CHAPTER 201: WELCOME, FORGE YOUR LEGEND!

The sky above the academy wasn’t just blue, it was alive, painted in glowing streams of energy like someone had drawn constellations with magic.

The academy grounds were carved into a gigantic floating landmass that drifted between hovering peaks, suspended over a bottomless glowing abyss.

Yes, an actual chasm that could most probably lead directly to the core of the earth just based off of how horrendously deep it looked!

Giant glowing birds flapped lazily in the distance. Towering trees shimmered with golden leaves.

A massive staircase of light floated downward into a gate the size of a mountain, guarded by statues that blinked.

The whole structure seemed like one entity; majestic yet serene. It looked almost... alien?

And across the edge of the floating platform, glowing words stretched across the sky in golden light:

"Welcome to the Ambassador’s Academy – Forge Your Legend."

The youths were quickly ushered off the carrier in neat lines, their footsteps echoing against the polished crystal landing platform as glowing signs guided them toward a single, monstrous stairway.

It wasn’t just any stairway. No. It was the stairway, one that coiled like a divine serpent and arched far over a chasm so deep that clouds rolled along the bottom like mist clinging to a bottomless pit.

The staircase was wide enough for ten people to walk side by side, but there were no guardrails.

Nothing but space, wind, and the distant sound of something ancient growling from far, far below.

The whole thing looked like it had been grown rather than built, with glowing veins of energy flowing through the white-blue stone like the blood of a sleeping titan.

Most of the students turned pale the moment they saw it. Jaws dropped. Some froze entirely. Others whispered nervously about falling to their deaths.

The whole thing was made worse by how calm the area was, no gusts of wind, no noise, just a quiet so still it made every heartbeat sound like thunder.

It was the kind of silence that didn’t reassure you... it made you question everything.

But not Creed.

Creed just popped a piece of mint gum in his mouth and started walking like it was just another Tuesday.

Why would he be scared? He had Wings of Freedom, baby. Even if he slipped, he could float down like a majestic, golden-haired phoenix.

While most walked with stiff backs and cautious steps, Creed casually stuck his hands in his pockets and took in the view, humming a random tune like he was going for a beach stroll instead of walking over a bottomless canyon.

Once they reached the summit; a long, drawn-out climb that left a few students wheezing, the sight before them made even the silence seem loud.

Hundreds more students were gathered near the top courtyard, most of them chatting excitedly, stretching, or comparing notes like this was a big reunion.

And in a way, it was. These were the other successful candidates that passed the trials and came from all around the world, all drawn together now like stars in a galaxy of potential.

Creed’s eyes scanned the crowd lazily, and then paused.

Emerald!

That sneaky assassin beauty who almost stole his token during the Pyramid of Dominion trial.

She stood near the back of another group, dressed in the standard tight, blue and orange elite class uniform that somehow managed to scream both "danger" and "date me" at the same time.

Her black hair was tied up now, and her emerald eyes met his for the briefest second, then flicked away like nothing happened.

But Creed saw the way her fingers twitched. The way her neck stiffened. That wasn’t a random glance.

He grinned.

’Still salty I outplayed you, huh?’ he mused.

With no more fanfare, the majestic gates ahead, carved with the crest of the academy and flanked by statues of unknown champions swung open with a soft hum.

The air that blew from within was cool, clean, and filled with a strange promise. The kind that said: Welcome. Now let’s see if you survive.

As Creed stepped fully onto the floating island, the full majesty of the Ambassador’s Academy finally hit him like a slap made of awe.

The air here wasn’t just clean, it felt blessed, like every breath carried a sprinkle of destiny.

The sky above shimmered with gentle hues of violet and gold, with streaks of energy that flowed like northern lights made out of living ink.

The floating landmass was shaped like a great spiraling lotus with interconnected bridges, plateaus, and sky gardens that bloomed with surreal flora.

Towering marble pillars twisted into the sky, supporting skywalks and layered levels where ancient trees grew through circular openings in the stone like nature had been invited to share the space, not fight it.

And yet, despite all this beauty, the design felt... surprisingly simple. The walkways were clean and wide, the structures elegant and minimalist.

There were no overcomplicated barriers or useless ornamental nonsense. Every building, every ledge, every tower had purpose and flow.

