Jason stood at the very edge of the skyscraper. The city lights below shimmered like a swarm of ants, but only one thought occupied his mind: weariness. The truth that life was nothing but a meaningless repetition had tightened around his soul like a noose.
He let himself fall into the void. The wind roared in his ears as gravity pulled him rapidly into the darkness. But the hard impact he expected did not happen. Time slowed, sounds faded. Kaiser found himself in an infinite void.
"Not yet," said a deep, echoing voice.
Before Jason could respond, he felt a sharp push in his chest. When he opened his eyes, he was shaken by the weight pressing down on him. A hard ground, the sharp smell of rust and blood filling his nose...
"Sorry," said a voice. When Jason lifted his head, he found himself face to face with a man covered in dust, looking at him with a mocking smile. The man acted as if he hadn't just pushed him to his death.
Kaiser quickly sat up and looked around. He froze at the sight before him:
1 Location: This was not a modern city, but a massive stone arena.
2 Crowd: Thousands of people were watching below, screaming wildly.
Academy Teacher: At the top, sitting in gold-embroidered chairs, were the cold-eyed director and two stern teachers standing beside him.
He looked around, then pinched his hands and himself, and with the pain he felt, he realized it was real. He didn't understand what was happening, nor what he was experiencing.
A panic appeared in his eyes, and
n-n What's going on? he raised his voice. The crowd around him looked at him. He felt a little embarrassed and immediately stepped aside. From behind,
Who's that? Is he sick?
Ignoring these voices, he stepped into a corner and looked at the light there.
--Kaiser--
Ability Potential B
Magic Power B
Magic Energy C
Attack F
Speed E
Stamina F
Defense F
Element: Ice and DESTRUCTION???
Core Stage Level 1 low level
----------
Blessing
EX Level ???
Unknown
Blessing More aggressive than everyone else E level
Description Speed stat increases by 2 levels for 10 seconds, cooldown 30 minutes
Magic
Ice Arrows
Ice Bomb
These spells, these blessings, and the person in front of me was the emperor's only daughter. When he saw her, he realized where he was. This was the world of the novel, his favorite world, and now he was at the hero academy. The strongest of the human kingdoms, the place that declared itself an empire, the talent assessment and class placement exam. This is the place.
Head Instructor Thorne began speaking in the middle of the arena, and the adults performing around him stopped.
"Throne, as you know, this is the first hero's academy, his final work and the place where hopes end.
There are many students here, both good and bad. You have all passed stage 1. Those who lose in stage 2 are eliminated and leave, while the winners join the academy." He spoke with a rogue-like attitude, showing his sharp teeth. Some asked, "Is this real? If we lose, will all our efforts be gone?"
Others roared and supported Throne. The list was announced, and Kaiser looked at the list. 892. His name was written there.
A person without a last name.
Half of these students will pass. Don't you think it's fun, Instructor Elara?
Elara just nodded silently and looked down.
At that moment, the names of the main character and Alvator Elion came up. They were going to duel. The main character
and later, in part 2, the villain Alvator Elion. One would be eliminated and one would remain. The main character was handsome,with blue eyes and blond hair. Alvator had red eyes and red hair. His father was the head of the Sukaschi clan.
Everything happened just like in the novel. At that moment, Kaiser watched as Alvator, with his arrogant, bleeding mouth, was forcibly removed by security guards.
This sword god was truly powerful.
Then his own name was mentioned: Elevore Lorian, ranked 760th, vs. Kaiser, ranked 812th.
Kaiser felt his heart race as his name was called. As he advanced toward the center of the arena, he sized up his opponent. Elevore Lorian was a young man who clearly came from a noble family, wearing silver-embroidered armor pieces and exuding confidence. He flicked his slender sword lightly in the air and shot Kaiser a condescending glance.
"Am I paired with a nobody who doesn't even have a last name?" said Elevore, raising his voice so everyone could hear. "Let's not waste the director's time. Just give up now."
Kaiser didn't respond. He clenched his fists to stop his hands from trembling. He visualized the status panel in his mind again:
Attack: F
Speed: E
Blessing: More Aggressive Than Anyone (E Level)
Thorne raised his hand: "BEGIN!"
