"Argh!" Ethan groaned as he finally woke up, his body heavy and his head pounding with a severe headache. He felt an overwhelming mental fatigue, a sign he had pushed himself far past his limit, but this was endurable compared to the times before.
"Oh, you're finally awake. I thought you would sleep forever," said a sweet, melodic voice from nearby.
"Huh? Where am I?" Ethan asked, confused, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
"You're in the school infirmary. You were brought here after your duel," answered a figure, her voice gentle. As Ethan's sight cleared, he could make out the figure of a green-haired elf in a white robe adorned with cross designs.
"For how long?" Ethan asked, rubbing his temple.
"Just a day. Your mom and sister came to check on you. After a few check-ups, I'll call your mom to pick you up."
Ethan nodded weakly. "Mm. Thank you, Miss Windellock."
The elf smiled warmly. "You're welcome. Rest a little, I'll go get the tools for the check-up."
As she left, Ethan lay back and thought over what had happened. Miss Windellock was an elf, one of the high races of Debranlith. This world was home to many different races: humans, elves, fairies, vampires, werewolves, dwarves, felines, and demons were considered the high races, while the beasts belonged to the low races. Debranlith was a world of hierarchies, and that extended to race as well.
There were also the mixed-humans, those with human blood combined with another race, and they made up nearly 70% of the population. At some point, mixed-humans would awaken their true races, but the timing and process varied for each individual. For those with a single non-human race, the awakening was straightforward. But for those with two non-human bloodlines, the process could be complex and even dangerous, as the competing bloodlines fought for dominance. In rare cases, both bloodlines could merge, resulting in a hybrid, but such instances were exceedingly rare.
Ethan himself was a mixed human. Sooner or later, his true race would awaken, and that would likely depend on his strength and progress, as measured by the system embedded within him.
Miss Windellock returned, interrupting his thoughts. "Let's get you checked up so you can go home. Your family awaits… Tyrant Ethan," she said with a teasing smile.
"Okay... huh? Tyrant? Who? When?" Ethan sat up abruptly, his confusion deepening.
"Oh, you don't know?" Miss Windellock laughed lightly. "You'll find out soon enough. I'm not the one to tell you. Now, let's begin the check-up."
Ethan walked out of the infirmary, feeling refreshed after a drink of Pyltr orange juice. His mom, Madeleine, his sister Harley, and his best friend Trevor were with him. He noticed a faint blinking light in the corner of his eye, signaling system notifications, but he decided to check them later. It was hard to focus when he was surrounded by his family and friends.
As they made their way outside, Ethan couldn't help but notice the stares. Other students were watching him intently, but instead of disdain for his loss in the duel, their gazes were filled with envy, shock, even fear. He didn't understand. He had lost, hadn't he? Why were they looking at him like that?
"Why is everyone staring at me like that?" Ethan asked, glancing at Trevor, Harley, and his mom. But they all dodged the question, giving vague replies.
Soon, they arrived at the principal's office, where Miss Carmen, the academy principal, was waiting for them.
"Welcome, Miss Madeleine, Ethan, Harley, and Trevor," Miss Carmen said as she greeted them warmly and offered hot chocolate.
"I apologize for not informing you about the duel earlier. It started as a minor scuffle and escalated beyond my expectations. Although Ethan didn't win the duel, he did enough to earn the Tyrant title, securing his position as the strongest first-year student."
Ethan blinked. "Tyrant?" he muttered under his breath.
"In a week's time," Miss Carmen continued, "Ethan, along with the other first-year students, will officially join the real academy courses. I also wanted to personally deliver the accessories he'll need for his second year—uniforms, badge, and other items. His rewards for the duel are all included in this storage box." She handed Ethan a small, black box, no larger than a Rubik's cube. He took it, examining it curiously.
"Thank you, Miss Carmen. That's very generous of you, but you didn't need to go out of your way. I'm sure you're busy," Madeleine said with a smile that could light up a room.
"It's no trouble, ma'am," Miss Carmen replied. "Ethan is one of my best students, and I feel somewhat responsible for what happened. This is the least I can do."
"You're such a lovely woman. I hope my son finds someone like you one day," Madeleine teased, a mischievous smile on her face. The comment made both Miss Carmen and Harley blush, and Ethan nearly dropped the storage box out of pure shock.
"I'm sure he will!" Miss Carmen giggled, trying to hide her flustered expression.
That night, Ethan lay in his bed, Harley curled up on his chest, sleeping peacefully with a silly, contented look on her face. He gently stroked her hair, knowing how much she loved it. But his mind was far from sleep.
He opened his system notifications, scrolling through the rewards he had unlocked. The blinking light at the corner of his vision had been tempting him all day, and now he was finally able to check.
Name: Ethan Smith Junior
Current Form: [Mixed Human]
1. Fight a Tyrant (Mission): Chain of Wills
2. Earn a Tyrant Title (Hidden): Instant Level Up
"Congratulations, kid! You did well," Zark's voice echoed in his mind, his familiar tone filled with pride.
"Thanks," Ethan thought back. "You said there would be some things unlocked after level 10. What are they?"
"Be patient, kid," Zark responded cryptically.
A soft *ding* rang in Ethan's ears as a new notification appeared.
Host Surpassed System's Requirements Even After Power Nerf.
Secret Mission Unlocked!
Learn About Races and Racial Bloodlines.
2. Partial Unsealing of Path
"What?!" Ethan whispered in shock, his mind racing as he processed the message. He had surpassed the system's requirements, even after the power nerf. And now there was a secret mission? Understand Paths? What did that mean?
He lay there, overwhelmed and excited, his thoughts buzzing with the possibilities of what lay ahead.