Ten years later, after I was rescued from that disaster I'm now 15 years old and about to enter high school. Because of my perfect grades at the Empire's number one junior high school, I've been offered admission to the Empire's number one high school, Starlight High.
Today is the power awakening ceremony. If I fail to awaken my power, I'll be placed in the civilian class, but if I succeed, I'll be placed in the military class.
I get out of bed, wash my face, and immediately leave the house for my morning run. After that, I have breakfast and a quick shower. Well, that's my daily routine.
I look in the mirror. There stands a girl with a cold, lightless gaze in her sapphire blue eyes that seem to suck the souls of anyone who meets my gaze. My hair is a beautiful snow-white to those who see it. But I know my hair used to be black like my sister's, but since that incident, my hair has turned white. Even the doctors don't know why.
I immediately left the house I'd been living in. I obtained this house after demonstrating an above-average IQ during elementary school. In these chaotic times, talent is paramount. After today, I won't be living here anymore, I'll be living in the dormitory. The real training begins when my powers are awakened.
I'd only been walking less than a minute from my house when a luxury military vehicle suddenly stopped beside me. A purple-haired girl with a high ponytail and a white suit got out and greeted me.
"Miss Demetria, allow me to escort you," she said politely, bowing to me.
"You?"
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Yuna. I was ordered by Mr. Rudolph to escort you to school."
"Very well."
Upon hearing the name Rudolph, I immediately understood. Rudolph was the name of the person who sponsored me since I was in first grade. He was also the one who recommended me to enter Starlight High School.
On my way, I saw many high school students wearing Starlight high school uniforms. I suddenly realized that none of them were being escorted; they were all walking. Curious, I asked Yuna.
"Yuna, why are they all walking?"
"Hasn't Mr. Rudolph informed you yet, young lady?"
"What is it?"
"There's a rule that states that students are prohibited from using any form of transportation while going to school, and students are also not allowed to be accompanied by any guardian."
"Hmm? Aren't we breaking all those rules now?"
"Don't worry, young lady. Mr. Rudolph's status is a bit special, so you don't need to worry."
"A little, huh?" Well, I don't care what's going on behind the scenes as long as it doesn't bother me.
I continued to look out the window and noticed all the students watching us as we made our way to school.
After a while, I saw a tall building... no tall is an understatement, it was so big and tall it reached the sky.
"Are you surprised, Miss? I was also very surprised when I first saw it. The main building of Starlight High School is 10,000 meters tall and has over 1,000 floors. Each floor is reinforced by a 5-star formation created by a 5-star formation master. It is resistant to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes. It can withstand a full-scale attack from a Level 5 monster and a Level 6 monster for an hour. And that's not counting Starlight High School's special protective array. There has never been an incident where Starlight High School had to use it. However, according to rumors, Starlight High School's main protective array can withstand the full force of a Level 6 monster and can withstand a Level 7 monster for half an hour."
"What about Level 8 and 9 monsters?"
"No one has encountered them since the departure of the high-level monsters that triggered the Great War I. There are no records of them. But I'm sure they exist and will one day arrive on Earth. That's why humans never stop advancing and becoming stronger for the future of humanity."
"You're right" I said. Hearing Yuna's explanation I know that humans at least don't have the power to compete with monsters above rank 7, but humans never stop advancing I'm sure there are secret weapons that the empire has prepared to face high-level monsters, but in the end it's just an artificial weapon, a power that doesn't belong to us completely in the end we can only rely on our own strength to kill those monsters.
We finally arrived at the gates of Starlight High School.
When we arrived, even before we got out, I felt the stares of the students around me, but I ignored them and immediately got out of the car, following Yuna, who had opened the door for me.
Third POV
"Hey, look, someone's coming to school in a convoy. Doesn't he know the basic rules of Starlight High School? are they idiot?"
"You idiot! Look, that's a military vehicle. And look at the license plate of the car in the middle of the convoy (A1 STARLIGHT). That's the Starlight principal's personal car."
"Then is that the principal riding in that car?"
"Of course not. The principal is at school. That must be an honored guest personally invited by the principal. Come on, catch up. I want to see who's getting out of that car."
Soon, the students who had been walking leisurely now started running, curious about who this honored guest was.
The car immediately stopped. All the students who had already entered immediately stopped at the gate and looked at the car that had stopped in front of the school gate. After that, a beautiful woman in a suit got out and hurriedly ordered the other men in suits to make way because of the large number of students surrounding them.
