《Emperor Of Ashes {LitRPG, CULTIVATION}》


 PROLOGUE

    As tears splattered onto the parchment, the thick blood stains were washed off. The once majestic night sky lost its allure, surrendering to a chaotic web of intersecting lines and mysterious patterns¡ªan inexplicable tapestry unfolding.


    Abruptly, the city''s vibrant pulse dimmed; lights extinguished, parties halted, and even the relentless city streets froze. Raindrops hesitated midair, seemingly reluctant to descend.


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    The sky''s enchanting beauty, simultaneously mesmerizing yet terrifying, felt like gazing upon an all-powerful sovereign with unwavering command.


    This celestial yet apocalyptic tranquility was shattered by a colossal thunderous roar, reminiscent of countless thunderbolts striking in unison. Following this symphony of chaos, the once towering skyscraper collapsed with a resounding boom, stirring a cloud of swirling dust.


    All of this, triggered by the anguished cries of a solitary soul. A lament that echoed despair, a plea for release, a desperate quest for self-worth.

 CHAPTER 1: AN AVERAGE BOY

    ''The hardest thing to do is to keep living.'' he thought as he awoke to the gentle caress of dawn''s first light spilling into his room. The room, shrouded in half-light, slowly revealed itself to him, and as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the boy''s weary countenance came into focus.


    The boy had a black-haired head. The boy''s countenance fell somewhere between unremarkable and unattractive, evoking a sense of plainness as if it had been crafted to embody the epitome of mediocrity.


    The young man rose to his feet and approached the mirror. He possessed a rather unremarkable height, neither towering nor diminutive. His complexion, a middle-of-the-road shade, did not lean toward extreme pallor or deep bronzing. Average, one might say. His eyes, too, exhibited no extraordinary qualities; they were perfectly middling. His nose, mouth, and ears followed suit, offering nothing that set them apart. This, in conjunction with his facial features, yielded a result that he found immensely uninspiring¡ªbland, unremarkable, and a word he absolutely hated to his bone: average.


    Standing in front of the mirror, a mocking smile skipped from the boy''s mouth.


    "I hate you." The boy said, glaring at his own reflection. A chuckle escaped him once more. After a dismissive shake of his head, He proceeded to get ready.


    "Alexander, are you¡¯re awake yet. Your bus will be here soon." sounded a middle aged women¡¯s voice from the outside of his room.


    ''Alexander, a common name,'' he mused.


    "What am I thinking?"


    ''Is it not true, though? An average face, average hair, an average height, an uneventful life¡ªjust an average existence. Isn''t that who you are, much like countless others, an average Joe?''


    "No, I''m not. I''m not an average joe," he murmured again.


    ''I suppose you truly aren''t average, then. After all, to be considered average, you''d need to have a girlfriend. But you don''t even have that. So I guess you''re below average¡ªa complete nobody.''


    "Yes, that is true. I am a fucking nobody, a loser, an absolute no one a being without purpose, just an existence with no claim to existence," the young man whispered, the words escaping his lips after a prolonged struggle within, as though he grappled with his own inner demons.


    ''Then why exist? You may live on the ground floor, but it is a 299-story building, and no one is barring you from the ceiling. So, the question remains, why live this miserable life? Where your work, your word, your action as a whole, your life is meaningless. It is as if you are invisible. Your existence is nothing but a joke. Your life without meaning. Just end it.''


    The boy''s head shook slowly, his voice carrying a tinge of self-deprecation, "You know, I''m a loser. I can''t even muster the courage. I should probably stop talking to myself. It¡¯s time to get ready to drag my miserable existence to this hell once more, like any other day."


    "Are you dead? The bus will be here any minute now." the shouting middle-aged voice again came from outside.


    "I am coming Mom." Alexander shouted back as he stated pulling his pants.


    In the dining room,


    A middle-aged man with a stern countenance and a teenager sat across from each other, their silent exchange underscored by the clinking of cutlery on porcelain plates. The room was steeped in an air of formality, punctuated only by the middle-aged woman who diligently served their meal.


    Breaking the silence, the middle-aged man turned his gaze towards the teenager, "What about your midterm results, Aven?" he inquired, his voice commanding.


    Startled, the teenager lowered the transparent, glass-like device he had been holding. For a moment, his eyes betrayed a flicker of anxiety. Gathering his composure, he replied in a somewhat shaky and incoherent tone, "No, the results haven''t been published yet."


    The middle-aged man''s sternness remained undiminished as he leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed upon the young man. "I hope you are telling the truth," he remarked, his words hanging in the air, carrying a subtle but unmistakable undercurrent of expectation and consequence.


    The middle-aged man leaned back in his chair and spoke to the empty room. "Chaphone, see if Alxon School''s class 8th result has been published."


    "The result of ..."


    "Chaphone, shutdown," A robotic Sound voice started but was interrupted as a sweet, caring, and melodious voice filled the room, cutting through the tension. "And you, have some faith in your son. Stop being so annoyed all the time."


    The middle-aged man''s voice, stern and unwavering, carried a weight of responsibility. "I am just trying to ensure that this one doesn''t squander their life like the other."


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    In contrast, the woman''s voice, sweet in tone, concealed a bitter undercurrent. "He''s simply been unlucky. It''s not actually his fault."


    "Why is his luck always this bad?" The man inquired in a mocking tone.


    The woman stuttered immensely but couldn''t respond. By the side, the teenager stood there, dropping his face down. Fear was evident on his face. As everyone sat there, the awkward silence persisted in the conversation.


    "That''s because it''s not about luck. He''s just lazy and a coward. He lacks drive for anything. Even now, he hasn''t shown up for breakfast. I deliberately refrained from calling him this morning, and I even turned off his alarm. Not that it makes a difference. No alarm has ever affected him. I just don''t get what I did wrong for God to give me a son like this," the middle-aged man ended, almost shouting.


    "He.... he tries." A quivering teenage voice came from the side.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    As the middle-aged man prepared to bellow at the teenager, a youthful, average voice emanated from the corner stairs, accompanied by a young, average-looking boy donning clothing as he descended. The apartment, occupying the first floor, featured a clever design. Half of it had a lofty ceiling supported by sturdy pillars, creating a single-story feel. The other half retained a standard height, cleverly blending two floors into one.


    "Alexander, not this again," the woman admonished with a deep frown etched on her face.


    "Alexander, Alexander, come on, boy, Alexander..." The woman continued to call out, her voice filled with urgency.


    "I told you, Mom, I don''t have time," alexander responded as he exited the room.


    "Look at what you''ve done! Because of you, my son missed his meal. I mean, who initiates this at breakfast? It''s all because of your temper," the middle-aged woman exclaimed angrily.


    The middle-aged man grumbled for a while, then fell silent.


    As the young man exited the room, he strode down the expansive hallway leading to the exterior door. On either side, numerous maids diligently toiled, but upon closer inspection, their appearance revealed an unmistakable truth¡ªthey were not quite human but androids.


    Near the exit, behind the reception stood a strikingly attractive android, a more advanced model capable of engaging in conversation. It was fairly an expensive android. So this android never fails to attract the eyes of Alexander.


    Alexander knew the building''s proprietor, and for someone of his standing, it wasn''t a significant matter. He''d heard rumors that every 50 floors of the massive 299-story building offered a distinct aesthetic. However, Alexander had never ventured there. Firstly, his schedule was always tight, and secondly, his courage didn''t quite match the task at hand.


    That is because he is an introvert, a fact that he hated himself for, but each time he tried to do something about it, there was no result to speak off. One time he tried to talk to a girl and was met with a look of complete disgust. This never actually washed off his mind.


    Following that incident, he made a personal vow never to engage in conversations with girls. . A vow he found quite easy to fulfill. A fact that further proved he was a sore loser.


    he got outside on the sidewalk, the building was beside one of the main roads, and this was also the reason why his father bought the ground apartment of this building with all his savings, as opposed to buying a higher floor apartment somewhere else.


    The road was packed with vehicles, most of them private cars. It was a massive traffic jam. But this daily occurrence was hardly noticeable.


    Above the bustling cityscape, a labyrinth of flying cars crisscrossed the sky in their designated tiers. The power of their engines dictated the hierarchical structure, with each car model having its exclusive stratum. The lowest tier accommodated the humblest flying car engines, but even their cost was exorbitant for those like Alexander or the middle class.


    In the hierarchy of engines, those in the high-class category have the capability to descend to lower levels, but they are required to adhere to speed restrictions imposed by the law.


    Alexander gazed up at the expansive sky, where tiers of vehicles floated, and he couldn''t help but shake his head. It was evident that the layer system vividly mirrored the social hierarchy. Down on the ground, the common folks endured hardship, while the privileged upper class effortlessly carried on with their lives. The lowest flying tier in the sky moved sluggishly, with limited space and a sense of confinement. As you ascended higher, the vehicles grew more opulent, the tiers became less crowded, and the occupants enjoyed greater freedom.


    But as he was thinking about this, he remembered that he did not have much time, to be philosophical, before the bus arrives. Upon coming back to reality, Alexander rushed like crazy for the nearest private high school in front of which the varsity bus stops.


    Alexander quickly walked onto the crowded sidewalk, he would have run, but the crowd was so densely packed that it was impossible to even think of running. But years of living in this environment have made him good at maneuvering through this crowd.


    Amidst the bustling sidewalk, he strolled freely, secretly taking pride in his knack for weaving through the crowd. However, just as the thought of his exceptional mobility crossed his mind, he quickly scolded himself inwardly. "What''s there to be proud of? Aren''t these folks navigating the same?" He hesitated to complete that thought, fearing discomfort upon thinking of the word about to come out of his mouth.


    With nimble agility, he made it to the private high school. There, a sleek, four-story bus with blue hues floated a few feet above the ground. Its four thrusters continuously spewed hot air.


    Upon finding no empty seat in the first 2 story¡¯s he opted to seat at the front of the 3rd one.


    "Hey, so you came today! I thought you would bunk it." At this point, he heard a familiar voice. Turning back he saw a boy with a huge body, not fat, was well-built, though not ripped, it had the shape of a bodybuilder.


    The boy then moved away and gestured at Alexander to a seat next to the window, as he knew, Alexander liked to sit beside windows on a bus.


    "Thanks, man." Alexander said after seating.


    "Hey Michel, did you complete your cultivation to Xeo 1?" alexander asked.


    "No. but let''s not talk about it."


    "Sure thing," Alexander responded with a nod and a grateful look. He knew Michel was one of the above average students in their class and really wanted to discuss it, but he refrained because he understood how much talking about cultivation pained Alexander.


    As Michel sat down, the bus trembled, and as it was the 3rd floor, the engine sound did not travel up there.


    "Oh! Don''t worry, the bus did not tremble because of your weight." Alexander joked.


    "Don''t worry, if the bus turns over for my weight, you would be the first one that would be crushed to death by my weight." Michel chuckled.


    The bus smoothly glided along the sky, joining the ranks of the flying cars in the first layer. As the journey commenced, Alexander and Michael engaged in light conversation for a few minutes. But, after some times like most of the people on the bus, Alexander decided to put on his headphones, letting the music wash over him while he gazed out at the towering buildings passing by.


    The buildings were impressive, with most of them boasting a distinctive octagonal design. Advertisements for a wide array of products were plastered across these towering structures. Many of these buildings had the capability to display video advertisements on their glass walls.


    The advertisements themselves seemed to be tiered, almost like a hierarchy. For instance, luxury cars wouldn''t be showcased below the hundredth floor, and you wouldn''t find ads for budget noodles above the hundredth floor. Amidst this spectacle, Alexander noticed a pristine white building with two revolving rings around it. In front of it, a projection of a lady in a lab coat proudly announced that this hospital was the first in the city to tackle cultivation deviation.


    Alexander couldn''t help but chuckle to himself, thinking, "As if it''s that simple. There''s probably some poor folks being used for experiments." Lost in his thoughts, he continued to observe the advertisements and the extravagance of the era.


    However, his musings were interrupted when he noticed something that left him in awe. He shifted his gaze within the bus, completely captivated.


    Michel, sensing Alexander''s amazement, asked, "Isn''t she from your building?"


    Alexander, still somewhat dazed, replied, "Yes, that''s her."


    Michel prodded with a mischievous grin, "So, are you going to ask her out today?"


    At this, all the color from alexanders face was drained.

 CHAPTER 2: AN AVERAGE LIFE

    "So, today''s the day, huh? You gonna ask her out?" Michel nudged Alexander with a sly grin, a mischievous spark in his eyes.


    The light drained from Alexander''s face at the mere suggestion. "What...what do you mean? There is no such thing," he stammered, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.


    Michel leaned in, "Oh, come on! I see how you look at her. There''s no way..."


    "Hey, man, let''s just stop," Alexander interrupted, a plea in his voice, as if he was afraid, people would heard.


    But Michel persisted, a playful glint in his eye. "Well then, have it your way. By the way, I was going to spill the beans about the upcoming Romeo and Juliet play in the varsity. But seeing as you''re not interested in her, I doubt you''d want to know about the play, considering your aversion to these kinds of events." Michel''s words dripped with teasing charm.


    As the sentence hung in the air, there was no immediate reaction from Alexander. However, the glee on Michel''s face remained unblemished. He knew, deep down, that Alexander''s curiosity was a smoldering flame, waiting to burst into a full-fledged fire. He knew alexander was not going to keep it in him for long, he knew him way too greatly.


    "Come on, Spill it," Alexander urged, his voice cutting through the air with a sense of urgency.


    "Why should I tell you if you''re not even interested?" Michel retorted, an annoyed expression on his face, though a playful undertone danced beneath the surface.


    Alexander''s playful smile countered Michel''s irritation. "Oh, nothing much. It''s just that you, my friend, have gone through all this trouble for me, and I wouldn''t want your efforts to go in vain, now would I?"


    Michel, maintaining his sharp demeanor, responded with a humble tone, "You don''t have to worry about that. What kind of friend would I be if I couldn''t handle this much work going in vain for a friend? I''ll consider it proof of my friendship."


    "Oh! Come on, maaaaan!" Alexander playfully protested, shooting Michel a helpless look as he jabbed his elbow into Michel''s ribs, eliciting a ticklish response.


    "Ok...ok, I''ll say it," Michel conceded, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "Word on the street is, in three days, there''s going to be a dazzling performance of Romeo and Juliet at the varsity. And here''s the kicker ¨C I have heard, your crush is about to take the spotlight as Juliet."


    Alexander''s expression surged with a mix of excitement and apprehension. However, the light in his eyes dimmed as he asked with a hint of dejection, "Who''s playing the role of Romeo?"


    Noticing the sudden shift, Michel frowned, offering reassurance, "Don''t worry, it''s just a varsity production. No mandatory kissing scenes in front of the whole crowd, and besides, she''s not the type for that kind of drama."


    "Yeah, let''s hope so," Alexander replied with a forced smile, the undertone of panic evident in his voice.


    Michel shook his head confidently, dismissing any doubts, "Hope? My friend, hope is too weak a word. This, my dear Alexander, is destiny in the making."


    "And what makes you so sure?" Alexander teased, a glimmer of hope dancing in his eyes.


    Michel leaned in with a conspiratorial air, "Because your brother said so. Ha...Ha...ha."


    The illogical confidence in Michel''s statement somehow, Instead, a lit a flicker of hope in his eyes.


    "Actually, think about this. It could be an opportunity for you," Michel said in a thoughtful expression.


    Alexander, feigning indifference, asked, "And how''s that?" Yet, beneath the nonchalant exterior, a spark of excitement lingered in his eyes.


    "Imagine this ¨C the role of Romeo is still up for grabs. Now, what if you take a shot at the audition and, voila, you get selected? Suddenly, it''s you and, what''s her name..."


    "Ana."


    "Right, you and Ana, center stage. And remember what I mentioned earlier?"


    "The part about kissing not being obligatory?" Alexander recalled, a wry helpless smile playing on his lips.


    "Exactly! Picture this: kissing isn''t a mandatory script directive, but if the mood strikes, well, you''ve got the green light." Michel''s tone brimmed with playful encouragement.


    "So, what''s your point?" Alexander asked, curiosity now burning brightly in his eyes, his thumb tapping nervously as he struggled to maintain a composed demeanor.


    "I mean, what kind of a fool are you? Imagine if, by some cosmic chance, she looks at you and falls head over heels. Picture her wanting to add a touch of realism to the play, or even better, what if she''s been harboring a secret crush on you all this time, and the play becomes the perfect excuse to steal a kiss. She''s spoken to you on a few occasions, hasn''t she?" Michel teased, his words laden with excitement.


    "Yes, yes, she did, unlike everyone else," Alexander responded, his voice starting with a delighted tone and ending in a sorrowful one, like a fleeting melody that shifted from major to minor.


    Michel leaned in, "Well, there you have it. There''s a high chance that she likes you."


    "I mean, it could also be that she''s just being nice to me. She talks with everyone. Well, everyone except for Chase." Alexander''s uncertainty echoed through his words, a mix of hope and doubt playing out on the stage of his emotions.


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    "Well, that''s even better. Every girl here has a crush on that handsome son of a devil. But, you are lucky, Ana doesn''t talk to him, so you might just have a better shot. And let''s not forget, the main thing is, it''s you who has to make the decision. So, summon that courage and take the plunge. You do know that women adore courageous men, right?"


    Alexander hesitated, mulling over the words before responding, "Well..."


    Michel cut in with an infectious enthusiasm, "And before you say anything, just remember, even if Ana isn''t crowned the most beautiful girl in the class, let alone the entire varsity, she has many eyeing her. So, seize the opportunity, my friend, or the regret that''ll follow might just be immeasurable."


    Hearing Michel''s words, Alexander stood frozen, a statue carved from the very essence of contemplation. His silence hung heavy in the air, a pregnant pause pregnant with the weight of self-doubt.


    Finally, he shook his head, a subtle motion betraying the turmoil within him. With a sigh that seemed to release the burden he carried, he spoke, "Even though all is said and done, there''s another thing to consider."


    Michel leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "What?"


    Alexander''s gaze dropped, and his voice took on a dejected tone, "I mean, look at her. She''s almost perfect¡ªcaring, loving, cheerful, helpful, and, of course, beautiful. I heard she''s even reached the Xeo 1 level recently. Does a loser like me, who doesn''t have much ability to cultivate, let alone anything else, have the eligibility to talk to her?"


    Michel''s response was a murmur, almost to himself, "Well, I don''t see this much beauty."


    "What?" Alexander''s eyes widened, seeking an explanation.


    "No...No, nothing. Forget it," Michel dismissed his own words with a wave. "Let me tell you something. You''re a man who hardly cares about anything. Even now, you don''t know the news about the play, but you knew that Ana has passed the Xeo 1 stage in her cultivation. And that tells something, my friend. It tells what your heart wants, and what the heart wants, the heart wants. Nothing else matters." Michel locked eyes with Alexander, a profound sincerity in his gaze.


    "But...."


    "There is no ''but.'' Never forget that Helmabord destroyed an entire country in Andromeda just to get revenge for his fianc¨¦''s rape," Michel''s voice carried a weight of encouragement.


    "Well, I am no Helmabord," Alexander countered, a trace of hesitation in his tone.


    "Then be one. Do you know that Salba, Toro, Jimmythy, and many others have already broken through the Xeo level one and are currently in Xeo stage 2?" Michel''s words were delivered with a solemnity that mirrored the gravity of the situation.


    "What about Rosa and Arnol?"


    "Their top position is unshakable. They''re at the peak of Xeo 2 stage and can break through to 3 at any time. Some even say that Arnol is already in the 3rd stage."


    "Oh my god, then we really have to step up our game. Otherwise, we will be last again."


    "Technically, we were in the middle, not last."


    "Well, you understand. So is your cultivation going okay this time?"


    "Yeah, I think this time I will move up the class ranking a lot. And what about you? Did those medicines or anything else work?" Michel''s inquiry held a note of genuine concern.


    "No. they are quack medicine anyway."


    "Still, you should stick to the regimen. Who knows, one day it might decide to work its magic. Your mom mentioned you''re not too keen on keeping a routine."


    ¡°Oh!¡± alexander sighed as he fell into silence.


    Michel did not press him either. He knew his condition, Alexander had a deficiency on his body as he was almost not compatible with any cultivation manual and his progress was too slow.


    It was as if he was someone between a cultivator and non-cultivator.


    And without cultivation he will have a hard time leaving, let alone fulfilling his dream which was to travel the outside world in the space.


    Without cultivation you would not be able to get a normal job. Take doctors, for instance. A non-cultivator doc? Good luck diagnosing, let alone treating, the problems cultivators face. They need someone who can navigate the maze of meridians and delve into the realm of esoteric ailments. It''s like sending a chef to fix a spaceship - wrong skills, wrong job.


    And engineers? Imagine working on a machine crafted for cultivators without a clue about cultivation. You''d be staring at gears like they''re alien artifacts. No matter how sharp your mind, you''d be as useful as a compass in a desert.


    Like that almost everything needed cultivation on one way or another. Though there were normal people working in this jobs, they were either the miracle workers of the field or just bottom feeders. No matter how he thought he could not think of anything but desk job for Alexander. And he knew how much Alexander hated it.


    The mention of going beyond the planet emerged as a bittersweet echo¡ªa distant, borderline implausible dream for Alexander.


    Looking at the sad yet deep contemplative look on alexander''s face, he hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Mind if I share something with you?"


    "Of course, man. We''re friends," Alexander replied, his tone nonchalant, a casual assurance in his words.


    Michel leaned in, his expression serious. "Alright, but don''t take offense. Personally, I don''t find her that striking. And let''s be honest, you''re a bit on the softer side for our age. Sometimes, being soft can be mistaken for incompetence. Plus, she''s got a better cultivation level than you. That might not sit well with her. So..."


    Before Michel could conclude, Alexander cut in, a hint of defiance in his voice, "She''s not like that. True love transcends cultivation levels. And being soft, well, isn''t that a positive trait? How does it become a flaw? I just don''t get it. It doesn''t make any sense."


    Michel''s response hung in the air for a moment, "Whether it makes sense or not, I can''t say. All I know is these are the facts. Consider this¡ªwhy would a girl be interested in a guy weaker than her? Anyway, the main point I want to get across is, she''s not the be-all and end-all. So, even if she turns you down, don''t do anything impulsive. And remember, your brother is always here for you," Michel conveyed, his words carrying a weight of sincerity.


    "Well, now, armed with all this wisdom, I say it''s high time you go and propose to her," Michel declared with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, attempting to lighten the mood.


    As their conversation continued, the passing buildings outside the bus created a fleeting backdrop. Before they knew it, a vast expanse unfolded before them, a landscape divided by a 20-foot round wall on all sides. In a place where towering structures and glaring lights dominated the scene, this area stood out. Open fields sprawled with trees, interspersed with buildings of modest height. Most structures barely reached five stories, though a cluster of 10-story buildings stood prominently in the middle. Amidst them all, a charming 2-story bungalow graced the landscape, surrounded by a round pond like a protective mote.


    Nestled at the southeast corner of the varsity, a 250-story tower-like building loomed, a structure that never failed to capture Alexander''s attention. It housed most of the varsity''s labs but remained off-limits to the majority. Even when students were granted access, strict restrictions confined them to specific areas. However, the well-qualified teachers found sanctuary within its walls, often dedicating most of their time to pursuits beyond regular classes.


    As the bus descended, Alexander''s eyes traced the varsity landscape below. It landed gracefully in its designated spot, surrounded by a fleet of similar buses, most towering with two stories. In a distant corner stood two weathered, one-story relics whose peeling paint told tales of bygone journeys.


    "Please close the window beside you before you go," echoed the disembodied voice from the soundbox on each floor, a harmonious reminder that their journey had reached its end.


    Turning to Michel, Alexander proposed, "Man, you head to class; I''ve got a date with the library."


    Michel shook his head, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "No chance, buddy. Today''s class is early. If you ditch, be ready to collect those absence numbers."


    "Oh, man! Guess the library will have to wait," Alexander sighed, closing the window as the duo made their way towards the awaiting class.


    Once inside, they claimed their habitual seats, side by side. Ana occupied the front row, her attention devoted to the teacher''s words. Alexander mirrored the focus, fully aware that his path to understanding required extra effort. His eyes, however, occasionally strayed towards Ana, a silent acknowledgment of a presence that held more significance than the textbooks on his desk.


    Observing this, Michel couldn''t help but smile, shaking his head in amused understanding.


    Once the classes concluded, Michel approached Alexander, suggesting they share a cab home and split the fare as they strolled through the fields.


    "No, I need to go to the library," Alexander asserted.


    Michel inquired, "What will you do?"


    With a sigh, Alexander confessed, "Well, for the new assignment I was given, I need to dig into some history."


    Michel, suspecting a familiar motive, probed, "Be honest with me, did you again try to find some cultivation method that suits you?"


    Alexander, exhaling deeply, admitted, "It would be lying if I did not say that the idea never crossed my mind. But as most of the good and easy ones were taken, I chose this assignment, thinking it might introduce me to some new cultivation method that could suit me."


    "Which era?" Michel queried.


    "I think the assignment would focus on the era in which we got included in the alliance."


    "Slim chance," a feminine but stern voice cut through the conversation, "if you truly want to know something about cultivation, try learning the age of hero¡¯s era."

 CHAPTER 3: THE ENCOUNTER

    "I think the assignment would focus on the era in which we got included in the alliance."


    "Slim chance if you truly want to know something about cultivation, try the age of Heroes era." A commanding voice, accompanied by a tall, veiled girl with flowing black hair and a daring red dress, took center stage. The slit in her dress revealed a glimpse of one leg, and her eyes sparkled like clear water above the veil. Michel and Alexander, caught off guard, stood in awe.


    With an air of disdain, the mysterious girl chided, "Ignorant juniors who haven''t a clue about the age of heroes." She strolled past them, hardly acknowledging their presence. As she disappeared, leaving a trail of intrigue, another girl, clad in a mini skirt and shirt in front of a car, inquired, "Did you speak with Miss Zara?" The Mercedes S-Class, unlike its hovering counterparts, proudly rolled on wheels, a clear sign that its owner belonged to the elite class with a road exclusively at their service as surely the poor people will not go around in Mercedes.


    "No need to fret; I''ve got it under control," she assured.


    "Is that why you''re dressed like Miss Zara today?" the other girl teased, a playful smirk on her face. The conversation reached them just as the two women gracefully entered the hovering Mercedes, its tires transforming into thrusters as it shot off into the distance.


    "Varsity''s got some high rollers, huh?" Alexander remarked, eyes following the trail of the speeding car.


    "I think I am in love," Michel confessed with a sparkle in her eyes, captivated.


    Caught off guard, Alexander was taken aback; he had never seen Michel in such a baffled state before.


    "Ah, well, forget it. She''s on a whole other level all together." A voice interrupted from behind the duo, adding an unexpected twist to the unfolding drama.


    "And how do you come by this information?" Michel inquired, turning around with Alexander to find a hefty figure waddling towards them. The boy''s belly jiggled with each step, creating a mini tsunami on his surface. They recognized him as Jimmy, one of the affluent students in their class.


    Alexander and Michel were familiar with Jimmy, and when you have such a distinguishing body, it is hard for people not to know you. Despite being well-off, Jimmy wasn''t the typical snobbish rich kid. In Alexander''s opinion, he was tolerable.


    "Well, first of all, she''s no ordinary woman," Jimmy began, capturing their attention.


    "Of course, the women I fancy can never be ordinary," Michel declared triumphantly.


    "Let me finish. Setting aside everything else, she''s more powerful than some of the first-year teachers. She reached the Xeo 9 stage almost eleven months ago. Who knows how powerful she is now? And with her personality, she won''t settle for anyone weaker than her," Jimmy said, observing the shock in Alexander and Michel''s eyes with a hint of amusement in his own.


    "I don''t believe it," Michel stammered, his voice filled with disbelief..


    "Why not? Do you think everyone is as talentless as us? Talent isn''t the only way," Jimmy retorted.


    Michel and Alexander both knew, jimmy was not that good at cultivation, though he was above average. That''s why he got triggered.


    "What do you mean?" Alexander quickly asked trying to pacify the situation.


    "With enough wealth, even someone with limited talent can quickly cultivate to a higher level by buying and using expensive materials," Jimmy stated mockingly.


    "But that would require an enormous amount of money," Michel questioned.


    "True, but even though I''m sure she didn''t seek outside help, if she needed it, her family could easily provide," Jimmy explained.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "How do you know all this about her? Are you pursuing her, too?" Alexander teased.


    "Though your daddy, I am a lady hunter, I wouldn''t dare have any designs on her. My father warned me that it could endanger our entire family," Jimmy replied, starting in a self-mocking tone but ending with solemnity.


    Alexander and Michel both scoffed at the same time.


    "Are they that powerful?" Alexander asked, showing no fear, as if it sparked of something deeper within him.


    Jimmy replied, "Their family has enough power to strip us of all influence, but wiping us out completely would come at a cost. And that price is what their adversaries are waiting for them to pay. So, they''re not the real threat, or so my father says."


    "What is the real threat then?" Alexander queried, curiosity lighting up his eyes.


    "The main problem is her connection to the citadel," Jimmy dropped the bombshell, and the three fell into a stunned silence. They knew the citadel, the nerve center of the city, home to powerful figures, including Joseph Jones, the de facto mayor.


    "These people are truly beyond our reach. I was just contemplating it anyway," Michel sighed.


    "Yeah, these are the folks we should steer clear of," Jimmy added. "So, are you guys heading home?"


    "Yeah, I am, but Alexander is staying," Michel replied, pointing at Alexander.


    "I need to study for my assignment," Alexander said nonchalantly.


    "Going on the evening bus?" Jimmy asked, shocked as Alexander almost never did that.


    "I have no choice."


    "Well, you do you. My car''s here; I''m off. Bye!" Jimmy waved, departing.


    "See you tomorrow, man. Bye!" Michel called after him.


    "Okay. I better get to reading. The assignment won''t do itself," Alexander said.


    "Alright, bye then." Michel headed towards the road.


    Alexander watched as Michel approached other students, convincing them to share a taxi. Michel was adept at interacting with anyone. On any other day, Alexander would join him, but today was different.


    Sighing, Alexander moved toward the library, unnoticed in the river-like flow of people. At the library, two old vending machines were worn, and a new, expensive one by the door offered only soft drinks.


    Choosing the cheaper option from the old machines, he checked for cleanliness and sat on one of the two stairs. After eating, he dusted himself and entered the A-like three-story library. The first floor had books, a librarian''s area, and the second floor was U-shaped. One side of the building was completely made of glass wall from which greenery could be seen and natural light came to make a good reading atmosphere actress all floors.


    The third floor had audiobooks and simulations with an entry fee, while the floor above was restricted to the VP with 24/7 security.


    Alexander strolled to the left, scooping up three intriguing books. The first, "5001 to 50199 Highlights" by Striven Miller, caught his eye. Next, he snatched "The Walk of 60100 to 60700" by David Quinge. The last, "6600 to 6665" by the enigmatic Manisen Qunzecal, was his current pick¡ªauthored by the personal advisor to Earth''s leader, often hailed as the emperor of blue.


    There were tables between every column, and after taking the three books, Alexander went a little deep as he searched for a table where no one was seating. Normally, six people can sit at one table, but Alexander did not like people, so he kept searching for a quiet place.


    As he went deeper, the number of people around was reducing, and suddenly in between columns, there was no one, but as Alexander liked the quietness, he went a little farther. In one such place, he saw that a senior male student had a beautiful lady pinned against a bookshelf. Alexander knew right away that they were kissing and stopped after hearing his footsteps.


    Seeing the scene, Alexander felt like his heart just skipped a beat, but he was not sure why that was. Was it because of his pain or fear? But as his gaze met the furious eyes of both the seniors, he lowered his eyes as he walked deeper. Eventually he found solace a few steps away in a quiet corner of the library though his mind was a mass.


    "Is this the pain of loneliness?" Alexander murmured.


    ''Yes, yes it is.'' The voice again rang in his mind.


    "Why should I feel pain? What happened?"


    ''You are jealous of those two, and it is giving you the feeling that you would be alone forever while everyone is being happy.''


    "No, I am also a good person. Why would that happen to me?"


    ''Do you think justice or karma exists? If it did, you would not be in such bad conditions. You don''t have money, cultivation, not even a good brain like countless others. You are just average. I am telling you, just end it. All of your problems will be gone, and you could be happy, forever.''


    Shaking off the dark thoughts, Alexander reaffirmed his belief in justice and the potential for improvement. "One day, all of this will fix itself," he assured himself as he prepared to immerse himself in his books.


    Just as he was about to delve into his reading, the librarian''s announcement disrupted his plans. "as per the VP sir''s order The library will close in 5 minutes. Evacuate immediately," echoed through the sound system. Frustrated, Alexander cursed, stood up, and joined the chaotic stream of people rushing towards the exit. The abrupt end to his quiet reading time left him exasperated, a sentiment shared by others scrambling down from the upper floors of the library.


    Unlike every day, the massive gate swung open so, Alexander and his companions exited without the expected chose of the crowed. Stepping out, Alexander was met with a lineup of opulent cars¡ªMercedes S-Class, Aston Martin, and more¡ªhovering in place. The VP emerged from a Parejo, greeted by eager students. However, the atmosphere shifted when he promptly instructed everyone to evacuate.


    Cursing the VP silently, Alexander joined the stream of students making their way out. Amidst the high-end vehicles, he noticed a high end luxury yet old car with distinctively adorned tires, marked by frequent use and evident damage. A quick assessment revealed it to be an older model, a telltale sign of an elite presence in the city here.


    Alexander swiftly departed the area, heading towards the campus gate. Unbeknownst to the bustling crowd, a remarkably slender girl, cloaked in a long winter jacket, stood gazing at the s-class vehicle with tires. Her attention then shifted to a specific rooftop nearby, where she nodded in approval. A keen observer might have noticed a discreet black silhouette on that rooftop, reciprocating the nod and signaling with a hand gesture. Suddenly, the surrounding trees emitted some flickering, visible only to him due to his elevated vantage point.


    Alexander strolled towards the varsity gate, his focus unwavering. Reaching it, he briskly made his way to the nearby bus station, just a 5-minute walk. The area buzzed with fellow students, yet Alexander, not one for crowds, remained in his quiet corner, awaiting the bus.


    In the midst of his solitude, a sweet and melodious voice suddenly broke through, asking, "Hey, is this Alexander?"

 CHAPTER 4: THE HOUSE CLEANING

    As the voice poured out, Alexander moved his face toward the sound and saw a girl with long hair like a waterfall, and a white dress that outlined her figure perfectly at the right places. And seeing this Alexander was extremely awestruck as it was none other than Ana.


    "Oh, yes... yes, it''s me," Alexander stammered, attempting to avoid fixating on Ana''s rosy lips and flushed cheeks.


    "I had a feeling I recognized someone," Ana chimed in with a cheerful tone. And continued, "hey guys this is the boy who I told you about, he lives in the same building as me and is the politest kid I know"


    ''Oh, she thinks about me... she thinks about me,'' Alexander''s mind repeated, temporarily disconnecting from reality. "Is this real, or just my imagination?" he mumbled, considering it might all be a dream. "I should pinch myself; it''s bound to wake me up any moment now."


    "Alexander, Alexander..." Ana''s voice snapped him back to reality.


    "How have you been lately?" she inquired.


    "I''m... I''m fine," Alexander stuttered in response.


    "I rarely see you; it''s challenging to keep track of you," Ana expressed.


    "I thought you guys lived in the same building?" a girl from the side commented.


    "Yeah, we live almost in different areas but we never fail to stay in touch." A boy that was beside that girl said holding her hand and looking into her eyes.


    Alexander understood that this boy was that girl''s boyfriend, and the comment that the boy just made was just to impress the girl by downplaying Ana.


    "Well, I don''t venture out much, and I''m not on Flash Face or any social media, so it''s not easy to reach me," Alexander clarified.


    The boy was about to respond when a voice from the side interrupted the conversation.


    "The bus has arrived."


    Approaching the station was a sizable purple commercial bus. Given the brief stops at this station, the crowd swiftly prepared to board, and Alexander was no exception.


    As the bus came to a halt, a couple secured the front seats in haste. Alexander, quick on his feet, entered and snagged a seat near the middle, conveniently beside a window. These were extra seats, with no assurance of vacancy, left by early departures or unsold reservations.


    A melodious voice interrupted his thoughts, "Can I sit beside you?" It was Ana. Alexander''s heart raced as he replied, "Of course, feel free to take a seat."


    As Ana settled next to him, her figure became even more apparent. Alexander struggled to avert his gaze, caught in a silent battle with his eyes.


    After a while, the bus rumbled to life, and they settled into their seats. It was Ana who broke the ice.


    "Hey, why aren''t you active on FlashFace or any social media?" she inquired.


    "Well, I think that they are a west of time." Though Alexander said this on the outside, in his mind a voice was saying, ''it is because you don''t have friends and you don''t like people.'' This made him look like a fool as an awkward smile was hanging from his lips for his blunt lying.


    That''s great, really great, but what''s with the awkward smile?" Ana inquired, puzzled.


    "Oh, it''s nothing... really, nothing at all," Alexander responded with a hint of unease.


    As the bus forged ahead, time marched on, and Alexander and Ana continued their conversation. Surprisingly, Alexander didn''t bother to pullout his headphones.


    After what seemed like a fleeting moment to Alexander, the bus finally arrived at the nearest station to Ana and Alexander''s residence. Stepping off the bus, both of them began strolling towards their building. Though not overtly apparent, Alexander could feel his heart racing at an unprecedented pace.


    ''I am walking with her side by side, just like lovers. HOW IS THIS REALITY.'' Alexander screamed in his mind.


    As they talked and walked, time and the road passed by, and Before long, they stood in front of their building. Upon entering, the opulent-looking android greeted them, a routine occurrence.


