The high, vaulted ceiling resembling a cathedral stretched overhead, and numerous students sat in their seats below.
Perhaps because it’s a game world?
There were many with unrealistic hair colors—blue, green, purple, even two-toned. It was quite colorful.
Everyone carried weapons on their backs or hips.
Shortly after I sat down, the entrance ceremony began.
‘What’s going to happen this time?’
It’s practically a rule that some major incident occurs during the academy entrance ceremony.
There’s no concrete evidence, but with me, the “possessor,” present, anything could happen.
In reality, there have been cases of people dying from meteors, like a Chinese general, or European nobles drowning en masse in an outhouse during a meeting.
In typical novel plots, when a monster appears, the protagonist defeats it using a known strategy and gains something in return.
Unfortunately, I’m just a one-trick “original ability” girl.
Creatures like Skulkit or mutated wildlife are the lowest-level beasts, so you can defeat them by bashing them with physical force. But for anything above low or mid-tier, you need to imbue weapons with magic, or it’s impossible.
Just in case, I looked around for escape routes.
Long, large windows lined both sides.
I was glad I brought my hammer.
Everyone had taken their seats.
The entrance ceremony commenced.
“Welcome, new students of the Class of 25! I’m John Wilbur, the principal of this school.”
A round, elderly man stood on the podium and began to speak. So that’s the principal.
“Before we begin the ceremony, I’d like to introduce Polaris Integrated Academy. Our academy is one of Rustlum’s proud, prestigious schools…”
A history lesson about a school that only serves as a backdrop in the game? Interesting.
I decided to listen.
“…and it has continuously produced excellent graduates, comparable to the top three schools. The admission rate into upper-tier clans is an impressive 90%. The growth rates of awakened students…”
A massive screen at the back displayed a presentation, and the screen was filled with graphs.
“Our first principal, Major Alfonso… The origin of the name Polaris dates back to… The academy’s spirit has been upheld for nearly ten years…”
This was long.
Were entrance ceremonies always like this?
My seat was becoming uncomfortable.
The chair was too stiff, and the principal’s voice was putting me to sleep.
“The area where Polaris is located… thanks to the sacrifices of brave hunters… Thus, the current board acquired this land… The main building of the academy was constructed when… The architectural style of the annex…”
This is driving me crazy.
Why is he recounting the history of the school’s construction at an entrance ceremony? Is the principal senile?
For 30 minutes straight, he droned on about the history of school buildings, the number of graduates, and employment rates.
“…That concludes the school introduction. Thank you.”
Finally, it was over.
I looked at the clock; the ceremony had started at 9 o’clock, and now it was nearing 10. Now that it was finished, I could leave.
“The next item on the agenda is a congratulatory message from members of the local council…!”
No, it wasn’t over yet.
Another speech was starting.
“Daphne… do you know what the next event is after the entrance ceremony…?”
I spoke to Daphne, who was staring blankly ahead. Her eyes regained focus as she turned toward me.
“…Huh? Oh, it’s you, Rugilinn. Just a moment. I think it was on the pamphlet we got earlier…”
She handed me the pamphlet, and I opened it to check.
A detailed schedule of the entrance ceremony was listed.
“School introduction… Greetings from the local council… Speeches by sponsors… Introduction of faculty..?”
Why is the schedule filled with nothing but speeches, congratulations, and greetings? Is this even an entrance ceremony?
What followed was an unimaginable downpour of endless speeches.
“Our Cascade Clan plans to host internships for incoming students…”
“I’m James, a manager at L&L Corporation… Our company specializes in awakening-specific equipment… Ether conductivity…”
Executives from companies and clans took turns giving congratulatory speeches that were just thinly veiled advertisements.
“The new professor joining us has earned their degree and published a thesis on the interaction between ether and monsters…”
“Greetings, students! I’ve successfully conquered four dimensionalized regions… Cleared 15 gates…”
“Welcome, students. Through immersive classes, I’ve achieved a 90% clan placement rate for my students…”
During the faculty introductions, teachers and instructors came out one by one to recite their lengthy resumes.
They even displayed presentations to detail their achievements.
This was insanity.
Was this even a school? Or was it some multi-level marketing company?
I couldn’t keep my mind focused during this ordeal.
