《Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!》 Chapter 1: Awakening Talent

Chapter 1: Awakening Talent

"Listen up, students!" "This test will decide your future. Fail, and you can kiss your dreams goodbye." "So don''t let me down. Give it your all! You got that?!" "Sir, yes Sir!" In the middle of a huge park, a tough-looking instructor in a crisp soldier uniform stared at the quiet students in front of him. They were the ss 12 Year 3 students of No.3 High School . The students gazed at the floating cube moving in the center of the park. Their faces showed different feelings. Some fidgeted nervously, scared they might fail and ruin their dreams. Most looked excited and hopeful about their future. Among them, one student seemed unbothered, like he didn''t care about his future at all. Vincent Magnus, 17 years old now, but 27 just a few weeks ago. Back on Earth, he was just another struggling young adult. Life was tough. With only a high school diploma, he had to work multiple jobs just to get by. That''s right! But everything changed for him three weeks ago. His damn curiosity got him sent to this weird world. He was walking home when he saw a cat ying with a glowing marble on the street. Even though he knew ''curiosity killed the cat'', he still took the marble. Then, like some magic trick, a bright light swallowed him up. He vanished from Earth without a trace. Next thing he knew, he was in the body of some random guy who happened to have the same name as him. (a/n: Let it be) At first, he thought he''d traveled back in time, seeing how young he looked. But man, he was wrong! And not just a little wrong - he was dead wrong about time travel or ending up in some modern parallel world. He soon found out he''dnded in a ce way more high-tech than Earth! But that wasn''t even the craziest part! This world¡ªAstrum, was too digital! A world connected to countless stars, realms, gxies and space stuff! N?v(el)B\\jnn And the big boss system¡ªStarmark, ran the whole universe! That meant all the big shots and powerful beings were under Starmark''s rule and watchful eye. With the world linked to so many stars, gxies, and realms, Astrum was no peaceful fantasynd. Men and women under 17 had to train for wars. At 18, they had to go to a special ce called the Origin World. The Origin World was a crazy ce full of different powers and races. It was like a huge arena where all smart life from the universe fought over resources and power. But not everyone could enter the Origin World. You needed a special key to get in. And today was the big day for Year 3 ss 12 of No.3 High School ! They were going to the Source Cube, that floating mechanical cube in front of them, to awaken their Origin Power! Suddenly, a figure appeared, floating in the air in front of the Source Cube! "Isn''t that our District Leader?!" "You''re right! That''s our very own District Leader Leo!" "He''s scary... is this what an Origin Warrior feels like?" The man who just showed up, with a serious face, was the big shot of their district, Leo ire! Vincent had learned about this guy during his three weeks of research. Leo ire was a huge deal, a hero to many young people in their district. Before bing a famous and powerful Origin Warrior, he was just a poor orphan living on government support. He had it rough, but on his awakening day, he got his origin power and C-rank talent! C - rank talent: me Synergy! With the power to use fire and make his body stronger with it, he started climbing the ranks. That''s how he became a role model for many students, especially those struggling in life. Then, Leo spoke. "Listen up, students of No. 3 High School ! Today''s the start of a new Chapter in your lives!" "I know how you all feel today, I''ve been there! I just want to remind you that no matter what happens today, whether you awaken or fail, I hope you''ll still support your family, the young and old, our district and our world!" "We might not be the strongestpared to other races, but we''re tough! We adapt fast! We''re survivors! And we''ll keep surviving for ages toe! We are humans!" "Now, let the awakening begin!" As the students'' blood pumped with Leo''s words, the start of the awakening snapped them out of their daydreams! "ID no. 02783-672, step forward!" The called student stepped up and touched the Source Cube. A minuteter, nothing happened. The instructor finally said, "Failed, next!" As harsh as it sounded, the student had no choice but to ept it. The next student came up. "Failed, next!" "Listen, move aside and go back to your room after your result!" "Next!" "Failed!" As time passed, Vincent could see the students'' faces changing. It had been a while, but still no one had awakened their Origin Power! If he was really a teenager and hadn''t faced the harsh realities of life, he might be like them - a bit worried, but probably too optimistic! He once thought he was the main character of the world when he graduated and started making money! He wondered where he got the guts to be that hopeful! Right now, all he could think about was how to use his experience and n for the future if he failed to awaken. "I could always mooch off someone if things get really bad..." he thought. Just then, someone he knew stepped up to the Source Cube. It was Greg Malcolm! Coming from an Origin Warrior family, he had some pull in the school. But he was better known as one of the school bullies. Though Vincent hadn''t run into this bully, he didn''t like him. Three weeks was enough for Vincent tobel Greg as a typical bad guy! He''d read thousands of novels in his boring past life, so he knew exactly what kind of character to avoid in this world. "Guess you can''t fix stupid," he thought. "Haha, it''s my turn! Out of my way! I''m finally gonna be an Origin Warrior like my brother!" Greg shoved the shocked student aside, making them fall. The instructor didn''t react to Greg''s behavior. It was clear he was ignoring what Greg did. "Enough, just touch the Source Cube for a minute!" Vincent gave the Instructor a quick look before turning away. This just reminded him what kind of world he was in! A world where strength and influence matter! If you''re poor and weak, your future''s worse than an animal''s! Vincent became more determined to reach his goal. He had to get stronger! Stronger than anyone else! If not, then at least smart and rich! He''d do whatever it takes! He''d struggled back on Earth, he didn''t give up then and he won''t give up now! While lost in thought. "Will Greg awaken his Origin Power?" "Are you doubting our Boss''s potential? He has an Origin Warrior brother, his father was a powerful Origin Warrior too! Boss Greg''s been eating and drinking special stuff! If he can''t awaken his Origin Power, then none of us will!" "I-I''m just talking nonsense, ignore me." "Hmph, you better watch carefully!" Just then, the Source Cube started glowing faintly. "H-Hey, something''s happening! The Source Cube is lighting up!" "Is this awakening... Is Greg gonna be an origin warrior?" "Haha, see? I told you! Our boss is gonna awaken too!" The Instructor''s eyes widened a bit. As the Source Cube''s light faded, a faint shower of light covered Greg''s body. "Hahaha, I''ve finally awakened my Origin Power! Who can beat me now?!" The instructor quickly went to Greg. "Congrattions, Greg! You''re truly a dragon among men! Your future is limitless!" "Haha, you''re too kind Instructor Pen!" "I''m just stating facts. Can you show us what talent you awakened?" Hearing this, Greg smiled smugly and held out his hand. A visual interface appeared above it. [D-Rank Talent: Fire Element Ability] "A D-Rank talent! That''s great! Congrattions Young District Leader Greg!" The Instructor became even more respectful as he addressed Greg. He knew how important this talent was. It wasn''t far from the C-Rank talent of their District Leader who ruled over tens of thousands of people! Suddenly, a figure appeared above Greg and the instructor. It was Leo ire! Leo''s face was still serious, but his eyes sparkled a bit. "Congrattions on awakening. Your talent is good. I can rmend you to the me Tower Guild if you''d like to join." "Are you inviting me to your guild, District Leader Leo?" Greg''s voice got louder, clearly excited by the offer. "I can''t promise anything, but I can rmend you." "That''s enough! With my talent, I''m sure they''ll take me!" Leo frowned slightly before shaking his head, thinking it was just a young person''s overconfidence! "You can go back to your ssroom or stay here if you want. Go on, continue the awakening." Leo flew up again and stood with his eyes closed after ordering the Instructor. "How unfair this world is... the bully gets powerful while we weak ones stay weak forever.." "We should leave this school and find work in another district, that bully will be even worse now!" "Shh, keep it down. He''s awakened now, he might hear you!" Vincent heard the talk of those who failed to awaken and were bullied by Greg. He also started wondering how cruel this world could be. Soon, his ID number was called. "ID No. 09051-997, step forward!" His heart raced as he stepped up, feeling everyone''s eyes on him. Following the Instructor''s directions, Vincent touched the floating Source Cube. The moment his hand touched it, he felt warm energy flowing through his body. He thought it would be cold at first. 30 secondster, still nothing happened. The instructor, looking at the timer on his holographic screen, thought it was another failure seeing no reaction. "This batch might have the worst potential of all," he thought. Vincent, still waiting for something to happen, felt more and more disappointed. Even though he wasn''t too hopeful and had set low expectations, he couldn''t help feeling let down. "Looks like I''m not meant to be the Main Character in this world either." The moment he thought that, something changed. The quiet Source Cube started to vibrate. At first, it was subtle, but soon even the ground began to shake. "What''s going on?" "An earthquake now?" "W-Wait, look! The Source Cube is shaking!" "Huh?" Even the Instructor was surprised by the sudden earthquake. Then, a bright light shot out of the Source Cube and pierced the sky. The students, Instructor, and even Leo were shocked. They''d never seen an awakening like this before! Soon, Vincent felt like he was soaking in a hot spring as the light seeped into his body! [Congrattions to the Host on awakening Origin Power! Talent Awakened: C rank - Origin Power Enhancement! SSS rank - 10,000x Exp Converter!] Talent Details: Origin Power Enhancement - increase the total value of Origin Power by 30% 10,000x Exp Converter - receive ten thousand multiplication experience points upon killing lifeforms. Experience points can be converted to different subjects. SSS rank talent skill options: ¡ñ Upgrade to Next Level ¡ñ Upgrade Skills Quality ¡ñ Upgrade Skills Proficiency ¡ñ Upgrade Items Quality ¡ñ Upgrade Items Quantity "Whoa... what the hell is this broken talent?" Spoiler info so you don''t need to ask like others: Different rank talents has different amount of experience points needed to rank up. Low rank talent means low exp points required. Also there will be experience potions and booster. So, stop asking. Chapter 2: Marina

Chapter 2: Marina

[Name: Vincent Magnus] Rank: Tier 0 Origin Power: 1300/1300 (a/n: mana) Force: 1 (Overall Physical Output Damage and Defense) Speed: 1 (Overall affects the agility and reaction speed) Mental: 1 (Overall affects mental and spiritual characteristics) (a/n: 1 is average value of a normal person) Skills: ¡ñ Basic Offensive and Defensive Martial Technique (Proficiency: Adept) ¡ñ Basic Meditation Method (Proficiency: Adept) Talents: ¡ñ C - Rank: Origin Power Enhancement ¡ñ SSS - Rank: 10,000x Exp Converter Are these my personal attributes? Vincent couldn''t believe his eyes. Was this his cheat ability for transmigrating? As cliche as it seemed, he was thrilled! He could check his stats without a device, and he had two talents! A C-Rank talentparable to a District Leader, and an unheard-of Triple S rank talent! In his 17 years, Vincent had never known anyone with an SSS rank talent. Even if someone had one and kept it secret, it didn''t change the fact that his future was limitless! I might have endless potential, but I''m still weak. I can''t let anyone know about my talent! "He actually awakened!" "Who is he?" "He''s in our ss! He never talked to anyone. We thought he had no hope, but he awakened..." Among the shocked faces, Greg was fuming. He felt like his spotlight had been stolen. The instructor approached Vincent. "Congrattions on your sessful awakening, student Vincent Magnus!" "Thank you, Instructor," Vincent replied calmly, his face unchanging. He''d expected the change in the Instructor''s attitude now that he''d awakened. The Instructor, unfazed by the short response, smiled and asked, "Can you show us what Talent you awakened?" Vincent''s expression remained neutral. He knew it was mandatory to reveal his awakened talent, so he''d already decided which one to show. He held out his hand, and a hologram interface appeared. "C - Rank: Origin Power Enhancement?!" the Instructor eximed. "What? A C rank talent?" "He awakened a higher rank than Greg, who''s from an Origin Warrior Family?" "Is this the start of a new legend in our district?" The students buzzed with excitement. High above, Leo frowned. Something felt off. He had a C-rank talent too, but his awakening was different from Vincent''s. Despite his suspicion, Leo was happy. It was good news for the district. Vincent looked up, watching District Leader Leo descend slowly. "Congrattions on awakening, Young Hero." Leo said. "Thank you, District Leader Leo, but I don''t deserve that title." "Don''t be modest. Our talent ranks might be the same, but your talent has a brighter future than mine." The Instructor gaped in surprise. "What do you mean, District Leader?" Vincent stood calmly, curious about Leo''s words. "Origin Power is the key to the Origin World. It''s the life force of everything there. It''s also called mana, powering all lifeforms in the Origin World. With Origin Power, you can use skills and techniques. Vincent''s Talent lets him increase his Origin Power and attack strength." Leo exined. Vincent was enlightened. He hadn''t known his talent could do so much. "Thank you for teaching me, sir." "Don''t mention it." Vincent felt uneasy as the District Leader gaze lingered on him. "Is there something else, District Leader?" Leo paused, thinking. "Would you like to consider joining my me Tower guild?" Vincent was about to refuse, but Leo quickly added, "Don''t say no yet. I know your talent doesn''t match our guild, but we have a special spot for someone like you. You can skip the assessment. I want to recruit you directly." "We''ll help you start in the Origin World. You''ll get 2 million astrum credits yearly, a vi in the 10th District, and skills and armaments for your rank to boost your strength. Think about it." Vincent fell silent. The offer was tempting. He only got a few hundred credits monthly from his student support. The vi in the 10th District was surprising too. He was currently renting a house in the 12th District. From what he knew, they lived in a huge Ark with 12 Districts. The 12th District was on the edge, prone to monster attacks and crime. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Moving to a safer district was appealing! But what tempted him most were the promised skills and armaments. These were vital for Origin Warriors, especially beginners like him. Skills and armaments weren''t sold openly. You had to use special trade routes, and they were incredibly expensive. Even the lowest-ranked skills or gear were hard to afford. As tempting as it was, Vincent didn''t agree right away. He only knew a bit about the Origin World. He knew there had to be a catch. Nothing in life was free. Even death could be demanding. "Thank you, District Leader. I''ll think about it carefully." Leo nodded, not pushing for an answer. "No pressure. Just focus on preparing for the Origin World. Use your new awakener credits wisely to buy things that''ll help you survive there." "I understand." "Good. You can go prepare on your own now." "Yes. I''ll take my leave then, Instructor Pen, District Leader." Vincent quickly left the awakening center, feeling the mixed gazes of the students on his back. Greg red at Vincent, fuming. He couldn''t believe a nobody had stolen his thunder! Vincent Magnus! You''ll pay for humiliating me! "Find me everything about that brat." Greg hissed. ---------------- Vincent didn''t go home. He took a hover taxi, run by AI. Neon skyscrapers blurred past as he traveled. Minutester, the taxi door opened, and Vincent stepped out in front of a towering building. Origin Warrior Association. It was just a branch in District 12, but it showed the association''s power and influence. Two 3-meter tall mechanical guards stood at the ss entrance. They looked like Transformers from Earth, painted dark green. Vincent entered, and blue lights scanned his body. The red caution hologram disappeared. You may enter, a voice said from nowhere. He followed the red carpet to a spacious lounge and went straight to the information counter, where a beautiful woman in professional attire sat. "How can I help you?" she asked. "I just awakened. I want to register and get my rewards." "Of course. Please fill this out, and someone will guide you to the registration office." She waved her hand, tossing a hologram screen to Vincent. He quickly filled in his name, student ID, and age, then pressed the ''O'' symbol. "Little 13, please guide Mr. Magnus to the registration office," the woman called out. A floating monochrome robot with ''13'' written on it appeared. In a small, girly voice, it said, "Mr. Magnus, this way please." Vincent silently followed Little 13 for a few minutes until they reached the registration office. He saw other young people his age seated in rows of chairs. He took a digital token with the number 24. Half an hourter, his number was called. He entered a room and saw a red-haired woman in professional attire sitting behind a ss screen. "Hello, Mr. Vincent Magnus. Please sit down." "Thank you." "You''re here to register as an awakener and im your district rewards, right?" Vincent nodded. "Alright, please put your hand in this hole. I need to confirm your awakening." Vincent frowned. "Will that show all my awakened talent data?" "Don''t worry. This device just scans to confirm you''ve awakened. You had to reveal your talent name and rank at the awakening center, but everyone has the right to keep the specific effects private," she exined professionally, used to such questions. Convinced, Vincent put his arm in the hole and felt a sting on his wrist. "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Vincent Magnus. You''re now officially listed as an awakened Origin Warrior of District 12. You''ll receive fifty thousand credits, ess to Astrum Origin Hub, a basic origin power meditation guide, and a basic origin power movement guide," she said. "We''ve sent the credits to your bank ount and the guides to your Astrum Origin Hub email. Log in with this.." She handed him a visual ID card with his name, photo, Origin Warrior number, and rank (zero). "This is your Origin Warrior License. Don''t lose it, or you''ll be penalized. Don''t try to make fake copies either, or you''ll be severely punished. We can revoke your registration if you do that. I''ve emailed you the rules for registered Origin Warriors. Please read them," she exined carefully. "Is there anything else I can help with?" "Yes, where can I learn the basics about the Origin World," Vincent asked. "You can easily find that on Astrum Origin Hub." "I see. Thank you." "No problem. Anything else?" "No, that''s all." "Great. Please give me a second of your time to rate your registration experience." Satisfied with the quick process, Vincent gave five stars on the hologram screen and left the Origin Warrior Association. He called a hover taxi home. He had a lot to prepare and research about his Awakened Talents, especially the SSS rank one! After more than half an hour, the view outside the taxi became more urban. Though the world was high-tech, some areasgged behind. As night fell, Vincent arrived home. He scanned his fingerprint to pay the taxi. His rented house was a three-story building, huge for one person. He used his fingerprint to unlock the door, and gem-like bulbs on the walls lit up the room. As soon as he opened the door, a young voice called from inside. "Is that you, brother?" In the living room, Vincent saw his younger sister, Marina, wearing a thin white dress. She sat on the sofa, sipping soda and watching a huge holographic screen showing a handsome man. "Watching that drama again?" Vincent asked. "What''s wrong? Jealous that I''m watching a handsome man other than my pervert brother?" Marina teased, bending her neck to look at him from the edge of the sofa with a smirk. Her wet ck hair swayed behind the sofa, her dress revealing the cleave of her growing chest. Her appearance bore a striking resemnce to Vincent''s. Her oval-shaped face was graced with fair, light skin that seemed to glow under the room''s soft light. Her eyebrows, perfectly arched, framed eyes that mirrored Vincent''s in their captivating purple hue. Long, sweeping eyshes added depth to her gaze, enhancing the allure of her eyes. Her nose, small yet elegantly pointed,plemented her delicate features. Her lips, though thin, were plump and invitingly red, reminiscent of ripe cherries. Vincent, now ustomed to his newfound little sister''s behavior, ignored her teasing and asked, "Where is Sister Amara?" Sister Amara was the actual owner of this three-story building. Vincent and Marina merely rented two rooms. "Hmph, you''re ignoring your sister and asking about another woman instead!" Marina huffed indignantly. Vincent could only face-palm in response. Initially, he had been overjoyed to discover he had a sister in this world, having been without family back on Earth. Now, however, he was beginning to have second thoughts. With a sigh of resignation, he gently pinched both of Marina''s cheeks. "Alright, alright. Brother is sorry for ignoring the little princess," he conceded. Though slightly miffed, Marina couldn''t help but smile happily at the attention. At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. "Oh, you''re here, little Vincent," a feminine voice called out. Still pinching Marina''s cheeks, Vincent turned around. His eyes fell upon a short-haired woman standing at an impressive 170 cm. She was d in a fitted gray sleeveless tank top that entuated her curves, paired with form-fitting shorts that showcased her long, toned legs. Her alluring appearance was further enhanced by the casual way she held a beer in one hand, exuding an air of confidence and rxation. "Sister Amara..." Vincent breathed, his eyes inadvertently drawn to her captivating presence. Chapter 3: Astrum Origin Hub

