"Now I've officially ascended to the rank of a One-Star Awakener."Ryoshu reflected on the distinction between stars and ranks. Ranks denoted overall strength, while stars symbolized the control over Mana and Magic. Despite reaching the one-star rank, Ryoshu remained an Unranked Awakener because the two metrics were not directly correlated.The terminology was coined by the Magic Council rather than the System, aiming to categorize power levels within the realm of Magic. Although based on their extensive observations and studies of Mana, a connection between Mana and stars was discovered, it wasn't fully comprehended until halfway through the game.One needed a Core, two Rings, and three Mana Pulses to attain the status of a One-Star Awakener. Progressing to Two-Stars required two Cores, four Rings, and six Mana Pulses. The pinnacle, Ten Stars, necessitated ten Cores, twenty Rings, and thirty Pulses, ultimately resulting in a Mana stat of 100.However, no player had ever reached the T
"In the future, let's not dwell on the future too much. Right now, my priority is survival, and only then can I consider... taking lives... Moreover, those villains deserve death more than the rabbit family," Ryoshu mused, his stomach growling insistently as if urging him to eat. Yielding to the demand of his hungry belly, he promptly sat down to satisfy his appetite."Once we finish our meal... it's bedtime," he declared.The night enveloped them in an eerie silence, broken only by the rhythmic breathing of a young boy asleep in his tent.Suddenly, a rumble echoed through the air, resembling thunder splitting the sky. However, there was no lightning in sight. What could have caused such a disturbance?The Temple gates, the target of Ryoshu's raid the day before, emitted waves of Mana disruption, signaling an imminent calamity.Just as abruptly as it began, the disturbance ceased, replaced by an unsettling stillness.Moments later, the Temple gates burst open, crashing to the ground i
As the sword pierced through the slime creature, the pressure of its immense strength caused the blade to recoil slightly. Yet, in the very next moment, something unexpected occurred. Despite its appearance, the rusted sword accomplished a feat beyond their expectations. And suddenly, Ryoshu could perceive the sounds of his surroundings. The first voice he discerned was that of the System."You've delivered a Critical Strike! Damage dealt increased by one and a half times!"Miraculously, the blade transformed, becoming razor-sharp. It steadily advanced towards the core of the massive slime, slicing through it as effortlessly as cutting through a ripe, juicy apple."You've defeated a normal E+ rank Slime!"The slime exploded into a pile of goo, a stark announcement of Ryoshu's victory rather than blood."You've accomplished the impossible with your current strength!"Thus, Ryoshu was bestowed with the title "Survivalist"!---Ryoshu sought refuge atop a towering tree in the forest's he
"Alright, I'll extend my stay here for another couple of days. If things get dicey, I'll resort to it then. After all, I still have the luxury of making a swift exit if danger rears its head. Or perhaps... venturing into the Temple wouldn't be such a bad idea. At the very least, I should be able to lay my hands on that Treasure Chest, right?" Ryoshu mulled over his options, a nagging feeling telling him it might not be the wisest decision. Despite the internal warning, his hand instinctively sought out the teleportation scroll, snatching it up hastily.However, Ryoshu made a concerted effort to rationalize the benefits of prolonging his stay and engaging in further combat, securing more resources for the future. "Just consider the gains from my narrow escape just now," he mused. Ryoshu's injuries have been downgraded from dir thanks to the bestowed Title. With a recovery rate of C-, his wounds would mend swiftly. "With a C- recovery rate, a night's rest should see my bones mend. But w
As the "Imminent Death" skill surged to full power, time seemed to elongate like a stretched-out movie reel. Faced with its colossal magnitude, Ryoshu absorbed every ounce of available Mana from his surroundings, channeling it into his body to bolster his defenses. In a swift motion, he leaped aside, his senses alert to every detail in his surroundings. Even his seemingly useless ears became invaluable tools in battle, attuned to the faintest sounds."Two more shots... but where are those acidic orbs?" Ryoshu paused, scanning the area until one orb gradually materialized within his line of sight. With reflexes honed by necessity, he dodged and sought the remaining threat."Where's the other one? Show yourself!" His query hung in the air momentarily until, from the rippling surface of the acid pool, Ryoshu caught a glimpse of his reflection, twisted in determination. Behind it lurked another acidic projectile, closing in at a sluggish pace.Reacting swiftly, Ryoshu evaded both orbs in
Ryoshu acted swiftly, channeling Mana into his weary legs until they felt disconnected from his body. If anyone had observed from the outside, they would have witnessed a spectacle reminiscent of a scene from a sci-fi action movie, where the protagonist effortlessly dodges bullets in a fraction of a second.With a sense of urgency pressing upon him, Ryoshu disregarded the cold tone of the System. He couldn't afford to waste time, especially not now. Summoning every ounce of strength, he propelled himself towards the Gate, which loomed just a couple of hand spans away.The bullets drew nearer, menacingly encroaching upon him with each passing moment. Being airborne only compounded the difficulty of controlling his movements.A barrage of acid bullets struck Ryoshu once more, this time fired by Slimes ranked E and higher. The corrosive projectiles hastened the destruction of his body, eating away at his flesh until raw wounds were exposed.Yet, fortune seemed to favor Ryoshu on this fat
