(Alistair's POV)
The ocean stretched endlessly before me, a vast expanse of deep blue waters shimmering under the afternoon sun.
The cruise ship I was on was massive, built like a floating city, carrying hundreds of aspiring hunters, mages, and warriors toward Grand Arcanum Academy Island.
The academy, a place where elites were forged, where those with talent either thrived or were crushed.
I stood at the railing, gazing at the horizon, lost in thought.
I had played this game before.
Or rather, Ethan had.
Cliché garbage.
But the world-building?
That was the one thing I had always respected.
And Grand Arcanum Academy?
It was one of the most safest and dangerous places in the game.
Despite being a school, it wasn't a place where students sat in classrooms learning theory.
It was a battlefield.
A survival ground where only the strongest students graduated.
And those who were too weak?
They were discarded.
Either expelled or killed in training exercises.
And the academy didn't care.
Because that was what the world required—hunters, not weaklings.
And now?
Now, I was going there.
Not as the protagonist.
Not as an important character.
But as an extra.
A nobody.
At least, that's what the world still thought I was.
That was fine.
For now.
Because that would make my rise even better.
***
The ship was filled with aspiring students, each one hoping to carve their own legend at the academy.
Some were commoners, awakened individuals seeking to rise above their status.
Others were nobles, wearing expensive uniforms, their expressions filled with arrogance.
And a handful?
They were monsters in disguise—future prodigies, individuals destined to become S-rank hunters or top-class warriors.
In the game, some of these people would be early rivals or allies of the protagonist.
I recognized a few of them, though they didn't know who I was yet.
***
I had three objectives.
1. Survive.
The academy was filled with faction wars,and brutal ranking battles.
It didn't matter if you were a noble or commoner—if you were weak, you were prey.
2. Grow Stronger.
The academy had resources that were impossible to get anywhere else.
Dungeon training, ancient relics, combat instructors that had fought against S-rank monsters.
3. Find Out if Sofia is Here.
That was the most uncertain factor.
If she had been dragged into this world along with me, then where was she? If she was in this world she surely would like to see game she played, in reality with her own eyes.
And grand Arcanum Academy was where first half of story will unfold.If she was at the academy, I would find her.
And if she wasn't?
Then I would turn the world upside down until I did.
****
I turned away from the railing, heading back toward my private cabin.
The academy was still days away, and I had preparations to make.
***
FEW DAYS LATER-
The roar of waves greeted me as the massive cruise ship finally docked at Grand Arcanum Academy Island.
After days of travel, we had arrived.
The ship's loudspeakers blared instructions, and the passengers—aspiring hunters, warriors, and mages—began to disembark, each one filled with anticipation or anxiety.
I moved through the crowd, stepping onto solid ground for the first time in days.
The island was massive, far larger than I had imagined.
And it wasn't just the academy.
A city was built around it.
A place known as First City.
Unlike the capitals of major empires, First City wasn't just a place of politics or trade.
It was a city designed for survival.
The streets were wide, lined with mana-powered streetlights that illuminated the pathways even during the day. Roads stretched in every direction, leading toward different districts that served specific purposes.
Above me, I could see floating platforms, likely meant for airborne transportation and surveillance. Automatons and golems patrolled the area, ensuring order while powerful individuals moved about.
And beyond the city?
The looming walls of Grand Arcanum Academy.
Even from here, I could feel it.
An oppressive aura that seemed to watch all who entered.
***
First City wasn't a simple marketplace or town.
It was divided into four main districts, each catering to the needs of students, hunters, and warriors.
1. The Combat District – A place filled with battle arenas, training grounds, and combat simulations. Even before stepping into the academy, students could test their strength here. Some private dueling coliseums even had life-and-death battles.
2. The Trade District – A massive marketplace where rare weapons, artifacts, and enchanted equipment were sold. Unlike ordinary cities, First City had access to dungeons and ruins, so some of the items here were legendary-grade or higher.
3. The Residential District – Not just for students but also for staff, researchers, and top hunters who lived on the island. Many hidden factions had bases here, using the city as a cover for their operations.
4. The Academy Gates – The entrance to Hunter Academy itself. A heavily guarded checkpoint where only students or high-ranking personnel were allowed to pass. Enormous mana barriers and anti-teleportation enchantments ensured that no one unauthorized could enter
Even without using my perception skills, I could tell that First City was crawling with monsters.
Not literal ones.
People.
B rank hunters, high-ranked nobles, retired war veterans, genius students.
Some were quiet, walking with restrained auras, their strength hidden beneath a layer of control.
Others were arrogant, openly flaunting their power, their mana signatures flaring like beacons for everyone to see.
This wasn't just a place where students came to train.
It was a gathering ground for some of the most dangerous people in the world.
****
I made my way toward the academy entrance, where lines of students were being processed.
A magic inscription circle was placed beneath each newcomer's feet, scanning for forged identities, hidden weapons, or illegal criminal records.
Interesting.
In the game, this checkpoint was merely a scripted event.
But now?
It felt far more… oppressive.
As I stepped onto the magic circle, a system
notification appeared on the screen before me.
[Scanning…]
[High-level abyssal energy detected.]
[Bloodline: Noble (Disowned) detected.]
[No forged identity found.]
[Approved.]
The circle flashed, and the academy guard—an older awakened with a scarred face—narrowed his eyes at me for a brief second before nodding.
"Welcome to Grand Arcanum Academy," he said, his voice neutral but carrying the weight of someone who had seen too many deaths.
I walked past him, entering through the academy gates.
And as I did, I felt it.
A shift.
As if I had crossed into another world.
TO BE CONTINUE....