Earth had changed since the coming of Xranthos.
Tiers had become more than strength — they were status, worshipped like divine rankings.
Those at the top became heroes.
And the weak?
They became warnings.
For Sage Erlanger, today was just another reminder.
"SAGE ERLANGER!"
Teacher Flynn's voice slammed into the classroom like a hammer. Sage jolted upright.
"I can tolerate you being useless, but sleeping in my class? Again? Are you trying to break your own record?"
Laughter exploded through the class. Sage had lost count of how many times it had happened today.
He rubbed his temples. His body still hadn't fully recovered. He had met his daily requirements for today — thanks to Kol feeding him from his meat stack after he dropped unconscious.
But as for the push-ups… well.
---
[Daily Requirements]
Eat one kilogram of meat ✔️
Reward: Stamina +50.09%, Strength +1, Perception +1
Do 300 Push-ups ❌ (186 left – 16 hours remaining)
Failure: ???
---
And of course, today's subject had to be...
> "History. Specifically, the Coming of Xranthos."
---
Xranthos had appeared a thousand years ago as a celestial judge — a self-proclaimed god from the Eighth Ring.
He spoke not with anger, but with cold arithmetic. Earth had grown too large, too wild, and too disruptive to the balance of the Twelve Rings that ruled the galaxy.
His ultimatum was simple:
> "Choose one-third of your population to submit. The rest shall be erased."
But Earth did not kneel.
The Legendary Founders stood as one — a coalition of early Awakened, wielders of raw code energy.
Their battle with Xranthos devastated continents, but they held the line. In the end, Xranthos vanished…
Not defeated.
Just driven off.
His return, however, was prophesied.
And humanity prepared — by building training academies like SONA.
---
Flynn checked his wristband.
> "And on that note — placement exams begin next month."
Excited chatter erupted in the room.
---
[System Prompt]
> Emotional spike detected.
Energy Output – 42%. Recovery Rate – Insufficient.
Projected survival in tier-based tournament: 11%.
Recommendation: Drastic growth required.
---
Sage winced slightly. His head throbbed. The system's voice had grown louder these past few days...
More aware. More demanding.
"Not now," Sage whispered under his breath.
A voice across the room broke his focus.
> "If I was there when Xranthos attacked," Ryker smirked, flame dancing across his fingertips, "I'd have fried him alive."
The class laughed.
> "Yeah, right," Ski added. "We'd all gang up and take him down.
All of us... except someone."
Sage didn't look. He didn't need to.
> "What's he gonna do? Spiral him into a coma?" Mark scoffed.
The laughter roared louder.
---
After class, Sage tried to slip away unnoticed — but someone matched his steps.
Kol.
The tall, broad-shouldered Alpha-tier Slayer walked beside him like they were long-time friends.
> "You really pissed off Mark," Kol said casually. "You've got a talent for that."
Sage grunted, not slowing.
> "You're wasting meat," Kol added.
Sage glanced over. "Excuse me?"
Kol tossed a half-eaten strip of dried meat toward him.
> "Saw your eyes yesterday. You were staring at my stockpile like it owed you money."
Sage caught it. His stomach nearly cried.
"I've got ten points. That's not even enough to buy bones," he muttered.
"So let's deal," Kol said. "You do my morning chores — laundry, weapon polishing. I'll give you leftover meat. Fair?"
Sage narrowed his eyes.
> "How do I know you won't screw me over?"
> "You don't," Kol said with a shrug. "But you'll still say yes."
Sage paused. "You always this chatty?"
> "Only when I'm curious," Kol replied.
Sage stared at the meat in his hand… then nodded.
---
The hallway buzzed with energy — laughter, footsteps, post-class bragging.
> "I heard Austin Ringoff and Kai Lannister are attending the exams this year!" one boy shouted near the dining area.
Gasps followed.
> "No way! If Kai sees me in action, he's totally picking me," said a spiky-haired boy, flexing muscles that weren't really there.
> "Why would he pick you?" a blonde girl asked, twirling her hand. Flowers bloomed in the air beside her.
"Green code," Sage muttered, watching.
> "Yeah? What's he gonna do with you — plant gardens?" another teased. Sparks danced on their fingertips.
The tension between them looked seconds from a fight.
Sage walked past, shaking his head. Same old circus.
---
Back at his dorm, he dropped to the floor and began knocking out push-ups.
One. Two. Fifty. One hundred...
He kept going until his arms gave in.
---
[Daily Requirements – Completed]
> Push-ups: 300 ✔️
Strength +1
Reward: Quest Unlocked
"Perform quests to level up."
First Quest: Find out about the 13th Ring.
Sage collapsed onto the floor, chest heaving.
> "Thirteenth Ring?" he muttered. "There's only twelve."