Day of Awakening
“Hey, boot camp bitch.”
Fuck.
That shitty voice came from behind. The second I whipped my head around, one asshole tapped my shoulder and kept walking, kicking off a chain reaction where everyone else started cackling like hyenas, slapping my shoulders as they passed.
“Have fun in the army, kekeke.”
“Jack off plenty.”
“Recite your full name and rank right next time.”
My so-called academy classmates were losing their goddamn minds. Fucking dogs.
“Fuck! I still got a week left!”
“Nuh-uh, too bad~”
“Go fuck some chicks~”
Watching those giggling dipshits scamper off, a sigh slipped out on its own.
Fuck. Is this really it? The end?
They call this place the Academy. It's where I was walking right now, fresh off finishing my second year and heading into break. Looking around, there were these freakish things bounding about that didn't even look human. One dude built like a goddamn mountain, another with blood-red eyes, all grinning like idiots. It wasn't even a circus...
Gives me the fucking chills.
I brushed at the goosebumps prickling up my arms, but my feet kept moving steadily. This wasn't a one-day thing, after all.
Just like in every cliché story out there, society got flipped on its head when the Gates showed up. I was still chilling in my dad's ballsack back then, so all I know is hearsay. There are books, sure, but that's not like I lived it.
Anyway, after that, some folks started hitting a kind of awakening phenomenon around age twenty—physical abilities ramping up big time—thanks to the mana leaking from the Gates, or whatever. We call it the 1st Awakening.
It felt kinda like some tribal selection ritual at first, so cults popped up and society lost its shit for a bit. Even my dad got burned on some scam back then; I saw him passed out on the apartment stairs that night. Mom said he wasn't human anymore. Wonder how much he blew.
If that was the end of it, we'd be golden, but nope. A chunk of us 1st Awakening folks went through it again. Mana awakening, skills popping up—that superpower shit. Whoever named it clearly had zero imagination, so they just got dubbed 2nd Awakening types.
Mana and skills... Sounds kinda epic, right? The sad part? It struck my dad's heartstrings too.
I glanced back, past the other cadets heading home with me, at the academy grounds. Massive training fields, the main building, some fancy-ass statue—it was a sight. Only now did it hit me, probably 'cause I'd been too busy grinding through training to even catch my breath.
All Awakeners have to enroll in the four-year Academy, no exceptions. Years one and two are combat drills, Gate protocols, org theory—honestly, that's plenty to get by anywhere, so no complaints here.
Years three and four? Developing your 2nd Awakening powers, Gate fieldwork, all sorts of crap. Frankly, I figure three and four are basically on-the-job training for external gigs. Feels like a fancy vacation.
Bottom line, I see the Academy as society's boot camp. Mandatory enrollment, teaching you how to handle your powers—what else could it be?
But in this setup, one big problem rears its head. What happens to the 1st Awakening guys who don't hit 2nd Awakening by third-year promotion?
The 2nd Awakening window maxes at two years. If it's gonna happen, do it quick—no fermenting required. Timing-wise, it's right after second-year break starts. Now.
These poor bastards? Straight to enlistment at break's start, no mercy, thrown into the field. Governments worldwide can't just let superhuman walking bioweapons roam free compared to normies. Hell, if I were a politician, I wouldn't either.
Picture it: You hit the convenience store 'cause you're starving, and a bear's lumbering around. One wrong vibe, and you're done. Back in the early Great Panic, civilian kill rates were insane, they say.
'Normies drop from one slap.'
Enlistees get decent treatment as 1st Awakening types, but society's view? Trash. First responders on incidents, five-minute standby squads—society bitches, but they're just meat shields...
Honestly, worse than that? No heart-stirring mana.
That's why they're trash.
“Haa...”
The world's bullshit piled up, and another sigh burst out.
Dragging my unwilling feet home to the dead-quiet room, I chucked my bag and started pounding the sofa cushions.
“Fuck! Higher odds than gacha games!”
Awakener 2nd Awakening rate? Three percent. Low compared to the thousand-odd 1st Awakening folks, but way better than mobile gacha. Beats pickup events.
