And in the blink of an eye, one week passed.
Now, I was walking up a long mountain slope, heading in a single direction—the direction of Douma High.
The school was said to sit at the very top of this massive mountain, and I still hadn't reached the peak.
As I walked, I found myself regretting one particular decision: telling the Urazaki family driver that I'd go to school on foot.
For some reason, I felt compelled to walk.
It was strange—like something unseen was nudging me forward, whispering that this was the correct path.
I didn't know what it was.
Instinct? Fate? Some kind of pull I couldn't explain?
Whatever it was, I decided not to question it.
It didn't really matter anyway.
As I continued up the slope, I passed by a lone house tucked against the mountain. Its window caught my eye—and for a brief moment, I saw my own reflection staring back at me.
II was wearing a crisp white shirt, the fabric smooth and structured against my skin. The collar felt stiff, framing my face with a certain precision. Over that, a white knitted vest hugged my chest, the subtle ribbing adding a bit of texture, with faint blue accents running along the edges. It was comfortable.
My eyes drifted down to the tie, a light blue silk piece that caught the light just right. The gradient ran from a soft sky blue to deeper, richer tones, almost like a calm, serene sky. The pattern—clouds drifting lazily across it—added something almost dreamlike to the outfit.
Finally, my gaze landed on the small douma high embroidered emblem on my chest. A mark oI adjusted the tie one last time, feeling the fabric between my fingers.
I continued walking up the mountain slope for another ten minutes straight.
Around that time, something caught my attention on the left side of the road.
When I turned my head, I saw a massive structure standing there—and it took me a second to realize what it was.
"…A church?"
The building was enormous, old yet well-preserved, radiating a quiet, solemn presence that made the air around it feel heavier. Seeing it made a thought surface in my mind.
Ah… I never actually thanked God, did I?
For the reincarnation. Or transmigration. Or whatever this whole situation was.
To be honest, even now I wasn't sure what the correct term was. Even though i am an otaku, my knowledge wasn't exactly deep enough to confidently distinguish between the two. My mind was still a mess when it came to that.
But one thing was certain—I was alive again. Given another chance.
And I hadn't even offered a single prayer of gratitude.
"Hmmm…," I muttered quietly.
Maybe after school… after everything settles down… I'll come back here.
I'd thank Him properly then. Pray. Maybe even offer something in return.
Leaving those thoughts behind, I continued walking.
Five minutes later, the path opened up—and I finally arrived at my destination.
Standing before me was the front gate of Douma High.
Douma High School
The first thing that struck me was its scale.
This wasn't just a school.
The moment I stepped closer, I felt it.
A presence.
No—presences.
Dozens. Hundreds.
Abilities. Battle-Auras, Battle-spirit's and some suppressed abilities.
It felt as if countless monsters were sleeping just beyond those gates.
At the very center stood the Main Academic Building—a colossal structure resembling a gothic cathedral fused with a modern academy.
To the east lay a combat training district—multiple arenas carved directly into the mountain itself. Some were open-air coliseums, others sealed domes reinforced with barrier fields so dense that even level-4 battles wouldn't damage the surroundings.
To the west, I could see dormitory towers, each one large enough to house hundreds of students. Some looked normal. Others… didn't.
Farther back, half-hidden by clouds, stood a structure that made my instincts scream.
A single tower.
Tall. Isolated.
Its presence alone felt oppressive—like a predator calmly watching prey.
That's probably where the truly dangerous ones are…
Students were already gathering around the entrance.
Some walked casually, laughing, their auras completely restrained.
Others radiated pressure without even trying—battle junkies, veterans, monsters hiding behind youthful faces.
Weapons were openly carried. Swords. Spears. Guns. Even things that didn't look like they should exist.
Amplifiers! I guessed.
Amplifiers.
Just like the name suggests, they amplify a person's ability.
The principle behind them is simple. In this world, research has proven that a person's ability somehow directly connected to their soul. Lose your ability, and you're not just losing power—you're losing a fragment of your very self. In extreme cases, it's equivalent to losing part of your soul.
Amplifiers are forged from a rare material known as Soul Resonance ores—a substance that perfectly synchronizes with the user's soul. Once bonded, it resonates with the ability and multiplies its output.
A standard amplifier increases a person's power by two-fold.
Higher-grade amplifiers are ranked by tiers. Depending on the quality of the Soul Resonance ores used in its creation, an amplifier can boost power upto 5 times… ten… twenty… and at the highest known tier, 30 times a person's natural output.
Naturally, items like these aren't easy to obtain.
Soul Resonance ores are incredibly rare, and when one appears on the market, entire organizations fight over it. The rank of the core determines the final amplifier's classification, and higher ranks are priceless. Only powerful families, long-standing institutions, or elite academies can consistently afford them.
Which explains the students here.
Almost everyone looked like they had one. Either their families were wealthy enough to buy them, or the school itself provided them. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Douma High handed them out as part of enrollment. It was one of the top ten strongest schools in all of Aldai, after all.
As for me…
I actually own one.
The previous Shido has an amplifier, but it was never used. Back then, it was nothing more than an expensive decoration—useless to an ability-less person. Now that I had awakened my power, I was considering re-melting it and reforging it into brass knuckles. Something practical. Something suited for close combat.
