The Divine Death

Arriving at the hunter association of Malan branch, a magnificent view of lively surrounding could be felt. There lay people trading all sorts of items ranging from life saving armour and powerful weapons to fantastic exlir which would put the modern day medicine to shame. 

He had been dropped at the periphery of hunters association branch as private vehicles were restricted from further entry due to security reasons. He turned around himself and found the indicator board marking the route to various block and places. His eyes moved across the board and get focused on the place stating' awakening center '. He reached there after knowing about its path. 

He passed through large bronze colour gate only to be greeted with a large chamber with more than 200 people sitting on chairs arranged in spherical shape with each row elevated a bit higher than the previous one but the most attention is taken at the centre where  two persons were standing beside what look like a round shape glowing jewel as big as  palm. Although the place was well lighted with all sorts of advanced bulb but the  illuminance releasing from jewel gave a different vibe of brilliance.

It was a device known as awakening crystal constructed with the unique products obtained from tower along with the technologies humanity advanced after broadening their science and comprehension.

The immensely huge tower like structure came into existence after six months of cataclysmic event of explosion of monsters through the portal. Although ten years have passed since than, mysteries of tower still remained veiled.

" Hello , I am an agent of this department of awakening and i welcome every one who has come here to awaken power with their own ambition and desire.Some have applied due to their own will while certain situations have forces many to join here but it doesn't really matter as the reality to fight against our common enemies still exist and it is more than enough for us to unite for an equivalent cause. With this, i would like everyone present here to come at the centre of the stage one by one and experienced your new self. Of course, not all will be so lucky but nothing much can be done about that as this is the life. " A tall man coverd in black dress with blue tie and white shirt beneath his black coat spoke these words for a longer duration as if he has been speaking it numerous times as an address speech.

A young man from the front seat arose from his seat and walked towards the centre stage with nervousness visible on his face. He stopped right before the rectangular table and placed his hand on the shining ball shaped object and a bright light coverd his body entirely the moment his hand touched it. The light slowly receded.

" Congratulations, you have awakened a D-rank ability lightning arrow . It is fairly a good start." Sound of the black dressed person again echoed throughout the auditorium.

Although D rank is not very high rank, its still considered good when going through the trails of tower of wonder. Very few are able to gain it.

Another man of nearly twenty two years approached there and placed his hand but this time the awakening crystal did not show any changes and remained same. 

" Sorry, you failed to awaken your power." 

The man in test got a dark expression on his face upon hearing the voice  as he went down from the stage.

Another girl took the stage and a light emanated from crystal but not as bright as the first one.

" Congratulations, you have awakened E rank ability heal."

The process repeated and people after people went one by one with their report being revealed.

" You have awakened F rank ability, running"

You have awakened F rank ability, smell"

" E rank ability water spalsh has been awakened "

More than hundreds have already awakened themselves but only 3 d ranked ability, 11  E rank and 16 F rank have been surfaced. Such is the difficulty of finding talented awakened person. 

After announcing the result of yet another person with the same pace of expression, the cold eyes of the agent who was remarking everyone's talent changed upon seeing the next person. She was a girl in her eighteen, brown hair with a hint of golden hue flowed beautifully over her back, a sense of power apparent in her blue eyes without even her going through awakening. 

The agent nodded with a hint of acknowledgement towards her before observing carefully as light of expectations glow in his eyes. But this was not the only thing to notice as a few distinguished personalities who were simply sitting above in a separate floor in the corner of this chamber could be found now discussing something. Although not a word of theirs was discernible to the people below.

" What do you think about the talent of Talya,  the daughter of that person, branch manager? " A man of a fairly high position asked with interest, while his robust physique leaning on the soft sofa.

"Awakening is something which has always been hard to predict , not even the stronger SS rank individual can say with confidence to know one's potential, mr. Brown." The branch manager replied while taking a light sip of drink from his cup, his eyebrows raised to clearly focus on the coming figure of Talya."

