As the last name on the leaderboard settled, the Headmistress's voice returned, sharp and authoritative, cutting through the excited din of the student lounge.
"YOUR RANKS ARE NOT MERELY FOR PRIDE! THEY WILL DICTATE THE VERY COURSE OF YOUR EDUCATION! YOUR DORMITORIES AND CLASS ALLOCATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS!"
The giant screen wiped clean, replaced by a series of lists.
"RANKS 1 THROUGH 50," the voice declared, "YOU ARE THE APEX CLASS. YOU WILL RESIDE IN WYVERN DORMITORY."
A wave of awe and envy swept through the room. Wyvern Dorm was the stuff of legends—a luxury facility with private training fields, state-of-the-art battle simulators, and direct access to the academy's top mentors.
"RANKS 51 THROUGH 150, YOU ARE THE VANGUARD CLASS. YOU WILL RESIDE IN TAUROS DORMITORY."
Elara let out a low whistle. "Whoa, Wyvern Dorm... I heard they get their own nutritional chefs! Lucky!" She nudged Ryuga with her elbow, a teasing grin on her face. "Guess I'll see you around, Mr. Apex Class. Try not to forget about us common folk in Tauros Dorm."
Ryuga chuckled, turning to her. "Don't worry. With your skills, you'll be there by mid-terms. Just save me a seat when you get there."
"You know I will!" she said, her expression turning fiery and determined. Her Bulbasaur gave a confident "Bulba!" from her arms. "We're not gonna be in Vanguard class for long!"
The Headmistress continued to rattle off the dorm assignments for the lower ranks, but Ryuga's attention was already elsewhere. He and Elara said their goodbyes, promising to meet up after settling in.
Wyvern Dormitory was even more impressive up close. It was a sleek, modern building of white stone and gleaming glass that overlooked the entire campus. As Ryuga stepped into the lobby, he was greeted by cool, conditioned air and the quiet hum of advanced technology.
He found his assigned room—Number 7—and pressed his student ID against the panel. The door slid open with a soft hiss. The room was spacious, more like a luxury apartment than a dorm. It was split into two halves, each with a comfortable-looking bed, a polished oak desk, and a massive window. One side even had a private balcony.
"Kyuuu!" Dratini zipped off his shoulder and began exploring the room excitedly, marveling at the new smells and the soft rug.
This is nice, Ryuga thought, a faint smile on his face. But these perks are just distractions. The real prize is the level of competition in the Apex class.
He walked further into the room and froze. The other side was already occupied. A familiar silver-haired boy was meticulously arranging a set of expensive-looking potion vials on his desk, his back to the door.
Valerius Argent turned around, his movements crisp and precise. His eyes landed on Ryuga, and his face, for a split second, registered pure, unadulterated annoyance.
"You've got to be kidding me," Valerius said, his voice flat and cold.
Ryuga's calm smile didn't waver, but his internal voice was dripping with sarcasm. Oh, this is just perfect. The academy's two top-ranked students, rooming together. What a fantastic, totally unforeseen coincidence. He knew a deliberate setup when he saw one. The Headmistress was clearly trying to stoke the fires of their rivalry from day one.
"Looks like we're roommates," Ryuga said, his tone casual as he dropped his bag onto the empty bed. "Try not to snore."
Valerius's eye twitched. "Don't touch my things, Pendragon." Without another word, he turned back to his desk, a clear dismissal.
Ryuga ignored him, his attention already elsewhere. He sat on his bed and brought up his Apex System, projecting the academy's student network onto it. He navigated to the Apex Class rankings. There it was: a list of the 50 strongest first-years, their pictures, and their current Rank Points.
1. Valerius Argent - 1000 RP
2. Ryuga Pendragon - 980 RP
3. Isabella Thorne - 955 RP
So there's a point system, he realized. And I'm already 20 points behind. His system pinged with a new [NORMAL MISSION].
[Mission: Settle In] - Find your assigned dorm and unpack your belongings. Reward: 10 AP.
He claimed it instantly. But his focus was on the bigger picture. He looked at the list of 48 other names he'd have to surpass. He then looked at the silent, arrogant boy five feet away from him. The path forward was crystal clear.
To get to Rank 1, I have to battle my way up the ladder, he thought, his eyes gleaming with a competitive light. And it looks like my final opponent is sleeping right across the room.
He laid back on his bed, Dratini curling up on his chest. The rivalry wasn't just a distant challenge anymore. It was here. It was constant.
And Ryuga couldn't wait for it to begin.