As the moonlight graced the sky, students wandered around the academy, their faces illuminated with joy. Majestic buildings stood like watchmen, casting long shadows over the tranquil night.
Yet, amidst the serenity, a ramshackle building, the dwelling of Archie and Kassandra, stood out like an eerie specter. With each passing second, it seemed to inch closer to ruin, a brick tumbling down now and then.
In the only room that hadn't succumbed to decay, Archie lay flat on his back, a pulsating bruise sending waves of pain through his body.
From the moment the day's classes had wrapped up, Archie had been sprawled on the bed, his stomach rumbling but his body motionless.
Once the class had dispersed, Archie dashed for the building, steeling himself for a confrontation with Ron, his lackeys, or some other mischief-maker. To his relief, no such incident transpired.
Rowe had made a few appearances, but a stern glance from Cody sent him scurrying back.
Archie had abstained from consuming the health potion Cody had proffered. He planned to reserve it for the Cumulative mission sign-up.
To appease his hunger, Archie munched on some junk food, but his pain lingered. Alone in the room, he had no one to share his discomfort with.
Meanwhile, Kassandra was immersed in her training, a solitary figure in her practice area. Archie was prohibited from entering.
Kassandra was known to sleep for merely two to four hours a day, dedicating the majority of her time to training. The sound of gunshots or a punching bag being struck echoed in Archie's room.
With his eyes riveted to his phone, Archie anxiously awaited midnight.
[23:55]
Five more minutes until he could sign in.
The minutes dragged by until finally, the clock struck midnight.
Archie activated his Rift Watch, unconcerned about Kassandra spotting it. After all, his E-Screen was invisible to everyone but him.
He navigated to the [Mission] Menu, selected the [Sign-up Events] tab, and clicked on the [Cumulative Sign-in] tab. A new screen popped up:
[Cumulative Sign-in]
[Sign in for a certain number of days to earn rewards.]
[You can earn all the rewards by signing in consecutively.]
---
[Congratulations on unlocking the Cumulative Sign-in Event]
[Reward:
Eye of Truth]
[Day for next reward: Day 100]
*
---
'Eye of Truth! Is this a skill or a weapon?'
Archie wondered, baffled by the ambiguous term. He hastily checked the [Equipment] Menu, but it was devoid of any information.
Archie was at a loss about what to do with this 'Eye of Truth.' He scanned the daily mission but found nothing beyond the usual tasks like pushing and jumping.
'If it truly is a skill, then I must reach level 10 to use it.'
Archie deduced that the reward was likely a skill. However, the skills tab remained locked, accessible only upon reaching level 10.
Archie had yet to enhance his attributes. He had decided to postpone it until the following day when he could engage in combat training. This would allow him to identify his weaknesses and augment his attributes accordingly.
Archie was not a creature of impulse. He was a tactician, carefully crafting his path towards triumph. His sights were set on a pivotal event at the academy that would shape the hierarchy among the first-year students - the Rank By Combat (RBC).
The RBC was the exclusive method of assessing and ranking students, based on their prowess in battles against their peers. It wasn't a constant trial but occurred every three months, determining each student's rank through combat.
Each RBC trial unveiled a new type of combat battle, such as War Combat, Fortifications Combat, Melee, or Ranged. The students were kept alert, preparing for all conceivable scenarios since the specific mode of combat was only disclosed three days before the event.
The coveted First Rank of the first year was the center of everyone's attention, with numerous students eager to topple Kassandra. But it wasn't merely about settling old scores or basking in the glory of the top spot—there was a far more substantial reward at stake.
When first-year students enrolled in the academy, their initial ranks were determined by the strength of their Ethereal and Natural Encounters. However, these ranks were short-lived, as the RBC trial took place in the week following the commencement of classes.
The RBC trial was a spectacle, with second-year and third-year seniors scrutinizing the first-year students, scouting potential recruits for their clubs.
The clubs, managed by the academy seniors, were the buzz of the academy. Joining a club signified more than just being part of a group. It meant receiving personalized combat training from the seniors or hired faculties, protection from other students, and most importantly, it offered an opportunity to enter the Rift.
