Tenebrous Wolf-Chapter 34: Uniqueness

What exactly was Uniqueness?

There was a simple answer to it. Everybody behaved differently from the person next to them. It could be something as obvious as the way they spoke, how they walked, their tone of voice, their personality or even something as small as their posture. Anything could count as uniqueness, and that uniqueness would be used as currency in the Sanctuary.

However, the problem here was that Klaus couldn't sense even a trace of it from the girl known as Yuki Asahina.

Some might argue that her extreme quietness made her unique, but Klaus didn't think that was the case at all.

Throughout their entire friendly conservation, not only had she remained her calm, monotone voice, her eyes and face didn't show any emotion even for a fleeting second.

It was as if she lacked the very air of the living.

A person like that would naturally evoke an overwhelming sense of isolation, surrounded by silence that stretched beyond mere introversion. No matter how beautiful she was, it meant nothing if she was utterly unapproachable. It was as if she lacked the presence of someone who truly existed.

She was, effectively, an emotionless robot.

How could someone like that possibly make any friends? Even Klaus who was a loner, felt deeply disturbed.

Eventually, Klaus turned away and drifted his gaze over the crowd of Aspirants. Now, he understood why no one else lingered in this corner. She was constantly surrounded by an invisible, yet almost tangible aura of death.

He doubted any Aspirants would be superstitious, but in her presence, anyone would, without a doubt, feel profoundly uneasy.

After all, who would ever enjoy having a conservation with a seemingly emotionless machine? There was a reason some certain people strongly disliked AI (Artificial Intelligence) because of the lack of feeling and emotion.

I don't think she's an emotionless machine though. Perhaps she's just yet to form a uniqueness.

Glancing back toward the blue-haired girl, Klaus felt that thought was correct, even though he had no real basis for it.

Yuki didn't speak any further after that. That was her way of ending the conversation. Understanding this, Klaus didn't press her any longer and simply sat in silence.

Looking at the crowd of young awakened and potential riders, Klaus had discovered that there was already a school hierarchy from the conservations he had with fellow aspirants.

At the far end of the hall, closest to the stage, were small, exclusive groups. The people within them were distinct from the rest of the Aspirants as they seemed confident, composed, and exuding an air of nobility. These were the Vestiges: individuals trained for since their birth and had the highest chances of survival.

An example of this was the young man named Miguel.

Klaus's gaze settled on a particular group of Aspirants. Five or six of them surrounded a tall, confident young man.

The young man had shoulder-length black hair, dark skin, and a handsome, refined face. His eyes held a glint of friendly humor, but his posture and lean, well-trained build betrayed years of rigorous discipline. Everything about him screamed nobility and strength.

Apparently, this young man, Miguel, had awakened a Mythic Attribute.

Ascendants with Awakened Attributes were already rare, but Mythic was just one tier below Dragonic, the Attributes possessed by Saints!

Naturally, this meant Miguel had a significantly higher chance of surviving and conquering the First Shadow World.

I wonder what his attribute ability is... Maybe it's something more interesting than mine.

What was the difference between a Mythic and Primordial Attribute?

That was an important question, but for now, it was something Klaus had no answer to.

His attribute ability, [Adaptation], seemed practically useless in direct confrontation. It had no immediate offensive applications and didn't necessarily enhance his strength in any way that would put him ahead of others. While it was useful for survival, it still left him at a disadvantage compared to those with more aggressive or defensive abilities.

If anything, it would have been better if he had awakened a defensive ability instead.

It shouldn't be too bad, I think. But isn't this what people call coincidental misfortune?

Certainly, It was by complete chance that he awakened a dormant ability with no offensive or defensive capabilities.

He sighed.

Thinking about it only lessened his spirits. And the fact that Briar was probably up to no good inside his Soul Stream didn't help him at all.

What could one even do within the Soul Stream anyways?

Shifting his gaze, Klaus observed the large group of expensively dressed young people. Some were lively, while others appeared anxious. These were the scions of wealthy and high-ranking citizens. Their training was undeniably solid. After all, their families could afford the best private tutors, including Awakened ones.

Certainly, their chances of survival weren't bad.

Then there was the largest portion of the crowd, consisting of young adults from middle-class families. Unlike the privileged elites, they hadn't trained under Awakened mentors, but their education wasn't lacking either. The government had long since integrated essential survival knowledge into the standard curriculum, ensuring that even potential Aspirants received a foundational level of training.

Some among them had likely sought extra instruction in private. To survive, they would need to display sheer determination and a fair bit of luck. But it wasn't impossible. Their anxious expressions were proof that they understood the stakes.

And lastly, there were the potential Riders.

They were fewer in number, and unlike the other groups, they either gathered in small, isolated clusters or kept entirely to themselves like Yuki, seated beside him wordlessly.

This was how the young Aspirants and Riders had subconsciously divided themselves. Perhaps it was done out of instinct. Either way, it was certainly clear that everyone were becoming increasingly tired of waiting.