Chapter 3: Astrum Origin Hub

"Brother..." "Aren''t you staring at sister Amara too much?" Vincent suddenly shivered, feeling a chill down his spine. He slowly turned around to face his younger sister, Marina, who wore a dark and disappointed expression. "I''m not. You''re imagining things," he said simply before changing the subject. "Go wash your hands and let''s have dinner. I have something to tell youter." Still annoyed, Marina left to wash her hands. Vincent then faced Amara, who had messy bed-hair. "You''re drinking again, Sister Amara." "Oh,e on, little brat. Are you my father? Let me be," she casually responded before jumping on the couch. She spread her legs in afortable position and took a sip of her beer. "Fuah! That hit the spot!" she eximed. "Did you even eat before drinking?" he asked as he walked to the kitchen, heading towards a rectangr ck screen mounted on the wall. "You know the answer to your question. Just go prepare dinner for us!" Tap! The moment he touched the ck screen, it became transparent, revealing what was behind it: a fridge. "What do we have here... Skinless chicken breast and some vegetables. I guess this will do..." In this house, Vincent was the only person who could make a proper meal. Having lived by himself before, it was natural for him to learn how to cook. Despite being 26 years old, Amara had no talent for cooking. Once, she made a meal for them, but Vincent had diarrhea for two days afterward. He vowed never to let her cook again. Although shecked cooking skills, Vincent was grateful to Amara. Three years ago, when their parents suddenly went missing on a trip, they had no idea what to do. With no money to pay rent for their previous ce, Amara, who was living alone, took them in. Amara actually had no connection to them; she just encountered them one night in a park while she was drunk, heading back to her house. Three years ago, Vincent was only 14, while his younger sister Marina was 13 years old at the time. To pay for rent, Vincent was tasked with cooking for her, doingundry, and other household chores. Even after living with her for three years, he still had no idea about the background of this mysterious drunkard. Nevertheless, they were grateful to her. Twenty minutester, Vincent made a chicken stir-fry with mixed vegetables and rice. "Dinner is ready!" he called out as the food''s aroma filled the dining room. "Woah, it smells good!" Marina was the first to arrive, followed by Amara, who had already finished her beer. "Come on, let''s dig in!" Amara''s eyes shone as she stared at the food on the table. Her previousziness was nowhere to be found. "These foodies..." Vincent thought. Although he wore a wry smile, Vincent was inwardly d that someone actually enjoyed his cooking. His three weeks in Astrum had been quite an experience. He was able to ept his situation unusually easily. After eating, the two foodies let out sighs of satisfaction. Their stomachs were visibly bulging, obviously full. As Vincent cleaned the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher, the satisfied Amara suddenly inquired, "By the way, how did it go?" Hearing this, Marina also looked at her brother. She knew what Amara meant: the awakening! She was also curious about her brother''s results but didn''t dare to ask him, afraid that he might have failed and that it would hurt his feelings. "Well, about that..." Vincent didn''t immediately answer the question. He paused and stared at them, making them assume he had failed. Marina''s eyes darted left and right, unsure what to say. Making up her mind, she crossed her arms over her chest. "It doesn''t matter even if you failed to awaken. I''ll be awakening myself next year. I''ll be the one taking care of you!" The usually aloof andzy Amara also chimed in. "That''s right, you can just continue living here and do the house chores." Vincent''s forehead twitched. Even though their intentions were out of concern, their choice of words sounded annoying. "Why would you assume I would fail?" "If you didn''t fail, then... did you sessfully awaken?" Vincent stared at his young sister. "What? Just tell me already!" she demanded in annoyance. He eventually broke into a smile before nodding. Seeing him nod, Marina gaped, her eyes widening. Amara, on the other hand, raised her eyebrows. "Are you for real?" Vincent simply held out his hand, showing them the C-rank talent. "That''s great! Congrattions, brother!" Marina pounced and hugged him, obviously happy for him. "Congrattions, little Vincent," Amara smiled, genuinely d for the siblings. "I can''t keep calling you ''little'' from now on. You''re grown up now..." Shaking her head, she added, "It doesn''t matter. You''ll still be adorable little Vincent in my eyes." Vincent could only offer a wry smile. "So, what''s your n now, brother? It''s still August. You still have 2 weeks before September and your birthday," Marina asked. "Don''t worry about that. I already have a n in mind." "Alright, if you need my help, just let me know," Marina imed as she flexed her quite toned muscles. "Now, now, Little Rina, let your brother go and have a rest. You should also sleep early; you have school tomorrow. Don''t you dare bete again. I don''t want to talk to your Instructor again," Amara said, shaking her head. "Hmph! That was just once!" Although reluctant, Marina still agreed. On the third floor, finally alone in his room, Vincent took a t screen device from his pocket. After tapping it, a hollow virtual screen appeared. He quickly visited the Astrum Origin hub. He logged in using his Origin Warrior License numbers. Soon, the ten-inch hologram screen widened, and a few more hologram screens surrounded him. As he scrolled through the hub, he finally saw a thread post titled ''Beginners Guide to Origin World''. It was posted by a user named ''Tata Lino''. He saw other thread posts by the same username but decided to read this one first. The Origin World was a vast, endless expanse. It was like a universe inside a universe. Monsters, races, extraterrestrials, experts, powerhouses, etc., were all over the Origin World. To enter, one had to use Origin Power to tap into their consciousness and enter the Origin World. By spending spiritual force, one could stay in the Origin World. Spiritual Force is a power that grows as the warrior climbs in rank. For his rank, Tier 0, Vincent could only stay in the Origin World for 48 hours. To be specific, Origin World''s time was twice that of reality. So, 24 hours of reality was 48 hours in the Origin World. The Origin World also had a rule that one could not simply leave the world as they wished. One had to wait for their time to run out or use an expensive escape item to leave the Origin World. It also had a rule that once you died in the Origin World, you wouldn''t be able to enter it again, essentially ending and cutting off one''s endless potential. Even with that risk, going to the Origin World had many benefits. As long as they survived in the Origin World, they could take everything they had back to reality! It was a world with countless resources! As an Origin Warrior, it was very important to explore the Origin World since the resources in the real world were already scarce. "I have to carefully prepare and thoroughly n my way in the Origin World..." Vincent thought to himself. He knew the rewards and dangers the Origin World could bring to him. He continued reading through the hub, learning about key locations, influential powerhouses, and the rules within these key locations. After learning all of this, he checked his email and read through the rules and regtions for registered Origin Warriors. His attention thennded on the two Guides in his email: Basic Origin Meditation Guide and Basic Origin Movement Guide! He skimmed through them. The meditation method was a guide on how to easily enter meditation, directing the origin power to train mental power. The movement guide was just a basic movement method using Origin Power. Although both were basic and the lowest-rank skill books, they were very important not just to him but to all newbies as well. They would improve his overall survival ability. The meditation guide to train mental power was vital since there were many monsters in the Origin World that had higher mental power than humans. Furthermore, experts had powerful mental abilities. Just being in the presence of an expert with significantly higher mental powers could make someone faint. The importance of the movement guidey in speed and escape movements, vital for survival. Therefore, there were huge red warning letters at the end of the guides regarding confidentiality. It was illegal to make a copy and sell it for personal gain. Since he was in his room, Vincent decided to try the meditation guide first. He took a lotus position, sat, and closed his eyes in the middle of his bed. He concentrated, clearing his thoughts. The guide said he had to empty his mind first. This was the hardest step, ording to the guide. However, when he closed his eyes and focused for a moment, he felt something warm inside him, triggered, which instantly cleared his mind. Soon, specks of white light began to appear around him before gathering in his body. +0.1 Exp! +0.1 Exp! n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Notifications continued as he controlled the warm energy into the pattern ording to the guide. +0.1 Exp! +0.1 Exp! Thirty minutester, he woke up and summoned his personal attributes with a thought, focusing on certain data. [Vincent Magnus] Rank: Tier 0 (180/2600 Exp) "I''m improving? Isn''t it said it was only to train my mental power?" He had no idea what was happening, but he was thrilled to discover that it could help him improve. Not wasting any more time, he began meditating again! He continued until he fell asleep. The next day, Vincent, who was peacefully sleeping, unconsciously heard a buzzing sound. Bzzz! Pah! With a subconscious p, the buzzing sound near his ears stopped. Host killed a mosquito, received +0.01 Exp! Talent activated! 10,000x exp! Received +100 Exp! As the notification sounded in his ears, Vincent felt a warm energy absorbed into his body, making him involuntarily moan. Soon, he felt a seething heat inside his body. He immediately sat up and began meditating. As time ticked by, he felt his body was bathing in a hot spring. His muscles and bones were cracking as if they were reforming. Specks of light gathered around him. After an indefinite amount of time, an explosion rang inside his body. He felt a surge of power. He even felt his senses increase greatly. He also realized he had found a dark marble in his body. "Origin Core!" It could only mean one thing. With a thought, he summoned his personal attributes. [Vincent Magnus] Rank: Tier 1 - 1 ¡ï (20/100,000 Exp!) "I''ve broken through?!" Chapter 4: Entering the Origin World!

Chapter 4: Entering the Origin World!

[Vincent Magnus] Rank: Tier 1 - 1¡ï (20/100,000 Exp!) Origin Power: 2300/2300 (mana) Force: 2 (Overall Physical Output Damage and Defense) n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Speed: 2 (Overall affects agility and reaction speed) Mental: 2.5 (Overall affects mental and spiritual characteristics) (1 is the average value of a normal person) Skills: ¡ñ Basic Offensive and Defensive Martial Technique (Proficiency: Adept) ¡ñ Basic Meditation Method (Proficiency: Adept) Talents: ¡ñ C-Rank: Origin Power Enhancement ¡ñ SSS-Rank: 10,000x Exp Converter "I''ve broken through?!" Vincent was dumbfounded. He had just awakened his talent yesterday, learned a basic meditation method, and identally killed a mosquito. Now he had broken through to Tier 1 - one star! "I thought cultivation was supposed to be difficult," he mused. "Didn''t I just sleep and unconsciously p a mosquito? My talent is truly extraordinary. While others are probably risking their lives in the Origin World to gather resources and cultivate their rank, I might be the only one who can breakthrough by sleeping and casually pping a mosquito to death." He shook his head, wondering about his future. With his increased power, his initial ns surfaced in his mind. Before transmigrating into this body, its previous owner had been a hard-working youth who matured early. He had died from exhaustion, training relentlessly every day and cramming at night in his desire to be an Origin Warrior and find their missing parents. Although Vincent admired the previous owner''s dedication, he understood the importance of a healthy diet and proper sleep. No one could grind mindlessly and expect to be fine indefinitely. Now that he was living in this body with limitless potential, he felt obligated to find the whereabouts of his and Marina''s parents. "I''m thinking too far ahead," he realized. "I''ve just started my path as an Origin Warrior. I still have a long way to go." With a clear mind, he began to observe the changes brought by his breakthrough. His personal attributes data showed his strength had doubled. He also examined his Origin Core, which seemed oddly familiar. The Origin Core was the foundation of Origin Warriors, serving as a container for Origin Power. Initially, upon awakening at Tier 0, origin power had roamed throughout his body. Now, it was all contained within his Origin Core. However, something puzzled him. "Isn''t the Origin Core supposed to be gray?" he wondered. His was ck in color. Suddenly, he remembered the reason for his transmigration into this world three weeks ago. "Isn''t this the same marble that brought me here?" Lost in thought, he couldn''t determine if it was indeed the same marble or just an anomaly in his Origin Core. Shrugging off these thoughts, he focused on his ns for theing days. Vincent left his room and headed downstairs. Marina had already gone to school, and sister Amara had left for work, though he wasn''t sure of her exact job. He prepared a light breakfast before jogging to the park in a tracksuit. He had memorized the Basic Origin Movement Guide and wanted to practice it. Fifteen minutester, he arrived at the park. Some residents of District 12 were also exercising, walking, and rxing there. Although already warmed up, he stretched out of habit. "ording to the guide, I need to control my origin power and focus it on my legs," he thought. Following this, he guided his origin power to his legs, feeling the warm energy settling there. "Let''s see the effect-" Just as he was about to test the guided movement speed, the warm energy in his legs vanished. Frowning, he focused and channeled origin power to his legs again. This time, maintaining his concentration, he kept the Origin Power steady. Completely focused, he took a step and vanished with a ''whoosh'', reappearing 4 meters away from his original position. The children and elderly in the park who witnessed this were surprised. "M-Mom, that person teleported!" "Shh, don''t point at him. He might be an Origin Warrior!" "Mom, I want to be like that person!" "Yes, yes. Mom would be happy if you awaken too..." Ignoring the whispers around him, Vincent marveled at his burst of speed. "That was fast!" he eximed. It was indeed quick, but he noticed the high consumption of Origin Power. He had used 100 Origin Power in just a second! "I need to train to get used to the speed and minimize Origin Power consumption," he concluded. Vincent continued training in the park, disregarding the whispers and stares of onlookers. He practiced the Basic Origin Movement until nightfall. Returning home, he prepared a meal and ate with Marina and Amara. At night, he meditated, expecting the rate of experience gain to remain the same as the previous day. However, it was several times slower. With 100,000 exp required to reach the next level, he realized meditation alone wouldn''t be enough. It would take far too long! He also tried killing insects in the house but failed to gain any experience from them. This meant he needed to defeat lifeforms of the same rank to receive experience points. For the next few weeks, he focused on physical training, origin movement practice, and meditation. He also used his awakening reward credits. Initially, he thought the fifty thousand credits in his bank ount would be sufficient to buy several items. But he was mistaken! Browsing the Astrum Origin Online Market, he felt impoverished. Common dark-steel alloy weapons cost half of his entire reward - twenty-five thousand credits! He was even more shocked to find that armor of the same material was more expensive! He could only afford cheaper armor made of mixed leather and steel. He spent the remaining credits on other necessities, emptying his bank ount. September 5, Astrum Calendar Year 3000 In the living room, Vincent, Marina, and Amara sat on the sofa. It was Sunday morning, and the two girls wore casual clothes, contrasting with the fully armed Vincent, who also carried a ck backpack. "Brother, are you ready to go?" Marina asked, her voice tinged with concern. She honestly didn''t want him to leave. Today was his actual birthday; they had celebrated it just yesterday. Her worries stemmed from a fear of abandonment. He was her only family member. She couldn''t bear the thought of her brother leaving her too. She was well aware of the dangers the Origin World held. "You have nothing to worry about. Your brother is strong!" he assured her. He understood Marina''s concerns. He would be afraid too if he were in her position. That''s why he had to be stronger. He was no longer living just for himself. He had a younger sister and an older sister, though not by blood. "I understand, but please be careful there ande back tomorrow, okay?" "If you don''t return tomorrow, I''ll post your search history online!" Marina threatened yfully. Vincent couldn''t help but tremble inwardly at the thought. His body''s previous owner was a youth, so it was natural that there might be some questionable search history. Seeing his reaction, Amara smirked. "Hmm, why don''t you tell me your brother''s search history so I can post it on my social media as well?" Her tone was mischievous. Marina turned to look at her, considering the idea. Seeing his younger sister about to agree, Vincent quickly intervened. "Alright, alright, stop! I''ll be back by tomorrow morning!" The duo chuckled at his reaction. "So you''re actually like that, Little Vincent..." Amara maintained her teasing smile. Vincent chose to ignore her and change the subject. "Alright, I''ve wasted enough time. You have nothing to worry about. I''ve thoroughly prepared for this moment. I''ll be going now!" As he stood up, a transparent vial filled with red liquid was thrown at him. He reflexively caught it. "Take that with you," Amara said. Vincent examined the vial in his hand before looking at Amara. "This is a recovery potion, right?" Amara didn''t respond, just smiling at him. "Where did you get this? This is expensive." Thest time he browsed the online market, he saw the cheapest recovery potion selling for 50,000 credits! And that was the cheapest option! He could buy two dark-steel weapons with the vial he was holding. "Don''t worry about it. Just make sure toe back in one piece. It''s hard to find another tenant who can cook and do myundry..." Although her tone was casual, he could detect a hint of concern in her voice. He didn''t press further. Though curious about the potion''s origin, he simply epted it with thanks before tucking it into one of his pockets. "I''ll be going now." The two girls nodded. "Please be careful out there, brother!" "Come back quickly. You still have to cook for us." Vincent nodded with a smile. Closing his eyes, he focused his thoughts, and a bright light enveloped him before he vanishedpletely. The two girls watched in silence before Marina broke it. "How are we going to eat now?" Once again, silence filled the room. Chapter 5: Novice Sanctuary

