In the vast academy courtyard, students gathered in organized rows, murmurs of excitement filling the air and eyes shimmering with anticipation. The long-awaited day had arrived the annual ranking results would be announced, and the top three students would be honored before everyone.
On the elevated platform stood the academy's director, a dignified man with a gray beard and sharp eyes, dressed in formal robes that reflected the prestige of the institution. Beside him were the evaluation committee and subject professors, each holding envelopes containing the names that would soon be revealed.
Tension filled the atmosphere. Some students stood firm and confident, while others bit their lips nervously or fidgeted anxiously. Among them, a young man with black hair and worried eyes stood in the back rows. His name was Kyle.
Kyle tried to appear normal, but he felt cold sweat trickling down his neck. He knew that any mistake could expose him, and today was filled with risks. If he was called to the front as one of the top-ranked students, it would be the last thing he wanted.
The director raised his hand, and silence fell over the courtyard.
"Dear students of the academy, you have worked hard this year and overcome challenges with determination. Now, the time has come to announce the top three students who excelled in their performance and demonstrated exceptional skills!"
One of the professors stepped forward, holding a golden envelope. He opened it slowly, while Kyle felt as if his heart was about to leap out of his chest.
"Third place… Alistair Drakemore!"
Cheers erupted as a tall young man with blonde hair stepped onto the platform, a proud smile on his face. He shook hands with the director, who congratulated him warmly, and received the bronze excellence badge.
"Second place… Zenith Ragnarok!"
A young man with black hair and confident gray eyes stepped forward, the applause of the students echoing loudly. He accepted his silver badge and bowed respectfully.
Kyle licked his lips, trying to calm himself. "There's no way I'm first… Impossible!"
But the professor continued reading from the envelope.
"And finally, the top-ranked student this year is… Kyle Rivers!"
His breath stopped. He froze in place as if struck by lightning. The applause, the cheers, and all the students' eyes were now on him. He had no choice but to step forward.
Moving hesitantly, he tried to maintain his composure. He felt as though every gaze pierced through him, as if everyone could see what he was hiding.
As he climbed the platform, the director smiled and handed him the golden excellence badge. "Great job, Kyle. You have proven that you truly deserve this title."
He tried to mumble a thank you, but his voice almost choked. This wasn't expected… and it wasn't in his favor. He was now in the spotlight, which would make his mission much harder.
Among the crowd, a formally dressed man was watching him closely one of the academy's senior officials. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Kyle felt a shiver run down his spine. Did they know? Was his exposure now only a matter of time?
Amidst the cheers and celebration, his mind raced at breakneck speed. He needed to find a way out of this predicament… and fast.
Amidst the thunderous applause and enthusiastic cheers, Kyle found himself in a situation he was completely unprepared for. His steps toward the platform were heavy, carrying the weight of his possible exposure. His mind buzzed with worst-case scenarios, and the closer he got to the director, the stronger his sense of danger grew.
When he reached the platform, he turned to face the crowd. Hundreds of eyes were fixed on him some full of admiration, others brimming with envy, while a few seemed to pierce through him, searching for any flaw in his demeanor.
The director, with his dignified smile, extended the golden excellence badge to him. "Great job, Kyle. You have proven that you truly deserve this title."
Kyle tried to maintain control, slowly extending his hand to take the badge, feeling its cold surface against his palm. He bowed slightly in respect and said in a calm voice, "Thank you. It is a great honor."
But inside, everything was falling apart. How did this happen? How did he surpass all the students without even trying? Was there a mistake? Or were they suspicious of him and trying to trap him?
As he stepped down from the platform, he noticed the official still watching him. He wasn't just a professor he was one of the academy's senior officials. His cold eyes studied Kyle intently, sending another shiver through his body. This wasn't just a congratulation. It was an evaluation.
Kyle returned to the students' ranks, trying not to show any tension. Beside him, Alistair, the third-place student, whispered playfully, "I didn't think you'd take first place, but I guess you surprised us all!"
Kyle forced a smile. "Yeah… even I didn't expect it."
Selena Morgan, who ranked tenth, gave him a sharp look as if trying to uncover something. She spoke in a neutral tone, "You don't seem very happy about winning. Would you have preferred second place?"
Kyle felt a pang in his chest of course, she had to notice. He quickly responded, "No, it's not that. I just… wasn't ready for this moment." He said it while averting his gaze, trying to avoid her piercing stare.
Before anyone could continue the conversation, the director resumed speaking in a booming voice: "And now, after honoring the top three, we will proceed with awarding the rest of the outstanding students!"
Professors moved forward carrying more envelopes, calling out the names of students who had achieved good rankings. Each student who stepped onto the platform received their badge amidst applause and encouragement.
Kyle watched silently, trying to grasp his new situation. He hadn't planned on standing out like this. He preferred to remain in the shadows, observing and gathering information. But now, he had become the center of attention.
As he pondered his next move, the senior official suddenly stepped forward and stood beside the director, then took the microphone.
"Before we conclude the ceremony, I would like to address the top-ranked student." He looked directly at Kyle and then gestured toward him. "Kyle, would you come forward?"
Kyle felt as if the ground had swallowed him, but he had no choice. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward once again. The crowd fell silent, watching intently.
The official spoke in a calm yet authoritative voice: "Kyle, you have demonstrated exceptional skills this year, and your achievement was no mere coincidence. Therefore, we would like to offer you a special opportunity."
Kyle swallowed hard. "An opportunity…?"
"Yes. We want you to join the academy's Advanced Research Division. It's a special program reserved for elite students, and you will be working under our direct supervision."
