Kain felt on top of the world.
One would think that since he'd shared this position with Serena before, it wouldn't feel that new for him.
But it was.
It was absolutely new.
Because this time, it was just him.
No asterisk. No 'technically tied.' No reluctant sharing of the throne with an emotionally confusing, terrifyingly competent girl who smiled like a goddess and crushed people with horrifying strength.
No half-hearted proclamations of his status as Rank 1, tacked on absentmindedly because people kept forgetting that he technically had the position too!
It was just Kain. All the glory belonged to him and him alone.
And he was thriving.
The closing ceremony of the Re-Ranking Tournament had been everything he dreamed of and more. Professors nodded at him with grudging respect. Fellow students clapped. The scoreboard in the central tower now displayed one name at the top: Kain Newman. Not Kain and Serena. Not Rank 1a and 1b. Just. Kain.
He'd almost cried.
Almost.
