Ling awoke to the sound of soft beeping machines and the faint scent of antiseptic. As his eyes fluttered open, he found himself in a recovery room, bathed in warm light. For a moment, confusion washed over him. Had it all been a dream? The meteors, the chaos, the promise of awakening?
"Welcome back, Ling!" A cheerful voice broke through his haze. It was the nurse from before, her smile bright and reassuring. "You did great! How are you feeling?"
Ling blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "I… I think I'm okay," he replied hesitantly, his throat dry. "What happened?"
"You've just undergone the procedure for the Awakening Program," she explained. "The implant is now in place and connected to your nervous system. You might feel a bit disoriented for a while, but that's normal."
As Ling lay on the table during the procedure, he suddenly felt a tingling sensation at the base of his skull. A moment later, a translucent blue screen flickered to life before his eyes. It hovered in midair like a hologram only he could see.
[Welcome to the Infinite Ascension System.]
The words appeared in bold letters across the screen, followed by a soft chime. Ling blinked in surprise as rows of information began scrolling across the interface—his name, age, and even basic stats like strength and agility.
"What… what is this?" Ling muttered aloud.
"That's your system interface," said one of the researchers with a smile. "It's unique to you and will help you navigate your abilities."
"Is it true?" he asked suddenly, his heart racing with anticipation. "Did I awaken anything? Did I get powers?"
The nurse chuckled softly. "You'll find out soon enough! Just take your time to adjust. Once you're ready, you'll join the others in the main hall for your first assessment."
"Others?" Ling echoed, suddenly aware that he wasn't alone in this experience.
"Yes! Many have already awakened and are waiting to share their results," she said with enthusiasm. "It's an exciting time!"
Ling's heart raced at the thought of joining others who had gone through similar experiences. He felt a surge of hope mixed with anxiety—what if he didn't awaken anything special? What if he was just ordinary?
After a few minutes of recovery, Ling felt steady enough to stand. The nurse helped him up and guided him toward the main hall where others were gathered.
As they entered, Ling was struck by the atmosphere—a mix of excitement and nervous energy filled the room. People chatted animatedly, sharing their awakening stories and marveling at their new abilities.
Ling spotted Mei Lin across the room, her face lighting up when she saw him. She rushed over, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Ling! You're awake!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. "I was so worried!"
"I'm okay," he reassured her with a smile. "What about you? Did you awaken?"
Mei Lin nodded eagerly, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "I did! I have healing abilities! I can mend wounds and help others recover faster."
"Wow! That's incredible!" Ling said, genuinely impressed. "You'll be able to help so many people!"
"Thanks!" Mei Lin beamed before her expression turned serious. "But what about you? What did you get?"
Ling hesitated for a moment as doubt crept in again. "I don't know yet; I just woke up."
Before he could say more, Professor Armitage stepped onto a small platform at the front of the room, drawing everyone's attention.
"Congratulations to all of you who have successfully awakened!" he announced, his voice resonating with authority and warmth. "Today marks a significant turning point for humanity as we harness these new abilities to protect ourselves and rebuild our world."
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, but Ling felt his heart pounding louder than ever as Armitage continued.
"We will now begin assessments to determine each individual's abilities," Armitage explained. "When your name is called, please step forward to demonstrate your powers."
Ling's stomach twisted into knots as he listened to names being called one by one. Each time someone stepped forward and showcased their abilities—fire manipulation, enhanced strength, telekinesis—Ling felt both awe and dread.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Professor Armitage called out his name.
"Ling Chen!"
Ling's heart raced as he stepped forward through the crowd that parted for him like waves parting for a ship. He could feel everyone's eyes on him—some curious, some hopeful.
As he reached the front of the room, Armitage smiled encouragingly. "Are you ready to discover your potential?"
Ling nodded firmly despite his nerves swirling inside him like a storm.
"Focus on what you want to achieve," Armitage instructed gently. "Let your instincts guide you."
Taking a deep breath, Ling closed his eyes and concentrated on tapping into whatever energy lay within him—the energy from the meteors that had changed everything.
He envisioned himself standing tall against any monster that threatened those he loved; he imagined power coursing through him like electricity.
Suddenly, he felt it—a surge of warmth spreading from the base of his skull throughout his body. It was exhilarating yet overwhelming.
"Now!" Armitage urged.
Ling opened his eyes just as a brilliant light erupted around him—a radiant aura that pulsed with energy. Gasps filled the room as spectators watched in awe.
"What is happening?" Mei Lin whispered from behind him.
Ling felt an intense rush as tendrils of light coiled around him like living ribbons. The sensation was both foreign and familiar; it felt like coming home.
As quickly as it began, the light subsided, leaving Ling breathless but exhilarated. He looked around at the astonished faces staring back at him—some wide-eyed with admiration while others were filled with envy.
"You have awakened an extraordinary talent!" Professor Armitage declared proudly. "Your ability is known as 'The Infinite Ascension System.' It allows you to absorb traits from defeated monsters and gain experience at an accelerated rate."
Ling stood there in shock as applause erupted around him. He had awakened something incredible—something that could change everything.
But beneath that exhilaration lay an undercurrent of fear—what would this power mean for him? Would it come with responsibilities he wasn't prepared for?
As Mei Lin rushed forward to congratulate him with tears of joy in her eyes, Ling couldn't shake off those questions swirling in his mind.
He had awakened—but now came the real challenge: learning how to wield this power responsibly and facing whatever dangers awaited them beyond their city's borders.