Darkness envelops me, a suffocating void that pulls me deeper into the abyss. My surroundings shift erratically, shadows morphing into grotesque figures that whisper threats and accusations. I try to run, but my feet feel glued to the ground, my movements sluggish and uncoordinated. The whispers grow louder, a cacophony of voices speaking of betrayal, impending doom, and secrets buried deep within my past.
Flashes of unfamiliar faces, distorted and menacing, invade my vision. They reach out with clawed hands, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. Amidst the chaos, I glimpse a symbol-a crest with a crescent moon and an intricate design I can't quite decipher. It pulses with a strange, eerie glow, drawing me towards it even as the shadows close in.
My heart pounds in my chest, the fear and confusion mounting until I can hardly breathe. Just as the darkness seems ready to consume me entirely, a blinding light erupts, scattering the shadows and silencing the voices. I gasp for air, the light growing brighter and more intense until.
"Huff...huff..huff...haa"
I woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling, my body drenched in sweat. My breath comes in ragged gasps as I try to calm down.
Fragments of the nightmare still linger at the edges of my mind, but I'm awake now, and there are more pressing matters to attend to. But the haunting feeling from the nightmare lingers. The details of the nightmare, once vivid and terrifying, now seemed to dissipate into nothingness, leaving behind only a vague sense of dread.
I slowly lifted myself up, the unfamiliar bed beneath me creaking softly. My body ached, and as I glanced around, the unfamiliar surroundings made my heart race. With never before seen medical devices and equipment, I was again reminded that I got transmigrated here.
It's only been two days since I was dropped into this world. It's scary how quickly I've adapted to it. Despite the overwhelming strangeness and constant danger, I've managed to keep myself together. As I thought about my uncertain and potentially grim future, a wave of sadness threatened to overtake me. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I swallowed them back. I'm going to stay strong. I have to. There's no room for weakness here.
Not only is the Academy going to face the demons, they are also going to face the Syndicate. A villainous organization that will do whatever to destroy humanity. The group is composed of multiple individuals who harbor a deep desire for humanity's demise and they work together with the demons.
"Huff.. I have so many things to worry about. Haha.."
Thinking back to my latest memories, I remember beating Ronan into a pulp, but was shortly stopped by Professor Verron. Come to think of it, when did I ever get this violent before? Perhaps it's an instinct of mine that became unusually sensitive after I was suddenly dropped into this world.
Hearing footsteps nearing the entrance to the room, Professor Verron appeared.
"Get up, we will visit the Headmaster now."
".. Okay"
Professor Verron, who is also known as Eilot Verron. A veteran who served in the military for 4 decades but got injured in the battle of Tarok. So he retired and began teaching at the Lumi Academy. He has a buff build, with a scar running across his left eye. His grayish hair and intense killing intent have earned him a reputation as a maniacal demon hunter. Known for his exceptional skill, he has reached the peak of swordmaster and stands on the brink of becoming a grand swordmaster. However, despite his potential, he will never have the chance to achieve this breakthrough, as he is destined to die in an attack from the Syndicate.
Creek-
We reached the Headmaster's study and the door slowly opened.
Heading in, we see a man who appears to be in his thirties. He has long silver hair that cascades down his back, adding an air of both elegance and mystery. His attire is a blend of sophisticated and practical, suited for both formal occasions and combat. His piercing eyes, a deep and unsettling shade of red scanned me up to down.
An intense presence crashed over me, nearly overwhelming my senses and making me feel as if I might collapse. The weight of it was suffocating, pressing down on me with a force that left me breathless. Just as I was on the brink of collapsing, the presence suddenly retreated, leaving me gasping for air and struggling to regain my composure.
"Greetings Headmaster."
"Greetings Headmaster."
Verron and I both bowed to greet the Headmaster.
"Haha, welcome you two. Come sit down and we will have a talk."
Verron and I promptly sat down on the couch in front of the Headmaster. I wouldn't dare to look at him directly again; the suffocating presence he exuded was far too intense. Just being in his vicinity was almost overwhelming, and I could barely keep myself from fainting.
As expected of a Sage-leveled person, even being in his vicinity nearly made me faint, and It wasn't his full extent of power.
"So your Alyssa, huh."
"Yes, Headmaster."
"Hmm. Well, let's see. You beat that kid Ronan into a pulp, correct?"
"...Yes"
"And did you know what price you pay to beat him?"
'What? A price to beat him?'
Come to think of it, it is unusual for a G ranked person to even scratch a D ranked person. I hurriedly checked my stats.
[ Status ]
Name : Alyssa Valenheart
Age : 16
Rank : G+
Strength : E-
Agility : G
Stamina : G-
Intelligence : D
Mana : G-
Mana Capacity : 11/11
Luck : E
Charm : S
-> Profession
[Swordsmanship lvl.1]
[Apprentice Mage lvl.1]
->Manual
[ Shinra Style (Unknown) ]
-> Major Mastery of 1st Realm
[ Overclock (Unknown) ]
-> Major Mastery of 2nd Realm
-> Skills
[Basic Sword Mastery (G-)] [Quick Slash (G-]
[Mana Manipulation (G+)] [Elemental Bolt (G)]
[Sovereign's Path (EX)]
-> Effects
[Curse of Stagnation] [Wasted Vitality] [Null Taste]
"You burnt your Mana core in order to inflict damage on Ronan. I didn't even think a student like you had access to that technique. Let alone using it on a fellow classmate."
