In the end, Michael decided this was something worth exploring in depth—but not now.
There would be time later to peel apart every layer of Jester’s analysis, to run tests, to see just how far his body’s strange potential could be pushed.
For now, it would remain one more puzzle piece in the growing mosaic of his abilities.
Still, he understood enough to know that the topic wasn’t closed. He and Jester would need to speak about it again—preferably when there were fewer unknowns and more answers.
At the moment, however, Michael’s focus was drawn to something else entirely.
Another object. Another potential project.
The Damaged Coffin of the Forgotten.
"Why did you lose consciousness?"
"Seems one will take a while."
Back in Aurora, Michael muttered with a faint frown as his other body worked on refining the massive coffin.
It wasn’t exactly surprising. A Three-Star Epic Grade item was bound to be an entirely different experience compared to refining the spear.
With little else to do there beyond overseeing the slow refinement process, Michael shifted his focus back to his body in the real world.
Fortunately, the line ahead of him had shortened considerably, and it wouldn’t be long before his turn came.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Michael—along with several other Awakeners participating in the college exams—was called forward to enter the hall.
Inside, the space had been rearranged, now bearing a faint resemblance to the reception area of a Supers Association branch. Several partitions divided the room, forming booth-like stations where exam candidates were being processed.
One of the attendants gestured for Michael to step into a booth. Inside, a woman sat behind a sleek desk, her attention fixed on the floating displays of her holographic system.
She glanced up, offered him a polite greeting, and then—without wasting time—began asking her questions.
"What’s your name?" she asked, her tone professional yet courteous.
"Michael Norman," he replied evenly.
She nodded and began typing, the faint hum of the holographic system filling the small booth. Without looking up, she gestured toward a small scanner embedded into the desk.
Michael placed his thumb on the pad, feeling the brief warmth as it scanned his print and sent the data flashing across her floating display.
A few seconds later, she finally looked up—only this time, her expression had shifted. Her smile, already pleasant before, was now strikingly radiant, her tone lighter and more welcoming than it had been moments ago.
Michael raised a brow slightly, unsure what had caused the sudden change.
What he didn’t know was that, in the span of those seconds, she had completed his verification as an Awakener—and seen his level.
Her surprise was well-hidden behind professional courtesy, but inwardly she was impressed. Level 40 was extremely high. She doubted there would be much chance for them to interact again after this, but there was no harm in leaving a good impression.
If she had known that Michael had only awakened a little over three months ago, perhaps she would have done far more than simply smile. Whether that would have been admiration, curiosity, or something else entirely was another matter altogether.
"I can see you’ve recently updated your status with the Supernatural Branch," she said, glancing back at her display. "That means there’s no need for another evaluation today."
Michael gave a small nod, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. He was glad he had taken the time to handle that update yesterday—it had seemed like a minor errand at the time, but now it was saving him precious minutes.
He leaned back slightly, more at ease, his mind briefly wandering to the coffin still refining in Aurora. But the woman drew his attention again, her voice clear and professional.
"Now," she continued, "let me explain the content of the next round."
Her tone shifted subtly—still polite, but with the formality of someone reading instructions. The soft glow of the holographic display reflected in her eyes as she began outlining what awaited him.
"This round," she said, "will be broadcast to the public."
That drew the faintest flicker of surprise from Michael. Not because it was unthinkable—he had already considered the possibility—but because it was now confirmed. Still, his expression remained calm, his thoughts sliding into the background as she continued.
"The next stage will take place in a virtual space," she explained, her gaze flicking briefly to her display before returning to him. "What happens there will form the second segment of this round, following the evaluation we’ve just completed."
Michael gave a slow nod, filing away the information. A public broadcast meant more than just competition—it meant attention and exposure to the supernatural world that was quite rare in Aurora until recently.
The woman seemed unaware of his inner thoughts, her professional tone unwavering as she prepared to move on to the finer details.
"I don’t know the exact details of what will happen in the virtual space," she admitted, her tone softening slightly as if to temper expectations. "That information will only be revealed once you’re inside. What I do know," she continued, "is that this virtual space will encompass the entire college examination under the Federation’s oversight."
Her eyes met his briefly before flicking back to her display. "That means you won’t just be seeing participants from your own country—you’ll be facing candidates from other nations as well. How they intend to make it all work, I can’t say. That’s not information I’ve been given."
Michael’s gaze sharpened at that. So, the scale wasn’t just regional—it was international. That added layers to both the challenge and the opportunity. Competing under public broadcast was one thing; doing so against a field of foreign Awakeners, was something else entirely.
"That’s all I can tell you for now," she said, her tone returning to its earlier professional calm. "Once you step outside, look for one of the attendants in a blue jacket. They’ll guide you to the waiting area for the second segment."