The moment Leo crossed through the colossal gates of the Six Star Academy – Blu Ray Branch, his breath caught. The campus was nothing short of a city within a city, its presence dwarfing the streets of Blu Ray beyond.
Marble walkways stretched in elegant arcs, lined with glowing crystal lanterns that never seemed to dim, casting soft hues of blue and silver. Towering spires pierced the skies, their tips glowing faintly with runes that shimmered like stars, as though the academy itself borrowed the night's light.
The air itself seemed alive, charged with an invisible energy. Every inhale carried the faint scent of parchment, steel, and something more—raw mana, pulsing through the academy's veins like blood through a living heart. This was no ordinary institution. This was a forge where heroes and legends were tempered.
As Leo's eyes swept across the sprawling courtyards, he caught sight of practice fields shimmering with layered wards, enchanted gardens blooming with flora not found anywhere else, and a grand library whose doors towered higher than most mansions.
It was overwhelming, almost surreal. For the first time, Leo felt both incredibly small and immeasurably excited.
Just as he was trying to take it all in, a deep chime rang out across the campus.
"To the Auditorium," someone whispered beside him.
Guided by the flow of the crowd, Leo followed. Soon, the sight of the auditorium emerged: a structure so massive it seemed carved from a single mountain. Its dome glittered with six radiant stars engraved into its surface, each one glowing faintly, representing the academy's six great branches. The arched entrances were wide enough to let dozens pass through at once, and already the flood of students was filling it like a sea of anticipation.
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The noise in the auditorium came to an abrupt end when a slight, deliberate cough echoed across the hall. It wasn't loud, but the sound carried unnaturally well, reverberating through the sea of students like a command to be silent.
All heads turned.
On the grand podium stood a middle-aged man with jet-black hair neatly combed back and thick, bushy eyebrows that seemed to shadow his piercing eyes. His presence alone demanded respect, though his expression carried a strange ease, as though he had seen countless gatherings like this before.
"I am Alan Carter," his voice rolled through the auditorium with calm authority, deep enough to reach every corner without strain. "Dean of the Six Star Academy – Blu Ray Branch....Welcome."
The words hung in the air like a solemn oath, and for a moment, the entire auditorium seemed to breathe as one.
Dean Carter let the silence linger just long enough before he continued, his voice steady, deliberate.
"I know many of you still carry questions… questions about what happened to our world last night. The truth is simple: this was no accident. The System Descent was long expected, and though most of the world was caught off guard, the Six Legacy Families prepared for it. In that preparation, this Academy was born."
He paused, scanning the sea of faces before him. His gaze was sharp, yet not unkind.
"The Six Star Academy was built for one purpose: to temper the youth. To guide you through this new age. To ensure that, when the world changes—as it already has—you do not falter. You do not become prey."
A faint ripple of unease moved through the crowd. Dean Carter pressed on, his words cutting clean through the tension.
"Every hall, every spire, every field of this place was made to awaken your potential and sharpen it to its limit. Some of you will rise to greatness. Some of you will not. But know this: none of you will leave unchanged."
Dean Carter's voice grew stronger, reverberating through the vast auditorium until it felt as though the walls themselves carried his words.
"You are the foundation of tomorrow. The future of Tera rests upon your shoulders. Every drop of sweat you shed here, every hardship you endure, every lesson you master—it all leads to one truth: that when the storm comes, it is you who will stand against it."
The students leaned forward, caught in his rhythm.
"Do not underestimate the path ahead. It will break the weak and humble the arrogant. But if you fight, if you endure, if you give all that you are—then you will soar higher than the limits of man. You will soar…"
His hand rose into the air, his voice thundering.
"…to infinity..and beyond!" The crowd roared back, the words echoing like thunder through the chamber.
The chant spread like wildfire, shaking the very dome of the auditorium.
"To infinity and beyond! To infinity and beyond!"
For the first time since the descent, Leo felt the weight of fear lift just slightly. The future was uncertain, but in that moment, surrounded by countless voices united in one cry, he couldn't help but believe in it.
The dean raised his arm, a gesture which managed to restore sanity.
"Remember this," he said, his tone measured yet commanding. "The world beyond these walls has changed. The System's descent was not a gift—it was a challenge. Six Star Academy was founded for this very day, prepared to temper those chosen by the System into warriors, leaders, and protectors. But only those who prove themselves worthy will walk that path."
A murmur rippled through the hall, excitement warring with dread.
Dean Carter's lips curled into the faintest of smiles. "And so, your first trial begins here. After my speech, you will be led to the proving grounds. There, you will undergo the Academy's Entrance Tests—examinations designed to measure not just your strength, but your potential."
The hall seemed to hold its breath as he let the words settle.
"These tests will separate you into classes. The higher your class, the greater your access to resources, techniques, and teachers. But do not despair if you start lower—effort and growth will always earn you a chance to rise. Remember… in the eyes of the System, talent is only the seed. It is persistence that makes it bloom."
He paused, then thrust his hand upward, his voice booming once more.
"Now steel yourselves. Today, you take your first step toward destiny!"
The hall erupted into thunderous applause and cheers, voices echoing against the dome. For the students of Blu Ray, the moment had finally arrived—the true beginning of their journey.