Chapter 2: Awakening Ceremony—One of the Most Useless Professions?

"Lin Han, when you become a warrior, the two of us will hunt monsters and level up together!" Wang Qiang patted Lin Han on the shoulder.

"Alright!"

"Just wait for my triumphant return!"

With a smile, Lin Han ascended the platform, and the awakening array began to operate.

In the next instant—

Boom!

A deafening roar echoed across the sky as countless dark clouds gathered, turning the heavens pitch black. At the same time, wild winds swept in from all directions, so fierce that those below the platform could barely stand steady. Darkness, entwined with raging wind, descended like the end of days.

Such a phenomenon had never been seen among the hundreds of students who had awakened before!

"What… what’s happening?!"

In a heartbeat, the once bustling square fell utterly silent; everyone was struck dumb with astonishment.

"Director Wang, could this be… a hidden profession?" Yang Xuewei parted her lips slightly, voicing her thought.

"Indeed. This is the unique phenomenon that accompanies the awakening of a hidden profession," Wang Jian replied calmly.

In this world, aside from the three main classes, there existed a special class—hidden professions. Rarer than rare, even less common than legendary vocations, these were known as hidden professions. Whenever one emerged, the heavens and earth would always respond with a sign—a tribute unique to such awakenings.

Gasp!

"Doesn’t that mean Lin Han is destined to become a top-tier powerhouse?" Overwhelmed by excitement, Yang Xuewei’s cheeks flushed, her body trembling at the appearance of such a genius in her own class.

"Not necessarily. Although hidden professions are rare, their greatest flaw is their immense unpredictability," Wang Jian responded, expression unchanged.

Throughout history, there had been cases where awe-inspiring omens accompanied awakening, only for the resulting profession to prove weak and fade into obscurity.

But just as Wang Jian finished speaking—

Suddenly, a pillar of light rose from the awakening array, shrouding Lin Han’s figure in blinding brilliance that shot up into the sky.

In that instant, light and darkness became the reigning forces of heaven and earth.

"The Starlight Pillar!"

Once again, the crowd was shocked.

Normally, when an awakener entered the array, it would emit only a faint glow to summon forth the profession. The denser the starlight, the stronger the profession. Yet a student like Lin Han, for whom the starlight condensed into a pillar, was almost unheard of—not only in Glorious Moon High School but perhaps in the entire history of the Star Dragon Empire.

Soon after the pillar of starlight appeared—

On the platform, four auras—green, black, blue, and purple—emerged, radiating intense elemental power as they coiled around the starlight pillar and ascended.

"My god!"

"What kind of profession is he awakening to deserve such a display?!"

"Lin Han’s talent is terrifying!"

In that moment, every student, teacher, and parent gazed at the awakening array with undisguised envy.

Finally, under the guidance of the starlight pillar, the four elemental auras soared into the sky, scattering the black clouds and restoring clarity to the world.

At the same time, the array’s radiance faded, and Lin Han’s figure reappeared atop the platform.

[Unique Hidden Profession: Life Sacrificer!]

A line of text appeared above Lin Han’s head.

What?

Staring at his newly awakened profession, Lin Han was dumbfounded. He had wanted to be a warrior—how had he become a sacrificer? And not only that, it was a unique hidden profession! This meant that, in the entire world, he alone possessed this class.

"A unique hidden profession!"

"Lin Han’s luck is extraordinary!"

"Our Second High School will be the pride of the Star Dragon Empire this time!"

As Lin Han’s profession appeared, several teachers from the school expressed their admiration. After all, the Star Dragon Empire’s Ministry of Education rated schools annually, and the emergence of a hidden profession could elevate the school’s standing, allowing everyone to bask in reflected glory.

But then—

"What a pity he turned out to be a sacrificer! What a shame for this child!" Contrary to expectations, Director Wang Jian sighed beside the platform, his face full of disappointment.

Instantly, the previously buzzing crowd fell silent, puzzled. Lin Han’s phenomena were so extraordinary—clearly a powerful class—so why did the director seem disappointed?

"The Sacrificer is an anomaly among spellcasters. Unlike most who command the ten elements, they support their allies through chanting battle hymns. Each hymn grants a different boon, making this an exceptionally strong support class. However, each time a Sacrificer advances, beyond meeting the level requirement, they must also absorb a unique Elemental Source to complete their awakening. The Elemental Source embodies the very essence of a world. The easiest way to obtain it is by entering a Cataclysm and searching for an Elemental Core. But even a level-60 King-tier powerhouse would not dare venture into the depths of a Cataclysm. How could this be achieved? That is why—"

"In history, no Sacrificer has ever surpassed level 10; it is considered one of the most useless professions!"

Faced with the crowd’s confusion, Wang Jian explained further. A Cataclysm was a force of nature rivaling forbidden spells in power. In fact, he was understating it— even Supreme-tier experts at level 70 might not escape a Cataclysm unscathed. Therefore, upon seeing Lin Han’s profession, Wang Jian could not help but feel disappointed. Even if Lin Han had simply become an ordinary mage, his prospects would have been much brighter.

"Lin Han, don’t lose heart. At the very least, you possess a hidden profession. Even at level 10, you’ll be comparable to a level-20 in the life classes. You’ll have no trouble making a living. And perhaps, you might one day obtain an Elemental Source and become a true powerhouse," homeroom teacher Yang Xuewei consoled him with a sigh.

But as she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer.

She knew well enough: this was but an empty hope. Even to enter the weakest Cataclysm, one needed a Supreme-tier expert leading a team just to reach the outskirts—otherwise, only death awaited. In truth, now that Lin Han’s potential was revealed, few would be willing to help him level up. His fate was already sealed; mediocrity was all that awaited.

After all, with enough time and resources, one could easily train several Saint-tier mages. There was simply no point in risking one’s life to cultivate a Sacrificer.

"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher," Lin Han replied, disappointment etched on his face, though he had been prepared for this.

Now he truly understood that his future held little hope.

Still, with the experience of two lifetimes, his heart was steadier than most students’. He did not break down on the spot. After all, some in the life professions never even reached level 20 in their entire lives. Today, though he had not soared like a dragon, neither had he sunk to the level of a worm—he could still hold a basic job in the future.

With that, Lin Han stepped down from the platform and returned to his class’s awakened ranks.

At this moment, as some classmates glanced his way, their eyes held pity, but more than that—a hint of schadenfreude.

After all, compared to witnessing the rise of a genius, people preferred to see a genius fall.