EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC37: EX 37. Power is Power
Chapter 37: EX 37. Power is Power
Because there, he met the nobles.
Children younger than him, faster, stronger, sharper, more gifted in ways he couldn't comprehend.
Their talents weren't just a notch above his—they were mountains higher. While Gordon had spent years being the best in his small pond, these nobles were born in oceans of power, and they swam like it was second nature.
Every spar, every class, every evaluation—he came out worse, slower, weaker.
His grand delusions?
Reduced to ash.
And instead of working harder, instead of sharpening himself to rise to their level...
He succumbed.
Jealousy dug into his bones. Bitterness became his closest friend.
He stopped trying.
And it showed.
By the end of the year, he'd received one of the lowest rankings in the training center.
The very same people he had once looked down on passed him without even a backward glance. He had to repeat the year—a humiliation that nearly broke him.
And when he finally did graduate, he was slapped with a Tier II difficulty trial, a rank that permanently destroyed any hope he had of climbing to glory.
The nobles had crushed his dreams without even trying.
And in his mind, that meant only one thing:
They didn't deserve what they had.
So when the report came in—a noble had supposedly tackled a trial far above their designated difficulty—he felt ecstatic.
He didn't care that the report was full of holes.
He didn't care that the evidence was shaky at best.
He just wanted to take one down. To watch one of them fall, just like he had.
And Leon Kael?
He was the perfect target.
Gordon hadn't even attempted to ask questions or follow proper procedure.
All he wanted was to torment the boy.
But it hadn't gone as planned.
Leon didn't flinch.
Didn't yield.
Didn't even blink under pressure.
Instead, he'd turned the room upside down with just a stare. And now, Gordon was being interrupted by some ridiculous call in the middle of his "interrogation."
Irritated, he snatched the receiver and barked:
" Who the hell is this?"
But no answer came.
It was not static neither was it a disconnection. It was just... silence.
Yet from that silence came a crushing weight—an invisible pressure that wrapped around his chest, pressing against his lungs, thickening the air.
His breathing grew ragged. His knees threatened to bend.
There was nothing on the line. Nothing but quiet.
But Gordon felt it.
As if gravity itself had turned against him. His thoughts screamed that it was in his mind, but his body didn't believe it.
His fingers trembled.
Then—
A voice. A woman's voice. Cold. Measured and unshakably calm spoke.
"You have five minutes to let my son go."
That was all. As the call cut off.
The pressure vanished instantly, as if it had never existed. The air returned to normal, yet Gordon stood frozen in place, the phone still pressed to his ear like a lifeline.
That voice belonged to no other person than Leon's mother Selena Kael.
When news reached the Kael household that Leon had been arrested, Selena nearly stormed the base herself—ready to tear it down stone by stone and bury anyone who dared lay a hand on her son.
It took everything Darian had to calm her. Only after his intervention did she rein in her fury, choosing to act with cold precision instead.
Selena Kael hadn't yelled. She hadn't threatened. She'd simply spoken—and in that voice was the quiet promise of obliteration.
But instead of trembling... Gordon snapped.
He threw the phone to the floor, smashing it into pieces.
"Do you think I'm scared of you just because you're a noble?!" he roared into the empty room.
"You think you can oppress me? I have the Federation behind me! You're just one family—ONE FAMILY! Let's see who comes out on top!"
Spittle flew. Veins bulged in his forehead. But beneath the fury, a flicker of reason sparked:
'What if the report was wrong? What if Leon hadn't increased the trial difficulty?'
The thought chilled him—but he smothered it with rage. He had to.
He paced, hands clenched. The pressure of Leon's presence behind him only made the cracks in his sanity worse.
And then...
He said it.
A muttered curse—vile and venomous, meant to claw back control.
"She's just a bitch."
The moment the words left his mouth—
Gordon's world broke.
He couldn't even register what happened. A pain so sudden and absolute consumed him. Like a thousand invisible blades had carved into his body all at once. Each cut too fast to react to, each one deeper than the last.
When he came to, he was against the wall, drenched in sweat, chest heaving, body trembling like a man just resurrected from death. His vision was blurred. Blood dripped from his nose. His legs refused to move.
And standing where he'd once been sitting was Leon.
Unmoved. Unblinking.
His voice, when he spoke, was colder than death itself.
"Now you owe me more than an arm."
Gordon's instincts screamed.
'Run you have to escape now.'
Every cell in his body begged him to get away—because if he stayed, he might not leave alive.
As he was contemplating what to do the door suddenly opened.
As an old man stepped inside.
Gordon's eyes widened in disbelief.
It was the Black Vanguard of the base.
His superior.
But it wasn't the Vanguard's appearance that stunned him.
It was his demeanor.
He stood aside, respectfully—almost nervously—as he let the young lady behind him enter.
The young lady was no older than twenty, maybe younger.
Her hair was as black as obsidian. Eyes a rich, molten amber. A quiet, confident smile played at her lips as she strode forward.
Nikko Yakomoto.
Daughter of the Governor and bearer of a Supreme Talent.
And as she passed the Vanguard, she didn't even acknowledge him.
Nikko's eyes locked onto Leon's.
As a genuine smile bloomed on her face.
But before she said a word—
A crushing pressure slammed into Gordon, pinning him against the wall like a rag doll. His ribs cracked. Blood spilled from his mouth.
His scream was lost in the weight.
No one moved to help him.
Not the soldiers.
Not the Vanguard.
Because no one—no one—got in the way when Nikko Yakomoto acted.
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A/N: Finally a supreme talent bearer has appeared let's go!!!.
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC38: EX 38. Nikko Yakomoto
Chapter 38: EX 38. Nikko Yakomoto
The Federation prided itself on the fairness of its laws it was strict, unyielding, and blind to status. Nobles, commoners, and soldiers alike were bound by the same rules. If someone was suspected of a crime, they would be detained until proven innocent, regardless of lineage or influence.
But while the law didn't discriminate, investigators did. Handling a noble required delicate precision. Because if that noble turned out to be innocent... they had the means to turn an investigator's life into a walking nightmare. Many careers had ended from a single wrongful accusation.
Yet in Leon's case, things were different. The charges were real. Had Gordon followed proper procedure and performed an actual investigation with the aid of a trial taker with a lie-detection skill or talent during questioning, he might have gotten the outcome he desired: a guilty verdict and justification for his hatred.
But the truth had never been Gordon's priority—torment had.
And Leon's parents knew that. After a quick background check on Gordon they found out everything they needed to know—his festering hatred for nobles, his repeated failures, and his need to assert dominance where he had none.
Selena, after reining in her fury, made a calculated move. She called Gordon not just as a silent threat, but to bruise his ego and stall him long enough for their real plan to unfold.
Because they knew the truth: the longer their son remained in custody, the more warped and dangerous the situation would become.
So, after rattling Gordon's pride, they made the real call—the one that would flip the entire board in their favor.
Because while the Federation swore allegiance to the law, even the law had its limits—especially when absolute power stepped into the room. And Nikko Yakomoto was the embodiment of that power.
The moment Nikko's pressure blasted Gordon into the wall, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Blood dripped from Gordon's lips as he hung there, stunned and broken. Meanwhile, Nikko turned to Leon with a smile as if she hadn't just sent a man flying across the room with raw force.
"After all this time, this is the only way you could ask me to pay you back? Bailing you out of jail?" she said, tone playful, as if wounded by the lack of creativity.
Leon simply responded, "Thank you."
Nikko blinked, staring at him, disappointed by the lackluster response. She then sighed and shook her head.
"You're still treating me like a stranger," she said, but there was no bitterness in her voice. "But that's alright. Just means you're as real as ever."
After a short pause, Nikko added, "If that's all, your dad asked me to take you home."
Leon nodded, but his eyes didn't leave Gordon. "There's still something I need to do first."
He walked toward the man still embedded in the wall.
A sword shimmered into existence in Leon's right hand, drawn from his inventory in a blink. He stopped in front of Gordon, gaze icy and unyielding.
"Time to pay your debt," Leon said coldly.
Gordon tried to move, but his battered body wouldn't respond. All he could do was shiver.
Then Leon swung.
To the gathered soldiers, it looked like a single slash. Quick, clean, efficient. But to the Black Vanguard and Nikko—powerhouses with eyes honed beyond human—they saw the truth.
Leon had struck not once, but dozens of times. His blade moved so fast that Gordon's body hadn't even realized it had been cut yet.
Before Leon returned the sword to his inventory and turned away.
Only then did Gordon's body respond.
Thin, red lines suddenly etched themselves across his torso—slashing marks that burst into deep wounds a breath later.
But it was his right arm that took the worst of it. Tendons, muscle, and nerves shredded into ribbons. As they became Useless.
Gordon screamed.
It wasn't like the screams Leon had heard from the other rooms. This one was different—ripped straight from the soul. It was the cry of a man realizing too late that he'd picked the wrong enemy.
The soldiers flinched at the sound, but none moved. Who would dare intervene against someone protected by the Governor's daughter?
And just like that, without another word, Leon and Nikko walked out of the base.
