The Path To Sucess

Kailan was shivering from the cold, something that hadn't happened in a long time. He had just woken up, the first signs of dawn came through the gaps in the curtains that covered the half-open windows in the wall of his luxurious room, slightly illuminating some parts of the place.

He was covered in snow-white sheets, but he almost never wore blankets when he slept. He didn't need to, as he had pride and confidence in his own natural resilience, developed by the countless years of training he'd gone through — after all, he was raised in a strange way, having lived a miserable life but trying as hard as he could to become strong —, but now, if he hadn't put those sheets over him, he would surely have been cold all night.

"Uhhh", he groaned in exhaustion.

He was weakened, Kailan had returned to the past in his younger self. All of his power developed by the rigid training routine and the countless battles he had fought on his journey was gone. In exchange for that, he was given a second chance to live, a second chance to redo all his decisions and become someone truly worthy.

This was certainly a sign of change, after all, he inhabited a world ravaged by chaos and war between races scattered in different regions of the planet. But at the time he was now, the war hadn't reached its worst stage yet, so he had plenty of time to get stronger and kill the bastards that would cause various tragedies for everyone.

He was still half asleep and lying on a bed positioned in the farthest corner of the room, making some strange noises as if he was emitting a series of thunder from his mouth.

''Gru Hh''

Kailan grunted and sat up, rubbing his palms over his tired eyes; years of military training woke him up the same moment he felt that strange breeze touch his body.

He pulled back the white cloths that covered him and turned to his side, vociferating a yawn that lasted an eternity. His normally disheveled hair was messier than ever, spread like dry straw over his head and forehead.

He went to the bathroom quickly, muttering to himself as he showered so he wouldn't stink. When he finished, he drank some of the water that was in a bottle brought by the employees of the place some time ago.

Feeling refreshed after his hot shower, he roughly dried his damp, mussed hair. But the wooden comb failed to tame his locks despite his many efforts, so he gave up and left his hair as it was. As soon as he did it, he looked at the three clothing options that had been handed to him by a maid, and that were folded on top of the bed.

"Um..." he thought, rubbing his chin as if he were seriously considering the matter. Then he snapped his fingers and pointed in the direction of the outfit he'd chosen.

Kailan checked his appearance in the exquisitely decorated mirror in the corner of the room; a delicate young face with thin cheeks stared at him intently.

His cheeks were thin and his eyes were motionless – as if they were lifeless, and even though he'd just taken a relaxing bath in that luxurious place, his skin remained as pale as a vampire's. His dull-colored black hair also added to the impression of his weak appearance, making him look extremely fragile.

''To think I'd go back to this shitty time.''

He frowned as he said this, his gaze shifting from his face and hair to his light brown irises that looked from the mirror at him in depth. His eyes, though deep-set, were droopy and looked extremely tired, covered around by huge dark circles.

''Well, it's better than nothing. But this time I need to make sure I do the right things.''

He said stepping out of the front of the mirror and seeing the lush Dashner forest stretching vastly out the window of the room he was housed in. Kailan, who found the view very beautiful, leaned toward the window, the exotic scenery drawing him in like a mosquito after blood.

There were huge trees that covered the whole place, stones and granite stones scattered through the forest and several people crowded at the entrance, making it look like a photo that would be used in tourist postcards.

Normally before, such a place would be completely devastated due to the aftermath of the war having worsened. But there was the forest, intact and well cared for, with its beautiful green spreading through the place with a few houses and buildings built here and there.

''Maybe in the future, I'll take a walk around this area.''

It was a splendid sight, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

As Kailan watched the forest, a loud knock on the bedroom door startled him. He shuddered and nearly fell out of the window he was leaning against. Meanwhile, more knocks on the door came, this time with more force and speed than the first one.

''Who's there?''

Kailan asked, glancing at the door as he ran towards it and put his hand around the knob.

