Chapter 1 – The Weakest Student
The training field of Heroic Academy was silent.
Dozens of students stood in a circle, watching the duel in the center. Some were whispering, others were already smiling like they knew what would happen next.
In the middle of the arena stood a boy with messy black hair and simple academy clothes.
Kai Draven.
Across from him was a tall noble student holding a shining sword.
"Are you ready?" the instructor asked.
Kai tightened his grip on the wooden practice sword in his hand. His palms were sweating.
"I'm ready," he said quietly.
A few students laughed.
"Look at him."
"The weakest student in the academy thinks he can fight again."
"He's going to lose in five seconds."
Kai heard every word, but he didn't respond.
This was his final exam. If he failed again, he would be expelled from the academy.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin!"
The noble student rushed forward immediately.
Kai tried to block.
Clang!
The impact forced him backward.
His opponent moved too fast.
Another strike came.
Kai barely raised his sword in time.
Clang!
The wooden sword in his hand cracked.
The noble student smirked.
"Pathetic."
He swung again.
CRACK!
Kai's sword shattered completely, and the force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground.
Dust filled the air.
The training field went silent for a moment.
Then laughter erupted.
"I told you."
"He didn't even last ten seconds."
"Why is someone like him even in the Heroic Academy?"
Kai slowly pushed himself up from the ground.
His chest hurt, and his hands were shaking.
The instructor sighed.
"That's enough."
Kai lowered his head.
He already knew what was coming.
A few minutes later, he stood in front of the academy's main hall.
Several teachers sat behind a long table.
The headmaster looked down at a paper before speaking.
"Kai Draven."
"Yes, sir."
"You have failed the combat exam for the third time."
Kai stayed silent.
The headmaster continued.
"Heroic Academy trains future heroes who will protect the kingdom. Unfortunately, your performance shows that you do not meet our standards."
Those words felt like a knife.
Then the headmaster said the sentence Kai feared the most.
"Starting today, you are expelled from the Heroic Academy."
Some teachers nodded in agreement.
One of them spoke coldly.
"You should never have been accepted here in the first place."
Kai clenched his fists.
But he didn't argue.
A few minutes later, he walked through the massive academy gates for the last time.
The sky above was gray.
Behind him stood the place where he had spent three years trying to prove himself.
Three years of training.
Three years of humiliation.
And in the end…
He was still called the weakest student.
Kai stopped walking.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"So this is how it ends…"
Suddenly—
A strange voice echoed inside his mind.
[System detected.]
Kai froze.
"What…?"
The voice continued.
[Host confirmed.]
[Demon King inheritance awakening.]
Kai's eyes widened.
"What is happening?"
Then glowing red text appeared in front of him.
[Hidden Demon King System Activated]
Kai's heart began to pound.
The cold wind blew through the empty road outside the academy.
And for the first time in his life…
Kai felt something powerful awaken deep inside him.