Doomsday: My Football System In The Apocalypse

There are different ways for people to know that someone has awakened without the use of their power. The rarest and simplest way is the alteration of the person's appearance. Other methods include specific tools or observing the demeanor of the person. However, some people can tell at just a glance. 

Some abilities alter people's appearances. These changes can be permanent or temporary, depending on the ability. Permanent changes often include alterations to hair color, eye color, or skin tone—features associated with powerful, potent abilities. Temporary changes, on the other hand, often involve the transformation of a specific body part, such as an arm, a leg, or even the head, and are usually tied to transformation abilities. 

Judging by the change in the girl's hair, it was clear she had obtained one of those powerful abilities. 

"I wonder what type of ability she got," 

Emmy muttered, staring at the girl as she walked down from the altar. The next person approached it without wasting a second. 

"You'll know in the future when Alice confronts her for trying to snatch you from her," 

His brother commented. 

The second person to walk onto the altar was also a girl. She performed the ritual as the first girl had done, and the same thing happened. She was also taken to the divine rock by the bright radiance, but unlike the first girl, there was no physical alteration in her appearance. She spent a few seconds longer with the rock than the first girl, and only she—and the organizers and powerful individuals present—knew if she had awakened her ability. 

For Emmy, his brother, and many others in the crowd, it wasn't clear if she had succeeded. 

The awakening ceremony continued, and the results were starting to make Emmy feel nervous. Apart from the first girl, no one else's appearance had changed. Many participants succeeded in their ritual, though this didn't confirm whether they had awakened an ability. Still, the light shining on them meant something. 

Only a few unfortunate ones were not chosen by the light, even after some nearly offered all their blood to the altar. The rock remained unresponsive. This was what made Emmy even more nervous. 

"Hey, brat, don't be scared. Your brother awakened an ability, so why wouldn't you? Just calm yourself and be ready when it's your turn," 

His brother said, trying his best to reassure him. Sunny had felt the same anxiety two years ago when nearly half of his mates failed to be chosen by the light. He had feared meeting the same fate and living a life without an ability. 

But, surprisingly, he had been granted an ability. Not only that, but his appearance had also undergone a permanent change—a sign of a powerful ability. Although he still knew next to nothing about it, Sunny remained hopeful. 

His black hair and eyebrows had always been gold like Emmy's, but they had changed two years ago after he gained his ability. Many others had experienced similar alterations back then, but the same wasn't happening this year. 

Apart from the first girl, no one else had their appearance altered. However, the number of participants failing to be chosen by the light was significantly lower than two years ago. Still, Sunny couldn't help but worry for his brother. 

"Do you know what city that girl is from?" 

Emmy suddenly asked. 

"I can only guess she's from Lagos City since that's the first city on the list this year. They're probably calling people from that city first. And you, brat, don't you dare get close to her. She's no match for you," 

Sunny replied, warning his brother. 

"No, I just feel like something is special about her," 

Emmy said, not taking his eyes off the girl. 

"Wow, my dumb little brother can sense something now? Interesting," 

His brother joked. 

"Emmy Krane from Nara City," 

A voice called. 

Emmy heard his name echo from the altar. He looked up and saw the man standing there alone. It was his turn. He glanced at his brother before walking up. 

"Wish me luck, brother," 

He said. 

With his heart racing faster than ever, Emmy approached the altar. He never expected to feel this nervous. 

He wasted no time, doing what the others had done. He knelt on the altar and bowed his head three times before the man handed him a small knife. Emmy slashed his palm with the knife and squeezed his blood onto the altar. 

For several seconds, nothing happened. But then, the white radiance appeared around the rock, swirling for a moment before moving toward Emmy. He smiled faintly as the light enveloped him and carried him toward the divine rock. 

As the light held him in place, Emmy felt nothing. His brother had described the sensation of awakening—an unknown energy moving up from the depths of the soul, calm and flowing like blood. He had said it felt like the hair on his body was standing up, his organs coming alive, and his blood flowing freely. But Emmy felt none of that. 

Instead, he felt an overwhelming urge to take a nap. 

He allowed himself to relax under the light's embrace, oblivious to what was happening beyond it. 

"How long has it been?" 

One of the young awakeners asked. 

"Close to five minutes, I guess," 

Another replied. 

The thirty-five people at the front of the hall wondered why Emmy was taking so long. The man, however, told them not to worry. 

Emmy had indeed spent nearly fifteen minutes in front of the rock—the longest time anyone had ever spent there. The previous record was one and a half minutes. 

Unaware of the commotion outside, Emmy's eyes began to close, and darkness embraced him. 

He opened his eyes moments later, finding himself being brought back to the altar by the light. As his focus returned, something appeared in his line of sight, though he could only make out a few details before the man's voice distracted him. 

"Move back," 

The man said sharply. 

Startled, Emmy quickly walked down from the altar, confused and wondering about what he had seen. 

He made his way toward the group of young awakeners who had already gone through the ritual, sitting opposite those who hadn't. Before he could take a seat, his brother rushed over, shouting his name. 

"Emmy! Emmy, what happened?" 

Sunny exclaimed. 

"Brother, I don't think I awakened an ability," 

Emmy said, tears welling up in his eyes. He tried to hide his face from Sunny. 

"How is that possible? You spent nearly fifteen minutes in front of the great pagoda. How could this happen?" 

Sunny asked, lowering his voice. 

"Fifteen minutes? Has anything like that ever happened before?" 

Emmy asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"No," 

Sunny replied, shaking his head. 

Emmy didn't know what to say. How could he have spent so long at the great pagoda without awakening an ability? 

He looked at his brother, then down at the ground, not wanting him to see the sadness on his face. Emmy wanted to cry out loud, to rest his head on his brother's shoulder, but he couldn't. 

His hope of becoming the best footballer was shattered. 

Emmy had always been training very hard to become the best, it's even because of football that he had neglected anything that requires him to fight, that's something for his brother. 

He's one of the best players in his school team, but when paired against ability users, he would barely be noticed on the field, because abilities makes them almost super human, either useless abilities or not, their overall strength will be above of someone without an ability. Only ability users are meant to play for the school team, but those who hadn't go for the awakening ceremony will be trained to see what they can do in the future after getting an ability. 

So Emmy had always train very hard, more than anyone else, so that he would be unmatched after getting an ability. The coach always had great hope in him and even told him that he would become the best player in the team if he managed to awaken an ability. 

But what about now? 

Emmy couldn't help but be sad. 

Sunny seeing the sad face on his face hugged him tightly and whisper into his ear as something, seen by no one slip off from his body and attached beneath Emmy's feet. 

"Everyone that fail to awaken their ability, they take them into a separate room. I don't know what happens in that room, but I'll make sure to protect you."

Sunny said, as he pushed his brother back to his seat and walk back into the crowd.