I took a deep breath, letting the memories flood back.
You guys think you know me, but let's be real, you don't.
Back on Earth, I wasn't exactly the troublemaker type.
In fact, I was the life of the party – the guy who could make anyone laugh, who knew how to turn a dull moment into an epic one.
I was like the human version of a clown, minus the squirt gun and red nose (thank goodness, right?).
People loved me, and I loved making them smile.
I wasn't the smartest kid in school, nor was I the strongest, but I had a way with people.
I could talk to anyone, make them feel seen, and somehow, that made them love me.
I was like a social ninja – slicing through awkwardness and leaving a trail of laughter behind.
But, as with all good things, my life took a drastic turn.
It all changed when I lost my dad and sister in a car accident.
My world came crashing down, and I was left to pick up the pieces.
My mom, who was once the rock of our family, couldn't handle the pain.
She slipped into depression, and I was left to navigate the darkness alone.
The fire that once burned bright in my mom's eyes slowly dimmed, and I felt like I was losing her too.
But, after what felt like an eternity, she finally began to heal.
The problem was, the damage had already been done.
I had changed.
I became isolated, calm, and collected.
I observed and learned, but in doing so, I became a target for bullies.
Yeah, you heard that right. I, the life of the party, became a punching bag for a bunch of cowards.
I reported them to the teachers, but it was like talking to a brick wall.
"We need solid evidence,"
they'd say, while the bullies laughed and mocked me.
It was like they had a get-out-of-jail-free card, courtesy of their wealthy parents and the school's reluctance to take action.
"...ther"
So, I eventually developed anxiety about being in crowded places, and dropping out of school seemed like the easiest way out.
My mother opted for homeschooling, and I was more than happy to oblige.
It was during this time that I discovered my passion for coding and gaming.
I devoured tutorials, practiced until my fingers ached, and soon became a decent web designer.
"Eden!"
But my true escape was gaming – I spent hours immersed in virtual worlds, becoming a hardcore gamer in the process.
When I did venture out into crowded areas, I'd often find myself retreating into the world of webnovels, reading about fantastical realms and overused clichés.
Socializing wasn't exactly my forte; give me a good novel or a gaming session, and I was set.
The truth is, I'd never really been in a physical fight. Even when I was bullied, it was the "accidental" bump-into-you, make-fun-of-you type.
I'd dodged a bullet by dropping out before things escalated further.
I wasn't exactly the most street-savvy kid, but I'd learned to adapt.
So in essence, I hadn't exactly been in any physical fights before, so it wasn't that I didn't know how to fight – it was more like I wasn't sure if I knew how to fight because I'd never actually tried it.
Plus, with these new skills and attributes, everything felt foreign.
Now, standing in this arena, surrounded by students who seemed more than ready to throw punches, I wondered if my coding skills and gaming reflexes would be enough to save me.
"Eden Prairie!"
A sharp voice snapped me from my thoughts, and I turned to see my sister standing with her back to me, her eyes fixed intently on something ahead.
And then I saw it – a fireball hurtling towards my face, leaving a trail of flames and smoke in its wake.
It was like a mini sun, radiating heat and destruction, and I was its next target.
But before I could even process what was happening, my sister raised her hand, and with a swift motion, she blocked the attack.
The fireball hit her palm, and it fizzled out like a sparkler in the rain.
I stared at her in awe, my heart still racing from the close call.
Ah, I really zoned off this time.
"What's the matter, Eden, you've been zoning off a lot lately," my sister said, her voice laced with concern.
She placed a hand on my shoulder, her grip firm but gentle.
"If you can't fight, then stay close. I'll try my best to protect the both of us."
Her words were laced with a mix of concern and frustration, but all I could think was that she was making me love her more with every passing moment.
I mean, who wouldn't adore a sister who was willing to protect you with her life?
I felt a surge of affection for her, and I couldn't help but smile, even in the midst of all this chaos.
"No need for that, sis," I said, trying to sound nonchalant despite the admiration I felt for her.
"I'm sorry I zoned out.
I was just trying to process something, but I got lost in the moment."
She gave me a stern look, but I could see the hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Well, now's not the time to process anything, okay? We need to focus on scoring through this exam and be amongst the top.
There are too many strong students here, and we can't afford to get caught off guard."
