The hall of lineage felt warm. The tension in the room had shifted into anticipation.

Noon had already arrived, much to Silver’s surprise, had not noticed how time moved so fast while in the dome. They had entered in the morning but now the grand clock above the patriarch’s chair said noon.

How fast time had gone.

The awakening time was over and now came the final judgement.

Silver stood at the back of the group, next to the towering white pillars. No one noticed him immediately, or rather, they noticed but chose to dismiss him completely just moments later.

Everyone’s attention gathered everywhere, as expected. At the front of the hall near the dias where the patriarch sat, stood Cruella surrounded once more. Silver had already expected that, Cruella seemed to have this natural charm over everyone.

Beside her, Victor spoke quietly.

"A capacity of fifteen..." he let put a low breath almost laughing in disbelief," do you understand what that means?"

Dexter shook his head slowly. "At your age? That’s monstrous."

She lowered her gaze modestly." The measurements could still be wrong..."

"It isn’t, I saw the results myself," Victor firmly said, his tone confident.

"No one mistakes a soul as pure as yours."

She smiled faintly at that, hesitating enough to appear embarrassed rather than pleased.

Silver looked away.

The hall itself had begun reorganising around the results. Those who had failed lounged at the corners, licking their wounds while unable to leave unless they saw the others’’ results.

Misery breeds Misery.

His uncles were bunched up among themselves, congratulating those whose sons had managed to pass the first awakening.

That was how the world worked. Soul capacity was potential made visible. People invested in the future instinctively.

A capacity of one or two meant a manageable soldier.

Five meant talent.

Seven meant distinction.

Nine and above meant entering the realm of the true elite.

Anything beyond eleven...

Families fought wars over those individuals.

And fifteen... it was absurd.

A tyrant class foundation.

The kind of souls that could support eight beast tattoos eventually. This was the kind of souls that powerful organisations would fight for immediately and those recruited would be nurtured like natural treasures.

Such individuals were only found in the Alpha-type sanctuaries not their little Delta sanctuary.

Beside the patriarch’s chair, George slightly coughed calling for everyone’s attention. At the moment the tablet in his hand felt like a decree.

The hall slowly quietened.

"Results will now be announced," he calmly said, his tone carrying a natural authority.

George adjusted the tablet first.

"Candidate: Dexter Millers."

He stepped forward while occasionally glancing back at Cruella as though looking for reassurance.

"Soul capacity: Nine."

A low murmur spread instantly.

"Rank nine foundation..."

"He’s so lucky, an elite."

"Thats enough to become a Hunter in the future..."

George continued calmly, unperturbed by the excessive noise.

"Tattoo compatibility: high."

"Estimated skills to be harnessed: seven to ten abilities."

Dexter exhaled softly, trying to remain composed while satisfaction flickered across his face.

Silver’s tenth uncle nodded approvingly." Strong."

Very strong. A rank 5 soul meant he could eventually sustain five beast tattoos without his soul collapsing. This was already enough to rise above most of the population.

George moved on.

"Candidate: Lucian Ruddington."

One of Silver’s cousins stepped forward immediately, chin lifted proudly.

"Soul capacity: Seven."

More respect-filled mummers came. A rank four soul placed him well above average heirs already.

"Tattoo compatibility: moderate to high."

"Estimated skills to be harnessed: five to eight abilities."

Lucian smiled immediately, unable to hide it. His seventh uncle, Lucians’ father, laughed happily." Not bad. Not bad at all." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The next cousin followed immediately.

"Candidate: Rowan Ruddington."

"Soul capacity: five."

It was slightly weaker but still impressive, especially with how the results seemed to be going further down. His shoulders visibly relaxed at the results.

A rank three soul guaranteed status at minimum. Guaranteed survival.

The results continued.

One, three, three, five.

Most of the results fluctuated around those numbers.

But then, George paused slightly before reading the next name.

"Candidate: Cruella."

Silence spread almost immediately, even before the results were said because expectations already existed around her.

She stepped forward slowly beneath the countless eyes, reveling in the attention, her white dress trailing behind her. She was the perfect picture of grace that every parent wanted.

Silver’s gaze shifted, finding her parents who were looking at her with tears in their eyes.

He watched several people in the hall straighten unconsciously. The tension was clear.

He watched George shift in his feet while the patriarch leaned forward slightly. Neither of them had had much of a reaction throughout the whole reading.

"Soul capacity... " he paused as though confirming it," ... fifteen. "

The hall exploded in noise from pure shock.

"A tyrant class soul..."

"Just how talented is she?"

"At fifteen!"

"I wonder how everyone is going to react!"

Even the patriarch’s fingers stopped tapping on the armchair.

Cruella herself looked stunned, her lips parting slightly as if she couldn’t believe it.

Silver almost admired the performance, almost.

Victor stepped forward instinctively," careful..." As though she might collapse from the news.

Silver on the other side sighed.

’Guess the book didn’t lie’

Everyone in the protagonist’s harem was extremely talented Silver couldn’t help but feel the disconnect. The girl was a bitch but because of plot amour, she was going to get her bitchyness protected. He could already imagine how smug she would be.

"Silence!" The patriarch’s voice came.

His fingers resumed tapping on his armchair the moment everyone was quiet.

George continued.

"Tattoo compatibility: exception. "

"Estimated skills to be harnessed: twelve to sixteen abilities."

That only intensified the reaction because abilities mattered. A contractor’s true danger comes from versatility. The more power someone could sustain, the more terrifying they became.

And sixteen... that bordered on monstrous.

Everyone began speaking amongst themselves openly now.

"A future tyrant without question. "

"I wonder which family will be able to get her."

"She’s the first tyrant in the whole sanctuary."

"She must be protected. "

The atmosphere had completely changed because everyone could already see what she would become later.

Silver stood there quietly near the back while the attention swallowed her entirely.

’What the fuck, have I been forgotten?"

With all the attention on her, it somehow made what came next smaller. George glanced down towards the final name on the tablet.

He paused slightly then called.

"Candidate: Silver Ruddington. "

The hall quietened slightly. Silver walked forward but no one spoke or encouraged him like everyone else. One of his uncles even unfolded his arms with visible disinterest.

Another sighed quietly." Let’s finish this."