While training, his mind was filled with thoughts on various important subjects.


    What exactly is Attribute Energy? For example.


    This question has always been asked among the population, but it is difficult to answer. All we need to know is that our efforts create Attribute Energy and include four Statistics: strength, resistance, agility, and Sense.


    To obtain it, you can do any exercise that trains Strength, Resistance, and Agility or read or learn complicated things for Sense.


    However, there are other ways to get it. For example, by killing beasts or any race that trains using that energy, since, by killing it, you get a part of its attribute energy (similar to experience in video games).


    It makes sense since you need Attribute Energy to strengthen yourself, so if you kill a beast that has been training its strength for a long time, you will naturally obtain a part of the energy it has trained for so long. However, this also has certain limitations.


    Because of all this, gyms, training centers, and even libraries are very popular in the current era.


    With Attribute Energy being so important, it''s normal for everyone to want to know more about it. Even more so, you need to increase your stats to climb the Strength Ranks.


    But that is just the tip of the iceberg of everything that this mysterious energy represents. But knowing that is enough to start training.


    Even so, obtaining it is easier said than done.


    After two hours of training, Elliot sighed.


    ''I didn''t think creating a stats point would be so complicated.''


    Although he knew it was true, some people take up to a week of training to get a point. How could he do it in two hours? He just hoped so because of the much energy he had absorbed all this time.


    ''Although it may also be that the training routine is not right for me. I don''t feel like I''m working out properly here. Am I thinking too much?''


    As he occasionally had to rest his muscles, he had seen different training sessions that didn''t look as stimulating as those. Because of that, he thought about formulating a new personalized training plan for himself.


    That''s why he stopped.


    ''Should I go to a Martial Arts Center? The awakened ones may create more energy, and there''s always much of them. Maybe I can steal a point if I''m lucky.


    Since he had nothing else to do at the moment, he decided to go back to the gym tomorrow with a better training plan. It''s best to look for training alternatives when the one you''re doing doesn''t seem to be working.


    That''s why he went to the martial arts center.


    As he entered the reception area, he noticed that he was in a completely different environment.


    "There are many who have been awakened. Even the receptionists are awakened, and they are not weak."


    Although everyone who entered and left the martial arts center was strong, he was possibly the weakest of all those present.


    After paying the monthly fee, he sighed.


    ''Sigh, I only have $10 left. This is a disgrace. That bastard said he would give me a supposed bonus to leave, but there was only $20. What a shitty bonus.''


    He put away the change they gave him with a sigh and went in.


    His eyes sparkled at the sight of a new world, and he couldn''t help but get stuck in the doorway, watching.


    A strangely colorful world was before him, with red as the predominant color. The different colors danced among the sounds of fighting and screams of agony.


    ''My God, is it that good?''


    It was several times greater than the amount of energy he found in the gym, so he didn''t hesitate to take several steps inside, ready to start his martial arts training (or steal the energy).


    His steps were filled with strange energy entering him, but they stopped when he was drawn to one of the televisions in the room.


    A man presenting the news was speaking.


    "Among the most shocking local news, Young Master John of the Clark Family has just become, last week, one of the 5 Star Knights of the city after winning a small local tournament. With that, Young Master John will seek to lift the last title of the year..."


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    Elliot frowned.


    ''That bastard... Is he that strong?''


    As fury grew inside him, he heard someone call his name from the side.


    "Elliot?"


    It was a voice unpleasant to hear. Literally, the reason he was furious a moment ago had materialized in front of him.


    "John Clark."


    Looking to one side, he found a young man his age. He was dressed in rather glamorous training robes and many expensive garments on top, followed by several people in arrogance like him.


    Seeing him was enough to rekindle the hatred in his heart.


    ''The culprit of my misfortunes.'' He recalled the riddle the mirror had posed and couldn''t help but find the similarity in this bastard.


    He is his cousin. But, at the same time, the cause of the death of his mother and sister. The murderer who had tormented him for many years and from whom he swore he would take revenge, even if it cost him his life.


    Unfortunately, this John was not bad as an awakened. He was already in the Awakened Rank and had managed to awaken at 14 on his first attempt. He is clearly a genius in the city.


    Furthermore, as he had heard on the news a moment ago, he was now one of the city''s 5 Star Knights, greatly increasing his status as one of the five most powerful young people under 18 in the city.


    At least, that''s what the title indicates.


    John approached him to taunt him.


    "I never thought my city would sink so low that a Misfit could set foot on the training grounds of the awakened," he said as he walked towards Elliot.


    A star insignia rested on the right side of his chest, indicating his newly acquired status.


    Elliot looked at the insignia and smiled.


