Ezio sat on the cold floor of his room, legs crossed, shoulders slumped and back resting against the soft cushioned couch of his luxurious room.

Dozens of papers were scattered all across the floor. They contained — student data, rank list and handwritten notes. Freshly assembled after the 'Enrollment Exam'.

The pale evening light, poured in from the open windows, turning the white pages into a yellowish shade, almost golden. Being on the twentieth floor had its perks, but the wind kept sneaking in, lifting few of the papers across the floor.

"Ugh.." Ezio groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

"And people say I have it easy."

He picked up another sheet of the paper and scanned it.

[ Name: Andrew Beverly ]

[ Rank: 447 ]

He scanned the description of the student's profile.

"Well he is okay, I guess."

With a weak groan, he kept the paper aside, on another stack, which contained students, who he deemed as prospective members for his faction.

Praising Sara's efficiency once more, as she was the one who had eased up his workload by compiling all the data into few sheets of paper. Still it was looking like a load of mountain for him.

He tossed another paper aside and leaned back against the couch.

"Can't I just join another faction?" he muttered. "Why the hell do I have to make a new one…"

His eyes moved to the mess he had made.

Creating a faction, meant connections, expectations and responsibility. Factions held a huge dominance in the academy. Outside too — if it was about securing a high ranking network.

His sister's words echoed inside his head.

'Factions will help you secure more power than you think, Ezio.'

"To think that I am wasting my precious — Entitled holiday for this shit!..."

He had taken a leave today from the classes to enjoy — but fate seemed to have other plans, as he was stuck choosing people for a faction which he was ordered to make by his kind sister.

"This is a pain"

"Fuuuah~"

Just as he was about to pick up another paper.

Ding~ Dong~

The doorbell rang.

Ezio groaned again and pushed himself up. A few papers slid off his lap and fluttered to the floor as he stood. He didn't bother picking them up and walked to the door instead.

When he opened it, Isabelle was standing there in her training outfit, hair tied back, looking way too energetic at his lazy hour.

"Should I come inside, Mr. Azathoth?" she said with a teasing smile.

"...."

"Drop the act mister. I know you want me gone."

Seeing her blabbering, Ezio shook his head and just raised one arm. "Sure..."

As soon as Isabelle walked in, her eyes swept across the room. Scattered Papers everywhere.

Looking at the papers and the photo's.

She raised an eyebrow. "So… you're finally planning to make a faction, huh?"

Ezio closed the door and rubbed the back of his neck. "Looks like it."

She walked over and sat on the couch, crossing her legs. "What's the name?"

He paused. "…I haven't thought that far yet."

Isabelle stared at him for a second, then sighed. "Well then think... think faster."

Then her expression shifted, a little more serious. "By the way, do you know Raviel Thanarion?"

Ezio turned toward her. "Rank eleven? Yeah, what about him?."

She nodded. "Well, something interesting happened today. Apparently, you and Raviel are speculated to be in the same tier."

Ezio froze for a moment.

"...Same tier?"

"Yeah. Shocked!"

Ezio didn't answer right away. His mind was already racing. 'Same tier as me…?'

The first thought that hit him was something he imagined him to be as same as him.

'Does he have a system too?'

Ezio rubbed his forehead slightly, he knew his own potential was one of the best in the world if not so — but there was also the fact that, his system had also helped him to reach the level where he was at currently.

But if Raviel didn't have a system like he thought...

Then did he came this far solely on his talent?

The thought made his heart terrified and excited at the same time.

'Should keep an eye on you now, Raviel."

"Has he joined in any faction yet?"

Isabelle shook her head. "No idea. I just saw it mentioned in our group chat."

Ezio stayed quiet for a few seconds, staring at the papers on the floor.

"Have you heard anything from the elders?" he asked.

Isabelle waved her hand dismissively in the air. "Nope. And honestly, why do those old farts keep whining about traditions? Their ancestors are six feet underground. Does it really make sense for people living six feet above to follow all that?"

Ezio let out a dry laugh. "Yeah. They're rotten to the ground."

Isabelle laughed too, slightly leaning back on the couch.

Ezio glanced at her and then toward the small coffee machine on the kitchen. "Want coffee?"

She smiled. "Yeah, why not."

Ezio moved around the small kitchen, grabbing two cups and setting them under the machine. While waiting, he spoke casually, almost like it was just a random passing by thought.

"Hey… have you noticed something weird?" he asked. "When I was checking the files. The academy rankings seem really weird. Like some of the weak students are way too high, and some strong ones are pushed way too down."

Isabelle leaned against the couch, arms crossed, thinking for a second. Then she shook her head. "Nope. Sounds like one of the academy's crazy plans to me."

Ezio let out a short laugh. "Yeah… probably."

But inside, his smile didn't reach.

Just today, his system had triggered two new quests.

And both of them scared him to the core.

....

Raviel walked toward the north side of the campus, casually checking his Arctic. A small smile formed on his face as he stopped in front of a massive dome. The evening light created almost a picteresque scenery.

Its surface was covered in glowing hexagon tiles that slowly shifted colors, from light to dark blue.

He stepped inside, and a sharp blast of cold air hit him straight in the face.

"What the hell!"

After a short talk with a male staff member at the counter, Raviel was directed deeper inside. He followed the hallway until he reached a single glowing door.

When he opened it, his eyes widened.

At the center of the room was a pod, far more advanced than the VR ones he saw before.

Various shelves surrounded the device, filled with bottles of strange liquids, some glowing faintly, others dark and thick. Thin pipes and cables ran from the pod into the walls quietly beeping with fluorescent colours.

Raviel walked closer and tapped the screen attached to the device. When the interface opened, he entered his name.

[ Raviel Thanarion ]

Options appeared. He scrolled once, then selected:

[ Sensory Overload Training Mode ]

A warning popped up right after.

[ Enable built-in control systems? ]

He paused for half a second, then tapped Yes.

After that, he placed his Arctic against the screen. A soft beep followed, and the number on the Arctic changed.

[ Nova Credits: 45 —> 40 ]

Raviel sighed. "Fuck, my today's earnings will almost diassapear at this rate.."

The pod then opened with a low hiss.

Without waiting any more, he stepped inside and lay down, letting the device adjust his position as the lid slowly closed over him.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.