The SSS-Rank System: From Outcast To Overlord

—WISTERIA HIGH—

Wisteria is normal educational institution for both elite and non-elite students. But in a world where everyone possesses talents, the school's function works differently.

Drowned by conviction, the students here highly recognize their school for it lack of cripples, an institution where everyone has talents (at least, that was the ideology until Michael Alastair came around).

And in a school where everyone has abilities, there is surely going to be a hierarchy trailing. The hierarchy was established to allocate power to the strongest students amongst the others with an intention to maintain peace and order.

The hierarchy consisted of four positions, The Jack. The Ace. The Queen and The King— each ranging from the weakest to the strongest respectfully.

However, the intention for peace and order in Wisteria was a failure, as it became a power tussle. Students challenged the hierarchy, since it was obviously the only way to take over esteemed positions of power in the school.

And because the hierarchy was too busy winning their own fights, they discarded the need to see to issues of scandals and bullying.

Instead, they encouraged it, as long as it meant they were not the main attraction of grudges. And to even avoid more hate, they found it best not to involve with the school policies much.

So, apparently, Wisteria High was at chaos—

* * *

Michael heard the whispers as he passed...

"That's him, the guy who beat up Steven yesterday."

"Isn't he just a cripple, how was he able to beat a C-rank?"

"He literally shocked everyone in the arena."

...But he did not care. At that moment, he was more worried about the DTP (Daily Training Program) timer notification that kept popping up before him every hour before him.

[TIME LEFT UNTIL DAILY TRAINING PROGRAM, 11:35:18]

He had guessed the system was probably going to send him to finish his fight with Griffith. He considered relying on the Physical Cast powers he manipulated during the fight with Steven, but the talent wasn't there any longer.

The only talent that he was able to retain was the Aura Manipulation itself. It was probably because the class was chosen by the system itself.

But even until now, Michael hadn't been able to decipher if Griffith really had powers. The samurai was fast. Fast enough to defeat him with his speed without the need for any other powers.

It was possible that his power was the Haste Talent.

But then again, he had used a sword so skillfully too, had mastered more martial arts skill more than he knew. It was also possible that the samurai was a cripple but just had an assassin buildup.

Michael realized he wasn't yet strong enough to battle an assassin buildup, his stats were still detoriating with numbers each less than a hundred.

And he couldn't just go into the fight with the few things he had unlocked. He wasn't sure if a teleportation stone would work in a DTP world. The hunter's hide was supposed make his body more resistant to attacks, like an automated shield. It was good for defense but wouldn't do much in the offense aspect.

If anything, it would only make him slower.

The essence stone he got was a Rare, SSS rank. And it would be such a waste to use it against an A-rank, even if he wasn't sure what powers it contained.

And lastly, the Riptide. His current life status hadn't given him the provocation yet to use these weapons in the inventory. And so without a challenge to test it on, Michael couldn't tell how good he was with a sword.

These thoughts left him on the edge on his fear as the seconds left for the DTP crept past. But eventually, he concluded, he had to buy more weapons if he was going to stand a chance against Griffith.

That was the only shot he had after all.

CRASH. Michael wanted to wince as his head bumped into another. He had been so distracted by his system, planning out his next fight that he didn't even see that someone was before him.

"Hey, watch where you're going dude." A girl said.

"I'm sorry." As he bent to pick up the materials which had cluttered to the floor, Michael caught a glimpse of a black journal like his, but on this one were pictures of creepy crawlers drawn with charcoal.

It creeped him out.

"Here." He stretched the journal back to the owner and met a dazzling pair of hazel eyes before him, her caramel colored hair running down her shoulders in intended curls.

It wasn't just any girl he had bumped into— it was Lena, the queen of Wisteria High. And behind her was another girl with hunter's eyes, probably her cohort.

Lena's eyes pierced into his with an unconcerned look, though he had been stretching her materials back to her, she only threw a cold expression at him and did not recieve it.

"I'll take that." The cohort from behind said, grabbing the journal from Michael. She stared at him for another while, her expression defining familiarity. "I know this guy, aren't the cripple who beat Steven?"

"Michael." He corrected. "Michael Alastair."

The cohort smiled mischievously. "I like his confidence." She faced Lena. "What do you say we invite him to the party, hm?"

"Do whatever." Lena sighed and left their presence.

"I'm sorry about Lena, she's always very....unsociable." The cohort said. "Anyways, there is a party tonight at Mathers' Creef by 9pm."

She brought out a card from her pockets and placed in his palm. It read "SENORS HANGOUT." with a detailed address description and the words "Mathers" written in calligraphy.

"I couldn't—" Michael wanted to decline. Mathers might have been the most expensive suite in town, with elite students flooding there every day for no important reason. But going there was only bound to clash with his DTP.

Moreover, where was all this niceness coming from just because he had defeated a Rank C? He couldn't trust it.

"Come on." The girl persisted. "It's gonna be worthwhile."

Michael thought it over for a while, for someone he had just met, this was quite disturbing. But what were the odds? Maybe this was his prize for finally breaking out of the bully shell, maybe he just had to enjoy it.

Maybe.

"Alright, I'll be there." He affirmed.

"Yay, don't be late alright." The girl said with an elated smile as she left. "Wait for me Lena!"

Bullshit, I didn't even get her name.

[Ding! QUEST FOUND.]

"A quest? This is new." Michael said. "Quests."

The quest bar opened in the system, revealing a single quest that pitched up above.

[QUEST: KISS LENA SAETELL.]