This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, organizations, and settings depicted are entirely fictional and created for storytelling purposes.
-Chapter 3: Entrance-
Yosen High,
Special Class. Second Orientation.
"All the theories and whatnots have been taught in your previous degrees. Though it's called a college, that's what it is on the surface."
"Combat experience. Practical knowledge is what you need to combat monsters. Sure. I wouldn't put theoretical knowledge aside. But what's that got to do when you're in a hopeless situation?"
"Monsters don't care how much you've studied. Theory alone won't save your life. Yosen's curriculum is about these, and by the time you enter your third year, you'd be classified as a full-fledged awakened, so buckle your belts."
The female instructor delivering this speech was the woman who had entered the class.
And apparently, much their horror, she was their instructor.
She spoke with a particular harsh tone, calling all of them kids, inexperienced and all sorts of words, making those who relatively come from big house scowl at her statement.
Particularly, one of them had stood up to her:
"How dare a mere instructor speak to us like that? The money we pay feeds this school!"
In response to that, the sterned female instructor had simply raised her eyebrow and literally kicked him out the class, sending him to detention on the spot.
Which is now why most of them could only silently watch as she continued on and on.
"As we all know, ever since humanity awakened. We humans had gained power, be it Entropy which leads to magic, Supernatural Abilities, or some other methods."
"Of course, this doesn't extend only to this stage, it goes further beyond that, even to the point of genetically changing humans."
Saying that, she glanced over to a hulking male with feral wild hair, who sat on his seat, crossing his arms together.
"Naturally, even after many years of study, scientist haven't still found the cause of this genetical change, but it's well known that the possibilities of Supernatural Abilities, or Entropy are endless."
She snapped her finger as flames lit up in her right hand, burning wildly before she extinguished it by clenching her right hand into a fist.
"Which includes, yes. Evolution."
She began to prance up and down, her boots clicking against the floor as she spoke.
"The movement from one rank to the next isn't just a feeling of getting stronger or that your supernatural ability has simply improved."
She shook her head.
"You're not just experiencing growth, you're experiencing evolution. And as I said, it has been proven so."
From Awakened, to Enlightened, to Enlightened–Above, and finally, to True Awakened.
The gap between each of these ranks wasn't meager. It wasn't something that could simply be crossed through sheer perseverance or training alone.
Everything is different. The powers are different. The point of origin is different.
And ultimately, "The only factor in winning depends on how strong a person's supernatural ability is."
Supernatural Abilities didn't confound with common sense.
However, it was also one of the deciding factors of how strong someone could become.
So, even then, one would have a tough chance trying to win against someone significantly above them.
Hence, why they were here.
Special Class.
At the very least, most of the students here were those who had been judged worthy of this class.
Those who, with their combat prowess and Entropy combined, had warranted the qualifications of entering this class.
"But of course, there's something called "development."
"For students in the A class and below, it doesn't mean they too can't catch up. Particularly a Student of the A class the school particularly has eyes on."
"Slack off and one of you would be demoted."
"You all aren't officially acknowledged by the Affiliate yet, hence you're still students, even the best of you should be at best the Enlightened Class. So, don't let it get to your head."
She said, particularly her last words, they were pointing over to some sets of people.
In fact, most of the Special Class knew already.
The Creed Brothers.
However, the people who her last words were pointing to didn't take her words for it.
Particularly Shane, who closed his eyes, stifling a chuckle that threatened to escape his lips.
Even the almighty ranks were divided into sub-ranks except the True Awakened Rank.
Awakened Rank encompasses the ranks from F-rank to D-rank. These types of rankings were only used in unofficial settings.
The official setting was mostly called Low-Ranked Awakened to High-Ranked Awakened.
Because of certain prejudice from Awakened individual's side, this setting was implemented rather than using the letter system.
For the Enlightened rank, on the other hand, the official recognition for them is the First Class Enlightened and Second Class Enlightened.
