Arriving at the bustling cafeteria located in the heart of the academy, I was immediately enveloped by the familiar chorus of chatter and laughter. The place was always alive during meal hours, a kind of energy that couldn't be avoided. The aroma of freshly prepared food drifted through the air, teasing my senses with its rich blend of spices, roasted meats, and warm grains.
The cafeteria was more than just a place to eat—it was a stage where friendships formed, rivalries simmered, and reputations were quietly built or destroyed. Students of all ranks and backgrounds gathered here, and for once, no one seemed to care about bloodline or noble house. Hunger was the only equalizer.
I took a moment to scan the glowing menu screens above the counter. Rows of steaming dishes appeared in crisp images, each with detailed notes about their nutritional and magical effects. I wasn't just looking for something to quiet my stomach—I wanted something that would push me forward in training. My eyes lingered on one dish.
**The Tempered Aethergrain Bowl.**
The description caught me instantly: *"A carefully balanced blend of snow-oats, lunar beans, and firegrass broth. Restores stamina, sharpens mana circulation, and promotes steady recovery after training."*
Perfect.
"Since it's free for students," I muttered under my breath, "might as well go for the best."
I stepped up to the counter. A young cafeteria worker with a cheerful smile tapped at her screen as I gave my order.
"One Tempered Aethergrain Bowl… and a glass of Citrine Berry Juice," I said, my voice steady though my stomach roared at the thought.
"Of course!" she replied warmly. "I'll have it ready for you in no time."
She turned, moving with practiced ease behind the counter. Even in the busy surroundings, she kept her tone gentle, as though trying to soften the storm of chatter around us. Within a few minutes, she returned with a tray.
"Here you go."
The aroma rising from the bowl was enough to make me forget my fatigue. I carried it carefully across the cafeteria and settled into a corner table where I could watch without being watched.
---
The first spoonful was heaven.
The oats were soft and rich, soaked in a broth that carried a subtle heat—firegrass, no doubt—while the lunar beans added a slight sweetness that balanced it perfectly. Every bite seemed to dissolve the tension in my muscles, sending warmth through my limbs and clearing the fog in my head.
The Citrine Berry Juice added a sharp contrast—cool, tangy, and refreshing, its citrus-like bite cutting cleanly through the heavier flavors of the meal. Together, they worked in harmony: warmth and coolness, strength and clarity.
As I ate, I let my thoughts drift, the food easing me into reflection.
---
The Strongest Hunter's Rise.
That was what this world truly was, beneath its polished academy halls and bustling cafeterias. A game, once—but no longer. The names and powers I remembered were real now. And with them came the structures that ruled this world.
The human domain was called the Seraphis Federation. Through centuries of struggle, countless families had risen and fallen. But above them stood seven, unshakable and unchallenged.
The Seven Great Houses.
• Orbane—the unmatched masters of spearmanship, feared for their flawless precision.Orbanes are raised in a culture of discipline, honor, and martial pride, their name synonymous with both unshakable loyalty and unyielding ferocity.
• Goldvain—the wealthy pillars of the Hunter industry, pulling strings with sheer economic power. Their influence runs deep through the Hunter industry, supplying weapons, enchanted equipment, and resources to warriors across the world.
• Crimsonheart— Hailing from the mystical Luminaris Dominion , House Crimsonheart are masters of Fire magic . Their bloodline is said to carry an ember of the Primordial Flame granting them unparalleled destructive power. Crimsonhearts are feared and revered alike.
• Frostborn—Also from the Luminaris Dominion, the Frostborn embody the opposite yet equal force to the Crimsonhearts. Where Crimsonhearts are fire and fury, Frostborn are ice and patience — cold, calculating, and ruthless. They command devastating ice sorcery.
• Evercest—House Evercest is a lineage forged in the crucible of swordsmanship.The swordsmen beyond compare, their blades carving their legacy across the Federation.
• Stormvale—the generals, the leaders of armies, who commanded the Federation's strength in war. Stormvale's power lies in its control of the military. They command legions, fortresses, and fleets, their banners a constant presence on every battlefield.
• Lionheart—The Lionhearts represent old nobility and heroic tradition.The noble lineage with prestige, wealth, and an unmatched tradition of swordsmanship and treasure hoarding. Their bloodline produces warriors and adventurers of great renown.
Together, they formed the "Sovereign Council"—the highest authority of the human domain. Their decisions shaped everything. Their heirs shaped the future.
And in the game, those heirs—their children, their prodigies—were the ones who stood as the pillars of the main story.
But the Sovereign Council wasn't exactly ruled by these 7 families only. The Sovereign Council was actually ruled by the Monarchs.
The Hunter ranking system was straightforward yet daunting. It began with 0-star Hunters, individuals with barely any mana or combat skills, and climbed all the way to 10-star Hunters, beings of unimaginable power. The mana levels of 10-star Hunters weren't measurable, and only a handful of individuals across the world had ever reached that peak.
This system wasn't exclusive to humans. Elves, dwarves , orcs, demons, and other races followed the same classification. Yet, even among the rare 10-star Hunters, some stood above the rest. These extraordinary individuals were called Rankers, elite warriors whose power dwarfed their peers.
But there was a level even higher—a realm that transcended mortal limits.
The Monarchs.
Monarchs represent the pinnacle of Hunter strength, standing above even Rankers.
Unlike ordinary Hunters who focus on honing individual skills or raw power, Monarchs achieve a complete mastery over their abilities and themselves. Their strength doesn't lie in bending reality, but in the sheer overwhelming control, efficiency, and depth of their power.
They are the final guardians of the mortal realm, the rulers of their age, and the measure against which all others are judged.
In the human domain there were 10 Monarchs. All the heads of the Seven houses were Monarchs. Including them there was 3 more people who have achieved that realm.
Those 10 people were the true rulers of the human domain. Together they formed the Sovereign Council.
I set my spoon down, staring absently at the surface of my juice as these thoughts played through my head.
A sudden shift in the cafeteria's atmosphere pulled me back to the present.
The chatter didn't vanish, but it tilted—redirected, focused. My ears caught the subtle rise in excited voices, the occasional hushed whisper. It was the kind of ripple you only noticed when everyone's attention had been pulled in the same direction.
I followed their gazes.
At a table near the center, three boys sat together, their presence so natural yet so commanding that it was impossible not to notice them. They weren't loud—not really—but the way they carried themselves, the way they spoke among each other, seemed to draw every eye.
One leaned back with casual confidence, laughing easily at something another had said. Another carried himself with a kind of sharp intensity, his words deliberate and strong even though I couldn't hear them from where I sat. The third looked quieter, but there was something steady about him, a calm weight that made him stand out as much as the others.
The students around them tried not to stare, but it was impossible. These three were different. Even without names or titles announced, their presence announced itself.
I felt my chest tighten, my heartbeat quickening.
I knew them.
I knew exactly who they were supposed to be.
In the game, they were part of the cast that carried the story forward, each entwined with events that shifted the Federation, the Academy, and even the balance between domains. Seeing them here, not as avatars on a screen but living, breathing figures—
I couldn't stop the small smirk that tugged at my lips.
"It's finally about time I get to see them."
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Sorry for the late update. I was really busy yesterday and couldn't get the time to write. I'm sorry about that. I'll try to update the next chapter as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.