SSS Awakening: Conquering Worlds with My Cupid System

The participants representing Valecrest Collegiate Grounds had finally been decided. They were Silas, Chloe, Alpha, for some unknown reason, Damien, Alicia, Emma, Rihanna, Godfrey, and Neil Argent.

Nine students, nine representatives, nine people who would carry the name of Valecrest into the Inter-Academy Selection Tournament.

Of the nine, Silas and Chloe were the obvious monsters. One was an SSS-Rank, and the other was an SS-Rank. Then there was Damien, an A-Rank, who hated Silas’s guts for no apparent reason.

Alicia was another A-Rank with a frightening combat record.

Neil Argent, despite his somewhat complicated history with Silas, remained the current Rank One student at Valecrest.

Emma, Rihanna, and Godfrey rounded out the team. They weren’t weak either. In any normal academy, several of them would have been considered exceptional talents. At Valecrest? They were simply the people lucky, or unlucky, enough to stand beside monsters.

The nine students stood inside one of the academy’s large combat halls.

The room was normally used for practical combat lessons, but today, several additional people had gathered inside.

Members of the academy board stood near the front, while several instructors stood beside them.

Mr. Ryan Fatars was there, arms folded across his chest and his usual stern expression plastered across his face. Beside him stood Sir Garnet Wesley.

Unlike Fatars, Garnet carried himself with the composure of someone who had spent decades around awakened combatants.

Two other teachers stood nearby. Professor Helena Ward, a combat tactics instructor, and Mr. Marcus Bell, an advanced survival instructor.

The principal stood before the students.

Behind him was a large holographic projection displaying the official emblem of the Inter-Academy Selection Tournament.

The room was silent. The principal looked over the nine students.

"You have all been selected to represent Valecrest Collegiate Grounds in the City Qualifier."

Nobody moved.

"However, before we proceed, understand something."

The holographic emblem disappeared. It was replaced by a map. The map displayed the enormous territory surrounding City A. A large region several hundred kilometers outside the city was highlighted in red.

"The location of your first challenge is the Blackridge Expanse."

A few students exchanged glances. Silas raised an eyebrow. Blackridge Expanse, even he had heard of it.

It was a massive wilderness zone located several hundred kilometers outside City A. Before the appearance of rifts, the region had been nothing more than a mountainous forest reserve. After the awakening era began, however, things changed.

Mana density increased, the wildlife mutated, rift remnants appeared throughout the region, and eventually, the government classified the entire area as a high-risk awakened zone.

It wasn’t technically a rift. It was worse in some ways, because unlike a rift, the Blackridge Expanse didn’t disappear. It remained a permanent ecosystem filled with awakened beasts.

The principal continued.

"The City Qualifier will last three days. This is not a conventional tournament."

The map zoomed in.

"Each academy will be transported to a designated area within the Blackridge Expanse, where you will remain there for seventy-two hours. No teachers will accompany you."

Fatars’s expression became slightly more serious.

"No instructors will intervene unless the situation becomes life-threatening."

The principal paused.

"Your objective will be revealed only after all participating academies have entered the Expanse."

Silas scratched his cheek.

"Of course."

Everyone looked at him.

"What?"

Chloe sighed. "You sound disappointed."

"I was hoping they’d tell us."

"So?"

"So I could start winning early."

Alicia glanced at him.

"You’re assuming you’ll win."

Silas looked at her and smiled.

"I don’t assume. I know."

Damien’s expression twitched. That smile, that stupid, carefree smile. He hated it. The principal continued as though Silas hadn’t spoken.

"During the challenge, your performance will be monitored."

The holographic map changed again.

"Points will be awarded based on objectives completed, combat performance, survival, teamwork, and individual contribution."

Another screen appeared.

"At the end of the three days, the three academies with the highest scores will advance to the Regional Selection."

Neil raised his hand, and the principal nodded.

"Yes, Neil?"

"Are eliminations possible?"

"Yes."

The room became quiet.

"You may withdraw from the challenge at any point. However, doing so will result in a significant reduction to your academy’s score."

Neil nodded.

"What about deaths?"

A heavier silence followed. The principal’s expression became stern.

"The Blackridge Expanse is dangerous." He looked at each student. "Extremely dangerous. The government has established emergency extraction systems throughout the region. If your life is genuinely at risk, activating your emergency device will immediately remove you from the competition."

He paused.

"But there is a delay."

Several students frowned.

"How long?"

"Between thirty seconds and three minutes, depending on your location."

In a place filled with awakened monsters, three minutes could be an eternity.

"Therefore," Garnet Wesley finally spoke, "do not rely on the extraction system."

His calm voice carried across the hall.

"You are awakened."

He looked toward the students.

"That means the world expects more from you."