Elevore lunged forward like a lion. His sword sliced through the air, heading straight for Kaiser's chest. Kaiser dodged to the side at the last moment, but the tip of the sword grazed his shoulder. Pain spread through his body like an electric shock.
"You can't escape!" Elevore shouted, preparing for a second attack.
Kaiser realized he was cornered. A single command echoed in his mind: [Blessing: More Aggressive Than Anyone - ACTIVE]
Time slowed down instantly. With a surge of power in Kaiser's legs, his Speed stat shot up two levels. Elevore's next move was now like a slow-motion film for Kaiser. Kaiser dodged his opponent's move and placed his hand on the ground.
"Ice... I'm casting a spell, awesome," he whispered. He thought of that dark writing on the element list:
The ground beneath his palm began to freeze instantly, but this was no ordinary ice; it was nearly black in color and began to pulverize everything it touched. "Ice Bomb!" he shouted.
The explosion sent Elevore flying into the air, and instead of ice shards, black crystals flew across the arena. When Elevore hit the ground hard, the entire arena fell silent.
"You trash! How dare you!" Elevore's cry echoed through the arena. The momentum created by his wind spell pierced Kaiser's shoulder, and the real pain spread through his veins like poison. Kaiser's scream caught in his throat, but he didn't stop. He pressed his palm against Elevore's face.
"Ice Bomb!"
The arena was engulfed in a white cloud of smoke with the explosion. Elevore had protected himself at the last moment with his wind shield, but he couldn't escape the ice arrows sneaking up behind him. When the crystal arrows pierced his calf, his noble pride was shattered.
Kaiser was gasping for breath, feeling the core inside him straining as if it would crack. "If my magic power weren't at level B, this core would have exploded already," he thought. His eyes were blurred with pain, but his mind was clear.
"Haa... My friend, it hurts like hell!" Kaiser shouted, under the shocked stares of the crowd. "It was Elevore, wasn't it? I'll crush you... You're just a stepping stone in my path!"
The crowd froze. "Is he insulting a noble?" "Ignorant peasant!" whispers rose; above, a curious smile appeared on the director's delicate lips. She didn't take her eyes off Kaiser.
Elevore activated his [Blessing: Energy Conservation] ability and lunged forward with one last move. His sword plunged into Kaiser's other shoulder. He knocked Kaiser to the ground, climbed on top of him, pressed down on his wounded arm, and held his sword to his throat. "I won, give up!" roared Elevore.
Kaiser smiled despite the blood trickling from his mouth. "If only my endurance and defense weren't so weak... But yours doesn't look too good either."
Before Elevore could comprehend what was happening, the ice arrows Kaiser had hidden on the field earlier pierced his back. Both lay on the ground, covered in blood. Kaiser whispered with his last ounce of strength: "I won... The ice bomb beneath you had already been set. It was my last bit of magical power, you understand?"
Elevore's eyes widened in horror. He tried to say something, but his consciousness faded.
Thorne's cry of "KAISER WON!" seemed to tear through the air in the arena. But the expected storm of applause did not come. Instead, a heavy, deafening silence fell as thousands of people held their breath simultaneously.
The Crowd's Reaction: The nobles in the stands looked at each other. "A civilian... An 'unknown' defeated the genius of the Lorian dynasty?" whispered an elderly duke. The students who had just called Kaiser 'sick' and "trash" now stared at the field with a mixture of fear and respect. Jason's (Kaiser's) final smile was etched into all their minds. This boy hadn't just won; he had taken the risk of death to eliminate his opponent.
Head Instructor Thorne: Thorne stepped into the center of the field and looked at the two bodies on the ground. He grinned, clenching his sharp teeth. Looking at Kaiser's shattered shoulders and exhausted core, he thought to himself, "There's madness in this child."
A group of academy medics arrived and took Kaiser away.
---------------------------------------------------
Kaiser
Name: Kaiser
Ability Potential: B
Magic Power: B
Magic Energy: C
Attack: F
Speed: E
Stamina: F+
Defense: F+
Element: Ice and DESTRUCTION???
Core Stage: Level 1 (Low Level)
------------------------------------------------------------
Looking at the hospital bed, there's not even a little progress, hahhh.
