The world turned white for a moment.
After the blinding flash of the teleportation portal faded, Kaelen and the rest of the selected students found themselves standing in the heart of the Frahein Empire a place known across the continents as the mightiest bastion of human civilization. Before them stood a massive, awe-inspiring castle that stretched toward the sky, so tall that its spires disappeared into the clouds.
Gleaming marble walls adorned with golden etchings of beasts and warriors reflected the sunlight, and large banners representing every kingdom and noble house flapped majestically in the wind. This was the Imperial Castle of Frahein, the heart of the empire.
They were led across a long ceremonial bridge into a grand hall, its ceilings high enough to contain a mountain. Rows of pillars carved with ancient battle scenes lined the sides, and at the far end, seated on thrones or standing with regal presence, were rulers, high-ranking officials, and nobles from all corners of the continent. Kings with crowns, queens with flowing robes, lords bearing enchanted weapons, each one emanating a presence so powerful that the room itself seemed to bend around them.
As the students entered, they were immediately struck by the oppressive pressure that filled the hall. Their legs trembled, not from fear, but from the sheer weight of power that these rulers carried. The air was thick with authority. Kaelen felt it press against his chest, like a hand gripping his heart. Around him, a few younger students struggled to stay upright. Some even collapsed briefly before standing again.
Then, the Emperor of Frahein himself stood. He wore a radiant white cloak trimmed with crimson, and a golden crown that seemed forged from the sun. His presence alone cut through the tension in the room, not with intimidation, but with dignity.
"Young champions of humanity," his voice rang across the hall like a bell, deep and calm. "You stand today not just as students, but as the future of our race. You are the chosen of the system, the ones who will inherit our hopes, our struggles, and one day, our responsibilities."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"The age we live in is dangerous. The world grows more twisted by the day. But even in chaos, we have found light. You are that light. Train, grow, and become what this world needs. There is no higher honor."
A respectful silence followed, heavy with meaning. The rulers behind him nodded in agreement. No applause, no cheers, just an air of solemnity.
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for. The Emperor turned and stepped toward a massive pedestal in the center of the room. On it rested an artifact unlike any other: a floating crystalline orb surrounded by spinning metallic rings. It glowed faintly with rainbow hues, pulsing with power.
One by one, the rulers stepped forward and channeled their energy into the artifact. Light flared, brighter and brighter, until the rings stopped spinning and merged into a vertical oval of pure light.
A portal.
Without further delay, the students were beckoned forward once again. With nervous excitement, Kaelen stepped into the light.
And the world changed.
What greeted them on the other side was nothing short of a dream.
Gasps echoed across the group as they stumbled out of the portal. Before them was a realm that seemed torn from myth. The sky above them was clear, they were standing above the clouds.
The ground beneath their feet was warm, not of stone, but a smooth, polished surface lined with glowing veins of energy. Floating islands drifted lazily around them, and beneath them the trees grows hundreds of meters tall, some so immense they pierced the clouds. Water flowed midair from one island to another, forming ethereal rivers that never fell to the earth. Birds and strange flying creatures soared around the floating structures, and to everyone's amazement fishes swam through the air as if it were water.
A magical wind blew gently across the city. It carried the scent of flowers and something more, a kind of spiritual clarity. Even the smallest breath made one feel lighter.
It was a city in the clouds. But that wasn't the most shocking part.
This place it's not even a city.
It was a Legendary-Rank Village.
In Eldraus, every human settlement was ranked by the System, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Epic, and legendary. But Legendary was a rank so rare that most believed it impossible. Cities could reach Silver or even Gold through immense effort, even the capital of Frahein Empire was Epic Rank, yet a village of Legendary Rank? It was a fortress, a sacred place that could not be touched.
In this world, the System protected settlements based on their contribution rank. Monsters and humans could not invade a settlement of a rank higher than their own. It was a sacred rule enforced by the system itself.
There were no known monsters or even humans with Legendary Rank in this age. Which meant this village, freshly created, was beyond the reach of any current threat.
This village was invincible.
But such a fortress came with a cost.
Maintaining a Legendary-Rank village required a monstrous amount of resources. No single kingdom, no matter how rich they are could hope to maintain it alone. Only through the combined effort of the Human Alliance, pooling their might and wealth together, could this magical village exist.
That explained why so many rulers were present. This wasn't just a school, it was the symbol of humanity's hope.
Kaelen's heart pounded. All around him, students stood in awe, their eyes wide and filled with dreams.
There were buildings crafted from crystal, dormitories hanging mid-air, training grounds that shifted in shape, and vast libraries with books that floated from shelf to shelf.
At the very center of the floating village stood a spire taller than any tower, lined with runes and flowing with energy. That would be the Central Hall, the command center of the Academy.
Kaelen felt small, yet inspired. This was a place that demanded greatness.
"Welcome to Dawn," a voice echoed from the spire. It wasn't loud, but everyone heard it as if it were whispered in their ears. "The light that will guide humanity through the dark."