    "I certainly never thought my city would sink so low that an 18-year-old idiot who depends on pills would ever wear that badge." His voice hinted at mockery and disdain, something that annoyed John.


    "You''ve become eloquent, you little bastard. You seem to have forgotten who your superior is."


    "Haha, I don''t know who my superior is, but I do recognize the face of a traitor. Don''t worry, it''s something I''ll never forget."


    Even though he knew the difference in status and power between him and John, that didn''t mean he would be intimidated. Even when he was a miserable normal human being looking for his place in this world, he was never afraid of John.


    He just had to be careful when he confronted him because, at the slightest mistake, John could pounce on him and kill him.


    But now that he had awakened, he had a little more confidence. Maybe his strength hadn''t changed much from when he wasn''t, but it would soon change.


    John stared at him with a face full of anger. ''Since you like to talk... Let me teach you a lesson. Although I can''t fight in this place, it''s not a place you can mess with either, you bastard.''


    He suddenly took a step forward fast enough for Elliot to be unable to react. He grabbed him by the shoulder with force, making Elliot''s shoulder bone protest loudly, and he gritted his teeth.


    Then John leaned close to Elliot''s ear.


    "A great gift will soon arrive for you. And if that gift is not to your liking, a couple more gifts will follow, dear cousin. Just try to resist. Let me see your face again, so at least you can say you are a worthy son of the Clarks."


    Elliot looked at him. ''So, it was you who sent that bastard. Heh, too bad for you, that so-called gift wasn''t my size.'' Although he scoffed in his mind, his mouth spoke differently.


    A voice full of hatred: "Son of the Clarks? No, you''re not worthy. I''m just Elliot Clark, of the Sky Dome Clark branch. I don''t want your measly trash branch." As he said it, he grabbed John''s hand and used all his strength to pull it away.


    John suddenly saw his hand shake. ''What?'' he was surprised.


    Although tiny compared to his own, the force Elliot had shown was more than he should have used.


    By the time John reacted, Elliot was no longer in sight.


    Only his colleagues and a few curious onlookers were watching, secretly rooting for John and wanting him to kill Elliot finally.


    But this time, it didn''t happen.


    ''That bastard... Shit. I didn''t expect he''d been hiding that he''s a decent Misfit.'' He growled.


    One of his companions approached him.


    "What happened, John? Why did you let him go?" He asked.


    John shook his head.


    "That guy''s on his last legs. Since it looks like he won''t live past this year, at least I''ll let him live the life he longed for."


    "Since when have you been so kind?"


    John shrugged. "After all, he is my family; I must treat my cousins well."


    "Hahahaha, I guess that''s true."


    "Anyway, treating him well is one thing, and letting him abuse you is something completely different. Can you help me expel him later?" he asked the person he was asking questions to, who is the son of the Master of the Martial Arts Center.


    "Well, anyway, misfits are not allowed in, so I''ll do you a favor."


    "Well, let''s go then. We have to celebrate before the last tournament of the year starts."


    "True, they say all the Star Knights will participate, and some new geniuses are in town. Is it real?"


    "Yes, because the five strongest between 16 and 18 years old will be chosen again. Although I have become a Star Knight, it is only temporary; soon, I will have to fight for it again."


    As they walked, they did not realize that Elliot had been listening to them from a distance.


    ''The last tournament of the year... No wonder the Guilds are looking for awakened geniuses lately. I wonder if I''ll be able to join in,'' he thought, although in reality, he was just teasing himself.


    Join in? He wasn''t even qualified to think about it.


    He took one hand to massage his shoulder, which was damaged by that bastard''s grip, before he went in and started farming attribute energy.


    Once he had finished, he went to make the most of his time at the martial arts center.


    These places are usually divided into two: a place where many awakened people train with coaches or other awakened people and rooms for training with puppets. As he is very weak, he needs to go to the room, and there he goes.


    Upon entering, the mechanism was activated with one puppet, whose resistance was astonishing and of decent strength.


    "I''ve only heard rumors about these puppets, and they say they''re very good for training newbies. I hope all the money I spent on the monthly fee will be rewarded."


    He stepped forward to get closer, entering the training ring. Then, the puppet found a target and lunged at him.


    He was forced to lower his body to dodge and took advantage of the position to strike at the lower part of the chest, trying to land a decisive blow to test its toughness.


    But his blow didn''t even make a ripple in the puppet.


    ''Really tough.''


    He quickly took a few steps back to avoid the blow coming from above.


    Then he reloaded his power hand and struck again from the front, taking advantage of the puppet''s carelessness. His blow hit the puppet''s expressionless face and pushed it back slightly, thus beginning his intense training where he tried to gain Strength and Agility.