There's a ringing in my ear that I wake to. My head spins. I'm supposed to be dead right now, but all I can see is a pure white void. I look at my hands, and then my body. It's all familiar, and perfectly unharmed.
This.. white space, is never ending. I take a few tentative steps. I can walk, but everything looks the same.
Is this the after life? It's the only suitable explanation for my situation.
As the piercing noise in my ear subsides, three floating.. text boxes appear? The text is in front of me, aligned so I can see them all.
The boxes are blue, and have a glow around them. They're also translucent, with each having text written on them.
As I take a cautious step closer to the text, another box pops up — right in my view. They sort of look like notifications from a phone, the more I think about it.
The new box states:
[WELCOME]
{YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY SALVATOR GOD OF SACRIFICE}
God of sacrifice? Chosen? Does this mean Gods are real..? I struggle to comprehend everything being thrown at me. First, I'm not actually dead, and instead in some mysterious void. Now, I'm some blessed creature made by the God of Sacrifice. Is this some delusion?
Once I have finished reading the newest notification — my new name for these boxes — it dissolves. Which leaves the three previous ones for me to look over.
The one on the left side says:
[AWARDED SKILL]
Name: Copy + Paste
Rank: SSS+ {1 of 1, curtesy of SALVATOR}
Description: Upon you killing an enemy, select one skill to keep from them, and copy it for your use.
One limit to this ability: can only be activated once a day at User's will.
In the middle:
[AWARDED INNATE ABILITY]
Name: Blessing of the Gods
Rank: S [evolving, potential for SSS+]
Description: Enhances all basic stats [strength, stamina, agility, health, intellect] to a B-Rank Hunter level.
Also increases instincts — allowing user to detect whenever something is 'off.' Instincts can bypass any and all obstacles/illusions.
Notes: Will evolve, and therefore enhance effects, with enough training and effort + skill. Does not affect technique.
And on the right:
[AWARDED WEAPON]
Name: Salvation
Rank: S [Potential: X]
Description: SALVATOR's personal weapon. Imbued with godly energy and power. Currently locked and restricted. Bound to the owner.
Notes: Restrictions will decrease with owner's increasing ability.
So, if I can put this straight. Skills are.. somehow a thing? It's formatted a lot like a video game. I've played a few in highschool, but my knowledge isn't too extensive. This god seems to be gifting me some important things. But I don't have any—
Another notification springs up in my face.
[YOU WILL NOW BE TRANSPORTED INTO THE WORLD OF EVANTUS. THIS WORLD IS AS REAL AS EARTH.]
A smaller, separate box appears.
[GOOD LUCK. IM WATCHING.]
I can't even form another question in my head before a tense headache pounds my skull. My vision blurs, and I have nothing to steady myself with. I get to my knees and wince, hand desperately grasping at my head, trying to make it stop. The pain doesn't want to listen to me, and is piercing my temples.
Yeah, this is definitely a dream. Something my almost dead mind is making up.
The next time I blink, the pain disappears in an instant, and my surroundings have changed completely.
I'm in the upper bowl of a packed and crowded stadium. The architecture is sleek and futuristic, and the crowd is roaring even without anything on the centre stage.
The stage is elevated. The platform is a simple white slate that hovers in the air, defying every law of physics I've learnt. I quickly glance around to those next to me. Everyone looks like humans.. but they're all in their late teens. I look to myself next — does this mean I'm one too?
That's when I realize I look different than usual. Even though I can only see my body and arms, I know it's not mine. I'm slim — skinny even. There's a watch, with a dim screen on its watch face, on my wrist. I make an attempt to tap it, but the display is stubbornly frozen black. My skin is also paler than my usual shade, and I'm wearing a.. school uniform?
It reminds me of my high school days. A sharp black blazer, white button down. and a slim blue tie. There's a fancy crest embroidered onto my breast pocket. I realize everyone around me is wearing the same uniform — but people that i can see further away from me are wearing some other kind of school Uniform. There's lots of variation the more I examine the stadium.
As I scramble to put everything together, the ring of a mic being turned on echoes throughout the arena. The excited chatter dissipates slowly. Then, a man walks onto the stage. He seems young — maybe in his mid twenties, has sharp features, perfectly styled light brown hair, and a pleasing smile on his lips.
