The welcome party ended in a whirlwind of shock and disbelief.
No one had expected the principal to drop such a bombshell—the announcement of a freshman competition to be held in just one month. And what was the grand prize?
A piece of Legendary Level equipment.
The moment the announcement echoed through the auditorium, the students froze, staring at the stage in stunned silence. Even after they walked out of the venue, many were still dazed, as though waking from a surreal dream.
But when the realization settled in—that the announcement was real—the atmosphere erupted.
Cheers, gasps, and even some people crying out loud could be heard all around campus. The air itself felt charged with adrenaline.
Legendary Level equipment wasn't just any prize.
It was a tier above Golden Epic and just under the near-mythical Supreme Divine Weapon. Rarer than rare—an item of dreams.
Anyone who owned one instantly earned awe and envy.
If a Legendary item appeared in an auction, the starting bid would be in the tens of millions, and there'd still be no cap on the price it could reach.
Even top-tier players at level 100 and above would be lucky to have two or three such items. Most of them relied on Epic-grade gear even at that stage.
Yet now, such an incredibly rare item was being offered as a prize in a competition for freshmen.
It was madness!
For the students, this might be the only chance in their lifetime to obtain such a powerful piece of gear.
Get it.
They had to get it.
Every freshman instantly shifted into competitive mode. Their eyes gleamed like starving wolves eyeing fresh meat. Conversations turned into subtle psychological warfare—everyone trying to size up potential rivals.
And now, there was less than a week of rest before the preparation would begin in earnest.
Lucas walked out with the crowd, but unlike the others, he remained composed. Still, even he couldn't ignore the electric charge in the air.
"This is pure madness..." Lucas muttered under his breath. But a small smile curled on his lips. "Still... well played, Principal."
He had to admire the old man's move. Announcing such a prize had instantly united every freshman under a single banner: ambition. Lucas could give flashy speeches all day, but this? This was motivation on another level.
"Older folks really know how to play the long game," he chuckled.
And the timing? It was perfect.
One month. That's how long they had. For students capable of getting into a prestigious university like Kyoto, that was enough time to reach Level 20, perhaps even start preparing for their job advancements.
But that wasn't the tricky part.
The real challenge would be clearing the solo job advancement dungeon.
Even students with S-rank talents couldn't slack off. The dungeon required an in-depth understanding of one's profession, a good gear base, and solid combat skills. Without these, failure was all but guaranteed.
The principal was making them prove they were ready—not just for the prize, but for the journey ahead.
Only those who could pass that trial would have a real shot at the championship.
Lucas saw it clearly: the principal was setting the bar. This competition wasn't just about strength—it was about development, pressure, and potential.
He didn't know how many students would make it, but he looked forward to seeing who would stand across from him on that battlefield.
Because Lucas? He was already on the shore, dry and ready, watching the rest try to swim across the raging river.
Still, he couldn't afford to relax.
He had to keep pushing—aim for Level 25. If he could hit that, he'd unlock an additional general skill, giving him a further edge over the others.
Even though he was confident he could beat any one of them in a one-on-one duel, there was no telling how the tournament would be structured.
What if it was a group battle?
Even the strongest could fall if stunned and mobbed by a group.
Lucas had high burst damage—he could one-shot many of them. But if controlled, he'd be helpless under a pile of spells and attacks.
He was strong—but not invincible.
Just as he was considering his strategy, he heard a soft voice behind him.
"Lucas…"
He turned around.
It was Amelia Su.
She looked shy, her cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze was sincere.
"Thank you," she said, her voice light but filled with meaning. "Thanks for helping me back there…"
If he hadn't stepped in during her panic attack, she might have collapsed in front of everyone.
Lucas smiled. "It's nothing. I promised I'd help you, didn't I?"
Then he leaned forward a bit and grinned. "So, what did you think? Wasn't I amazing?"
Amelia's eyes widened, and a small laugh escaped her lips. "Very amazing! You were so bold—saying all that in front of everyone…"
She admired Lucas—not just his strength, but his confidence. She wished she had even a sliver of it.
If it had been her, she would've hidden behind the podium and pretended to faint.
"Believe me," Lucas said kindly, "you'll get there too. One day, you'll surprise everyone."
She blushed deeper but nodded. "I'll try my best!"
Then, with her tiny fists clenched in front of her chest, she gave a little "fighting" gesture, which made Lucas chuckle.
"Come on!" he said, giving her a thumbs up.
They walked out through the auditorium's side door together—not to avoid a crowd, but simply because it was less packed.
But as they stepped outside, they were greeted by enthusiastic waving.
"Boss Lucas!"
Lucas sighed, already knowing who it was.
Sure enough, Zach Darnell and the others were waiting not far away, practically bouncing on their toes.
Lucas didn't even need to guess—this had Zach's schemes written all over it. The guy had a knack for sniffing out the latest gossip before anyone else.
"Is this the legendary SS-level recruit?" Zach called out, eyes lighting up when he saw Amelia.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Zach Darnell—Lucas's roommate and his future PR manager!"
Before Amelia could even respond, she froze.
And then, with the grace of a frightened kitten, she hid behind Lucas.
Still the same socially anxious girl.
Just minutes ago, she had been ready to change the world. Now, she was back to hiding behind someone taller than her.
"Uh... what?" Zach blinked, clearly thrown off.
He had expected a shy reaction—but not full-on retreat mode.
Even Mason and Noah Chen, who were about to introduce themselves, stopped mid-step.
Only Zhao Qinghe, the ever-silent one, stayed calm—probably because he was too nervous to look at her anyway.
Lucas chuckled and stepped in.
"Let me introduce everyone," he said smoothly. "Amelia, these are my roommates—Zach Darnell, Mason, Noah Chen, and that quiet guy is Zhao Qinghe."
He gave each of them a look.
"And this is Amelia Su, the SS-level talent everyone's been whispering about."
With Lucas acting as the buffer, Amelia managed a small nod.
Zach scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about earlier—I guess I was a little too enthusiastic."
He had heard she was shy, but this was next-level social anxiety.
Still, considering how she had stood on stage—shaking but trying—he had to respect her effort.
Mason and Noah offered polite hellos without pressing further, while Zhao Qinghe looked like he might melt from nervousness.
Thankfully, with Lucas present, the group managed to chat for a few minutes without any disasters.
They walked Amelia back to the front of the girls' dormitory, waved her goodnight, and returned to their own room.
And just as Lucas sat down, Zach leaned forward.
"So, Boss Lucas… any plans?"
Lucas didn't even blink. "Of course. I'm going to win."
Zach grinned. "That's our guy! May your victory bring you glory—and maybe a beautiful woman too!"
"Eh?" Lucas blinked.
"Eh?" The trio blinked back.
"I meant win the tournament! Not... that!" Lucas groaned.
"Ohhh…" the other three laughed awkwardly.
Lucas could only shake his head.
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End of Chapter
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