Chapter 5: Novice Sanctuary

Vincent''s vision cleared, and he found himself standing in the center of a majestic circr field. Towering white walls of intricate architecture surrounded him, with a massive clock tower looming in the middle. The setting was a mesmerizing blend of futuristic and medieval styles. Countless white lights appeared around him as other Origin Warriors materialized in rapid session. [Wee to No.3 Novice Sanctuary!] A holographic interface shed before his eyes. In the Origin World, Tier 0 to Tier 3 Origin Warriors, ssified as Novice rank, were automatically spawned in one of four Novice Sanctuaries. These sanctuaries were situated on designated vast continents ording to one''s rank. Vincent had appeared in No.3 Novice Sanctuary, located in the western part of the Novice Continent. The other sanctuaries were positioned at the cardinal points: No.1 Novice Sanctuary in the North No.2 Novice Sanctuary in the East No.4 Novice Sanctuary in the South "Of all ces to spawn... my luck truly is abysmal," Vincent muttered under his breath. ording to the hub information, No.3 Novice Sanctuary was the worst possible starting location for humans. With a scarce human poption, this sanctuary was dominated by other races. As Vincent surveyed his surroundings, he noticed one of the materializing figures nearby. It had a humanoid shape but sported green and ck spotted skin, sharp fangs, and pointed ears ¨C a Vyrmin. These creatures were known for their smaller staturepared to humans. While Vincent was taking in the sights, a gruff voice cut through his thoughts. "Well, well, what do we have here? Another human insect dares to show its face in our sanctuary?" The voice dripped with malice. Vincent turned to face its owner and found himself staring up at an imposing figure. Standing nearly three meters tall, the being before him was d in heavy chest te armor with a giant axe strapped to his back. His appearance was vicious ¨C purple skin, short thorny spikes adorning his bald head and the sides of his face, all entuating his bodybuilder-like physique. It was a Thrygian, one of the races most hostile towards humans. The Thrygian was nked by twopanions, both a head shorter than him but no less intimidating. The Thrygian''s booming voice caught the attention of the other spawning races in the area. Whispers began to circte among the onlookers. "Isn''t that Grarik? The young master of the ckthorn n?" "You''re right. I heard he''s already at the peak of Tier 2." "What''s all thismotion about?" "Not sure, but it looks like Grarik''s set his sights on that human..." "Which human?" "That one there. Looks like a newbie..." "Poor soul. I''ve heard their n is ruthless towards humans. A fight''s bound to break out if they cross paths." "But would they dare to fight inside the sanctuary?" Vincent frowned as he caught snippets of the whispered conversations around him. He was well aware of the strict rules governing the sanctuary, one of which explicitly forbade killing within its confines. However, the rules said nothing about fighting... Realizing the precariousness of his situation, Vincent felt a headacheing on. He had just arrived, and all he wanted was to explore the sanctuary in peace. Was that too much to ask? With a furrowed brow, he addressed the Thrygian. "What do you want?" Grarik scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "What do I want? I want you to kneel, kowtow, and beg forgiveness from my ancestors, you miserable insect!" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Vincent''s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "And why, pray tell, would I do that? Do I owe you something?" "Owe me?" Grarik growled, his purple face darkening with rage. "You humans owe my entire family! Your kind dared to pige our resources and ughter my people! Of course you owe me!" Vincent''s patience was wearing thin. "You''re spouting nonsense. If you want a fight, just say so. No need for these fairytales!" Although he knew he was at a disadvantage, Vincent wasn''t one to back down from a challenge. He believed in fighting for his dignity ¨C a man could die fighting, but should never suffer humiliation. Of course, if circumstances required him to swallow his pride for the sake of loved ones, he would. But this... this was not one of those situations. Moreover, Vincent was confident that Grarik wouldn''t dare kill him inside the sanctuary. That knowledge emboldened him. "You, a mere human insect, dare to challenge me?" Grarik''s voice turned cold, disbelief evident in his tone. "Why not? Are you afraid?" Vincent retorted, a hint of a smirk ying on his lips. He might be weak, but Vincent had never shied away from a fight. Even back on Earth, where he had grown up alone on the streets, he had faced death multiple times. He had always had to fight for himself. "Afraid? Haha!" Grarik suddenly burst intoughter as if he''d heard the funniest joke of his life. Without warning, a heavy pressure erupted from Grarik, crashing down on Vincent like a tidal wave. Although Vincent had braced himself for battle, this was his first encounter with the raw power of a Tier 2 Origin Warrior. The crushing weight seemed to bear down on every fiber of his being. "Why would I fear an ant like you?" Grarik''s voice was deep and cold, devoid of any humor now. ''Damn it! I had no idea the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 was this vast...'' Vincent thought, his body trembling under the immense pressure. In that moment, a sobering realization dawned on him. Just because he possessed an SSS-rank talent and had managed to break through to Tier 1 in a single night, he had allowed himself to be overconfident. He had naively expected his journey to be smooth sailing thanks to his innate abilities. As the pressure threatened to force him to his knees, Vincent gritted his teeth in defiance. "What''s the matter? Why has the little insect stopped buzzing? Cat got your tongue?" Grarik taunted, clearly reveling in Vincent''s struggle. Just as the situation seemed bleakest, a deep, calm voice cut through the tense atmosphere. "I believe you''ve had your fun, Giant Fool!" Suddenly, a simr pressure crashed down, colliding with Grarik''s mental assault. Vincent gasped in relief as the oppressive force lifted, feeling as though he''d just survived the most intense minute of his life. "Who dares?!" Grarik roared, his eyes scanning the area for the source of the interruption. Vincent turned to see his unexpected savior ¨C a man with flowing golden hair, dressed in elegant clothes and armor. An exquisite longsword hung at his waist, its sheath gleaming in the light. "Caelius!" Grarik spat the name as if it left a foul taste in his mouth. The neer, Caelius, casually picked at his ear as if Grarik''s shout had actually hurt it. "You really do have a habit of shouting, don''t you?" "You actually have the audacity to show your face before me?!" Grarik growled, his massive frame quivering with barely contained rage. Caelius let out a heartyugh. "I even dared to kill your younger brother. Why wouldn''t I dare to show myself to a clown like you?" At the mention of his brother, Grarik''s eyes zed with murderous intent, his expression contorting into one of pure hatred. "You bastard!!!" he roared, reaching for the massive axe on his back. In that moment, all he wanted was to hack the arrogant human before him into bloody pieces. However, before he could make a move, one of hispanions grabbed his arm. "Wait, young master! The elders ordered us not to cause any major disturbances for the time being." "Did you not hear what this insect just said? He killed my younger brother!" Grarik snarled, struggling against hispanion''s grip. "I understand your anger, young master. But please, calm yourself. I''m certain the elders have a n, and we will have our revenge soon enough." Though still seething with rage, Grarik managed to regain some semnce of control. He fixed Caelius with a deadly re. "Count yourself lucky we''re inside the sanctuary. If I catch you outside these walls, it''ll be your funeral!" He then turned his venomous gaze on Vincent before storming off with his men in tow. "Bye-bye, Giant Idiot!" Caelius called out cheerfully, waving as he watched Grarik''s retreating form disappear into the distance. As the crowd began to disperse, Vincent turned to face Caelius, his unexpected ally in this strange new world. "Thank you for stepping in," Vincent said, genuine gratitude in his voice. Caelius waved his hand dismissively. "Don''t mention it. I didn''t do it for you ¨C I just can''t stand that guy. Besides, it was hrious watching his face turn ck with anger. Did you see that?" He broke intoughter once more. Vincent could only manage a wry smile. It seemed he had encountered quite the character. "I''m Caelius, by the way. And you are?" the golden-haired man asked, extending his hand. "Vincent," he replied, shaking Caelius'' hand firmly. "You''re new here, aren''t you?" Caelius asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Is it that obvious?" Vincent asked, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. Caelius shrugged. "If you''d spawned in any other sanctuary, maybe not. But here? A human walking around without a mask or robe? That speaks volumes." Vincent wanted to point out that Caelius himself wasn''t exactly hiding, but he bit his tongue, the memory of his recent encounter still fresh in his mind. "You seem to know that Thrygian well," Vincent observed. "Am I going to be in trouble after what just happened?" Caelius stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I do know Grarik, unfortunately. As for trouble... try not to dwell on it too much. We humans might be scarce here, but we''re not without our own foundations. They won''t openly attack you, especially not within the sanctuary. Unless..." "Unless I''m outside," Vincent finished, understanding dawning on him. Caelius nodded solemnly. "Come on," he said, his mood lightening. "I''ll give you a tour of the sanctuary. You''ll need to familiarize yourself with this ce if you want to survive." Chapter 6: Novice Center

Chapter 6: Novice Center

As Vincent walked alongside Caelius, exploring the sanctuary, he absorbed the wealth of information his new acquaintance shared, solidifying the knowledge he''d gleaned from his prior research. "The No. 3 Novice Sanctuary is under the rule of the Crystallians, a neutral race," Caelius exined, his voice tinged with a hint of admiration. "They''re known for their fair governance, which is a blessing in this melting pot of races." Vincent nodded,mitting the information to memory. "What about the living arrangements here?" he inquired, his eyes scanning the impressive structures around them. Caelius''s lips quirked into a knowing smile. "Ah, that''s where it gets interesting. For newbies like yourself, the first two days are on the house. After that, you''ll need to pay taxes to stay." "And if I choose not to pay?" Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow. "Then you''re on your own in the wild," Caelius replied, his tone turning serious. "Trust me, you don''t want that. If you leave the Origin World while outside the sanctuary, you''ll spawn back in the wild when you return. It''s a death sentence for most newbies." Vincent felt that it does makes sense. "I see. What else should I know about the sanctuary''syout?" "The sanctuary is divided into three districts: outer, middle, and core," Caelius continued, gesturing to different areas as they walked. "Living in the middle or core districtses with perks, but you''ll need to earn contribution points to gain ess." "What kind of perks?" Vincent asked, his curiosity piqued. "Discounts, valuable connections, ess to special trade routes," Caelius listed off, a glint in his eye. "But don''t get ahead of yourself. For now, focus on understanding the system and surviving." N?v(el)B\\jnn Vincent nodded, his mind already working on strategies to climb the ranks. "Where to next?" "The Novice Center," Caelius announced, pointing to a grand building ahead. "It''s the go-to ce for newbies and unaffiliated individuals. You can gather and sell info, take on missions, and trade items there." As they approached the imposing structure of the Novice Center. The building''s architecture was a testament to the advanced civilization of the Origin World, its sleek lines and imposing presence a stark contrast to anything he''d seen on Earth. Upon entering, Vincent was immediately struck by the diversity of races bustling about inside. Beings of all shapes, sizes, and colors moved with purpose, their conversations creating a low hum of activity. Human faces were few and far between, most hidden behind masks or concealed beneath hooded robes. Vincent touched the ck mask Caelius had given him earlier, grateful for the anonymity it provided. Through the mask, only his striking purple eyes were visible, a feature he hoped wouldn''t draw too much attention. As they made their way through the crowd, Vincent couldn''t help but notice the sideways nces and hushed whispers directed at Caelius. Hispanion seemed either oblivious or deliberately ignorant of the attention. "Man, why is that demon here?" Vincent overheard someone mutter. "I heard he massacred a group of rogue warriors again," another voice added, tinged with fear. "Yeah, and didn''t he kill the youngest master of the ckthorn n?" a third chimed in. The whispers continued, painting a picture of Caelius that was at odds with the helpful, almost cheerful demeanor he''d shown Vincent. Curiosity gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside for the moment. There were more pressing matters at hand. They approached a long counter where five women of various races attended to visitors. Vincent stepped up to an avable attendant, an Almaurian woman with almond eyes and copper skin. "How can I help you?" she asked, her voice professional and courteous. "I''d like to register," Vincent replied, keeping his voice steady. The woman nodded. "Certainly. Do you have any affiliation?" Vincent questioned. "What''s the difference if I''m affiliated or not?" The attendant''s expression softened slightly, recognizing a neer. "Well, if you''re affiliated with a guild, n, or sect and want to join our organization, you''ll have ess to special missions with amazing rewards. Without affiliation, you''ll only be able to ess normal and some elite missions. You can still join other registered warriors for special missions, though." Vincent nodded, suddenly recalling the District Leader''s offer. He filed that information away forter consideration. "I''m not currently affiliated with any organization," he stated. "I understand," the attendant replied, tapping on a digital screen beside her. With a fluid motion, she dragged a virtual screen towards Vincent. "Please fill this out." Vincent quicklypleted the form, providing his chosen alias ''Shroud'', his current rank, and confirming his unaffiliated status. As he passed the screen back, the attendant continued working, her fingers dancing across the interface. A momentter, a faint light shimmered before her, coalescing into a circr token. She handed it to Vincent with a smile. "This will be your identification token." Vincent epted it, marveling at the strange material. It seemed almost alive, with lines of green and blue pulsing across its surface. The inscription "Tier 1 - 1¡ï" was prominently disyed, with ''Shroud'' written beneath. "The token serves multiple purposes," the attendant exined. "It''s your ID when leaving the sanctuary, grants you two days of free lodging in the outer district inns, and allows you to track mission progress. It also has an emergency signal function." Vincent nodded, absorbing the information. "Where can I ept missions?" he asked, eager to get started. The attendant pointed to arge virtual screen on the far side of the room. "You can check and ept avable missions on that Novice Mission Board." After thanking her, Vincent turned to Caelius, who had been waiting patiently nearby. "You''re epting a mission now?" Caelius asked. "Yes, that''s my n," Vincent confirmed. "Is there a problem?" Caelius paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. "Nothing specific. Since you''ve explored the outer district and have a n, I''ll take my leave. I have some matters to attend to." Vincent wasn''t feeling disappointed he just nodded in understanding. "Thank you again for your help earlier and for the tour." "Don''t mention it," Caelius replied with a wave of his hand. "Good luck, and see you around." As Vincent watched Caelius''s retreating form, he couldn''t help but feel a mix of gratitude and wariness. The first human he''d encountered in this new world had been unexpectedly helpful, but the whispers he''d overheard left him with more questions than answers. Shaking off his musings, Vincent steeled his resolve. The memory of his encounter with Grarik in the Spawn Field still burned in his mind, a stark reminder of his current weakness. It was time to start improving, to get stronger! With determined steps, he approached the Novice Mission Board. The massive virtual screen disyed four columns, one for each tier from 0 to 3. Vincent focused on the Tier 1 missions, scanning the avable options: Gather 6 Tier 1 - 1¡ï ck-Iron Bee Stingers! Reward: 100 origin crystals. Gather 5 Tier 1 - 2¡ï Green-Horned Boar Horns! Reward: 200 origin crystals. Kill 4 Tier 1 - 3¡ï Corrupted Hyena! Reward: 300 origin crystals and 1 recovery potion. The list continued, offering missions ranging from one to five stars within Tier 1. Most rewards were in origin crystals, the currency of the Origin World, with a few offering additional items like potions. Recalling his humbling experience with Grarik, Vincent decided to start small. Overconfidence could be deadly in this new world. He had limitless potential, true, but he needed to be cautious and mindful of his actions and surroundings. After careful consideration, Vincent epted the first mission: Gather 6 ck-Iron Bee Stingers. A soft ''ding'' sounded from his token, confirming the eptance. He pulled out the token and tapped it, revealing a small virtual map showing the location of the ck-Iron Bees. With the informationmitted to memory, Vincent left the Novice Center. It was time to hunt some ck-Iron Bees! The outskirts of Verdant Wilds, a vast rainforest west of No.3 Novice Sanctuary, teemed with life. Vincent treaded carefully along the forest path, his newly acquired pair of dark-steel alloy daggers clutched tightly in his hands. The weapons, purchased from the Astrum Origin Online Market, felt reassuringly solid in his grip. As he ventured deeper into the forest, Vincent finally spotted a group of ck-Iron Bees in the distance. The creatures were enormous, easily 130 cm tall, with yellow bodies and menacing ck stingers that gleamed in the dappled sunlight. Despite his mission, Vincent didn''t hesitate to retreat. He wasn''t about to risk taking on a whole group without knowing their true strength. For the next fifteen minutes, Vincent scouted the area, searching for a lone bee. His patience was rewarded when he stumbled upon a solitary ck-Iron Bee resting on an enormous, vibrant flower. The opportunity was too perfect to pass up. Gripping his daggers tightly, Vincent focused on channeling his Origin Power to his feet. A warm energy suffused his lower limbs, and when he was about ten meters from the sleeping bee, he sprang into action. In an instant, Vincent appeared behind the unsuspecting creature, driving his daggers towards its wings with all his might. To his shock, instead of piercing the delicate-looking appendages, his weapons rebounded with a resounding ng, leaving only faint white marks. The impact sent painful vibrations up his arms, nearly causing him to drop his weapons. "So hard!" Vincent gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief. The disturbance roused the ck-Iron Bee from its slumber. Its body shook with anger, wings vibrating to produce an ominous buzzing sound. Fixing Vincent with a furious re, itunched into the air, diving towards him with frightening speed. Vincent didn''t dare underestimate the creature now. Drawing upon the basic origin movement techniques he''d practiced relentlessly for a month, he managed to dodge the bee''s initial assault. But the ck-Iron Bee was relentless, swooping down again and again, its massive stinger a blur of motion as it sought to impale him. For fifteen grueling minutes, the dance continued. Vincent dodged and weaved, asionally finding openings to counterattack. Slowly but surely, injuries began to umte on the ck-Iron Bee''s body, and its attacks grew sluggish. Vincent, too, was feeling the strain. Maintaining his Origin Power while constantly evading and counterattacking was taking its toll. But he pressed on, knowing that victory was within reach. Finally, as the bee swooped down for another attack, Vincent saw his chance. With a precisely timed strike, he severed one of its four wings, sending the creature crashing to the ground. Seizing the moment, Vincent pounced, driving his daggers deep into the bee''s ocelli andpound eyes, not stopping until he felt the weapons pierce its brain. A system notification chimed in his mind: You have sessfully killed a ck-Iron Bee! You have received 5 exp! Talent activated! 10,000x Exp! You have received 50,000 Exp! As his talent activated, a surge of warm energy burst forth, flowing directly into Vincent''s Origin Core. The sensation was indescribable, a rush of power that left him feeling invigorated despite his physical exhaustion. Before his eyes, the defeated ck-Iron Bee dissolved into a shower of digital lights, leaving behind its prized stinger and a mysterious white orb of light. Curiosity oveing his fatigue, Vincent reached out and grasped the glowing orb. The moment his fingers touched it, the orb shattered into motes of light, coalescing into a small white book that hovered before him. The title shimmered into view: "Common Stinger Skill Book." Vincent''s eyes widened in surprise and excitement. "It dropped a skill book?!" he eximed, his voice echoing in the now-quiet forest. Chapter 7: Growth

Chapter 7: Growth

As the ck-Iron Bee dissolved into a shower of digital lights, Vincent''s eyes widened at the sight of a mysterious white orb hovering amidst the remains. Curiosity overcame his fatigue, and he reached out to grasp the glowing sphere. The moment his fingers made contact, the orb shattered into motes of light, coalescing into a small white book that floated before him. The title shimmered into view: "Common Stinger Skill Book." "It dropped a skill book?!" Vincent eximed, his voice a mix of surprise and excitement. He quicklyposed himself, remembering the potential dangers lurking in the forest. Without hesitation, he focused on the book, and a system prompt appeared in his mind: Skill Name: Stinger Quality: Common Effect: Increases the damage and status effect of weapon strikes, causing the target to bleed and take poison damage for a short duration. [Do you want to learn Stinger?] Vincent didn''t even pause to consider. With a thought, he epted the skill. As the white skill book dissolved into particles of digital light, he felt a warm energy and newfound knowledge enter his being. [New Skill ''Stinger'' has been added!] With a mere thought, Vincent summoned his personal attributes visual data: Name: Vincent Magnus Rank: Tier 1 - 1¡ï (50,104/100,000 Exp) Origin Power: 2300/2300 (mana) Force: 2 (Overall Physical Output Damage and Defense) Speed: 2 (Overall affects agility and reaction speed) Mental: 2.5 (Overall affects mental and spiritual characteristics) (1 is the average value of a normal person) Skills: ¡ñ Basic Offensive and Defensive Martial Technique (Proficiency: Adept) ¡ñ Basic Meditation Method (Proficiency: Adept) ¡ñ Basic Origin Meditation (Proficiency: Novice) ¡ñ Basic Origin Movement Speed (Proficiency: Adept) ¡ñ Stinger (Proficiency: Beginner) Talents: ¡ñ C-Rank: Origin Power Enhancement ¡ñ SSS-Rank: 10,000x Exp Converter A smile yed on Vincent''s lips as he reviewed his stats. "Excellent," he murmured, his voice low but filled with satisfaction. "Just one kill, and I''m already halfway to breaking through to Tier 1-2¡ï. This new skill will significantly increase my damage output against the ck-Iron Bees." He paused, considering his next move. "One more kill should suffice. Then I''ll be able to handle these creatures with rtive ease." Vincent carefully stored the 20 cm long, 3 cm diameter ck-Iron Stinger in his backpack. He needed four more of these materials toplete his mission, and he was cautiously optimistic about obtaining them. After a brief rest to recover his energy, Vincent surveyed the area, searching for another ck-Iron Bee. It didn''t take long before he spotted one. This time, the creature wasn''t sleeping. It buzzed from flower to flower, seemingly collecting precious pollen to take back to its hive. Vincent observed its movements, formting a n of attack. With practiced stealth, he crept closer, his newly acquired dark-steel alloy daggers gripped tightly in his hands. As he closed the distance, Vincent channeled his Origin Power to his feet and activated the Stinger skill. His daggers began to emit a faint green glow. In a burst of speed, Vincent pounced. His enhanced daggers struck true, puncturing the bee''s tough hide and sinking deep into its abdomen. "Puchi!" The sound of metal piercing chitin filled the air, followed by the bee''s pained buzz. The creature crashed into a nearby tree, its flight suddenly erratic. As Vincent withdrew his weapons, rusty reddish-brown blood burst from the wound. "It worked," he muttered, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. The wounded ck-Iron Bee, now bloodied and desperate, began to buzz its wings frantically. The air around it grew heavy with vibration, forcing Vincent to leap backward to avoid the dangerous airwaves. "Not so fast," Vincent called out, his voice calm but determined. He brandished his daggers once more, purple eyes focused intently on the weakened insect. Vincent knew he had the advantage now. The bee was bleeding profusely and weakened by the poison from his Stinger skill. "Just one more strike," he thought, preparing to deliver the final blow. With a swiftness born of adrenaline and his honed reflexes, Vincent lunged forward, his daggers poised to strike. The ck-Iron Bee, despite its weakened state, attempted to dodge the iing attack, but Vincent''s enhanced speed proved too much. In a single, deadly thrust, he plunged his daggers deep into the bee''s thorax. The creature''s buzzing reached a fever pitch before abruptly ceasing, its wings falling still as Vincent withdrew his weapons. The glow of Origin Power faded from the edges of his daggers as the bee''s body copsed into digital specks of light. A familiar warmth spread through Vincent''s body as the system notifications appeared: You have sessfully killed a ck-Iron Bee! N?v(el)B\\jnn You have received 5 exp! Talent 10,000x exp multiplier activated! You have received 50,000 exp! [Avable Options: ¡ñ Level up to Tier 1 - 2¡ï (requirement: 100,000 exp!) ¡ñ Increase skill proficiency (requirement: 100,000 exp!) ¡ñ Increase skill quality (requirement: 100,000 exp!) ¡ñ Increase item quality (requirement: 100,000 exp!)] Vincent''s eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. "Interesting," he mused, studying the unexpected options before him. "It seems my talent doesn''t automatically level me up as it did during my initial breakthrough." Although all the avable options were enticing, Vincent knew exactly what he needed most at this moment. Without hesitation, he chose the first option. A surge of Origin Power flooded into his Origin Core, filling him with renewed energy and vitality. He had officially reached Tier 1 - 2¡ï. Despite his satisfaction with the level up, Vincent''s expression turned thoughtful as he realized the ck-Iron Bee hadn''t dropped any items this time. "Perhaps I used up my luck with that skill book earlier," he pondered, shaking his head slightly in disappointment. However, he quickly pushed the thought aside, refocusing on his mission. It took only a few minutes of searching before Vincent stumbled upon a pair of ck-Iron Bees. One rested motionless on a flower, while the other buzzed about, heavy with pollen. Feeling more confident with his increased strength, Vincent formted a quick n. Gripping his daggers, he took careful aim and threw one at the stationary bee''s head. In the same fluid motion, he pounced on the active bee, driving his remaining dagger into the back of its thorax. "Puchi! Puchi!" Two simultaneous strikes ended the lives of both ck-Iron Bees. The system notifications appeared once more: You have sessfully killed 2 ck-Iron Bees! You have received 2.5 exp! You have received 2.5 exp! Talent Activated! + 25,000 exp! + 25,000 exp! As the experience points were added to his total, the two ck-Iron Bees left behind their stingers and a single white orb of light. Vincent collected the stingers before turning his attention to the orb, anticipation building as he reached out to touch it. Upon contact, the white orb copsed into digital lights before reforming into a yellow-copper pair of leather armguards. Though only ofmon quality, Vincent equipped them without hesitation. Curious about his progress, he checked his personal attributes once more: Name: Vincent Magnus Rank: Tier 1 - 2¡ï (50,104/200,000 Exp) Origin Power: 2000/2800 Force: 2.5 Speed: 2.5 Mental: 3 "The experience requirements for leveling up are substantial," Vincent observed, his tone neutral but his mind racing. "Without my experience multiplier talent, progress would be considerably slower." He also noted that he had yet to find an opportune moment to utilize his C-Rank talent. "All in due time," he reminded himself. "For now, the focus is on continued growth." With renewed determination, Vincent set out to hunt more ck-Iron Bees. Two hours of intensebatter, he had finally umted 200,000 exp. His efforts had also yielded more than the required five ck-Iron Stingers and wings, though unfortunately, no additional skill books or armaments had dropped. Now, Vincent found himself resting against the trunk of a massive tree, replenishing his energy with a ration he had brought from the real world. As he ate, the familiar options screen appeared before him: [Avable Options: ¡ñ Level up to Tier 1 - 3¡ï (requirement: 200,000 exp!) ¡ñ Increase skill proficiency (requirement: 100,000 exp!) ¡ñ Increase skill quality (requirement: 100,000 exp!) ¡ñ Increase item quality (requirement: 100,000 exp!)] Though tempted to explore the other options, Vincent''s pragmatic nature won out. "Increasing my cultivation level is the wisest choice for now," he decided, selecting the option to break through to Tier 1-3¡ï. Another wave of energy suffused his being, and Vincent could feel his strength improving once more. A small smile of satisfaction yed on his lips as he finished his meal. Suddenly, his enhanced senses picked up a series of approaching footsteps. Vincent''s body tensed, his hand instinctively moving towards his daggers. "Who?" he wondered. Spoiler info so you don''t need to ask like others: Different rank talents has different amount of experience points needed to rank up. Low rank talent means low exp points required. Also there will be experience potions and booster. So, stop asking. Chapter 8: First Kill

