Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me Chapter 3: The Only SSS Rank Class

A soft, neutral glow filtered through the elongated window onto the pristine white ceiling. In the background, the gentle beeps of hospital equipment hummed softly. The sharp scent of antiseptic and alcohol permeated the air around him.

With a faint grimace, Daniel fluttered his eyes open, his brows furrowing deeply. A throbbing ache pulsed in his skull.

It was as if a brutal hammer had crushed his mind... only to second-guess and strike once more in fury.

"Ow... my head... where am I? Am I... actually alive?"

He propped himself up partially, drawing in a labored breath. The surroundings were utterly alien—a sterile hospital chamber, a window draped with a partially pulled curtain, a monitor tracking vital signs, and... utter isolation.

Yet suddenly, fragments of recollection seeped back into his consciousness.

Crimson blood, gaping injuries, radiant golden beams, the crack of shattering bones—and then... the monstrous gazes shattering beneath his stare, one after another.

"...Was that nightmare actually real? Did I... truly Awaken?"

Every event flooded back to him, including the slaughter of those Corruption Beasts.

But how could that be? Dispatching D-rank Corruption Beasts ought not to have been so effortless—particularly for someone freshly Awakened.

And still, he had felled them all in a single blow?

"System? Display my panel..." he whispered hesitantly.

In an instant, a hovering azure interface materialized before his vision.

> [Status Panel: Daniel F. Noir]

[Rank: F / (0/99 Exp)]

[Class: Fallen Priest]

[Class Rank: Transcendent / SSS]

[Innate Talent: God's Blood]

[Skills: Fallen Will (SSS) / Crimson Judgment (SSS)]

[Stats:

– Physical Strength: 17

– Spiritual Power: 44

– Intelligence: 134

– Mana: 7

– Endurance: 99]

[Body Status: 87% Recovered]

[Mental State: Confused and Excited]

[Blessing: The Fallen]

"Transcendent...? What on earth does that signify? Is it... surpassing Legendary?"

A grin spread across his face. Actually, it blended disbelief, thrill, and a hint of dread.

Classes fell into five primary tiers: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Supreme, and Legendary.

From his knowledge, the pinnacle class rank documented was Legendary—possessed by just a handful, such as the Guardian Council's chiefs.

Nevertheless, he possessed a Transcendent class? What in the world was that?

"Fallen Priest?"

Priests weren't particularly scarce—typically viewed as a Common class, widespread globally.

But a Fallen Priest? He'd never encountered such a concept in his entire existence.

And what implied being a priest to the deity heralding the apocalypse?

What madness was that?

He rubbed his head anxiously, letting out a nervous laugh.

"I even possess God's Blood? What could that possibly indicate?"

Innate Talents represented exceedingly uncommon powers linked inherently to one's class. Distinct from Skills, they activated without mana expenditure.

He'd come across mentions of blood-based talents, but God's blood?

Abruptly, the door's creak shattered his reverie.

The entrance swung wide, and two figures hurried inside.

Leading was Alice—eyes swollen from sleeplessness, features etched with concern, locks disheveled.

Trailing her stood a statuesque woman with ebony tresses pulled taut, kind yet weary hazel gaze, and a visage blending elegance with the toll of time.

Her attire was modest, yet her presence, demeanor, and nurturing aroma—unmistakable.

"Mom..."

He breathed the term, and she beamed, moisture welling in her eyes.

"Oh God... Daniel! My precious boy! You're alive? Are you alright?" Lianna uttered with quivering tone.

"If alright translates to this pounding migraine... then sure, I'm fantastic," Daniel responded with a wry smirk.

"I thought you... I thought you'd never wake, you fool!" Alice dashed ahead and enveloped her brother in a fierce hug.

Daniel tenderly stroked her tresses with his trembling fingers.

"How could I perish while there's still a handful like you for me to fret over?"

"My son... The physicians declared you hopeless. But now... Thank the heavens..." Lianna murmured amid quiet sobs.

Yet prior to further words, the door parted once more.

This occasion carried greater poise and command.

Two individuals stepped in, clad in ebony attire bearing gilded emblems upon their sleeves. Their strides were methodical, each motion honed through rigorous drill.

"I am Joel Arken, Head of the Department of Awakened Incidents, and this is Lieutenant Lyra Kan from the Awakened Oversight Division," declared the silver-haired man with piercing gaze, flashing his identification.

Lyra, bearing a frosty expression and silvery irises, offered a curt inclination.

Lianna and Alice shifted marginally. Daniel observed them with intrigue and mild apprehension.

"Mr. Noir. Yesterday, circa 12:40 PM, a dimensional rift manifested in Educational Zone 39. Per accounts, you and your sister were en route from the Academy," Joel stated while flipping open a ledger and reciting from it.

Lyra advanced deliberately to the window, though her stare remained locked on Daniel.

"At the site, we discovered remnants of three Blightbearer-type entities... or whatever lingered. Merely intense scorch traces and profound crimson pools."

Joel pressed on.

"Nearby observers noted odd noises and flashes. Yet the evidence we uncovered clashed with a standard skirmish."

"And upon other Awakened's arrival, solely you and your sister remained."

He halted, meeting Daniel's gaze directly.

"Could you recount precisely what transpired?"

"I was simply trailing my sister. She'd just returned from the Academy. Then came this terrifying clamor, and those horrors emerged. I... awakened. For the initial occasion. I attempted to shield her. But afterward, my memories blur," Daniel explained guardedly following a brief hesitation.

"We detected signs of an immensely potent skill at the location. Those beings weren't merely slain—they were utterly annihilated. The power signatures far exceeded those anticipated from a novice Awakened."

Daniel flashed a lopsided grin and lifted his shoulders slightly, feigning nonchalance.

"Well... I received a healer class. I'm a priest, not a warrior. Perhaps the Awakening triggered some mana surge, who knows... I truly recall little."

He wasn't aiming to deceive—but surely he couldn't reveal his role as some apocalyptic deity's priest, could he?

He dared not gamble that these officials might discern details of his class.

Thus, he opted to omit it entirely.

Joel and Lyra lingered in quietude momentarily. It seemed as though they probed his thoughts.

At last, Joel snapped his ledger shut.

"Very well. However, our agency must ensure comprehensive coverage. Kindly report to the central headquarters upon full recuperation, for formal Awakened registration."

"You may also notify the facility that you and your sister qualify as Awakened, accessing the dedicated insurance perks."

"And bear in mind, Mr. Noir..." Lyra interjected for the first time, her timbre soft yet laced with menace.

"...the truth inevitably surfaces."

And with equal stealth, they departed the chamber.