Kaiser sighed, looking at the development potential, at least it's not the worst.
Development potential is a wall, for example, an F-level development potential is not the same as an SSS-level hero's development potential. Potential only shows how fast you can get stronger.
But with 812 people in the exam, there are only six classes, layer upon layer.
To clarify the power balance in the Academy world and show what level Kaiser started at (or how much he needs to rise), I created a 6-class system from highest to lowest:
I wonder which class I'll be placed in. Probably, based on my performance, I'll be placed with the guards.
Imperial Hero Academy Class Hierarchy
1. S Class (Legendary Class - "Regents"):
Definition: The future leaders of the Empire, the main heroes, and those with the highest potential (S and above) are here.
Privilege: They receive one-on-one lessons from the best instructors and have unlimited access to magic resources. Generally, only high nobles and "Grace" holders can enter.
2. A Class (Elite Class - "Vanguards"):
Definition: This class consists of students with A or B+ potential and near-perfect combat skills.
Role: They are the academy's main striking force. Most children of noble families are in this class.
3. B Class (Rising Stars - "Strivers"):
Definition: This class consists of disciplined students with above-average talent.
Feature: Kaiser's current B potential actually makes him belong here, but his physical weakness (F stats) can complicate matters.
4. Class C (Sentinels):
Definition: The academy's most populous class. Consists of standard soldier and mage candidates with C potential.
Status: Most students join the army after graduation.
5. Class D (Supporters):
Definition: This class includes those with low combat skills but theoretical knowledge or support spells (healing, item crafting, etc.).
Perception: It is a class often looked down upon by warriors.
6. F Class (Defectives):
Definition: This class gathers those who have potential but also a "defect" (e.g., uncontrollable power, disability, or extremely unstable statuses like Kaiser) or those from the lowest social strata.
Anyone can be admitted to this academy, meaning everyone is generally in the F class; they are just people trained for the army.
The D class is the same; there is no difference between the two, just soldiers trained for war.
The C class has some rank, the B class doesn't matter, it's the class that every noble enters, the A class is for the high nobility
and those with high ability.
Class S is only for the high nobility, the royal family, and
those with heroic potential.
At that moment, the doctor arrived.
I am Joseph Strove.
As you can see, you've exhausted yourself, but don't worry, you'll recover soon. This is your student card. Go to the reception area as soon as possible
and find out where your dorm is. Guidance Teacher Jasmine
smiles at the end of this corridor, then leaves to attend to another patient.
Meanwhile, he looks at the card
B Class-Strivers
Number 1008
Kaiser
1st Class
Development Potential B
He looks at his card and ID, then looks at himself in the mirror. This is his appearance in this world: a black-haired,
black-eyed boy. In short, a classic isekai appearance, only his height seems to be around 1.80 meters or more.
Ding-ding
->>TASK 1<<-
-Get a place in the Academy-
Difficulty Level C
Description: The reward increases depending on the difficulty you face and the class you choose.
Reward = 1 skill
Do you want the reward? Y/N
I didn't notice it at the time, but when my name was called, I didn't look, but it seems like there's another window.
He thought smugly, "What system doesn't have a task?"
He clicked Y and
----REWARD----Calculating....
Your B class placement will not be less than B class talent.
You faced death....
A class talent obtained.
Final Resistance
When you are face to face with death,
all your stats increase by 1 level.
The duration is as long as your mind can endure.
Waiting period: 1 day.
"This talent looks quite good," Kaiser smiled and stood up, but he fell to the floor and
held his nose. "Ah, I can't move." He placed his hand on the wall and slowly regained his composure, starting to walk down the corridor
and finding the guide teacher's room. The people around him stared at him, but he
didn't care and examined the beautiful academy thoroughly before asking the guide teacher,
"May I enter?"
"Enter," a deep voice said. When Kaiser looked at him,
he glanced at the paper in his hand and said, "Shadow Root Land. Get out."
Kaiser found this rude, but due to his status, he didn't speak and took the brochure the guide teacher had discarded. Shadow Root Land
was a place for those without names, those without nobility, or those whose families had rejected them as nobles. What kind of journey awaited him?