Ready to head back to the Kael estate.
****
Leon sat in the passenger seat, his gaze drifting toward Nikko as she handled the wheel with one hand and a breeze of confidence. She radiated a kind of effortless defiance—the kind that made it seem like the world itself would break before it could ever hold her back.
That same wild, untouchable energy was likely why she insisted on driving herself. She'd never been one to let others act on her behalf—understandable, given everything she'd endured in the past.
His thoughts were interrupted by her voice.
"You've been staring at me for a while now," she said, eyes still fixed on the road. "Don't tell me you've fallen for me."
Leon didn't react to her teasing. He simply leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep as if her words hadn't reached him.
"Shameless," Nikko muttered under her breath, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
But the mood shifted a moment later.
"Is it true?" she asked, her tone turning serious. "Did you really increase the difficulty of your trial?"
She wasn't asking out of curiosity. Nikko wasn't the type to involve herself in anything without reason. The fact that Leon's parents had called her meant only one thing: their son was actually guilty. Otherwise, they would've let the Federation's system run its course without interference.
Leon's eyes opened slowly. He didn't answer right away. Then he turned slightly and asked, "What do you think?"
Nikko chuckled and shot him a quick glance—just a flick of the eyes before returning her focus to the road.
"I think," she said, a grin spreading across her face, "you're just as insane as you were eleven years ago."
Leon allowed himself a rare, subtle smile. "You'd be surprised. I'm a lot calmer now."
"Bullshit," Nikko said without missing a beat.
Leon smirked at her blunt response, the weight of the day easing slightly from his shoulders.
Outside, the scenery blurred past the window as the car sped through Federation roads, crossing checkpoints with little resistance. After all, who would dare stop the daughter of the Governor?
As the skyline shifted and the distinct buildings of the Kael Domain came into view, the air inside the vehicle carried a rare sense of ease.
And through it all the car drove steadily onward... toward home.
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A/N: That's it for the mass release hope you guys enjoyed it and thank you for reading..
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC39: EX 39. Family Dinner
Chapter 39: EX 39. Family Dinner
As soon as Leon stepped through the grand doors of the Kael estate, he was pulled into a fierce embrace.
"Leon!" Selena's voice trembled slightly as she wrapped her arms tightly around her son, refusing to let go for several seconds. Then, drawing back, she cupped his face in both hands, her sharp eyes scanning him for any sign of injury. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"
Leon gently placed his hands over hers and gave a small, reassuring smile. "No, Mom. They didn't."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly at his words, and she smiled—but only for a moment. That soft warmth in her expression vanished as her eyes hardened like steel. "That's good. Because someone still has to pay."
Leon didn't respond. He knew better than to try and calm his mother when her protective instincts were stirred.
She might have been the softer half of the Kael household, but when it came to her family, her vengeance was swift and ruthless.
Off to the side, Nikko stood quietly, watching the reunion unfold. It was then that Selena finally noticed her.
The cold glint in her eyes melted away as she turned toward the girl. "Thank you so much for helping Leon. If there's anything our family can do for you, please let us know."
Nikko waved a hand casually. "No need. I was just paying back a favor."
She then threw a playful wink toward Leon.
But Leon acted as if he hadn't seen it.
If others witnessed the way Leon treated the daughter of the Governor, they'd probably curse him for wasting such an opportunity. After all, how could anyone ignore someone as stunning—and powerful—as Nikko Yakomoto?
But Leon had his reasons.
First of all Nikko wasn't flirting because she liked him. No it was far from that. Instead she was acting this way out of a sense of debt, a way to balance their past.
And Leon didn't want affection that came out of obligation.
'She hasn't gotten over it yet,' he thought silently.
Selena, ever perceptive, noticed the strange current between the two but chose not to comment. She didn't care how Leon handled his love life as long as it eventually produced a grandchild she wouldn't talk much although she would still give him small advices when the situation called for it.
"Well," Selena said with a warm smile, "we were just about to have dinner. Why don't you join us, Nikko?"
Nikko shook her head politely. "I appreciate the offer, but I've been away from the capital for too long and I really need to get back."
"Dont worry about it Nikko we can have dinner together some other time."
Nikko gave a respectful nod for Selena's understanding, then turned to Leon. "See you around, Leon."
"You too," Leon replied, his tone as neutral as ever.
As the door closed behind her, Selena glanced sideways at her son and sighed. "You should try acting warmer around her."
Leon blinked, turning to her in surprise. "But that was me being warm."
Selena shook her head slowly, half amused, half exasperated. 'Why is my son so good at everything else, but completely clueless when it comes to older women.'
She let out an exaggerated sigh and waved him off. "You should get ready for dinner your father and sister will soon be back."
Leon nodded quietly and made his way to his room, the stress of the day already beginning to melt away.
****
Nikko's car rolled past the final checkpoint before the towering silhouette of the Federal Manor came into view. This was a sprawling estate draped in authority, where only those who bore the Governor's bloodline could reside.
As soon as she stepped out of the vehicle, the guards on duty straightened before bowing their heads in unison.
"We greet the Federal Heir."
Nikko didn't acknowledge them. The warm, teasing glow she wore earlier with Leon was gone—replaced by the cold, composed aura of someone raised in the shadow of absolute power. Her expression was sharper now, her stride purposeful.
Every guard, attendant, and visitor she passed greeted her with quiet reverence, stepping aside with lowered gazes.
Driving herself hadn't diminished her status. She was still one of the Federation's only known Supreme Talents, and everyone in this manor understood exactly what that meant.
Their respect wasn't born purely from admiration—it was fear. The kind of fear that came from knowing the smallest offense could be fatal.
As she moved through the manor's gilded halls, a woman in a sleek suit, glasses perched neatly on her nose and a notepad clutched in one hand, approached at a brisk pace. Nikko didn't look at her, but spoke first.
"Sydney. What's the problem?"
The woman adjusted her glasses with her free hand, her heels tapping quickly as she kept up.
"The Governor has requested your presence for tonight's family dinner."
At that, Nikko finally stopped and turned, her gaze narrowing.
"Are my siblings going to be there?"
Sydney nodded. "Yes. All of them."
A quiet sigh escaped Nikko's lips as she looked away.
"Fine. Inform them I'll join shortly. I need to prepare first."
Sydney bowed slightly before disappearing down the corridor, leaving Nikko alone once more.
Nikko stood in silence for a moment, her thoughts swirling.
'Another fake family dinner...'
For a fleeting second, her mind wandered back to Selena's offer. Dinner with the Kael's would have been warmer than what she would experience with her family.
Leon's face suddenly flashed across her mind, and without knowing it, a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Let's get this over with."
With that, she continued down the marble hall, the cold echo of her footsteps leading her toward another carefully staged evening with her so-called family.
****
Leon stepped out of his room, freshly showered and changed. Though his enhanced stats made sweating no longer a problem, old habits died hard.
He had been wearing the same clothes since morning, and there was something calming about rinsing away the day's weight.
A shower always helped reset his mind—especially after the kind of day he'd had.
As he entered the dining hall the long table was already set. His mother sat at the table, but she wasn't alone.
His father, Darian, had returned from his post. And next to him was Valeria, her usual stoic expression firmly in place but her eyes immediately flicked to Leon as he entered.
He took his seat just as Darian looked up.
"How are you doing, son?"
Leon gave a nod.
"I'm fine father."
But Valeria wasn't satisfied.
"Are you sure?" she suddenly asked, her voice calm but pressing.
Leon glanced her way, catching the faintest flicker of concern in her eyes so well hidden most wouldn't notice.
But he knew his sister. He could see the guilt she tried to bury beneath her soldier's facade.
'She feels bad because she wasn't there to help'
For a moment, there was silence between them before his expression shifted to something grave. Valeria noticing this instantly became tensed, as she quickly rushed to his side.
"What did they do to you?"
Leon slowly raised his head, his tone solemn and deliberate.
"I haven't eaten anything today..." he began.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"...except for one small cup of ice cream."
He paused, then leaned back with a dramatic sigh.
"I'm starving."
Valeria blinked.
"...What."
Selena burst into laughter.
While Darian simply shook his head, a quiet smile tugging at his lips.
Valeria glared at Leon before letting out an exasperated breath.
"You idiot."
But her voice had softened as she instantly forgot her earlier worries and returned to her seat.
Leon smiled at her.
'I am glad that cheered her up.'
Soon after, the kitchen doors swung open and the food was brought in.
The dining room soon became filled with the quiet clinking of silverware and the soft warmth of shared presence.
But for now, that was enough.
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC40: EX 40.One Week
Chapter 40: EX 40.One Week
After finishing dinner with his family, Leon returned to his room and sank into the bed with a quiet thud. The sheets were cool against his skin, the familiar scent of home helping his body relax—though his mind hadn't caught up just yet.
With a thought, he summoned his Talent interface. A soft hum filled the room as a translucent screen materialized before him.
> [Attack Points: 9700 / 10,000]
Leon stared at the number, exhaling sharply through his nose.
