[You have received: Heavenly Eyes – Allows the user to see a person's Beast Type and the names of entities.]
Renji stared at the text for a moment, still processing. "Guess I was brought here for a reason… well, I can't wait to find out why."
He opened his Status Panel.
---
[Status Panel]
Name: Renji Kurozawa
Rank: E (Bronze)
Level: 11
Beast Essence: 26%
Unassigned Points: +26
Stats:
Strength: 26
Speed: 24
Perception: 29
Endurance: 24
Vitality: 12
Luck: 12
Skills:
Feral Claw (E Rank)
Echo Sense (E Rank)
Beast Step (E Rank)
Void Sense (E Rank)
Heavenly Eyes (Passive)
---
Clutching his fists, he smirked. "Alright… let's see what's next."
Stepping out of the gate, the cool night air hit him. Mr. Ain was there, hands clasped behind his back. For a moment, his eyes studied Renji with the curiosity of a child inspecting a new toy. A subtle smile tugged at his lips.
"Well done," Ain said. "I knew you could do it. I've always believed in you."
"Thank you, sir," Renji replied.
"Let me tell you a little secret," Ain said, leaning in slightly. "It's easier for an F Rank to climb to D Rank in two months."
Renji's brow furrowed. "Really? Then why are there so many F Ranks around?"
"Do you think everyone is like you?" Ain's smile was faint, almost amused. "Not everyone wants to fight the Voidspawn. Some just want to live quietly."
Renji considered that. "So it's actually possible for an F Rank to grow that fast?"
"Think of it like a cup and a bucket," Ain said. "Which will fill faster?"
"The cup," Renji answered.
"Exactly. But once you reach D or C Rank, progress slows. Denji, for example, is still S Rank (Bronze) — and unlikely to reach S Rank (Silver) soon." He straightened. "Now that you're E Rank, your Beast Essence is leaking everywhere. Everyone can sense you."
He patted Renji's shoulder. "Go rest. Tomorrow, go crazy if you like."
As Ain turned away to tend to other students, Renji's curiosity flared. He quietly activated Heavenly Eyes on him.
[ERROR: Unable to display Beast Type or Name.]
Renji blinked. What the hell…?
Ain turned, almost as if he knew. That faint smile widened into something sharper. "I see you've learned a thing or two, Renji. Good. See you tomorrow."
Renji watched him leave, unsettled. Mr. Ain… who are you really?
That night, lying on his bed, Renji stared at the ceiling — the question echoing in his mind.