Training with various weapons, improving one's physique, mastering the most powerful spells, understanding the traits of mythical creatures, delving into the mysteries of the unknown, and strategizing for dungeon raids—Abel Royal Academy offered an unparalleled education in all aspects of combat and magical arts.
Renowned as the pinnacle of excellence in the empire, Abel Royal Academy stood unrivaled in prestige and capability. Its reputation surpassed even that of its closest competitors, Hestia Academy and Loren Academy. Across the globe, it was universally acknowledged that Abel was the epitome of educational prowess.
Nobles and royals from far and wide flocked to its halls to hone their skills and prove their worthiness of their esteemed lineage or elevate their standing in society.
Nearly 95% of the academy's population boasted noble blood, with the remainder comprised of royalty and a select few commoners granted entry through exceptional circumstances, such as scholarships or extraordinary wealth.
For those commoners who dared to enroll, failure within the academy's walls spelled disaster for their prospects both within and beyond its confines. In such an elite environment, the stakes were high, and the pressure to excel was relentless.
'There are so many people….'
As Abel surveyed the throng of students flooding into the Moon Sphere, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
The sea of faces, each adorned with a red necktie signaling their first-year status, served as a stark reminder of the fierce competition that awaited him.
Every one of them was a potential adversary, someone he needed to surpass in order to secure his place within the esteemed academy.
The weight of this realization bore down on him, filling him with a sense of trepidation and doubt.
'Can I really stay here, Mom...?'
Abel gulped, before sighing heavily… although he was glad his journey here was safe and reassuring, now that he's actually inside the academy about to partake in the exams he couldn't help but doubt his commoner self.
Bam!
Before he could dwell further on his doubts, a sudden impact jolted him from his reverie, sending him crashing to the unforgiving floor.
"O-ouch," he winced, his body protesting against the abrupt collision.
As he gathered himself, a concerned voice pierced through the haze of pain.
"Ah, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
Abel's gaze shifted upward to meet the gaze of a woman with chestnut hair and warm amber eyes.
Her expression was filled with genuine concern as she extended a hand in offer of assistance. Despite the pain throbbing through his body,
Abel couldn't help but be struck by her beauty. He quickly pushed himself upright, declining her offered hand with a nervous stammer.
"Y-yes, thanks. P-please don't worry about it," he responded hastily, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the sudden attention.
The woman regarded him skeptically, her amber eyes assessing him with a hint of doubt. "Are you sure?"
"Y-yes," Abel stammered, desperately hoping the princess would depart and spare him further embarrassment. As a commoner navigating the intricacies of royal life within the academy, he had learned to recognize important figures like Princess Cassie Stelfort.
In this cutthroat environment, even a minor misstep could have dire consequences, and Abel had no intention of attracting unwanted attention or risking his precarious position.
Cassie, the princess of the esteemed Stelfort kingdom, stood before him, a reminder of the vast gulf that separated her lofty status from his humble origins.
Abel cursed his carelessness, lamenting the potential consequences of his unwitting collision with royalty.
Despite the fact that he hadn't been the one to initiate the collision, the mere act of bumping into a member of the royal family was a serious breach of protocol, one that could have grave repercussions for a commoner like himself.
"Let's go, Cassie, or we'll be late!" A voice interjected, breaking the tense silence as another woman seized Cassie's arm and ushered her toward the entrance.
"Bye, bye, junior~!" Cassie called out with a casual wave before being whisked away, leaving Abel to bow respectfully in her wake.
Once Cassie was out of earshot, the woman beside her inquired, "Who was that, Cassie? Someone you knew?"
"Just a random junior," Cassie chuckled nonchalantly, brushing off the encounter as inconsequential. However, for Abel, the encounter served as a stark reminder of the precariousness of his position in the elite world of Abel Royal Academy.
'I thought my head was about to be put on a guillotine there….'
As Abel slightly bowed his head, he couldn't exactly see the princess and the other lady moving forward, but the sound of their steps growing distant filled him with relief.
With a deep exhale, he sank back onto the ground, his muscles relaxing as the tension of anticipation eased from his body.
Pushing himself back up, Abel's eyes widened as he beheld the holographic announcements being projected at the entrance.
Coming from humble origins, seeing such advanced technology was still a novelty for him.
Inside the academy, the abundance of holographic screens felt surreal, a testament to the cutting-edge education offered within its walls.
Even the bracelets provided to students like Abel displayed holographic screens, offering a wealth of information and communication capabilities.
[Reminder to all first-year students to please register your name in the upcoming moon dance, the registration will close within 5 minutes—]
The holographic display flashed with a message, urging first-year students to register their names for the upcoming moon dance.
Abel's heart skipped a beat as he realized the registration was closing in just five minutes.
