{From a distant past}

A great venue was set, it was set to welcome a guest of great might.

The kingdom’s prestigious Academy which was responsible for training Battle Rankers, seeds of legacy, was set on a secluded Dangou Mountain peak.

It was a great place for students to learn a deeper understanding of Battle magic since this place was surrounded by various obstacles and challenges for Battle Rankers to face.

There was an annual ceremony where contestants of Battle Rankers Academy would display their powers.

In this venue, various Nobel and military experts would gather, and even the King of the kingdom would grace the finals with his arrival.

So this was an important deal for students, for them to show their potential, so that they would recognized for the worth a gauge themselves with.

A stage of the battle was set, and along with the kingdom’s king, various figures were gathered as spectators, including Commander General Keith.

He was a revered presence since the idea behind Battle Rankers was rooted in the rise of individuals like Keith.

“And we have our winner, Junior division winner Fred Cantrell!”

Applaud cheered through the venue, after facing a series of opponents, Fred came out victorious, an indomitable force among younger candidates.

Though his indomitable image was earned through his struggles, a year before he was gauged to be a weak candidate, so he was seen as a mere brat with no skill but and sharp tongue, he would get into arguments with students stronger than him, saying- I will become Stronger than you all, just watch me, I surely definitely will!.

Now a year has passed since his bold declaration, and he stands alone on the Great Stage as Number #1 candidate from the Junior division.

“Watch me, hah!”

He stood alone, undefeated, he stood out of his breath, his words have become truth, such are the ways of life for him.

“Now you Golden warrior, watch me, only you are---”

Raising his black blade, he pointed it in a certain direction, towards a certain figure, the figure was cladded in Gold armor with fine masculine features, it was designed and fashioned for ease of movement, it was light armor, but it was sophisticated as well.

Exhaustion overtaking his lungs, his vision weary, the half-beaten figure of Fred stood, muttering something to himself he pointed his sword towards Keith, who was seated in a guest's seat close to his majesty the King.

“I will… definitely…..surpass you…”

“Are you sure?”

Fred's eyes blinked, within those blinks Keith’s figure stood right in front of Fred.

“Are you sure? Can you say that again?”

His voice was calm but his gaze was sharp, they wield pressure and domineering command in them, and his tone was casual, just as Keith should be.

A hero but with no knightly conduct he resembles a Very very Strong Soldier, he didn’t bother with the chivalrous ways of knights religiously but was still maned with honor.

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“I… said---”

“Yeah, I’m listening say that again loud and clear.”

Fred’s exhausted form was shaky yet they never gave in to intimidation, this was one of the perks of being insane.

Freds was regarded as an insane person, not that he was mentally deprived rather he was quite intelligent.

But his exponential growth was insane, his understanding of magic is insane, and there is insanity in his ways of overcoming difficulties.

Indeed, people are truly recognized when they are met with greetings tribulations, and challenges.

It shapes their way of being, that is how Fred is perceived, an insane talent, someone with mediocre magic ability and talent who has surpassed a mass of talented individuals within a year time frame.

Now his absurdity has reached its peak, because he stood before Keith, the peak of the nation, breathing heavily, using his blade as a support to stand on his feet, he was looking up to Keith.

He is looking at Keith, with eyes that show hunger, hungry are those who are deprived, but people are deprived of many things, they don’t feel hungry for them.

However, Fred was hungry, he wasn’t deprived of food, he was deprived of power, he was in desperate need of power, he had to overcome all the myths and curses surrounding his life, and he needed strength the reason.

“If there is a peak, then it must be there for one to reach it, even if goes beyond the heavens.”

“oh, quite ambitious are you!”

“And you are the highest peak that I must climb, it took me one year to defeat them, but I'm sure now.”

“I’m sure of one thing, I will surpass you.”

“Are you sure? Are those words sufficient?”

“I promise I will surpass you, that is my promise.”

“……”

A silence flowed throughout the great venue, all gazes focused on this spectacle because insanity was being committed once again, by an insane figure.

Is he stupid?

What is he saying?

Maybe he became stupid after fighting so much?

What is this even about?

A group of seated audience members murmured in astonishment.

Heavy, every being present felt heavy, air, heavy, sky, heavy, gravity was pulling pressure because gravity itself was giving into this heaviness.

Pressure filled the surroundings, and a monstrous killing intent was being released, by the man in golden-fashioned armor

Keith's eyes narrowed, and with a glint of seriousness, he stood.

“Ah…”

Fred being was subjected to this predicament, and even if Fred was facing this intense pressure, everyone there felt the impact.

“Are you sure, brat? Say it once again.”

It was as if his entire being was about to shatter like glass, golden in hue, smoky aura of magic overflowing from Keith’s body.

The highest-ranked Battle Mage was awakened.

“I…I promise I will surpass you.”

Fred without flinching declared again.

Overwhelming energy snuffed the weak in the audience out of consciousness, even the king of the kingdom was in awe, with an overwhelming pour of magical energy assaulting nearby spectators and tournament organizing staff on their knees, they were unable to keep up with this heaviness yet among them several Strong warriors of the kingdom remained unchanged since they are used to this kind of pressure.

“Can you say that again, brat!”

Look at that jerk, showing off!

One figure from an elevated audience seat, smirks.

Cold gaze looking down at the bent knees figure of Fred, who was already exhausted from a series of battles in the tournament, was still fighting a great battle of will.

He was struggling, he is struggling, he has been struggling, this isn’t new, this can’t be enough for his insanity to be cured, hunger can’t be diagnosed as a disease, he was not.

“I promise I WILL SURPASS YOU!”

Amid such environs, he screams, what was about to happen to such audacity---

“Sure do, keep working hard buddy.”

With a thumbs up Keith’s usual casual tone returns along with ease from the previous ordeal.

He smiles gently.

“Huh?”

“You sure are a funny guy, hahahahaha”

For some reason the man in Gold armor burst into laughter, carefree his remarks never landed, because a reply to his intimidation was already given, and his query was declared through his actions.

There was no need for further encouragement or praise rather—

“But this is only third junior division, you have to beat Senior first division to surpass me anytime near soon though.”

With an expression of concern and an informative tone Keith adds.

“eh!” eyes widened in shock, a breath of realization escaping Fred’s lungs.

“You have to defeat senior divisions to reach me, that would take years…so keep trying, be a try-hard, hahahahaha!”

“hah!...”

Fred’s vision was a blurry mess, and a throbbing in his brain, exhaustion reaching its peak accelerated by newfound stress, with a thud he abruptly felt on the ground outstretched arms lay, the winner of the junior third Division Annual tournament, Fred.