"EVERYONE!!"
The single word boomed across the auditorium hall, amplified by mana, crushing every lingering murmur instantly.
Conversations died mid-sentence, shuffling of students stopped, and their restless movements froze as the attention of all students snapped toward the source of the voice.
A tall elven man with long green hair stood at the center of the stage; his presence alone was enough to dominate the vast hall.
His posture was casual, yet there was an undeniable aura to him, the kind that came only from experience of wielding authority and power layered over centuries.
"My name is Kevin," he said plainly, his voice steady. "I am the head professor of the World Academy.
I abandoned my last name when I entered the academy hundreds of years ago; I hope you all will too."
The statement was delivered without pride or sentiment, as though discarding a name was a trivial matter.
"Normally," Kevin continued, his gaze sweeping across the rows of students, "I start my speeches with an excitement-filled 'Good morning.'"
He paused briefly, letting the silence stretch just long enough to feel uncomfortable.
"But this time, it is unfortunately not possible, since this morning is anything but good for us, as well as for you all."
His words settled heavily over the audience.
"As you know," he said, his tone sharpening, "an unpredictable and cowardly assault was carried out at the Arena and the Trial Domain."
A few students stiffened at the mention. Images of the bloody incident resurfaced in many minds.
"The World Academy will take full responsibility for this event," Kevin continued without hesitation.
"We promise that we will use all our might to punish the culprits. The Celestial Army has already been summoned by the principal, and a full investigation of the case has begun."
There was no attempt to cover up the academy's name.
It was a statement filled with firmness. Kevin spoke for several more minutes, addressing the attack and the calamity in blunt terms.
He neither softened the facts nor exaggerated them. Lives had been lost, mistakes had been made, and the Academy would answer for it.
Then, without ceremony, he shifted topics.
"Now," he said, clasping his hands behind his back, "I would like to welcome the five hundred candidates of this year's batch."
A subtle change passed through the atmosphere. Shoulders straightened and backs stiffened as the students were finally acknowledged.
"Your Academy uniform has already been distributed," Kevin said. "The rest of the starter items will be sent directly to assigned dormitories."
He gestured lightly, as though dismissing the matter entirely. "Your classes will begin after a week. Until then, familiarize yourselves with the academy grounds and learn how to use points carefully."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued.
"The top ten rankers will receive a monthly quota of academy points. The rest of you will be given starter points at once, based on your rank.
Thereafter, you will be required to complete tasks to earn more points. The rest of the details are in the academy manual, which will be delivered along with your starter items."
Kevin paused again, letting his gaze linger on the students before speaking once more.
"Now let me clear up a few things about the academy," he said. "You all witnessed the horrors of the recent calamity. I hope that experience made one thing clear to you."
His voice hardened. "This world is unpredictable."
A faint tension crept into his words as he continued. "The World Academy exists to prepare you for such calamities. We strive to make you strong enough to fight back, not freeze like wax statues when demons jump on you and cut you down."
The bluntness of his words caused several students to flinch.
"Like the world outside," Kevin went on, "this academy operates on the same principle. The strong thrive."
He spread his arms slightly, encompassing the entire hall.
"You are in the top five hundred out of millions of participants. And I know most of you are not satisfied with your rankings, especially since we judged them based on the last positions on the scoreboard before the calamity struck."
A faint murmur rippled through the seats but was quickly silenced by Kevin's glare.
"But that," he said flatly, "is how life works. It is unfair."
"Some of you were never meant to be here. However, since the ones who truly deserved to be seated in some of your chairs died during the attack, you are now sitting here as a consequence."
The smug expressions on several students' faces vanished instantly. In particular, the student ranked five hundred went visibly pale, his jaw tightened as the weight of those words sank in.
"Do the dead complain?" Kevin asked in a cold and merciless tone.
The question hung in the air like a blade.
Even though the speech was being broadcast live across the world, Kevin did not hesitate. He spoke those harsh words despite being explicitly instructed by Andrea to be polite and soft.
That was simply who Kevin was.
Absolutely unhinged.
BANG!!
The massive doors at the far ends of the auditorium slammed open violently, the sound echoing through the hall and snapping everyone's attention away from the stage.
William stepped inside.
A small black cat rested casually on his left shoulder, its tail swaying slowly as if it owned the place.
William's expression was cold and detached, his pale, diamond-like facial features and well-defined physique making him stand out immediately.
Under countless gazes, especially from the female students, he looked like a perfect target for their predatory attention.
"Oii!! I said you are not allowed!"
A second-year disciplinary committee member rushed in from behind him; his voice was filled with irritation.
The senior's face was twisted in anger as he sensed the sheer lack of respect radiating from the junior. Teaching him a lesson seemed long overdue.
The senior's hand shot out and landed firmly on William's right shoulder.
William did not stop or flinch.
He continued moving forward with slow, deliberate steps, as though nothing had touched him at all.
The boy who tried to stop him quickly realized how pointless his effort was, and so he decided to use strength to pull him back.
A moment later, he felt his feet sliding helplessly across the polished floor.
His balance faltered, and before he could regain control, he staggered and fell forward in an undignified heap.
A wave of shock spread through the auditorium as hundreds of eyes followed the scene.
The second-year student looked up just in time to see Professor Kevin glance in his direction and give a subtle nod, signaling him to let it go.
Grinding his teeth in frustration, the senior stood up and exited the hall, humiliation burning behind his eyes.
Meanwhile, William, now the undeniable center of attention, continued toward his seat in silence.
His unhurried steps and his calm posture were borne as though the entire hall was nothing more than a backdrop.
Just as he was about to sit down, Kevin's voice rang out once more, cutting through the air with absolute authority.
"I would like to invite the top ranker of the first-year batch," Kevin announced, "the position holder of the student representative, and the official bearer of the ARCHON title.."
Kevin's eyes locked onto William.
"...to come onto the stage and address the students'