**Next Morning**
"Alright, worms!" a sharp voice rang through the hall, capturing everyone's attention immediately. "Time to see which of you turned your realm into a palace—and which of you just barely avoided crapping your pants."
Mr. Huxley—their Grey Class instructor—strode in like a man late to his own funeral and too annoyed to care. His unkempt hair, eclectic choice of attire, and mismatched footwear gave him an almost eccentric appearance, reminiscent of a lunatic inventor who hadn't slept since the last decade.
But no one dared laugh.
Everyone sat in silence, still adjusting to life after the Awakening Ceremony. Yesterday, they'd returned to their dorms after that wild, world-changing experience. And now, they were back, huddled in the multi-purpose lecture dome like chicks waiting to be judged.
Ethan sat back in his seat, pulling his hood low in an attempt to remain inconspicuous. He wasn't in the mood for attention.
Unfortunately, it seemed that attention had a way of finding him.
"Let's begin with an engaging exercise," Mr. Huxley announced, grinning like a mischievous shark. "Pull up your Realm Stat Cards. Let's see what you've got for review. Don't worry—this is a judgment-free zone—mostly."
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[Display: Realm Overview - Public Snapshot]
Name: Ethan's Realm
Realm Size: 1.00 sq.km
Environment: Toxic-Polluted Urban Wasteland
Inhabitants: 0
Primary Feature: Scrap Den (Shelter)
Notable Entity: [Sapling Seed - Germination Pending]
Realm Quality: F- (Stabilizing)
Growth Potential: Unknown
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Whispers broke out immediately. Some loud enough to be intentional.
"Yikes... that's a death realm if I've ever seen one."
"Toxic and urban? Did the system glitch?"
"He actually planted a tree there? What, is he trying to grow a forest in a wasteland?"
Ethan didn't flinch. His eyes stayed on the screen in front of him, jaw clenched.
Let them speak. All they see is the surface. They cannot comprehend the potential beneath.
Across the room, students activated their realm cards one by one, initiating a wave of comparisons.
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[Display: Realm Overview - Public Snapshot]
Name: Victoria's Realm
Realm Size: 1.00 sq.km
Environment: Verdant Hillside - Temperate
Inhabitants: 0
Primary Feature: Tier-2 Riverside Pavilion (Inhabitable)
Notable Entity: [Silkwing Fawn - Tier 2]
Realm Quality: B+
Growth Potential: Excellent
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"Ehhh?!She obtained a Silkwing?! I heard those were highly sought after at auction last year!"
"Wait, a Tier 2 card? I thought the limit was Tier 1 unless—oh, she must be rich."
Victoria gave a modest shrug, pretending the attention embarrassed her. But the gleam in her eye betrayed her true feelings.
"Don't worry," she said sweetly. "Every realm is unique in its own way."
That's true. Each realm has its value, much like different pieces of art.
Ethan suppressed a snort.
More students showcased their realms: a boy with volcanic terrain, a girl with an ice lake, another with a floating archipelago accompanied by wind beasts circling overhead. Another bragged about integrating a Tier 3 fungus that could reshape land.
As the list grew, so did the tension.
And then—drama.
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[Display: Realm Overview - Public Snapshot]
Name: Mason's Realm
Realm Size: 1.00 sq.km
Environment: High-Energy Mineral Desert
Inhabitants: 0
Primary Feature: Oreheart Cavern (Mineral Node)
Notable Entity: [Magma-Blood Jackal - Tier 3]
Realm Quality: A-
Growth Potential: Extreme
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"Wait a minute. A Tier 3 beast already?" someone interjected.
"That's insane! You must have used a black-market card, didn't you?"
Mason just smiled, reclining confidently in his seat like a king watching peasants bicker.
"Come on, don't be envious." he said. "It's not my fault that I had better preparation. Not everyone starts with trash cards—some have better preparation than others."
Ethan raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
A Tier 3 jackal, huh? It is indeed impressive. But if it burns through all your realm energy too quickly, we'll see who will laugh at the end.
Mr. Huxley clapped his hands once, silencing the room.
"Excellent! We've got drama, envy, and a healthy dose of insecurity—an ideal environment for growth."
He began to pace, coat billowing as he moved.
