A Devil’s or Hero’s Blessing?

After a hectic first day in a new world, Nizara woke up, trying to make himself some tea. He quickly realized he couldn't find any equipment for it. "I almost forgot, I'm stuck in this world. They probably don't know what tea is," Nizara speculated. A few seconds later, someone knocked on Nizara's dorm door. "Who the heck is awake at this time of the morning?" Nizara said, curious. He opened the door and saw his teacher, Ms. Ono, who was also teleported to this new world along with her students.

Nizara curiously asked, "What do you want, Sensei?" As soon as Ms. Ono heard Nizara's voice and his disrespectful tone, she forced her way inside his dorm and closed the door. "Listen, Kaito, you have to wake up. Something is wrong with you," said Ms. Ono with a worried expression.

"I already told you, Sensei, I'm not Kaito anymore. Call me Nizara," said Nizara with a very serious and angry tone. Ms. Ono held his hands together and said with a concerned tone, almost mentioning Kaito accidentally, "What happened to you? This isn't the Kai— I mean, Nizara, I know."

Nizara slapped her hands away and said with a straightforward expression, "I'm sorry, but I don't have time for you, Sensei." He quickly knocked her out with a chop to the neck, making sure she fell gently. He then carried her back to her dorm as he walked down the aisle.

After two hours, all the students were ordered to come downstairs for an important meeting after breakfast. As everyone arrived outside, they finally got to see the new world they were transported to: the same scent of nature, a beautiful blue sky, and the amazing, huge-looking Kingdom they were in. But before that, there was a huge choice to make. An instructor named Marlon instructed everyone to follow him. "Everyone, follow me!" Marlon led them to what looked like a training ground. The leaders of the Military, Police, and the Attack Force, along with their Vice Leaders, and the Prince and Princess were present.

Marlon said, "Welcome to the Training Ground. This is the place where all of you will be trained, and then you choose one of these Forces to join." Everyone nodded as Marlon continued, "Before we start, we let the leaders give a small speech."

The Police Force leader stepped forward first. "Dear Students, I stand before you today to invite you to join an elite force dedicated to upholding justice and safeguarding our community. As police officers, you will be the frontline defenders of peace, order, and the rule of law. Your courage and commitment will ensure that every citizen can live without fear. Join us in this noble pursuit, where your actions will shape a safer, more secure future for everyone." As Isolde finished, she gave a little smirk towards Nizara. As usual, Nizara didn't even look at Isolde, which irritated her a bit. She stepped back to the line of leaders and said to Viktor, "What the heck is his problem? Does he not want to join any force?"

Viktor glanced at Isolde with a straight face and responded, "I guess he's not interested in the Police Force." Viktor then stepped forward confidently and said, "Let me show you how it's done." He cleared his throat and gave his speech with determination, "Dear New-Worlders, our nation calls upon you to step forward and serve in our military. The strength of our defense lies in your hands. As soldiers, you will protect our sovereignty, our freedom, and our way of life. Your valor and discipline will be the bulwark against any threat, and your dedication will inspire future generations. Enlist today, and become a guardian of our nation's enduring legacy." Some of the students were impressed by Commander Viktor and even applauded him. He stepped back and smirked at Isolde, confident he won over many students to join his force.

Lastly, it was the Attack Force's turn to speak up. Rather unusually, Vice Commander Alda stepped up instead of Commander Thorian. She cleared her throat and opened a letter, a speech prepared for the students by Thorian. "Dear New-Worlders, The Attack Force is calling out for brave and strong new soldiers to join the force to fight against the constant threats in this cursed world. Devils, Demons, Monsters, and other creatures that lurk in the darkness pose a constant danger to us, as they could attack us at any moment. We, the Attack Force, are known for defending our Nation and Empire at all costs, even if it involves our lives. I cannot assure you that most of us will stay alive, but our fallen soldiers will live on in our hearts and souls forever. Our objective is to protect our people from any kind of evil and find out the utmost truth of this cursed world we live in, which is why we need strong and courageous soldiers. That is all!"

After the speech, no one clapped their hands, as they were frightened to learn about the monsters and dangers in this world. Suddenly, there was clapping from the crowd of students. The one clapping was Nizara. "What a splendid speech that was." Everyone stared at Nizara as he kept clapping. "I have decided to enlist in the Attack Force." In his mind, Nizara thought with determination, "Enlisting in the Attack Force can get me a step closer to finding the Xanteria's Artifact." Emiko stared at Nizara with a worrisome expression.