What's going on? Shouldn't they have started the induction ceremony by now? Did something happen?

Klaus frowned irritatedly. As if to answer his thoughts, a tall, young man wearing a dark military uniform appeared on the stage.

From a great distance, he seemed like a giant, but in reality, the man was slightly above six feet in height. His presence alone was enough to command silence. Conversations died down almost immediately as all eyes turned toward the stage.

The man's uniform was pristine, marked with intricate insignias that signified a high-ranking position. His dark coat was lined with silver, and the epaulets on his shoulders gleamed under the bright overhead lights. More than his attire, however, it was the sheer weight of his presence and intimidating height that made the Aspirants sit up or stand straighter.

Even without an introduction, it was clear that this man was no ordinary figure.

He had wide shoulders, an athletic build and short hair along with a gorgeous neatly cut beard. A single scar ran down the left side of his jaw, adding a sense of hardened experience.

His piercing silver eyes swept over the hall, assessing every individual with an intensity that made many shift uncomfortably. If he was a psychic, he might have thrown them apart with his gaze.

Finally, he said in a deep, reverberating voice:

"Good morning, everyone. I am Lancer Jet, the one who will oversee your training. But before that, I want to personally welcome to Ascension Academy."

His voice was loud enough to travel throughout the hall without the need of amplification.

"Aspirants, Riders, you are all here for a singular purpose. In less than three months, the gate to the First Shadow World will open. I'm sure you understand what that means. Some of you may believe you're prepared, confident in your training, your knowledge and your so-called abilities. But let me tell you now: you are wrong. Abandon that naïve thinking at once! Chaos is far more cruel and sinister than you can possibly imagine. The moment you start to believing in your own invincibility, you'll die a horrible death! I've seen countless Aspirants like yourselves think they're untouchable, only to get themselves killed. I've also witnessed many Inquisitors lose their lives. Even the powerhouses you know as Saints are not immune to death."

A hushed silence fell over the hall.

It was one thing to expect Inquisitors to perish in battle, but the idea that even Saints, the pinnacle of power below the Emperor, could die was nothing but foreign and unsettling.

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The young Aspirants grew visibly uneasy.

Klaus narrowed his eyes. Was this Lancer Jet's intention? Because the man looked satisfied.

"In the next three months, you will prepare for your descent into the Shadow Realm. The best instructors and technology of the Sanctuary have been gathered here to train you to the best of our abilities. However, your survival and your ability to return with your life intact depends on only you and you alone. The moment you step past that gate, your family, your teachers, even your friends, none of them will be able to protect you anymore."

So much for words of encouragement. Wow. Good job. I'd rate your performance ten out of ten! Klaus thought sarcastically.

He couldn't tell if the man was trying to intimidate them unnecessarily or if this was a deliberate approach to ensure the Aspirants took the Shadow Realm seriously, minimizing future casualties.

Lancer Jet continued:

"Abandon all fear and hesitation. The moment you were deemed worthy to challenge Chaos by the Omega System, you ceased being children. You now bear a responsibility, not just to the Empire, but to humanity, the Emperor, and, more importantly, to yourselves. If we're lucky, any trace of weakness will be crushed and broken before you step into the Shadow Realm."

No one dared to speak, and even those who had been fidgeting moments ago remained motionless and absorbed the weight of his declaration.

Klaus studied the expressions around him. Some Aspirants looked pale, while others clenched their fists, as if steeling themselves for what lay ahead. There was an undeniable shift in the atmosphere of what had once been an air of excitement and nervous anticipation had now been replaced by grim determination.

Of course, there were those who still remained calm. These people were the exception.

Lancer Jet gave a slow, approving nod.

"Good. You're starting to understand. Now, let me be clear: Ascension Academy is not a place for the weak-willed or the complacent. The training you will undergo here will be unlike anything you have ever experienced. Those of you who cannot endure it or grow stronger will certainly die a gruesome death in the Shadow Realm. As the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, yes?"

Then, as if to further drive his point home, Lancer Jet continued in a harsher tone.

"Let me tell you what happens to those who step into the Shadow Realm unprepared. Some are torn apart within seconds, their screams silenced before they even realize they are dead. Others—" his silver eyes gleamed coldly, "—are left broken and shattered beyond repair. They return as empty husks, incapable of even feeding themselves. Tell me, is that the fate you desire?"

No one answered.

In the first place, how the hell were they supposed to respond to that question?

Obviously, such a fate held no appeal to them, but it was the way Lancer Jet had described it that made it even more terrifying.

"Good. But before we come to the end, there is something I'd like to explain for those who don't already know this information."

Finally. It's about time.

Since Klaus already understood the intent behind Lancer Jet's speech, he hadn't bothered listening to most of it. However, that was only because he had been waiting for the most important part of the induction ceremony.

Lancer Jet paused a few moments, giving the young Aspirants and Riders time to fully digest his words. Then, with a short nod, he continued:

"Now, I'll explain the fundamental phenomenon behind the Shadow Realm and the true source of all Nightmares—Chaos."