    However, as Alexander occupied the ground floor, the time had come for them to part ways


    ''The one time I was hoping to be in a conversation, time just wanted to fly faster.''


    "Well, then good bye for today." While Alexander was cursing time in his mind, the sweet voice of Ana rang out.


    ''Ask her, damn it ask her.''


    ''What will she think?''


    ''She will think nothing and if you miss this chance, you may never get it again.''


    ''But....''


    ''Damnit, just ask her on which floor she lives.'' Alexander did not say anything as he stood there like a fool as this back and forth was going inside his head.


    "Are you ok?" seeing this Ana asked.


    "No, I am ok, I am ok. Where do you live?" Alexander blurred out this question with a foolish look.


    Ana frowned her eyes as she answered, "this building of course."


    "No...no...no, I mean, I am sorry, I meant to say which floor." Alexander quickly cleared it with an awkward expression.


    "Ha...ha...ha..." Ana laughed out loud as she said, "oh, 50th floor." Then they laughed out again.


    "Ok, bye then." Alexander then lowered his head in embarrassment as he bid goodbye.


    As he said this Ana''s lift made it to the ground floor and opened up. Ana then stepped into it, and said, "see you tomorrow then." And as she said this the door of the lift closed, after that as it was moving upwards the laughter of the girl was still being heard, as Alexander''s face became as red as a tomato.


    Alexander hung his head in disappointment and made his way towards his apartment. "You fool, you had one shot, just one, and you blew it! Seriously, who asks that kind of question? And instead of saying something cool, you said this! Now she''s going to remember you as a creep. You''ll be lucky if she ever talks to you again," Alexander muttered to himself, scolding his own actions.


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    Approaching his apartment, he knocked on the door, even though it lacked a doorbell. Alexander''s father, cost-conscious in a challenging economy, deemed it unnecessary. "Coming," a youthful voice responded, and the door swung open to reveal Alexander''s brother wearing an apron and covered in dust.


    "Where''s Mom?" Alexander asked, puzzled as it''s usually his mother who opens the door.


    "Dad came home early and decided to clean the whole house. We''re almost done; just the store room left. Mother and I are helping him, and he wants you to join," his brother explained, pointing towards the shoes by the door.


    "Ah, okay. I''ll change first," Alexander sighed.


    "No need. Mom said to wear these; she''s going to wash them anyway," his brother insisted.


    "Fine. I''ll come after dropping my bag in my room."


    "Okay. So, how was university today?"


    "Why do you care?"


    "You seemed unusually happy. Just curious."


    "It was good, alright? The best," Alexander admitted, his face reddening.


    "School, university, same difference. What happened?"


    "Curiosity doesn''t suit someone like you. Go do your work," Alexander teased.


    "I''ll go for now, but I''ll ask you later. Don''t think you''ve outsmarted me," his brother retorted, heading towards the upper room next to Alexander''s.


    Observing this, Alexander smiled and went to the table, grabbing a glass of water. After a grateful sip, he climbed the stairs to his room, placed his bag on the bed, and took out his phone and headphones to charge. Plugging in the headphones first, he then rested his transparent glass phone on the circular charging platform, which glowed green, indicating it was charging.


    As he plugged in his phone to charge, memories of conversations with Michel and Ana flooded Alexander''s mind. A vivid scene emerged, depicting him and Ana on a stage adorned with red drapes, sharing a kiss in front of a large crowd. The recollection left his face flushed.


    A stern voice interrupted his thoughts, "How much time does it take to place your bag?" from the room next door.


    "Wait a minute, I am coming," Alexander replied irritably, snapping out of his daydream. He glanced around the house, then left his room to enter the adjacent one.


    waliking in, he observed his father engrossed in sorting through an antique watch, surrounded by numerous boxes. The watch was old, some handed down thing maby. much like the various other items scattered across the room.


    "Well, look who decided to grace us with a visit," Alexander''s father remarked, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.


    "Give him a break; he just got home," his mother intervened, handing Alexander a mask with a gentle scolding directed at his father.


    Without a word, Alexander donned the mask, a crucial accessory due to his dust allergy. Taking a few deep breaths, he surveyed the room filled with cardboard boxes, each containing remnants of old and mostly usless things.


    his mohter was taking car of some old clith, while his brother was looking through his old books, he was keeping the ones that he needs, and throwing the ones he did not need.


    So, what am I supposed to do?" Alexander queried his father, a hint of annoyance in his tone.


    "Well, that''s the million-dollar question, isn''t it?" His father glanced around the room and then, with a touch of cheerfulness, suggested, "As the eldest son, how about you take care of the oldest things?" He pointed at the numerous boxes surrounding them.


    "Okay." Alexander agreed, taken aback by his father''s sudden cheerfulness, and settled beside him on the floor.


    "Don''t be so tense; it''s not like all these boxes are filled with ancestral items," his father teased, giving Alexander''s shoulders a playful slap. Sensing his father''s good mood, Alexander relaxed a bit.


    "Well, that''s all well and fine, but why are these things so neglected? Shouldn''t we show some level of gratitude to our ancestors?" Alexander frowned.


    "The gratitude has been paid long ago. We''ve taken care of these things for generations. It was your great-grandfather who decided that looking after these things is a waste of money and effort," his father explained in a solemn tone.


    "Well, that''s not right," Alexander rebuked.


    "Didn''t I already tell you the story? So, why are you saying this?" his father questioned.


    "Yeah, I know, but they are still our ancestors." Alexander emphasized.


    "What story? I am not informed of any such story!" As Alexander and his father were talking, a teenage voice rang out with shock and curiosity from the side.


    "What, did I not tell you?" Alexander''s father looked at his brother and asked with a dumbfounded look.


    "No," Aven replied in a resentment-filled voice.


    "Well, then let me tell you, this is the story of our ancestors and you should know it." Alexander''s father then stopped cleaning and turned to face his brother.


    As Alexander and his mother were cleaning, two men were sitting face to face, one young, one old, one eager, and another experienced, one holding a broom hander to his chin, and another cleaned his face with the towel that he was just cleaning with, "well we were not always like this,"


    "So, where we king at any time?" Alexander''s brother asked enthusiastically.


    Facing that question Alexander''s father shut up and was thinking hard, after some time, with a dumbfounded look said, "actually no, we were pretty much like this,"


    Upon hearing this, Aven''s excitement visibly waned, his face reflecting disappointment.


    Unaware of his son''s reaction, Alexander''s father continued, "But that''s not the crucial point. What matters is that after World War 4, when the Chinese were compelled to unveil their soldiers trained through a secret cultivation method, the entire world became aware of cultivation. Through various means, the United States and other leading nations managed to decipher the workings of this phenomenon. As you''ve studied in school, societal norms shifted, embracing cultivation, and after that when the extraterrestrials made contact, and then World War 5 unfolded."


    "Aven inquired, ''How does that relate to anything? We''re well aware of that.''


    His father replied, ''I''m getting to that. Although the records are not pristine, I do know that during that period, our forebears inhabited a relatively insignificant nation.''


    ''When was this?'' Aven interjected, confusion etched across his face before his father could elaborate.


    ''Ah, after the conclusion of World War 4, when the Chinese were compelled to unveil their trump card, revealing the cultivation system to the world. Our ancestors played a pivotal role by introducing cultivation to our, then homeland. They were highly educated and foresaw the transformative impact of the cultivation system on the future societal structure.''"


    Aven''s curiosity got the better of him as he interjected, "So, which country was that?"


    Annoyanced, Alexander''s response, "Well, like most others, it might have been obliterated in World War 5, and there''s no record of it anywhere."


    "Alright, let''s continue," Aven urged, maintaining his interest.


    "At that time, our family thrived even more, but the prosperity was short-lived. Others began importing various cultivation methods, and our family returned to a more ordinary status," Alexander recounted.


    "So, was that it? Was that our brief peak?"


    With a smile, his father responded, "Yes, it was a glorious era for our ancestors, but it wasn''t short-lived, and far from being our peak. That title belongs to someone else. Unfortunately, due to the incomplete family history book and its decay over the years, I don''t know the name of that person. However, it''s clear they hailed from the era of World War 5. This individual was a shining star on the battlefield, rumored to have single-handedly halted World War 5, obliterated three alien fleets, and more. Of course, I never believed such tales; if they were true, why isn''t there any mention of him in the history books? The key point is, he was exceptionally powerful. After all, if there is smoke, there is fire. So rumors do not come from absolute baselessness, or some lunatic in the family made this all up in high."


    "Here is the crustal part of the story though; the crucial point is that at the time of his death, he was surrounded not only by his numerous wives but also by his son. Furthermore, a crowd of people, I mean, an absolute throng, gathered at his deathbed to bid him a final farewell."


    "So?" Aven asked, curious.


    "Don''t be impatient, the thing is that at that time he handed something to his family, on his death bed as he said that this was the key to his success and it will also ensure that his family remains unharmed and prosperous. And he also had a meeting with his son in private afterward, the content of the meeting got lost through the generations but in the end, he said..."


    "A man never cries but a... does."


    "Who does? And if he is that powerful, how did he die?" Aven asked again.


    His father then paused, and looked up with the back of his hand on his chin, as if he was trying hard to remember something, and after this situation continued for sometimes his father replied in an honest tone, "I really, do not remember, and as for how he died, it could be many things: he could die from facing another powerful cultivator, he could die from poison but why state all of this, he could even die from natural causes as well, the point is he died."


    "No matter how powerful you are you have to die," Alexander murmured from the side.


    Looking at Alexander his father continued, "yes, death is imminent, as I was saying, after his death, the next generation was lazy..." his father again looked at Alexander and then shifted his focus on Aven and continued, "and from then onward our condition went downhill, even to this day we could not get back up again."


    A heavy silence fell upon Alexander and his brother, Aven, as the weight of their father''s words sank in. their father was parctilaay saying that with him gone they will not be able to do much either.


    Aven jumped in, trying to shift their father''s focus, "Hey, what about that thing you gave the family to protect our power line?"


    "Dunno, could be some magic potion, a key, or maybe even a hidden treasure. Honestly, no one has a clue. Even your grandpa admitted his great-great-granddad had no idea," their father pondered aloud, the uncertainty echoing in his voice.


    "Wait, you never told me that either," Alexander chimed in, the realization hitting him.


    Aven shot Alexander a glare, silently urging him to get back on track. Alexander, catching on, quickly dropped his head and resumed sifting through the boxes. Luckily, their dad remained blissfully unaware of the question, lost in his own thoughts. Their mom, watching the whole exchange, couldn''t help but crack a smile at their sneaky tactics.


    "Ah, don''t worry about it; all of this is fairy tale anyway," Alexander''s father laughed heartily.


    "What is this?" Alexander asked aloud as he held a weathered and tattered old piece of paper, covered in blackish-red splotches.

 CHAPTER 5: WORLD, UPSIDE DOWN

    "What is this?" Alexander asked aloud as he was holding a worn and torn old piece of paper filled with blackish-red splash marks.


    Alexander''s abrupt query jolted his father from his reverie, catching the attention of Aven and their mother. They turned towards Alexander, who held an aged scroll adorned with numerous blackish-red stains. Confusion etched across their faces as they beheld the enigmatic object.


    Aven was the first to reach Alexander as he and Alexander were scrutinizing the scroll, they were looking at the scroll like a teenage boy looks at the naked body of a woman for the first time in his life. At a distance, it bore a resemblance to paper, and when rolled, it took on the appearance of a traditional scroll. However, upon closer examination, its composition revealed itself to be more akin to a fabric or cloth-like material, discernible to anyone with a keen eye.


    "Oh, that thing! I''ve been wondering where it got to," Alexander''s father remarked, his gaze lingering on the worn paper as if recalling its significance.


    "What''s is it?" Alexander inquired, studying the scroll intently.


    "Well, I''m not entirely sure," his father admitted.


    "Are you kidding me?"


    "Yes, actually. I don''t know what it does, but I do know what to do with it."


    "What''s that?" Aven interjected.


    "I may not know its function, but I do know that your grandfather instructed me to pass it on to you upon my passing, or rather, to the eldest son," Alexander''s father explained somewhat awkwardly, looking at Alexander..


    Actually, he gave this to me way before that, back when I was in fifth grade. I lost it later on, despite his instructions to pass it on to my firstborn son. But I never found it after misplacing it," their father reminisced. "I was supposed to give it to you, Alexander. Now that you''ve found it, you can do as you please with it. Keep it, toss it, use it as toilet paper for all I care."


    "Alright, I''ll hold onto it," Alexander replied, tucking the paper into his pants pocket carefully.


    "Now you know the story. Someday, you''ll pass it on to your own children. But for now, let''s finish up this task," their father directed, resuming his cleaning of the watch.


    Alexander and his mother returned to their chores as well, while Aven, lost in thought, continued with the cleaning.


    Eventually, as the cleaning neared completion, Aven suddenly exclaimed, "Look what I found!"


    All eyes turned to him as he held up an album.


    "Oh, there it is! I''ve been searching everywhere for that," their mother exclaimed joyfully.


    "What''s the point of physical albums when everything can be stored online?" their father remarked casually.


    "Remember who forgot the password to the online account? It''s a good thing I listened to my mother and made a physical album," their mother retorted, shooting a pointed glare at their father.


    Realizing his misstep, their father fell silent, understanding the gravity of his error.


    Their mother then requested, "Aven, bring the album here."


    Quickly complying, Aven handed the album to his mother, hoping to avoid becoming the next target of her ire.


    Inspecting the album page by page, aven murmured to himself, "These are all pictures of your brother. Where are mine?"


    Aven questioned, noticing the absence of his photos.


    Ah, the photos aren''t in the album; they''re in the cloud storage account, which, unfortunately, your father managed to misplace the password for," she exclaimed, her voice escalating on the last part.


    Aven''s expression softened at this revelation. From the corner, their father chimed in, "Not to worry, I''ll recover that password soon, and if not, there''s a new tech whiz in the office I can ask for help." As this conversation unfolded, Alexander approached his mother, hoping to jog some old memories.


    "Say, don''t you keep a notebook in your office? You might have jotted it down there," Aven suggested, making his way towards their father.


    "No chance, that one''s strictly for office matters."


    "This picture was snapped when you were just two months old, and this one when you took your first steps, and this one..."


    While Aven and their father debated the possible whereabouts of the password, Alexander''s mother reminisced with him, narrating stories behind each childhood photo.


    "Who''s this?" Alexander inquired, pointing to a little girl in one of the pictures, his brow furrowed in curiosity.


    His mother studied the photo for a moment, as if trying to recall, then turned to their father, "Do you recognize this girl?"


    After some contemplation, their father responded, "She''s the daughter of our beautiful neighbor from our old place in the western part of the city."


    "What lovely neighbor?" Alexander''s mother questioned with a flat expression.


    "Don''t you remember the ones who lived next door, Mrs. Adela?" he replied, noticing the sudden silence in the room and the cold stare from his wife, sending shivers down his spine.


    "You can''t recall the password to our family account, but you remember a woman you met almost a decade ago," Alexander''s mother uttered each word with a deliberate pause.


    "No, no, you''ve got it wrong, it''s not like that," their father stammered, realization dawning on him that he had slipped up.


    "Then explain it to me," she challenged.


    "Well...uh..."


    Observing their parents'' squabble, Alexander and his brother exchanged knowing smiles and slipped away quietly.


    A memory resurfaced in Alexander''s mind. "Hey, come sit next to me," a little girl said, her ponytail bouncing.


    "No, my mom told me not to," a boy replied.


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    At this, the girl''s expression darkened momentarily. But then, she smiled and said, "Okay, no problem. Let''s play."


    Another time, when some kids were teasing the same boy at school, the girl went to get the teachers.


    "She was kind to me," Alexander murmured with a sigh.


    The next few days passed by in their usual rhythm. He also met Ana a few times, but she was tired and busy with the rehearsal for the play.


    And as expected the role of Romeo fell on chase. Though alexander could not have a conversation with Ana he did meet with chase. The handsome son of a devil looked handsome as always.


    ¡°Hey, how are you? Long-time no talk.¡± A voice that was quite manly sounded as Alexander was about to leave.


    He turned around and was startled to see Chase standing there. But he soon came to his senses and answered, ¡°Well, I am fine.¡±


    Most of the girls around the vicinity were sneaking a pick at Chase but Chase did not notice it. Witnessing this, Alexander grimaced.


    ¡°What?¡± Seeing the peculiar behavior of Alexander Chase asked with concern.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing, I was just trying to see how you guys are rehearsing.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Don¡¯t worry about it. It''s going smoothly. We will teach the seniors, why they should not underestimate the 1st years.¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡± Even though he wanted to see Ana he did not say that out loud.


    ¡°And if you want to see the rehearsal, you are late. Most of the rehearsal is finished, now the girls are just practicing on their own, they even threw me out.¡± Chase said with a chuckle.


    ¡°No, they are not practicing they are chatting in there and mostly about you.¡± A man as tall as 6 feet 6 inches, skin as black as ink, said from the side as he handed a bottle of water to Chase.


    ¡°Ha¡­ ha¡­ha¡­ yeah, I wish.¡± Chase took the water bottle from him and said this in a self-mocking tone.


    ¡°Bro I am telling you, girls are crazy for you.¡± The huge man said.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t see any,¡± Chase said with a sigh.


    ¡°No, Grady is right, I am sure with the face that you got girls should form a line.¡± Alexander chimed in.


    ¡°Oh, Alexander I did not see you there.¡± The man named Grady was at first startled and then seeing Alexander, he fist-bumped him.


    ¡°I hope you guys are right. I mean look at jack, I do not mean to brag but if he could have a girlfriend every one of us deserves one. I mean the two of us.¡± Chase said pointing at Alexander and himself.


    ¡°Why, what did Gready do?¡± Alexander asked.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know then, he already has two girlfriends.¡±


    ¡°What!¡±


    ¡°No that is not right. You should add another one.¡± Gready said with a triumphant smile.


    ¡°What another one. Man, you are a legend.¡± Said Chase with a sigh.


    ¡®They are not that different from me.¡¯ Seeing this back and forth Alexander thought to himself.


    ¡°I am telling you, man, all you need to do is ask, every girl will be dying to be your girlfriend,¡± Gready told Chase.


    ¡°No man, I will get laughed at.¡±


    Alexander then sighed and said, ¡°Well then, I have some work to do, see you on the day of the play then¡±


    Days past by and nothing seemed particularly out of place except for Michael. Normally sharp-witted and quick to banter, he was strangely subdued, often lost in thought, gazing at the empty sky as if wrestling with some inner turmoil.


    Alexander chose not to pry, sensing that if it were something significant, Michael would have confided in him anyway. He did pock at the subject a few times, but Michael skillfully diverted the conversation each time.


    Alexander stopped his alarm right before it could sound out. Well, the reason was simple; he could not sleep all night. Today was the day of the play, and Alexander decided to ask Ana out today?


    He thought about it long and hard. This should be his best chance. If the play went well, Ana would be in a good mood, and if it did not, then at least his confession might cheer her up.


    In any case, this would be his best chance. He even talked to Michael about it, and he agreed. But in reality, this was way harder than he thought. Not only was he unable to sleep today, but also, he could not concentrate on anything this week.


    Tons and tons of watching coaching videos, reading dating advice online, and everything he could do. But even then, now he was shaking. Doing all these things in his mind, and actually facing the reality that he would have to do that were completely two different things.


    He dragged himself forward and took out all the money he saved along with the best dress he could find in the closet. Washing his face more times than is normal, Alexander got out.


    The money was for a gift. And, of course, it was his first time giving a girl a gift. It did not take him long to reach the university. He found it odd, for some reason, Michael looked completely out of it today.


    Throughout the journey, he did not talk much, just nodded and agreed, which was strange, especially for his personality where he had to refuse almost everything Alexander said. It was as if his mind was somewhere else.


    In their university, which was the only one in the city, the freshmen receiving ceremony happened all at once for all departments. So not only the play, but there were also many things today.


    There were rows and rows of tents set up with goods to sell. Of course, all of them were set up by the seniors in different departments.


    Some were even recruiting people in different clubs. With the colorful tents, bustling people, and music blasting through the giant speakers, it was truly a festive atmosphere.


    Alexander and Michael looked around. At first, Michael looked a little out of it, but it did not take him long to get in the spirit of things. But even after moving around for almost two hours, nothing caught Alexander''s eyes. Well, that would be a lie. His eyes were caught, but then it wasn¡¯t actually what he was looking for. The things did not resonate with his heart.


    The play was in the evening, so Alexander and Michael had lots of time to waste. As a result, they looked around for a bit more.


    At this time, suddenly the already heated surrounding became more rowdy and then abruptly halted. And following everyone else, Alexander and Michael moved to the side.


    It was a young man, most likely a senior with white long flowing hair, passing through. But he was not alone; it was actually a teacher who was with him, but it more looked like the teacher was escorting him.


    ¡°It''s, it''s, Evans Van Dyke.¡±


    ¡°Evans Van Dyke, He truly is as handsome as I thought.¡±


    Alexander, as usual, was oblivious to this man¡¯s identity, but from the conversation around, he understood who this person was. And he knew this man, well by name at least.


    Evans Van Dyke, one of the three geniuses of the Astronova city, who had the most chance to get into the Elysium Excellence, the most prestigious and renowned university in the capital city and by extension the world.


    It is said that this guy broke through Xoe 3 when he was 8 years old. And who knows how far he came at this time.


    On the other hand, Alexander killed all his dreams and desires of being in a place like the Elysium Excellence even before they had a chance to fully grow in his mind so he had no interest in that.


    Though the majority of the girls were quietly sneaking glances at him with engrossing eyes, there were boys too, and Michael with his practically glowing eyes was a prime example of this. His eyes were practically sparkling.


    Alexander was not frustrated at first, but seeing the guy being talked about even after he left, Alexander was a bit pissed off.


    So he and Michael went to a less crowded area, and yet still, there was no gift. Alexander was about to give up and look for something expensive in his budget, but at that time, he decided to look a little deeper in a less crowded area.


    The stalls were a little sparse and bland here, and as usual, he found even less appealing things here. And the last of the stall was still more audacious. The stall was open, and there was nothing behind the counter not even a person.


    He was about to turn around,


    ¡°Hey, hey. I am here. I am here.¡±


    Suddenly he heard a voice and looked behind. A girl or rather a tomboy burst through the back with one leg up in the air.


    As she talked, she splattered all the things she was carrying on the table. On the table, things were all over the place. There was no salesmanship to speak of.


    But suddenly something caught his eyes. It was a pearl necklace made from part pearls and part clam shells. All of the things she displayed were homemade jewelry of some sort, and frankly, they were quite well made. But Alexander liked this one more.


    Especially as this was made from sea materials which were quite far from Astronova city and behind the city walls, the paths were not that safe either. In simple terms, this was one of the most unique things here.


    ¡°That''s a nice choice, brings back memories.¡± Before Alexander could say anything, the tomboy said with a sigh.


    But the price she asked, 3500 du, was too much for Alexander. He tried to haggle, but the devilish tomboy had already seen the glint in his eyes, so she was not budging at all.


    He was about to turn around when suddenly, Michael said, ¡°We will take it.¡±


    Alexander was about to refuse as he did not have enough money. Suddenly, Michael pulled out 1500 from his pocket and threw it to Alexander.


    Alexander hesitated for a moment, but he did take it. This was his one chance, and he wanted to give it his all. He also looked at Michael with gratitude.


    There was still time for the play to start, so he and Michael looked around a little bit. There were many things to eat as well, and as Alexander was flat broke at this time, all the money came from Michael''s pocket.


    As the sun started to set, as alexander and Michel quickly made their way to the middle of the university.


    Beside the VC¡¯s bungalow, there were two buildings and one of them was the famous blue auditorium where the play was about to be held. The teachers of their department were quite powerful and active in the university so they were able to get this place. For any other department which would be next to impossible.


    From the outside, the place looked like a domed building and from inside it was an opulent opera house auditorium. As the performance was from their department, they got the first seats right after the teachers of their department. And except for some seats recessed at the sides for special students the rest were at a first come first serve basis.


    Alexander and Michael made themselves comfortable. It did not take long before the play started. Time passed and by this time, the play was almost done. And in the first two kissing scenes, nothing happened so Alexander was not too worried either. As time went on, everyone was more invested in the play, even those who knew the story inside out was having a good time as the boring lines of the originals were changed with lines that carried similar meaning and emotional impact. At a sudden point, the whole house fell silent as they were fully invested and lost in the acting. It was as if some invisible hand of fate was guiding them. So all Alexander''s thoughts were on how he was going to pull it off after the play.


    And Michel was right; he had a lot of competition, after the makeup and the gorgeous dress, most of the boys here were watching Ana rather than the play.


    And then it happened. On the stage, an intense scene was going on, as both Romeo and Juliet or Ana and Chase were looking intensely into each other, suddenly Ana playing the role of Juliet stood on her toes as wet lips touched that of Chase''s. The surprise in Chase¡¯s eyes added a natural feeling to it.


    At this time the sun was also setting, and through some clever kids quacking by opening the right windows the golden hue of the sunlight scraped into the building painting the whole hall in a golden dream-like color. And in the midst of them, the two kissing were like a painting of immortals. And everyone just watched in silence. And understanding down on chase as he also tightly griped Ana. It was a scene from a fantasy.


    The hall burst into cheers and whistles and everyone was franticly leaping from their seat, especially the girls. Everyone was practically going crazy as they knew it was a genuine confession. Except for two people, Alexander was seating like a corps on his seat as Michel was looking at him in horror.


    There was no emotion on Alexander''s face, he was looking at the two couples on the stage like a living breathing statue. His world turned upside down.

 CHAPTER 6: LET IT BEGUN

    As their lips met, the entire hall erupted in a cacophony of noise. Amidst the chaos, Alexander sat frozen, resembling a statue in the second row. Meanwhile, Michel attempted to console him, his words lost in the uproar.


    Alexander was seeing the movement of Michel''s lips but there was no sound. Alexander was confused with something else though, he was waiting, waiting for the pain to come, but it never came. As if nothing happened, or as if his consciousness was trying to deny the reality.


    ¡°Do not worry. I am not feeling anything.¡± Alexander said to Michel.


    Alexander did not lie; he really was not feeling anything. Not pain, not sorrow, not regret, not relief, not pleasure, not happiness, not sad, not anger, not furious, neither was he filling bitter, he was just feeling nothing.


    Observing Alexander''s state, Michel chose silence, empathizing with the turmoil that gripped his friend.


    Amidst the raucous applause, the play reached its conclusion.


    The entire cast assembled on stage, acknowledging the audience with a collective bow.


    Everyone also stood up and clapped, even Alexander was among them, and only one man did not and that was Adonis. He was looking at the stage with furious eyes, gripping the railing so hard that it cracked to the horror of the teachers and student setting behind him.


    The curtain then fell, announcing the end of the play. Everyone started to exit the domelike hall.


    Alexander also stood up from his seat and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go Michel.¡±


    ¡°Are you feeling ok?¡± Michel asked.


    ¡°Yes, I am, I am just thinking of how much of a loss it was to buy the pearl neckless,¡± Alexander said as dropped the neckless he bought earlier.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Alexander said.


    Michel knew what his friend was thinking, Alexander was not his only friend nor his best friend, but he always had a special place for this guy in his heart.


    Leaving the auditorium, Alexander headed straight for the bus. It was as if he was blind to the colorful and youthful spring surroundings, especially as the play ignited everyone''s dormant desire for love.


    "You don''t have to accompany me. You can go," Alexander said when he reached the university bus, noticing Michel. He urged him to enjoy the night as the festivities were still ongoing and the night was young.


    Michel did not say anything as he followed Alexander onto the bus. They sat together on the fourth floor, both in pin-drop silence.


    It took some time for everyone to board the bus.


    Many approached Michel and Alexander to talk, as it was their department that put up the show. Ana and everyone related to the show did not come, as there was an after-party.


    The bus started and the vibrant city nightlife unfolded beyond the windowpane, Alexander''s gaze remained fixed on a memory: the fleeting touch of lips. Amidst the bustling scene, his mind drifted back to that singular moment, each recollection accompanied by a pang in his chest, as though a weight were pressing down upon his heart. It was a peculiar sensation, one that drew an awkward smile to Alexander''s lips, a smile that seemed to dance on the precipice between joy and anguish. Was he finding solace in the intensity of the pain, or was his mind teetering on the edge of madness? The answer eluded him, lost amidst the tumult of his emotions.


    Time passed but everything seemed vague and unclear except for the moment when Ana¡¯s lips touched Chase¡¯s.


    "Hey, it''s your stop," Michel''s voice broke through Alexander''s reverie, pulling him back to reality.


    Blinking, Alexander surveyed his surroundings, gradually piecing together his location. With a start, he rose from his seat, a sudden weight in his hand catching him off guard. It was the neckless, thrust into his palm by Michel before he disembarked.


    "She''s not the only one, you know. There are plenty more fish in the sea." Michel whispered to Alexander with a chuckle. "And hey, why let that expensive necklace go unused? Remember, cash is king." He tried his best to be funny to see at least an arc on Alexanders face, but there was none as he turned back with a dead pan face.


    ¡°Well If not anything, sell the damn useless thing and treat me.¡± Michel said somewhat grumpily.


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    But all he got in return was a simple yes, and a nod.


    Seeing the building today, which farther made him remember Ana, Alexander''s face reddened and so did his eyes.


    As he stood before the imposing doorway, a flicker of hesitation crossed his features. But then, with a sudden resolve, he squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, determination sparking in his eyes. It was as though he had reached a momentous decision.


    Turning on his heel, Alexander strode away, though the weight of self-doubt still hung heavy in the air. The voice in his head, relentless in its assault, berated him with cruel comparisons.


    ¡®Ha, ha, ha, you actually thought you had a chance! I mean, really? What qualification do you have to stand beside Ana?¡¯


    ¡®I mean look at Chase, she and Chase make a perfect couple.¡¯ The voice paused for a moment as Alexander''s eyes grew redder and redder. It was obvious that tears were threatening to fall out at any moment.


    ¡®And it is not only looks, Chase became 10th in the class exam. He has already been on TV. Not to mention his passive income streams and accomplishments in various fields surpass yours. He''s a skilled chef, a team leader, and recently organized a successful class picnic, fostering strong bonds across the board. Can you even pinpoint one area where you shine in comparison? And let''s not dwell on Chase ¨C think about yourself for a moment. Remember your cousin? She''s already secured a spot at the prestigious university in the capital, despite being two years younger than you. Her achievements speak volumes; she''s soared to Xeo 5 level in cultivation years ago and has a flourishing career as a model. Where do you stand in comparison?"


    ¡®And not only her among them all who can you say you are better then? I am telling you just end it.¡¯


    ¡°But I am a good person. So...¡±


    ¡®Good! So, what, people do not respect you because you are good, they do if you possess the capability to harm them.¡¯


    Alexander knew that the voice in his mind is nothing more than his subconscious. But the fact that he was still carrying this deep conversation of justifying himself with his own subconscious spoke a lot about his current condition.


    But as he walked, the weight of his internal conflict began to manifest outwardly, his complexion flushing crimson with each passing moment. Meanwhile, high above in the heavens, ominous clouds gathered, casting a foreboding shadow over the city below.


    Eventually, Alexander found himself standing before a towering edifice, unlike any other in the city. This 901-story behemoth stood as a testament to ambition gone awry.


    It was meant to be a project to create a new section in the city, the building being both the center and main attraction, but poor management and bureaucratic corruption along with multiple changing of engineers made it a symbol of failure and over ambition not unlike Alexander himself.


    This left the project budget in complete shambles, and the government was forced to abandon the whole project, in short, this was kind of a ghost town in the middle of the massive metropolitan city.


    Standing before the imposing structure of immeasurable length and width, Alexander gazed upward. The black sky behind the skyscraper lent it an ominous aura, evoking images of a tower from hell, a pillar of the underworld where the devil himself might reside.


    He discerned what to do, though harsh, hard, and maybe a bit unfair to his parents; he was going to end it all today. He just, just could not bare this, this pain, it¡¯s too much. He just wanted it to end.


    And he wanted to do it from here, looking at the vast city from the highest vantage point one last time, as his last view.


    It was hard, but with every step, the sense of Ana¡¯s lips kissing Chase flashed past him as he moved forward. Fortunately, there was just a barely functioning elevator that broke down after it took him to floor 562; the rest took him almost 1 and a half hours.


    Opening the door of the roof, Alexander clasped in exhaustion. Though he was a beginner cultivator, this was too much. But strangely enough, just for a fleeting moment, he felt satisfaction, which was soon drowned by the reminder of the reason he was here for.


    To this point, he did not see anyone, which was to be expected, as even if someone came here to do drugs, they would not climb this high.


    The roof was moss-covered and messy to say the least. Suddenly, a thunder crackling brought Alexander back to reality. As it was night, he did not realize that the sky was covered with dark clouds.


    And yes, even if he was atop a 901-story building, clouds were above him as cultivation and interaction with the aliens changed the atmosphere in a really massive way.


    Alexander shook his head as he stepped forward. No matter the storm, flood, whatever, soon he would have nothing to do with it.


    There was no railing on the roof, so he could see the bustling city below as he gulped down. To be honest, he kind of liked it here. It was quiet; all the noise, hassling, and bustling of the city died down at this height. It was as if the problems of the mundane world did not dare to climb this high, from where he looked down on everyone like a god. No, a legend.


    He strode forward, holding back the tears. His whole life flashed by him, the moments that he was bullied, the moments that proved that he was not capable of doing anything, the moments that his father and he himself asked what the hell he was good for. And without exception, the answer was always non-existent as there was nothing that he could say that he was good for. There were also times when his mother or his brother got scolded, protecting him.


    As all of this was done, he cleared his mind of all thought and took a really long breath and a look around as if it was his last. Then looked down before he jumped, but as soon as he looked down his soul left his body, he took two steps back and turned white as if blood was drained from him.


    And at that time no matter how he tried, he couldn¡¯t hold the tears back. At first, it was just a drop, as alexander remembered the first time his father gave him a disappointing look as he did badly on an exam. Then the second drop fell as he remembered as everyone cried, especially his mother, after receiving the medical report, that he will never be good at cultivation. Then as the tears fell one by one as the memories of the past came back not to make him remember the good times but to haunt him. At one point there was a scene of a handsome boy and a beautiful girl kissing as a boy looked on like a statue and then there was now when he lost all his resolve and pain just by seeing the height. And at this time the pain that alexander was waiting for also came he knew why he was not worthy of Ana and how much pain he actually felt when she kissed Chase. It was as if he was so afraid that he was able to accept this life of constant paint, then confront death head-on. The painful realization hit him he was a coward.


    This realization broke the camel¡¯s back, shattering the remnants of his fragile facade. With a primal roar, he unleashed his anguish upon the heavens, a lamentation echoing through the tumultuous sky. As if in response to his raw despair, the firmament wept alongside him, rain cascading like tears from the heavens above.


    The thunder roared, drowning his anguished cries, though in truth, there was no need for concealment. Yet, unabated, Alexander pressed on, each strike against his own flesh echoing amidst the thunder''s fury. It seemed a duel of sorts, his tears competing with the tempest above. Amidst his fervent lamentation, he struck his thigh, an unexpected sensation jolting him. Retrieving from his pocket a scroll-like object, stained with blood, he squinted through tear-blurred vision at its seemingly unscathed surface, oblivious to the deluge that failed to dampen its parchment.


    ¡°WHY, WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME? WHY DO YOU GIVE ME HOPE AND TAKE IT AWAY? WHY JUST DON¡¯T GIVE ME HOPE? WHY? WHWY? WHY?¡±


    Alexander did not notice but a teardrop fell on the paper, the paper that did not get wet in the rain begun to moist. But alexander did not notice this phenomenon as he cried, and more and more, tear drops fell on the paper, some of them even fell on the blood marks as the tears miraculously wiped the blood with ease.


    Suddenly there was a sound, as manly as possible, as authoritarian as possible, it was a voice of a ruler no not a ruler it was a voice of a tyrant, no not that either, it was a voice of THE tyrant,

 CHAPTER 7: UNIVERSE SHAKES, AS LOSER GASPS

    Alexander did not notice, but a teardrop fell on the paper. The paper, which did not get wet in the rain, began to moisten. But he did not notice this phenomenon as he cried, and more and more tear drops fell on the paper. Some of them even fell on the blood marks as the tears miraculously wiped the blood with ease.


    Suddenly, there was a sound, as manly as possible, as authoritarian as possible. It was a voice of a ruler. No, not a ruler. It was the voice of a tyrant, no it was a voice of THE tyrant.


    ¡°TEARS, HA. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN?¡±


    The voice boomed, and it seemed to hold dominion over the elements themselves, quieting the sky, the rain, even the thunder, as if they cowered in fear before an incomprehensible force.


    In the midst of this eerie stillness, only the sound of a boy weeping could be discerned. Alexander, sensing something amiss, looked up to witness a sight beyond belief. Rain halted above him, thunder froze mere inches away, and in the distance, other thunderbolts hung motionless. "Time slows down when you''re about to die," he mused with a nervous chuckle.


    Then he suddenly felt something as he looked at his hand and saw that the paper was glowing. It was warm and clean, there was no blood mark on the paper. And suddenly something occurred to him and he looked closely at the thunderbolt that was in front of him. As he looked at it for a few moments, he was completely flabbergasted. The thunderbolt did not slow down because of any time manipulation; it was trembling like crazy, as if it was afraid of something. And so was the rain, and then all the other thunderbolts far away. The thought sent a chill throughout Alexander''s body. ¡®How... how powerful do you need to be to make Mother Nature fear your presence?¡¯ The sentence popped into Alexander''s head.


    ¡°Is it for this?¡± Alexander murmured as he looked down at his hand, and noticed that even the air around the paper was vibrating and moving away as if it were afraid to come in contact with this tyrant.


