SSS: I awakened a ghost system

New quest

Today was the big day, the day that would decide the fate of thousands of students who had applied to Reaper High

The sun hadn't even risen yet, but Max was already awake. As he played on his bed, his eyes stayed fixed to the ceiling as anxiety washed over him

He turned his to watch his little brother’s bed that was situated on the other half of the room

only to see Jimmy sound asleep… and still snoring

Max got up, preparing to pack his things.

But then he heard the faint sound of cluttering dishes that pulled him out of his thought

Curious, he headed to the kitchen

Walking to the kitchen, Max saw his mom preparing a small breakfast, and when she turned to look at him, a warm smile formed on her face

“You’re up early” she said

“So are you” Max replied

She then placed a small plate of toast on the table and moved closer. “Come here”

Max leaned forward, and she went ahead to fix his collar of his shirt with gentle hands

“Whatever happens today…I’m proud of you”

For a brief moment, Max was speechless, and all he did was a gentle nod as he swallowed the burning feeling rising in his chest

He knew how much this exam meant to him. Whatever the cost, he couldn't fail. Not for his family

The cold breeze hit Max as he stepped outside. Tighteninghis grip on his worn out bacg, Max headed toward the nearest departure station—Reaper Route 7

These were stations where special vehicles would be sent to board applicants and take them to the Academy and it only took Max about 6 minutes to get there

Looking at the vehicle, it had the shape of a regular bus, only a bit bigger so it could occupy a lot of people.the vehicle hovered slightly above the ground and behind it were several thrusters for propulsion

As Max approaches the bus, the driver, who was dressed in a neat black tuxedo asked for his ticket, to which he gave him. The ticket was given to him by the post office after he sent his application

The bus door hissed open, and Max stepped inside

Immediately, chatter and nervous energy filled his ears.

Dozens of teenagers were seated, some looked confident whereas others were terrified. To his right, Max could see a few of them each trying to show off small tricks with their curse factor to one another.

“ Bro I heard last year only 10 people passed the exam”

“ seriously, I thought it was only 8”

“Who cares? I've been training with a personal mentor since I was six”

Their voices continued to errupt throughout the bus

Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Max lowered his head as he quietly found an empty seat at the back of the bus, close to the window.

Since he had no one to talk to, he instinctively checked his system

«Stats»

Strength — 13

Agility — 12

Stamina — 11

Level — 2

He sighed. To him, it still didnt feel like enough

Nonetheless, he had to manage

It didn't take long for the bus to get full, and immediately set off

After about an hour of driving, they had finally arrived

Everyone stared in awe at the massive crimson gates of Reaper High.

They were made from a combination of alloys along with high-calibre ghost cores, making it impenetrable. The academy walls designed in such a way that they would be able to withstand extreme attacks from ghosts who attempt to attack the academy

Other than that, te Academy also possessed high level weaponry powered by the strongest ghost cores.

“The government really invests a lot in this place huh?” Max mumbled, staring at the huge gates

Looking around, there were hundreds of students socializing as they all prepared for the exam.

Ironically, some of Max’s classmates saw him at the gathering but didn't approach him.

Max obviously noticed this but he didn't mind

In this new environment, he at least wanted to make some new friends but he wasn't really the best when it came to social skills. And since most people avoided him all the time, Max automatically became an introvert.

“I wonder when the the orientation will start”

Max scanned rhw crowed again. Students started to form small groups, laughing, comparing curse factors, and boasting about their training back home

As Max watched from a distance, unsure where to stand or who to approach, he felt like he didn't belong.

“Just act normal” he told himself “blend in”

As Max took a step forward, someone suddenly bumped into his shoulder, causing him to stagger slightly

“Hey” Max looked up.

A boy around his age stared at him with a smirk. His uniform was a lot cleaner than Max’s, and a silver badge pinned to his chest hinted he came from money.

“Oh… sorry,” the boy said, though his tone made it clear he wasn’t sorry at all. His eyes narrowed as he scanned Max up and down. “Didn’t see you there. You don’t give off much presence.”

Max clenched his jaw but stayed quiet. Picking a fight here would be stupid.

The boy tilted his head. “What level are you?”

Max remained silent, a bit confused as to what he meant.

The boy just chuckled. “Let me guess. Level 1? Maybe 2 if you’re lucky.”

He walked past Max without waiting for an answer, joining his friends who were gathered near the fountain.

One of them snickered loud enough for Max to hear.

“Bro, I thought he was a janitor or something.”

Max let out a slow breath and forced himself to relax. It wasn’t worth it. He had bigger things to worry about.

Still, it stung.

Before he could move, a deep voice echoed across the courtyard.

“All applicants, line up immediately!”

The voice came from the other side of the gate, and The chatter died instantly as everyone turned toward the gates as it slowly began to open

Max turned toward the massive staircase leading to the academy’s main building. A tall man in a dark, military-styled coat stood at the top, his arms crossed behind him. His eyes were sharp and cold, like he could see straight through every single one of them, and his presence alone was enough to silence hundreds of teenagers.

“This year’s entrance exam will be conducted in three phases,” the man announced. “Each phase is designed to test your combat readiness, curse factor control, and survival instinct.”

A murmur rippled through the applicants.

The instructor’s gaze swept over them.

“You were all informed of the difficulty. Reaper High accepts strength, discipline, and talent. If you lack any of these… then turn around now.”

No one moved, though a few looked like they wanted to.

Max swallowed, his palms suddenly sweaty.

“Good,” the instructor continued. “Follow the path behind the gates. Your orientation begins in five minutes. If you are late… you fail immediately.”

A wave of anxiety surged through the crowd as hundreds of students scrambled to form lines and rush toward the inner gates.

Max tightened his backpack straps and moved with them.

He kept his head low, weaving through the mass of bodies. Even so, he could feel the pressure building. Every step closer to the academy felt heavier.

This is it, Max thought.

No more training. No more preparation. This… is where everything begins.

As he merged into the crowd funneling through the crimson gates, a faint vibration buzzed in his chest.

Max frowned and glanced down.

A glowing blue notification flashed in front of his eyes.

«New Quest Available»

[Survive Phase One of the Reaper High Entrance Exam]

Reward: 70 EXP | 1 Skill Point

Failure: System Penalty Will Apply

Max’s eyes widened.

“System penalty…?” he whispered.

Before he could read more, the notification blinked away…and the gates slammed shut behind them.