The Guide's form winked out like a dying star. "That is all," its echo lingered, before the world spun.
Jasper squeezed his eyes shut against the disorientation, a whirlwind of light and shadow tugging at his core. When he opened them, the rolling plains were gone. He lay on cold stone, surrounded by a ragged circle of strangers on a vast platform etched with glowing runes. Humans like him rubbed sore heads, but others... a lithe figure with emerald scales hissed softly; a woman with elongated ears twitched them nervously; hulking brutes towered twice his height, muscles rippling under mottled hides.
Where the hell now? Jasper pushed upright, pulse steady despite the madness. His hidden potential thrummed faintly in his chest.
Before questions formed, armored figures burst from the shadows burly men in rune-etched plate. They grabbed arms, forced jaws open, shoving bitter pills down throats. Jasper gagged on the chalky orb, swallowing reflexively. His screen flickered to life unbidden:
Common Language Skill Acquired.
A mountain of a man strode forward, four muscular arms crossed over a chest like forged iron. Scars crisscrossed his bald scalp, eyes like chipped obsidian. "Do you understand me now?" His voice boomed, gravel and thunder. Nods rippled through the crowd. "Good. Welcome to Fortress Town of Sultu. I am Lamark, your Lord. We greet all merger-fresh with open arms."
Murmurs swelled to panic. "What situation?" a scaled woman spat.
Lamark's lips curled. "As the Guide spoke, hundreds of worlds merge yearly into Grandius. No escape, no reversal. Adapt. Thrive. Or die."
The platform erupted screams, curses, fists shaking skyward. A brute resembling an orc lumbered forward, tusks gnashing, axe raised high. "Lies! I'll carve your truth!" The blade arced down.
It bounced harmlessly off Lamark's bare skin, sparking like steel on diamond. The lord didn't flinch. One massive hand rose, fingers clenching air. The orc's head imploded with a wet crunch, brains splattering stone. Body slumped, lifeless.
Jasper's breath caught not in terror, but a spark of hunger. No fear? Just... excitement? Can I claim that power?
Lamark dusted imaginary flecks from his palm. "Unpleasant distraction ended. Now, talents and races. Display."
Screens bloomed like spectral flowers. Jasper tapped his open. To the crowd and Lamark it showed clearly:
Race: Human
Level: 1
Talents: Genius (SS)
Acquired Skills: Common Language
Innate Skills: None
The second talent remained veiled, its requirements unmet, invisible to all eyes but his own whispers.
Lamark prowled, eyes scanning. "This batch? Decent. Fifty-two below C-rank fodder. Twenty B's useful grunts. Five A's, potential. Three S-ranks... promising."
His gaze locked on Jasper's. Pupils widened. "SS-rank! Genius, held by Jasper. Effects: halves all skill acquisition requirements, vastly enhances comprehension."
A smirk cracked the lord's granite face. He clapped a hand like a vice on Jasper's shoulder painful, exhilarating. "Pretty potent latent, boy. You lot" He jabbed at A-ranks and above, including Jasper and the S's. "Advanced Academy. The rest? Basic education suffices."
Guards herded them like cattle. Jasper muttered, his private screen flickering deeper truths: [REDACTED] - Requirements Not Met