    A gentle force was keeping Alexander''s hands from exploding in the void that was created by the moving away of the air. Alexander felt a blood connection with the gentle force, protecting him.


    Like an invisible tsunami washing over, one by one the lights of the city''s buildings went out, as if the city was enveloped by a dark blanket.


    Lofty and powerful individuals were abruptly halted in their tracks, as multi-billion-dollar deals ground to a halt. The bustling traffic came to a standstill, bringing the city to a temporary pause. Michel, laden with bags and accompanied by his family, found themselves stranded at a makeshift station as transportation too came to a halt. Meanwhile, the lively after-party at the university was abruptly interrupted as darkness enveloped the surroundings, compelling Chase and Anna, who moments before were engrossed in teasing each other, to emerge alongside reluctant faces of the crowd. In short, all activity ceased, bringing about an unexpected pause in the flow of life.


    At the center of the city rose the second tallest building, a towering structure that served as both a pillar and a heart. Branching tubes and roads extended from its base, reaching every corner of the metropolis. From a distance, it appeared as a sleek, modern monolith, devoid of any window, with a distinct red hue at its center. This iconic structure was known as the Citadel.


    It was a heart of the city in both the literal and figurative sense. As it pumped the lifeblood of the city, every decision on this massive metropolis was approved or taken by this structure, and almost every powerhouse had a residence here with amenities that are hard to deny, even to the best of the best.


    But at this moment, the entire building interior was bathed in pulsating red light, casting an eerie glow amidst the chaos of panicked employees. The flickering illumination threatened to extinguish at any given second.


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    ¡°What the hell is happening?¡±


    ¡°We cannot contact the capital.¡±


    ¡°What is this power source? It¡¯s distorting everything.¡±


    The full station was filled with panic and utter disarray. High atop the citadel, on one of the opened windows, a beautiful girl with a black slit dress and a veil on her face was looking down at the whole city as she read a book named "Whispers."


    She was continuing her daily monotonous life when suddenly the electricity went out, then the entire sky burst into a breathtaking display of lights, captivating and bewitching. Yet, an inexplicable dread gripped her as she beheld the spectacle. It felt as though she was unwelcome in its presence, as if each intricate detail of the display was tainted with untold violence and unfathomable depths of crimson.


    Abruptly, she spewed forth blood, and in the ensuing moment, the echoing chorus of coughing blood reverberated from the surrounding vicinity.


    After coughing out blood, she gazed upon the scene before her with unadulterated horror etched into her eyes, and she found herself not alone in this dread-filled moment. Everyone in the city looked at the sky with horror in their eyes; it was as if the shrine of fear had descended upon the world with its mesmerizing beauty, terrorizing indiscriminately.


    On the other hand, the culprit of it all was completely oblivious to his surroundings, as he slept and fell down after seeing the thunderbolt so close. But he was unaware of that fact as well, as in his mind, he saw something, maybe a memory of sorts. A boy, pretty much neglected by his family, always on his phone, watching some cartoon with spiky hair, and if not that, reading some form of picture book with no color or even reading books. He was fat, ugly, and pretty much useless.


    Then he saw the boy once again, this time much older in his 20s, and his family running as planes flew overhead and people panicking all over, and surroundings on fire.


    The scene shifted again, this time the boy was in a refuge cap of some sort but the father figure was missing.


    Before he could make heads or tails of the situation, the scene changed once again. This time, there was no family. The boy found himself standing in the midst of a vast, desolate grassy field. In his arms, he cradled a woman who appeared to be his mother, her body bloodied and battered, half of it gruesomely missing.


    The boy stood transfixed, his gaze fixed upon the ominous sky, tears in his eyes. The fat on his body was long gone, and in his hollow eyes only despair could be seen, as from the sky, atomic booms fell like rain, hundreds, no thousands of them.


    In the next moment, the despair in the boy''s eyes transformed into pure rage. Tears streamed down his cheeks as a radiant golden aura emanated from his body, encasing each atomic boom in a golden bubble. Then, they detonated.


    Initially, the golden bubbles expanded as though on the brink of bursting, their radiant hues stretching outwards with impending energy. Inexplicably, they began to contract, shrinking with such rapidity that they seemed to implode into oblivion. It was as if their very existence had been erased from the fabric of reality.


    The scene shifted once more, and several years passed as the boy matured into a man in his early thirties. He stood high on air, a map clasped firmly in his hand, studying a country shaped like a whale.


    In the next moment, he brought his hand down as a colossal golden arrow, forged from the very essence of aura, descended upon the land below. In the next moment, a gigantic semi-circular explosion erupted, visible even from the depths of outer space, obliterating the country from existence. Water from the surrounding oceans gushed in like swirling whirlpools.


    As the scene was about to conclude, it shifted again, but this time, the imagery was blurred, depicting an old man surrounded by shadows of enemies from every direction, each varied in size, stature, and armed with different weapons.


    Before the weathered figure stood a silhouette so vast, it dwarfed entire galaxies, a behemoth of shadow and substance. Its form loomed, an enigma veiled in darkness, commanding awe that transcended the limits of mortal comprehension. Despite the blurry chaos, the old man''s smug smirk was unmistakable, hinting at a confidence bordering on arrogance. As the thing and the old man clashed, everything turned into white. At the same moment, Alexander landed on the ground with a superhero landing, his eyes golden.


    Simultaneously, the thunders fell as the rain returned, and the air regained its flow. From where he landed, a transparent, semi-circular air wave burst forth, shattering the windows and glass of the massive 901-story building. Then it clasped, falling sideways like the rumbling of thunder.


    The booming crash gripped everyone¡¯s heart in fear. It was as if the array with it brought chaos itself.


    What Alexander and the people didn''t know was that this array nor this kind of phenomenon wasn''t limited to just their city. Beyond the city limits, spanning across forests, mountains, oceans, and even other cities, the influence of this phenomenon extended. It reached out to encompass the entire world, the solar system, galaxies, and even multiple galaxies. Although it didn''t blanket the entire universe, its reach extended to cover more than half of it, and even beyond. In every location affected, powerful people coughed out blood. Those who understood the origin of the phenomenon were consumed by the purest form of fear, the essence of terror, some even went insane. Only a select few smiled, as if reuniting with an old acquaintance. Unbeknownst to Alexander, his seemingly insignificant act of crying had a profound effect, effectively shaking the very foundations of the universe and changing the motion of destiny and the constructs of so-called divinity.

 CHAPTER 8: IT鈥橲 A DRUG THEN

    Alexander awoke to a sense of disorientation, his mind shrouded in confusion as he found himself lying in bed. Something was off, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    ¡°Oh! Shit.¡±


    He hastily reached for his phone, fingers fumbling with the screen as he anxiously checked the time. As he feared, he was already too late.


    After a brief period of contemplation, he let out a deep, weary sigh. He was just wasting time, there was no hope of even entertaining the thought of going now.


    He roused himself from bed, feeling the need to freshen up. The absence of his parents'' usual wake-up call puzzled him, but he couldn''t discern the reason behind it.


    "One missed day won''t spell the apocalypse," he mused silently, pushing himself up from the bed and setting off toward the en-suite bathroom adjacent to his chamber.


    The feeling of something off still lingered. As if something was there that he could not touch it. But he did not put it to mind.


    Observing his reflection in the mirror, Alexander took a moment to complete his morning routine, transitioning from one task to the next with practiced ease. Watching his face, taking a dump, brushing his teeth, etc.


    As per routine, everything unfolded in its expected manner. No cause for concern or overthinking arose; what transpired had already come to pass. Despite any fervent desires for alteration, events remained immutable, firmly entrenched in the past.


    Thinking of the moment of the kiss, Alexander felt like something heavy pressing on his heart, not allowing it to beat. No matter how much he wanted or how much he wished for it, it was not a dream.


    And as for what happened next, despite the vivid memory and the intense emotions it stirred within him, Alexander couldn''t shake the feeling that it was all just a dream. The events seemed too fantastical, too surreal to have actually occurred. Yet, amidst his doubts, there lingered a part of him that yearned for the experience to be real, despite the rational insistence that it couldn''t possibly be so.


    As the weight of yesterday''s events settled upon him, Alexander found himself acutely aware of the reality he faced: Ana, now belonged to another man. And that¡¯s when it hit him, it was the surrounding, it was the surrounding that was off it was too quite.


    Living on the first floor, he was accustomed to the usual sounds filtering in from the street below. Sensing an unusual stillness outside, he decided to open the window of his room, a rare occurrence in itself. True to his suspicions, the road lay eerily quiet, with only sporadic cars passing by, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of everyday life.


    Though he pushed the thought down until now, he could not wait anymore as he opened his phone and saw what he thought was impossible. Everything that happened yesterday was not a dream. It was as real as real could be, all the news covered the incident.


    The thought sent shivers through his spine. Did he do all that, but he did not remember anything after falling from the 901-story building and bits and fragments of that strange boy''s journey, heck he did not even know how the hell he reached home and when.


    And will he be dragged down with the incident. The thought was enough send shivers through his spine.


    [Congratulations, you have successfully awakened crazy cultivation system.]


    At that very moment, Alexander''s gaze fell upon a transparent screen materializing before him, reminiscent of the high-end holograms he had only witnessed before.


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    He attempted to prod at the screen, but it remained unresponsive. Ten minutes passed, yet there was no change. Frustration crept into his thoughts as he stared at the device, pondering whether his fall had caused a head injury. He getting ready to search the net for hallucination-related brain damage.


    ¡®it has been so long, but this damn thing had not yet being extinct. Mother was right, one day it will be the phones that use humans. An old, wizened, wise voice filled with vicissitude, sigh, and knowledge rang out in Alexander¡¯s mind as he was startled.


    ¡®What the fuck, why are you not jumping in joy!¡¯ the voice rang out again this time with irritation and impatience.


    Alexander remained motionless, lost in contemplation. He weighed his options carefully, deliberating on which doctor to consult and the potential cost involved. It was truly foolish to think he could fall from that height and remain unharmed. It was as though the silence itself magnified the voice''s irritation, amplifying its exclamation in frustration, "Have you never read a litRPG, or a cultivation novel for that matter? You should be brimming with excitement by now."


    At that moment, Alexander heart raced as he swatted at empty air, his mind racing with thoughts of the supernatural. The voice that echoed in his ears spoke of things beyond his comprehension, sending shivers down his spine. Could it be that he was encountering a ghost, much like those depicted in the horror movies of yesteryear? Fear gripped him, threatening to turn his legs to jelly as he grappled with the terrifying possibility.


    The voice, as if anticipating his thoughts, interjected once more, its tone tinged with a weary sigh. "Rest assured, I''m no Ghost," it reassured him before pausing, as if pondering its own nature. "Well, in a sense, I am though Ha, ha, ha¡­¡±


    The sudden laughter echoing in Alexander''s mind sent him spiraling deeper into panic. Despite his rational adulthood dismissing notions of ghosts and supernatural occurrences, the eerie presence of a laughing voice inside his head shattered his sense of logic.


    Feeling no way out, he decided to reach out, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "How did I end up back home?"


    "Huh!" The voice in his head sounded utterly bewildered by his inquiry. ¡°WHAT THE FCUK! Seriously? You''ve got an actual system screen right in front of you, and your biggest concern is how you ended up back home?.¡±


    "Wait, Wait, Wait, don''t tell me you''re clueless about LitRPGs," the voice exclaimed, tinged with disbelief. Then, it softened, a note of melancholy creeping in as it lamented, "There goes my plan of diving into a stack of LitRPGs after all this time." This time, the voice sounded almost despondent, weighted with sorrow.


    "You''re fixated on this LitRPG stuff. Is it very important to you revival or something? Is it the thing that will finally set you free?¡±


    As soon as he asked the question the voice fell silent, and Alexander was sure he hit the hammer right on the nail.


    ¡°pfffttt¡­ha¡­ha¡­ha¡­,,,haa¡± but in the next moment, the voice laughed as if it could not hold it in anymore.


    Though at first a bit embarrassed it soon turned into irritation as the voice did not stop laughing.


    "Well, then what exactly is this object? Some sort of sacred relic?" he inquired, his voice tinged with obvious annoyance.


    The laughter stopped as the voice said, now declared with a solemn voice, ¡°yes, yes indeed it is a holy object. It is the most powerful antidepressant there is for a depressed man, the most enticing thing for the innocent mind, the place of dreams, colors, and hope, the place where you soar into the sky and borrow benith the earth, the place of¡­.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s a drag then. Tell me where can I find it; should have known you are a drag addict.¡± Alexander said with a granted face.


    The voice fell silent again, this time truly out of shock. Alexander, on the verge of launching another tirade, was abruptly interrupted by the voice''s return, this time with disappointment. "I thought you were messing with me, but to think a person of my bloodline actually does not know about LitRPG. What has the world come to? SIGH." Though the voice was inside his head, Alexander could easily feel the sigh filled with disappointment, as if a mountain was pressed on the owner of the voice.


    Alexander at this time somehow felt a little apologetic, but then remembered this guy was the one forcefully occupying his head, but then it hit him, the voice said someone of my bloodline.


    But before he could ask further, the voice said with a sigh, ¡°Yes you have guessed right, I am that legendary ancestor that you have told about who captured more than half of the known universe. And the one that you have been waiting for.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck, I though the family inheritance would be some kind of powerful tool to make me a powerhouse in one go.¡±


    After the voice spoke, it created a solemn atmosphere, which was overtly broken by Alexander in a sentence. Even the voice was dumbfounded.


    ¡°sigh.¡± He sighed again; if people from his time knew how much he sighed in one day they might actually think everytihg is an illution, and they might commeat sucide.


    "I shouldn''t be surprised; after all, tales tend to morph as they pass from one tongue to another," he remarked, his tone implying a subtle shake of his head.


    "Hear me, boy, and hear me well. I am an emperor, a devourer, a ruler, and all the things my enemies used to call me, or who knows, they still do. And above all, I am your ancestor. And I will reshape your life." This time the voice was solemn, filled with the weight of experience and wisdom, under which even the air itself trembled. It was as if the declaration reverberated through heaven and earth, shocking not just the area, not just the world, not just the universe, but the soul itself, the life itself. It was as if a tyrant had spoken, holding domination over everything in its wake.


    Alexander was truly stunned, unable to say anything. To be honest, he felt fear, unbounded and restraining fear, even though the voice did not say anything sinister toward him. He felt it¡ªthe terror, not of being harmed, not of dying, but the terror of power itself.


    And unable to process, his mind went black.


    "But in the next moment, the voice became soft and lamenting, ''to think you do not know about LitRPG after I waited all that time and resources to make the system like so.''


    ''Elder, can you tell me what you mean by this LitRPG?'' Alexander asked, this time his tone much more respectful.


    Again, with a sigh, the voice started..."

 CHAPTER 9: AWAKENING THE SYSTEM

    With a sigh once more, he began, ¡°Have you ever played an RPG?¡± But noticing the lack of an answer, the man refracted it, ¡°Have you ever played a video game?¡±


    ¡®Oh! You mean a virtual port. Yeah, I have a few times, but it¡¯s quite pricey so don¡¯t instruct me to buy one.¡¯ Alexander at this time understood that he did not need to make a sound to talk to this ancestor of his, so he communicated in his mind.


    ¡®You talk too much. Let me finish first.¡¯


    As soon as he said this, a status screen appeared in front of Alexander.


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    *Level:___


    *Strength:___


    *Stamina:___


    *Dexterity:___


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    Seeing all this, he vaguely remembered something similar from a history presentation he saw a while back. In the past, there were games like this called RPGs.


    But unlike what he thought, all the stats were dimmed down as if they were not there. Alexander wanted to touch the ¡­¡­¡­. Area to expand but it vanished as the voice chimed in again.


    ¡°There''s no point in checking that now. I wanted to show you what I have created to give you what I could not have, but it seems you know nothing about LitRPG at first place.¡±


    ¡°I have lost interest in you boy. You really disappointed me. In short, LitRPG is a novel where the hero has a system to overpower anyone and overcome anything. Just like you do now,¡± the voice said nonchalantly. Then, seeing the lack of reaction, as if feeling like a shameless salesman, the voice continued with his explanation with an angry tone, describing in detail what a LitRPG and a system entail. Towards the end, his voice transitioned from anger to disappointment and lastly to desperation.


    ¡°What, I can increase my stats just like that, like in those old video games?¡± It didn''t take long for the wheels of the cogs to turn in Alexander''s mind as he figured things out.


    ¡°Calm down boy. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too late for the reaction?¡±


    But Alexander did not hear any of that; he asked in amazement, ¡°That means I can get powerful killing beasts and completing tasks! That¡¯s amazing, right?¡±


    But Alexander¡¯s excitement abruptly died down, as the voice stopped.


    ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a little complicated,¡± then as if seeing the depressed and distorted face of Alexander, the voice quickly added, ¡°Well, don¡¯t worry. You can still get powerful through killing. But not in the way you think.¡± The voice was truly stuttering as if guilty.


    ¡°What the hell are you saying?¡± At this time, it all started sounding a bit, well, a lot fishy to Alexander.


    ¡°Wellllllll¡­..¡± The pause went on a bit longer than comfortable.


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s actually a cultivation system. Think of it as a cultivation system with a LitRPG painting on top.¡± The voice stated with a bit of a guilty tone.


    ¡°I am still confused as hell.¡±


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    ¡°Let me put it this way. You will get exp to level up, and you will get points for leveling up which you can put in your stats to make them stronger. But the process is not that simple as putting some points in the strength state and having it.¡± The voice said, this time with a calm tone.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand fully.¡±


    ¡°Of course you don¡¯t. Just do as I tell you.¡±


    Alexander was about to object, ¡°No questions asked.¡± At this time, the voice regained its demeanor, full of authority and dominance.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    But the next sentence from the voice completely broke him.


    ¡°Destroy your cultivation.¡±


    ¡°What the actual fuc¡­..¡±


    ¡°No questions asked, remember.¡±


    Alexander fell silent but he did not immediately take action. It wasn¡¯t a normal request; yes, if you wanted to follow another cultivation method, you needed to destroy your previous one, but to talk with a disembodied voice and actually do something like this on its suggestion was completely different.


    He hesitated and as if sensing his hesitation, the voice did not say anything. The period was not short, but finally, he decided to go through with it. Maybe all of this was not real and some kind of fear dream, and maybe he was about to lose his cultivation due to hallucinations being high, but who cares? It¡¯s not like his cultivation was much at first, and no matter what, he would not be average.


    Thinking of this, he did not waste time as he directly sat down cross-legged and directed all his qi from all the channels in his body towards his dantian without putting any effort to establish it.


    In the next moment, blood trickled down his lips as he fell face-first, in immense pain. He just destroyed his cultivation, from the word of the voice in his head. Did he really lose his mind? That was the last thought in his mind as he passed out.


    After some time, he woke up with a mind-boggling amount of headache and stomach pain. Upon waking up again, he vomited, but this time only mucus, not blood.


    Looking at his phone, he was shocked to see more than 3 hours had already passed. It was fortunate that nobody came to see him. Well, that¡¯s another thing, he needed to check.


    At this point, there was no voice in his head. He choked as his eyes teared up, it seems that was a fever dream after all.


    He shook his head and wiped his eyes; there was no point in worrying about it. He has already destroyed what little cultivation he had. Now he was an ordinary person.


    He started going to the drawing room to eat something as he thought, in a way, it was not a bad thing. This shattered all his delusions. Gone were his aspirations of grandness now he decided to fully focus on study to leave a normal life as best as he could.


    At this time, he reached the table where food was covered and a note that said his parents went on a date after a long time as holidays for his father were so few and far between. And his brother was out to get with friends and not to worry about them.


    Alexander chuckled and as he was about to open the cover,


    ¡°Accepted so easily.¡±


    Suddenly the voice in his head rang out once again.


    Alexander was shocked for a moment, but that was it just for a moment. He smiled, and shook his head.


    ¡°Ha, well don¡¯t think it¡¯s an illusion or something, because it¡¯s not. I am real and in my advice you destroyed your cultivation, but don¡¯t lose hope so quickly. I was not joking when I say with a system you can dominate all that comes in your way.¡±


    Suddenly, on the downcast face of Alexander, a smile took place.


    At this moment, Alexander was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of his bed in his room; on the table, the food remained still covered.


    ¡°There is only one rule you need to follow.¡±


    ¡°And this is to do what I told you to, no and I repeat it no question asked.¡±


    Alexander did not say anything as he just nodded his head. Now let''s begin, as soon as the voice said this he felt a gentle warm yet cold stream flowing down from his forehead to his body.


    It felt like a worm yet cold breeze, running through his body. As soon as it permeated his whole body, the voice rang out, ¡°Now control the stream.¡± Alexander tried, and it was surprisingly easy.


    With the instruction of the voice, Alexander easily started circulating the stream with the new path shown or rather told by the voice. As for where the stream was coming from, he had no idea.


    After circulation for some time which ended at the side of his heart, a golden lump started forming there. Alexander at this point looked confused as the lump looked quite similar to a dantian, which should be in the belly area to store your qi. But he did not question it. At this time, his face became flushed red as suddenly the pressure of the stream took a sharp turn.


    And by sharp, it means a literal sharp turn; at first, it started as a tickling sensation and after that slowly but surely, the pain started becoming sharper, by the second at this time Alexander felt like as if an actual stream of sharp blades were running through his veins.


    But Alexander did not give up as he knew this was his last chance. Though he was not that light-skinned, at this moment his skin was flushed red as he gritted his teeth.


    At this time, the flow also started getting stronger, and also quicker. Even though Alexander adopted a do-or-die stand, at this time his body was not able to. Blood started trickling down the corner of his lips, followed by his nose and eyes.


    Alexander at this point felt like his whole body¡¯s insides were on fire. It felt like he was getting death by a thousand cuts. But he did not give up as he tried his best to focus on the flow.


    And at this point, he forgot the sense of time, the sense of surrounding and the sense of self. He did not know how much time had passed, but suddenly there was a pulse going outward from his body completely rearranging the furniture in his room and also cracking all the glasses including his phone as the pain subsided, and looking inward he saw a golden orb almost looking like a marvel dantian on the side of his heart.


    [Congratulations, you have unlocked the strength state.]


    Name: Alexander


    Race: human


    *Level:___


    Strength:+


    *Stamina:___


    *Dexterity:___


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    Suddenly, this massage popped off in front of him. Below it was the strength state which was not transparent or did not have * anymore beside it.

 CHAPTER 10: LOOMING STROMS AND NEED OF MONEY

    "Alexander was truly and utterly confused by what had just happened, but before he could process it, the world spun in his eyes, and he passed out once more.


    "Ha, in one try and you didn''t give up. It seems I don''t need to use the backup. You did good, kid, you''re strong-willed, but it seems your body is lacking. Well, that''s to be expected in these times of peace."


    As Alexander opened his eyes, he saw dawn filtering through the cracked window. Before he could question if all of this was another dream, the voice chimed in,


    "It''s not dawn but dusk; you were passed out for almost 7 hours."


    Even though he wanted to question it, Alexander did not and just accepted the existence of the voice as well as the system.


    ¡®Ok, thanks,¡¯ Alexander said internally.


    Though he accepted the existence of the system with his logical brain, emotionally he needed some time. So he did not engage in more pointless talking.


    Getting out of his room and downstairs, he still found the place quiet and tranquil, as no one had returned yet.


    Just as he was about to sigh in relief, the voice chimed in, ¡°Well, now let''s start. How much money do you have saved up?¡±


    This sentence literally shocked Alexander as he made ¡°what the fuck¡± eyes.


    ¡­


    More than 7 hours earlier, even before Alexander woke up,


    At the place of the ruin,


    The entire area was barricaded with bright yellow ribbons forming a perimeter, while uniformed officers in crisp blue patrolled the vicinity.


    Inside, men in lab coats were scuttling about between the hastily set-up tents, their faces tensed. The tent set up beside the biggest pile of debris was also the largest.


    But the main chair was noticeably empty as the city lord did not come; on the right, the site was occupied by an old man with truly curly dirty hair and a very long white coat.


    He was talking to others in the room who were all big shots without a doubt, some wearing decorative military uniforms, some with exquisite business suits, some with long flowing robes with air twisting around them.


    But they all had one thing in common: they all had the mark of age on their experienced visages. Well, except one that is. Among the men seated there was one man who was around 6 feet 1 inch with blonde hair and no more than 28 years old, with a pristine blue suit, seated with them, amiably sipping his coffee as he made small talk. Even though he was young, every person here seemed to enjoy talking to him.


    ¡°S¡­.s¡­.sir,¡±


    Suddenly, one of the apprentices of the man with the curly hair who was observing the strange, small crashed areas around the collapsed building on a screen screamed out in shock.


    ¡°What? What happened?¡± The man with the curly hair screamed back.


    ¡°Sir, this crashed area, with the drone analysis, I''m sure it was done by someone stamping on the ground.¡±


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    ¡°So what? I can completely crack 200 meters around me if I stomp hard enough,¡± one of the old men with flowing long robes said in annoyance.


    The young apprentice gulped down and then, without saying anything, started drawing lines among the crashed areas.


    At first, everyone was confused, but soon their eyes widened in understanding, especially the ones with the lab coat and the ones who were truly old.


    On the other hand, the young blond man had an amused smile on his face as he looked on.


    Once the lines were drawn, it was easy to see what it was: a rough map of important and almost heart-like places in the universe. And all the places that were crashed were prosperous and well-known planets'' positions.


    So, in other words, whoever trampled on the ground to make it, his message was clear: he was trampling on the whole universe!


    ¡°That''s not all. From analyzing the corner crash points, I can confidently say the man intended to do more but¡­¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­ ha¡­ ha¡­ ha¡­¡±


    The young apprentice did not get to finish his sentence as almost everyone in the tent burst out laughing.


    ¡°Who¡­ ha, ha, who does he think he is?¡± one said.


    ¡°Probably some drunkard,¡± another chimed in.


    To be honest, this was a laughing matter when you think they, the elite of the city, were discussing some drunken cultivator.


    Even though the blond young man did not burst out in laughter like the others, a slight smile also hung on his face. Suddenly, a huge man almost 8 feet in height, clad in a black coat, entered the tent and handed the blond young man a tablet.


    As he leaned forward to say something, everyone knew this was the blond man''s right-hand man and also his bodyguard, so no one paid any heed. As this would be rude and not respecting his privacy. And with this boned man''s method even if they tried they would fail to obtain any usful info.


    "Did you destroy all the evidence?" The blond man whispered back.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    The blond man amusingly looked at the tablet where a blurry and distorted video played, showing the back of an average young man trampling on the ground.


    ...................


    ¡°Why in the world do I need to buy live stock?" Alexander muttered to himself as he strode down the bustling road, his destination fixed on the market where he was to purchase livestock, as per the peculiar instructions of the voice.


    A few moments earlier,


    "Money, why the fuck would you need money?"


    "Come on, I am your ancestor, boy. Language."


    "Who cares? Tell me, why do you need money? And before you answer, let me tell you I don¡¯t have any, anyway."


    "Don''t fib, boy. Even the poorest have a bit stashed away. This is necessary; you need livestock. As for the reason, it''s a surprise."


    "I did have some saved up, but¡­" Alexander began, his voice trailing off as memories of wasted funds and that night flooded his mind, bringing a pang of regret.


    "Spent it all on gambling or wooing a girl, did you?" The voice chimed in, but then softened as it sensed the turmoil in Alexander''s heart.


    He turned silent, towards understanding the mental and psychological pain he was far, far ahead of anyone in the world.


    After some time passed, Alexander sighed on his own accord and took out the necklace, as he told everything to the voice.


    ¡®Ha¡­ha¡­ha¡¯


    But contrary to his expectation, the voice started laughing as if mocking him.


    ¡®Come on, boy, just this much. Ha¡­ha¡­ha¡­you truly are a softie. Ha¡­ha¡­ha¡­¡¯ It was as if the voice could not stop laughing, making Alexander go red in embarrassment.


    ¡®Just go to the market and sell the necklace, it should fetch a good price.¡¯ After some time, the voice said, laughter still lingering in its tone.


    And this led to now where Alexander was going to the market nearest to him to sell it and with that buy some livestock, or according to the voice whichever animal or creature was cheap.


    His parents or brother still did not return, so he had to lock the house while coming here. It did not take him long to reach the bazaar; it was truly lively, especially as today was a holiday. and after searching around for a bit Alexander found a well-decorated shop for jewelry.


    Just as he was about to enter it.


    The voice raged out, ¡®what the heck, did you not learn anything.¡¯


    Alexander was at this moment both frustrated and confused,


    ¡®ha, you next generation are all complete fools. Never enter a flashy shop like this. They are good at swindling people so they have a flashy place in the first place, and not to mention to maintain this flashy appearance they need more profit which means less profit for anyone doing business with them.¡¯


    Alexander stopped and thought, though he did not want to admit his inferiority but thinking, it made perfect sense. He reluctantly turned back and started walking deeper, as per the voice''s instruction. The marketplace was bustling and bustling at any given time, not to mention this was an unexpected holiday. So today it was extra busy.


    Under the flashing neon and golden lights, people were milling about, vendors were shouting, inviting, and stating their prices. Some were chatting, but among them, Alexander ¡¯s eyes were mostly attracted to the couples, of which there were many, too many. Some held hands, some danced, smiled as they ate, some even gave their shoulders to one another.


    Alexander could not help but think that could have been him,


    ¡°Focus, boy.¡±


    Suddenly a shout from the voice jolted him awake as he hurriedly stopped; he was just inches away from getting pasted by a car.


    He shook his head to clear it, and then started moving forward. Everything was not for everyone; he consoled himself.


    According to the voice, he needed to find a shop in a corner or some kind of abandoned place, or in the deeper parts.


    No matter how much he wanted, he did not look at the surrounding people, as at this point he was in a restaurant area and all around him were couples of all ages, even those much younger than him. Looking at that would only make his heart hurt.


    But after moving some distance, he suddenly stopped as he heard a familiar voice.

 CHAPTER 11: THE SLAUGHTER BEGINS WITH A CHICKEN

    Alexander resisted vehemently, every fiber of his being screaming against the action, but he couldn''t resist the inevitable pull as he gradually turned his head.


    Instantly, a weight seemed to descend upon his heart, making it laborious to beat, as his expression hardened.


    Before him stood a cluster of individuals his age; to be precise, it was Chase and his clique, accompanied, as always, by Ana and her cohorts.


    They laughed as everyone took turns teasing the couple. Witnessing this, Alexander felt the pain surge again. He wanted to approach them, if only just for a moment, but after some hesitation, he decided against it.


    "So, this is the girl," a voice echoed in his mind as he walked away. Alexander ignored it, focusing on holding back his tears.


    "Don''t worry about it. You''ll forget her anyway," the voice continued.


    With an almost sobbing voice, Alexander replied, "It doesn''t matter. No matter how hard I try, it''s not possible."


    "Haha, we''ll see about that. This store seems promising; you should check it out."


    Alexander found himself wanting to leave the area as soon as possible upon seeing them together, leaving him disoriented about his current location. Glancing around, he realized he didn''t recognize this part of the market; evidently, he hadn''t ventured here before. The relative lack of people, compared to other bustling areas, indicated he had delved deep into the marketplace. Given the vast expanse of the market, it wasn''t surprising that he hadn''t visited this section previously; it would take at least an hour and a half by car to traverse its entirety at full speed. To his left, he noticed a shop, likely the one the voice had mentioned.


    If one were to describe this establishment, they would likely characterize it as a grand yet understated emporium, resembling more of an antiquarian haven than a mere jewelry store. Its entrance exuded an aura reminiscent of a bygone era, reminiscent of the elegant portals of Renaissance-style hotels.


    Dubbed "Regal Collective," the shop''s name was proudly displayed on a sign hanging from the wood-and-glass-paneled door. Upon stepping inside, one would find themselves greeted by an entranceway positioned to the side, with a sprawling L-shaped counter stretching to the left, while all manner of products were meticulously arranged to the right. Towards the far end of the counter, there stood a solitary shopkeeper, though he bore more resemblance to a distinguished butler than a typical purveyor of goods. Clad in a sleek black coat, his hair impeccably coiffed in white, and sporting a monocle and neatly trimmed mustache, he epitomized refined elegance.


    He didn''t notice at first, but as he entered, the floor, where customers might walk, was covered with a surely old but impeccably clean red carpet. Reflecting on it, everything in this shop exuded an old-fashioned charm, from the wooden counter, with its visible grain, to the pristine paint on the walls, and even the shopkeeper stationed at the farther end of the massive wooden L-shaped counter.


    To be honest, the shopkeeper resembled more of a butler than a traditional shopkeeper. His attire, from the impeccably tailored black coat, neatly combed hair, to the mustache and even the monocle, was meticulously put together. Even from a distance, his welcoming and reassuring smile was unmistakable.


    Alexander strode across the expansive hall, his footsteps resonating through the vast emptiness of the space. It was remarkable, he mused, how such a grand and meticulously maintained place could feel so devoid of life. But such considerations were of little consequence to him. As he approached the counter, he retrieved the necklace from his inner pocket.


    "What brings a gentleman of your stature to our humble establishment?" The butler-esque shopkeeper inquired, his demeanor friendly and welcoming.


    "Well, even the service is quality," Alexander thought inwardly as he fished out the necklace from his pocket. "Nothing much to sell this. Can you take a look?"


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    "Of course, let me see it," he said, delicately taking the necklace with practiced elegance.


    To be honest, Alexander was somewhat awed by the shop''s service. If nothing else, this level of service was hard to find elsewhere.


    Initially, the man scrutinized the materials with a cautious eye, his brow furrowing slightly. Alexander felt a pang of concern, wondering if he had been deceived by that senior sister. Admittedly, her behavior did seem somewhat questionable. Nevertheless, he reassured himself that he could always explore other shops. Amidst his contemplation, the man produced a specialized magnifying glass to inspect the item further.


    It was some time before the man spoke again, his tone now calm and serious. ¡°Young gentleman, could you please tell me where you acquired this?¡±


    Alexander sighed heavily, his expression showing his disappointment. ¡°I bought it at the university fair.¡±


    The man appeared momentarily startled, but then he continued, "Young man, I don''t know who you are, but you must be fortunate. If you had entered any other store, they might not have recognized the true value of this item. We are an old and reputable business, so we won''t deceive you, nor will we haggle. One price. We can offer you 7500 du for this."


    Alexander initially thought the charming gentleman was speaking nonsense, but upon hearing the price, his jaw dropped in disbelief.


    "I understand that you might feel the price should be higher, but it''s crucial for us to make a profit as well," the salesman reiterated.


    Without further negotiation, he left the shop with a bag full of money. While he was prepared to accept a slightly higher price, he didn''t anticipate it would be as high as what he got paid.


    Overall, he was quite content.


    "Young miss, if you continue doing this, how could you possibly learn anything?" After Alexander departed, the butler-like man remarked, glancing behind him towards the door of another room where a young, beautiful lady was frustratingly smashing on some sort of handheld device.


    She didn''t respond, but the butler-like man remained patient, observing her with the same serene smile, his expression unwavering.


    After a few seconds, the girl''s expression twisted into one of extreme anger, and she hurled the device at the wall, where it shattered upon impact.


    "Oh, spare me your complaints. I''ve made it abundantly clear¡ªI have no tolerance for weak-willed individuals, and that one was the epitome of it."


    "Well, that man just sold us a necklace crafted from the scales of the Deep Sea Kmonar," the elderly gentleman remarked.


    "What?" the girl exclaimed, her expression incredulous. Then, she added, "Probably he stole it."


    The elderly gentleman let out a tired sigh, "when we open a business we should cater to every customer readdress of their age, gender, status and what not. We are first and foremost here to give service."


    At this time, the doorbell chimed once more. This time, a man of distinguished appearance entered the shop, prompting the old man to gracefully step aside as the younger girl, donning an apron and tying her hair into a quick ponytail, took charge.


    "We will talk about it later. Well, at least Father would be very, very happy."


    Alexander, oblivious to the criticism he had incurred, walked dejectedly to the nearest livestock shop. He felt quite lost upon exiting the shop, and to make matters worse, his phone had run out of battery. Thus, he had to seek assistance from the nearby pedestrian to find his way.


    While the majority of people opted for packaged meat, there remained a small demographic who preferred to purchase their products fresh. In a city as vast as this one, even this small demographic was significant enough to warrant the establishment of another sector to cater to their needs.


    He knew this place well; every Friday, his own family would gather to enjoy fresh meat. The atmosphere was as lively as usual, and he headed to the shop he was familiar with. Getting 7500 du was far more than he had hoped for, so he found himself with a surplus of money.


    Fifteen minutes later, he found himself standing on the road with cages filled to the brim with chickens. They seemed ready to burst out of their confines. Initially, he was advised to buy the cheapest livestock available, so he followed that advice and bought 445 chickens. However, he struggled to carry them all and had to purchase a cage as well. He felt a bit grumpy about spending so much money all at once, as he had just received it.


    Towards the end, upon realizing he still had money left, the persistent voice continued to badger him about buying a goat, but he vehemently opposed the idea. Yet, the nagging persisted, relentless as ever. With the voice incessantly prodding him and the chickens clucking loudly, the veins on his forehead throbbed.


    Fortunately, at that moment, he stumbled upon a cap and hastily made his way home. Thankfully, or perhaps unfortunately, no one had returned home yet. After all, this holiday had been overdue for nearly everyone in this bustling city.


    By this time the voice stopped nagging, so reaching home he asked what to do next.


    ¡°Now kill them one by one.¡± The voice said grumpily.


    "What?" Alexander was aware this was a potential outcome, but he had never taken the life of an animal before, leaving him quite apprehensive.


    "Well, what did you expect, raising them?" the voice retorted sharply.


