Anvil looked at his watch.
The first class on his schedule was about to begin in a minute.
Slide~
Right at that moment, the door slid open. A middle-aged man with a youthful appearance walked in.
He was of medium build, with a well-kept body and a strikingly healthy face. His hair was dark and lush—something many men his age would envy.
He carried a stern expression, but as soon as he noticed the two students waiting, his lips curled into a smile.
"Good morning, everyone. I hope you had a wonderful breakfast. My name is Polen, and I'll be your instructor for today. Now, could you two introduce yourselves? And Lotus, why are you in the newcomer's class?" Polen asked fluently.
"Teacher, can't I join this class? These are my friends! I want to attend with them!" Lotus pouted.
Polen's face darkened slightly, but he quickly controlled his emotions and turned his gaze toward Anvil.
"I'm Anvil."
"I'm Lunar."
"Good. Before we begin, let me clarify something. This is both your first and last time attending this introductory class. It exists to teach newcomers the basic terms used among the [Awakened] and to familiarize you with the Academy. If you have questions, wait until I finish speaking before asking them. Understood?"
"Teacher! Teacher!" Lotus shot her hand up.
"What is it, Lotus?" Polen sighed.
"Can I ask questions too?"
"You may. Though I doubt you need the basics, if anything comes to mind, ask."
"Okay!" she beamed.
"Now then, since Lotus is here, let me begin with something relevant to her—an extremely rare condition known as the [Adapted Body]. I doubt you've heard of it."
Anvil and Lunar shook their heads.
"[Adapted Body] is a condition that only five people in the entire world possess. Lotus is one of them. This condition is one of the most sought-after blessings for any [Awakened]. Why? Because those with [Adapted Body] are completely immune to the harmful side effects of [Mana]. They can awaken naturally, develop [Skills] immediately, and their [Mana] density, quality, control, and capacity far surpass ordinary [Awakened]."
Anvil glanced at Lotus, who smiled proudly and waved at him.
"Normal [Awakened] always suffer short-term and long-term side effects from [Mana], and their life expectancy is drastically reduced. But those with [Adapted Body] live free of such burdens. In fact, the world's strongest [Awakened], Sir Excal, is one of the few who possess it."
Polen spoke the name Excal with great reverence. Then, with a wry smile, he added, "However, there are… complications. For men with [Adapted Body], their genetic structure is so overwhelming that most [Awakened] women cannot even ovulate with them. As for Lotus—she's the only known female with this condition. Whether she can bear children is still unknown."
Lotus raised her hand again with excitement.
"Teacher… is my age suitable to bear children?"
"Pfft!" Anvil, Lunar, and even Polen stared at her in disbelief.
For Anvil and Lunar, Lotus was like a child—her question sounded like innocent curiosity. Polen, however, pinched the bridge of his nose before answering.
"Lotus, the optimal age for an [Awakened] woman to give birth is around twenty-one, when the body is stable enough to endure the strain. Because of the side effects of [Mana], most women can only give birth once in their lives. While your [Adapted Body] protects you, it's still wise to plan carefully for the future."
He sighed and added, "And for the record, Lotus may seem like a child to you two, but she is eighteen. The side effect of [Adapted Body] is delayed development. Her physical and mental growth are slowed drastically. Though she is eighteen, she has the appearance and mentality of a twelve-year-old."
"What?!" Anvil and Lunar shouted at the same time.
"Uhh… wasn't it obvious?" Lotus tilted her head.
"As if!" Anvil retorted.
Polen cleared his throat. "Moving on—let's discuss [Skills]. [Skills] are essentially mutations born from [Mana] fusing with your DNA. For example, one person may awaken [Fireball], another may command [Ice]. Because these abilities are engraved into your very genes, casting a [Skill] is far easier than manipulating raw [Mana]."
He paused for breath before continuing.
"Now, [Skill Cores] They, too, alter your DNA and grant mutations. These changes usually aren't physical, but in rare cases, some individuals have transformed into monsters or grown monstrous parts. Very rare—but it happens."
He tapped on the wall.
With a mechanical hum, a section slid open, revealing a massive screen.
Anvil's eyes widened. Technology here is incredible…
The screen flickered to life, displaying images of strange structures.
"[Dungeons]," Polen explained. "Their shapes vary—caves, castles, forests, oceans, deserts, even volcanic realms—but they all share one thing: danger. Ranking them is difficult until they are explored, but a tool called [DunTech] helps us estimate their threat level."
A picture of a bizarre device appeared. It resembled a laptop with antennas, each tipped with stones of varying colors and sizes.
"These stones are ores from dungeons. They react to different densities of [Mana]. By measuring the resonance, [Mana Resonator] estimates a dungeon's [Mana] saturation. Generally, the denser the [Mana], the more dangerous the dungeon."
Polen switched the display again, showing sprawling landscapes and impossible ecosystems.
"As dungeon rank increases, so does their size and complexity. Some contain entire miniature worlds—small planets filled with diverse ecosystems, monsters, and treasures."
The screen changed once more, showing shimmering weapons and relics.
"[Items] and [Weapons] found in dungeons are priceless. Nobody knows who placed them there or how they're made, but their power far surpasses anything forged by human hands. If you find one, think twice. Unless you're an S-Rank, keeping it will only make you a target for theft or worse."
Finally, the Academy itself appeared on the screen.
"This academy exists to prepare you for survival and mastery. You'll find classes in history, strategy, combat, [Mana] control, survival techniques, and more. You may attend freely, but a schedule keeps you on track. Your watch links directly to class schedules and dungeon expeditions.
The most important thing here is experience. The academy maintains safe zones within explored dungeons. If danger arises, reinforcements arrive in seconds. However, you must never enter dungeons above your rank, and you must never enter alone. Exploration, teamwork, and survival are at the core of your growth.
You can earn money as well. Monster corpses, harvested materials, and dungeon resources can all be sold to the academy. And if combat isn't your path, there are countless other areas to pursue."
Polen exhaled, then smiled faintly. "That concludes the essentials."
Anvil sat back, absorbing everything. He had learned more in this one class than he expected.