As Thursday approaches, I must prepare for the tiered assessment. Only a fleeting span of less than 48 hours remains for me to conquer this challenge. Failure to appear would mean forfeiting my chance at admission to the school.While this trial may be classified as a mere C-level challenge, considerably lower in rank compared to the A+ Hidden Temple I faced previously, it's crucial to note that it's not a test of intellect but rather a test of combat prowess."And that implies the final adversary will be at level C. Damn it... level C is perilous territory when an E+ Slime could inadvertently end me."However, in the recent prolonged skirmish, I unlocked several new skills. Despite noticing that my skin still showed signs of decay, I may have acquired yet another skill.Seating himself against the backdrop of the newly formed temple entrance, Ryoshu summoned the System."System, display my status board."Status Board-Name: Amemura Ryoshu-Race: Human-Tier: Unranked-Stats+Mana: 21
"Is this just a random coincidence or something more... suspicious?" Ryoshu pondered, his eyes fixed on the ominous path ahead. The darkness emanating from the cave's depths felt like it was piercing his soul. An eerie sensation crept through the cavern, causing a chill to run down his spine."Now, it's all about survival," he muttered, his throat tense.Attempting to steady his nerves, Ryoshu reevaluated his strategy for navigating the Hidden Temple. He contemplated launching a long-range sneak attack to assess his proficiency with the bow. It was a skill that the Spiral Academy would undoubtedly scrutinize.He wanted to gauge the effectiveness of this stealthy approach. However, he knew it would require a significant investment of time, potentially diminishing his chances of uncovering additional rewards. Yet, speed and efficiency weren't the sole criteria for success in these trials.Each challenge within the Hidden Temple assessed the Awakened on diverse skills and attributes. Whi
Charlotte's sigh was heavy with the weight of her disappointment. Her eyes locked onto the paper she held, searching for hidden meaning in the inked numbers. The quiet room seemed to echo with her despondence. Her brows knitted together, and her lips pursed in a faint frown. "I only got 200 points... so I'm ranked 13th," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, each word laced with a palpable sense of frustration and regret. "Katia got 235 points and is ranked 11th."Ever attentive to his friend's emotions, Haruki moved closer, his expression softening with empathy. His blue hair fell into his eyes as he leaned in, a small, comforting smile on his lips. "You both were so close, weren't you?" he said, his tone gentle and encouraging. "If it hadn't been for those demon worshippers at the end, our whole group would have made it into the top 10.Charlotte's gaze shifted from the paper to Haruki, her mind replaying the chaotic events of the competition's final moments. Her brow f
"What on earth is going on?" he muttered, utterly bewildered by the sight before him. The scene was so unexpected that it left him momentarily stunned. Although he lacked the courage to step inside, his curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously peered in. Just at the entrance of the dormitory, Haruki and Charlotte were deeply engrossed in an unusually intimate conversation, their heads close together, sharing words he couldn't quite hear."They look so close... why does this scene seem so familiar?" he thought, a profound sense of déjà vu washing over him. The familiarity was unsettling. "This is the scene right after that cold, unfeeling guy Midnight—supposed to be a Star student—challenges the academy."Reflecting further, he realized, "Because I've temporarily taken his place, now everything is unfolding as it should... according to the script of the game Rainfall Disorder."As he stood there, lost in his thoughts and trying to piece everything together, a group of other
"See you later... but... next time, please don't pull on someone else's shirt like that..."At that precise moment, it seemed that the petite angelic girl had just realized she was clutching the hem of Ryoshu's shirt. Her eyes widened in sudden awareness, and she quickly let go as if the fabric had burned her fingers. What stood out most in this scene was the incredible proximity of their heads. Their faces were so close that even the slightest movement could have resulted in an undeniably awkward situation, almost as if the air between them had thickened with tension.Ryoshu's mind raced, struggling to process the sudden nearness. The image of a tomato was the only thing he could conjure to describe Luna's face, which had flushed a vibrant, almost luminous shade of red. Her cheeks seemed to glow with embarrassment, and he could practically feel the heat radiating from her skin.This moment was incredibly challenging for someone like Ryoshu, who was acutely sensitive and easily flust
