In my apartment in a residential area, mold spread along the walls, and old cracks had formed. A faint glow from the bulb filtered through my half-open eyes as I slowly woke up.
As I sat up, the bed creaked softly under my weight. I stretched my arms above my head, my joints cracking one by one.
"Ughh... That feels good"
I gazed out the window, where a faint glow from a distant billboard revealed the list of the top ten ranked gifted.
Eight years ago, everything changed. Monsters erupted from nowhere, and those gifted with abilities rose to fight back. Transparent screens appeared before them. Guilds were formed, tasked with controlling the mysterious gates. The gates became known as dungeons, accessible only to the gifted.
I had just applied to the university, hoping my application would be accepted. I raised both hands and knelt to pray.
"I hope I get accepted to the university!" I whispered.
Five years ago has changed. Schools stopped teaching math or science. Instead we learned how to hold a sword, how to awaken our powers, and how to survive the dungeons. My hands still carry the bruises from those training sessions.
School and university aren't the same. Schools train students to wield weapons. Universities teach the fundamentals of power: elements, traits, and how to awaken abilities. Even if you're not a fully gifted yet, they might still accept you.
Entering university required a fortune. I had saved every penny just to get in, enduring insults and endless hardships along the way. My wallet was empty, and when I went to the mall, I had to decline invitations to reunions. I couldn't even access my bank account, the old currency I'd saved wasn't accepted anymore.
"I've already wasted years just to get into this university…" I whispered.
The phone rang, vibrating loudly against the wooden shelf. I pressed my hand against the floor and hurriedly stood up to pick it up. The call was coming from the university agency. Excitedly, I tapped the screen to answer.
"Hello~"
A deep, tired voice came from the other side.
I recognized it immediately, Kyle Eligus, the Rank B gifted. He sounded exhausted, like he had already given this speech a hundred times today.
"Your application to the university… is accepted.
My hand quivered with excitement as I clenched it tightly. I was about to respond, but then he blurted out.
"But… you need to take a proper evaluation today."
I hadn't lifted a sword in almost two years, and now the evaluation was happening. I froze, my breath catching in my throat, sweat dripping down my forehead.
"I-I understand"
The call disconnected, but the phone's screen was still pressed to my ear. My hand trembled violently, making the screen wobble as I slowly set it back on the shelf.
"I-I need to train now..."
I was showering, towel clutched tightly. Water dripped from my hair as I stared blankly at nothing. Then I shook my head, letting determination fill my eyes. The shower finished, I dressed quickly and gathered my documents. Stepping out of the apartment, I began my usual walk.
The apartment smelled of clean laundry, faint dust drifting along the walls. Outside, the trees whispered as cold air passed, carrying falling leaves along with it.
A strong, cold wind, laced with dust, slammed into my body. I covered my eyes instinctively. When the gust passed, I opened them, and in front of me stood a pitch black structure of metal, towering like a gate.
"This is... A gate." I blurted.
It was the first time I saw a gate this close. It looked different from the ones I'd seen on TV, those were always gray, but this one, wasn't.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I stepped forward, reaching out to touch the cold metal.
"Wha—"
My vision went black, then a faint glow appeared. I reached out with my hand, but suddenly, I woke up. The sky was a mix of blue and white, clouds drifting lazily above. Birds flapped their wings, and a wisp of smoke rose from a nearby chimney.
I sat up, feeling the rough cobblestones beneath me. Cobblestone houses lined the streets around me, their chimney puffing thin trails of smoke into the sky. People passed by, their footsteps echoing on the street. One carried a loaf of baked bread, wearing tattered clothes. Another wore silver-plated armor that gleamed in the sunlight, a sword hanging at their side.
"Did I… transmigrate to another world?"