'Ah shit..'
My mana capacity is already so low and now it is even lower. I didn't even consider that I could burn my own mana core to inflict damage.
"Well you can return now. No need for a punishment as your mana core is now even more useless. You already had a small mana core and now you decreased it. Get ready for your classes tomorrow, rank 37."
"Though I suggest quitting school now, considering how wasted your prowess is now."
"... Thank you for your consideration, Headmaster, but I wish to remain here for now."
"Hahaha, good spirit!"
Headmaster Valen waved his hand and teleported Professor Verron and I out of his room.
"You can return to your room now, you've been asleep for three days now."
"What? Three days? … Ah, I'm sorry Professor."
".. Yes, three days, it's now friday."
Then, he walked away with a measured stride, heading to the far end of the hall.
As he disappeared from my view I slowly walked towards my dorm.
Coming into my room, I sat down on my bed, and contemplated things.
Since I was dropped here on the day of the Spring midterms, after the week of midterms, S-1 and A-1 Class are going on a field trip. During this field trip the Syndicate will attack us during the night as all students stay inside the hotel.
The City of Ardentis, where the best beaches are at. With the best food and the most known thing about it is the Arena. Where it is hosted monthly and only allows 18 year old and younger to participate. It is a good learning place for the students of Lumi to see or perhaps experience real battles instead of being sheltered away in the Academy.
But instead of having fun, the city was attacked. Overrun by demons, more than 30 students from class S were dead, and 70 more were dead from class A. Class S-1 only had 71 students and class A only had 156 students. If only the professors were fast enough or someone gathered enough people to hold out until reinforcement arrives, then casualties will drop and perhaps maybe Professor Verron can survive.
And I am certain that I will die there too, as I am the weakest among the two classes. To increase in power within a 3-day period is unheard of, but my only hope is to practice Shinra Style, Overclock, and finally raise my mana capacity to a formidable level. I needed to push my limits beyond the usual constraints and accelerate my training methods.
I made my way to the training room, where a diverse array of weapons, from swords to bows, was meticulously arranged. In the center of the room stood a humanoid robot, crucial for my advanced training methods.
I tapped on my bracelet to access high-tier 1st-grade mana and stamina recovery potions. Each potion cost 5 Lumi Credits, and my current balance was:
[ Lumi Balance: 75,336 ]
Being rank 1 afforded numerous benefits, including a monthly allowance of 15,000 Credits.
I ordered 500 potions of each type, which deducted 5,000 from my balance. Then, I ordered 500 high-tier 2nd-grade mana and stamina recovery potions, costing me 50,000 Lumi Credits. Finally, I ordered 15 high-tier 3rd-grade mana and stamina recovery potions, costing me an additional 20,000 credits.
[ Lumi Balance: 336 ]
"Ahh, my money."
'This will be all worth it'
I also ordered 72 endurance rations which are packets of high-energy food with balanced macronutrients for prolonged physical activity. Costing me 144 Lumi credits.
'Ugh, my money'
I silently shed a tear for my poor wallet.
The training method is quite simple: I plan to train until I collapse. This approach might not have worked back on Earth, but with the assistance of mana and potions, it should be effective here with Overclock. But I will also be going through intense pain and as experts say, the fastest way to get stronger is to fight against a stronger opponent. At least that's what someone claims. Though I can't quite remember his name or was it a she?
Anyways, while waiting for my order to arrive, it's time to set up this robot.
"Uh, is this how you open the interface panel?"
I raised my hand and tapped the middle core of the robot with my bracelet. Then the robot suddenly lit up!
"Woah"
"This is freaking cool!"
"Hello Alyssa, how may I help you?"
"Woah, what the heck, it sounds exactly like me!"
"We are designed to sound exactly as the owner of the room, which is you Alyssa."
"Damn."
Anyways, I should start setting it up.
"Uh, you know how the Mercenary King fights right?"
"Yes, the latest style from Mercenary King, Leon Azha, was recorded 27 years ago."
"Adopt that guy's stance and combat techniques. When I say go, attack me with the power of a E+ ranked fighter until I collapse. Once I show improvement, escalate to D+ prowess. Don't stop until I'm flat on the ground, then you can stop."
"Yes."
Great, now I can't wait to get beaten up for hours.
Assuming I don't sleep, the recovery potions will allow me to recover to peak condition once consumed, provided the potion's grade is higher than my current state. While overuse of the potion can lead to the body adapting to its effects, this usually occurs after thousands of doses, so I don't need to worry just yet.
I will be enduring training for approximately 70 hours straight until we need to assemble in the gym for the trip. Given that the current time is [11:42 AM], I am indeed facing 70 hours of continuous training.
This training should yield extraordinary results, but the pain from constant impacts and the effects of the mana and recovery potions can make even an A-ranked individual faint.
However, since I have [Sovereign's Path], which removes all pain, this method seems perfectly suited to me.
Ding
I walked to the door and saw boxes filled with potions being delivered. With thousands of students at the Academy requiring potions, this amount is not particularly challenging to manage. I allowed the little robot into my room to handle the boxes, which were filled to the brim.
After the robot set everything in place, I began preparing for my training.
I dressed in a comfortable pair of shorts and a loose t-shirt.
I then tied my hair up into a tight bun, clearing my vision and ensuring it wouldn't interfere with my movements, then grabbed a sword.
I assumed the Shinra battle position, then activated
'[Sovereign's Path]' '[Overclock]'
And said,
"Go"