I was about to close my eyes when Daphne shook my shoulder.
“Rugilinn? Wake up!”
When I whined, Daphne firmly shook her head, refusing to let me doze off.
It was disappointing.
I thought she was just a nice person, but maybe she had a bit of an old-fashioned streak.
Give me back my right to sleep!
“Open your eyes. Look over there…”
Daphne trailed off, pointing subtly toward the auditorium’s upper level.
Following her gaze, I flinched, quickly straightened my posture, and faced forward.
“I’ve been feeling strange stares for a while now. When I glanced back, they were up there.”
On the upper balcony, faculty members were holding clipboards and jotting things down as they observed the students below.
Were they scoring the students’ behavior or something?
Seriously, why would they assess students’ behavior during such a painfully dull entrance ceremony?
This was maddening.
I could feel sharp gazes burning into my back.
Stuck in a stiff chair and an endless stream of boredom, I sat with my eyes open, but my mind checked out.
“…This concludes the entrance ceremony.”
“Ugh… Finally, it’s over.”
Ultimately, nothing happened during the ceremony.
I’d envisioned a blockbuster-level battle, but reality was more like a dull, obligatory dinner party with outdated advice from a middle-aged manager.
As the crowd stirred, students began heading toward the exit.
Those who had fallen asleep like me stumbled to their feet, looking half-dead.
The students heading toward the doors looked like a horde of zombies.
‘I get why this school’s monsters are ghouls now.’
Still, whenever I got too bored or drowsy, Daphne would use her healing ability on my head.
Thanks to her, I managed to endure.
Three cheers for healers.
“At least the last speech was short. It was the chairman of the board, right? He finished in five minutes.”
The ceremony ended with a speech by the Polaris Academy board chairman.
Surprisingly, the chairman was a young man with long black hair. His speech was brief.
Whoever he was, he seemed like a good person.
“Ugh… What time is it now?”
“Just a moment. It’s 12:43 PM.”
“What?”
I pulled out my smartphone.
The screen clearly displayed 12:44.
What kind of school has a four-hour-long entrance ceremony?
I tried to stand but my legs wobbled.
Sitting for so long must’ve cut off circulation.
“Oh no! Hold on. Let me help.”
Daphne’s hands glowed with green light as she brushed them over my legs, relieving the discomfort.
Finally, we could walk toward the exit.
“Ah, that feels great! My legs are better now. Thanks again!”
“You’re welcome. Let me know if you feel uncomfortable again.”
She replied with a gentle smile.
My roommate truly seemed like a kind person.
At the entrance, staff members or upperclassmen with nametags urged us forward.
“Alright, new students! Please follow the guides this way to the small auditorium! We’ll be hosting the freshman welcome party!”
A welcome party?
If the entrance ceremony was this bad, the welcome party was sure to be a disaster.
I tried to pull Daphne aside and sneak out of the line.
“Hey, you there! Come this way! No one skips the freshman welcome party! Attendance is mandatory!”
Ah, caught in the act.
We returned to the line and obediently followed the seniors’ directions.
A smaller, dome-shaped building appeared in view, much smaller than the auditorium from earlier.
Suddenly, a good idea struck me. I stepped out of the line for a moment.
The senior students guiding us called out to me.
“Hey! Freshman! Where are you going?”
“I just need to use the restroom!”
The seniors followed me all the way to the restroom.
Once inside, I quickly created my Clone No. 2 and sent it out.
“I should’ve done this during the opening ceremony too…”
Hiding inside a restroom stall, I began controlling the clone.
The senior students, waiting outside the restroom, saw what they thought was me exiting and took it straight to the smaller auditorium.
Sorry, Daphne!
When the commotion outside subsided, I carefully stepped out.
It seemed like everyone had gone into the smaller auditorium.
I lay down flat on a bench nearby.
A few weeks ago, the strange cold wave had disappeared, and now the warm sunlight and gentle breeze welcomed me.
“I’m so sleepy…”
I considered taking a nap but got curious about how the welcoming ceremony was proceeding, so I peeked inside.
Through Clone No. 2, I transferred my senses and saw the auditorium filled with students.
It looked just like a normal gymnasium.
“Now, let us begin the freshman welcoming ceremony. First, we’ll have the oath-taking by the valedictorian and the salutatorian.”
