SSS Class Awakening: I Can Forge My Beast Soul Avatars
Chapter 11: Royalties

Chapter 11: Royalties

"So, do you mind telling the whole class what had your attention so completely that you didn’t hear me calling your name several times?" Mr. Crosswell inquired. His expression was stoic and serious to a fault.

Atlas gulped, a bead of cold sweat cascading down his temple.

’Shit, I’m cooked.’ His mind reeled, panic surging as the weight of the question landed on him.

He didn’t know what to say. If he mentioned the System’s Soul Forge, how would he even explain it?

’I doubt he’d appreciate me exploring the inner confines of my system while his lecture was going on. He might even hand me a detention on my very first day!’

Getting punished on day one would ruin any chance of keeping a low profile and building a decent reputation. He had to think fast, offering a plausible excuse that would satisfy the teacher and paint him in a positive light.

’Wait! I have an answer!’ He felt a quiet wave of relief wash over him.

"So? Do you mind enlightening us?" Mr. Crosswell repeated, his voice echoing in the quiet room.

Every pair of eyes in the classroom was fixated on Atlas. A few students giggled softly, though they tried to hide it behind their hands.

"Uhm..." Atlas started, clearing his throat as he stood up briskly from the floor.

"Well, sir, I was reflecting on what you were explaining earlier. I was wondering... what was the very first beast like? Was it an ordinary animal from Earth, or something otherworldly? And do beasts possess their own ranking system, or are they categorized under the same ranks as humans?"

He spoke smoothly, keeping his posture straight to hide the nervous tension buzzing beneath his skin.

Mr. Crosswell stared at him, momentarily caught off guard. Silence stretched across the room as the teacher processed the question.

’Did I ask the right thing?’ Atlas worried, forcing himself to maintain steady eye contact to project confidence.

"Wow..." Mr. Crosswell finally broke the silence, a faint look of surprise softening his sharp features.

"You’re actually the first student to ask something like that on their first day. Most newcomers usually ask mundane questions, or absurd ones like whether an Awakener can tame a dragon right out of the gate."

The teacher cleared his throat, standing upright and placing his hands behind his back.

"That is a remarkably insightful question, Atlas. I’m impressed. Take your seat." He gestured toward the fallen chair.

’Phew! That was way too close...’ Atlas set his chair upright and slid into his seat, letting out a faint breath.

Beside him, Seraphine glanced over, her wide eyes reflecting genuine surprise before she quickly turned her attention back to the front.

Mr. Crosswell walked back to the head of the classroom, resuming his usual composed demeanor.

"To answer your first question: the very first recorded beast was not an otherworldly creature, but one native to Earth. As surprising as it may sound, the first bound beast was a common bear."

A wave of low murmurs rippled through the room.

"What?!" several students gasped in unison.

"Yes, a bear," Mr. Crosswell continued, nodding.

"It occurred centuries ago with the original pioneer of our path. While precise historical records remain sparse, legend holds that during a trek through the wilderness, he was cornered by a territorial lion, and a wild bear unexpectedly intervened, saving his life."

’Oh!’ Atlas recalled, a memory flashing in his mind. ’Wait... that emblem etched into the gates of the Awakening Building... was that a depiction of that exact encounter?’

"But sir," a student in the middle row raised a hand, "can a bear really take on a lion in combat?"

"In the wild, absolutely," Mr. Crosswell replied smoothly.

"It depends entirely on the species, the environment, and the circumstances. Now, regarding beast classifications — beasts do not share the exact same ranking structure as human Awakeners. Their tiers progress from weakest to strongest: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Legendary. Each tier represents a massive leap in physical power, intelligence, and elemental affinity." He paused, scanning the row of attentive faces.

"Now, if there are no further doubts regarding the theory, you may ask any final questions. Afterward, we will head out to the courtyard for practical training. As you know, the upcoming intra-departmental battles are approaching quickly. I intend to prepare you properly so Class 5E doesn’t finish dead last again, but we must take it one step at a time."

"Intra-departmental battles? What does that mean?" Atlas muttered under his breath, resting his chin on his hand.

Seraphine turned to him, seizing the moment to speak.

"You’ve really never heard of the intra-departmental battles?" She blinked at him.

Atlas shook his head.

Seraphine hesitated for a moment before explaining. "Every semester, the academy evaluates our standings through a series of official trials," she explained, her voice kept low and polite.

"Classes within the same department compete against each other for a chance to climb the rankings. The winning class receives extra resources, privilege passes, and priority funding. It’s every class’s goal to win, but Class 5E has a long history of losing. Mr. Crosswell is trying to break that streak."

Atlas looked at her, taking in her appearance clearly for the first time. She had striking white-silver hair and pale pink irises.

Though she seemed somewhat reserved and quiet in her uniform, there was an unmistakable sharpness in her eyes — a quiet intelligence masked by a lack of confidence.

"How many classes are competing, exactly?" Atlas asked quietly, the surrounding noise of other students asking questions fading into the background.

"There are five ranked classes per year, from A down to E," Seraphine detailed, seemingly glad to share what she knew.

"Since we’re in Class 5E, we’re at the very bottom. Naturally, the lower classes fight through bracket rounds, and whoever wins among 5B through 5E earns the right to challenge Class 5A. Usually, the final match is just between 5A and 5B, or occasionally 5C."

"I see. And what kind of rewards do the victors actually get?"

"From what I’ve heard, grade bonuses, access to superior training facilities, full-access campus passes for the year, and private resource allocations," she listed, her pink eyes searching his face.

"A bracket tournament between classes for real privileges... that’s actually a solid system," Atlas remarked, a small smile appearing on his face. "It gives anyone at the bottom a clear target."

"Given our class’s current standing, though, winning would take nothing short of a miracle," Seraphine added softly, turning her gaze back toward the teacher as he wrapped up the Q&A session.

’A miracle, huh?’ Atlas thought, a quiet confidence settling in his chest. ’Then I’ll just have to speed up that miracle. I could definitely use those rewards and privileges.’

"Alright, since there are no more questions," Mr. Crosswell announced, closing his heavy book with a dull thud, "line up outside. It’s time for practicals."