As per the Rift law, individuals under the age of 15 were prohibited from entering the rifts, and students couldn't enter without the guidance of the academy and a supervisor. The most straightforward way to gain access to the rifts was by joining a club, and so, every student, including Archie, was striving to secure a spot in one.
Archie wasn't vying for the top rank. His objective was to perform well enough to pique the interest of the clubs and earn a chance to enter the rifts.
Archie had no desire to become a mere Rift Rider. He aspired to something far more significant—becoming a Rift Runner. He was determined to decipher the enigmas of the Rifts and understand what it truly meant to be a Rift Runner.
Archie was eager to discover if special missions awaited him within the Rifts, and if he might cross paths with Mechanic and Deadbeat once more.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Archie consumed the health potion, realizing there was no special cumulative mission for the day. He decided to focus on completing the day's mission, especially after missing out on the previous day's tasks.
[Daily Mission] [Biome Missions] [Side Missions] [Sign-up Events] [Milestone]
---
[Sign-up Events]
[Consecutive Daily Sign-in] [Cumulative Sign-in]
Archie had discerned that [Daily Mission] and [Sign-up Events] were separate entities. Daily missions were optional, and penalties were only imposed if he embarked on a mission and failed to complete it within a day.
The Daily mission did not meddle with the [Consecutive Daily Sign-in], which led to the Cumulative sign-in inside.
Archie opted for the [Daily mission]:
[Push-ups: 1000]
[Pull-ups: 1000]
[Lifting: 1000]
[Running: 10,000]
[High Kicks: 1000]
[Jumping: 1000]
---
[Do you want to begin today's mission?]
[Yes] [No]
Without a moment's delay, Archie bolted outside the building, bracing himself for the imminent rift. He wasn't perturbed about the rift at that instant, but he was wary about being rifted back to the same location as before.
Given the late hour, it was highly likely that Kassandra would be asleep.
So, Archie dashed into the open, selected [Yes], and was abruptly rifted out of sight. He had presumed the garden was deserted, but even in the darkness, an unseen eye witnessed everything that unfolded.
---
A day later,
The day Archie had been fervently awaiting finally dawned.
Archie skated towards the training dojo, the nucleus of the first-year campus.
The building was a sprawling edifice, stretching nearly 500 miles, designed to accommodate a diverse range of facilities. It boasted an extensive armory, a comprehensive library of martial arts books, a gun range, swimming areas, and relaxation rooms for massages. Scattered throughout were miniature castles, serving as battlegrounds for war games and tactical exercises.
The dojo, with its vast and varied amenities, served as a central hub for both physical training and strategic practice.
Archie stood before the daunting structure, a colossal white rectangular monolith that towered over him. Measuring approximately 150 feet from the ground and stretching 700 feet in width, its sheer magnitude was awe-inspiring.
The building's facade was adorned with banners showcasing the achievements of previous graduates, fluttering gently in the breeze. These banners depicted the names and faces of those who had passed through these walls, creating a tapestry of success and tradition.
'Why is Justina's banner here?' Archie mused, startled by the sight of Justina's picture with the caption 'Valedictorian of Class 2023- 2026' beneath it.
'How did she become top rank with a Graded 'A' Ethereal. Is she also a rift runner like me that has an Ethereal that is different than others?'
However, Archie quickly dismissed the thought, recalling her inability to see his Rift watch. He found it hard to believe that a Graded 'A' Ethereal could clinch the top rank, even outperforming 'S' and 'SS' Graded Ethereal.
With another perplexing doubt added to his list, Archie decided to venture inside the building to locate Ward 8C, where his classroom for individual training was situated.
Before Archie could take another step, a massive rock hurtled towards him from behind, albeit not as fast as during the Ron incident.
Archie nimbly sidestepped the rock and whirled around to see Ron's lackeys approaching, smirks etched on their faces. One of them taunted,
"Prepare to get beat down again, Dog!"