Lemuria City. Lemurian Hunter Academy.
"Alright everyone, listen up. This is your final awakening ceremony."
The instructor's voice rang out clearly across the open field, sinking into the chests of every student standing there.
Hundreds of them were gathered in uneven groups, shifting their weight from foot to foot. Some whispered and forced out laughs to shake off the nerves. Others stood completely still, eyes glued to the glowing crystal resting on its stone pedestal like it held their entire future in its hands.
Aaron Emegrey stood right in the middle of it all.
While the people around him looked like they might pass out any second, Aaron appeared strangely calm. Hands tucked into his pockets, he watched the ceremony unfold like he was just another spectator instead of someone whose life was about to change forever.
There was a simple reason for his calm.
Four months earlier, he hadn't belonged to this world at all.
Back on Earth he was just a regular university student. Lectures, exams, gaming sessions that stretched into the early morning, and way too much time imagining what it would be like to live inside the fantasy novels he loved. Then one ordinary night everything went dark.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in the body of an eighteen year old boy who shared the exact same name.
Once the initial shock faded, he understood what had happened. He had transmigrated.
This world was far more dangerous than the one he left behind. Monsters ruled the lands outside the city walls, and everything depended on the Awakened Class you received. A strong class could bring power, wealth, and fame. A weak one meant a quiet, ordinary life at best.
And today was the day that class would be decided.
It had been two hundred years since the Collapse, the moment when rifts tore through reality and monsters flooded into the world. The First Opening Cataclysm had nearly wiped out humanity. But then the Awakeners appeared. People whose bodies evolved, granting them classes and abilities that defied the old laws of nature.
The battles were long and brutal, but humanity survived. Now, turning eighteen meant one thing: your chance to awaken and claim your place in this new world.
In Lemuria City, another group of students was about to take that step.
The Class Change Ceremony was taking place on the academy's large athletic field under the bright morning sun.
"When your name is called, come forward and place your hand on the stone," the instructor continued, his tone serious. "If it responds, you have awakened. If not, you already know what that means."
No one needed to be told twice. Once a class awakened, it was permanent. It defined who you were from that day forward.
"Aaron, you look way too relaxed right now."
The voice came from the tall, lanky boy standing beside him. Rei had been one of the original Aaron's few close friends. Right now he was sweating heavily, his face pale with anxiety.
Aaron turned his head slightly. "You're shaking."
"Of course I'm shaking!" Rei whispered sharply. "This is the awakening ceremony. My whole future is on the line here."
Aaron gave a small shrug. "Worrying about it won't change anything."
"That's easy for you to say," Rei groaned. "What if I end up with an E rank? My dad will probably start searching for a replacement son. What if I get something useless like Herbalist? I'd rather die."
Aaron chuckled softly. "Then you become the best potion maker in the city and make a fortune. Just relax a bit."
Rei stared at him like he had lost his mind.
Classes in this world were ranked from E to S. E rank was the lowest, barely better than a normal person. S rank was the stuff of legends. The difference between ranks was massive, especially in combat classes.
"I'd be happy with a C rank," Rei muttered. "A B would be incredible. If I somehow get an A I think I might actually faint."
Aaron smiled lightly. "Just make sure you don't faint before you even touch the crystal."
Before Rei could reply, the main part of the ceremony began.
One of the senior instructors stepped forward and raised his voice so it carried across the entire field.
"The awakening ceremony will now begin. When your name is called, step forward and place your hand on the Awakening Crystal. Your class and rank will be revealed immediately."
The first student walked up nervously and touched the crystal.
It gave off a soft glow.
"Iron Guard," the instructor announced loudly. "Rank C."
Light applause spread through the crowd. It was a decent defensive combat class, reliable for any hunting team.
One by one, students went up.
Some results brought cheers and excited shouts.
Others were met with disappointed silence.
"Herbalist. Rank B."
"Flame Adept. Rank E."
"Stone Warrior. Rank C."
As the ceremony continued, the tension in the air grew thicker and heavier.
Finally, the instructor called out, "Rei Lang."
Rei tensed up immediately. "This is it," he said under his breath.
Aaron gave him a light pat on the shoulder. "Good luck. Don't pass out."
Rei shot him a nervous look before walking toward the pedestal.
The whole field seemed to quiet down as he placed his hand on the crystal.
A green light flickered across the surface.
"Class: Scout. Rank: C," the instructor announced.
Rei stood frozen for a second, then a huge grin broke across his face.
A C rank Scout was pretty good. It focused on speed and reconnaissance, nothing too flashy but very useful for real hunting work.
He hurried back to Aaron, clearly relieved.
"I didn't get an E rank!" he whispered excitedly.
Aaron laughed quietly. "See? Told you."
Rei's excitement slowly settled as he looked at Aaron again, worry creeping back into his eyes.
"You're up soon. Good luck, man. Seriously."
Aaron nodded calmly.
Sure enough, after a few more names, the instructor called out.
"Aaron Emegrey."
Aaron walked forward, feeling hundreds of eyes on him. The sun felt warm against his skin as he approached the glowing crystal. It gave off a low, steady hum that he could almost feel in his chest.
For a brief moment he wondered what class he would get. Combat? Support? Something completely unexpected?
He placed his hand firmly on the crystal.
It flickered weakly, giving off a dull and murky light.
The instructor's voice rang out clearly.
"Class: Laborer."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Rank: E."
The murmurs quickly turned into mocking laughter.
Laborer. An E rank Laborer. In a world full of powerful abilities and monster hunters, it was basically just a stronger body for manual work. The ultimate joke class. The academy's new pack mule. Complete trash.
Aaron slowly removed his hand from the crystal. He could hear the whispers coming from all directions.
"An E rank Laborer? Why did he even bother coming?"
"Guess someone has to clean up the monster crap in the dungeons."
"The academy's official loser has arrived."
Strangely enough, Aaron didn't feel angry or devastated. Maybe it was because of the life he had lived before, or maybe he had never really expected much luck in the first place.
He turned around and walked back toward Rei with steady steps.
Rei looked completely horrified.
"Bro... that's rough."
He clearly had no idea what to say to comfort him.
Aaron gave a casual shrug. "Could have been worse."
Rei stared at him in disbelief. "Worse? You're the official baggage carrier of the academy now. What could possibly be worse than that?"
Aaron opened his mouth to reply.
But before the words came out, a cold mechanical voice suddenly spoke inside his head.
Ding.
The voice continued, clear and emotionless.
[System initialization complete!]
[Player detected: Aaron Emegrey]
[Unique Ability: Effort Theft System Successfully Bound.]
Aaron's eyes narrowed slightly.
A system?
Memories of all the web novels he used to read back on Earth flashed through his mind in an instant.
Then the voice spoke once more.
[The player's growth is no longer bound by effort.]
[Player can steal the growth of others.]
[System rule: All rewards obtained by the player will be Minimal Effort "Maximum Reward" with random amplification]
Aaron stood there, the biggest joke of the entire ceremony, while the world continued moving around him.
He had received the worst class possible.
And yet, for the first time since arriving in this world, a small genuine smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He knew he was about to have way more fun than anyone else here.