Atlas's feet moved across the cold concrete. When he reached the orientation area of the Aurelis War Academy, he looked around. Hundreds of students filled the area. They were all chosen individuals who, like him, had discovered their Mana abilities. The orientation area was on Duksdale Island, fifteen kilometers outside the capital city of Aurelis.

  “Here I am,” Atlas muttered. “After killing someone a week ago...”

  Atlas adjusted the collar of his sharp-lined green uniform. The emblem of the Institute of Natural Sciences gleamed on his chest.

  The adaptation area was teeming with people. About a thousand students were lined up in rows on the vast military training ground. The area was enormous, surrounded by high concrete walls.

  At the far end of the field stood a high platform. Five instructors stood rigidly in their olive-green uniforms. They scanned the students with cold stares. Behind them, the logo of the Aurelis War Academy shone: a golden eagle spreading its wings on a steel shield.

  Atlas mingled with the other students.

  Next to him was a pale-skinned girl with black hair. She had a steely gaze.

  “You look very nervous,” she said, leaning toward Atlas.

  Atlas did not respond. The Spiritual Succession System was preoccupying his mind. He was trying to make sense of the System. He had read hundreds of articles and books on interdimensional transitions. He had also researched the name Baek Yisoo extensively. Thinking about martial arts and the system had made sleep forbidden to him.

  One of the instructors on the platform stepped forward. He was a large man with thick eyebrows and a broad jaw. He didn't need a megaphone, but his voice reached the back rows as if they were at the bottom of the Atlas.

  “Welcome, rookies!” the man boomed. “I'm Captain Reeves. I'm the head instructor of the Iron Claw Knight Battalion. Over the next four weeks, I'm going to show you what hell is like!”

  The girl next to Atlas grimaced.

  “Is he always this dramatic?” she whispered.

  Atlas smiled slightly. “Probably.”

  As Captain Reeves' voice echoed across the field, the students didn't dare even breathe. The man's stern gaze scanned the rows.

  “You are here because you all possess the ability to use Mana. But that does not make you privileged! In fact, it gives you nothing but a terrible responsibility!” Reeves paced back and forth on the platform, his boots echoing on the concrete. “In four weeks, some of you will enter the academy, but some weaklings, unable to adapt to the system, will be eliminated!”

  The girl next to Atlas rolled her eyes. “Such a cliché.”

  “Now!” Reeves bellowed. “Everyone take your places in your respective squads. Archers, Mages, Healers, and Knights!”

  From behind the platform, four more instructors with stern expressions stepped forward. Each wore a different emblem on their chest.

  “Follow your instructors and take your place in your training area. Do your best until the oath ceremony in one month!”

  The girl next to him was surprised to see the Archer class emblem on Atlas's shoulder.

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  “Are you an Archer?”

  “Yes,” replied Atlas.

  The girl shook her head.

  “It's a class specialized in attack.”

  “If you have the talent,” Atlas rolled his eyes. He didn't think he could progress very far with his low-to-medium talent. He didn't even think he could specialize in his class. On top of that, he needed to find money somehow. He had entered the school from the reserve list, not the main list.

  He was here thanks to a few people who had won but didn't show up.

  The girl smiled.

  Captain Reeves spoke again. “Now you will go to your battalions. Archers through the east gate, Mages through the south gate, Healers through the west gate, and Knights through the north gate.”

  Wooo---

  A sudden wave of movement swept across the field. Hundreds of students began streaming off in different directions. The girl turned to Atlas.

  “Hey, I never even got your name.”

  Atlas smiled.

  “Atlas. Yours?”

  “Nova.”

  “Good luck, Nova. If fate allows, we'll meet again.”

  Nova smiled and blended into the crowd. Atlas sighed when he saw her heading toward the south gate. A mage. Atlas took a deep breath and headed for the east gate. To be an archer... Suddenly, the word ‘Marksman’ written on his profile came to mind. Was there a connection between being registered as a ‘Marksman’ in the system and being an ‘Archer’?

  He would see this in time.

  He was so busy preparing for school and renting out his house that he hadn't found time to explore the system.

  As he walked toward the east gate, he observed the other students joining the Archer Class. Most were frail and seemed insecure. Atlas stood out among them, tall and lanky. It was easy to understand their insecurity. Atlas felt insecure and worthless.

