Chapter 4 - Academy Life

Ezie had another dream—but this time, it wasn't about losing Hana. In the darkness of his mind, he saw a different world, a world before everything was destroyed. A city illuminated by towering skyscrapers, streets filled with people living their normal lives.

But in an instant, everything changed. The sky cracked open as if torn apart by an invisible force. From the rift, horrifying creatures emerged, trampling the earth with indescribable ferocity. People screamed, running for their lives, but it was futile—in mere seconds, the beautiful city turned into a nightmare.

Amid the chaos, a brilliant light appeared in the sky. It was not just any light, but the embodiment of humanity's last hope—born from destruction, destined to conquer the gates that had claimed countless lives.

Before Ezie could grasp the meaning of it all, the sound of an alarm jolted him awake.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Ezie's eyes snapped open. His vision blurred momentarily before focusing. He found himself lying on the top bunk of a bed in the Gatez Academy dormitory.

"That dream again."

The morning alarm had sounded, signaling that all trainees had to prepare for the day.

With reflexive movements, Ezie got up and jumped down from his bed. His feet touched the cold floor, a reminder that he was still in the real world. Wasting no time, he grabbed his towel and headed to the bathroom, which was already crowded with his fellow trainees.

After freshening up, he walked to his locker, marked with the number 500—the last rank in Group 4. That number signified his position as the weakest in his group.

However, that didn't mean he was truly the weakest. There were still hundreds of trainees ranked below him in Groups 5 and beyond.

After putting on his trainee uniform—gray in color, with the Gatez logo on his chest and a small emblem on his left sleeve—he stepped out toward the academy cafeteria.

---

When Ezie arrived at the cafeteria, it was already bustling with activity. The massive hall was divided into several sections based on ranking groups. The higher one's rank, the better the facilities they received.

He grabbed a tray and filled it with the standard trainee meal: whole wheat bread, a boiled egg, some vegetables, and a glass of milk.

It was a clear indication that Gatez strictly maintained the quality of their academy and the growth of its trainees.

As Ezie searched for a seat, someone patted his shoulder.

"Oi, sit with me, loser 500!"

Ezie turned to see a blond-haired young man with a wide grin—Cylez, ranked 499 in Group 4.

They shared the same dorm room, with Ezie sleeping on the top bunk and Cylez on the bottom.

"Listen, the two of us are basically the same, just one rank apart," Cylez laughed. "But still, I'm ranked higher than you! Hahaha!"

Ezie glanced at him briefly before sitting down.

"Hilarious." He muttered in a monotone voice.

"Heh, at least I'm trying to lighten the mood, Ezie," Cylez replied, still smiling.

As they ate, Cylez started talking about the academy.

"You know? There are four main groups in this academy. Group 1 is the strongest—they're monsters. Groups 2 and 3 are talented but not perfect, while we in Group 4 are just considered 'maybe useful, maybe not.' As for Groups 5 through 8, I couldn't care less about them, haha!" He explained between bites of food.

Ezie simply listened in silence.

"Do you know why I joined this academy?" Cylez continued.

He then shared his past. Cylez was a foreigner, not from this land. When the gate catastrophe occurred, his family vanished, his home was destroyed, and everything he knew was wiped out overnight.

"I have no one left," he said quietly. "So I chose to join Gatez. At least here, I have a purpose. I don't want to die meaninglessly."

Ezie remained silent. He understood that feeling more than anyone.

As they continued talking, the atmosphere in the cafeteria suddenly shifted. All eyes turned toward the entrance as three individuals with an overwhelming presence walked in.

They were Leon, Reyna, and Drax—the Top 3 of Group 1.

The Top 3 was a title given by the academy due to the immense gap in power between them and the others.

Leon, the leader of Group 1. A short-haired man with sharp eyes, known as "The Immovable Spear," for never retreating in battle.

Reyna, the second-ranked. A silver-haired girl with a cold expression, known as "The Ice Queen," whose strategic brilliance made her nearly unbeatable.

Drax, the third-ranked. A towering man with a sinister grin, nicknamed "The Berserker," who relished combat more than anything.

They were living legends in the academy. Every step they took was met with admiration.

But unlike most people, Ezie wasn't interested at all.

---

As they continued eating, the tension in the cafeteria rose again when a large-built man approached their table.

Benz, the leader of Group 4, stood over them with a condescending expression.

"Move, losers," he said coldly.

"Benz?!" Cylez gasped.

Cylez quickly stood up, knowing he had no choice but to yield. But Ezie remained seated, completely unfazed.

"?!"

Feeling disrespected, Benz grabbed Ezie's collar and lifted him off the ground.

"Do you have a problem with me?" he growled, trying to assert dominance.

The crowd whispered among themselves.

But without fear, Ezie simply looked into his eyes and said in a flat tone:

"You're the leader of Group 4, right? Shouldn't you know how to ask for a seat politely?"

Benz's face turned red with anger. Without thinking, he threw Ezie to the ground and dumped the remainder of his food over his head.

The entire cafeteria fell silent.

"Ezie, are you okay?!"

Cylez rushed to help Ezie, but Ezie raised a hand, signaling that he was fine.

"How cruel." Murmurs echoed through the crowd.

But what shocked everyone the most was Ezie's reaction—he remained silent. Without a word of complaint, he simply stood up, dusted off his uniform, and walked away.

Benz felt humiliated—not because of resistance, but because of Ezie's complete indifference, as if he didn't even exist.

"That brat… how dare he ignore me."

---

That evening, after training ended, the academy was thrown into an uproar.

Benz was found collapsed in the restroom—beaten into a critical state.

His body was covered in bruises, as if he had been ruthlessly assaulted by something unseen.

Even stranger—there were no signs of a struggle.

The CCTV footage showed nothing unusual. No one was seen entering or leaving before Benz was discovered.

Whispers spread through the academy, speculating who could have done such a thing without leaving a trace.

And more importantly—what really happened?

Ezie sat on his bed, staring at his fingers, still slightly stained with blood.

Deep inside, he knew one thing.

Tonight, he had sent a message to the entire academy.

That he was more than just rank 500.