'I better hurry up' he muttered to himself, his pulse quickening with anticipation.
With a sense of urgency, Abel and the other first-years around him rushed toward the moon sphere, where the battle royal was set to commence.
As the first-years entered, a proctor swiftly ushered them into a designated area within the expansive chamber.
The walls rose high and pristine, casting a sense of solemnity over the assembled students. At the front of the room stood a podium, its surface gleaming under the bright lights.
A man, appearing to be in his late 60's? approached the podium with a gentle smile, his presence commanding the attention of all present.
As he spoke, his voice boomed through the room, amplified by the magic mic set to its loudest volume. The sound reverberated off the walls, creating an echoing effect that filled the enclosed space.
"Welcome, everyone!" the man exclaimed warmly, his words punctuated by the rumbling echoes of his amplified voice.
"I'm sure all of you are curious as to why you've been brought to a secluded place like this. Some of you may already know, thanks to certain family connections within the academy. But let me assure you, there's nothing to fear. My name is Leto Asban."
At the mention of his name, a murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd, punctuated by whispers and exclamations of awe.
Even Abel couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. After all, Leto Asban was a legendary figure, known for his groundbreaking contributions to the world of magic.
He was the mastermind behind the creation of the very first virtual magic, a revolutionary achievement that had reshaped the landscape of magical education.
As Leto Asban continued to address the gathered students, his words filled them with a sense of reassurance and excitement.
Despite the nerves that had initially gripped them, the prospect of learning from such a renowned figure filled them with anticipation and excitement.
"Quiet!"
Leto's booming voice cut through the excited chatter, commanding the attention of the assembled students.
A hearty laugh escaped his lips as he surveyed the eager faces before him.
"I knew all of you are excited, but I hate to be the bearer of bad news."
A wave of anticipation swept through the crowd as Leto's words hung in the air. "Among all the 500 students here, only a hundred and fifty will be allowed to enter the academy," he announced bluntly, his tone devoid of any hint of sympathy.
"But I'm sure most of you knew that, right? For those who didn't, well, good luck. Why'd you even come here?" His laughter echoed through the chamber, mingling with the nervous murmurs of the students.
As Leto continued, his words carried a harsh edge that left no room for misunderstanding. "I'm here to remind you all, nobility or not, royalty or not, not all of you can enter the academy just as you please," he declared, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "You might think you're some hotshot in your own realm, but here, you're just chubby little chicks waiting to get crushed."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that the road ahead would be far more challenging than they had anticipated, some even stated talking about quitting now than to embarrass themselves later.
"The world out there is tough," Leto continued, his voice taking on a solemn tone.
"That's why the academy itself is tough. It doesn't tolerate the weak and the stupid. Only the best shall enter, and have the chance to change the course of history for your very generation, right now!"
With a decisive clap of his hands, Leto gestured toward the holographic screen floating above his head.
[First test: Moon dance]
[Participate in the upcoming battle royal of the academy, and prove your worth, the test shall evaluate your survival and adaptation skills]
[Defeat monsters and students alike.]
[1-star monster – 10 pts]
[2-star monster – 20 pts]
[3-star monster - 30 pts]
[Boss monster – 100 pts]
[Hunters – 200 pts]
"Judging from your faces, I'm sure all of you have some questions in mind," Leto remarked, his voice commanding attention. "But don't worry, they shall be answered later on. All you need to remember right now is that the most important thing in this academy is survival!"
As Leto continued to explain the rules of the first test, Abel listened intently, his mind racing with anticipation for the challenges that lay ahead.
The upcoming battle royal, known as the Moon Dance, would test the students' survival and adaptation skills in a simulated combat environment.
Defeating monsters and fellow students alike would earn them points, with higher points awarded for more formidable adversaries.
'Hunters… so it was true that the seniors are joining us….'
What made the test even more troublesome is the participation of a few third years who would deliberately hunt down the top rankers in the test.
"Once you enter the virtual world everyone be would be your enemy or your allies depending on how you play your cards that is why—"
Before Abel could fully absorb Leto's words, a sudden voice cut through the air, disrupting the solemn atmosphere he had on this place….
"Tsk… how long will this take?"
Startled, Abel turned to his right and saw a man with a disdainful expression, his handsome features marred by a look of contempt.
"This old man sure talks a lot," the man remarked disdainfully, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Did that gorilla leave a relative here? Even his face reminds me of him… ugh!!!"
Abel's eyes widened in disbelief at the man's audacity.
'What the hell is this man saying...?'
Despite his dazzling appearance and striking red hair, his words dripped with disrespect.
Abel couldn't fathom how someone could speak so disdainfully about Leto, a figure revered for his contributions to the world of magic.