My hand hovered over the crystal, nerves twisting my gut like a vise. The sleek surface gleamed under the chamber's lantern light, its judgment looming. I swallowed hard and pressed my palm down.
A faint purple glow flickered, weak compared to the dazzling golds and silvers before me. The goddess Vysis, who'd commented on every student, skipped me entirely. "Next person!" she chirped, her smile unchanged, as if I were invisible.
Defeated, I shuffled back, the weight of my mediocrity sinking in. Mimori Touka, the air mob, was no different here than in 2-C. Even in another world, the hierarchy held firm, unyielding.
The measurements continued, each student's glow brighter than mine, earning Vysis's polite nods or faint praise. "Mediocre, but promising," she'd say, her enthusiasm reserved for the elite. The crystal, now on its third replacement, stood unshaken by the average.
Vysis tilted her head, hand on cheek. "Three S-Ranks and two A-Ranks—such a remarkable group! I won't hope for more miracles." Her voice was honeyed, but her eyes scanned us like pieces on a board, calculating.
The final name in order was Yasu Tomohiro, the class's bullied outcast. He approached the crystal, tension radiating from his hunched frame. His hand touched it, and the room gasped as black smoke swirled, the crystal pulsing an inky darkness.
The robed men recoiled. "Goddess-sama, this is—!" one stammered. Vysis's eyes gleamed. "The same as the Dark Hero of legend," she said, her voice reverent. Yasu's timid face twisted into a slow, eerie grin. "About time," he muttered, laughing softly.
"Tell me my rank!" he demanded, his usual hesitance gone, replaced by a bold edge. "A-Rank," Vysis replied, unfazed. Yasu's grin widened. "Same as Oyamada, huh? Thought I'd hit S-Rank coolness."
Oyamada stormed forward, face red with fury. "What's that, Yasu? You think you're equal to me now, huh? I'll crush you!" Yasu flinched, old habits kicking in, but then smirked, stepping closer. "Let's get along, fellow A-Rank."
Before Oyamada could swing, Vysis appeared between them, a magical array glowing on her arm. "A-Rank heroes, no fighting," she said, her smile sharp as a blade. "You're too valuable to waste." The air grew heavy, her presence chilling, like a predator's gaze locking us in place.
Oyamada froze, Yasu stepped back, and the room fell silent. My spine prickled—her intimidation wasn't just authority; it was a promise of power. Even Kirihara and Sogou, S-Ranks, watched warily, while the Takao sisters exchanged calm glances, unshaken.
The measurements were done, but the hierarchy was clear. S-Ranks like Kirihara, Sogou, and Hijiri stood at the top, A-Ranks like Oyamada, Itsuki, and now Yasu just below. The rest of us? Fodder, barely worth Vysis's glance. I clutched my hands, the faint purple glow haunting me.
What did my rank mean? Was I doomed to fade here, too? The chamber's walls seemed to close in, Vysis's serene smile a mask for something colder. The soldiers shifted, ready for her next command, and I felt the weight of this world's judgment pressing harder.
Then, without warning, a blinding white light flooded the chamber.