"N-no, no... that emblem... it's the Zhang Family."
Panic seized my chest, my breath catching in my throat. What do I do? What the hell do I do?!
Without a second thought, I slammed my forehead directly onto the cold, hard ground. The impact rattled my teeth, but I didn't care. I just prayed to whatever gods were listening that he hadn't caught a good look at my face.
"I-I apologize, my lord!" I stammered into the dirt. "I didn't mean to bump into you. Please, spare me!"
A cold, aristocratic voice drifted down from above. "Humph. Do you have a family by any chance, sir?"
"Y-yes, yes! Lankat! Edgar de Lankat is my name," I scrambled to reply, desperate to sound cooperative. "I hope you can let it slide just this once, my lord."
Shit! Of all the people in this damn city, why did I have to collide with someone from one of the Big Five families? Curse this mind of mine; it always drifts off randomly at the worst possible moments.
"I guess I have no choice then," the young lord mused, his tone dripping with casual arrogance. "Just a reminder of our families' past, back when they actually helped one another. We're basically one big family inside this dome anyway. I hope you've been well. Man, knock some sense into him so he remembers to be cautious in the future."
"At your command, my lord."
THWACK!
"Fuckkk!" A heavy boot buried itself directly into my midsection. Not on my already bruised abdomen! Fuck that slit-eyed bastard... damn it, that hurts like hell!
I choked back a groan, forcing a pathetic, grateful smile onto my face as I looked up. "T-thank you, my lord. I will keep your advice branded onto my very soul."
Fuck him. Just a kid, but so completely full of himself. If not for his family name and those towering bodyguards, I'd ruin him.
"Lizen Zhang," the kid said, staring down his nose at me. "Remember that name. In the future, the exact second you see me, I expect you to be on your knees. Do that, and I might actually take an interest in you. See you later, Lankat."
I watched them walk away, exhaling a long, shaky sigh. Just you wait, you little bitch. I'll pay this back a manyfold—
I cut my own thought short. No, better not hold a grudge against the Big Five.
Judging by the insignias, all three of his bodyguards were direct enforcers of the Zhang family. It was common knowledge that the Zhang bloodline awakened traits related to Sensory Reaction. I just had to hope their reactions weren't fast enough to read my hidden facial expressions, or I might end up dead the moment I stepped out of this dome.
Sensory Reaction was a terrifying trait. It allowed a person to process and respond to stimuli in a mere fraction of a second by vastly amplifying the neural chain reactions between sensory receptors, axons, and nerves. But that incredible benefit came with a brutal side effect. Because the receptors were so heavily amplified, the pain receptors followed suit. Once awakened, a person's sensory reactions became five to ten times faster—meaning they experienced five to ten times more agonizing pain from a single blow. Imagining my currently bruised stomach amplified by five times made me shudder; I probably would have died from shock right there on the pavement.
Still, the perks were undeniable. Imagine being a fighter with an awakened trait like that. You'd predict an opponent's punch before they even began to swing. It made me fiercely jealous. With an ability like that, I could earn an absolute fortune as an underground fighter.
Sigh... what a waste. And by the looks of it, that little shit Lizen was on his way to awaken his trait today. It was depressing to imagine getting trashed by a kid who wasn't even seventeen yet. Fuck my life.
As time ticked by, the throbbing in my ribs settled into a dull ache. I wandered over to a small, unassuming coffee shop to grab some bread and clear my head. Scanning the room, I spotted a teenager sitting alone at a table, completely devoid of any family emblem. Perfect, I thought. Might as well help the kid learn how the world works.
"Hi buddy," I called out casually, sliding into the seat opposite him. "Getting your trait awakened today? The name's Edgar. Mind if I share the table?"
The kid blinked, momentarily startled, before offering a polite nod. "Oh? Right, sure, sir. Like you already guessed, I'm David. David Choi. I'm trying to get awakened today. Honestly, I'm just hoping to get any available trait. I don't expect much. My family has never established a unique trait of their own, so just anything to help me get by would be enough."
"Ah, don't talk like a little kid," I chided smoothly. "As you should know from general education, every single person possesses their own unique potential. You just need to awaken what you actually want. If I may ask, what trait are you aiming for?"
From what I knew of the Choi family, they were just like mine—nothing prominent or distinguished. Having a family name at all was about the extent of their status. Now, where should I start with my advice?
"Yes, sir," David said, his innocent eyes locked onto mine. "My aptitude assignment is scheduled for this afternoon. I'm really hoping I have the aptitude for Sensory Reaction. It's a highly practical trait, and it pays the best."
"Yes, well, as long as that drive still lingers in your heart, I truly hope you get assigned to the awakening chamber for sens—"
"Mr. Edgar, your bread is ready," the shopkeeper interrupted.
"Oh, hold that thought a second, kid. Let me grab my food."
I stood up, pulling 30 copper coins from my pouch and sliding them across the counter. As I waited, I looked around the shop. The place was literally crawling with kids sweating bullets, all waiting to be awakened today. I slurped my coffee, a sudden surge of saliva hitting my tongue. Oh, sit... need to hold back my excitement. Let's get back to kid David. Hehe.
"Ah, right, David," I whispered leaning back over the table, breaking off a piece of bread. "Here's a little tip for awakening your aptitude before you go under the surgeon's knife. You need to actively practice your physical reaction times long before the actual test. Have you been training?"
"Yes, sir!" David nodded eagerly. "I've been taking lessons from my uncle. He works as a professional bodyguard."
"Good. With any luck, you might actually pull it off."
We traded stories about the awakening process for another fifteen minutes until I swallowed the very last drop of my coffee. I stood up, patting my pouch. Inside, 5 silver coins clinked together nicely. Time to move on to another shop. Haha, what a joyful day it is.
At exactly 2:00 p.m., a massive, deafening siren echoed throughout the entire city. The sound reverberated deep within the concrete, signaling that the aptitude tests had officially commenced. I hoped those innocent kids got exactly what they wanted. And if they didn't? Why the hell should I care? Bwahaha!