"Another day without a full load," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
He knew those 300 points were necessary—they helped him end that demon. But still, it stung. He was so close to ten thousand. So close to pushing his limits even further.
Unconsciously, he'd started treating every point like a priceless gem.
And he wasn't wrong.
Any other trial taker would have gone mad with joy just from earning a quarter of what he was about to inject into his body.
For Leon, though, this was already normal. It had become his path to power—one that no one else could walk.
After a moment of hesitation, he began allocating his stats, finger gliding through the interface with practiced ease.
[Status Panel]
Name: Leon Kael
Race: Human
Age: 19
Class: Warrior
Rank: F-Rank
Talent: {Attack} — EX Rank
Status: Normal
Health: 100%
[STATS]
Strength: 595>606 (+11)
Speed: 548> 559 (+11)
Vitality: 530> 541 (+11)
Stamina: 525 >536 (+11)
Senses: 490>530 (+40)
Aura: 563>576 (+13)
[Skills]
[Echolocation]
[Mirror Split]
[Phantom Edge – Form 1: Flicker Fang]
[Inventory]
Leon nodded in satisfaction. The extra boost to Senses felt right. If he'd had better awareness earlier, maybe things would have gone differently with the demon.
Since he was done distributing his stats points, he dismissed the screen and picked up his phone. A quick glance at his notifications showed two unread messages. His contact list wasn't long—so it didn't take a genius to guess who it was.
The first was from Elizabeth.
[Lizzie: How was your outing with Adrian?]
Leon smiled faintly. She knew about the outing—after all, he was supposed to go out with her but she was busy with training.
He replied simply:
[Leon: It was fine. Nothing too crazy. Got some ice cream.]
He wisely left out the part where he got arrested and interrogated like a criminal.
Then, he tapped open the second message.
It was from Adrian.
[Adrian: Hey.]
Leon blinked. That was it?
He stared at the screen for a moment, then shrugged and typed:
[Leon: Fine.]
He stared at the message for a second longer, then nodded to himself.
"Good enough."
Phone plugged in, he set it on the nightstand and pulled the blanket over his body. The lights dimmed as his ceiling stared back at him.
The events of the day spiraled through his thoughts like a slow-moving storm.
"The Ferans... they're the most likely suspects."
His parents thought the same, but revenge—especially political revenge—required patience and Proof.
Still, the mere thought left a bitter taste in Leon's mouth.
"If not for Nikko...
I might've been sleeping in a cell right now."
He turned on his side, brows furrowed.
His talent had given him strength. Made him a monster in battle. But that strength wasn't keeping up with the speed at which threats were growing around him.
"What I need now... is an Evo Point."
But so far, he had not even received one.
He let out a long, tired sigh.
"I'll just have to keep grinding," he muttered. "But for now..."
Another sigh. This time softer. Less bitter.
"...I just need to sleep."
And with that, exhaustion took hold. The stress, the combat, the arrest—it all finally caught up.
Leon Kael drifted into sleep, the soft sound of his breathing the only thing left in the quiet room.
****
In the heart of a cavernous chamber shrouded in darkness, a single torch flickered weakly against the stone walls, casting long, dancing shadows. The air was thick with incense but then the silence was broken by the soft echo of approaching footsteps.
A robed man stepped forward and knelt, his head bowed low before a looming silhouette cloaked in shadows. The figure's presence seemed to warp the very air around it—indistinct, ever-shifting, as though it were made of smoke and void.
"My lord," the man said, voice trembling with reverence and fear, "the boy has been released."
For a long moment, the chamber was silent.
Then, a voice filled the space—not one voice, but many, overlapping in discordant harmony. Male and female. Old and young. All speaking in unison.
"So... he is the one."
The servant dared not respond. He knew what this meant. For Leon Kael to walk free, without any investigations done to prove his innocence only meant one thing.
He had actually tackled a Tier VII trial.
But it wasn't mere speculation.
The mall incident had been orchestrated from the start.
The demon was planted there to test his strength and the investigator was fed false evidence to escalate the issue.
Gordon was a carefully selected pawn because he was driven by a deep-seated hatred for nobles—chosen precisely because he could be so easily manipulated.
And after everything they had needed only to observe and confirm. To see if the boy truly held power beyond the realm of normal Trial Takers.
Leon's capture had never been part of the plan no far from it what they were concerned with was his release... that said everything.
The shadowed figure stirred, its form rippling like a cloak of living darkness.
"The will of our god moves through him. In the boy, we have found... not just a weapon.....but a vessel."
The words hung in the air like prophecy, vibrating with unnatural resonance. The kneeling follower bowed even lower, pressing his forehead to the cold floor.
"Hail the Demon God."
The figure's chorus of voices rose once more, deeper, darker, echoing with twisted reverence.
"Hail... the Demon God."
And then the torch flickered... and died.
****
The week after Leon's arrest passed in a blur—quick, quiet, and uneventful.
No further incidents occured. And for Leon, that meant time—precious time—to do what he did best.
Grind.
His stats increased, piece by piece but there was a weight in the air—a tension he couldn't shake. The kind that settled before a battlefield roared to life. Something was coming. He could feel it.
And then, at last, the waiting ended.
Deployment day arrived.
The day when he, Elizabeth, Adrian, and every other Trial Cadet selected for the border squads would leave there homes and move toward the Federation's bleeding edge, where demons prowled and war never truly ended.
Leon stood by his window that morning, the rising sun painting his face in gold. His bag was already packed. But he didn't move. Not yet.
For the first time in a week, he let the silence linger.
Because after today, there would be no more quiet. No more peace.
Only battle.
****
[Status Panel]
Name: Leon Kael
Race: Human
Age: 19
Class: Warrior
Rank: F-Rank
Talent: {Attack} — EX Rank
Status: Normal
Health: 100%
---
[STATS]
Strength: 606>726 (+120)
Speed: 559>674(+115)
Vitality: 541>656(+115)
Stamina: 536>651 (+115)
Senses: 530>650(+120)
Aura: 576>691 (+115)
---
[Skills]
[Echolocation]
[Mirror Split]
[Phantom Edge – Form 1: Flicker Fang]
---
[Inventory]
---
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A/N: Mass release if we are able to get 80 golden tickets before Sunday and thanks for reading.
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC41: EX 41. Deployment day
Chapter 41: EX 41. Deployment day
Deployment Day.
In the Federation, it wasn't just a milestone—it was a rite of passage.
Every trial taker, regardless of background or brilliance, was bound to serve. Noble or common, genius or average, there were no exceptions. The purpose was clear: to grow stronger by facing the demons clawing at the borders. It was the Federation's unshakable truth—strength was forged at the frontline.
Even the Kaels, one of the more respected noble families, weren't exempt. Leon's father, Darian, served. His mother, Selena, had her own decorated past. Valeria, his sister, was a fierce presence in the military's Intelligence Division. But they held high ranks now—positions earned through blood, grit, and war. That privilege granted them time, influence and freedom.
Leon had none of that. He was starting at the bottom. No shortcuts. No handouts.
Still, he wasn't the least bit bothered.
In fact—he welcomed it.
"It Won't take long before I rise through the ranks," he thought as he stood in front of the Kael estate's main house. "Not with the power I have now."
A sleek military vehicle hummed quietly in the driveway, waiting to take him to the deployment site at the capital. Only newly enlisted cadets were allowed entry—no family or escorts. This was the Federation's law and for once, it seemed to work in his favor.
That is... until his mother latched onto him refusing to let go.
"I can't believe my son is leaving me!" Selena cried dramatically, squeezing Leon in a bear hug that ignored his considerable strength.
"Mom—! I'll be a criminal if I don't go" Leon grunted, squirming to free himself.
Selena sniffled, still refusing to let go. "That's fine, sweetie. We'll run away together. No one will hurt my baby while I'm around."
Leon froze.
He was afraid that his mother wasn't joking.
He shot a pleading glance at his father. "Dad, help me."
Darian, who was suspiciously quiet until now—most likely considering the escape plan himself—cleared his throat and said, "Honey, Leon needs to go. This will help him grow stronger."
Selena sighed, reluctantly loosening her grip. "I know... but I still don't want to see him get hurt."
Valeria, who had been watching the chaos with crossed arms, finally said something. "I don't think it's Leon you should be worried about. It's the poor demons that have to face him."
Selena blinked, her sorrow gradually being replaced by realization. "You're right. I almost forgot how monstrous my Leo is."
She turned back to Leon, cupping his cheeks. "Just... try to take it easy on the other cadets, alright? Let them keep a little of their pride."
Leon chuckled. "I'll try my best."
Selena smiled. "That's good enough."
After that he moved to embrace Valeria, who pulled him into a firm hug without saying much. Her grip alone said enough.
When Valeria finally let go he went to his father—Darian, who placed a hand on his shoulder. "The battlefield is where you carve your place in this world as a soldier but before being a soldier you are still a Kael never forget that."
Leon nodded. "I won't."
After finalizing his goodbyes with his family, he stepped into the waiting vehicle the door closing behind him, sealing the moment.
