Dave quickly took a step forward, hiding his excitement from his face although failing as a red tint formed at the side of his eyes. Not to mention his sparkling gaze.
"Can I…" But as soon as he walked in front, he felt a chilling gaze from behind. He didn't even need to look back to know who it was and immediately backed off. Hunching, he hid behind his medium-length brown hair and retreated back into his head.
"I'll go first," Steve arrogantly announced, striding to the front with a smile brimming with confidence. Coupled by drooping eyebrows, it showed his composed and relaxed temperament.
"Very well, young man." The king smiled, crossing his arms.
Upon consent, Steve continued walking towards the crystal ball, stopping, standing in front of the column as his wry smile widened. A whimsical smirk plastered with lies and deceit and power.
Same with him, Alfred's smile grew in sync with Steve's advancing palm.
But before contact, just before his fingertips reached, Steve briefly stopped and gazed into the object's transparent glow, mesmerized. Peering into the item, he felt a rejuvenating energy squirm in his body, spreading like the blood that flows in his veins. He felt strength overflowing, the same feeling when the mysterious green orb enters.
King Alfred was discontented at the abrupt halt leaving him hanging, but found out the reason why and smirked. "Feeling it now?"
"W-What is this?" Steve shakily looked at his hands then at his bulging arm next.
"The Stat Crystal exudes an energy that enters your body and gathers information. It naturally enters through your mana channels whether you like it or not. Therefore, even if you had not made contact, the crystal already knows who you are, and what secrets lie beneath." King Alfred stated, gesturing with his arms as he restlessly walked around the beam, grinning.
"And now with your mana veins fully activated from battle, your magic sensitivity has increased. Hence the electrifying experience," He added but there was more to come evidently from his patronizing tone.
"Your so-called Earth Bodies or Heavenly Constitution is physically better than an average human here, but that's not all. Whatever factors, components, and elements are present in your homeworld, the holy land, it…developed your veins and channels to an abnormal and extraordinary state."
They all looked at him skeptically, but their questions and thoughts were quickly reciprocated. Somewhat explaining.
"Not the organ you call the blood vessels, but the invisible channels that hold the spiritual energy, flowing and articulating through the body—the soul, magic. Mana veins." The king paused, gazing at the students with gleaming eyes.
A giddy smile formed and he continued. "Generally speaking, Mana Channels are naturally bigger than the mana veins. But in your bodies...they're practically the same size!"
"That means, in the entire world, none can come close to your magic control! Not even the great wizard Elhiem himself!"
He roared in a booming, proud voice.
"Well, of course, experience matters," Alfred coughed as he felt a chilling power course through his body. No one can escape his presence, the one who broke through human capabilities, entering the plains of the gods;
Now demigod, Elhiem Kyev Sovrano. A rankless magician unable to be contained by the power system, breaking through the already impossible Rank-1.
But King Alfred only caused more confusion. It made the students rack their brains for a while before coming to a conclusion from prior knowledge. But even then it wasn't all that clear from the vague answers.
However, it was clear to them that mana was similar to blood, only that you could control it. Which none of them knows how to yet, only some being activated accidentally or coincidentally. Or with the help of the mundane game system.
Michael already got a gist of the idea, although it was just a hypothesis. But right now, he wasn't thinking about those matters too hard. He'll find out about them eventually. Instead, a suspicious word caught his attention.
'What we call blood vessels? Then that must mean they call it something else. And if it is, how do they know ours are called blood vessels?' Michael skeptically thought, squinting at the king.
But he didn't rush to conclusions immediately and came up with a plausible scenario, giving him the benefit of the doubt. And he may have just been reading too much in between the lines. "Maybe one of the girls' mentioned it."
"Then again, what conversation would lead to blood vessels?" He continued rambling but soon stopped and focused on the task at hand. He discarded his doubting thoughts. Right now, It didn't concern him. And he had more pressing matters…
"Anyhow, you may continue, Steve." King Alfred lowered his smile and wore a serious expression. Although a slight smirk remained from excitement.
"Yes," Steve straightened his back and cleared his throat. Then, he slowly laid his hand on the item.
Ting!
A piercing sound suddenly rang out. And after it,
SWOOSH!
A violent gust stormed inside, overshadowing the holographic messages. It raged before quickly dissipating itself. Disappearing as quickly as it came.
