Rank seven.
The number followed me everywhere.
Whispers echoed in hallways.
Gazes lingered longer than before.
Some were curious.
Others… hostile.
The next morning, a notice appeared on the academy board.
"Rank 1–10 students will be reassigned."
Murmurs erupted.
"Private training zones?"
"Better resources?"
"Special instructors?"
I read the notice calmly.
Resources meant growth.
Growth meant survival.
In the upper section of the academy, ten doors stood in a circular hall.
Each door bore a glowing number.
Mine was Seven.
As I stepped inside, the air changed.
Denser.
Heavier.
Mana.
[High-Density Mana Zone Detected.]
Training Efficiency +25%
I exhaled slowly.
"This place…" I muttered, "is dangerous."
Perfect.
Before I could begin training, a knock echoed.
The door opened.
A girl stepped in.
Silver eyes. Short black hair. Calm expression.
"I'm Lira," she said. "Rank four."
She studied me openly.
"So you're the one who defeated Kael."
I nodded.
"I'm not here to fight," she added.
"I'm here to warn you."
My gaze sharpened.
"Warn me about what?"
She hesitated.
"Rankings create enemies," she said quietly.
"And some of them don't follow academy rules."
That night, as I trained, the system pulsed.
[Hostile Presence Detected.]
I stopped.
The shadows near the window moved.
Too slow.
Too deliberate.
I clenched my fists.
"So," I whispered,
"they're already here."
Outside my room, unseen eyes watched.
The Endless Growth System glowed faintly.
[Combat Probability Rising.]
I smiled.
"Good."