Chapter 8: First Kill

As the figures drew closer, emerging from the dense foliage, Vincent''s eyes narrowed in recognition. Two towering Thrygians, each standing nearly three meters tall, their purple skin glistening with an otherworldly sheen, stepped into view. Their massive frames dwarfed the surrounding vegetation, and the ground seemed to tremble beneath their heavy footfalls. Vincent''s jaw clenched as he recognized them as the duo apanying Grarik earlier. Their hostile intent was palpable, radiating off them in waves that made the air feel thick and oppressive. Therger of the two, Taruk, brandished a massive sword that looked more like a b of metal than a refined weapon. His bare, muscled chest heaved as he fixed Vincent with a predatory gaze. "We have finally found you, insect," Taruk growled, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the forest. "You really made us search, huh?" The second Thrygian, Farek, stepped forward, cracking his knuckles ominously. "You were fortunate that we were inside the sanctuary earlier," he sneered, baring sharp teeth. "You won''t be so lucky this time!" Vincent''s expression hardened, his mind working furiously to understand how they had managed to trace him. He had been meticulous in covering his tracks, donning a mask and venturing deeper into the forest. Yet here they were, having hunted him down like bloodhounds. Despite the worry gnawing at him regarding the Thrygians'' strength, Vincent steeled himself for the impending confrontation. His face remained impassive, betraying none of the tension coiling within him. "Go, let''s kill him already!" Taruk roared, his patience clearly at its end. "We have wasted so much time looking for this insect!" He raised his enormous sword, the metal catching the filtered sunlight and gleaming ominously. With a battle cry that shook the leaves from nearby trees, Taruk charged at Vincent. The ground trembled under his feet, small pebbles bouncing with each thunderous step. Vincent, however, didn''t flinch. In a fluid motion born of rigorous training he had in his academy and newly acquired skills, he gripped his daggers tightly and chose to meet the attack head-on. As Taruk''s massive sword came crashing down, Vincent raised his daggers in a cross-guard. The sh of metal on metal rang out through the forest, a discordant symphony of battle. ng! "What?!" Taruk''s shocked voice cut through the reverberations of the sh. His arms numbed from the impact, his sword bouncing back unexpectedly. Vincent, despite sessfully parrying the attack, couldn''t help but furrow his brow in confusion. ''Aren''t they supposed to be stronger?'' he thought, recalling the infamous reputation of Thrygian strength. Farek, seeing hispanion''s attack repelled, let out a roar of frustration. "What the hell are you doing, Taruk?!" He charged forward, massive fists raised for a devastating punch. But to Vincent''s enhanced perception, the attack seemed to move in slow motion. With a grace that belied his recent transformation, he sidestepped the iing fist. In the same fluid motion, he counter-attacked, his dagger finding purchase in Farek''s left ribs. sh! "Ugh!" Farek groaned, more in surprise than pain. Vincent pressed his advantage, not allowing his opponents a moment to recover. He darted in again, his daggers a blur of motion as they traced crimson lines across Farek''s purple skin. With a final, powerful kick, Vincent propelled himself backward, executing a perfect vertical flip to create distance. Taruk''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Farek! Fall back!" he called out, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "There''s something wrong with him!" As Farek stumbled back, clutching his wounds, Taruk''s mind raced. This human, who had been paralyzed by their young master''s mere presence hours ago, was now moving with the speed and precision of a skilled warrior. It didn''t make sense. "Isn''t he a newbie?" Farek gasped, voicing the confusion they both felt. "Howe he''s this strong?!" Unbeknownst to the Thrygians, Vincent had activated his C-rank talent: Origin Power Enhancement the moment they attacked. This not only amplified his already enhanced movement speed but also sharpened his senses by 30%, giving him a significant edge in the battle. Taruk, grasping for an exnation, called out to hispanion. "He might be using a special or forbidden skill. He probably won''tst long. Let''s buy time!" Farek nodded grimly, "Alright!" The duo adopted a new strategy, attacking in tandem with coordinated movements. shes from Taruk''s massive sword were followed immediately by Farek''s powerful punches, leaving little room for error. But Vincent, emboldened by his earlier sess, met their assault with growing confidence. He weaved between their attacks, his daggers shing as he countered with precise strikes. Each movement was calcted, each dodge followed by a counterattack empowered by the Stinger skill. As the battle wore on, a look of understanding passed between the two Thrygians. With a synchronized nod, they prepared to unleash their race''s innate ability. Twin roars of fury echoed through the forest as the Thrygians'' bodies began to change. Their already impressive muscles bulged grotesquely, veins standing out like corded ropes beneath their purple skin. The spikes adorning their bald heads and the sides of their faces elongated and sharpened, giving them an even more fearsome appearance. Vincent''s eyes narrowed as he recognized the transformation. He took a cautious step back, reassessing the situation. "Die!" The Thrygians bellowed in unison, their voices deeper and more guttural than before. The battle resumed with renewed intensity. Despite their increased strength, the Thrygians found themselves still outmatched. Vincent''s higher cultivation level,bined with his Origin Power Enhancement, allowed him to maintain his edge. Taruk, frustration evident in his voice, shouted between swings of his massive sword, "How are you this strong, human? What kind of forbidden technique are you using?" Vincent did not respond and kept dodging. He would never dare to get distracted during a fight. Farek,unching a flurry of punches, growling. Vincent parried a blow, his daggers leaving a thin line of blood on Farek''s arm. As the fight dragged on, the effects of Vincent''s Stinger skill became increasingly apparent. The Thrygians'' movements grew sluggish, their purple skin taking on a sickly pallor as poison coursed through their veins. Taruk, his breathing in ragged gasps, locked eyes with Vincent. "You... You are not a newbie. Who are you really?" Vincent ignored his words. He does not give a fuck about their thoughts. As the Thrygians weakened, their attacks became desperate, fueled more by fear than strategy. Taruk, his massive frame swaying, made onest attempt to reason with Vincent. "Wait... please," he gasped, his sword drooping. "We were just following orders. We have families... children..." Vincent hesitated for a moment, his daggers poised for the final strike. In that instant of doubt, Farek lunged forward with a roar, aiming a poison-weakened but still deadly punch at Vincent''s head. Instinct took over. Vincent''s daggers shed, and Farek fell, his final words a gurgle of disbelief. Taruk, seeing hispanion fall, let out a howl of anguish. "You monster! You''re no better than the worst of us!" With thest of his strength, he charged at Vincent, his sword raised high. Vincent, his face a mask of grim determination, met the charge head-on. In a flurry of strikes, Taruk''s massive form crumpled to the ground. As the light faded from Taruk''s eyes, he whispered, "Remember this day, human. Remember... the lives you''ve taken." Finally, exhausted and overwhelmed, the two Thrygians copsed. Their massive bodies shimmered and dissolved into specks of digital light, leaving behind only their dropped items and glowing orbs. System notifications shed in Vincent''s mind: You have sessfully killed a Tier 1 - 2¡ï Thrygian! You have sessfully killed a Tier 1 - 2¡ï Thrygian! You have received 3 exp! You have received 3 exp! Talent Activated! + 60,000 exp! As the adrenaline of battle faded, the reality of what had just transpired hit Vincent like a physical blow. He stood frozen, his daggers still gripped tightly in his trembling hands. Taruk''s final words echoed in his mind, mingling with Farek''s taunts about never belonging. He had killed for the first time in his life, he had taken the lives of sentient beings. Even though the Thrygians weren''t human, they were close enough to make the act feel monumentally significant. And they had spoken of families, of children... Vincent''s mind reeled. Just two months ago, he had been a normal, struggling adult on Earth. Now, he stood in an alien forest, his hands stained with the essence of creatures he had only recently learned existed. Creatures who, despite their hostility, had lives and loved ones of their own. The weight of his actions pressed down on him, threatening to overwhelm his maintainedposure. Vincent clenched his fists, acknowledging the weight of his actions. When it suddenly dawned on him. "What the hell am I thinking? They are still alive though they won''t be able to enter the Origin World for the rest of their life.." he thought, remembering the rules of Origin World. The killing felt so surreal that he thought of his actions. Having gathered his thoughts and reaffirmed his determination, Vincent turned his attention to the items left behind by the fallen Thrygians. Taruk''s massive ck sword, nearly two meters in length,y on the forest floor. Beside it, a brown pouch had spilled open, revealing pieces of broken, colorless crystals. Two orbs of light, one white and one blue, hovered nearby. Vincent approached cautiously, first reaching for the broken crystals. As his fingers brushed against them, he felt a faint pulse of Origin Energy. You have received 300 Origin Crystals! "So these are Origin Crystals," Vincent mused, carefully pocketing the valuable resource. Next, he picked up the white orb. It copsed into a shower of digital lights before reforming as a transparent vial filled with a vibrant red liquid. You have received amon recovery potion! A small smile tugged at Vincent''s lips. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Nice! Another life-saving item." Finally, he reached for the blue orb. As his hand made contact, the light dissipated, leaving behind a blue book that seemed to hum withtent power. Vincent''s eyes widened in recognition. "Another skill book?!" he eximed, his earlier emotional turmoil momentarily forgotten in the face of this unexpected boon. Chapter 9: Upgrade

Chapter 9: Upgrade

Skill Name: Thrygian''s Trait Quality: Rare Required: An innate ability of Thrygians Race, only can be learned with Thrygians Bloodline. Effect: Physical Enhancement - enhance 20% of your physical ability for a period of time. Enhancement effects depend on the purity of bloodline. "A rare skill but..." Vincent''s voice trailed off, a hint of disappointment evident on his young face. He let out a small sigh, his brow furrowing slightly. "I can''t even use it." He contemted his options, his mind working through the possibilities. "I could sell it on an online auction," he mused aloud, "but the prerequisites might make it difficult to find a buyer. Still, it''s rare. I could make good money if I manage to sell it." Vincent''s thoughts drifted to the quality tiers in this world: Common, Umon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. A small, wry smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the unlisted ''Poor'' quality tier, found only outside of Origin World. His ck-steel alloy daggers, which had cost him 25,000 credits, fell into that category. "Just imagine how much this rare book could sell for," he muttered, carefully storing the skill book away. Next, Vincent turned his attention to the massive sword left behind by Taruk. He reached out, gripping the hilt with both hands, and lifted. "It''s quite heavy," he noted, silently grateful for his recent increase in strength. As he held the sword, information flooded his mind: [Darksteel Sword] Power: Tier 1 Armament Quality: Common Details: A sword crafted by a novice cksmith using ck-iron materials. Skill(s): Darksteel Slice Effect: A basic attack skill that deals moderate damage to a single target. This skill has a chance to inflict a minor bleed effect on the target, causing them to take a small amount of damage over time. "An armament?!" Vincent eximed, genuine surprise coloring his voice. His mind raced, recalling what he knew about armaments. They were on another levelpared to crafted weapons on Astralis, capable of being stored in an Origin Warrior''s consciousness and growing alongside their owner. A cold realization washed over him. "I''ve been fighting against an armament with my ck-steel alloy daggers," he murmured, a mixture of awe and disbelief in his voice. "If I hadn''t focused on dodging..." His gaze fell to the daggers at his side, and his lips twitched in dismay. Visible cracks marred their surface. "This is just the first day I used you for fighting," he addressed the daggers, a hint of bitterness in his tone, "but it seems you won''tst much longer." Despite the setback, a spark of excitement ignited within him. "At least I''ve got a new weapon now, and it''s an armament!" [Do you want to bind it?] Without hesitation, Vincent agreed. The Darksteel Sword broke into motes of light, entering his consciousness. With a thought, he summoned it back into his hand, marveling at the seamless transition. He repeated the process several times, familiarizing himself with the weight and feel of the weapon. As the excitement of his new acquisition faded, Vincent''s mind returned to the gravity of his situation. His appetite, interrupted by the Thrygian attack, had not returned. Instead, a sense of urgency filled him. "I need to use all my precious limited time in Origin World," he muttered, his purple eyes scanning the forest around him. "I have to get stronger quickly." The memory of the two Thrygians he had defeated surfaced in his mind. "Killing Grirak''sckeys... our enmity has reached an irreconcble state." He paused, his expression hardening. "No, it was irreconcble the moment Grirak bullied and humiliated me." With a few hours of daylight remaining, Vincent set out to hunt, pushing himself to make the most of his time. As Vincent ventured deeper into the Verdant Wilds, unbeknownst to him, events were unfolding elsewhere that would have significant implications for his future. ***** Somewhere in Novice Continent, Grirak paced back and forth, his face contorted with annoyance. The young Thrygian''s usuallyposed demeanor had given way to visible frustration. "What the hell are those fools doing?!" he growled, his fists clenching and unclenching rhythmically. "Why are they taking so much time just to kill that insect?!" His eyes darted to themunication device on a nearby table, willing it to light up with news from Taruk and Farek. But the device remained stubbornly silent, further fueling Grirak''s irritation. "They had one simple task," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "Find the human and eliminate him. How difficult could that be for two warriors?" As the minutes ticked by with no word from his subordinates, a seed of doubt began to take root in Grirak''s mind. Could something have gone wrong? He quickly dismissed the thought. After all, what chance did a mere human neer stand against his two Thrygian warriors? Little did Grirak know, his world was about to be turned upside down. ***** Meanwhile, on the Thrygian, within the residence of the ckthorn n, a scene of confusion and despair was unfolding. In a dimly lit room, Taruk and Farek sat side by side, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and fear. Their usually vibrant purple skin had taken on a sickly pallor, a physical manifestation of their inner turmoil. Taruk, therger of the two, broke the heavy silence. "We... died?" The words came out as barely more than a whisper, his gaze fixed on the window, staring out at a world that suddenly seemed alien to him. Beside him, Farek''s voice trembled as he voiced the question weighing heavily on both their minds. "What are we going to do now?" The reality of their situation crashed down upon them like a physical blow. Death in the Origin World meant more than just a temporary setback. It meant the severance of their connection to that realm, cutting off their chances of bing the powerful warriors they had aspired to be. Farek''s hands clenched into fists, his voice taking on a bitter edge. "We were justckeys. We can''t afford the resources for our cultivation outside of the Origin World." Taruk nodded grimly, the full implications of their failure sinking in. "Our dreams of power... gone. Just like that." As the initial shock began to wear off, their expressions shifted from despair to a mixture of fury and nervousness. The memory of their defeat at the hands of the human they had dismissed as insignificant burned in their minds. "How?" Farek growled, mming his fist against the wall. "How could a mere human neer defeat us both?" Taruk shook his head, his voice low and filled with dread. "It doesn''t matter how. What matters is whates next. We... we have to report this to the young master." The thought of facing Grirak with news of their failure sent a shiver down both their spines. They knew their young master''s temper, his intolerance for failure. Farek''s voice quavered as he spoke. "We have no other choice anymore. We can only report what happened to the young master and hope for mercy." Taruk nodded solemnly. "May the ancient Thrygian warriors have mercy on our souls." With heavy hearts and trembling limbs, the duo left their room, steeling themselves for the confrontation thaty ahead. The walk to Grirak''s chambers felt like a march to their execution, each step bringing them closer to a fate they feared more than the death they had just experienced in the Origin World. ***** Back in the Verdant Wilds, oblivious to the turmoil he had caused in the Thrygian ranks, Vincent continued his hunt. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows through the dense foliage. As he hunted, Vincent discovered new limitations to his SSS-rank talent. Not only did he fail to gain experience from killing lifeforms of a lower tier, but his umted experience points could not exceed the limit needed to raise his cultivation level. Currently at Tier 1 - 3¡ï, his limit was 300,000 experience points. This revtion led to a moment of contemtion. Vincent found a small clearing and sat down, his back against a sturdy tree trunk. He closed his eyes, focusing on his inner energy and the lessons he had learned. "If I continuously raise my level," he mused aloud, his voice barely above a whisper, "one day I''ll hit a bottleneck. I might face an opponent I can''t defeat with cultivation alone." Opening his eyes, determination glinted in their purple depths. "I need to n carefully for my future." After careful deliberation, Vincent decided against leveling up immediately. Instead, he focused on his avable options: [Avable Options: ¡ñUpgrade to Tier 1 - 4¡ï (requirement: 300,000 exp!) ¡ñUpgrade skill proficiency (requirement: 100,000 exp!) ¡ñUpgrade skill quality (requirement: 100,000 exp!) ¡ñUpgrade item quality (requirement: 100,000 exp!)] With 300,000 experience points at his disposal and no immediate ns to delve deeper into the Verdant Wilds, Vincent made his choice. "I''ll increase the quality of Stinger," he decided, recalling how useful the skill had proven during his recent hunts. [Do you want to upgrade the quality of Stinger?] Vincent nodded, a small smile ying on his lips. "I do." [The Stinger skill quality has been sessfully upgraded!] Eager to see the changes, Vincent checked the skill''s new parameters: Skill Name: Virulent Stinger Quality: Umon Effect: Increases the damage and status effect of weapon strikes, causing the target to bleed and take poison damage for a longer duration. Additionally, the target''s movement speed is slightly reduced, making it easier for the character tond additional attacks. "The name changed, and it has an additional effect!" Vincent eximed, unable to contain his excitement. The improvements to Virulent Stinger filled him with a sense of aplishment and anticipation for future battles. With 200,000 experience points remaining, Vincent considered his options carefully. He could upgrade Virulent Stinger once more, but the increased Origin Power consumption gave him pause. After weighing the pros and cons, he made his decision. [Choose Item to upgrade] ¡ñDrop materials ¡ñCommon Copper Armguard ¡ñDarksteel Sword Armament Without hesitation, Vincent summoned his Darksteel Sword. "I choose you," he dered, his voice filled with certainty. [Darksteel Sword has been upgraded sessfully!] The massive sword in his hand suddenly glowed with digital lights. After a few moments, the lights faded, revealing the upgraded weapon: ``` [Darksteel Sword] Power: Tier 1 Armament Quality: Umon Details: This sword is forged from ck-iron materials and infused with a magical enchantment that increases its damage output and durability. Skill(s): Darksteel sh Effect: A more powerful version of the Darksteel Slice skill that deals increased damage to a single target. This skill has a greater chance to inflict a bleed effect on the target, causing them to take moderate damage over time. Vincent''s eyes gleamed as he examined the improved weapon. "It''s unfortunate that I didn''t get a new skill," he mused, "but it''s good that the existing skill improved!" Satisfied with his progress, Vincent decided against further upgrades. The sky was darkening, and he knew the dangers that lurked in the Verdant Wilds at night. Primals were more active in the darkness, and he had no desire to test his newfound strength against them just yet. As he made his way back to No.3 Novice Sanctuary, Vincent remained vignt, asionally engaging low-level primals to farm experience points. Each encounter was an opportunity to test his upgraded skills and weapon, and he found himself growing more confident with each victory. Upon reaching the sanctuary, Vincent headed straight for the Neer''s Lodge. He presented his Novice Warrior token, securing a single bed room for the night. Exhaustion from the day''s events weighed heavily on him, and he decided against cultivation, opting instead for a restful sleep. The next morning, Vincent descended to the lobby, intent on having breakfast before reporting to the Novice Center. Already wearing his ck mask. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om To his surprise, he found the inn bustling with activity. The dining tables were filled to capacity, upied by a diverse array of races engaged in animated conversations. Among them, he spotted a group of humans, a sight that caused him to pause momentarily. Curiosity piqued, Vincent approached the bar. Behind it stood a bartender with sharp ears, green skin, and ck spots ¨C a striking appearance that momentarily caught Vincent off guard. "Is it like this every day?" Vincent inquired, his voice muffled slightly by the ck mask he wore. The bartender, who had been cleaning a ss, looked up at Vincent. His expression remained neutral as he studied the neer. After a moment of silence, the bartender spoke. "I bet you''re a newbie, right?" Vincent nodded, seeing no reason to deny it. The bartender set down the ss he had been cleaning. "You might not know this, but today is the date for the weekly Outer District Battle." "Outer District Battle?" Vincent echoed, his interest piqued. "Yes," the bartender confirmed. "Neers will fight in the arena, and the selected winners will be allowed to enter the Lost Grove." Vincent''s brow furrowed beneath his mask. "What is Lost Grove?" Instead of answering, the bartender simply tapped the bar table. Vincent understood the unspoken message. He reached into his pocket, retrieving five origin crystals and cing them on the table. The bartender''s gaze fell to the crystals, but he made no move to take them. Vincent, catching the hint, added another five crystals to the pile. A wide smile broke across the bartender''s face as he scooped up the payment. "Lost Grove is a secret realm," he began, his voice lowered conspiratorially. "Rumor has it that it contains powerful relics and artifacts left behind by the Ancient Origin Warriors." Vincent leaned in, intrigued. The bartender continued, "The realm is said to be guarded by a powerful spirit, but those who can prove their worth and defeat its guardians will be rewarded with powerful treasures." As the bartender''s words sank in, a question formed in Vincent''s mind. He voiced it carefully, "If it''s really as you say, that it contains relics of ancient origin warriors, then who is recruiting warriors to enter the secret realm, and why?" The bartender''s smile faltered slightly. "About that..." Chapter 10: Strange Woman

