Night gradually settled over the city.
The streets outside Jade's home were quieter now. The busy noise of the day slowly faded, replaced by the calm rhythm of evening. Streetlights flickered on one after another, casting long yellow reflections across the pavement. The distant hum of vehicles occasionally passed through the neighborhood, but inside the house everything felt peaceful.
Inside Jade's home, everyone had returned.
Rylan had already come back from the Citadel.
Seraphine had also finished her work at the restaurant and returned home, bringing with her the familiar scent of spices and cooked food that always followed her after a long day in the kitchen.
Nora had returned as well.
However, she was not in the living room or kitchen.
She was currently in the basement.
The basement had been transformed into a small workshop where Nora often worked on her inventions. Tonight she was there with Asterion. The old man was patiently teaching her everything she needed to know about robotics.
Metal parts, wires, tools, and tiny circuit boards were spread across the workbench.
Nora listened carefully as Asterion explained different mechanical structures and control systems. From time to time she would adjust a small device with delicate concentration while her grandfather calmly corrected her technique.
Upstairs, Jade sat quietly at the dinner table with his parents.
The atmosphere was calm but serious.
Jade had called them here because he needed answers.
Earlier that day, Asterion had explained the ranks of the system.
But he had only explained a fragment of it.
Jade wanted to understand more.
If he was truly infected by the system, then sooner or later he would be forced into a trial.
And if that happened, he needed to be ready.
Seraphine noticed the thoughtful look on her son's face.
She leaned slightly forward and asked calmly,
"What's the problem? Why have you gathered me and your father here?"
Jade took a moment before answering.
"Granddad says I am infected by the system because of how restless and sleepy I get."
Rylan leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Yeah, of course you are infected," he said casually.
Then he asked,
"But have you been notified by the system?"
Jade shook his head.
"Not yet."
Seraphine nodded slowly.
"You are obviously going to be infected," she said.
"But it depends on the year."
Jade listened carefully.
"Most people are taken to their trial on their sixteenth birthday," Seraphine continued.
"But some people are anomalies."
She crossed her arms slightly.
"Some people show the symptoms of being infected by the system, but their trial happens later."
"It might occur on their seventeenth birthday."
"Or even their eighteenth."
Jade suddenly remembered the conversation he had overheard at the restaurant earlier that day.
Sarah and Vera.
Sarah had said that the system would take her at midnight.
And that day was also her birthday.
Jade felt a strange mixture of emotions.
Dread.
Happiness.
And sorrow.
What if he died during the trial?
What if he was thrown into something deadly the moment he entered, like the volcano Sarah mentioned?
What if he died instantly before he even understood what was happening?
That thought alone made his stomach tighten.
Then another possibility appeared in his mind.
What if his trial involved a time loop?
What if he died repeatedly, over and over again, only to wake up and experience the same death again?
Or worse—
What if the trial was an illusion that forced him to feel endless pain?
Those thoughts filled him with dread.
But another thought also appeared.
What if the trial was simple?
What if he passed easily and gained his powers?
That thought made him feel hopeful.
Suddenly Seraphine called his name.
"Jade."
He blinked and looked up.
"Is that what you called us for?"
Jade shook his head.
"No."
He took a breath.
"I actually called you so you could explain the classes of the system."
"Grandpa only explained the ranks. Or at least some of them."
Seraphine nodded.
"There really isn't much to explain about the classes."
"They are more like sub-ranks."
Jade leaned forward slightly as he listened.
"When you become a Beast as an Initiate, you will be called an Initiate Beast."
She raised a finger.
"But when I say Beast, I don't literally mean you turn into a beast."
She explained further.
"If you kill a beast with difficulty and eat the meat of that beast, the system will tally points."
"When you complete the Beast tally, your body's fitness will increase."
She looked directly at Jade.
"In simple terms, your strength will reach the level of a beast."
Jade nodded slowly.
Seraphine continued.
"You must keep upgrading your class until it reaches its peak."
"Only after it reaches the peak will you be allowed to challenge your second trial."
She paused briefly.
"Each class makes you stronger, but it does not change your rank."
"The moment you reach a new rank, you start upgrading your class from the beginning again."
"That is simply how the system works."
Jade thought about it carefully.
Seraphine continued explaining.
"But if you are truly infected and sent into your trial, you can also become stronger through shards."
"For example, if you kill a creature with blood element powers, it will most likely contain a blood shard."
She explained calmly.
"A blood shard improves vitality and regeneration."
"If you kill a shadow-element creature, it may drop a shadow shard."
"Shadow shards improve stealth and perception."
Seraphine shrugged lightly.
"There are many types of shards."
"But listing them all would take a long time."
She added one last thing.
"If you consume a shard that matches your own element, your power will improve greatly."
Just then Rylan suddenly spoke.
He smiled.
"I thought you said there was nothing to discuss about classes."
He laughed.
Jade almost laughed as well.
But he kept a straight face.
Seraphine slowly turned toward Rylan.
Suddenly—
A small current of lightning shot from her hand.
ZAP.
Rylan flinched slightly.
Seraphine smiled wryly.
"Don't try making fun of me in front of my kid."
Rylan still had a grin on his face.
"Alright, alright."
"Stop shocking me."
His expression then became serious.
He looked at Jade.
"When you pass your trial, many academies will send you admission letters."
"You can accept them."
"Or refuse them."
"The academies exist to help students test their limits."
"That's all."
He leaned forward slightly.
"But the most important thing right now is training."
"Tomorrow I will take you to the underground dojo."
"You will train there."
"I don't think you should go to the park anymore."
Jade nodded.
"Thanks Mom and Dad."
The conversation ended.
Jade returned to his room and rested.
The next day arrived quickly.
Early in the morning, Rylan took Jade to the underground dojo.
The dojo was located beneath their house.
It was large and extremely clean.
Several machines were arranged neatly around the room.
Each machine was designed to measure and improve physical fitness and energy output.
Jade looked around with curiosity.
Rylan led him toward a testing machine.
"This machine measures your fitness level," he explained.
He pointed toward the target panel.
"Punch it with all your strength."
Jade nodded.
He clenched his fist and stepped forward.
Then he punched the machine with all his strength.
THUD.
The machine displayed a number.
16
Rylan nodded.
He slapped Jade lightly on the back.
"Your fitness is good for a beginner Initiate."
"But the system will probably create a trial that your current fitness cannot handle."
"So you must become stronger."
Jade hesitated.
"Does that mean the higher my fitness becomes, the harder my trial will be?"
Rylan shrugged.
"Maybe."
"But that doesn't mean you should become weak."
He then pointed toward the running track around the dojo.
"You will train today by running around this dojo until night."
"You will not stop."
"You will not drink water."
"You will keep running."
Then Rylan suddenly shouted.
"NOW!"
Jade immediately began running.
His footsteps echoed across the dojo.
As he ran, a single thought filled his mind.
Will I ever become strong enough to survive my trial?
Meanwhile, Rylan returned to the Spiritual Realm to continue constructing the Citadel.
And Jade kept running.