Now, this felt more like a school entrance ceremony. If this were a normal school, they would’ve done this right at the start.
“Valedictorian Irene Solstice. Salutatorian Lucian Blackveil. Please come forward!”
Two students, whose appearances were oddly familiar, walked up to the stage.
If my memory serves me right, those two are playable characters. Not just any characters, but four-star and five-star ones.
‘Weren’t they also transfer students from Polaris?’
A dignified-looking girl with long purple hair tied into a half-ponytail stepped forward. The braid crossing her crown left a strong impression.
Beside her stood a boy with deep blue hair and a “cool guy” demeanor, arms crossed.
“We swear. We, the 25th cohort of Polaris freshmen, solemnly pledge to engrave service and protection as our ultimate purpose deep in our hearts…”
Ugh, boring.
They’re probably just saying they’ll work hard and be diligent.
I looked around.
The seniors who had guided us earlier quietly walked out the door.
They didn’t seem to be monitoring us anymore.
“…Our abilities, baptized in Ether, shall not be used as private tools but will shine as beacons of hope for innocent people, acting as shields for the defenseless…”
Two seats away, Daphne sat with a serious expression, staring straight ahead.
She seemed genuinely moved by the ceremony.
I gave Clone No. 2 the vague instruction to stay still and cut off my sensory connection, closing my eyes.
But then, a strange sound reached Clone No. 2’s ears.
Vrrrrrrrrrr…
It was a bizarre noise, like a vacuum cleaner sucking up something.
“Huh?”
“Wait, what is that…?”
“What?”
In the center of the auditorium, a multi-colored sphere formed mid-air.
“Holy crap! A Gate!”
“Why is it suddenly opening here?”
“What did you say?”
From within the sphere emerged a bus-sized dinosaur with a pointed head.
“Cr-Kranos?”
“Oh my god! It’s a Kranos! A mid-tier beast!”
“Kyahhh! A beast!!”
That’s a Kranos, a mid-tier beast! Why is that thing here?
This is way too intense for an entrance ceremony event!
“Move it, damn it!”
“Aaaah! Mom!!!”
“Call security!!”
The panicked students began to flee.
A wise choice.
That thing is not something newbies can handle.
“Ms. Rugilinn! Please evacuate to safety—Ah!”
I quickly grabbed Daphne and edged toward a window I had been eyeing.
I immediately pulled out an alloy hammer and tapped the window.
Crack!
Yellow sparks flashed, and the hammer bounced back!
Damn, it’s a barrier!
I struck it repeatedly, but it didn’t budge!
“The door! The door won’t open!”
“Break it down, quickly!”
It seemed the doors were in a similar state. Students screamed as they drew their weapons and pounded on the door, but it didn’t budge.
A loud thud! sounded, and students who were hit by Kranos’ tail were flung toward the auditorium ceiling.
“Everyone, stay calm! If you want to live, you’ll have to fight! Scatter now!”
“This is why rookies are such a hassle. Tch…”
Meanwhile, Irene and Lucian had drawn their weapons and were facing off against the beast.
About ten students, trembling but ready, stood beside them to fight.
Truly, talent rises even in chaos.
Could there be barriers outside as well?
I sprinted hard and transferred the alloy hammer to Clone No. 2.
Bang! Bang!
When I struck the window from outside, it shattered.
The barrier seemed to work only internally.
The spiderweb-like yellow light at the broken window crackled and then disappeared.
“It’s finally broken! But wait… why are there two Rugilinns?”
“I’ll explain later! It’s my Unique Ability! Just get out!”
I hurriedly pulled Daphne through the window. I couldn’t let my roommate get hurt.
“Thank you, Ms. Rugilinn! Go on ahead. And, uh, may I borrow the hammer for a moment?”
“Huh? Here. What are you going to use it for…”
I threw the hammer to Clone No. 2 and ran far away.
-Clang!
Daphne, handed a hammer by her clone, shattered the remaining glass pane to create a larger passageway.
After knocking out the shards still clinging to the window frame, she took off her blazer and draped it over the frame.
“Everyone! This way! Evacuate through here!”
Hearing her shout, the students swarmed toward her.
“We’re saved!”
“There’s an exit here!”
“Hooray!”
After seeing the students escape, Daphne ran toward me with the second clone.
