SYSTEM ASCENSION

Ringoff curriculum insisted on physical training every morning. To use energy correctly, the body has to level up to its potential.

It was five in the morning when the school bell rang so loud they heard it in their dreams.

”Urgh! Damn it!” Kael cursed as he turned around in bed.

Elias was already sitting up, bare feet tapping the ground without a single sound.

”Good morning to you too,” Kael sprang up. ”We have to move before two minutes or instructors will come in here and beat you an inch between death.”

”Wow. Typical schooling system.” Elias replied dryly.

The duo put on their PE uniform, a simply short and armless tank top, before going out to join the rest of class one.

Class one has always been divided, a, b and c, with twenty students in each. During physical education, the whole advancement class comes together. Currently, there were fifty four students, including those who had passed the advancement test, graduated on a normal mean and special case like Elias.

As soon as the duo came out, they drew almost all attention.

Being in just short and armless top vividly showcased how tall Elias really was, in a way the hood had hidden. Messy dark hair spilled across his face, hiding his facial features.

Murmurs broke out. Girls in awe, and boys in instant envy.

”What the hell?”

”Who is that?”

”How tall is he?”

”He’s even taller than the school president.”

”Goooooooooooooooooooood morning!” Someone approached them.

When they turned around, it was Claude, carrying Tiana on his back.

”Wow! It’s the president.”

”He’s carrying that shortie again.”

”Shut up, if you don’t want her to beat you up again.”

”Damnit, how can a little girl be so strong.”

”You seem to adapt quite well.” Claude stopped before Elias grinning. Even with Elias’s absurd tallness, Claude still got to his shoulder.

”It’s just exercise.” Elias muttered.

”For some reasons, it’s what most students hate. They prefer energy manipulation, forgetting that you need to train the body to use the energy.” Claude shrugged.

”Good morning my love!” Tiana waved.

”My love?” Kael raised a brow. ”I thought it’s Elias’ fourth day in school?”

She stretched her hand from Claude’s back and grip Elias shoulder, then she jumped off his back and landed on Elias shoulder, standing perfectly fine.

”Gather up!” The instructor clapped his hand.

She sat on his shoulder as they gathered around.

”Alright,” the man yawned. ”I’m sure you’re familiar with the route of physical activity. Fifty lap around the academy in an hour.”

”Eeeehh?!”

They collectively yelled.

”It was twenty laps two days ago?!”

”Fifty two laps in one minute,” the instructor clapped languidly. ”Who else has anything else to say?”

”...”

”I thought as much,” he snorted. ”Then—”

Wind rippled around him as a certain number of students dashed past him. The rest were still waiting for the signal, eyes wide in shock.

All eyes followed them.

”The student council!”

”They are moving.”

The rest followed too, running with a newly found will power to catch up to them. Despite that, none could get to those in front.

Taking the lead was Elias. Eyes calm like he is lifeguarding on a beach rather than running a death race.

Beside him, numbered Ten, Claude. Same calm expression.

Fayera, Davon and Tiana followed next.

Behind them were the rest: Coco, Lane, Anya and Kael who were barely keeping up with their speed.

Ume had taken an emergency leave, so they were nine instead of ten.

They gapped the rest with terrifying ease, Elias and Claude dragging the leading position and ran the race without stopping, completing the fifty lap in thirty minutes.

The sun had begun to rise slowly when they arrived for the fiftieth time. Some were still going for the fortieth time.

”What are they, machines?!”

”How did the C rank keep up with them?”

”Keep up? He was leading all through!”

Tiana stretched. ”That was fun!”

”We only have stamina training this morning. Let’s freshen up for history class.” Kael said, already walking away.

”Bye bye my love!” Tiana hung onto Claude as they walked away.

They all went to their various rooms for various reasons.

Kael took a bath, while Elias went back to laying down. He stared at the system before him.

[Strength: 45/100]

[Agility: 53/100]

[Vitality: ???/100]

[Endurance: 42/100]

[Will power: 50/100]

[Luck: 16/100]

[Stamina: 54/100]

[Talent grade: S]

He noticed that agility had moved from fifty one to fifty three, stamina from fifty one to fifty four, and endurance from forty to forty two.

”I guess basic training increases them. Although something is weird...”

The bathroom door opened and Kael stepped out in a towel. Elias turned his gaze.

”Your stats. Do you just train to increase them?”

”Huh?” Kael waved his hand and summoned his own system. ”You can train to upgrade them or complete daily missions. Some missions are weekly or monthly too.”

”...”

”What?”

”Miss...ion?”

Kael frowned, watching him sit up.

”What do you mean by ’miss...ion?!’ Are you telling me you don’t do missions? There are penalties too.”

”...”

”Why are you staring like that?!”

Elias blinked. ”I do missions...once in a while?”

”There are at least two missions per day, and penalties if you fail to do them. This forces you to increase your stats whether you like it or not.”

”Hmmm...” Elias tilted his head.

’I thought the system was normal after I parted ways with Mona. I guess it’s still broken...or it just doesn’t like me. There are no daily missions. It’s like it’s giving me a chance to slack off, but at the same time I’m not allowed to reject it.’

”Aah. Where’s Mona?!”

Elias slapped his forehead when he remembered that he left the egg with Keen.

’I’ll just ask Rowen to send it over later.’

”Have you awakened your system ability?” Kael asked.

”Hm? Aah, yes.” Elias stretched his hand and swirled his fingers.

A colorless energy materialized in his finger tips. They both stared at it for a moment till Kael realised that nothing was going to happen.

”Is this colourless juice? Looks useless.”

Elias diverted his attention from the ability looking around for anything to use as a scapegoat. The closest thing. Kael’s towel.

He stretched his hand and dragged it.

”Hey!” Kael dashed back, embarrassment colouring his face. ”What is wrong with—”

He looked down, and the towel was gone.

”You absolute freak! Give me back—”

Elias wasn’t holding it.

’Huh? He clearly... grabbed my towel.’

”Where...where is it?”

Elias stared at him for a moment longer before suddenly grinning.

”It doesn’t exist. Not anymore.”