Reborn as a God-tier player

Eagan's eyes snapped open, his mind foggy and slow. The noisy chatter of people around him made him furrow his brow in confusion. 

"Where are these voices coming from? Didn't everyone at the base die already?" He thought to himself as the chatter around him got louder and closer, the more he became aware of his surroundings.

Looking up from his sleeping position, he noticed students dressed in a familiar yet unfamiliar uniform, reminiscent of what he had worn back when he was a student about thirty years ago.

"Is this a dream?" he pondered as he looked around at the faces he recognized. "Or am I experiencing my life in my final moments?"

Eagan's gaze wandered, searching for answers. He noticed several students, familiar faces, standing around in groups while chatting about topics of interest. 

The scene felt surreal like a vivid memory come to life—like he was reliving that exact moment in his life.

He pinched himself, trying to determine if this was merely a dream or if he was living out the tales he had read in novels: the beautiful stories of transmigration or rebirth. God knows how many times he had wished for that to happen, but here he was.

"Have I really been reborn?" he mused. "To thirty years before the world ended?"

"If my memory serves me right, today should be our first day of the last year at Hunter's Academy," he thought as he hastily pulled out his phone from his bag to check the time and date.

"Sure enough, I have come back in time!" he exclaimed. "All of this feels too real to be just a memory or a dream! I really have returned to the past!"

"I've been given a second chance at life!"

As he got lost in his thoughts, a beautiful, curvy woman with raven hair walked into the class.

"You are all welcome to your final year of training at Hunter's Academy," announced Miss Chloe as she stood in front of the classroom.

Her gaze swept around the room, taking in the students who had made it this far, whether through connections or hard work.

She paused when her eyes fell on a young boy with black hair sitting in the middle of the classroom, his face bruised and sullen. With a disapproving tut, she forced a smile for the rest of the class.

"Today, we will discuss the history of the New Earth," she continued, prompting murmurs from the students.

"Why are we learning this again?" Ryker, a particular red-haired boy grumbled. "Isn't this the very first topic we covered at the academy?" 

"True! Didn't they say we would only be doing combat training this year?" Another student chimed in. "Why do we have to listen to something a five-year-old would know?"

Miss Chloe's eyes twitched in annoyance as she listened to the complaints. Slamming her hand on the table, she yelled, "Quiet!" while glaring at Ryker and his seatmate.

"I am fully aware that this is your last year and you are supposed to focus on combat training. However," she paused, her eyes sweeping around the room with a glare directed at the noisemakers. 

"The academy mandates that you all repeat this lecture to maintain focus on your objectives and the goals of the New Earth,” she explained calmly, her gaze once again drifting to the despondent black-haired boy in the middle of the class.

"The sooner you cooperate with me, the earlier we will finish the lecture, and then you all can get to your combat training. I won’t force you," she declared, and all the students fell silent.

With a nod of satisfaction, she continued her lecture. "About fifty years ago, the Old Earth experienced the apocalypse." She began as the pictures of the event began displaying on the screen behind her.

"It was a phenomenon where the sky cracked open and monsters flooded into our world, killing half of the Earth's population in just seven days."

"After the Apocalypse, which lasted one week in total darkness, the New Earth was born. It is from this event that Hunters, who have been blessed by the gods with mana, fight against the invasions that began appearing one after the other." She continued as the pictures flickered to the next part. 

"In total, there are different types of hunters. Can someone name them?" she asked, and once again, the entire class raised their hands—except for the black-haired boy.

Letting out a sigh, Miss Chloe walked over to his desk and knocked on it. "Eagan, could you tell us the types of Hunters we have?" 

The classroom fell silent for a moment, followed by whispers from the other students.

"I thought he failed last year. Why is he here again?"

"I didn't even notice he was in class until Miss Chloe called him out!"

"If he wants to sleep, shouldn't he stay at home? I'm wondering how the school still allows him in!"

"How else? I'm sure his brother used his connections to get him back in!"

"I wish I had an S-ranking Hunter as a brother. I wouldn't be stuck here with you all!"

"If you were in his shoes, at least you wouldn’t be a loser like him who couldn’t even sense mana." The last comment sparked laughter among the students.

Miss Chloe clenched her fists in frustration. She knew something like this would happen; it always did when attention was drawn to the boy. However, she couldn't just ignore it when the boy had so much potential.

Besides, there was no way she'd explained to a certain hunter that his younger brother was not learning properly. Just the thought of it sent a shiver down her back. 

She shot him an apologetic smile but was met with a blank stare from the boy, who was still lost ok his thoughts.

This time she became even more annoyed, not at the murmuring students but at the bit in front of her. She knocked loudly on the table, trying to pull him out of his daydream. "Eagan!" She called out, her voice loud and piercing. 

Startled, Eagan looked up to see the teacher glaring down at him and the students snickering all around him. 

"Could you please repeat the question?" He asked awkwardly as he got up from his chair. With a helpless sigh, and a glare to keep the murmuring students quiet, Miss Chloe repeated the question. 

Eagan's deep voice cut through the murmurs, unbothered by the students' snide remarks about him. "There are several types of hunters, but only a few are widely known. We have healers, who specialise in restoring health and supporting allies; mages, who wield magical abilities to damage or incapacitate enemies;"

"Swordsmen, skilled in close combat and melee attacks; Paladins, who combine martial prowess with healing and protective abilities; Assassins, trained in stealth and covert operations; and finally, Summoners, who can call upon powerful entities to aid in battle."

Miss Chloe's smile returned, impressed by his answer. "Excellent response, Eagan. You've covered all the primary professions. Thank you; you may take your seat."

"With that said," she continued as she walked back to the front of the class, "we have reached the reason why you are required to repeat these lectures." She announced as she pulled out a small crystal device.

"Today, you will each take a test that will help determine what type of Hunter you are!" she declared.

Miss Chloe held up the crystal device, and it began to glow with a soft, pulsing light. "This is the Hunter's Oracle. It will reveal your innate abilities and guide you toward your designated profession." 

The students exchanged excited whispers, their eyes fixed on the device.

Miss Chloe continued, "The Oracle will display one of six colours, indicating your affinity for a specific Hunter profession. Red for Swordsmen, Blue for Mages, Green for Healers, White for Paladins, Black for Assassins, and Purple for Summoners."

"This will help us group you up for your combat training." She added, further whetting the students' excitement.

"Now, starting from the back, step out one after the other to get tested," she instructed. 

Once again, Eagan got lost in his thoughts as the students began filing out to get their man affinity tested. 

Suddenly a floating screen appeared in front of him with the words. "Congratulations; you have met the basic requirements, and you have been chosen by the gods."