Raze knew the girl wasn't wrong. A level 1 and a level 2 on the same team as one of the strongest students in this class would drag everyone down in the wrong situation. He could grow stronger with the system, but explaining his growing strength without an awakening? It would only lead to questions he couldn't escape.
If he wanted to trust them with the truth, it couldn't be now. Not while he still didn't understand what he was becoming.
Felix stepped forward first, glaring at the girl, "why do you worry so much about our team? It's not like you're a part of it."
Beatrix crossed her arms. "Yeah. Why are you even worrying about us?"
The girl let out a small laugh, amused. "You think I'm worried? No. I'm just here to tell you this."
She paused, making sure she had their attention.
"There's already a hierarchy being formed in this academy, not by the instructors but by the students here, the higher level ones. There are already low levels getting picked on for being…weak."
She went on, talking about how the high leveled students here are becoming bold, targeting anyone below them. And if any high-level student was seen hanging around weaker ones, they'd got "taught a lesson" too. A reputation was already spreading.
"I honestly don't care if you guys get confronted," she said, "I'm just telling you so you can know what to expect and what not to expect here."
She glanced at all of them one last time before turning and walking away, her steps sharp and controlled.
When Raze looked at Liam, he could see the boy's hand trembling slightly. 'Since when Liam acted like this? He's better off than me right now, I'm just a level one and he's a level two.'
Meanwhile, Felix was casually grinning like it was all a game. He listened to her "warning" with a grin tugging at his mouth. Being level 7+ meant only a handful of students would even think about messing with him. But part of her words still hit him.
He didn't want his low-level friends getting picked on just because they were weak.
"Don't worry, guys," Felix said. "If anyone gives you trouble, just tell me or Beatrix. I'm sure we can handle it. Right, Beatrix?"
Beatrix nodded. "Felix is right." Her eyes moved to Raze and Liam, steady and serious. "If you're in trouble, don't hesitate to come to us."
Liam shifted in his seat. "But… what if they're as strong as you and Felix? Or maybe even stronger?"
Felix didn't answer right away. His grin faded into something more thoughtful, but not worried. Beatrix kept her expression calm, though her fingers tapped lightly against the table.
Raze stayed quiet, watching the tension rise around Liam. 'If Liam's already this shaken… How is he going to survive a portal outing? And how am I supposed to protect him when I'm the weakest one here?'
Liam looked between them, waiting for an answer he hoped would make him feel safer.
Before Felix could respond, Raze intervened.
"If someone stronger shows up," Raze said, "then we deal with it one step at a time. Worrying about things that haven't happened yet won't help us now."
Liam looked at him, surprised. Felix raised a brow like he hadn't expected Raze to speak up either. Beatrix gave a small nod, accepting the answer without question.
The tension eased, and the group packed up when the class ended. They walked back to the dorms together. No one talked much, but the silence wasn't heavy—just tired.
Once inside, Felix threw himself onto his bed. Liam sat down at his desk, still thinking about everything that had been said, while Beatrix began chatting with Felix, but Raze barely heard any of it. His mind was still stuck on what the level 6 girl said.
Hierarchy. Harassment. Weak students being used as targets. She wasn't wrong.
A level 1 and level 2 really were the bottom of the academy. And if the high leve students were already picking on people, then he and Liam were easy prey in their eyes. Especially him.
Raze leaned back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
'I need to level up. Fast. Two weeks at most. But how am I supposed to explain it when I don't even have an awakening? They'll notice. Felix will notice. Beatrix definitely will.'
The system could push him ahead of everyone his age, but without a cover story, it would only draw more attention. And attention wasn't something he could afford yet.
Raze exhaled slowly. 'I just need to get stronger without being obvious.'
When nobody was paying attention, Raze got up and quietly exited the dorm.
He moved through the halls with quick, steady steps. His thoughts circled the same problem. Two weeks. Two weeks wasn't enough time to explain anything. Two weeks wasn't enough time to hide everything either. He needed to level up fast, without drawing attention.
The hallway was mostly empty as he moved through the academy, keeping his pace normal so no one questioned where he was going.
Suddenly, something clicked in Raze's mind.
Awakening Battleground.
He remembered Felix explaining it to him, Beatrix, and Liam a few days ago. A PvP game where players used simulated versions of their awakenings to fight each other. Felix made it sound fun. Beatrix called it "good practice."
If Raze played it… he could fight people with all kinds of awakenings without exposing his own body or risking anyone figuring out it was him. It could help him adapt, react faster, and think under pressure.
But it still didn't solve everything.
The portal outing was coming. Real danger, real beasts, and real consequences.
'I don't even know what I'll be facing out there…'
Raze took a slow breath before asking the system, 'Is there some other way to get quests that doesn't require any physical combat?'
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then a window appeared sharply in his vision.
[ Main Quest: Reach Level 10 ]
No explanation. No alternatives.
Raze cletched his jaw in frustration. 'Looks like it's constant fighting to level up then.'
As he turned a corner, his thoughts were cut off by a sharp voice.
"Hurry up and transfer it."
Raze slowed his pace.
A few meters down the hallway, he spotted two boys near the lockers. One was backed against the wall, clutching his wristwatch. The other stood over him with a smug grin, his watch glowing Level 1.5. Barely above the other kid's Level 1, yet acting like a predator.
"I don't have many credits left," the smaller boy said, his voice shaky.
"That's your problem, not mine," the older one snapped. "If you don't want trouble, then hand it over."
Raze's eyes narrowed.
Someone barely stronger already using it to bully someone weaker. The sight bothered him more than he expected. Maybe because he knew what it felt like to be cornered by something more powerful. Or maybe because the boy doing the bullying didn't even deserve the advantage he had.
He stepped forward, walking toward them at a steady pace, not bothering to hide his steps.
Both boys turned when they heard him approach.
The bully's expression twisted with annoyance.
"The hell do you want?"
Raze didn't answer right away. He stopped a few steps away from them.
The smaller boy looked confused and scared but he was relieved to see that someone else was here.
"I said," the boy repeated, stepping forward, "what do you want?"
Raze tilted his head slightly. "You're really threatening someone over credits when you're barely half a level higher?"
The bully scoffed. "And? A higher level's a higher level. Weak people get pushed around. That's how it works here."
Raze didn't respond to the explanation.
"I just don't like it."
The boy clicked his tongue and stepped closer, sizing Raze up.
"And what's a level one gonna do? You trying to be a hero? A level one trash trying to give advice?"
Raze didn't respond, his silence irritating the boy even more.