Si Chen stares at the floating window, wondering about this power of gluttony interface. It has been following his every movement ever since he opened his eyes. He reaches out, his palm hovering beneath the glowing digital shards of the interface as he tries to make sense of the situation.
His eyes widen as the interface expands, revealing a complex set of windows and data points. He is startled by the sheer amount of information suddenly presented to him. The system displays his stats — level one, with all attributes like strength, speed and spirit balanced at one hundred. He wonders if these represent his current potential in this new life. He stares intently at the game-like data, his expression unreadable. He has never encountered anything like this system in all his years of fighting demons.
In the past, he only relied on his awakened power to survive. He knows that in this world, only one in ten thousand people are lucky enough to become an awakener. The school he is currently attending is the National Awakener University, which only recruits those with the potential to awaken. It is an elite institution with high stakes.
He remembers his original timeline, where he failed to awaken during his university years. He spent four years at the very bottom of the food chain, constantly bullied and beaten. He appraises his situation with a skeptical look, wondering if this strange system is the reason he woke up in the infirmary this time around.
Something else catches his attention within the interface. As he scans the data, a familiar term flashes before his eyes. It is an archive file for a Lightning Assassin class. The screen lists powerful abilities like Lightning God and Lightning Blade, which use electricity to paralyze and destroy. He recognizes it immediately as his class from his previous life. He wonders if this is more than just a coincidence.
A surge of power begins to flow through his body, much more than he should have at this age. He questions if his past strength was somehow inherited along with his memories. He wonders if he has awakened early this time.
A second class card, the Devourer, appears in the glowing interface. Si Chen decides to test the limits of this new power. The interface displays a switching class message as it begins to process his request. He snaps his fingers to finalize the command. The system hums with a sharp digital sound.
Suddenly, a student with glasses bursts into the room, looking surprised. This is Ma Long, an E-rank flora chanter. Ma Long rushes to Si Chen's side, relieved that his buddy is finally awake. He frantically asks if his body is feeling okay after the beating he took. Si Chen realizes that he is the only one who can see the system interface floating between them.
He reassures Ma Long that he is feeling fine. Ma Long is completely shocked, looking Si Chen up and down. He cannot believe that all the injuries from yesterday's beating have already vanished.
Ma Long is Si Chen's university roommate. He has always been an anxious type, especially given his low rank. Si Chen reflects on his roommate's past fate. Ma Long was a bottom-tier awakener who died tragically just three days after the demon kings arrived. Seeing him alive and well right in front of his eyes is a surreal experience.
Ma Long adjusts his glasses, convinced that his friend has somehow grown stronger. Si Chen smiles faintly as he takes in the sight of his old friend. In this moment, he truly feels that he has returned to the past.
Ma Long reminds him that they cannot waste time, because tomorrow is the rank test. He insists they get back and start preparing immediately. He drags Si Chen toward the door, emphasising that the graduation evaluation is crucial, even if he has not awakened yet. The roommate is full of nervous energy.
The sun sets over the National Awakener University, casting a warm glow over the sprawling campus. It is a peaceful scene that feels like a dream. Students are gathered in groups across the campus, chatting and practicing their minor abilities. It is a lively environment filled with normal life. On the training field, a student demonstrates his strength by kicking a ball with such force that it creates a shock wave.
Si Chen watches, taking it all in. He walks through the crowd, admitting to himself that it has been a very long time since he has seen so many living people.
Ma Long looks at him with a confused, worried expression. He suggests they just take a walk around the playground to clear their heads. He is clearly weirded out by his friend's strange comments.
Si Chen walks with a solemn expression, his thoughts returning to the future he once knew. He can never forget the day everything was lost. He looks back at a mental vision of the ruined future. He knows that if he does nothing, that same desperate fate will eventually come back for them all.
A cold resolve settles over him. He knows he must take action immediately and increase his level as fast as humanly possible. In this era, there is only one proven way for an awakener to grow stronger. He must hunt and kill the monsters lurking within the demon lairs.
Si Chen reflects on the current state of the world, where almost all demon lairs are monopolized by major guilds. This system leaves outsiders with virtually zero chance of leveling up on their own. He looks at the glowing system screen displaying his name and attributes. If these are indeed his current stats, he wonders how he measures up against other awakeners and the monsters he will face.
To regulate the distribution of power, the government has classified both awakeners and monsters into ranks. The hierarchy goes from S at the highest, down through A, B, C, D and E at the lowest. He notes that the vast majority of students at the university never progress past E-rank. Only the occasional genius, or those with substantial guild backing, manage to reach D-rank.
Although he can estimate his strength based on his memories, he wonders what official rank he would be assigned today. The question of his current potential lingers as he walks. Si Chen glances at Ma Long, who is looking at him with a confused and curious expression. He is confident that his own power is already far beyond that of his roommate.