After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Atticus's keen senses picked up on a new presence entering the hall. His gaze shifted, and his eyes locked onto the figure that had just arrived – a girl with red eyes.
As her gaze met Atticus's, it felt as though daggers were being exchanged in an unspoken confrontation.
The intensity of her stare could have been enough to make anyone uneasy, but Atticus remained unruffled. He met her challenging gaze with a mere glance, which seemed to irk her even further.
Frustration etched across her features, she gritted her teeth and selected a seat.
'What the heck is wrong with her?' Atticus pondered
After a while, one by one, the others began to arrive.
"Shit, Lucas! We're the 4th!" Nate exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.
"Actually, I entered before you, so I'm the 4th and you're the 5th," Lucas retorted, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"Haaaa, fuck!" Nate screamed in exasperation. Lucas simply chuckled at Nate's outburst, finding some amusement in the situation.
As soon as everyone was seated, a figure stepped forward, his commanding presence immediately capturing the attention of everyone present. This man exuded an aura of a Grandmaster rank, his red eyes a striking contrast against his composed demeanor.
A collective hush fell over the room, an instinctual reaction to the aura that accompanied his arrival. The ones previously exchanging glances and whispers, all fell silent in unison as they felt the weight of his presence settle upon them.
Atticus, being used to being around figures of such strength was unfazed.
Standing tall before the imposing podium, the man began to speak in a voice that seemed to carry the weight of authority and experience. "Welcome to the Raven Camp," his words resonated,
"My name is Rowan Ravenstein, and I am the highest authority in this camp," he announced, his voice carrying an air of authority.
"This camp was founded with a singular purpose: to train all Ravenstein youth, teaching you how to survive and preparing you for the academy at the age of 15."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in, before continuing, "The rules here are relatively lax. I'll only mention the important ones. Fights are permitted among those in the same year, but other years are not allowed to attack you. However, no use of weapons and no lethal or crippling damage, or the consequences will be severe."
The concept seemed straightforward, but a thoughtful expression crossed Atticus's face. 'Hmm, so we can attack them?' he mused, his intelligence allowing him to grasp the subtle implication behind those words.
Undeterred, Rowan pressed on, "Now, there's one major currency in this camp – Raven points. These points are essential for various activities and resources. But fear not, for your first 3 months as a first-years grants you free access to all essentials. After that period, Raven points will be required."
"There are multiple ways for you acquire these points,
*Combat Challenges*: At the end of every 3 months, all students from various years would assemble in the arena for a collective event. Challenges would be issued sequentially, spanning from the lowest to the highest rank. Each successful wins would result in the accumulation of points and the loser's rank if the winner was ranked lower.
*Specialization Performance*: Each recruit are required to choose a division, be it beast, assassination, or rune and potion. Excelling in their chosen area will earn you contribution points.
*Training Achievements*: Each morning you're required to attend training, depending on your performance, points can be given by your instructors.
*Ranks*: The 5th rank gets 100 points, and each higher rank gets an additional +100 points, making it 500 points for the first rank."
He allowed a moment of pause, allowing his previous words to settle among the recruits. Then he continued. "There are no mandatory classes. No one will force you to do anything here. But do note that if your Raven points hits zero, you will be expelled."
The words made some recruits panic. Getting expelled from camp would bring shame to them and their families. They'd be treated even worst than trash.
Rowan continued, "The bracelet artifact each of you has been provided with will be indispensable during your stay within the camp. It has many functions. Most importantly, they serve as your identification. If you check now, you would notice two numbers written on it at all times. The first indicates your year, and the second indicates your rank."
Atticus checked his device and saw that the numbers, one and one were displayed on it.
He continued "This artifact is seamlessly integrated with our central AI system, meticulously recording every Raven point you earn. You can also find out more information about the camp from the device. Not only that, but it also facilitates communication among fellow camp members and acts as a convenient method of payment for various services and resources.
Note that your conventional communication artifact does not work in the camp; you can only speak to your family after 3 years of camp."
His final words left a sense of unease among some of them. The prospect of not being able to communicate with their family members was unsettling. For many of them, this was their first time being away from home, and a prevailing anxiety settled in.
Rowan noticed this but chose not to address it. He continued, "That'll be all for now. Follow the map in your artifacts to get to your dorm room, and make sure you attend training by 6 in the morning. As i said, no one will force you. It's more of an advice" As he spoke, he disappeared from sight.
After Rowan left, Atticus promptly stood up and left. He tapped on the device on his wrist, summoning a holographic interface, and navigated to the maps section.
He followed the directions, which led him to a skyscraper like building after a few minutes. Upon entering, he followed the map and moved to the elevator. It prompted him for a scan to confirm his rank and he placed his device on the scanning device. He entered and then it carried him to the top floor.
Stepping out of the elevator, Atticus found himself in an apartment that was equipped with all the basic necessities, along with an advanced training room. The mana density in the room was significantly higher than outside. 'So this is what they meant by different treatment,' Atticus thought to himself.
Back at the estate, although the mana density was high, it wasn't as high as this.
…
Inside an office, an atmosphere of tension hung heavy in the air. Aurora stood before Rowan, her head bowed, trembling with nervousness. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
A voice pierced the silence, "I heard you were second," Rowan stated, his words carrying a weight that seemed to press down upon her.
Aurora's timid "yes" escaped her lips, her body quivering with fear. In an instant, Rowan intensified his aura, causing her to slam onto the floor.
"The main family has been in power for too long. Your awakening as a transcendent talent is what we need to overthrow them! And yet, here you are, losing to a child from the main family!"
Aurora's voice trembled as she begged, "Fa-ther, I'm so-sorry. I'll de-feat him next time."
The oppressive aura lifted, leaving Aurora weak and shaken. The man's tone softened slightly as he delivered a final warning, "Do not make us have this 'talk' again,"
Aurora's response was meek, her voice barely more than a whisper as she stammered, "Ye-s, father." With a lingering sense of apprehension, she rose unsteadily to her feet and turned to leave the office.
***
A/N: Hello, have you enjoyed reading? If so, please consider leaving reviews and power stones. Your feedback is appreciated. Thank you!