Chapter 10: Strange Woman

The bartender''s smile faltered slightly. "About that... If you''re interested, you can just go to the Outer District Battle Arena." Vincent didn''t press the bartender further. ''I guess it might be better to see it on my own,'' he thought. Deciding on his next course of action, he sat down and ordered a light breakfast before heading to the Novice Center to report and acquire more missions. Although his curiosity was piqued by the bartender''s information about the secret realm, he didn''t have enough knowledge about it. It might contain dangers he wouldn''t be able to ovee. Therefore, he believed the wisest decision was to improve his personal strength first. At the Novice Center, Vincent approached the same Almuarian woman who had guided him through registration yesterday, Alma. He submitted the ck-Iron Bee Stingers he had collected. "With these, you havepleted your mission," she said, pausing before handing him a small silk pouch. "This is your reward, 100 origin crystals." Vincent epted it withoutment. He then heard a soft ''ding'' sound from the identification token in his pocket, indicating thepletion of his mission. After thanking Alma, he skimmed through the Tier 1 missions and chose avable tasks ranging from 1 to 5 stars. Initially, he wanted to ept all avable missions within that range. However, he discovered he could only ept five missions simultaneously. With this limitation in mind, he chose missions focused on killing primals and collecting materials. As he was about to leave the Novice Center, a woman''s voice interrupted him. "W-Wait, you! The one who epted five missions!" Frowning beneath his ck mask, Vincent turned to face the voice''s owner. He saw a crimson-haired woman standing 170 cm tall, her red clothes clinging to her body, emphasizing her well-developed figure. Although she appeared human at first nce, her skin was different. She had red skin, reptilian crimson eyes, long eyshes, and a few reptile scales on her cheekbones. A Drakorii. They were known as one of the neutral races in the Origin World, with a natural affinity for fire elementals. Most of them possessed an innate talent for fire maniption and were skilled hunters. While observing her, Vincent could feel the gazes of others around him. They were assessing him, trying to determine if he was a powerful warrior or a suicidal idiot. Seeing nothing remarkable about him, they quickly lost interest,beling him as thetter. Noticing hisck of reaction, the Drakorii woman approached him and said, "Hey, I saw you ept the mission about irmuse?" Still cautious, Vincent responded, "What about it?" "Oh, so you really epted it. I was just guessing, hehe," the woman said yfully with a giggle. Vincent simply stared at her, unsure of her intentions. Seeing hisck of reaction, the woman pouted. "You''re so boring. Are other humans as dull as you?" Surprised by her innocent question, Vincent''s eyes widened, and he subconsciously touched his face, wondering if he had forgotten to wear his mask. Feeling the cold texture of the ck fabric, he realized it was still in ce. ''I am wearing my mask. How did she know I''m human?'' he wondered, having been extra cautious today after yesterday''s events. That was why he had donned the mask the moment he left his rented room earlier. Although curious, Vincent decided it was better not to get close to her. Without responding, he quickly left the Novice Center. However, the woman persisted in following him. "Wait! Human!" she called repeatedly, which eventually annoyed Vincent. He stopped in his tracks and faced her. "Why do you keep bothering me? What do you want?" His voice rose slightly, evidently irritated. The Drakorii woman faltered back, seemingly surprised at his tone. "W-Why are you mad?" Her voice softened, and the corners of her eyes watered. Seeing her reaction, Vincent couldn''t help but touch his forehead, feeling a headacheing on. ''Just what kind of people am I encountering today?'' he thought bitterly. Yesterday he had met individuals with deep backgrounds and others who wanted him dead. Now, he was facing another peculiar character. Calming his thoughts, he addressed the teary-eyed woman who was acting like a scolded child. "Calm down, I''m not mad." "Really?" she asked doubtfully. "Yes, yes, really," Vincent responded, as if soothing a child. "Hmm, okay," she said, seeming to ept his words. Seeing her calm down, he asked again, "So, what do you want from me? Why did you follow me?" This time, his tone was more measured, wary of upsetting her further. The woman stared at him innocently. "I want to go with you!" "Go with me? Where?" "irmuse." "irmuse?" She nodded. Vincent''s lips twitched. Although her reply was brief, he somehow understood her intention. "Do you want to go with me to hunt irmuse?" She nodded again. "Why? Can''t you go alone?" he asked. She went silent, fidgeting before shaking her head. "Don''t you know there''s a map in your identification token? You can find the whereabouts of irmuse through that." She remained silent, her red skin taking on an even deeper shade of crimson, seemingly ashamed. "I-I don''t know..." her voice was almost inaudible. "You don''t know what?" "I don''t know how to look at the map..." she said softly. Vincent was speechless. "Just how old are you not to know how to follow a map?" The Drakorii woman was too embarrassed to reply. Shaking his head, Vincent chose to reject her. "No, I can''t go with you. I don''t even know you; you might kill me when I let my guard down." He didn''tpletely believe her act. Hearing his rejection and usation, the woman responded, raising her thin but perfectly arched eyebrows, "Why would I kill you? Are you a bad human?" "Are you sure you''re above 18?" he could no longer hold his doubt. Vincent saw her about to nod before she shook her head. He was skeptical but discarded the thought, knowing it was impossible to enter the Origin World for those below 18 years old. ''Maybe she has some cognitive issues,'' he reasoned, trying to find the most usible exnation. "Anyway, I really cannot let you go with me," he said firmly, determined not to let a stranger know his secrets. Moreover, she would likely be a hindrance to his farming efforts. He turned around, preparing to leave. "W-Wait, I can pay you!" She called, grabbing his clothes. "No," he said simply, removing her hand. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "I can pay you whatever you want!" This time, he was surprised. He raised his eyebrows, scrutinizing her from head to toe. "Whatever I want?" Chapter 11: Azhara

Chapter 11: Azhara

Vincent''s eyes locked onto the Drakorii woman before him, his gaze intense behind his mask. "Whatever I want, you say?" Azhara took an involuntary step back, unnerved by his piercing stare. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Ignoring her question, Vincent pressed on. "Tell me, youngdy, what can you offer?" "What do you want? I have many things here..." Azhara waved her hand, and suddenly the air shimmered. A dazzling array of items materialized before them: crystals that seemed to pulse with inner light, gems that sparkled like captured stars, potions in every color of the rainbow, and various light orbs with possible variety of rare items. Vincent''s eyes widened behind his mask, fixated on the ck ring with its neon light design adorning Azhara''s finger. ''She''s loaded!'' he thought, barely containing his excitement. ''If this were a game, she''d be the walking loot box!'' Unaware of Vincent''s reaction due to his mask, Azhara misinterpreted his silence. "Is this not enough?" she asked, worry creeping into her voice. Vincent cleared his throat, trying to sound nonchnt. "Which of these are you willing to offer?" Azhara tilted her head, puzzled. "What do you mean? Of course, I''ll be giving you all of this." "What?!" Vincent eximed, hisposure slipping. ''Is this girl for real?'' "What''s wrong? Is this really not enough? In that case¡ª" "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Vincent hurriedly interjected as Azhara prepared to summon even more items. "That''s more than enough! Any more and we''ll need a moving truck!" "Really?" she asked, uncertainty written all over her face. "Yes, really," Vincent assured her, marveling at her naivety. ''How has she survived in this world with such an attitude? Did she fall out of a "Rich Kids of Fantasy Land" reality show?'' Composing himself, Vincent addressed her request. "Listen, I''ll agree to bring you with me if you promise to follow my instructions. Are you alright with that?" His tone was firm, like a teacherying down ssroom rules. "Yes, I promise!" Azhara nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining brighter than her jewels. "Good. Let''s introduce ourselves properly. You can address me as Shroud," Vincent said, opting to use his alias. He couldn''t simply trust her, no matter how adorably clueless she seemed. "I''m Azhara, a Drakorii," she replied cheerfully, as if her dragon-like features weren''t already a dead giveaway. "Alright, Azhara. Are you prepared to leave?" "Yes," Azhara smiled gently. "Before I came here, my father even gave me a gift." With a sh of crimson energy, a beautiful silver rapier materialized, its rose-shaped crossguard gleaming. Vincent sensed a subtle me energy emanating from the de. ''An armament?!'' Vincent thought, astonished. His curiosity about Azhara''s background deepened. She was clearly from a privileged background, equipped with rare items and gifted an armament by her father. ''Great, I''m babysitting a dragon princess. What could possibly go wrong?'' As they left the Sanctuary, heading towards the Verdant Wilds, a shadowy figure stealthily followed them. In the Verdant Wilds, Vincent''s de shed, cleaving a ferocious ckbite Rat in two. The creature dissolved into digital lights, leaving behind a small, dark tooth. [You have killed a ckbite Rat!] [You can''t gain more experience points] It had been merely an hour since they entered the Verdant Wilds, and Vincent had already maxed out his experience points. The reason? Azhara had panicked at the sight of a bug¡ªa mere Tier 1 - 1¡ï primal¡ªand stumbled into a ckbite Rat''s den. "It''s just a bug!" Vincent had yelled as Azhara iled around. "But it''s so... buggy!" she had shrieked back, demonstrating a remarkable grasp of the obvious. Although individually weak, the sheer number of rats had been overwhelming. Vincent lost count after ying a hundred. Fortunately, Azhara proved her worth with her fire affinity and rare armament, allowing them to vanquish the horde. Exhaling heavily, Vincent turned to the silent Azhara. "What did you promise before I agreed to your request?" Azhara, too ashamed to respond, could only mumble an inaudible apology. Vincent sighed. "Forget about it. Let''s take a short rest before we look for irmuse and conclude this deal. And maybe invest in some bug spray." As he began collecting the materials dropped by the ckbite Rats, Azhara watched him curiously. "Why are you putting those in a backpack?" "Because I don''t have a storage item," Vincent replied, not looking up from his task. "Eh? But why? Isn''t this item cheap?" Azhara wondered, ncing at the ck ring on his finger. Vincent''s lips twitched. ''Young miss, you have a nice way of indirectly calling me poor to my face!'' he thought. ''Maybe I should start a GoFundMe: "Help a Poor Origin Warrior Buy a Magic Backpack."'' "No, it''s not. They''re not cheap, and I can''t afford them yet," he admitted. "But father has many of these..." Azhara muttered before her eyes lit up with an idea. She approached Vincent, who immediately turned, still cautious. "What do you want?" he asked. "Um, I''d like to give you this as an apology for my mistake earlier..." Azhara held out a ck ring¡ªa storage ring. Surprised but wary, Vincent asked, "Are you sure?" Azhara nodded with a gentle smile, pressing the ring into his hand. "I am sure. Please ept it." Though still dubious, Vincent epted the gift. "Then, I''ll dly take it. Thanks." He bound the ring to himself. As they prepared to continue their journey, a twig snapped in the nearby underbrush. Vincent tensed, his hand moving to his [Darksteel Sword]. "Azhara, stay close," he whispered. "And please, for the love of all that''s holy, don''t scream if it''s another bug." Suddenly, five rough-looking men with different races emerged from the foliage, their eyes gleaming with malice. Vincent quickly assessed them¡ªTier 1 - 4¡ï bandits, each slightly stronger than him individually. "Well, well," the leader sneered, a Tier 1 - 5¡ï brute with a nasty scar across his face. "Looks like the little princess has some valuable trinkets. How about sharing with us, sweetheart?" Azhara gasped, instinctively moving closer to Vincent. "W-who are you?" The bandit leader chuckled darkly. "We saw your little disy back at the Sanctuary. Couldn''t resist following such a tempting target." "Wow," Vincent muttered, "stalking is really bing an epidemic these days. Have you guys considered a less creepy hobby? Like knitting, perhaps?" The bandit leader''s eye twitched. "Enough talk! Hand over the valuables, or else!" Vincent''s mind raced, his mental score of 3.5 working overtime to formte a strategy. These men were indeed higher-level than him, but he had his skills and talents to even the odds. He even had an option to upgrade his level now. "Gentlemen," Vincent said calmly, "I suggest you reconsider. This youngdy is under my protection, and I assure you, the consequences of harming her would be... severe." He paused for dramatic effect. "Also, has anyone ever told you that you''re really embracing the whole ''evil bandit'' stereotype a bit too enthusiastically?" The bandits hesitated for a moment, but their greed won out. They charged forward, weapons raised. Vincent pushed Azhara behind him, his [Darksteel Sword] vibrating. "Stay back," he warned her. "And remember, if you see any bugs, they''re on our side this time!" He met the first attacker head-on, their weapons shing with a shower of sparks. Using his superior speed, enhanced by his Basic Origin Movement Speed skill, Vincent ducked under the bandit''s guard. "[Virulent Stinger]!" Vincent called out, activating his Umon skill. The [Darksteel Sword] glowed with a sickly light as it found a gap in the man''s armor. The bandit howled in pain as the poison took effect, his movements slowing. As the first bandit stumbled back, the others closed in. Vincent weaved between them, his movements fluid and precise. He couldn''t match them in raw strength, but his agility and quick thinking kept him one step ahead. "[Darksteel sh]!" Vincent''s sword glowed with dark energy as he unleashed his weapon skill on the second bandit. The enhanced attack caught the man off guard, opening a deep gash across his chest and sending him reeling. "Azhara!" he called out, parrying a vicious blow from the third bandit. "Use your fire! Create a barrier!" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Understanding dawned in Azhara''s eyes. She raised her hands, channeling her innate Drakorii abilities, and a wall of mes sprang up between them and the remaining bandits. The attackers recoiled, momentarily blinded by the intense heat and light. "Hot enough for you?" Vincent quipped. "I hear fire is great for roasting marshmallows... and bandits!" Seizing the opportunity, Vincent activated [Basic Origin Movement Speed], his form blurring as he dashed through the gaps in the me barrier. His [Darksteel Sword] shed twice in rapid session, leaving two more bandits clutching at bleeding wounds. The bandit leader, seeing his men fall one by one, snarled in rage. He charged at Vincent, his superior strength sending shockwaves through the air with each swing of his massive axe. Vincent, recognizing the danger, focused his Origin Power into his de. As the bandit leader''s axe came crashing down, Vincent sidestepped and countered with a precisely aimed [Virulent Stinger]. The poisoned de found its mark, sinking deep into the leader''s thigh. The massive man roared in pain and fury, his movements bing sluggish as the poison spread. Vincent, seeing his chance, unleashed a flurry of strikes, each empowered by his C-Rank Origin Power Enhancement talent. Finally, with a decisive [Darksteel sh], Vincent brought the bandit leader to his knees. The remaining attackers, seeing their invincible boss defeated, turned tail and fled into the woods. "And stay out!" Vincent called after them. "Next time, try a less dangerous profession. I hear the Verdant Wilds are short on telemarketers!" Panting slightly, Vincent turned to Azhara, who stared at him with wide, awe-filled eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice rough from exertion. Azhara nodded, still too shocked to speak. Vincent quickly gathered what valuable items the bandits had left behind, his new storage ring proving immediately useful. "We need to move," Vincent said urgently. "They might have friends nearby." Grabbing Azhara''s hand, they sprinted deeper into the Verdant Wilds, leaving the groaning bandits behind. ''Is it really that difficult to have a peaceful experience farming..?'' Chapter 12: Unnamed

