Quoros took a step forward, his white robes flowing like mist under the radiant ceiling.
> "It's time," he said simply.
Jin-Seok gave a nod and followed him across the glowing chamber. With every step toward the platform, the murmurs grew louder.
The circular stage at the room's center pulsed softly, as if anticipating his arrival.
Quoros stopped just beside it, his expression unreadable.
> "Good luck," he said, voice low.
Jin-Seok stepped up without a word. He stood alone—center stage—bathed in soft azure light.
Then, he stepped forward—alone.
Each footstep echoed in the chamber, and the crowd seemed to hold its breath.
He raised his hand and placed it gently upon the core crystal.
The moment he touched it—light exploded.
> WHOOOM—
Golden runes spiraled upward, wrapping around his body like a cocoon of radiant flame.
Gasps swept across the room.
---
{Eyes of the Room}
Whispers echoed through the chamber, subtle but sharp.
Some participants whispered nervously, their eyes glued to Jin-Seok.
> "That's him... first place." "He doesn't even have a class yet and still dominated?" "If he gets something powerful... we're all screwed."
> "What kind of monster is he going to become with one?"
Some were simply in awe—watching like history was being written in front of them.
Alone.
Untouched.
Unmatched.
Unawakened—and already legendary.
Girls near the back gasped, some blushing.
> "He's really handsome too..." "What if he gets a Heroic class?" "I heard he beat two Golden Generation members!"
> "Please let it be an S-Rank class…"
Even some of the senior administrators shifted forward in their seats, curiosity visible for the first time.
---
{Familiar Faces}
Near the edge of the platform, Sera pressed her hands together tightly.
> "Please... please let him get something good…" she whispered like a prayer.
Beside her, Chen Wei-Ming, Ron Owen, and Thomas Schmidt all watched with shining eyes.
> "This guy…" Ron muttered. "He's a freak. But damn if I'm not rooting for him."
> "No matter what he gets, he'll find a way to dominate," Chen added.
Thomas Schmidt muttered, "Let's go, boss…"
Their admiration wasn't just respect—it was hero worship.
The four of them, survivors of the Crystal Guard Trial, had seen Jin-Seok's brilliance firsthand. Now, they watched like loyal fans witnessing the crowning of a champion.
Across the room, Dante leaned forward with both hands on his knees, eyes glowing.
> "Finally, he muttered.
Alright, let's see what the monster gets...!"
---
{Mixed Reactions}
Not everyone looked excited.
Some watched with fear in their eyes.
> "If he gets a Unique or Heroic class on top of all that…"
> "...The Tower won't be enough to hold someone like him."
Others scoffed, masking jealousy behind smirks.
> "Tch. What a showoff." "This is all for attention."
> "Doesn't matter what class he gets. Still human."
But even the most dismissive couldn't hide it:
They were watching.
Because deep down—they wanted to see it too.
---
{A Glance Back}
At the chamber's edge, Lucien walked slowly, shoulders slumped.
He hadn't looked back once since stepping off the platform.
But something about the silence, the sudden hush, made him turn his head.
And there, in the center of the room—Jin-Seok stood beneath the Tower's light.
Lucien blinked.
> "...So he's here too," he whispered.
Sadness lingered in his eyes—but somewhere beneath it, a flicker of recognition.
{ The One They Were Waiting For}
A silence spread like wildfire.
The moment Jin-Seok placed his hand on the crystal—
> A ring of light expanded from the orb.
And then—
They appeared.
> Glowing spheres.
Dozens of them.
Floating in the air like stars summoned by fate.
"Warrior..."
"Mage..."
"Knight."
"Healer."
"Tank."
"Assassin."
"Rogue."
"Summoner."
"Elementalist."
"Berserker."
"Archer."
"Spirit Caller."
"Hexblade."
"Battle Monk."
"Shadowmancer..."
It didn't stop.
Dozens more flickered into existence, each a glowing symbol of a distinct path.
The crowd began murmuring again—then gasping.
Even the Administrator seated high above leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
> "...Impossible."
A Manager near the back stood up abruptly.
> "Is he a Tower noble?"
Another shook their head in disbelief.
> "Even they don't have this many compatible classes—"
> "The highest record was Nine... who is this kid?!"
> "He can become anything…"
---
{A Choice No One Expected}
In the middle of it all, Jin-Seok simply stood there.
