He began listening to the excited conversations of people around him. People moving in small groups along the path to the gateway area were discussing their possible classes and abilities. Some seemed prepared in advance - they had books and notes in their hands.
As he approached the checkpoint, one group particularly caught his attention. Two young people were heatedly discussing the sub-branches of the elementalist class. "Fire or ice?" one asked the other. "I think merge sorcerer makes more sense, you can combine anything you want..."
While waiting in line at the security checkpoint, the man in front of him kept squeezing and releasing a small crystal in his hand - probably using it as a stress ball. The girl behind him was constantly muttering something.
Suddenly the giant screens in the waiting room went dark and an officer's voice echoed: "Name reading for door number 3 is beginning."
Boran's heart started beating faster. As names were read one by one, there was a brief silence after each name. Eight names... Eight people... And yes, he heard his own name: "Boran Apaydin."
As he walked toward door number 3, he made eye contact with the other candidates. They all had the same tense expression on their faces. When they passed through the door, they found themselves in a large, modern conference room. One wall was made entirely of glass and offered a magnificent view of the gateway area.
Just as they were about to take their seats, the door opened and someone entered. Everyone in the room held their breath. Boran had only seen this man before in videos and news. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a scar on his face from his legendary battle...
The girl next to him whispered: "Is... is that really him?"
Someone else murmured: "Yes, Mariusz Kowalski... Poland's Sword Master..."
Boran's heart stopped for a moment. "Kowalski?" he repeated. "Mariusz Kowalski?"
A tall, broad-shouldered man stood before him. The thin scar on his face and his piercing gaze were enough to identify him - Poland's legendary warrior Mariusz Kowalski. Behind him was a team of three more people, all wearing gate officer uniforms.
"Welcome," said Kowalski in accented but understandable Turkish. "I'll be taking care of you today. I need to share some important information before you enter the gateway."
Boran and the other eight candidates began listening carefully. Kowalski first clasped his hands behind his back and began walking slowly around the room.
"When you pass through the gateway... you'll feel something you've never felt before in your life. It's as if a power sleeping inside you will awaken. Some describe it as a warm wave, others like an electric shock... But they all agree it's the most unforgettable moment of their lives." He paused and swept his eyes over each candidate. "In my own experience... it was like a volcano erupting inside me. I understood what I wanted in that moment. I formed a special bond with my sword before I even picked it up. It was no longer just a weapon, but a part of my body."
"The system will suggest the most suitable class for you, but your desires are what matter. Because the higher your compatibility with the chosen class, the more powerful you'll become." Kowalski started walking again. "However, don't obsess too much about compatibility. Compatibility can decrease as well as increase. Even if you struggle at first, over time you'll become 100% compatible with the class you choose."
"Now, which class are you thinking about? You start first." He pointed at Boran.
Boran cleared his throat. The dozens of classes he'd thought about last night came to mind. "I..." he began, "I'm still thinking… honestly, I'm not entirely sure."
Kowalski nodded understandingly. "What about you?" he asked, turning to the candidate next to him.
"I want to be a healer," said the girl next to him excitedly. "I'm very interested in helping people."
"I'm thinking about the berserker class," said the large-built young man in the back row. "Fighting on the front lines with a massive sword is just my style."
Kowalski smiled. "I see you all have specific classes in mind. But let me tell you a secret - when the system activates, alongside the dozens of classes you've thought about, classes you've never even considered will appear before you. And at that moment... That moment you'll instinctively know which path to choose."
"Now follow me. The gateway awaits us."
The group followed Kowalski into a wide corridor. As they progressed along the corridor, the energy in the air grew increasingly dense. Boran's hair stood on end. He felt slight tingling on his skin, as if there was an invisible electric current.
And finally they saw it - the Gateway. A massive, oval-shaped portal hung suspended in the air. Blue and purple energy waves danced along its edges, while deep darkness extended from its center. Hundreds of rune symbols blinked around the gateway, keeping the portal in balance.
"When you enter..." said Kowalski, "completely let yourself go. Don't resist. The system will scan you and reveal your potential. But when I say let yourself go, don't collapse on the ground. Most people drop to the ground when they start feeling their powers. Just stay relaxed, that's enough."
Boran took a deep breath and took his first step. As he approached the gateway, he felt something being drawn from within him. It was as if every cell in his body was vibrating. When he stood before the portal, he noticed his heart was beating as if it would burst from his chest.
And then he let himself enter. The first sensation was like floating in an endless void. Then, tiny points of light exploding at every point in his body... It was as if liquid light was flowing through all his veins. Thousands of images, thousands of possibilities danced in his mind. Wizards, warriors, healers, assassins... And classes he had never heard of, never even imagined...
As Boran's consciousness floated in this cosmic dance, every particle of his body was awakening. It was as if a giant power that had been sleeping until now was opening its eyes within him.
And then he saw it - an endless hub, a massive central station. The portal had brought him here. The view before his eyes was breathtaking. Under crystal domes, countless portals were arranged like a galaxy. Each was a gateway to a different world, a different adventure.
Among columns thousands of meters high, people moved like ants. Thousands of people from different classes: knights in shining armor, wizards with flowing cloaks, assassins melding with shadows, healers with glowing staves... All heading their own ways.
Some portals rose like massive towers, while others opened into dark dungeons. In the distance, crimson portals opening to dragon lairs were visible. On the other side, bluish gateways leading to glacial realms sparkled. Each portal indicated its destination with runic inscriptions.
At the center of the hub was a massive information center. Holographic maps hung suspended in the air, showing the path to each portal.
Boran's head spun. So many choices, so many paths... And all were open to him. If only he could choose the right class. If only he could find his own path. While the echoes of the system scan still continued in his mind, he watched the endless possibilities before his eyes.