After checking his status window, Daniel muttered to himself, "My strength, stamina, and mana have increased a little… but aside from that, nothing too impressive."
He chuckled softly. "Figures. What difference can a single level even make?"
With a faint smirk, Daniel began running—pushing himself through the forest-covered stretch of the island. It wasn't just to get back to the Academy; he was also testing his stamina, curious to see how long he could keep going without exhaustion.
After a while, the grand silhouette of the SERA Hero Academy came into view.
Still jogging, he made his way toward the towering front gates. As he approached, he noticed something that made him pause.
Only two guards were stationed outside.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "The most secure place in the world, guarded by just two people? Yeah… feels super safe."
Sarcasm dripped from his inner voice.
Brushing off the thought, he walked straight up to the gate.
Both guards eyed him suspiciously. One of them stepped forward and said, "Show your identification."
Daniel raised his wrist and displayed his smartwatch.
The guards glanced at it, then at his face, verifying his ID through their system.
"What were you doing outside the campus?" one of them asked.
Daniel kept his expression neutral. "I got injured during training, so I went to the hospital," he replied smoothly. "On the way back, my car went off the bridge. I had to swim all the way here."
The guards exchanged a glance, then checked something on their device.
After a moment, one of them nodded. "Alright. You're clear. Go on in."
Daniel gave a small nod and stepped through the gates, his mind already focused on the next move.
Daniel stepped through the grand arch of the Academy for the very first time. The scale of the place took his breath away—it was massive, far bigger than he'd imagined. Towering buildings stretched across the campus, and the pristine, high-tech surroundings gave off the unmistakable aura of a place built to shape the world's strongest heroes.
But as impressive as it looked, Daniel had no idea where to go.
Which way is the dormitory again? he wondered, looking around at the crisscrossing paths and towering signs that made no sense to him.
Without wasting more time, he tapped his smartwatch and opened the SERA Academy application. Within seconds, a detailed 3D map of the campus sprang to life on the screen.
"Boys' Dormitory…" he muttered to himself as he traced the route with his finger.
Guided by the map, Daniel followed the highlighted path. A few minutes later, he arrived at a sleek modern building that stood out with its neat architecture and automatic sliding glass doors. Just beside the entrance was a small office with a nameplate that read "Dormitory In-Charge."
Inside, an elderly man was hunched over his phone, squinting as he scrolled through something intently.
Daniel stepped forward and called out gently, "Gupta Uncle?"
The old man looked up slowly, lifting his glasses with a curious expression. "And who might you be?"
Daniel blinked. For a moment, he was confused. He doesn't recognize me? Then it hit him—he had lost a lot of weight. His face was slimmer, his overall appearance more defined.
Scratching his head awkwardly, he replied, "It's me, Uncle Gupta. Daniel Johnson."
The man's eyes widened in surprise. "You… Daniel?"
Daniel rubbed his arms and did a small fake shiver for effect. "Uncle, could you please give me the key to my dorm room? I lost mine."
Uncle Gupta chuckled, shaking his head. "You didn't lose it. When they took you to the hospital, your key was returned to me."
He reached into a drawer and pulled out a small silver key, handing it over. "I heard you had an accident on your way to the Academy."
Daniel smiled wryly as he took the key. "Yeah… I sort of fell into the ocean. But I swam my way back."
Uncle Gupta stared at him for a moment before letting out a low whistle. "Well, if nothing else, you've made a memorable entrance."
Daniel grinned. "Guess I like to keep things dramatic."
Uncle Gupta chuckled as he handed over the key, giving Daniel a curious look. "No wonder you look a bit thinner than before," he said with a smile.
"But this is nothing, Daniel. On the journey to becoming a hero, you'll face dangers that'll make this look like a walk in the park. Your life will constantly dangle on the edge of death."
His tone grew serious for a moment. "Becoming a hero isn't easy. You'll face beasts and demons you've never even imagined—creatures that live in nightmares. But all in good time. For now, these are your days to enjoy. That's what this Academy is built for—so kids can grow in an environment where training and fun go hand in hand."
Daniel nodded and accepted the key with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Uncle Gupta," he said politely.
As he turned and walked away, a smirk curved on his lips. No one would believe I just came back from the jaws of death, he thought. The irony of walking casually through the Academy gates after surviving a car crash and almost drowning wasn't lost on him.
He let out a small laugh as he climbed the stairs to his dorm room, the sound light and disbelieving.
When he finally pushed open the door to his room, the sight that greeted him made him pause. The space was filled with strange and flashy things—expensive clothes hanging in a wardrobe, branded shoes neatly lined up in the corner, and a collection of toys and action figures displayed proudly on a shelf.
Daniel blinked, taken aback.
"Daniel brought all this to the Academy?" he muttered to himself, then chuckled. "Weird guy."
He scratched the back of his head and added, half to himself and half to the room, "Actually, my real-life room isn't all that different. Maybe we're not so different, this Daniel and I. Except… this one's a bit lazier. And weaker."
Still smiling, he pulled out his night clothes from the wardrobe and laid them neatly on the bed. Then, without much ceremony, he peeled off his wet clothes and dropped them into a nearby bucket. After that, he walked up to the mirror mounted on the dressing table and gave himself a good, long look.
Flexing his arms, he admired the shape of his biceps, then turned slightly to check out his six-pack abs. His height still wasn't much to boast about—but even then, he had to admit, he looked pretty good. Handsome, even.
But then something made him freeze.
His smile faded as his eyes widened at the reflection staring back.
His hair…
His eyes…
The vibrant red that once burned with intensity had dulled.
Now, both his hair and his eyes had shifted to a darker, blackish tone. The fiery hue was barely visible anymore.
Daniel leaned in closer, stunned. "What the hell…?"