The Tower's interface glowed in front of him.
>
The world held its breath.
Then Jin-Seok slowly turned.
His gaze locked with Quoros.
> "Can I not select any?"
The silence cracked.
Even Quoros flinched, visibly stunned. He took an involuntary step back.
> "Th-That's… well… you can..."
He hesitated, voice suddenly unsure.
> "It's allowed... but... No one does that."
Jin-Seok turned back to the crystal.
Eyes calm. Unwavering.
And then—
Jin-Seok took a breath.
Then slowly, without a hint of doubt—
> He placed his palm on the crystal once more.
> [Class selection declined.]
[Proceed as UNCLASSIFIED?]
[⚠️ Warning: This decision is irreversible. You will be excluded from standard class.]
[Confirm: Proceed without class?]
Jin-Seok narrowed his eyes.
Then said, firmly:
> "Yes."
---
{The Moment That Shattered Protocol}
The entire platform rumbled.
The glowing class spheres flickered—then vanished.
The system's crystal pulsed violently before going dim.
And in that suffocating silence...
A new message appeared.
>
The chamber froze.
A second silence.
Longer.
Sharper.
People stared.
Stunned. Speechless.
> "Unclassified...?"
"He's refusing? Why?"
"What is he thinking?!"
But Jin-Seok didn't flinch.
The crowd didn't understand.
They couldn't understand.
For a moment, even the system seemed to hesitate—before confirming:
People stared like they were watching a myth being born.
> "What the hell is UNCLASSIFIED...?"
"Is that even allowed?"
"That guy... is he insane or...
> "He just... rejected everything."
Even Quoros stood frozen by the platform.
His mouth opened—then shut.
He'd guided thousands through this ritual.
But never this.
Never like this.
---
{Reactions from Below}
The other participants watched from below in stunned silence.
> Sera had her hands together, half-praying, half-trembling.
"He really did something insane again…
Chen Wei-Ming clenched his fist.
> "He's not just strong. He's changing the system."
Ron Owen couldn't stop grinning.
> "That's the coolest thing I've ever seen.but will he be okay without a class."
Thomas Schmidt whispered like he'd witnessed a divine event.
> "He's a freak. A real one. But... I can't stop watching."
Some participants were in awe.
Others simply couldn't comprehend it.
> "What a show-off..." someone muttered bitterly.
"Does he think this is a game?"
A few girls gasped and leaned forward in their seats.
> "He's so bold..."
"I want to know everything about him...!"
{Unclassified—The Price of Defiance}
> "He rejected it?"
The silence shattered.
> "What an idiot!" "Arrogant bastard." "He had the perfect roll and threw it away." "Is he insane?!" "Maybe… maybe he's just scared."
> "Tch. Show-off." "He thinks he's better than us?" "He just wants attention." "Without a class, he's dead weight."
The voices clashed, overlapping in confusion, jealousy, disbelief—and awe.
Not admiration.
Not yet.
For them, it was easier to mock than admit what they'd just witnessed.
---
{Administrator Descends}
A new pressure filled the chamber—heavier than Quoros, colder than steel.
All eyes rose as golden light shimmered down.
A figure descended from the upper floor, wrapped in gold and gray, robes laced with runes older than the Tower itself.
The Administrator ilzahar.
Even Quoros stepped back respectfully.
He landed without a sound, his boots touching the marble before Jin-Seok.
> "You reject all options…" the man said, his voice low and ageless.
"Are you sure? No one in recorded history has shown this much compatibility. You could become anything. Everything."
---
{Jin-Seok Answers}
Jin-Seok looked up.
His gaze steady. Calm.
Unmoving before power.
> "I don't need the Tower to tell me who I am."
A pause.
The Administrator ilzahar blinked.
Then—slowly—a smile.
Something old stirred in his eyes.
> "Interesting…" he murmured.
"Then I'll be watching closely, Jin-Seok."
He stepped aside, gesturing toward the open exit.
> "Let's see what a classless boy does in a world of chosen warriors."
> "Welcome to the Tower."
---
{The Boy Who Walked Away}
Jin-Seok walked.
Past Quoros.
Past the crystal that still shimmered with fading light.
Past the stunned silence of the room.
He didn't look back.
Didn't gloat.
Didn't explain.
He simply left.
And for those still watching—
The only thing louder than the whispers…
Was the thunder in their hearts.