'In this new world I've been reincarnated into, it's unlike the Earth I used to know, but with significant changes that make it feel as though it isn't,' Axel Teras mused, taking in the strange yet familiar landscape around him.
Three hundred years ago, a cataclysmic event reshaped the destiny of humankind. A dangerous alien species descended from space with a singular purpose: to turn humans into food, or so some claimed. Others believed they intended to seize the planet for themselves. Regardless of their intentions, humanity faced an existential threat.
But in humanity's darkest hour, a miraculous phenomenon occurred. Every human above the age of ten began to awaken with mysterious powers. This phenomenon became a rite of passage, transforming ordinary children into potential warriors.
The process was simple yet profound. On the day a child turned ten, they would enter a mysterious space filled with countless statues. According to those who had experienced it, each child had to choose one statue. The chosen statue would bestow upon them an innate ability, which they would then nurture and train throughout their lives.
These newfound abilities allowed humans to repel the alien invaders, at least partially. The aliens, too, adapted and evolved, but humanity now had a fighting chance, a leverage they hadn't possessed before.
'I, Harry... no, I am Axel Teras now. Today, I will finally awaken,' Axel thought, slipping his hands into his pockets and surveying his surroundings. The anticipation was palpable. He was ten at last and on the verge of graduating alongside his class of sixteen students. The graduation ceremony hinged on their ability to awaken an innate power, and today was the day it would happen.
'It might sound hard to believe that everyone turns ten on the same day, but in this modern Earth, to avoid chaos, every child is born on the same day—March 20th,' Axel reflected, a small smile playing on his lips at the thought of the coordinated birthdates.
The headmaster, an imposing figure with a short white beard and a regal bearing, scanned the group of students. His eyes lingered on the promising ones, a mixture of hope and expectation in his gaze. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, tapping his ornate walking stick on the ground.
Sarah laughed, nudging him playfully. "Of course we will! Right, Williams? The genius aura of Axel rubs off on us, doesn't it?" she joked, glancing at a boy with a perpetually serious expression.
Williams grinned, his eyes fixed on his watch. He had set a timer for midnight, keenly monitoring the countdown. The seconds were ticking away, and soon, they would enter the Realm of Awakening.
As the final seconds approached, a hush fell over the room. The headmaster and professors watched with bated breath, their eyes flicking between the students and the large clock on the wall.
'Three...'
Axel braced himself, a mixture of anticipation and trepidation churning in his stomach.
'Two...'
The world seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with the weight of the moment.
'One...'
At that precise moment, a strange sensation washed over Axel. The world around him blurred and twisted, as if reality itself was being unraveled. He felt a tug, pulling him away from his physical form and into the unknown.