In Eternal Ascendancy, in a separate space where the Central Academy stood.
The academy building was surrounded by dense forests, towering mountains, and winding rivers that shimmered under an endless clear sky.
Silas found himself standing outside the grand gate on a wide stone platform. He was in his real-world form—ordinary clothes replaced by the simple academy uniform that had appeared on him the moment he arrived. He looked just like himself, no game avatar enhancements.
On the same platform stood several other new arrivals, also in their real bodies, eyes wide as they took in the academy's grandeur. Silas felt the same awe—but his face stayed blank. No surprise. No excitement on his face.
Then He noticed some students already moving through the gates of academy. They walked in small groups, chatting casually.
Silas and the others who had arrived at the same time began walking with them, following the flow toward the entrance of the academy.
As he moved, he overheard a lively conversation from the group beside him. They were laughing, talking, and joking with each other.
"Wow, sect leader! You look absolutely gorgeous. I thought your game character was different from your real form, but i was wrong. You choose your real form, I'm amazed. Tell me your beauty hacks, please."
"Yeah, yeah, tell us!"
"Hmm… there's nothing like that. I just train myself. And got the beauty. You should also train properly. You got tired after just one round. Really weak."
"Not everyone gets brute strength like you, sect leader. We just started training. Can't be compared to you."
"Tsk tsk."
"By the way, Rudra, you are looking so handsome and pretty. You should have just used your real form in the game. Your game character would have looked even more handsome."
"No! I didn't want a handsome and pretty face. I want to look powerful. And my game character is best for that."
"Well, you're not wrong. Your game character really gives the feeling 'I am the dominant Despot.' Haha."
"Why am I feeling sarcasm here?"
"No, no, no. You aren't just feeling it. It is really sarcasm. Haha."
"No! You can't insult my game character like this, Jina!"
"But I just did. Hehe."
...
Silas heard their bickering crystal clear. The words carried easily through the open air of the academy grounds. Other people around him heard it too. Some laughed quietly at the playful back-and-forth. Others stayed silent, still lost in thoughts about their future in the academy.
No one was surprised by the talk of becoming beautiful after training. Even normal exercise could give noticeable effects—let alone proper breathing techniques. Everyone was more focused on the group's lively teasing.
But the conversation did not end there. They quickly moved to a new topic.
"Hey hey, Sect Leader. You, Rudra, and Galaxy really got the invitation?"
"Yeah, Rudra and I got it some time ago. We were planning to submit our applications, but then the invitation just appeared in our player status window—and in the real world too. A letter suddenly showed up right beside us."
"Yeah, same thing happened to me."
"But how is this possible? Even our sect members who were invited by you and Rudra got invitations. How can that be? And I'm seeing some unknown students here greeting you like they personally know you!"
"Well… yeah. I know them. They're… like my friends, I guess."
"What??? You really know them? Sect Leader, tell me. Have you pulled some strings behind the scenes so your people could get into the academy?"
"Haha, what are you even saying, Jina? How can that be? What makes you think that?"
"You're always so mysterious and rich. What if you used your connections to get everyone you know inside? Otherwise, there can't be such a coincidence, right?"
"Well, no. You're wrong. I didn't use any connections or money. It can only be coincidence… I guess. Anyway, tell me—have you also used your 'connections' to get your people inside? Because I'm seeing a bunch of people here greeting you two as well. Hmmm hmm… tell me."
"No no no. There is nothing like that. It's coincidence."
"Yeah yeah, Jina is right. This is coincidence."
"Hahaha. Stop stop. Let's drop the matter here. We should now go to the auditorium. The headmaster will be giving the speech there."
"Yeah yeah, you don't have to be so excited, Rudra. We all heard the instructions from the teacher at the platform."
"Ok ok. I will control my excitement."
Even though Rudra said that, Silas could still see the excitement shining in his eyes. But he did not focus on it.
Instead, he focused on their chat. He questioned himself silently. "Is this really coincidence? Can so many people—out of the 500 selected from all over the world—really be familiar with this one group? It can't be that these people know everyone on the planet, right?"
"I don't think so. This is no coincidence. These people are really influential and rich enough to influence the academy. I have to be careful around them. Even though they look pretty friendly, I do not know them personally. I should avoid them."
This was not fear. This was the precaution Silas always took—to protect his life and his family from anything beyond their control. And after losing his father, those precautions had become even stronger. He now took them in every step.
He dared not risk his only remaining family.
Meanwhile, others who had overheard the group's talk were equally surprised by it. Some dismissed it as playful joking or exaggeration.
Some of them reached the same conclusion as Silas: this was no mere coincidence. So many people connected to one small group could not be random chance.
But unlike Silas, they felt drawn toward the group because of the obvious power and influence behind it. They wanted to befriend them, to get close and benefit from whatever connections or resources they held. For now, though, they held back. They were not going to approach yet.
They had something more important ahead: the Central Academy itself.