6:34 PM
Evening arrived quickly, and only twenty-five minutes remained before the banquet began.
And I hadn’t gone to meet the Vice Headmaster.
Why?
Because I was asleep.
When I lay down in the jacuzzi with all that food and drink, I lost consciousness and drifted into sleep, only waking up just now.
"Damn it!" I cursed as I rushed to the bedroom to get dressed. At this rate, I’d be late—especially since the venue was far from here.
I reached the bed and picked up the academy uniform. We had been told to wear it to the banquet.
I put it on quickly and fixed my hair before standing in front of the large mirror in the room.
The uniform fit me perfectly. It had a formal air to it—black pants and a matching jacket, lined with golden patterns that gave it an imposing presence. Beneath the jacket was a white shirt, only a small part of it visible when the jacket was closed.
I ran a hand through my hair and smiled at my reflection."I really do look amazing in this."
Especially with my black hair and pale skin, the uniform looked as if it had been tailored just for me.
I put on my shoes and made my way out of my place.
The hallway outside was empty, as if I were the only one in the building... and maybe I was. I checked the time: 6:44 PM, as I headed toward the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor.
As soon as I reached the ground level, I exited the dormitory and headed toward the banquet hall, which was about a fifteen-minute walk from here.
I walked beneath streetlights that were lighting up one by one as the sun set. On both sides of the road were gardens filled with beautiful plants, with benches scattered here and there.
The scenery was so pleasant that I slowed my pace, taking it all in.
Did I look like an old man contemplating the beauty of life in his final days?
Maybe.
But trust me—when you’ve lived in a terrifying underground laboratory, every breath of fresh air becomes something incredible, let alone everything else.
...
I arrived in front of a massive building, a fusion of modern architecture from my previous world and medieval aesthetics. Light spilled from its large windows, a clear sign that the banquet had already begun.
I walked toward the entrance with excitement, where two attendants were stationed to welcome students.
And why was I excited?
Simple... it was a banquet.
And when you hear "banquet," what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Food.
Luxury food... and lots of it.
Just imagining it made my mouth water.
I quickly straightened my posture as I reached the attendants. They recognized me immediately and opened the large double doors in a slightly dramatic fashion.
"Welcome, Mr. Caius Astroweild."
At their words, I stepped inside the hall—and in the very next moment, all noise stopped.
Hundreds of eyes landed on me, and I could feel an invisible pressure weighing down on my body.
I looked around the vast hall. The marble floor reflected the light from the elegant chandeliers hanging at the edges. Massive pillars supported the high ceiling, while luxurious tables and chairs were arranged throughout the space.
At the center stood an extremely long table, filled with every kind of exquisite dish imaginable—meat, fish, desserts, and much more.
At the far end of the hall, directly behind it, rose a marble platform overlooking the entire room... clearly used for announcements and speeches.
The students were spread across the hall, some standing, others seated. All of them were those who had passed the exam, all wearing the same academy uniform... but not like mine.
Unlike my black uniform with golden lines, theirs were gray with silver patterns.
Only a few wore the same colors as me—those who would be my classmates.
I recognized most of them. After all, they were the main characters and the top-ranked students from the exam.
Ignoring the suffocating silence and the countless gazes, I headed straight for the food table.
As I started walking, the noise gradually returned to the hall. Most people ignored me, while some continued to watch. I reached the table, and just as I was about to reach out and grab a dish, I felt the atmosphere shift.
Then I heard a light cough, seemingly coming from an elderly man.
I turned my head toward the sound—and so did all the students—to see a figure standing on the platform.
Gray hair streaked with white, a short beard of the same color, and faint wrinkles on his stern face. Despite his obvious age, a terrifying pressure radiated from him, making it clear that he was no ordinary old man.
And since he was known as one of the strongest humans alive in the empire, a man who had reached Rank 7...
Everyone here knew his name.
Rogan Derston.A being at the King rank.
I sighed and pulled my hand away from the table.Looks like the food would have to wait.
The Director of the Hub stood on the platform and smiled before his voice reached everyone.
"Welcome, dear students."
"I’m supposed to give you a long speech about honor, glory, and all that."
As he spoke, he pulled a piece of paper from his suit pocket and unfolded it.
He glanced at it, then raised it slightly for everyone to see."The administration even wrote this for me... but I assume you don’t want to hear it—and frankly, neither do I."
Suddenly, the paper ignited in his hand, turning into ash that scattered across the marble floor.
"So... I’ll do what I want."
The moment those words left his mouth, a loud slapping sound echoed, as if someone had slapped their own face.
His smile widened as he continued.
"My dear students... during your time at the Temple, some of you will rise and gain strength and experience... others will drown in their tears... and some of you may die."
Silence fell over the hall.
He swept his gaze across the students before continuing.
"Beyond the safety of the empire, past the northern borders... there are beings that will not care about your ambitions, will not respect your dreams, and will not give a damn about your noble family name... They will devour your flesh and feast on your soul until nothing remains of you—unless you possess enough power to survive."
"Here... within these temple walls, you will not find warmth, mercy, or anyone to wipe away your tears. What you will find is the truth... your truth. These walls will bear witness to who you truly are. Some of you believe yourselves to be geniuses... others think their noble blood alone can open every door. But power?"
He paused, then continued in a heavier voice.
"Power is not given... it is taken."
"It is taken with blood... and pain."
At those words, his eyes landed on me.
An immense pressure tried to crush my body. My essence reacted instinctively, and the pressure eased slightly.
The Director smiled as he broke the silence again."It seems my speech was far too short... so why don’t we add another one, from a different person?"
I didn’t like where this was going.
He pointed directly at me."Caius Astroweild, first place holder... come forward and give a speech to your peers."
All eyes turned to me once more.
Elliot hadn’t done anything like this in the original story... or had he?
Honestly, I didn’t want to do this. But since it was a direct order from the Director, refusing would only bring me unnecessary trouble.
I sighed and walked toward the platform. The hall was silent, the only sound being my shoes tapping against the marble floor.
The Director stepped down and stood in front of me. With his massive build, he felt like a towering wall. He placed his large hand on my shoulder.
"You’d better not make it boring, boy."
It won’t be boring if I kick your ass in front of everyone.Of course, I didn’t say that—only thought it.
"I’ll try," I replied, then stepped up onto the platform.
I scanned the faces in the hall and broke into a wide smile.
This was going to be fun.
"Truly...an outstanding performance."