Chapter 20 – Welcome to S-Class

Chapter 20: The Calm Before the Storm

Alden stepped out of the Virtual Reality Capsule, exhaling deeply as the lingering effects of the simulation clung to his body. His muscles ached, his limbs felt heavier than before, and there was a faint tingling sensation in his fingertips—a side effect of prolonged use of the VR system.

His heartbeat had steadied, but the echoes of battle still thrummed in his veins. The weight of Alicia's blade, the raw pressure of her mana—he could still feel it as if he were still trapped in the simulation.

Rolling his shoulders, he tilted his neck from side to side, hearing a few satisfying cracks.

"At least I'm alive."

The grand auditorium stretched before him, filled with hundreds of students emerging from their capsules. The room was alive with movement and noise—some students were grinning in triumph, while others looked dazed or downright miserable.

Some stood frozen, their bodies trembling from exhaustion. Others sat on the floor, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down their faces. A few unlucky ones vomited into nearby waste bins.

"Guess not everyone handled it well."

Alden stole a glance at Alicia.

She stood a few meters away, arms crossed, looking completely unfazed. Her red hair cascaded down her back, a stark contrast to her piercing golden eyes, which studied the holographic leaderboard with a small, knowing smirk.

He resisted the urge to sigh. Of course, she's fine.

Just then, his smartwatch vibrated on his wrist.

[Final Results Processing…]

Alden inhaled sharply, forcing himself to remain calm.

"This is it."

A moment later, the academy's emblem flashed across the massive holographic screen suspended above the stage.

The room fell silent.

---

The Headmaster's Arrival

Alden's eyes shifted upward, settling on the imposing figure who had just stepped onto the podium.

Headmaster Alistair von Reingarde.

The legend himself.

A man whose very presence commanded the room without a single word.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with silver hair slicked back in a way that only emphasized his chiseled features. His piercing blue eyes carried the weight of authority—cold and sharp, like the edge of a finely honed blade.

Even without activating his status window, Alden knew.

This man was SS-Rank.

A true monster among humans.

As Alistair took his place at the center of the stage, the entire auditorium grew deathly silent.

Then, with a single deep breath, he spoke.

"Congratulations."

His voice was deep, resonant—each syllable carrying through the vast hall without the need for amplification.

"Each and every one of you has successfully passed the entrance exam."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the students. Some sighed in relief, others exchanged excited whispers.

But Alistair wasn't finished.

His cold gaze swept across the room, silencing the chatter instantly.

"However."

The air grew heavier.

"Passing does not mean you are strong. It only means you were deemed worthy enough to train here."

Alden felt a slight chill run down his spine.

"This guy knows how to set the mood."

"From this moment onward, your true journey begins."

Behind him, the massive screen shifted, revealing the final rankings.

---

The Rankings

Alden's eyes scanned the list immediately, searching for his name.

He had calculated everything carefully—his goal had been to land within the top 40. That way, he would qualify for S-Class without drawing too much attention.

Finally, he found it.

Rank 37 – Alden Blackwood (S-Class)

A sharp exhale left his lips.

"I did it."

He had secured S-Class benefits without standing out too much.

Perfect.

But he wasn't the only one looking at the rankings.

Around him, students reacted in different ways.

"Damn, I barely made it to A-Class…"

"I can't believe I ranked 82nd. That's way better than I expected!"

Then—

"Holy shit, look at the top 10!"

"Wait… Alicia von Rosenheim ranked 12th?! I thought she'd be top 5!"

Alden glanced at Alicia again.

Her expression was neutral, but that small smirk on her lips told him she wasn't disappointed at all.

"She held back, huh?"

But then, another name caught his attention.

Rank 5 – Seraphina Everfrost

Alden's gaze shifted toward the silver-haired girl standing near the edge of the crowd.

Seraphina Everfrost.

A girl with piercing ice-blue eyes, her expression cool and unreadable.

Unlike the others, she showed no reaction to the rankings. No excitement, no frustration.

Just calm indifference.

"As expected, she's already that strong."

She was a future powerhouse, a prodigy whose talents were far beyond her current ranking.

And the scary part?

She was only going to get stronger.

---

The Final Announcement

Headmaster Alistair spoke again, reclaiming the room's attention with ease.

"Your smartwatches will now receive your dormitory assignments and additional academy information."

A soft beep echoed through the hall as notifications were sent out.

"You are dismissed for the day. Rest well—classes begin tomorrow."

The moment he finished speaking, students began scattering throughout the auditorium.

Some left immediately, while others stayed behind to discuss the rankings.

Excitement. Anxiety. Determination.

It was all palpable in the air.

Alden glanced down at his smartwatch, tapping the new message.

[New Notification: Dormitory Assignment Received.]

He sighed.

"I survived the exam. Now comes the real challenge."

Because S-Class wasn't just about prestige.

It meant being surrounded by the most talented and ambitious individuals in the academy.

Alicia von Rosenheim.

Seraphina Everfrost.

And a dozen other future monsters.

His goal had been to stay under the radar.

But now, he was about to walk into a den of predators.