บท 13: Absent?

"Alec."

"Present!"

"Mia."

"Present!"

.....

"Kyle."

Aliza looked at the students, her voice raised as she didn't hear a response.

"Kyle Ohan."

"Kyle isn't here?"

All the students exchanged glances, well aware of Kyle's reputation from the last entrance test. But nobody expected him to be absent on the first day of class. Aliza frowned but didn't comment, knowing that students were allowed to miss class.

'Kyle Ohan. I'll remember that name and see who dares to skip the first class.'

She marked 'absent' next to Kyle's name and continued with the attendance.

"That's all for today. Take the time to get to know your classmates and explore the training areas."

After closing the attendance sheet, Aliza left the classroom.

As soon as Aliza was out of sight, the students started talking excitedly, especially the boys.

"Wow, she's the youngest (S+)-rank in the Kingdom?"

"She's so beautiful! I think I'm in love."

"Haha, have you looked in the mirror? Someone like her would never give a loser like you a second glance!"

Amidst the gossip, Alec got up and left the class. He wanted to check out the training areas of the Academy.

In truth, he had been feeling anxious because the system hadn't given him any missions for the past month. He wanted to get stronger, but without missions, his progress had slowed down. Finally, a week ago, the system gave him a mission, but it was so strange that he couldn't complete it.

________

'Mission; xX'

Help the Celestial to reduce the bloodline suppression effect.

Reward:

2× sub-ranks increase.

2× S-rank skills.

Time remaining: ××

_________

Alec didn't know who the Celestial was or where to find them. He was unsure how he could help with bloodline awakening. Normally, he had to complete missions within a time limit, but this time the system didn't give him any time constraints.

What made it even more challenging was that Alec couldn't communicate with the system. It was a strange entity he stumbled upon during the darkest time of his life.

He was an orphan, and the orphanage he lived in was attacked by monsters. In the end, all the children in the orphanage lost their lives in the rampage.

At that moment, Alec felt responsible for their deaths. He believed that if he had been stronger, he could have protected them, those who were so dear to him.

Driven by anger and without considering the consequences, Alec ventured into the Dark Forest. Despite his weakness, he didn't care because he was determined to seek revenge for his lost brothers and sisters.

If it wasn't for the accidental connection he made with the system, he would have met his demise in the forest.

Once the connection was established, the system revealed to Alec the destruction of the world he called home. It was a scene that would forever be etched in his memory.

Dark clouds loomed over the world, lifeless bodies scattered everywhere, and the air was filled with screams and agonizing cries. People of all ages were perishing, and the world teetered on the edge of collapse.

After witnessing such a devastating scene, Alec made a promise to himself. He vowed to become strong, to stop the world's destruction, and protect those dear to him. The system aided his journey, enabling him to climb the ranks with ease.

Although he was currently weak and powerless, Alec knew that the future he glimpsed through the system would soon come to pass. To alter that devastating future, he needed to work hard.

When Carcel, Mia, and Lara saw Alec leaving, they decided to follow him. They may not possess the same talent as Alec, but they refuse to slack off and place blame solely on talent. They understood that talent alone couldn't guarantee success. Hard work was essential to achieve great heights.

Once they left the class, a bunch of students followed them because no one wanted to be left behind.

After a while, Alec stepped into the training area. His eyes widened at the sight of a vast open ground, about the size of two football fields.

On one side, there were countless dummies made of strong (B)-rank material, built to withstand even an (A)-rank individual attack. Students could freely train against them without worrying about breaking them.

On the other side, there were bullseye targets for those specializing in long-range combat.

The middle part of the training ground was empty, allowing everyone to practice whatever skill or art they desired.

Alec wasted no time and headed straight for the dummies, practicing with determination. Within minutes, Carcel joined him, gripping his spear and taking on the dummies as well.

Meanwhile, Lara and Mia made their way to the long-range area. Within seconds, more students flooded into the training grounds, each honing their specific skills.