Chapter 7: Rising Pressure and New Alliances
The first rays of dawn filled the dormitory room as Rudra prepared for another intense day at Astha Academy. Only a few days had passed, yet he felt a noticeable change within himself since his talent evolved into the Thunderstorm Deity. His mornings now began with meditation exercises, which his system recommended to help him better control the raging, crackling energy he carried.
After a quick breakfast, Rudra met Nand and Rhea in the courtyard, their faces glowing with excitement.
"Guess what," Nand grinned. "Today's the first day of official rankings!"
Rhea nudged him. "Well, aren't you eager? It's not like rankings will change much for you, fatty," she teased, but her tone was lighthearted.
"Hey, this fatty is aiming for top 100, alright?" Nand replied with a playful punch to her shoulder. "Besides, my talent has a solid defense. What about you, Rhea?"
With a smirk, Rhea flexed her fingers, tiny flames sparking at the tips. "Aiming for top 50. Pyrrha clan pride, after all."
Rudra chuckled, but his mind wandered to the intense competition that lay ahead. In a school filled with descendants of the Five Great Clans and other elite lineages, climbing the ranks was going to be no easy task.
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Academy Ranking Ceremony
Astha Academy's grand hall was abuzz with chatter as students gathered for the formal announcement of rankings. A massive screen displayed each student's name and rank based on preliminary assessments and training records. The ranking system was broken down as follows:
Top 10: Elite S and SS talent holders, often the prodigies of the Great Clans.
Top 50: High-level A and S talent holders, recognized for excellence in battle.
Top 100: Skilled combatants, mostly A and B talent holders.
As the rankings flashed on the screen, Rudra was stunned to see his name among the top 100. Rank 97: Rudra Kairon, Thunderstorm Deity. Beside his name was the bold icon of his evolving, unique talent.
Nand cheered loudly, startling everyone nearby. "Rank 97, Rudra! Look at you, you monster!"
Rudra grinned but couldn't help feeling the pressure. Ranking so high this early meant he'd drawn the attention of students from across the academy, particularly the top-ranked ones from the Five Great Clans.
At the very top, Rudra's eyes landed on Rank 1: Aarav Raizada, Silver Phoenix, the most celebrated descendant of the Raizada Clan. Known for his swift and deadly fire talents, Aarav was already famous across Ashvalon as one of the strongest young talents of his generation.
Rudra whispered, "Looks like we're up against the best of the best."
Rhea nodded, her face serious. "The Great Clan kids don't mess around. Aarav's not just some high-rank snob. He's fought in real battles for his clan."
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Introduction to the Five Great Clans
Vice-Principal Meera took the stage to announce the academy's esteemed students. "This year, we're honored to have students from all Five Great Clans. These students carry their clan's legacies, and we expect them to bring pride to their heritage."
She introduced each clan in turn, listing off their respective talents:
1. Raizada Clan - Masters of the Silver Phoenix talent, specializing in swift, high-damage fire attacks. Aarav Raizada was their most gifted descendent in decades.
2. Varma Clan - Known for the talent Earth Titan, an advanced defensive power. Anya Varma, Rank 6, had been a childhood friend of Aarav and was equally competitive.
3. Gaur Clan - Specializing in the Wind Phantom talent, they excelled in agility and stealth. Ved Gaur, Rank 8, was regarded as one of the academy's best duelists.
4. Deshmukh Clan - Known for their Frozen Thunder talent, blending electricity and ice. Kabir Deshmukh, Rank 5, had an imposing reputation and was expected to dominate this year's ranking.
5. Pyrrha Clan - Masters of fire control, with various sub-talents. Rhea Pyrrha represented her clan with her Inferno Fist talent.
As each clan was introduced, Rudra couldn't help feeling the weight of his own Kairon Clan. They weren't one of the Five Great Clans, but his family held a respectable position in Ashvalon's defense forces.
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First Class: History and Mysticism
After the rankings, the students attended their first class: History and Mysticism. Their instructor, Professor Aditya, was an eccentric man in his fifties with a thick, gray beard and a wardrobe full of ancient robes that looked like they'd been dug out of an archaeological site.
"Welcome, young warriors," he greeted them with a sweeping bow. "Today, we dive into the history of talents and the monsters that plague our world."
He spoke passionately about The Great Rapture, how supernatural talents had been granted to the survivors to protect themselves. "But with great power comes great arrogance," he warned, eyeing some of the cockier students from the Great Clans.
"The most powerful monsters we face today," he continued, "descend from those that emerged during the Rapture. They're more than just mindless beasts—they have intelligence, strategy, and sometimes even magical skills. Your ranking and talent mean nothing if you cannot master the willpower to survive them."
Nand leaned over and whispered, "Sounds like Professor Aditya's been traumatized by a monster or two."
Rudra stifled a laugh, while Rhea rolled her eyes, muttering, "Leave it to you to crack jokes during a life-or-death history lesson."
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Lunchtime at the Academy Canteen
After class, the trio grabbed lunch at the bustling canteen, where students gathered to discuss talents, rankings, and their respective clan legacies. The food spread was incredible, featuring dishes from across Velaria: spiced curries, thick stews, and colorful fruits they'd never seen before.
"Man, this is the best part of academy life!" Nand said, piling his plate with everything he could reach.
Just as they were eating, a shadow fell over their table. It was Aarav Raizada, the top-ranked student. He stood with two of his friends, both of them from top-ranking families as well.
"So, Kairon," Aarav said, addressing Rudra directly. "Saw your name on the list. Not bad, considering your clan doesn't usually produce top-tier talents."
Rudra kept his tone calm. "Glad you noticed. But rankings don't mean much until we're in the field."
Aarav smirked. "True, but some of us are born with expectations. Others, well… let's just say they have to earn their place."
Nand jumped in. "Yeah, and some of us aren't afraid to prove ourselves, no matter what family we come from."
Aarav's expression turned serious, but he nodded approvingly. "I'll look forward to seeing what you guys can do." With that, he and his friends walked off, leaving Rudra's table feeling both proud and uneasy.
Rhea sighed, "Great, now we have a target on our backs."
Rudra shrugged. "It's fine. Let's just focus on leveling up. Talent doesn't mean anything if it's not refined."
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Class Divisions: Choosing Their Paths
After lunch, they attended a meeting about class divisions. The academy offered them various paths, each with specialized training:
1. Combat: For those who wanted to focus on offense and close-quarters battle.
2. Beast Studies: Training for monster hunters, covering various monster weaknesses and strategies.
3. History and Mysticism: For students interested in ancient relics and the origins of talents.
4. Research and Development: Focused on scientific applications of talents and creating tech-enhanced abilities.
5. Mecha and Sci-Tech: A new field for creating weaponized suits, ideal for tech-based talent users.
Rudra, Rhea, and Nand chose Combat as their primary division but expressed interest in Mecha as a secondary focus. They figured it would give them a unique edge.
As the day ended, Rudra lay in his bed, scrolling through his system's notifications. With a new mission to train harder and his classmates watching him closely, he knew he couldn't rest.
> Mission Update:
Goal: Surpass Rank 50 within the next month.
Reward: Unlock Thunderstorm Deity's second ability.
With a grin, he closed his eyes, ready for whatever challenges awaited him.