That night, Aidan returned to his room, his mind swirling with the day's events. The image of Darius standing victorious in the arena replayed over and over in his head. The sheer power and precision Darius had displayed weren't just a testament to his Red Stage abilities; it was the way he wielded his sword, as if it were an extension of his very being.
Aidan had known Darius was ahead of him, but today had revealed just how vast the gap truly was. Darius had already started learning the Intermediate Sword Manual, a fact he had casually mentioned to Aidan days before. But seeing that mastery in action was something else entirely.
Clenching his fists, Aidan resolved to push himself harder. If he wanted to close the gap, he couldn't afford to waste a single moment. His path wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to walk it.
Though he didn't yet have access to advanced techniques, he decided to continue refining his Beginner Sword Manual. That night, he headed to the training facility with Hope.
The facility was eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by a calm stillness. Aidan welcomed the solitude. Setting up a training dummy, he began practicing the forms from the manual, his movements precise and deliberate.
Hope, sensing Aidan's determination, joined him in a series of team drills. They worked in tandem, honing their coordination. With every strike and dodge, Aidan could feel their bond strengthening. He might lack the overwhelming power of someone like Darius now, but he vowed that one day, he would surpass him.
---
The next morning, the classroom buzzed with energy. Students clustered in small groups, their voices a mix of excitement and anxiety.
"The results are coming out today," one student whispered nervously. "I hope I didn't flunk the theory section," another muttered.
Aidan glanced around. Some students were visibly tense, their eyes darting toward the clock. Others, like Darius, exuded calm confidence. Darius sat back in his chair, arms crossed, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
As the clock struck eight, Maren entered the room with her usual punctuality. The room fell silent as her sharp gaze swept over the students.
"Good morning," she began briskly. "Before we proceed, I'd like to commend you all on your efforts during yesterday's exam. The results are now ready and have been sent to your watches. Take a moment to review them."
Aidan's heart raced as he tapped his watch. A holographic display appeared, showing three tabs:
[Overall Theory Practical]
He hesitated briefly before selecting the Overall tab.
His eyes widened as the rankings appeared:
[1. Darius
2. Toby
3. Mica
4. Lina
5. Aidan]
He blinked in disbelief. Fifth place. He had expected to land somewhere in the top ten, but fifth? That was beyond his expectations.
That too just below the top students of the class. All the top 4 were from the top 4 families in Velistra Prime Planet and him being just below them showcased that he is one of the strongest students in the first year. He knows if just compare to strength he will be somewhere around 8 or maybe Rank 9.
Switching to the Theory tab, he saw the reason for his high placement: a perfect score of 100 out of 100. His practical score of 90 was solid, but it was his theory performance that had propelled him ahead of many others.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. For the first time since arriving at the academy, he felt like he truly belonged.
Maren's voice broke through his thoughts, her gaze landing on Aidan and Darius for a brief moment. "Congratulations to everyone, especially our top ten performers. As a reminder, achieving a top ten rank comes with certain privileges. You'll receive a message shortly outlining your rewards."
A soft chime from his watch signaled the arrival of the message. Aidan opened it eagerly.
[Congratulations, Aidan Lorne! As a top ten performer, you have earned the following rewards:]
[- Access to a private room equipped with advanced training facilities.
- 1000 academy credits. - Eligibility to select a reward from the elemental orb collection.]
Aidan's breath caught. The private room alone was a game-changer, but the credits were just as valuable. Up until now, he had been unable to visit the library because he lacked the credits to borrow books or access advanced materials.
"I can finally check out the skill manuals," he thought, his excitement building.
Before he could dwell on it further, the system's familiar voice chimed in.
[System Notification: Academy quest completed.]
[Congratulations on achieving top ten.]
[Side quest completed: Congratulations on achieving top five.]
Aidan's eyes lit up as the next lines appeared:
[Rewards Unlocked:] - Weapon Art: Any Black Rank Sword Art. - Intermediate Sword Manual, 1500 credits.
He could hardly believe his luck. The Intermediate Sword Manual was exactly what he needed to elevate his skills. Aidan could not help but feel little contended but then he calmed himself down because he knows even if he ranked 5 he is nowhere close to Rank 4 Lina let alone Darius.
---
After class, Aidan headed to his new private room which was located on the top floor of the same building his previous dorm room was located. It was spacious and well-equipped, with a variety of training tools and a small library of reference materials. A sleek training dummy stood in one corner, its surface designed to withstand high-level techniques.
Aidan wasted no time. He opened the system and claimed his rewards. The moment he selected the Intermediate Sword Manual, a flood of information poured into his mind. The techniques were more intricate than those in the Beginner Manual, requiring precision and control.
He practiced diligently, his body moving in a steady rhythm as he internalized each form. Hope watched from the side, chirping encouragement. Their bond felt stronger than ever, and Aidan could sense Hope's eagerness to grow alongside him.
Hours later, he collapsed onto the couch, exhausted but satisfied.
[Intermediate Sword Manual: 1% Proficiency.]
Though the progress was only 1% but the effect was much more, he could already feel the difference. His movements were sharper, his strikes more powerful.
Now, it was time to claim his most anticipated reward: the weapon art.
"Status," Aidan muttered.
The system interface appeared before him.
[Profile]
[Missions]
[Shop]*
He first clicked on his profile.
[Host Attributes Overview:]
- Rank: Black Rank
- Strength: 11
- Agility: 12
- Intelligence: 12
- Vitality: 10
- Mana: 25
- Soul Capacity: 10
- Charm: 7
[Technique: Beginner Sword Manual (Proficiency: 100%), Intermediate Sword Manual (Proficiency: 1%)]
He then selected the shop icon, eager to explore its contents.