The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of Rufus Knox's modest room, brushing against the edges of his desk where the notes from yesterday's Awakening Ceremony still lay. He stretched and yawned, already feeling the weight of the plan forming in his mind. Today was the day he would take the first real step toward the future he had envisioned. A future where he wouldn't just survive — he would command, shape, and leave a mark far greater than anyone else could imagine.
After a brief breakfast with his parents, they congratulated him once more on achieving a B-tier talent — no small feat in a world where powers ranged from F-tier to triple S. His father's eyes gleamed with pride, though shaded with caution. "Rufus, remember, a B-tier talent isn't a guarantee. You have to work harder than anyone else to reach what you want."
His mother smiled softly, worry creasing her brow. "Just… be careful, dear. Don't push yourself too far too fast."
He nodded. "I understand." Inside, though, his mind was already racing, calculating, planning. He had a vision, and no caution could stop him.
He had received 100,000 credits from his father — a generous start, roughly equivalent to ten million in today's terms. But that amount alone wouldn't be enough. Not for what he had in mind. Not for the start of a mercenary legion that would one day evolve into a guild of unrivaled strength.
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Rufus and Fred made their way to the city mall — a colossal structure alive with commerce, buzzing with those chasing their own ambitions. Neon lights reflected off polished glass floors, and everywhere, people moved with purpose, buying, selling, and competing for advantage. At the arms section, Rufus carefully selected ten first-order swords — plain to the untrained eye, but perfect as a foundation. With the remainder of his credits, he purchased Monster Cores, the concentrated energy of defeated beasts, shimmering with latent power.
Before they parted ways, Rufus turned to Fred. "I want you to come with me," he said firmly, meeting his friend's skeptical gaze. "Not to university, not to the exams — I'm building something bigger. A force of soldiers under my command. You and I — we'll grow stronger together, and I'll make sure your talent doesn't go to waste."
Fred's eyes widened slightly. He was a C-tier talent — enough to make an average student competitive, but nothing remarkable. Yet Rufus' conviction and vision stirred something within him. He considered the college entrance exam ahead, a battlefield where students fought to rank and secure their future. Then he looked at Rufus. "Alright… I'll trust you," he said finally, a grin tugging at his lips. "But I better not regret this."
Rufus nodded, the faintest smirk forming. "You won't. Just follow my lead."
With that, they separated. Fred headed toward the city arena where the college entrance exam — a spectacle broadcast across the nation — was about to begin. The massive hall shimmered with light and energy, students taking their positions on the battlefield, the crowd roaring with excitement. Holographic displays projected live rankings and scores, showing combatants facing off in intense duels. It was a chaotic, thrilling scene, viral across all media, a testament to the competitive nature of this world. Fred disappeared into the throng, his own excitement tempered by Rufus' words.
Meanwhile, Rufus turned back toward the quiet of his home. Here, there were no spectators, no distractions. Only his mind, the ten first-order swords, and the Monster Cores that pulsed with energy. He arranged the swords carefully and activated his power — the Dominion Core — channeling the raw essence from the Monster Cores into Essence Spheres. Each sphere hovered and pulsed, imbued with potential far beyond the swords' mundane forms.
Rufus merged the energy into each blade with precision, condensing, reshaping, and enhancing them. Within hours, the ten first-order swords had evolved into third-order weapons, perfect as the initial arsenal for his future legion. He stepped back, eyes scanning the glowing blades, already envisioning how they would arm his soldiers, allow even the weakest recruits to strike far beyond their natural limits, and solidify his growing power.
The quiet room hummed with energy, the faint glow of the swords casting shadows across the floor. This was just the first step, but it was a concrete one — the foundation of a force no one had yet imagined. Rufus smiled faintly. The vision of his future, a thousand soldiers under his command, and the rise of a legion began to take shape in his mind.