100 push-ups (2 reps)
20 laps (around the training ground)
The somewhat familiar hell-like military-style training began.
’This takes me back to the old days in the military.’ I pondered, feeling a bit nostalgic in my mind.
I sat on the cold, dusty ground, watching several figures running laps without break. Because of this character’s frail physique, I already stopped doing the routine some time ago. It was outright hellish.
After an indefinite amount of time, Professor Ragnar gestured for every student to stop, though it seemed unnecessary since most students were already dying on the ground, catching their breaths as if it’s running away from them.
"Now the warm-up’s done. Let’s proceed with training."
Most of the students sprawled on the ground couldn’t believe what they just heard.
I expected this, knowing this specific character I admired in the original story. However, because of original Lugh’s constitution, I didn’t know whether to just run away and skip the class.
’What am I, a man in his late twenties, even doing here with a bunch of brats?’
"P-Professor, wh-what do you mean by training? Didn’t, huff, we just do that?" It was a green-haired, emerald-eyed, fragile female student from my class. Her skin was fair, though her hands were somewhat callous from handling hazardous work.
"Right, Professor. We didn’t even get enough rest!"
"A-are you trying to kill us?! Even my family wouldn’t dare put me in this situation!"
Barrages of complaint echoed throughout the training ground. Meanwhile, a few particular students from Class Zenith didn’t even break a sweat.
"If you have the time to spout nonsense, use it to train your body and soul instead. Or else, get the fuck out of my sight!"
The students were flustered at the sudden outburst of Professor Ragnar, who had no regard for whether the student was from a filthy background or lying on gold bars.
As though an oppressive mana enshrouded the area, the students, from either noble or common backgrounds, were put into silence. They could not utter a word.
"If you don’t want to become an official hero, it’s best you stop wasting your time and find somewhere to waste your life." He continued.
"Don’t even dream of standing side-by-side with the future True Hero."
It was at that moment that everybody’s gaze landed on a certain student seated at the back of the crowd.
My gaze, as someone who barely stood out, also followed their eyes.
Waist-length platinum hair; deep purple eyes; fair skin, yet with a somewhat beautiful, seemingly perfect body.
The True Hero Candidate.
The True Protagonist of the Hero’s Apocalypse.
The One Who Will Bear the Sins of the World.
Seeing her with my own eyes, I didn’t hesitate to activate the ’Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell.’
[Talent, Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell, has been activated!]
[Scanning the target’s status...]
[Warning! This entity possesses too much information that might compromise your talent.]
[Will you proceed with the status inspection?]
Even with the stern warning, I proceeded with my Talent activation.
’Whatever. Get on with it!’
[Talent, Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell, has been activated!]
[Because of the target’s immense status, the Talent, Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell, will be restricted for 7 days!]
It was at that moment that I bore witness to the system window that was glitching and cracking on its own, as if it were on the verge of shutting down.
Name: Alana Sol Astraea
Soul Order: Dim Soul (Unblessed)
Main Talent: Severer of ###### (Growth); Luminous Physique (Growth); Luminous Spirit (Growth); Hand that ### the ### (Growth); Blade of Apocalypse (Growth); Body Ascension (Growth); Eye That Pierces ####### (?); Hero’s Banner of Light (Divine); ####### of Story (?); Willing Heart (Divine); [Sealed]; [Sealed]; [Sealed]
Plundering Conditions:
[1] Severer of ######
Permanent Plundering: [Kill a god + Permission of the talent owner.]
Temporary Plundering: [Kill a Demon God’s Apostle with the talent owner’s assistance.]
Plunder Reminder: [Due to the difference in status, only one talent among the many can be randomly plundered.]
Helix (Dormant) Reminder: [Prevent the hidden trigger that will cause this person to fall into divine corruption.]
Observation: [Likes solitude. Currently feeling shy because of unwanted attention.]
’Definition of overpowered character, I dare say.’
I already had a rough guess of her details even before I inspected her status, which seemed irrelevant. However, similar to how I am here at this moment as an unknown variable, there was a possibility that there would be changes in her information.
The ’Eye That Pierces...’ whatever that was, and the one with ’of Story,’ as well as the three marked as [Sealed] talents... They’re all something I had no idea about.
Should I be worried? Definitely.
If I had treaded this path right and prevented her from falling into corruption, then this world would not be destroyed.
Who would have thought that the True Hero would become the symbol of humanity’s darkness?
He had to change such a character into something unpleasant.
’I guess it’ll be fine. The story’s not even halfway anyway.’
"For the top five who endured the intense warm-up, didn’t give up, and finished first, I will give you the right to choose your sparring opponent. That being said, Alana, you are the first to complete everything. So, who would you like to spar with?"
It was then that Professor Ragnar’s voice snapped me out of my own world.
Hearing him, I couldn’t help but think, ’If Maya’s here, she’d certainly choose her.’
There were four classes of second years: Class Zenith, Class Alpha, Class Omega, and Class Mu.
Class Zenith, where the true protagonist, Alana Sol Astraea, belonged, along with her few future comrades.
Class Alpha, where the genius magician, Maya Hel Infinitum, as well as the Imperial Princess, would fight for their respective future factions.
Class Omega, where certain significant characters such as the other heir of the Royal Throne, the Imperial Princess’s sibling, was a part of; every student in this class was also in the palm of ’his’ hands.
Then lastly, Class Mu, where I was a part of, was considered to be a slaughterhouse by the upper classes. Even though there was no particular class section ranking, because there was no notable figure in this class, it’s naturally considered to be a garbage bin.
I heard the future True Hero’s serene voice, though I was not looking in her direction because...
"Hey! You there, are you sleeping?"
It was then that I noticed every other’s gaze in my direction.
I mean, I was damn tired with the exercise with this disposable, untrained physique. Cut me some slack, come on!
"You will be Alana’s opponent."
Looking around, while somewhat disoriented, I scratched my ear, blew my pinky finger, and finally pointed my fingers to myself.
"Yes, you. Come here, you need a wake-up call."
"No-no..." I looked behind me, there was no one else. "Hey, who’s the one Alana’s going to spar? Come out!"
I tried to deny it with everything I could... to the point that I appeared to be crazy.
However, everyone was silent.
Their thoughts were one and strangely synchronized—Why this particular bastard?
I didn’t know either. For fuck’s sake!
With her glare towards me, I genuinely sensed the dread for the first time, due to the story being distorted by my very existence.