The academy was restless.
Ever since Riku Aoyama began his rise in the rankings, whispers had turned into conversations, and conversations into rumors. Teachers kept a closer eye on him. Students, both those who admired and resented him, had begun forming their own theories.
The day after his skirmish against the two top-ranking seniors during the special assessnt, the entire campus buzzed. People claid he cheated, used drugs, or had so unknown inheritance. But none of them knew the truth: the Infinite Wallet System pulsed silently within him, a power source no one could trace.
"Riku! Riku!" soone called as he walked toward the classroom wing. It was Hana, her twin pigtails bouncing as she caught up to him. "I heard you beat Eizo from Class 3 and left him unconscious! Is it true?"
Riku sighed, adjusting his collar. "He tried to humiliate . I defended myself. Nothing more."
Behind Hana, a few girls from different classes peeked around the corridor, whispering and giggling. Ayumi, walking a few paces behind Riku, noticed. She narrowed her eyes.
"You need to stop pulling these stunts," Ayumi said with a huff. "Now all the girls are talking about you. Even so teachers. You think you’re clever, but you’re making waves."
Riku grinned. "And here I thought you liked clever n."
Ayumi’s cheeks flushed. "T-That’s not the point!"
As they reached their classroom, the mood shifted. A few senior students stood blocking the doorway. Their uniforms marked them as top-tier—Class 1 elites.
"Riku Aoyama," one of them, a third-year nad Genda, spoke. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a smug expression. "You’ve been getting a little too popular. Ti soone reminded you of your place."
"Oh?" Riku smiled, not backing down. "You volunteering as the reminder?"
Genda’s fist clenched, and Ayumi stepped between them.
"He’s not looking for trouble," she snapped. "Move."
Genda sneered. "We’ll see you in the next public assessnt. I’ll make sure you’re humbled in front of everyone."
As the seniors moved away, Ayumi turned to Riku. "You can’t keep fighting everyone."
Riku looked thoughtful. "No. But I’ll fight the right people at the right ti."
---
Later that evening, Riku sat alone in his dorm room.
He opened the system nu.
[Infinite Wallet System - Balance: 5,130 Coins]
He had accumulated enough from recent quests, hidden challenges, and his academy performance bonuses.
[Available Purchases]
Skill: Flashstep Lv.1 (1,200 Coins)
Skill: Phantom Guard Lv.1 (1,800 Coins)
Temporary Boost: Peak Focus (30 mins) (500 Coins)
Rare Item: Mistveil Cloak (3,500 Coins)
He eyed the Mistveil Cloak. It would help him dodge detection, even from skilled mages.
Purchased: Mistveil Cloak. Remaining Balance: 1,630 Coins.
He equipped it, feeling a light shimr surround him before vanishing. "Let’s see them try to corner next ti."
---
The next morning, Ayumi watched Riku from afar. Her heart raced without permission. She rembered how calm he had been, how he stood up to Genda without flinching.
"He’s different," she whispered to herself. "And that scares ... but I can’t stop thinking about him."
---
In the faculty lounge, a few instructors sipped tea while reviewing assessnt reports.
"This Riku Aoyama," one said, "He’s accelerating too fast. Doesn’t it seem... unnatural?"
Another, Professor Shiba, frowned. "Unnatural or not, talent like this only cos once every few years. We should be guiding him."
"Or monitoring him," a third muttered. "Closely."
Outside, the academy wind carried whispers from one building to the next.
And in the shadows, sothing older stirred.
The Hive was watching.
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