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.

far from them and standing behind a transparent blue barrier, a number of figures silently moved the cameras

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

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

benefits of being a ranker, I won't go into great depth. Everyone present

podium and turned to face

hand, he raised his hand and pointed to his right, where a large monitor was situated. It was necessary to mention that there was another monitor of comparable size on

lower rankings right away. For

him as he pressed the right side of

the picture was the image of a burly man with red hair and fiery brows. Next to his name was a shining golden symbol [Top 500], with his name in white not too far

Bray, first time nominee. Congratulations for making

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

akin to that of orcs, where he would rip through anything in

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 from the slight curl of his lips that he was

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

'He's pretty good...'

himself while he

movements, he was rather

for

he was impressed by his

Just impressed.

he

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

'Where is he?'

Elbert and nonchalantly scanned the room with his eyes.

why he's decided to

none other than

attend a meeting such as this one. His displeasure for such events was quite well known by everyone that knew him. He never really tried to

his figure, his eyes

together, he leaned back on his

an expressionless look adorned his face. He didn't seem to be amused

about something else.

Kevin could deduce from simply glancing at him. He had no idea

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

as before. He was in some ways much nicer than before, but at the same time, a lot more reserved. He used to

his change was sad, but

the

at his two

That vision he saw...

He could no longer see the world

to form on his

the only

up, Morland Jones of Hell's Cat

out

and more names began to show up on the

up, Jessica Blane of Raging Fist

Runder of

.

.

.

of people approached the stage while

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

Donna Longbern of the

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

was wearing a stylish black one-piece outfit that suited her hair and accentuated her curves

Raising his head to stare at the

It was clear that she had been focusing on

her ranking didn't increase by much. It

[Top 107]

numbers hang beside

the cameras at the back of the room pointed at her, she gave

for about a minute before a new name was called

"Next up..."

more

up, Kevin Voss of the

on his body

the eyes of the people present, he calmly smiled. The reactions of the people around him were something he

at the same age had been classified roughly on the same level as him. No,

of those around him. Additionally, no one thought Kevin's position was unusual

[Top 94]

golden numbers appeared beside

wave of applause

"Next up..."

was called up, and with each new name that was called

gaze on

genuinely curious about what

[Top 60]

[Top 50]

[Top 40]

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

like he's

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

to

something he wanted

[Top 30]

[Top 20]

by the time the top 20th ranker was

straight

'This might become troublesome.'

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