I nodded, feeling a bit chastised.
"Yes, understood."
She was right, of course.
Now wasn't the time to get lost in thought.
The world around us currently, was a whirlwind of chaos, with students fighting each other left and right.
As I looked around, I saw a guy flying through the air, his limbs flailing wildly.
I watched in awe, thinking to myself, "Whoa, that guy's got some serious flight skills... Wait, no he doesn't."
I chuckled to myself as I realized he wasn't flying – he was sent flying.
More like human catapult, courtesy of a lean, agile girl with braided black hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to gleam with an inner intensity.
as he crashed into a group of students who were too busy fighting to notice him.
It was like a scene from a crazy anime, and I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
But before I could enjoy the spectacle for too long, a gust of wind blew my hair back, and I felt a presence above me.
My sister had taken to the skies, and she sent a flurry of wind blades towards a student who was rushing towards me.
The student was a beast boy from the Goru continent, with skin that was a deep, earthy brown and eyes that seemed to glow like embers.
He was huge, with muscles that rippled beneath his skin like a living, breathing mountain.
And he was armed to the teeth with two massive battle-axes that looked like they could chop down a tree with ease.
As the wind blades hurtled towards him, he didn't dodge or weave – he simply raised his axes and formed an X with them above his head.
The wind blades hit the axes, and they shattered into a thousand pieces, sending shards of wind flying in all directions.
I stood there, frozen in confusion, wondering what the heck was wrong with me.
Everyone around me was battling it out, and I was just standing there, narrating the scene like a play-by-play commentator at a wrestling match.
'Echo.' I called mentally, but there was only silence.
I groaned in frustration.
Of course, my system would choose this moment to go offline.
It was like it had a sixth sense for dramatic timing.
I mean, who needs a system when things are going smoothly, right?
But when the going gets tough, the system gets going... offline.
I couldn't help but think of all the clichés in stories where the powerful characters' abilities would always malfunction at the most critical moments.
And now, it seemed like my system was following suit.
"Great, just great," I muttered to myself.
"My Echoe's gone AWOL."
Well, I had to do something now.
I wanted to clear my mind, as i squinted my eyes in concentration, trying to close them completely but couldn't quite manage it.
Who can relax in a war zone, right?
I mean, there's a student nearby getting pummeled by a tall, muscular guy with a ruthless grin, and I'm over here trying to tap into my inner chi.
Talk about multitasking.
I focused my mind again, trying to tap into the mysterious energy within me.
It was like trying to recall a forgotten dance move – my body kind of knew what to do, but my brain was like, "Uh, wait, how did that go again?"
I began to channel this energy, imagining it flowing through my body like a river of glitter.
Yeah, glitter – because why not?
It's a battle royale; might as well add some sparkle to it.
As I did so, I felt a surge of power coursing through my veins, like a caffeine high on steroids.
My senses grew sharper, and my reflexes quickened.
I could feel the mana building up inside me, like a kid in a candy store getting more and more excited.
My muscles felt like they were infused with a newfound sense of strength, like I could take on anything that came my way.
The energy pulsed through my body, making me feel like a superhero who's just discovered their powers.
I was like, "Mana, activate! _pose_ Ah, yeah, I got this."
Okay, maybe not exactly, but I did feel a sense of confidence boost.
As I stood there, channeling my mana, I watched as the muscular guy delivered a devastating kick to the other student, sending them flying across the arena.
The student crashed into a nearby pillar with a groan, his last orbs shattering into a thousand pieces of light.
As the orbs dissolved, the student vanished in a flash of light, teleported out of the arena. He was already eliminated.
The muscular guy turned, his eyes scanning the arena for his next target.
His gaze passed over me, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
Yes! Lucky break!
I was about to thank the heavens when his gaze snapped back to me, and my heart sank.
Who was I kidding? My luck was crap! Ah, great. Just great.
He gave me a wicked grin, and my instincts screamed at me to get ready.
He bolted my way, his massive strides eating up the distance between us.
As he came closer, I began to see his features clearly.
He was a Wulfgarn, and he was huge.
Seriously, that guy was too huge to be considered a student.
He was even bigger than Professor Gus, the one who addressed us at the entrance of the school, and that guy was huge.
I mean, this Wulfgarn dude had to be at least 7 feet tall, with muscles that seemed to bulge out of his skin like they were trying to escape.