A moment later, the back door of the car opened and a long, beautiful leg emerged from it. The screams of the surrounding men sounded like a wolf's howl. The owner of the leg immediately got out. Her very beautiful face and cold eyes, coupled with her snow-white hair, gave a cold impression and gave the feeling to those around her that the woman in front of them was not from the same world as them.
"C-Cute! I've never seen a woman as beautiful as her in my life."
"Who's that girl? Why haven't I heard of her before?"
"Wait, I know who she is! She's Demetria Northfrost! She's from Starfall Middle School, the number one middle school in the empire, and she's also the number one middle student in the entire empire. Many powerful families wanted to adopt her, but she rejected them!" a boy shouted when he recognized the woman who had appeared before them, stirring the crowd around him.
"Crazy! The number one in middle school in the entire empire deserves to be admitted to this school, but judging by the treatment she's received, has she been adopted by a powerful family?"
"I don't know. I was dropout during the promotion exam when I was in my first year at Starfall Middle School."
"Hahaha, you idiot!"
First Pov
"So, where are we going now? Are we going to the place where the trial begins?"
"Yes, Miss. But before that, Mr. Rudolf wants to see you."
Hmm, this is the first time I'll be meeting the person who sponsored me. Usually, he only delivers things from a third party.
After entering the building, we immediately entered the formation circle that serves to teleport to our intended floor.
"We're using the formation circle because the floor we're going to is beyond the elevator's limit," Yuna said, seemingly aware of my question as i observed the elevator before we headed towards the formation circle.
"So that's it." It seems the elevator is only used up to a certain limit, and beyond that, the formation circle must be used.
When the door opened, I saw a very ordinary, cramped room with books scattered everywhere, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the school building.
"Ah, you've arrived. Will this be our first time meeting, Demetria?" I heard a voice from the direction of the pile of books, and from behind it emerged a handsome man with a slanted and messy robe, tousled golden hair, bright blue eyes, glasses that seemed to be falling off his nose, and visible eye bags that seemed to be due to fatigue, but they didn't detract from his handsomeness, instead adding a strange allure.
"You are Mr. Rudolf, right?"
"Wow, very calm. I thought you would be surprised to see my appearance. As expected of the girl I chose."
The man in front of me was completely unlike what I had expected. I must admit I was quite surprised.
"It's no big deal. I heard that when someone reaches 5-star status, they can return to their youthful body. So I'm sure you must be a veteran from 100 years ago."
"Haahh, no fun, you've already guessed everything."
"But yeah, you're right. I was one of the first to awaken 100 years ago. Fate really is amazing, isn't it? 100 years ago, I was just an office worker with a meager salary. Who would have thought that 100 years later, I would be the number one principal on Earth with powers that people 100 years ago would never have imagined?"
"So, what do you want? The awakening ceremony should be starting soon."
"Haaah, Demitria, can you be less cold to me? I've been sponsoring you since you were in the first grade of junior high."
"..."
"Okay, I'll stop messing around."
I saw Rudolf immediately stop messing around and his expression became serious.
"Demetria, I just want to ask you one question. When you see a monster, what do you want to do?"
"KILL" that was a unnecessary questions.
"..... well, I just wanted to ask that. Before the awakening ceremony begins, I've ordered Yuna to prepare your accommodation. From now on, Yuna will be your personal servant at this school."
"I don't need a servant like that."
"Indeed, but Yuna's job is to get rid of any trash who wants to approach you in any way."
"..... I understand, okay." Well, it seems it wouldn't be bad if I had someone to turn to for information.
Rudol POV.
"Haaah, amazing. I'm getting goosebumps. Demetria's hatred for monsters hasn't diminished one bit since the first time I met her."
Three years ago, it was the first day I met a girl who seemed very mature. She didn't play with other children her age. All she did was read books in the school library, and the books she read were human history books. It was the first time I'd been interested in something other than formations.
This little girl had lightless eyes, but I could sense her anger from her actions. While others would try to avoid anything that might remind them of their trauma, not this child. Even if it reminded her of her trauma, this girl would keep moving forward.
I've also asked her the same question I'm asking today, and her answer hasn't changed at all.
"As long as Demetria manages to awaken at least a B or A-grade talent, with her tenacity, she will surely become the vanguard of humanity."
May peace come to you young bloods.