From there, it just depends on whether they're at the peak of their class, which would make one refer to them as either a High-ranked Second Class Enlightened or Low-ranked Second Class Enlightened.
Finally, there is the Enlightened Above and True Awakened.
The unofficial ranking for them would be the A-rank and S-rank, respectively.
In all, the ranks were decrypted as such:
True Awakened (S-rank). Enlightened Above (A-rank).
First Class Enlightened (B-rank). Second Class Enlightened (C-rank).
High-Ranked Awakened (D-rank). Mid-Ranked Awakened (E-rank).
Low-Ranked Awakened (F-rank).
"Fuuu."
The woman exhaled before reaching out to her breast pocket, picking out a cigarette from the pack, lighting it up with her flames, smoking it before huffing it out.
"Now then, let's get this introduction started. While I've indeed seen your files. The rest is yet to know who you are, so might as well introduce yourself."
Saying that, the woman paused, her gaze directing to the ceiling in a daze for a moment, before she snapped back to.
"Well, I guess I have to introduce myself first, no?"
"My name is Celeste Blackwood…. Let's see…. Yes. I'm also an Enlightened Above Awakener. I'll be the one responsible for your upcoming three years. I hope you don't disappoint."
She'd said that with an extremely condescending gaze, as though to look down on the students.
But it seemed like no student was ready to speak out first.
And even if they didn't introduce themselves, it meant less work for her, which was also good.
Celeste slowly looked around the class. It was just like she had seen in their files.
To the left was a platinum-haired girl, with a delicate face and a well-proportioned body that suited her perfectly as a swordsman.
This was further coupled with the distinctive features of someone from the east.
'If I'm not mistaken, that's the Tendou girl.'
Unlike other Awakened Families, they were the only family that passed down a certain ability from generation to generation—one that had existed since their first generation Awakener.
'Interesting.'
The next person her eyes fell on was a male, sitting two rows behind the 'Tendou girl.'
A burly male for his age, with wild hair that fell to his shoulders, and beast-like facial features—a result of genetic mutation.
'Beastfallen.'
It was hard to classify them as fully human due to their visible changes. Hence the name.
In addition to that, to the extreme right, there was a female from a traditional family in the east, one that served as a follower to an ancient spirit that had resided in these lands long before the concept of Awakeners even existed.
A female with straight black hair that cascaded down to her waist, violet eyes, and delicate facial features much like the Tendou girl.
Since they came from the same place, it was a common trait among their people.
Like that, her gaze swept over the entire class, her eyes falling on each student one by one.
Until, her gaze finally landed on the greatest enigmas she would ever lay eyes on.
Creed.
That was their last name.
Each of them had dominated the top ten overall rankings, adding weight to their reputation.
Even the boards had begun to watch them closely because of this.
The school had investigated their backgrounds. And from everything they had found. They came from an ordinary family.
Yet, their strength was anything but ordinary.
Currently, it was only the three brothers, as the fourth who was also their oldest was dealing with the responsibilities that comes with becoming the freshman representative.
And now she has a closer look at them...
'I see now.'
"Oh well, seems like none of you are interested. We'll leave it just at that, you saved me the hassle of listening to you all waste my time. Or you can just do all that you like after the class."
She packed the files she brought into the class and had turned her heels to leave the class when it suddenly hit her.
"Mhm. But before I forget. It's mandatory to assign a representative."
Celeste looked around the class, her eyes scanning all of them before eventually landing onto the Creed brothers.
A smile played on her lips as she did. She eventually motioned towards the Creed brothers.
"Me?"
"Not you."
Kaiden gestured at himself, but the instructor shook her head. Damian tried the same, only to get the same response.
Shane, looking confused, glanced at both his brothers, however, his worst nightmare came to pass when Celeste shook her head.
"No, I'm talking about the one looking at the other two Creeds. Yes. You. Mr. Number One in the written exams."