[Location: National Hunter Academy - The Grand Awakening Plaza]
[Time: 09:00 AM]
[Current Status: Hated by Everyone]
The National Hunter Academy wasn't just a school; it was a fortress built to withstand the apocalypse.
Massive walls made of black obsidian towered hundreds of feet into the air, etched with glowing runic arrays. Floating islands hovered above the main campus, connected by bridges of pure light. It was a breathtaking display of magic and wealth.
However, Ryan didn't care about the architecture. He cared about the stares.
Thousands of new students were gathered in the massive 'Grand Awakening Plaza'. They were the cream of the crop—sons of guild masters, daughters of magical families, and geniuses awakened with S-Rank talents. They wore shimmering armor, silk robes woven with mana threads, and accessories worth more than Ryan's entire life.
And then, there was Ryan.
He stood in the middle of the crowd wearing a faded grey hoodie (which still smelled faintly of the dumpster from yesterday), jeans with a hole in the knee, and a pair of cheap sneakers.
He stuck out like a sore thumb. Or rather, like a cockroach at a wedding.
"Is that him?"
"The 'Special Recruit' Director Malik invited?"
"He looks like he cleans the toilets here."
"I heard he knocked out Brad with a dirty trick. He has no mana."
The whispers weren't quiet. They were meant for him to hear.
Ryan stood with his hands in his pockets, chewing on a piece of gum he found in his pocket.
[System Notification: Host is receiving negative emotions from 1,450 targets.]
[Passive Farming: +1 Fear Point... +1 Fear Point...]
"Keep hating, rich kids," Ryan thought, smirking. "You're just filling my wallet."
On the massive raised platform at the front, a stern old man with a beard that reached his knees stepped forward. This was Professor Ironwood, the Head of the Testing Department.
Beside him floated the pride of the Academy: The Origin Crystal.
It was a massive, diamond-shaped artifact the size of a truck, hovering silently. It hummed with a power that made the air vibrate.
"Silence!" Professor Ironwood's voice boomed like thunder, amplified by magic.
The crowd instantly quieted down.
"Today, you prove your worth," Ironwood announced. "The Origin Crystal does not lie. It measures your Mana Capacity and your Soul Potential. Touch the crystal. Your future color will decide your fate."
"White: E-Rank (Fodder)"
"Green: D-Rank (Soldier)"
"Blue: C-Rank (Elite)"
"Purple: B-Rank (General)"
"Gold: A-Rank (Legend)"
"If the crystal does not react... you will be expelled immediately. The Academy does not feed parasites."
The testing began.
One by one, students walked up.
"Candidate 1: High Noble Arthur!"
Arthur touched the crystal. It glowed a bright Purple.
"B-Rank! Excellent! Class A!"
The crowd cheered.
"Candidate 15: Sarah Vance!"
Blue.
"C-Rank! Class B!"
Time passed. Ryan watched boredly. He was hungry again.
Finally, after three hours of waiting under the hot sun:
"Candidate 404: Ryan!"
The crowd erupted into hushed giggles.
"404? Error Not Found?"
"Perfect number for a mistake like him."
Ryan walked up the marble stairs. He could feel the pressure of thousands of eyes on his back.
Agent Zoya was watching from the VIP stands, looking nervous. Director Malik was leaning forward, his eyes sharp.
Ryan stood in front of the massive Origin Crystal. Up close, it was intimidating. The mana radiating from it felt like standing next to a furnace.
Professor Ironwood looked at Ryan with unparalleled disgust. He didn't even hide it.
"Place your hand," Ironwood spat. "Don't waste my time. You have 10 seconds before I throw you out."
Ryan looked at the old man.
"You know, stress causes hair loss," Ryan said helpfully. "Oh wait, you're already bald on top."
Ironwood's face turned red. "TOUCH IT!"
Ryan shrugged. He raised his right hand.
Please don't explode, Ryan prayed to his System. Just give me a passing grade.