“It was a good idea, but what about your uniform?”
“That can wait for now!”
We ran hard, putting some distance between us and the auditorium.
Briefly, we leaned against the wall of an unmarked building to catch our breath.
“For now, we’re safe…”
-Boom!
Suddenly, an explosion came from the direction of the auditorium wall.
“What the… why is it coming this way?”
Kranos had escaped through the very window we used to flee!
-Aaargh!
-Screech!
The fleeing students were sent flying through the air after being rammed by Kranos’ head. But there was something off about Kranos.
“What the… is it holding them off?”
-Roaaaaar!
Now that I could see it clearly, Kranos was covered in blood. It was fleeing.
A group of students led by Irene and Lucian was chasing it.
“Everyone! You’ve done well! Just a little more, and we can bring it down!”
“Quit acting smug, top student! I’ll be the one to take it down!”
The beast was being pummeled from every direction by relentless attacks. It thrashed its head in desperation and opened its mouth wide.
-Roar!
“Damn it! It’s retaliating!”
“Get back! It’s going to use its breath!”
A glowing mass of ether began to coalesce in Kranos’ gaping maw.
As the students scattered in every direction, Lucian stepped forward, extending one hand.
“Stupid beast. Did you think I’d just let you fire it?”
A complex magic circle formed from Lucian’s hand, and a lightning bolt struck Kranos squarely on the head.
-Boom!
-Roar!
Kranos’ head twisted to one side before collapsing under the impact.
Wait, why is its head turning this way?
The beast’s mouth opened wide again, and the unfinished ether mass was now aimed in my direction.
I froze, staring at the breath about to be unleashed.
What an absurd turn of events.
“Uh…”
“Stand back.”
Daphne stepped in front of me and the second clone.
At the moment the beam fired, a translucent green protective barrier formed in front of her.
When the beam collided with the shield, she gritted her teeth and groaned.
Soon, the beam split into several fragments and dissipated.
The barrier faded.
Turning toward me, she looked visibly exhausted.
“Ha… ha… thank goodness. I was able to block it.”
“Wow… you actually blocked that?”
I was amazed.
I knew her innate ability, but I didn’t expect it to perform at this level.
My roommate really is incredible!
“More importantly, it’s over. The beast is down.”
“Yeah.”
In the distance, I saw Kranos’ corpse with students perched atop it.
They had beaten it to death.
“Ms. Rugilinn, excuse me, but can I go ahead? I see some injured students over there.”
“Do you even need to ask? I’ll go with you.”
I paused for a moment, watching her walk ahead.
-Thud!
“Ugh!”
A sharp impact struck the back of my head, and I fell forward.
What the hell? Why?
The second clone had been hit on the back of the head by a large brick and collapsed.
My body wouldn’t move.
What is going on?
I turned to see cracks running through the building’s exterior walls, which were swaying and shaking.
Large and small bricks began falling one by one.
Was this because of the breath attack earlier?
I saw Daphne turn back toward me and rush over, shouting.
“Ms. Rugilinn!”
I struggled to stand.
Turning my body, I saw a white object, barely attached to the outer wall, creaking as it fell.
It was an air conditioner unit, and it was heading straight for me.
I flailed, trying to stand.
I writhed on the ground.
I couldn’t move.
I was moving.
Two sets of sensations overlapped.
My vision overlapped.
The second clone staggered.
I thrashed as well.
“What the… damn it…”
“Aaaaah!”
-Thud!
Everything went black.
In the 25th year of the Federation, on September 2nd, Violet succumbed to her long-time affliction of being hit by an air conditioner unit.
What a fool.
Congratulations! You have met the requirements.
Innate Ability: LV4 Clone Technique has been transformed under specific conditions.
└Condition: Upon death at the moment when the clone’s self-awareness evolves, innate ability transforms into <Dynamic Consciousness/Identity-Linked Clone Technique>.
▼▼▼
Innate Ability: <Dynamic Consciousness/Identity-Linked Clone Technique> has been unlocked!
Innate Ability: ■■■■ has been unlocked under specific conditions.
▼▼▼
Innate Ability: <Collective Intelligence> has been unlocked!
└Condition: Achievable upon transformation into Dynamic Consciousness/Identity-Linked Clone Technique.
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