A growing tower stood before them.High spires rose into the sky, surrounded by interwoven towers and complex constructs, all fused into a single monumental structure of gold and white. It looked modern at first glance, sharp and clean in its design, yet beneath that surface lingered a touch of imaginary fantasy, as though the building had been dreamed into existence rather than constructed. Above it hung an illusory sun, suspended unnaturally in the air, its radiant glow piercing downward, warming the skies and bathing the surrounding grounds in a soft, artificial dawn.
People moved everywhere. Transcenders strolled through the plaza with ease, their presence filling the air with quiet vitality. Some spoke in low voices, others laughed, others hurried along with purpose etched into their expressions.
They walked through the grounds, passing trees carefully shaped and maintained, benches polished and occupied, and sleek vehicles that sped across smooth pathways with effortless grace. This was the other side of the city, not the blood of the dead, not the silence of corpses, but the peace of the living. A place untouched by massacre, untainted by dread.
It was… quite nice.
"Well, welcome to the Transcenders Association. This is where all Transcenders awaken," Veldron said, gesturing toward the towering spires and layered complex before them. "Since you would like to become a Transcender, I will lead you to the chairman."
A clear smile rested on his face, the kind worn by someone who knew the institution well, someone who believed, perhaps too deeply, in what it represented.
"Thanks," Veldra replied simply, his voice flat, unadorned. Lucien gave a small nod beside him.
They entered the Association, and immediately the attention of those passing by was drawn toward them. Curious glances lingered longer than usual, some cautious, some intrigued, some inexplicably uneasy, as though instincts stirred without explanation.
A counter stood before them, behind which sat a receptionist. The moment her eyes landed on them, she flushed visibly.
"Hello, I would like my friends here to register as Transcenders. Please lead them to the awakening room," Veldron said smoothly.
"Yes, right away," the receptionist replied quickly.
She wore a black suit paired with a white uniform that accentuated her figure, her chest drawing more attention than intended, though it was simply her natural build. Black hair framed her face neatly, and her dark brown eyes flickered with nervous professionalism. An ID hung around her neck, displaying her name, age, and other details for all to see.
Veldra dismissed her with a single glance. He neither lingered nor acknowledged her presence further. No smile appeared, no reaction followed, only the coldness of reality staring back into her dark brown eyes, sharp and indifferent.
In front of them were many Prismora devices and sacred relics scattered throughout the chamber. Unlike before, there was no one else present. The room was entirely white, so pristine it felt unnatural, devoid of any shadow, any impurity, any place for secrets to cling, yet paradoxically, it felt like a place designed to conceal truths rather than reveal them.
"The chairman will be notified shortly. But please, place your hands on the relic before you." She respectfully said. With the profound tone of a woman who had worked hard and had years of protocol etched into her routines
The relic stood at the centre of the room.Silver in colour, smooth and reflective, it resembled a biometric device meant for fingerprints, yet it was large enough to accommodate an entire hand. Complex patterns were etched into its surface, shifting faintly as if alive, designed to reveal any colour, any awakening process, or any deviation from the expected path.
Veldra placed his hand upon the relic.
A glow erupted instantly. Ethereal, unreal, something that did not belong to the physical world. The light twisted and folded upon itself, colours forming and unforming, refusing to settle into anything comprehensible. The room seemed to hold its breath. After a while, the glow dimmed, retreating as though it had seen something it was never meant to witness.
Then, a notification appeared before them.
Revealing his Status.
== <<[|STATUS|]>> ==
True Name: Veldra ????
Age: 23
Titles: ???? | Ruler of the Forest | Reincarnator | The First One | Murderer | Mandate of Stability
Class: ???
Talent: ????
Existence Classification: Human
Origin: ????
Physique: ????
Realm: Mortal | Rank: EE | Level: 3
== <<[|-------|]>> ==
It glowed faintly in the air, hovering silently, revealing his status without explanation, without justification.
The receptionist looked at Veldra and smiled.
In cliché novels, the symbols ???? Often meant nonexistence or insignificance, something too weak to be categorised. But in this world, it meant something entirely different. It meant too high, too vast, too unclassifiable. This world was inhabited by humans surrounded by intelligent constructs, systems, and entities; NPCs so advanced they had long surpassed simplicity. Humans were accustomed to the unknown. They knew well what such symbols implied.
And the receptionist knew it better than most.
She bowed respectfully.
Although his rank was quite low, that fact meant very little. Considering he was a named one, he had all the time in the world to grow. Every human in this world was named, except for babies, of course. If parents wished to name them early, they would have to sacrifice a portion of their near-eternal lifespan. Most chose not to, preferring to preserve it for selfish needs or to wait for fate itself to decide the proper moment.
Thank god, this is not cliché.
Veldra thought excitedly, a rare spark of genuine satisfaction flickering beneath his composure. He thanked the receptionist silently, and this time, he spared her a warm smile, one that carried no madness, no mockery, only the quiet pleasure of a deception executed flawlessly.
The receptionist nodded inwardly, a subtle acknowledgement hidden beneath her professional composure. Finally, she had received a fragment of attention, however fleeting, and that alone was enough to steady her breathing. Without wasting another moment, she guided Lucien toward the other relic, her steps lighter now, though her spine remained straight, trained by years of protocol and quiet reverence.
Lucien stepped forward.
The relic reacted.
Another glow erupted; bright, radiant, yet undeniably restrained when compared to Veldra's earlier awakening.
Then the light settled.
== <<[|STATUS|]>> ==
True Name: Lucien ????
Age: 219
Titles: Wolfy | First Friend | Facet of ?????
Class: ?????
Talent: ??????
Existence classification: ????????
Origin: ?????????
Physique: ???????
Realm: Ascendant | Rank: S | Level: 3
== <<[|---|]>> ==
The status hovered in silence.
The woman felt it before she fully processed it; an instinctive tightening in her chest, the unmistakable pressure that came from standing before something that had already crossed a boundary she herself might never even glimpse.
He has a lot of potential, she thought.
Two hundred and nineteen years old, and already an Ascendant. Rank S. Level 3. Worse or perhaps more terrifying, he was a named NPC, a being acknowledged not merely by the system, but by fate itself. Her gaze flickered briefly toward Veldra, questions surfacing unbidden in her mind.
Just who did this Veldra guy have around him?
The thought lingered for less than a heartbeat before she crushed it. Curiosity, unchecked, had ended far too many promising lives in this Association.
With measured movements, she reached into the drawer beneath the relic and produced two rings, placing them gently into her palm as though they were fragile artefacts rather than standardised equipment.
"These rings show your rank, titles, and name," she said, her voice calm, filled with politeness "They do not display your talent, class, origin, or physique. This protects your identity. Each ring is perfectly tuned to your soul signature, no duplication, no theft."