    Alexander gulped nervously, fully aware of the necessity of his actions. Subconsciously, his thoughts drifted to Chase, pondering what a man chosen by Ana would do.


    Just contemplating this brought back memories of what had happened, stirring a mix of anger and sadness within him. After a moment, he glanced at the cage brimming with chickens. With a calm resolve, he rose to his feet and selected one of them.


    "If this is what must be done, then so be it," he muttered silently to himself as he swiftly severed the chicken''s head above the sink, with a single, decisive motion, blood splattering across his face, painting his already somber expression in crimson.


    The warmth of the blood jolted him awake, almost causing him to stagger with dizziness.


    [You have killed a domestic chicken, 5 exp.]

 CHAPTER 12: LEVELING UP

    [You have killed a domestic chicken, 5 exp.]


    As blood spurted from the now headless chicken, staining the skin and face with warm red, Alexander remained focused on the message before him.


    Name: Alexander


    Race: human


    *Level:___


    Exp:5/40


    Strength:+


    *Stamina:___


    *Dexterity:___


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    There was a new line in the character sheet. According to the explanation he received, he knew that reaching 40 EXP would cause him to level up.


    At once, the warmth of the blood, its presence, and its color, dyeing him red, lost all meaning as he quickly took out another chicken from the cage. Then, holding it in front of the knife, without batting an eyelid, its head was also severed by him.


    [You have killed a domestic chicken, 5 exp]


    The first time, he hadn''t sensed it, but now, a faint warmth tingled through him, just as the voice had said he would.


    Without hesitation, he produced two chickens this time. His gaze held nothing but curiosity and anticipation. Confronted with the promise of gaining strength, the life of the living creatures before him seemed meaningless.


    Such was after all human nature, in front of the right price, everything was meaningless The inner voice within Alexander comprehended this truth all too clearly. Alexander himself harbored no claims to saintliness or extraordinary prowess; ultimately, he was merely human.


    There was no need to tell him; in mere minutes, Fa almost killed 8 chickens. The upper half of his body was drenched in blood, and the sinister gaze from his eyes, tinged in red, fixed upon the message in front of him. He didn''t even spare a glance at the bodies splayed all over, and even the chickens in the cage were quiet, as if afraid.


    [You have gained, 40 exp]


    [Would you like to level up]


    [Yes/No]


    With a grin on his face, tainted with a devilish gleam from the blood splattered across him, he hastily clicked "yes." Instantly, he felt warmth spreading to specific parts of his body, yet there was no sudden surge of strength or anything of the sort.


    [Congratulation you have gotten 3 free points.]


    [Distribute the points to confirm your level up]


    Name: Alexander


    Race: human


    *Level:___


    Exp:0/75


    [free point: 3]


    Strength:+


    *Stamina:___


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    *Dexterity:___


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    However, Alexander found himself in a dilemma. Despite the instruction to allocate his three points, he couldn''t find a way to do so. He attempted both physically and mentally to press the plus icon next to the strength attribute, but nothing happened.


    Did it fail, or was one level up not nearly sufficient? Alexander was genuinely perplexed. According to the description of the voice, according to litRPG standards, they should have utilized this point on the attribute, but it was unresponsive.


    "Sigh," the voice sighed deeply, "Well, this is exactly what I was talking about."


    Before Alexander had the chance to say anything, the voice continued,


    "Sit cross-legged in a meditative position."


    Alexander complied without objection, following the instructions diligently.


    With expertise as a cultivator, he was intimately familiar with the position.


    "Now, focus your attention inward. Can you sense the patches of warmth scattered everywhere on your entire body?"


    "After some searching, Alexander confirmed, ''Yes.''


    ''Alright. There should be three lumps larger than the others, find them.''


    After a while, Alexander responded again, ''Hmm.''


    ''Good. Now focus on those lumps and align them with all the scattered points on your body.''


    After a period of effort, Alexander was drenched in sweat, his brows furrowed deeply."


    "It''s impossible to move them all at once."


    "You fool! Who told you to attempt controlling all of them at the same time.?"


    "I can focus on controlling one at a time. Why the fuck didn''t you tell me that earlier?" Alexander wasn''t one to curse so frequently, but trying to manage all three of the lumbers of wroth simultaneously was not only excruciating but also exhausting for both his body and mind.


    "Ah, I had hoped for a miracle, but it seems I was mistaken," murmured the voice.


    Alexander couldn''t muster the energy to focus on the voice as he tentatively tried to move a lump of warmth he felt. As a former cultivator, this task wasn''t entirely foreign to him. While moving one lump wasn''t as difficult as anticipated, it was still painfully challenging compared to his usual methods.


    "Oh, don''t forget, you must distribute all the scattered warmth equally among the three, or this won''t succeed. And who knows, you might even lose the experience," the voice reminded.


    Hearing this, Alexander felt as though a mountain had been dropped on his head. Things had just become way harder. Not only did he need to circulate the lump of warmth around his body and collect the scattered ones, but he also needed to determine their quantity and how to divide them equally among the three. He pondered the best approach, considering which path would yield the most efficient results and which would be a futile effort.


    This was too damn hard.


    But as they say, a sinking man will even grasp a hair for support, so Alexander did not give up. He took some time to figure out the optimum path for at least one merger and then started.


    At first, it was easy, relatively speaking of course. But as one by one, the warmth started merging with the lump, it somehow got heavier and more difficult to control and move around at the same time. But through the excruciating pain, patience, and inhuman effort, he continued.


    After some, well much more time he was able to gather all the requr3ed for one of the lambs.


    "Now, guide and pour that into the golden meridian-like structure beside your heart."


    Alexander felt the urge to complain, believing his task was complete, but he resisted. Carefully, he maneuvered the now amalgamated lump of warmth through his body, guiding it towards the golden meridian beside his heart. Navigating through the myriad pathways within the human body was challenging, but not impossible.


    After successfully maneuvering the warmth for an equal amount of time, he poured it into the golden meridian beside his heart.


    Instantly, he felt a pulse of warmth extend from his heart throughout his entire body, coursing through him like a dam bursting. However, it happened too quickly for him to notice anything clearly."


    Name: Alexander


    Race: human


    Level:1


    Exp:0/75


    Strength:1


    *Stamina:___


    *Dexterity:___


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    The first thing he did was to open up his status screen his expression mirroring that of a laborer receiving their hard-earned wages at the end of a grueling day''s work.


    The * mark beside the level was gone along with its transparency as there was a 1 in its front.


    Without wasting any time and even before the voice¡¯s reminder he quickly started cultivating, or in other word moving the next lump of worth.


    Though he was excited, he did not forget to be vigilant and focused throughout the process. After almost three hours, he completed moving the remaining two lumps of warmth into his newly formed golden meridian.


    Before the gore-splattered sink, reminiscent of a butcher''s abattoir, he sat cross-legged, soaked in perspiration with a small pool forming beneath him, as if he had just surfaced from a swim.


    It was not an easy task, not only physically and spiritually but also mentally taxing, especially toward the end.


    Alexander felt as though the channels in his veins were ablaze, a sensation that, though slight, multiplied into a consuming pain throughout his entire body.


    Yet, he paid no heed to the discomfort; a grin adorned his face as he observed his stretched state, now marked with a 3. And all be it minutely, as a self-contours man life fee he clearly felt the his strength upgrading.


    Without wasting time, he stood up and gulped down large mouthfuls of water, feeling severely dehydrated at that moment. Following this, the killing spree commenced immediately.


    No remorse, no disgust, no regret, no guilt, no pity. Alexander was feeling excited. The redness of the blood felt like a festive invitation to him as he gloriously dismembered one chicken head after another with a grin on his face, which looked quite disturbing from an outside perspective.


    It did not take him long to slaughter another 15 chickens, getting to 75 experience points and leveling up once again. Distributing the points, he went back to killing and soon reached level 3. After distributing the points again, he looked at the remaining two chickens with pity.


    ¡°I told you to buy a goat,¡± the voice chided him.


    Even though he knew, that was impractical he was regrading not buying one.


    ¡°sigh.¡± He signed, but did not refuted the voice.


    He contemplated the notion of dispatching the remaining two chickens. Transitioning from level 2 to level 3 had demanded 100 experience points, equivalent to sacrificing 20 chickens. Now, he faced a steeper requirement of 150 experience points to ascend from level 3 to level 4. Realistically, those two remaining birds wouldn''t provide the necessary experience, so he reasoned it might be prudent to dispose of them and return to the market for replenishment, perhaps even acquiring a goat.


    Lost in his ruminations, he paid no heed to his surroundings, which resembled a scene from a macabre nightmare: the kitchen adorned with splatters of blood, his own body drenched in a mixture of blood and sweat, akin to a demented demon.


    As the door swung open, his parents and brother entered simultaneously. Catching sight of the bloodied man by her kitchen, his mother let out a piercing screech.

 CHAPTER 13: AS BUSTLING AS IT WAS UGLY.

    As the door swung open, his parents and brother entered simultaneously. Catching sight of the bloodied man in her kitchen, his mother let out a piercing screech.


    With a chicken in one hand and a knife in the other, and drenched in sticky blood and sweat, Alexander woke up from his stupor.


    Seeing the gory scene in front of him, he himself became afraid, letting go of the now-damaged knife and the chicken from his hand.


    He took almost three steps back. What the heck did he just do? Even he himself was quite shaken seeing the blood splattered and headless chicken bodies strewn everywhere.


    With terror in his eyes, he slowly glanced at his parents. His father shielded his brother and mother, assuming a defensive stance.


    Contrary to his expectations, there was no anger in their eyes. Even his brother, who was quick to criticize him, remained silent. Fear was the only emotion visible in their expressions.


    "Hi, hi, it''s me. It''s me. I just wanted to cook some chicken," he stammered, his voice trembling, before darting off to his room in panic stumbling a few times in the way.


    His parents, recognize his voice as everything fell into place. They were first perplexed and then they sighed in relief.


    They were all tired, and after being sure they were not being robbed everyone wanted to take a rest, so they did not put much thought into it.


    ¡°Sigh.¡± Now I have to clean all this. His mother grappled in frustrating.


    ¡°Well, at least there is a lot of meat. How about you roast some of them for me.¡± his rather chimed in.


    ¡°Well we all eat outside today, maybe another day.¡± His father added form the side.


    He pounded, ¡°you never make something good in the house.¡±


    In his room Alexander was sweating bullets, as soon as he saw his parents his mind just blocked out, he just repeated what the voice told him to say.


    "Take deep breaths and try to calm down," the voice said, but there was amusement in it.


    As no one came even after some time passed, Alexander sighed in relief and started to calm down a bit.


    "Don''t worry about it; they won''t think much about this. Back in my day, I had to know everything about my parents to convince them for an hour of video games. So don''t worry; they''re well in my hands," the voice reassured confidently.


    Alexander remained silent as he waited quietly. After nearly another 15 minutes passed, he calmed down a bit. Or at least he tried.


    Inside him, another storm was burning and ravaging¡ªnot because of the fear of his parents, but due to his own thoughts. He could distinctly feel it. When his father and brother gazed at him with fear in their eyes, he sensed it, an immense joy pulsating through him as if this sensation was his core''s deepest longing fulfilled. It felt like discovering an oasis in the midst of a relentless desert. And most disconcerting of all, he relished it. He relished it more than anything he had ever experienced. If he were to quantify it, he savored it even more than an orgasm. The feeling of being feared and revered enthralled him.


    He shook his head vigorously to dispel the thoughts, hastily opening the status screen partly to distract himself and partly to ascertain what he had actually gained.


    Name: Alexander


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    Race: Human


    Level: 3


    Exp: 0/150


    Strength: 9


    *Stamina: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    He grinned not only upon seeing the stats, but he could also feel it, the coursing strength in his body. It was undeniably real, all too tangible. He was truly growing stronger. A mixture of euphoria and excitement flooded him to the point where he began to question the reality of it all.


    "Feels good, doesn''t it?" The voice chimed in with an amused tone.


    "Is... is this all real?" Alexander murmured unintentionally as he checked his movements, which were filled with a force far greater than he had ever felt before.


    ¡®Oh! Come the fuck on. How much proof do you need? Just grow a pair, will you?¡¯ The voice chided, this time tinged with genuine frustration.


    "Okay, okay," Alexander giggled sheepishly. The voice, or rather the ancestor, was right. He needed to be more optimistic, to embrace his newfound self. He wasn''t cursed with perpetual misfortune; good things could happen to him too. No longer could he hide behind the excuse of bad luck and poor aptitude.


    Examining his status, he noted that the next level required 150 experience points. Previously, he only needed 25 more experience points than the previous level to level up, but this time, it was a demanding 50 more experience points.


    Alexander pondered querying the voice about this discrepancy, but swiftly dismissed the idea as imprudent.


    "Mom, don¡¯t kill the remaining chickens!" Alexander¡¯s voice echoed with determination. With a gleam in his eyes, he resolved to alter his destiny. He needed to seize control of his fate, and it all began with a transformation of himself.


    He strode into the bathroom, casting a critical gaze upon his reflection. The visceral image that stared back at him sent a chill down his spine. He resembled a tormented butcher or a remorseless psychopath.


    Though he didn''t bother to clean himself properly, opting only to splash water on his face, he descended the stairs once again and swiftly dispatched the remaining two chickens for the promised 10 experience points. His mother continued to grumble about the mess, while his father remained glued to the news.


    After reclaiming his hard-earned experience points, he retreated to his room, indulging in a quick shower before embarking once more to the market, despite his mother''s protests about the lateness of the hour. However, his father granted permission as he did not went out this late.


    Reaching the familiar shop he wanted to buy chickens with all of his remaining money but the voice objected him to doing so.


    ¡®Why?¡¯ Alexander asked internally.


    ¡®It''s unwise to exhaust all your funds at once. Additionally, there''s another factor I''ll discuss when we get home. For now, purchase only the necessary amount, just for a level.¡¯


    He didn''t argue. Leveling up once required 150 experience points this time, which meant he needed to buy 30 chickens. However, he couldn''t resist and ended up purchasing 35 chickens, costing him about 420 du. He also needed to factor in the cost of transportation, which would bring the total to almost 460 du.


    He realized immediately after the stunt he pulled that it would be highly questionable if he also brought along the 30 chickens. but He was eager to level up now. Despite the vastness of the city, empty dark alleys were scarce in his vicinity, as every corner was teeming with people. Unfortunately, the alleys were populated with the homeless and the impoverished, every city was as bustling as it was ugly.


    But he formulated a plane that was workable. He went into one of the alleys, homeless people looking at him, or rather the chickens, with hungry eyes adorned with layers of dirt.


    Halfway through the alley, he stopped and took out the kitchen knife he had bought previously. Upon seeing him, some children came closer but scattered like the wind at that moment. Without hesitation, he took out chickens one after another and started severing their head


    .


    [You have killed one domestic chicken, 5exp]


    [You have killed one domestic chicken, 5exp]


    [You have killed one domestic chicken, 5exp]


    [You have killed one domestic chicken, 5exp]


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    The notifications bombarded him, causing a grin to spread across his face. His amusement abruptly halted as he noticed the terrified expression on the little girl''s face before him.


    Feeling embarrassed, he scratched his head with a bloody hand, sporting a goofy grin. At this, the girl fled, tears streaming, calling for her mom.


    Left dumbstruck and intensely embarrassed, he swiftly dispatched the remaining chickens. He lift the now headless bodys of the chiknes on the floor.


    He deliberately selected this ally because it had the largest number of children among the homeless. And he didn''t forget to toss a headless chicken in front of the girl before swiftly departing.


    The bystanders found his actions strange and were confused, but their attention quickly shifted when they noticed the 29 chickens in front of them, causing a commotion to ensue.


    "I shouldn''t have left the bodies like this," Alexander lamented internally, hearing the commotion behind him.


    "Sigh," he sighed, even though he wanted to, he could not get back in there to properly distribute the chickens. He just had to bury this feeling of guilt within him and left without looking back.


    Getting into a taxi, he opened his status screen, mostly to distract himself, and he was successful as the 150/150 next to EXP attraction his attention and excitement.


    He wanted to level up then and there but waited, even though it took a lot of mental strength to do so. He was itching to start the cultivation right then and there, but the voice refrained him from doing so.


    Reaching home, he practically ran to his room and sat cross-legged, in the exact same place as well, as if sitting somewhere else might bring bad luck. Without any delays, he started cultivation after mentally pressing ''yes'' in the menu for leveling up.


    The familiar pulse of warmth spread through his body. He was not sure, but he felt like this time it was heavier.


    "Who cares," he muttered, dragging the first lump through his channels. But the problem occurred after he was halfway through dragging the second one.

 CHAPTER 14 : LIMITS AND REVELATIONS

    "Who cares?" He began dragging the first lump through his channels. But the problem arose when he was halfway through dragging the second one.


    Alexander felt as though he was dragging raw, rough-textured mud through his channels. The weight, or rather the size of the lump, seemed to grow or his channels were shrinking; he couldn¡¯t tell. But it was easy to guess.


    Yet Alexander did not complain as he dragged it against the pain to his golden Dantian, adding another point to his strength.


    The pain intensified while dragging the next lump through the channels. He wanted to scream in agony. But the real pain came when he deposited all three lumps and the pulse spread through his body.


    He felt as if his body was on the verge of bursting. Looking down, he noticed the veins all over his body bulging, as if straining against a dam; his eyes were bloodshot, and his skin was pink and swollen, as if it were about to rupture.


    Alexander felt something as he wiped his nose with the back of his palm, and he saw a small amount of blood as his eyes widened.


    "Just as I thought," the voice echoed from his depths.


    "What do you mean?" Alexander asked immediately, fear and panic evident in his tone.


    "No need to get alarmed. You see, there is another thing I did not tell you."


    "How many things did you not tell me?" Alexander asked, annoyance and frustration creeping into his voice.


    "Well, this is not a normal cultivation path, so what did you expect? With it, you can soar very quickly, but it''s not without its limitations." The voice paused, organizing its words.


    Alexander gulped hard but did not say anything as sweat dripped from his forehead.


    "Well, if I were to explain this in one word, your body has hit its limit," the voice continued again. "To be honest, you can cram in one more level, but after that, your body will probably burst."


    Alexander waited for some time with his hand on his chin. "I think I have an idea, but can you explain in more detail?"


    "Open your stats screen," the voice commanded.


    Alexander did as he was told and opened his status screen.


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 4


    Exp: 0/220


    Strength: 12


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    "Now try expanding it."


    Alexander, almost with trembling hands, pressed the ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­., with a mental nudge, of course. And it expanded.


    *Agility:


    *Constitution: 2


    *Intelligence:


    *Vitality:


    A smile spread across Alexander¡¯s face as he saw the full status screen, but he soon frowned towards a particular thing in the status screen, well actually two particular things on the screen.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Isn''t the two of them, the same thing, dexterity and agility, I mean. And how is there¡­."


    "shhh!" Before Alexander could complete his sentence, the voice made a sound as if sucking in air. "What sacrilege! How the hell are you my descendant? Dexterity and agility are two completely different stats."


    Alexander rolled his eyes at its antics. "Doesn''t both of them make you faster or something?"


    "Boy, shut your trap before divine judgment falls upon you."


    Alexander was about to roll his eyes once again, but the voice continued, this time with a normal yet solemn tone.


    But after some minutes of incessant talking, Alexander had to force himself to listen. Sentences poured out of the voice as if an ancient dam had just burst.


    But, Alexander understood what he was trying to say, the gist of it at least. Apparently, dexterity is like a weapon sense of sorts. Its main effect concerns one''s coordination and connectedness; it mainly affects precision and coordination. It reflects one''s fine motor skills and ability to perform delicate tasks with speed and accuracy. But that wasn''t the most important, as training will be better for improving accuracy and coordination rather than dumping points in this. According to the voice, the main function of dexterity was something else. It was related to coordination and perfection, so, it helps shorten skill activation time, which was akin to shortening the time for technique.


    Alexander was kind of amazed; he had never heard anything like it.


    On the other hand, agility boasted a more conventional nature; its prowess lay in enhancing nimbleness, reflexes, and an array of swift movements. It facilitated rapid reactions and a myriad of other dynamic responses. While it did contribute somewhat to speed, akin to dexterity, its influence in that regard was modest at best, as so was the influence of dexterity.


    According to the voice, speed primarily depended on his strength and constitution.


    "Not only that, every stat has far more use than just its name might suggest, and some of them even work together or against each other. Like constitution, strength, and vitality combined affect your health, on the other hand constitution in some cases hinder or help agility and dexterity, but in this case not vice versa. It''s all very complex, but don¡¯t worry; I will tell you when you need to know," the voice concluded after seeing Alexander in deep thought.


    "By the way, why is there a 2 beside constitution? I do not remember dumping any points into that."


    "Oh! That. In that paper, from where you got me, I had one drop of my specially prepared blood stored. Throughout the ages, it lost its power both from the erosion of time and from keeping the pattern safe and functional."


    Before the voice could finish, Alexander chimed in, "Do you mean all that bloodstain on the paper was from your one drop?"


    "No, no¡­ What do you take me for? I sealed the blood inside it; there was no way I am going to tarnish the sanctity of something that could be considered my legacy. The blood you saw was from the fools who attempted to wield its power by spilling their blood onto the paper like mere simpletons," the voice said with irritation.


    "Anyway, as I was saying, fortunately, I prepared that drop with much care, and it held until today. When the array activated, along with everything else, that blood too was injected into you."


    "Injected?"


    "Yeah, it¡¯s a bit complicated. I have created a real-life litRPG system after all," the voice said with pride.


    "You will understand in due time. As it entered your body, it unleashed a torrent of energy, and I chose to channel it into fortifying your constitution. And, of course, the energy you utilized to forge your strength Dantian also originated from this source."


    "Is there any left, for free level up I mean?" Alexander asked with anticipation.


    "Well there is but you cannot directly use it. Not only do you need to upgrade your constitution your body needs to be in a constant state of drain as well, more on that later."


    "So why is there a * mark beside it, and why is it still transparent? Is this one active?" Alexander questioned back without wasting a single breath.


    "Haaah!" the voice sighed again. "Well, that''s the thing."


    "How many things are there?" Before the voice could finish, Alexander said in frustration.


    "Many, there are many; just listen to me for now. I forcibly upgraded your body. Maybe it¡¯s more apt to say that I wasted a huge amount of power, or rather qi, to upgrade your constitution. But unfortunately, this can only be done once. Think of it like an impartment of sorts. Now¡­" The voice paused as if about to drop a bombshell.


    "Now what?" Alexander asked in confusion.


    "Well, now your body has hit its limit, and you need to upgrade it, as per normal. Like body cultivators, you have that in this era, right?"


    "Yeah, we do. But they are surely rare, so much so that I doubt that you will find one in the entire city."


    The voice paused as if pondering. "How big is the city?"


    "Well, let me think. It''s roughly the size of a country from your era. To give you a clearer context, there are only seven cities in the entire world. In between, there is only the wilds and the ocean, and from what I heard, the capital is as big as a continent from your times."


    "Oh! Impressive. Anyway, body cultivation is not only ancient and inconvenient but also outrageously hard, not to mention it''s also inferior. But the real problem is, unlike me, you do not have any, I mean, any kind of talent in body cultivating."


    "So can I not do body cultivation at all? Do I need to be in level 4 or 5 for the rest of my life? If that is the case, what''s the point of this system? Is there any alternative?....." The panic was evident in Alexander¡¯s ensuing questions as he felt his last chance slip through the cracks.


    "Come down, calm down, boy. Though body cultivation or body tempering is inferior to normal cultivation, it has one benefit that normal cultivation cannot compete with."


    "And that is?"


    "Anyone can practice body tempering, but as you do not have any talent for it, we will have to use a lot of resources to actually make it work."


    Alexander contemplated for a while and then said, "So do I have to constantly find and use rare treasures to upgrade my constitution to keep up with my level ups?"


    "Kind of, yeah. But, and don¡¯t worry, this time the ''but'' is good; once you reach a certain level of constitution, your constitution stat will be unlocked, and that is when the brilliance of my system or the cultivation method comes in, and you can dump points in that to upgrade your constitution," the voice stated this time with pride and smugness.


    "So which point should I reach to get that feature?" Alexander asked, contemplating.


    "Unfortunately, I cannot tell you that. Actually, it works something like this: through continuous upgrades of your body, it reaches a certain point where you can utilize my method and not burst into a million pieces. It''s when you will be able to create a constitution Dantian of sorts. But the fact is, everyone¡¯s condition is different, so I have no idea when it¡¯s going to unlock. But you can be reassured; whenever it does, the system will notify you immediately, as it''s continuously scanning your body or would it be more apt to say running through your body and soul. Ah! Who knows, it''s been so long I forgot."


    After some pause, the voice said again, "Oh, by the way, I have no idea how it actually works, so you will follow the same method as used for body tempering as me, with a little deviation."


    Alexander pondered deeply but remained silent, his brows furrowed, as if hesitating.


    "Boy, no matter what you think, nothing in this world comes for free. My method or the system might offer some assistance, but that''s all it is. It can illuminate a path or perhaps even carve it out for you in certain cases, but ultimately, you have to traverse it yourself, whether it leads through a verdant meadow or a thorny thicket."


    The voice paused, its weighty words hanging in the air like a heavy fog. "And if you lack that resolve," it continued, "I am sad to say it, but you will never transcend anything beyond average."


    The word hit a nerve, "I understand. What do I have to do?" Alexander''s demeanor shifted from hesitation to resolute determination.

 CHAPTER 15: CHANGED

    [ a comment or rating would be nice]


    "For now, sleep. If I am not mistaken, tomorrow you should have university," the voice said.


    "What? No, there is a two-day holiday this time," Alexander said with a chuckle.


    "I know, but look outside," the voice sighed.


    Alexander was shocked to see the golden light outside and quickly scrambled to look at his phone, where he found it was already 8 am in the morning.


    "Hey, how did you know I had two days off? I never told you?"


    "You did, you must have forgotten. Anyway, go to sleep. Not only do you need the sleep mentally, but also your body needs to adapt to the changes and recover after the hell you put it through," the voice chided.


    Alexander was grumpy, but he did listen to the voice.


    When he woke up, it was already night, and looking at his phone, which was more of an uncontrollable hobby at this point, he saw it was 4 am already. He told his parents beforehand so nobody actually disturbed him.


    "Oh, I actually slept for this long. I must really have been banged up bad!"


    "Well, it''s actually a lot less than I thought you would need. A healthy man needs 8 hours of sleep a day. Considering you canned in two days of sleep in one, plus all that extra work you put in and the changes your body went through from the system, not to mention you destroying your cultivation, considering all that, you took way less time to recover. If I had to guess, it''s because your constitution has 2 points in it. But that does not mean you are fully recovered yet. That will still take some time."


    To be honest, Alexander wanted to go back to sleep, but just for good measure, he opted to ask the voice for any activities he must do.


    "Don¡¯t worry, not today. We will start from tomorrow," but fortunately for him, the voice stated before he asked.


    Though he knew it was not right to be late, a relief washed over him as he smiled. He moved his hand, and he could feel it, he could feel the raw force coursing through them as he clenched them. The feeling was, in a sense, dreamy.


    "Feels good, doesn¡¯t it?"


    "Yeah."


    "Well, get ready, your bus will be here."


    "Bus, how did you know about¡­."


    "Come on, boy, for once get ready early."


    Having ample time, for the first time in a while, Alexander decided to take his time while getting ready. He took a refreshing bath after having a satisfying dump, brushed his teeth thoroughly, and even ironed the clothes he decided to wear.


    Even his mother was kind of awed when she saw Alexander at the table in time for breakfast. Even though she wanted to ask something, seeing her baby going to university with a full belly was more important to her, so she quickly gave him food.


    As a mother, she could feel it, something was different about her son today, but the radiance in her son was enough for her. She did not ask any unnecessary questions. She felt peace after what felt like an eternity.


    Alexander reached the uni bus without any rush. For some reason, Michel did not come today. Come to think of it, he did not contact him at all these days.


    On the other hand, seeing Ana and Chase sitting in front of him, he felt an ache in his heart which he hid under his ugly smile as he sat three rows behind them. The pain only intensified when Ana tried to rest her head on Chase''s shoulder.


    And no matter how hard he tried, Alexander could not keep his eyes off of them for more than 10 or 20 seconds. Thus, the whole bus ride was kind of a torture to him.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    As soon as the bus reached the university, he got off quickly, unwilling to come face to face with Ana or Chase. And to prevent any chance encounter, he immediately fled the vicinity with hasty steps.


    He knew the couples would most likely go to the cafeteria, so he took a roundabout path to class.


    With 15 minutes to class, he had time. This was a hallway through the garden, and it had a carved ceiling. With the garden full of white flowers on both sides and this old-style hallway in the middle, this looked like a castle from the old eras, a perfect place for couples. And true to its nature, there were some couples here, even in the morning. Alexander soon questioned himself why he chose this path. But getting rid of these thoughts, he increased his pace.


    Not far away from him, there was a group of boys who were messing around with each other as they discreetly ogled the beautiful girls making their way to the classrooms. Some in a hurry, some taking in the beautiful flowers, and some even enjoying the attention they were getting from discreet and open sources, courtesy of the seniors.


    "Hi, look at that, she is at least an 8."


    "Don¡¯t look, that will be your sister-in-law soon."


    Another spat, "Hm! It''s all makeup."


    "Hi, look at that, it''s Kaly from the architecture department. Man, I wish I was that dog in her bosom."


    "She is already taken, I saw her coming out of Taylor''s room yesterday, all ragged and disheveled."


    "Taylor, the senior from the engineering department."


    "Yeah."


    "Oh! Man, why are the good ones always taken?"


    "Hey look, it''s your Ritu from computer engineering," one of them nudged his companion, mostly the leader of the group.


    The leader was a tall, well-dressed man. To be honest, he looked good except for the bulging belly that jutted out like a pod.


    "You have a crush on her, right?"


    With a smile, he answered, "What do you think?"


    "We need to catch her attention and quick."


    Suddenly, this boy''s eyes fell on Alexander, "Hi, it''s this Alexander?"


    "Yeah, what the heck is this clown doing here? Don¡¯t tell me this fool has a girlfriend," the boss said with ridicule.


    "Nice joke, Taker. That¡¯s not possible. He might be just wandering around?"


    "Hi, I have got an idea," another one said, the boss''s bosom buddy, Nathen.


    Alexander was walking just fine when he suddenly heard quarreling, but his eyes widened the next moment as it rapidly approached him. Just as Alexander looked back, he saw one of his classmates, a tall one, crash right into him, followed by the rest of the group as at least 8 people crashed into him with full force.


    Though the force should have knocked him away, Alexander did not move an inch. To be honest, he barely even felt it.


    Crack!


    In the next moment, there was a cracking sound as the ground beneath Alexander¡¯s feet cracked, although thinly.


    The cacophony was stopped abruptly, and so did the surrounding. As if swallowed by the defining silence, his classmates had only one expression: shock, with a bit of fear and disbelief mixed in. Well, all except one. Taker, the leader, he was pissed. He wanted attention and he got it, but all on Alexander, including the girl he wanted the attention of.


    But Alexander did not take in his lunatic expression as he moved on, without saying anything, which was perceived as cool, but in reality, even he himself was stunned.


    He repeatedly checked his hands as he moved away from the location. What was that? Did he just stop 8 people? This was crazy.


    ¡°Hey, it''s your leg that did the work, why are you looking at your hands?¡± the voice chuckled.


    But Alexander did not mind it. He was thinking of the incident now. Of course, he knew all of them; they were his classmates after all. The tall one, who crashed into him first was Matthew, a friend, or rather a lackey of Taker, the leader of their group.


    He knew these attention seekers, and he also knew why they might have pulled this stunt. It''s most likely the idea of the skinny one, Nathen, Taker¡¯s right-hand man, so to speak. Most of the time, their relation is limited to hi and hello. He knew Taker was a trust fund baby, and the annoying one at that. And also, this guy did anything to get attention, even in class. All in all, an annoying guy that Alexander did not want anything to do with.


    But he shook all these thoughts aside as he approached the class.


    Though he knew it, he still felt the pain in his heart when he saw both Chase and Ana missing from the ongoing class.


    After the first glance, the teacher did not give any attention toward him.


    He attempted to pay attention to the class, but it was harder. The teacher was mostly talking about cultivation, the common ways of cultivation, some newfound methods, and so on.


    He finished by giving an assignment on the importance of the meridian, and they were to showcase the common ways of meridian distribution.


    Alexander did not care; the extensive research he did on this subject for his own inquiries, he could finish the assignment with his eyes closed. Ashamed, all of that would be useless to him now.


    ¡°Yeah. All the conventional way is useless to you,¡± before Alexander had the chance to ask any meaningless question, the voice nonchalantly stated.


    But it is the next words of the professor that completely drew him in, which were about the upcoming exam. And if they did exceptionally well in their cultivation, they would have a chance to apply for a transfer to the capital.


    But the teacher followed it up by saying, ¡°But let''s face it. None of you are actually qualified for it. So focus on getting a pass mark and do well in subjects so that you can join a good organization in the future.¡±


    The students did not seem very interested either. After all, they knew how hard it is to get into the capital. Not only did you need to get exceptional results in every subject, you also needed to have exceptional cultivation. Only the seven wonders of each year in the city were qualified for that. And it''s been that way for a long time.


    ¡°Only those of the 7 wonders had a chance.¡±


    ¡°It''s not like they will bother with us.¡±


    This murmur permeated the classroom.


    Everyone had the same mentality. In their opinion, only the 7 wonders were worthy to think about it. Everyone except one. Alexander. A few days earlier, and he would never even have entertain this thought, but now, now that he had the system.


    ¡°Do not worry about these minor blemishes, what are the 7, what not. You will be far, far more powerful than them,¡± before Alexander could entertain any negative thoughts, the voice nonchalantly said.


    Though it seemed far from assuring, Alexander''s ever-persistent lifeless eyes had a flicker of hope in them.


    The teacher went out, as usual, with a sour face. Even without the teacher, the class did not make any sound. Even Chase and Ana made their way back with haste.


    A middle-aged stern-looking man entered the class, and somehow the still class got quieter. The man calmly sat on the teacher''s seat as he took out the attendance sheet.

 CHAPTER 16: WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE ALIVE

    "Ray."


    "Yes, sir."


    "Sakura."


    "Present, sir."


    "Matthew."


    "Here, please."


    "Taker."


    "Present, honorable sir."


    Unlike other teachers, this one did not call out rolls; rather, he addressed names directly. And that too, without even looking at the attendance sheet.


    According to him, in this way, there was no way of proxy happening. But Alexander was just awed at this guy''s mental capacity. To remember all the students'' names, and this not the only class he teaches.


    But in all of the classes, his reputation was the same. A stern teacher with a very, very stingy hand when it comes to giving marks. And a dry man devoid of humor.


    But to Alexander, he was a good man. Granted, he also did not get good marks in his subject. But this man had principles unlike the other teachers he never saw pity in this man''s eyes when looking at him or at the other students that were not as good. Of course, he praised the ones that did good and was strict with the ones that were not up to snuff but there was no difference when it comes to treatment.


    And though he looked quite old, Alexander knew or rather everyone knew he was younger than Alexander¡¯s father. The man did not waste much time on pleasantries well he did not waste any at all. Like a professional, he went straight to teaching.


    "Let''s start." His stern voice though soft boomed in the quiet classroom.


    "For the last month, I have been teaching you about Qi channeling. And if you tried hard enough, even the worst among you should have opened at least three paths by now. If anyone failed the test today, I will deduct points."


    After he spoke, the class fell silent. "why the wait, do I need to repeat myself? Roll number 1, Ray, come forward."


    Ray, a boy with good features but short, came forward with a sigh. Alexander almost felt like laughing; being ID number 1 not only had perks, it also had drawbacks.


    Fortunately for Ray, he passed as the teacher took his number on the paper. All the next 4 people passed; one of them, ID 3, also noted 5 paths instead of one.


    But the problem occurred when the sixth one came; she failed miserably. Instead of 3, she only opened half of one. But Mr. Anwar did not say anything as he just put an F beside her ID.


    Seeing this, it was sure that Mr. Anwar was pissed today as normally he would give some warning or cut marks but not fail outright.


    Alexander gulped down hard; there was no way he opened the channels. He thought he would just get some points reduced but to think this juggernaut of a teacher was dark on rage today. This was not good.


    Time passed by as soon as it was Alexander¡¯s turn to step up. Nobody actually paid any attention to him either except for Taker and his gang. But Alexander did not notice it. He was too busy reaching the teacher quickly to avoid yelling. Which, not too long ago, another obese female student had to face.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    As he reached the teacher, he grew even more nervous; the voice in his head was silent too, adding to his anxiety.


    With a smile that reeked of a side character, Alexander approached the teacher as he nonchalantly put his hand on Alexander¡¯s wrist.


    One minute passed, and two minutes passed, and the clock was fast approaching three minutes. Alexander''s face became incredibly worried as the teacher''s went into a frown, and the Takers got delighted, and the students were curious.


    Alexander did not notice it earlier for his nervousness, but the teacher''s grip was getting tighter by the second. When it comes to other students, the teacher only took 20 to 25 seconds at max, and now that he was taking this long with Alexander, some students got bored, and some just wanted to see the result.


    "You can go?" There was a bit of shock on the teacher''s face, which dazed Alexander.


    To be honest, he felt a tingling feeling seeing this, and he liked it.


    "Do you need an invitation to go?" The teacher shouted this time, which brought Alexander back to reality. And he hurriedly stumbled back.


    Taker and his gang were delighted, and everyone started laughing, but it was cut short as the teacher did not write anything. It meant he did not fail Alexander nor did he deduct any points.


    Seeing this scene, Alexander himself was shocked; he was sure he was going to fail and was already thinking of ways to give a retake. But now it was as if ice cream instantly melted in his head.


