But the academy wasn't all just ridiculous rules.
There was also an app named Benefits, and when Everlearn opened it, he was pleasantly surprised.
Being a newcomer, some benefits came with it.
Three he found most important.
The first benefit was that he could actually undergo his first Core Fusion for free!
The academy was giving every single newcomer a chance to fuse with their first cores, a Grade W core called Neutron 01.
As a Mech Designer, Everlearn knew an 01 core was stable and reliable, with a well-balanced mix of strength and energy across every fiber of the body.
It was a good beginner-level core.
Core transplants cost a lot of money, up to hundreds of thousands of Nvdollars.
He knew this from being a Mecha Designer, yet the school was actually making them undergo this fusion for free!?
But it wasn't a feature immediately available.
It would only be activated three days after the student's arrival.
║Did you really want to fuse with a core?║
The system panel flashed as Everlearn's brow furrowed.
It wasn't a bizarre question.
He already had the system that made him grow stronger by just completing missions.
Why implant technological artifacts within his body if he could grow stronger without them?
"I will," he answered.
"Not because I need to, but to hide the main source of power," Everlearn muttered.
If he kept on leveling and growing stronger like this, it was only a matter of time before the entire Corer world set its eyes upon him.
It didn't make sense to be a superhuman without cores.
If his strength grew enough, he would be checked and most likely forced to spill the truth about his source of strength.
And what was worse?
He had no believable excuse for that.
So, he needed a diversion.
Even if he only fused with a Mecha W core and never upgraded, it's simple to say that he created special Mecha Modules that evolved with him.
Alternatively, he could argue that his core was uniquely designed, making him more powerful, or that he had better-integrated Bionic fluids.
Being a Corer, there were a million and one ways to explain his strength.
And besides, fusing with a core would boost his strength, too.
It didn't impact the system, so why not just take it then?
The second benefit was, of course, the Newbie Entrance Points.
Right now, Everlearn was worth 100 points, given to him for free by the academy due to his new entrance.
The third benefit was that the cafeteria provided free meals for an entire month.
He had been given a newcomer voucher that allowed him meals without paying points for the first month.
That was a good advantage, as with food out of the way, he could focus on more important things.
And if things were to ever blow up with new newcomers, they could at least ensure survival for the first month without starving to death.
With free food for a month and a new core fusion, they would be dumb to be unable to earn new points within that time.
And the fourth benefit was that there was also one free Mecha Module given by the academy.
Though according to it, the Mecha Module was random and had no name, and would only be unlocked seven days after a newcomer's entrance.
A Core and a Mecha Module. Those two things made a Corer.
In his heart, Everlearn felt quite expectant, though he was also worried.
An FFF-grade potential meant his body would resist with all of its might against the fusion, and he might just end up dead.
║Why not try to retake your Affinity Test?║
"Huh?" Everlearn raised an eyebrow at that.
║I mean, you are more than you were back then.║
║The level-up doesn't just make you punch harder; it flushes out old cells, recreates new and better cells, and removes all toxic fluids from you.║
║That's how you grow stronger. Every part of you, down to the last cell, is getting replaced with a better version.║
║So, now that you're better than when you took the test last time, why not check if your potential is still FFF? It might have increased.║
"There's no such thing as potential increasing later," Everlearn said with a shrug, but then he paused, his brows creasing.
"But there's also no such thing as a system level-up. Perhaps I might just be the only exception."
The thought of his potential changing made his heart pound loudly, and he quickly moved on to the map.
With a bit of focus, Everlearn discovered a testing area within the academy where affinity potential could be evaluated.
Most people already understood their potential, so there was no point in reassessing it.
This made the place less frequently visited and hence required no need for points.
"I want to retake the Affinity State."
║Nice.║
║Don't be too expectant, though, or you might just get disappointed in the end.║
║Affinity FFF grade or not, you can grow stronger with enough hard work and time.║
The system said, and he reined in the pounding feeling in his heart.
'That's right.'
'Core Fusion isn't my main path.'
'It's supposed to be a side point.'
' If I should be excited, then I should be excited for the system, not for fusion upgrades.'
With that thought, he sat his butt back down and did a couple more scrolls.
His increased intelligence stat points finally proved themselves useful, as Everlearn went through about 90% of the total information about the academy on the various apps, and even managed to recall 60% of it word-for-word, straight from memory.
It was a lot of information, but even as he went through the last bit, he wasn't exhausted at all.
His brain was like a sponge, soaking up knowledge endlessly without ever becoming full.
It was a surreal feeling, almost as beautiful as feeling more power behind his fists.
Once he went through the majority of the information, he felt a new type of confidence in being here.
Almost like this place was home.
And in the next moment, Everlearn rose, moving back to the bedroom.
He opened the wardrobe, but there was nothing within, not even a uniform.
Obviously, he would need to get that by himself, and so, he grabbed his device and green card before moving to the door.
One swipe, and he was out, the room turning dim upon his exit.