His skin was a deep, Nordic blue, and his hair was a wild tangle of blond locks that looked like they hadn't been combed in weeks.
His eyes glowed like embers, and his teeth seemed to be sharpened to points, giving him a perpetually fierce look.
I just stood there, watching him charge towards me, my eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe.
I didn't move, no scratch that, I couldn't move.
Don't know if it was out of fear, but I was just stuck there, frozen in place like a statue.
My brain was screaming at my legs to move, but they seemed to be rooted to the spot.
It was like my body had decided to stage a rebellion against my brain's commands, and I was powerless to stop it.
As he closed in on me, his massive frame blocking out the light, I felt like I was staring into the face of a giant, mythical beast.
He was so big that I had to crane my neck just to see his face, and even then, I felt like I was gazing up at a skyscraper.
Just as the Wulfgarn raised his massive hands, now transformed into razor-sharp claws, towards my face – which, I might add, was devilishly handsome – I channeled mana through my body, hoping one of my skills would kick in.
The Wulfgarn dude was a towering giant with skin as blue as a summer sky, furry ears that made him look like a cross between a human and a bear, and a grin that could curdle milk at 50 paces.
If it wasn't for the menacing grin, he might have been considered handsome – in a rugged, beastly kind of way.
Immediately, I felt a strange sensation wash over me.
The air around me seemed to thicken, like time itself had slowed down.
My eyes became disoriented for a brief moment, and when I opened them again, I found myself a few meters away from the Wulfgarn.
"Woah, that was close!"
I exclaimed, tucking my hands into my pockets.
The distance wasn't ideal, but at least I had some breathing room.
The Wulfgarn's eyes locked onto me, and he smiled – if you could call it that.
His grin was more like a snarl, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
He charged towards me with a speed that belied his massive size.
Just as I was about to make a run for it, my instincts screamed at me to step aside, and I did.
A blade sliced through the air, narrowly missing my position.
The lean boy who had thrown the dagger was a vision in black attire, with dark red hair that added a touch of elegance to his features.
He was a vampire from the Elyria continent, and he looked like he meant business.
His features were chiseled, with high cheekbones and piercing green eyes that seemed to gleam with an otherworldly intensity.
His dark red hair was styled in a sleek, polished manner that framed his face perfectly, adding to his charm and sophistication.
He wielded twin blades with a confidence that suggested he was no stranger to combat.
His skin was pale, even paler than mine, which was saying something.
I watched him, bewildered, and thought to myself,
'Okay, can someone tell me where everyone is getting their weapons from?
I mean, I'm standing here, empty-handed, while everyone around me seems to be armed to the teeth.
It's like they raided the school's armory or something.'
"That was some impressive reflexes you have there,"
the vampire spoke, his piercing eyes gleaming with amusement.
I remained silent, my eyes locked onto his.
"You must be from Tenaria, as I haven't encountered anyone like you in Elyria," he continued, his voice smooth as silk.
Seriously, even if I was from Elyria, you wouldn't know, how can you know everyone that's from there? I thought to myself.
"Yes, I know you might think that how was I supposed to know everybody from there, but from where I come from, let's just say I have birds everywhere," he said with a smirk, "informants, spies, you know the drill.
It's hard not to gather intel when you're a high-born vampire."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his words.
Wait a sec... How did he know what was on my mind? Before I could ask, he spoke up again.
"No, I'm not reading your thoughts," he said with a chuckle.
"You'd know if I was, trust me."
I was taken aback. What the...? You just proved it, I exclaimed, my voice laced with frustration.
His grin grew wider.
"Seems you're the quiet type, anyways, I'm Valois Laurent," he said, his voice dripping with sophistication.
"And you are...?"
"Eden," I finally spoke, my voice a little rough from disuse.
"Pleasure meeting you here, Eden," Valois said, extending his hand for a handshake.
I hesitated for a moment, but never the less.
I shook his hand.
"You're a unique individual, Eden," Valois said, his playful demeanor gone as he changed into a battle-ready stance.
"Please, make it worth my time."
I glanced at the Wulfgarn, who was still charging towards me.
Ah, damn my luck, I muttered under my breath.
I had a werewolf dashing towards me, and I think I was about to fight a vampire prince.
This isn't exactly ideal.