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

a thousand different individuals are gathered today for the new ranking assignments. Some will find themselves dropping out of the rankings, while

his gaze over the thousand

won't go into great depth.

arm on the wooden podium

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

top twenty, so I'll start disclosing the lower rankings right away. For those

on the two displays behind him as he pressed the right side of

the image of a burly man with red hair and fiery brows. Next to his name

Bray, first time nominee. Congratulations for making

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

of orcs, where he would rip

arms crossed. Although his back was

all, he had just become a ranker. One of

'He's pretty good...'

himself while he stared

analysing Elbert's movements, he was

at least for someone of

his eyes away from the monitors. Although he was impressed by his

Just impressed.

two years, and he no longer viewed someone in the

it was simply how things were. If he had to make an

'Where is he?'

and nonchalantly scanned the room with his eyes. They soon paused toward a certain

why he's

was none other than

such as this one. His displeasure for such events was quite well known by everyone that knew him.

on his figure, his eyes

arms together, he leaned back on his chair

looked to be in serious thought as an expressionless look adorned his face. He didn't seem to be amused by what

seemed to be thinking deeply about something else. It was like his mind was

from simply glancing at him. He had no idea if

had a rather hard time figuring out Ren's thoughts.

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 make crude jokes and

way, his change was sad, but necessary

the same,

his head and stared at his two hands which were resting on

That vision he saw...

worldview. He could no longer see the world as he

form on his pants as he clenched

was the only

up, Morland Jones of Hell's Cat

out after Elbert's name

began to show up on the

up, Jessica Blane of Raging

up, Luke Runder of the

.

.

.

of people approached the stage while Kevin was in

beginning to emerge gradually. The majority of those in attendance made an effort to control their

Longbern of the

a familiar name. Lifting his head, he

curves to perfection. Her eyes were complemented by a big

her, she hadn't aged a single day. Raising his head to stare at the monitors,

the ones he had seen three years ago, her highlights weren't much. It was clear that she had been focusing on school duties rather than

ranking didn't increase by much. It was still

[Top 107]

numbers hang beside

cameras at the back of the room pointed at her, she gave a simple smile, and the people around

moment only lasted for about a minute before a new

"Next up..."

for a little bit more

Kevin Voss of

eyes pause on his body when his

eyes of the people present, he calmly smiled. The reactions of

hundred while he was just 24 years old. A feat that was on par with Monica's, who at the same age had been classified roughly on the same level as him. No, rather, he had achieved the feat a year earlier

the enthralled reactions of those around him. Additionally, no one thought Kevin's position was unusual because his accomplishments were obvious to everyone. Unlike Ren,

[Top 94]

golden numbers appeared

of applause enshrouded the

"Next up..."

name was called up, and with each new

kept his gaze on Ren

curious about what his rankings would

[Top 60]

[Top 50]

[Top 40]

began to be called up. There were hints of surprise on Kevin's face as

like he's serious

didn't come from Ren's high ranking, but from the fact that he didn't hide his strength like in the past. Normally, he would've probably only shown a skill level that was

for him to

clearly something he wanted from

[Top 30]

[Top 20]

the time the top 20th

sat up straight on

'This might become troublesome.'

glance at the people in the auditorium. None of the people present currently knew what was about to happen, and Kevin could only imagine the effects that Ren's announcement would have on