As the car began to pull away, he looked back at his family—his mother still dabbing her eyes, Valeria standing tall, and his father giving a silent nod.
Leon didn't wave. He didn't need to.
He just leaned back in his seat, eyes forward.
The real journey had just begun.
****
The military car cruised smoothly along the paved road, its engine humming low as the Federation's capital began to rise on the horizon like a steel giant cloaked in banners and watchtowers.
Leon leaned against the window, arms crossed, blue eyes narrowed as the scenery blurred by.
"I wonder if Elizabeth has left yet..."
The thought came unbidden, but not unwelcome.
They hadn't spoken much over the past few days. She had been too focused on training—and he, well... he'd been a little busy with surprise arrests, demon followers and saving himself from a prison cell.
He sighed and glanced ahead.
The reason they were heading to the capital instead of directly to the border was simple: it was for the Selection.
Every year, before official deployment, the Federation gathered all new trial cadets in the capital to determine their military placement. Not just by rank or power—but by branch.
There were two core divisions in the military structure:
The Attack Branch, which pushed the warfront and invaded demon territory.
And the Defense Branch, which protected the Federation's inner borders and regions.
If this was earth, common sense would make most cadets chose the defense branch because it was the safer path.
But here in the Federation?
Common sense didn't apply.
Nobles raised their children with a singular mantra: Honor lies in bloodshed, not in safety. Being assigned to the Attack Branch wasn't just prestigious—it was practically a badge of glory. The more dangerous the battlefield, the more respect one earned.
And the Federation made sure that system stuck.
Attack Branch officers were stronger, better equipped, and more influential.
Defense officers were often overlooked, even mocked.
Leon had seen it firsthand. The bias was deep-rooted, passed down from generation to generation. Cadets didn't want safety—they wanted recognition.
And Leon was no different because he also wanted to join the Attack Branch.
But not for glory or pride.
But for two other reasons.
And the first was simple it was power.
After his arrest, Leon had realized something. While his growth was impressive compared to others, it still wasn't fast enough for him. Not anymore.
What he needed now was absolute strength—the kind that puts one above the system. And he believed that kind of power could only be forged in the crucible of real war.
The battlefield.
And the Attack Military was the only place that could give him that.
The second reason... was Elizabeth.
She was strong—he knew that better than anyone.
But that didn't stop the urge to protect her.
She was his woman, after all.
His fists clenched slightly in his lap.
"I have to be there... to protect her."
He wouldn't say it aloud—not even to her.
But the decision was already made.
But because of this growing reluctance of cadets to join the Defense Branch, the Federation had implemented a centralized "Selection" process in the capital.
The car began to slow as towering gates appeared ahead.
The road to war was finally opening.
And Leon was ready to walk it.
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A/N: Although the defence branch doesn't receive as much care as the attack branch they still have the resources to defend the Federation's territory. But the soldiers of the attack branch are just stronger in combat.
But you guys can give your thoughts in the comments and thank you for reading
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC42: EX 42. The Selection
Chapter 42: EX 42. The Selection
The military car finally rolled to a halt in front of the selection grounds.
Leon stepped out as the engine quieted behind him. He carried nothing in hand—all his belongings were tucked safely away in his inventory. No need to drag around luggage when a thought was enough to summon it.
As the vehicle pulled away, Leon took a moment to survey the scene.
Cadets were arriving from all directions.
Noble trial takers descended from sleek, custom military transports—polished steel and elite insignias making their background obvious. On the other hand, the non-nobles arrived in taxis and federation shuttles—older, clunkier, and clearly less impressive.
There was a clear divide.
But it would end at the gates.
Inside the selection arena, every cadet stood equal. Status, wealth, and family name didn't matter—only strength did.
Leon shifted his gaze toward the massive dome structure ahead. It loomed like a sleeping beast, its size dwarfing everything around it. He had to crane his neck just to see the top.
That... was the Selection Arena.
Taking a deep breath, Leon began walking toward the gates. A line had already formed at the entrance, each cadet being stopped and searched by the Federation guards.
They weren't checking for weapons—those were obviously allowed.
They were looking for something far more dangerous: anything connected to demons.
Despite inventories being private spatial dimensions, the Federation possessed tools that could scan them—but only with the owner's permission. Refusal to comply meant being suspected as a demon worshipper. And In a place like this suspicion meant treason.
When it came to Leon's turn, he gave a simple nod.
As the guard placed a glowing cube against his chest. A faint pulse ran through his body before vanishing just as quickly. After a few seconds, the guard nodded.
"Clear. Next."
Leon stepped through, passing a short corridor lit with soft blue lights. At the end of it, he emerged into the arena.
The interior wasn't as massive as it appeared from the outside, but it was still large enough to host hundreds. Cadets were already scattered throughout, waiting, talking and sizing each other up.
Among them, two familiar faces stood out.
Elizabeth and Adrian.
They stood apart, each in their own space—both calm, both composed.
Leon made his way toward Elizabeth.
"How did your training go?" he asked casually.
Elizabeth turned to him, a small, proud smile on her lips. "It went well. I'm almost at the rank limit."
Leon blinked. Almost at the rank limit?
He quickly schooled his expression and forced out a surprised tone, "That's great."
Elizabeth tilted her head slightly, sensing something in his tone. But she said nothing and let it slide.
'That was close' Leon thought.
Because of his [Attack] talent, he had long since surpassed the F-rank limit. So to him, reaching the cap didn't seem like much.
But Elizabeth didn't know the full extent of his abilities—no one did—and he preferred to keep it that way.
They stood together as more cadets streamed into the arena. Eventually, Leon exchanged a brief nod with Adrian across the space. The gesture was enough.
And then, finally, the last cadet entered.
As the arena gates groaned shut behind them.
A silence fell over the gathering.
The Selection... was about to begin.
****
The cadets stood waiting, the murmur of quiet conversations drifting like dust in the air.
Then—suddenly—everything changed.
A crushing pressure blanketed the arena.
As the air itself seemed to freeze.
AURA.
An intense, overwhelming wave of power pressed down on them all like a stormfront crashing through the sky.
Before anyone could react, a figure appeared above them—floating mid-air, cloaked in invisible force.
She descended slowly and effortlessly, as if the laws of gravity bent themselves in reverence.
Her dark blue hair shimmered under the arena lights, cascading down in soft waves that contrasted the sharp intensity of her presence. Her deep blue eyes held an unfathomable stillness, like a deep sea hiding unseen monsters.
The military uniform she wore fit her perfectly, tailored for both form and authority. Medals shimmered faintly across her chest, but her presence alone spoke louder than any badge.
Silence.
All eyes were fixed on her. The oppressive weight of her aura had robbed every cadet of their voice—even their thoughts.
But not Leon.
His gaze sharpened as he stared at her. He could feel it—the suffocating pressure trying to crush him. But instead of fear, he felt something else.
Intrigue.
"She's strong," he thought, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
Then, as if sensing his calm, the woman's gaze flicked to him.
For a moment, her eyes widened. The faintest flicker of surprise passed over her face.
'He's unaffected?'
But her surprise quickly morphed into something else—a small smile tugging at her lips.
'Impressive.'
And then, just as suddenly as it came, the pressure vanished.
The crushing aura dissipated like mist under the sun, and a chorus of stifled gasps echoed through the arena. Shoulders sagged, breaths returned. Even Adrian and Elizabeth released the tension they didn't realize they were holding.
The cadets had survived merely her presence.
But the moment of relief didn't last.
That smile she had given Leon was now gone.
And in its place was a cold, razor-sharp expression—the face of a commander.
She stepped forward, her voice ringing out with perfect clarity and authority.
"I am Rebecca Sky.
Vanguard of Attack Base 0001.
And I will be overseeing today's selections."
No one dared to speak.
No one dared to move.
The selection had begun.
****
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind racing as he stared at the woman standing before them.
'A Vanguard...?'
'They brought a Vanguard to oversee the selection?'
That wasn't standard protocol.
Not by a long shot.
Usually, officers in the lower ranks handled the new cadet orientation and base assignments. A Vanguard—someone with S-rank combat power, the kind of force that could level cities and lead battalions—had no reason to be here. Unless...
'Something's different this year.'
Leon clenched his fists at his sides, his senses sharpening. His instinct told him this wasn't just some ceremonial gesture. The Federation didn't waste its elite on ceremony.
Rebecca Sky. That was her name. And judging by the way she handled her aura she wasn't just powerful.
She was talented.
"So this is the kind of person standing close to the peak."
He inhaled slowly, keeping his expression neutral even as his thoughts churned.
"If they brought her here, something's coming... something big."
Just then, Rebecca was about to speak. The entire arena seemed to hold its breath as her cold gaze swept over the assembled cadets once more.
Then her voice rang out again—clear, crisp and merciless.
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A/N: Mass release if we are able to get 80 golden tickets before Sunday and thanks for reading.
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC43: EX 43. Double Difficulty
Chapter 43: EX 43. Double Difficulty
Rebecca stood tall, arms behind her back, her cold blue eyes sweeping across the crowd of cadets gathered before her like a hawk gauging prey. The air was still and tense, as if the very atmosphere was waiting for her words.