  The Archer Class was a one-dimensional class that required much more skill than the other three classes. Despite this, archers were of little use in the Northern Forests, which were filled with monsters averaging over five meters in size. An Archer who couldn't reach the High Expert or Master Level wasn't much more valuable than any passerby.

  And in the Kingdom of Aurelis, famous for its Water, Air Mages, and Knights, Archers were neither valued nor did they have the technology and techniques necessary to reach high levels. The most skilled Archer in the kingdom was Red Commander William Winehouse, who had reached the High Expert Level. Even he had achieved this level by training abroad. Despite being the most skilled archer in the kingdom, he was unable to progress further, so he was trying to improve himself in Magic Techniques.

  A middle-aged woman instructor with sharp features stood in front of the east gate. The winged arrow emblem on her chest indicated that she was responsible for the Archer Class training.

  “Archers,” she called out to the crowd. Her voice was stern and authoritative. "I am Captain Karla Heissen, the head instructor of the Hunter Company. Follow me."

  About two hundred students lined up and followed Captain Heissen. After passing behind a concrete wall, a long path appeared before them. The path was narrow but very long. There were various trees, bushes, and flowers around. Atlas was at the front of the line.

  Captain Heissen was a very attractive woman, 175 centimeters tall. Her long, black hair was carefully tied back. Her skin was pale and smooth, almost porcelain-like. Her eyebrows were always furrowed. Her facial expression was as still as a frozen river. Her lips were thin but cherry blossom pink. Her dark green uniform, which wrapped around her arms, had cloud patterns embroidered in silk. She wore leather bracelets on her wrists and archer's rings on her fingers. On her back was a bow that looked like it was made of bamboo, its grip wrapped in red silk ribbons.

  It would not be wrong to say she was a very attractive woman.

  The male students' low spirits had lifted as they walked behind Captain Heissen.

  As they advanced into the forest, the scenery around them slowly changed. Greenery enveloped them. They walked along a yellow-brown dirt road; after about twenty minutes of walking, they finally reached a wide open area.

  The camp was surrounded by the natural shield provided by the forest. At the entrance to the camp was a carved wooden arch bearing the symbol of Aurelis and the words “Forest Guard Archer Training Ground.” On either side of the arch stood archer statues in a poised position.

  The trees surrounding the camp formed a natural wall. Most of these trees had stood for centuries and witnessed the camp's birth. Some still bore the marks of ancient arrows on their trunks.

  On the right side of the camp, dozens of tents were arranged in four rows. The tents were made of durable fabric in a traditional Aurelis style, with a green and brown pattern. Each tent could accommodate six people and was resistant to rain and harsh weather conditions, while the interior was surprisingly comfortable. There was a bed, small chests, and a small stove for everyone. There were also shelves for bows and weapons.

  In the center of the camp was a large open area. The ground had been compacted and leveled, specially prepared for training. It was surrounded by wooden poles, each bearing an Aurelis flag.

  Part of the training area was set up as a running track. It was equipped with obstacles for training: low walls, pits, climbing walls... Targets were placed at every point along the course for archers to aim at while running.

  In another section of the area, there was a meditation area surrounded by reeds. Here, students would spend hours doing concentration exercises to improve their Mana control. Similarly, a gym had been set up inside a large tent. It contained all kinds of sports equipment. From dumbbells to barbells and machines...

  However, the most impressive area of the camp was the shooting ranges located in the northern part, arranged at various distances. The closest targets were 20 meters away, while the farthest targets were almost 300 meters away. The targets came in various sizes and shapes: round target boards, human silhouettes, and even moving targets.

  As Captain Heissen entered the camp, uniformed soldiers emerged from the tents and instructed them to divide into groups of six. The groups formed very quickly. Atlas and his group consisted of five people because there weren't enough men.

  The uniformed soldiers were actually instructors, but their job was only to tell them the rules they had to follow. After briefly introducing the camp, they explained the tents and discussed the general rules. They would only receive basic information here. The main reason they were at the camp was to prepare them for difficult situations. Here, they would only receive basic information about the Archer class. Other than that, they would practice drill and marching. They had been told not to expect much.

  By evening, Captain Heissen had gathered everyone in the training area.

  “Everyone take a bow.”