Entrance Ceremony (3): Chosen by the Black Heaven Demon Sword
Special stats are exactly what they sound like—special stats. They synergize with the power you've cultivated, amplifying its efficiency to extraordinary levels. These powers differ from the norm. Eternal Karma, Crimson Lotus, Root Force, Starlight... Even I, a veteran of the game, don't know them all.
Early morning. I stepped outside briefly to train my Nian.
▼ [Name: Lee Seoha]
Strength: 3
Agility: 5
Stamina: 5
Dexterity: 5
Special Stat
Nian: 1
◇ Talents
─「Viewing(-)」, 「Dexterous Hands(B+)」
◇ Arts
─None
◇ Constitution
─「Reverse Heaven Body(S-)」
A decently open clearing. I took position there and focused my Nian on a nearby tree branch.
Whoosh!
The branch shot up into the air. It danced left, right, up, and down at my command before embedding itself dead-center in a tree trunk.
Not bad?
No exaggeration—it packed more punch than expected. Sure, special stats are inherently efficient, but Nian is like this by nature. It squares the output when fused with mana, unique abilities, or special qi, but alone? It's feeble. Still, this level of power on its own? Fitting for a special stat.
Humming a tune, I set off. The time for the top freshman—me—to give the class rep speech was fast approaching.
The Korea Hero School entrance ceremony, held in the grand auditorium, was packed to the brim—thanks to all the VIPs, it felt like you couldn't squeeze in a footstep. Any industry watcher would recognize every student's face, and even casuals knew the parents from nonstop media coverage. A sight unique to this school.
"Look at him. The top ranker. Whoa, just passing by and he's radiating this crazy charisma..."
"Heard he cleared the entrance exam in under a minute? Rumor says he awakened some Absolute Domination talent."
Whispers rippled everywhere. I kept my cool as best I could.
Charisma? What the hell?
I knew Absolute Domination. A type of Word Command infused with mana. Say "Split in half and die," and your target does just that. As if I'd have something like that.
Ridiculous rumors drew a chuckle from me. I headed to the front of the auditorium.
Korea Hero School seated everyone by rank for the ceremony, so top spot meant front row.
"That's Lee Seoha."
"I can't sense a thing from him..."
"That's what makes him terrifying. His power's reached perfect maturity. Every student here will live in his shadow."
Familiar faces dotted the front. Kim Seohyeon, the protagonist type. Hong Yuhwa glaring with her blazing red eyes. I gave casual nods and took my seat, scanning the surroundings.
All known quantities. The heir to Korea's top conglomerate, dubbed "Flying General" after splashing cash on Yeopo Bongseon's weapon. The dual-wielding Snow Mountain Lady who goes berserk at demons and rips arms off first.
"Now, the freshman representative pledge. Freshman rep, to the stage."
I climbed up. The auditorium revealed a mix of stares: aggressive glares, averted eyes, and monsters sizing me up from behind. Cameras flashed—reporters everywhere. One slip-up, and I'd make tomorrow's front page.
"Pledge."
Good thing I popped a calming pill beforehand. Keeping my voice steady, I began.
Whew. Felt like every ounce of energy got sucked out. I sighed inwardly and descended calmly.
You've drawn everyone's attention with your top-rank entrance ceremony pledge.
Reward: 1,000p
...Points for this too?
Stretching as I went down, I noted how normal schools hustle kids out post-ceremony. Not here. Instructors swarmed out, lining up before us.
"All Class 1-A freshmen, assemble!"
A booming male voice. Our class—me and the mains. I turned to see a tanned, muscle-bound man.
I took the lead; 99 others fell in behind. 100 per class at Korea Hero School.
...Half'll drop before year's end.
"Welcome. I'm Seo Wooju, your instructor for the year."
Cheers erupted at his intro.
"Whoa, Seo Wooju? The Iron Lion?!"
"No way, the Iron Lion's our instructor?"
