Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Combat Rating Index [CRI]
"H-Help!"
I watched as Ethan was scrambling in the floor, trying to crawl away from me.
I wanted to let him go, but I also have to uphold my new reputation, so that no one tries to do anything against me.
I have to show them that even without the Blackstar family backing me, I could take care of myself.
Yes, that's right, I have to show them that I am stronger than they think.
I looked at Ethan crawling, muttering 'help' with a horrid expression on his face.
This made me feel disgusted with myself, especially when I exploited an innocent cadet's mental vulnerability in a way that'll leave a scar on him, judging by his reaction now.
However, did I have a choice?
I don't know why I was bought into this world.
I don't have a place to stay in the world.
My family, at least in this world is completely shattered.
My mother here is dead, my brother? Did he even exist here in the first place?
The rest of the family disowned me, and it wasn't like I was innocent here, at least the previous me.
I hated here, I couldn't care less about anything this world had to offer. And why should I adopt this as my new reality?
I was innocent here, I was robbed of my previous life.
And now I was forced to live here with a shattered family and have to suffer from world-ending threats fighting demons?
Yeah, no I want to go back to my world, and for that I had to make sure that everyone here understood to not get in my way.
I gritted my teeth as I approached the crawling Ethan, and I forced myself to laugh like a maniac, so that everyone could see.
"Going somewhere?" I rasped, my voice unrecognizable even to myself.
My foot slammed down on Ethan's back, pinning him to the ground.
"H-Hick!"
He whimpered, a broken sound that scraped against my already frayed nerves.
He chocked with fear as he was desperately trying to crawl away but to no avail.
'This...'
Was my actions justified?
No, I was trying to justify them by bringing up my own problems that had nothing to do with Ethan.
'Is this… me?' The question hammered in my head.
Of course not, I wouldn't dare do such a thing to someone else. I gritted my teeth again as I forced my thoughts out of my head, as I grabbed him by his hair, he terrified muttered,
"I-I give up! I surrender! H-Help!"
What was he muttering on about?
I don't know and I didn't care as I was about to punch him in the face than suddenly—the world turned upside down in my vision as I was forced to lay down by a strong force.
—Thud!
"Kuuugh"
A pained groan escaped my lips as I felt a foreign knee and one of my arm restrained behind my back and the other pulled by a feminine hand.
'What?'
I couldn't even move an inch, I tried to budge but nothing happened.
It felt like I was trapped between heavy metals.
"As cadet Ethan surrendered, the winner of this duos is Aren Blackstar."
Bell announced as I realized she had restrained me.
She than let go of me as I got back up and took a glance at Ethan, he was lying on the ground unconscious.
'What was I about do to him?'
I couldn't help but ask myself as I stared at the unconscious Ethan who was being carried on a stretcher to the infirmary.
I got up and dusted my clothes, I then felt a cold gaze behind my back, when I turned I was met with a striking golden eyes.
I did not feel like dealing with her right now, not after I mentally scarred an innocent teen for my own safety.
If I didn't do what I did now, I was sure I'd be expelled if not now than eventually. As I'll become a target for being 'low ranked.'
When that happens, I wouldn't have a place to stay and I don't have any money on me.
I clenched my teeth as I realized that not only I have to deal with the BS this world has to throw at me, but now I also have to fight for my survival.
'Great, just great.'
I headed towards the exit of the arena, feeling the weight of every cadet's gaze on me.
They looked at me like I was a cold blooded murderer.
'Tch, this way, they'll stay away from me.'
I than remembered something and turned to Bell Flora,
"My rating, what's my rating now?"
My voice pierced through the tension.
"What?" Bell exclaimed, taken aback by my question, her confusion evident as she raised an eyebrow.
"I defeated Ethan, ranked 248 as a cadet ranked 2688, so, what's my rating?"
["Ratings? How does that work?"]
["What's the need of a rating when we got rankings?"]
The cadets murmured among themselves as they looked at Bell with expectant gazes.