" Well it's not like we have to wait for much to know about it." Chuckled the man with solid and robust body.

Talya walked up to the centre of the platform. She breathed deeply for a second and placed her right hand fingers gently on the awakening ball. A gust of light suddenly enveloped the whole platform in an instant and its influence clearly trying to spread even further up to the rows of seats.

Every body saw this scene incredulously as this was the sign of advent of an incredibly powerful ability. Even the two persons observing from above rose in  and one of them suddenly came down to lay down a barrier around the people to protect them from the rays coming from platform. 

After a few seconds of eye blinding radiance, the stage calmed down but astonishing expression was still apparent on people sitting above. The slowly fading glow on the stage revealed the satisfied figure of Talya who was breathing heavily. The branch manager appeared beside her and extended his hand to support her

.

" Congratulations on awakening an A rank talent Ice manipulation. I am branch manager of this state associated hunter association, Ryan miyowel. It is the blessing of humanity to have occasional appearance of talented person like you. A professional employee of association will escort you to the record centre to forge your hunter license and complete all the necessary paper work required to be an official hunter after everyone has gone through this process."

"Hmm" She just nodded in affirmation and got back to her seat without trying to interact much with branch manager yet he was not offended much  as they knew a little about her personality and background. She was the daughter of a peak s rank hunter. She isn't used to people and like being alone. Despite having such background she is rarely present in festivities. That's why she chose to awaken in a branch rather than head quarter of hunter association.

" Next one, onto the stage" the black adorned agent's voice made its presence. But no one could come upto the stage after witnessing a high talent appearing.

' worrying isn't going to change my result of aptitude test. So i might as well try since no one is willing to go next ' thought Nion after observing from side , the recent happening which was unexpected for him as well. Talent of such caliber would only appear in capital city or advanced mega city. 

Nion walked on to the stage in a nonchalant manner as he very well understood how little he could do to change one's awakening talent and placed his finger on the crystal of awakening but.......

Nothing happened. 

Or so appeared to the people observing from outside. A complete contrast sensation was evoking inside Nion. The moment  his fingers came in contact with the ball shaped crystal, he felt something penetrated inside his skin beside his left chest and his facial expression turned into pain of being pierced by a large spear into his fast beating heart. Never in his life had he experienced pain of such intense suffering. His sudden howling drew other's lost attention. He did not emit any light and not even display any phenomenal show like Talya. He was just crying in agony. The unbearable pain slowly spread from his heart to lungs, his brain became numb and his whole body seemed like burning in flame of thousands of degrees temperature. only he was not experiencing something abstracted but a distinct occurrence was taking place in awakening ball itself unknown to the eyes of others. The mana contained in started churning and stirring in a chatoic manner as if trying to put a fight against an invisible sucking force. It lost its stature soon and its light started flowing into Nion's exhausted and suffering body which had started sweating in a copious manner.

All the pain reduced and was converted into refreshing spirit as if a soothing rain has fallen on a scorching desert after the mana left the ball. His body  never once in life had been enamoured to such an extent. A feeling of euphoria was being sensated in his numb mind . But nothing has changed form outside. A person from side will only see him crying a moment ago and suddenly felt full of energy and zeal after a bath of profound perspiration.

" What the heck was that?" Exclaimed the branch manager with a wide mouth.

" I have never seen an awakening like that. I have not even head of it" repeated the same person with an astounded face.

" Was that even an awakening? I mean, didn't see any reaction of mana."  Another man observing from above remarked.

But an event more alarming than previous happened. 

CRACKK!!

The awakening ball after losing its blue luster turned grey and breach  appeared followed by a light burst.

BOom

It exploded and its shattered pieces fell on the ground.

A prompt only visible to Nion appeared before him in crimson coloured letter with blue background like a screen.

" Congratulations, you have managed to unlock a fragment of the codex of the great monarch of death "