"By the look of it, we seem to be in same ages."
"So, you're 20?"
"Yup!"
Even if, the conversation was a bit short. they seem to be, slowly get along with each other.
"I sense mana in you, are you perhaps, a new hero many has talked about?"
"Yes"
'Wait, they knew?!--'
"Let's be friend than. The name Lia, Rank E, I will guide you with your first training as the E ranker".
As Lia extending one of his hand, Ava behind the locker were very shocked and proud, as her companion has finally made her first hero friend. However, Alice was a bit stubborn.
This was her first time making a friend for exceptionally long time, for many years... she's been alone staying with her mother and tried her best to keep her motivated to be alive while having a doubt of herself willing to stayed alive once her mother pass away.
Even so, she was indeed forcefully becoming a hero. However, it felt as if. it was a good benefit for her. And so, she extends her hand, they both looked at each other. Happily, smile, as Lia said.
"I'd hope our friendship will last long as the day we met."
"Yeah..."
once they've finally made a friendship bond, Ava behind the locker is secretly celebrate the bonding and was proud to see it happen.
[Yes! I am proud of you Alice! :D] Ava muttered to herself in a low voice.
"Although do you have your hero suit? It will be needed for combat training, so you could easily adapt with the suit that you will used often".
'Hero suit?'
because she's needed a hero suit, she looked slightly behind her back. Since, Ava secretly hiding behind the locker for them, she looked at Ava with the confident looked. And Ava knew what that meant…
'You know what to do!'
[Oh...]
***
As they both walked along the hallway searching the E rank combat room, Lia notices her friend outfit seem to resemble an archery outfit with a cloak. Even so, the colour of her outfit is a bit bright cause of the white colour.
"Hey Alice, Are you perhaps an archer?"
"N-no... I am sort of a spear user".
Lia was a bit disappointing for what she said to her. Because her clothes could have potential to be an archer but was waste to be a spear user. Even so, she won't deny her friend opinion when every hero came for different world.
'Thank goodness Ava made it in time..."
As she remembers watching Ava process of making the suit as fast as she can behind the locker
'I wonder, what could Ava been doing this time?'
[Uh... I don't feel too good...] as she lay on the bed in her companion room, flat.
Nevertheless, she must stop thinking around as they finally found the E rank combat room.
***
"Here we are, the combat room of E rank".
The room, fill with basic training weapon that people would know of. But only one exception… They have two training bots. Although, it was an unexpected thing to see for Alice. Yet, since this was her first training. This may be difficult.
"They aren't that much advance stuff in E rank, but this basic stuff can help us learn and train our experience until were become D rank or more."
Nonetheless, seeing the confident expression on her has made Alice sweat a bit on her face. In the end, she sighs, as she accepts her defeat since she was not a hero for otherworld.
"TK-1, This bot is an outdated version. But it has helped countless of heroes, to promote they rank into D to A rank!" as she slaps the bot head.
TK-1, an old training bot that can endure countless powerful attacks for the user. Even if it was an outdated version, the bot can used in diverse types of training: Magic, Martial art, Archery, and many more. However, the bot has multiple flaws, such as, overheating, and High mana consumption.
As she turns on the bot, she asked Alice once more about her talent on spear.
"Hey Alice, You're a spear user, right?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Nothing. Take the training spear and go to the left side of the pitch".
As she picks the spear, she asked Lia about the rank.
"Lia, may I ask you something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"How does the rank system work around here?"
"I guess, you can say that you need to have the requirement to be in a rank"
"Liked what exactly?"
The though of ranking based on requirements was not something she would though off.
"Experience, ability and intelligence. However, it would be complicated if I tell you right now." As she looked at Alice, she said. "Perhaps, you should try get to D rank. Once you're in a new rank you would understand it quickly."
"Okay?"
Perhaps, it was too soon…
For further notice, they ranking system is mostly based on ability, experience, and intelligence. The reason they've done this is because, the heroes is mostly strong in they own world. But when trying to rank them, thing got more complicated. Some has a good ability but has no experience, while some have experience but lack the intelligence to used them efficiently.
And so, john has made this three as requirement, to ranking them up. If the hero has 1/3 requirement, they can rank up for E until C. Furthermore, if they want to rank even further. They needed to have 2/3 requirement to be in Rank B to A. However, to be Rank S. they needed to have all the requirement as they are the trump card of the hero's organisation.
***
Once, Alice was at the left side with her weapon ready. Lia, decide to put the spear training on the tab of the bot. with that, the bot turned on by itself as walked inside into the right side of the pitch with suddenly the spear appear on its hand.
And so, Lia tells the rule before counting down.
"The first rule, you cannot run outside the combat pitch."
"Second, this is weapon training. Don't used your ability in this training".
"And lastly, the third rule. If you're heavily injure, you must surrender yourself, so, I could turn off the bots before it could injure you."
"With that, the countdown will now start in 3!"
And so, she clenches her hand on the spear as she muttered to herself. 'You can do it!'
"2! 1! Now!"
The bot quickly ran to her as it quickly moved it spear on the middle. Thankfully, she manages to barely dodge it.
'Did it try to stab me!?'
However, Alice didn't know that TK-1 was a very well-trained robot. It's been fought many heroes for less to very experience one.
Nevertheless, she must keep dodging every slash, and stab while staying inside the pitch.
When both were far away for each other range, Alice pants for air since the bot isn't tired but rotating the spear liked she was a toy to played with.
'Which Ava was here!' She said before flinch by the glimpse of light. 'What is that?'
Around the armpit and navel, she saw a small particle of light. Without doubt or think, she thought of it as a weakness spot.
'No time! It must be a weak spot!'
Both ran toward each other, As She slide down before the slash could hit her. Even so, she was left with a scratch on her left cheek.
As the bot quickly look behind, she was fast enough to stab her spear on its navel.
'I got it!' As she grins.
As the bot was push back and lay on the ground, the stab has pierced it armour on the navel badly.
"I did it!" As she looked at Lia.
As Alice started to celebrate, Lia looked at the robot laying down on the ground very suspiciously. Suddenly, the bot slowly stood up for the ground.
Lia was utterly surprised by the bot still working for that kind of condition.
'It still alive?! In that condition?!'
As a tear of a cold sweat fall for her, she's tried to turn off the bot. Yet, it failed to work. Without fear--panic she asked Alice clearly.
"Alice... this isn't the time to celebrate..."
As she looked at her friend cold gaze, she looked at the bot and was utterly surprised. The bot, standing up with the spear ready. And now, she knew this would a hard time to fight. Since the bot is having malfunction as the smoke coming out for it head, and a buzzing sound for the wires...
Her instinct began to rush rapidly in fear, the though needed to escape has appear. Yet, she cannot leave the pitch. With some determination and a cold sweat. And so, she inhales and exhale the air to calms herself down as she clenches her spear….