A broken wall from a nearby ruin stood before a glorious signboard reading "The Grand Irricestar Institute." The sight made one feel that this had been a great fortress in days past, but now only remained its ruinous shell.

"The Grand Irricestar?" Asked a young boy, stumbling towards the entrance of the institute without knowing what else to say while glancing around in surprise at the vast number of people moving about outside the main gate.

A handful of scholars strolled the streets here and there with their books under arms, no doubt engaged in research or simply taking advantage of the chance to savour an atmosphere far removed from everyday affairs.

Groups of men clad all in white stepped out of the institute's gate on horseback as if they were noblemen heading home after visiting friends elsewhere. There was no way they could be mistaken for commoners, even at a glance.

They seemed like soldiers returning to barracks, not scholars going back to study hall. However, none paid any attention to the other. They hardly noticed each other passing by, never mind talking.

The students attending the Grand Irricestar Institute stood before this historic relic with bated breath while they stared up at it in awe. They all felt immense pressure because the fate of all human civilization rested on their shoulders.

Their goal?

To grow strong enough to defeat the monsters threatening mankind's existence. This is the reason why the new generation will inherit the mantle passed down to them by the old ones: the duty to guard humanity's legacy. That alone is worth living and dying for.

A boy stares off into space, wondering what kind of future awaited him, thinking about his parents, sister, friends, and relatives back home. He stares at the mountain range with intense determination.

Inside The Grand Irricestar Institute, hundreds of students paced across its courtyard between classes, clacking pencils against blackboards while scowling or chatting amongst themselves.

All of them appeared to share a single trait: they reeked of confidence, strength, intelligence, and charisma. Most likely the best among their class, they strode around confidently, wearing expensive-looking robes, as though daring someone to challenge their superiority.

"You think so? This school has been around since ages ago, right?"

"I heard there used to be more fields here too!"

"The owner of the Grand Irricestar Institute must be very rich," said one student with wide eyes. "Do you know who owns it now?"

"No idea."

"Probably nobles or the royals then! Don't forget, we're at an academy for noble children!"

Students walk side-by-side into the entrance hall through the gate, chatting excitedly about what kind of experience they'll find inside the building.

It is filled with sounds of students discussing various topics with teachers or fellow classmates before class starts.

However, there are also voices that speak quietly amongst themselves while walking in the hallway between classes.

***

The Grand Irricester Institute, Foundation Classroom

"Hah! I did it!"

A girl jumped high in excitement while waving her hand wildly above her head. She wore a white robe embroidered with flowers and carried a wooden staff made of black wood. Her hair fluttered behind her back as she spun about.

"Yes you did!" said another student next to her whose long brown hair swayed gently along his shoulders. He also held a wooden staff, though he didn't look very excited.

All over the classroom students clapped happily, cheering each other on.

"I can't believe we made it." A girl grinned widely.

"That wasn't really what I meant…"

"Hey, don't give me that face. You know your stance needs work."

More than half the class was celebrating their success, while the remaining group looked less enthusiastic. Their expressions were far too serious.

"Now that we've been admitted into Grand Irricester, we'll be set for life!" One boy exclaimed loudly, trying to pump himself up.

"Yeah right. We're just starting our journey now." Another student shook his head dismissively.

"Don't worry. Once we've activated our Core, everyone will respect us regardless of our background."

"Oh? You think you would be set for life?" A mature yet sarcastic voice echoed across the room.

The crowd gasped and turned towards the source. Standing tall at the front of the class stood a woman dressed in a white robe adorned with gold trimming.

On top of her head sat a single braid tied neatly in three sections. Each section represented the amount of time she spent studying at the school, 30 years.

Her eyes were cold and sharp, glaring directly at the boys standing proudly.

"Well… Yes ma'am." The first boy stumbled nervously, unsure if he should say anything else.

"You need to realize that this isn't a game anymore. Your achievements mean absolutely nothing without talent. Without real skill, you won't last a day in the field, let alone the battlefield." The woman walked forward, staring straight ahead.

"We train warriors here, not braggarts. If you want to stand out, prove yourself worthy of joining the ranks of the elite." The young men gulped quietly, watching the older woman walk closer.

She stopped beside the second boy and stared him down.

"Your stance is weak, and you lack control over your core. You must focus on improving both aspects, otherwise, you won't make it through the trials."

"Yes ma'am," the boy replied softly, bowing his head slightly.

"And stop calling me 'ma'am'. My name is Shurong, Miss Shurong. Understood?"

"Yes, Miss Shurong."

Miss Shurong smiled warmly, patting the frightened boy lightly on the shoulder. "Good. Now go take care of yourself. No matter how much effort you put into this place, you can never achieve greatness unless you have discipline. Even then, not everyone is equal."

"Yes, miss," the boy nodded quickly and returned to his seat.

Miss Shurong watched him seated before turning around again. "Now then, where were we?"

The whole class snapped to attention, ready to hear her lecture.

"I see some of you have already learned my lessons well, while others still struggle with fundamentals. That's why I'm going to start teaching you the basics today." Miss Shurong continued.

"She's so scary," whispered one of the girls.

"But she's nice," added another. "At least compared to the old teachers."

"Yeah, maybe so, but she scares me too," another girl shuddered.

A few students were discussing softly among themselves.

Miss Shurong noticed the commotion and raised her eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Everyone immediately fell silent, their faces pale and stiff.

"Ummm… Nothing ma'am," they stammered awkwardly.

"I can tell when someone doesn't have something good to say," Miss Shurong growled threateningly.

The class quietened down instantly.

Miss Shurong is terrifying, thought the students, but she knows exactly where to strike to bring them to their knees.

She's a beautiful woman, with golden hair that reached down to her waist. She had an oval-shaped face with soft skin and full lips. Her body was slim and petite, but not skinny.

Instead, she possessed curves that were pleasing to the eye. Her body was covered by an elegant, white flowing dress, which was decorated with delicate patterns.

Her arms were bare, revealing toned muscles underneath. On her feet, she wore white boots that extended up to her calves.

The most noticeable feature was her eyes—a bright red colour that seemed to glow from within. They gave off an intimidating aura that sent chills down the spine of anyone who gazed into them for more than a moment.

She was of noble birth, having come from an ancient clan that served the Emperor of an Ancient Kingdom. This was evident by the way she spoke, her bearing, and her presence itself.

"Everyone's rank can be measured by their core. The higher the quality of the core, the greater the potential for the individual. Unfortunately, not all cores are created equally. Some are better and some are worse," explained Miss Shurong, looking around the classroom.

"Some are even weaker than the average person. And some are even stronger. But those are not the only things you have to consider when choosing your path. For example-"

All of a sudden, Miss Shurong froze mid-sentence. Her entire body transforms in a flash. Her hair and clothing disappeared, and her entire form became that of a dark shadow.

"Wh-who's there!? Who are you!?" screamed one of the students, terrified.

"A monster!" another shouted, pointing a trembling finger out.

The monster laughed wickedly. "A monster, huh? I wonder, do you really think a monster would dare to appear here in Grand Irricester?" she asked, her voice dripping with scorn.

"No, I—"