Fitting his military boots on, Itsuki tied them off and moved on to equipping himself with a number of metallic bands around each of his arms. They looked expensive and were made of rare materials discovered during the Starfall Calamity War, which was why he had to ask Joel to use them since they were particularly special. But these were originally Itsuki’s and Joel had no reason to withhold them from him.

Besides Itsuki, Ikki, his closest and one of very few friends he had, was currently getting ready with him in the waiting room of the arena.

The massive thing was a circular building with a large domed roof that was about as big as the size of a football field. Several of these, and smaller versions of them, were spread across the academy’s vast campus.

In here, explorers could perform large scale simulated battles to hone their skills and tactics without suffering too much injury. Today, the viewing seats were packed with people and not the usual teachers or fellow students who took time to hone themselves.

They were citizens from the terracolony who all wanted to see the action that was going to ensue between young explorers. Around the world, these young explorers had become something like that of celebrities or well-known figures once they gained enough acclaimed fame, so mock fights made between them had become a sport, like Japanese Kendo or karate.

Going by how loud it was out there and how fast the viewers gathered here, Itsuki guessed that Joel had likely leaked their little debacle with Stella and Amanda. The local academy internet forums was the likely candidate but since they weren’t getting calls for their arrest, Joel had likely cut out a few scandalous details to ensure it didn’t become an international incident.

Itsuki knew Joel wasn’t bold enough to broadcast this over international networks since handling a noble from the European Block was its own bag of unfun work to unpack. But he and Ikki bemoaned that they were going to get a lot of flak for this.

While not their intention, challenging a noble from the European Block was like asking for trouble. Coupled by how the current situation made them seem like they were harassing two younger students since they were technically their elders in years here at the academy, both of their reputations might tank.

The fact the girls were unparalleled beauties who likely turned every man's head their way, only compounded just how much hate they were going to get from the other male but also female students who were going to see them as bullies.

“Hey Ikki? When this is over, please remind me to never get too involved with Joel again. I think I forgot that when I went on vacation.”

“Sure thing, double for me as well, but are you sure you want to bring out this much equipment? It seems a bit overkill.”

“Hah.” Itsuki let out a small laugh as he equipped and stowed his weapons onto his waist and latched his metal arm guards. This was indeed a lot but to him, it was necessary and was how he fought.

“I told you before that I don’t give anyone slack, especially those that think so lowly of Grunts like us. That blue haired girl needs to know her place.”

Grunts, while commonly known as one of the three classes of explorers, paled in comparison to the other two classes. Mystics, like Stella and Amanda, had abilities and special powers. Corebinders, who focused on strengthening their body’s through the use of new breakthroughs in explorer physiology. Finally, the Grunts, who utilized modern weapons and tools.

Of these classes, Grunts were considered the weakest since they consisted of humans that had low core affinity which affected their ability to generate or manifest any real powers. Core energy was the phenomenon observed in all humans after the Starfall Calamity.

Those with high affinity to core energy could augment their strength or utilize core materials harvested from the star depths to further improve themselves. The higher the core affinity, the more core energy and abilities that an explorer could use and manifest with the help of core materials.

“You know that it wasn’t my intention to get you riled up, right Itsuki?”

Walking into the waiting room, Joel had a somewhat charming and apologetic facade on his face, which Itsuki promptly ignored whilst scoffing.

“Should’ve thought of informing me first of these changes rather than telling me when something bad had already happened. Now we’re in this mess because of you.”

“I know, I know! I Know!”

Joel complained but was still unapologetic. After pushing his glasses up he sighed. He was hoping for another retort yet nothing came his way.

“But.” He said. “It was just good old fun, I didn’t mean for it to touch a nerve but I admit that I let it get too far. I must ask though.”

Joel took a breath as he looked over Itsuki, noting just what he had on and hoping to calm not himself but Itsuki down.

“Are you really going to do this though? If you go too hard on them, you might discourage those girls, they're both still young and they have promise.”

“Have you forgotten about my role to play, Joel? And don’t forget, Ikki here has his own reasons to not lose as well.”

“Like the fact that you’ll both become their servants for life if you lose?” Joel joked, his words not changing Itsuki's expression. He had tried to use his signature teasing smile to follow it up but it was an unsuccessful attempt to lighten the mood.

“It’s more than that Headmaster.” Ikki said whilst looking at his clenched fist. “I have to prove to myself that I can be an explorer as well. I can’t just sit idly by and let the threat of the star depths persist! After coming here, I understand what I need to use my powers for.”

Ikki’s goals were admirable, it was true, the star depths, while a contained threat, were still dangerous and pumped out invasive monsters that could wreak havoc on the people’s lives.

In fact, Japan, now known as the Eastern Block in joint treaties with what remained of Australia, the Philippines, and the recently reunited, then shattered, Korea, had faced disaster when a star depth suddenly generated a swarm of monsters that invaded their lands. The cause was still unknown, but it cut the Eastern Block’s population in half before they could get it under control.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

In Ikki’s hands, he could still feel the blackened and blood-stained dirt of the affected cities. The once sprawling Eastern Block Terracolony, reduced to rubble in a single battle and the dirt loaded with only the rotting scent of hopelessness.

Itsuki and Joel looked at Ikki with a reassured smile, they liked his resolve and they knew of his troubled past. After so much tribulation, he still held firm to his goal, his dream. He was here to become stronger not for fame or fortune, but just because he knew that it was the right thing to do with his gifts, as meager as they were.

“As naive as ever.” Itsuki said plainly, almost mocking him, but Ikki knew it was more of a compliment. “You might die if you continue this path of yours, are you willing to put it all on the line?”

