Stargazers: World stage

 After several names were called,

"Martin Rolly, Jessica..., Carla Heister, and Randy Blake."

Carla was selected among a group of ten. They moved behind the raised platform and disappeared.

Ten minutes later, the next group was announced:

"Danny Fawkes, Lily Dune... Vahn Clay."

Vahn's group, consisting of six girls and four boys, stepped forward. Upon reaching the designated area, they were instructed,

"Stand over the markings on the floor."

Looking down, Vahn noticed intricate engravings beneath his feet. Once everyone was positioned, the instructor crushed something that released a shimmering powder, spreading across the engravings.

WHIRRR

The markings glowed, and in an instant, their surroundings changed.

'Urgh...' Vahn clutched his head, groaning softly. He glanced around, noticing no one else seemed affected.

'Is it an ability thing?' he wondered.

They were now in a stark white room. In front of them stood a formally dressed woman, tapping on a tablet.

"Please pick up a phone and form a single line," she instructed without looking up.

However, the students didn't bother about her attitude, it was the fact they got phones. Immediately looking to the side, they could see another military personnel standing with a box at his front. Their excitement grew at the sight of the box filled with phones.

The military personnel didn't try to pick for them, he just stood there. 'Probably here to prevent theft,' Vahn thought as he queued. When it was his turn, he picked up a phone and approached the woman.

"Take it out," she said, finally glancing at him. After attending to five others, she reached Vahn.

"Name, age, and ability?"

"Vahn Clay, 17, and I don't have an ability." 

A brief silence followed. Curious glances darted his way. Even the woman hesitated before returning to her tablet and after a short while.

"Okay. Go through that door," she directed, pointing left, "The rest of you, that way."

With a final glance at his group heading right, Vahn entered the left door.

…

SWING...

Heads turned as he stepped in. The room resembled a classroom, filled with other students.

However, they weren't his focus at this moment. Just from their faces, he could tell they were all non-ability users. Moody, depressed, sadness, fear-stricken, and lifelessness were what he saw on their faces, and he didn't bother with them.

If he, as a non-ability user could already defeat most E-ranks, and these people were here sulking around, he didn't even look at them twice and put his head on the table at his front.

And his attitude didn't go unnoticed,

"H-Hey" Someone called out to him; however, he didn't even bother answering. He was bound to hear some depressing talk like, do you know how hard it was for me? Or If I had an ability? Something along that line, so he ignored him.

Vahn's focus was on the reason they were gathered like this.

The boy felt disheartened and returned to his seat.

A few hours later, after a few more people entered, two military personnel entered however most didn't recognize their presence until,

"Now, you all here don't have abilities but don't be sad. It isn't permanent."

Ears twitched at the words of the military man.

Maybe before they were thinking of half listening to whatever anyone was going to tell them; however, he had now gotten their full attention.

Raising their heads, they saw a smiling military man and an expressionless one.

The military man still smiling continued, "There's a technology that can draw out that sleeping potential from you. It is called, 'Artificial PDM', and that machine will be used to awaken you all." He then spread his hands out as if he was their messiah. And truthfully, some were already looking at him like that.

Eyes of hope shone brighter than the sun as even the depressed sat up with their eyes almost popping.

'I get they are the alliance and all, but why would they do that.' Even without anyone telling him, he knew this artificial awakening wasn't the best method. However, that was his only chance at the moment. And he didn't think the alliance would just give out resources, 'Do they want something from us?' However, the more he thought about it he didn't understand.

Why would the Alliance offer this so freely? Vahn wondered, skepticism gnawing at him.

"Follow me," the officer commanded, and the two military men led the way as the students rushed to follow them. If it turned out to be limited, they couldn't miss the opportunity.

They navigated a labyrinth of white hallways until they reached massive double doors.

PSSSHHH...

Steam hissed as the doors opened, revealing a colossal device resembling an advanced VR pod, wires sprawling like veins all over it.

"Wow..."

"This is the Artificial PDM."

"I-I can finally…"

Maybe because of the hope were getting from the device, they could speak well, with some even crying saying things like 'Finally'.

Military personnel in lab coats entered a bit later and began activating the machine.

WHIIIEEEE

A few seconds later, the device hummed to life.

The Artificial PDM was now fully functioning.

"Now, who goes first." The smiling military man faced them again and asked.

"Me…"

"No, I said it first."

"I got here first."

After calming the crowd, the smiling military man pointed to the student beside Vahn and then winked at Vahn.

'What was that for?' Vahn pondered; however, he didn't put much thought into it and watched the student go up the machine.

Then the student entered the pod.

WIIIIIEEEEEEEE

This time the sound was louder, and it lasted about 10 minutes before it stopped.

Everyone was watching with much expectation. 'Will it work? Or not?'

PSSHHHH

The pod hissed opened, and the boy emerged.

Standing a few meters before the little crowd of expectant gazes, he then stretched out his hand. Lo and behold, little sparks of fire flickered in and out. His eyes were wide open, tears were dripping.

"I-It worked?"

The room erupted in awe and cheers.

"H-He became an ability user…"

"I-I want to go next…"

Maybe the first person was a test subject, however they all now wanted to enter the pod.

'Why are they only sparks?' Vahn frowned a bit. He had expected it to at least cover his hand, however nothing was even better than those sparks, right? So, he didn't voice his opinion and watched the progression.

The same process was repeated, and this one came with his hand morphed into metal.

"Woahh…"

"Cool…"

"…"

At this point, they were looking at the smiling military man with pleading eyes to be chosen next, then he pointed at another person.

This time, the girl came out with a seed in her palm, it was obvious what hers were.

One by one, students underwent the process, each emerging with new abilities.

***

In a well-lit office, holographic notifications floated above a desk. A man smiled as he accepted them. Suddenly, ten holograms of stern-faced officials appeared.

"Major-General, what is the meaning of this?" one demanded.

"We can't use the PDM on just anyone. It's limited."

"This is too far"

The Major-General remained unbothered.

"Look at this," he said, displaying Vahn's profile.

"No ability. He's irrelevant."

"Yes, though he looks like them, but he isn't"

"..."

The Major still remained calm and spoke, "Here me out, what if, just what if he is, it won't hurt to check, right?" 

"Okay, then what of the rest."

"They aren't important."

"…"

"Haa, why are you people so narrow-minded, huh?" The Major General shook his head in disappointment.

"Y-You dare…" 

"You can't talk to us like that…"

"…"

The hologram officials displayed anger on their faces.

"Even if they aren't important, imagine what they would say about the alliance when they tell their friends later. In the future, they feel indebted to the alliance and join us and in the end, they would see us as not so bad. Besides, that thing only reveals half their potential, why do you care for that." He explained still with a smile on his face.

"…"

"…"

The others were speechless for a second, then one of them sighed and asked,

"Are you going to use half for the boy too?"

"Of course, not…" The major general replied and continued, "You know what, let's watch it together." With a wave of his hand, the room where the machine was, appeared

And at that moment, the smiling military man pointed at Vahn,

"You."