Rewards[1]
The tournament had finally ended, and I stood in a massive green-and-white hall, feeling both exhausted and excited. In front of me was an advanced-looking door, sleek and metallic, reflecting the glowing lights from above. The futuristic design of the hallway gave it an almost surreal look, like something out of a sci-fi movie. Standing beside me was Nick, the student who had secured second place in the tournament. He was taller than me, with dark brown hair and sharp features. His arms were crossed as he stared at the door in front of us, deep in thought.
Walking ahead of us was an old professor, dressed in a neatly tucked white shirt and black pants. He had gray hair that was combed back, and despite his age, his movements were precise and full of authority. Without saying a word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a glowing blue card. With a smooth motion, he inserted it into a scanner beside the door. Instantly, a soft beep echoed through the hall, and the door slid open silently, revealing a massive room inside.
As we stepped in, I couldn't help but widen my eyes in amazement. The room was enormous, at least the size of a football field, but what caught my attention was the sheer number of floating holographic screens displaying different skills. These holograms were organized into sections, each one glowing with different colors—red for Attack, blue for Defense, and green for Neutral.
The old professor tapped on the central hologram, which displayed a massive title in glowing letters: "E-RANK SKILLS." The moment he did that, the entire room responded—every single floating hologram shifted and reorganized, and soon, all of them displayed E-rank skills in bright, moving text.
"You may choose one skill," the professor finally spoke. His voice was deep and authoritative. "There are 1,022 E-rank skills available, categorized into three types: Attack, Defense, and Neutral. Choose wisely, as this will affect your future progression." He paused for a second before adding, "I'll be waiting outside."
With that, he turned around and exited the room, leaving me and Nick alone.
For a brief moment, Nick and I exchanged glances, both of us gauging what the other might pick. He smirked slightly and then walked towards the Attack section, while I turned and headed towards the Neutral section.
I knew exactly what I wanted—a skill that I could upgrade.
As I walked through the green-glowing Neutral section, I scanned through the various skill names. Some caught my eye:
Mana Precision – Improves the control and accuracy of mana-based attacks.
Combat Trait – Grants an instinctive understanding of battle movements.
Fire Resistance – Provides slight resistance against fire-based attacks.
Meditative Focus – Enhances concentration and mental clarity.
But none of these seemed special enough.
Then, tucked away in the far-left corner, I saw something that made my heart race.
Healing Self.
I immediately tapped the hologram, and the details appeared before me:
> Healing Self (E-rank): Allows the user to heal minor injuries. Ineffective for major wounds.
A grin formed on my face. If I can upgrade this… it could become a godlike skill. Without hesitation, I pressed the red selection button below the hologram. Suddenly, a heavy book made of stone appeared before me, floating in mid-air.
As soon as I opened it, my vision blurred, and I felt a sudden weakness wash over my body. My legs buckled, and I collapsed to the floor. My head was spinning, my heartbeat slowing—it felt like all my energy was being drained from me.
Then, just as suddenly as it started, my energy returned.
I felt stronger.
I quickly checked my profile on my device:
Name: Artic
Rank: E
Skills:
1. Heaven's Contract (Godlike Skill)
2. Healing Self (E-rank)
I clenched my fists. Perfect.
As I walked toward the exit, I saw Nick still looking at different Attack skills. I was curious about what he would pick, so I slowed down, pretending to adjust my wristband. He seemed deep in thought, his fingers hovering over multiple holograms.
Then, after a moment, he pressed a button, and a book appeared before him. He grabbed it, and his body trembled slightly—just like what had happened to me. I saw him check his profile, and then he grinned.
"What did you pick?" I asked casually.
He smirked. "Shadow Blade. It lets me create a dagger made of pure darkness. Silent, deadly, and sharp enough to cut through steel."
A dark-type skill, huh? Interesting.
We walked outside, where the professor was waiting. He looked at both of us, nodding approvingly. "Good. You have made your choices," he said. With a flick of his fingers, the door behind us sealed shut.
After exchanging quick goodbyes with Nick, I returned to my dorm.
---
Since all first-year students were given a one-week holiday after the tournament, I knew exactly what I needed to do—visit Silia.
There were two reasons for this:
1. To ask her about my newly acquired skill and see if she could upgrade it.
2. To figure out the strange silver-transparent stone I had retrieved from the dungeon boss. I had forgotten to report it to the professors, but something about it intrigued me.
After packing my things, I walked to the bus stop.
I didn't have to wait long—after ten minutes, a bus approached. But this wasn't a normal bus.
It had no tires.
Instead, it floated a few inches above the ground, moving smoothly and silently. It had a sleek, metallic exterior with glowing blue lines running along its sides. Instead of a regular driver's seat, the front was controlled by an AI system, displaying routes and speed in holographic text.
I stared at it in awe. Damn… technology is amazing in just a few years is this because of mana.
Stepping inside, I noticed that the bus had nearly 200 seats, arranged in a luxurious, spacious manner. The seats were self-adjusting, designed to provide maximum comfort. A soft voice from the speaker welcomed passengers:
> "Welcome aboard the Skyline Transit X-9. Please take your seat and enjoy the ride."
I handed the bus fare to a staff member wearing a sleek black uniform, then took a window seat.
The moment the doors sealed shut, the bus accelerated instantly. Unlike regular vehicles, there was no jolting movement—just a smooth glide as we soared above the roads, speeding toward my destination.
Within just five minutes, I arrived home.
As I stepped out, I immediately sensed her presence.
Standing near the entrance of my house was Silia—in her usual human female form. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, and her golden eyes shimmered in the afternoon sunlight.
She smiled as I approached.
"Welcome back, Artic. I was expecting you."