Park Jinsung, a regular 15-year-old boy that somehow got into Synthesia Academy, with average height, average build, and overall he has statuses that blended in with the crowd, and nothing special to sum it up.
But, every character inside this world has a backstory.
He lost his mom at age 7, which his only sister and long-lost dad remained as his family, according to the memories I got from this body.
But, let's stop thinking, and go to this academy already.
I walk on the street with my academy uniform, which a few people noticed and stared, since I don't even know how to commute or traverse in this world, because in the game, you can just teleport to specific places where the main story usually resides.
But, this status window... It gave me a mini-map. This makes my life much easier.
After around 15 minutes or so, walking to reach my destination, I found the very academy that decides the fate of this world, which was humongous.
It was my first time setting my eyes upon the breathtaking scenery of the academy. Walls covered in silver, floors made out of crystal quartz, and a shining turquoise roof covering the academy whole.
As I traverse myself inside the academy while my attention focused on the interior, a boy that seems like he was the same age as me, called me out.
"Hey! You there!"
"Huh? Me?"
I pondered on what I possibly did wrong, the boy interrupts my thoughts and reminds me of something I almost forgot.
"Yes. The opening ceremony is going to start soon, aren't you gonna go?"
Oh shoot, I forgot about the ceremony, if I could remember, the game's true beginning of the story starts at the opening ceremony.
"Oh right, thanks for reminding me. By the way, what's your name?"
"It's Kim Young-Gi. How about yours?"
Another character from this game that I do not know.
"Jinchu- Park Jinsung."
As Kim notices him stuttering a little he thought that it was an accidental mistake, and brushes it off with a laugh.
"Nice to meet you!" They both greet simultaneously.
After this encounter, they both talk together while walking around the academy and decided to go in the location of the ceremony in a flash.
I should at least make friends in this academy to not be out of place.
It was honestly fun and peaceful, just having to enjoy moments together with your friends, but that peaceful moment abruptly came to an end once we reached our destination, where the opening ceremony resides.
The place was filled with curious students, an empty but large stage, bountiful chairs filling up the entirety of the lobby, and the statue of the ancient hero that once reigned this very world of Synthesia, was standing upright at the center of the place.
Once me and Kim reached the place, there were a plentiful amount of students which were scrutinizing the entire place thoroughly, and our thoughts were yet again interrupted, but this time, it was by a mesmerizing woman at the center of the shining stage.
She had dazzling silver hair, gold eyes, and a beautiful body, accompanied by the academy's uniform.
I know who she is. She's one of the characters that will accompany Kim-Siwoo in his world-saving journey from now on.
The woman was holding a microphone, at the center of her mouth, the murmurs and talking of the students stopped when she made a singular sound.
Tap Tap... "Mic Test? Hello?"
The words of the stunning woman echoed all over the academy, heard by thousands of students around the campus, all of the students stopped what they were doing and listened.
"Woah.. She's gorgeous. Park-san, do you like her as well?" Kim whispers.
"To be honest, she really is pretty, but focus on the exam for now." I respond.
"Huh..? What exam?" He asks.
"Hello, my name is Michiko Saori, from the student council! Welcome to our academy, newcomers!"
"As you all know, the tradition that our academy has a surprise exam every time we have an opening ceremony! Well, this time, it's the dungeon clearing exam!"
Both Kim and Jin almost let out a gasp.
Shit, out of all exams, why the dungeon clearing exam?
The opening ceremony's surprise exam has four exams that are randomized every year.
Physical and Magical Measuring Exam [ P.M.M.E ] which was to measure your physical and magical strength and determine it by ranks, Sparring Exam, which made you fight other students to determine your potential and fighting experience, Hunting Exam, which made you hunt monsters to know if you have the courage to do so, and last but not least, the Dungeon Clearing Exam.
In the Dungeon Clearing Exam, you either survive for 5 days, or defeat the boss lurking in it. There are so many things that could go wrong, maybe an unknown intruder might rig the exam, or the monsters inside might kill students. It's the most dangerous exam inside the whole of Synthesia Academy.
