Professor Ava Whitlock stood at the front of the advanced lecture hall, her golden hair catching the soft light from the floating mana-lamps. She gestured smoothly, and the holographic chart expanded, displaying a towering vertical ladder of ranks from E all the way to SS.
"Let's move beyond the surface," she said, her warm yet authoritative voice carrying effortlessly through the infinite space. "Many of you already understand the basic idea of leveling, but understanding the full mechanics of rank progression is what separates those who survive from those who become legends."
The chart shifted, showing clear divisions.
"Each rank contains 100 levels. You begin at Level 1 of E-rank and must reach Level 100 before you can attempt a Rank-Up Quest to D- rank. Only upon completing that quest will you advance to the next rank and reset to Level 1."
Ava tapped the air, and the EXP requirements appeared beside each level bracket:
"Each requirement increases with every rank," Ava continued. "D-rank multiplies all values by 2. C-rank by 3. B-rank by 5. A-rank by 8. And S-rank…" She paused for emphasis. "By 15."
A collective murmur spread through the hall. The numbers were daunting.
"EXP is gained primarily through monster kills," Ava explained. "A same-rank monster grants 100 to 300 EXP. Elite monsters offer 500 to 1,500. Boss monsters can give anywhere from 5,000 to 20,000, depending on difficulty. Training provides secondary gains — basic sessions yield 5 to 10 EXP, intense training 20 to 50, and breakthrough training 100 to 300."
She smiled faintly. "There are also bonus multipliers: overkill on a higher-rank enemy can grant 50% to 200% extra EXP. Fast dungeon clears add 10% to 50%. Strategic or tactical victories provide another 10% to 30%."
Kira raised her hand again. "Professor… what about the Rank-Up Quests? Are they the same for everyone?"
Ava shook her head. "No. Each quest is unique to the individual and their class. Some are combat trials. Others test strategy, survival, or even moral choices. Failure carries penalties — temporary debuffs, injuries, or forced cooldowns before you can attempt it again. Success grants not only the rank increase, but also skill evolutions, aura enhancements, and sometimes entirely new abilities."
The hall grew quieter as the weight of the system settled over the students.
Lucas listened intently, his blue eyes sharp. He already understood the brutal efficiency of the system. It rewarded the strong and punished the weak without mercy. His Mythic class gave him immense potential, but the road to SS-rank would still demand blood, sweat, and calculated risks.
Beside him, Yuna sat with her new rose-pink eyes slightly narrowed, absorbing every word. The succubus bloodline made her more aware of the subtle shifts in the room — the envy, the desire, the fear directed at their trio.
Ava continued, her tone growing more serious. "Remember this: reaching Level 100 is only half the battle. The Rank-Up Quest is where true potential is tested. Many prodigies have fallen at this stage, never to rise again."
She waved her hand, dismissing the chart.
"That concludes today's introduction to rank mechanics. Tomorrow we will begin practical application. Dismissed."
Students began gathering their things, voices buzzing with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Lucas stood up, rolling his shoulders. The weight of the system felt both oppressive and liberating. He had a long road ahead, but for the first time in his life, he had the tools — and the backing — to walk it.
The morning lecture ended, and the advanced class students began filing out toward the central cafeteria for lunch.
The massive hall was a modern masterpiece of polished marble, floating mana-lamps, and long tables arranged in subtle tiers that reflected the academy's unspoken hierarchy. High-merit students sat closer to the premium serving stations, while lower-tier students gravitated toward the basic counters.
The food itself was a status symbol — the more merits you possessed, the better the ingredients and preparation. Wyvern steak for the wealthy, basic nutrient paste for the struggling. Bullying, discrimination, and quiet power plays happened openly here; the cafeteria was one of the few places where the academy's survival-of-the-fittest philosophy was allowed to breathe freely.
Lucas walked between Vivienne and Yuna, his black-and-silver first-year jacket fitting his broad frame perfectly. Vivienne's red dress still drew lingering stares, but Yuna's transformed presence turned heads differently — her long black hair swaying like silk, her newly voluptuous figure drawing open lust from the crowd.
A group of second-year students in black-and-red jackets spotted them immediately. They moved with the confidence of those who had already carved out territory.
The leader stepped forward — zero-cut hair, a scorpion tattoo crawling up the side of his neck, a silver ring glinting in one ear. His smile was sharp and menacing.
Mark.
Lucas's shoulders tensed involuntarily. He recognized the face instantly.
Mark stopped directly in front of them, hands in his pockets, smirk widening.
"Well, well… who would have thought I'd see the son of a slut walking these halls."
The entire cafeteria went deathly quiet. Forks paused mid-air. Conversations died.
Lucas's breathing quickened, but his voice remained low and controlled, fury tightly leashed.
"Mark."
Mark scoffed, leaning in slightly.
"Imagine my surprise when I heard you were the so-called bastard son of the Vanderbilts. Life really is full of surprises, isn't it?"
Lucas didn't rise to the bait. "Cut the nonsense. Tell me what you want."
Mark's eyes flicked toward Yuna and Vivienne for a moment, then back to Lucas. One of his lackeys leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Mark's smirk turned cruel.
