Immortal Mage System

Artificial Awakening

"What do you mean by that? No one can help out in this kind of situation," Keith rejected.

The old man turned to look at him, his face slightly scowled.

"That's a huge falsehood, the Lords had to lie to the people just to make sure that there would be Commoners among the humans. No one is unable to awaken their talent. It's just that they might be different methods," the old man said.

"What methods? The Sacred Scripture mentioned only one method of Awakening, which is the Natural Awakening," Keith said.

"Tsk! Are you being fooled by that piece of trash?" The old man said in anger. "The so-called Sacred Scripture is nothing but a bundle of lies. They aren't written by the Saints but the cruel Lords who want the world to themselves."

Keith's sadness was suddenly replaced by a serious, pessimistic expression. His doubts about the words of the old Silver-rank Awakened only got higher. This time, his usual hatred for old people began to display itself.

"What do you mean? How is the Sacred Scripture a bundle of lies? How dare you condemn the words of the heavens?" Keith questioned angrily, "You have no idea about the Sacred Scripture so shut your mouth and fuck off."

"Hey, that's rude buddy. I'm only telling you the inevitable truth. You don't have to humiliate me for that," the old man said with a smile. Even though Keith had been so rude to him, he wasn't going to react.

He walked close to Keith and tried to place his right arm on his shoulder but Keith shifted and glared at him, making the old man relent on his attempt. He sighed.

"Now tell me, do you want to awaken your talent? Or are you fucking ready to become a Commoner all your life? It's your choice," the old Silver-rank Awakened said with yet another charming and comforting smile. "If you don't need my help, then it's fine. I will go."

The old man turned to walk away after those words. Just as he made his first step forward, Keith quickly called:

"Hey!" The old man turned to look at him, his face producing a wide smile. "I'll go with you, but promise me that this is not a scam."

The old Silver-rank Awakened nodded positively and said:

"Come with me, I will make you awaken your talent."

'I promise you, if this turns out to be a scam, I'm going to rip your heads off."

Keith thought and giggled inwardly right after. He knew he was just fooling himself. How would a talentless ass like him get an Awakened's head ripped off? He knew it was absolutely impossible.

But for the sake of hatred, Keith would say that again and again, but in his thoughts.

They walked through the path leading to the commercial area of Brexton City. Though Keith had no idea of where they were heading to. He only hoped that the promise of the old man could be fulfilled.

It took almost an hour before they arrived at the industrial area of the city.

The industrial area of the city was a vast enclosed place with aging buildings and industrial edifices. The dark smoke of refineries replenished the air, turning almost every building into a dark-hued structure.

The sounds of hurrying feet could be heard at every nook and corner, making the area a noisy and uncomfortable place. These people were being accompanied by mostly Silver-rank Awakened just like the old man. Seeing this, waves of suspicion flashed into Keith's mind.

Without hesitation, he halted. The old man stopped and looked at him after noticing Keith's sudden action. He glanced back at Keith and said in astonishment.

"Why did you halt your movement? Common, you have to return to Zenith city hall for another detection."

Keith made a bitter chuckle. "Why is this place so crowded? Industrial areas are said to be noisy but less-crowded places. What's with the crowd oldie?"

The old man nodded and walked close to Keith, after several steps, he halted, not wanting to move quite close to the boy that felt he stinks.

"These people are just like you, Talentless youngsters. The other Silver-rank Awakened who are accompanying them into different buildings are just like me, generous Awakened. We are the ones who won't sit and watch inequality among humans. I'm accompanying you so let's go through that building," the old man said and pointed toward an aging cottage on the west side of the area.

Keith hesitated a bit before nodding positively. As the old man took the lead, he followed. They entered the building after a few footsteps, and suddenly, a woman wearing a brown alchemy garment dashed out from nowhere, putting on a beautiful and charming smile. She has pale skin and brown hair with an average and standard height. And also structured with a lean physique. To Keith's shock, she was wearing the attire of a Gold-rank Awakened.

"Hey, welcome to my abode. I guess you are also Talentless from the first method," the woman said with a slight yet intimidating smile as she walked close to Keith. Keith frowned as she unlocked her lips to speak again, "Don't worry kid, if you can't awaken your talent with the Natural method, you will surely awaken it with the Artificial method."

