The hall was enormous, its walls shifting and scaling to accommodate the surge of first-year students. Runes pulsed across the floor, and translucent glyphs shimmered on the ceiling like starlight.
Hundreds of freshmen stood in formation, murmuring softly. Instructors circled the perimeter, some floating mid-air, others grounded and still—robes trailing arcane residue, eyes sharp and evaluative.
Then a figure emerged.
An older man, steel-gray hair tied back, a long coat traced with glowing sigils. His presence stilled the crowd.
When he spoke, it was with the gravity of command.
"Freshmen. Welcome again to the most prestigious academy on Prime Earth."
His gaze swept across the sea of students.
"You've had your first lessons. Tasted the surface of what lies ahead. Now comes your first true challenge."
Above him, a massive holographic display materialized—tiered boards with empty slots, category headers flickering into place.
"The Freshman Ranking Competition begins in one week."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the hall.
"The Academy operates on a meritocratic system," the man continued. "Your rank determines everything—training zones, instructor access, core allocation, spell manuscripts, simulation modules. The higher your rank, the more we invest in you."
The board expanded, glowing tiers arranged by material and year.
Ranks:BronzeSilverGoldPlatinumDiamond
Each category branched into sub-tiers by year level. A single line of text hung glowing beneath the Bronze section:
Bronze Rank – Freshmen Division: 1st Place to 10th Place
"And so on," he said. "Each year. Each tier. Earn your place, or be left behind."
He raised a hand. The projection shifted, displaying a countdown: 7 Days Remaining.
"You have one week. Train. Spar. Refine your abilities. At the end of it—we see what you're made of."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
The instructors began dispersing the students.
Outside the Hall – A New Fire
The sun had risen higher now, casting light through the crystalline arches of the Academy. The crowd buzzed with fresh tension, but also excitement.
Reks practically bounced with energy. "A tournament?! Oh, hell yes!"
Laziel adjusted his collar and smirked. "Better now than later. I'd rather make my mark early than play catch-up."
Kael stood silently.
He glanced back at the grand hall, where the final flickers of the ranking display faded into nothing.
A system of structure. Of power. Of performance.
Good.
Something to climb.Something to disrupt.
He turned back to his roommates, his expression calm—too calm.
"Then let's prepare."
Far from the safety of Prime Earth, in a realm both feared and least understood—the Abyss—dark waves rolled in silence over an ocean of pitch-black liquid. An unnatural twilight hovered above the surface, and beneath it, twisted leviathans slumbered... or waited.
At the jagged edge of that cursed sea stood a man.
His cloak drifted in the acrid wind, long hair flowing like ink. He stared out across the desolation—not with tension or fatigue, but ease. As if he were simply enjoying the view from his estate's veranda.
Behind him, a mountain of corpses smoldered.
Abyssal invaders. Hundreds, possibly thousands. Crushed. Burned. Frozen. Torn apart.
Each kill was precise. Efficient. Impossibly clean.
A soldier stepped forward, armor trembling. Despite the cold, sweat slicked beneath his helm.
"L-Lord Ardyn... there's a report. It's said the boy—Kael Ardyn—achieved 58% control over Omnimana."
The murmurs behind them faltered.
The man didn't turn. His gaze lingered on the Abyss a moment longer… before a smile broke across his face.
"Fifty-eight percent, huh?"
He finally turned—eyes glowing faintly like dying stars.
"Looks like I'll have to pay close attention to this one."
"LORD ARDYN! The unit is ready to move!"
"Good." He adjusted his cuffs with practiced grace and stepped forward.
"Let's move out."
"YES, SIR!"
House Ardyn – Stirred Waters
The news spread through House Ardyn like fire on dry leaves.
Heirs, scholars, warriors—siblings of every generation—reacted in kind.
Some smiled in pride. He's one of us…
Others paused in unease. Already that strong? So soon?
A few clenched their jaws. A threat to my position…?
One walked away from the news, uncertain and shaken.
Another stood frozen in awe.
But when Kael's mother heard the whisper of her son's progress, she only tilted her head, graceful and unreadable.
"…Interesting," she murmured. "I'll be watching you, Kael."