After some time, all the students made their choices about the forces. Most joined the Military Force, while the Police Force also acquired many new recruits. The Attack Force got only Nizara.

Later that night, Nizara was inside the office of Commander Thorian, with Vice Commander Alda also attending. Thorian spoke, "Welcome to the Attack Force. May I ask for your name?"

Nizara politely answered, "My name is Nizara, SIR."

Thorian smiled and said, "No need to be so polite. You can call me Commander or simply Thorian." Nizara nodded, giving him some respect while thinking, "I can't read through this guy whatsoever. Also, what's with this face mask?" Nizara then asked, "Commander, I have a question about something."

Thorian answered, "Go ahead."

Nizara asked, "Can you explain to me about this Rank thingy?" Thorian sat in a comfortable position and said, "Sure, but it might be a long answer."

Nizara responded, "I don't mind that. The longer it is, the better I'll understand."

Thorian started, "Alright, let me break it down for you. In our kingdom, there's a system where the king or queen can see everyone's abilities and levels or ranks. Ranks start from C-Rank, which is the lowest. C-Rank is for those just starting out as hunters, typically at level 0-25. These are the beginners. Next is B-Rank, a semi-strong rank where most hunters are. B-Rank hunters are at levels 25-50, handling most of the standard missions. It's like the normal level for hunters. Then, we have A-Rank, where hunters are considered strong and skilled enough to be in the Forces. A-Rank hunters are at levels 50-75. We'll talk more about the Forces in a bit. Finally, there's the special and strongest rank, S-Rank, meant for levels 75-100. There are very fewS-Rank hunters, but our kingdom has six of them. Three of these are leaders of different Forces, one is the vice leader of all Forces, another is the overall leader, and the last one is the king's right-hand man and son."

Nizara then said, "I see, so I'm in the semi-strong ranks."

Thorian nodded. "Yes, upon meeting the King, you must've been told that you're a B-Rank."

Nizara nodded, remembering the encounter.

*Flashback*

"Hey, Mr. Robed Man, where are you taking me?" Nizara yelled, struggling as some robed men carried him, tying him up. They even put a blindfold on him so he couldn't see. After some time, Nizara heard a loud noise which seemed to come from a large door. The robed men proceeded to carry Nizara until they put him down on the floor and took the blindfold off. He saw a bearded man with white hair, sitting on a gold chair with a crown on. Right beside him was a tall and handsome boy with black hair and a crown, and a girl with beautiful long black hair and also a crown. They were both wearing noble-looking clothes, indicating their royalty.

The King spoke up, "Kaito, you have acquired a second awakening, which could turn out to be a very powerful weapon for you, or it can turn into a very powerful but dark and deadly weapon. Make sure you don't end up a monster."

Kaito, now known as Nizara, replied, "What the heck is this crap! Weapon? Monster?"

The King continued, "You have been transported into another world like your friends, but only you possess a power which you haven't unveiled yet. This power could be a…"

Nizara, worried, asked, "C-Could be what!?"

The King exhaled and said, "A Devil's or a Hero's Blessing!"

*End of Flashback*

Nizara shook off the memory and focused back on Thorian. "So, I'm a B-Rank hunter," he reiterated.

Thorian nodded again. "Yes, you are, but with your potential, you could easily rise through the ranks. The key is to train hard and stay disciplined. Now, let's discuss your training regimen."

Nizara listened intently as Thorian laid out the training plan. It was rigorous, involving physical conditioning, combat training, and strategic planning. Nizara was determined to excel, knowing that the path to unlocking his true power and finding the Xanteria's Artifact lay ahead of him.

Thorian concluded, "Remember, Nizara, the Attack Force is not just about strength. It's about courage, intelligence, and heart. You must be prepared to face the darkest evils and protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Nizara nodded firmly. "I understand, Commander. I won't let you down."

Thorian smiled beneath his mask. "I believe you, Nizara. Now, get some rest. Your training starts tomorrow."

Nizara left the office, feeling a mix of anticipation and determination. He knew the journey ahead would be tough, but he was ready to face it head-on. As he walked back to his dorm, he glanced at the moonlit sky, silently vowing to become stronger and uncover the secrets of this new world.

*To Be Continued…*