I was in a white space, adrift with other examinees. A low hum of anxiety filled the void; some stood with practiced calm, while others trembled, their nerves getting the better of them. I couldn't blame them. This was the Ranker Academy placement test, and our futures hung in the balance.
Suddenly, a familiar, silent blue screen materialized in front of my eyes.
Hello, Host. We meet again. As promised, once you arrived at Ranker Academy, I would grant you your starter pack. I hope you enjoy the anime, James Cavilot.
Ding~
Would you like to accept the starter pack?
The voice was clear in my mind. Yes, I thought.
Sovereign obtained~
Thunder Magic obtained~
Evolving Combat obtained~
Observer of Comments obtained~
The system dutifully listed my new acquisitions. I focused, and my status screen flickered into view.
James Cavilot
Age:16
Race:Human
Sovereign: In your presence, all are ants. Instills a cold, ruthless demeanor. Excellent for aura farming.
Evolving Combat:Nah, I'd adapt. Allows your combat prowess to evolve in real-time during a fight. May result in becoming a battle junkie... idk.
Thunder Magic:You get to use thunder. BTW, the color is red. I should have made it purple, but... Genshin Impact. Genshin Impact....
Observer of Comments:When near the Main Character, you can see audience comments about this "anime." After all, a no-life turning into a show needs some feedback.
I stared at the screen with a deadpan expression, a sigh echoing in my mind.
James: (Sigh. I really hate this shitty system dumping me in this goddamn novel. 'The Hero Must Live'... what a trashy name. At least it's short, unlike some other novels and anime... Bruhhhh.)
I looked around. We were still waiting, our numbers slowly growing as more students joined the virtual space. Our real bodies were tucked away in those immersion capsules, a concept that reminded me of a certain anime... was it SOA or something? I sat down, closing my eyes and steeling myself for the inevitable annoyances to come. The fact that people from the "real world" in this dimension would be watching was strange enough, but broadcasting this test to the entire country? That just pissed me off. Just imagine the humiliation if I lost my aura right out of the gate.
I opened my eyes and looked down at the pristine white floor, catching my faint reflection. Time to see what this "anime" was all about.
Author:"Hello readers it's me the author this is my first time posting a novel so pls comment and don't forget to follow me you can ask me questions and stuff like that plus I plan to add you the readers to the novel 😉."