“Come on Itsuki, you know me as well as I do you. You don’t give anyone slack, and I’m always like this.”

A chuckle escaped Itsuki, almost uncharacteristically to his contrasting sternness.

“Yup, naive to a fault and reckless like your old man. But it makes you, you. One heck of a crazy guy who doesn’t know when to give up.”

“You got that right!”

Giving each other a fist bump, Joel sighed in exasperation at their bromance.

“Jeez, you two are really too much at times, but I guess that's why I’m the headmaster.” Joel chuckled to himself and then gave the two a serious look. “Show them what you’ve got!”

Meanwhile in the opposite waiting room, Stella was reading the public student profiles of Ikki and Itsuki. The findings……were somewhat disappointing.

“These two commoners are quite bold, just look at these stats. At best, they together have better versatility than us, but what good will that do?”

“Maybe they have a few tricks up their sleeves?” Amanda suggested whilst she rested on the bench and sipped some freshly brewed tea.

“That’s likely and I would not put it past them, but they both have a Luck rating of E as well, compared to our A rank, we will be victorious for sure and even fate is on our side.”

It was widely known that the abilities of an explorer were broken down into 6 stats, Offensive Power, Defensive Power, Core Affinity, Physical Ability, Versatility, and Luck, which were all tested and measured in some form or scientific way.

Every explorer was then given Overall Ranks dependent on how much core energy they had. It had become commonplace to judge explorers on the strength of their manifested abilities since they could do so much.

With nothing else interesting to review on her wrist device’s holographic projection, Stella turned it off and got up from the bench with a hop.

“Are you ready to show them who's boss?”

“Yeah! I’ll handle the small guy and you handle the pervert. If need be, let’s flag one of them down early and then turn our attention to the last one.”

“Got it, I’ll jump in first since I have the higher defense.”

The girls gave each other a high five. Just in time since the speakers blared for them the next moment.

“Explorers! You may enter the ring!”

Two gates opened across from each other. Stepping out the combatants’ ears were filled with the chatter of thousands of people. While the stands were not fully packed, a little under half was filled.

Of the spectators, most of them were first year students who recently arrived in Andromeda and were awaiting the day they’d move into the dormitory.

“Hey look, That’s the girl that was on the news.”

“So that’s Stella Von Crimsonia, dang, she’s pretty.”

“Think you got a shot with her, lover boy?”

“I hope so, but maybe I’ll get lucky with the blue haired girl next to her.”

“What? Is she more your type?”

“Yeah, she's cool and cheery, not to mention she looks so mature for her age. I like her style.”

This reaction from the crowd was normal for both Stella and Amanda. They had looks that made boys turn their way but the girls in question felt a bit creeped out by them. For them, it was like a cursed blessing in disguise.

With so many eyes on them, it seemed like there might be more perverts in this school than they thought and both Stella and Amanda gave each other a nod, agreeing to protect one another from such unsavory individuals.

“Hey look, their opponents are here!”

“I don’t recognize them. Are they new students as well?”

“Hold on, let me pull up their info.”

As Itsuki and Ikki made their way to the center of the arena, a few first years in the stands tapped their wrist devices and scrolled through the holo-menu. Each student of the academy could contact each other and know about each other’s public ranking.

“Huh? An F and E rank, against an A and B rank?” The first years sounded besides themselves.

“This is going to be a slaughter.” One of them said.

“Yeah! Those dudes have no chance.”

“Any idea how they fight?

“No, not that I can see from this data. If only the second and above years were here, maybe they would know something.”

“Where are they anyway?”

“Should be coming back from some over break training today, they should’ve been here by now, but it looks like they caught a snag.”

“Too bad for them, guess we’ll sit back and enjoy the show. Betcha the girls will win in less than a minute.”

“I’ll take those odds. How does a hundred bucks sound?”

“Why not make it a thousand! You’ll win anyway, bwahahaha.”

Hearing the joking and sneering that was directed to Ikki and Itsuki, Stella and Amanda smirked. They looked across the few meters of distance they had with them.

“I didn’t know you two had such low stats, are you sure you want to really go through with this? You have no chance at winning.” Stella said harshly, trying to give Ikki and his friend an out.

“I have to.” Ikki firmly stated. “As an aspiring explorer who pushes against adversity, I can’t just back down.”

“Even if you really have no chance?”

“Well, we won’t know until we try. I’m giving it my all, so don’t count me out just because you have higher stats and talent.” Stella frowned a bit. She bit her lip in frustration. To her, it was as if Ikki was telling her that she didn’t put any work into obtaining her current skills as an explorer.

Her time back in her homeland flashed through her eyes.

The number of occasions she cut herself against her own blade in training and the times she went through excruciating pain to adapt to her powers. Then the visage of those who envied her and jealously praised her as a genius, just because she was born with a greater core affinity and a golden spoon in her mouth.

“If only I was born like you, then I could have won. If only I was a noble as well! WHY? WHY CAN’T I BEAT YOU! WHY WASN’T I BORN LIKE YOU!”

The memory soured Stella’s mood and she grimaced. It was like those jealous people were admonishing her very existence, treating her hard work as if it were nothing. A raging emotion welled up in her throat and she quietly spat the words she held deep down.

“I work hard as well, it wasn’t as easy as you think.”

Feeling a pat on her back, Stella looked up to see Amanda give her a look of approval and acceptance. It had only been a day, but Stella could tell that she was trying to cheer her up. Stella heaved a sigh in relief and was glad to have made a friend so soon here in this foreign land.