    "Ha, ha, ha. What, did you really think you would fail? Man, you should have seen your face; you looked pathetic." The voice chided in his mind. But he was happy not to fail.


    ¡°and even if you did, what of it. It''s not like this inferior establishment can teach you anything.¡± the voice snorted


    ¡°Sir, I think¡­.¡± Suddenly Taker stood up to say something.


    ¡°Did I permit you to interrupt my class, Mister Taker?¡± But before he could finish, the teacher said in a calm but composed tone. That made Taker sweat then and there as he lowered his head and sat down.


    The next assessment continued, but he did not take any of that into account. Some did exceptionally well, some not so much, and at the end, the teacher cut 3 points from those who were absent today.


    He thanked his lucky stars that he came today though he doubted he had any. The class soon concluded, and the next one began.


    He was not sure, but he felt like Mr. Anwar, before leaving, looked directly at him.


    Class concluding, he got out. It was feeling kind of empty without Michel here, so he called him. One call soon turned into 3, and from 3 it went up to 12, but there was no answer. He frowned, but he was not overtly worried. He might be in the shower or something. Who knows, that big guy might be taking a big dump.


    while going home; he thought back to what happened today and chuckled.


    After the class concluded, he went out for some food, but while on the way, he found a commotion going on beside the administrative building.


    Of course, the teacher did not say those things about the capital university enrollment without a reason. Today was the last day you had to submit your name, and this is the place where it''s happening.


    Of course, most of the people were not actually here to sign up but to see the ones that were courageous enough to do so. and those that were here, were mostly interested in testing their mettle against the tops in the whole uni or rather the whole younger generation in the city. Some, of course, thought they had a chance against the 7 wonders, and to be honest, some of them actually had.


    He had work to do and level up, shaking his head he was about to move.


    "Hey, I thought, you want to go to the capital.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but there are only 8 months; there is no way I can make it. And even if by some miracle I can go through the tournament, there is no way I will be able to take one of the 7th wonders positions in just 8 months.¡± He said with a dejected tone.


    Only silence greeted him from the other side. ¡°Right?¡± Though he said so, he wanted some kind of encouraging words from the voice.


    ¡°What can I say, you have already admitted defeat in your mind. People like you are the definition of average.¡± The voice said nonchalantly.


    He felt silent, hesitating. He looked at the line and without giving any time to form a thought in his mind, he ran to the line and stood in it. Soon someone stood behind him, making him officially locked in the line.


    The girl in front of him and the guy behind him looked at him with curious eyes, most likely thinking, ¡®who is this? I have not seen him before.¡¯


    Well, they had no idea that he was no one important enough for them to see him, but the most interesting reaction was from those looking at him, especially those who knew him. They were shocked, and some were even confused.


    It did not take long for someone to carry the news to Taker, and he was not at all late to come here with his gang. And of course, they were laughing and pointing at him as they joked. And soon that spread.


    He just wanted to plant a full-forced punch at Taker¡¯s face and run away from here, but he persevered. But then something amazing happened as he signed his name for the competition; the laughter and pointing all stopped for a moment, and he saw immense hatred in Taker¡¯s eyes, but of course, they soon went back to making various remarks about him.


    As he was making his way to his house, he chuckled thinking this. It felt good when he saw the anger in Taker¡¯s eyes. He also felt proud thinking that he did something that he never thought he would be able to do. It, it was a feeling of progress, of moving forward; he felt like he was actually growing. After a long time, he felt excitement, genuine excitement for the future. And he wanted to do it more. He wanted to challenge his limitations and break them. In a word, this feeling was addictive, too addictive. Is this is what it feels like to be alive!


    {note:1. at least rate the chapter out of 10.


    2.and also do tell me if the writing style is good or not.


    3.and also tell me if I should crank out more chapter or update the quality


    4.and tell me your opinion.}

 CHAPTER 17: CARP HIS PANTS DOING

    [ do tell me if you find any problem or if u have any suggestions.]


    After arriving home, he faced another problem: he needed to level up fast, but the issue was how. Fortunately, he still had some money left over from the necklace, but it wasn''t enough to buy sufficient chickens to advance another level. Even if it were, what then? He could only attempt one more level, and that too with much more pain and, according to the voice, the risk of permanent injury.


    But Alexander, being the loser he is, began ruminating on the looks he received today from the teacher and the jealousy-filled eyes of Taker. The feeling was new to him. Before long, stress led him into his fantasies. Of course, most of it was centered around how Ana would be looking at him.


    "Go to sleep. From tomorrow, your training starts." But suddenly, a stern voice from Alexander¡¯s mind cut through his fantasies.


    "Okay." The sternness of the voice affected Alexander, so he tried clearing his mind and getting to sleep. His body was not fully healed, so it didn''t take him long to doze off.


    "WAKE UP." A booming voice in Alexander¡¯s mind woke him right up. Like always, the first thing he did was check his phone.


    ''What the hell, the time was just 5:30 am.'' Of course, he had woken up early before, but not like this, especially as he knew he was in for a rough day today.


    "Come on, at least let me sleep until 8 am." Alexander pleaded with a frustrated tone.


    "Did I not tell you? No questions asked, just do as I say. Or would you rather be average?"


    Alexander pouted for a moment or two, but he did get up reluctantly. He finished all his routines by 6:00 am as per the voice''s instructions.


    After wearing the ugliest clothes he could find in his wardrobe, as per the voice or rather his ancestor, he asked quite dejectedly, ¡°Now what?¡±


    ¡°Now you have to go for a run,¡± the voice said.


    Alexander really, really wanted to say no, that he wanted to sleep or do something else, but remembering he said he would do as said, he reluctantly got up and, wearing a pair of shoes he bought last year, went out for a jog.


    Though not a new experience, he enjoyed the jog. Of course, a metropolis as big as this was never asleep, but it was relatively quieter and fresher.


    The first few minutes were quite relaxing, and to be honest, Alexander started feeling good and kind of excited. But soon, his legs started cramping up, there was pain in the calves, and Alexander wanted to stop, but the stern voice inside quelled all thoughts of that.


    A few more minutes passed, and Alexander could feel his legs turning heavier as if it was putting on weight with every step. But the run had to be continued.


    At this point, he was drenched in sweat, every step he took felt like needles pricking his feet, and even the music on his earphone, instead of feeling melodies or energetic, felt like something that was just not fucking ending.


    ¡°You can take a rest,¡± the voice finally said. His tone the hums of saints to Alexander''s ear.


    Alexander did not think of anything as he sat down almost on the road but later moved to the side. He felt like he was just thrown from hell directly to heaven.


    ¡°Now look at your phone.¡±


    Alexander was too happy to comply, but his eyes widened when he saw he had just run for 18 minutes.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°No, the phone is not broken.¡± Before Alexander could even think, the voice chided him.


    ¡°Now you know your limits. Even though you think you can do it, the reality is not that malleable. You can run straight for only 18 minutes, that too after increasing your strength up to 12, which should have improved your stamina somewhat. Your body condition is not as good as you think. Now rest for 5, no, 7 minutes, and then start running again.¡±


    Hearing this, Alexander felt like the weight of the sky just collapsed on him. He could not imagine himself doing all this. Three hours later, at 9 am, he was panting heavily on his back, lying on his bed, his eyes staring at the ceiling.


    Mainly, he had to run for one hour, but in his frustration, he took too many breaks just to keep going through the ordeal. Not to mention, at the end, he had to take a taxi to come home as his legs refused to carry him forward, but the voice chided him, saying he was just lazy. He just needed to push on and he would have made it home running.


    This was just too much.


    Of course, he had to skip university today, for which, of course, his parents chastised him. But according to the voice, this would become the norm from this point forward.


    Alexander started to think following this guy¡¯s methods might not be the best of ideas. It didn''t take him long to feel asleep just from the sheer exhaustion.


    The next day, the routine was the same, but this time, Alexander learned from his mistake and properly timed his running so that by the time he felt like dying, he was back at his house. After all, he did not want to spend money on a taxi every day from the remaining funds from the necklace.


    The day after that proceeded much like the previous ones. Nearly a week and a half had passed since Alexander started his running routine, and with each passing day, the voice amplified the challenge, gradually extending the distance. According to the voice, what he had initially done was akin to forceful empowerment. By harnessing a substantial amount of qi, he enabled his current cells to contain more energy than their usual capacity.


    It was an ingenious method, albeit with the limitation that it could only be utilized once. To elaborate, the voice likened it to expelling all the excess gunk from Alexander''s cells, thereby enhancing their capacity to store energy. However, in reality, it constituted a far more intricate process. It was akin to unlocking one''s body''s latent, or perhaps ultimate, potential.


    But now Alexander had to actually improve his physique. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, his body was of very poor quality. So for now, to improve his body, he needed to at least reach the point of an athlete, which should give him a huge boost in constitution, allowing him to pile on quite some level. After that, he would have to go through rigorous training to reach the limits of the human body, which should allow him to accept many more levels as well.


    When Alexander asked if he could use treasures to reach the limits of the human body instead, the voice said that each time he used a treasure for his body tempering, the next time he would have to use a treasure of higher rank for it to be effective. So it would be better if he goes as far as possible without the use of external force.


    Although reluctant, Alexander had to concede; he understood the immense challenge of locating a mid-quality treasure for cultivation, let alone more powerful ones. The rarity was simply too daunting.


    Alexander collapsed on his bed, on his back, panting as he was fully drenched. It had been almost 1 and a half weeks of constant effort. He had to admit he had gotten better. Initially, his best record was running 18 minutes without rest, which improved to 25, but that was at the first time; subsequently, it dropped down to 12 minutes by the end of the exercise, which was merely 3 minutes before.


    It felt good, but the problem was in this past one and a half weeks he only went to the university once; all the other days, though he said he would go, he came back from the run and told his mother that there was no class or he just went into the library and slept in any dark corner.


    At first, it felt a little awkward, but when the lack of sleep kicked in, every hesitation was thrown out of the window.


    Just like after every workout, he opened his status window,


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 4


    Exp: 10/220


    Strength: 12


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    *Agility:


    *Constitution: 3


    *Intelligence:


    *Vitality:


    Alexander''s eyes lit up with joy. He had finally done it; his constitution had reached 3. After all these days of grinding, it paid off.


    Though Alexander did not notice it, he was much leaner than before. Not to the point of a visible change, but it was there.


    The 10 experience points came from the two chickens he killed, which his father bought at his request for fresh meat in the house after a long time. But it hardly did anything; Alexander just wanted to progress, even if it was just a little.


    Alexander really wanted to go to the university, not because he liked it or anything, but remaining absent for this much time was not okay. And now that he got his constitution up, the voice permitted him one day of rest, which he would use here.


    But he decided to gain another level before attempting that. The first thing he wanted to do was to kill some chickens or something similar with the money left to gain the level.


    But not only did he not have enough money, but also the voice strictly stood against it. According to it, you should always have some money on hand. So, it suggested selling his phone, which was just out of the question.


    Then, there were only two options: the first one was to ask for money from his father, and the second one was something daring, exciting, and something Alexander would crap his pants doing.

 CHAPTER 18: NOW CHOOSE

    Alexander did not know how he got here, well, he did, but how did this cunning ancestor of his convince him to do something like this?


    Well, what was he to do? He could not just ask for money from his father; the tidal wave of questions that would follow would drown him to death. The same with his mother, only instead of a tidal wave, he would have to face a dormant volcano erupting. Although the voice assured him of its perfected lying ability being sufficient, Alexander wasn''t naive enough to believe it outright.


    Despite how dire the situation, he cannot bring himself to ask his younger brother for money. That, combined with the reassuring words of this sly ancestor, he somehow found himself in the bazaar again.


    He was completely covered from head to toe, with the hoodie up, mask, and everything. Alexander had never felt so dirty and guilty in his life.


    He felt like a thief, well, in a way, he was. This was the old marketplace, in the area where he bought the chickens, where the fresh meats were sold. And of course, there were not only chickens but also beef. Some shop owners, to prove their authenticity, slaughtered the cow or beef in public by professionals, and of course, they charged a small extra premium for that.


    The plan was simple: he would dash forward with every stretch he had to his legs, and just at the moment of slaughtering the cow, he would swoop in and behead the cow with the knife he bought not too long ago, effectively stealing the kill. Though it sounded simple on paper, it was far more daunting in reality.


    Not only did he need to time it perfectly, but he also needed to find the right window, the right angle, the right strength, and not to mention his full force to bring down the cheap knife he bought. He did practice a few times with a dash or rather a jump, but it did not boost his confidence at all; rather, it dampened it.


    He had been waiting here for quite some time. The voice told him to wait for the biggest one, which, according to the voice, was a completely different and better breed than the others.


    One by one, the number of cows dwindled and was sold out. Just as Alexander thought, they brought out the biggest cow at the last. This was his chance, He was waiting here for quite some time. This was the time, Alexander did want to back off at the last moment but he knew he needed to have some corrage and he knew he needed this level.


    With lightning reflexes, he surged forward, barely allowing a moment for contemplation. In an astonishing display of speed, he closed the distance, standing face to face with the formidable bovine. Without a second thought, he unleashed a powerful swing, his blade slicing through the air with a resounding whoosh. The thick neck of the ox presented no obstacle to his determination as he committed fully to the strike, embodying a force to be reckoned with.


    As his blade, more akin to a machete, hovered perilously close to the ox''s hide, a sudden realization jolted him like a bolt of lightning: he had made a catastrophic blunder. Despite his meticulous efforts to cloak his intentions, he had carelessly overlooked the omnipresent gaze of the CCTV cameras. The gravity of his oversight hit him like a sledgehammer, shattering his confidence into a thousand irreparable fragments.


    In his frantic desperation, he unleashed the full force of his strength, his hand pulsating with the power of all 12 points. In the grip of panic, there was no room for restraint as he swung the machete. With a swift, decisive motion, the blade met the skin of the ox, effortlessly slicing through like a hot knife through butter.


    But in his panic, the trajectory was a little off, but nonetheless, the head of the ox was severed and flew off far just from the sheer force of the swing. The swing ended with the machete hitting the ground, producing a loud clanging sound, creating cracks in both the ground and the machete.


    In the next moment, he heard a gut-wrenching cry. And looking up, he saw the man opposite him was lacking one finger as blood gushed out from there. In his panic, the trajectory of his swing was altered somewhat, resulting in this man losing his finger.


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    His already panic-stricken mind went into panic overdrive. At first, he was doing something that could be passed off as a prank or even the police would not care much, but now, now, what have he done.


    He did not even wait a second, with all his strength, putting on his heels, he dashed away from there in a blink of an eye, kicking up a small dust cloud in his place. The panic and fear in him allowed him to pour even more speed into the escape than usual.


    Like a gust of wind, Alexander was out of there. It all happened in the blink of an eye, so no one had the chance to do anything.


    "Hey, hey, who was that?"


    "Forget who. chase him down?"


    "But how? It was too fast."


    "Forget that. First, call an ambulance. This man needs treatment."


    "FINGER, WHERE IS MY FINGER?"


    In the literal next moment, the crowd burst into chatter. But by that time, Alexander was nowhere to be found.


    Despite being distant from the crime scene within seconds, he maintained his pace, relentless. With each step, he pushed his legs to their utmost limit, channeling every ounce of his 12 strength. In just one or two minutes, he covered a considerable distance, but it came with a price; his leg muscles throbbed with an intensity surpassing even that of a continuous 25 to 30-minute daily run. It felt as though the very fibers of his muscles were on the verge of touring out. Yet, panic drove him forward.


    After a few more minutes, he could not run anymore as he stopped at a dark alley. Fortunately, this narrow alley was clear of people, and it was not hard to guess why. It was between two low-quality restaurants, and the smell of decomposed food was completely unbearable.


    But Alexander was too stressed to even notice that. The first thing he did was to throw the machete underneath the pile of food trash, and of course, after shattering it to pieces with his kick first. He did not forget to bring his machete with him as this could be a huge piece of evidence against him. Even after doing this, he was panting heavily, his eyes bulging out, and clothes soaked with sweat. Alexander felt like he was thinking of a hundred things in the blink of an eye.


    "Hey, hey, calm down, boy."


    "What, what calm down. I have just severed someone''s finger, I have literally assaulted someone. I, I, I am going to jail. My career is over, my life, my life is over."


    "Stop it, and listen to me. Nothing will happen."


    Alexander was literally confused and vulnerable at this time, so he saw no other way but to listen to the commending voice, forgetting that it was listening to this voice that got him into this situation in the first place.


    "Did you remember what I told you? There is another set of clothes with you, right?"


    In his panic, Alexander completely forgot, but he had another set of clothes in his possession. The original plan was to butcher the cow and, after moving out of sight, change his clothes and calmly walk out. The clothes he was currently wearing were also very old, and he doubted that any policeman would bother to investigate to the extent of checking for clothing just for killing a cow. But now, it was completely different; it could be considered assault or vandalism.


    He retrieved the new clothes from his bosom, and with trembling hands, he clumsily put them on. With a hesitant murmur in his voice, he turned around, ready to leave.


    "Wait, what are you doing?"


    "What?"


    "If someone finds these clothes here, there''s a chance you might be figured out."


    Alexander felt nervous upon hearing the sentence. "Oh! Oh, I understand," he said, proceeding to pick up the clothes with the intention of burying them under the pile of decomposing food.


    "No, that''s not what I mean," the voice said in frustration.


    Alexander froze, thinking of all kinds of things in his mind. What did he do wrong? Was there some skill he needed to practice?


    "Don''t overthink it. What I mean is destroying the evidence. Burn the clothes," the voice said with a tone that brooked no compromise.


    "Oh! Okay," Alexander said, about to set fire, but he realized he didn''t have any lighter with him. "But how?"


    "Look above you."


    Alexander was initially afraid to see a CCTV camera right above him, but he soon sighed in relief as he noticed the wires were disconnected and sparks crackled ominously. Most likely, neither of the two low-class restaurants wanted to waste money fixing this problem that didn''t affect their business in any way.


    However, another problem arose: how could he ignite a fire using the sparks when the wire was short and positioned overhead?


    "Throw the cloth on the spark," the voice said.


    "What? The cloth can ignite anywhere, setting up a big fire."


    "And so?" the voice said, gone was the amiable and elderly mischievous tone, and left was only emptiness and emotionlessness.


    Alexander gulped hard, his face contorted with intense hesitation.


    ¡°look, BOY.¡± The voice continued with its indifferent tone, reminiscent of Alexander''s initial encounter¡ªa voice dripping with arrogance and supreme nonchalance. "You have two choices: either leave the cloth here, risking discovery and arrest. Potentially tarnishing your record, career, even your life. Or you can set the fire here, destroying all evidence. Though people might suffer, but what choice do you have? Now choose."

 CHAPTER 19: THE INCIDENT

    ¡°Now choose,¡± the voice boomed in Alexander¡¯s mind.


    But Alexander remained motionless, the cloth clenched tightly in his hand, his breaths coming in rapid succession as he struggled to quell the tumult within.


    The voice also fell silent, as if giving him time to think.


    In the recesses of Alexander''s mind, vivid imagery of chaos unfolded: flames licking at structures, the air thick with panic as people fled in all directions. Amongst the throng, some were wounded, while others faced the harrowing possibility of losing those dearest to them. And amidst this turmoil, Alexander couldn''t shake the haunting image of the two restaurant owners, their livelihoods teetering on the brink of ruin should he proceed with his plan.


    Alexander¡¯s grip tightened, but he sighed and was about to turn back. There was no way he was going to be able to do this.


    But just as he was about to do so, he heard the siren of a police car or an ambulance. But in his mind, he was sure that it was a police car. His mind was overwhelmed with the sense of his mother crying as he was dragged away by the police, leaving in prison. Then eventually coming back to society amidst scornful looks from everyone. Getting rejected by jobs and eventually dying on the roadside.


    Alexander could not hold it in anymore as he threw the cloth in his hand right at the sparks and ran away from there without looking back. Humans were, after all, selfish creatures first and foremost.


    But Alexander did not run far before he had to stop. He was forced to walk rather than run; his legs were killing him. It proved that though he upgraded his constitution through training, his body was still not accustomed to the exertion of his full strength.


    But Alexander did not care about that; he felt guilt, immense guilt. And he was murmuring to himself that there was nothing he could have done, there was nothing. He took the best decision. Alternative scenarios and paths flashed in his mind of how he could have prevented this.


    Soon he was home, and like a walking corpse, he collapsed into his bed. The guilt, stress, panic dragging his exhausted self to sleep.


    ¡°This is just the start, kiddo, the path of heaven''s ascension is not filled with straggles, passion, and determination; it is filled with corpses. Fields of them, mounds of them, oceans of them,¡± the voice murmured as Alexander was swept away into the depth of a dream, or rather was it a nightmare.


    The fire raged on as people ran like scattered ants. Some caught in it. Some screaming, some melting, some even looking on in despair. Slowly, Alexander saw it, the fire, forming something, as it consumed all¡ªthe screams of the people, the hope of the children, and the helplessness of the situation. It raised, forming a face, his face. With a satisfied grin.


    Even before the alarm went off, Alexander stood up abruptly from the sleep. His body drenched in sweat, his heart racing, his pulse throbbing.


    It was not easy forgetting what he had done, not for a moment. It was no dream; he did it, he actually committed arson. What the hell.


    ¡°Now for the news of Today,¡± from downstairs, the sound of the TV reached him. His father was watching the news. Alexander covered his ears with his hands as he did not want to listen.


    After all this time, the voice spoke, ¡°Open your status screen. Don¡¯t you want to see what your labor has brought forth?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to,¡± Alexander said grumpily.


    But after some time of sulking to himself, he did open the status screen:


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 5


    Exp: 15/302


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    Strength: 12


    Perception: ___


    Dexterity: ___


    Agility: ___


    Constitution: 3


    Intelligence: ___


    Vitality: ___


    [Free point: 3]


    Alexander was shocked; the cow probably gave him 225 exp, which was quite substantial, and that one thing propelled him to level 5. But even after knowing he leveled up, Alexander did not, or rather could not, feel happy.


    He sulked to himself for a few more minutes, and the voice also did not disturb him. After some time, Alexander decided to at least use the 3 free points; if not anything, this would take his mind off the issue at least.


    It did not take him long to put all the points in strength. And as always, he looked once more to see 15 beside the strength attribute. At least one good thing so far.


    Alexander quickly got ready and went out, not even attending breakfast.


    But no matter how he tried, reality caught up with him. In his hurry, he forgot to bring his earphones, and everyone on the bus was talking about the incident.


    He was both relieved and sad to hear what happened. It was reported that an unidentifiable lunatic attacked some butcher. And also, there was a fire in the 19th section of the bazaar where, although nobody died, 7 people got injured, among which 2 have severe conditions.


    The cause of the fire is still unknown, but the new up-and-coming police officer, transferred from Union City, suspects that the two incidents might be connected somehow.


    Alexander was at first very worried and almost on the verge of crying, but then he heard it:


    ¡°The most peculiar thing is there was no way to identify this lunatic. Every feature police could use to identify this man was obscured in the CCTV somehow, such as his height, eyes, brow, or bone structure,¡± a senior was showing off his knowledge to a junior girl sitting beside him.


    ¡°Nowadays it¡¯s not safe anymore. Lunatics on the loose, fire in the market,¡± the junior lamented.


    ¡°Not only that, the butcher who was attacked is also being interrogated. As police are trying to figure out why someone will attack him. The poor bastard. Ha, ha.¡±


    ¡°That is not the main issue, I heard the two restaurant owners, one of them already tried to commit suicide. But fortunately, his 4-year-old daughter saw him and screamed, saving his father¡¯s life.¡± Another senior from the back chimed in, which made the first senior frown.


    ¡°Yeah, it is to be expected, I also heard the news. Apparently, the man has a huge debt, and now that his restaurant burned down. Sigh,¡± the junior girl sighed.


    Hearing this, Alexander felt a pang in his heart. At first, he felt good that at least no one died. But now, what the hell did he just do?


    The bus soon reached the university, and everyone got off. Alexander also got off, completed his classes, then went to the library. All the while, the agony he caused the people kept repeating in his mind, not to mention when everyone around was talking about this exact news. Especially how the poor man wanted to commit suicide. And how he now had to face the world to give back his debt or lose everything.


    The weight of guilt was getting heavier by the second, and Alexander was not strong enough to bear it.


    Alexander, feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, went to the cafeteria for food. Buying some buttered bread, he went to a corner to eat. Even in here, where most of the people were typically busy either eating or flirting, today was busy with talk about the incident.


    The chatter fueled his frustration, which in turn exacerbated his intake.


    ¡°There he is,¡± as Alexander was eating with frustration, Taker arrived in the cafeteria.


    Taker, along with two of his henchmen, started walking toward Alexander.


    ¡°Look who decided to show up,¡± Taker said as he reached Alexander. But Alexander did not mind him as he kept eating, his mind occupied with the thought of what he did.


    A pang of anger flared onto Taker¡¯s face, but he soon hid it. As he looked at the handsome Nathan beside him.


    ¡°Oh! Don¡¯t bother, man. He would not talk to us. He thinks we are beneath him. We are not worth in his eyes to talk with,¡± Nathan understanding his friend¡¯s signals said in a sarcastic but loud tone so that everybody could hear.


    ¡°Yeah, how can we be worth of him? Did you not see he signed up for the Capital Enrollment Tournament? What are we to him? Isn¡¯t it right?¡± Taker asked again, but Alexander was too engrossed in his own thoughts to notice any of that.


    Taker waited for a few minutes, but after seeing no answer from Alexander this time, his face contorted.


    ¡°What, friend, do you think I am beneath you to talk to?¡± This time Taker got almost to Alexander¡¯s face as he said this. And anger was visible on his face.


    Courtesy of his father, Taker was well-known in the university, and though they knew he was a trust fund baby, they also knew how much power he wielded in the university, from connections to seniors, even to the teachers. So everybody knew the moment he walked in that someone was going to have a bad time today.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother me. I am eating, bro,¡± Alexander said calmly.


    At this moment, the veins on Taker¡¯s forehead throbbed.


    Crash.


    In the next moment, a still plate went flying, hitting one of the pillars then the floor along with the half-eaten buttery bread. The whole cafeteria fell silent; the only sound was of the plate spinning then settling.


    ¡°What do you really think, a fucking talentless trash is better than me?¡± Taker said, frustration and anger erupting from his voice.


    Alexander did not hear or rather he did not care for any of the words spoken, neither did he take into account how they were said. All he knew was he could not take it anymore, first the weight of the guilt was literally crushing him and now this clown was here to bully him.


    Were all the unfortunate things in the world his to bear? Fuck it, fuuuuuck it. Why should he be the victim in every case? He had enough. To hell with everything, he needed to vent and the outlet was in front of him.


    Boom.


    A thunderous boom echoed through the cafeteria, reverberating against the walls, followed by the heavy thud of wooden plugs hitting the ground. In that charged moment, the entire cafeteria seemed to inhale collectively, as if drawing in a sharp breath of air in unison, a tangible shock in the atmosphere.


    Alexander stood amidst the debris of a shattered table, beneath which lay the bruised form of Taker. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining the ground beneath him with crimson.

 CHAPTER 20: FIRST FIGHT IN UNI

    Alexander s gaze pierced Nathan like a dagger. He could feel the weight of Alexander''s disdain, knowing all too well the depth of animosity behind those eyes. Alexander detested Nathan more than Taker, for he was the puppeteer lurking in the shadows, pulling the strings of their conflicts.


    ¡°Matthew!¡± Nathan''s voice sliced through the air, sharp and urgent, as he witnessed Alexander''s furious approach.


    Matthew, caught in the whirlwind of emotions swirling around him, found himself at a loss for words, the Alexander he knew was completely different. The scene unfolding before him left him reeling, struggling to make sense of the chaos. Yet, Nathan''s call to attention snapped him back to reality, prompting him to intercede, positioning himself between Alexander and Nathan in a desperate attempt to defuse the brewing confrontation.


    In reality, Matthew never bothered Alexander, nor was he involved with him. And frankly, he did not want to be with Taker and his gang. But Taker liked him, though he was not that good in education in normal subjects or that much in cultivation; he was born with innate bodily strength. To be frank, everyone from his family is, up to a certain level of course. Matthew was mostly interested in business, though as he tried and failed in one too many.


    On the other hand, Taker admired Matthew for his ability to listen attentively without becoming a mere lackey. He valued Matthew''s independent thinking and willingness to contribute to the group without blindly following orders.


    Despite his aversion to conflict, Matthew harbored no ill will towards Alexander. However, this didn''t mean he would shy away from defending his friend if threatened.


    Standing in front of his friend Matthew activated his qi as a green aura enveloped him. Alexander frowned looking at this. He was supposed to be a xeo 1 practitioner but it seems the motherfucker broke through recently.


    In the next moment Alexander stamped down hard on the ground. The ground cracked as Alexander was behind Matthew as his hand was already approaching the Nathan. More than taker Alexander wanted to teach this crater a lesson, who tried to act tough with borrowed strength.


    Matthew''s senses snapped to attention as a crisp sound shattered the air behind him. Whipping around, he witnessed the slap connecting with Nathan''s face in a jarring display reminiscent of a cartoonish scene. The force of the blow sent Nathan hurtling through the air, his body careening across the cafeteria with alarming speed.


    In the stunned aftermath, even Alexander found himself momentarily taken aback, his expression reflecting a mixture of surprise and disbelief. What in the world had just unfolded before them? It seems 3 points that he put in strength this morning were already showing their worth.


    ¡°How fucking dare you!¡± Matthew''s voice thundered, a surge of raw fury emanating from him. Alexander felt a chill run down his spine as the air around Matthew crackled with energy, his green aura intensifying like a tempest gathering strength. For a fleeting moment, Alexander glimpsed a hint of a half green minatory lurking behind Matthew, a primal force unleashed.


    With fists clenched tightly, Matthew surged forward, his every movement charged with purpose. The intensity of his gaze bore into Alexander, challenging him to stand his ground against the brewing storm of anger.


    "It seemed that Alexander had truly managed to infuriate Matthew, evident by the manifestation of his family''s bloodline ability despite being only at xeo 2 cultivation. But Alexander wasn¡¯t afraid. No, far from it, he was excited.


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    Matthew was one of them who had a bloodline related to strength which made him one of few who had increased strength from birth. And he could not wait to test his mettle against such a person.


    As Alexander''s fist collided with Matthew''s, the impact resonated throughout the silent cafeteria with a crisp, echoing boom. Alexander staggered back a step, his expression registering surprise. Meanwhile, Matthew, his feet firmly planted on the hard floor, slid backward at least three steps, each movement etching deep furrows into the ground.


    It seems there was another gasp of air drawn by the crowd. And Alexander liked it. Just as he thought his strength was enough to contend with a xeo 2 cultivator and judging by the ease he was sure he could even handle xeo 3 or even late xeo 3 cultivators.


    On the other hand Matthew was not only shocked but also in pain. He put almost all of his strength into that punch, he was even afraid that this might break Alexander¡¯s arm. But what meet him was a equal force, he felt like punching a hammer. As soon as the two fists connected, he felt a shock wave boomed through him before the strength behind it forced him backward.


    And his hand, it was throbbing. A shockwave passed through him and even his knuckles were bit numb. When did this quiet kid get this powerful?


    Xeo 1, 2 or was it 3, what level was Alexander, he did not get to finish his thought as he looked start to see a pair of shoes was enlarging in his eyes. Alexander did not waste time, this Mathew was powerful, and his bloodline was another source of headache, though not after xeo level 8, at this level this kind of boost he got from his bloodline was quite substantial. So he decided to finish him off first. Not to mention he was enjoying it thoroughly so.


    Before he could get back his barring Matthew saw something that he thought was not possible. Alexander was rushing at him with a grin on his face. More than anything it boiled Matthew¡¯s blood. Of course Alexander was a good kid and he did not want to hurt him but that did not mean he had the right to look down at him. No matter what he was far stronger then this twerp.


    Matthew met face change with a wide left swing, Alexander barely ducked the attack. And that raised a primal fury in him as he burst through with a uppercut.


    Just as Alexander¡¯s furious fist was about to crash into Matthew¡¯s jaw he stepped back. And created some distance.


    Alexander also stepped back as well as they both sized each other up.


    What the hell¡¯ Matthew screamed in his mind. Though he avoided it, he could feel the raw power contained in the punch.¡¯ He had no doubt that if that punch connected he would have a broken jaw by now.


    On the other hand Alexander upon failing to connect, felt like he just punched cotton with all his strength. And he kind of felt weak already. He really needed to fight more and get attuned with this newfound power both in body and mind.


    .......


    Taker was never the one who has to face any discomfort. And why would he, he was an alpha, everyone did what he asked them to, he just had the charisma.


    And why would they not listen to him, it was not as if he was doing something wrong. Even in this case, he was teaching Alexander how to be humble, being arrogant was not a good thing.


    And as for not listening to him, that cannot happen. It has never happened before. And if things do get awry he just needed to show him his power, not to mention he had Nathan and Matthew with him.


    But, but it all happened in a flash. One moment the poor bastard was eating in the next he felt his palm behind his neck. And then came the force a tsunami, the table was rapidly approaching his face.


    He tried but he could not create a single ounce of resistance, was he losing consciousness? All his thought was cut short as his face collided with the table surface.


    The pain cleared all thoughts. As the force cracked the surface and pushed him through, he was not losing consciousness, the loser, the fucking nobody was pushing him down. How, how dear he.


    The pain was overwhelmed by his anger.


    ¡°Bastard, what the hell is wrong with you?¡± Alexander''s voice thundered with frustration.


    But as Taker''s gaze met Alexander''s, he didn''t register the frustration in those eyes, nor did he hear the words uttered. Instead, all he perceived was his adversary overpowering him, holding him down, while the entire cafeteria bore witness. Yet, they weren''t merely observing; they were mocking him.


    ........


    As Taker struggled to open his eyes, his head swimming with dizziness, he was confronted with his worst nightmare. There, at the center of attention, was the bastard engaging in a scuffle with Matthew. Their contrasting statures were stark against each other. Taker could discern the crowd''s fascination with Alexander''s power, but their attention quickly shifted, transforming into ridicule aimed squarely at him.


    ¡°No, no, no, this can''t be happening. They can''t laugh at me. It''s unacceptable. I must do something, something to remind them of who holds the power,¡± the thought echoed relentlessly in Taker''s mind.

 CHAPTER 21: THE CRUELTY [from this moment on action starts at full force.]

    CHAPTER 21: THE CRUELTY [from this moment on action starts at full force.]


    "Haa."


    It was Mathew who rushed over this time. Alexander remained rooted as he watched him approach, looking for an opening. To be honest, he was kind of afraid. Despite a lingering sense of trepidation, Alexander knew retreat wasn''t an option; not without enduring a severe thrashing, at the very least.


    With a swift motion, Mathew thrust his right hand forth. Alexander swerved his head and also threw his right fist at his face. Instead of crashing into his face, Alexander¡¯s fist was blocked by Mathew''s left.


    Alexander expected as much, but he quickly put up hands in a cross formation in front of him, seeing the mad grin on Mathew¡¯s face.


    Just as he thought, in the next moment, he felt a tremendous force slam into his hands. Alexander did not want to be outdone, so he exerted as much force as he could through his feet to stop himself.


    Amidst the collective astonishment of Mathew, Alexander, and the onlookers, the impact of the kick succeeded only in propelling Alexander backward a mere meter.


    Alexander couldn''t suppress a grin as he witnessed the stupefied expression on Mathew''s face. Despite the considerable force behind the kick, perhaps the strongest he''d ever encountered, he managed to handle it.


    Boom.


    However, his triumph was short-lived as Nathan''s sudden attack caught him off guard. The impact of the wooden chair against his back was excruciating, the sheer power behind it evident from the shattering of the chair into splinters. Nathan''s sub-Xeo 1 cultivation only intensified the blow, sending waves of pain rippling through Alexander''s body as he staggered from the force of the impact.


    He was completely caught off guard, so it hurt like hell as he bent his chest forward. With a murderous look, Alexander glanced back at Nathan. In that moment, as he observed Nathan''s expression, Alexander made a decision, one that he may or may not regret later.


    Mathew already had an inkling of what was about to happen, but just like before, he had no time to react as Alexander swiftly turned around. Before the sneaky bastard had the chance to turn around and flee, Alexander''s full-powered punch landed squarely on his ribs.


    Crack.


    A resounding crack echoed through the silent cafeteria as Nathan first bent and then was sent flying from the force behind the punch, toppling at least two tables in the way.


    As soon as he stopped, he instantly started coughing out blood mixed with his saliva. Without a doubt, his condition was dire. "It''s good that I missed," Alexander thought inwardly. "He was aiming for the head."


    Mathew was about to go ballistic, but before he could do so, he saw a chair hurtling right towards him.


    "Haaaaa."


    Mathew screamed as the aura around him rose, veins bulging on his body, his bloodline practically boiling. The image of a half minotaur¡¯s green figure materialized behind him again, this time much more tangible.


    He practically grew an inch or two taller as he ripped the chair into splinters, but just as he did so, he saw Alexander right above him, bringing down an entire table on his head.


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    The table crashed into him with tremendous force, pushing him backward and destroying it into pieces. But he was hardly hurt. However, in the next moment, he bended over forward as he felt a considerable force hammering into his guts.


    before he could regain his bearing, he saw a furious knuckle enlarging before his eyes with mighty momentum. His body instinctively went into fight-or-flight mode as he caught the fist. The primal force behind the punch sent shocks through his hand, which crept up to his chest, and he felt like vomiting.


