"Ace– you got a combat class path!?" Joan asked excitedly and curiously.
"Ehh?!" Ace seems surprised at the question, but with shining eyes, he replied immediately,
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Your expression tells it all." Joan rolled his eyes, he continued,
"What did you awaken?"
Ace was slightly embarrassed at having been read.
"I don't know what tier it is, but it's a Swordborn! Same as my father," he said excitedly.
Ace's excited expression changed immediately when he thought of something,
"Joan, what did you awaken!?"
Before, he had been too absorbed in his own thing that he didn't think of anything. But seeing his best friend's neutral expression, he had a bad feeling.
In this world filled with dangers, awakening a path of combat was very important and highly value than the others class. Only those with a combat class path can survive and fend for themself in the two worlds without needing extensive protection from the others.
"..."
Joan didn't reply to the question, making his friend feel uneasy.
It was not that Joan didn't want to say it to keep his class hidden, but he didn't know what to say.
–
Path: The Olden Sun [???]
[Details: The path of the mysterious sun of the olden epoch.]
–
Looking at the vague path that he had nothing about, he didn't know which class it was associated with.
Joan was troubled.
'Olden Sun? What the hell?! Why was it not something easy to understand, like: Sun Apostle or Sun Mage?'
Joan grimaced internally. He had been looking forward to this day for a year now, but to think he would end up with something like this made him somewhat disheartened.
'But looking at the bright side, I seem to have two affinities, which is rare!'
–
Affinity: Light, Fire, –
–
'With these two elements, it's highly likely the path leans closer toward a mage class path!' Joan thought in realization.
As he thought more, he realized it was likely the case that made his mood improve.
"Hey, what happened?"
Joan, who was inside his own thought snap out hearing Age's voice.
"No, nothing… my path seems to be of a mage!"
Age, whose complexion showed worry before, morphed into absolute ecstasy!
"Hell yeah! Bro, give me a high five! I knew you would also awaken a combat class, we would both become great!"
Joan was infected by the positive atmosphere of his friend and smile estatically.
The other people in the square were no different, celebrating upon becoming an Awakened.
Though people who got the type of class they desired were the happiest, the people who got support type class, though not the same as the rest, were still thankful they awakened something rather than nothing.
If one couldn't awaken a path at the Awakening Ceremony upon turning 16, then they will be nothing more than a normal human all their life, suffering a mortal life.
All of them, including Joan, were thankful they had awakened something rather than nothing.
But as much as they wanted to keep celebrating and enjoy the moment, they couldn't.
In front of everyone, a few lines of words that were like a guillotine that hung above everyone's head.
–
#Notice: [Expedition 0 commencing…]
–
Calming down from the excitement, Joan finally looked at the line below the status panel.
'Expedition 0… It's about to begin! '
From what he knew, Expeditions were like a trial by the world to test an individual who advanced a rank and became something 'more'.
In this Expedition, the individuals are sent to a mysterious dimension called Yggdrasil to complete a certain task. Completion of the expedition guaranteed rewards and unlimited access to Yggdrasil, but failures lead penalties.
The resources of the mysterious realm are massively abundant, and it has also become the source of fresh, real food for the people since the apocalypse descended long ago.
Not only that, Yggdrasil was a place with rare, mysterious objects with magical qualities, but it was so dangerous that almost half who went on the Expeditions either died or suffered grievous injuries upon return.
Such a threat was hanging above everyone's head at this moment, and there was no choice, even if some don't want to go; as long as someone advances in their rank, they would be forcefully transferred to the Expeditions with no exceptions.
"Young Awakends, prepare! Before you are on your way to the expeditions, let me remind you again that even the Floor 0 of Yggdrasil is filled with dangers, and never let down your guard in any situation." The clergyman said seriously for the last time and fell silent.
The two white-robed sisters beside him opened their eyes and finally moved for the first time.
They bought out a thick old book and went through the square recording the information of the people who awakened.
"Can you tell me your name and class, please," one of the sister siad in a pleasant voice. In front of her was youth with shoulder length plae hair.
"Joan Apocalypse, mage type."
The other sister, who tried to write down his name paused upon hearing the name. She glance up slightly, her eyes containing confusion.
"You are from the Apocalypse? What aren't you a the church headquarter?" she asked.
Unlike the normal people, the Awakening Ceremony for people of importance and possessing nobel inheritance path were conducted at a grand place.
"I am not anymore…" Joan responded with much change in expression.
The two girls glance at each other, a realising hitting them.
"Can you tell us your affinity? It's fine if you don't want to."
"Light and Fire," Joan said without hesitation, he has no reason to hide. It will all be exposed anyway when he registers with the Awakened Guild when he returns from the Expedition 0, if he survive thart is.
Upon hearing his affinity, they paused again and looked at him carefully.
"Thank you, and please survive and come back," recording Joan's details, one of the women said, giving him extra attention, and everything was done; they excused themselves and went away hurriedly as if they were racing against some countdown.
–-
#Notice: [Expedition 0 commencing…]
—
After some time passed, the invisible line of notice in front of everyone was glowing with life and resistance.
Then the next second, Joan felt a weird sensation on his body. A power enveloped him, distorting his vision.
'Its starting!'
"Joan, good luck!"
As Joan closed his eyes and braced himself, he heard Ace's voice in the background.
"You too, be sure to survive!" he replied and fell silent.
He had completely lost his senses.
But after some time had passed, nothing drastic took place, and the power that made his body uncomfortable was also gone.
Joan opened his eyes, and at the next instant, he was shocked!
[Welcome to Yggdrasil]