Ceremony (1)

Status.

[Status Window Prompt Detected.]

My improved stats were revealed.

Name: Desmond Slick

Rank: E-

Strength: F+

Dexterity: D

Intelligence: C

Charisma: SS

Endurance: E

Not bad, I guess. A slow but steady climb. My endurance still needed work, but at least I wasn't completely fragile anymore. My dexterity and intelligence had improved as well, making me more adaptable. My charisma, though... Still an anomaly. SS-tier. A gift and a curse, depending on how I used it.

Okay, time to exit the training simulation.

The world around me warped, flickering between streams of code and reality until I found myself back in my dorm room. The sterile lights above buzzed softly as I sat up, rolling my shoulders. My muscles still ached from the constant training, but at least I was adjusting to the pace.

Tomorrow was the ceremony. The first official day of Stone Academy. Where the rankings would be finalized. Where the main cast of Ascend Through Darkness would finally step into the spotlight. And where for the first time, I would be in close proximity to now.

I exhaled. No need to overthink it. I just needed to lay low, observe, and adapt. Just like always.

Pulling the sheets over me, I shut my eyes.

A piercing alarm drilled into my skull.

"Eughh, switch it off!" I groaned, clutching my head as my Chip's built-in alarm system blared through my consciousness.

[Wake-Up Protocol Engaged. Time Until Ceremony: 1 Hour.]

"I get it! I get it! Shut up!"

The noise cut off instantly, leaving a dull ringing in its place. Rubbing my temples, I swung my legs over the bed and stood up. The dorm's auto-lights adjusted to my movement, dimly illuminating the room. I caught my reflection in the mirror—tired eyes, messy hair, but beneath that, a sharper focus than before.

I had work to do today.

I threw on my uniform, a sleek black-and-silver ensemble that marked me as a first-year. The academy spared no expense in making sure students looked the part. Functional, yet professional. A perfect blend of prestige and modernity.

Grabbing my data pad, I flicked through the schedule for the day. The ceremony would take place in the main auditorium, where all first-years would be assigned to their official classes. The assessment was based on various factors—chip potential, raw ability, combat performance. Some had their fates determined by lineage alone.

I already knew where I was going.

Class 1-A.

The top class. Home to nobles, prodigies, and future legends.

And, somehow, me.

The reason? My Phantom Charm chip.

I know for a fact that whoever oversaw my test knows about this Chip.

Imagine how they would react now that I have two powerful Chips in me.

I took a deep breath, stuffing the data pad into my pocket before stepping out into the hall. Students flooded the corridors, some nervous, some excited, all dressed in identical uniforms. Their conversations blended into a sea of noise.

I kept my head down and moved with the crowd, slipping through unnoticed. Just the way I liked it.

The academy's sleek, futuristic design never failed to impress. Transparent digital screens hovered along the walls, displaying maps, event schedules, and real-time rankings. Small drone assistants zipped through the air, maintaining the facility's pristine condition.

Eventually, I reached the main auditorium. A colossal, dome-shaped structure with towering holographic banners displaying the academy's emblem. Students streamed inside, taking their seats in the vast, amphitheater-style arena.

I found a spot near the edge, away from the main clusters. From here, I could observe without drawing attention.

The lights dimmed. A low hum reverberated through the auditorium as a massive holographic display lit up the stage. An AI-generated figure materialized—Stone Academy's virtual assistant, Oracle.

[Welcome, First-Years.]

The room fell silent as the AI's voice echoed through the space.

[Today marks the official beginning of your journey at Stone Academy. You have been assessed based on your abilities, potential, and performance during the preliminary trials. Now, your official class assignments will be displayed.]

The digital leaderboard flickered to life, revealing a massive screen. It began to show students' names alongside their assigned classes.

Leaderboard:

Evelyn Nightshade – Rank 1

Adrian Cross – Rank 2

Leon Vale – Rank 3

Seraphine Ashford – Rank 4

Zane Thorin – Rank 5

Sophia Everglade – Rank 6

Valentina Ashcroft – Rank 7

Hector Blackwood – Rank 8

Marcus Dune – Rank 9

Luca Stratos – Rank 10...

50. Desmond Slick – Rank 50...

Edward Locati – Rank 70...

Jasper Thorn – Rank 3000

The whispers started immediately.

"Who is Desmond Slick?"

"I don't recognize the name. Must be a commoner."

"Is this a mistake? How did someone like him get into Class 1-A?"

"His parents run Slick Enterprises. They're not nobles though, so I don't know how he is even here."

The voices were sharp, cutting through the air, like daggers thrown at me from every direction.

I stayed still, my face blank.

I couldn't let them see how much it irritated me.

It was exactly why I'd stayed low-key. Why I had kept to myself ever since I got here.

People didn't know me. They didn't know my family, my background, or the reason why I was here.

But that was fine.

I didn't need their validation. I didn't need to explain myself to anyone.

But they kept questioning. They couldn't understand how someone like me—a commoner—could make it to the top.

Desmond Slick. I wasn't part of any noble family. I hadn't grown up in the academy's elite circles. I wasn't related to any of the people who had made a name for themselves here.

I was just a regular kid with a chip.

And now, somehow, I was in the top class.

I let them talk.

Let them speculate.

None of it mattered.

I was here now. And my Phantom Charm chip was why.

The rest of the names flashed by, but the murmurs about me didn't stop. Everyone in Class 1-A came from prestigious backgrounds, heirs of noble houses, prodigies who had inherited their power or potential from long and storied bloodlines.

And then there was me.

Rank 50.

I wasn't a noble. I wasn't a prodigy.

But the Phantom Charm chip had secured my place in the elite ranks.

The ceremony continued, but my mind was preoccupied. I stayed where I was, watching the elites of the academy exchange glances, whispering among themselves about their spots, trying to figure out who was who.

I wasn't sure how I would fit into this world of the famous and powerful. But I knew one thing: I wasn't going to let it stop me.

In the back of the room, I caught a glimpse of Edward Locati, ranked 70.

He didn't stand out now, but I knew better than to underestimate him. Like me, he wasn't quite there yet. But he had potential. I could see it in his eyes.

Edward wasn't part of the main cast yet. Not now. But one day, he would be. He would rise, just like me. And maybe, just maybe, he would take the lead.

As I stood there, surrounded by murmurs, I realized something.

No one knew my name.

But that wouldn't last forever.