    "What the hell was this guy?" Fear slowly crept into Mathew. He felt like he was fighting a beast. In the next moment, a kick landed squarely on his chest, sending him skittering backward. But he did not get to have a breather, as Alexander was literally upon him, this time, pissed-off, Mathew met Alexander¡¯s punch with a punch of his own. A low boom resonated through the air, and Mathew immediately regretted it. The searing pain coursing through his body left no doubt that he was ill-prepared to contend with this level of strength. Before he could gather his bearings, a swift blow headed straight for his nose. Instinctively, he shielded it with his shoulder, but the impact sent another wave of excruciating pain rippling through him.


    What Mathew or anyone else didn''t know was that Alexander was now fighting with unbridled abandon. In his mind, he had completely discarded any thoughts of consequences. It was when the bastard Nathan attacked him from behind that everything clicked into place for Alexander.


    "Why? Why should he hold back? At this point, the police will burst through the scene to arrest him at any time. His future is almost sealed in stone. What''s the point? What''s the point in holding back? And besides, these guys deserve a beating. Especially that arrogant taker; he desperately needs a reality check."


    Though he knew he should feel somber, for some inexplicable reason, Alexander felt incredibly liberated. It was as if, for the first time in his life, he was truly, truly free.


    Each of Alexander¡¯s punches and kicks carried the full force of his 12-point strength. His knuckles were now stained with blood although unsure who¡¯s, a testament to the intensity of the fight. Limbs clashed in a chaotic flurry, yet amidst the chaos, it was unmistakably clear who the aggressor was.


    In mere moments, Matthew''s momentum was completely quelled, while Alexander seemed to revel in the chaos of the brawl. Matthew couldn''t shake the feeling of dread creeping over him as he watched. There was no doubt in his mind that Alexander was fighting with reckless abandon, heedless of any consequences, perhaps even disregarding his own life.


    But as he was about to land another punch, Alexander''s brows furrowed, and then his eyes widened as he rapidly took several steps back.


    A small knife, coated in blue, whizzed past where Alexander had been standing just moments ago. It struck the pillar opposite and blasted off a chunk of it.


    Everyone looked at the source where an exhausted taker fell down. Alexander''s eyes were visibly burning with anger at this point. It was most likely a low-level technique taker just used, but even that was enough to take his life. This just crossed an untouchable line.


    Mathew understood that shit was about to go way out of hand. But before he could pacify the situation, he felt a gut-wrenching pain in his abdomen as he bent over once again. This time, he felt like vomiting, or rather, he did, but his vomit was cut short as a fist hit right at his vomiting face, sending him flying.


    He stopped after rolling around like a ragdoll, miraculously on his feet. But just as he did so, even before getting his senses back, he saw a pair of shoes enlarging in his face as a massive force smashed into his face, sending him pinned to the wall.


    All of this happened in just a moment. The crowd looked on not only in awe but also in bewilderment and a bit of fear.


    Alexander stood there, cleaning his hand of the vomit. He could see Mathew twitching. He knew it would be a while before he got up, nothing too serious. The bastard could take a beating.


    Alexander then cast a cold, unwavering gaze toward where taker lay. The basted seems to be empty with his last attack. In any case, Alexander''s life seemed to be over as soon as the police comes. What harm would adding a little more do? With this thought firmly planted in his mind, he found himself standing before the laying taker, a grin spreading across his face.


    Without any explanation, he delivered a swift kick to the laying taker''s abdomen. It wasn''t a full-powered kick, but it carried enough force to make its impact felt.


    Taker bent over from the force as the kick woke him right up. He did not get the chance to understand what was happening before another kick slammed right into his abdomen, this time the force was even higher.


    Taker bent over more as he coughed out saliva, but there was no pause as the third kick planted itself, then the 4th, the 5th, but by the time the 7th kick landed, Taker could not hold it in anymore as he vomited his food. But the kicks did not stop.


    Pa!, pa!, pa!


    The kicks continued as the silent cafeteria fell even more silent. Some girls even buried their heads in their boyfriends'' heads, and some just left. The boys looked on with horror, and some even anger.


    The kicks stopped when Taker vomited out tinges of red along with his vomit. Alexander grinned, looking at him. "Think a hundred times before messing with a calm person," Alexander said as he sat beside him.


    Then he looked at Nathan, who seemed to nearly faint upon seeing Alexander. Alexander''s grin broadened as he approached Nathan. Looking at the yellowish liquid on his shoes, Alexander looked to see Nathan already soiling his pants. He couldn''t stop himself from laughing, but he slowly walked up to him, stepping on the mess, and squatted in front of Nathan.


    He smiled at him, and in his confusion, Nathan smiled back as a crisp slap landed on Nathan''s face. The slaps continued, but after just 10 or so, Nathan fell unconscious. His cheeks were red, about to be swollen.


    "Oh! Come on," Alexander didn''t push, he didn''t want a murder case on his hands.


    Lastly, he looked at Mathew.

 CHAPTER 22: BE WHAT MAY COME ALL HE NEEDED WAS STRENGTH.

    "Hey, did you hear what went down?"


    "Yeah, some guy went berserk on three freshmen in the cafeteria."


    "I caught wind of it too. Saw the videos circulating."


    "What, there''s footage?"


    "Yeah, though some influential seniors are doing their darnedest to scrub it clean. Managed to snag it through some underground channels."


    Like In any university setting, word spread like wildfire about the recent brawl in the cafeteria. However, deliberate obfuscation by certain senior figures made it challenging to discern the true parties involved. Despite their efforts, in this digital age, information was notoriously difficult to suppress. However, an unexpected boon emerged for those seeking to quell the incident''s aftermath: the video footage was saturated with graphic violence, prompting nearly all social media platforms to swiftly remove it from circulation.


    The campus buzzed with speculation and whispers as students attempted to piece together the fragments of truth amidst the haze of rumors and misinformation. Yet, amidst the chaos, a veil of uncertainty shrouded the identities of the instigators and victims alike.


    On the other hand, the man who was responsible for all of this was in his bed. Alexander was confused; on one hand, he felt immense joy, unrestrained as if for the first time in his life he was free. On the other hand, he felt guilt. Was all of this truly necessary? In the end, he did not even let go of Mathew. Deep down, he knew Mathew harbored no malicious intent towards him. Yet, in that moment, he craved the opportunity to demonstrate the consequences of crossing him, to reveal what happens when one provokes the brewing storm.


    After dealing with Nathen and Taker, he returned to the pinned Matthew and unleashed three forceful punches to his chest. Matthew struggled to resist, only to find himself pushed deeper into the cracking wall. Alexander halted at the third punch, hearing the unmistakable sound of a rib cracking and seeing a trickle of blood escape from the corner of Matthew¡¯s lips. In mathew''s eyes, there was anger which soon turned into helplessness.


    Alexander still cringed at the memory of how he strode out of the cafeteria with his chest out and back straight. But that wasn''t the matter at hand. He was, however, puzzled as to why the police did not come for him. But it was not something he wanted to dwell on.


    But leaving the cafeteria, he couldn''t shake the feeling of being watched. Glancing up to the second floor, he spotted the seniors from his department observing him intently. They made no move to stop him, but he sensed they might use this opportunity to target him later, perhaps under the guise of initiation rites. But the main problem was Taker; he knew Taker wasn''t one to tolerate such behavior quietly. Rumor had it he had considerable influence within the university, particularly among students who have considerable political influence in the university ¨C in other words, political thugs who carry the identity of students, courtesy of his family background. The situation felt precarious, like a powder keg ready to ignite. He needed to strategize his next steps carefully.


    Alexander shook his head; there was no point in dwelling on it. There existed a simple solution to all his troubles: to become powerful. Regardless of the sinister machinations of political thugs or the menacing thugs lurking outside, with enough strength, he could overcome them all. For a brief moment, he even indulged in the fantasy of confronting any police force that dared to come for him.


    ¡°Be what may come all he needed was strength.¡±


    There was also a moment when he though, it would have been better if he just killed taker, the insufferable mother fucker. But he pushed it down as soon as the though came to him. After all, could he truly stoop to become a murderer?


    After coming from the uni Alexander cooked up a plan. He opened his palm where, lay his card. And with a big number. This was another thing he was not proud of doing but he was not that bothered about it.


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    While beating them up, he did not forgot to collect some compensation from them and by composition he meant all their money. It was quite some amount, there was a huge amount in taker¡¯s position, which was not surprising, and Mathew also had a good enough amount. But the most surprising one was Nathen. It seems the rumors of him working online was not false.


    In any case, Alexander found himself holding a considerable amount of money at this point. His plan was to purchase more chickens, lambs, or even cows this time to slaughter for leveling up. However, the voice or rather his ancestor suggested something different. He realized that, at this point, he needed to level up quickly and significantly, and his usual tactics wouldn''t suffice. Not to mention, compared to the suggestion of the voice, his approach would be a waste of money.


    Though it was risky, at this point, did Alexander really care? With a light chuckle, he got up. There was no time to waste.


    Getting a taxi, he headed toward his destination. It was quite far, so the price was steep. However, he truly did not care. Was it because he earned this money in an unethical way that he was feeling like this? It could be, Alexander shrugged.


    After almost a 3-hour journey, he could see it: the towering black walls marking the edge of the city. It was his first time witnessing such a sight, and he had to admit the scene was awe-inspiring


    This was quite far from home, so to reach here in a considerable time, he had to chase the mode of transportation many times. It was the metro train that awed him the most, not only for its speed but also for how many people can actually fit in a compartment,¡ªtoo damn many.


    ¡­¡­..


    Alexander wasn''t standing far from the towering 25-meter door that led to the outside of the protective wall of their haven, the city. The area buzzed with activity as people came and went from the outside. Of course, the entire massive gate wasn''t open; only a 7-meter layer of it was accessible. There were many layers to the door, which opened only when a significant hunting party, guild, or military personnel, or team captured or killed something large and needed to transport it inside the city.


    Alexander recently saw in the news that the Red Raven guild had successfully slain a massive 14-meter bear, which was later bought by the Citadel for research purposes. The video of the massive bear, circled with still ropes, amidst the cheers of the crowed was still fresh in his mind. The research was about why a brown-furred bear grew that large. Moreover, it was brought into the city from the west gate, whereas he was standing before the south gate, the closest gate from his location.


    The first 15 meters of the gate were barricaded by the military, allowing only individuals who went out and came in to enter and exit. Beyond that point, there was a bustling market of colorful tents. Most of the low-ranked or even middle-ranked hunters sold their small gains here, while many small teams organized their necessary provisions before heading outside the safe walls of the metropolitan.


    All in all this was a place of business.


    Alexander was wearing the same clothes as before, with his face covered by a mask and everything. he approached a man in a suit who looked quite clean compared to the others. He was conversing with a team about how he had already arranged everything, and the map was of high quality and all that.


    Alexander approached the man and said, ¡°I want in¡­.¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey man, I am talking here,¡± but before Alexander could finish, the man cut in. Alexander frowned; it seemed he was knocking on the wrong person''s door.


    He was about to move away. ¡°Hey man, wait a bit. I am almost done.¡± But before he could do so, the voice of the suited man came from behind,


    ¡°Okay, guys, you know the drill. Now rest and get what you need from the market. You guys will be up in one and a half hours.¡± He then finished talking with the team and came to Alexander.


    And Alexander could swear he saw the most dashing smile on the man''s face that completely transformed his countenance into that of an angel. ¡®A broker indeed,¡¯ Alexander thought inwardly.


    "So, young gentleman, how may I assist you?" he said, his smile still plastered across his face.


    Hm, hm, hm, hm...


    There was marching military man behind, who were getting on the truck that was about to go outside. Unlike the vehicles in the city the truck was on 16 wheels and was heavily, heavily armored.


    Observing them, the man frowned. "Scratch that, come with me. We''ll talk somewhere else," he said, pointing towards the market.


    After trailing behind the man for approximately 15 minutes, they arrived at a tea stall where the man ordered two teas. Alexander had to admit, the man seemed born to be a broker. This was the most unhygienic and shabby-looking tea shop in the market, with undoubtedly the lowest tea prices.


    Soon, both of them were holding a cup of tea each. "So, what was it you were talking about?" After taking two sips, the man inquired.


    "I want in," Alexander stated firmly.


    "What do you mean? I do not understand," the man replied, his face reflecting genuine confusion.


    Alexander sighed. "Look, I do not have time to waste. I know who you are, Mr. Harper Stone, and besides, you did bring me this far to talk, didn''t you?" His tone was stern.


    "Who told you such things?"


    Alexander sighed again as he turned around to leave. "I have my sources. You can either take the money or arrange this thing I want, or I will have to find someone else."


    The broker looked surprised for a moment, but it didn''t last long. In the next moment, he smiled and said, "Let''s talk money then."


    A smile bloomed on Alexander''s face, though it remained hidden.

 CHAPTER 23: STEPPING BEYOND THE WALL

    After coming to this area, he bribed or rather gifted some locals some amount to find out some information. And this broker was one of the popular choice for unrouteable needs.


    "Get in," Harper said.


    Alexander looked at him with a questioning look, then glanced at the box.


    "Don''t worry, man. It''s not our¡ªor rather, my¡ªfirst time carrying someone. It will be a piece of cake," another man, who seemed to be the leader from the previous team, said.


    Alexander grimaced but still got into the box. The plan of the voice was to go outside and kill some wild creatures to level up. But the problem was that to hunt monsters outside the wall, you needed licenses, which Alexander did not have. Acquiring one required navigating through a lot of legal complications and paperwork. Alternatively, you could join a guild, which presented its own set of challenges.


    Alexander needed a backdoor. Luckily, humans are corruptible. Upon reaching this place, he bribed¡ªor rather, accommodated¡ªsome peculiar-looking locals for the information, as per the voice¡¯s instruction. They directed him to this some people, among whom this was the most popular choice, so he went with him.


    After Alexander and the broker reached an agreement with the money three hours ago, it was time for him to go. The plan was simple: the team would bring him along with them outside the walls, inside one of their equipment boxes. And after getting out, Alexander would be on his own. He could have joined their team for protection, but then they would charge him extra. However, Alexander did not want that. It wasn''t just about the money, though it played a role. Alexander wanted to fight on his own terms to level up, and in a team, he was not sure he could secure all the kills.


    So they settled for the deal that they would take him out, and after three days they would meet close to the entrance to get in, and if Alexander did not make it, they would assume he was dead and leave him. This deal saved him some money. He already paid half the amount to the broker; the other half would be paid to the team leader after he escorted him out.


    Alexander got into the box, it had a wooden and rusty scent to it. And with the movement and placement, Alexander was sure he was in some kind of vehicle. It was cramped and uncomfortable, for sure, but which part of life was not? The car started to move, its engine muffling and the chatter on the vehicle intensifying. Discomfort grew with the shaking and shifting.


    To take his mind off the unease, Alexander opened his status screen,


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 6


    Exp: 0/409


    Strength: 18


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    *Agility: ___


    *Constitution: 3


    *Intelligence: ___


    *Vitality: ___


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    He did not wait aimlessly for the three hours. This was his first time going out of the city into the treacherous wild, and Alexander did not want to skimp out when it came to preparation. So, even though it pained him, he wasted almost half of the money he looted on collecting some animals to kill for another level up. He also wanted to buy a sword, but upon hearing the price, he settled for a rusty axe instead.


    As per the voice''s instructions, more than a sharp weapon, he needed a sturdy one, so he should opt for a hammer. However, Alexander did not feel safe with a hammer as a weapon, so he went for an axe.


    And, of course, he put all three points into strength. He was not feeling that confident after the fight with Matthew, he could fight with Matthew, a Xeo level 2 practitioner, on almost equal ground. Granted, his bloodline might have given him an edge. So, Alexander could say he could fight on par with a Xeo level 3 or 4 practitioner, but what was that in the grand scheme of things? In the wild, there was much more ferocious danger than that, so just for insurance, he needed another level.


    Though it was far from enough, something was better than nothing. The axe was wedged between his legs, which was far more terrifying than whatever he was doing now.


    Suddenly, whatever vehicle he was on stopped, and he could hear boots and chatter not far from him. Soon, the sound of the boots stopped in front of him. Alexander knew this was most likely an inspection. He was afraid as he gulped down.


    The box was about to be opened.


    ¡°Sir, sir, there is only some women''s laundry there, you do not need to check that.¡± Fortunately for Alexander, the voice of the captain of the team stopped the officer in time.


    ¡°Then I will call a female officer,¡± the man stated quite emotionlessly.


    This time, what Alexander heard was a whisper, ¡°Come on, sir, you know how it is. There are girls with us. And after going into the wild, you don¡¯t expect us not to have any fun now, do you? There are some weed and other things here. If you open it, our reputation might go down the drain, and the girls might also leave.¡±


    But what Alexander heard next, though he knew it, it widened his eyes, As the officer''s authoritative voice cut through, "How much?"


    As like previous time, ¡°3 thousand du to look the other way.¡±


    "Add another thousand, and I''ll look the other way."


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After that, Alexander could hear the sound of the boots moving away, followed by a heavy and deep sigh by the captain whose name was Ricky.


    ¡­¡­.


    Alexander¡¯s brother was seated next to the window as the teacher took her class; he was completely focused on something else. He noticed it, somehow his na?ve brother, whom he hadn''t seen much these days. He could also tell he was stressed about something.


    As for the change in his brother, like working out and getting thinner, it did not escape him. These were good things, but he did not know why; he felt like his once lovable brother was getting distant from him or even from the family. It was as if it was not even him.


    ¡°Hey, where are you lost in?¡± a sweet voice brought him out of his reverie. And it seems the class was over.


    Then he looked at the owner of the sweet voice. An equally cute girl, matching the voice, with a small skirt, clean shirt, and long hair, met his eyes. She looked at him with a cute smile on her cherry lips, her eyes closed in a moment of bliss.


    He couldn''t help but smile back.


    Alexander did not know how much time had passed, but he could tell the roads were getting bumpy. He did not know where he was or in what kind of vehicle, but his guess was it was one of those military vehicles with 16 wheels. Judging by the voices, he was sure the team he was with was sharing this vehicle with other groups.


    After some more time, the pain and the crampiness were becoming unbearable, and Alexander just wanted to burst out of this damn box. How much farther do these guys need to go? Along the way, the vehicle stopped a few times, but his hopes were dashed when they were not moved at all.


    Did those motherfuckers leave him here? Did they forget him? His thoughts fueled his agitation.


    But fortunately, when the vehicle stopped for the third time, he heard footsteps near him, and soon he or the box was carried.


    Soon he could feel that the box was placed on some uneven surface, most likely the ground, making his position even more awkward and uncomfortable. He cursed them inwardly for not handling something with care.


    But when they immediately did not open the box, he just wanted to burst through it and pop some heads. Soon he heard the vehicle moving away, and after the sound of the vehicle went far, he could hear the box opening.


    He was dying to get out, but the moment the box was opened, the blinding light of the sun greeted him with a rude attitude. In his excitement, he forgot that he was in darkness for quite some time, and it seems they opened it right under an open sky. Fucking busters, he thought inwardly.


    After blinking a few times, the smiling face of Ricky welcomed him. Though the smile suited the man well, in Alexander¡¯s eyes, it was a smile of a conniving fox.


    Alexander wanted to say, "Could you be rougher?" But he held it in. A man does not complain. Besides, what he was doing was not exactly something noble.


    But he had to admit after leaving in the city for all his life, the smell and freshness of the wilds around him hit him like a refreshing truck. Though he knew he was far from the actual wilds by a long shot.


    They waited for there for some time. Some got ready: like a girl with round cheeks and a sexy body, and a man carrying a knife stretched. Off to the side, he saw an emo-looking girl checking her gears, who, upon looking at Alexander, gave a nasty glare.


    After 15 minutes or so, Ricky approached him, and Alexander handed him the reimaging half, ¡°Okay, man, this is where we part ways. I know our relationship is purely based on transaction, but you can still come with us. Unlike protection money, we can''t actually protect you, but at least you''ll be safer with a group.¡±


    Alexander thanked the man but declined. He could tell it was coming from the goodness of the man''s heart. Ricky sighed, and with his team, started moving inward.


    But just before they reached Alexander''s vision limit, Ricky looked back and shouted, ¡°We are going west. If you truly meant something you can''t handle, run toward the west. We will help you if we can.¡±


    Then he added again, ¡°Just don¡¯t bring something like a, c rank. Then that will be just killing us.¡±


    After 20 minutes or so, Alexander was moving. He still smiled, thinking of Ricky. He had to admit, he did not expect to see any kind of act of kindness from these guys, but it seems not all were scumbags, even though they might do something here and there.

 CHAPTER 24: INTO THE WILDS

    "Ah! Don''t be so sentimental. The guy just took pity on you, seeing how you''re a young student about to throw his life away. Don''t make any mistakes; the moment he gets a good enough sum to sacrifice you or even slaughter you, he won''t hesitate. And even if he does, his conclusion, will be taking you down," the voice inside his head said nonchalantly.


    Alexander wanted to retort, but would Ricky really, bet an eye if someone offered him enough money? Alexander didn''t know the answer, or he just didn''t want to admit the truth.


    He shook his head to clear it from all these useless thoughts. He needed to kill some beasts not only to level up but also to fill his pockets.


    Earlier, when he prepared extensively, he spent almost all his money. Now he didn''t have even one-tenth left. In a way, it was intentional.


    He intentionally, put himself in a situation where he needed to hunt for money.


    Most parties would go toward the west, essentially going deeper into the forest. And finding monsters to kill that would potentially land them a profit or at least break even.


    But Alexander opted to head north. It was along the side of the city wall, and by going this way, he would ensure not going deeper into the forest and stumbling in front of beasts he couldn''t handle.


    He was in full alert mode to the point he could even hear his own heartbeat. Suddenly, he heard something in the bushes. He didn''t wait a second, almost like his body reacted on its own. He used almost all of his power to reach the top of the tree next to him.


    He looked around, but he gulped. He had to admit he was afraid. At this distance, the trees weren''t that high, but Alexander still didn''t climb to the top as he feared he would encounter a snake or something else. what if a gint bird sfe him away somewhere.


    But even at this height, his view was wide. His eyes were soon attracted to something in the distance. Around 100 or 150 meters from his location, there he saw an elk-like creature. Well, though it was mutated, it just grew bigger. The creature looked majestic, but judging by how far it was, there was no way it made the sound right now.


    So he looked directly around his vicinity. His eyes were focused, and his brows were creased as he did his best to find what was wrong and also find something to kill.


    But as soon as he saw what was making the sound, he wanted to facepalm himself hard. He saw not far away a hamster-like creature rolling around in the bough, well actually two of them. They looked quite happy, and it might be that they were a couple.


    The creatures looked very cute. Alexander remembered their name; these were called Fluffnuts. They were practically harmless creatures. Alexander almost didn''t want to kill them. But in the next moment, he shook his head. Could he really afford the luxury of mercy, or better yet, should he adopt it? The answer was simply no.


    These two had to be fuel for his level up, and in any case, they would become food for some creature sooner or later. Logic like this popped up in Alexander¡¯s mind to justify what he was about to do, though deep down, he knew what he was doing. It was really hard for him.


    But he understood one thing: showing empathy to others, in this society, is cruelty to oneself. And besides, it''s just two Fluffnuts, why the heck was he wishy-washy like a kid?


    Alexander again shook his head, and like many times before, he jumped down right above them, with his axe for an overhead swing, before any unnecessary thought could form in his mind.


    Both of the Fluffnuts looked up at the same time as a shadow was cast over them. They didn''t get the chance to feel that terror as the axe landed on the ground with a thud, kicking up a small dust cloud.


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    Alexander''s axe sliced through flesh with brutal force, spattering blood in its wake. But his triumph turned to horror as the blade''s momentum carried it beyond its mark. In a moment of miscalculation, it tore through not just one, but two Fluffnuts, and buried itself deep into the earth. The surrounding bushes were shredded in a half-meter radius, testament to the raw power of his swing. With a sinking heart, Alexander surveyed the unintended carnage; his excitement turned to remorse in the blink of an eye, his axe was stuck.


    ¡°fffffff, darn it.¡± Alexander cursed out in frustration. when he could not yank the axe out of the ground.


    He calmed down and first checked how much exp he got.


    [You have killed a Fluffnut - 7 exp.]


    [You have killed a Fluffnut - 7 exp.]


    Alexander was irritated. These things were a bit bigger than cats, so Alexander thought they would give him at least over 10 exp, but it seems it doesn''t work that way.


    Suddenly, he heard some strange noises, and what he saw broke his heart. These were not the only Fluffnuts around; there were also 6 cubs. He felt bad, but in the next moment, what he thought made him question his own sanity. He wanted to kill them as well for exp.


    He pushed the thought down with disgust as he moved away. But he couldn''t help but think if instead of getting 7 exp, he got 20 or 30, would he be able to not kill them? The answer was something he didn''t want to accept.


    It seems he wasn''t that different from Ricky or the broker. Who knows, he might be even worse.


    It didn''t take long for the wandering Alexander to come across some other wildlife. Between his strength and anger, he dispatched them fairly quickly.


    And this continued. Alexander didn''t go toward the elk; first, he wasn''t sure if it was there or not, and even if it was, he didn''t want to mess with something bigger this early.


    So he continued killing what he could find and what he thought he could handle.


    ........


    Alexander slightly bent backward, narrowly avoiding the wild dog that jumped on him. But in the next moment, another came for his leg. He brought down his axe with gusto, which it easily avoided. As dust flew where the axe landed His appearance bore the marks of frequent battles, a testament to the constant fighting he endured.


    The one from the back lunged at him again, unable to find anything; it stopped its bite, aimed at his head with his arms.


    As the almost rotten teeth seeped into his flesh, Alexander screamed out, unable to hold the pain. In the next moment, Alexander¡¯s eyes also flashed with bestial fury. As he let go of his axe and with his other hand grabbed its head roughly.


    He drove his thumb right into the dog''s eyes as blood flowed out. Just as the pain set in, the creature let go of his arm, and Alexander bashed it right into the other one coming for him in the head.


    Both of the dogs'' heads clashed with each other. As a cracking sound rang out. But Alexander didn''t let go and bashed it a few times on the ground.


    The dog was almost limp, but Alexander could still see the ferociousness in its eyes, which ignited his


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    Alexander''s now slightly dampened anger even more. With the hand that was bitten and now dripping with blood, Alexander picked up the axe embedded right beside him and brought it down on the dog. With Alexander¡¯s fury, it had the full 12 points of strength behind it, which severed the wild dog in half, as the little blood it held in its feeble body splattered.


    Alexander then looked at the other one with a menacing look. It still hadn''t regained its senses after being hit on the head. Alexander wanted to finish this one before it could cause more problems.


    But as he started moving toward it, it regained its clarity. What it did next shocked Alexander. It looked at him once and started running in the opposite direction.


    Alexander, seeing this, increased his speed, but he was losing his strength fast. He could feel the strain on his body. His vision swam, but he knew he couldn''t let the dog go.


    He knew he couldn''t catch up to the dog; even at his best condition and top speed, he couldn''t. So he gritted his teeth and with a roar of his own, threw his axe, with all the strength he could muster, right at the dog. He chose the all-or-nothing route.


    Alexander felt exhausted, as his muscles protested, but his face sank when he realized the axe wouldn''t hit its mark. He sighed, thinking he was no marksman after all.


    The axe landed right beside the dog, but fortunately for Alexander, it had enough pure raw force in it that as it landed, it created a small dust explosion, splitting the ground.


    As it landed right beside the dog, the residual force threw the weak dog to the side where it collided with a tree with a whimper.


    Though Alexander felt like he was going to lose consciousness at any moment, seeing this, he didn''t hesitate for even a moment as he ran, squandering all his strength in his legs.


    Running past the axe, he swiftly took it out and reached the dog. He kicked it right in the chest. It went backward, hitting the tree once again. But before it could bounce back from the tree bark, Alexander pinned it to the bark with his left hand, and with his right swung the axe right at its stomach.


    Alexander didn''t know if he was weak or the dog was strong, but his axe stopped halfway. He couldn''t sever its body in two with just one strike.


    He didn''t think much about it, or rather he couldn''t. Taking back his axe, he swung again. This time the swing landed a little below the first one, and it went halfway through. Alexander frowned.


    But he knew he was at his limit. He ripped out the axe in a violent manner so that the wound worsened and blood flowed in droves from it as the dog whimpered.


    If nothing else, it would bleed out to death soon. He didn''t waste time as he ran away. This place reeked of blood. Soon there would be other animals in this area, and he was in no condition to fight.


    He didn''t want to let go of the wild dog because they roamed in groups, and these two were most likely scouts.

 CHAPTER 25: INTERRUPTING IMPORTANT BUSINESS

    If he allowed even one of them to escape, it might bring the entire horde on him, leaving him with no choice but to flee. Yet, he doubted he could outpace wild dogs. His strength might carry him for a short while, but eventually, his stamina would dwindle.


    When questioned about stamina, the voice asserted it would improve alongside his strength and constitution, albeit primarily influenced by constitution.


    Alexander, exhausted beyond measure, sensed the encroaching embrace of unconsciousness. Regret gnawed at him; he''d been reckless, engaging in relentless combat for three hours straight. Rest should have been a priority.


    And besides, he should have guessed these creatures would be here. Though most of the animals changed, wild dogs were one of the ones that did not. But that did not make them any less challenging to deal with.


    But judging by how skinny those two were, Alexander was sure the herd they were from was not long for this world.


    While running, he fell down, well, it would be more apt to call that he passed out, but the pain of falling down while running jolted him right awake.


    He couldn''t continue; not only was he physically exhausted, but the mental strain of illegally crossing the border was also taking its toll and becoming evident. He needed rest.


    He hastily ascended the nearby tree, wedging himself securely between two thick branches. Of course, it was risky, of course, it was against his plan, and of course, it was completely foolish, but Alexander did not care; he just wanted to close his eyes.


    ..........


    The thick darkness was cut through with the cacophony of screams, roars, clashes, clanks, explosions, and tremors and over all chaose.


    It was a vast expanse of land, scorched by the three suns above, as air twisted and rigid with the heat. But that did not stop the people from cutting one another down. Fists met, weapons clashed, siege machines were used as blood flew and people, along with the ground, exploded into a bloody mess.


    Far away, there were gigantic mountains that were swaying, no, they were moving. Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that they were massive creatures, with a huge shell behind them. Each of them was at least 1000 feet in height. And in the back, even bigger silhouettes could be seen. Its back was not empty; reinforcements could be seen on its mounts'' backs, hundreds of thousands of them.


    With every step they took, the earth trembled beneath them, accompanied by reverberating booms. One party seeing this cheered, and the other became desperate.


    Suddenly, one man clad in almost Arabic clothing from the side of the desperate people, opened his eyes. As he slowly stood up, his body swaying with the rhythm of the movement of the massive 15-foot elephant he was on.


    He looked at the approaching moving mountains and smiled. Next moment, a colossal aura covered the whole battlefield, as the war paused, and so did the moving mountains.


    There was just a choking sound then; the aura exploded. As the pressure mounted, the air stilled, the clouds halted, the mountains first bent then cracked, as massive wails reverberated throughout the surroundings.


    Alexander woke up startled; his body was drenched in sweat. What the heck was that, a nightmare? He did not get to think much, as he saw the dark sky shimmering with flickering stars and the moon looming over them.


    ¡°fuck,¡± Alexander muttered.


    It seems he slept until night. This was a problem; he already had limited time in the first place. And his plan was to kill, or rather gather as much exp as he could in these three days. But it seems he wasted one-third of his time already.


    Despite the increased presence of beasts at night, he wasn''t foolish or blinded by greed enough to risk venturing out and putting himself in danger.


    And though it was a joke by Ricky, if he goes out at night, there is a small chance he could meet a c-ranked beast at that time; he doubted he would have the time to even run; he would just be an appetizer.


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    He waited until morning; at first, he did not even take his phone out, in fear the light might attract some beast. But after some time, he could not hold it in and started seeing some videos he saved previously.


    The voice urged him to do some exercise, but he gave the excuse of being sore for tomorrow''s hunt. As soon as the sun rose, Alexander was out hunting; he was bored out of his mind.


    The first thing he hunted after the sun rose was again, Fluffnuts, this time also two. Though they gave only 7 exp each, he was not about to let them go just because of that, especially after he wasted a whole entire day.


    Alexander continued his killing spree, or as he liked to call it, ''exp farming,'' until noon. At that point, he decided to take a break. And eat something. All this time he was like a true butcher, killing everything in sight. Well, as long as they were manageable, of course. He even chased down two wild chickens. No matter what, they were exp, and he could not let them go.


    He went after creatures about the size of a cat or slightly larger, steering clear of anything as big as a dog. He had enough the last time.


    But there was a problem,


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 6


    Exp: 316/409


    Strength: 18


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    *Agility: ___


    *Constitution: 3


    *Intelligence: ___


    *Vitality: ___


    Even after butchering everything he could, there was not much exp. He was still almost 100 exp short from reaching the next level.


    Alexander finished eating the dry food he brought with him. And then climbed up a tree to check up on the bag he bought on the marketplace.


    the bag was for the collection of important items like monster body parts and other valuables. But as of now, it was almost empty. Which was to be expected as he killed nothing of note. Nobody is going to buy wild dogs or wild chicken from him, not even the small and damaged hides of lizards or chameleons he had killed up until now.


    He did manage to find some wild fruits which would give him some pocket change. And the bag also held a significant amount of greenery and mushrooms.


    He did not know anything about alchemy, just the basics needed to pass, so he picked everything he found remotely interesting. Hoping to come across something valuable that will at least land him the money to go out next time.


    Alexander finished his meager meal, scarcely deserving the title of lunch, then rose to his feet. He looked in the direction where he saw the elk, and after some time, he shook his head. He was sure killing just one of them should be enough to give him a level or even more, judging by the cow, but it was too risky. Not to mention he was in the wild.


    Not too long after, he could hear some pig squealing sound from one of the bushes he was passing through. The squealing sound almost seemed rhythmic.


    He stopped and carefully approached the bushes, and what he saw made his jaw drop, and somewhere deep in him, he was kind of jealous.


    In front of him two pigs were doing the deed. And judging by their squeals and expressions, they seemed to enjoy it a lot as well.


    But Alexander could not help but think his luck finally pulled through for him. Unlike normal wild pigs, these pigs had almost no fur on their body, and their skin color was earth yellow.


    Alexander''s eyes lit up, recalling what he knew these were called sunshine boars, but there was another name for this filthy pig that was almost like a land vulture, as it only ate dead plants or rotten roots. And that is "Brue pigs."


    That is because their blood is used as a cheap alternative stabilizer in alchemy. Though the product made with the blood of this beast is almost worse in quality, it was cheap, so many low leveled alchemist used its blood instead of the proper stabilizer in their alchemy. It yielded worse products, sure, but they could also sell it at a lower price, and for most cultivators who needed every penny they could get their hands on, this was more important than quality.


    So if Alexander could kill these two, he would at least ensure some good return for this trip of his, though he doubted that would break him even.


    He felt a twinge of guilt for interrupting their intimate moment as a fellow virgin, but this was the opportune time to strike, and so, he proceeded.


    Fwoosh!


    Suddenly, the bush shook as Alexander intensely came out of it, and before the pig could understand what happened, Alexander brought down his axe on its head. The pig felt an intense force slam into it, as Alexander hit it with the dull side so that its head was bashed rather than cut.


    In the next moment, under the force of the strike fueled by all 16 points of strength behind it, the pig''s eyes bulged out., and then its skull cracked. The female one, beneath , was about to run, but Alexander kicked it right in the stomach before it could do so.


    The pigs were relatively small, about the size of two dogs combined, likely due to their youth. The kick sent it flying as it crashed into the tree bark. But before it could get up, Alexander instantly arrived before it and kicked it on the stomach once again.


    The pig squealed out in agony, but it was cut short as another landed on it. He continued kicking it repeatedly. He felt bad for the pig as it squealed like crazy, as if asking him why he was doing this.


    Though it pained him, the answers were simple; the value of these pigs lay mostly in their blood, and by cutting their heads off, it would cost him more. The male pig had sustained head injuries and was already bleeding, which would decrease its value. Alexander was not about to make the same mistake.


    As each painful squeal of the pig reverberated through his ears, he consoled himself that he needed to do this. The pig could not take this much of a beating and soon breathed its last.


    Alexander wiped the sweat from his brow and hastily placed the pig bodies in his bag, fearing other predators might arrive. The 2nd pig did wail loudly.


    After packing, the bag did look a bit cramped at the bottom; The bag, nearly two-thirds of his length, still had some room for additional items. Alexander lamented that he did not have any special bags; they were made from a special type of beast hide and space formation crafted by those highly proficient in space. As such, the price of one was off the chart.


    Some of them also used space-type cores which have uses and stable places, but the price was so much he doubted even three years'' worth of his father''s salary would be enough to buy one.


    A sigh escaped Alexander''s lips as he found a glimmer of hope in his dire circumstances. Despite the challenges, he took comfort in the prospect of recovering some funds. There was hope.

 CHAPTER 26: FEAR, ALLOWED?

    Alexander sidestepped gracefully, the serpent''s milky-white jaws snapping shut just inches from where his head had lingered a heartbeat before.


    Alexander did not waste the chance and swung his now red axe straight at its stretched neck. Just as the edge was about to touch it, the damn thing twisted back with incredible nimbleness.


    And this was not the first time; this bastard was hellishly agile.


    The small clearing in the forest was filled with various cut marks on the ground, some deep, some shallow. Even some trees had deep or shallow cuts on them.


    In the middle, Alexander stood panting, though not bloodied, testament of extreme concentration up until now but bruised, and quite badly at that. Opposite him was a 21-foot milky white snake hissing directly at him.


    It had two golden stripes on its forehead and its body was full of red cut marks, but almost all of them were not deep enough.


    Though the thing was nimble, it could not perfectly avoid all of Alexander¡¯s attacks, especially the wild wide swings, in the last 30 minutes.