Iron Lion Seo Wooju. A Mid Grade hero on the cusp of High Grade. A star anyone into heroes would know.
"This class is stacked. Even the instructors are top-tier."
"Duh. Admission bar skyrocketed. I barely scraped in mid-upper before, now I'm bottom?"
"...Sorry."
Popular guy. But I couldn't relax. He was a body-training zealot. Meant lots of suffering ahead.
"You all know what Korea Hero School is. Don't think you've arrived—this is just the starting line."
Some faces fell.
"Tight schedule today. No slacking just 'cause it's orientation. Everything's ranked by grades here. Stagnate, and you're out. Follow me."
He turned.
"First up: weapon selection."
Weapon selection at Korea Hero School is a huge deal. Just picking a weapon? Yeah, but this one's special. You might snag the gear you'll wield for life.
Fifty years ago, the Great War plunged the world into panic. The heroes who ended it founded this school with their comrades, declaring special weapons essential for true heroes. They stocked the arsenal with legendary arms—from S-grade peaks to solid D-grades.
Don't sleep on D-grade. Cutting-edge magic engineering lets even normals cleave rocks. But you don't choose—they choose their owner.
"Weapon selection starts now."
Amazingly, if picked, you get it free.
"And as you know, expulsion means return it. Even if you flunk out."
He called them weapons, but not all were blades.
I've got my eyes on something else.
A weapon would be nice, but I'm weak regardless. Slim odds for a Reverse Heaven Body user anyway. Better to grab a growth springboard. The school hands out custom D-grades for that.
My target: Argos's Alchemy Kit.
Unique—it picks those who seek it, ignoring raw talent. I'll use it to brew undisclosed artificial elixirs, consume 'em, sell the rest, and skyrocket.
The arsenal brimmed: weapons stabbed in earth, leaning on walls, floating lazily.
Cool to see IRL.
"I'll claim the Giant's Sword Beowulf wielded here!"
"So this is where the Dream Tome and Crimson Flame Grimoire slept. The mana quality's on another level."
"Big dreams. Seniors got passed over for reasons."
Excitement buzzed as kids rummaged.
"Kim Seohyeon, not picking?"
"Heading now. I'll grab something basic. Relying on weapons stalls growth."
Kim Seohyeon eyed the battered blade floating his way: Rage Sword Gram. He loved the worn look—then raged learning it was one of the few S-grades here.
I scoped the room. Sans mains, most'd snag middling A-grades. S-grades were picky—only one pick so far in school history.
Kim Seohyeon. Erhil Merhen, illusory girl with a transcendent soul. And the hidden powerhouse nerd who couldn't control her strength.
One more maybe.
Her talent rivaled theirs, but oblivious to its seal? Pipe dream.
"Holy crap! Giant's Sword picked an owner? Not me, but that nerd girl?!"
"Who's the nerd? Weapons sense talent..."
"It's about awakening too. She's one to watch."
"Wait—that's the Dream Tome? The Phantasmal Lord's?!"
"...It was here?!"
Screams everywhere. Dream Tome to Erhil, Giant's Sword to the nerd. Obvious.
"Oh, found mine?"
Kim Seohyeon grinned at Gram.
"Kim Seohyeon took that rusty sword? Heh, I'll surpass him soon."
"With your S-grade, you might eat dirt to that rusty pick."
"What?!"
One by one, they found theirs. Time for me to hunt.
Vwoooooom!
A fierce ripple. Eyes turned—a jet-black sword, pulsing unlike any other, flew into my hand.
"...Huh?"
I blurted dumbly. Chosen? But I need Argos's kit for elixirs and riches.
Still, can't ignore a sword in hand without appraising.
Appraise.
The divine sword wielded by the Heavenly Demon.
Forged from black iron and millennium stone, boasting supreme strength and hardness.
Legends say it houses a soul.
:Inner Skill 「Sword Soul」
:???
:???
:???
:???
...But too high-grade to refuse.