Chapter 4: The Aptitude Test
689 Words
The Gene-Sanctum was buried three miles beneath the Spire.
To reach it, the initiates had to descend a spiral staircase carved from the fossilized remains of a Titan Worm. The air grew colder with each step, heavy with the scent of ozone and raw biological power.
Vane walked in the middle of the procession. Around him, the other fifteen-year-olds chattered nervously.
"I heard the First Elder is personally overseeing the ritual today."
"I hope I get a C-Rank compatibility. Just enough to avoid the labor camps."
"Look at Zane! He looks so confident. Warden Meyer must have given him high-grade boosters."
Vane glanced at his twin brother. Zane was walking at the front, surrounded by a group of sycophants. He wore a pristine white ceremonial robe, his chin held high.
*Confident? No,* Vane analyzed, nothing the slight tremor in Zane's hands. *He's terrified. But he believes the lie they sold him.*
They reached the bottom. The cavern opened up into a breathtaking expanse of darkness, illuminated only by the "River of Stars"—a subterranean flow of liquid Ether that glowed with a spectral blue light.
In the center of the river stood the Altar of Integration.
"Silence!"
A voice boomed, amplified by bio-speakers. Dimensions shifted as general projection appeared above the altar. It was the Clan Head, his face a mask of cold authority.
"The Integration Ritual determines your worth," the Clan Head announced. "The River will measure your genetic capacity to host a Symbiote. Walk into the light. The further you go, the higher your Tier."
"First candidate: Gu Yue Mo Bei."
A burly boy stepped forward, wading into the glowing liquid. The Ether reacted to his presence, swirling around his legs. He gritted his teeth, pushing forward against the pressure until the light reached his waist.
"Grade B compatibility!" the proctor announced. "Eligible for High-Tier Combat Symbiotes!"
Cheers erupted from the Mo faction.
Next was Gu Yue Chi Cheng. A small, rat-faced boy.
Vane watched with cold amusement. In his past life, he hadn't known. But now, with 500 years of experience, he could see the faint shimmer of a "Cheat Chip" embedded in Chi Cheng's spine—a device to artificially boost Ether signals. a fraud orchestrated by his grandfather.
*Let them play their games,* Vane thought. *True power cannot be faked.*
"Grade B compatibility!"
More cheers. The pressure in the room mounted. Finally, it was their turn.
"Gu Yue Zane."
Zane stepped into the river. The light surged. It rose past his ankles, past his knees, past his waist... and kept rising until it bathed him in a blinding aura.
"Grade A!" The proctor's voice cracked with excitement. "A Grade A genius! The first in three decades!"
The cavern exploded into chaos. Elders were shouting, calculating, already planning how to secure this asset. Zane stood in the river, stunned, tears streaming down his face.
Then, the room went quiet.
"Gu Yue Vane."
Vane stepped forward. The water was freezing. It felt like stepping into liquid nitrogen.
He walked. The pressure hit him immediately—a wall of invisible force pushing him back.
He pushed. One step. Two steps.
The light crawled up his legs. Shins. Knees. Thighs.
And there it stopped.
No matter how hard he pushed, the Ether refused to rise further. The biological limit of his current vessel.
"Grade C compatibility," the proctor announced, his voice bored. "Barely eligible for combat duty."
Mockery. Disappointment. The whispers started instantly.
"The genius's brother is trash?"
"Twins, but one is a dragon and one is a worm."
"Look at him. He's expressionless. He must be in shock."
Vane stood in the freezing river, feeling the icy judgment of the clan. But inside, he was smiling.
*Grade C,* he thought, feeling the faint pulse of the Ouroboros in his mind. *Perfect. Low enough to be ignored. High enough to access resources.*
*The dragon flies in the sky, becoming a target for all. The viper hides in the grass, waiting for the kill.*
He turned and walked back to the shore, ignoring the pity in his brother's eyes.
*Enjoy your spotlight, Zane. I have work to do.*
- Writer
