Heroes Academy Unknown Student

The world's greatest hero-training institute.

[Atlas Academy]

Located at the heart of Seoul, South Korea, Atlas Academy has stood for over five decades as the pinnacle of hero education — a place where legends are forged, and the future of humanity is shaped.

Founded in the aftermath of the Great Calamity, the Academy was built not merely to train warriors, but to cultivate leaders, tacticians, and icons of hope.

Its marble halls have seen the rise of heroes whose names now echo across nations. And today, a new generation begins their journey — each cadet crossing its threshold with the potential to become something far greater.

Every year, Atlas trains more than 5,000 students from all corners of the world. Just last week, 1,327 seniors graduated, and this semester, 1,500 first-years have arrived to take their place. Students range in age from 16 to 19, and each one has passed a grueling entrance process.

Becoming a hero is the dream of millions — but the path is narrow. Only 40% of the world's population can Awaken. Of those, merely 15% choose the path of the hero, while 5% reject it entirely, opting for a normal life.

Yet not all choose the light. Another 15% stray into villainy, embracing power without restraint. And a final 5% forsake even their humanity — becoming something far worse. They are known only as the [Unfaithful].

Of all awakened individuals, 27% come from prestigious family lineages — houses of power, influence, and inherited strength. But for the rest... rising to the top means defying fate itself.

And for one cadet in particular, fate is just a beginning.

◇◇◇

My eyes snapped open.

A scream from hell—no, a possessed alarm clock—ripped through my skull.

"Ugh… what the hell…" I groaned, swatting blindly at the air until my hand smacked the electric clock on the drawer. The buzzing finally stopped—mercifully—but not before it drilled fresh blunt trauma into my soul.

I sat up, groggy and tangled in my bedsheets like I'd just lost a wrestling match with a ghost. Ji-Hyun's bed was already empty—blanket folded with military precision, not a single wrinkle in sight.

"Of course he's a morning person. Unlike a certain someone who couldn't wake up even if the world was ending."

Dragging myself out of what might've been the least comfortable bed on Earth, I stumbled toward the bathroom like a reanimated corpse. I flicked on the light and froze in front of the mirror.

A stranger stared back. A face that, surprisingly, looked like mine.

Sharp jawline. Tousled black hair that refused to obey gravity. Silver eyes—cold, unreadable—glaring at me like I owed them rent.

But underneath all that?

Still me.

Still Kylen Noor.

Just… a different version.

"If this guy ran up to me and said I was his father, I might actually fall for it," I muttered, splashing cold water on my face.

I pushed my bangs down to cover my eyes, clipped on the fancy smartband, and gave myself a dead-eyed nod.

"To think I'd use this hairstyle again after so many years… kinda embarrassing."

I used to wear my hair like this as a kid. People gave me too much attention because of my eye color.

"Well, I hope this works."

I quickly changed into the school uniform they'd provided.

Black shirt. Black leggings. White tie. White suit.

"I've never worn a uniform before, but this is kinda nice."

Tossing my dirty clothes into the basket near the bathroom door, I stepped out feeling a little less like roadkill.

What can I eat for breakfast?

Just as I was thinking about food, the door clicked open and Seo Ji-Hyun walked in, holding a white plastic bag. Whatever was inside, it smelled buttery—and my stomach noticed before the door even closed.

"Oh, you're already awake! Nice timing." He walked over, pulled out a box from the bag, and handed it to me. "Here, this is your share."

I took the box carefully and opened it.

My eyes nearly teared up.

Inside was a proper, warm American breakfast.

Maybe that sounds normal to you, but not to me.

First of all—it was warm. Second, this kind of food was a luxury. Broke kids like us couldn't even afford stuff like this, especially with how the school treated us.

Bacon. Mac and cheese. Eggs cooked to perfection.

This… this was a masterpiece.

"Th—did you cook this?" I asked, my voice rising like a kid who just got a new gaming console from their parents.

"Yeah. I figured since you're not Korean, your taste buds might not vibe with our usual breakfast. So, I made this for you."

In that moment, the guy who seemed like the weakest in the room… became the strongest.

He was an angel.

And in my eyes, he would remain one.

For the rest of my life.

"I'm going to make this my family's heirloom."

"That's embarrassing. Please just eat it normally."

We laughed, ate our breakfast, and headed out of the dorm.

Time for class.

◇◇◇

As Ji-Hyun and I stepped into the school building, we were immediately greeted by a crowd of students gathering in the hallway.

"What's going on over there?" I muttered.

"Let's just check it out," Ji-Hyun said casually.

We made our way toward the commotion and saw a large digital billboard displaying something that had caught everyone's attention. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a student placement list—names organized by classroom assignments.

From behind us, I could already hear snippets of excited conversation:

> "Hey, I made it into Aether class! What about you?" "Damn it… I was just one rank short from entering Primus…"

The classrooms were ranked as follows:

___

Class Rankings:

1st: 101 Cadets – #1 to #101 → [Novice – Primus]

2nd: 200 Cadets – #102 to #301 → [Novice – Aether]

3rd: 300 Cadets – #302 to #601 → [Novice – Ignis]

4th: 400 Cadets – #602 to #1001 → [Novice – Valiant]

5th: 499 Cadets – #1002 to #1500 → [Novice – Obscura]

___

I scanned the Obscura class list first—naturally assuming I'd be there.

"Huh? I'm not on here…" I mumbled.

Wasn't I supposed to start from the lowest rank? That's how it worked in the Atlas Online storyline—Jake had to climb from the bottom to the top. I furrowed my brows, scrolling through the Obscura names again, just in case I missed something.

"Wait… don't tell me the school already expelled me before I even started...?"

Panic crept into my chest as I skimmed the names again—once, twice, a third time. Still nothing.

"Kylen, have you found your class yet?" Ji-Hyun asked.

"No…" I replied, my eyes still darting across the lists. "What about you?"

"Primus class." His tone was smug, his expression practically radiating pride. It wasn't just an answer—it was a challenge. Know your place.

"Must be nice," I muttered.

Ji-Hyun left me and wandered toward another list. I kept staring at the Obscura board, as if maybe—just maybe—my name would magically appear if I looked hard enough.

Then Ji-Hyun suddenly came back and said, "Hey, Kylen. Come with me for a sec."

"Can't you see I'm busy? We'll talk later."

"Just follow me!" He grabbed my hand and dragged me all the way to the very top list.

To the Primus class list.

He jabbed a finger at the very bottom of the board. "That's your name, right?"

[Kylen Noor — Rank 101]

"Wait, what?! I'm not supposed to be ranked this high!"

Ji-Hyun slapped my back and grinned. "You should be happy to be in the same class as me."

"I guess... But still... this has to be a mistake. There's no way someone like me could end up in the top class."

Whatever the reason, Ji-Hyun and I made our way toward the doors labeled:

[Novice – Primus]

Well damn me, I never thought I'd have to interact with the other nine playable characters.

To Be Continued.