Bell Flora cleared her throat, silencing the murmurs. "Ratings," she began, "are a way to measure combat proficiency, separate from class rankings."
A cadet in the front row scratched his head.
"But rankings already do that, right?"
Bell nodded.
"For now. In the first three weeks, duels are based on rankings to establish a baseline."
She than begin to explain the whole process of the rating system.
Initial Rating: At the beginning of the semester, every new cadet starts with a rating of 500, regardless of their class.
The pairing system:
First 3 Weeks: Pairings are based on rankings (since there's no established rating yet).
After 3 Weeks: Pairings can be based on:
Similar Ratings: This ensures fair duels between cadets of similar skill levels.
Challenging Higher Rated opponents from different classes: Cadets can choose to duel opponents with higher ratings to potentially gain a significant rating boost upon victory. However, there's also a higher risk of losing and potentially dropping their rating.
Monthly Tournaments: Every month a tournament is held where any cadet with any rating from year 1 and year 2 and also for any class participate.
Rating Adjustments:
Victory: The winner's rating increases based on a formula that considers the loser's rating and the margin of victory.
Bigger win against a higher-rated opponent = larger rating increase.
Smaller win against a lower-rated opponent = smaller rating increase
Loss: The loser's rating decreases based on a similar formula, considering the winner's rating and the margin of defeat.
Close loss against a much higher-rated opponent = smaller rating decrease (or possible minimal increase if performance was exceptional).
Big loss against a lower-rated opponent = larger rating decrease.
Rating distribution for the first three weeks:
+10 for a win, (+10-100) based on performance, (Your rank - opponent's rank = if it's positive you gain those points and if negative no point will be allocated.)
Same rules apply for losses, except it's -5 for a loss.
Rating distribution after the first three weeks:
+10 for a win against opponent that has similar rating to yours. (Within 0-99 rating points) and added performance points (1-10)
+20 for a win against opponent 100 rating higher than yours, and added performance points
+30 for a win against opponent with 200 rating higher than yours and so on..
Again, same for loses, however if a loser has a good performance against a high rated opponent and still lost, he'll gain rating points.
"Got it? Now, the average ratings for year 1 classes D to A by the end of the year are approximately 650, 850, 1050, and 1250, respectively,"
Bell continued.
"Ratings play a crucial role in invitations to expeditions, dungeon exploration, and top-class tournaments."
She then turned her attention to me.
"Oh, Aren, you can check your new rating using your smartwatch."
I did as she said, as I clicked on my smartwatch a holographic screen poped up:
=====================
Name of Cadet: Aren Blackstar
Age: 17
ID: 909768
Cadet rank: 2688/3026
Class: A
Combat Rating Index (CRI): 2550
======================
["2550? No way!"]
["He can't be that highly rated! The class A average after a whole year is 1250!"]
["This seems unfair. Did he intentionally rank lower to inflate his rating?"]
The pressure in the room mounted as everyone looked to Bell for answers.
Already suspecting this, she spoke,
"since, we never had a cadet ranked in the thousands in the HISTORY of this institute in class A, there isn't a proper system in place to rate Aren."
"Therefore, I as your instructor will intervene and allocate Aren with +200 CRI instead of the ludicrous +2440 for defeating Ethan."
—Tap, Tap, Tap, Tappp..
She than begin to tap away at her smart watch,
"There, check you ratings again, Aren."
======================
...
Combat Rating Index (CRI): 810
======================
'This is for the best, as I wasn't keen on getting dragged to expeditions anyway.'
"Oh, and congratulations, Aren,"
Bell said, her voice taking on an oddly cold tone.
"You're the first cadet in the history of this institute to achieve a CRI of 810 on the first day of the semester."
"Uh... Thanks, I guess?"
I responded not sure where this was going.
Bell nodded and continued, "Now that you're the highest-rated student in first year, you'll need to defend your rating from your fellow enthusiastic cadets."
I felt a bead of sweat form on my brow.
"Now, you don't want anyone to see you as a walking free CRI ratings now do you? Well that's your problem to solve, good luck."
'GODDAMMIT!'
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone