The empire's most renowned institution, "Orios Academy," prides itself on its neutrality, bridging the gap between nobles and commoners. Many call it the empire's future, as graduates from its halls go on to shape the nation's prosperity.

At the start of Arc 2, the academy launched a new initiative under the new principal's orders, combining nobles and commoners in the same classes—a bold step in breaking down old traditions.

This is where the protagonist of the second arc comes into the picture. The story focuses on how he makes friends and navigates this new environment. The academy itself serves as the backdrop for many key events across the empire.

Even without a protagonist, Orios Academy remains a crucial institution. Its fall would have catastrophic consequences for both nobles and commoners alike.

"Shit, this is way too fast," Ren muttered, processing the gravity of the situation. "This event wasn’t supposed to happen until much later in the story."

He couldn’t fathom why this event was occurring so early. The academy was always a thorn in the organization's side, but they usually ignored it, deeming it unworthy of their time. Something significant had changed. Before Ren could delve further into his thoughts, Velara's voice snapped him back to the present.

“The academy is on full alert under the principal’s orders,” Velara explained, projecting a holographic map of the academy grounds. “She’s even activated the academy's reserve soldiers to guard the outskirts.”

“It seems the monster invasion is serious enough for the principal to prioritize student safety over anything else,” Francea added, her tone dismissive.

“Look at that,” Faris said, leaning in to study the map. “They’ve deployed a considerable number of mechs to form a perimeter. Those things aren’t cheap, and they’re using a lot of them.”

“That place looks more like a fortress than an academy now,” Reus observed, unphased. “But I’m not surprised. It’s that principal’s style.”

“And what do we know about these abnormal monsters?” asked the boy in the second seat, his childish voice at odds with his serious tone. “Even in all my years, I’ve never seen creatures like these.”

“We’ve collected some samples, but they’ve proven difficult to study,” Faris responded, sounding frustrated. “Their bodies disintegrate before we can properly analyze them. We’re still trying to figure out how to keep them intact.”

“Oh, is the genius boy struggling?” Francea mocked, a sly grin playing on her lips. “I thought you were supposed to be the smartest one here.”

Faris shot her an irritated look. “It’s just a minor setback. Now shut up, you old hag.”

Francea’s laughter echoed through the room, but her carefully crafted expression cracked ever so slightly, betraying her annoyance.

“Enough,” Reus commanded, his voice cutting through the tension. He stared at the map before him. “It’s time to disrupt their operations and disable their defenses.”

“Agreed!” The boy grinned mischievously. “Oh, it will be delightful to watch that academy crumble and see the terror on the students' faces.”

The room fell silent as the ethereal voice of the priestess spoke. “While it is not my intention to endanger children or the innocent, our grand plan is too important. That academy has become an obstacle to our activities.”

Her voice, soft and caring, concealed the ruthless disregard for human life beneath. Ren stood frozen, his mind overwhelmed by the enormity of what he had just learned.

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"Monsters? An invasion?" Ren muttered in confusion. "None of this happened in the game. The academy was never invaded."

His mind raced, trying to recall any detail that might explain this anomaly, but he came up empty. This wasn't just a small divergence from the game’s story—this was a monumental shift.

Still, he had to put that aside for now. There was a more immediate issue at hand. “I can’t let them take down the academy’s defenses, or it’s over,” Ren murmured anxiously. “But what the hell can I do like this?”

He cursed his current state of invisibility. Even if he weren’t hidden, what could he do against some of the most powerful individuals in this world? He was just a normal teenager thrown into a reality he didn’t choose.

His stats were mediocre, and his one seemingly impressive skill was unreliable at best. He couldn’t even get a decent meal because of it.

But then, as if responding to his turmoil, a familiar screen appeared before his eyes, displaying a message.

image [https://i.imgur.com/yZNHb6H.jpeg]

Ren’s breath caught in his throat.

"Completion rate? What does that mean? And the skill’s been updated?" he whispered, puzzled.

He quickly opened his skill list, eager to see the changes.

image [https://i.imgur.com/8g4O2WC.jpeg]

"A timer? For what?" Ren squinted at the new information. His mind raced, trying to decipher its meaning.

There were several possibilities, but one theory stood out. Could it be a countdown to when he would become visible again? Would the skill deactivate after one minute? Would he be revealed?

"Is it telling me I can stay visible for a minute?" Ren murmured.

It seemed like a stretch, but the timing of the message—appearing when he was grappling with what to do—felt too convenient to dismiss. He didn’t have time to second-guess it. This could be the solution he needed.

Even if that solution bordered on suicide.

The plan forming in his mind was simple: he needed to draw their attention to himself, distract them long enough to give the academy a chance. Then, just as he became visible, he’d disappear again, forcing them to devote all their resources to finding him.

"Now... what should I say to get their full attention?" Ren muttered, trying to plan his next move.

If his theory was correct, he had only one minute—nowhere near enough time for a full conversation. That meant he had only a few precious words at his disposal.

"Words that will grab each of their attention—something they can’t ignore," Ren murmured, piecing together his strategy. "It has to be something only someone who played the game to the very end would know."

He began forming the words in his mind, each carefully tailored for the council members. Some were so dangerous that uttering them could end his life on the spot. Yet, he knew it was his only shot.

The real problem was the priestess. Even in the game, her information was limited, making her a truly mysterious and enigmatic figure. Veteran players debated everything about her, with no definitive answers to her background, even to this day.

"There isn’t a single word that could sway her," Ren muttered, feeling the weight of uncertainty. But then, he remembered one piece of information—something that had circulated among players but was never officially confirmed by the developers.

To put it bluntly, it was more of a pile of rumors and guesses than a solid fact, but it was the most popular theory in the game’s community.

"There’s a chance it could be true," Ren thought, feeling a mix of hope and anxiety. "Especially now that this world has become real..."

He chuckled, imagining how chaotic the game forums would’ve been if this theory had turned out to be true.

With that, Ren felt more confident in his plan. He knew what he had to do. All that remained was summoning the resolve to act.

“It sounds so easy in my head, but one wrong move and I’m dead,” Ren chuckled, aware of the absurdity of the gamble.

The thought of running away crossed his mind. He could flee, leave the academy to its fate. But he couldn’t. The game had been a lifeline for him, its story and characters a source of comfort and joy. He couldn’t just sit by and let it all fall apart.

“I don’t even know what would happen to the story if I don’t act,” Ren muttered, his resolve hardening. “There must be a reason I was sent to this world. Even if there isn’t, I’d still do the same thing.”

With a deep breath, Ren steeled himself. He had never played it safe in the game. It had always been all or nothing.

“Yeah... just another Tuesday,” Ren said with a wry smile.

He took one final look at the screen, inhaled deeply, and pressed the timer.

In an instant, the space around him distorted, light and shadow twisting together in a chaotic dance. With the blink of an eye, Ren's body appeared in the room for all to see, no longer invisible.