"Hello cadets!" He greets, his smile widening into a grin. "Welcome to the entrance ceremony for the Avalarch Kingdom's finest Hunter academy, Horizon!" The man skillfully pauses, to allow the plethora of cadets to cheer and holler.
I take the time to sort my thoughts. I'm at the entrance ceremony to some school, that trains Hunters? I've received a bunch of stuff from a God that I'm not sure is real. Everything around me feels like reality, like I'm alive again.
I'm also inside the Avalarch Kingdom, and if I trust the white void — this world is called Evantus.
The voice booms out of the speakers again. "I'm sure you're all very excited! All of you cadets are the best of the best we have, and Horizon Academy will nurture the most powerful of Hunters and live up to our legacy!" He starts pacing the platform. "I am Leon Kaestrel, vice-headmaster of this institution, S class hunter. Soon, you will all be separated into groups and go through orientation."
As he says this, and I intently try to take in as much information as possible, a notification pops up in front of me. I jolt, looking to the people beside me, but they show no indication of being able to see it. Huh.
I quickly read it.
[System]
Name: Dorian Hawthorne
Rank: D tier Hunter [Potential: Unknown, former potential: C tier]
Progression: [————70%——]
Affinities: Lightning [One more, unknown]
Abilities:
Skill: Copy + Paste [SSS+]
Recharge [B]
— Recharges a moderate amount of mana upon use
— Cooldown: 1 hour
Enhance [C]
— Enhances physical output by a small amount
— Cooldown: 30 minutes
Blessing of the Gods {Innate, Evolving} [A]
Stats:
Strength: 35
Intelligence: 30
Stamina: 35
Agility: 37
Health: 30
[Open Inventory] *One item
[Close System]
—
So it really is like a video game.. strange. And I am totally a different human now. I'm borrowing.. Dorian Hawthorne's body. If Ranks are like letter grades in school, it seems like this Dorian wasn't very good, on the verge of failing.
It says I have an item in my inventory. I tap on the button, and the box morphs into a different shape. There's a bunch of boxes in a rectangle, and in the first slot, an icon of a dagger.
I click it.
[Salvation]
S rank weapon [Potential: X rank]
Pulling out some godly dagger is likely not the best move, so I tap out of the inventory, and press [Close System]. The notification box collapses.
I'm unsure how to summon it again, but I'll figure that out later. I need to focus on getting my bearings.
If I put aside how crazy this is, if I really do have a second chance.. I don't think I can let that slip through my fingers. And if my potential really is so high, there's nothing binding me now.
I need to do better this time. I can't waste this life.
"So," the man, Leon, clears his throat. "Your smartwatches that have been assigned to you at the front gate will now display your rank number!" he declares.
At his words, everyone around me seems to tense nervously, all glancing down to their watches in anticipation. I follow their example.
I'm assuming it's like in Japan, with test rankings. Except this society seems to be based on Hunter rankings.
Leon gestures with his hands. "As I'm sure you all know, this will represent your current strength, and where you fall within Horizon Academy. The rankings are taken from how you performed on our entrance exam." He laughs. "And of course, our top 3 cadets will come up onto the stage with me, and introduce themselves."
There's mild groans all around me. I listen in to the chatter between the students in my left.
"Everyone knows it's going to be Caelus, Aleyna, and Caspian," the brown-haired girl complains, rolling her eyes as she picks at her nails.
The blond one next to her scoffs. "I know, right? Fucking nepo-babies. They get everything handed to them, with their blood lines and equipment." Unexpectedly, they side eye me next. I quickly act like I wasn't eavesdropping.
Their voices lower into a hushed whisper. The blonde girl adds, "At least they inherited some skill, unlike him."
Miss brown hair laughs, not very discreetly. "Yeah. We're both better than him and his family literally owns Horizon." They snicker together afterwards, but my mind is sent reeling.
Dorian Hawthorne's family owns Horizon? Yet I currently have terrible nosebleed seats, and no one seems to want to talk to me?
"Did you hear? Apparently his potential is even lower than B rank, but his father got him in.."
"What? No way.. I knew he was bad, but that bad?"
I rub my face with my hand. What in the world? It seems I'm not just a nobody, I'm a hated nobody. Great.
As I'm spiralling again, there's a loud commotion. People are yelling out numbers — their ranks. I look at mine.
2000/2000.