"We are soldiers and we were sent from the academy. We came to pick you up to take you to the place where the admission tests will be held. So if you don't want to miss the opportunity, please open that door now'', a hoarse, husky voice came from outside the door, a tone of irritation could be felt on that line.

As soon as Kailan heard the man speak, he quickly turned the door handle, opening it so he could speak to that person's face to face. At the same moment, he opened the bedroom door, in front of him was a large, muscular man, somewhat brusque and clearly older than Kailan. He wore an old-fashioned military uniform, looking at Kailan who was craning his neck so he could see the man's face. There were several medals on his clothes, accompanied by a white cloth with golden tips that covered his right arm.

"Is there a problem?", the older man asked.

Kailan was smaller than the burly man, but he wasn't intimidated by the veteran in any way. He had already dealt with situations and people far worse than that soldier in front of him.

The man sighed at the lack of an answer to his question, studying Kailan from head to toe at a surprising speed.

''Young man, it's time for us to go, so follow me to the transport. He's waiting for us downstairs, so we can't take any longer than that.''

"Okay, no problem.", Kailan replied, closing the door behind him and realizing that the soldier was still looking attentively at him. The older man's bushy gray brows were drawn together, as if they were furry insects trying to mate.

A soldier… It had been so long since Kailan had seen a military man worthy of respect, but he still liked to think that one day he would find someone who met the requirements. That man in front of him seemed to be someone serious, and focused on his work, not getting distracted by anything. It made him feel better, somehow safer than before.

Due to the tense situation, all the races were in, almost as if they were putting a knife to each other's throats; a war worse than the current one was predicted and it was surely only a matter of time before it broke out. Therefore, after the first demonic wave spread across the entire planet, all individuals who turned 16 were required to participate in the Draco-merlin academy admission tests, and if they passed they would be trained for a few years. While not all of them passed this selection, they were sent to a less respectable military school and trained for the same amount of time as the Draco-merlin students.

The rulers of the races that were part of the alliance of harmony knew that demons and their collaborators could not be trusted, as they only worshiped violence. Their insatiable hunger for slaughter and power and their desire to control the world would soon overwhelm them once again, driving them to declare war on the world on a colossal level.

No one knew how many victims were predicted to die in this future war.

But Kailan knew all too well the catastrophe that would unfold, with the near extinction of all races and the disappearance of entire cities and kingdoms in his previous attempt.

Upon leaving the building he was staying in, he was greeted by sunlight from the outside world and some disgusted looks from the well-dressed people who surrounded the place in droves.

The walk to the transport vehicle was hurried as the soldier had told him to do, each step weakening his resolve to have a good day. Looking at the huddle of magnificent houses and buildings that made up the place where they stood — all made of the finest materials, like marble of the most expensive kind, minerals, and rare stones, and even some things Kailan had no idea what they were —, was one of the reasons his happiness was fading away.

It was impossible for Kailan to walk past the fancy houses and people without remembering the days when he lived in a big city with his family and friends, when his life was prosperous and full of promise. Mildred's beaming smile came to his mind, making him want to continue.

''Huff, Huff...''

His body couldn't keep up with the pace he was walking, so he was panting, seeming to be slower than before. He felt like he had struggled for hours and wanted to stop and rest. But he couldn't do that, and there was nothing he could do about it at the moment.

But just as he felt these strange sensations spreading through his body, a strange sound rang out in his mind. A new reddish-colored notification screen popped up in front of his eyes.

[User perseveres in the face of fatigue and pain]

[Your resistance has increased]

Kailan's dark mood lifted as soon as he saw the notification screen that floated before his eyes. Contrary to what he expected, who would receive a debuff for taking his body over the limit, he received a reward. That message gave him more courage and impetus to keep going, as the notification showed that his efforts were paying off.

''Walk faster boy! Or do you want to stay behind?!'' the soldier yelled, turning around and noticing Kailan moving slowly.

Kailan reached the transport vehicle, the Sterin, a magically powered object that looked like a large school bus, parked alongside the luxurious neighborhood apartments and houses that surrounded it.