His gaze lingered on Damien, then Alicia, then Neil. Finally, it stopped on Silas.

"Do not mistake talent for invincibility."

Silas smiled.

"Too late."

Garnet stared at him.

"You really are something."

"Thank you."

"That wasn’t a compliment."

"I’ll take it anyway."

A few students laughed. The principal sighed. Dealing with Silas always made him age a few more years.

"Moving on."

Another holographic screen appeared. This time, it showed the nine names.

"Your transportation leaves tomorrow morning."

The principal looked at them one final time.

"Rest tonight, eat properly, prepare your equipment, and most importantly..." His expression became serious. "Remember that you are representing Valecrest."

The nine students nodded. The meeting was over, or at least, officially. Silas stretched his arms above his head as they left the hall.

"Three days in the wilderness."

Chloe glanced at him.

"You sound excited."

"I am."

"Why?"

Silas grinned.

"Free hunting ground."

Chloe stared at him.

"That’s concerning."

Alpha adjusted his dark glasses, which he had purchased to hide his eyes, which had been glowing a lot lately.

"I’m more concerned about the fact that you’re smiling."

"Why?"

"Because whenever you smile like that, something ridiculous happens."

Silas placed a hand against his chest.

"That’s insulting."

"It’s experience."

"..."

Damien walked past them. He didn’t say anything or even look at Silas. His expression was calm, almost indifferent, but his fists were clenched.

He had three days to prove himself. Three days to show everyone that Silas wasn’t untouchable.

Alicia passed behind him. She glanced at Silas briefly, then at Damien, and her eyes narrowed slightly. Something was going to happen. She could feel it.

***

The following morning arrived far too quickly. The Valecrest participants gathered outside the academy entrance. Several bags had been prepared, everything they might need for three days in the wilderness.

Silas, however, had brought something else. His SUV, the Range Rover SV, completely unnecessary.

It rolled through the academy gates like it owned the damn place. Several students turned to look. Someone whistled.

"Is that a Range Rover SV?"

"That’s his?"

"Of course it’s his."

"He’s eighteen!"

"And?"

Silas lowered the window.

"Morning."

Chloe was seated in the passenger seat while Alpha was in the back. Both looked significantly less excited than Silas. Alpha stared through the window at the academy.

"Why are we taking your car?"

Silas shrugged.

"Because we can."

"That’s not an answer."

"It is if you’re rich."

Alpha stared at him.

"I hate you."

"No, you don’t."

"Sometimes I do."

Chloe looked at the interior.

"Silas."

"Hm?"

"You packed too much food."

"I packed enough."

"We’re going into the wilderness for three days."

"Exactly."

"You brought three bags of chips."

"Four."

"Why?"

"What if I get hungry?"

Alpha leaned forward.

"We’re literally going into a survival competition."

"And?"

"We’re supposed to hunt for food."

Silas looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"You want me to eat monster meat?"

Alpha paused.

"No."

"Then shut up."

Chloe covered her mouth to hide her laughter. Silas shifted the vehicle into gear. The Range Rover smoothly pulled away from the academy.

Outside, the other participants were being transported in academy vehicles. Damien sat in one of them, staring through the window. His eyes followed Silas’s SUV until it disappeared down the road, and his jaw tightened.

"Showing off..."

Meanwhile, Silas had one hand resting casually on the steering wheel. His pink hair fluttered slightly from the air conditioning, while music played softly through the speakers.

Chloe sat beside him, watching the city slowly disappear behind them. Alpha sat in the back, sketchbook resting against his knees.

For several minutes, nobody spoke.

Then Silas smiled.

"So..."

Chloe looked at him.

"What?"

"Ready to flex?"

She sighed.

"You’re calling this a flex?"

Silas glanced at the Range Rover’s dashboard.

"Look at this car."

Alpha raised his head.

"That’s not part of the competition."

"It doesn’t matter."

"Why?"

Silas grinned.

"Because we’re already winning."

Alpha stared at him.

"The tournament hasn’t even started."

"Exactly."

Chloe laughed.

"You really are impossible."

Silas pressed the accelerator slightly, and the Range Rover surged forward. Behind them, the skyscrapers of City A became smaller. The roads became quieter, the city slowly gave way to open land, and far beyond the horizon, the mountains of the Blackridge Expanse emerged, dark, massive, and covered in ancient forests.

Silas’s pink eyes gleamed.

"There it is."

Alpha closed his sketchbook.

"That place looks dangerous."

Chloe stared at the distant mountains.

"It is."

Silas’s grin widened.

"Perfect."

The Range Rover continued toward the wilderness, and unbeknownst to the nine students, the organizers had prepared something far more dangerous than a simple survival challenge. Something that would test not only their strength, but their ability to survive each other.

The Inter-Academy Selection Tournament had officially begun.

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