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.

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

different individuals are 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 time

head and swept his gaze

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

laid his arm on the wooden podium and turned to face the opposite

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

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

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

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 from

Congratulations for making it in

On the monitors, the

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

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 from the slight curl of his lips that he

just become a ranker. One of the most

'He's pretty good...'

he stared at the

Elbert's movements,

least for someone of

he was impressed by his skills, that was all there

Just impressed.

the previous two years, and he no longer viewed someone in the

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

'Where is he?'

scanned the room with his eyes.

why he's decided to

was none

appearance 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 events

Kevin's eyes paused on his figure, his eyes squinted a

arms together, he leaned back on his

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

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

deduce from simply glancing at him. He had no idea

Ren's thoughts. Especially in light of what happened two

before, but at the same time, a lot more reserved. He used

his change was sad, but necessary

also the same,

and stared at his two hands which were resting on his

That vision he saw...

could no longer see the

slowly started to form on his pants as

was the

Jones of Hell's Cat

out after Elbert's name

show up on the screen

Blane of

up, Luke Runder

.

.

.

the stage while Kevin was in the middle of his

of those in attendance made an effort to control their reactions, but it was

Donna Longbern of the

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

hair and accentuated her curves to perfection. Her

the last time he saw her, she hadn't aged a single day. Raising his head to stare at the

had seen three years ago, her highlights weren't much. It was clear that she had been focusing on school

ranking didn't increase by much. It

[Top 107]

hang beside her

the room pointed at her, she

a minute before a new

"Next up..."

a little bit more until

Kevin Voss of the

eyes pause on his body when his name was called

people present, he calmly smiled. The reactions of the

been 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

one thought Kevin's position was unusual because his accomplishments were obvious to everyone. Unlike

[Top 94]

numbers appeared

of applause enshrouded the

"Next up..."

moment didn't last for long as a new name was called up, and with each

kept his gaze on Ren

was genuinely curious about what

[Top 60]

[Top 50]

[Top 40]

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

like he's serious about

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

to go this

clearly something he wanted

[Top 30]

[Top 20]

the time the top 20th ranker

straight on

'This might become troublesome.'

the people present currently knew what was about to happen, and Kevin could only imagine the effects that