---
The rising sun bathed the Velaria Academy in a golden hue, washing the ancient marble towers with warmth that belied the cold stares and colder ambitions that stirred within.
To most, today was just the first day of the new academic term—an introduction to their future as combatants, mages, assassins, and all manner of ranked professionals. To Rael Verenth, it was the beginning of a calculated climb… from obscurity to supremacy.
He tightened the makeshift bandage on his side—still healing from the Fang Hound encounter last night. He hadn't gone to the infirmary. That would invite questions. Questions he couldn't afford.
His fingers flicked open his system panel under the table as he sat alone in the auditorium.
---
> [Status Panel – Rael Verenth] Class: Spirit Contractor (Legendary)
Talent: Devour (Rare)
Level: 2 [F-Rank | Novice]
HP: 102/120
MP: 230/230
STR: 13
AGI: 16
INT: 24
TM (Total Might): 412
Summons:
Fang Ghosthound (Bound)
‣ Skill: Howl Slash (★☆☆☆☆)
‣ Passive: +3 AGI when Integrated
Experience to Next Level: 40 / 200
---
A hidden smirk formed on his lips. Just one night out in the wild, and he'd already stepped beyond what most F-Rank students would manage in their first week. Not because he was stronger. But because he could grow stronger—faster—by devouring the essence of monsters.
"Good morning, new recruits!" boomed a voice from the stage.
The man who walked out was broad-shouldered, draped in steel-trimmed robes, his presence enough to silence the scattered chatter. A long scar curved down one eye, and he radiated a steady C-Rank aura.
"I am Instructor Kael Doran. You may call me 'Sir' or 'Instructor.' You are here because you have either potential, pedigree, or both. Make no mistake: the Academy does not coddle. We refine. Those who cannot rise… are discarded."
That drew a few gulps from the crowd.
"You will be tested today to assess your current Base Stats and Combat Aptitude. No exceptions. After that, you will be ranked within the First-Year hierarchy."
Rael's eyes narrowed. The ranking system.
In this world, strength wasn't subjective. It was measured, codified, and tracked.
---
World Ranking System:
F-Rank | Novice: Level 1–10
E-Rank | Ace: Level 11–20
D-Rank | Adept: Level 21–30
C-Rank | Expert: Level 31–40
B-Rank | Master: Level 41–50
A-Rank | Grandmaster: Level 51–90
S-Rank | Sage: Level 91–300
SS-Rank | Venerable: Level 301–600
SSS-Rank | GOD: Undefined
Total Might (TM) — the sum of HP, MP, STR, AGI, and INT — determined standing within those tiers. All students were expected to advance to at least D-Rank within three years to graduate.
---
An hour later, Rael stood in a line of students at the open-air coliseum where the first trial would take place.
One by one, they stepped onto the Stat Stone—a floating crystal disk that glowed in response to a student's mana signature, projecting their Base Stats into the air.
"Next!" the proctor called.
A blonde noble girl stepped up, palm on the disk.
> [Name: Celene Drauvil]
Class: Mage – Ice Variant
Level: 3
HP: 80
MP: 310
STR: 7
AGI: 9
INT: 31
TM: 437
Rank: F+
Cheers erupted. The guild scouts scribbled notes.
Rael's turn came, and the murmurs started before he even stepped on the platform.
> "That's the one who shattered the Soul Cradle." "They say he faked his class." "Watch him embarrass himself."
He placed his hand on the disk. The system's prompt flickered in his mind.
---
> Warning: Visibility of Legendary Class active. Suppress?
→ [Yes]
> Cloaking System Engaged. Displaying Default F-Rank stats.
---
A fake projection appeared.
> [Name: Rael Verenth]
Class: Novice Summoner
Level: 2
HP: 102
MP: 230
STR: 13
AGI: 16
INT: 24
TM: 412
Rank: F
The crowd stilled. Not too bad. But not elite.
"A decent start," the proctor muttered. "Next."
Rael stepped down, unnoticed by most—except for a sharp-eyed student leaning against a pillar nearby.
He wore an elite uniform trim: gold-lined with the Academy crest. A second-year. Slender, with crimson eyes and gloves on both hands, even in the summer heat.
> "Novice Summoner… with over 400 TM at Level 2?" he whispered to himself. "Interesting."
---
Academy Grounds – Training Field C
Combat practice followed next.
Grouped into squads of four, students were to spar against basic enchanted training golems. Magical constructs with set behaviors.
Rael's team was assigned a golem marked Level 3 — standard difficulty. His teammates? A nervous Healer, a brash Axeman, and a smug spear user who immediately took the lead.
"You just stay back and don't mess up, peasant," sneered the spear user. "I'll handle the front line."
The fight began.
Predictably, the spear user charged in too quickly, took a solid hit, and staggered. The Axeman panicked. The Healer screamed.
Rael sighed.
> "Fang Ghosthound—integrate."
A wave of mist swirled around him, and his body tensed with supernatural speed. His eyes sharpened, and his agility surged. Then he was in motion—too fast for a normal F-Rank.
> Howl Slash!
A spectral claw cut through the golem's legs. Rael ducked a retaliatory swing, flipped over its arm, and landed a strike behind its back, triggering its core rupture.
The golem collapsed.
> Victory. +70 EXP Gained.
The instructor blinked.
"…Who trained you?"
Rael just smiled and nodded toward the stunned spear user. "Teamwork."
From the shadows, the crimson-eyed upperclassman watched again, his curiosity deepening.
---
Later That Night – Outer Wildwood
Rael returned to the forest. One successful hunt had taught him a lesson: If he wanted to rise faster, he'd have to double the pace.
That night, he faced down a pair of Shadowtail Lynx, agile feline beasts with cloaking abilities.
---
> [Shadowtail Lynx – F-Rank – Level 4] HP: 150 | TM: 300
Aggression: High
Element: Shadow
> [You have slain 2x Shadowtail Lynx] +240 EXP gained.
Devour Activated.
Bind Spirit – Successful.
New Summon Acquired: Lynx Wraithclaw
Skill Unlocked: Shadow Pounce (★★☆☆☆)
Passive: +4 AGI, +2 STR while integrated
Level Up: Level 3 → Level 4
New Stat Points Gained: +2 to all base stats.
---
Rael sat under a tree, panting.
Two summons. Two powerful skills. And one secret closer to being uncovered.
His path was accelerating faster than anyone suspected.
But danger was close behind.
---
Elsewhere — Capital City of Xenthia
In the royal citadel, a man in obsidian robes knelt before a towering crystal that pulsed with the world's ley lines.
A voice echoed from within.
> "The Soul Cradle... shattered. Why?"
The man replied, "An anomaly awakened. From the Velaria region. Cloaked in the system."
> "Then send the Seekers. Find this anomaly."
> "And?"
> "Eliminate him before the world learns what he is."
---