Chapter 54: The Academy's First Elimination
Morning arrived, but for some students—it was their last day at Aether Academy.
🔊 BEEP! BEEP!
The academy's alarm system blared, signaling the start of another brutal day.
Rei Kurogane woke up with a sharp pain.
His entire body felt like it was breaking apart.
His muscles refused to move.
His arms ached from the extra training last night.
But he forced himself to sit up.
Because today—something major was happening.
Garreth Kane – The Results Are In
The students assigned to Rehabilitation & Strength Development gathered at the training grounds.
Most looked exhausted.
Some were still limping from yesterday.
And then, there were those who… weren't even here.
Rei scanned the area.
He noticed it immediately.
✔ Several students who had started the training were missing.✔ Only six remained from the original fifteen.
Then—heavy footsteps.
💥 THUD. THUD. THUD. 💥
Garreth Kane walked toward them, arms crossed.
His expression was unreadable.
Garreth (gruff voice): "Looks like some of you actually survived."
A tense silence filled the air.
Then—Garreth's gaze darkened.
Garreth: "But the rest? They're gone."
A few students stiffened.
Student 1 (nervous): "Y-You mean…"Student 2 (gulping): "They got expelled?"
Garreth's smirk widened.
Garreth: "Obviously."
Then—he pulled out a clipboard.
Garreth: "If I call your name, you've been eliminated from Aether Academy. Your time here is over."
The air grew heavy.
Then—he began.
The First Eliminations – A Harsh Reality
Garreth:✔ "Daichi Fuma."✔ "Rei Misora."✔ "Tatsuya Honjo."
The names continued.
Each time—students froze in shock.
Some collapsed to their knees.
Others stood in silent horror.
Student 1 (whispering): "No way…"Student 2 (trembling): "I-I worked so hard to get in… and now I'm out? Just like that?"
Garreth's eyes remained cold.
Garreth: "This academy isn't for the weak."
Then—he turned to the six who remained.
Garreth: "As for the rest of you…"
His smirk returned.
Garreth: "You've got one month to prove you belong here. Don't get comfortable."
Meanwhile – The Elite Training Grounds
While students were being eliminated in the lower ranks, the top fighters were pushing themselves even further.
And at the top of it all—
💀 Kozuki Renjou. 💀
Today's challenge? One-on-One Battles.
✔ No rules.✔ No restrictions.✔ Win, or be crushed.
One by one, the academy's strongest fighters clashed.
💥 Ryoma Takeda overpowered his opponent with brute force.💥 Renji Aoyama overwhelmed his opponent with rapid strikes.💥 Daichi Kagura dominated with powerful grapples.
And then—it was Kozuki's turn.
His opponent?
🔹 A third-year student. Someone who had been in Aether Academy long before Kozuki even arrived.
Student 1 (whispering): "Damn… They're making Kozuki fight a senior?"Student 2 (grinning): "Finally. Let's see if he's really unbeatable."
The match began.
And ended.
In three seconds.
💥 Kozuki moved so fast, no one saw it.💥 His opponent collapsed instantly, unable to react.
The crowd fell silent.
Kozuki smirked, dusting off his sleeve.
Kozuki (grinning): "Tch. Too slow."
Even the instructors were stunned.
Because Kozuki Renjou had just destroyed a third-year student… effortlessly.
Instructor (whispering, serious): "He's already far beyond first-year level…"
But Kozuki?
He simply yawned.
Kozuki (muttering): "Man… I hope someone here is actually strong."
Because so far—no one was worth his time.
Back to Rei – A New Goal Forms
As Rei left the training grounds, he overheard the news.
Kozuki had taken down a third-year in three seconds.
Rei's hands clenched.
Rei (thinking, serious): The gap between us is still massive.
Kozuki wasn't just strong.
He was on an entirely different level.
And Rei?
He was still at the bottom.
But instead of feeling defeated…
Rei's determination burned even stronger.
Because while today marked the first elimination of weak students—
🔥 It would not be the day Rei Kurogane gave up. 🔥
If Kozuki could take down a third-year in three seconds—
Then Rei would find a way to catch up.
No matter how long it took.
No matter what it cost.
He would not be left behind.