Transmigrated with my corruption system-Chapter 17: A New Dawn [II]

Greyson Residence. Inside a massive hall, hundreds of newly awakened figures came into view.

Chirping excitedly, bits of conversation flowed out to fill the hall.

"Hahaha, this is it. The moment mortals will sing songs about as I awaken a great class," one youth muttered, a smirk covering his face as he indulged in his fantasies.

"Yeah, good luck with that with your D-rank talent," a youth at his side snickered.

"Hmph, it’s better than your E-rank talent. Are you even worthy of breathing the same air as me?"

"Y-you..."

"That’s what I thought."

Sigh. "If I choose just the right class... maybe I might make up for my low talent," another youth muttered from the other side of the hall.

"Wait, aren’t you that girl with that stupid F-rank Astral Hair talent, where you can change the color of your hair? Is that the only hair it changes? Mind if I get a peek for* cough* research purposes?"

"Argh! Get away from me, you pervert!"

"Fine, have it your way. Just don’t come running to me if you can’t slay monsters with your crappy talent."

Murmurs filled the hall as the voices grew louder before suddenly falling silent as a few figures stepped in.

Cedric stood at the front with six young girls behind him. His form was draped in a resplendent gold robe, a detached expression plastered across his face.

Under normal circumstances, streams of praise would have already erupted, the crowd going wild.

An A-rank was far higher than any of them, with equally monstrous potential. But after the spectacle they had witnessed at the awakening ceremony, an A-rank didn’t seem so grand, at least compared to an S-rank.

As Cedric stared into the crowd, the family reverence that had once burned in their eyes was gone.

Barely concealed whispers drifted through the hall, making his lips twitch as rage clouded his face.

"Strange. Is that a bump on Cedric’s face? I wonder what made it swell."

"Haha, you didn’t see what happened? Must have been wallowing after awakening that useless E-rank talent."

"But don’t worry, I’ll tell you all about it. One minute Cedric was spouting trash... the next, bam! A bitch slap to the face. Shut him up immediately!"

"Yeah, I was there too. I wouldn’t have believed it until I heard him scream like a pig being slaughtered."

"Tsk, tsk. Poor bastard..."

As the murmurs intensified, Cedric’s frame trembled violently. Unable to restrain himself, fury surged through him. All this because of one figure? He would make him pay.

And those who dared to slander him, he memorized each of their faces.

He was suddenly interrupted as a familiar figure stepped into the hall, instantly drawing the crowd’s attention. Silence fell, then the hall erupted.

"Look! It’s young master Ulric! Ouch, why did you slap me?"

"You dare call the young lord by his name? Slander!"

"Wait, why does the young lord look even more handsome?! How is that fair to the rest of us?"

"You ugly toad, you think you can compare yourself to the young lord? Courting death!"

"Maybe it’s a side effect of awakening an S-rank talent?"

"Yeah, that makes sense. It’s the only explanation."

"The air just grew thick with his presence. Is this the aura of an S-rank talent?"

"You feel that too? I felt suffocated just by looking into his eyes. They’re enthralling!"

"Look, Lyra’s standing by his side. Do you think they’re together? Is he already taken?!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? He’s mine, and I’m going to him, I don’t care anymore."

Walking through the crowd, Ulric sighed quietly, his grip on Lyra tightening.

Still, a faint smile stretched across his face as bits of their words drifted into his ears.

Dismissing the thoughts, his eyes scanned the crowd until Cedric’s familiar figure came into view.

His face writhed with rage. The sight made Ulric’s smile widen.

Up ahead, Mistress Aria stood, slowly walking toward the podium, her silver hair swaying with every step.

When their eyes inadvertently met, a faint smile curved her lips.

Shifting his gaze forward, Greyson’s figure came into view, seated upon the grand chair at the podium. His face was slightly pale. If Ulric didn’t know better, he would never have suspected the dire condition raging within him.

Ulric’s fists clenched at the thought. He took a sharp breath. He had to grow stronger.

He was pulled from his thoughts as a girl slowly approached him. She was short, clad in a gray robe, with sharp dark eyes and shoulder-length hair framing a passably pretty face.

Recognition flickered in his eyes. She was the girl who had awakened the C-rank healing talent.

The last time he had seen her, arrogance had radiated from her. Now her head was lowered, sweat dripping from her face as she struggled to approach him.

He had already established that his Intermediate Mortal Corrupted Physique seemed to passively suppress those weaker than him with his aura. The only reason Amber and Lyra weren’t affected, he assumed, was because of the Seed of Corruption marking them.

Finally reaching him, she forced the words from her throat.

"Would you like to form a team with..."

Before she could finish, a piercing glare from Lyra caused her to freeze before she slowly turned and walked away.

Watching the brief encounter, Ulric smiled wryly. He had a feeling this was only the beginning. His hand rose to pet Lyra’s head as he sank back into thought, not dwelling on the matter.

Seeing the gesture, jealousy flashed across several girls’ faces in the crowd. To be cherished by an S-rank talent, it was too entrancing.

But remembering what had happened to Asher, they hesitated. If even a C-rank healer stood no chance, what about them?

The gap was too wide. Yet their admiration didn’t dim, it only intensified, threads of passion burning deeper as they wondered what it would be like if it were them instead.

Their thoughts were cut short as Mistress Aria’s calm voice rang through the hall.

"You’ve all unlocked your potential. Now the rest lies in your hands, to convert that into power." As she spoke, the ring on her finger glittered faintly.

The air shimmered before a rune stone surfaced in her palm.

Pressing it silently, the air churned and twisted before tearing open into a swirling green portal that expanded by the second.

"You enter as awakened, but will return as ranked hunters!" she declared, her voice filling the hall.

"Now enter and slay your first beasts. Awaken your classes and bring glory back to the Greyson Residence!"

Her words ignited the crowd, their blood boiling with anticipation. This was what they had prepared for their entire lives.

A storm of emotions surged through the hall.

As Mistress Aria stepped back, Cedric clenched his fists tighter. His gaze lifted to Lady Valeria atop the podium as they exchanged twisted smiles, a vile plan brewing in their minds.

Then he turned to Ulric and huffed under his breath, "Enjoy the praise and attention while you can." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

With that, an orange hue lit up his eyes as he charged forward, stepping into the portal and vanishing.

One by one, the others followed, rushing eagerly into the dungeon. The first to clear it would surely receive bountiful resources.

Watching it all, Ulric smiled faintly as he stepped forward, eyes burning with adventurous light. Finally, it was time for some fun.

He squeezed Lyra’s hand gently. They exchanged a glance before stepping into the portal, their figures disappearing within.

[Ding! You have entered F-rank Wolf Den Dungeon.]