While we were on our way, my eyes suddenly began to close on their own. I drifted off for a bit—what they call "sleep," I presume. It was a slumber both wonderful and terrible at once. Everything I saw turned back into eternal darkness, but this time, I saw something strange: a white light with a massive black dot at its center. It lingered for a moments before vanishing in a flash. I woke up abruptly, panicking, muttering things I barely understood. Joy said to me:
"What were you babbling about, Niko? Did you have a nightmare during your nap? You were saying strange, incomprehensible things."
I answered him with complete honesty, using the first word that came to my mind: "I think it was just a nightmare as you said, Joy. Perhaps my memory is clouded right now."
Nelson spoke up, his voice heavy with gloom: "Don't worry, friend. We all have nightmares in this world. We just faced a real one and survived... some return from their nightmares, and others bid this world farewell..."
Then Bahti cut in: "What are you rambling about, Nelson? Come on, you gloomy narcissist, this is no time for such talk! You should celebrate our victory with Niko for saving us." (He said it laughing).
Shozu added: "Bahti is right, Nelson. We should forget that shock as long as we are alive; that's what matters. If death comes, objection is not an available option, so live your life as you should."
Nelson looked at his friends, then at Niko, and said: "I apologize for the negativity I caused you, Niko. Sometimes our lives feel nihilistic and worthless right after escaping a major trap, that's why I spoke that nonsense..." (He smiled).
I laughed... Yes, I laughed! I said with both laughter and seriousness: "What are you saying, Nelson? Everything you said is absolutely true! That's why I feel happy; not because you got depressed, but because you spoke the truth. It's good for a person to know the reality of things as they are in this life. I salute you all for your courage. Live your lives as they should be lived. Even if death comes, face it. Though it seems impossible, it makes you die happy instead of surrendering before it happens. Thank you for this session." (I laughed again).
Then I noticed something and said: "Oh, I see it... is this Arcadia you told me about?"
Joy spoke: "Yes, Niko, it is Arcadia. Have you seen its enchanting beauty?"
[The Great Kingdom of Arcadia]
Arcadia is considered one of the most important and wealthiest kingdoms, characterized by its bright light and buildings adorned with gold and silver. It is a tourist and economic destination for all kingdoms, distinguished by its aesthetic charm and the mixing of races where they coexist and produce. Arcadia is the second kingdom after the Elven Kingdom, and there is the Sky Star Kingdom, which is the capital and source for its supreme ruler, "Azreal."
Nelson said: "Prepare yourself, Niko. You are about to reach what you desire. In this kingdom, there are luxurious libraries and elite, high-ranking universities. Arcadia is a house of knowledge and learning, where most knights and great leaders of high levels graduate."
I replied: "I understand, thank you all. I think this is what I am currently seeking." (With a slight smile).
Shozu spoke up: "Sorry, Niko, but before we arrive, we must find a solution to get you in because the soldiers might stop you. I'm sorry to say this, but your appearance suggests danger and threat, so we must think about it."
I said: "No, it's fine. I am aware of this. Nelson, can you give me your hand?"
Nelson: "Yes, certainly, but how will it help you...???? Impossible! How did you do that, Niko?"
(I laughed): "Don't worry, this is one of my traits; I can change my skin color and biological structure. Don't be surprised; I discovered this with you while accompanying you on the road."
Joy, driving the carriage, said: "You are truly amazing, Niko! You seem talented. As for the entry permit, I'll take care of it, so no need to worry."
I said: "Thank you, friends, for this kind treatment."
The group replied:
Nelson: "This is nothing compared to what you did."
Bahti: "Yes, saving our lives is a huge thing compared to what we do."
Shozu: "Thank you for giving us life again."
Joy: "It's all thanks to you, Niko. If you need anything, just let us know. We've arrived, guys, get ready."
At the gate, the guard said: "Stop! Show your permits and entry documents."
Joy: "Certainly, sir, here you go... We are the scout soldier expedition, just back from a mission."
The Guard: "Copy that, entry approved. But what about the other person with you?"
