Miles looked wearily at the door in front of him. The majestic gate was like the entrance to heaven. The gate was closing a narrow opening that was naturally created by a mountain range. The mountains were lined up like a wall, covering a circular opening the size of a city. This circular clearing was the city he had aimed to come to for the past two weeks.

The last half a month was like hell for Miles. His vision never recovered ever since he started hallucinating, and had to fight with all the creatures with the help of Coin. Only now that he reached the gates of the city, the red film covering his vision had disappeared. He didn’t know what caused him to see all those illusions, but it was not something natural caused by the valley, that was for sure.

He was hearing voices, waking him up from his sleep. At some point in time, he even started to hear Coin telling him there were monsters everywhere. Luckily, Coin was linked to his mind, so he could forgo anything he saw and heard and only trusted what Coin streamed in his brain.

But it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Firstly, the image Coin could share was limited. Unlike Miles, Coin didn’t have the elemental vision. Although with the new upgrade, Coin’s hardware had been upgraded too. He used the best cameras with heat vision, night vision, and several others. But it was still worse than elemental vision.

Secondly, because of the mental strain, Coin had to simplify the image. It was like watching the Earth with 8K with his own pair of eyes, but the next second he was fighting with a 144p image streamed in his mind. The image was colorless and there were only vague edges enough to let Miles avoid traps and pits.

Fighting was even worse. Monsters would only light up when they attack, so Miles could react faster, but other than that they were still vague images. So, Miles couldn’t read their movements nor use his instincts.

All in all, the last two weeks were like hell. His mind was at the point of not being able to differentiate truth from lies.

When Miles entered through the door there were close to several hundred people besides the gate, waiting.

“Right on time. There was only an hour for the countdown to end.” The bald man with a thick beard said with a smile. His face was scarred, and his eyes were burning with flames. He was checking Miles from head to toe.

The man was wearing a military uniform but he had no insignia. He looked like a regular soldier, but Miles could sense that the man was no weaker than his grandfather.

Other than him, everyone there was looking at Miles in fear. Miles’s eyes were no different from monsters. It looked like he wanted to devour them. His body was covered with monster pelt while there were scars everywhere. He was bloody and reeked iron. An invisible bloodthirst was seeping from Miles, holding everyone standing there from their necks.

There was a giant animal skin sack behind Miles. They didn’t know what was inside it, but the visage of this wild man scared the students despite the battles they experienced in the Portal World.

The bald man who previously talked, looked at Miles and smiled, “When will you withdraw your aura?” He was still smiling, but for a second Miles saw a monster behind the man. The monster opened his giant maw and roared at him. The roar and bloodlust were so dense, Miles was about to pass out. He felt his back was drenched in sweat. He panted when the man talked again. “Not bad, not bad at all.”

“Since you return from Valley of no Return and finish the madman test, you are now Number 1. This is your name from now on.

In this place, your old identities are worth less than a shit. Doesn’t matter who you were, whose son, daughter, lover you were worth shit! Only your strength is important.

In the entrance test, you were numbered according to your powers, but there is a secret rule going on ever since this academy was created. Anyone who can pass the madman test will be the number one.” The man started to explain, but a teen cut off his word.

“Sir, if I may!” Miles looked at the person and noticed the teen’s gaze was on him too. He was looking at Miles with hatred and scorn.

“What?” The Bald man asked with dissatisfaction.

“I was ranked as Number 1 after we were tested. Since this person used an alternative test, it only means his power wasn’t up to the task. He is either not Form-Rank yet or hasn't used enough serums. I agree that the test he took was not a thing a sensible man would do, but it doesn’t prove his strength. I would like to spar with him to claim back my old rank.” The teen said and looked at the bald man with respect.

“Since it comes to this, it is a good time to mention how ranking works.” The bald man said and continued, “All you have passed the knowledge test so you all know that in my city the only currency is merit points. Any other form of trade is prohibited.

Newcomers have a designated place for them containing one mansion for Number 1, one villa for Number 2, twenty huts for next 20 numbers, 200 apartments for the following 200 numbers, and 300 rooms with 4 beds in each for the following 1200 numbers.”

“Um, sir?” One of the girls asked shyly.

“What is it?” the bald man asked.

“According to what you said, there is accommodation for 1423 of us only. We are 2000 in total, ah sorry, 2001 with that guy.” She said while pointing at the crowd and Miles.

“Do I have to repeat myself? Those numbered beyond 1423 will stay on the streets!” The bald man said and looked at the person who wanted to challenge Miles.

“Every person can challenge any number above. If you win, you can take his rank, but if you lose you will pay him 10 merits. Do you agree?”

“Yes, sir!” The teen looked at Miles with a smirk and nodded.

“Okay then.” The bald man smiled and took a step back. The students followed and opened the area for two to fight. “I will introduce you two. It is the rules of the spars in the academy.”

“Number 2, almost 18 years old. Form-Rank low-tier, Heart Seed. Has a superpower, Solar Lamp. Used two strengthening serums.” The teen looked at Miles ignominiously. He was proud of his power.

“Number 1, 17 years and 3 months old. low-tier, Body Seed. Has no superpower—” When the bald man talked until here, the 2000 odd people gasped at the same time. They looked at Miles with bewilderment, then realized something.

“That is impossible, if he doesn’t have a superpower, how can he?” One of the girls asked, but couldn’t finish her question.

“He used 4 strengthening serums before he even leveled up to Form-Rank.” The bald man looked at the surprised teens with a smile and said, “Fight!”