The rain poured endlessly over the towering walls of Alderidge Academy, its dark silhouette stretching high into the stormy sky. Thunder cracked above, illuminating the iron gates that had closed behind the newest batch of students sealing them inside a world where only the strongest would survive.
Among the crowd of fresh arrivals stood Kaito Ren. Dressed in a plain black uniform, his dull gray eyes scanned his surroundings with a calm indifference. The other students some nervous, some arrogant whispered among themselves, unaware of the unwritten rules of this academy.
> They think this is just a school.
They have no idea what they've walked into.
A voice echoed across the courtyard, cutting through the murmurs.
"Welcome to Alderidge Academy," the Headmaster announced from the balcony above. A man in a pristine suit, his expression unreadable. "From this moment forward, your past status means nothing. Your wealth, your connections, your family name none of it will protect you here."
Lightning flashed again. The digital screens surrounding the courtyard flickered to life, displaying a list of names and class rankings.
— Class S – The Elite (1%)
— Class A – The High-Ranked (5%)
— Class B – The Promising (10%)
— Class C – The Average (20%)
— Class D – The Struggling (30%)
— Class F – The Rejects (34%)
Students murmured in excitement and dread as their names were assigned to different classes.
Kaito didn't bother looking. He already knew where they had placed him.
Class F.
The bottom.
A smirk tugged at his lips. They had underestimated him. Just as he had planned.
"Your first test begins now," the Headmaster continued, his voice turning cold. "Within 24 hours, an exam will commence. Those who fail… will be permanently expelled."
A sudden silence fell over the students. Some gasped. Others panicked.
Kaito, however, remained still, his mind already analyzing the possibilities. An exam on the first day? It wasn't just a test of intelligence or strength it was a psychological war to see who could adapt under pressure.
> A game of survival.
And I've played this game before.
As the crowd erupted into chaos, Kaito turned toward the main building, his expression unreadable.
His true story didn't start here. This wasn't just a school. This wasn't just a test.
This was war.
And Kaito Ren was about to prove that even in Class F, a king could rise.