It was Dravis Soberto, someone who had always looked down on Aron. Dravis was the heir of the Soberto family, a prominent B-rank family in Archeon City.

He possessed a B-rank skill called Sword Dance, making him one of the top contenders in the academy to secure a spot in the military's special training program.

But Aron already knew the future. In his past life, this so-called genius had lost miserably against a real monster during the national exam, breaking down and crying through the entire test.

Even after the test his mind was crashed due to the truma he get from the exam and became a cripple and ultimately die with the whole archeon coty, during the monster rampage.

Aron didn't say a single word. He simply withdrew his gaze, completely indifferent to Dravis's existence.

Dravis felt a surge of burning anger deep in his core. He had just been ignored by a piece of trash right in front of his friends.

He felt humiliated. His face turned dark. Gritting his teeth, he vowed right then and there to take brutal revenge on this trash.

He couldn't attack Aron inside the academy, but outside it would be as effortless as killing a fly. As the heir of a prominent B-rank family, no one in this backwater city would dare cross him.

Right then, a crisp notification chimed inside Aron's mind. He raised an eyebrow and checked the floating blue screen.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host! You have triggered your first mission.]

[Mission: Slap the Soberto Heir's Face.

Objective: Slap the face of Dravis Soberto and humiliate him to his very core.

Reward: 100 Free Attribute Points.]

Aron's lips curled into a grin as he read the screen. He turned his head and locked eyes with Dravis.

Seeing Aron look back at him with a mocking smirk, Dravis's expression grew even colder. His resolution to kill the orphan outside the academy hardened into pure malice.

Aron, on the other hand, just felt a wave of pity. He had been fully prepared to leave this minor side character alone and let him live his pitiful life.

But now that the system had attached a massive reward of 100 free stat points to his face, equivalent to an entire F-ranker’s lifetime limit. In his past life, which was his peak stat.

Now he was going to do his absolute best to fulfill the mission.

Right on cue, the graduation ceremony began. The principal stood at the grand podium, calling out names one by one to distribute degrees. The tedious, formal process dragged on for three whole hours.

After the final student received his degree, the principal stood tall and announced loudly into the microphone, his voice echoing across the courtyard...

"Everyone, congratulations to all of you on successfully graduating from Archeon Academy!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, but the principal raised his hand for silence.

"But remember, this is not the end of your journey. You are all well aware of the NSE, the National Sire Examination."

"In exactly two days, the examination will commence at Archeon City Hall. I expect every single one of you to register before the deadline."

He paused, his expression turning solemn as he looked over the class.

"I know our city hasn't produced a single A-rank Sire in the last ten years. But this year, we have a chance to show the country that B-ranks are not to be underestimated!"

"I want you to prove that our graduates have what it takes to secure a spot in the military's special training program!"

His voice filled with excitement as he looked at the dense crowd of the students.

"And for those who don't make the military cut, do not despair. The entire examination will be broadcast live across every single city in the country."

"Countless powerful forces, guilds, corporations and higher academies from the highest-ranked cities will be watching. If your performance catches the eye of a powerful faction, your future will be boundless! So go out there and give it everything you have!"

Aron's eyes shone with deep emotion as he looked up at the principal.

Principal Morvain Dutch was the only person in this entire city who had treated him like a human being in his past life.

Even after Aron failed the NSE miserably, the principal hadn't abandoned him. He had kindly offered him a stable job at the academy.

Back then, Aron's pride got the better of him. He didn't want to become a useless fool who couldn't protect himself, living off charity. So he rejected the offer and chose the harsh, dangerous path of a wandering mercenary.

And then tragedy happened. When the catastrophic beast tide descended upon Archeon City, Morvain Dutch, a proud B-rank elite, refused to run. He stayed behind, fighting to the very bitter end, and died protecting the city and its people.

Looking at the living, breathing principal now, Aron felt a surge of quiet determination. Ths time he would save this city at any cost.

After the crowd dispersed, the principal unexpectedly walked over to Aron. Seeing the young man's deadly serious expression, Morvain let out a hearty laugh and patted him firmly on the shoulder.

