Realm Lord

The Academy's cafeteria buzzed with activity as students gathered in social clusters, comparing notes on their first classes and sizing up their new peers. Arthur and Luke had found a quiet corner table away from the others, their trays loaded with surprisingly good food—hearty stew, fresh bread, and assorted fruits.

Arthur took a bite of his bread before leaning forward, unable to contain his curiosity any longer. "So if all you have to do is kill monsters and eventually your core will give you the option to rank up, why aren't there more people in higher realms by now? It's been fifteen years since the first gates appeared—surely there are people who have done more than enough killing."

Luke chewed thoughtfully, considering the question. He took a sip of water before sighing.

"Well... it's not that simple, really," he replied, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "There actually have been many people who ranked up and were sent to the fourth realm prior to the Flame Lord and the few others right before him. But once they arrived in the fourth realm..."

He paused, his expression growing somber.

"It seemed to be too much for them. Until recently, anybody who ever tried died there, well before getting the chance to place their tether."

Arthur's spoon halted halfway to his mouth. "Died? All of them?"

"All of them," Luke confirmed grimly. "And ranking up isn't as simple as 'killing monsters.' Each time you rank up, your core grows hungrier for tougher challenges. You can't simply satisfy it by farming low-level creatures. If you want to rank up in a reasonable timeframe, you have to fight the tougher monsters in the higher realms, which isn't an easy feat."

A group of students walked past their table, laughing about something, their carefree attitudes a stark contrast to the weight of Luke's words.