The Divine Dragon Accademy

The silver blade in my hand gleamed under the sunlight. Its straight, double-edged design gave it an elegant yet deadly appearance. It was lightweight, allowing me to wield it with ease.

An arming sword—a weapon once common on medieval battlefields, often paired with a shield.

I might need to change it later, but for now, it seemed like the perfect fit.

By the time I joined the group, they had already begun their practice. Following the instructor's commands, they swung their weapons in unison, thrusting into the air with focused precision.

Our instructor for the weaponry class was Yuha Min, a man who had once belonged to a prestigious clan but now led a quieter life as a teacher at the academy.

When he noticed me, his sharp eyes briefly scanned me and my sword before he spoke.

"Not bad," he said with an approving nod. "But if you ever feel like this weapon doesn't suit your style, don't hesitate to switch to something more fitting. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," I replied respectfully.

"Good. Then join the others. Since it's your first class, start by swinging your sword—and don't stop until you're completely exhausted."

Without another word, he turned his attention back to the other students.

Most of them wielded swords, though a few carried spears and axes. Among the group, I spotted one crossbow user and even someone using a pistol

I found a suitable spot and began swinging my sword. At first, it was easy, but as time passed, my arms started to ache, my muscles burning with fatigue. My movements slowed, each swing heavier than the last. My breath came in ragged gasps, but I kept pushing forward.

There was no point in complaining. I needed to get stronger—no matter what it took.

Our next class focused on the fundamentals of Qi cultivation.

For me, it was far easier than the weaponry lesson. I already knew the principles of cultivation through the novels I had read. Since they were only covering the basics, I picked it up quickly.

After the final class, students were free to do as they pleased. Some returned to their rooms, while others explored the academy grounds.

Since it was my first day, I decided to take a look around before heading to my dormitory.

The massive academy was divided into different sections. The teachers' staff room stood near the principal's office. Silver and Gold Classrooms were positioned side by side, while the Elite Section was separated from them.

After wandering for a while, I found what I was looking for—the library.

It was tucked away in a quiet corner of the academy, likely because only a few students visited it.

When I stepped inside, the place was almost empty. The only person present was a middle-aged woman, the librarian, who glanced at me briefly before returning to her work.

After greeting her, I searched for the books I needed. Since they were organized alphabetically, I found them faster than expected.

After registering them under my name, the librarian handed them over to me.

I glanced at the books before walking away.

"Types of Monsters That Appear in Dungeons"

"Geographical Studies of Dungeons"

Before joining the academy, I had planned to focus on martial arts.

But now, everything had changed.

There was no time to progress slowly—I needed to grow as fast as possible.

Raiding dungeons seemed like the best way to achieve that. Not only would it speed up my cultivation, but if I was lucky, I might even acquire A-rank or even S-rank skills.

Before the next major event, I needed to reach Qi Stage Five at the very least.

Each breakthrough slowed my progress significantly. It was like leveling up in a game—each stage required more experience than the last.

Finding the dormitory was easier than I had expected.

Elite-class students had separate dorms, far more luxurious than those of other students.

The male and female dormitories were also divided into different sections for privacy.

I checked my academy-issued ID card.

Room No. 26.

The area was eerily quiet. Unlike the standard dorms, where rooms were packed closely together, each Elite-class room was spaced apart, offering more privacy.

The door was made of high-quality wood, but instead of a regular handle, it had an electronic scanner. When I pressed my card against it, the door clicked open automatically.

What the…?

For a moment, I was stunned.

The sheer size of the room was beyond anything I had expected. As I stepped inside, the door automatically shut behind me.

A massive bed sat at the end of the room, big enough to fit at least four or five people. The mattress was unbelievably soft, likely infused with life-force materials. To the left was an enormous wardrobe, already stocked with my clothes.

A small sofa set and a study table occupied one corner, while the walls were adorned with intricate paintings of mythical creatures such as dragons and phoenixes.

But what caught my attention the most was the small private training room.

Gleaming spirit gems embedded in the walls pulsed faintly, reinforcing the entire space with Qi-absorbing formations to reduce damage. The very air inside crackled with energy.

Even the bathroom was extravagant—its polished stone walls gleamed like crystal

How the hell are they providing all of this for free?

Knock… knock…

A sudden knock at my door snapped me out of my thoughts.

I opened it—only to find no one outside.

My eyes immediately darted to the ground, where a small piece of folded paper lay.

I picked it up and read the message.

"We know who you are. We are not your enemies. Let's meet tonight outside the dorm at 11:30."

—Nathan Daniel

Do they think I'm stupid?

Without hesitation, I crushed the letter and tossed it into the waste bin.

With a sigh, I closed the door, unaware that a shadowy figure had been watching me the entire time. As the door clicked shut, the figure silently retreated into the darkness.