"Hahaha, young man! Why the serious face? Don't stress too much over this exam. No matter what happens, I'll do my best to secure a good job for you here."

Aron's serious facade instantly broke, and a warm smile bloomed across his face.

"Hahaha, Principal, don't tell me you're planning to make me help take care of the juniors? I'm telling you right now, I won't take that job no matter what!"

Morvain froze, thoroughly surprised. That was exactly what he had planned to do. He quickly masked his shock, cleared his throat and smiled.

"Aron, just don't worry about the exam. Go out there and do your best."

Aron grinned confidently.

"Principal, you are going to be thoroughly surprised at the exam. I've prepared a surprise for you. Just wait and see."

With that mysterious remark, he turned and walked away toward the main gate.

Morvain watched him go, shaking his head with a faint smile.

'What kind of surprise could that little guy possibly show me?'

Still, he genuinely cared for every student in his academy. So he was eager to know about the surprise too. Turning around, he walked over to check on another student who possessed an E-rank skill.

After leaving the academy square, Aron deliberately turned into a narrow, secluded alley. A mischievous smile slowly spread across his face.

He stopped, leaned against the brick wall, and called out, "Come on out! I know you guys are here... waiting for me."

From the dark shadows, from behind light posts, and from behind trash bins, figures began to step out one by one.

Aron scanned their faces. He recognized each and every one of them.

There were thirteen people in total. All of them were his own classmates. Dravis Soberto's personal lackeys.

In his past life, the exact same thing had happened. Because Aron ignored Dravis during graduation, the arrogant young master sent his friends to ambush him outside the academy grounds.

They had beaten him so brutally that he was severely injured, unable to leave his hospital bed for two whole days. That beating had ruined any lingering hope he had for the exam.

Aron murmured internally, 'Gaze.'

Unbeknownst to them, a sharp purple glow flared within his pupils for a fraction of a second before his eyes returned to normal.

Instantly, an array of holographic data floated above the heads of the entire crowd.

With a single sweep, their entire combat capability of the 13 people were laid bare in front of his eyes . Three of the lackeys were C-rank, nine were D-rank, and only Dravis held a B-rank skill.

But what really made Aron want to laugh out loud was Dravis's actual strength. Using Gaze, Aron could see his total attribute points sitting at a measly 680, barely 180 points higher than a peak C-rank.

Dravis sneered at Aron, pointing an arrogant finger right at his face.

"You! You actually dared to ignore me back at the academy...and even mocked me with your disgusting smile!" he hissed, gritting his teeth so hard they threatened to crack.

Aron snapped back instantly, his face twisting with utter disgust.

"What? Are you really that desperate for attention that you need my validation? Holy shit... wait, are you perhaps..."

He paused, a look of profound seriousness covering his face. He covered his mouth with his hand, acting purely shocked, then dramatically glanced at the twelve other lackeys surrounding them before looking back at the young master.

"Ohhh... so that's why you carry these twelve guys around with you everywhere. Sigh. Don't misunderstand, I... I completely support your lifestyle choices. Be happy. But I'm just not into that, so please stop trying to get attention from me."

He sighed again, shaking his head with fake concern.

"But still, don't you think twelve of them is a bit too much... Sigh. Just think about your health."

Dravis almost stumbled and fell to the ground in sheer disbelief. Within seconds, his face went from pale to a deep, burning red. The implication shattered his fragile ego completely. Pointing a shaking finger at Aron, he roared.

"Kill... KILL HIM!"

One of the C-rank lackeys widened his eyes in shock, hesitating at the extreme command.

"B-Boss?!" Murder inside the city limits was a massive crime, even for a B-rank family.

Dravis glared at him coldly, his voice dripping with pure malice.

"Do exactly as I said! My family will take care of everything later!"

Realizing they had the backing of the Soberto family, the C-rank lackey nodded sharply. He and two others immediately channeled their mana and lunged forward, unleashing their offensive skills directly at Aron.