The stunned silence in the underground facility lasted only a moment before erupting into a cacophony of gasps, whispers, and excited murmurs. Headmaster Hiroshi Sato, a man renowned for his unwavering composure, stood frozen, his jaw slack. Akari and Renji, despite their injuries, were beaming, their earlier awe now replaced with triumphant vindication.
"S-rank…" the Headmaster finally managed to articulate, his voice barely a whisper. He moved towards Kenji with a speed that belied his age, his stern expression replaced by one of profound reverence. "Kenji Tanaka… The 13th S-rank. This is… unprecedented. A true miracle."
Before Kenji could even process the words, the Headmaster had clasped his hand, shaking it vigorously. "Welcome, Kenji Tanaka, to the Golden Gate Academy! No, not just welcome… this Academy is now yours to command. You will be provided with the finest training, the best equipment, and all the resources at our disposal. Your potential… it could change the tide of this war against the demons!"
Kenji felt a whirlwind of emotions. Relief, yes, but also a growing sense of apprehension. He was no longer just Kenji, the bullied kid. He was an S-rank. The weight of that title, the expectation, suddenly settled on his shoulders.
"Headmaster," Kenji began, his voice still a little tentative, "I… I appreciate the welcome. But I still don't know anything about fighting. I only awakened last night. I need to learn."
Headmaster Sato paused, his expression shifting from awe to a shrewd, assessing gaze. "A wise observation, young Tanaka. Raw power is one thing, but true mastery requires discipline, skill, and the ability to work in harmony with others. You are correct. Even an S-rank must be combat-ready and capable of teamwork. We cannot afford to simply unleash such a potent force without ensuring its full potential can be realized responsibly."
The Thousand Warrior Challenge
"Therefore," the Headmaster declared, his voice ringing with renewed authority, "you will participate in the Thousand Warrior Challenge."
A collective murmur rippled through the assembled unranked and lower-ranked fighters. The Thousand Warrior Challenge was legendary – a grueling, multi-stage trial designed to push even the most seasoned Awakened to their limits.
"It is a series of ten rounds of diverse challenges," the Headmaster explained, gesturing towards the large monitor that now displayed Kenji's S-rank status for all to see. "Physical endurance, spiritual control, tactical analysis, survival skills… culminating in a five-team Dungeon Dive into an A-ranked Dungeon." His gaze returned to Kenji, sharp and piercing. "This will hone your powers, young Tanaka, and prove your readiness. And it will show you the true capabilities of those who fight alongside you."
The news spread like wildfire through the Academy. An S-rank, a newly awakened one at that, was participating in the Thousand Warrior Challenge. Every eye was on Kenji.
Over the next few days, Kenji astounded everyone.
Round 1: Spiritual Endurance Run. A relentless cross-country race across varied, spirit-draining terrain. Kenji, tapping into his seemingly limitless reserves, finished miles ahead of everyone, his S-rank spiritual energy effortlessly countering the draining effects.
Round 2: Spiritual Control & Targeting. Precision tests involving manipulating spiritual energy to hit impossibly small targets and create intricate constructs. Kenji, with the System's intuitive guidance, displayed uncanny control, forming razor-sharp spiritual blades and pinpoint energy blasts, achieving perfect scores.
Round 3: Tactical Maze Simulation. A virtual reality simulation where participants navigated a monster-infested maze, making critical strategic decisions. Kenji, despite his lack of experience, possessed an innate understanding of spiritual pathways and enemy weaknesses, guided by the System's alerts. He completed the maze in record time, with zero casualties.
Round 4 through 9 continued in a similar vein. Whether it was close-quarters spiritual combat simulations, defensive barrier tests, or even complex spiritual puzzle-solving, Kenji consistently placed first in every single event leading up to the final, most dangerous round: the Dungeon Dive. His progress was terrifyingly fast, his innate power combined with the System's direct guidance allowing him to absorb and master techniques at an unprecedented rate. Whispers followed him everywhere: "A prodigy," "A natural," "He's just built different."
The Dungeon Team: A Calculated Risk
Finally, the day of the Dungeon Dive arrived. The final challenge. Five teams, each with five members, would venture into a newly discovered A-ranked Dungeon.
Kenji stood with his assigned team in the briefing room, the air thick with tension. He scanned his teammates, his new abilities allowing him to instinctively gauge their spiritual signatures.
There was Yuna, a quiet girl with a solemn expression and a C-rank spiritual signature, specializing in long-range spiritual archery. Hiroki, a boisterous, overconfident guy, also a C-rank, who favored aggressive close-quarters spiritual constructs. Saki, a timid boy, a D-rank, whose spiritual energy was weak but whose focus was on support and healing. And finally, Goro, a seasoned but weary veteran, his spiritual signature only a C-rank, who seemed to have seen too many battles.
Kenji realized with a jolt that Goro, the veteran, was the strongest in his team, and he was only a C-rank. This was by design. The Academy wasn't trying to make it easy for the S-rank. They were testing his ability to lead, to adapt, to elevate those around him.
The Headmaster's voice boomed over the intercom. "Teams, prepare for deployment into Dungeon Gamma-7: The Whispering Catacombs."
Kenji looked at his team. Yuna looked nervous, Hiroki overly eager, Saki terrified, and Goro resigned. They were competent, perhaps, but certainly not exceptional. And an A-ranked Dungeon was no joke. Lives could be lost.
A cold certainty settled over Kenji. He couldn't just rely on his raw power in here. He had to think. He had to plan. He had to be a leader. He had to keep them all alive.
No one dies.
He looked at each of his teammates, a new resolve hardening his gaze. "Alright, listen up," Kenji said, his voice quiet but firm, carrying an unexpected weight of authority. "I know we just met, but we're going into an A-ranked Dungeon. It's dangerous. Extremely dangerous. My goal is to get all of us out of there, alive. To do that, we need to work together. I need to understand your skills, your limits, everything. I'll be strategizing every move."
He looked directly at Yuna. "Yuna, your ranged support will be crucial. Pinpoint accuracy will save lives. Hiroki, your aggression will be vital for breaking through enemy lines, but we'll need to channel it, not waste it. Saki, your support and healing will be our lifeline. Goro, your experience is invaluable; I'll rely on you for insight into the Dungeon's nature."
He paused, letting his words sink in. He had to learn their skills. He had to use everyone strategically. It wasn't about his power alone. It was about theirs, combined. He, the kid who had no drive, no ambition, was suddenly burdened with the survival of four others.
The System, ever present, chimed softly in his mind.
[NEW QUEST: SURVIVE DUNGEON GAMMA-7. ALL TEAM MEMBERS MUST BE PRESENT AT EXTRACTION POINT. REWARD: ADVANCED TEAMWORK SKILL. RISK: HIGH.]
Kenji took a deep breath. This wasn't just a test of his strength. It was a test of his leadership.