"Park-san? Are you alright?"
Kim asks Park while he was lost in thought, but it was too late, and Jin couldn't respond to his question.
"Now, shall we start the exam?"
Shit.. I'm so unlucky..
This thought was my very last, until a blue light surrounded all of the students, which was the sign of teleportation in the game.
Kim called my name before we teleported, with thousands of questions in Kim's mind.
After the blue light disappeared, I hurriedly analyzed my surroundings to detect the presence of monsters, luckily, there was none.
I found myself in a lengthy cave. I carefully stepped on the ground, walking to find one of the walls, to help me navigate me in this place.
I finally came across a stone wall.
Sniff Sniff..
A damp smell. The ground is cold. Not a single ray of light cannot be seen.
I'm underground.
I notice a rusty longsword beside me, which was given to all students when inside the artificial dungeon.
"Status Window."
[ Status ]
[ Park Jinsung, Level 2 ]
Skill Points: 0
[ STR: 10] [ VIT: 9]
[ DEF:14] [ STA: 17]
[ AGI: 13] [ MAG: 25]
SPECIAL SKILLS: PERFECT MEMORY 1 [S] REINCARNATOR 1 [S] QUICK SLASH 1 [E] FIREBALL 1 [D] FIRE ARROW 1 [C]
"Hmm. These skills look like they would do fine."
!!!
I suddenly hear a grunting noise, and the sound of wood being scraped on the ground.
"Fire Arrow."
I charge up my fire arrow to generate light, and the root of the noise was none other than a goblin.
Perfect. A dummy I can test my magic on.
The goblin notices Park and charges with its wooden bat held upright.
Park dodges the goblin's fierce swing and counters with the flame arrow he charged a while ago.
This burns the goblins to ashes, and a bell-like sound plays on his mind.
A blue window showed up right in front of me showing this text, which then not even 5 seconds later, my status window appeared as well, showing me a new mechanic I could use to get stronger.
[ Level up! ]
[ Status ]
[ Park Jinsung, Level 3 ]
Skill Points: 3
[ STR: 10] [ VIT: 9]
[ DEF:14] [ STA: 17]
[ AGI: 13] [ MAG: 25]
SPECIAL SKILLS: PERFECT MEMORY 1 [S] REINCARNATOR 1[S] QUICK SLASH 1 [E] FIREBALL 1 [D] FIRE ARROW 2 [C]
I leveled up that fast already? From a singular goblin? Damn.. What would happen if I defeat the boss of this artificial dungeon?
I almost forgot. There is only 1 ginormous dungeon with a size of four hundred square meters, which hundreds of students participate. Which kind of students will I encounter? Will it be background characters once again, or one of the main characters.
After 15 minutes of randomly wandering around the dungeon while killing more goblins left and right and level up notifications blocking my sight, I view my status once more.
"Ugh.. How do I disable the level up notification?"
A goblin tries to sneak attack me, which I deflect using my rusty longsword, and hit the goblin back using my skill, quick slash.
[ Level up! ]
[ Status ]
[ Park Jinsung, Level 15 ]
Skill Points: 2
[ STR: 25] [ VIT: 17]
[ DEF:20] [ STA: 17]
[ AGI: 20] [ MAG: 25]
SPECIAL SKILLS: PERFECT MEMORY 3 [S] REINCARNATOR 2 [S] QUICK SLASH 12 [E] FIREBALL 8 [D] FIRE ARROW 15 [C]
Nice. My leveling pace is decent. I might level up enough to face the boss alone.
I feel uneasiness as I detect a presence around 20ft away from me, but it wasn't a monster.
It was a human presence, probably a student, just like me.
I walk to the person, closing my distance between the person, to identify who it was, until an icicle suddenly blasted right in front of my face with a speed that can match the speed of sound, while I barely dodged it and left my face bleeding.
Who is that?
I lifted my guard up for combat just in case they were hostile, and yet again, an icicle blasted on my face, but this time, I parried it.
"Who are you?" I ask.