Chapter 12: Unnamed

After several minutes of running, Vincent heard Azhara''s meek voice. "Um, can you please let go of my hand now?" As soon as he heard her words, Vincent subconsciously looked at his hand and immediately released hers. He hadn''t realized he had been holding her hand since they started running. "I apologize. I didn''t realize," he said, unabashed. On the other hand, Azhara, who was slightly blushing, felt a sense of loss when Vincent let go of her hand. "It''s fine..." At that moment, an almost 10-inch crimson dragonfly with a me on its tail passed over them. Vincent paid no mind to it. However, when Azhara saw it, her crimson eyes shone. "Shroud, Shroud!" she called out. Vincent turned, curious. "What''s wrong?" "That, that!" She pointed at the metail dragonfly. "Don''t tell me you''re afraid of that?!" His voice couldn''t help but rise. "No, no!" She shook her head. "irmuse!" Although she only said one word, Vincent was surprised to find that he somehow understood what she was trying to say. "Do you mean that thing is connected to irmuse?" Azhara shook her head before nodding repeatedly. "Food!" "You mean irmuse loves to eat that?" This time, Azhara''s eyes shone as she nodded, indicating that he finally understood what she meant. Vincent was slowly getting used to her personality, so he saved himself from having a headache by ignoring her short way of responding. "Then let''s follow that bug." The duo followed behind the metail dragonfly. Several momentster, a rustling sound came from the underbrush, and then a sudden red figure shed toward the peacefully flying metail dragonfly. As itnded on the ground, the red figure finally revealed its appearance. It was simr to a squirrel; however, it had crimson fur, and its tail had a burning me. "Here it is!" Vincent eximed in his mind. Both of them were hiding behind the bushes. Although a irmuse had already appeared, neither of them moved. ording to the mission information, irmuse was known for being elusive. Just a simple sound could make them flee in panic. Although irmuse also had a strength of Tier 1 - 3 stars, simr to him, he wouldn''t be able to catch up to its innate speed. They even had a ''burrow'' skill, allowing them to escape through the ground. Therefore, he waited, silently letting the irmuse enjoy its meal. Soon, when it was about topletely devour the metail dragonfly, Vincent eximed in his mind, ''Now!'' However, before he could even move, Azhara, who stood silently behind him, tugged the corner of his clothes. He turned and asked in a low voice, "What is it this time?" Instead of answering, she only handed him a shiny gem. He observed it but found nothing useful about it. "What do you want me to do with this?" "Throw it," she simply said while pointing at the irmuse. Although puzzled, Vincent just followed her request. She was the one who was looking for the irmuse in the first ce. Even if it escaped, it would just take him some time to look for another one. It was still quite worth itpared to what she was offering him. As per her demand, Vincent softly threw the shiny gem toward the irmuse. The irmuse, which had just finished its meal, suddenly perked up at the sudden sound, cautiously looking around its surroundings. Its gaze thennded on the shiny gem thrown by Vincent. Although still cautious, it slowly walked toward the gem. Soon, it started fidgeting with the gem, seemingly interested and happy with it. Upon seeing this, Vincent felt it was the perfect time to move; however, Azhara beat him to it. He saw Azhara throw a crystal ball. It hit the unaware irmuse. A sh of light burst out of the crystal ball, forcing him to shield his eyes. Soon, when the light faded, the irmuse was nowhere to be seen. What remained was the same crystal ball Azhara had thrown. "Yay! Shroud, I caught it!" Azhara, obviously delighted, immediately ran and picked up the crystal ball. She then walked up to Vincent, showing him the crystal ball. "Shroud, look! I caught it!" She sounded so happy. Filled with curiosity about the crystal ball, he looked closer at it. He found the small figure of the irmuse moving inside. He had no idea what the name of the crystal ball was or its other functions, but for it to be able to imprison a primal, even though it was only a Tier I primal, he simply understood it was certainly expensive. Then, he couldn''t help but wonder, "Are you here just to catch a irmuse and not hunt it for materials or anything else?" Baffled, Azhara tilted her head. "Yes, why would I kill them? They are so cute! No one is allowed to kill them!" ''Okay, she probably truly likes the irmuse to respond with more than a word,'' he thought. "So, what now? Is our deal done?" Hearing his words, Azhara fell silent. She felt a sting inside her, wondering why, but she still managed a reply, "Yes..." She then waved her hand, taking out the promised rewards. "Here, this is all yours..." At the moment he epted his rewards and put them all in his storage ring, the ground suddenly shook. "W-What''s happening?" Caught by surprise, Azhara moved closer to Vincent, tugging the corner of his clothes. Although also surprised, Vincent immediately summoned his [Darksteel Sword Armament] while frowning. Soon, the earthquake became stronger, trees falling down, as if making a path for someone or something. In the next moment, a familiar pressure he felt when he stood against Grirak came crashing down, making it hard to breathe. With his enhanced senses, his sight could see far and better than the average unawakened human. There, he saw a humongous moving ck tortoise-like Primal, heading their way. It was over 20 meters tall. Without an ounce of hesitation, he took Azhara''s hand, calling out, "Run!" That thing was undeniably stronger than him, something he currently couldn''tpare with! That thing was even tens of meters away from them, but he could already feel the pressure. He couldn''t imagine what would happen if that Primal got closer to them. He would die if he fought that thing! No, he might die just by its pressure. However, they hadn''t gone too far when the humongous tortoise let out a deafening roar, forcing them to halt their escape. Groans escaped from their mouths. "Don''t tell me, this is how my journey is going to end..." Vincent couldn''t help but mutter, forcing himself to look at the humongous tortoise. Soon, he saw a bright light sh straight toward the head of the humongous tortoise. Bang! An explosion erupted, and smoke billowed. Roar! The humongous tortoise roared with a mix of rage and pain. Vincent then realized someone was fighting the towering primal! Someone is actually fighting that monster?! Focusing his sight, he finally caught sight of a lean humanoid figure. Humanoid because it had an appearance as though its body was made of crystals. Even its hair was like a set of spiky diamonds. Its upper torso was bare, revealing an ice-sculpted-like crystal chest and muscles. "Is that a Crystallian?" Vincent wondered, remembering the well-known neutral race and rulers of the No.3 Novice Sanctuary. Hovering in the air, the Crystallian lifted its right hand. Several sharp crystals materialized above him. With a wave of his hand, the sharp crystals swooped down, crashing into the humongous tortoise! Bang! Although there was a sound of explosion, the humongous tortoise seemed unaffected by the attack. When the smoke and dust faded, the humongous tortoise was revealed, its huge mouth widely open, with swirling water slowly charging in its maw. The Crystallian visibly panicked when he saw its action. His crystal eyes widened as he hurriedly flew back, attempting to escape. The Crystallian flew so fast that Vincent couldn''t even track him. N?v(el)B\\jnn Then, like a cannon, a powerful wave of concentrated water burst forth, straight toward the fleeing Crystallian. Bang! Vincent clearly saw the water cannon directly hit the back of the Crystallian, causing him to be shot down straight to the ground, his fate unknown. "The Crystallian lost?" As his thoughts stopped there, Vincent forced himself to run, dragging Azhara with him. Chapter 13: Going Back

Chapter 13: Going Back

Vincent and Azhara burst out of Verdant Wilds, their feet pounding the earth as they ran. After several minutes of uninterrupted sprinting, they finally slowed to a stop, gasping for air. Vincent, still sping Azhara''s hand, turned to her. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Are you alright?" he asked betweenbored breaths. Azhara remained silent, her gaze fixed on their joined hands. Noticing her stare, Vincent quickly released his grip. ''Why do I keep grabbing her hand?'' he wondered, perplexed by his own actions. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "How are you holding up?" "I''m fine," Azhara replied, her cheeks slightly puffed in a pout. "That giant turtle was just being naughty! If Father were here, it would be turtle soup by now!" Vincent raised an eyebrow at her words, increasingly certain that Azhara came from a powerful, influential background. The monster that had nearly scared him to death seemed inconsequential to her father. As they approached the outskirts of No. 3 Novice Sanctuary, Vincent turned to Azhara. "Our deal isplete. I''ll be on my way now. What about you?" Azhara hesitated, seemingly reluctant to part ways. "I suppose I should head home. Father must be worried by now." Vincent nodded, having no intention of prolonging their time together. "And you?" Azhara asked. "I''ll rest for a bit, then resume hunting," he replied matter-of-factly. They entered the Novice Sanctuary, and Vincent prepared to leave. "Well, I''m off. Thanks for the deal!" He waved as he walked away. "Wait, Shroud..." Azhara''s voice trailed off, toote to stop him. She watched his figure fade into the distance, a hint of disappointment crossing her face. Shaking her head, Azhara retrieved a white scroll from her storage ring. She tore it in half, and in a shimmer of digital lights, she vanished. On Drakoth, the Drakoriis'' home, Azhara materialized in her opulent bedroom within the Drakota ns Residence. She had barely opened her eyes when the door burst open, mming against the wall. A lean, muscr Drakorri man wearing blood-red and golden royal attire rushed in, arms outstretched. "My princess! My baby!" he eximed, enveloping Azhara in a tight embrace. "Father!" Azhara returned the hug with equal fervor. Zhar Drakota held his daughter at arm''s length, scrutinizing her for injuries. "Are you hurt? Did anyone bully you?" Azhara smiled at her father''s concern. "I''m fine, Father. No one hurt me." "Are you certain?" She nodded, and Zhar exhaled in relief. "That''s good, that''s good. Now, tell me about your time in Origin World." Azhara recounted her adventures, including her encounter with Shroud. At the mention of a human, Zhar''s brow furrowed. "You met a human? And he assisted you?" "Yes, his name is Shroud. He helped me capture this irmuse," Azhara exined, producing the crystal ball. "Look, my first hunt!" Zhar''s expression softened at his daughter''s pride. He gently patted her head. "Well done. Father is proud of you." Azhara beamed at the praise. "Now, about this human..." Zhar began. "Shroud," Azhara corrected. Zhar''s lip twitched. "Yes, Shroud. Did he do anything else? Hurt you or try to deceive you?" Azhara paused, recalling the events. "No, I don''t think so..." Zhar nodded, "That''s a relief¡ª" "Except for grabbing my hand," Azhara added. "Twice." "What?!" Zhar''s voice rose sharply. "He grabbed your hand? Twice?!" "Is something wrong, Father?" Azhara asked, puzzled by his sudden anger. "Where does this human live? He seems tired of living! I''ll bury him myself!" Zhar fumed, an illusory smoke rising from his head. "No, Father! Stop!" Azhara protested. "If you don''t calm down, I''ll tell Mother you''re acting up again!" At his daughter''s threat, Zhar reluctantly reined in his anger, though he continued to plot Shroud''s demise in his mind. Meanwhile, in Origin World, Vincent sat on his bed in his rented room, marveling at the items and glowing orbs before him ¨C his payment from Azhara. "My word, I''m rich with just these!" he eximed, focusing on the valuable items. He first examined the white scroll: Name: Escape Scroll Type: Special Item Effect: Safely teleports the user out of Origin World three seconds after tearing the scroll. "An Escape Scroll! Excellent," Vincent chuckled. "Finally, a lifesaving item!" Hisughter abruptly ceased as he remembered its origin. "Damn it! If I''d known I had this earlier, I wouldn''t have run for my life from that tortoise." Shaking off the thought, he continued his inspection. Touching the green light, an emerald metallic mask materialized. Name: Morphic Mask Rarity: Umon Effect: Assumes the appearance of any personally seen humanoid form, concealing the wearer''s true identity. The transformation is limited and cannot deceive higher-tier Origin Warriors. "This is merely umon?" Vincent marveled at the mask''s utility despite its modest rarity. He donned it, and with a thought, his skin turned red, reptilian scales emerging on his arms. ncing in the mirror, he saw his dark purple hair and eyes had transformed to crimson, mirroring Azhara''s Drakorri features. "Incredible, it feels so real," he murmured, practicing different racial appearances. Next, he examined the blue orb, which transformed into a book: Name: Way of the Flowing Waters Rarity: Rare Description: A sword cultivation technique focusing on water''s ebb and flow to guide the cultivator''s swordy. It allows the practitioner to mimic flowing water, adapting attacks from swift and precise to slow and powerful as needed. Stages: Rippling Waves: Increases speed and agility by 10%, enhancing quick strikes and evasion. Tidal Surge: Boosts attack damage by 20% with increased critical hit chance. Torrential Cascade: Imbues the sword with rushing water''s strength, increasing damage by 30% and bypassing physical resistance. "A cultivation manual!" Vincent eximed, understanding its immense value. He knew that Origin Warriors needed such techniques to advance beyond Tier 1-5 stars, refining experience points into Origin Essence. The manual''s rarity made it even more precious, something novice warriors from influential families would fight over. Vincent silently thanked Azhara for her generosity. Finally, he touched the purple orb, revealing another book: Name: Book of the Heaven''s Eye Rarity: Special Effects: Instantly discerns a cultivator''s power level, revealing their cultivation tier, stage, and technique nature. Inbat, it grants temporary insight into the enemy''s fighting style and weaknesses. "A Special Skill!" Vincent''s excitement was palpable. This skill would be invaluable for navigating dangers in Origin World. Without hesitation, he learned it immediately. [You have sessfully learned Heaven''s Eyes!] After reviewing his newfound treasures, Vincent decided to use his umted experience points to level up to Tier 1 - 4 stars. The encounter with the giant tortoise had taught him the true dangers of Origin World. With his experience points depleted, he opted to skip the Weekly Novice Battle and instead focus on farming more experience. Donning the Morphic Mask to appear as a Drakorri, he ventured to the southern part of No.3 Novice Sanctuary, another section of Verdant Wilds. He spent the remainder of his time in Origin World hunting, until the familiar sensation of being pulled back to Astralis enveloped him. In a sh of digital light, he vanished from his rented room. Back on Astralis, Vincent found himself in his living room. It was still dark, just 4 AM. His eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. The room was in shambles, as if a typhoon had torn through it. Walls were cracked, and furniturey in pieces. "What happened here?" he muttered, hisposure slipping. "Marina! Sis Amara! Where are you?!" Chapter 22: Mutated Lake Serpent

Chapter 22: Mutated Lake Serpent

As the crowd gasped with excitement, all eyes turned toward the small floating screen showing Vincent. Even the Dean and other influential figures at the podium shifted their attention. Snake Verno and Mad Dog Arnold, who had been in the middle of a heated argument, suddenly stopped. Dean Augustus Thorne inwardly sighed in relief, d that the tension between the two powerful Origin Warriors didn''t escte further. His eyes then focused on the live screen, silently thanking the person who had unknowingly diffused the situation. As his gaze settled on the screen, his eyes briefly shed with recognition. "Him?" The Ice Princess, Sylthana cienne, seated beside her uncle Augustus, noticed the change in his expression. "What''s wrong, Uncle? Do you know that student?" she asked. Augustus didn''t immediately reply, seeming to carefully consider his response. But Verno Alieus, nearby, interrupted. "Mr. Thorne, why have I heard nothing about this student? Are you hiding a talent from us?" Verno''s voice was cold as he referred to Vincent. Even Mad Dog Arnold joined in, questioning Augustus. "Mr. Thorne, what''s the meaning of this?" Though Augustus was grateful to Vincent for defusing the situation earlier, he now regretted it. The student was causing him more problems than he could have anticipated, and he felt like crying under the pressure. "Mr. Alieus and Mr. Mazels, please allow me to exin," Augustus began. "I didn''t reveal anything about the student, Vincent Magnus, because he only awakenedst month." "Last month?!" both Verno and Arnold eximed in low voices. Sylthana''s eyes shed briefly, but she remained silent. "Yes," Augustus confirmed with a nod. The other recruiters from lower-level guilds and organizations began murmuring among themselves, wondering if a true genius had appeared in this school. Arnold''s eyes sparkled with excitement at the revtion, though he quickly masked it. "So, tell us. What''s his talent?" Arnold asked, trying to contain his enthusiasm. Augustus hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should reveal Vincent''s talent. Ultimately, he decided that since it was public knowledge and easy to discover, it was better to be upfront. "His talent is... C-rank: Origin Power Enhancement." As expected, Verno and Arnold immediately lost interest. Even Sylthana''s initial curiosity faded. Verno fell silent, while Arnold clicked his tongue in disappointment. Augustus could only manage a wry smile, having already anticipated their reaction, though he was still surprised at how quickly Vincent had advanced. He couldn''t help but wonder how Vincent managed to grow so fast. --- Meanwhile, back at the battle, Vincent stood silently, eyeing the Mutated Lake Serpent that had now slithered fully out of theke. The serpent''s scales gleamed like molten gold in the dim cave light, a result of its mutation from the Sunspire Lily, which had given it radiant power. Vincent could feel the heat radiating from the creature''s body, now pulsing with sun-infused energy. Its fury was palpable¡ªafter months of guarding the flower, the beast was ready to unleash its rage on Vincent for stealing its treasure. "I need to keep my distance until I understand its full strength," Vincent thought, his gaze locked on the serpent. He shifted his stance, bracing himself for the battle. His recent encounters with low-tier Primals over the past two days had taught him that brute strength wasn''t everything. Cunning and patience were just as important. The serpent coiled its massive body, its yellow eyes fixated on him. Without warning, it lunged forward¡ªfaster than he had anticipated. Vincent barely managed to sidestep, his muscles tense as he spun out of the way. The ground where he had been standing exploded as the serpent''s head mmed into it with terrifying force, sending rocks flying in every direction. "Fast, but predictable," Vincent observed, keeping hisposure as the serpent recovered quickly, its tail whipping toward him. Anticipating the follow-up attack, Vincent ducked low, feeling the wind from the serpent''s tail pass just above him. He rolled forward, closing the distance between them and swung his [Darksteel Sword] at the beast''s underbelly. The sword connected with a satisfying hiss, leaving a gash in the serpent''s softer scales. It wasn''t deep, but it was enough to make the creature rear back in pain. The serpent thrashed violently, its body twisting as it let out a loud, piercing screech. Vincent watched as its golden scales glowed brighter, energy building within its body¡ªthe mutation feeding it with even more power. "It''s absorbing sunlight..." Vincent realized, his brow furrowing. If this fight dragged on, the serpent would only grow stronger. He needed to finish it quickly. Just as that thought crossed his mind, the serpent reared back, its mouth wide open, gathering energy for a powerful attack. A brilliant sh of light burst from its body¡ªa Radiant Pulse. Vincent''s eyes widened as he threw his arm up to shield his face. The pulse exploded outward, momentarily blinding him and knocking him back several feet. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the rocky surface before managing to flip back onto his feet. His vision blurred, the afterimage of the blinding light still burning in his eyes. "Too strong to face head-on..." he thought, quickly assessing his options. But the serpent wasn''t giving him time to recover. It lunged again, more ferocious this time. Vincent sidestepped, but the serpent anticipated his movement. Its tail crashed down from above, forcing him to roll out of the way. The ground beneath him cracked, leaving a deep crater where the tail had struck. "I can''t let this continue," Vincent thought. The serpent was growing stronger with each passing second, and the faint sunlight filtering into the cave only fueled its power. Vincent took a deep breath, centering himself. His Heaven''s Eye had already given him insight into the serpent''s fighting patterns. It favored brute force, relying on its size and power to overwhelm opponents. But Vincent had no intention of being overwhelmed. As the serpent lunged once more, Vincent didn''t dodge. Instead, he charged forward, closing the gap between them in a blink. His [Darksteel Sword] gleamed as he shed upward, aiming for the serpent''s exposed neck. N?v(el)B\\jnn The de connected, but the serpent''s scales were tougher than expected. It hissed in pain, but quickly retaliated, coiling its massive body around Vincent in an attempt to crush him. Vincent barely managed to twist out of its grasp, feeling the pressure from its tightening coils as he slipped free. Darting to the side, his mind raced, strategizing his next move. The poison from his earlier strike was starting to take effect, slowing the serpent''s movements, but it wasn''t enough. He needed tond a decisive blow. The serpent reared back, preparing to unleash another Radiant Pulse. Vincent''s eyes flickered as he calcted the timing. He couldn''t afford to be hit by that attack again. The light began gathering in the serpent''s mouth, its body glowing with an intense golden aura. Now! Vincent activated his Origin Movement Speed, his body bing a blur as he dashed toward the serpent. Just before the Radiant Pulse was released, he slid under the serpent''s massive body, his sword glowing faintly as he activated Virulent Stinger. His de sliced deep into the serpent''s soft underbelly, injecting a potent poison directly into its bloodstream. The serpent let out a blood-curdling screech, thrashing violently as the poison spread through its body. Vincent rolled out from beneath it, narrowly avoiding the serpent''s tail as it mmed into the ground with terrifying force. He could see the pain in the creature''s movements now. Its attacks were bing more erratic, less precise. "It''s working," Vincent thought, keeping his breathing steady despite the intensity of the fight. But he couldn''t let his guard down. Even in its weakened state, the serpent was still dangerous. Its massive body coiled again, eyes burning with hatred, as it lunged with its fangs bared, intent on tearing Vincent apart. This time, Vincent was faster. He sidestepped the attack, his [Darksteel Sword] shing as he delivered a precise sh across the serpent''s neck. The creature recoiled, dark blood pouring from the wound. Vincent didn''t stop. He pressed the advantage, shing again and again, each strike more urate than thest. The serpent''s movements slowed further, its body weakening under thebined effects of the poison and blood loss. Finally, with onest effort, Vincent leapt onto the serpent''s back, raising his sword high. He drove the de deep into the creature''s neck, sinking it into its flesh. The serpent let out one final, agonized screech before copsing to the ground, its body twitching violently before going still. You have sessfully killed a Mutated Lake Serpent! You have received +50 Experience Points! Talent Activated! +500,000 Experience Points! Vincent stood over the disintegrating body of the serpent, his chest heaving from the exertion. His mind remained sharp as he assessed the situation. He had won, but the battle had pushed him to his limits. "I can''t afford to take risks like that again," he thought, wiping the blood from his sword. This was the first time he had fought against something nearly stronger than him, without even using his chaos energy. Although he knew the power that energy could provide, he was still uncertain about the potential negative effects it might have on him. Shaking off those thoughts, Vincent noticed that his primal points had increased by 100, doubling what he would normally gain from killing a normal peak Tier 1 Primal. With the additional 100 points, his primal points were now close to 300. He nced at hismunication device, checking the remaining time. "There''s still more than an hour left. I can hunt a bit more, but before that..." Vincent muttered to himself, falling into deep thought as he observed his personal interface. --- Back at the school''s arena, the crowd was still glued to the screen, watching Vincent''s performance. Their expressions were a mix of awe and disbelief. They had just witnessed Vincent defeat a Mutated Peak Tier 1 Primal without taking a serious injury. "Wow!" "Vincent! Vincent! Vincent!" the crowd cheered. "I can''t believe it! He actually beat that mutatedke serpent! But does that mean he can defeat our top student, Elric Baelius?" one spectator asked. "Are you crazy? Senior Elric would easily beat that mutated Primal! He has an A-rank talent! A-rank! And Vincent only awakened a C-rank talent. He''s nothingpared to Senior Elric!" another argued. Once again, the crowd fell into heated debate, arguing passionately over Vincent''s abilitiespared to the school''s elite. Chapter 34: Problem Arise

