Ares followed the instructions on his communicator and arrived at his room, which was conveniently located on the lower levels, right next to Sunny's.
"See you later, squirrel~" Ares joked, waving at Sunny as he stepped inside.
"...ape," Sunny muttered with a smile, before entering her own room, where a show was awaiting her, one she needed to mentally prepare for.
Inside his room, Ares was greeted with a heavenly sight. The room was simple yet luxurious: a soft mattress on the bed, a table, a dresser, and even a separate bathroom. The materials used were sleek and modern, and the air felt crisp and sterile. The warmth of the room enveloped him, and the outer wall, equipped with a hidden screen, seamlessly mimicked a wide window that displayed a picturesque snowy park outside. It was as though he had been transported to a tranquil winter wonderland.
He noticed several sets of clothes with the Academy emblem neatly placed in the corner of the room, ready for him to wear. "How thoughtful," he mused.
Ares jumped onto the bed, sprawling out with his limbs in a star shape, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Ah~ how I missed this feeling, feels like heaven in hell."
He closed his eyes for a few seconds, letting himself relax. Despite feeling physically strong, his mind was still recovering from the intensity of his first nightmare experience. He opened his eyes again, his gaze falling on one of his power pillars.
Aspect Legacy: [Bloodforged Aegis]
A legendary armor crafted in the depths of an ancient, cursed forge, where molten blood replaced steel. It is said to have been created under the watchful gaze of a tyrannical god, imbued with the wrath and hatred of countless souls.
It was a growth-type armor, soul-bound to him, meaning it would stay by his side forever. Currently, it had three attributes:
Soulbound Resilience: The armor enhances the wearer's physical and mental resistance, bolstered by the souls infused within the aegis, making it nearly indestructible against enemies with one power level higher.
Wrath Unleashed: In moments of desperation, Ares could channel the torment of the imprisoned souls, enhancing his abilities to a higher level. However, this drained his own energy and left him temporarily weak afterward.
Life Siphon: The armor absorbed the life force of those it touched, channeling their vitality into Ares with each strike.
A truly magnificent treasure. He then shifted his focus to his class ability.
Dormant Ability: [Terror]
Upon use, anyone who glances upon you feels primordial fear.
Despite the description, it took into account factors like his rank, power, range, number of enemies, and their mental resistance. It was a nuanced ability that didn't just trigger fear in everyone—it required proper application.
Another thing he noticed was how well [Terror] complemented his innate ability:
Innate Ability: [True King]
As a true king, it is only natural for you to be respected and feared. The more you act like a King, the more powerful you become.
Fear, he realized, was fuel for him. When he used [Terror] on that Legacy earlier, the surge of fear he felt from the boy had been oddly rejuvenating. Ares couldn't help but relish in it.
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He placed a hand on his stomach,. His body required far more fuel than a regular person, something proven by the mountain of empty plates on the table.
"That hit the spot." Ares patted his full belly. The Academy had outdone itself with the meal, almost like a 'last' supper.
Sighing contentedly, he glanced at his communicator and headed out, meeting his appointment with the Academy personnel.
In the small office, Ares sat across from an administrative worker. The worker was friendly and immediately began the interview.
Just as Master Jet had warned, Ares was offered psychological counseling. He politely refused, and the interview smoothly transitioned into questions about his Aspect.
The worker was skilled—flattering and professional, knowing just how to get people to open up.
"Would you mind telling me about the type of Aspect Ability you received, like combat, sorcery, or utility?"
Ares knew he had to answer carefully. "Combat."
"Fantastic, it'll help you a lot. How strong is it?" the worker asked.
Ares shrugged casually. "Strong enough to keep me alive."
The worker nodded, seemingly satisfied, but then leaned in for the final question. "Did you receive a true name?"
Ares' mouth curved into a smile, and he remained silent for a beat, letting the suspense build. "Yes," he said, his voice confident.
He paused for effect, watching the worker's curiosity intensify. "My true name is…"
The next morning, Ares woke up feeling refreshed and strong. A good night's rest had restored him to his peak, both mentally and physically.
He headed down to the cafeteria, where all the seats were full except for one corner. He found Sunny there, sitting across from the doll-like girl, Cassia.
"Heya, Sunny, how was yesterday?" Ares sat down, his tray piled high with food, and immediately started stuffing his face.
"You look like a beast, you know that?" Sunny remarked between bites, clearly enjoying her meal as much as he was.
"It was fine," she said nonchalantly, swallowing her food.
"Good to hear." Ares chewed happily, his eyes drifting toward the doll girl who was being assisted by a cafeteria worker. He frowned slightly. "So she's blind… What a serious flaw. I wonder what she received for that."
Just as he was lost in thought, a commotion broke out.
"What's happening?" Sunny asked, looking up at the source.
A large group of Sleepers had gathered around a massive screen on the wall. Their faces were full of excitement and awe as they stared at something on the screen. It displayed a ranking of the new batch of Sleepers, from weakest to strongest, likely based on the results of the interviews.
Sunny wasn't particularly interested, but curiosity got the better of her. She quickly found her own name near the bottom of the list, not surprised in the slightest. The only person ranked lower than her was Cassia, the blind girl.
But the real stir was coming from the top of the list.
The top two names were causing an uproar, with whispers and exclamations spreading across the room.
"How… how can this be?!"
"I'm not seeing things, right?"
"I've never heard of him!"
"Wait, it's that guy!"
At the very top was a silver-haired portrait, followed by a crimson-eyed man below her. Caster was ranked third, and the names of the top two were displayed with a simple note:
Name: Nephis
True Name: Changing Star
Name: Ares
True Name: Scarlet King
Sunny froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. She turned toward Ares, her voice cracking with astonishment. "You have a true name!"
Now it made sense. Everything he'd said, the confidence, the aura—Ares really was a true king.