Her voice crisp and sharp, sliced through the silence like a blade.
"I'm sure all of you know why the selection is held."
She paused deliberately, letting the weight of her words hang in the air. Her gaze swept across the crowd like a silent challenge.
"But if you don't..." she continued, her tone turning colder, "that's already the beginning of your failure."
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd. Some cadets visibly gulped. Even among the nobles, anxious glances were exchanged as she continued.
"Now, for the rules. First of all there are 4,567 cadets present today."
"But only 500 will be accepted into the Attack Military."
Gasps erupted across the arena.
A stunned silence followed, then a wave of murmurs as the cadets struggled to process the reality.
"What?!"
"This is half of last year's limit!"
"T-There's no way I'll make it..."
"Tch. I thought it would be lower," an obnoxious noble sneered, arms folded smugly. "Looks like this year's selection is easier than I thought."
Leon remained silent.
Elizabeth, standing beside him, furrowed her brows.
"Why would they reduce the number of accepted cadets?" she asked in a low tone. "Wouldn't that weaken the overall strength of the Attack Branch?"
Leon shook his head.
"No... The Federation wouldn't make a decision that reckless. The only logical explanation is—" he paused, eyes narrowing, "—the difficulty of the selection has increased. Significantly."
Elizabeth's eyes widened with a sudden flash of realization.
"So they're going for quality over quantity."
Leon nodded slowly.
"Exactly. It's just a guess but it's the only one that makes sense. After all " he glanced up toward Rebecca again, "a weapon is smaller than a fortress. But if it's powerfull enough—"
"—it can bring down the fortress," Elizabeth finished.
Meanwhile, Rebecca stood still, watching the rising panic ripple through the cadets like a predator watching prey scatter.
Then, with terrifying calm, she released a controlled wave of her aura.
BOOM.
The pressure slammed into the crowd, instantly silencing the chaos. No one screamed, no one moved—they simply froze under the sheer weight of her presence.
Rebecca's voice rang out again icy and absolute.
"Now that you're quiet the smart ones among you—which, I know, is a very small number—must have already realized why the quota was cut."
Her voice echoed in the hush.
"The reason is simple: the Federation only wants those who are strong enough. The rest—"
She swept her gaze across them like a blade.
"—can be left behind."
The truth hit them like a hammer. This selection wasn't like the years before.
This wasn't about filling ranks.
This was about survival.
And the selection... had only just begun.
****
Rebecca's voice rang out once more, calm and unwavering, but beneath it was an unmistakable chill.
"This year's selection... will be survival-based."
A murmur passed through the crowd.
"The longer you survive," she continued, "the higher you'll rank. But don't think this means you'll just be camping and stargazing in the wild."
Her eyes scanned their faces with a cold gleam.
"No... that's far from it. Because in this selection you will be facing the demon's most destructive creations—demonic beasts."
A sudden tension gripped the arena. No one laughed. No one dared to.
Demonic beasts.
This were monstrosities born from the twisted union of demons and the native creatures of the Blue Planet.
They weren't just wild animals or rampaging monsters—they were aberrations soaked in malice. Leon knew them well. These were the creatures stationed trial-takers would face on the borders. They were Ruthless, Unforgiving and Deadly.
Rebecca's voice cut through the silence again.
"The time limit is three days. Every hour you survive earns you 10 points. And if you make it to the end... you'll receive a bonus of 100 points."
"But," she added, her tone dropping slightly, "the selection zone will be filled with demonic beasts ranging from F-rank to D-rank."
The shock was immediate. Some cadets' faces paled. Panic bubbled again beneath the surface. Not everyone here was like Leon—most lacked the tiered skills or high-grade weapons needed to survive encounters with stronger enemies.
Rebecca let them sit in the fear for a moment before continuing.
"You don't have to kill anything stronger than you. If you wish, avoid them and take down what you can handle."
A few cadets let out audible sighs of relief. There was still hope. Strategy, stealth, and caution might be enough to survive.
But then—
"However..." she said, voice sharper now, "there's one more way to earn points."
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly.
He already had a feeling where this was going.
Rebecca confirmed it a moment later.
"You may also gain points by eliminating other cadets—and taking every point they've earned."
The air shifted as silence turned to suspicion and panic gave way to hostility.
Within seconds, cadets instinctively took a step back from one another, space growing between what were once allies, friends and classmates.
Now, they were targets.
Leon remained still, thinking carefully.
'Strange... for the Federation to promote this kind of infighting. Weren't they always pushing unity?' But after thinking it over he understood what the Federation aimed for.
'This isn't just a trial. It's a forge. A way to hammer away the weak and temper the strong. They're forcing us to face more than just monsters—they're testing if we can handle betrayal, suspicion, and blood spilled by human hands. After all... demons aren't the only threat anymore.'
He clenched a fist loosely by his side.
'With the rise of demon worshippers, this kind of preparation makes sense. The Federation isn't just creating soldiers anymore. They're breeding warriors ready to kill or die—against beast, demon or man.'
Rebecca gave the cadets one last cold look.
"That is all. If you have questions... figure them out yourselves."
She paused just long enough for her words to sink in.
Then—
"Let the selection... begin."
The arena pulsed. As a blinding light erupted from the ground, sweeping up in waves, illuminating the stunned faces of every cadet.
And then, one by one—
They vanished.
Swallowed by the light.
Leaving the arena empty... except for Rebecca.
She stared at the space they had occupied, lips curling into a small, knowing smile.
And then—
She too vanished.
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A/N: We weren't able to reach 80 golden tickets but because of the support you guys have been showing. I decided to do the mass release regardless. Hope you guys enjoy
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC44: EX 44. Leon the Menace
Chapter 44: EX 44. Leon the Menace
The Selection Area wasn't built for show.
From the outside, it was already an awe-inspiring sight—a massive dome that dominated a huge portion of the capital, its sheer size an unspoken warning of what lay within. But the chamber where the cadets had stood before vanishing? That was only a tiny fraction of the true arena.
The real battlefield was hidden behind that—
A vast, sprawling combat zone, teeming with demonic beasts, jagged terrain, and death waiting at every turn.
That was where the cadets had been sent.
Leon appeared within that zone.
His boots landed silently on damp earth. And around him stood trees that were towering and wild. The dense forest hummed with an eerie stillness.
Without hesitation, he closed his eyes and let his senses stretch outward, scanning the zone in all directions.
A few weeks ago, he would've needed to activate his Echolocation skill for this kind of detection.
But now it was useless.
'I didn't even get to use the skill properly before surpassing it.'
His Sense stat alone had rendered it obsolete.
He exhaled softly as the scan completed.
300 meters in every direction there was nothing. No beasts or cadets.
He reached into his inventory and summoned his sword into his hand. The familiar weight settled against his palm with a quiet hum.
"So they dropped us far away from the eachother," he muttered to himself, eyes gleaming. "How cute."
His grin widened slightly, faintly amused by the Federation's attempt at 'fairness.'
One moment, he stood still beneath the canopy.
The next—
He was gone.
A blur.
A whisper of wind.
A shimmer of movement faster than the eye could follow.
Leon Kael had begun the Selection.
****
The moment the cadets were teleported into the Selection Zone, chaos scattered like broken glass.
All across the massive arena, trial takers spread out, their individual goals splitting them into distinct groups.
Some immediately began their hunt for demonic beasts, rushing into the forests and hills with weapons drawn, eyes blazing with ambition. They were the fighters, those eager to prove themselves through strength and bloodshed.
Others, more cautious—or simply realistic—chose to lay low, concealing themselves among the terrain. Their plan was simple: survive the three days, avoid unnecessary conflict, and walk out with enough points to scrape by so that while the others get eliminated they would be the victors at the end.
And then, as an hour ticked by, the third group emerged.
The predators.
They didn't care for beasts neither did they want to hide. Their targets were fellow cadets.
In over sixty minutes, the entire zone had become a battlefield—beasts, cadets, and the unforgiving wilds forming a three-way war. Screams echoed. Roars rang out. Magic and steel clashed with primal fury.
In one of the countless skirmishes unfolding...
Two cadets faced off.
One wielded magic—a mage cloaked in crimson robes, his hands wrapped around a gleaming Tier III F-rank staff pulsing with mana.
The other was a warrior, lean and fast, gripping twin daggers that shimmered faintly from item buffs.
The way they fought was not the same as Leon. There was no raw domination or pure stat crushing.
Just a simple style that was was Skill-based and depended on tactics and strategy.
The mage raised his staff. As a red magic circle bloomed mid-air.
"Ignite," he chanted.
A fireball, the size of a basketball, blasted forward with a hiss. The warrior darted aside, muscles reacting before thought, as he activated his Dash skill to close the distance.
His blade aiming for the mage's throat—
—but the ground beneath his feet suddenly shimmered red.
The warrior flipped back just as a pillar of fire exploded upward, missing him by a breath. The mage wasn't going down easily.
