Creation Of All Things

Adam's gaze didn't waver. He looked at the upperclassman, his expression unreadable.

Then, in a calm voice—

"What's your name?"

The upperclassman raised a brow, clearly amused.

Adam's next words were just as indifferent.

"And what rank are you on the academy's leaderboard?"

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

The upperclassman let out a short chuckle.

"You've got some nerve," he said, shaking his head. "I like that."

His crimson eyes gleamed as he crossed his arms.

"The name's Xeran." His voice carried a quiet confidence. "Ranked 14th in the entire academy."

A slight smirk tugged at his lips.

"And you, freshman?" He tilted his head. "You think you can just ask about rankings like it means nothing?"

Adam didn't answer.

Xeran took another step forward.

"I get it." His voice was smooth, almost lazy. "You're the big deal right now. Everyone's talking about you. That flawless win against Krozak?" He whistled lowly. "Impressive."

Then—his gaze darkened slightly.

"But let me tell you something."

A faint pressure filled the air, a slow, creeping weight.

"The ranking table isn't just about numbers. It's about hierarchy."

His smirk widened.

"And right now, you don't have one."

The halls seemed quieter now. The distant murmurs of other students had faded.

Adam finally spoke.

"Is that supposed to scare me?"

Xeran blinked.

Then—

He laughed.

Loud. Unrestrained.

His amusement was clear, but there was something else in his eyes now.

Curiosity.

Excitement.

And just a hint of something dangerous.

"Oh, man." Xeran grinned, shaking his head. "You're either really confident or just completely clueless."

His gaze sharpened.

"Either way—"

He cracked his knuckles, a subtle energy rippling through the air.

"—I like testing new talent."

Silence.

Then—

A shift.

A pulse of power.

Students in the distance froze as they felt it. A low, thrumming energy filling the hall.

Xeran's grin widened.

"Let's see if that flawless victory was just a fluke."

Just as the tension hit its peak—

A sudden clap echoed through the hallway.

Sharp. Crisp. Commanding.

Xeran's energy vanished instantly.

Students turned, their eyes widening as a tall figure strode toward them.

An instructor.

Dark robes flowing behind him, his sharp silver eyes locked onto the two. His expression was unreadable, but the air around him was heavy.

"That's enough."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight—an authority that couldn't be ignored.

Xeran's smirk faltered for a second. Just a second. Then he stuffed his hands into his pockets, tilting his head slightly.

"Come on, Instructor Rael," he drawled. "We were just getting to know each other."

Rael didn't blink.

"You're in the hallways," he said flatly. "Not the dueling grounds."

Xeran clicked his tongue but didn't argue.

Adam, meanwhile, simply watched. Calm. Unmoved.

Rael's gaze flicked to him.

"Adam, was it?"

Adam nodded once.

Rael studied him for a moment before turning back to Xeran.

"If you're that eager to fight," he said, "go challenge someone in the ranking matches. Not some first-year in a hallway."

Xeran chuckled, shaking his head.

"Man, you guys are no fun." He stretched lazily, his sharp gaze landing back on Adam. "Guess we'll have to continue this later, freshman."

Adam didn't react.

Xeran turned, throwing a two-fingered salute as he walked off.

As soon as he was gone, the tension in the hallway snapped like a broken string.

Whispers erupted among the students.

Rael sighed.

"You're attracting attention fast," he said, eyeing Adam again. "Be careful who you make enemies with."

Adam met his gaze.

"I don't make enemies," he said simply.

Rael raised a brow.

"Then you might want to tell that to Xeran."

Rael studied Adam for a second longer, then let out a quiet sigh.

"You freshmen are always something else." He shook his head before turning. "Classes start tomorrow. Try not to get into another fight before then."

With that, he walked off, his presence fading as quickly as it had appeared.

The hallway was still buzzing. Students whispered in hushed tones, their eyes flicking between Adam and where Xeran had disappeared.

Some were impressed.

Some were wary.

Others?

They were just waiting to see how things would unfold.

Adam, as usual, ignored it all.

With a slight roll of his shoulders, he turned and started walking.

Then—

"Yo, Adam!"

A voice called out from behind him.

He glanced back.

A guy with messy dark blue hair and bright silver eyes jogged up, a wide grin on his face.

"I gotta say, man, that was insane." He whistled, shaking his head. "Most first-years would've folded the second Xeran even looked at them funny. But you?" His grin widened. "You didn't even flinch."

Adam didn't respond.

The guy didn't seem to mind.

"Name's Mael, by the way. First-year like you."

Adam gave him a brief look before continuing to walk.

Mael, completely unfazed, easily fell into step beside him.

"So," he continued, stuffing his hands into his pockets, "are you always this unbothered? Or do you just have a crazy high tolerance for bullshit?"

Adam glanced at him.

Mael grinned.

A brief silence.

Then—

Adam spoke.

"Both."

Mael burst out laughing. "Man, I like you."

Adam didn't react.

Kael, still grinning, stretched his arms behind his head.

"Well, whatever. Since we're both new here, might as well stick together, yeah?"

Adam didn't respond.

Mael took that as a yes.

And just like that—

A new annoying presence had attached itself to Adam.

Time passed quickly, and before long, Adam reached his dorm.

The room was simple—nothing fancy, just a bed, a desk, and a window overlooking the academy grounds.

He sat down, rolling his shoulders.

Then—

"Alright." His voice was calm as he leaned back. "Let's see what I got from that Krozak guy."

A familiar system prompt flashed before his eyes.

[Processing rewards…]

[Displaying acquired loot from battle with Krozak.]

Adam's eyes flickered slightly.

This was the part he had been waiting for.

Adam watched as the system window loaded, a faint glow illuminating his dorm room.

[Processing complete.]

[Displaying acquired loot from battle with Krozak.]

The first item appeared.

[Bloodline Acquired: Abyssborn Sovereign Bloodline]

A bloodline of the highest grade among the Abyssborn Ravagers. Grants immense physical strength, abyssal regeneration, and dominion over abyssal energy. Enhances resistance to soul-based attacks and dark element techniques.

Adam's brows lifted slightly.

"Not bad."

Before he could fully process it, the next reward appeared.

[Monarch's Authority]

Then—

The last reward.

??? (Simply: Krozak)

[A unique reward. Krozak.]