"... After a week of exploration, once again Oliver Groter, one of the legendary survivors known as 'The Reaper of Sword,' successfully explored the northeast forest of the city..." Watching the daily news from the crystal that projected a screen, like a television, a teenage boy around 17-18 years old couldn't help but show a bright smile.
Who wouldn't be excited!? The reporter had just mentioned the name of the strongest legendary survivor among the six.
Who in their generation didn't know his name and glory? The legendary 'Reaper of Sword,' the one who reaped the enemies wielding swords. He struck terror into the hearts of his foes, forcing many to change their weapons when facing him. Oliver Groter.
As one of the few holders of a unique innate ability, Weapon Manifestation, which evolved into Sword Manifestation, an ability on par with legendary abilities or even stronger, he used this skill to protect and build strongholds for humanity.
"Jeff! Turn off the TV already and get moving, you're going to be late for school!" A middle-aged man, drinking coffee while reading the newspaper, reminded Jeff. The man was none other than Jeff's father, Richard Gyrus.
As though he hadn't heard anything, Jeff continued to let his thoughts wander.
After humanity had been transferred to the planet Blood Violet, they began to explore and find suitable places to build cities. Currently, just more than 10% of the land had been explored. It was already a significant feat considering that Blood Violet was twice the size of Earth. Added to that was the fact that they had to contend with the planet's inhabitants.
Beasts, monsters, giant insects, hordes of worms, and creatures beyond imagination. And, of course, these creatures greatly resented and hated humans for appearing and stealing their homes and land. So, once again, another deadly battle occurred for the struggle of land, until humanity finally built their first stronghold.
PAKK!!
"Awww! What the—!?" Pain assaulted the back of his head, waking him from his thoughts. Turning his head, before he could finish his words, Jeff's eyes met a 16-17-year-old girl, with innocent eyes and a cute smile that made him swallow his next words.
If someone else were to see that face, they would think she was kind, innocent, pure, and incapable of malicious thoughts. But not Jeff, of course, who had lived with the girl for many years in torment at her hands. Especially when she showed her innocent eyes and cute smile—every time he saw this, he immediately broke into a nervous sweat.
"Why didn't you finish your words, Big Brother?" She blinked her eyes and watched him tremble in nervousness. Jessa loved to "tease" her brother, especially when she saw his submissive gaze that made her smile even more.
"Stop it now, both of you, and go already!" Jeff's dad interrupted.
He sighed in relief, saved by his father. Jeff always saw his dad as a savior, saving him from his adopted sister every time.
They lived in a two-story building with his father and sister. Many children didn't have their parents after the catastrophe, so the government allowed people with adults to adopt them. Jessa was one of the children adopted by his father, and Jeff always treated her like a real sister, never fighting back.
Tidying his white uniform, with a mix of navy blue, Jeff checked himself in the mirror. With his jet-black hair and brown eyes, matched with a handsome face and full of confidence, Jeff was satisfied with his appearance. He couldn't help but smile.
Seeing her brother finish, Jessa gave him a hard push, replacing him in front of the mirror to check herself. With her golden-yellow hair and blue eyes, she was a sight to behold. Her beauty was envied even by the elves. Her figure, with curves and long legs, couldn't be hidden by the light blue uniform that fit her perfectly.
After saying goodbye to their dad, both of them started walking to school.
"Hmm... This is our first time going to school, right?" Jeff stated, his voice filled with anticipation and nervousness.
Jessa nodded in response.
They walked for a few minutes. After a long preparation, two of the six legendary survivors had finally launched two different schools—one specializing in the use of energy, while the other focused on combat power.
In the city of Titre, located in the southwest of the border of the human stronghold, students were currently gathering in front of the newly established school. The streets were bustling with excitement as people in uniforms walked toward the schools, their minds filled with anticipation. The human stronghold was now dotted with towering buildings that housed the future generations, but there was something unique about these schools.
The academy designed for energy usage and training had its own prestigious reputation. Meanwhile, the combat school, focused on developing the strongest warriors, was just as prestigious. Both schools were chosen by the strongest legendary survivors to shape the next generation who would eventually take back the Earth from the invading races.