"Instead of paying for tuition right away, I'll invest in the shares of potential guilds with promising futures," he mused aloud, his eyes shimmering with a glint of ambition. Securing financial growth through guild investments excited him; it seemed a wise move in a world where connections and wealth often determined one's success. "And if I gather enough goods, I might even consider starting a small business in the Trading Guild."The thought filled him with a sense of purpose and hope. He could already see the possibilities unfold before him—ventures that would bring wealth and establish his reputation in the bustling city. Money, he understood, was not merely a tool for survival but a powerful key to opening doors to numerous opportunities and connections.In the quieter corners of his mind, the stark reality of his ambitions loomed large. "In the future, the amount of money I'll need is no small sum," he murmured, his tone shifting to one of sober reflection. Supporting the ta
Upon hearing the alarming beep of the error sound, the saleswoman immediately hurried over. Her steps were quick and purposeful, a clear indication of her concern. As she approached, she leaned closer to the counter, her eyes searching for the source of the problem, and asked, "Are you out of money, dear?"The young man, visibly flustered, responded with a slight tremble, "No... please wait a moment. It seems there might be an error." His fingers moved swiftly over the device, trying to troubleshoot the issue with an almost palpable urgency. Sweat began to form on his brow as he frantically tried to resolve the situation.Standing right beside Ryoshu, the saleswoman scrutinized him with a look that betrayed her suspicion. Her eyebrows knitted together, and her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to decipher what was going wrong. Her eyes darted between Ryoshu and the device, seeking any clue that might explain the unexpected error.Ryoshu felt the weight of her gaze bearing do
"Ryoshu... What are you looking at out there?" Charlotte called out to him, her voice tinged with concern after he had been silent for an unusually long time.Startled from his thoughts, Ryoshu turned towards them, his face pale and eyes wide as if he had just seen a ghost. The unsettling expression made both Charlotte and Haruki exchange worried glances.'Could it be... these two?' Ryoshu wondered internally, his mind racing. 'Is it because they know me or because they are actively engaging with me? If that's the case... I need to come up with a plan quickly. These scenes are making me sick!!!'Desperately trying to compose himself, Ryoshu quickly blurted out, "Oh, um... I saw a white cat passing by, but it's nothing special." He cringed inwardly, realizing it was one of the lamest excuses he had ever concocted.Charlotte raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued but not fully satisfied. "A white cat, you say?""Yeah," Ryoshu stammered, nodding a bit too vigorously. "It just caught my
"Wow, looking over this list again, it's clear just how impressive Amemura is. He scored an incredible 600 points, outpacing Midnight by a substantial margin of 100 points!"Ryoshu'sRyoshu's friend exclaimed, eyes wide with amazement as they reviewed the freshly printed results. The numbers were still crisp on the page, highlighting Amemura's name at the top with a bold score beside it. Ryoshu, however, seemed preoccupied as he fumbled with a newspaper he had just picked up."This... just came out... I didn't have a chance to hear the scores earlier, but... it doesn't," Ryoshu muttered, his voice trailing off as he opened the newspaper. He was soon engrossed, his eyes moving methodically across the columns of text. Despite his initial nonchalance, he found himself compelled to read each word meticulously. A sense of helplessness washed over him as he realized he had no choice but to absorb every detail. The weight of the information bore down on him, making him feel like he was being
"Well, I only got 200 points, so I'm ranked 13th. But Katia got 235 points and is ranked 11th," Charlotte sighed, her eyes scanning the paper in her hand with a mix of disappointment and resignation.Seeing the sadness on his friend's face, Haruki felt a pang of empathy and immediately sought to comfort her. His voice was gentle yet filled with a determination to lift her spirits."Both of you were so close, weren't you? If it hadn't been for those demon worshippers causing trouble at the end, our whole group might have made it into the top 10," he said, trying to inject positivity into the situation.Charlotte nodded slightly, appreciating his effort but still feeling the sting of their narrow miss. "I'm not so sure about that... but we should still celebrate the 2... no, now 3 of us who made it into the top 10! Maybe we could go out for dinner tonight... have a little party or something?"As she spoke, Charlotte absentmindedly twirled a lock of her shiny golden hair around her finge
They walked through it unharmed, and not only that, they managed to carry on a lively conversation, smiling as if they were taking a casual stroll. The air was filled with their laughter and light-hearted banter, starkly contrasting the tense situation at hand. "Do you think we'll be alright?" one of them asked, their voice tinged with curiosity and concern.Ryoshu's mind was racing. He vividly remembered the second scene, every detail etched into his memory, and knew he had to act swiftly. The weight of urgency pressed down on him, his thoughts a chaotic whirl as he considered the implications. "I hope the scene hasn't progressed too far… I need to hurry…" he muttered under his breath, feeling the pressure mount. Without wasting another moment, he took a deep breath and plunged into the invisible curtain that separated him from his goal.The instant he entered, an eerie sensation washed over him. Once responsive and under his control, his body began to betray him. It was as if an u