"So, Miss Ji-ah has been brought to the hospital. Don't worry, she is alright. Just a little anemic," the old man said and placed his bag on the teachers' table. "I will take over the lesson for today."
The students sighed in relief. Baek Ji-ah, although not being part of this school for long, was rather liked by everyone. She seemed young enough to understand the students, yet not too young for it to inhibit her professionalism as an educator.
Everyone settled down, and the lesson soon began returning to normalcy, as the new teacher took over the class. Everything was the same except for one thing.
"Excuse me, where do you two think you are going?" The teacher looked at Lee Dojin and Kim Jyejin. The students all turned around.
"Ah, there's been a misunderstanding," Kim Jyejin said and waved her hands. "We weren't originally part of the lesson anyway. We were just here to observe. It's true, ask everyone else." The students nodded in reply.
The old man rubbed his beard. "Alright fine, you can go. But I better not find out that you were skipping, you hear that?"
Kim Jyejin nodded and bowed. She then took Lee Dojin's head and pushed it down, seeing him not react. The two of them all walked out of the room.
"Fuu, that was interesting." Kim Jyejin wiped the sweat off her forehead. "I really, really did not expect her fainting like that. What did the teacher say? Anemic? That doesn't sound right, did it? My Grandma is anemic, the biggest problem she has is not being able to stand up in the morning. Never heard her cough like that."
Lee Dojin shrugged his shoulders. To be honest, he had a hunch on what was happening. "Well, it's of bad taste to pry at others' business, don't you think?"
"Hmm?" She raised her brows. "Why do I feel like you know something and are unwilling to tell me?"
"No way, you are imagining it."
"Tsk, what a bad liar." Kim Jyejin shook her head and laughed. "Alright then, mystery man. Don't get yourself in trouble." She then patted Lee Dojin's head, confusing him. "Also, I'm glad to see you are doing well. You were in such a bad state at around christmas, I thought you'd disappear on me."
A pang of guilt poked at Lee Dojin's chest. He brushed his hair out his eyes. "I won't be away for a while, so don't worry."
"Big words for someone that needs my protection all the time." Kim Jyejin laughed out. "Well, let's get to class, I'm sure we'll get an earful from Miss Ji again."
"You can go on your own. I've got something else I have to do.
"What? You are skipping?" Kim Jyejins eyes widened, as she heard the bookworm and student of excellence mention ditching class. "Wait, you aren't going to visit that teacher Ji-ah, or something right? It's getting a little suspicious now, brat."
"That's impossible. Don't say stupid things," Lee Dojin rebutted and hit her head. "I've got something much more important to do."
"Really, awesome. Take me with you." Kim Jyejin's eyes glistened as she smelled something interesting again. "As long as you aren't doing anything dangerous, I supportive of your decisions."
Lee Dojin shook his head. He took the books out of his bag and placed them on the ground. "I'm sorry, but that is sadly exactly it."
"Huh, what do you—" Kim Jyejin was about to question his word choice when she suddenly realized that Lee Dojin had disappeared. "Is he a ghost or something?"
Meanwhile, Lee Dojin reappeared outside the school ground, in his hands an empty bag. His eyes were cold. Seeing Ji-ah, he was reminded of his mission here. Of course, he'd love to continue living this peaceful life, simply drifting without any worries, but he knew that was not who he was. This was not what his own legacy entailed. Even now, while he was playing make-believe in a school that would disappear soon, his competitors continued to rise in power. Everyone her lived their own life, regardless of him.
"From now, I should only go to school to see the Mother of Ravens." He vanished once more, warping between the nodes of the dimension. Ordinary people had no chance of noticing even his shadow.
[Rank 304/6044]
Lee Dojin looked at his rank. At first glance, this may seem like a high rank to other people. But Lee Dojin was less than satisfied with that. For him, it was rank 1 or nothing, because the hidden quest that awarded him the item he desperately needed only came with being rank 1. Climbing the ladder had become harder and harder. Last time, he only rose around 20 places. Going by that pace, he may not even reach the top 100. Such rating was beyond abysmal for the Lightbringer and Inheritor of the universe, Lee Dojin.
He arrived at his usual spot. The light was not as high as he hoped, but it should do for what he was about to do. No, it may even be better for the light to not be that bright this round. He opened his empty bag and gathered as much fine sand as he could possibly fit into it. After half an hour, the bag was filled to the brim, becoming heavy to lift. Though that was not a problem for him.
He cracked his neck and loosened his joints. Sweat dripped down his forehead, as he anticipated what he was about to do. He ripped the fabric of his shirt and tightly wrapped it around his mouth and nose. With this much protection, there should not be any particles able to enter his orifices.
Lee Dojin thought about his ability, Cosmic steps. He was sure, when he had just received the ability, he had around 10 stars swirling around him. Now that he was level 7, it had reached 17. This involved math that even someone like Lee Dojin could understand. Every level meant one star. Hopefully, his assessment was right. Otherwise, he'd be in for a treat now.
He searched for an elevated platform and threw all the sand in the air. Those, in turn, cast individual shadows all over the park.
He then began his daily quest.
....
"That madman!" Hassan jumped up, and the chair behind him fell to the ground, almost shattering. Yet, he did not care, as he was about to lose it. His jaw almost dropped to the ground and his eyes were shot wide open. He simply could not believe it. "He just rose 100 ranks at once!" He shuddered from his own words.
In the beginning, he would still try to compete with this mysterious Inheritor of the Universe, but he quickly realized such thoughts were for naught. Seeing how he rose ranks every day, Hassan quickly realized that this person was crazy. They actually challenged the Shadows every time. Still, even though the feats were impressive, they were still human. Seeing this person rise 100 ranks, and knowing the nightmare of these shadows, he had turned into a bonafide monster in Hassan's mind.
"Did this guy fight the shadow of God or something?" He was still shaken up. At this point, he realized. The Inheritor of the Universe was aiming for the top spot! And judging by the haste, there was a real chance for them to get it.
He quickly put on his coat and went to where his jets were. "I've got to find him as quick as possible." It was at such time his Affinity and the accompanying skill was of much use (though it failed in combat). His brothers, in all their elitism, have probably not realized it yet. But who knew how long they'd stay oblivious? He had to find this person as soon as possible.
...
At the same time, in an American bunker, Charlie was frantically taking notes and trying to reach his superiors. His face was white, and his pupils dilated as if he had watched someone return from the dead.
"Hello, hello? This is California. I Have something that needs urgent reporting!" He screamed into his phone. "I don't care what exactly the minister or even Mr. president himself said. This is of the highest priority!"
...
Naturally, Hassan and Charlie were not the only ones to notice the change. There was a small turmoil all around the world due to this sudden jump in rank. There were many who chalked it up as a one time wonder, but those that were sharper understood that it was not that simple. Still, everyone would remember the Inheritor of the Universe, and watch his progress with bated breaths.
...
Lee Dojin wiped the sweat off his face. He gasped for air, as he rubbed his throbbing headache away. His ripped shirt showed his abs. He wasn't particularly and with the frequent overexertion of his body, he had taken the first steps into turning fit, with muscles appearing on his stomach first. He laid on the ground full of sand, trying to catch his breath.
Today, he had done what no one in his old life dared to do. The theory was, if only the amount of shadows counted, could one not simply fight against the sand corns on the ground. Of course, such notion was quickly dismissed, for it was ridiculous. Innumerable, barely visible, enemies that could attack one from inside? That was instant death.
However, Lee Dojin had made the impossible possible, taking the first step in changing humanity's fate.