Chapter 9: The Ranking Revealed

The morning sun bathed the Academy in a pale golden light as the students gathered in the courtyard. Excitement buzzed through the air—today was the day the results of the first test would be revealed, and the Academy would announce the new rankings. It was a pivotal moment. Where a student ranked would determine their standing within the Academy, their access to resources, and ultimately, their future.

Lahsiv stood at the edge of the crowd, observing the eager faces around him. Most of them were nervous, anxious to see where they placed. But Lahsiv felt nothing. He already knew his ranking would place him near the top, if not at the very summit. He had performed far beyond the others, eliminating not only the common creatures but an Elite Beast—something that no other student had likely achieved.

His thoughts were interrupted as Instructor Kaelor stepped forward onto the platform, his expression stern. The crowd hushed immediately. Kaelor’s presence commanded attention, and the respect he held from the students was evident.

“Welcome,” Kaelor began, his voice carrying over the sea of students. “As you all know, the rankings for the first test will determine your place in the Academy. The results have been tallied, and each of you will be assigned a rank based on your performance in the forest.”

A heavy silence fell over the courtyard as the anticipation grew.

Kaelor continued, “You will also be divided into three groups based on your rank—Novices, Elites, and Apex. The majority of you will remain in the Elite class, but only the top ten will ascend to the Apex, where the strongest and most gifted students compete. Those at the bottom, however…” His voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken consequence hanging in the air.

The implications were clear—failure meant being demoted to the Novice class, a fate worse than death for many. No one wanted to be seen as weak, as unworthy.

Kaelor raised a hand, and a massive stone pillar erupted from the ground at the center of the courtyard. The surface of the pillar shimmered, and slowly, names began to appear, glowing with an ethereal light. The rankings were listed, each student’s name and corresponding rank clearly displayed for all to see.

The students surged forward, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the list. Lahsiv remained where he was, his cold gaze fixed on the pillar, waiting for his name to appear.

1. Valen Orvik

2. Reya Ilstrom

3. Lira Falen

4. Serik Thorne

5. Lahsiv Vale

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Lahsiv’s eyes narrowed slightly as he saw his name in fifth place. Fifth. It was higher than most, but not where he expected to be. He had killed an Elite Beast, after all. That alone should have placed him at the top, or so he thought.

His gaze shifted to the names above him. Valen Orvik, Reya Ilstrom, Lira Falen, and Serik Thorne—the four students who had ranked higher than him. He had heard of Valen and Reya in passing, both of them being prodigies from powerful noble families. Serik and Lira were less familiar, but it didn’t matter. They were his competition now, and he would surpass them all, one way or another.

The crowd around him murmured in awe, whispering about the names at the top of the list. But Lahsiv’s focus remained razor sharp. His ranking didn’t bother him—not yet. He hadn’t shown his full strength during the test, nor had he utilized the full extent of his Dark Karma abilities. He knew he was capable of far more, and in time, he would prove it.

Instructor Kaelor’s voice cut through the murmurs, pulling everyone’s attention back to him.

“The top ten students will now ascend to the Apex class,” Kaelor announced. “This is where you will be trained separately, given access to higher-level resources, and tested against the best the Academy has to offer.”

Lahsiv’s eyes flickered with interest. The Apex class was where true power could be found. It would give him access to stronger training methods, better equipment, and the opportunity to face opponents worthy of his skills. He would have more freedom to explore the darker aspects of the Academy’s power system, and most importantly, it would put him in direct competition with the top students.

Kaelor continued, “Valen Orvik, Reya Ilstrom, Lira Falen, Serik Thorne, Lahsiv Vale—step forward.”

Lahsiv moved through the crowd, his cold expression unwavering. As he approached the platform, he glanced at the other four students, sizing them up. Valen stood tall, his long dark hair tied back, and his presence radiated confidence. Reya had an air of elegance and calm, her eyes sharp with intelligence. Serik and Lira both looked physically formidable, clearly used to battle, with the hardened expressions of those who had already proven themselves time and time again.

None of them acknowledged Lahsiv as he took his place beside them, but he could feel the tension. They had all noticed his ranking, and no doubt they were already assessing him as a potential threat.

Kaelor spoke again, addressing the crowd. “These five, along with the remaining top ten, will now be assigned to the Apex class. You are the best of the best—but remember, there are always new challenges ahead. The Apex class is not a place of comfort. It is a battleground, and only those who continue to prove themselves will remain at the top.”

Lahsiv smirked slightly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the students beside him. A battleground was exactly what he needed. He welcomed the challenge.

As the ceremony concluded, the students began to disperse, the crowd murmuring with excitement. Lahsiv felt a presence behind him and turned to find Reya Ilstrom watching him carefully, her expression unreadable.

“You made it into the top five,” she said quietly, her voice devoid of emotion. “I didn’t expect that.”

Lahsiv met her gaze, his expression equally cold. “You should expect the unexpected.”

Reya tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. “I know your type, Lahsiv. You think because you’re strong, you can rise to the top on your own. But the Apex class isn’t just about strength. It’s about alliances, strategy. Power isn’t enough.”

Lahsiv’s lips curled into a slight smile, but there was no warmth in it. “Power is everything. Alliances? Strategy? They’re just tools. And I’ll use whatever tools I need to get what I want.”

Reya’s gaze darkened, but she said nothing more. Instead, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd. Lahsiv watched her go, his mind already calculating the next steps. She was right about one thing—the Apex class wouldn’t be easy. But that suited Lahsiv just fine. He didn’t want easy. He wanted to be tested, to face the strongest this world had to offer, and to crush them beneath his feet.

Later that evening, Lahsiv found himself alone once again, standing on the balcony of his dormitory room, overlooking the Academy grounds. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light across the stone walls and towers of the fortress. His mind wandered back to Kaelor’s words, about the Academy’s hidden forces and the price of power. Lahsiv knew the dangers that came with his path, but he didn’t fear them. He would pay any price to achieve his goals.

His gaze shifted to the forest beyond the Academy’s walls. Somewhere out there, in the deeper reaches of this world, lay the secrets he sought—the true source of power. Dark Karma, Soul Mandalas, forbidden energies. The Academy was just the beginning. His ultimate goal lay far beyond these walls, in a realm that none of these students could even comprehend.

And Lahsiv would reach it, no matter the cost.