The morning after the battle was silent. Not peaceful, just silent. The remnants of the fight between the University Faction and Crimson Fang were still fresh, lingering in the battered walls and burned out barricades. People moved slowly, exhaustion clear in their sluggish motions as they worked to rebuild what little protection they had left. No one spoke much. Even though they hadn’t lost the fight, they definitely didn’t win.

  Dante was keeping to himself, barely lifting his eyes as he helped reinforce a section of the barricade. He had lost control yesterday. He had let his emotions dictate his actions, and in doing so, he had nearly gotten people killed. The weight of that fact sat on his shoulders like lead. The others weren’t faring much better. Luke, Emma, Ryan, and the rest of the faction were still shaken, still processing. The battle had been more than just a skirmish. It was a wake up call. They weren’t strong enough.

  Jason stood at the highest vantage point of the broken university, arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. He wasn’t interested in the rebuilding efforts. He was thinking about what came next. The fight with Valen, the way Dante had nearly lost control, the faction’s glaring weaknesses. None of it surprised him. He had known for a long time that this place wouldn’t survive long without real leadership. Not leadership based on pride. Not leadership based on who yells the loudest. Leadership based on actual power.

  Still, that wasn’t his concern. He just wanted to live in the shadows, gaining enough power to protect himself. That was all. He didn’t need followers. He didn’t need to be in charge. He had survived this long alone, he wasn’t about to change that now. Suddenly, footsteps approached. Jason sighed before even turning. He already knew who it was. Kaitlin and Emma stepped up onto the ledge beside him.

  His younger sister’s expression was serious, her usually confident smirk absent. Emma, too, had an unreadable look, but Jason could see it in her eyes. Determination. They knew. They had long known. “You’ve been hiding long enough.” Kaitlin crossed her arms. Jason didn’t respond, keeping his gaze on the ruins ahead. Emma exhaled slowly. “Jason.. you’re strong. Stronger than any of us. We need you.”

  He scoffed. “You don’t need me. You need a plan.” Kaitlin narrowed her eyes. “And who else has a plan? Dante?” Jason didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. They both knew the answer. Emma took a step forward. “I get it. You don’t want to be involved. You want to be strong enough that no one can touch you. But what happens when the world rebuilds?” Her eyes were sharp. “What happens when people stronger than you band together and decide you’re the problem?”

  Jason’s eyes flickered toward her, just slightly. “You might be strong,” she continued, “but you’re still just one person. And power like yours? People won’t let you live freely. They’ll see you as a threat. They’ll hunt you down just like any other monster.” Jason’s fingers twitched at the thought. Kaitlin’s voice was softer, but just as firm. “We don’t want you to just survive, Jason. We want you to actually live.”

  Silence. Jason exhaled through his nose. “I’ll think about it.” That was all they were going to get from him. Kaitlin didn’t push further, though she clearly wanted to. Instead, she just sighed, shaking her head. “You always think too much.” Emma and Kaitlin turned, heading back down toward the others. Jason watched them go, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t sure what answer he was looking for.

  However, he didn’t have time to think about it. Because in the distance, the ground shook. Jason’s mini map flickered. A massive red dot appeared, moving fast. Then, a deep, earth shattering roar filled the air. The beast stormed forward, each step sending shockwaves through the earth. Its massive, armored hide gleamed a fiery crimson, smoke hissing from its nostrils as molten heat radiated off its body. A second class monster was charging straight for the university and no one was ready for it.

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  The defenses were weak. People were still mentally drained from the battle yesterday. Even Dante, Kaitlin, and Luke weren’t at full power. But there was no time to rest. Dante gritted his teeth, stepping forward, flames flaring around him. “Everyone, get ready!” Kaitlin planted her staff, vines surging from the ground as she prepared to stop the charge. Emma, Ryan, Luke, and the others scrambled into formation.

  The battle began, but it was one sided. Every attack they threw did nothing. Dante’s fire was absorbed into the beast’s hide, his flames quickly becoming a liability. Kaitlin’s vines snapped like twigs against its brute force. Emma’s spells barely slowed it down. Ryan’s strongest fire spell hit its side and it didn’t even flinch. They couldn’t hurt it.

  Jason clenched his fists. At first, he watched. But the moment Dante stumbled backward, blood dripping from his forehead, he knew. They were going to lose. For the first time, Jason couldn’t just stand by.

  The moment Jason moved, everyone felt it. A suffocating aura erupted from his body, pressing down on the battlefield like a predator locking onto prey. The world froze. Jason had been hiding all this time. But now? Now everyone knew. Kaitlin staggered as goosebumps ran up her arms. Luke’s heart stopped for a beat. Dante’s eyes went wide, his breath catching in his throat. Even the Crimson Fire Elephant itself hesitated. Jason lifted his hand. Like a King giving the order for execution, and the battle was over.

  Jason vanished, or at least, that’s what it looked like.

  Phantom Blitz

  He moved so fast that only afterimages remained. One moment he stood upon the ledge. The next he was hovering beside the beast. His hand raised, then slammed towards the ground.

  Gravity Manipulation.. 3x

  The Crimson Fire Elephant collapsed under its own weight, screaming in confusion. Jason then landed on its back and started punching.

  Overdrive

  His endurance shifted into pure strength. His stats were monstrous, far beyond anything they could comprehend. Every hit shattered the beast’s hide. He caught its tusks mid charge, muscles bulging as he hurled the massive monster into the ground. The beast screeched. It had never been overpowered before. Never felt true fear. Jason ended it all with one final attack.

  Starbreak

  His fist crashed down, a meteor of raw destruction. The entire battlefield trembled. Finally, when the dust had settled.. the beast was dead.

  Jason exhaled, blood dripping from his fists as everyone stood in silence. This was the person who needed his sister to prove he could stay. The guy who was supposed to be weak. The person who possessed no aura like the First Classes did. Yet he demolished a Second Class monster with his bare hands. Everyone knew the truth now. There was no denying it. They couldn’t follow Dante anymore. They had seen true power. One by one, they knelt.

  Jason Cole was their leader now.

  System Notification: [You have killed a Second Class level 55 Crimson Elephant]

  +15 Health, +10 Agility, + 15 Endurance, +11 Strength, +11 Mana

  Level Up! x 3 Level 50 Reached.

  [Second Class Selection Processing…]

  The system continued processing Jason's possible path, unsure of what to make. Taking all his previous experiences into account, his fighting style, his personality, his goals and dreams, his strength and accolades. Finally, after assessing him for what seemed to be forever, the choices were presented.

  1. Magic Swordsman

  2. Shroud Volt Stalker

  3. Gravity Titan

  The list froze for a second, then something new appeared.

  Jason’s heart skipped a beat as the system spoke. You are one of the few who possess the strength to change fate. You have constantly lived through scenarios where others would perish and have goals that reach beyond your pairs. You are an Anomaly.

  [Special Class]

  4. Cosmic Warrior

  Jason smirked. He knew what class to choose right away. The others were good, but good wasn't what he was after. He wanted to be the best. As soon as he chose his new class he received his trial, a trial fitting for an Anomaly.

  1. Slay a monster at least 35 levels above your own.

  2. Increase your control over gravity to a radius of 10 meters and by 5 times strength

  3. Become the leader of your country