The awakening ceremony officially ended shortly after noon.
Teachers dismissed the students one class at a time, reminding them to report to the administration office during the following week to register their classes and receive beginner guidance. Some students left the academy grounds with bright smiles, already surrounded by friends wanting to celebrate. Others walked away quietly, heads lowered, trying to come to terms with disappointing results.
Lin Yi and Wang Hao walked together through the front gate of Jianghe Hunter Academy, blending into the steady flow of students heading toward the main street. For a while, neither of them spoke. Wang Hao was still processing the fact that his friend had awakened one of the lowest-ranked classes imaginable.
Finally, he let out a long breath. "Brother Lin… you really don't seem bothered."
Lin Yi glanced at him. "Should I be?"
"Most people would be," Wang Hao said, scratching his head.
Lin Yi smiled faintly. Inside his mind, the system panel lingered quietly, like a hidden window only he could see. An ability to multiply every reward by a hundred. Even someone who preferred a quiet life would find that difficult to ignore.
Wang Hao leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Look, I know you've always preferred to take it easy. But the situation now is different."
"How so?"
"You awakened a Laborer class," Wang Hao said. "If you want to live comfortably, you should register with one of the construction guilds soon. They pay awakened Laborers reasonably well."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. "You've arranged my future twice today."
Wang Hao coughed. "I'm just being practical. The wilderness doesn't care what class you are."
"Fair point," Lin Yi said.
A normal E-Rank Laborer would have no reason to step beyond the city walls. But the system changed that calculation entirely. He was about to say something when a loud voice cut through the crowd from the side of the street.
"Make way!"
Several students turned. A black vehicle bearing the Awakening Bureau insignia pulled up near the academy gate. Two uniformed officers stepped out and began setting up a temporary registration table. Wang Hao blinked. "That was quick."
"What is it?" Lin Yi asked.
"The Bureau's beginner registration station," Wang Hao said. "They set one up after every awakening ceremony. New hunters can sign up for training teams." He glanced at Lin Yi and added, "Mostly for combat classes, though."
Lin Yi looked toward the table. Several students had already gathered around it. One of the officers raised his voice. "All newly awakened individuals may register here to join beginner hunting teams. The first expedition outside the city will take place in three days."
The announcement stirred an immediate wave of excitement. For many of the students here, this was the moment they had been building toward.
Wang Hao hesitated. "Should we take a look?"
Lin Yi shrugged. "Why not."
They joined the edge of the crowd. A short line had formed, mostly students with combat classes and a few support types. At the front stood a young woman. Lin Yi noticed her immediately. Long hair tied loosely back, a calm and composed expression that seemed almost separate from the noise around her. Her posture was straight, the natural discipline of someone who didn't need to think about it.
The Bureau officer glanced at the document in her hand. "Name?"
"Su Qinghan."
Her voice was clear and level.
"Class: Frostblade. Rank: B."
The students nearby started whispering at once. Wang Hao leaned toward Lin Yi. "She's from Class One. Scored near the top in every combat assessment."
Lin Yi watched her briefly. Su Qinghan finished signing the registration form and turned. For a moment her gaze moved across the crowd and briefly landed on Lin Yi. Nothing particular in it. Just calm observation. Then she walked away.
Wang Hao exhaled quietly. "Cold type."
Lin Yi chuckled softly as the line moved forward.
Wang Hao reached the table next. "Name?"
"Wang Hao."
"Class: Scout. Rank: C."
The officer nodded. "Solid mobility class. Sign here if you're joining the beginner team." Wang Hao hesitated for only a second before signing. Then the officer looked past him. "Next."
Lin Yi stepped forward. "Name?"
"Lin Yi."
The officer checked the tablet. His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Class: Laborer. Rank: E."
The whispers in the crowd started up again. The officer looked up. "You're aware that beginner hunting teams generally require combat classes."
"I know," Lin Yi said.
"Then why are you registering?"
Lin Yi met his eyes without answering. The officer held the look for a moment, then let it go. "Curiosity isn't against the rules." He tapped the tablet. "Sign here if you're serious. But the wilderness outside Jianghe isn't somewhere you want to be unprepared."
Lin Yi signed without hesitation. Wang Hao nearly grabbed his arm. "Brother Lin, are you actually serious?"
Lin Yi handed the form back to the officer. "I'm not planning to fight, Don't worry."
Wang Hao looked like the ground had shifted under him. "An E-Rank Laborer going outside the walls. If my parents hear about this they'll say I let it happen."
At that moment, a quiet voice came from behind them. "Confidence without ability is a liability out there."
Lin Yi turned. Su Qinghan was still nearby, apparently in no rush to leave. Her calm eyes rested on him. "You awakened a Laborer class," she said. No mockery in it. Just a straightforward observation. "You should understand what that means outside the walls."
Lin Yi thought about it honestly. "You're right."
Su Qinghan seemed faintly surprised by how directly he accepted that. Lin Yi continued. "But I won't know what I'm capable of until I actually try."
Wang Hao groaned under his breath.
Su Qinghan held his gaze for a moment. "If you slow the team down, don't expect anyone to cover for you."
"That's reasonable," Lin Yi said.
She gave a small nod and turned away. Wang Hao stared after her and then turned back to Lin Yi. "You have a completely ordinary conversation with the most unapproachable girl in the academy and you look like nothing happened."
"What was I supposed to do?" Lin Yi said.
Wang Hao opened his mouth, reconsidered, and closed it.
Inside Lin Yi's mind, the system responded quietly.
Ding.
[Beginner Team Registration Complete]
[Reward Detected]
[Reward: Beginner Hunter Dagger (Common)]
The Bureau had access to every student's primary player panel ID upon registration, allowing them to distribute beginner weapons directly to inventory. The dagger materialized quietly in Lin Yi's system inventory. Before he could examine it, the familiar message appeared.
[Reward Amplification Activated]
[Weapon Evolution In Progress — ×100]
A faint chill moved through him. Because he could feel it changing. Not duplicating. Not stacking. Evolving into something the original dagger was never meant to be.
The final message appeared.
[You have obtained: Froststeel Hunter Dagger]