Ray slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the harsh light of a ceiling lamp. "Huh, where am I?" he muttered, his head pounding with pain. The memories came rushing back—the moment he died in the trial before he could even strike. Fear knotted in his chest. How am I alive? Where am I? he wondered aloud.
Looking around, he noticed sterile white walls and medical equipment. "Looks like a hospital room," Ray said cautiously.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Grey Ford walked in, his expression unreadable. "Looks like you woke up, kid," Ford said. "You're right—this is a hospital. The instructor brought you here when you lost consciousness."
Ray struggled to steady himself as he gazed at Ford. "Principal… where was I unconscious? How did I get here? I can't really remember," Ray replied carefully, hiding the full truth.
Ford pulled out a chair and sat nearby. "You probably died in the trial zone," he explained, "But people who die there don't truly perish. They're transported outside, back to this world, healed. Judging from how you look, you died in the trial."
Ray nodded slowly, piecing it together. So that's why I came back… he thought. Then he turned to B in his mind, "Did you know all this?"
B's voice came with a smirk. "Of course I knew. If I didn't, I'd have at least warned or saved you. Don't think I'm heartless—you know I'm not that bad a Raspel."
Ford's tone grew serious as he leaned forward slightly. "Ray, I need you to tell me honestly— what rank is your Raspel? And what about your system?"
Ray's eyes widened in surprise at the question. After a moment of thought, he answered smoothly, "I have an A-plus rank Raspel and an A-plus rank system."
He kept quiet about the S-rank truth—it was too unbelievable to say outright.
Ford's face lit up with stunned happiness. "An A-plus rank system and Raspel! You're a prodigy, one who appears only once in a hundred years. You might be the one to save everyone…"
Ford's eyes gleamed as he asked, "What attribute does your Raspel have?"
Ray responded plainly, "It's multi-attribute."
Ford's shock deepened—multi-attribute Raspels were incredibly rare. Looking at Ray, Ford saw not just power but potential—a man who could become the perfect human being.
Ford quickly masked his excitement behind a calm expression. "That's good," he said, settling into a more neutral tone. "I have high hopes from you now." He paused before continuing in a measured voice. "You have won the trial, Ray. Soon, you will receive your rewards. Come to the auditorium when called; you will be transported to the vault from there."
Without another word, Ford turned and left the hospital room, leaving Ray alone with the quiet hum of the machines.
Ray let out a long breath, the tension slowly draining from his body. As the door clicked shut, he turned to B with a mixture of frustration and relief. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? If you knew I wasn't dead, I was fighting for my life in there! That samurai…it felt like he was something else, beyond normal."
B's reply was calm but firm. "Look, if I'd told you the truth right away, you might have lost hope and given up on the fight. Sometimes it's better not to know everything, especially when it might break your spirit before the real battle. And that samurai? He might have been strong, but compared to the humans from hundreds of years ago, he was nothing. They were on a whole different level, leagues above."
Ray weighed B's words carefully.
"You've got a long road ahead, kid," B continued. "I don't know how you'll handle the power once you gain it, but remember this—never let it consume you. Power can change a person, twist their heart and mind. Stay true to yourself, no matter what happens."
Ray nodded slowly, feeling the weight of that warning settle alongside his newfound strength. The journey was just beginning, and the real challenge was not just the battles outside—but the battles within.