But the abrupt and unusual outburst of breeze quickly lost its attention when someone exclaimed, "Woah!" grabbing everyone's focus to the message in front.
All but one person, the king who squinted at a corner of the room, searching where the wind came from. There was a single window open, its curtain blowing and swaying. Presumably making the deafening screech as it scrapped its metal build on the stone wall.
He thought the janitors had just forgotten to lock the frames, but he was soon proven wrong as the breeze brushed his neck.
______________________
Name: Steve Laurier
Age: 16
Race: Human
Class: Warrior (Paladin)
LVL: 39
Growth: Very Fast
STR: 210
AGI: 153
VIT: 267
DEX: 149
INT: 174
Skills: (Private)
______________________
"Amazing!"
"As expected from our fellow brother!"
They cajoled, forgetting about the strange gust almost immediately. Except for the king who could not take this lightly. He didn't see whatever created this gust clearly, however, this wind…It felt all too familiar.
Despite his prior anticipation, he could not even look at the status window as he stood dumbfounded and overwhelmed.
He subconsciously wiped his lips and grimaced, the glint in his eyes flickered quickly like his speeding heartbeat. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he remembered a bitter and dark memory. Evident from his furrowing brows and curling lips. Along with his blank eyes lost in space.
"I'll go next!" A long-haired teen proclaimed, his tied, auburn-colored hair dropped behind his neck. Although average-looking, his sharply defined jawline held his appearance together.
"Fuck off!"
Another refuted, pushing the man to the side. He was taller but a lot slender than his counterpart, however, he showed not a bit less confidence. Brimming with arrogance even. His orange eyes penetrated from behind his black hair where a single streak of red ran down.
"HA?!"
[ Gael Rogers ]
[ Stephens Lopez ]
The booming quarrel soon brought Alfred back to reality. He was jolted awake, electrifying his body into activation. In a panic, he turned around. However, nothing happened but the excitement of the kids in full display.
'Is it just my imagination?' He thought, but with unceasing terrible assumptions. Although now after the initial shock, Alfred returned back to his previous demeanor; calm and composed. He thought this day would one day come, but to think an old friend would return.
He needs to prepare now albeit he hid the truth from the kids as he wore another smile. Panic was not necessary and must be contained.
But nothing gets past Michael's wandering eyes and he saw everything in full view. Unlike the king, what he saw was just a sleight of a shadow. However, that was enough to know something was wrong.
Although, he paid no heed to the event afterward seeing King Alfred's quick recovery. It must not be too important then, he thought but was gravely wrong. Little did he know that strings were being pulled underneath, an intricate connection woven by corrupt arachnids.
"Let me go next,"
A voice was uttered from behind. Hearing it, the two teens looked back in anger but immediately backed down like Dave upon eye contact. They cowered and lowered their heads, taking a step back, looking away, avoiding Zack's gaze who declared.
Slowly turning into the people that inhabit this world, people who suck up and bow down to the strong.
But that was what he was aiming for, evident from his unusually sharp gaze and hostile swagger. With a passive-aggressive expression, he smiled at Steve. Hoping this was enough to keep him at bay for a scenario he thought, no, he knew would happen after.
It's not as if Zack didn't know or turned a blind eye to the abuse Michael suffered. He wanted to help, be there for him. But Michael pushed away his help not wanting to escalate the situation further. Zack understood his intentions after what happened countless times before, but he could not just stand there and do nothing—always greeting, seeing him with a black eye.
He saw the fear in people's eyes in his presence, so why not use it to his advantage? If it helps Michael, he wouldn't mind being even a villain.
Zack took another glance at the alarmed Steve, subconsciously readying a stance, and smiled before laying his hand on the crystal.
Troink!
A sound rang in his head. The sudden piercing ring made him cringe his eyes close, but he paid no attention to it and awaited his results.
______________________
Name: Zack Grey
Age: 16
Race: Human
Class: Hero (Battlemage)
LVL: 41
Growth: Very Fast
STR: 251
AGI: 201
VIT: 141
DEX: 189
INT: 195
Skills: (Private)
______________________
Cheers erupted again, some genuine, others forced.
But as they all gazed at the stats, Steve received the ultimate green light.
They weren't too far off—he was strong also. He was no pushover.
Looking at the holographic window, a twisted smile formed.
"I can be better. No, I am,"