Keith shrugged. He glanced at the old man who was standing by the side only to see a positive nod from him. Flickering his eyelashes and cursing inwardly, Keith returned his gaze to the female Gold-rank Awakened. He nodded.

"Okay... You would have to purchase the Soul Book to begin with. After getting a Soul Book for yourself, we will commence the Artificial Awakening Ritual," the woman said with a serious expression, staring at both Keith and the old Silver-rank Awakened respectively.

"I don't have a penny on me... I can't even afford a bun. If this requires money, I think I would have to back out," Keith complained, he lied. Though he was not sure if five pence could afford a Soul Book.

"Money is not the issue right now, I'll purchase the Soul Book for you. Let's just make things fast and make this poor kid awaken his talent," the old man commented, placing his right hand into his shirt's pocket.

After bringing out some coins, he looked at the woman. "How much does a Soul Book cost?"

"Two Redis," the woman answered with an inescapable smile on her face. My job is only to make you awaken your talent... Your Core Intensity would determine the type of talent you will awaken."

Keith nodded and heaved a soft sigh.

"Okay, let's begin the ritual then," the woman said and stretched forth her hands to collect her payment from the old Silver-rank Awakened.

The old man handed two redis to the woman and walked forward into the main building to take a seat in the main room of the cottage.

The Gold-rank woman instructed Keith to walk next to her as they proceeded into her ritual chamber. However, Keith's doubtful act wasn't fully evicted. As they walked, he looked at her in distaste from behind, wondering if this was going to end up being a scam.

After a short walk, that approached the innermost chamber of the Gold-rank Awakened's home. Scrutinizing the whole place with a calm yet confused look, Keith muttered:

'This Gold-rank bitch is a 5-star Alchemist! Whoa... That's impressive enough to make her a General. She's worth it.'

An Awakened can obtain three titles depending on the progress of their Skill grades. Once an Awakened Skill grade is up to 5-star, they are titled Generals. When they are up to 10-stars, they are titled High Generals. An Awakened whose Skill grade is up to 11 or 12-stars is titled a Master. Though this state was rare. Even the Supreme Warlord himself could only reach a 10-star Skill grade, and there is no hope of reaching an 11-star Skill grade anytime soon.

While Keith concentrated on scanning the ritual chamber, the Gold-rank alchemist brought out a Soul Book from her shelf. The book was a short, hardcover structure that retained a dark and shiny look. When it gets an eye contact, it glows.

"Take it and clutch it to your chest. When I perform the ritual, the Soul Book will turn into white absorbable gas. It's going to penetrate your chest to enable your core to disclose your talent to your body," the alchemist said with a serious countenance, gesturing Keith to squat.

After Keith had squatted, she began clenching her palms against each other, making it seem as if they were glued. But unfortunately, it was just a pattern of alchemy.

After clenching her palms hard, she released them finally. At that time, spirals of yellowish lights began to glow upon her palms. She rolled her palms countless times, turning the whole chamber into a cacophonic and uncomfortable space. However, as the rituals went on, the lights began to enlarge, and the noise only got higher.

With haste, after gathering enough lights, the Gold-rank Awakened directed the lights towards Keith's chest. Suddenly, the Soul Book began to shrink. It was truly absorbable, and Keith could feel something entering his soul.

But, that feeling was making him lose his vitality. Keith felt as though a thick rod had been pierced through his chest, followed by a twist. He couldn't catch his breath anymore, nor produce a word from his mouth. He tried to withdraw the Soul Book from his chest only to notice that the mystic book was glued by the yellowish light.

Keith could no longer endure the pain, his eyes were broadened, and his legs were trembling. But still, the alchemist wouldn't notice.

After enduring for long, dehydrated and depleted, Keith fell to the warm floor. Only then did the Gold-rank Awakened noticed that the ritual wasn't going well.

"Oh, Geez! What the hell just happened? No one has ever been unsuccessful in awakening their talent with the Soul Book. This chap must be cursed then," the woman said in anger.

Keith raised his hand to give a sign... He was exhausted. But the woman couldn't understand his gesture. Before he could know it, he couldn't just grant himself any more endurance.

Finally resting his back upon the warm floor, he blacked out.

——————————

[Congratulations, you have attained the Immortal Mage System].

[Keith Rotunda, you have been granted the Immortal Mage Legacy].