Jeff and Jessa were walking side by side toward the academy, their pace slow as they took in the sights. The academy was situated in the center of the city, with large stone pillars and banners featuring the emblem of the human resistance. The moment they walked into the courtyard, a new and unexpected sight awaited them.
Among the students, there were elves—tall, graceful beings with pointed ears, golden hair, and radiant blue or green eyes. Their beauty, unmatched by any human standards, made them stand out in a crowd. Some were accompanied by bodyguards, while others walked confidently among the human students. The elves, with their otherworldly aura, were respected and admired, and they had a higher status than humans in the city.
As Jeff and Jessa entered the school gates, they couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The elves, despite their distinct appearance, walked with dignity, and their presence was commanding. They were known for their intelligence and grace, but their most important quality was their fertility rate, which was significantly lower than that of humans.
This low fertility rate was one of the key reasons why the elves had decided to ally with humanity. They had chosen to assist humans during the catastrophe, saving them from the brink of extinction. In exchange for their help, the elves requested something in return—partnerships with humans. Their goal was to ensure that the elven race could survive by finding compatible partners. And given their pride, the elves only sought out the strongest humans to become their partners, believing that the union of the strongest warriors would ensure a better future for their race.
As Jeff and Jessa entered the academy grounds, they could see a few human students already engaging in conversations with the elves. The human students were both nervous and excited, as this was a rare opportunity to interact with the elves. They all knew the importance of these relationships—the union between elves and humans wasn't just a symbol of strength; it was vital for both races' survival.
"Jeff," Jessa whispered, looking at a group of elves nearby. "You know, some of the strongest heroes already have partners from the elven race, right?"
Jeff glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "I heard about that. The elves are pretty serious about finding strong partners for their race."
"Yeah," she nodded, her voice lowering. "Some of them have already made it clear that their partners were chosen because of their power. It's a... form of compensation for saving humanity, I guess. But don't get any ideas, big brother. We're not in a fairy tale where the prince gets the elf princess."
Jeff chuckled at her teasing, though his mind was already racing. He wasn't entirely sure about the specifics of the elves' motivations or their criteria for choosing partners, but the idea of a powerful partnership, one that could shape the future of both races, was intriguing.
As they reached the entrance, they saw a teacher, one of the few humans who had earned the right to be a lead instructor. A man in his early forties, with short, graying hair and sharp eyes, stood by the entrance, giving instructions to both the human and elven students.
"Welcome to the Iron Vanguard Academy," the teacher began. "Here, you will be trained to fight for your future, not only for humanity but for both races. Elves will be joining us in your training sessions. They are not here just for education—they are here to forge alliances and help the future generations thrive."
As the teacher spoke, several students nodded solemnly. A few of the elves exchanged glances, and it was clear to Jeff that this wasn't just about training to fight. The elves had come here to build something bigger—a future for their race. They were searching for strong human partners, and the thought lingered in Jeff's mind.
But just as quickly as the thought appeared, it was pushed aside when the teacher spoke again.
"Over the next few months, you will all undergo tests. The strongest among you will gain not only power but the chance to prove yourselves to the elves. Their partnership isn't given lightly—only those who show true strength will have the opportunity to become a part of their future. This will be a time of great challenge."
The teacher's words left everyone silent, the weight of their meaning settling in. Jeff's heart raced at the thought of the upcoming challenges. The elves' pride and high expectations were something to consider, but in the end, Jeff had his own dreams and ambitions. He didn't care for titles or being chosen based on strength alone. What mattered was the survival of humanity and, perhaps, his own place in this new world.
As the group dispersed and headed to their respective classes, Jeff couldn't help but glance back at the elves. They had a sense of purpose in their eyes, a quiet determination that spoke volumes. He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: things were about to get a lot more complicated, and the relationships between humans and elves would be pivotal in the coming battles.
Little did Jeff know, his journey was about to begin in ways that would shape not just his life, but the fate of both humans and elves. But for now, he was ready to face whatever came next, eager to prove himself in this new world.