Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 3: The Academy

"Oh! Yeah! I shouldn't get late on my first day y'know" Rex yelled as he got up from the bed enthusiastically. He combed his green hair and checked his face in the mirror. If handsome was a person, that would be him of course.

He was a tall boy, standing at 6'2 and he had a phyique that'll put most body builders to shame. "Not time to be a Narcissus y'know" He smiled as he looked away from the mirror, he hated being late.

He quickly ran to the kitchen, although the place reeked of dust, the fridge was the opposite as it was filled with different items, from beverages to milk bottles, hotdogs, and bread loaves, it was loaded with items.

"At least the government keeps their promise" Rex sighed as he took three slices of bread from the fridge while grabbing a jar of milk. He hurriedly munched the slices and emptied the milk jar through his throat.

Due to the last war between humans and the monsters in which many lost their lives, orphans flooded the country.

Upon noticing this, the government sent about one thousand dollars each to the accounts of these orphans every week. Though a thousand dollars was just a minuscule amount compared to what other parents gave their children.

Almost everyone in the country was rich. The lowest amount you could find in most people's accounts was one million dollars. This was because the price of living had skyrocketed since the discovery of abilities and the subsequent wars with monsters.

Resources became scarce, and the need for advanced technology to combat these creatures drove up the cost of living. The government's stipend for orphans, though appreciated, barely covered the essentials, leaving many of them to fend for themselves in a world where wealth often dictated power and security.

Rex ate the rest of his 'breakfast' and immediately put on the uniform he had been given at the academy the previous days. The uniform was plain, but of good quality: a dark blue jacket with the emblem of the academy, a red phoenix on the chest, and matching trousers. He looked at himself in the broken mirror that was hanged on the wall and felt the rising of the butterflies in his stomach.

"Okay Rex, this is it," he whispered to himself and fiddled with the lapel of his jacket. "Time to find out what you are made of."

He took his backpack, which was ready with the few things he considered valuable, a notebook, a photo of his family, and a smooth stone his mother had carved for him before she and his father left.

Rex did not know if the stone had any magical powers but it was the only material thing he had from his parents and he clung to it as to a security blanket.

Rex came out of his apartment, the door shutting with a low groan. The house he lived in was an old one, which was built before the wars, the walls were broken and painted with tags.

The rest of the other apartments were empty most of the tenants having fled to other more secure and affluent neighborhoods or were displaced by the conflicts. The area was still a bit sleepy and the only sound that could be heard was the faint noise of the city coming to life.

Rex could not help but see that the environment was much different from the shiny skyscrapers in the distance, where the rich people of the city resided. The gap between the haves and the have-nots had actually increased in the recent past and this was a sobering thought that could have easily been his reality.

But Rex didn't dwell on it. He had a goal in mind and that was to awaken his ability, train hard, and one day become strong enough to protect those he cared about.

The academy was just a few blocks away from his apartment but the walk seemed to take longer than it should, his mind wandering with what he was to do. Would he have a strong power such as telekinesis or pyrokinesis? Or would he be left with something that was not as grand?

He had heard of cases where the students only awakened the basic attributes and could not progress beyond the initial levels no matter the amount of crystals they ate, they were called defects. Rex did not want to be one of them but he had to try and ignore the thought.

When Rex arrived at the academy's massive gates, he saw other students coming in some of them accompanied by their parents while others in groups full of excitement.

He could not help but feel a little jealous when he saw people with families supporting them but he dismissed the feeling. He grew accustomed to solitude and, in any case, he was not lonely, he had his mind and will.

The gates of the academy were as grand as he had thought they would be, with various abilities carved on the metal. The guards on duty at the entrance, their gaze keen and faces clean-shaven, uniformed, acknowledged Rex with a nod as he walked in.

He followed the stream of students into the academy grounds, where they were herded to a large courtyard by seniors.

The courtyard was full of life, all the new students including Rex were present and they all were excited as well as tensed about what was going to happen next. In the center of the courtyard was a raised platform on which several instructors and officials of the academy were assembled.

Among them, Rex saw General Silas, the head of the academy, whom he had seen in the orientation video. It was hard not to notice the man with silver hair and an authoritative air around him.

"Attention, new students!" General Silas shouted, and the noise of the crowd immediately ceased. "Welcome to the Academy of Ability Users, where you will start the path to finding and developing the powers that lie in you, as well as your mind and spirit, here you will train to become the protectors of humanity, and it is here that your future will be written. "

Rex listened intently standing to attention as he listened to the words that were being said. This was what he had been waiting for a chance to prove himself, to overcome the adversities of life that had been bestowed on him.

The general's words put him in the right frame of mind and he felt the responsibility of his mission descend upon him.

"You will be grouped according to your initial evaluations," General Silas said. "These groups will train together, live together, and grow together. Your instructors will teach you, but your improvement is up to you and your desire to go the extra mile. "

As the general spoke, Rex looked around the faces of fellow students; some of them were happy, some looked worried while others had that look of determination in their eyes as Rex did.

He was also thinking about who among them would be his friends, or at least, friends-to-be, as they were going to be companions on this road.

"Now," General Silas said, "starting from today, you will embark on the journey that will define the rest of your lives. Get ready for the journey will not be a walk in the park but with the spirit of determination and courage, you will rise to the occasion. "

With that, the academy staff began calling out names, dividing the students into their respective groups.

Rex waited anxiously for his name to be called, his heart pounding in his chest. When he finally heard his name, he stepped forward, joining a small group of students who, like him, had a mix of excitement and apprehension on their faces.

"Welcome to Group Epsilon," said a tall woman with dark hair and piercing blue eyes who introduced herself as Instructor Layla. "I'll be your instructor.

My job is to help you unlock your potential and push you to reach heights you never thought possible. But remember, the only limits you have are the ones you place on yourself."

Rex nodded, feeling a surge of determination. This was it, the beginning of his journey. As he stood with his new group, the towering walls of the academy around him, he knew that whatever his ability turned out to be, he would give it his all.

He would train hard, fight harder, and one day, he would be strong enough to protect the ones he loved and perhaps even uncover the mystery of what happened to his parents.