After the Headmaster finished his speech and stepped down, the atmosphere in the hall shifted.
Then she appeared. Lysandra Vaelthorne, of the Marquise families of the Auraldane Empire, Rank SS-. Tall, slender, yet radiating quiet strength, she carried herself with an ethereal grace. Her dark hair, streaked with silver, shimmered as though touched by moonlight, and her amethyst eyes were sharp enough to silence the restless.
She was no mere instructor. Lysandra was a living legend. In the decade following the Eternal Concord war, she had fought in countless skirmishes, cutting down S-rank demons, felling two at S+, and even surviving a clash with SS-. From S+, she had ascended further—becoming SS- herself. The world called her The Uncrowned Blade. Now, she was the mentor of the Apex Class.
When she spoke, her voice rang across the hall with unshakable authority:
"Welcome to Nova Academy. Those standing here today are the ones who emerged victorious from among ten thousand candidates. Even above them all stood the top ten Uncrowned—and above them, the Sovereign… the Apex."
Now, she was the mentor of the Apex Class.
"These 10 have proved themselves to be worthy to be in the Apex class."
"From 11 to 50 position students will be in A Class, and from 50 to 100 position students will be in BClass, while from 100 to 1000 will be in lower classes according to their ranks."
"These rankings are not permanent; you will have to fight duels, complete assignments, and missions, and your study reports will also be included in it. If you do not complete these assignments and missions assigned to you, you will be demoted to lower classes or, worse, expelled from the academy."
"If you do well in the mission assignments and tasks, and show progress in strength, then your rank will also increase, and you might get promoted to a higher class."
"These rules also applied to the Apex class."
"The Academy is here to break you, and if you endure it, you will rise from the ruins of your pride and arrogance, and you will be reborn into the worthy heroes that will lead this generation."
"There is a point system in which points will be given each month according to the rank and class. With these points, they can get access to various resources and manuals, and many other daily necessities."
"Students can earn points through duel, by completing assignments or tasks, and through contributions to the class."
"The points assigned to the top 10 are here on the screen, and also the points of other classes."
10. Viviene Ashbourne: 100000
9. Selene Ravendhade: 200000
8. Theodore Ashbourne: 300000
7. Evelyne Auraldane: 400000
6. Seris Eryndor: 500000
5. Carmila Noctharyn 600000
4. Nymera Dravenholt 700000
3. Lucian Auraldane 800000
2. Kael Rivers 900000
1. Adrian Kaelthorn 1000000
The gulf was undeniable. Whispers swelled—shock, envy, awe. This wasn't just privilege. It was a declaration: the Apex stood on a different plane altogether.
Students' reaction to this was shock and realization of how much difference there is between the apex class and other classes just by looking at the points.
Students gasp, whisper, and are stunned by the point system and how many points are given to them according to their ranks.
This treatment is on a whole new level.
After finishing speaking, she stepped down and left the hall.
After that, students have also started moving to their assigned dormitories, where they will spend their three years in this academy.
I also left for my assigned dormitory, which was the 10th-floor building etched with glowing runes that pulse with energy.
I arrived at the entrance, and there were two B+ rank guards assigned to protect the dormitory.
I showed my ID, and they respectfully let me in.
After I arrived inside, a glowing mana lift awaited. I stepped in, rising steadily toward the 10th floor. Each floor is dedicated to the top 10. Mine is on the top floor, which is assigned to me as I am the Apex.
When I reached the door, I pushed it open, and the world seemed to shift. The air was filled with heavy mana, and walls were carved with mana circuits and runes.
I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. Mana reacted to me, and I felt the pressure for a moment, then I relaxed and felt that the room was welcoming me as though a throne recognizing its rightful sovereign.
The place had a kitchen, three bedrooms, a gymnasium, a personal training room, a wide hallway lit with bright lights, and a big bathroom.
There was also an academy uniform on the bed with the academy crest on it. It was different from the rest of the students.
Unlike other students' uniforms, the Apex has a detachable mantle, black with silver embroidery. Across his chest glimmered the broken outline of a crown, neither whole nor claimed. His high-collared coat trailed like a shadow, one sleeve etched with runes that pulsed faintly at his touch.
After wearing the uniform, stepping into the light, the constellation on his back flickered to life.
He did not look like a king. He looked like the one who would decide what a king should be.
After that, he lay on the bed and fell asleep.
I woke up groggy, rubbing my eyes before dragging myself into the shower. The hot water helped, but the nerves in my chest didn't fade.
The uniform felt heavy when I put it on, the silver crown staring back at me from the mirror. I made a quick breakfast—plain, but enough to settle my stomach.
With a deep breath, I straightened my mantle and stepped out of the dorm, ready for the first class.
On the path, there were many students who were going to their classes, and when they saw me in my black uniform with a silver half crown on it, their breath stopped.
A girl biting her lip and quickly looking away.
A boy muttering under his breath, fists clenched white.
A hush spreads as whispers ripple behind him.
As I passed through them, there were many discussions about me going here and there.
I maintained a calm face on the surface, and inside I was thinking about the main cast that would be in the class, and was excited about the plans I have in mind for the future.
There were many emotions in their eyes, but I ignored them and got to my class.
I arrived at the entrance.
My heart lurched, but I kept my face still. To them, I had to look untouchable.
After I arrived at the door, I pushed it and entered the classroom.
Silence fell in the class, and I felt the weight of ten pairs of eyes on me.