The air around Elaris Academy shimmered with power, like a storm waiting to break. Towering spires and floating platforms surrounded the vast campus, humming with energy from the stabilized rift portals used to power the school and its surrounding districts. Alexander Grey stepped through the academy gates, his expression calm but unreadable. The faint smudges of hardship still clung to him, but there was a quiet sharpness in his gaze that hadn't been there before.
To the others, he was a "Low-Tier" — weak, forgettable. But Alexander knew better. He'd faced the brink of death, carved power from ruin, and emerged from the Inferno Realm stronger, faster, smarter. And though his name wasn't linked to any noble bloodline or powerful family, his resolve burned brighter than ever.
Elaris Academy was a hub for elite students from all over the region, many from prestigious lineages or with ancient powers. The social structure was simple: strength ruled. The weak served or suffered. Entire student factions operated like miniature kingdoms, each with their own agendas and territories. The low-tiers were barely noticed—unless they stepped out of line.
Alexander was assigned to Dorm D-17, a relatively distant housing block reserved for lower-ranked students. Upon entering, he met his three roommates:
Jace – Lean, sharp-eyed, and quick with a sarcastic remark. Street-smart and resourceful, he hides a loyal streak behind his rough exterior.
Milo – Quiet and thoughtful, always analyzing. Not strong physically, but sharp with system mechanics and strategies.
Zeke – Calm and distant, with a quiet intensity. His power is a mystery, but his presence alone keeps most people cautious.
They sized Alexander up cautiously, unsure if he was just another lost cause.
The first day of classes came quickly. Due to his rank, Alexander was placed in a general power fundamentals class. Crystal, however, was in one of the elite divisions—Aetherian Combat Theory, a class reserved for high-tier combatants.
It was during the midday assembly, where all students were gathered for announcements, that Alexander saw her again.
Crystal.
Beautiful, poised, and radiant as always, she descended the steps of the elite faction's seating area, approaching Alexander with a dazzling smile.
"Alex?" she said warmly. "I didn't know you made it in. That's... great. I hope you're doing okay."
Her voice held just enough sweetness to fool anyone else. But Alexander wasn't anyone else. He remembered.
The whispering laughter. The cold stares. Her silence when Charles and Ryder pushed him around.
"Yeah," Alexander replied coolly. "I survived."
Crystal hesitated for a heartbeat, but smiled again. "If you ever need anything, don't be afraid to ask."
He watched her walk away, the picture of kindness. But he saw the calculated tilt of her head, the way she glanced back to see who was watching. Hypocrisy wrapped in beauty.
Back in class, the instructor, a battle-scarred man named Instructor Vale, evaluated students with casual cruelty. Weakness was mocked. Mistakes were punished. But when it came time for demonstrations, someone decided it was a good idea to challenge the "new low-tier."
Charles.
He strode forward with Ryder beside him, sneering. Devin hung back but didn't interfere—just like always.
"Didn't think we'd see you here, loser," Charles said, cracking his knuckles. "Thought the portal would've finished the job."
Students gathered. Whispers rose. A fight was inevitable.
Alexander didn't flinch.
"If you're done talking, let's get this over with."
The duel was granted. No weapons. No artifacts. Just skill and strength.
Charles lunged. Ryder followed, trying to flank.
Alexander moved like a shadow.
Shadow Dance.
One step, two steps, sidestep. Corrosive Strike.
Charles screamed as the acid-laced strike seared through his defenses, melting the surface of his gauntlet. Ryder hesitated—a second too long.
Alexander's foot swept Ryder's legs from under him. A burst of Geomancy launched him back. Charles staggered, blinded by pain.
"Don't ever touch me again."
Instructor Vale called the fight. Students stared, stunned. No one spoke. Charles and Ryder groaned on the floor.
And from the higher tier seats, Crystal watched.
---
That night, Alexander returned to the outskirts of the city where his hidden base was still nestled in the old ruins of the convenience store. Thanks to a recent system upgrade, he now had access to Base Link — a function that let him link his base to the system network.
"Initiate Base Link protocol," Alexander commanded.
A pale light enveloped the area. Panels hovered into place, and his system interface expanded:
[Base Linked] [System Access: Remote Management Enabled] [Stealth Protocol Activated: Base hidden from external scans]
With the Base Cloak Module, his base now appeared as nothing more than a collapsed structure to anyone scanning for energy signatures or rift activity.
Even better, Alexander now had the ability to teleport to his base using system markers once per day — a function that would become crucial as he balanced school life, training, and survival.
He stared at the flickering holo-map of Elaris and the nearby zones. Factions were already starting to claim rift territories. Portals were opening, and students were vying for dominance.
Alexander didn't care.
Let them chase power. Let them fight over scraps.
He had something better.
He had his own path.
And no one would see him coming.