7 a.m. the following day
I exited the building I was in. Every building appears to be fairly tall around here. My apartment was also on the 52nd floor.
In the last three days, I gathered as much information as I could. And here is a small description of what I found:
This planet is also known as Earth. This world's technology is more advanced than that of my first life on Earth. People on Earth began to learn about mana after a dimensional breach occurred in 2020. Then comes the cliche dungeon story where monsters break out. Some humans get powers to become players, hunters, or awakened. As a result, technology advanced at a breakneck pace.
However, I don't believe that is the core of the novel. Because it happened 300 years ago. 2332 is the current year. So I am pretty sure the story is still running.
I grabbed a cab to Abraham City's higher district. Destination: The Hero Academy
In this universe, there are five great hero academies. They are ranked as follows:
Phoenix is ranked first.
Gryphon is ranked second.
Hydra is ranked third.
Cerberus, 4th rank (It has been changed from Pegasus to Cerberus)
And finally,
Kraken is ranked fifth.
All of them are named after legendary creatures.
There are many more Hero Academies, although they are not as popular as the top five. Those who did not make the top five tried their luck there.
In my backpack, I carried everything I might need at the academy. The good news is that I won't have to take the Hero Academy entrance exam. The previous owner of this body did this and was accepted into the world's top hero academy.
The cab dropped me off in Abraham City's higher district. Abraham City is the biggest city in the world, and it's divided into many parts. My apartment was inside the lower district, and the academy is inside the higher district. People from rich and elite families live here. People from a lower district can't enter a higher district. Similarly, people from higher districts also can't enter the Royal district. People with more authority live there.
After the cab dropped me off, I ended up in front of a large border. A large gate stood in front of me. This is the upper district's entrance, which is not accessible to the general public. Only the most affluent people reside here. But the restriction does not apply to me today.
There were numerous checkpoints in front of the gate. I noticed a large number of people entering from that direction. I approached the gate and stood in front of a little Box. A female artificial voice spoke out.
"State your purpose."
"I want to go to Phoenix Academy." I pulled out my ID that was given to me by the Academy.
" Confirmed . Permission has been obtained."
There was no waiting in line and no question about one's identity. It took hardly any time at all. The AI completed everything in a matter of seconds.
In front of me, a door opened, allowing me to enter. A flying drone approached me, and the same artificial voice spoke once more, this time from the drone.
"Follow the drone to reach your destination."
I followed it quietly. It directed me to a bus stop when I passed through the gate. Surprisingly, there were a lot more kids my age. Of course, my body's age. From what I could tell from their conversation, they are also Phoenix Academy candidates.
The bus arrived, and it was pitch black. Man, its design makes even the best sports car from my first planet feel shameful in front of it. I'm sure it's bulletproof. I guess that's the wrong way to judge. Even if a Rocket Launcher or RPG attacked, I doubt the passenger would feel anything.
I promptly entered and sat in one of the backmost seats, wearing headphones. I don't want to engage in conversation with anyone when I don't even have a fundamental understanding of the world. I could already notice a few curious eyes looking at me. I have a body that makes me appear strong, despite the fact that I know nothing about fighting. My first life was very peaceful, and I never had to learn to fight.
But just fighting is not the problem. Unlike typical transmigration, I don't have the memories of the previous owner of this body. If someone asks me where I am from, my age, or my name, I can answer. But anything other than that is beyond my knowledge. So it's best to avoid people.
When the bus started going, it felt so smooth that I fell asleep. Before that, I noticed a bus crossing another large boundary. The security in the upper district must be tight.
The bus came to a halt over half an hour later, or so I thought when I woke up from the loud noises. It's already 9 a.m., when the ceremony was supposed to start.
"Wow, when did we enter the academy?"
I was alone inside the bus. I am already at the academy, and the bus pulled over in a large green field. Hundreds of buses of the same design were parked in a line. I guess they all belong to the Academy.
And there were thousands of children in the grassy field in front of me. If I had to guess, I'd say there were more than 4500.
I was captivated by the scene before me. The grassy field was alive with thousands of children, their laughter and chatter filling the air. It was a vibrant and diverse gathering, with people of all ages, dressed in an array of colorful and unconventional clothing. Their hair was equally diverse, with hues ranging from pastel pinks to neon greens, evoking the vibrant characters of anime.
Amidst the crowd, I spotted individuals with intriguing gadgets. One boy had a small, round flying object trailing behind him. It seemed to be a drone, but there were no visible fans or propellers, and it emitted no sound. Instead, it floated effortlessly, following the boy's every move like a loyal pet.
Nearby, another person sat atop a giant spider-like robot with eight legs. The robot moved with a grace that belied its size, its metallic limbs flexing and extending as it navigated the field. The technology here was unlike anything I had ever seen, reminiscent of the futuristic worlds depicted in cyberpunk literature.
The fantasy theme was equally captivating. There was no shortage of tamed monsters, each more impressive than the last. I spotted another child sitting atop a majestic white lion, its mane flowing in the breeze. Nearby, a girl was accompanied by a giant bird, its wingspan casting a shadow over the grassy field.
As I continued to observe, I noticed that everyone was armed with medieval weapons, adding to the fantastical atmosphere. Some children even had peculiar glowing tattoos adorning their bodies, adding an otherworldly aura to the scene.
But what truly caught my attention were the children with animalistic features. It seemed to be a story of mutations in human genes, yet they remained unmistakably human. I saw a boy with serpentine features, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intelligence. Nearby, I saw a girl with ears atop her head, her movements graceful and feline. And then there was a boy with skin that resembled rock, his presence both imposing and intriguing.
The scene before me was a mesmerizing blend of fantasy and reality, a testament to the boundless creativity of mankind.