    With another hissing sound, it lunged at Alexander, this time from below. Alexander¡¯s eyes gleamed as he jumped just as the snake was about to snap his legs and without delay brought his axe down on the creature, but it agilely twisted. The axe landed on the ground, kicking up a small dust cloud.


    But there was no rest for him as a hard whooshing sound and in the next moment, the dust was parted by a thick white tail that came straight for him.


    Alexander wanted to move away but in the next moment, he gritted his teeth, exerting pressure on his hand as he leaned on the ground and with all his strength yanked the axe right out and planted it into the approaching tail with all he got.


    Alexander did not know what happened. He felt a huge force crashing into him and in the next moment, he was flying backwards.


    Crash.


    Cough.


    Pain assaulted him from the impact, as he coughed out blood and crashed into a tree trunk. But there was a smile on his bloody mouth.


    He achieved his goal; in front of him, the 21-foot python was convulsing uncontrollably, blood splattering out in all directions from the gaping wound on its tail.


    It did not take long for the menacing eyes of the python to settle on him, and just by looking at those eyes, all the hair on his body stood up.


    In the next moment, Alexander scrambled to the side as the snake dove at him with all it had, kicking up dust and small debris in its wake.


    Crack


    Alexander heard a cracking and clanging sound behind him as splinters flew, some even sticking into his back. Looking back, the fully open maw of the snake was biting down hard on the bark. The tree shook and swayed as the meneiisnng, now red eyes of the cratuere started right at Alexander¡¯s soul.


    Alexander just did not look back as he he streted running.


    ¡°Oh shit¡±


    Alexander muttered, realizing he no longer had his axe. Most likely, he lost it when he was flung back.


    He again rolled back as the snake''s maw bit down hard on the ground where he was moments ago. Before he could stand up properly, a tail swipe came swinging right at his waist.


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    Alexander jumped up using his hands, hearing the air breaking sound beneath him, he had no doubt that if it connected, his waist would be a broken mess. It seemed the snake was giving its all.


    But thinking of this, Alexander was not upset; on the contrary, there was a smile on his face. This is what he was aiming for. Though he had landed many blows up until now, none of them were fatal. Though this one was not eather, it was deep enough. Now all he needed to do was wait until the thing bled out to death. And all the flailing about it was hastening its demise.


    now All he needed to do now was to successfully avoid its wrathful rampage until then. Which was easier said than done, no doubt.


    30 minutes later, Alexander stood in front of the now almost lifeless snake, amidst a nearly ravaged clearing coated in crimson. He was panting, with new bruzes and cuts on his body as he looked straight at the hateful glare of the snake, who knew it had not much time in this world.


    Alexander grinned and then placing one leg on its head he brought his axe down. He was quite existed so the axe drew blood but did not went deep enough. In the next moment he yak it out and planted it once again which also was not enough.


    The fucking thing had truly resilient skin. But Alexander was not about to give up After almost sixteen consecutive swings, the snake finally breathed its last. But Alexander was not sure if it was from his beating, the pain, or just the blood loss, and frankly, he did not care.


    kaaaa


    Alexander was about to take a rest when he suddenly heard the cry of a hawk. Looking up, he saw a shadow of a hawk above.


    The hawk was three feet in size and had a wingspan of almost twelve feet.


    Alexander did not think much before he threw his axe with all his strength behind it at the bird, which was most likely eyeing his hunt. After all, hawks are known to be natural enemies of snakes. He was not particularly worried about one hawk, but what if this bastard brought out more of his brethren?


    He lay beside the bloodied head of the snake, his own self coated in the same bloody red. He looked at the snake''s big ass head, which was almost as big as half of his body.


    Alexander opened his status screen to see the result of his hard work.


    This time it was really dangerous. Up until now, he was just fighting small creatures, which was a bit challenging but nothing too dangerous. It might actually be that which landed him in this condition. After seeing the snake coiled up, he thought it to be just 13 feet and wanted to end it with one strike. But boy was he wrong. Not only was the thing 21 feet long, it was incredibly nimble. His first strike missed miserably, and he was subjected to its counterattack which sent him flinging and crashing into the clearing in the first place. It was fortunate he blocked with his axe at the right moment; otherwise, that would have been his end.


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 8


    Exp: 272/1000


    Strength: 21


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    *Agility: ___


    *Constitution: 3


    *Intelligence: ___


    *Vitality: ___


    [free points :3]


    Alexander''s eyes widened in shock at the sight of his level. He almost stood up, but the pain in his body reminded him why he was not allowed to do so.


    The previous day, the pigs he had slain gave him 180 XP each, which was an unexpected windfall, but he wasn¡¯t about to complain. This propelled him to level 7. The three points, of course went into strength.


    Since then, up until now, he had killed almost everything he found in sight, but it didn''t give him much XP. Even the harvest from this morning was the same. Unknowingly, in search of XP, he had gone a bit deeper than he planned.


    Even after killing for almost two days, he had only acquired around 400 XP out of the 772 he needed to reach level 8. But killing just this one snake landed him almost 500 XP or so. Which was crazy; it even gave him more than the cow.


    If he could just kill two of these snakes, but in the next moment, he shook his head. He almost died not once, not twice, but almost every time fighting this thing, and he was sure there were far bigger snakes compared to this one in the forest. Compared to them, this might be a child or a low-ranked beast; otherwise, what would it be doing this far out?


    To be honest, Alexander was kind of confused. He had ventured deeper than he planned, for sure, but it was still the absolute outer layer of the forest. These kinds of beasts, or this big who could shake a tree with its full strength, should not be in this area. Well, there was no point in thinking about it.


    He wanted to use the three points as soon as possible, but just as he tried, the protest of pain reminded him of the banged-up condition of his body.


    ¡°Sigh,¡± Alexander sighed. He wanted to rest a little. Suddenly he woke up startled, and seeing the bloodied snake head beside him, he almost vomited his heart out, but then remembered he was the one who killed it.


    He soon took out his phone and saw he had been out for almost 45 minutes. It seemed he was too damn tired, but that was to be expected. He was lucky that no beast came at this time to make him their dinner. Maybe they thought he was dead with all the blood and all.


    ¡°Never sleep like this in the wilderness,¡± the voice in his head stated.


    Judging by the bracing tone, Alexander understood he had something to do with it. Well, in any case, Alexander calmed down and tried to move the lump of energy to his strength meridian. The pain was still there but it was manageable.


    And Alexander did not want to waste any time adding to his strength, especially now when he was in the wild.


    Two hours later, Alexander stood up. Though his body was quite functional, the soreness was still there. Alexander looked at where he had shot down the hawk. After all, his axe was embedded in the beast.


    As he looked in that direction, something clicked in him. It was the same direction where he had seen the elk. Should he go to where he saw the elk?


    Alexander shook his head, what the heck. After all the things he did, exercising and running in public, beating three people to the hospital, cutting someone''s finger off in the market, even illegally crossing the wall, and now killing a 20-foot python, was he allowed to even be afraid at this point?


    Alexander resolutely decided to go, if not hunt, at least to watch. And besides, he doubted the elk was still there. He needed to do this for himself to get rid of his fear at the least.

 CHAPTER 27: GREED IS FUCKING SIN!

    Alexander understood what kind of dangerous situation he was in. it has been 15 mints since he left after killing the snake for the hawk.


    The hawk was not that far from his location, despite that he did not traverse half the distance in 15 minutes was because of his foolishness. What the fuck was he thinking throwing his axe, now in the forest he was completely defenseless! And had to avoid everything in sight. He should have bought a shield at the least.


    After another 17 minutes of careful or rather fearful maneuvering, Alexander was close to the area where the hawk fell. At least judging by the tree he guessed so. Without any weapon in hand Alexander felled naked and even a rustling of leaves and busses became far more terrifying then it should have been.


    He quickly scanned the area and soon spotted the handle of his axe, not where he had initially expected but not far off either. Without hesitation, he darted towards it. The thought of being defenseless in the forest for even a moment longer was intolerable.


    Splash


    Splash


    Splash


    But after a few strides, Alexander halted, his ears pricked by a distinct splashing sound. Glancing downward, he detected blood staining his path. Following the crimson trail ahead, he located the hawk, the axe embedded in its chest, blood trickling down.


    As Alexander followed the trail of blood with his eyes, he observed that it led to the spot where he initially believed the hawk had fallen¡ªmarked by the broken branches. Alexander proceeded towards the hawk. It was likely that after being struck, the hawk had fallen to this location, dragging itself here before succumbing to its injuries from blood loss.


    Suddenly Alexander remembered something and opened his notification screen,


    [You have killed a crista boa, 568 exp.]


    [You have killed a cavryos egale 362 exp.]


    Alexander almost had a heart attack reading the second lien.


    ¡®What the hell, what is a cavryos Eagle doing, here?¡¯ Alexander''s mind screamed in disbelief. Cavryos Eagles were renowned for their subtle golden-hued feathers, which bestowed upon them an elegant and ethereal beauty.


    They were exceptionally rare, not just due to their low numbers but also because they inhabited the deepest parts of the forest and were incredibly swift. Of course they paid well, but only a select few possessed the skills and abilities to capture them.


    Ironically, those enticed by the lucrative reward often lacked the necessary prowess to venture into their habitats, let alone capture them. And those who can, the reword is not substantial enough. In short their fur was a luxury item for the wealthy, in other words a bragging rights of sorts.


    Alexander hoped desperately that the system had made a mistake as he dashed towards the fallen eagle. Lo and behold, the bird displayed the coveted golden hue on its feathers¡ªa trait he had studied back in grades 4 to 9, where you had to know all the commons beasts by name along with their scientific name and all the other useless things.


    Judging by its size, Alexander speculated that this eagle was likely a juvenile or adolescent. Cavryos Eagles were known to reach heights of 17 feet with a wingspan of at least 25 feet, occasionally even measuring 23 feet in body length and an impressive 30 feet in wingspan. Yet, it wasn''t the creature''s sheer size that sent shivers down Alexander''s spine¡ªit was the presence of the alpha.


    Cavryos Eagles, though rare even at 17 feet in size, held a docile demeanor, preferring flight over confrontation. However, each herd harbored an alpha tasked with protecting the nest and the communal eggs. Alphas varied greatly in size, ranging from 10 to 30 feet, heck it could even be 3 feet, but the most terrifying thing was it would be at least a proper C- rank beast. Sometimes even peak of the C-rank.


    Let alone facing a peak C-rank beast, a well-rounded team like Ricky¡¯s would never stand a chance against a normal C-racked without a world-shaking miracle.


    Approaching the eagle''s corpse, Alexander carefully extracted the embedded axe. It came out with surprising ease, confirming his suspicion that the axe hadn''t penetrated deeply enough. The bird likely succumbed to excessive blood loss and the fall. Maybe.


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    In front of the corps, Alexander hesitated briefly but quickly remembered the challenges he had overcome thus far. Fear was not an option. Besides, the eagle''s valuable loot was too precious to abandon in the wilderness, left to be devoured by some random creature.


    Alexander carefully lifted the Cavryos Eagle''s body onto his back, what ever happens he just had to face it. With the weight burdening him, he headed towards the clearing where he had stashed the serpent''s remains, chopping them into pieces and covering them with leaves made shift bags.


    The crista boa lacked any venom, making its skin and meat its most valuable assets. Despite the reduced value from chopping it up, Alexander had little choice.


    As he laid down the eagle and checked his storing place for unwanted intruders, the afternoon was almost nearing its end.


    This time, having the axe with him, it did not take long for Alexander to reach the place where he saw the elk. Along the way, he did kill some creatures, but they were not significant enough to give him any boost in experience points.


    But he was not upset. Today was the last day before he had to return, and although he did not get to farm much experience points for the past two days, today was more than making up for it. It was as if this was his lucky day. This was also the reason Alexander got the courage to get here.


    Alexander moved the large leaf out of the way as he came to the clearing, and his eyes widened in awe. It was truly his damn lucky day.


    In the vast opening which looked like a wide line dividing two sides of the frost, the elk was still there munching on its grass, with its beautiful antlers raised high.


    Alexander, who had never witnessed such sights in person, was deeply affected by the scene before him. It was as if he was in cloud nine, overcome with awe and wonder.


    The majestic elk paused, its gentle eyes meeting Alexander''s, evoking a fleeting sense of connection before it resumed grazing on the lush grass, undisturbed by the impending confrontation.


    Alexander stood there, captivated for a moment by the scene, then snapped back to reality, gazing at the sky now bathed in a golden hue. He knew he had to make a decision, and unlike before, this one was clear-cut in his mind. He needed the experience points, so regardless of how adorable the elk appeared, it had to go.


    Alexander did not think much or rather he did not want to think much as he exerted all his strength form a running posture. And in just 3 second closed the distance and brought his axe down.


    Before when he noticed the axe did not penetrate deep in the hakes skin, he knew then there the axe has already dulled. It was after all a cheap product, and mainly bought because of its durability. So now while aiming for the elk¡¯s neck Alexander exerted all 24 of his strength behind it to the point an air splitting sound could be hard just form drawing the axe back word.


    n a ghostly blur, Alexander materialized before the young elk, a menacing grin spreading across his face as he swiftly brought the axe down. but at this moment Alexander¡¯s eyes widen, not in shock , but fear. He fucked up, big time.


    The forest density behind the elk was very high and not to mention this was almost evening. So Alexander only saw darkness. But now that he was close, he could see it. The frost behind it was filled with elks, and all of them adults.


    And that wasn''t even the most alarming sight. Every 7 feet tall adult elk bore intricate rock patterns around their hoofs and ankles areas, some even adorned with rocks on their antlers and bodies. And all of them were looking straight at him.


    Alexander''s thoughts raced frantically, a whirlwind of fear and confusion enveloping him. Amidst the chaos, a single word echoed like a deafening roar in his mind as the axe cleaved through the young elk''s neck: ''FUCK.''


    These were no ordinary mutated elks, merely enlarged in size. They were Terran Elks¡ªdistinguished by the earthy elements adorning their bodies. Alexander''s confusion was justified; why were these formidable creatures here? Normal mutated elks, capable of effortlessly trampling cars, were insignificant in comparison. Terran Elks typically dwelled much deeper within the forest''s heart.


    The forest fell into an eerie silence as Alexander''s axe cleanly severed the elk''s head. For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still, before the tranquility shattered with the elks'' thunderous howls, reigniting the chaos.


    Thump.


    Thump.


    Thump.


    Then, the air filled with a cacophony of calls, or rather howls, from the surrounding elks. Alexander stood dumbfounded, frozen in place by sheer terror. Greed is a fucking life taking sin.


    Suddenly, one of the elks, smoke billowing from its nostrils, charged towards him, each thunderous step sending chunks of soft soil flying.


    Alexander desperately turned to flee but stumbled and fell to the ground. He glanced back with wide eyes, horror washing over him as the charging elk closed in.


    But just as suddenly as it had begun, the charging elk halted, and the rest of the elks fell silent too. The forest seemed to grow oppressively quiet in an instant.


    This time, the silence was suffocating.


    As the charging elk abruptly halted, but its body trembled, unknown of cause, fear or anger, as thik white smoke came out of its nostrils as it looked at Alexander with its now almost red eyes,


    However, it sidestepped soon after, revealing a scene that filled Alexander with overwhelming dread. Emerging from the depths of the forest, a pair of dimly glowing blue antlers approached. As the mysterious figure drew closer, Alexander could make out its majestic form.


    The creature stood at least 14 feet tall, adorned with intricate blue veins lining its antlers and body, as if nature had painted it with delicate strokes of luminescent blue. The elegance of its appearance was further accentuated by a glowing, exquisite pattern adorning its forehead¡ªa masterpiece crafted by nature itself.


    But seeing it, there was no awe in Alexander¡¯s face, he almost wet his pants. This, this was a proper B-rank beast. He just did not froze in fear, his mind just stop working.


    He instinctively knew just its aura was enough to lock him in place if it wanted. It slowly emerged out of the frost into the light. In the golden glow of the sun it truly looked like an ethereal creature.


    Ka


    Ka


    Ka


    Suddenly, flocks of birds burst forth from the left side, their fluttering wings carrying an ominous message.


    Alexander felt his sanity teetering on the edge of fear when, somehow, his mind regained a shred of composure. Suddenly, the magical elk, instead of fixing its gaze on Alexander, turned its attention to the left.


    Both Alexander and the elk turned their attention towards the source of the disturbance. Then, from the left, one tree after another began to topple.


    ROAR


    Shortly after, a deafening roar reverberated through the sudden silence. Against the backdrop of the setting golden sun, a majestic white lion emerged.

 CHAPTER 28: FUCKING LUCK

    CHAPTER 28: FUCKING LUCK


    ROAR


    Shortly after, a deafening roar reverberated through the sudden silence. Against the backdrop of the setting gold, a majestic white lion emerged.


    If previously, Alexander¡¯s mind stopped working. Now, he just lost it. As the majestic lion emerged, its aura burst out like a formidable dome, colliding halfway with the equally potent aura emanating from the magical elk.


    The damn white lion was also a B-ranked, beast. As their auras clashed, the ground shattered and fissured beneath their power, sending cracks spider webbing outwards.


    Alexander felt it hard to even breathe, but he knew, he knew this as his chance and if he missed it, let alone being eaten by the winner, he will perish far before just from the shock wave of their battle.


    Alexander glanced again and realized he wasn''t the focus anymore. The elk''s intense gaze locked onto its opponent. Qi churned around the elk, like a swirling vortex, its sheer intensity palpable even to Alexander''s untrained senses, making the very air tremble


    The lion, no doubt doing the same, made Alexander cease all thought. He turned around and exerted every ounce of strength through his legs to escape, but the aura released by the two B-rank beasts, or behemoths, made it exceedingly difficult to move.


    With every stride, Alexander''s confidence surged, matched by the acceleration of his pace, along with the ominous sense of impending doom as the air behind him practically screamed with condensed qi.


    Thud


    Rumble


    Rumble


    Rumble


    A world-booming thud rang out, but before Alexander could see what happened, rumbles followed as the earth shook and Alexander fell down.


    He looked back in horror as he saw the lion press its paw into the ground, causing huge and thick ice spikes, each as big and thick as a truck, to shoot out one after another in a zigzag pattern toward the elk


    Looking at the elk, he saw dozens of small swirling ice arrow head like spikes surrounding it, and in the next moment, they shot forward.


    The moment the small ice arrow head like spikes clashed with the thick ice pillars, the ice spikes broke into mist on impact. In an instant, a hundred meters around the clash was frozen solid. Even the grass looked like it was made of glass. There was a stream not so far away, which also froze directly, the fate of the fish inside it unknown.


    Crack


    Crack


    Crack


    There was a momentary silence, but it was abruptly shattered by dozens of cracking sounds as the thick ice pillar like spikes cracked one after another.


    Shatter


    In the next moment, with a loud shattering sound that sent chills down Alexander''s body and made his hair stand on end, all the pillars shattered like glass.


    Contrary to Alexander¡¯s initial thought, it seems both of them were equally matched.


    Roar


    Huuuuum


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    In the next moment, both of them roared and howled at the sky before charging at one another. Both of their soul shattering roars snapped Alexander back to reality, and he was running again at full speed. Whatever happened behind him had nothing to do with him. He needed to save his own life.


    He knew his luck was not good; all this supposed ''good luck'' brought him here to finish him for good. Luck really had it out for him. He wondered if he had ever charmed lucks girlfriend or something. But he doubted his ability to do so.


    Using all 24 of his strength to run, it didn''t take long for Alexander to cover a distance of one kilometer. By that point, Alexander felt sore all over. Though his speed dimed by a huge margin, he did not stop.


    He could have seen the two battle, as many say seeing high-level practitioners fight people can have an effect, though he was unsure if it would work with beasts or not, but some did said it worked But Alexander doubted he was talented enough to derive something from seeing a battle, no matter how high-level it was. This privilege was reserved for the so-called geniuses.


    And besides, his life was far more precious than watching a high-level fight. One misstep and he would have to leave his life behind. Suddenly, he caught sight of something from the corner of his eye, and his eyes widened in shock as he cursed his luck inwardly.


    A pack of zombie-like dogs, or rather, extremely skinny dogs, were looking right at him. It didn''t take him long to understand that this was most likely the pack of dogs whose scouts he killed the first day.


    But how did they find him? but was it the time to ask this questions? No. Alexander was moving straight at the pack, so midway, he changed direction. His original plan was to pass by his storage place, grab what he could, and flee the area, but it seems that would have to change.


    The wild dogs remained motionless, yet their eyes were fixed on him, particularly the larger one at the front, whom Alexander was certain was the leader.


    But just as Alexander crossed the 1.5-kilometer mark from the battle, the hounds began their charge. One look behind and seeing the furious running of the dogs, Alexander''s heart skipped a beat.


    Ignoring his soreness, Alexander pushed himself for another 15 minutes. Glancing back, he saw the wild dogs still in relentless pursuit. Especially their leader. No matter how fast he ran, there was no way he could outrun a pack of wild dogs, but the only reason he was still ahead was because he was amidst the thick trees where the dogs could not show their full prowess.


    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and Alexander almost wanted to punch himself for not thinking of it sooner. In the next moment, he jumped over the tree closest to him. But instead of stopping, he continued moving up the tree, leaping from one branch to another.


    He looked back and just as he thought, one or two dogs were able to climb as they showed their hideous and dirty teeth. Normally, dogs are unable to climb trees, but when your life is on the line, you tend to learn new tricks fast.


    After running, or rather jumping for a few minutes more, his doubt was proven once again. Even though some of them could climb, they were having a hard time keeping up with him, and most of them were still following him from below, barking as they did so.


    But even though the ones that could climb were slow, they were able to keep up with him to a certain degree. then there was also the tremors from time to time, most likely due to the battle of two B-ranked behemoths that was ongoing.. At times, the shaking were so massive that Alexander had to stop to regain his balance, while some of the dogs were knocked off and had to scramble back up.


    After five minutes, another massive tremor shook the area, Alexander even saw some trees uprooted and flung backward like twigs in a powerful wind, far away around the battle area.


    "How powerful were these two juggernauts," Alexander muttered. Even from this distance, he could feel the air turning cold. He doubted even here if he was safe or not.


    Alexander looked back, and two pairs of sunken eyes and sunken teeth met his. These two hounds were the foremost among the pack pursuing him through the dense trees. Looking at the sky, the golden sky was almost dimmed out. And once it does so, things will become far more dangerous.


    So Alexander decided something. He pushed off the branch he was on with force, enough for it to snap but this time in the direction of the dogs. Before the first one could understand what happened, the axe bit into its neck and went halfway through. Though he put enough strength behind the strike, Alexander almost lost his footing at the last moment, causing this result.


    Alexander, hastily and, forcefully yanked the axe out and brought it in front of him just in time to block the bite of the second hound that lunged at him. With the forceful yanking, the first dog had half of his head attached to his neck while the other half dangled. With blood spurting out it fell down.


    Alexander had no time to react as the second beast lunged, biting the handle of his axe and clawing at him with relentless fury, and madness. If it was before, Alexander was sure just seeing this thing up close on his face was enough to shift his pants, but now, now he had done way worse.


    With force, Alexander slammed his axe sideways against the tree trunk beside him. The dog back slammed into the tree bark and the force of the axe handle crashed its ribcage as its chest sunk in and it coughed out blood.


    Then with his legs, Alexander pushed it to the side and it also fell down. Looking down, he noticed the other dogs surrounding two of their fallen comrades, but with a wired look on their face as they drooled. A disgusting thought came to Alexander¡¯s mind: are they going to eat their fallen comrade?


    Alexander''s eyes met with the dog, whom he thought was the alpha of the group, and its eyes were filled with murder.


    Howl


    In the next moment there was long howl and all the dogs eyes shifted form their fallen comrade to Alexander .


    Howl


    Howl


    A simultaneous, chilling howl erupted from all of them. Alexander glanced back and saw even the dogs trailing behind on the branches joining in.


    Every hair on Alexander''s body stood on end, a chilling premonition seizing him at the gruesome sight. The dogs, now a ravenous horde, were consumed by a bloodlust so palpable it seemed to stain the very air around them. Those on the branches descended with reckless abandon, their eyes fixed on him with feral fury. The sickening sounds of clawed paws scrabbling against bark and wood drowned out their barks.


    Below, the dogs exhibited frenzied desperation, hurling themselves at the tree trunk and leaving streaks of blood on the rough bark with their emaciated bodies. Some managed to grasp hold, their trembling limbs struggling for purchase, leaving smears of crimson in their wake.


    Their matted fur now clung like a second skin, soaked in the blood of their fallen pack mates. The air was thick with the stench of gore, mingling with the sweat and fear emanating from Alexander''s trembling body.


    The scene was a symphony of violence and primal hunger, an unrelenting display of nature''s brutality at its most raw. With each pounding heartbeat, Alexander felt the weight of impending doom. It was no longer just a pursuit; it was now a battle for survival against a savage force driven by an insatiable thirst for blood.


    "What the fuck?" Alexander cursed aloud, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of growls and frenzied howls that echoed through the forest.


    [guys serious question, should I increase the quality of writing or should I increase chapter release rate?]

 CHAPTER 29: RUNNING FOR LIFE

    The dogs behaved as if they were possessed by madness. In their frenzied assault, even the tree upon which Alexander stood started shaking.


    Without sparing any time, Alexander pressed forward. Glancing back, he saw the dogs that had been trailing behind were now catching up, having abandoned all sense of safety and reason. Some stumbled and fell, yet their ranks were quickly replenished by fresh arrivals.


    Horror crept into Alexander; he could handle one or two, maybe six at a time, but at least fifteen dogs were rapidly approaching him on the trees, not to mention the new ones coming. He didn''t even want to think about what would happen if just one of them managed to hit him and he fell down. He would be torn flesh from bone, and judging by their crazed look, he doubted if his bones would remain.


    Suddenly, a dog lunged at Alexander from the front. Without hesitation, he delivered a swift kick to its face. However, this action nearly threw him off balance. Frantically swinging his arms and legs around the branch, he managed to regain stability.


    But that came at a price; he slowed down, a price he was not in the place to pay. One of the dogs behind was just about to pounce at him.


    Boom.


    Rumble.


    Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the entire area, causing everything to shake. The dog that was poised to pounce lost its balance at the last moment and tumbled down, followed by several others behind it. Thankfully, Alexander had already secured a firm grip.


    In the next instant, the trees bent as a powerful shockwave swept through, bringing with it a blast of chilling cold and snowy air that engulfed everything like a dust storm.


    Alexander closed his eyes. When he reopened them, he found himself surrounded by chilling cold, everything blanketed in a literal blizzard.


    The cold pricked Alexander''s skin, but he knew there was no time to waste; this was a golden opportunity. Without delay, he began to move swiftly, seeing no signs of the dogs around.


    Despite the strain on his muscles and the shivering of his skin from the cold, Alexander pressed onward without pause. He exerted so much force that some of the branches he stepped on snapped.


    After approximately 7 minutes, he noticed that the fog surrounding him was beginning to thin. This realization only heightened Alexander''s tension; without the protective cover of the fog, the beasts might spot him again. Frantically, he increased his speed and pushed himself even farther.


    Three minutes later, the fog around him was nearly gone. He halted¡ªnot due to the dissipating fog, but because his muscles were screaming in protest. Despite his robust constitution, his body required time to adapt to this level of exertion.


    Alexander looked back and felt his head almost spinning. Behind him, or more specifically, from where he emerged, the entire area was blanketed with fog, rising at least 30 meters into the air. Faint booming sounds could be heard even here, accompanied by small shockwaves.


    Like a storm was hiding two monsters.


    "B-rank," Alexander muttered, the daunting thought of an A-ranked monster or cultivator creeping into his mind. This was sheer madness.


    After some time, he realized he was not out of the fog area; he was just above it. Somehow, in his frantic dash, he had climbed onto higher ground.


    Alexander had no idea where he was, and to be honest, the low muffled booming noises coming from far away from time to time made him a little scared.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Alexander soon found a cave and decided to stay the night here. He was a little more than excited. But there was a smile on his face; this was the most exciting day in his life.


    As he slept, what Alexander, or rather no one, knew was happening in the deepest recesses of the forest. A huge, 20-meter-tall mammoth with carvings all over its body was lying dead. All the surroundings were uprooted and twisted, layers upon layers of ground was destroyed, the area filled with craters big and small, torn out like a carpet or just chopped into chunks. All in all, chaos, as blood soaked the ground red.


    Around the 20 meters, remnants of around 50 other small mammals remained, fallen with blood practically streaming out of their huge bodies. Not too far from them lay a huge creature, its body from afar looked like black bones barely strong together with a minimum amount of meat in between them. And black skin as thin as paper. Its hard shell-like head could even be seen from this far, along with its tail which looked like a scorpion''s but way thinner.


    Blood similarly streamed from this 15-meter-long behemoth, with three smaller bodies of the same creatures lying all around it.


    "''We have gotten in,'' said a silhouette, most likely that of a woman in shorts, her voice bewitching over the phone. Beside her, an exquisite box held a rich-looking exquisite flower that glowed in red and green from time to time.


    "It was easy, only two upper-tier B-ranked beasts, nothing we could not handle," her voice rang out once again. Beside the silhouette, the figure of a man holding a long katana could be seen, and behind them, a few more people.


    "But," the voice hesitated for a moment, then continued, "one mid-tier A-rank Aerion eagle showed up."


    "No, we are okay. We used the weapon you gave us, but..." Saying this, her silhouette glanced at the van beside her, where a massive muzzle-like object protruded. Half of the van lay in ruins, green sparks flying and fire raging, with even the muzzle twisted. The ground surrounding the van was sunken in, forming a 7-meter crater. The craters appeared in layers, each deeper than the previous one, with the van resting at the bottom.


    ...


    Alexander awoke abruptly, startled by the chirping of birds and the early golden hue outside. It appeared he had risen unusually early. His aching body suggested he had not slept soundly, likely waking in a panic.


    His first action was to inspect the cave; in his exhaustion the day before, he had neglected to ensure he wasn''t trespassing on some creature''s lair. However, he doubted this was the case, as any inhabitant would likely have devoured him in his sleep. Still, he cautiously surveyed the area outside to be certain.


    After finding no animals and realizing the dogs had given up on him, he relaxed and sat down. After waiting in silence, gathering himself, he let out a deep breath. Then, without wasting a single moment, he opened his status screen.


    [you have killed a mutated adolescent Terran Elk, 702 exp]


    [you have killed a feral dog, 8 exp]


    [you have killed a feral dog, 8 exp]


    ¡­¡­¡­..


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 8


    Exp: 988/1000


    Strength: 24


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    *Agility: ___


    *Constitution: 3


    *Intelligence: ___


    *Vitality: ___


    The first thing he saw was his XP gain after solving all these problems. A smile bloomed on his face. For a brief moment, he thought all the ordeals he went through were not in vain. But it was just a fleeting moment. As he shuddered in the blowing cold wind, the scene of the two behemoths flashed in his mind. how powerful was their clash to change the weather like this.


    But it was just as he anticipated; the elk provided him with sufficient experience alone to advance a level. Though it didn''t result in a level increase, that was because he had already progressed before. If not, it would have been enough to achieve a level gain. Furthermore, he didn''t advance that day; he questioned whether he could have escaped the chaos


    As he examined his XP, a pang of disappointment coursed through him. He was so close to leveling up, just a fraction of experience away. What terrible luck! Perhaps if he had defeated more foes, especially those pesky dogs.


    Today marked the deadline for his return; the three-day period had elapsed. Humans, such peculiar creatures. Here he was, bemoaning his misfortune at failing to level up, oblivious to the sheer luck of escaping with his life intact amidst the chaos caused by two B-rank beasts.


    After considering his options, he swiftly exited the cave. Though the booming sounds had ceased, wild winds still whipped where the battle had taken place, carrying a lingering chill in the air.


    With only 12 more experience points needed, Alexander wasted no time and headed straight to the meeting point. Along the way, he didn''t hesitate to dispatch any creatures, be it a small bird or a cute squirrels. Fortunately, he quickly leveled up again but decided to save the three attribute points for later use.


    Although there was still time until the meeting point, the intense three days of continuous fighting had noticeably changed him. Now, he doubted whether Ricky would actually wait for him if he arrived late.


    At this juncture, whether he lived or died, Ricky had nothing to gain or lose. Despite feeling somewhat lost, seeing the massive storm of blizzards where the fight had taken place and recalling the location where he first spotted the elk, Alexander swiftly regained focus and reached the designated meeting spot. Surveying the area, it was evident that Ricky and his team had not yet arrived.


    Alexander settled beneath a nearby tree, releasing a deep sigh. Although not entirely secure, Alexander felt a modicum of safety in the moment.


    After a brief wait, Alexander reluctantly sat down and began guiding the lumber, or rather, the points to the strengthened meridian.


    However, after completing two of them and half of another, Alexander had to halt. Ricky and his team had arrived, but something seemed amiss.


    In the next moment, Alexander''s eyes widened in shock.

 CHAPTER 30: GRIMNESS

    [ was sick] [ so is the new writing style good or bad.]


    Alexander''s heart leaped as Ricky emerged from the dense forest, a surge of joy washing over him. But the elation swiftly turned to concern as he took in Ricky''s sunken face and blood-stained clothes. Ricky walked with a pronounced limp, each step heavy with fatigue and pain.


    Alexander''s heart tugged at him; he sensed something grave had happened. Despite his apprehension, he observed with bated breath. His hopes dimmed as more members of Ricky''s team trickled out from the woods. Each one bore the signs of a harrowing ordeal¡ªexhaustion etched on their faces, bloodshot eyes staring blankly, and bodies marked with bruises and blood.


    Then, Alexander''s gaze locked onto a haunting sight. Emerging into view was the emo girl, her slender frame burdened by a muscular man slung across her back. Blood coated her from head to toe, though it was unclear if it was hers or from the gaping wound on the man''s shoulder where his hand should have been.


    Even from a distance, Alexander could hear the man''s agonized cries. Around them, others staggered forward, carrying wounded comrades in their arms or on their backs. The weight of loss hung heavy in the air, with some already cradling lifeless bodies.


    Ricky''s gaze lifted, meeting Alexander''s across the desolate clearing. Initial shock gave way to a flicker of relief, quickly swallowed by a deep well of sorrow and despair that clouded his eyes.


    He approached Alexander silently, the weight of his exhaustion and loss etched into every weary step. Alexander saw it all in Ricky''s eyes¡ªthe helplessness, the grief, and the unshed tears that threatened to spill over.


    Others shuffled past in a procession that resembled a funeral march, their gaunt faces and vacant stares akin to wandering ghosts. Most passed Alexander by without acknowledgment, lost in their own turmoil.


    The emo girl paused briefly as her eyes met Alexander''s, shock registering before she averted her gaze, consumed by her own sorrow.


    Alexander''s attention darted around, searching desperately for the pretty girl and the knife-wielding companion, but they were nowhere to be found among the injured being carried or those walking under their own power. A sinking realization settled in¡ªnot just them, but many others were missing too.


    Standing amidst the aftermath, Alexander''s mind pieced together the grim truth. Those missing likely hadn''t been granted the dignity of a proper farewell or burial in this unforgiving wilderness.


    After a long moment of silent acknowledgment, Alexander shook his head, a mixture of acceptance and resignation washing over him. This was the cruel reality they faced, where survival often came at the cost of losing friends and allies to the merciless wilds.


    Alexander trudged wearily alongside the others, his mind reeling from the harrowing events of the day. Almost becoming one of them. He shook his head, silently grateful to have made it this far. The group moved in eerie silence, each lost in their own thoughts amidst the stifling atmosphere.


    After what felt like an eternity of walking, Alexander spotted vehicles in the distance, they have finaly reached the makeshift station. A collective breath of relief escaped some of them, though others remained stoic, their faces etched with exhaustion and despair.


    Ricky took charge, approaching the vehicles and engaging in negotiations with the drivers. It took several attempts, but finally, he struck a deal with the sixth driver. A silent agreement sealed with a handshake.


    With Ricky''s signal, the group resumed their grim march. The drivers showed no surprise as they efficiently conducted a head count and methodically opened compartments, treating the fallen comrades like cargo. The older driver, his face weathered with experience, and his younger assistant moved with practiced precision, loading the bodies without a flicker of emotion in their eyes. To them, it was routine, as mundane as handling boxes or equipment.


    "What is this?" Emily''s voice pierced through the tense air, directed at the driver and his helper.


    Ricky hurried over, concern etched on his face. He had gone through great lengths to secure their transport, and any trouble now could jeopardize their mission.


    Emily, her usually stoic demeanor shattered, stared at the compartment that resembled a vault-like drawer, now marred with streaks of blood and infested with crawling cockroaches and white maggots. All three drawers were tainted with this gruesome scene.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Inside those doors lay bodies, in a state so dehumanizing that it sent shivers down anyone''s spine just to look at them. Maggots squirmed in the corners, adding to the macabre display. It was unthinkable to leave their friends'' remains in such a horrific condition.


    After catching sight of the nasty condition inside, Ricky couldn''t help but grimace. The sight was beyond unsightly.


    "Can''t you at least wrap them in something?" Ricky''s tone held a mix of frustration and concern.


    The young assistant merely glanced up, his expression apathetic. His eyes flicked to his driver, who was struggling under the weight of another corpse, his movements mechanical and unfeeling.


    With practiced ease, the driver placed the body onto a crude stretcher. He turned to the boy, his voice blunt and devoid of emotion, "Why are you still here? Keep moving." Then, shifting his gaze to Ricky, he added with a deadpan expression, "Sir, we could accommodate that request, but it will cost extra."


    His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing an ordinary transaction. The indifference in his demeanor only heightened the surreal horror of the situation. Alexander watched Ricky¡¯s face darken, sensing the barely contained fury simmering beneath his composed exterior. He knew Ricky was fighting the urge to lash out at the indifferent driver.


    but Alexander''s eyes widened in alarm in the next moment, as he saw Emily, the emo girl, tense with fury, her fist poised to strike. But in the next heartbeat, Ricky''s shoulders sagged with resignation. He swiftly turned and intercepted her, his hand gently grasping her arm.


