As the lid was being undone, Kael's heart began to pound against his chest. At this moment, he began to doubt his abilities. This was a mutated beast they were dealing with—a monster whose capabilities he couldn't even fathom.
He stared tensely at the beast, his eyes fixed on the container, when a few notifications popped up before him.
{Grade One Roach: Unknown abilities, weak creature}
{First Quest Has Arrived}
—Kill the minor beast without entertaining the fear of being killed.
—Reward: Full activation of the system.
A quest from the system. Kael clenched his teeth, trying to calm himself.
It wasn't easy to steady his nerves, but as he reminded himself of how much stronger he had become, a strange warmth washed over his skin, sending goosebumps across his body.
Kael tightened his fists just as the lid flew open. The roach monster sprang out of the container, hitting the floor with a thud. It ignored the two men in the room, its attention fixed on the weakest target—Kael.
Now out of the glass, the roach revealed its grotesque form, roughly the size of a human foot, with a wide, grotesquely armored body. It bolted toward him at full speed. As it neared striking range, the creature suddenly catapulted into the air, aiming directly for Kael.
Kael steeled himself, his fist swinging out instinctively. His strike hit the roach on its side with enough force to send it hurtling across the room. It slammed into the wall with an ear-splitting crash.
'What the fuck? How am I this strong?'
Kael panicked briefly at his own power but quickly felt a grin creep onto his face.
The mutant roach trembled on its back, clearly dazed by the impact, but it soon recovered, emitting a shrill cry as it rushed toward him again.
This time, Kael was more confident. Instead of waiting, he charged at the roach, his speed faster than any normal human's. His sudden burst of movement stunned both the roach and the two men observing him from the sidelines. Kael closed the distance in a second, pulling his leg back before delivering a devastating kick to the creature's side.
The blow landed squarely on the roach's head. A sickening crack echoed through the room as the creature crumpled to the floor, blood pooling beneath it. It was dead.
{You have successfully killed a Grade One beast.}
{You have leveled up.}
{Congratulations! You have unlocked the full form of the system.}
{My Dragon System.}
Level: 1
Name: Kael Auron
Soul Core: 10/10
Kael stared at the notifications, awe washing over him. As they disappeared, he felt a strange surge of strength course through his body.
But the feeling didn't last long. A wave of lightheadedness struck him, and he stumbled back, almost losing his footing.
"What's going on?" Kael muttered, his voice shaky as his vision blurred.
Before he could process what was happening, the two men stood up, their faces twisted into sinister smiles.
"I apologize for the deception, Mr. Kael," one of the men said. "But we needed you to pass out for the next phase of your recruitment. The academy is not a place that can be found by ordinary means, so we staged this battle between you and a mutated sleep roach. Don't resist it."
Kael barely registered the words. His hearing faded in and out as his eyelids grew heavier. He wanted to fight back, but his body gave in to the drowsiness, collapsing to the floor.
'Shit—'
---
It was cold. So cold it felt as though he were lying in a snowstorm with nothing to cover him.
The icy sensation stayed with him for what felt like an eternity, and the thought that he might be dead or near death lingered in his mind. Just as he began to accept the possibility, warmth returned to his body, slowly spreading through him.
Kael's eyes fluttered open, and he found himself staring at a bizarre metal ceiling.
He sat up slowly, taking a deep breath and exhaling sharply. His surroundings were unfamiliar. He wasn't at home—this place resembled a hospital, but it was empty save for a bed and a few tables.
Kael tried to move, but his clothes felt uncomfortably tight. Looking down, he realized he was wearing an unfamiliar uniform: a red jacket over a dark inner shirt, paired with white trousers.
'Who undressed me? Where the hell am I?'
Kael swung his legs over the bed and stood, noticing a pair of white wedge sneakers snugly fitted to his feet.
"Where am I?" he asked aloud, hoping for a response from the system. None came.
"You're in Arcanis Academy."
Kael turned sharply toward the voice, his eyes landing on a woman seated casually in the room. She was dressed in a dark and white ensemble, her coat draped over her shoulders like a cape.
"Excuse me?" Kael said, his voice rising in frustration. "Why was I kidnapped? And what is this outfit?"
"That's the official uniform of Arcanis Academy," the woman replied, her tone indifferent. "You'll be expected to wear it every day during your stay. I am Dorothy Wingon, your private instructor."
'Private instructor? Seriously?'
Kael folded his arms, narrowing his eyes skeptically at her. "So, you're my instructor?"
"Yes," Dorothy said curtly. "Since you missed an entire year, you'll be under my direct guidance for a month. That doesn't mean you won't attend regular classes with the other students; it just means you'll have to work twice as hard to catch up. But with that grade on your necklace, I doubt you'll make much progress."
Kael instinctively touched the necklace hanging around his neck and frowned. Her tone carried an undercurrent of disdain.
"So you don't think I'll survive here?" Kael asked, his voice tinged with defiance.
Dorothy nodded without hesitation. "Arcanis Academy isn't a normal school. It's about becoming the strongest. No one cares about the weak. You'll most likely get crushed." She paused, her gaze sharp. "It's not that I hate Grade Ones. But I despise your kind. You woke late and didn't endure the horrors we faced to restore the world. Now you think you're important."
Kael swallowed hard, feeling a mixture of anger and unease. "I don't care what you think. Just train me. I'll prove I'm not weak and increase my grade."
Dorothy burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the empty room. "Increase your grade? Are you serious? No one has ever increased their grade. You'll remain a mere Grade One until the day you die—and trust me, that day won't be pleasant."
Kael's throat went dry, and a wave of dizziness washed over him again.
'So I'll always be a Grade One…?'