Chapter 34: Problem Arise

Just as Vincent instinctively covered himself with chaos energy and struggled to his feet, he heard a familiar voice. It was Arnold''s, and it carried a tone of disbelief. "H-How do you have that aura...?!" In that moment, Vincent realized his grave mistake. He had been so preupied with the Annual Battle Ceremony that he hadpletely forgotten about the trouble he caused when he merged with the ck cosmic marble. Now, even Arnold had recognized his chaos energy. His expression immediately darkened. A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind, as he carefully considered his next move. Should I run? Could I even escape? Even if he managed to flee, what would happen to his sister and Amara? Would they be safe? It was then that the full weight of his situation hit him. One small misstep had the potential to unravel everything he had built in this world. His new life¡ªfragile and precarious¡ªcould fall apart in an instant. How foolish I''ve been, thinking I could handle everything just because of my talent. I need to be stronger. I want to be stronger! "But first," he muttered to himself, "I need to figure out how to survive..." Before he could finish that thought, Arnold''s voice cut through his musings once more. "You... You''re a bearer of cmity!" Cmity? Vincent had no idea what Arnold was referring to, but the seriousness in his tone made it clear that this was not a minor issue. Despite his growing sense of dread, a different emotion stirred deep within him. It wasn''t fear¡ªit was something primal, a feeling that he wasn''t the one who should be afraid. They should fear him. Yet, Vincent couldn''t understand why he felt this way. "I''ve already exposed this damn chaos energy," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Might as well use it to my advantage..." With a steely resolve, he channeled the chaos energy into his eyes, which turned abyssal ck. In an instant, different scenes shed through his mind, and his initial calm gave way to horror as his face paled. "Am I... going to die?" he whispered, terror creeping into his voice as the visions yed out before him. Arnold, sensing the change, ignored Vincent''s words and instead took a step forward, his own voice tinged with panic. "You demon! What did you just do?!" Dean Thorne, who had been standing silently behind Vincent, hadn''t witnessed the full extent of what had transpired. Nevertheless, he quickly stepped between the two, positioning himself as a barrier between Arnold and his student. Though the ominous energy emanating from Vincent didn''t escape his notice, Dean Thorne was more concerned with his duty to protect the honor of his school. "Mr. Mazels," the dean said firmly, "I must ask you to stop this at once!" Arnold''s expression twisted into a frown. "Dean Thorne, do you have any idea what you''re doing? You''re protecting a demon!" At the mention of the word "demon," a wave of confusion spread through the others¡ªLoy Mesins and others, who had only just regained theirposure after being shielded by the dean''s aura. "A demon?" "What''s happening?" Their bewilderment only grew as Verno and the Ice Princess, Sylthana, arrived on the scene, standing behind the dean. Verno, who had no knowledge of what was happening, spoke in his usual emotionless tone. "Just because you''ve been let off your leash doesn''t mean you can act like a rabid dog in front of these students." Sylthana, her aura cold and frigid, stepped forward to stand beside her uncle. Her eyes narrowed as she addressed Arnold in a chilling tone. "Senior Mazels, please control your anger. This is simply a ceremonial event at my uncle''s school. While you were the one who proposed this event, we''re willing to overlook that andpensate you for your injury. So, please¡ªcalm down and make a wise decision." Though her words were polite, the threat behind them was clear, and Arnold''s face darkened in displeasure. "You''re all insane!" he shouted, jabbing a finger in Vincent''s direction. "Don''t you see that aura? It''s pure evil!" However, neither Verno nor Sylthana detected anything unusual about Vincent, aside from his paleplexion. They assumed the pressure from Arnold was responsible for his appearance. Dean Thorne, on the other hand, had sensed something strange earlier, but he remained silent, choosing not to reveal his suspicions. "You''re just a senile, old fool," Verno said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can''t believe you''d stoop this low¡ªto the point of framing a student." Sylthana, meanwhile, continued to fix Arnold with her icy stare, saying nothing. Arnold, rendered speechless by their dismissal, could do nothing but fume in frustration. As the situation unfolded in his favor, Vincent found no relief. His face remained ghostly pale as the images of his vision reyed in his mind. Without a moment''s hesitation, he gathered his strength and sprinted out of the arena, fleeing the school grounds. "He''s running away!" Arnold roared. "He''s guilty!" Just as Arnold moved to chase him, a sharp, crystalline barrier of ice appeared out of thin air, blocking his path. Furious, he spun around to face Sylthana. "You''re going to cross me for that boy?!" he bellowed. Her voice was calm but firm as she replied, "I''m merely fulfilling my duty as the protector of our citizens and Bronzehaven Arc." Arnold let out a hollowugh, seething with rage. "Fine... I''ll remember this." Vincent, now outside the school, donned his Morphic Mask, altering his appearance into that of an elderly man. He moved stealthily through the districts, heading toward the Central Bazaar. He needed answers. Alex, the mysterious old man, had to know something about the other ck marble. He must know... The sky had darkened, the moon casting its silver light over the city. As Vincent turned into a shadowed alley, a suffocating aura suddenly locked him in ce, immobilizing him. A cold, arrogant voice cut through the night. "I''ve finally found you." Vincent''s eyes widened as the figure revealed itself¡ªfloating in midair. It was a blonde-haired man, d in sleek ck armor, almost identical to Dmitri''s but far more refined. This was one of the men from his vision. The leader of District 11, Arman Matthews. The man who would kill him. Vincent, his heart pounding, quickly adopted the role of the old man and rasped, "W-Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?" Arman smirked. "Drop the act, boy. Your tricks won''t work on someone like me. I can see right through that illusion." "You cmity bearers must die." Though Vincent maintained his disguise, he stammered, "W-What are you talking about? What cmity bearer?" Arman sighed. "Since you''re about to die, I might as well tell you. A cmity bearer is cursed¡ªdoomed to destroy everything around them. It''s a force of destruction with only one purpose: to annihte everything. Luckily for us, we found you early enough to prevent that." Despite Arman''s exnation, Vincent''s mind raced. How can I escape? "What... what makes you so sure I''m a cmity bearer?" Vincent asked, desperate to stall for time. Arman''s eyes burned with hatred. "I know that aura. I''ve seen it before. It''s the same power that killed countless innocents¡ªmyrades, my family." His gaze hardened. "That''s why you must die." Arman stretched out his hand, closing his fist slowly as if crushing something. In that instant, Vincent felt an unbearable pressure pushing him to the ground. He gasped in pain, barely able to move. With a grunt, Vincent muttered through clenched teeth, "I won''t die here." With a roar, he unleashed all of his chaos energy, his body groaning under the strain but slowly pushing back against the overwhelming pressure. Dark, ominous energy swirled around him as a singr thought filled his mind: Kill. Kill. Kill. "Shut up!" he screamed, trying to silence the voices echoing in his head. Arman''s expression didn''t waver. "That''s it. Show your true self. You''re nothing but a mindless killing machine. And now... you die." Before Arman could make a move, Vincent''s fury boiled over. His right arm transformed into a demon-like appendage, and without thinking, he lunged at Arman with all his might. "Die!" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Though Vincent''s chaos-empowered eyes could foresee Arman''s counter, his body couldn''t react fast enough. Arman''s punchnded squarely in his abdomen, sending him crashing through several walls. "Urgh...!" Vincent coughed, blood spraying from his lips. The pain was excruciating, but like a machine, he forced himself back to his feet. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he charged at Arman once more. Arman, still standing in the same spot, didn''t move. He waited for Vincent''s attack, only to counter each time, sending him flying again and again. "You''re persistent," Arman mocked. "But you''re no match for me. Just die already." As Arman raised his hand, preparing to deliver the final blow. His voice was filled with deadly intent as he said, "Just die." But before he could strike, a sharp feminine voice echoed through the night, cutting through the tension like a de. "That''s enough." Arman froze, his eyes darting to the source of the voice. He hadn''t sensed her presence at all, which left him momentarily stunned. Slowly, he turned, scanning the shadows. "Who?!" Arman demanded, his voice tinged with disbelief. Stepping into the moonlight was a woman, her cold beauty unmistakable. She floated effortlessly in the air, her long, pink-blossom hair swaying gently in the breeze. Her eyes glowed with an ethereal light, sharp and piercing. Arman recognized her immediately. His expression shifted from rage to astonishment as he processed the sight before him. "Why is she here?" he muttered under his breath, clearly unsettled. The woman, unperturbed by his shock, regarded him with a gaze as cold as ice. Her presence radiated power and authority, the kind that made even seasoned warriors like Arman cautious. She stood tall, her aura dominating the space around her as she addressed him with a chilling calm. Chapter 47: Tier 2 Armament "What just happened?" He wore a puzzled expression beneath his mask, unsure of what had just urred. He contemted using his chaos energy, but before he could even act, it suddenly vanished. While he pondered the reasons, he decided not to pursue it. As long as it remained within thebyrinth, he was bound to encounter it again. Thus, he refocused on his primary goal: farming experience points and leveling up his remaining skills. Having experienced the strength of Epic-grade skills, he felt even more excited to advance his skills and armaments. Still, with each encounter against stronger opponents, he realized how weak he was. "I¡¯ll definitely get you the next time we meet!" he vowed, gazing toward where the primal creature had disappeared. He then looked at the wrecked surroundings. Unfortunately, none of the summons he had killed dropped any items. "It seems those summons don¡¯t count as living creatures of Origin World¡­ Sigh¡­ Forget about it. This is just my first day; I still have plenty of time!" Now that he had no distractions, he could focus solely on farming. He didn¡¯t follow the path the Mutated ckbite Rat Leader took; instead, he went in another direction to continue hunting, dismissing any thoughts of Jokyr and the others. On the second underground level of the ckbite Rat Labyrinth, Jokyr and Ana¡¯s group stared silently at the entrance to the third underground level, each showing different emotions. Several minutes had passed, yet Vincent, known to them as Shroud, was still nowhere to be seen. uny could no longer keep silent. "He wille back, right?" Her question was met with silence. "He¡¯s going to be safe, right?" Again, no response. Unable to contain her emotions, she turned fiercely, taking off her mask and revealing her youthful, wless face. Her brown hair flowed free as her hair tie came loose, revealing a beautiful maiden who could rival Ana in appearance. While Ana was a cold beauty, uny had an innocent charm that could stir any man¡¯s protective instincts¡ªespecially now, as her beautiful brown eyes shimmered with tears. Ana¡¯s two malepanions, whom uny had healed earlier, were captivated by her beauty. However, Jokyr and his group were stunned. "uny?!" Jokyr eximed. Yet, there was nothing he could do now. They had already seen her face, and he felt he had no right to stop her anymore. The guilt gnawed at him; if Shroud truly died because of their actions, he would never forgive himself. But he believed he had made the right choice, choosing hispanions over a stranger. "What?! Isn¡¯t it your responsibility to care for your party? Shroud is ourpanion too, even if only temporarily." She red at Jokyr before shifting her fierce gaze to Ana. "And you¡ªyou said to trust him. So why didn¡¯t you do anything? Shroud saved your lives! You¡¯re all so ungrateful!" The typicallyposed Ana could only avert her gaze, clenching her fists while herpanions hung their heads in shame. She couldn¡¯t respond, having also been the one to trust Vincent¡¯s idea. As tears continued streaming down uny¡¯s face, Jokyr gently took her by the shoulders tofort her. "uny, I know you¡¯re worried about him, but this was also Shroud¡¯s idea. We have to respect his decision and trust him." "Stop crying. We don¡¯t know what happened in there, but we also don¡¯t know what other resources he might have. There¡¯s a good chance Shroud left in another direction or used an escape scroll. Remember how he didn¡¯t even bother with low-level items? A rich guy like him must have at least one escape scroll, right?" With Jokyr¡¯s reasoning, uny¡¯s eyes showed a hint of rity. It did make sense. Although she was still worried, she held firmly to the thought that Shroud was safe. "Shroud¡­" she murmured, ncing toward the entrance of the third underground level. Elsewhere, deep within the ckbite Rat Labyrinth, a dark humanoid figure sat on a massive stone throne. A ck, serpent-like shadow coiled around his right arm, which he yed with idly. Hiss~ A faint tremor emanated from the dark entrance to the throne room. Soon, the familiar figure of the ckbite Rat Leader appeared, immediately prostrating itself before the throne like a subservient servant. The figure on the throne revealed a pair of blood-red eyes. A deep, raspy voice broke the silence as the dark figure spoke. "My servant, tell me what happened¡­" The ckbite Rat Leader slowly raised its head and spoke in an audible tone, drawing a series of amused exmations from the dark figure. "Hoo¡­ interesting, for one of such a low tier to possess such abnormal abilities. Interesting¡­ quite interesting indeed." The dark figure muttered repeatedly, unable to contain hisughter. As hisughter faded, his eyes gleamed with a sharp intensity. "I want you to find him for me. Report to me immediately once you do. Now, go." The ckbite Rat Leader voiced its affirmation and hastily left, leaving the dark figure alone on his throne. Meanwhile, on the third underground level¡­ Several massive primals copsed to the ground as the venomous purple energy faded. After a tremor, their corpses dissolved into bright digital lights, leaving materials and items scattered on the ground. You have sessfully killed a Digged Leader Tier 1 (5 stars) You have sessfully killed a Digging Servant Tier 1 (4 stars) N?v(el)B\\jnn You have sessfully killed a¡­ Notifications rang continuously in his ears as he swung his Duskedge de, flicking off the remaining blood. With this wave alone, he managed to fill his experience barpletely. One million experience points. Now, he had the opportunity to upgrade his skills or armaments to a higher quality. Although he had several options, his choice was already clear in his mind. With Abyssal Venosh as his AOE skill, his farming speed could increase. With One-Step Shift, he didn¡¯t need to worry about movement abilities. But what he had foundcking in his fight with the Mutated ckbite Leader was firepower. He needed more firepower, so he wouldn¡¯t have to rely on his chaos energy. Without hesitation, he chose to upgrade his Duskedge de. Name: Nightre de Power: Tier 2 Armament Quality: Epic Description: The Nightre de is masterfully crafted from obsidian dusksteel and reinforced with shadowme alloys, giving it a lustrous midnight-gray finish with shimmering veins of crimson and silver. Lightweight yet incredibly resilient, it¡¯s enchanted to deal increased damage with each strike, inflicting deep,sting bleed effects on enemies. The de seems to capture and refract even the faintest light, creating an almost otherworldly gleam that instills fear. Visual: The Nightre de has an elegant hilt wrapped in deep crimson leather. Its polished de is ented by vibrant silver and crimson veins that pulse gently when wielded, emitting a faint red-ck aura that intensifies with each strike. When activating skills, the de ignites with a dark, fiery glow that illuminates every sh with a brilliant radiance. Skill 1: Umbra sh Effect: A single-target sh that channels shadow energy, dealing amplified damage and inflicting a bleed thatsts 15 seconds, progressively reducing the target¡¯s physical and magical defenses. Bleed Duration: 15 seconds Defense Reduction: 2% per tick, stacking up to 4% Skill 2: Shadowme Wave Effect: Releases a shadowme-infused, ranged sh that travels 12 meters, damaging all enemies in its path with a chance to stagger, and inflicting both a burn and bleed effect. Range: 12 meters Bleed Duration: 10 seconds Burn Duration: 10 seconds Stagger Chance: 25% Skill 3: Emberstrike Effect: Channels fire energy, delivering a powerful single-target strike that inflicts a burn for 12 seconds, briefly lowering the target¡¯s resistance to fire-based attacks. Burn Duration: 12 seconds Fire Vulnerability: Reduces target¡¯s fire resistance by 10% for 6 seconds "It¡¯s now Tier 2?" Chapter 61 Fighting Old Bone "Back off!" The executor men, standing like shadows in the dimly lit hallway, did not flinch at the attack. As though they had rehearsed their response a thousand times, they swiftly dispersed, sidestepping with a practiced ease that left Karl''s strike roaring past them. The force of his attack did not dissipate¡ªit continued its path, heading straight for Old Bone. Old Bone, seemingly unbothered, raised a withered hand. With an almostzy wave, faint purple energy materialized in the air, dispersing the strike like a gentle breeze extinguishing a candle me. To him, Karl''s offensive skill was no more than an insignificant disturbance, like a child iling their arms in frustration. "Stop fooling around!" Old Bone''s voice rang out, sharp andmanding, tinged with irritation. His men chuckled, unperturbed by his tone. "My bad, didn''t think it''d reach you. Hehe," one said, his grin audible in his voice. "Hehe, you wouldn''t die from that strike, Old Bone!" another chimed in, his words dripping with mockery. Old Bone''s brow furrowed, his displeasure growing. "If you don''t start taking this mission seriously, you won''t see another reward from me," he snapped, his voice carrying a stern warning. His men exchanged sheepish nces. They knew better than to push him too far. With reluctant nods, they silently agreed to refocus. "Well, we''d better do our share, or Old Bone will cut us off," one muttered, breaking the silence. "Alright, I''ll handle two of them. The rest are up to you," another offered casually. "What did you say? I''m taking two¡ªgo find someone else to fight!" "Enough! I''ll take them all if you two keep arguing!" "Keep dreaming, old fool!" Their voices ovepped in a chaotic symphony of bickering, their camaraderie evident despite the harsh words exchanged. Suddenly, a sharp energy fluctuation cut through their argument. Their chatter ceased as they all froze, sensing a swift iing attack. Without needing to exchange a word, they nodded in unison, their coordination impable. Their figures blurred, vanishing into the shadows as if they had never been there. Yet, the iing strike moved with purpose, like a predator with unyielding focus. It locked onto one executor, striking with snake-like precision. Before he could react, the energyshed out, binding his entire body in an unrelenting grip. The other executors stared in wide-eyed disbelief, momentarily stunned by the scene. A calm, steady voice broke the tension. "Aren''t you taking us a bit too lightly?" It was Uncle Gold. He stood tall, exuding aposed confidence that demanded attention. In his right hand, he held a golden whip, its surface gleaming ominously. With a flick of his wrist, Uncle Gold hoisted the bound executor into the air. The bound man struggled but could not break free. Then, without hesitation, Uncle Gold brought the whip down, mming the executor onto the cold, unyielding floor. The sound of the impact echoed through the hallway, a resounding bang that made the walls tremble. "Fourth Brother!" the other executors cried out, rushing to their fallenrade. One drew his weapon and shed at the whip, but Uncle Gold was quicker. With a deft motion, he retracted it, avoiding the strike effortlessly. They red at him, their fury evident. "Are you alright, Fourth Brother?" the third asked, his voice tinged with worry as he helped the injured man up. "I''m fine. It''s just a minor dislocation," Fourth Brother replied. To prove his point, he raised his twisted arm, showing no signs of pain or difort. Second and Third Brothers let out sighs of relief, reassured by his calm demeanor. Without a moment''s hesitation, Fourth Brother grabbed his dislocated arm and snapped it back into ce with a sickening crack. His expression remained impassive, as if the pain meant nothing to him. "So this is what Ghouls are capable of¡­" Vincent murmured, standing beside Caelius. His brows furrowed slightly as he observed the scene with a mix of intrigue and wariness. Vincent had done his research on the Ghoul race, one of the most notorious in the Origin World. With their rotting, skeletal appearance and inability to feel pain, they were often likened to zombies. However, unlike the slow-moving undead of myths, Ghouls were known for their agility and stealth, making them highly effective assassins. Their infamy was such that most races shunned them, viewing them with disdain and fear. After resetting his arm, Fourth Brother joined his siblings near First Brother, who remained locked in a silent stare with Uncle Gold. "This is our first encounter with a member of the Golden Lion Legion. Let''s give it everything we''ve got," First Brother dered, his voice steady and resolute. "I agree!" Second and Third Brothers echoed in unison. "Let''s go!" On the other side of the hallway, Uncle Gold addressed his team. "We won''t disappoint the young master this time. On my signal, we''ll end this quickly. Understood?" "Yes!" the siblings replied in unison, their voices firm and resolute. Beneath their masks, determination burned brightly in their eyes. "Let''s move!" Vincent, observing from a distance, issued silentmands to his Shadow Rats. They scurried into action, ready to provide support. Keeping a safe distance, Vincent followed, his focus unwavering. The hallway, though spacious, felt charged with tension as the two groups prepared for battle. Meanwhile, Old Bone stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Caelius. "Hehe, I''m eager to see what kind of loot you''ll drop when I kill you," Old Bone said, rubbing his hands together as though savoring the thought. Caelius met his gaze with a calm smile. "I doubt your corpse will yield anything of value." Old Bone chuckled darkly. "Talk all you want. This is the end of the road for you."