He pressed his palm against the cold, smooth surface of the crystal.
[System Notification: External High-Energy Source Detected.]
[The Object is attempting to scan Host's 'Mana Core'.]
[Error: Host has no Mana Core.]
The crystal remained dormant. No light. Nothing.
One second.
Two seconds.
Five seconds.
The crowd started laughing.
"Haha! I knew it!"
"He's a Muggle! A normal human!"
"Get off the stage, trash!"
Ironwood smirked. "Time's up. You are expell—"
[System Alert: Host is being humiliated.]
[System Solution: Override Protocol.]
[Activating 'Energy Absorption'. Converting 'Origin Mana' into 'Fear Energy'.]
Suddenly, Ryan felt a suction force from his palm.
His System wasn't outputting energy to be measured. It was eating the crystal's energy.
Hummmmm...
A low, deep vibration started inside the crystal. It wasn't the happy hum of mana. It was the sound of something breaking.
The laughter in the crowd died down.
"Wait... look at the light."
A faint light appeared deep inside the crystal.
But it wasn't White, Green, Blue, or Gold.
It was Black.
Pitch black. Like ink dropped into clear water, the darkness swirled and expanded, eating the light around it.
"What... what is that?" Ironwood stepped back, his eyes wide. "That color... it's not in the manual."
[System Notification: Absorbing Mana... +500 Fear Points... +1000 Fear Points...]
[Battery Charge: 200%]
The crystal started to shake. The floating platform trembled.
Cracks appeared on the surface of the indestructible artifact.
CRACK.
CRACK.
"Stop!" Ironwood screamed, realizing what was happening. "It's overloading! Remove your hand!"
"I can't!" Ryan shouted, putting on his best Oscar-winning performance. He pretended to pull his hand back. "It's sucking me in! Help! It's eating me!"
(In reality, Ryan was thinking: More! Give me more points!)
The black light consumed the entire crystal. The sky above the Academy darkened. Thunder rumbled.
For a moment, everyone felt a primal fear—like a predator was looking at them from the void.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive explosion of black energy blasted outward.
Professor Ironwood was thrown backward, his barrier shattering like glass. He tumbled down the stairs.
The students in the front row were knocked off their feet by the shockwave.
Smoke covered the stage.
Silence.
Complete, terrified silence.
As the smoke cleared, Ryan was standing there, unharmed.
The massive Origin Crystal... was gone. Reduced to a pile of grey dust on the floor.
Ryan dusted off his hoodie. He looked at the pile of dust, then at the terrified Professor Ironwood.
"Oops," Ryan said, his voice echoing in the silent plaza. "I think I pressed too hard. Do you have a spare one?"
[System Notification: You have destroyed a National Treasure.]
[Fear Points Gained: 5,000]
[Reputation: 'Disaster' established.]
From the VIP balcony, Director Malik started laughing. A loud, manic laugh.
"Incredible! He drained it! He didn't just pass the test; he ate the test!"
Malik grabbed the microphone.
"Result: Inconclusive!" Malik announced. "But since he destroyed the equipment... we cannot measure his rank."
Ironwood climbed back up, his beard singed. "Director! He destroyed the Origin Crystal! He must be executed! Or expelled!"
"Nonsense," Malik grinned. "He has potential. But... since we can't rank him, and he caused property damage..."
Malik looked at Ryan.
"Ryan, you are assigned to Class F. The Special Class."
The crowd, recovering from the shock, erupted into chaos.
"Class F?"
"The Trash Class?"
"The class for rejects and cripples?"
"Hahaha! He broke the machine and got sent to the dump!"
Ryan didn't care about their mockery. He checked his System balance.
5,000 Points.
He was rich.
He smiled at Ironwood. "Class F sounds cozy. Do they have room service?"
Ryan walked off the stage, leaving a trail of stunned silence and confusion behind him. The 'Trash Recruit' had just made the grandest entrance in the history of the Academy.