"How can I ask anything from our mighty Mythic-class holder?" He leaned even closer, voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "But I do wonder how long you can keep acting so cocky once everyone hears what a slut your mother really is."
Lucas's jaw clenched, teeth grinding, but he remained silent.
Mark straightened, satisfied, and turned to leave with his group.
The words hung in the air. Several students had heard them clearly. Whispers began spreading like poison.
Vivienne, who had stayed quiet the entire time, finally spoke softly.
"Lucas… are you okay?"
Lucas exhaled slowly, fingers brushing through his hair.
"Just some old pests I couldn't deal with before. Let's go."
A short distance away, Alex had just entered the cafeteria with Ethan and Chloe. He caught the tail end of the confrontation and the whispered insult. His expression darkened.
He leaned toward Ethan and spoke quietly.
"Find out the real relationship or rivalry between those two."
Ethan's eyes widened for a second, surprised by the request, but he nodded with immediate assurance.
"Don't worry, Alex. Your brother here has a wide network."
The group continued toward the serving line, the tension in the air still thick.
**
After the tense cafeteria confrontation, Mark and his lackeys made their way toward the Brotherhood faction's private wing — a secluded building tucked behind the main campus, its entrance hidden behind an illusion ward that only faction members could see through.
They passed through the concealed doorway and descended a narrow staircase into the underground levels. The air grew thicker, warmer, laced with the heavy scent of incense, sweat, and something sweeter — the unmistakable musk of sex and forbidden drugs. Moans echoed from distant rooms, desperate and broken, mixed with the occasional cry for help that no one answered.
A final-year student in a black-and-gold jacket dragged a first-year girl by the wrist down the corridor. She was sobbing, pleading frantically for someone to help her. The senior's face gleamed with sadistic pleasure as he ignored her cries and pulled her into one of the side chambers.
Mark's expression didn't change. He kept walking, pace steady, until they reached a guarded door at the end of the hall. Two faction enforcers nodded silently and let only him inside.
Inside, the room was dim, bathed in deep red light. The air was thick with the sweet, heady smell of marijuana and the potent sexual-enhancement drugs the Brotherhood favored. In the center of the room stood a large circular bed covered in black silk.
A woman with long, voluminous pinkish-purple hair sprawled across it — her body a vision of raw sensuality. Her breasts were huge and heavy, pink nipples stiff and glistening as another girl sucked on them with fervent, uncontrollable hunger. Her waist was perfectly proportioned — not too thin, not too soft — flowing into thick, plush thighs. Between her legs, a neatly shaved pussy glistened as the girl beneath her licked with desperate devotion.
The Pink-haired woman moaned loudly, pushing the other girl's head deeper.
"Yes… suck me harder, bitch… Ahh, fuck… just like that…"
Mark's gaze lingered on the scene for a second too long. His breathing heated, and he felt an unwanted bulge forming in his pants. Control it, you bastard, he thought bitterly. If that cuck sees this, he'll cut my dick off.
He forced his eyes away and made his way to the corner of the room.
There, seated naked on a leather chair, was Senior Baron.
His hair was combed back to his shoulders, his body lean and toned. He held a pipe of weed to his lips, inhaling deeply while his eyes stayed fixed on the erotic display on the bed. His hand lazily stroked his own cock as he watched.
Mark bowed his head with visible fear and respect.
"Senior Baron."
Baron didn't look at him immediately. He took another long drag, exhaled slowly, and moaned softly as the girl on the bed cried out in pleasure.
"So… did you meet my new cousin?" he asked, voice lazy and laced with lust.
Mike nodded, keeping his eyes on the floor. "Yes, Senior. Just like you instructed, I tried to provoke him. But… as I said before, Lucas won't be easily provoked. He stood there silently."
Baron finally glanced at Mike, his eyes cloudy with drugs and dark amusement.
"Just do what I said, lowlife. Did I ask for your opinion?"
Mike's forehead broke out in fresh sweat. "No, sir."
The pink-haired woman suddenly arched her back and came hard, her juices coating the face of the girl between her legs. She panted, leaning back against the pillows, then turned her head toward Baron with a wicked smile.
"Darling, how about I deal with the newbie?" she asked, voice dripping with honeyed venom.
Mike gulped inwardly. What a crazy bitch…
Baron smiled at his girlfriend and shook his head. "He's not worth your finger, baby. Let the lowlife deal with lowlifes."
The pink-haired woman chuckled darkly. She pulled the other girl up beside her and straddled her face, grinding down with shameless hunger.
"Clean it, darling…"
The girl obeyed instantly, tongue working with desperate fervor.
Baron stood up, still naked, and walked toward the bed. "Keep provoking him. I want to see how long he can hold on."
Mike nodded quickly. "Yes, Senior."
He left the room faster than he had entered, the sounds of wet moans and desperate cries echoing behind him as the door closed.
Outside, the corridor felt colder. Mark wiped the sweat from his brow, heart still racing.
The Brotherhood never forgot a slight.
And Lucas Vanderbilt had just become their newest target.