"I heard there was a senior last year who activated a C-level hero template."
"C-level? You've got to be kidding. Isn't our elite school supposed to have a minimum of B-level? Where did C-level come from?"
"That C-level student was directly expelled from the school, so it's not in the records."
In the classroom, Rosen suddenly woke up from lying on the desk, blinking groggily at the evaluation report of his awakened hero template, D-level!
"Oh boy, what kind of bizarre talent do I have? I hit the one-in-a-millennium occurrence? Is the sun rising from the west?"
Just a moment ago, he was playing cards with his girlfriend in a cozy rental apartment, and now, as if he had pushed too hard, he ended up in this place.
After just merging the memories of his predecessor, Rosen realized this was a world where everyone could awaken a hero template. Then, after hearing his classmates' discussions, his heart sank halfway.
"I assume everyone has already received your awakening report, right? Now, those whose names are called, one by one, announce your awakened hero and level!"
The beautiful homeroom teacher called out from the podium.
In such a serious setting, lying is impossible. There are specialized detection devices, and the school has zero tolerance for lies.
"I heard that the senior who awakened the C-level last year lied, claiming to be B-level, thinking a few strokes on the report would fool everyone, but the detectors found out, giving the school a reason to expel him."
"Hahaha, if he hadn't done that, the school might not have been able to expel him so easily."
Hearing this, the remaining hope in Rosen's heart also went cold, completely cold.
In this world, if you awaken a trash hero template, you're on a fast track to becoming cannon fodder!
Historically, those who awakened C-level heroes probably couldn't survive a year, and those with D-level heroes might not last even half a year!
Unless... they choose to opt out!
But that would mean living as an ordinary person, giving up on oneself.
"My hero template is A-level, I awakened Guan Yunchang!"
"A-level Guan Yunchang, awesome!"
The classmates were shocked.
The homeroom teacher had already called a few names, all A-level, and even a few S-levels appeared.
It's rare, especially S-level which historically is seen once in a century!
"Scary, it seems not even a single B-level has appeared this year, so our class is either S or A!"
"A full A-pass rate, terrifying!"
"If a B-level appeared, they'd probably become the class joke, as for C-level, it's probably impossible."
"Do you think anyone would be D-level?"
"D? You must be joking. If someone is D-level, I'll eat shit upside down!"
Hearing these words, Rosen hid his test report even deeper.
Sighing, Rosen still attempted to summon his hero projection in his palm, hoping this D-level hero wasn't too bad.
It's said some special heroes have extremely strong potential, starting at a low level but capable of significant growth.
Such heroes might only appear once in ten thousand years, so most people don't pay much attention.
When Rosen saw that the slime he summoned was golden, a trace of nervousness appeared on his face.
[Hero Template: Golden Slime]
[Level: D (Growth Potential)]
[Species: Magical Beast]
[Ability: Transformation]
[Description: Mutated Slime]
At the same time, a panel only visible to the awakened appeared in front of Rosen.
It's actually a growing Golden Slime!
This must be the legendary hero template that appears once in a millennium!
The homeroom teacher on the podium called Rosen's name: "Tell us about your hero template and its abilities?"
"Teacher, my hero template is a Golden Slime, with the ability to transform!"
This time Rosen could bravely stand up and speak, making them envy his once-in-a-millennium hero template!
All the classmates' eyes were on Rosen. Seeing him answer enthusiastically, they thought it was an S-level template, but it turned out to be a slime?
This was followed by uproarious laughter.
"Slime? Isn't that a D-level template? Hahaha, our school actually has a D-level! Wow, in a class of all A's, there's actually a D-level. Hey, that guy who said he would eat shit upside down, come on out!"
"Slime is slime, and golden slime? More like shit-slime!"
The mockery from classmates made Rosen a bit defenseless.
A once-in-a-millennium hero template being mocked as worse than shit, how could an uncle endure this outrage!
"This guy is finished, having drawn such a loser template, but ironically, he might be the safest in our class. An all A-pass class is easily targeted by foreign forces and assassins, our class might be in danger ahead."
"Yeah, hearing you say that, I kind of envy him. A D-level template is unlikely to be put on an assassination list, hahaha!"
Rosen then heard a conversation between two classmates sitting nearby.
His unsettled heart quickly calmed down.
He chose to sit down and swallowed back the explanation he wanted to give.
An A-level template would most likely be targeted by foreign forces and marked for assassination.
If not protected, one wouldn't even know how they died.
Nowadays, foreign forces are rampant, repeatedly disguising accidents as covers to harm many A-level heroes in China, even including S-levels.
Once Rosen reveals the growth attribute of his Golden Slime, he'd quickly rise to the top of the assassination list!
Between being momentarily impressive and hunkering down for development, Rosen chose to hunker down.
At this time, the homeroom teacher's gaze towards Rosen was already filled with murderous intent.
In a class that passed all A-levels, having a D is like a fly in the ointment.
Being killed by the teacher's stare is far better than being killed by foreign forces.
"Rosen, you should know what to do, right? Our important class doesn't welcome trashy heroes!"
The homeroom teacher's ruthlessness annoyed Rosen, but dismissing underperforming students isn't a first-time operation.
Every year, the school uses all sorts of reasons to expel those with insignificant hero levels, even once expelling over a hundred students in one go.
Seeing the dropout procedure labeled with "Talent too low, unsuitable for further study," and recalling the principal's sarcastic face, Rosen no longer felt any goodwill towards the elite school.
He thought to himself: Just wait and see!
The biggest problem Rosen faced now was handling his parents.
Three years ago, his father suffered an accident at the construction site and lost his legs, putting the entire family's burden on his mother's shoulders, raising her hope that Rosen could awaken an A-level template and improve their family's future.
But things didn't go as hoped, and Rosen would be letting them down for now.
Returning home, Rosen faced the hopeful gaze of his parents.
His father sat in his wheelchair with guilt written across his face daily, and his mother's wrinkling face carried expectant eyes gazing at Rosen.
"I'm sorry, I awakened a D-level template."
"But I will work hard to find a job and help ease your burden."
Finishing, Rosen saw no blame in his parents' expressions, instead, albeit calmness.
"It's okay, I heard activating a hero template is related to genes. It's our genes that aren't good enough, not your fault."
His parents comforted Rosen instead.
Can this be called bad genes? Awakened a hero template that appears once in a millennium, these genes are outstanding!
Rosen secretly delighted in his heart.
He had prepared to bide his time until foreign powers' assassination efforts subsided, marking the time for his rise.
Yet the significant concern awaiting him was the Lord Crystal Core, a necessary material for every awakened territory.
Typically, schools would distribute the Lord Crystal Cores, but being expelled from the school meant Rosen wouldn't receive one.
Purchasing one required at least 30,000 RMB!
Their family's savings didn't even reach 10,000, so where could they get the money?
He could only look online to find himself a job to eventually buy a Lord Crystal Stone.
Upon unlocking his phone, major news platforms pushed notifications over his alerts.
"Shocking! Our city's key school has an awakened D-level hero template!?"