Divine awakened

I didn't know what to expect when I was told the principal wanted to meet me. After a month of surviving in this shelter, I had barely interacted with anyone in authority. Now, suddenly, I was being taken to meet the head of the academy.

The moment I stepped into his office, I realized he wasn't what I imagined.

The man sitting behind the desk looked young—probably in his mid twenties. His blue eyes were sharp but carried a strange warmth. He had long black hair and wore a sleek dark uniform, unlike the dull military gear the guards usually wore. He didn't look like someone who ran a school—more like a soldier or a commander.

"Artic, right?" The principal leaned back in his chair. "How are you holding up?"

I hesitated. How was I supposed to answer that? I had lost everything just a month ago. My home, my normal life, my future—it all vanished in the apocalypse. I had spent the last month in a shelter, eating bland food, surrounded by other survivors who were just as lost as I was. But compared to some of them, I was lucky to even be alive.

"I'm… managing," I finally said.

The principal nodded like he understood exactly what I meant. "Good enough."

A man standing next to him cleared his throat. He was older, maybe in his forties, with a serious look on his face. His glasses reflected the dim light of the room.

"Artic, I'm Professor Rylen," he introduced himself. "I teach at the academy. Before we begin, I need to bring you up to speed."

I tensed. I had a feeling I wasn't going to like what I was about to hear.

"As of now," Rylen continued, "half the world's population is dead. Most major cities are either destroyed or abandoned. Governments collapsed within the first few weeks, but emergency forces have started rebuilding. The world isn't lawless, but it's unstable."

I swallowed. I had seen some of the destruction myself, but hearing it put into numbers made it feel even more real.

"The world we knew is gone," the principal said. "And we have to adapt. That's where the new education system comes in."

I frowned. "Education system?"

The professor nodded. "School is no longer just about math and history. That kind of education is only 40% of the curriculum now, and it focuses on advanced sciences and magic energy studies. The other 60% is combat training. The government needs strong individuals to protect humanity."

Magic energy studies? Combat training? This sounded more like a military academy than a school.

The principal grabbed my phone off the desk. "I'm installing something for you."

I raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"A survival and training system," he replied. "It'll track your skills, missions, and most importantly—your rank."

I blinked. "Rank?"

But before I could ask, the principal stood up. "You'll find out soon enough."

That was frustrating. I hated being left in the dark, but I could tell he wasn't going to explain anything else.

"For now," he continued, "you won't be joining the academy immediately. You have two months to prepare. During this time, you'll be moved to a proper student dorm. It's much better than this shelter—better food, better living conditions, and access to training facilities."

I wasn't going to complain about better food. The stuff at the shelter barely counted as edible.

"Before you join, you'll need to take a rank assessment," the professor added.

I opened my mouth to ask what that was, but the principal was already heading for the door. "You'll be escorted to your new dorm soon. Get ready."

And just like that, the conversation was over.

The Outside World

The shelter had been underground, so I hadn't seen the outside world in a while. As the government officials led me to the transport vehicle, I finally got a good look at what was left of the city.

It was a mess.

Broken buildings lined the streets, some completely abandoned, others barely standing. Half-built structures covered in scaffolding showed that people were trying to rebuild. Soldiers and workers moved around, carrying supplies, fixing roads, and setting up new defense systems. Large metal barriers were placed at key locations—probably to keep out whatever monsters roamed beyond the city limits.

The air smelled of dust and burnt metal. The apocalypse might have ended, but the scars were still fresh.

I noticed military drones flying overhead, scanning the streets. Security had become a top priority.

The vehicle finally stopped in front of a large building.

The Student Dorm

The dorm looked nothing like the run-down shelters I had been staying in. It was a five-story building with a sleek, dark blue exterior. High-tech security gates stood at the entrance, scanning everyone who walked in. The windows reflected the orange sunset, making the whole place look… almost normal.

Inside, the hallways were clean, lined with smooth white marble floors and glowing ceiling panels that provided a soft light. It reminded me of a fancy hotel.

Each dorm room had a bed, a desk, and a built-in smart-screen panel. A separate training area was visible through a glass wall at the end of the hall, with several students already practicing inside.

One of the officials handed me a keycard. "This is your room. Food is served three times a day in the dining hall. You'll receive a schedule soon."

I nodded, taking the keycard. I wasn't sure what to expect, but one thing was clear—this place was far better than the shelter.

As I stepped inside my new room and sat on the bed, my mind kept returning to one thing.

What exactly was this rank assessment?

And why did I have a feeling that it would change everything?