The Author's POV

The sky was slowly darkening as the sun proceeded to set. A misty orange layer began to envelop the sky.

This was typically the time when people would come back home from their jobs.

Today was different, however.

[Tri-annual Hero ranking assembly]

At the moment, everyone was tuned onto one specific event, whether they were watching it on their TVs or another available gadget.

The Hero ranking assembly.

The assembly that would determine the ranks of the top heroes of the world.

At first, it didn't seem all that great, but it was important to highlight that the central government would provide financial support as well as amazing chances for all of the top rankers. Not only that, but the fame attributed to becoming a ranker wasn't something to be taken lightly.

Large guilds would salivate at the prospect of hiring a ranker, and the resources made available to them would be substantially more than in the past.

If that wasn't all, those who made it to the top twenty in the rankings would also be given some form of legislative power.

An illustration of such power would be the ability to cast a vote while determining a crucial matter affecting humanity's future.

Essentially, the stronger you were, the more power you held.

"I wonder what rank Ren will get."

Amanda mumbled as she fixed her gaze on the TV on the wall across from her. The TV was rather enormous, taking almost half of the wall, and the images it showed were clear and of the highest possible quality. It had the effect of making one wonder if they were actually there if one wasn't paying attention.

Her hand reached to her right as she relaxed on a sofa. Toward a tiny bag of chips.

"Hm?"

Amanda felt a tiny hand reach out for her hand as soon as she took a chip.

"Brother is the best."

Nola commented while she took the chip from Amanda's hand, leaving her speechless.

"...He sure is."

A small and helpless smile spread across her face when she looked at Nola.

"Your brother will definetly get a high rank."

"What about first?"

"That's not possible, Nola."

Another voice echoed from the other side of the room. The voice belonged to none other than Samantha Dover, Ren and Nola's mom.

"You're brother has barely turned twenty four. There's no way he can rank first. It would already be a miracle if he ranked anywhere near the hundreds."

Samantha set a few plates on the modest wooden table in the living room and tilted her head to face Amanda.

"Actually, what rank is he?"

"…No idea."

Amanda shook her head.

Despite all the time she spent with Ren over the years, his rank was still an enigma to her. She knew it was high, but she didn't know just how high.

It wasn't something that came up in their conversations.

"It's starting."

A soft, deep voice echoed. Ren's father had just walked into the room. The moment that happened, the television screen went black, and Amanda saw her mother's reflection. She was currently seated next to Nola.

Meeting Amanda's gaze on the screen, she sadly said.

"I'm sure your dad will be devastated to know that you're more worried about Ren than him."

Amanda merely shrugged at her mother's words.

She already had an idea of what rank her father would get so she wasn't particularly interested. At least, not as much as she was interested in knowing what placement Ren would get.

She figured it would be in the early hundreds and perhaps even in the two digit figures, but knowing Ren, she knew that estimates were worthless.

He wasn't someone that could be predicted using common sense.

***

"The rankings are determined by taking into account a number of elements. Strength, accomplishments, and overall contributions to the growth and advancement of humanity."

In a spacious auditorium filled with round tables and benches, a firm, solemn voice resounded.

Rowan Kilimer, a representative of the Central government, took the stage in front of a tiny wooden podium while donning a pair of squared spectacles and a crisp grey suit.

His hair was well brushed back, and he had a rather solid frame with broad shoulders.

"The top individuals who are currently existing in the human realm have been ranked after taking the aforementioned aspects into account. This event aims to make the world aware of their accomplishments."

A large chandelier with brightly glistening lightbulbs in the shape of crystals vividly lit the area.

There were more than a thousand people seated on the chairs beneath the chandelier. Though it wasn't obvious at a glance, the pressure that came out from each one of the individuals present was terrifying.

Enough to make any regular person faint at the mere breath.

the back of the room, not too far from them and standing behind a transparent blue barrier, a number of figures silently moved the cameras to focus on the faces of numerous profiles while

gathered today for the new ranking assignments. Some will find themselves dropping out of the rankings, while some others might find themselves entering the rankings for the first

raised his head and swept his gaze over the thousand of individuals

a ranker, I won't go into great depth. Everyone present should already be

laid his arm on the wooden podium and turned to face

pointed to his right, where a large monitor was situated. It was necessary to mention

I'll start disclosing the lower rankings right away. For those that are called

displays behind him as he pressed the

and fiery brows. Next to his name was a shining golden symbol [Top 500], with his

time nominee. Congratulations for

to play short clips of the man known as Elbert Bray. On the monitors, the people attending were able to catch a glimpse of his skills from the short clips

was akin to that of orcs, where

focus was on the monitors, the cameras were trained on Elbert Bray, who was seated at the rear of the room with his arms crossed. Although his back was straight and his face was expressionless, it was obvious

After all, he had just become a ranker. One of the most respected people

'He's pretty good...'

quietly commented to himself while he

Elbert's movements,

for someone

monitors. Although he was impressed by his skills, that was all there was

Just impressed.

he no longer viewed someone in the top 500

he had to make an estimate, he was

'Where is he?'

room with his eyes. They soon paused toward

he's decided to

none other

this one. His displeasure for such events was quite

Kevin's eyes paused on his

he leaned back on his chair and carefully scrutinized

his face. He didn't seem to

he seemed to be thinking deeply about something else. It

deduce from simply glancing at

rather hard time figuring out Ren's thoughts. Especially in light of

was no longer acting or behaving in the same manner as before. He was in some ways much nicer than before, but at the same time, a lot more reserved. He used to

change was sad, but necessary at

the same,

at his two

That vision he saw...

drastically changed his worldview. He could no longer see the world as he

form on his pants as he clenched

was the

Jones

new name was called out

more names began to show up on

up, Jessica Blane of Raging

Runder

.

.

.

the stage while Kevin

effort to control their reactions, but it was inevitable that some would express their happiness and others

up, Donna Longbern of the Lock

his thoughts he heard a familiar name. Lifting his head, he spotted Donna seated on one of the seats

was wearing a stylish black one-piece outfit that suited her hair and accentuated her curves to perfection. Her eyes were complemented by a big purple necklace that dangled from her

a single day. Raising his head to stare at the monitors, Kevin focused his

highlights weren't much. It was clear that she had been

also why her ranking didn't increase by much. It was still nonetheless

[Top 107]

golden numbers hang beside her

the back of the room pointed at her,

only lasted for about a minute before a new

"Next up..."

bit more until Kevin

Voss

eyes pause on his

calmly smiled. The

classified roughly on the

unusual because his accomplishments were obvious to everyone. Unlike Ren, Kevin wasn't one that kept a low

[Top 94]

appeared beside

wave of applause

"Next up..."

long as a new name was called up, and with each new name that was called up, the louder the

gaze on Ren throughout

was genuinely curious about what his rankings

[Top 60]

[Top 50]

[Top 40]

surprise on

like he's

high ranking, but from the fact that he didn't hide his strength like in the past. Normally, he

for him to go this

clearly something he wanted

[Top 30]

[Top 20]

the time the

straight on his

'This might become troublesome.'

the auditorium. None of the people present currently knew what was about to happen,