Ashan opened the door, and Nevil stood right outside, lifting a huge travel bag over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing.
"Good morning, Nevil. It seems you woke up earlier than us," Ashan greeted him.
Nevil's face lit up instantly, his excitement impossible to hide.
"Of course! Isn't today a special day?" he said enthusiastically. "I was so excited I couldn't sleep at all last night."
Nevil stepped inside without hesitation. The moment his eyes landed on Narasha, he froze mid-step. His brain seemed to short-circuit as he stared at her figure, his face turning bright red almost instantly.
He slowly shifted his gaze toward Ashan, his expression filled with disbelief and concern.
"Hey… I can tell she can't be identified as a vampire anymore," Nevil whispered, "but isn't she going to attract everyone's attention like this? That outfit just makes everything worse."
Ashan sighed and shook his head slightly.
"Yes, I can see that very clearly," he replied calmly. "But that's the normal dress code for psychics. Since she's going to wear a mask, we can reduce the attention at least a little."
Nevil frowned and stared at Ashan more carefully. His eyes widened slightly.
"There's another problem too," Nevil said slowly. "Your eyes. First they turned red, and now they're white. No matter how many times I ask, you never tell me why."
Ashan's Byakugan faded, his eyes returning to their usual green.
"It's something that started happening after my awakening," Ashan replied casually. "Don't worry. I'll make sure it doesn't happen while we're at the academy. I'm planning to wear sunglasses anyway, so my eyes won't be that visible."
Nevil nodded, still uneasy. Suddenly, as if remembering something important, he snapped his fingers.
"Hey, what happened to the request you sent to the academy for a two-person room?"
Ashan glanced at Narasha briefly before answering.
"They rejected it. There's a strict rule that male and female students must stay separately. So there are two separate dorms."
Nevil also looked at Narasha, concern evident on his face.
"Then that can't be helped. So what now?"
Ashan smiled faintly. "But I managed to get two rooms, hers and mine, closer to each other. Since it was a special request, it cost me a bit."
Nevil checked his watch. "It's almost time. Shall we go?"
Ashan nodded. "Yes. Going early won't hurt."
…
The Awakeners' Academy was located far from the city, at a safe distance. The enormous campus stretched across vast land, filled with countless buildings of varying sizes. It was a perfect blend of untouched nature and advanced human architecture. At the very center stood a massive stadium capable of holding thousands of people.
Inside the stadium, a large crowd of newcomers gathered, all wearing different types of outfits that reflected their specialty. Combat fighters, mages, assassins, healers, tankers, and psychics stood together, forming a diverse yet tense atmosphere. They all faced a grand stage near one side of the stadium, chatting among themselves while waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Ashan, Nevil, and Narasha stood near the edge of the crowd, deliberately keeping to a corner.
Ashan quietly observed everyone around them.
'Hmm… everyone here is B+ rank or below,' he analyzed calmly. 'There are only a few under twenty and a handful above twenty-five. Most of them fall between twenty and twenty-five, the standard age range.'
His gaze sharpened.
'Not a single A-ranker or S-ranker among them. Since they're so rare, they must've received special invitations. They'll probably arrive at the last moment.'
Ashan's attention shifted upward as he noticed three glass-covered balconies overlooking the stadium. Inside them sat several individuals, calmly observing the newcomers below.
'Those must be the professors,' he thought. 'Ah… I recognize some of them.'
Inside one balcony, a man with a long scar across his face sat slouched in his chair, looking utterly bored. His sleepy expression made it clear he was there out of obligation rather than interest.
—-------------------------------------------
Name – Aren Redmarsh
Age – 51
Gender – Male
[Power Rank – A]
[Specialty – Assassin]
[Strength – 200]
[Stamina – 210]
[Endurance – 240]
[Agility – 260]
[Other Powers and Skills]
<> Critical Strike – A
A precise attack that has a high chance to deal significantly increased damage.
<> Chain Lightning – A
Releases a bolt of lightning that jumps between nearby enemies, dealing damage with each hit.
<> Killer's Instinct – A
Heightens perception, allowing the user to sense imminent danger and instinctively identify vulnerable targets.
<> Silent Step – B
Suppresses all movement noise, enabling completely silent motion.
<> Shadow Travel – A
Allows instantaneous movement between connected shadows within range.
—-------------------------------------------------
Ashan studied him with deep interest.
'So that's Aren Redmarsh, the Mad Assassin.' Ashan thought. 'He matches the information perfectly. A true big shot among all awakeners.'
Suddenly, a male voice echoed from the loudspeakers installed all around the stadium.
"The ceremony is about to begin. Newcomers, please remain in formation."
The moment the announcement ended, conversations across the stadium died down. The newcomers quickly gathered in the center, forming a massive square formation.
Three large gates around the stadium opened simultaneously.
From one of them, nearly a hundred people stepped out. The moment they appeared, a palpable pressure swept across the stadium. Anyone could tell they were far more powerful than the crowd standing in square formation.
Nevil leaned in and lightly bumped Ashan's shoulder.
"They're here," he whispered. "All A-rankers and S-rankers. I heard there would be eight S-rankers and over a hundred A-rankers joining as newcomers. The six walking at the front, those are all S-rankers."
Gasps and murmurs erupted among the crowd.
"Hey.. wait, isn't that Draven Ironfell?" a mage standing beside Ashan whispered excitedly to his friend. "The Element Prodigy?"
Ashan followed the man's gaze.
Among the S-rankers stood a young man in his twenties with curly black hair. His sharp features and tall figure made him stand out effortlessly. The yellow-and-red robe he wore marked him as a mage, and a blade rested at his side, partially concealed.
—-------------------------------------------
Name – Draven Ironfell
Age – 24
Gender – Male
[Power Rank – S]
[Specialty – Battle Mage]
[Strength – 250]
[Stamina – 200]
[Endurance – 190]
[Agility – 170]
[Other Powers and Skills]
<>All Element Mastery – S
Complete dominion over water, fire, earth, and wind. Elemental spells manifest at their apex, shaped by the user's will.
<>Cursed Blade – A
The weapon inflicts excruciating, lingering wounds, causing agony that persists over time.
<>Grave Wound – S
A surgical strike that cripples the target, halting all regenerative abilities and preventing healing.
<>Soul Drain – S
A mist that siphons both health and mana, weakening the target's life force.
<>Teleport – A
Instantaneous movement to any location within sight, with a brief cooldown to maintain balance.
—-------------------------------------------
Ashan narrowed his eyes slightly.
'All Element Mastery… no wonder he's called a prodigy,' Ashan thought. 'Among elemental mages, he's currently at the top.'
As the S-rankers continued forward, Ashan's gaze suddenly paused. A familiar figure walked among them.
A smirk slowly formed on Ashan's face.
'So you're here too…'
Among the S-rankers, Rowan stepped toward the stage, following the formation.