Chapter 32: THE TENSED PROCESS

Taking a deep breath, he slowly extended his hand and placed his palm against its smooth surface.

For a brief moment, nothing happened.

The orb remained exactly as it was, maintaining its dull, colorless glow.

Everyone held their breath.

Even the Butler, who had been overseeing the entire ceremony with an almost irritating level of nonchalance, appeared to be waiting for the result.

One second passed.

Then another.

Finally, the Butler’s voice broke the silence.

"A mundane human."

His tone carried a barely concealed trace of disappointment.

He glanced at the boy with an indifferent expression before casually gesturing towards the crowd.

"Please return to your position."

The boy didn’t move immediately.

He stared at the orb, then at the Butler, his expression gradually turning blank.

A moment ago, he had approached the podium with countless possibilities running through his mind. Perhaps he would become a First-Dimensional Nature. Perhaps even a Second-Dimensional one.

Yet, in the end...

He was nothing more than a mundane human.

Confusion and dejection washed over his face as he struggled to process the result.

Unfortunately, the ceremony showed no intention of waiting for him.

Without sparing the boy another glance, the Butler casually turned towards the crowd.

"Number two."

Aaron raised his head, trying to get a clearer view of the student assigned number two.

It was an older-looking boy dressed in the same academy uniform as the previous candidate. Unlike the first student, however, he appeared considerably more composed as he walked towards the podium.

He stopped before the orb, hesitated briefly, and eventually placed his hand against its smooth surface.

Nothing happened.

The orb maintained its dull, colourless glow.

The Butler glanced at it before announcing with another trace of disappointment in his voice:

"A mundane human. Number three."

And so, the ceremony continued.

Number three stepped forward.

"A mundane human. Number four."

The next student received the same result.

"Mundane. Number five."

Again, nothing.

One after another, students approached the podium, placed their hands on the orb, and returned to their positions with disappointed expressions.

The Butler’s announcements gradually began to sound like a monotonous chant.

"Mundane. Number ten."

Another disappointed declaration.

"Mundane. Number twenty-five."

The seemingly endless repetition was beginning to weigh on the students.

Some had already started exchanging nervous glances, while others stared at the orb with growing apprehension. With every failed assessment, the possibility of receiving a favorable result seemed to grow increasingly distant.

"Hey, Aaron. What’s your number again?" Natasha’s voice suddenly pulled Aaron out of his thoughts.

He shifted his boots slightly, adjusting his stance as he lowered his gaze towards the shimmering digits beneath his feet.

"Uhh... 525. It’s 525."

He repeated the number, a slight tremor creeping into his voice.

He was doing his best to conceal it, but the truth was that he was anxious.

Very anxious.

The Butler had explained what would happen if someone possessed a Third-Dimensional Nature. Such an individual would become an instrumental existence in the major affairs of the world.

But what about a Sixth-Dimensional Nature?

He hadn’t mentioned anything about it.

Not a single word.

Aaron swallowed hard, his gaze drifting back towards the orb. His expression was clouded with uncertainty as countless thoughts raced through his mind. He briefly glanced at Natasha and noticed that she was repeatedly wiping her seemingly sweaty palms against her black leather trousers.

Apparently, he wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure.

"What’s yours?"

Natasha flinched slightly at his question before lowering her gaze towards the grass beneath her feet.

She narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the shimmering digits.

"524."

Aaron nodded.

’She’s going first.’

His gaze returned to the podium, where another student was currently undergoing the assessment.

For a few moments, neither of them said anything.

Then Aaron suddenly spoke.

"Wear your glasses, Natasha."

With slightly trembling hands, she reached for the glasses hanging from her waist, detached them, and carefully placed them on her face.

Aaron examined her for a moment before smiling.

"Better."

Natasha shot him an uncertain sideways glance.

"Are you not tense at all? What if you end up being mundane like your father? Li—like our fathers?"

Aaron remained silent for a moment.

He eventually turned towards her, a faint smile spreading across his face.

"Then I’ll come back in another three years and try again. Just like my father."

He shifted his gaze towards the podium and gave a slight shrug.

"Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m probably more scared than you are. I’m just better at hiding it."

Natasha let out a light chuckle.

"I highly doubt that."

Aaron chuckled along with her.

For a brief moment, the tension between them seemed to ease.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes following the students approaching the podium.

"Why... Why is no one—"

"A SECOND-DIMENSIONAL NATURE!"

The Butler’s sudden exclamation cut through Aaron’s words.

In an instant, the atmosphere changed.

The tense silence that had settled over the grassland shattered as countless excited gasps and impressed exclamations erupted from the students.

Finally!

Someone had passed!

Hundreds of students immediately stretched their necks, stood on their toes, and attempted to catch a glimpse of the fortunate individual.

Even those who had previously appeared uninterested couldn’t help but turn their attention towards the podium.

Aaron was no exception.

He rose slightly onto the tips of his toes, trying to peer through the countless students standing between him and the orb.

After struggling for a few moments, he finally managed to catch a glimpse.

The orb was no longer dull.

A brilliant silver radiance poured from its surface, illuminating the surrounding area with an unmistakable glow.

Standing beside it was a green-haired boy.

Aaron’s eyes lingered on the silver light for a moment before shifting towards the boy who had produced it.

So, someone had finally managed to obtain a Second-Dimensional Nature.

Meanwhile, the Butler’s attitude had undergone a noticeable change.

The indifferent expression he had maintained throughout the previous assessments was replaced by a respectful smile.

He addressed the green-haired boy in a considerably warmer tone.

"Please, remain on the platform."