The door crashed open dramatically, echoing through the classroom like a thunderclap, effectively snagging the attention of every cadet—including me. A man in his early thirties strode confidently to the podium, an air of authority surrounding him.
While the others gazed at him with a mix of admiration and excitement, I studied him curiously, racking my brain, trying to remember the character's name. Who is he again?
"No need for introductions, I see some of you have already acquainted yourselves with your fellow classmates," he started, his voice rich and engaging.
Relief washed over me. At least I wouldn't have to endure the awkwardness of standing up in front of everyone to share my life's story.
"I can tell some of you hardly slept last night, buzzing with excitement and anxiety about your first day in this academy," he chuckled. Then, just like that, his demeanor shifted, becoming more serious.
"However," he continued, "let me be clear: there's no time for slacking or having romantic relationships here. The Glacial Sphere you once knew has changed. The challenges you'll face will intensify as you advance in your grades."
He paused, letting his words sink in. I could feel the air in the room shift as the cadets leaned forward, eager to absorb every detail.
"Get ready to face several competitions. You will encounter real-life combat situations and compete against students from different grades. Prepare yourselves for the harsh realities of the world ahead."
A mischievous smile crept across his face, sending a shiver down my spine.
Oh shit. I forgot this was an action novel. I've forgotten how to throw a punch, but I guess there's still room for practice, right?
"My goal is to push each of you to be the best version of yourselves. So look alive and be competitive! Do you all understand?"
"YES, SIR!" The enthusiastic response rang out in unison, every student shouting except for me.
He laughed, a sound that broke the tension. "Okay then. Sorry for the late introduction. I'm Jude Moonhamn, and I'll be your instructor for the entire year. Some might call me strict, but I prefer to think of it as setting high standards."
"What about your rank? Can you tell us?" a voice piped up from the back, followed by a chorus of eager "oohs."
"Do I really have to? It's not that high," he answered with mock humility, though a glint of confidence shone through.
"Tell us! Tell us!" came the rallying cry from the class, enthusiasm palpable in the air.
"Alright, alright. Calm down now," he chuckled. "I don't need to tell you my overall ranking, but I'll let you know that my class rank is Elite ranked grade 2."
A wave of impressed murmurs rippled through the classroom. With approximately ten million heroes worldwide, being ranked as an Elite hero indicated power and skill.
Let me give you a quick scope of the world class ranking:
Novice (the lowest of all rank)
Standard
Elite
Apex (the highest of all rank)
5 is the lowest while 1 is the highest in terms of grading.
"I believe that covers my introduction," he concluded, visibly pleased at the awe he inspired in us.
Grinning like a kid with a secret, he added, "It's still your first day, so you won't have any special training yet. However, I trust that all of you completed your morning training, yes? It's crucial to keep your skills sharp."
'Wait... Am I good at training? Why do I have a nagging feeling something bad is about to happen?' I thought, dread creeping in.
"Let's go over the academy's standards. After graduation, guilds will only look at your grades, skills and your overall class ranking this is the most important of all, so ensure you aim for high points. We, your instructors, will adhere to strict grading standards. Failure to meet objectives will result in repeating the semester. You'll be given just one chance; fail again, and you'll be expelled. Falling short of becoming a hero may lead you to other paths—mercenary work, thievery, or even joining hands with the anti-heroes guild which I assume you'd rather avoid."
The shock on the students' faces was evident, many eyes wide with disbelief. Jude scanned the classroom, appearing genuinely pleased to see us all captivated.
"Ah, how nice to see some familiar faces in my class," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
'Great, now I'm regretting every life choice that placed the main characters—and a few others—here.'
Beyond Cypher and Edge, I recognized other side characters: Whitney Owen, Christian George, Angela Forbes, Rex Harrison, and Ezekiel Craine. The two main characters seemed to be seated far apart to avoid igniting their rivalry; Edge sat beside Whitney Owen, while Angela was next to Cypher. Ezekiel occupied a position at the front, just behind him, while Rex was seated next to me, his expression unreadable.
"Your first task for today will be 'Picking Your Main Weapon," Jude announced, shifting his tone back to business-like as he leaned over the podium.
'Great. Just when I thought I could ease into this experience.'