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om With those words, dark-purple daggers materialized in his hands. Vicious Fangs¡ªTier 2 Rare Quality Armaments, infamous for their deadly precision. Caelius responded by drawing his golden longsword, its surface gleaming with an otherworldly radiance. It, too, was a Tier 2 Rare Quality Armament, crafted from the remains of a mutated Earth Drake. A faint purple mist began to envelop Old Bone, obscuring his figure. When the mist cleared, he was gone. Yet, Caelius remained unfazed. With a measured step, he illuminated the area around him with golden energy. Within the light, he spotted a faint footprint on the floor. Without hesitation, he struck at the air where the footprinty. But his de met nothing. A mocking voice echoed around him. "Nice try." Caelius pivoted and struck again. "Not even close." Again, he shed. "Wrong direction!" The voice taunted him relentlessly, each word dripping with mockery. Caelius suddenly stopped, a confident smirk ying on his lips. "Who said I was trying to find you?" The taunting ceased. Old Bone felt his back press against something. Turning, he saw a golden string of energy stretched taut behind him. His eyes widened in realization. Golden strings surrounded him, intricately woven like a web. Caelius acted swiftly. The moment Old Bone touched the string, Caelius dashed forward and shed. Poof! Purple smoke erupted as Old Bone stumbled backward, clutching his side. ck blood seeped through his fingers, dripping onto the floor. "Hello there," Caelius greeted, his tone light, as though the battle was a mere game. Old Bone, unfazed by his injury, chuckled. "Impressive. But let''s see how long you can keep that smile, Lion''s Cub!" With those words, purple smoke spread outward, covering a five-meter radius. "Poison Cloud!" Chapter 75 Garga While riding with Valyn on her mount, the Silverwood Fox, Ferno, Vincent still had no idea where they were heading. He also noticed that despite Ferno''s speed, he believed that if he continuously used his movement skill, One Step Shift, he would be much faster. With Ferno''s strength and speed, no primals dared to stop them. The journey was nearly three hours long and could be considered quite lengthy. In the distance, Vincent noticed groups of origin warriors assembling near a massive, ancient tower. Their expressions mirrored mutual hostility, heightening the tension in the air. "What is that?" he asked after hopping off Ferno. He couldn''t recall any information about the tower. After dismounting, Valyn responded while gazing at the structure, "That is the Tower of Combat." "Tower of Combat?" "Yes," Valyn nodded and continued, "Once you go inside, your Origin Energy will be sealed, and you''ll have to defeat the challengers assigned to you. "The more wins you get without losing, the better the rewards!" "Of course, you will only be fighting challengers of the same tier as you." Vincent nodded in understanding before asking curiously, "Is there a maximum number of wins one can achieve?" Valyn fell silent for a moment, her gazending on arge board with numerous names listed on it ¡ª the ranking board.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Yes. Once you reach a certain number of wins, the tower will increase the strength of your opponents. However, only geniuses and top rankers have been able to achieve this." Following her gaze, Vincent found the names listed on the ranking board. There were three categories corresponding to the levels of strength: Novice Origin Warriors, Tier 1 to Tier 3. At the Tier 1 Ranking, there were dozens of names listed. At the top of the list, one name and its battle record stood out: 1st ¡ª Criocliz Chrystals (Tier 1, 5¡ï) 49 Wins 2 Loss 2nd ¡ª Drakoth Asher (Tier 1, 5¡ï) 47 Wins 5 Losses 3rd ¡ª Shylvia Torn (Tier 1, 5¡ï) 46 Wins 6 Losses The list went on. He also checked the rankings of other tiers. However, one name in the Tier 2 list caught his attention: 1st ¡ª Elvi Rolud (Tier 1, 5¡ï) 49 Wins 1 Loss He couldn''t help but raise his eyebrows when he saw it. A Tier 1 Origin Warriorpeting against Tier 2 Origin Warriors? It seemed this person had defeated most Tier 2 warriors, with only Tier 3 warriors managing to best him. "Elvi Rolud¡­" Vincent muttered, as though engraving the name in his mind. Valyn, standing beside him, overheard. "Are you curious about him?" Vincent simply nodded. "Legend has it that Elvi Rolud was a nobody ¡ª a timid guy with weak talent who was often bullied. But one day, during the Novice Ranking Battle, he reappeared as if reborn, dominating the rankings. Despite being Tier 1, he defeated Origin Warriors far above his level. Even though he eventually lost to a higher-tier opponent, his performance was enough to make his name known throughout the Origin World. "He didn''t stop after the Novice Ranking Battle. He began challenging all the Fundamental Towers, including the Tower of Combat, revealing overwhelming power that dominated the rankings and shocked the Novice Continent. But one day, he vanished without a trace. Some say he was killed, but no one has ever proven it. To this day, his fate remains a mystery." "He didn''t ascend to the higher continent?" Vincent asked. Valyn shook her head softly. "There''s a rumor that he might have already ascended, but it''s never been confirmed." As she spoke, they walked closer to the Tower of Combat. Their presence began to attract attention, likely due to Ferno, the Silverwood Fox, and its master, Valyn. Whispers filled the air. "That''s a Silverwood Fox, right? So that must be Valyn Aviss?" "Yes, you''re right. One of the Silver Rankers¡ªValyn Aviss, the Witch Fox." Valyn Aviss? Silver Rankers? Witch Fox? Vincent''s mind raced with questions as he overheard the whispers. She''s rted to Special Instructor Arthur? What are Silver Rankers? And Witch Fox must be her title¡­ At that moment, a purple-haired Thrygian woman approached them. She was a head shorter than male Thrygians but still taller than a human, with a bulky build. Vincent frowned behind his mask, his impression of the Thrygian race soured by his earlier encounter with Grarik. He now assumed the entire race to be enemies of humanity. Valyn, however, seemed familiar with the woman. "What do you want, Garga?" she asked coldly, her usual high-pitched voice reced with an emotionless tone. Garga, the female Thrygian, nked by two male Thrygians, crossed her arms over her chest and smirked. "Nothing. I just wanted to confirm if the stinky smell I noticed was indeed yours. And I was right¡ªnothingpares to your slutty scent." The two male Thrygians burst intoughter as Garga smiled provocatively. "It''s alright to be jealous. You don''t have to hide it. If I were ugly and had a face like yours, I''d be jealous of me too," Valyn retorted, shaking her head. Her response left Garga fuming, and the two red at each other, creating a suffocating tension in the air that Vincent immediately felt. Fortunately, it didn''tst long. The two women broke their staring contest with cold harrumphs. "Just pray I don''t meet you in the towerter!" Garga threatened before turning away. "Hmph, I''m not sure who needs the prayer more, considering some purple fool has a lower ranking than me," Valyn said softly, her tone mocking. Garga heard the jab and faltered briefly but chose to ignore it. Her malepanions, however, were lessposed. They turned and faced Vincent, ring at him instead of Valyn, which left him baffled. "What?" he muttered. I didn''t even say anything! I was ignored the whole time, and now they''re mad at me for doing nothing? Valyn noticed the situation and nced at Vincent, their confused expressions mirroring each other. Suddenly, she broke into soft giggles, which escted intoughter. "Haha!" Vincent could only shake his head with a wry smile. The brief exchange between Valyn and Garga had caught the attention of many, but both of them seemed unbothered by the stares. Valyn was clearly ustomed to it, while Vincent simply didn''t care. Curious, he asked a question that had been on his mind. "Who was that?" "Her? She''s Garga ckthorn." Upon hearing the name, Vincent''s eyebrows rose in recognition. "ckthorn? Is she rted to Grarik?" "Oh? You know Grarik?" Vincent nodded. "She''s Grarik''s older sister," Valyn revealed. "I see¡­ but how are you rted to her?" "I encountered her three years ago when I found Ferno," Valyn exined, her gaze falling on the Silverwood Fox resting under the shade of a massive tree. "She tried to snatch Ferno from me. Fortunately, I wasn''t any weaker than her, so I managed to retreat safely with Ferno." Seeing her willingness to answer, Vincent didn''t hold back and asked several more questions that had been bothering him. Through their conversation, he learned a lot of valuable information. The first was about the "Silver Rankers" mentioned earlier. Rankers were those on the leaderboard of the Novice Ranking Battle. The ranks included Bronze, Silver, Gold, and tinum. Valyn didn''t borate further, saying he would learn more soon enough. The second revtion was about experience points and the leveling speed of other Origin Warriors. Vincent had always wondered how others managed to increase their levels so quickly, especially those who didn''te from wealthy backgrounds. If he calcted based on the experience points he needed to level up, it seemed absurd¡ªordinary Origin Warriors would require decades to increase their strength by even one level. Valyn exined that the required experience points varied based on the rank of one''s awakened talent. Those with lower-ranked talents needed fewer experience points to level up. Additionally, there were special talents like Alchemist, which allowed the creation of potions that could directly grant experience points or temporarily boost experience gain. However, such items were incredibly expensive. With her exnation, Vincent''s doubts were finally resolved. "Do you still have questions?" Valyn asked. "Not for now." "Alright then. In that case, it''s time for you to challenge the Tower of Combat." Chapter 87 53 Force Points "Fine. You can stay outside," Vincent relented, his voiceced with a mix of resignation and authority. "But you''d better behave yourself, understood?" Mochi''s earlier distress vanished as she nodded eagerly, puffing out her chest with an exaggerated sense of pride. "Of course! I''m the Great Mochi, after all! Such a simple task is nothing for someone of my stature!" No sooner had she dered her greatness than the birds in the surrounding trees erupted into startled chirps, scattering in every direction as though a storm had rolled in. Their sudden departure set the atmosphere on edge. The silence that followed was broken by a distant explosion. Boom! The sound was faint but unmistakable, apanied by a subtle tremor beneath their feet. "Hiic!" Mochi squeaked, startled, andunched herself onto Vincent''s shoulder with surprising agility. Her fur bristled as she clung to him, wide-eyed and trembling. With a piercing gaze, Vincent''s expression hardened as he stared fixedly toward the source of the explosion. "W-What''s happening?" Mochi''s voice rang in his mind as she wondered. Soon, the tremor grew stronger as a massive figure began approaching from a distance. With his current Mental Attribute, his perception was heightened through his skill Sixth Sense,bined with the permanent slight enhancement from the chaos energy he had absorbed. His perception could extend to a maximum of half a mile. Hence, even without fully exerting his senses, he could already discern the appearance of the approaching figure. It was enormous¡ªa hulking, green-skinned primal standing nearly nine meters tall. Its thick, powerful back legs were built for raw strength, while itsparatively smaller forelimbs gave it an unmistakable appearance. Vincent''s mind clicked in recognition. "A Tyrannosaurus Rex," he murmured, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and disbelief. For a man who had lived on modern Earth, the sight of such a creature felt surreal. He had read about them in books, seen them in films, and even dreamed of what they might have looked like in their prime. Yet now, standing before him, was a living, breathing Tyrannosaurus¡ªsomething he had never expected to witness. But this was the Origin World, and things here were rarely what they seemed. Every primal, no matter how familiar its appearance, was far more dangerous than any creature that had existed on Earth. Vincent''s eyes narrowed as he assessed the creature''s strength. Leafscorcher Tyrannosaurus ¡ª Tier 2 (1¡ï) "A Tier 2 (1¡ï) primal¡­ I guess this is enough for me to test out my current strength," he thought before turning his attention to the ck-furred rabbit perched on his shoulder, Vincent raised an eyebrow. "You''re Tier 2 as well, aren''t you? Shouldn''t you be able to take care of that thing?" Mochi bristled, her ears twitching as she responded with a haughty tone that wavered slightly under scrutiny. "Hmph! Of course, I could handle that oversized lizard! But¡­ well, I just reached Tier 2, you see. My strength hasn''t fully stabilized yet."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Her gaze darted nervously to the side, refusing to meet his. Vincent smirked beneath his mask, his expression hidden but his amusement clear in his tone. He saw through her excuse instantly but chose not to press the matter. Calling her out would only result in another dramatic disy of tears, and he wasn''t in the mood for it. "Are you nning to stay on my shoulder while I fight it, then?" Mochi''s ears perked up at his question. "You want to fight that? No, you might die!" Vincent didn''t repeat his words, instead maintaining a steady stare. Mochi twitched her nose in subtle annoyance before leaping off his shoulder. "Hmph, do what you want!" Vincent ignored her protest and focused his attention back on the approaching primal. By now, the Leafscorcher Tyrannosaurus had locked onto their position. Its movements, initially random, grew deliberate as it charged with an earth-shaking roar. Despite its massive size, the creature moved with surprising speed, closing the distance with rming efficiency. Vincent stood his ground, deciding not to summon his armament. This was a rare opportunity to test the raw power of his 50 Force Points, bolstered further by the additional three points from the Ruby Ape Earring. "100 meters¡­ 90¡­ 80¡­" Vincent counted silently, his body coiling like a spring as he calcted his timing. The moment the primal reached 50 meters, heunched himself into action. With a single, explosive kick, Vincent disappeared from sight, leaving behind only a faint gust of wind. "Where did he go?" Mochi muttered, her wide eyes darting around in confusion. Her search ended when she spotted him high above the Leafscorcher Tyrannosaurus, suspended 12 meters in the air like a shadow looming over its prey. The massive creature, unaware of Vincent''s sudden appearance, continued its charge with unrelenting momentum. Hovering above, Vincent clenched his right fist, muscles rippling with raw power. With a sharp exhale, he brought his arm down in a devastating punch aimed directly at the creature''s skull. "Ha!" The sound of his fist cutting through the air was followed by an earth-shattering impact. Boom! The Leafscorcher Tyrannosaurus crumpled under the force of the blow, its massive body smashing into the ground with a deafening crash. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, uprooting trees and leaving a massive crater in its wake. As the dust settled, Vincentnded gracefully, his gaze fixed on the lifeless body of the primal. Momentster, the massive creature dissolved into particles of shimmering digital light, its form dissipating like an borate fireworks disy. A notification appeared in his vision. You have sessfully killed a Tier 2 (1¡ï) Leafscorcher Tyrannosaurus! You have received 200 experience points! Talent Activated! +2,000,000 experience points! "Am I truly this powerful?" Vincent murmured, staring at his fist as if it belonged to someone else. From her hiding spot behind a nearby tree, Mochi peered out cautiously, her expression frozen in utter disbelief. Unbeknownst to Vincent, Mochi possessed an ability that allowed her to see an individual''s level. When he had dered his intent to fight, she had been certain he was throwing his life away. Yet the scene before her contradicted everything she had anticipated. Vincent, oblivious to her turmoil, turned his attention to the loot left behind by the tyrannosaurus. +1,000 Origin Crystals 1 Green Orb 2 White Orbs He stored the crystals in his ring before inspecting the white orbs. You have received 4 Leafscorcher''s Tendons! You have received 1 Leafscorcher''s Serrated Tooth! A quick scan revealed these to bemon-grade forging materials. He stored them without hesitation and shifted his focus to the Green Orb. The orb glowed faintly before revealing its prize: a crystal-shaped emerald. Item Name: Leafscorcher''s Core Grade: Umon Details: A Tier 2 Leafscorcher Tyrannosaurus'' Origin Core, containing residual energy. An item capable of enhancing a primal''s strength. "How convenient," Vincent mused, raising an eyebrow. The timing was almost suspicious, considering he had recently acquired primal pets. Still, he dismissed the thought, storing the core in his ring. "What''s a Tier 2 primal doing here on the outskirts of Verdant Wild Forest?" he muttered softly in wonder. It was an anomaly that demanded investigation, though hecked the information to form a concrete theory. His thoughts turned to Mochi, who still stood frozen, her wide eyes locked onto him. "Just what kind of creature is Mochi?" he pondered. The question had been guing him for some time. He had noprehensive understanding of his own chaos energy, yet this small creature had absorbed it without issue. Now, she radiated a faint aura of chaos energy herself. For now, however, his priority was to leave. Themotion from the battle was sure to attract either a powerful figure or more primals, neither of which he wished to encounter. "We need to move," he said firmly. Mochi snapped out of her stupor, scrambling to his side. The earlier bravado in her demeanor had vanished, reced by quiet obedience. After a few moments, just as he got back into the Novice Sanctuary, he noticed several groups of origin warriors moving in a hurry. He narrowed his eyes in wonder before picking up his pace, heading to Novice Center. Continue reading on empire And before he could enter the establishment he could already sense themotion inside.