I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 64: Dream

’H-How are you feeling?’

Sera’s ghostly figure hovered infront of me.

I blinked, slowly opening my eyes.

’Human, how do you feel?’

"Uhhhh…?"

What just happened?

It took me several seconds to analyze my current situation.

My eyes were filled with tears.

My whole body was aching, spine fractured, blood dripped from my nose.

Looking around, I noticed the whole area was frozen under a thick layer of ice.

Constantly like a hammer, my head was throbbing with intense pain.

"Ugh!"

Suppressing the pain, I closed my eyes and when I opted them.

I saw a familiar purple translucent window, the Fate’s interface hovering in front of my eyes.

But the text on it was different from before.

"Ah!"

———「Child of Ylthea」———

★Mental Barrier: 67 [↑ 18% temporary]

★Intelligence: 67

★Essence Capacity: 87

★Stamina: 23 [↓ 47%]

★Agility: 88

——————————––––

What in the—

My eyes widened at the sight of the window.

’W-What did you do?!’

I actually knew what these stats meant, but my mind was too fucked up to process everything. I needed Sera to confirm it.

I turned to her and asked.

’Hmm?’

She answered casually.

’I just temporarily increased your composure.’

’Why…?’

’Hurry up and activate your Ruler skill.’

Her tone was serious, I followed her, and did as I was asked to do.

〘Ruler〙

My guard was on full alert.

Calmness spread all over me, my thoughts process sharpened instantly.

Shortly after the whole vicinity of the portion of the forest came under my dominance.

I analyzed everything—

My condition, the ice field, Hope standing in front of me, and the figure of a woman lying on the ground, encased in an ice shield.

She looked like Ruby at first—

But she wasn’t.

As if a mist had lifted, her true form was revealed.

A decayed head. Rotten flesh. An almost skeletal face.

Her body was no different. Even her clothes were tattered rags.

The skill Ruler has an unique effect on my brain:

「 The user can enter an absolute state of calm, allowing split-second decisions to be made with perfect accuracy. 」

I came to a conclusion.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

"It’s an illusion."

Licking my lips, I fell into deep thought.

’Alright… let’s think from the beginning.’

"Hey, go back to your group." Hope suggested once again.

’Fuck!’

"…Y-Yes sir, of course," I spoke, deliberately making my voice shaky.

There was no point in revealing more of my skills.

I had already exposed enough, but this much wouldn’t affect me.

It was better to maintain a low profile.

’What low profile?!’ Sera shot back.

’You’re so dumb… You literally fought the rank-1 in front of all these people…’

She was right.

All the students had already witnessed my strength—

A strength that far surpassed the current first-year rank-1.

How was I supposed to get out of this situation?

Well, I had already crafted a solution. ’For real?’

’Yes, I just have to make a good excuse—’

’Please don’t. Your lame excuse will make it worse.’

’This time, it won’t.’

"I won’t repeat myself." Hope’s voice cut in.

Caught off-guard, I stood up from my spot. It was then I realized—

Several eyes were on me.

All the first and second years looked at me in sheer disbelief.

Murmurs filled their group.

But I didn’t flinch.

Casually walking towards them, I took my place behind the group, crossing my arms.

"Hey, did you see him fight…"

"Isn’t his rank too low for him to use that skill."

"That bastard probably used an artifact."

I ignored all the murmurs, I have a bigger issue in my hand.

The fact that I was in an illusion wasn’t what worried me.

What really worried me at the moment was the fact that how easily my mind was influenced by an Authority holder.

It frustrated me.

But I kept my cool.

Sighhh…

’Sera.’

’I am here.’

Her voice answered inside my mind, but I can’t see her ghostly figure anywhere near me. That was fine, though.

’Was this Nathalia’s doing, that dream Authority holder?’

She recollected her thought before answering.

’Yes…’

What she explained made all my deduction proven valid.

A Dream Authority doesn’t only alter someone’s dream, it trap them inside it. They could do much more—

From creating a whole dream world, to actually manifesting someone’s dream into reality.

She got horrifying skills.

That said—

’How did you increase my Mental Barrier?’

Since illusions worked by influencing the mind, increasing my composure must have been how she broke me free.

Well, she was an Authority holder herself.

But something still didn’t add up.

I recalled my past conversation with Goddess Ylthea.

-If an Authority holder dies, their Authority passes down to a new, suitable candidate.-

Then why did Sera still have hers?

This only left two possibilities—

Her physical body was alive somewhere.

Or—

She was simply maintaining her form by using me as her host.

The latter seemed more likely.

That was a question for later.

For now—

’Is he an Authority holder too?’

It was obvious who I was referring to.

’Most probably,’ Sera answered as my eyes scanned Hope’s busy figure.

He was tending to Defender and the other injured students.

’Any guesses on what Authority he holds?’

’No idea.’

Hmmm…

As expected.

Well, he did kill the Holder of Will—

’She isn’t dead.’

Sera interrupted my thoughts.

"What?!"

My sudden outburst caught the attention of several students.

Sera elaborated further.

As the daughter of a goddess, the Holder of Will was a deity—which made her immortal.

Once she fully resurrected, she would wake up.

So deities were immortal…?

I had immortality too.

Did that mean I—

"Alright," Hope suddenly announced. "Prepare yourselves. We’re heading to the human continent."

My thoughts halted.

’Is he serious?’

There were still four Authority holders on this continent.

’Five Authority holders.’

Sera corrected me.

There were five of them, including me, Sera, and possibly Hope.

The other two were Lilith and Nathalia.

My luck was truly rotten.

Not long ago, I barely knew anything about gods, Olympians, and Authority holders.

And now—

I had already encountered four of them.

"Let’s go." Hope picked up Defender and carried him on his back.

’Well… he seems like a nice person.’

A small smile formed on my lips.

With a voice filled with warmth and confidence, I made a request.

"Sir Hope, Madam Envy and Miss Pride were in the south. I got separated from their group on my way here. Would it be possible to meet up with them first?"

Silence.

’Umm… Is this your so-called genius excuse?’

’Of course not!’

End of Chapter