Professor Thevron: "I would like to explain to you students what the common power scales for magic levels are. They vary from F to SSS+, and they are crucial for your survival in this world."
James, still rattled by his earlier experience, managed to free himself from the strange, weighty magic that had suspended him. Unfortunately, his hasty movement sent him crashing headfirst into his desk with a loud thud. The class's gaze briefly flickered towards him, but Professor Thevron ignored the incident entirely, his cold, unblinking stare fixed on the board.
Professor Thevron: "The only reliable way to see your power level is through competition. Tournaments and other events. In fact, there is a tournament coming up in two weeks."
James groaned as he sat upright, rubbing his head, trying to compose himself. Tournaments? He could barely believe he was hearing this, but he knew he had to listen closely to Professor Thevron's every word. The professor's next statement carried a heavier weight.
Professor Thevron: "Some students have been here for years, climbing through the ranks, pushing their way to the top, like our elite students."
A chill ran down James's spine. He could already feel the pressure of what was to come, but before he could think about it any further, the bell rang. Without even acknowledging it, Professor Thevron turned and walked out of the room as if he had already done his job. His departure left the classroom in an awkward silence, broken only by the soft rustle of students packing up. Everyone seemed to breathe a little easier now that the oppressive presence of their professor had left.
James, still trying to process everything, slowly began to gather his things when a voice called out to him.
Ryu: "Bro, how did you free yourself?!"
James looked at the student sitting beside him, his brow furrowed in confusion. This guy—Ryu Kimawaki, by the looks of it—had been watching him the entire time. He seemed genuinely curious, though James had no idea how to explain himself.
Ryu: "Don't you know? The strings that hold you in place are as hard as steel. There's no way you could have freed yourself easily."
James blinked in surprise, completely caught off guard.
James: "I didn't know that…"
Ryu smiled widely, his expression friendly but full of amusement, as he extended a hand to James.
Ryu: "I'm Ryu Kimawaki. Nice to meet you, man."
James shook his hand, his gaze drifting towards the door where Amelia, the mysterious white-haired elf girl, was making her way out of the room. A strange sensation stirred in his chest as he watched her walk.
Ryu: "Oh, you like Amelia, huh?"
Ryu's voice broke through James's thoughts, and he couldn't help but feel a little flustered.
James: "Wh—what are you talking about? I don't like her!"
But his eyes betrayed him, flickering towards Amelia as she disappeared down the hallway. He quickly looked away, trying to brush off the sudden surge of warmth on his face.
Ryu: "Bro, I'm serious. She's rank #3 out of 30,000 students. One of the top 10 elites."
James froze, his heart skipping a beat. Top 3? The pressure was mounting. He hadn't realized the kind of competition he was walking into.
James: "What do the rankings mean here?"
Ryu laughed, leaning back in his chair as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
Ryu: "Rankings? Well, they vary. Some students get ranked based on their status, others purely on talent and accomplishments. But Amelia? She's powerful, man. I remember she beat ten guys who were ranked in the top 100 without even trying. No sweat."
James's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't imagine how someone could be that strong, and the idea of competing against students with that kind of power made him feel small.
James: "Are you serious?! She's that powerful?!"
Ryu gave him a knowing smirk, his eyes gleaming with the kind of respect that only someone who knew Amelia's power firsthand would have.
Ryu: "Oh yeah. And trust me, there are others like her here. This place is full of freaks." He leaned in closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. "But don't let it scare you. You're a swordsman, right? That's pretty rare here. Most people rely on magic, but some old-school swordsmanship might just be the key to standing out."
James swallowed, a nervous excitement beginning to build inside him. He was clearly out of his depth, but something inside him stirred—something that pushed him to rise to the challenge. There was no way he could back down now, not when he was already here, standing on the precipice of something much bigger than he had imagined.
James: "I'll have to watch out for her then."
Ryu chuckled and patted James on the back.
Ryu: "Watch out for a lot of people here. But don't worry, man. You've got this. Just survive, and you might end up in the rankings too."
James nodded, his determination hardening. This was just the beginning.