That was the worst news he could receive. Direct supervision meant constant surveillance, meaning he wouldn't be able to move freely. It would be closer to imprisonment than an academic honor.
But he had to tread carefully. He tried to show natural surprise, then said, "I… this is a great honor. But I wasn't expecting this at all. May I have some time to think about it?"
The official scrutinized him for a moment before smiling. "Of course. Take your time, but don't delay your decision. We need talents like yours in our ranks."
Kyle nodded and returned to his place, but inside, anxiety burned. He was cornered, and he had to find a way out… fast.
As the ceremony ended and students began to disperse, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to find Selena staring at him with narrowed eyes.
"Kyle... there's something that doesn't seem right about your story. How did you achieve all this without anyone noticing you all year?"
He tried to maintain his composure. "Maybe I worked in silence and let my results speak for themselves?"
She smiled faintly, but it wasn't a smile of trust it was more of a challenge. "Maybe. But I'll be watching you closely, Kyle. I hope I don't find anything... unexpected."
She left, and he felt as if a net was tightening around him. Time was not on his side, and he had to find a way to escape before everyone realized the truth.
As he gazed at the horizon, he realized he was facing the greatest challenge of his life surviving within the academy without being exposed.
But amidst the intense atmosphere, there was another person experiencing something entirely different. Valerian Lockard, who had ranked fourth, stood motionless, conflicting emotions raging inside him. His fist was clenched, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the bronze badge held by Alistair Drakemore.
"Fourth place..." he muttered to himself. "I was just one step away."
Valerian had been working tirelessly, honing his skills and pushing himself to new limits. Yet, it wasn't enough to claim the badge of excellence. He knew he was close to breaking through to a new level, but he hadn't reached it yet, and that was what had held him back.
But instead of anger or frustration, he felt something else an unshakable determination. This wasn't the end of the road; it was the beginning of a new challenge. He had to overcome this barrier, break the chains that held him back.
As soon as the ceremony ended, Valerian withdrew silently, heading to his private training hall. The room was isolated from the rest of the academy, equipped with the best tools to aid his development.
He sat in the center of the hall, taking a deep breath, trying to calm his mind. Then he closed his eyes and began to sense his inner energy. He felt it flowing through his body, but it was unstable, like a barrier preventing his progress.
"No more limits, no more hesitation. This moment is mine."
He started pushing his energy, trying to break through the barrier that had stood in his way for so long. Pain surged through his body, but he had no intention of giving up. He pressed harder, deeper, until he felt something change.
Suddenly, an immense surge of power flooded through him, as if chains that had bound him had shattered all at once. His eyes snapped open, a pure aura of energy surrounding his body.
He had succeeded.
He had broken through to the next rank.
It felt as if he was seeing the world from a different perspective, his senses sharper, his reflexes faster. Taking a deep breath, he tested the newfound sensation coursing through him.
Slowly, he stood up, then raised his hand, focusing his energy into his palm. A spark of energy formed stronger and denser than ever before. This wasn't just progress; it was a massive leap in power.
A cold smile appeared on his lips. "Fourth place? That's fine... but next time, no one will stand ahead of me."
With this newfound strength, Valerian realized his journey to the top had only just begun. Nothing could hold him back anymore, and he had no intention of stopping until he achieved his goal.
Finally, he looked at the glowing screen before him:
[Name: Valerian Lockard]
[Rank: Trainee (Low)]
[Talent: Inferior]
[Skills: Fate Theft – Level 2, Enhanced Senses]
[Number of thefts per day: 2]
"How did my level rise so suddenly, my skill?" Valerian stroked his chin in thought.
Later that Night
In a quiet room, illuminated only by the moonlight seeping through a narrow window, Zenith sat on a wooden chair. His cold eyes were fixed on the sword leaning against the wall, while his thoughts echoed in his mind like the calm before a storm.
Suddenly, without warning, a black glowing screen materialized before him, as if tearing through the void. He didn't even blink—he simply observed the words forming in front of him:
[Name: Zenith Ragnarok]
[Rank: Sealed]
[Talent: Sealed]
[Skills:]
Abyss Limit: Within his domain, the hit rate is 100%.
Seal: A technique that suppresses power and locks it away.
His eyes showed no surprise; he had seen this screen many times before. But today, it was different. Today, a name floated in the depths of his mind, stirring a hidden disturbance beneath his composed exterior.
He stood up calmly and picked up his sword with a smooth motion. It was simple in appearance, yet it held an unfathomable power.
Zenith walked with steady steps, opening his door to find himself in a long corridor where light and shadow danced in silent harmony.
At the end of it, a mysterious man stood, a dark aura surrounding him. But Zenith didn't need more details. This was the one he had been searching for or perhaps, the one who had been searching for him.
"You're late," a voice spoke from the darkness.
"Time is irrelevant when fate is inevitable," Zenith replied coldly.
No more words were needed. His sword moved, and as it entered his domain, the concept of chance disappeared. Every strike would be lethal. Every move was predetermined. There was no room for error, no chance to escape.
The enemy realized this too late. His eyes widened for a brief moment before his body vanished under a storm of precise attacks. There was no scream, only the sound of wind cutting through the air as everything ended in an instant.
Zenith stood there, staring into the void as droplets of blood slowly dripped from his blade. He felt no victory, no loss just that unsettling feeling that had lingered since he first saw that screen.
Then, for the first time in a long while, his expression changed. His narrowed eyes held something different something beyond his usual cold detachment. There was a trace of buried emotion, a memory long forgotten.
He whispered in a voice barely audible, yet carrying an undeniable weight:
"I will find you in this life... no matter what it takes."