“…” Stark stared at the academy with serious eyes.
The building loomed over them, its architecture both ancient and futuristic, with intricate runes etched into the walls that seemed to pulse with mystical energy.
There were 9 symbols on the marbles and gold walls that people could see from the entrance: two crossed swords (warrior), a magic staff (magus), three claw marks (beast tamer), a cross (exorcist), a dagger (assassin), a bow (archer), a heart (soul wielder), a potion flask (alchemist) and a demon tail (succubus/incubus).
Below all these was a holographic text that read the name of the classes related to these symbols, but it didn’t really take a genius to figure out what they were.
All these symbols on the walls pulsated and were in constant movement: for example, the swords of the warrior class would clash together before going back to their original position, while the flask from alchemist would shake, the liquid inside it changing colors.
It was truly like they were considering classes as “divine”, something all classifiers took pride in and seemed to enjoy, though.
But Stark noticed one thing…
Domination was there.
Was it really that unknown? Probably, yes, but it didn’t make sense for even the experienced teachers and chairman to not know about it.
They actually probably did… but somehow no one talked about that class even though it was the strongest.
“Holy shit, what is that,” a girl pointed at the very top of the building, dozens of long rodes on it with a flag that showed a blue portal with a stickman figure entering it, probably the logo of the school, the biggest rode of them seemed to be ten meters in height, showcasing to the entire capital their flag.
And once Stark looked at the sky…
‘…!’ there was legitimate dragon flying around the school building, but mainly around the rodes, zigzagging between them, “Oh, it’s fake.”
The dragon cast no shadow on the ground even though the time was sunny, meaning that it was just a super-advanced holographic display, he couldn’t deny it was impressive though, and that dragon looked so real some people could be scared.
In the end, they just kept looking for a good five minutes, taking in the view as this ‘school’ looked more like a palace, and what so big that it could easily host over ten thousand people.
Next to the school was a giant arena where fights could be hosted, probably used for later, and people seemed to call it the “Fate Colosseum” for some reason.
And… that was pretty much all.
There weren’t really many ways to describe the school if you weren’t there to see it, but just know that it was big and luxurious, truly showcasing the importance of each class as every one of them had a different terrain to train in, leaving nobody behind (except Domination).
“This is great, I’m actually excited now,” Lana held her chest as she took quick breaths, “It was really terrifying to think that you could die at any point in this school, but now I feel a bit more confident, let’s go, Stark,” she smiled as she took his hand and guided him.
But… Lana wasn’t the only one.
EVERYONE felt a bit more confidence after seeing the grandeur of the academy, actually now believing in their powers to survive.
Everyone had their dreams, and everyone wanted to fulfill them.
Yet… it was impossible.
All of this confidence and sudden excitement was nothing but a ploy to put your guard down.
And there was no denying it… this school was hell, much more than any of them could EVER imagine it to be.
At the highest floor of the academy, beyond one way sapphire windows, twenty pair of eyes were staring at the student as they left.
“Haha… idiots…” a manly voice rang, “Do they really believe the world is sunshine and rainbows?”
“It doesn’t matter, it only starts in two days, they will realize just how wrong they were at that time,” a woman that was sitting right beside the man spoke, spinning the glass of wine in her hand.
“Ohoh~” the chairman slowly clapped his hands while adjusting his glasses to get the attentions of the 19 people sitting on chair around a big circle table, “Do not worry, my dear teachers and instructors, the students are going to come soon, and at that time… then their first hellish year will start, and we shall enjoy seeing which will be the strongest to come out of the lot,” he smiled.
EVERYONE in this room were graduates of [Rift Conqueror] back in their time as well, meaning that they knew exactly what true horror and hell was, and just how to adjust it for people to become strong.
These 20 people, the powerhouses of the academy, capital, if not entire country, even though they weren’t invited to events such as the ‘ClassiTop’, were present.
In their room, they were surrounded by a sturdy walls, but most importantly, a screen that shows the entrance of the academy from all angles.
They enjoyed observing the new students, and noting the ones that looked strong as they actively enjoyed playing a gamble game of “who is gonna live, die or quit”.
Yes, these people were teachers and instructors, yet they were extremely twisted as well: who in their right mind would teach in this academy, which took the most amount of lives between all in the world, after all?
And as to allow themselves to do this, this room was completely isolated, with not even the most stealthy and observant of classifiers would be able to detect it.
Basically… it was their little hiding place to check out the bugs they would play with during the first year: yes, they don’t consider classifiers who didn’t complete the first year as people, after all they had done it themselves and suffered through all of these “trials” to be in their current position.
Only when you reach the second year while they respect you and consider you human, but in contrast it will also become much harder.
They were called the “Harsh Council” for a reason.
“Well, folks, the students are leaving,” the chairman smiled as he looked at everyone, their figures cloaked by the shadow of the closed room, impossible to see their appearances.
“Seems like this year’s batch is… interesting,” another man remarked.
“That is true, I analyzed them, and I can confirm with certainty that this batch of student is the strongest we have had in around twenty years,” a middle-aged woman, holding a crystal ball, smirked.
“Amazing, it does seem like this year is going to be truly fascinating, let us have fun, then!” the chairman laughed, and all others began to leave their seats.
But right at that moment…
“Wait a damn minute,” the chairman spoke, a surprised look on his face as he looked at the screen around him, pointing at the entrance.
Suddenly, all the other members of the council stopped in their tracks and looked at the screen, it still shows the outside, but extremely zoomed in.
It was zoomed… on a boy.
“He is… looking at us?” one of the members mumbled.
And who could that boy be?
Well… who other than Stark, duh?
“He knows,” the chairman smiled as the camera zoomed in on Stark’s eyes, who was clearly looking at the room they were currently in.
Just who is that kid, was what they thought.