Flames painted the battlefield, burning trees and melting stone. The warrior weaved through the attacks, but his stamina was slipping. Suddenly an attack landed injuring his right leg and slowing his steps.
The mage smirked. "Thanks for the points."
A magic circle spun to life before his staff, ready to end it.
And then—
ROAAARRRR!!!!!.
The very air vibrated causing both cadets to freeze.
The roar was a fear-type skill, and the source lumbered into view.
A Rank D demonic beast.
It was a two-tailed panther, it's obsidian fur rippled with malice and its claws scraped the ground with metallic screeches.
The mage's heart thudded in his chest.
"Shit."
As the panther targeted him first.
Claws raised.
And then—
Sssshk!
The sound of something being sliced was heard.
The mage's eyes, clenched shut from fear, blinked open slowly.
But the moment he opened them he was shocked by what he saw or in this case what he did not see.
He didn't see the panther's body.
He didn't see the warrior either.
All he saw—
Was a sword coming straight at his neck.
Too fast.
Too close.
Too late.
And before he knew it his body scattered into motes of light before the blade touched him.
Leon stood alone in the clearing, his sword humming softly, warm blood still evaporating off the edge.
A system message flashed before his eyes:
[Eliminated 2 Cadets: +20 Points]
[Killed Rank D Demonic Beast: +400 Points]
He smiled.
Not at the kill.
Not even at the points.
But at the possibility of this actually becoming fun.
"First place on the first day... that sounds like a challenge."
And with that thought, he vanished again—
A phantom in the woods, hunting for his next prey.
****
In the Selection Zone, one name began to spread like wildfire through the ranks of the cadets—
Leon.
He was a menace.
A shadow that struck without warning.
A storm that tore through beast and cadet alike.
Wherever he appeared, the result was always the same—
Either the mangled corpse of a demonic beast, or the disintegrating light of a defeated cadet.
But Leon wasn't satisfied with just one path of destruction.
To make things faster, more efficient, and more chaotic, he activated his General Skill
[Mirror Split]
A clone, exact in both appearance and stats, burst to life beside him. Without a word, the clone took off in the opposite direction, carrying out the same brutal onslaught.
Now there were two Leons—each equally unstoppable, equally terrifying.
Across the arena, cadets huddled in groups no longer fighting each other because of one common threat.
"Don't go east. Leon's there."
"He was in the west too—how's that possible?"
"Did he teleport?"
"No... no, I saw him twice."
The legend was being written in real time.
And for many cadets, the last thing they ever saw before being eliminated—
was a gleam of cold steel.
The slash of a blade.
And then...
darkness.
But Leon wasn't the only storm in the arena.
Elizabeth was fighting her own war—one that was quieter, but no less terrifying.
The selection zone was her garden of death, and every demonic beast she slew only made her stronger.
Her talent allowed her to raise the fallen, twisting the corpses of monsters into undead servants.
Each kill added to her growing army.
But unlike Leon—whose power seemed boundless—Elizabeth had her limits.
She could only raise beasts whose strength was beneath her own energy.
So, when she stood before the corpse of such a beast, she knew it was a rare opportunity.
Her hands glowed with dark mana as a black magic circle expanded from her feet, wrapping the corpse in ethereal tendrils of death.
The very air grew cold.
As Elizabeth's eyes narrowed.
"You'll be a fine addition..."
But just before the resurrection ritual could complete—
Whoosh—!
An arrow ripped through the air, aimed straight for her heart.
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC45: EX 45. Necromancer of the Selection
Chapter 45: EX 45. Necromancer of the Selection
Just as the arrow was about to pierce Elizabeth's chest—
Thwip—!
A massive, grey hand snapped out and caught it mid-air with a sharp clack of bone against wood.
The hand belonged to a hulking undead ogre, standing beside Elizabeth like a grim sentinel.
Its skin was ashen, patched with scars and rot.
Two long tusks jutted from its cracked jaws.
And its eyes—dull, grey, and lifeless—reflected only the will of its master.
At that very moment, the magic circle beneath the newly slain beast flared to life, bathing the forest floor in eerie shadows.
Dark energy howled upward, wrapping around the corpse before dragging it down into the circle.
With a pulse of shadow, the resurrection was complete.
"Now that I'm done with that..." Elizabeth said softly, her voice cold.
She slowly turned around, her gaze sharpening.
"Let's deal with the pests."
From the trees ahead, three figures stepped into view.
The first, was a burly man carrying a massive battle axe, his arms were muscular and his eyes gleamed with confidence.
The second, was a female mage clad in a dark robe, her long bangs obscuring her face as she clutched a staff etched with red runes.
And the third, was a lanky man, his bow already drawn back with another arrow aimed directly at Elizabeth's head.
The axe warrior gave a mocking grin.
"What do we have here...?" he said, eyes sliding toward the undead ogre. "You've got yourself a nice bodyguard. Is it a skill? Or maybe... a tal..."
He never got to finish the question.
FWOOOM—!
A magic circle spun to life at Elizabeth's side, and in the blink of an eye, a sharp [Bone Spear] exploded forward.
The trio barely had time to react.
But the attack wasn't aimed at them.
Instead, a scream of pain erupted from behind Elizabeth.
A cadet—cloaked in invisibility—was now pinned to a tree, the jagged bone spear buried in his shoulder, nailing him in place.
His form flickered as the invisibility skill was forcefully deactivated, revealing a stunned face twisted in agony.
Elizabeth didn't even glance back.
"Tch. Missed your heart by an inch."
She tilted her head slightly, eyes still locked on the trio.
"Riot. Finish him."
The ogre moved instantly, its giant fist hurtling forward like a hammer of judgment.
Before the blow could land, the pinned cadet vanished into motes of glowing light—eliminated.
The ogre's fist smashed into the tree behind him, splintering it like dry wood with a thunderous CRACK.
The three remaining cadets stood frozen, to afraid to make a move.
The one Elizabeth had just dispatched was the strongest among them.
And she had taken him out without even turning around.
They knew.
They all knew.
They had no chance.
Elizabeth's cold gaze swept over them.
"Riot. Go."
The massive ogre turned toward them, a low rumble echoing from its chest.
The cadets gritted their teeth.
There was no escaping now.
Only fight or be eliminated.
So, they chose to fight.
But in the hearts of all three, the same thought echoed—
"This was a mistake."
And by the time that battle was over, they would never forget the name—
Elizabeth Queen.
The Necromancer of the Selection.
****
The axe warrior lay sprawled on the ground, bloodied and breathless, his once-mighty grip on his battle axe now limp and broken. His limbs trembled as he tried to rise, only for a massive shadow to loom over him.
Riot, Elizabeth's undead ogre, stood tall like death incarnate, its cold, lifeless eyes fixed on its prey.
With a low, guttural growl, the giant lifted one massive foot—and brought it crashing down toward the warrior's skull.
But just before the blow could connect—
Fwoosh—!
The axe warrior's body dissolved into shimmering motes of light, vanishing beneath the ogre's heel.
Eliminated.
Elizabeth didn't flinch.
She remained where she had been the entire time—calmly behind a barrier, watching from a distance as her summoned undead single-handedly dismantled all opposition. She hadn't needed to move.
She just observed and commanded.
As Riot stood silently by her side again, the glowing notifications flickered into her vision:
[Eliminated 1 cadet +140 points]
[Eliminated 1 cadet +30 points]
[Eliminated 1 cadet +50 points]
[Eliminated 1 cadet +80 points]
Elizabeth blinked once, her mind already processing the numbers.
"I must not have been their first target," she thought.
She knew the point values well by now.
F-rank beasts: 100 points
E-ranks: 200 points
D-ranks: 400 points
And considering only two hours had passed since the selection began, the maximum survival points anyone could have earned by now would be 20 points—if they hadn't fought any beasts.
But these cadets... all of them had far more than that.
Her gaze turned sharp.
"So they've been eliminating others..."
She wasn't angry.
After all, it wasn't against the rules.
But she was curious.
"Why ally with one another? They could've just Eliminated each other to climb higher."
She pondered this for a few seconds—eyes narrowed, brain calculating—before letting out a small sigh.
"Well, I'm sure I'll figure it out later."
And with that, she turned and walked away from the ruined battlefield, her long black coat fluttering behind her.
Riot melted into the shadows beneath her feet, waiting—ready to rise and defend her at a moment's notice.
But the truth behind the alliance was more telling than she could've imagined.
Across the selection zone, cadets were forming groups—not out of strategy, not to dominate...
But out of fear.
They had seen something.
Or rather—someone.
Leon.
A nightmare clad in blue.
A blur that turned battles into slaughter fields.
A sword that struck without mercy.
They had watched him butcher demonic beasts.
They had watched him erase cadets like bugs.
And in their panic, in their desperation, they came to one conclusion:
If we can't beat him, at least we can run faster than someone else.
They didn't know it, but their entire behavior was being shaped by one person's overwhelming pressure.
And if Elizabeth ever found out?
She'd pause for a beat... and laugh.
"If not Leon... who else?"
