Overwhelming Firepower

The training yard slowly began to empty after the instructor dismissed them.

Groups of examinees left in clusters, their voices low as they discussed the results of the test. Some sounded excited, others anxious.

Seeing everyone leaving, Alexander looked at Mina. ”I guess we have some time to waste. Want to look around the Capital?”

”That sounds good,” she said. ”When we arrived before, we went straight to the academy. I haven’t actually seen much of the Capital yet.”

As they were about to leave, Cael suddenly approached them. Cael stopped a short distance in front of them. His icy blue eyes moved between Alexander and Mina for a moment before he spoke.

”May I accompany you?”

Alexander blinked in surprise, and Mina looked equally confused.

”You want to come with us?” Alexander pointed at himself and Mina.

”Yes,” Cael responded with his usual monotone.

For a brief moment, neither Alexander nor Mina knew how to respond. The person standing before them was Cael Thornehart, the younger son of the Iron Duke and the most talked-about examinee in the entire test.

Yet here he was asking to walk around the city with them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Even Alexander, who did not really care much about nobles, understood that walking around the city with the second son of the Iron Duke was quite a big deal.

’I know I’m supposed to be feeling impressed or something, but when I look at this person, he feels very familiar. It’s like I’ve known him for a very long time.’

The feeling lingered strangely in his chest, but he quickly pushed the thought aside. Right now, there was a much more immediate problem in front of him.

Cael Thornehart was still standing there, patiently waiting for an answer. Alexander scratched the back of his head.

”Well... I don’t really mind. But are you sure someone of your social standing should be seen with us? I don’t know much about nobles, but I thought they valued their image above all else.”

”It doesn’t matter if one is a noble or a commoner; we are all warriors of Norvaegard. My Father told me that the only difference between a noble and a commoner of Norvaegard is simply how many more people he or she can protect. Also, my older brother told me to make friends with people I like. I don’t seem to dislike you two.”

Cael spoke all that with the indifferent tone and face of his. For a moment, neither Alexander nor Mina said anything.

Cael had delivered that entire explanation with the same flat tone he used for everything else, as if he had simply stated an obvious fact.

Alexander stared at him, then he let out a small laugh.

”Well... When you put it like that, I guess I can’t really say anything but sure.”

”Then from here on out, the three of us are friends, correct?”

Alexander looked at Mina as if silently asking whether she had heard the same thing. Mina pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.

”Um... Yeah...” Alexander nodded his head. ”I guess we are.”

”Then allow me to introduce myself to my new friends once again. I’m Cael Thornehart.”

”I’m Alexander Wyrd.”

”I’m Mina Escartin.”

Cael looked at Alexander, and then he looked at Mina. After that, he simply nodded once, as if confirming something to himself.

Alexander, seeing the weird action, simply smiled as he scratched his head again. ”Well... Since introductions are done, I guess we should actually start exploring the Capital.”

Mina nodded eagerly. ”Yes, before we run out of time and have to come back for the results.”

Cael did not object. He simply turned and began walking toward the academy gates. Alexander and Mina quickly followed.

Nina, who had stayed behind, watched as the trio left. Aside from her, those three had the best performance in the practical, and now they had grouped together.

Not only was she outperformed by a commoner, but Cael was far better than her than she could ever imagine. She and he were on completely different levels.

She wasn’t even as good as the commoner who was just at the first mantle. That realization stung far more than Nina expected. Her nails dug slightly into her palms as she clenched her fists.

For someone born into the Drexford family, defeat was not something she was used to accepting so easily.

She did not like that she failed in front of so many people, and she most especially did not like it when the one she thought was going to be her rival was far above her, to the point that the very idea of her being his rival now felt ridiculous.

Nina exhaled slowly, forcing the frustration down. Her eyes moved once more toward the academy gates where Alexander, Mina, and Cael had already disappeared into the streets of the Capital.

”...This isn’t over,” she muttered quietly.

If they were going to attend the Royal Academy together, then there would be many opportunities in the future.

The next time they crossed paths, she would make sure the result would be different. With that thought in mind, Nina turned and walked away as well.

***

In a different location, hidden within the shadows, a silver-haired, ruby-eyed young man was watching the entire test.

”To think I was able to see the opening act of the game in real life.”

The one who was speaking to himself was no other than Lucen Thornehart, who had just become a twenty-year-old man. He was quite excited to see the true protagonist of his favorite game.

Alexander Wyrd, even through the monitor, you could feel his dignity, his honor, and his passion. Now, in real life, he was so much more than that. Still, Lucen noticed something weird.

’Unlike in the game, this version is far stronger. It could either be because this world is part of the new game plus of the new release that I don’t know about. Or it’s because I have interfered with fate, and the real protagonist has leveled up even before the start of the story.’

In the original game, Alexander Wyrd had been talented, but not to this extent.

At this stage of the story, the protagonist was only supposed to barely pass the entrance examination. Yet the strike Lucen had just witnessed was far beyond that.

Also, in the prologue of the story, Alexander and Mina were supposed to be at the level of just awakening one’s aura; they shouldn’t even have an aura mantle.

The reason for their passing the practical exam, despite that, was their skill in handling their weapons.

Their technique had compensated for the lack of aura. The academy instructors had considered them promising talents and allowed them to enter despite their weakness in aura development.

But what Lucen had just witnessed was entirely different. Alexander and Mina had not merely relied on their technique.

The two had used a fully formed First Mantles and Alexander even nearly cut through armor meant to endure a Third Mantle strike.

Lucen crossed his arms as he leaned back against the stone wall hidden in the shade.

’Since the protagonist is this strong in the prologue, that might mean the enemies in the future will be even more difficult than I expected... This Alexander might really be the one from the new game plus, that would mean he has vague memories of a different timeline...’

Thinking about that part, Lucen clicked his tongue and sighed.

’Even though the game knowledge did not help much regarding the flow of events since I already changed it quite a bit, at least I had a guideline and also a reference for some of the monsters, and the possible bosses coming. Now I have absolutely no knowledge of what’s to come...’

That was when Lucen showed a ferocious smile on his face.

’Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter. What kind of gamer would fear the challenge of a new game?’

For Lucen, the unknown was not something to fear; it was something to conquer.

He pushed himself off the wall and stretched his arms lazily above his head as if he had merely finished watching a street performance rather than the entrance examination of the Royal Academy.

”New enemies, new bosses, a new storyline...” He murmured. His ruby eyes gleamed faintly in the shadows.

”If anything, that just makes things more interesting.”

Lucen looked toward the direction where Alexander, Mina, and Cael had left the academy grounds.

”Maybe I should shadow them. I do want to see how this new story of Alexander will unfold.”

Lucen stepped out of the Royal Academy and climbed onto a nearby rooftop, his silver hair catching the afternoon light.

Far ahead, Alexander, Mina, and Cael were already disappearing into the crowded streets of the Capital. Lucen smiled faintly.

”Let’s see where the story goes.” He quietly followed them from the rooftops.