Nonstop whirring of gears and a few metallic clicks came from the flying device.

He clumsily climbed aboard the Sterin, taking little shoves from the soldier to get him in faster. He looked around and noticed that it was already full of other candidates who must have been the same age as him (in this case, the same age as this body). Everyone had different looks on their faces, from fear and anxiety to happiness and confidence.

It was a nonstop mess, made of countless noises. Some people even bit their nails in nervousness, and some blood dripped from their hands as they ripped bits of skin off their fingertips.

He scrutinized all the people at the Sterin and realized he had no idea who they were. This meant he didn't have to worry as much as he thought, as the talented individuals weren't put in the same testing pool as him.

He felt relieved, opting to sit in the back seat of the vehicle and letting out a long sigh as he leaned back in the seat that was kind of hard. With these people, he had a good chance of passing the admission test, even if his physical condition was not good at all.

Some mumbling and loud conversational sounds could be heard from the other candidates, who were talking to each other, but that stopped when the soldier and Kailan got into the Sterin.

People sat neatly in their seats, and the screeching of the machine became even more audible, with a few odd jolts that occurred every now and then.

"It's going to be a long trip." Kailan commented with a smile on his face, as he looked into the eyes of the soldier responsible for managing that test group he was in.

--***---***---***---***--

After a while, Kailan and the others felt a strange magical energy suddenly spreading through the vehicle. This woke up those who were dozing and put those already awake on alert. The only thing they could see with their eyes was the soldier from before who was surrounded by other soldiers.

Kailan and several of the other candidates looked around, trying to understand what was going on, but were told to get out of the Sterin by the military who were there. As they left, they were greeted with a huge stream of unknown candidates spread out in an open field covered by some giant trees.

Many people chatted in the background, while others had minor panic or anxiety attacks.

For everyone there, that place was strange and unfamiliar, and therefore they wondered where they were and what was the purpose of being taken there. But for Kailan, it was normal, he'd been through this in the past, so he just lifted his head to look around the place.

'It continues the way I remember it.'

"For those who are confused, we brought you into this open field for a few reasons. One is so you can demonstrate your skills and techniques without thinking about destroying anything.'' The soldier who had accompanied Kailan and the other candidates in the Sterin explained to the people present about the situation they were in.

A strange-looking badge hung above the chest region of his uniform, with the name 'Sergeant First Class Huroi' written on it.

''Your performance here will decide the course of the next two years of your life. So I suggest you do your best, or you will almost certainly regret it in the future."

The green plain stretched out almost indefinitely, but it wasn't the only thing people could see. There was a rounded white building supported by huge circular pillars in front of them. The building was made of bricks coated with mortar and sand, and had a strange, shiny coating that reminded Kailan of travertine. This was a damn coliseum, similar to the ones Kailan remembered studying in Earth history books. The building was at least 40 meters or more, leaving many of the candidates gaping at the sight.

A few semi-translucent symbols floated throughout the area and were almost completely centered around the building. They were splendid spells of a level that many people never imagined they would see in their lives. In addition, many people dressed in military garb similar to Sergeant Huroi's, wandered around the region nonstop, probably managing and assisting the other groups of candidates who were dispersed across the grassland.

Some strange-looking noisy technologies and machines could also be seen being operated by other people. That was a really impressive place.

''This is just the beginning of your journeys, so don't think this is impressive, when it's just an extremely simple and quiet thing compared to the academy. Those who are able to pass the test will surely be amazed at the sight and things the academy has to offer for them'', said Huroi, snapping everyone out of the trance they were trapped in.

''Well, if you want to achieve something in life, follow me. Let's start testing now to see who is worthy of receiving the academy's teachings and resources." Huroi said with a smile plastered on his face, making some people scared and others even more nervous than before.

'May luck be with me' Kailan thought, as he nodded to Huroi's lines and followed him to the huge coliseum.