Kael was ushered to the door of a dormitory by his homeroom teacher, who then scurried away in haste, seemingly off to collect another student.


    Kael pushed open the dormitory door and surveyed the room.


    It was a standard single - occupancy dorm, furnished with two beds and a desk. On one of the beds, someone lay slumbering.


    Just as Kael set down his luggage, a jubilant cry resounded from behind him.


    "Kael! I knew for sure you''d make it back alive!" Ren Zhengyang had been sound asleep, but the wariness instilled during his time in the Spirit Realm jolted him awake.


    As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Kael''s back.


    "Absolutely! How could such a trifling matter trip me up?" Kael swiveled around, plopped down on the bed, and grinned.


    "So, did you awaken your powers?" Ren Zhengyang leaned in, perched on the bed, and draped his arm around Kael''s shoulder.


    Kael nodded subtly.


    Upon seeing that Kael, too, had successfully awakened, Ren Zhengyang''s grip on Kael''s shoulder tightened slightly. "Good on you, lad! It seems the ''Two Titans of No. 3 High School'' truly are prodigies!"


    "Alright, what''s your aptitude level? I''ve got the aptitude of a third - tier warrior. I''ll still watch over you in the days to come," Ren Zhengyang inquired, wearing an expression that practically screamed for praise.


    "Hey, I''ve got you beat there. I''m a second - tier spellcaster in terms of aptitude!" Kael shot him a sidelong, amused glance and chuckled.


    At these words, Ren Zhengyang was left gaping, his hand dropping limply.


    Then, he seized Kael''s shoulders with both hands and shook him vigorously. "Unbelievable! When I told you to be careful, I meant stay alive, not skyrocket to this level of awesomeness!"


    "Second - tier spellcaster aptitude? You''re killing me with envy, man!"


    "Hahaha!"


    "How am I supposed to play the big - brother role now? Where do I even begin to salvage my pride?" Ren Zhengyang released Kael''s shoulders and feigned a look of profound distress.


    "No worries. I''ll be the big brother from now on, and I''ll have your back!" Kael jested.


    "Kael! Let me hitch my wagon to your star!" Ren Zhengyang dropped to his knees and latched onto Kael''s leg.


    Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he continued, "Since I can''t be your big brother anymore, but you know I have a sister."


    "You know, my sister''s a real looker, a veritable beauty. Here''s the deal. I''ll make a sacrifice. I''ll introduce you to her, and then I can be your brother - in - law."


    "Scram! I''ve seen your sister before," Kael shoved Ren Zhengyang away, laughing heartily.


    Kael and Ren Zhengyang had been friends since childhood, having known each other since primary school.


    Kael had also met his sister, and he had zero interest in her.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The two of them engaged in some light - hearted banter and rough - housing, effectively alleviating the pent - up stress from their Spirit Realm escapades.


    After a while, Ren Zhengyang piped up, "You know what happened with Wu Yishuang''s Spirit Awakening?"


    Wu Yishuang was a female classmate in their class.


    She was strikingly beautiful and hailed from an affluent family.


    Her parents were both professionals. Despite her privileged background, she was incredibly arrogant, always looking down her nose at her classmates.


    "What was her outcome?"


    "She failed the Spirit Awakening!" Ren Zhengyang chortled gleefully.


    "She used to strut around like she owned the place, but she was back from the Spirit Realm in just three days. Now that she''s failed, she can''t keep up that haughty act."


    ...


    Subsequently, Kael and Ren Zhengyang spent another three days holed up in the dormitory.


    Counting from the day of the Spirit Awakening, it had now been ten days.


    Ordinarily, students teleported to the Spirit Realm could return within three to seven days.


    If they exceeded this time frame, the likelihood of not making it back was high.


    Summoned by the homeroom teacher, Kael and his classmates made their way to a classroom.


    Upon entering, they noticed that many of their peers, in contrast to their former exuberance, now seemed rather subdued.


    Conversely, there were those with beaming smiles, who had presumably triumphed in the Spirit Awakening.


    After waiting for an extended period with no additional arrivals, Kael tallied the number of classmates present.


    Only thirty - one remained.


    This meant that at least thirteen individuals had perished during the Spirit Awakening process.


    Kael exhaled a heavy sigh, his heart weighed down.


    The homeroom teacher stepped up to the podium, clapped his hands, and commanded everyone''s attention.


    "First and foremost, let us observe a moment of silence for our classmates who did not return." The homeroom teacher''s tone was somber.


    After all, people were not heartless; it was difficult not to be affected by the loss of a dozen vibrant lives in such a short span.


    The students all bowed their heads in solemn silence.


    A few minutes later, everyone lifted their heads.


    The homeroom teacher continued, "Now, let''s give a rousing round of applause to those classmates who successfully awakened during the Spirit Awakening!"


    Instantaneously, the classroom erupted in thunderous applause.


    "I never could have imagined that among my students, there would be one who awakened with the aptitude of a second - tier spellcaster! "


    "Let''s give another resounding round of applause to Kael!"


    The homeroom teacher''s voice brimmed with excitement.


    At these words, as the classmates clapped, they couldn''t help but gape at Kael in astonishment. None of them had anticipated him having such a remarkable aptitude.


    Kael had once been a rather unremarkable figure in the class.


    His family was of modest means, and aside from his relatively good physical condition, he seemed to have few stand - out qualities.


    No one could have foreseen that he would emerge from the Spirit Awakening with such a superior constitution.


    The female classmates regarded Kael with admiration in their eyes.


    Everyone''s gaze was tinged with envy and a touch of jealousy, as if they yearned to trade places with him.


    Kael, however, remained composed. He felt a forlorn gaze and turned to see that it was Wu Yishuang. Kael glanced at her briefly and then averted his eyes.


    In the past, this girl, buoyed by her parents'' professional status and wealthy background, had considered herself a cut above him.


    Now, Kael had successfully awakened and become a professional, while she, having failed the Spirit Awakening, was once again on a different plane.


    "Finally, for those classmates who did not succeed in the Spirit Awakening, do not despair. Even without becoming extraordinary professionals, we can still carve out a bright future."


    " I wish them all the best in repeating the year next year and securing a place in a top - notch vocational college!"


    The applause resounded once more...


    This time, in Kael''s class, a total of forty - four students had participated in the Spirit Awakening. Thirteen of them were either deceased or missing.


    Twenty students had failed to awaken.


    Although they had not achieved awakening, their time in the Spirit Realm had enhanced their physical fitness compared to classmates who had not made the journey. In the future, they would also have an edge in their studies and careers.


    Eleven students had successfully awakened.


    Among them, Kael boasted the best aptitude. Most of the others had the aptitude of third - or fourth - tier warriors.


    Besides Kael, there was one other girl with spellcaster aptitude, though hers was only at the third tier.


    Once the homeroom teacher had finished speaking, it was time to disperse, and next on the agenda was applying to universities.