Primordial Lust System

"It's time," Aurelian breathed, his obsidian eyes snapping open, a faint smile gracing his lips.

"Huh? Wait... but it's not yet..." Eira began, a furrow stretching across her face.

Before she could finish, one of the hovering figures above rose from their meditative pose, their form coming into light.

A man dressed in a blue mage robe, with silvery-white hair trailing down his back and sharp eyebrows framing his face, stood tall.

Grasped within his right hand, an enchanted staff hovered, its frame glowing faintly with runes as it radiated a mystical aura.

Beneath him, now that Aurelian looked closer, was a plaque of some sort. A mystical artifact, likely the source of their ability to levitate.

His thoughts were cut short as the man raised his staff and slammed it down upon the plaque, generating a sonic blast that rippled through the crowd, drawing every gaze to him.

His voice followed soon after, booming across the plaza: "My name is Zeranth Zeol Zephrax, Overseer of this city's academy selections. And with the authority of the academies, I declare the beginning of the 7000th Academy Selection Trials!"

"Interesting," Aurelian whispered under his breath, turning to Eira beside him — her mouth agape, eyes wide in awe. The others around her stared as well, all struck silent by the sight of the levitating figures.

And rightfully so. Though not A-rank, Aurelian could sense that their presence far eclipsed normal powerhouses like Artorias or even Sera.

If he were to guess, their ranks hovered somewhere between peak C and B rank — power levels far beyond anything the youths had ever witnessed. Even with their auras suppressed, their sheer presence was overwhelming. Every detail was analyzed carefully through his sphere of soul detection.

"The first part of the selections, the preliminaries, is simple," the man began, getting straight to the point. His other hand reached for his silvery beard, stroking it softly as his sharp eyes scanned the crowd below.

He paused at several youths, as if gazing directly into their souls.

"Acquire ten thousand points within a span of three days," he said evenly. Drawing in a deep breath before continuing, "Within the Temple of Astria lies a temporally fractured reality, a realm housing countless beasts, each worth a specific number of points."

He snapped his fingers with mystical flair. The plaque beneath him buzzed violently, lighting up in a brilliant golden hue. Slowly, it opened and spewed forth thousands of bracelets that shot through the air, latching onto each of the gathered youths.

"The bracelets will record your movements inside and accurately register your kills," Zeranth continued, his calm tone cutting through the murmurs as the participants inspected the glowing items now clasped on their wrists.

The events were unfolding too fast for many to process.

"Each F-rank beast offers one point. An E-rank grants one hundred. And if you manage to slay a D-rank... ten thousand points in one go."

The youths below froze at his words, some staring blankly, a flicker of disappointment crossing their faces at the damned nature of the preliminaries. You'd think being pre-informed would offer a measure of preparedness, but it still came as a shock as the figure reaffirmed their worst nightmares.

They weren't that bad, they knew their limits. But slaying ten thousand F-rank beasts within such a limited time span didn't look good for them. It was like watching their lifelong dreams fizzle right before their eyes. Their only participation lay in the faint hope burning deep within them, that maybe, just maybe, they could pull it off.

Still, the reactions varied. Some eyes glimmered with youthful ambition and bravery; others, with cold calculation.

Each of them carried dreams that lived or died by the academies' judgment.

Deep in the crowd, Aurelian stood motionless. His eyes burned with an emotionless glint as the corners of his lips curved upward.

While others saw obstacles, he saw opportunity...a path to strength. He could already taste the blood of the beasts he would slay, feel the thrill of battle, the surge of attributes gained and levels ascended. His blood boiled in exhilaration as his fists clenched tighter.

"Be warned," Zeranth growled, nodding slightly, noting that no awakened youth was retreating. Brave souls, he mused, though even bravery meant little in the face of true power.

"The beasts inside aren't controlled like those in dungeons. They pose real, mortal danger. Proof of that lies in the rising number of casualties each year," he continued grimly.

"Charging forward in the face of death is brave, but knowing your limits is braver. If you find yourself before a foe beyond your strength, crush the bracelet on your wrist, and you'll be teleported out instantly. But doing so means forfeiting your qualification... and failing the academy selections."

His words hung heavy in the air, each syllable absorbed by the crowd.

"Oh, and one last thing," Zeranth added, turning his back slightly toward the other three hovering figures, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"You can also transfer your points to other participants... willingly, of course."

His words sparked a commotion, the previously dim eyes of the crowd lighting up with greed as they caught on to the figure's hidden implication.

Off to the side, Aurelian blinked, his lips twitching faintly. He had expected a few bound skirmishes, sure, but wasn't this outright encouraging them to steal other people's points? He could already think of a few ways to make someone "willing," and he bet the others could too. Still, he shrugged it off.

The grin on his face widened. This ought to make things more… interesting, he mused, snapping out of his reverie. Tilting his head upward, he saw Zeranth rejoin the other three figures. Together, they began forming intricate hand incantations, chanting in low, resonant tones that carried an eerie weight through the air.

Though their words were soft, they rippled with quiet authority.

"Hidden from mortal eyes, we call upon thy power. Open unto us thy fractured fold.

By Astria's name, reveal the path within,

And let the temple's gate unfold..."

As the last words slipped from their mouths, an overwhelming aura descended upon the platform.

The plaques beneath the four figures buzzed intensely, their frames glowing with a resplendent red hue. Light spilled forth, blanketing the entire platform. Then, beyond the crimson radiance, a mystical sight unfolded—the phantom of a magnificent temple slowly came into view, its form shimmering with an illusory light.

Within its depths, a torrent of chaotic elementals spun wildly before bursting outward into a red vortex. The swirling energy expanded with each passing second, anchoring a gateway to another fractured realm.

Smiling in satisfaction, Zeranth tilted his head, turning toward the youths below. He raised his staff and pointed it at them. As he did, the portal behind him flared, releasing a powerful suction force that spiraled faster and faster. The red light swallowed their forms one by one, erasing their presence as they were pulled into the portal.

A whisper trailed after them.

"Best of luck to you all."