Joy: "Apologies, sir, I forgot to introduce him. This person is called Niko. He helped us on a mission, and I think he was also a scout soldier because we found him lost. I hope you allow him in on my guarantee. We will go straight to the identification office to provide his information. You can send a soldier with us if you want."
The guard stared at me, then said: "Alright, proceed. Go directly to the General Documents Hall to provide your information."
Joy: "Thank you, sir. Have a nice day."
The Squad: "Phew! Finally made it! Congratulations, Niko, you can enter now. We are sure when we tell them about your achievement, they will give you a full permit for the kingdom."
Niko: "Alright, thank you guys. I'll leave you now to explore the kingdom."
The Soldiers: "Goodbye Niko, see you later. Good luck with your goal and thank you for everything."
Finally, I arrived at the kingdom. The step I will follow now is to search for a place of knowledge, and I will take my time doing that. I think I will reach some basic answers for this place... Wait a moment! Damn! I forgot to ask them where the library is. I must search for it or ask people.
While walking, I said to myself: I'll walk a bit, hoping to find someone to tell me where this library is.
I said to someone: "Excuse me, I want to ask about the library."
She replied angrily: "You idiot, I'm a girl! Did you mistake me for someone else? Men today are truly disgusting!"
I thought: What is this? Did I do something wrong? It seems to me like a different creature than the people I met. Strange! The difference was just that her ears were slightly long and her face was clear. Strange! It seems I really need to reach this library; I truly know nothing about this world.
I said to her: "Hey person, I am Niko. Can you tell me or guide me to the library?"
She replied: "Hello, I am Melina. Of course, come with me, I'll show you where the library is."
Niko: "Ah, thank you."
Melina: "It seems you're not from around here, Niko, or is this your first time in Arcadia?" (She laughs).
Niko: "Yes, you're right, my first time here."
Melina (laughs): "I see, but why do you address me as if I'm a male? And your accent sounds a bit old-fashioned..."
Niko: "I don't know what you mean, and how do you want me to address you?"
Melina (laughs): "You're truly an oddball! Anyway, we females, you must address us with feminine words. For example, instead of saying (What's wrong with you - male form) you say (What's wrong with you - female form). I hope you understand."
Niko: "So that's it? It seems I made a mistake. I apologize for this; my memory is a bit clouded..."
Melina: "No problem, Niko. Nice to meet you. I think we've reached our destination. This is the library you wanted. Go sit anywhere, choose a book you like, and read it. When you're done, put it back. Those are the rules since you're new here. I think I'll say goodbye now, let's meet again... goodbye." (She smiles).
Niko: "Certainly, goodbye, thank you for guiding me." (A slight smile).
Finally, let me choose a book, any book. I hope I can understand the language. I'll sit here... So, let's start now. Good, I can read the words. Title: "Natural Biology." Oh, this is good, let's see the next page...
After 8 hours, the library owner spoke: "You brat! It's time to go, we're closing now! You, can you hear me? If you don't leave, I'll lock you in! HEY YOU!"
I thought to myself: Damn, who cares? Just lock me in here... So, this is regarding biology, let's see this book titled "Human Evolution"...
After 5 months passed, I said to myself: Good, what a morning! I'll go to the library again. What should I read today? 289 books? I must complete 300. The number doesn't matter, but I need more information. Here I am.
Niko: "Hello Charles, how are you?"
Charles: "Back again, you book-obsessed freak?" (Laughing).
Niko: "Certainly, I still need knowledge. Your library is wonderful, Charles."
Charles (laughs): "Thank you for the compliment. Read whatever you want, Niko. In the end, you are the one who appreciates the value of books and what they contain. You have two shelves left to finish this humble library."
Niko: "Thank you, Charles."
Now what shall I choose? While looking at the books, a strange one caught my eye titled "The Eternal Dimension," then another titled "Star Logic"...
Almost five months passed, and I have now become aware of everything. I learned that I am on a planet called Earth, located within a group called the Solar System, moving in a circular orbit around the Sun. I learned about these creatures called humans, classified into two types: female and male, forming a single path for reproduction and proliferation. I understood everything about the human race—their behaviors, their feelings, everything—and I am still discovering new things every day. There is still a long way ahead of me. The most important thing now is that I obtained the kingdom permit, and I also registered at the most prestigious university, thanks to "Charles."
