The morning sun filtered through the tall glass windows of the academy's lecture hall. Dozens of students sat at their desks, chatting quietly, many still reeling from their recent assessment scores. Whispers echoed across the room—rumors, taunts, and praise shared like currency.
Alex sat near the middle, flanked by Zane, Kirito, and Miranda. His thoughts were drifting again—this time to the system's voice from the night before.
[Ghoul Gene Assimilation: 69% Complete.]
[Evolution Quest Unlocked.]
He clenched his fist subtly. Evolution, huh…
A loud clap broke his thoughts.
"Silence," came the stern voice of Instructor Cain, the battle theory lecturer. A tall man with graying hair and sharp eyes, Kael wasn't one to waste words.
"I know some of you are flying high after your scores. Others? Not so much." His gaze swept the room, and several students looked away, some smirking, others scowling.
Cain stepped forward, tapping the board behind him. "But let me remind you all: your assessment ranks do not define your true potential. And they certainly don't give you the right to bully others."
Some students shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
"I'm addressing this because several complaints have reached the instructors. Students flaunting their rank. Threatening others. Acting like they're untouchable. Let me make something crystal clear—real power isn't measured on paper. It's forged over time, through experience… and understanding the path ahead."
He turned to the board and wrote a list of names in bold letters:
Novice → Intermediate → Adept → Advanced → Mythical → Legendary → Supreme
"This," he said, tapping the board, "is the real power ranking system recognized across the world."
A few murmurs rose from the class.
Kirito leaned forward, adjusting his glasses. Zane raised an eyebrow, mildly interested.
Cain continued, "Let me explain. Everyone with an ability starts as a Novice. At this stage, your ability is basic—unstable, inefficient, and weak. But once you reach the Intermediate rank…"
He paused and tapped the word again, "…you form your Mana Core."
Now the room went silent.
"Wait," a student near the front raised his hand. "Mana Core? Isn't that something only mages form?"
Cain gave a short laugh. "That's a common misconception. Whether you're a close-range brawler, a healer, or a ranged elemental user—anyone who uses mana forms a core. The only difference is how it's used. For warriors, it enhances their body. For elemental users, it becomes a wellspring for spells. But the core? It's the same."
Another student raised her hand. "Then what about ability users? People like me who don't use traditional mana attacks?"
Cain nodded. "Good question. That's where your Ability Core comes in. Unlike mana cores, which form through training and mana circulation, Ability Cores are innate. If you're born with an ability, you already have an Ability Core—it's what allows you to use your power in the first place."
"But here's the catch—your Ability Core can evolve. Just like a muscle, it strengthens through battle, stress, and time. And when it evolves… your ability changes with it."
Alex's eyes narrowed in interest.
"Fire becomes Hellfire. Shadow becomes Darkness. A basic lightning spark could one day turn into a full-blown storm. That's the potential of evolution."
"Whoa," Zane muttered. "Didn't know that part."
Mr. Lennox waved his hand again, and this time, two glowing spheres hovered mid-air.
"One is the Mana Core, the other — the Ability Core," he said.
"Now listen closely. Understanding these two is what separates an average soldier from a real powerhouse."
He pointed to the first sphere. It pulsed with raw energy.
"1. Mana Core: The Foundation of Power."
"The Mana Core is your internal reservoir. It stores raw mana — the energy of life and destruction itself. Every time you enhance your body, cast an ability, or just survive a brutal clash, it's this core that fuels you."
"It grows with you. As you rank up — Novice, Adept, Elite, Master, and so on — your core not only expands in capacity but refines in purity. That means quicker regeneration and sharper control."
Some students were nodding. Others were already taking notes.
"And those with advanced control?" Cain added, eyes narrowing. "They can shape mana into tools, weapons, or shields. Some can compress mana into devastating bursts."
He turned to the second sphere. Unlike the raw pulse of the first, this one flickered with unique colors — each pattern representing different abilities.
"2. Ability Core: The Heart of Uniqueness."
"This core is what makes your power yours. Lightning, fire, sound manipulation, beast summoning — all these reside here."
"But the Ability Core is fragile. Weak ones crack under pressure or burn out under stress. However, a refined core... evolves. It can branch, fuse, or awaken entirely new paths."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"Still… none of it matters if your Mana Core is weak. Without mana, your ability is nothing but a dormant dream. The synergy between the two cores determines your real strength."
He raised both spheres, and they started to spin in sync.
"Core Synergy."
"When the Mana Core and Ability Core feed off each other properly — power flows like breath."
"Some can even overclock, flooding their ability with mana to amplify results. But that comes at a cost: strain, damage, or worse."
"And then…" his voice dropped, "there are those rare few who can synchronize both cores perfectly. No delay in casting, seamless movement, ability chaining. True monsters in battle."
The spinning spheres exploded in a burst of light, fading into mist.
Another hand shot up. "Sir, which rank do most students graduate at?"
Cain raised a brow. "Advanced, if they're lucky. Mythical, if they're monsters."
A wave of quiet laughter passed through the class.
"And Supreme?" someone asked from the back.
The room fell still.
Cain's tone dropped lower. "Supreme… is the realm of legends. Less than twenty humans in history have reached it. They don't walk among us anymore—they reshape the world when they move."
That shut everyone up.
Cain let the silence hang for a moment.
Then he turned to face them. "I told you all this because some of you are acting like kings after a single scorecard. You don't even have a Mana Core yet. You're still at the Novice stage."
He leaned forward, voice calm but firm. "So humble yourselves. Train hard. And remember—paper ranks fade, but true power leaves a mark on the world."
With that, he turned back to the board.
Kirito looked at Zane. "You knew this already?"
Zane shrugged. "Bits and pieces. Guess we just got the full package."
[Attention: Tier One Students, report to Training Sector Delta. Instructor Lennox awaits. Your mana foundation class begins now.]
"Today's training? The first step toward understanding your cores. Toward feeling mana — forming your core. Now… follow me."