"Here's the deal, kiddos. Each of you has been given an equal opportunity to shape your own world. Yes, some of you started with shinier tools. Some of you came in swinging Daddy's credit line like a sledgehammer."
He paused beside Ethan, gesturing to his realm stats with a long metal pointer.
"But this guy right here? F-rank realm, right. No flashy race, nothing to brag about and you know what? He might be the one to pull ahead. Why?"
Mr. Huxley grinned again, eyes twinkling.
"Because pressure makes diamonds, not silkwings."
"You're all newborn worldkeepers," Mr. Huxley said pacing with the intensity of a lion in a confined space. "You have been entrusted with a realm—a chunk of infinite potential—and you've shown us… well, a very colorful variety of starting IQ."
Some students chuckled while others appeared uneasy.
Ethan sat with his arms crossed, reflecting on the earlier comments. Part of him wanted to shout, "Do you think I intentionally selected a polluted world?" However, the more dominant, quieter part of him understood the reality.
This is my second opportunity.
I did choose it.
Because I know what's worth rebuilding.
"Now!" Huxley spun and slapped the screen behind him, displaying a glowing list.
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Grey Class Realm Development Goals – Week 1
1. Construct a sustainable shelter (minimum 2-day energy retention).
2. Integrate your first race card and ensure its survival.
3. Establish one infrastructure that impacts your realm's ecosystem.
4. Report realm energy fluctuations for evaluation.
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"These four tasks are your initial quests," he explained, hands clasped behind his back. "They are fundamental, indeed. But let me make something very clear—fail any two of these, and you'll be demoted to Black Class."
A collective gasp echoed throughout the room, even among the most confident students who quickly straightened up.
Black Class represented the dropout zone. It was where failing students ended up—where future opportunities dimmed, internships dried up, and career options turned into background characters.
"But wait," Huxley interjected dramatically, his grin wide and wicked. "That's not all."
A new display appeared. This one brighter, flashing in bold red and silver letters:
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🔥 Grey Class Inter-Class Realm Cup: Round One 🔥
Begins in 7 Days
Format: 3v3 Realm Simulation Duel
Prize: Direct Entry to Tiered Resource Network
Bonus: One Randomized Tier 2 Race Card Voucher
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The room fell into a stunned silence.
Then chaos ensued.
"Wait—duels?! Like, actual combat?!"
"A Tier 2 race card?! That's like gold!!"
"Did he say realm simulation? What does that even mean?!"
I'm not sure either, Ethan admitted inwardly. But I'll find out if have to.
Mason stood up, looking smug as ever. "Guess some people will have to withdraw early. Not everyone's realm is equipped to handle a confrontation."
His eyes flicked toward Ethan like a spark trying to start a fire.
Ethan met his gaze without blinking. "Worry about your own realm. Lava... It must burns very quickly, right!."
Mason's smirk twitched.
Mr. Huxley allowed the tension to build for a moment before clapping his hands.
"Each team will be formed randomly," he added. "Your first true realm interaction will be simulated through the [Shared Mental Interface]. It's safe—relatively speaking. You will compete against others in a controlled environment based on your current realm status."
He let that information resonate.
"This is your chance. If you wish to prove you're not just rich, spoiled brats riding on Tier 3 resources, then create something. Cultivate something. Fight for something."
He glanced around the room, eyes stopping on Victoria, Mason, and finally on Ethan.
"Class dismissed. Oh—and good luck. You'll need it."
Back in Ethan's Room
As soon as Ethan returned to his dormitory, he collapsed onto the bed, face-down.
"…Realm Cup. Great!" he muttered into the pillow.
He rolled over, opening his interface again.
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[Realm Development Tasks Pending...]
[Progress: 1%]
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He stared at the number.
I don't have fancy terrain or beautiful rivers.
I have smog. I have rust.
But I also have time. I have this second chance.
And these twelve available card slots, it is an opportunity for me to shrink the gap with others.
So let's get to work.
He tapped the interface again.
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[Open Task: Build Basic Infrastructure]
[Initiate: Water Collector – Scrapyard Tier]
Estimated Time: 3 Hours
Required Materials: Metal x9, Fabric x2
Available: Metal x7, Fabric x1
Warning: Insufficient resources. Foraging in realm is advised.
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Ethan smiled to himself.
"Looks like I'm going scavenging next."