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.

transparent blue barrier, a number of figures silently moved the cameras to focus on the faces

will find themselves dropping out of the rankings, while some others might find themselves entering the

his head and swept his gaze over the thousand

regard to the benefits of being a ranker, I won't go into great depth. Everyone present should already be familiar with

his arm on the wooden podium and turned to

where a large monitor was situated. It was

start disclosing the lower rankings right away. For those that are called up, please

the two displays behind him as

to his name was a shining golden symbol [Top 500], with his name in

first time nominee. Congratulations

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

was akin to that of orcs,

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 from the slight

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

'He's pretty good...'

to himself while he stared at

analysing Elbert's movements, he was rather

for someone of his

eyes away from the monitors. Although he was impressed by his skills, that was all there

Just impressed.

previous two years, and he no longer viewed

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

'Where is he?'

eyes away from Elbert and nonchalantly scanned the room with his eyes. They

wonder why he's

was none other than

surprised Kevin quite a bit. Never in his life did he expect Ren to attend a meeting such as this one. His displeasure for such

as Kevin's eyes paused on his figure,

back on his chair

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

seemed to be thinking deeply about something else. It was

was what Kevin could deduce from simply glancing at him. He had

out Ren's thoughts. Especially in light

no longer acting or behaving in the same manner as before. He was in some ways much nicer than before, but at the same

sad, but necessary at

also the same, aren't

stared at his two

That vision he saw...

no longer see the world as he did in the

to form on

was the only

Morland Jones of Hell's

was called out after Elbert's name

names began to show up on the

Blane

Runder of the

.

.

.

growing number of people approached the stage while Kevin was

of those in attendance made an effort to control their reactions, but it was inevitable that some would express their happiness and others their disappointment at their overall

up, Donna Longbern of

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

and accentuated her curves to perfection. Her eyes were complemented by a big purple

she hadn't aged a single day. Raising his head to stare

three years ago, her highlights weren't much. It was clear that she had

ranking didn't increase by much. It

[Top 107]

golden numbers hang

room pointed at her, she

lasted for about a minute before a new

"Next up..."

for a little bit more until Kevin finally heard

Kevin Voss of the

thousands of eyes pause on his body when his

he calmly smiled. The reactions of the people

classified roughly on the same level as him. No, rather, he had achieved the feat a year earlier than her. With the fact that she was no ranked, Kevin's prospects were especially

Additionally, no one thought Kevin's position was unusual because his accomplishments were obvious to everyone. Unlike Ren, Kevin

[Top 94]

golden numbers appeared

wave of applause enshrouded

"Next up..."

moment didn't last for long as a new name was called

gaze on

about what his rankings

[Top 60]

[Top 50]

[Top 40]

surprise on Kevin's face as he realized that Ren's

he's

come from Ren's high ranking, but from the fact that he didn't hide his strength like in

to go

was clearly something he

[Top 30]

[Top 20]

serious by the

up straight on

'This might become troublesome.'

about to happen, and Kevin could only imagine the effects that Ren's announcement would have on