Fuck.
I chugged some cold water, letting the rage simmer down.
Beep! Beep!
Flopping on the sofa, I fired up my smartphone. The group chat was blowing up with roast sessions disguised as check-ins. All army this, army that—fucking plague.
Can't just take it lying down.
Mid volley of curses, a flood of info slammed into my brain like a hammer.
Fuck! It's here!
The herald of 2nd Awakening I'd only heard about. Mana! Skills!
“Fuuuuck!!! Of course!”
Could I savor this joy solo? After they dared roast me?
I snatched my phone, fingers flying in what even I knew looked insane, and fired off a message.
No surprise—with enlistment looming and a fresh 2nd Awakening popping up, the chat notifications were exploding.
Whatever. I ignored the barrage of handshake requests and tossed my phone.
Fuck yeah, this is it.
My hand gently stroked the sofa I'd been kicking earlier, affection swelling up. My attachment sofa now...
Excitement I couldn't contain made my hands and feet tremble.
But I couldn't just sit here like an idiot. I was late to the party compared to others, right?
I focused my mind on the info dump in my head.
Game Master?
As my brain steadied, I activated the skill, and a translucent message window popped up before my eyes.
1. Character
2. Inventory
3. Library
Beginner Adventure Package distributed to new players. Check your Inventory!
Heart pounding, I followed the prompt and checked my Inventory. A gift box icon sat there all alone.
Game ability, and it acts like a real game. Not bad for a gamer like me.
I mentally commanded it to open, and the gift box slid onto my hand with a message.
Open Beginner Adventure Package?
Open it.
◈ Defends against malicious code.
Malicious code? Seems beneficial for now—I'll check details later.
Felt sketchy, like some dubious source, but whatever.
I eyed the rainbow-bordered white ticket next.
A character window popped up beside it—my naked self, front and center. Classic customization UI on the side.
Fuck... Appearance change is OP.
Unlike those freak eyes on the way home, my power let me tweak my whole body. Full makeover.
Win or lose, time to commit. I fiddled with the UI, testing limits, then dove into surgery.
No complaints with my original look, but everyone wants bigger eyes, higher nose—right?
Okay, maybe I have a lot of wishes. Fuck.
When had I ever focused this hard? Legs jittering, I channeled artisan mode for a two-hour full-body overhaul.
Wanted to send pics to a plastic surgeon, but that'd get me roasted as a surgery cadet.
Suppressing urges, I kept going.
Drained, I nodded at my head-to-toe remodeled self.
One last step.
A man’s gotta live thick and long.
Added a tweak, hit complete.
Itchiness and dizziness surged through me, nearly blacking me out. I shook my head hard, swallowed, and bolted to the bathroom.
The mirror showed a stranger grinning like a maniac—taller eye line, flawless skin, my old sly torn eyes now sharp and handsome.
Original base is solid; customization pops.
Anyone who knew me would freak, but who cares? I'm untouchable now. They'll need friend bribes just to talk.
Strange thigh sensation—first time feeling this. Whistling, I headed back to the living room.
The tech enhancement ticket on the table? Quick glance, then into Inventory. Rechecked skills.
Unknown stuff later.
I tapped the now-familiar character window. Updated look, plus stats.
Inventory, stats... Obvious: dump points to grow stronger.
Fiddled around; it worked flawlessly, as expected. Nodded.
Closed character, opened Library.
Linking to Player's Library.
First link: Implementing most recent access history.
Tokyo in Apocalypse service opened.
Messages scrolled, instinct kicking in with the ability's explanation.
Enter game worlds?
Info sorted; no hesitation—I connected.
Tokyo in Apocalypse was the ero-game that kept me company through last night's lonely night.
Sex awakening. Free sex!
Please set character's background and viewpoint.
Horniness overriding caution on first use, the prompt appeared. Backgrounds, viewpoints, locations—tons of options floated by.
Game Master lived up to the name; full customization.
But first time firing it up—better play safe.
Stick to what I know.
Unsure how it'd apply, I set it to the game's vanilla start and dove in.