ Ye Yu remained outwardly calm.

Due to his height, he stood at the very front of the formation. Whether he had grown accustomed to the numbness or was simply too nervous at the moment, his face—delicate and fair for a boy—showed no trace of anger or resentment.

His pair of dark, peach-blossom eyes, like polished gems, were fixed intently on the majestic white stone statue of the Human Emperor.

As the junior students behind him had just discussed, Ye Yu was indeed seventeen this year. To be precise, his eighteenth birthday was just five days away.

In this world where abilities and demons coexisted, most humans began to awaken their abilities during their adolescence. Of course, a small minority remained unawakened.

Awakeners typically emerged between the ages of twelve and eighteen. Generally, the younger an individual awakened, the rarer and stronger their ability would be.

As for those who hadn’t awakened an ability before turning eighteen, they were largely referred to as ‘God-forsaken’ and were highly unlikely to ever awaken one.

Thus, this year’s awakening ceremony at Yunqi Academy was of paramount importance to Ye Yu.

The Yunqi Academy’s awakening ceremony was an annual event. If he couldn’t awaken an ability before his eighteenth birthday, it meant Ye Yu would lose the chance to ever become an ability user.

While not having an ability wasn’t shameful, nor was it Ye Yu’s fault, it was a profound disappointment.

As a passionate, hot-blooded youth, who wouldn’t dream of soaring through the skies, becoming a hero admired by all? Who wouldn’t wish to wield lightning, instantly turning demons to ash and earning the reverence of the masses?

However, beyond the common person’s anticipation for an ability, Ye Yu harbored a special reason for wanting to awaken his.

Ever since childhood, Ye Yu had a ‘child bride’ he had cried into his life.

As a man on the cusp of adulthood, soon to have a ‘wife’, Ye Yu’s innate sense of masculine responsibility made him desperately want to prove himself by awakening an ability. Today was his last chance.

Just as Ye Yu nervously gripped his sweaty fists, the grizzled principal finally concluded his hour-long, repetitive admonitions and spoke the words everyone longed to hear.

“Alright, I’ve said enough. The awakening ceremony will begin immediately. I hope all of you students can become rising stars of ability in the future!”

With the old principal’s announcement, the murmuring sports field suddenly fell silent.

Anticipation for the future flickered in some eyes, while others clasped their hands before their chests, silently praying. Amidst everyone’s myriad thoughts,

As the principal hurled a magnificent orb from his hand towards the statue,

The majestic statue of the Human Emperor, standing proudly in the campus center, suddenly emitted a dazzling, brilliant light.

The light was intensely hot, reaching straight into the sky, making it impossible to look directly at it.

Yet, upon closer inspection, one would find it remarkably gentle, as if imbued with a sense of divine grace.

This benevolent light shone evenly upon everyone. As it gradually enveloped Ye Yu’s entire body,

Suddenly, before Ye Yu’s closed eyes, blinded by the intense light, a page miraculously appeared.

…

Name: Ye Yu

Race: Human (Male)

Intelligence: 7

Strength: 7

Agility: 9

Charm: 3

Summoned Beast: None

Skills: Basic Fireball, Stone Wall, Summoning

Cross-dressing Ability (Forbidden): Novice (Note: Currently not cross-dressed; no effect)

…

Looking at this ability panel, which had been mentioned countless times by his teachers, Ye Yu felt his eyes welling up slightly.

‘I finally have an ability!’

‘Five years! Do you know how I spent these five years!?’

Yet, after his inner celebration, as he scrutinized the name of his ability, Ye Yu’s excited heart and trembling hands slowly began to calm.

‘Cross-dressing Ability?’

‘What in the world is this?’

‘I’m a boy!!!’