The entire floating campus felt like a weapon sheathed in grace; a calm surface hiding the unshakable power underneath.

Creed was still looking around when a loud BOOM echoed ahead, followed by a sudden voice amplified across the floating plaza like thunder politely clearing its throat.

"Welcome, students!" said a booming voice from the top of a staircase.

A man stood at the summit, wearing a long cloak with the academy’s crest emblazoned on the chest.

His hair was swept back like a cliff refusing erosion, and his voice held the confidence of someone who knew he was cooler than you.

Behind him were two stern assistants who looked like they’d been trained to chew granite for breakfast.

"You may call me Instructor Kaien. I will be your first guide in this legendary journey!" he declared. "Now, form ranks. Elite class students up front. Basic class students, follow behind!"

Pascal grumbled beside Creed. "The heavens divide us again..."

"Don’t cry, Shorty. We shall meet again... if the heavens permit."

Kaien clapped once, and rows of floating platforms lined up like obedient pets, forming a glowing bridge into the interior complex of the academy.

It wasn’t even the real academy premises yet, and already it looked better than most top tier bastions.

They followed the instructor over a gentle slope that curved downward into a vast open plaza.

On either side of the path, water ran through crystalline channels, filled with tiny fish that shimmered like they were carved from gems.

The path split at intervals, leading to different practice fields, dorm sectors, and transport hubs, though Kaien led them straight down the central boulevard lined with flags and glowing banners.

As they walked, Kaien turned slightly, his voice still projecting. "You now stand at the doorstep of the Ambassador’s Academy, the crown jewel of Earth’s Awakened academies.

"We are not only the largest and most well-funded school on the planet, we are also the current leaders of the Hope Alliance."

Creed perked up.

"In case you don’t know, the Hope Alliance," Kaien continued, "is one of only two Tier 1 Alliances on Earth.

"Comprised of the world’s most elite institutions, it represents the greatest front against the Dimensional Apocalypse, and the final hope for humanity’s expansion. For our academy to lead it... speaks volumes."

Creed felt a chill. Not of fear, but anticipation. Power. This wasn’t just a place to train. It was the core of the world’s resistance. The beating heart of war, innovation, and glory.

"To attend this academy is not just an honor, it is a responsibility," Kaien said. "You were chosen not because you were lucky, but because someone believes you could one day change everything. And that someone is yourself."

Creed’s smug grin sharpened. Damn right they do.

The group passed several platforms where older students were training. One guy launched spears of molten rock into the air, riding them like rockets.

The sheer power in the molten rocks made most of the students gulp.

Another girl was balancing upside down in midair, her body surrounded by a matrix of hexagonal sigils that shimmered with deep purple.

And yet none of them seemed flashy or arrogant. Their control was sharp. Their forms, refined.

Even the most casual glimpses into student activity screamed excellence.

And all of this, Kaien reminded them, was still the outer part of the school. Not even the central grounds. Not even the inner courtyards where the true monsters walked.

Finally, the path curved into a grand circular plaza, and in the center stood a dome so massive it might as well have been a small city.

The structure gleamed under the sun, its semi-transparent ceiling made from a material Creed couldn’t even recognize.

It shimmered like both glass and water, and its smooth curves gave it the feeling of a planet-sized observatory; only it hummed with energy, like it had been designed to hold a supernova.

"This," Kaien gestured, "is the Horizon Dome. Orientation begins here."

The closer they got, the more Creed noticed the fine details; inscriptions etched into the ground in golden characters, floating chandeliers that adjusted their brightness depending on how close people walked, and a soft breeze that carried scents of lavender and citrus through cleverly hidden vents.

The doors were open, and yet no one dared to rush in. Even the boldest loudmouths had shut up.

Creed turned back to look at the others.

Wide eyes. Gaping mouths. One guy looked like he forgot how to breathe. Another girl kept wiping her eyes like she was seeing heaven.

Even the angry elite girl from earlier had her scowl slightly softened.

Creed whistled under his breath. "Guess we’re not in the sandbox anymore."

Then he stepped forward, leading the way into the dome with the others moving behind him like an excited military parade.

The massive interior glowed with soft golden lights, a few thousand seats surrounding a circular stage at the center.

Orientation had yet to begin, but the atmosphere inside was already buzzing with electric excitement.

This was it.

The real beginning.