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A/N: Any ideas for undead summons and their names. If you have please write it in the comments and thanks for reading this far you guys are EXtraordinary ^_^
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC46: EX 46. Unspoken Declaration
Chapter 46: EX 46. Unspoken Declaration
The first day of the selection had been nothing short of chaotic—a whirlwind of blood, fear, and desperation. Every cadet had to fight for survival, constantly wary of three deadly threats:
Demonic beasts lurking in the wilderness
Other cadets, each one a potential predator
And worst of all... Leon Kael
For many, the day had been a nightmare.
For Leon?
It was a hunt—and he was the apex predator.
Now, as the sun dipped low and the sky turned a deep violet, the chaos began to still. Only the strongest—or the luckiest—remained.
In a wide clearing soaked in dusklight, Leon stood tall.
All around him were the mangled corpses of demonic beasts—twenty-nine in total, all of them D-rank, all of them dead.
He tilted his head slightly as he remembered a few cadets he'd seen earlier.
They'd spotted him from afar and after seeing the dead beasts around him they instantly turned around and ran away.
"Heh."
"Watching them scurry away like rats never gets old."
Maybe the selection was starting to bring out something darker in him.
A sadistic edge.
But Leon didn't mind.
He seemed to like it.
He rolled his shoulders with a satisfied sigh, gripping the hilt of his sword as he murmured,
"Guess it's time for me to distribute my points."
The points he referred to were not selection points—but something far more dangerous.
Attack Points.
Points gained by the one and only EX-Rank talent: [Attack].
He hadn't even needed them to boost his stats during the selection so far.
He was more than strong enough without them.
But now... it was time for growth.
As the system accepted his allocation, his updated stats appeared before him:
---
[Attack Distribution Complete]
Strength: 726 >766 (+40)
Speed: 674>684 (+10)
Vitality: 656>666 (+10)
Stamina: 651>661 (+10)
Senses: 650>675 (+25)
Aura: 691>696 (+5)
---
Leon scanned the numbers, smirking.
"My sense stat's about to overtake everything but strength..."
"From my weakest to my second-highest. Not bad."
He had been focusing on it ever since his first real battle with a demon.
And now the results were showing.
Suddenly, a disturbance rippled through the nearby bushes.
Rustle.
Leon didn't even look. He'd already sensed it—well before it moved.
A blur shot out of the treeline and stopped beside him.
It was another Leon—his clone.
Created by his general skill [Mirror Split], it had spent the entire day causing just as much havoc as the original.
Now it had returned.
Leon met its eyes for a moment, nodded once, then dismissed it with a thought.
"You did well."
With both him and the clone wreaking havoc across the zone, his selection points were absurdly high—and this was only day one.
Then—exactly at midnight—a familiar mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
DING!
---
[System Notification]
[Congratulations, Cadet!]
[You have survived the first day of the Selection.
The will of the Federation is strong in you.]
Leon rolled his eyes at the over patriotic message.
But the message didn't stop.
[As Day One concludes, a Ranking List of the Top 12 Cadets has been generated.]
A glowing panel opened before his eyes, lines of white text appearing against a dark blue screen.
[Top 12 Cadets – Selection Ranking: Day One]
****
As the list finished loading before Leon's eyes, his confident smirk slowly faded.
"What the hell are these results...?"
He wasn't the only one staring in disbelief.
Across the entire Selection Zone, every cadet who had survived the first day stopped what they were doing—eyes wide, mouths slightly open—as the ranking list burned itself into their minds like a branding iron.
---
[Top 12 Cadets – Selection Ranking: Day One]
[12.] Ethan Miller — 777 points
[11.] Olivia Davis — 788 points
[10.] Arthur van der Berg — 800 Points
[09.] Jasper de Bries — 860 Points
[08.] Eleanor Clarke — 880 Points
[07.] Sophie van Dijk — 940 Points
[06.] Felix Wright — 1,060 Points
[05.] Clara Wright — 1,310 Points
[04.] Eden Feran — 1,520 Points
{TOP 3 CADETS}
[<<03>>] Elizabeth Queen — 1,780 Points
[<<02>>] Adrian Peer — 5,420 Points
[<<01>>] Leon Kael — 218,520 Points
Even Leon had to re-read it.
"...Two hundred and eighteen thousand—?!"
A second passed.
Then another.
"Did I... take it too far?"
His brows furrowed in genuine shock. He had been holding back, hadn't he? At least a little?
But he'd gotten so lost in the thrill of the hunt, so addicted to the rush of power, that he hadn't realized just how far he had pulled ahead.
"All of them combined... don't even reach a tenth of my score."
He ran a hand through his snow-white hair, sighing deeply.
"Maybe I should take it easy tomorrow..."
A pause.
"Maybe."
But knowing himself...
He probably wouldn't.
Elsewhere in the shadows of a misty forest, Elizabeth stood still, several undead forming a silent, loyal circle around her. The cold flicker of system light reflected in her eyes as she read the list.
She blinked once. Then again.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"He's becoming more of a monster each day..."
Despite her words, her smile was fond. She didn't feel threatened after all Leon was her man. She only felt... impressed.
On the back of a slain Rank D beast, Adrian Peer sat with his arms on his knee, his breathing calm and composed.
The list hovered in front of him, and his sharp eyes narrowed as he focused on a single name.
Leon Kael.
Then he remembered the words Leon had casually thrown at him back in the mall:
"You won't be able to catch up."
He thought he understood he it back then but now looking at the gap felt unreal.
"I really underestimated you..."
He let out a breath—half a sigh, half a chuckle—then pushed himself to his feet.
There was no bitterness or jealousy in him.
Only resolve.
"Fine then. Let's see how far I can climb..."
And with that, he dashed back into the forest.
In a clearing scorched by battle, surrounded by burnt vegetation and smoldering corpses, a red-haired boy stared at the list, jaw clenched.
Eden Feran.
He grit his teeth, the vein in his temple twitching.
"...Fucking bastard."
The words left his mouth like venom.
He had thought he was in the running.
He'd fought hard, defeated strong cadets, burned through monsters.
But this?
This was absurd.
Everywhere across the Selection Zone, the reactions were the same.
Cadets who had seen Leon in action and survived were now reassured that their terror had been justified.
Those who hadn't... now felt it, sinking into their bones like cold lead.
And all of them—without exception—shared one clear, undeniable thought:
First place was no longer attainable.
Not in three days, not in thirty.
This wasn't a ranking any longer, it was an unspoken declaration.
Leon, now calmer, exhaled softly and stared at the list again. His eyes passed slowly over the other names.
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC47: EX 47. Second day
Chapter 47: EX 47. Second day
Leon stared at the list still floating in front of him, the soft hum of system energy fading into the background.
"Second place is Adrian... understandable,"
A faint smirk played at his lips.
"And third—Elizabeth. She's probably too busy building her undead army to worry about points."
But as his eyes landed on the fourth name, the smirk vanished.
Replaced by silence.
And followed by a sudden, cold flare of killing intent that rippled through the surrounding clearing like a pressure wave.
[04. Eden Feran – 1,520 points]
Leon's pupils narrowed, his jaw tightening.
Even though it vanished almost instantly, the air still felt heavy—like the echo of a predator's growl.
The Ferans.
Of course one of them would show up.
Today's selection was meant for cadets of the East Sector, so Eden's presence on the list wasn't a surprise.
But knowing who his family was... it stirred something darker in Leon.
The Feran family had been the most likely culprits behind his arrest after the demon incident.
They'd tarnished his name, smeared his reputation and nearly destroyed his chances of ever becoming a Trial Taker.
He hadn't forgotten.
"Not yet," Leon thought, his fingers slowly unclenching.
"I won't move without proof... but I'll be watching."
His gaze dropped to the rest of the names.
Most were nobles and a few scattered non-nobles who had clawed their way into the top through sheer grit or tactical advantage.
Leon committed each one to memory.
Before, he wouldn't have bothered.
But ever since Adrian Peer, he'd started to see the value in remembering names—especially the ones who refused to stay in his shadow.
"You never know who might surprise you."
With that, he dismissed the screen in a flicker of light and walked toward the shade of a tall, thick-rooted tree at the edge of the clearing.
He sat down, back resting lazily against the trunk, and closed his eyes.
To an outsider, it might have looked reckless.
Foolish even.
In the Selection, where every minute was a fight for survival, no one in their right mind would sleep—especially not in the open.
But this was Leon Kael.
Anyone—or anything—that dared approach him in this state would be eliminated before they even understood what killed them.
To Leon, rest was a luxury.
To everyone else, it was a death sentence.
And so, as the night deepened and cold wind rustled through bloodied leaves, Leon dozed off in perfect stillness.
While all across the forest, cadets bled, hunted, and ran for their lives, sacrificing sleep just for a sliver of hope that they'd see the next sunrise...
Leon simply slept like a king on his throne of corpses.
****
As the first light of dawn broke over the vast selection zone, golden rays pierced through the misty forest canopy, casting long, shifting shadows across bloodstained foliage and upturned soil.
Cadets who had spent the night hiding, curled beneath roots or buried under leaves, exhaled in relief. The darkness had been a terror—filled with unseen predators, both beast and human. The rising sun felt like hope... or at least a temporary reprieve.