Now the real journey begins. There are also secrets about my form and my power; there is a great black energy flowing in my right hand. I don't know what it is; I think I am the only one who can see it. I'll discover its secret later. Anyway, I must rest here. Tomorrow I must head to the university. I think I'll say goodbye to this small bed and this tight space; Charles was truly generous. Now I'll move to a new place in the university. As Charles said, they provide free food and luxurious housing according to your level and progress in study. Now I must relax a bit; tomorrow I'll wake up early... (I drifted off).
"Haaah... Alright, let's go and try this university. Farewell, Charles."
Charles: "I wish you happy days, Niko."
Niko: "Yes, don't worry, Charles, I'll come to visit you again. Thank you for everything you provided, from the welcome to the knowledge."
Charles (smile): "This is nothing compared to the knowledge you'll find at that university. One last tip: don't mind the behavior of some students there. Good luck, and remember this is your library, you can return to it whenever you want."
Niko: "Yes, Charles, I know that. Goodbye."
Now let's try this. First thing I'll do is explore the university. I'll try to stay away from humans as much as possible for now, or I might befriend someone, but with caution...
"HEYYY NIKO! Is that you? I'm here!"
(Smile): "Oh, your loud voice, Melina!"
Melina: "Ooooh! You remembered me? Your memory is so strong! And why are you wearing university clothes? Don't tell me you're going to study there!"
Niko: "Yes, certainly. I'm heading to the university. Do you want to accompany me? I need you for some things to guide me if you want."
Melina: "Certainly I'll accompany you! You can ask me anything you want and I'll help you." (A wide smile).
Niko: "Ah, thank you, I really appreciate this."
Melina: "Of course, no problem. By the way, Niko, where have you been all this time? And did you find what you were looking for in that small library?"
Niko: "I was exploring the kingdom and also reading some books. Even though it's a small library, it provided me with great help."
Melina: "That's great, Niko! So how many books have you read approximately? Currently, I've read about 76 books since I was about 12 years old."
Niko: "For me, currently I've reached 1,051 books, I think. And this number is still very small; I still need knowledge."
Melina (shocked): "WHAAAT?! Ho... How did you read that number in such a short time? And also (small) for you? You truly are a strange creature!"
Niko: "Yes, stranger than you imagine. I'm excited to see the kind of knowledge in this university..."
Melina: "Haaa! And you still want more? But to give you some good news, the university has a huge library. At least it contains 12,000 books as far as I know."
Niko: "Oh, that's good. It seems I'm lucky... here we are. Anyway, I'll take a look at the university. See you later."
Melina: "Certainly, I'll catch up with you soon to introduce you more to the university if you want."
Niko: "Alright, see you later."
This is good. Now let's see what we have in this university. It looks extremely white and shining, its material made of high-quality gray marble and brass that decorates it, with a very wonderful magical character... So this is what humans call beauty...
A student: "You! Get out of our way, you idiot!"
What is wrong with these people? So this is the arrogance embodied in their traits. Anyway, I'll ignore it for now. There is something more important I need to find.
[Ring! Ring! Students, please head to your classes now]
Alright, that's great, this is what I've been waiting for.
Subject: Magic Sciences and Self-Control
Class Teacher "Suzuna Hikari": "Everyone take your seats, we will start the lesson in 40 seconds. Hello students, I am Suzuna Hikari, teacher of Magic Sciences and Self-Control. Today we will explain types of magic and high ranks."
"Magic, or what is known as natural elements, forms an essential part of human life as it formed a qualitative shift in research technology and applied sciences, opening a large door towards developing human life and raising them to the highest level. Today we will see these elements and the ranks you will obtain in the future as you develop. First, what are the basic elements compatible with humans?"
(Water): It is the easiest to control, and its compatibility with humans reaches 98%.
(Fire): Strong in terms of impact, and control over it is good depending on the person's mental capacity. Its compatibility with humans reaches 89%.
(Air): Considered one of the distinct elements; controlling it needs experience, accuracy, and knowledge too. Compatibility with humans is 81%.
