By: Rhenhwa_est_Empero
Horsemen of the Beyond
Chapter 3: Entrance III
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Yosen National-Affiliated High,
Special Class,
Second Orientation.
"All the theories and whatnots have been taught in your previous degrees. Though it's called a college, that's what it is on the surface."
"Combat experience. Practical knowledge is what you need to combat monsters. Sure. I wouldn't put theoretical knowledge aside. But what's that got to do with when you're in a hopeless situation?"
"Monsters don't care how much you've studied. Theory alone won't save your life. Yosen's curriculum is about these, and by the time you enter your third year, you'd be classified as a full-fledged awakened, so buckle your belts."
The female instructor delivering this speech was the woman who had entered the class.
And apparently, much to their horror, she was their instructor.
She spoke with a particularly harsh tone, calling all of them kids, inexperienced, and all sorts of words,
making those whose families were under National Affiliation scowl at her statement.
Though, for the most part, she wasn't wrong, per se.
However, particularly, one of them had stood up to her.
"How dare a mere instructor speak to us like that? The money we pay feeds this school!"
In response to that, the stern female instructor had simply raised her eyebrow and literally kicked him out of the class, sending him to detention on the spot.
Which is now why most of them could only silently watch as she kept on and on.
"As we all know, ever since humanity awakened. We humans had gained power since the opening of gates, be it Entropy, supernatural abilities, or other methods."
"Obviously, this isn't limited to this stage; it goes much farther, even to the point of genetically altering people."
Saying that, she glanced over to a hulking male with wild, feral hair, who sat on his seat, crossing his arms together.
Naturally, despite years of research, scientists have yet to identify the reason of this genetic alteration,
but it is well known that entropy and the potential for supernatural abilities are limitless.
She snapped her finger as flames lit up in her right hand, burning wildly before she extinguished it by clenching her right hand into a fist.
"Yes, that includes. "Evolution."
As she talked, her boots clicked on the floor and she started to prance up and down.
"The movement from one rank to the next isn't just a feeling of getting stronger or that your supernatural ability has simply improved."
She shook her head.
"You're not just experiencing growth, you're also experiencing evolution. And as I said, it has been proven so."
From Awakened, to Enlightened, to Enlightened-Above, and finally, to True Awakened.
The gap between each of these ranks wasn't meagre.
It wasn't something that could simply be crossed through sheer perseverance or training alone.
Everything is different.
The powers are different.
The point of origin is different.
And ultimately, "The only factor depends on one's personal development."
Supernatural abilities didn't confound with common sense.
However, it was also one of the deciding factors of how strong someone could become.
Therefore, it would be difficult to defeat someone much higher up even in such case.
Hence, why they were here.
Special Class.
At the very least, most of the students here were those who had been judged worthy of this class.
Those who had earned the right to be in this class by merit of their combined combat skills and Entropy.
Naturally, however, there is a concept known as "development."
It does not follow that pupils in the A class and lower cannot catch up.
Especially one of the students in the A class who the school is keeping a close eye on.
"Slack off, and one of you will be demoted."
"Don't let it get to you; the Affiliate hasn't formally acknowledged you all yet."
She said that they were pointing at certain groups of individuals, especially in her final remarks.
Actually, the majority of the Special Class was already aware.
The Creed Brothers.
Her final remarks, however, were not taken seriously by the individuals she was referring to.
Shane in particular, who stifled a chuckle that was on the verge of escaping his lips by closing his eyes.
With the exception of the True Awakened Rank, the almighty ranks were separated into sub-ranks.
The ranks F-rank through D-rank are included in the Awakened Rank. Only in informal contexts were these kinds of rankings utilised.
Most people referred to the official setting as Low-Ranked Awakened to High-Ranked Awakened.
This setting was used instead of the letter system due to some bias on the part of the Awakened individual.
On the other hand, First Class Enlightened and Second Class Enlightened are the formal designations for the Enlightened rank.
From there, one can refer to them as either a high-ranked second-class enlightened or a low-ranked second-class enlightened, depending on whether they are at the top of their class.
Finally, there is the Enlightened Above and True Awakened.
The unofficial ranking for them would be the A-rank and S-rank, respectively.
In all, the ranks were decrypted as such:
True Awakened, Enlightened Above, First Class Enlightened, Second Class Enlightened.
High-Ranked Awakened, Mid-Ranked Awakened, and Low-Ranked Awakened.
"Fuuu."
The woman exhaled before reaching out to her breast pocket, picking out a cigarette from the pack, lighting it up with her flames, and smoking it before huffing it out.
"Now then, let's get this introduction started. While I've indeed seen your files. The rest are yet to know who you are, so you might as well introduce yourself."
Saying that, the woman paused, her gaze directing to the ceiling in a daze for a moment before she snapped back to.
"Well, I guess I have to introduce myself first, no?"
"My name is Celeste Blackwood…. Let's see…. Yes. I'm also an Enlightened Above Awakener. I'll be the one responsible for your upcoming three years. I hope you don't disappoint."
She had said that with a rather condescending expression, as if she were demeaning the students.
However, it appeared that no student was prepared to speak up first. Additionally, she would have less work to do even if they didn't introduce themselves, which was beneficial.
Celeste surveyed the classroom slowly. It matched exactly what she had seen in their records.
On the left sat a girl with golden hair, a delicate face, and a figure that was just right for a swordsman. This was further combined with the characteristic traits of an Easterner.
'That's the Tendou girl, if my memory serves me correctly.'
They were unique among Awakened Families in that they had inherited a particular skill from their first-generation Awakener, which they passed down from generation to generation.
'Interesting.'
The next person her eyes fell on was a male sitting two rows behind the 'Tendou girl.'
Due to a genetic mutation, he had a beastly face and untamed hair that hung down to his shoulders, making him a hefty male for his age.
'Beastfallen.'
Because of their obvious modifications, it was hard to categorise them as completely human. Thus the name.
Furthermore, on the far right, there was a woman from a traditional eastern family who was a devotee of an old spirit that had lived in these areas long before the idea of Awakeners was even conceived.
A woman who resembled the Tendou girl in that she had violet eyes, exquisite facial features, and straight black hair that fell to her waist.
It was a common attribute among their folks because they were from the same parts.
She then looked around the classroom, focussing on each student individually.
Until at last her eyes fell upon the greatest mysteries she would ever see.
Creed.
Their last name was that.
Their reputations were strengthened by the fact that each of them had dominated the top 10 overall rankings.
As a result, even the boards had started to keep a tight eye on them.
Their backgrounds had been looked into by the school. And from all that they had discovered. Their family was a typical one.
Their strength, however, was extraordinary.
The fourth brother, who was also their oldest, was juggling the duties of being the freshman representative, so it was just the three of them at the moment.
And now she has a closer look at them.
'I see now.'
"Oh well, it appears that nobody is interested. We'll end it there because you spared me the trouble of having to listen to all of you squander my time. Or, after class, you can just do whatever you want."
She had already packed the files she had brought into class and was about to leave when it dawned on her.
"Mhm. But before I forget. It's mandatory to assign a representative."
After glancing at each student in the class, Celeste's gaze finally settled on the Creed brothers.
She did so with a smile on her lips. At last, she gestured to the Creed brothers.
"Me?"
"Not you."
The instructor shook her head when Kaiden pointed to himself. Damian made the same attempt, but received the same response.
Shane looked at both of his brothers, perplexed, but Celeste's headshake turned his worst fantasy into reality.
"No, I'm talking about the one looking at the other two Creeds. Yes. You. Mr. Number One in the written exams."