Meanwhile, those who had spent the night hunting—cold-eyed and relentless—retreated into the shadows. They weren't done. No, they had only just begun. The dawn simply made it easier to see their prey.
But in one silent clearing, surrounded by the cooling corpses of over a dozen demonic beasts, Leon Kael slowly stirred.
Still seated with his back against the thick trunk of a tree, he stretched with a yawn, spine cracking as he sat up.
Around him, the signs of a massacre remained fresh—charred soil, shattered trees, and beasts of various sizes, all clearly D-rank, lay still in the silence.
One had tried to claw at his chest while he slept. Another had nearly crushed him underfoot.
They were all dead now. None had lasted longer than a breath.
Leon rubbed his eyes, then looked around at the carnage.
"I'm trying to take it easy," he said dryly, "but it's like the points just keep offering themselves to me."
He shook his head.
Over the course of the night, several cadets had made the same mistake: seeing the sleeping figure and thinking he was an easy target without finding out who he was had gotten them eliminated instantly.
Leon stood up fully now, rolling his shoulders before letting out a long sigh.
"Well... time to gather my points."
Of course, what he meant were his Attack Points—earned from attacking enemies and beasts. Points that could be distributed to raise his already absurd stats even further.
He cracked a grin.
"And since I can only attack cadets or beasts..."
"I guess I'll just have to get points from them."
The sarcasm was thick. There were other ways—smashing trees or punching rocks—but Leon didn't care.
He was simply giving himself an excuse to go wild again.
More selection points. More chaos. More fun.
He bent his knees slightly, hamstrings tightening as raw power coiled beneath his limbs.
Then, with a sudden burst, he pushed himself into the air—like a cannon fired straight into the sky.
Wind howled past his face as he ascended briefly above the canopy.
Below him, the forest stretched for miles—dense with life, blood and prey.
His smile widened.
"Let's go find the next target."
****
The second day of the Selection passed with a strange stillness in the air—one that almost felt unnatural after the blood-soaked frenzy of the first.
It was calmer, far calmer than anyone could have anticipated. Not because the environment had become any less dangerous, but because the cadets themselves had changed.
Their mindsets had shifted, hardened by fear, experience... and the undeniable shadow cast by one name: Leon Kael.
Three clear reasons defined this eerie peace:
First, the sheer number of eliminations that had occurred on the first day left vast areas of the forest empty. Countless cadets had been taken out early—by demonic beasts, by ambushes, or worse... by Leon.
His rampage had left destroyed clearings and shattered morale in his wake.
And many had survived by nothing but sheer luck.
Second, those who remained had wised up. The initial greed for selection points had dulled into a singular instinct: survive. The smarter cadets had learned that there was no shame in hiding and making it to the third day intact. Because one wrong step, one wrong opponent and they could lose everything.
Third, the number of beasts had dwindled dramatically. While the forest had once teemed with danger, now even the predators seemed hesitant to roam.
Many had been slain—by desperate cadets, by ambitious hunters, and again... mostly by Leon. His presence had disrupted the natural order, and now only the strongest beasts remained, hidden deep in the woods.
For most, the day was spent in shadows, behind barriers, under roots and illusions. There were fewer skirmishes, fewer screams—just the sound of rustling leaves, distant growls, and the ever-looming uncertainty of who, or what, was out there.
It was almost peaceful.
Almost.
Because as the second day began to wind down, and the final day of the Selection loomed on the horizon, something changed.
A sudden shockwave rolled through the forest—a pulse of dark aura rippled through the trees like thunder.
CHAOS erupted.
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EX-RANK AWAKENING: MY ATTACKS MAKE ME STRONGERC48: EX 48. The Trio
Chapter 48: EX 48. The Trio
The third and final day of the Selection had begun like a storm hiding behind calm clouds. The tension was thick—cadets moved with caution, nerves on edge, eyes sharp. Everyone knew that by the end of this day, only the best would remain.
But just ten hours into the day, the forest changed.
A deep, unnatural rumble echoed across the zone. Birds took flight in panic. Beasts howled and retreated. The ground shuddered.
Then—
BOOM!
A towering pillar of dark energy erupted from the center of the Selection zone, so massive it pierced the sky, blotting out the sun in its radius. Its darkness pulsed and crackled like lightning trapped in a void. The entire zone fell silent as every single cadet turned toward the phenomenon.
Even those hidden away in caves, under barriers, or far in the outer zones saw it—there was no avoiding it.
Whispers rose.
As most cadets wondered if this was part of the selection.
But those with heightened senses, those who were attuned to death and darkness, knew better.
Something was coming.
Something wrong.
Suddenly, the pillar imploded, vanishing into a violent swirl of wind and silence.
But what replaced it... was far more horrifying.
Floating above the ground—as if gravity was beneath it—was a monstrous figure. A demon.
It had two jagged, blackened horns curling upward like a crown of death. Its skin was armored in dark crimson scales that shimmered faintly with arcane sigils. A long, pointed tail lashed behind it like a whip, and its glowing yellow eyes radiated malice. Every beat of its wings distorted the air, and its very presence choked the life from the trees beneath it.
It radiated power.
Raw.
Malignant.
Chaotic.
From a clearing far off, Leon stared up at the beast.
His eyes narrowed, his body still and unmoving, but not from fear. From focus.
He whispered under his breath, "...It's S-Rank."
As if it heard him, the demon's head slowly turned—locking eyes with Leon from hundreds of meters away. Then, it smiled.
A wide, toothy grin, filled with fangs as sharp as daggers. Its lips parted slightly, and a guttural growl echoed across the forest like the whisper of death.
Leon's brow twitched.
"Shit,"
But that was only half the nightmare.
On the opposite side of the zone, Adrian Peer stood in a bloodied clearing. His chest was rising and falling, but not from exertion—from sheer disbelief.
Around him... were corpses.
Cadet corpses.
And that alone defied the system. When a cadet was close to death, the Selection should have teleported them out instantly.
But these bodies remained.
A dark, swirling black symbol sat on each of their foreheads—twisting and pulsing like a brand etched into their flesh.
The markings looked demonic, resembling a curse, or perhaps something worse.
Adrian's fists clenched.
****
Before the demon ever appeared... Adrian had been focused.
The third day of the Selection had begun, and while others were exhausted or hiding, Adrian Peer was on the hunt—still grinding, still pushing, trying to gather more points and maintain his top three position.
Right now, he was locked onto a D-rank demonic beast, a four-legged predator with black fur and glowing blue fangs that moved like a blur through the trees.
Adrian chased it through the forest, his boots pounding the ground, sweat trailing down his brow.
But no matter how hard he pushed, the beast was faster.
Again.
This wasn't new to him.
Adrian gritted his teeth, frustration building. "I need a solution for this," he muttered, voice low and tense.
He hated to admit it, but speed had always been his greatest weakness. Unlike Leon, who seemed to close distance like a shadow blinking between spaces, Adrian had no mobility-based skill or enhancement items. He had strength, instincts, raw combat grit—but no acceleration.
And just like many times before, the beast was starting to slip from his reach.
But before it could escape—
FWOOOOSH!
An ice spear tore through the air from behind him.
Adrian's senses flared instantly. He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the chilling projectile that sliced past his shoulder and continued its path—impaling the fleeing beast clean through.
The creature collapsed in a heap of frozen flesh.
But Adrian didn't care about the beast anymore.
He turned sharply, heart pounding—not from exertion, but from the realization of what had just happened.
Standing behind him were twelve cadets, spread out in a loose formation.
But Adrian's attention honed in on three faces at the front.
William. James. Thomas.
Adrian's expression darkened.
Those three... they used to be his closest companions.
They had laughed together, trained together, and stood together for most of the one-year training program.
But they had also mocked others, looked down on Grounders, and treated him as a sidekick, not an equal.
Still, Adrian—desperate for belonging—had turned a blind eye to it.
Until Leon.
Until that moment in the trial world when Leon, facing him, asked that one soul-crushing question:
"What's your name again?"
It shattered something inside him.
That was when Adrian realized—true strength had never even noticed him. Not because he was weak, but because he was forgettable.
So he walked away from those three.
Cut them off.
Now, here they were again, smiling as if they hadn't tried to feed him to a lion for a joke.
Thomas took a few steps forward, hands raised in mock welcome.
"Hey, Adrian. Long time."
Adrian didn't reply. His fists were already curling.
Thomas kept going, pretending to pout.
"Still mad at us for making you confront Leon, huh?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed—his silence heavier than words.
That's when Thomas chuckled, voice full of venomous amusement.
"C'mon, how was I supposed to know he wouldn't even know your name?"
He burst into laughter—and so did James, and then the others.
All twelve, laughing like hyenas around a wounded wolf.
Adrian stood alone.
But his fists were clenched, his heartbeat calm, and his glare cold as steel.
"They're still the same..." he thought. "Still the same assholes."
...
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A/N: If we get up to 12 reviews before Tuesday I will do another mass release.
Thanks for reading
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