Dex leaned against the trunk of a large tree, staring at the giant leaderboard mounted in the middle of the field.
The board was made of a large crystal that emitted a blue light, displaying the names and rankings of the 1000 participants who passed the first stage.
FIRST STAGE RANKINGS - INITIAL ELIMINATION TEST
1. Rose Hasford - 00:47:23
2. Sean Malacon - 00:48:15
3. Ethan Tribas - 00:49:02
4. Arthur Ireon - 00:49:34
5. Agatha Cirus - 00:50:11
...
Ranks 1 to 10, mostly children of Dukes or Marquesses.
Ranks 11 to 50, children of Counts or Viscounts.
Ranks 51 to 100, a mix of minor nobility and some talented commoners.
Although those names sounded unfamiliar to Dex, He knew that the difference in their power was probably huge.
Ranks 1-100 from the start were indeed on a different level, Acceleration skills had an advantage in this stage, But for nobles like them it was surely easy.
Trained by the best tutors since childhood. Given unlimited resources, And most importantly, they had more than one card.
In this world, a person can have a maximum of 10 power cards throughout their life.
The first card is obtained at age 18, Soul Resonance, the main card that is directly connected to one's soul.
But additional cards can be obtained in various ways, Buying them from others, Exploring dungeons, and fighting in the Galaxyum Arena.
Dex also noticed at the beginning of the stage, even though they fought each other, they still occupied the top ranks, compared to the others.
Dex was just lucky his power card was an element and not a pure skill.
Elemental cards like [The Wind], [Flame], [Ice], or [Lightning] have advantages, they are flexible.
"I congratulate those of you who passed the first stage"
That voice came from the sky, amplified by acoustic magic until it echoed to every corner, Not Instructor Varn's voice, this was an older, more authoritative voice, with a timbre that sounded like thunder rolling on the horizon.
Thousands of heads looked up at once.
"The second stage will be held in 2 days, Please return to the accommodation prepared by the Academy"
The voice faded like a calming wind, leaving a brief silence before the crowd erupted with joyful cheers, Some participants hugged each other, some cried with relief, and others jumped happily.
As people busied themselves celebrating, A large magic circle appeared beneath everyone's feet.
The light grew brighter, The light from the Magic circle swallowed them all.
Dex closed his eyes.
A strange sensation touched his skin, like falling and flying at the same time, varying gravity, air pressing from all directions, It only lasted a few seconds, but felt like his whole body was compressed to the smallest form.
Dex opened his eyes again after the dazzling light, he arrived in front of the gate of a very large mansion.
Around him, about a hundred other participants stood with the same amazed expressions, mouths open, and eyes wide.
"Wow"
"As expected from the best Academy in the world"
Hundreds marveled at the Magic and the size of the accommodation.
Slowly, the crowd began to move toward the gate which now stood wide open, revealing a white marble path that led to the main door of the lodging, leaving Dex who walked in the opposite direction from them.
---
'Haaaa'
He inhaled the evening air, intending to walk for a while.
Dex remembered the first time he met Ronan, the old man who saved his life when he lay nearly dead amid his village's ruins, He remembered the first time he arrived in Lumiran, with a body full of wounds and a heart even more shattered.
When he was beaten by the guards and lost his money.
At that time he had decided to become stronger, but after continuously training ceaselessly, all of it gradually made him aware and left him feeling empty.
After he becomes stronger Then what?
Will he keep getting stronger just for recognition? Is that enough?
Once again he had lost his purpose, at this moment Dex only followed the direction Fate brought him.
Dex walked not knowing where, The night was beautiful with thousands of stars in the sky, activity in the capital remained crowded even at night.
His feet carried him aimlessly, passing through the capital's streets that were still busy even as the sun began to set, Merchants closed and opened their stalls, children ran home, lanterns began to be lit one by one along the road.
Dex kept walking his mind wandering, He walked without knowing where he stepped.
When he realized, he had arrived at a place 180 degrees different from before, No grand buildings, no bright lights, no sounds of laughter, there was only the silence of the night.
Dex looked around The area had an unpleasant smell, The smell of wet earth mixed with something fouler, piled trash, unmanaged waste, and the scent of unkempt human bodies.
People slept on dirty ground, the buildings there were very few and almost ruined.
"So there are places like this in the capital after all"
Dex intended to leave, But a hand grabbed his shirt.
Dex looked back, there a child in ragged clothes and skinny arms gripped the hem of Dex's shirt with dirty fingers, with a pleading look while holding his stomach.
The child didn't say anything, He only stared at Dex with a begging expression, his other hand holding his growling belly.
But reflex was faster than empathy.
"Let go" he said flatly. jerking the child's hand hard, causing him to fall.
"Niaa"
Before Dex could react, whether to apologize or simply leave, a loud voice echoed from the darkness.
A boy who looked much taller ran toward Dex.
He stopped right in front of Dex, spreading both his arms wide between Dex and the girl still lying on the ground, a clearly protective posture.
"Don't hurt her!" he shouted with a trembling voice. "Nia didn't mean to bother! She's just hungry! Please, don't..."
"I will not hurt her" he said flatly, without any emotion in his voice.
Dex looked at the two of them for a moment, two starving, dirty children on the brink of starvation, and felt nothing.
No pity, No urge to help, No sympathy.
Dex stopped, but did not turn.
"Please, help us..." the boy's voice cracked. "We haven't eaten for three days my sister is sick please... anything"
"Then die there" Dex said while smiling slightly
'They will die someday, Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, That's not my business, I have my own problems' Dex whispered in his heart, as a form of justification for his action.