I'd tell Vlaneth about it later.
And before you ask—yes, I know I've been avoiding the real topic.
My ability Golden Verdict-but am sure you guy's want to know where exactly the adaptability factor came from, right?
Relax i will explain it. But that kind of thing needs context. It's not something I can summarize in a few sentences. You need to see it the way I experienced it— through memory, through the most classic anime explanation method--a flashback.
So let me get registered first. Let me sit in class. Once things settle down…
This was so normal that no one questioned it.
This wasn't a place that taught peace.
This was a place that forged power.
I stood there for a moment, hands in my pockets, staring up at the academy built for monsters.
Then I smiled faintly.
"…So this is Douma High."
A school where the strong grew stronger.
Where the weak either evolved—
Or were crushed.
Yeah…
This place suits me just fine.
A maniac smile began spreading across my lips, and this time I didn't bother hiding it. In this world, being the way I was… wasn't a bad thing.
Still, I calmed myself with a few deep breaths. Once I took enough, the smile faded, and my face returned to its usual lazy, droopy expression. I resumed walking, but as I did, I started noticing the reactions around me.
Most of the female students were staring.
Not just staring—their gazes were hungry, almost lustful.
I already knew the reason. My appearance was, objectively speaking, ridiculous. Even I was surprised by it. I'd assumed a school focused on strength wouldn't care much about looks, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe beauty and power went hand in hand in attracting attention. Or maybe they could sense my battle spirit.
I didn't know.
And honestly, I didn't care enough to think too deeply about it. I had somewhere to be. First I needed to report to the principal's office and finish the formalities. After that, they'd assign me to a class, and my school life would officially begin.
I kept walking… and walking… and walking.
This school was way too big.
After a while, I realized I'd been wandering long enough that I'd have to ask someone for directions. Asking one of the girls would probably cause unnecessary trouble, and I wasn't in the mood to deal with something stupid on my first day. So I looked around and spotted a guy sitting alone on a bench, reading a book.
Perfect.
I walked up to him and spoke politely.
"Excuse me. Sorry to bother you while you're reading, but do you know where the principal's office is? I'm new here and completely lost."
The young man sitting on the bench had black hair and glasses. His eyes were lowered to the page, but when he looked up at me, something inside me reacted.
And then I saw it.
Deep in his eyes was an absurd amount of battle spirit. His aura was tightly contained—so contained that there were no visible fluctuations around his body at all. If I hadn't looked carefully, I would've missed it entirely.
He looked like an average student. Not particularly handsome, not ugly either.
Just… normal.
But the Battle-Aura in him gave him away.
A Hidden character, I thought instantly, my inner otaku screaming in excitement. The type who looks irrelevant at first but later turns out to be a mid-boss or a secret monster in disguise.
I kept my face neutral.
The guy blinked, then coughed into his hand awkwardly. "Uh, sorry… what were you asking again?"
"The principal's office."
"Ah. Right. Yeah, I can tell you."
He gave me clear directions, and once he finished, I nodded in thanks and started walking. After a few steps, I stopped and turned back.
"Hey," I called out. "What's your name?"
He looked confused. "My name?"
"Yeah. I don't know why, but I feel like I should properly thank you next time."
He hesitated for a moment before answering carefully.
"Timori Alco. Class C."
I nodded.
"Got it. I'll remember. Next time I see you, I'll thank you properly. Maybe I'll buy you something."
Without waiting for a reply, I turned and continued toward the direction he'd given me.
----
A few minutes later, I stood in front of the principal's office.
I knocked.
Silence followed. One minute passed before a voice from inside finally called out,
"Come in."
I opened the door and stepped inside.
The principal sat behind a wide wooden desk, his presence filling the office almost as much as the furniture itself. He was a large man—not overly muscular, but broad in a way that made him look immovable. He wore a sharp red suit paired with a matching tie, the color loud yet somehow dignified on him.
His hair was bright yellow, slicked neatly back, and a short trimmed beard of the same color framed his jaw. Combined with his sharp green eyes, the man looked less like an educator and more like a retired war hero pretending to run a school.
When he saw me, he smiled warmly and gestured toward the chair in front of his desk.
"Please, sit."
I did.
He leaned back into his seat, folding his hands together as he studied me.
"Mr. Urazaki," he said, voice calm but welcoming, "I've been waiting for your enrollment for quite some time. Ever since your mother, Lady Vlaneth, came here personally to discuss it."
"Hmmm, I see. I hope mother clarified everything?"
I spoke lazily, resting my right elbow on the chair's arm and leaning my cheek against my palm while looking at the principal.
He nodded with a kind smile.
"Yes. Lady Vlaneth contacted me personally. She explained your awakening and everything that occurred. Because of that, we've already prepared the necessary arrangements. Please follow me—I'll take you to your assigned class."
The principal rose from his seat. His movements were calm but carried an odd authority that made the air feel heavier for a brief moment.
I stood up and followed behind him as he walked out of the office.
The hallway outside was filled with distant chatter, footsteps, and the echo of school life in motion. Students passed by in small groups, some laughing, some arguing, some staring at me for a second too long before whispering to their friends.
From this moment on…
I knew things were going to get interesting.
At the very least.