I Level Up by Killing Gods

Kael stood in the crowded assembly hall of the academy. The air was electric with nerves, the hum of chatter and the whir of the holo-screens on the walls.

Today was the day for the new intake at Black Haven, an event that would set the tone for a student's entire time here and determine their rank, core potential and department.

Kael had arrived at the academy at the same time as the new intake, he wasn't sure if that was lucky or not. Earlier he had been herded with dozens of other recruits into a series of rooms where their physical abilities, Etherion potential and mental toughness were tested.

He'd been poked and prodded with strange machines, needles that glowed and something that was supposed to be a simulation, all without explanation.

Now he waited with the others for the results to be shown.

The evaluations weren't just about ranking new students; they were a tradition, almost a ritual. Black Haven prided itself on being precise. Every student's Light Core—if they had one—was measured, categorized and ranked.

The academy's philosophy was simple: your Light Core was your worth and your worth was your future.

—

Dr. Levi had told him about the system before his evaluation.

"Every Lightforged has a Light Core," she'd said, her voice detached as always. "It's the source of our power. Most wake with a Common Core—limited potential, enough to get to Rank 3 or 4 if they're lucky. A Refined Core is rarer and allows for more growth, up to Rank 6. Then there's the Radiant Core—pure and powerful enough to get someone to the Zenith ranks and beyond."

She'd paused, adjusting her glasses as she looked at him.

"And then there's the mythical cores—the Divine Cores and the True Cores. The former is very rare, often associated with those who are destined for greatness. The latter… Well, the True Cores are mostly myth among Lightforged."

Kael hadn't really been paying attention at the time, his mind elsewhere. She'd been so sure he'd blow everyone away with his core but he wasn't so sure. He didn't even know how to use Etherion let alone be part of the system she'd explained.

—

A group of students nearby were chatting loudly.

"I'll definitely awaken a Radiant Core," one boy boasted, his voice full of confidence but lacking substance. "Maybe even Greater-tier. My father was a Nexus Honored warrior so it's in my blood."

"Yeah, sure," another replied, rolling his eyes. "More like a Refined Core if you're lucky. Radiant's out of your league."

The conversation changed and Kael caught bits about a girl whose name had been mentioned all morning.

"Rein Raegard," someone said in wonder. "She's a founder's heir. Everyone's saying she'll awaken a Radiant Core for sure. Probably already did."

"Not just a Radiant Core," another added. "I heard she's already a Dawnbringer—ranked above some of the instructors here."

Kael let their words wash over him, not listening to the gossip. But no matter where he went her name was everywhere. Rein Raegard.

He supposed it wasn't surprising from what he heared. Founders—families whose bloodlines went back to the original Lightforged when this world was first called to the Nexus—were practically royalty. People loved to worship them.

The conversation turned to him next, as he'd expected.

"What about him?" someone asked, their voice too low but not low enough for Kael to miss. "The outskirts kid who survived an A-rank breach?"

"Just a fluke," someone else said. "He's nothing."

"Still," a girl said, "if he really did survive an A-rank breach he might surprise us today. Wouldn't that be cool?"

"Or," someone snorted, "he'll have no core at all and get kicked out by the end of the day."

Kael shrugged, his face blank. He'd heard worse. Let them talk. He'd been through too much to care what a bunch of entitled kids thought of him.

—

A chime sounded through the hall and the crowd fell silent. The air was electric with tension as the results began to display on the screens and interactive panels around the room. Names and rankings appeared, each with the type and rank of the awakened Light Core.

Kael's eyes went to the top of the list. In bright, glowing letters, Rein Raegard's name was number one. She'd done it—awakened a Radiant Core just as everyone had expected. But what caught his attention was her rank: Dawnbringer.

A Rank 6 Lightforged right out of the gate.

"She's a Dawnbringer?" someone whispered beside him, echoing his thoughts.

"That's crazy," another said. "She's not even fully trained yet."

Kael huffed and dragged his eyes down the list. If he wasn't number one he might as well aim for second. But no. His name wasn't there.

Third?

Nothing.

Fourth?

Kael scowled and turned away from the screen and walked over to one of the smaller panels at the side of the hall. The interface allowed students to search for specific names among the rankings.

He tapped the screen, entered his name and waited for the system to process his query.

When the results displayed he gasped.

Kael Valtherion: Rank — Initiate (Novice). Light Core Type: Undetermined. Placement: 137th (Last).

The words stared back at him. He blinked, expecting the panel to glitch and correct itself. But they remained the same.

"I'm… last?" he whispered, his voice full of shock.

—

The whispers started up again, this time sharper and mocking.

"Last," someone snickered. "Guess the A-rank breach was just luck after all."

"Why didn't he awaken a core? Isn't that impossible?"