Chapter 28: Opening Ceremony
"Ughhh..."
I groaned, rolling out of the bed.
My head was pounding, and the sunlight streaming through the curtains felt like daggers to my eyes.
'What time is it?'
Rubbing my temples gently, I glanced at the clock on the nightstand.
[ 07:52 ]
For a moment, I simply stared at the digits, with a blank look.
Entrance Ceremony... When was it again?
Ah, right, at 8 AM.
"Wait a second!"
It took me a minute to fully process the information.
"I overslept!"
Jumping out of the bed, I yelped.
『 Shadow Step 』
I didn't even hesitate using my skill to appear before the wardrobe, quickly changing into my uniform. As expected, the clothing was already neatly prepared and ready to wear.
With a quick adjustment of the tie and a splash of water on my face, I was ready to head out.
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to use the door.
Swish...
Opening my bedroom window, I leapt out, feeling the air rushing past me as I rapidly descended to the ground below.
『 Shadow Step 』
Once I was near the ground, I activated my skill once again, completely minimizing the impact and landing softly on my feet.
Some students gave me weird looks, but didn't bother to say anything as they were also rushing to make it to the Entrance Ceremony on time.
『 Shadow Step 』
『 Shadow Step 』
『 Shadow Step 』
Every time my skill's cooldown allowed, I utilized it to teleport as far as possible, avoiding cadets and other people that got in my way.
In three mere minutes I managed to cover most of the distance and I could already see the gates leading towards the massive building that was supposed to be the place where the ceremony was held.
'I'm going to make it!'
Unfortunately, my happiness was short-lived.
As soon as the gates came into my view, they began to slowly close, signaling the start of the ceremony.
'Curses!'
Biting my lips, I strained my body, trying to teleport as close to the door as possible.
The familiar sensation of my skill enveloped me, but this time, something felt different. The energy coursing through me was more intense, more potent. It was as if my desperation had somehow amplified my power.
"...!"
To my surprise, I vanished a good distance more than I previously could, reappearing just a few feet from the rapidly closing gates. I stumbled slightly upon landing, my knees almost giving out from the sudden strain.
'What was that? I've never managed to shadow step this far before...'
Gathering my wits, I dashed forward, slipping through the narrowing gap of the gate just in time.
Thud...
It clanged shut behind me with a resounding thud, leaving me breathless but victorious.
Inside, the grand hall was already filling up with students. There were more than a thousand of them.
I quickly blended into the crowd, trying to catch my breath and calm my racing heart.
The other students, busy finding their seats and talking amongst themselves, paid little attention to me.
Tick...
As I was also searching for an empty chair, a system notification popped up before my eyes.
⌜Notification: Spell Level Up⌝
◈ Shadow Manipulation ★☆☆☆☆
» Mastery - Lv. 1 → Lv. 2
Scanning its contents, I nodded my head. Now, it made sense why I had managed to teleport so much farther this time.
The boost in my skill level had clearly enhanced my ability.
However, for some reason I wasn't that satisfied with the skill's level up...
Not because I had spent an entire week in a dungeon trying to level it up and now it decided to upgrade just because I was in a hurry...
Totally not.
"..."
Luckily for my mental state, I didn't have much time to dwell on this 'tomfoolery'. I needed to find a seat before the ceremony officially started.
The grand hall was an architectural marvel, with high vaulted ceilings and intricate designs adorning the walls. The stage at the front was set with a podium and several dignitaries already in their seats, ready to address us.
I weaved through the throngs of students, my eyes scanning for any available space.
As I did, I caught snippets of conversations around me, excitement and nerves palpable in the air.
"There, a spot!"
I muttered under my breath, spotting an empty seat near the middle of the hall. I hurried over, slipping into the chair just as the lights dimmed and a hush fell over the crowd.
The stage, now illuminated by a singular spotlight, drew everyone's attention to the podium at its center.
A figure emerged from the shadows, walking with a calm and measured stride.
The man was old, with silver hair flowing past his shoulders and a beard that spoke of wisdom earned over centuries. He wore a pristine white robe adorned with golden embroidery.
His presence was immediately commanding, and the sheer aura he exuded was palpable.
It was as if the very air around him hummed with energy, a silent testament to his immense power.
The principal, the only human to have ever reached the realm of SS rankers, carried himself with an ease that belied his formidable strength.
It was said that his mere presence could cow a ferocious beast, and the aura he gave off now seemed to say that he could kill a damned dragon if he so desired.
"...!"
It was also the first time I've met a person so strong I couldn't even accurately sense the full extent of their power.
Scary!