“...S-Class?”
“How is this even possible? Even with the letter of recommendation and potential rating, it shouldn’t be humanly possible for me to be in S-Class.”
The problems kept racking up, one after another.
“Who exactly are you, Lucien Crow?”
It’s only been a few hours, but I still needed to digest everything. However, there were three things I needed to figure out: how did I get here, who is Lucien Crow, and is it even possible for me to defeat the final boss.
I had some time before I needed to head to class.
“What was the word again? Status?”
==================
— {[Lucien Crow]} — +
Goal:
Defeat the Primordial Giant of Destruction
Age: 16
Affinity: ???
Silvion Academy Rank: 4000/4000
Overall Rating: E
Skills:
Jack of All Trades Lvl 1
==================
I studied the screen, looking for a clue. Then, I noticed the plus symbol next to my name.
I pressed it.
==================
— {[Lucien Crow]} — -
* Orphan
* Sole Survivor of the Verita Massacre
* ???
Goal: Defeat the Primordial Giant of Destruction
Age: 16
Affinity: ???
Silvion Academy Rank (Year 6864): 4000/4000
* S: 300; A: 500; B: 600; C: 700; D: 900; E: 1000
Overall Rating: E
* Affinity: E-
* Combat: E+
* Technomancy: E-
* Stamina: E+
Skills:
Jack of All Trades Lvl 1
* Allows the user to perform most tasks that they can’t perform at a moderate level.
==================
This. This was something. But what’s up with these question marks still?
After taking another quick scan, I closed the screen. There were a few things I learned. One: it looks like nobody but myself can see this status screen. I realized this as people walked past me without a care. Two: Lucien seems to have no real background, but I need to research this 'Verita Massacre' to understand more. Three: My rating is completely awful. Four: It seems Jack of All Trades can be used for other things besides combat, but I need to test this theory later to confirm. Five: I probably do have an affinity, but it's going to take who knows how long to achieve one.
“Hah. I really wish I had an affinity.”
An affinity plays an important role for technomancers. It's essentially what magic is to a mage. Technomancers are able to use any of the elements, but an affinity is something they have innately that allows them to use one element better than another. Unless you’re Novian, who can control not only lightning but also gravity.
“He really is a busted character.”
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
I looked at the time.
It’s almost time for class.
I tapped a button on my datachron, which pulled up the navigation to S-Class. This campus was ginormous, and each class had its own building. It would be best if I didn’t get lost on my first day.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Now that I think of it…I’m going back to school…”
I’ve graduated from high school and did some studying while I was in basic training, but isn’t this too much? I was relatively smart, but having to attend school again feels like a curse.
Tsk.
“This might be worse than the boss.”
<><><><><>
“Just in time.”
I was a bit early, which gave me time to find a seat away from the main characters. For now, I needed the story to progress naturally since I didn’t know much about it.
I entered the classroom.
It was spacious, featuring a semi-circular tier that ensured each student had an unobstructed view of the teacher. The walls were lined with sleek, transparent panels that offered stunning views of the academy's sprawling campus and the vibrant cityscape beyond, allowing natural light to flood the room.
The sci-fi aspect of the game sure is gorgeous.
As I scanned the room, I noticed all the characters sitting in their designated spots, exactly as they were in the campaign of Beyond Phantasia.
Iris and Novian were seated in the middle row, Elara was in the front, and Aurelia was also at the front but toward the right near the windows. Kaeygo was positioned in the back.
These guys sure are studious.
There were 300 students in S-Class. Not a lot, but enough to blend in. I made my way up the rows, deciding the best spot would be a row between Kaeygo and Novian.
“Hey you!”
I kept walking.
“Stop walking! Purple-eyes!”
I kept walking.
“Hey!”
I felt a pull on my sleeve.
Tsk.
“D-did you just click your tongue at me?”
I turned to look at the culprit.
Tsk.
It just had to be Iris Mercier.
“Y-you just did it again!”
“Do you need something from me?” I said.
"Hey, what's like your problem? You know who I am, right?"
“No.”
“No? Have you’ve been living under a rock? I’m THE —.”
“Look, I really don’t care.”
“Y-You!”
"Kid, just go back to your seat and stop talking to me. I'm busy."
“I’m not a ki—.”
Tsk.
Her face turned as red as a tomato.
Since she was at a loss for words, I used this time to make my way towards my seat, rerouting to a few rows behind them and closer to Kaeygo instead of the middle.
I sat down in my seat.
Class starts in a couple of minutes. Let’s think about the best course of action in the meantime.
<><><><><>
Iris’ POV
I’ve arrived at class with Novian. My bff.
“Look Novian, my post on Holosphere is blowing up like crazy!”
“Iris, when is it not?”
“No, no but it’s different this time! Look!”
I pointed to my screen, showing him.
“It’s because of this guy.”
In the background was a boy around our age, but he was different. He had jet black hair, piercing purple eyes, and a chiseled face. He seemed to be in deep thought. However, his face could almost rival that of Novians. ALMOST. Nothing comes close to him. I think...
“He’s quite handsome,” Novian responded.
“He has his charms, but not like yours.” I replied, “But everyone on the Holosphere is asking me for his account because they can’t find him.”
Novian pointed.
“Well, now’s your chance. He’s coming up.”
“Great! This should be easy since I AM one of the top influencers.”
Leaving Novian, I made my way to the purple-eyed boy.
“Hey you!”
He kept walking.
Maybe he didn’t hear me?
“Stop walking! Purple-eyes!”
He kept walking.
Is he purposely ignoring me?
I made my way closer to him.
“Hey!”
I pulled his sleeve.
Oh. My. Gosh. He really was quite handsome.
Tsk.
Huh?
“D-did you just click your tongue at me?”
Tsk.
He did it again! How rude! Rude!
“Y-you just did it again!”
“Do you need something from me?” he said.
Absolutely rude.
"Hey, what's like your problem? You know who I am, right?"
“No.”
He doesn’t? He has to be joking. There’s no way he hasn’t heard of me — unless he’s been living under a rock.
“No? Have you’ve been living under a rock? I’m THE—.”
“Don’t care.”
He cut me off!
“Y-You!”
"Look, kid, just go back to your seat and stop talking to me. I'm busy."
“I’m not a ki—.”
I was fuming.
By the time I looked back, he was gone.
I made my way back to my seat.
“Rude. Novian, that guy is nothing but trash!” I vented.
“I saw. Interesting guy, lol.”
“Don’t ‘lol’ me. He clearly didn’t like me for some reason. Me, by the way. Iris Mercier.”
“Hey, calm down. Maybe he just hasn’t slept.”
“Oh, he did. Not a single dark circle under his eyes.”
“Aha… Look, if anything, you’ll have your chance at the mock battles later this week.”
“Hmph. You’re right! Whatever rank he is…I’ll crush him thoroughly.”
<><><><><>
Tsk.
Where did this raging headache come from?
As I was rubbing the area between my eyebrows, the teacher walked in.