(Lightning): Lightning element is difficult to control. It needs a strong physical structure capable of endurance and intensive training, unlike previous elements. Its compatibility with humans is only 28% due to its difficulty and rare appearance.
As for the current ranks that allow you to know your power, measured by the (Super Nova) machine, I will explain it now:
[World Power System]
The power system in the world contains three sections:
Element Level:
Element [Soldier Rank]
Element [Elite Rank]
Element [General Rank]
Mystic Element Level:
Mystic [Commander General Rank]
Mystic [War General Rank]
Mystic [Legend Rank]
Mystic [Emperor Rank]
Dark Level:
Dark [Dragon Rank]
Dark [Emergence Rank]
Dark [Star Rank]
Dark [Great Void Rank]
[Power Ranking According to Statistics]
Soldier Rank [1000 - 2300]
Elite Rank [2300 - 6900]
General Rank [6900 - 10000]
Commander General Rank [90,000 - 150,000]
War General Rank [100,000 - 230,000]
Legend Rank [300,000 - 550,000]
Emperor Rank [1,000,000 - 4,000,000]
Dragon Rank [16,000,000 - 40,000,000]
Emergence Rank [52,000,000 - 80,000,000]
Star Rank [600,000,000 - 920,000,000]
Great Void Rank [1,000,000,800 - 5,400,570,800]
(Comparison):
Normal Human Rank: 800 - 1000
Weak Human Rank: 210 - 403
Newborn Human Rank: 3 - 8
[Rank Ladder and Benefits]
Depends on the level of training and mastery of the element, plus mental focus and physical effort. Evolution takes time based on effort and training. Ranks are granted by The Supreme Union Organization which has advanced measuring devices. In the final test, you face an individual from the Elite or General rank to determine your eligibility.
Qualified individuals receive: Money, priority in services, military ranks, admission to major universities, and travel documents across empires.
[Possibility of Mastering Multiple Elements]
War General Rank and above: 34%
Emperor Rank and above: 56%
Dragon Rank and above: 76%
Star Rank and above: 84%
Void Rank: Absolute at 100%
"Note to you students: regarding the Void rank, it is just an imaginary rank because no one has ever been able to reach it and it is impossible. It was placed only to pursue continuous development. I hope you benefited from this session. Any questions?
One student raised his hand, breaking the heavy silence that had filled the lecture hall.
"I have a question, Professor."
Professor Suzuna Hikari turned her gaze toward him, adjusting her stance.
"Go ahead... Oh, you're the new student. Remind me of your name?"
The student replied with a firm, steady voice:
"Yes, I am Niko Sigmund. I have a question regarding the ranks you mentioned earlier."
Professor Suzuna smiled kindly.
"Yes, certainly. Please, feel free to ask your questions, Niko."
Niko asked, his tone carrying a hint of mysterious depth:
"My question is about 'The Great Void' rank. Why does it carry this specific name? Why isn't it officially recognized like the other ranks? And is it true that no figure has ever reached this rank throughout history?"
Professor Suzuna straightened her posture and answered:
"Ah, it seems those are several questions rather than just one, but I shall answer you. First, regarding the name, it is a level derived from the cosmic system and everything related to it, such as galaxies, planets, and black holes—I believe you will study this in detail during the 'Astral Research' semester. Furthermore, there is a literal great void in our galaxy where no stars or planets exist, only a vast and profound darkness. That is where the term 'The Great Void' originated, and we established it as the highest rank in the system."
She continued with a more serious expression:
"As for your second question about its recognition, it is indeed officially recorded in the archives. However, the issue is that no one has reached it currently. The strongest known individual is King Azreal, whose rank is 'The Star,' but 'The Great Void' has remained unachieved by anyone so far. This answers your third question as well."
She concluded with a nod and a smile:
"I hope that answers your questions, Niko."
Niko nodded back and said:
"Yes, thank you, Professor Suzuna. I understand the matter perfectly now."
Following that, Niko sank deep into his own thoughts:
(This is good. Now I have a clear understanding of the matter. Perhaps 'The Great Void' represents that absolute blackness—the same nothingness I was in, I presume. It seems I have taken my first step on the path to answering my own questions, and that is a good start...)
[End of Chapter 2]