    ¡°Emily, just let it go. It''s not worth it.¡± Ricky''s voice was steady, infused with a weary calm that seemed to defuse the tension. He turned to the rest of the group, his expression hardening as he called for a meeting among the remaining members.


    Alexander watched closely, reading the lines of exhaustion etched on Ricky''s face. It was clear Ricky already anticipated the outcome. Despite knowing this, he gathered the group and began to speak. As his words settled over them, the faces around him darkened with frowns and murmurs of discontent.


    Time stretched on, the atmosphere thick with unspoken frustration. Ricky finally sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of futile efforts. Emily stomped her foot in frustration, her anger barely contained.


    Turning to the driver, Ricky spoke with a tone of reluctant acceptance. "Carry on then." The drivers exchanged a knowing chuckle, their mockery thinly veiled in their indifferent smiles.


    Ricky stood there in silence, his head bowed. The heavy weight of despair hung over him. In the end, no one was willing to dig into their pockets. not to mention, This time, the spoils were meager as it was.


    ¡°What, why are you all quiet?¡± Emily''s voice cut through the oppressive silence, loud enough for Alexander to hear from a distance.


    ¡°What, is money that important to you? Fuck you, fuck you all. I will pay all of it myself.¡±


    ¡°Emily, calm down,¡± Ricky shouted back, his voice weary.


    "you, you are telling me to ca....."


    ¡°And besides, your share is not large enough. they said extra for each additionol persone." ricky sighed.


    Ricky exhaled a long, deep sigh, the sound filled with resignation and exhaustion.


    The journey had claimed many lives. Bodies lay scattered, and even the man Emily had carried on her back succumbed to his wounds halfway.


    It didn''t take long to load the bodies. Soon, Alexander and the others boarded the truck one by one. Alexander was puzzled, noting that they didn''t put him in a crate this time.


    The vehicle, reminiscent of an ancient military transport, had two rows of seating on either side. Following the others, Alexander settled on the right.


    The central area was crammed with their gear and the scant spoils they had collected. Among them was Alexander''s own haul, discreetly retrieved from its hiding place on the way to the rendezvous point. Yet, the bags were significantly fewer than he had initially had.


    The reason was glaringly obvious. While the herbs he had gathered remained intact, the snake carcasses were nearly gone. He was left with just one piece measuring five feet and another at 2.73 feet. As for the eagle, its wings and head had fortunately survived, though the body, which held valuable material, was missing.


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    As always, there was nothing to do but sigh. Despite everything, a stir went through the group when it was discovered that this loot belonged to Alexander. From that moment, the looks directed at him shifted, morphing from disdain to jealousy and envy, emotions that lingered even now.


    After approximately fifteen minutes of discussion and paperwork, Ricky was the last to board the truck. His eyes widened in initial shock when he first heard about Alexander¡¯s haul.


    The events unfolding in the truck didn''t escape Ricky''s troubled gaze as he settled into the seat right beside Alexander. He then shouted,


    ¡°Hey, boy, what about that thing we requested?¡± Ricky called out to the helper boy.


    Though Alexander wasn''t certain, he could have sworn he saw the boy grunt before walking away, only to return with a large box.


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    Seeing the container, Alexander knew his moment had arrived and exhaled a deep sigh, preparing to get into the box.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry about it. This time it¡¯s just us. I¡¯ll inform you when we¡¯re nearing the wall. Until then, enjoy the fresh air.¡±


    Alexander sat back down, trying to mask his relief, but he felt a wave of gratitude and comfort. But the truck fell silent once again.


    Kreeeechhhh


    After some time the engine started as the truck shook.


    ¡°The way you were so eager to enter that box. I thought you had your girlfriend there, but I guess your hands work as well.¡± Ricky chuckled.


    In the next moment, many burst forth in puffing noises. It was pretty damn hilarious. Alexander turned red, and so did some of the girls, but it quieted down not long after.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ashamed, boy. In your age, any stress and I busted out 3 to 4 times a day. Heck, I even went 9 times a day once.¡± Beside Ricky, a man who seems to be at the end of his middle age said in a nonchalant manner.


    This drew not only gazes of amusement and embarrassment but also awe and respect. And somehow Alexander found himself among the ones of respect.


    Like this, the truck alternated between chuckles and quietness for some time, some very small amount of time, then it went back to its quiet nature.


    After who knows how much time, Ricky asked, ¡°So if you don¡¯t mind, tell me, how was your first time?¡± The provocative tone of his question put on an entirely different meaning.


    Alexander was about to retort, but before he had the chance to, Ricky continued pointing at his loot, ¡°And besides, seeing them, I bet everyone is dying to know your secret.¡±

 CHAPTER 31: THE UNEXPECTED HARVEST

    At first, Alexander attempted to provide a summary-style description, but Ricky¡¯s well-placed questions coaxed far more detail from him than he intended to share.


    Everyone''s eyes widened in astonishment when they heard about the battle between the elk and the white lion. Of course, Alexander didn¡¯t reveal the whole truth. In his version, he just happened to stumble upon the snake carcass after the gravely injured eagle had killed it, portraying himself as the lucky bystander passing through.


    Rather than expressing jealousy over Alexander¡¯s supposed luck, the group seemed more concerned about the presence of such formidable creatures. As Alexander had suspected, these high-level beasts weren¡¯t supposed to be in this outer area.


    According to Ricky, these creatures should be nowhere near here. With some probing, Alexander discovered this was the reason Ricky''s team was in such a state. Everything had been fine on the first day, going according to plan. But everything changed at midnight. Ricky explained that they woke to the ground quaking, initially thinking it was an earthquake. In the next moment, they found themselves fleeing from a massive horde composed entirely of gray wolves.


    They weren¡¯t sure how, but somehow they managed to lose the horde by noon the next day without any fatalities. Though no one had died, many were injured. At least they had a chance to catch their breath. The area was also filled with coconut trees, allowing them to enjoy some of nature¡¯s refreshment.


    But unfortunately, The respite didn''t last long. Shortly after noon¡ªprecisely at 4 PM¡ªthe world convulsed violently. Trees were uprooted, the ground itself seemed to tear apart, and chaos erupted all around them. They found themselves staring up at a 47-foot-tall, white-haired behemoth¡ªa gargantuan ape. From its description, Alexander was certain it was an Orth Ape.


    Unlike before, their luck had run out. The ensuing battle was nothing short of a brutal struggle for survival, rapidly descending into a tragic fight for their lives.


    Desperation took hold. With no other options, they made the harrowing decision to flee, even at the cost of lives.


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t have happened, not like this. The orth apes live deep in the forest. Why, why would one be here? It doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± another member, a frail girl holding an equally frail spear, almost screamed out, her voice quivering.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will all be okay. Okay, I guess,¡± another from the side tried futilely to comfort her, his own voice trembling.


    At this time, the sound of civilization knocked at everybody¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Hey, Alexander, it¡¯s time,¡± Ricky said, pointing at the box.


    Unlike when he crossed the border to go out, this time the experience was much calmer and far less nerve-racking.


    And without a hitch, Alexander was back inside the safety of the giant''s wall and the experts that guarded it. The feeling was, in a word, comforting.


    Ricky¡¯s group was, if not anything, honest. They swiftly gave everything Alexander owned to him without any hitch. It was not as if there was no one eyeing his stuff, but in front of Ricky none of them dared to make any move.


    Before going, the things that Ricky said, resting his hand on Alexander¡¯s shoulder, still lingered in his mind, ¡°Goodbye kid. Let us hope we never meet one another again. This, this line of work. It¡¯s not good. Get a good degree and do some office work. Of course, the payment is not great but it is certainly steady. At the very least, you don¡¯t constantly have to pit yourself against death. You are a good kid, don¡¯t through your life away.¡±


    Alexander could see it, the helplessness and frustration at his own self behind the brave front. Or rather, it was too obvious to miss. This might be Ricky¡¯s last hunt or, at the least, one thing was for sure, this was the last hunt for this group.


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    ¡°Sigh.¡± But no matter what the matter was and how sad he felt, none of that mattered. Not just objectively, not even to Alexander himself. He barely knew them. Of course, there was some sadness, but it was soon overshadowed or rather overwhelmed by his excitement of selling the things he got. The prospect was exciting on its own.


    But the excitement soon died down, reality hitting hard as always. Though most of the shops didn¡¯t question where he got his goods, a few did. The truly disheartening part was the pitifully low prices he was offered.


    Sure, he knew the items were from the outer layers, but seeing them priced at a mere 10 to 100 du was still a blow. Not to mention he got occasional allowance from his father more than this. At first, Alexander thought the shopkeepers were messing with him, so he visited several more. The prices did fluctuate slightly, but nothing significant.


    Eventually, Alexander settled on a shabby-looking shop, buried deep within the market. There were two reasons for this choice: the old man who ran it had a friendly demeanor, and more importantly, he offered better prices, even if the difference was just 1 or 2 du.


    The journey back home was long, no doubt, but it was comfortable and, most importantly, exciting. Most of what he sold didn¡¯t even cross the 50 du mark.


    But the game changed when he took out the snake meat. It fetched 300 du per kilogram, netting him quite a hefty amount. However, it was the snake skin that truly paid off, selling for 1200 du in total. In one word, it was awesome. Likewise, the remains of the eagle brought in a hefty price as well, nearly 3000 du, or rather, 2986 du to be exact.


    According to the kind old man, the scaly feathers were very badly damaged, and so the price reflected that. If they had been in better condition, Alexander would have received much, much more. As for the head, it was close to worthless; all he got was money for the scaly feathers on it and a meager amount for the actual head. In the old man¡¯s words, it could only be used as a trophy.


    Alexander chuckled in his seat, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. He thought the egel head was the most valuable thing in his possession. but in reality, the true treasure wasn''t anything he''d killed but something he''d harvested. A wildflower, picked near the cave where he had hidden, stood out among his collection.


    This unassuming flower had fetched him 6500 du alone. Though he had aimed for 8000 and the shopkeeper initially offered 5000, they eventually reached an agreement. The rest of his jungle haul had been mostly garbage, save for one peculiar shaped, 6 inch mushroom which had earned him 700 du. Not bad, he mused, not bad at all.


    The shopkeeper''s jest about selling the rest as domestic feed had seemed like a joke, but Alexander followed the advice and garnered an additional 50 du. No hard work wasted, he thought. All in all, this outing had been fruitful, yielding far more than he had anticipated. For his first venture, it wasn''t bad at all. It seems it was more profitable to pick herbs than hunt. Alexander joked to himself, without proper knowledge and team that was close to impossible.


    Rich with his newfound earnings, all Alexander could think about was how to spend the money. No matter how powerful one becomes, the power of money was unparalleled.


    The citadel, three days ago midnight,


    ¡°Ghhh,¡± the grunt of the giant, 8.9-foot man towering over him nearly made the man''s heart leap out of his throat. The sweat trickling down his face turned into a flood, despite the air conditioning blasting through the room packed with employees. The typing speed on his keyboard, already frantic, somehow found a new gear, fingers flying over the keys in a desperate attempt to maintain composure.


    ¡°It¡¯s been more than two weeks, and you guys have not generated a single lead. We are sitting ducks here! I do not understand how guys like you even have the face to take your salary,¡± the 8.9-foot middle-aged man roared, his voice echoing off the walls. His gray, flowing beard and mustache rippled with his rage, matching the ancient, noble look of his long yukata.


    Though he was middle-aged, anyone observing him from afar would easily mistake him for an old man, a titan exuding an aura of ancient power.


    The man adjusted his glasses, the lenses fogging slightly from his nervous breath. He could feel the weight of the insult, a heavy stone dropped not just on him but on every soul in the room. Words needed to be said, a defense must be mounted. It wasn¡¯t like they had been slacking off.


    ¡°Sir, we are trying. Every member of my team and almost everyone here is pushing to their limits. But there is simply no trace to follow. All we can ascertain is that the power origin point is within our city, and the magnitude of the power is so immense it might even cover the solar system.¡±


    The man paused, as if doubting the words he was about to utter. ¡°And beyond.¡±


    ¡°Miss Zara is still in intensive care. Many of our experts are severely injured¡ªeven the Lord himself was wounded. And all you¡¯ve got to say is, ¡®We are trying?¡¯¡± after a slight pause, the man snorted, a derisive sound filled with frustration.


    Before the giant man could respond, a girl ran over, breathless. ¡°Sir, sir, there¡¯s a problem.¡±


    ¡°Take a deep breath, then tell us what happened,¡± the man with glasses instructed, his voice steady, masking the urgency in his eyes.


    She quickly took over his desktop, her fingers flying across the keyboard. The giant screen in front synchronized with the man¡¯s computer, soon displaying a map with an ominous orange-red area highlighted.


    The man with glasses adjusted his frames once more and shouted, ¡°Everybody,¡±


    In the next moment, the entire room bathed in a crimson glow, the atmosphere shifting to one of high alert. The room filled with the sound of frantic typing, and various data streams began to populate the giant screen. The coordinates of the area became clear.


    ¡°This is near the core area of the forest,¡± the middle-aged man muttered, his voice low and tense as an aura began to envelop his body, shimmering with barely contained power.

 CHAPTER 32: RETURN TO UNIVERSITY

    As Alexander daydreamed about his newfound wealth, the voice abruptly intervened, shattering his reverie with a stern blueprint for how the money should be allocated and spent. Despite feeling discontent and remorseful, Alexander begrudgingly acknowledged the voice was correct. Yet, this didn''t stop him from being irritable.


    "Well, you can keep a portion for yourself," the voice conceded, perhaps swayed by Alexander''s woeful expression or simply aiming to lift his spirits.


    When Alexander arrived home, he was greeted with anything but a warm welcome. Earlier, he had informed his parents he was heading to Michael''s place for an unrelated project and would be unreachable, even threatening to block their calls.


    Concerned, his parents had attempted to contact Michael without success. They were unaware of Michael''s address, and in their visible distress, his mother suggested filing a missing person''s report. His father, however, argued they should wait the three days Alexander had mentioned.


    Judging by their attire, Alexander surmised they were preparing to approach the authorities. After enduring a scolding and a lengthy lecture, Alexander was finally let off the hook. It was fortunate they hadn''t contacted the university; that would have been an entirely different ordeal. It seemed that being a compliant son who spent most of his time at home alone had paid off today.


    Locking his bedroom door, he meticulously counted his money repeatedly. The ritual brought him a different kind of satisfaction.


    After indulging in this somewhat demeaning act for a while, Alexander finally decided to attend to the matter that truly mattered. He opened up his status screen.


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 9


    Exp: 04/1500


    Strength: 27


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    *Agility: ___


    *Constitution: 4


    *Intelligence: ___


    *Vitality: ___


    He felt a surge of elation upon discovering that his level had reached 9, and true to form, he invested all his points into strength. Yet, his eyes widened a moment later as he saw his constitution had risen to 4.


    The feeling was deeply satisfying. It seemed that all the running, fighting, and hardships endured over the past three days had not been in vain.


    In a way, it felt more meaningful than any experience points earned. Experience could be controlled and gained deliberately, but gaining a point in constitution felt like stumbling upon a treasure in the wild¡ªa stroke of luck beyond his control.


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    ¡°Don¡¯t let it go to your head, lad.¡± Just as Alexander began to grin, his ancestor¡¯s voice cut in with a sobering reminder.


    Your physique has only grown stronger. Even without these recent activities, consistent training likely would have led to the same result.¡±


    ¡°And besides, you haven¡¯t even reached the threshold of your endurance when it was 3, so realistically, all you¡¯ve done is achieve the inevitable earlier. Nothing worth celebrating.¡±


    Hearing the voice, though bit grumpy, he did obediently went to bed after freshening up with a shower and a short break. This was his first outing and he did get back in one peace, in his opinion this was worth of a bit more celebration, right?


    The following morning, he woke up as usual, only to find that the university was closed. he did not think much of it, and the day passed under the watchful eyes of his ancestor. Training and the like.


    He went out for a morning run in a nearby area. Essentially, it was an affluent neighborhood with some greenery where everyone came to jog. Although mostly frequented by elderly couples and wealthy residents, for whom jogging was more a pastime than actual exercise.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± After a long run, Alexander collapsed on the roadside, his polyester clothes soaked, heavily through with sweat.


    ¡°What for?¡± the voice replied.


    No matter what he had accomplished or changed during this time, or how much he had earned or leveled up, the most comforting feeling was that the police weren''t coming to arrest him. That was what mattered most.


    Alexander knew that after severing someone''s hand, logically, he should be behind bars by now. But he wasn''t, and that fact was undeniable. It didn''t take a genius to figure out whose handiwork that was.


    Alexander said nothing, got to his feet, and resumed running.


    The voice, also didn¡¯t press him further.


    What Alexander did not know was that even though he did not went into university for 4 days the university was not closed for just this one day but all 4 of the day. Which he was aware of the next day¡¯s when he heard the university was also closed that day.


    Honestly Alexander did not care, he just stack to his routine. During this period, the voice persistently urged him to purchase items it recommended, but he dismissed the idea, citing that it wasn''t an appropriate time to visit the market after recent events, he coursed in the market, that day. In truth, he simply wished to hold onto his money a while longer.


    The following day brought clarity. Courtesy of a new hardworking journalist who wanted to make it big, the situation was finally explained. According to a brief video he managed to capture before being intercepted by security, and kicked out, a substantial crater had appeared in front of the library. The scorched surroundings left little doubt that an explosion had occurred there, an observation requiring no genius to deduce.


    After further investigation, Alexander discovered that the incident wasn''t isolated to his class alone. Communicating with classmates and other student representatives, he learned that every department had been closed under the pretext of resuming classes the next day. It was evident that the issue was both serious and intricate.


    After briefing his parents on the events, his father fretted over the worsening situation, while his brother busily disseminated information through his phone, likely spreading news throughout his school. Yet for Alexander, these concerns held little significance. He remained focused on his tasks and exercise routines.


    With university activities paused and his reluctance to make purchases, Alexander''s ancestor decided it was time to intensify his training regime.


    As for the voice¡¯s, or rather his ancestor''s name, Despite repeated inquiries, Alexander was denied; he was told that the time to reveal it would come when he had proven himself worthy. And not to mention, he smugly added he had to earn the right to know his name.


    At which, of course, Alexander scoffed back. He remained indifferent and continued with his day. However, it was in the evening when another bombshell hit.


    Although there was no official announcement, news of the incident reached them. A student had been apprehended. On camera, the thin-framed student was visible with numerous black and red patches across her face, covered in a quilt that likely concealed additional bruises, possibly from so called question which was torture, beyond any doubt. Not to mention he saw some pretty important person that day at the library. And as far as he knew the library was closed even when the day he created the incident. Just thinking of the day of the incident, Alexander was filled with a strange feeling of satisfaction. Which he liked, he liked very much.


    The news didn''t particularly concern Alexander, which he found odd. He vaguely recalled seeing her before, but ultimately, it didn''t leave much of an impression on him.


    It was also announced that the university would reopen the following day. This brought mixed feelings for Alexander. He was apprehensive about potential retaliation from those he had confronted, yet excited for the same reason. But no matter what, This time, he felt stronger and a bit wealthier.


    Quickly dressing up he finished his breakfast and went for the bus. The bus was quite packed today. Following the school break, many students went home and today all of them will go back at the same time.


    Fortunately, he had arrived early today; otherwise, he would have been forced to stand the entire distance.


    With anticipation and excitement, he landed on the varsity grounds. For a moment nothing happened, he went to class, went to eat, then again back in class. There was nothing out of the ordinary.


    No one even noticed him that much, except for some occasional glances. Everyone was either busy with themselves or about the library incident. Just by moving place to place, he already heard more than 13 theories and speculations.


    Though he occasionally got some eyes on him, it was nothing to worry about. it seems some sharped eyes individuals remembered him from the fight. But it seems he was mostly forgotten with the long holidays and the recent incidents.


    But that was honestly not that bad. Though weird, it almost gave him a bit of a popular vibe.


    But all of that did not take long to come crashing down.


    And just like that, with his classic luck, in the last moment of the last class as he was getting ready to put his things in his bag, and thinking of what to eat after exiting, the twist happened.


    ¡°MOTHERFUCKER,¡± he screamed inwardly.

 CHAPTER 34: THE INJUSTICE

    This... this was not what he expected.


    Alexander almost wanted to laugh. How could he forget his accursed luck? Was he even allowed to?


    Everything had been normal when he arrived, except for the absence of those three. Although tense at first, Alexander had started to relax as the day went on. Just as the final class was about to end, a staff member came to fetch him.


    Now, Alexander found himself facing all the teachers in his department, except for those who were out of the city for training or other reasons.


    There were also a few teachers from other faculties and two from outside the faculty entirely, which made the situation even more bizarre. Being stared down by sixteen teachers in a room was more than a bit jarring.


    To make matters worse, they all just looked at him in silence, not uttering a single word.


    At that moment, saying Alexander was crapping his pants would be the understatement of the year.


    ¡°So, Mister Alexander.¡± The man sitting to the right of the dean took off his glasses as he spoke.


    Alexander had been swallowing nervously before, but now he gulped three times in quick succession. This man was Mr. Anowar. According to rumors, he was not only the strictest teacher but also the dean¡¯s right-hand man.


    To be honest, the rumors claimed that the dean only held her position due to her seniority, and Mr. Anowar was the one who truly reigned supreme in the department. Rightfully so, as he was the most accomplished member of the department present. Well, except for one professor currently in the capital for his final education degree.


    In any case, he was screwed.


    "Mr. Alexander, I assume we don¡¯t need to explain why we called you here," Mr. Anowar said, snapping Alexander back to reality.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to discuss. Just expel the boy,¡± one of the teachers from outside the faculty said, his tone dripping with judgment.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned tense. All eyes were on Mr. Anowar, who, in turn, was glaring at the speaker.


    Alexander looked up, noticing every teacher was staring at Mr. Anowar, except for Mr. Mundol, the name of the outspoken teacher. Mr. Anowar was fixed on Mr. Mundol, not even blinking. Mr. Mundol tried to look in Mr. Anowar''s eyes but failed miserably. The silence stretched, and the tension grew palpable. ¡°Mr. Hur Mundol,¡± Mr. Anowar finally said, pausing ominously. Even Alexander and other teachers felt suffocated by the silence, let alone Mr. Mundol.


    ¡°This is my department. I¡¯ve given you enough leeway by involving you in this matter. Do. Not. Push. It.¡± Mr. Mundol''s aura flared with his frustration, but it was quickly quashed by the overwhelming presence of Mr. Anowar as he spoke each word with a pronounced pause.


    All the teachers were sweating buckets. So there was really no reason to state the condition of a puny creature like Alexander.


    Alexander left the place with a grumpy face. "There was no justice."


    In the end, he was the one punished, while Taker and his gang went scot-free. It was decided that Alexander would be suspended from class for 13 days. During the first five days, he had to do community service, including planting trees, cleaning the north side, Giro Field, and the south side Noda exhibition, along with some other miscellaneous tasks.


    Though none of this was particularly hard for Alexander, and he was already considering incorporating the exercises given by his ancestor with this punishment, it still felt bad to be treated unjustly. However, it was bearable, all thanks to Mr. Anowar.


    There had been a huge argument about him. Teachers from the faculty and outsiders were so determined to expel him that Alexander almost thought he had wronged them personally. As for the teachers from his department, however, one teacher¡ªknown for his relentless sermons on ethics and morality, and whom Alexander had always respected for his apparent apathy to students¡ªtook Mr. Mundol''s side.


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    This was especially infuriating for Alexander, given the teacher''s constant discourse on ethics and fairness. Alexander had always believed him to be one of the most morally upright individuals.


    Alexander tried to clarify his position multiple times, but every attempt was met with Mr. Kisir¡¯s abrupt dismissals. It was as if Mr. Kisir was determined not to hear him out, shutting him down before he could even get a word in. The refusal to listen left Alexander feeling increasingly frustrated and helpless.


    Despite Mr. Anowar¡¯s initial efforts to assist him, the opposition was overwhelming. Ultimately, even Mr. Anowar had to concede, albeit reluctantly, and he ensured that Alexander¡¯s punishment was as minimal as possible. However, Mr. Anowar was no pushover. Before anyone had the chance to say anything, he swiftly diverted the conversation about the punishment of Taker and his gang.


    But as if turning on a switch, like an explosion setting off, almost everyone joined the fray at once¡ªMr. Kisir, the teacher from outside the facility, and even some previously mentioned deferment teachers along with the chairman herself. They began to speak up, asserting Taker¡¯s innocence and alleging that he had been unjustly treated. The flood of support was overwhelming.


    It was in that moment that it all clicked for Alexander. The realization dawned on him that without Mr. Anowar, he would have been sure to be expelled today. With only one university in the city, this would mean the end of his education there, or he would have to relocate to another city entirely to continue his studies. In other words, the end of his study, as he doubted his father had the money to relocate to another city.


    As he walked, Alexander had to admit he had underestimated Taker¡¯s father¡¯s influence. The man had secured most of the teachers for his son in a manner that was quite impressive. Alexander thought with a faint smile as his lips curved into a subtle arch.


    On the flip side, Alexander was convinced this wouldn¡¯t be the end. It might have been if he had been outright expelled, but he doubted someone as egotistical as Taker would be satisfied with such an outcome.


    By the dawn of the second day, Alexander was making his way through the university. The work wasn¡¯t particularly hard. The main challenge was incorporating it into his workout routine, which he managed with relative ease.


    The plan had been to start working at the university before morning, but a cruel twist of fate¡ªa twist like a knife through Alexander¡¯s heart¡ªmeant he had to run the entire way from home to the university.


    At first, the knife was metaphorical, but when he started running, it became literal and frankly guttural. At first, it was not that big of a hassle, but after almost half the path, he started panting.


    His pace was relentless, and despite pushing himself, Alexander found himself panting heavily. He had intended to take a taxi to the university, but his stubborn ancestor vehemently opposed the idea.


    Afterward, he was forced to take a rest for 30 minutes before he could move again, but in that time, he understood something. He had run almost, well, barely almost two-thirds of the way to the university, without stopping once. Was it even possible for the old him? The answer was, without a doubt, a resounding no. The thought put a smile on his face, which was soon doused by the pain and soreness. Especially on the fricking legs. They were killing him.


    And, as was to be expected, he had to stop multiple times on the rest of the way and even had to take almost another 45 minutes of break after coming to the university. The experience was not pleasant, to say the least. But fortunately, he arrived very early and was able to complete the task before the students arrived. In that way, the work was easier.


    Today, Alexander arrived even earlier, determined to apply the lessons from the previous day. He planned to take multiple breaks to avoid worsening his condition, but his ancestor butted in and told him to push on until he couldn¡¯t move anymore, before resting briefly and continuing. Despite his early start, the day unfolded almost exactly like the previous one.


    By the end, he managed to complete both his workout and his punishment. Just three more days, and he would have an eight-day vacation. He was already considering visiting the forest area again to gain some levels.


    He had other plans too, but his thoughts were interrupted. As he tossed a plastic bottle into the correct bin, Alexander paused. He had that feeling again¡ªthe sensation of being watched. He shrugged it off, reminding himself the campus was large. Though his assigned area seemed small compared to the whole university, it was quite expansive, and he couldn¡¯t afford to get distracted.


    However, by the end of the day, the feeling solidified. He was being tailed by two or maybe three people, not all at once, but in shifts of two or one. He wasn¡¯t certain.


    Given how he had noticed them even while trying to avoid distractions and without any help from his ancestor, there were two possibilities: they were either incredibly bad at tailing or they simply didn¡¯t care if he noticed.


    Alexander had a hunch it was both. As for who was following him, it was easy enough to guess. Undoubtedly, it was the seniors. Though he couldn¡¯t confirm it, he was more than 99% sure.


    This was not good. He swallowed hard, feeling a wave of unease wash over him.

 CHAPTER 34: I WANT TO IMPRESS SOMEONE

    Though initially afraid, Alexander soon calmed down¡ªor rather, he forced himself to do so.


    The first reason for his fear was obvious: the inherent trepidation of a freshman facing seniors. Ragging had mostly been eradicated, but the emphasis on "mostly" was not lost on him.


    The other reason was equally clear. Not every student at the university was there with pure intentions. To be frank, "pure" wasn''t the right term. It was more accurate to say that not all students came to study. Without the watchful eyes of their parents, it didn''t take much for some to lose their way.


    Judging by Taker''s political background and his intentions, it wasn''t hard to figure out what kind of seniors these were. The most pressing concern, however, was Alexander''s uncertainty about his ability to fight these guys as he was. He might be overthinking it, but there was no way he could equate fighting a beast with fighting a real human being.


    Besides, the almost-killing blow Taker had delivered at the last moment of their fight was still fresh in his mind.


    ¡°Hi, can you help me create the agility meridian next?¡± Alexander asked the voice.


    Though confident in his strength, Alexander knew that when it came to fighting humans, strength alone will not be enough. After all no matter how much force is in your punches, it doesn''t matter, if it does not connect. Humans are intelligent and nimble creatures, and he might have to fight multiple opponents, not to mention they might receive some extra benefits from taker.


    When he thought about all of this, the fear was palpable. It wasn¡¯t that he considered giving up the feud and begging Taker for forgiveness, but he refused to return to his former self. He could feel it¡ª a small but potentially raising momentum building within him. Deep down, in the core of his being, there was no will to bend the knee. His defiance wasn¡¯t just aimed at Taker or the pressures of the university; it was a rebellion against the systems of the society, the word and its very laws. It was as if deep inside he just wanted to fight, to rebel, or conquer. Be it his fears or his opponents.


    What was the worst that could happen if he lost? He¡¯d get banged up badly. So be it; that was better than bending the knee. Winning would be ideal, but if not, so be it. They wouldn¡¯t go as far as to kill him. With these thoughts, his fear subsided a bit.


    "No, that would not be possible," his ancestor answered. But Alexander wasn''t particularly disappointed; he had already anticipated this. If it were that easy, why would his ancestors not already help him forming it? After all, if the goal was to focus solely on strength, it had been overdone to the point where his other attributes were nearly, scratch that, truly neglected.


    It seemed he would have to tough it out after all.


    "Don''t worry, you are more than powerful enough to fight those pesky things," his ancestor assured him in a nearly mocking tone, as if Alexander''s concerns were absurd.


    "And even if those puny things somehow manage to overpower you, just follow my instructions. But by that point you are better off just giving up on cultivation all together." After a pause, he added, "And don''t forget, running away shamelessly is always an option. Ha, ha, ha."


    "Not funny," Alexander replied, though plans were already forming in his mind.


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    "Hey, like constitution, can I upgrade my agility with effort?" Alexander asked, watching the buildings pass by through the bus window.


    As he took off his shoes upon entering his home, he realized why his plan wasn''t quite feasible. of course, after a lengthy back and forth between him and his ancestor and thinking the whole way.


    He pulled the quilt over himself and decided to sleep a bit early, intending to start work even earlier the next day.


    In theory, it wasn''t fundamentally impossible. With constant practice, he could definitely improve his agility. But both he and his ancestor doubted it was a worthwhile investment given the limited time.


    There was a slim chance that all his efforts so far would push him forward, possibly granting him a point in agility after some practice, in this limited time. However, it was highly unlikely, and Alexander doubted a single point in agility would make much difference anyway.


    So, By the time he truly tried to sleep, the idea of raising his agility had been thrown far out the window. It was not a possibility.


    As planned, he woke up early in the morning and made his way to the university. As one of the seven metropolises of the world, the city never truly slept, but the difference in population density this early on the road was still noticeable. Relatively speaking, of course.


    Unable to increase his agility, he devised a new plan. This plan required him to wake up early, aiming to complete his punishment as soon as possible for the day.


    It didn''t take long for him to reach his destination. Stepping out of the taxi, he looked at a familiar place: the market.


    This plan of his undoubtedly will burn a hole in his pocket, but what could he do? Decapitating a cow and running was not something he was planning on repeating. His plan was neither complex nor impressive. In truth, it was a plan a simpleton could come up with, but considering all his points were in strength, he wondered if that was truly not so?.


    A chuckle escaped his lips. Since agility was off the table, Alexander decided to update his strength. Even if not by much, just one level would suffice. A sane person might question the value of a single level, but in Alexander¡¯s mind, it was better than nothing.


    Though there was a significant chance he might not gain any points in agility after practicing, he was guarantied to gain at least three points in strength after leveling up.


    To execute his plan, he needed to find a shabby, declining beef shop in a remote location that was barely functioning.


    After almost another shared ride on a small vehicle that more looked like a thick metal sheet on an engine, a spatiality of the mall. He went deep in the market.


    Though it cost him some money, it didn''t bother him much, considering it would have taken him three hours to traverse the area on foot.


    Though it took some time, in this constantly declining economy, it was not hard to find. It was a shabby, almost dirty-looking shop¡ªwell, more accurately, a 3 by 5 foot stall with no shutter or counter and many uncleaned dried-up blood marks.


    Two people manned the shop. Both were dressed in clothes made of poor materials, stained with patches of dried blood. most likely their work attire.


    One of them was a middle-aged man, likely the owner, and the other, a younger individual, probably his assistant or apprentice. Beside them were three cows, presumably ready for slaughter.


    He chuckled at the thought. There was no way he was going to repeat his previous stunt. Although the location was perfect, he had another plan.


    This plan would cost him some precious money, but he believed it to be the best option. Besides, he intended to get his money¡¯s worth.


    Inhaling deeply and exhaled slowly as he started approaching the younger man among the two. At least, he tried to appear calm. But halfway through, he changed his mind and turned toward the older man instead.


    ¡®Here¡¯s the money, now teach me,¡¯ Alexander wanted to blurt out and get it over with as he locked eyes with the older man. But he held himself back with all his might.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡± the man asked, a mixture of confusion and expectation in his voice. Most likely the man thought Alexander might be a customer.


    Alexander stood there for a few more moments, mostly to calm down and arrange his words at the last possible moment.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he began, pausing briefly. ¡°Well, actually, you can.¡±


    ¡°The thing is, I want to learn how to decapitate cows,¡± Alexander said in a calm tone, though his heart leapt to his throat when he saw a frown appear on the older man¡¯s face


    "Of course, I''m willing to pay. All you have to do is give me the opportunity to slay the creatures. If I make any mistakes, you can point them out. Essentially, I just need the chance to practice. In return, I''ll pay you 1500 du for five days." Alexander quickly added.


    Alexander panicked even more when, midway through his pitch, the older man''s frown deepened. He swallowed hard.


    "Why do you want to learn this?" the older man asked.


    Alexander gulped again, his mind racing as he searched for an answer.


    "I... I....I want to impress someone," he blurted out, his calm fa?ade shattering.


    The momentary silence that followed plunged Alexander into even deeper panic, blinding him to the shocked look on the shopkeeper''s face. He was just about to turn and flee when¡ª


    "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha..."


    "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha..."


    Two sets of laughter echoed through.

 CHAPTER 35: THE PURSUIT OF A SINGLE LEVEL

    The two sets of laughter startled Alexander as he looked back; even the assistant was having a hard time controlling his laughter.


    Though he felt a little embarrassed and a bit frustrated, it was just another lesson: no matter how much planning you do, nothing actually goes according to it. At least the serious demeanor of the shopkeeper was gone.


    The laughter went on for a few seconds. Afterward, the older man said, ¡°Okay, okay, kids these days. What weird taste. Back in my day, girls found this line of work repulsive, and now they dig it. Ha,¡± he sighed. ¡°How times have changed.¡±


    He then looked at his young assistant and said, ¡°See, Harry, if I was born in this day and age, I would just clean up. Ha, ha ha, ha, ha.¡±


    ¡°So, boy, what would you want to do? Start from today or tomorrow?¡± the man asked, still laughing.


    ¡°I would like to start from today.¡±


    Fifteen minutes later, Alexander was back on his way home. Things did not actually go as he planned, but it all worked out in the end, which was more than he could have hoped for.


    In the taxi, Alexander wordlessly opened his status screen with a mental nudge:


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 9


    Exp: 799/1500


    Strength: 27


    Perception: ___


    Dexterity: ___


    Agility: ___


    Constitution: 4


    Intelligence: ___


    Vitality: ___


    As usual, it did not go nearly as well as he thought. None of the cows gave him as much exp as the first one he chopped that day. But seeing the cows, he was already prepared for the fact that none of them were that robust to begin with.


    The first one gave him hope; the second one continued it, but the third one, well, it completely dashed it.


    281 and 301 were the exp he got from the first two cows, respectively. But the last one just gave him 213 exp.


    After seeing the first two at the 300 range, he prayed that the last one would be at least 318 to get at least 900, but reality¡ªor rather luck again¡ªreminded him how much the damn thing hated him. He did not quite get it; the last one even looked a bit bigger, hence his hope.


    He reached home and started to sleep, as he had already picked up something from the market for dinner to save time. Tomorrow, he had to wake up even earlier. His ancestor made it clear that though he himself did not like it, the proverb was indeed true: the early bird gets the worm. And though Alexander was skeptical at first, he now began to see it, or he just became accustomed to it.


    The next day came, and Alexander followed his routine. The seniors were there monitoring him. They became more nonchalant about it than before, as if they did not even care if Alexander knew what they were up to. If he was right, they were either going to find him after he joined after the punishment, or they were going to take action tomorrow, the last day of his punishment.


    Alexander had a hunch that it would be the latter. That¡¯s why he joined up with the butcher; if everything went well, he would get the level today and hopefully put up a fight tomorrow. All he wanted was that they did not jump at him today. A wish that was kept, it seemed.


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    But the other one was not. Truly, nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world. As he reached the butcher shop, instead of the three cows he was expecting, he just saw one. There was no way that this one cow was going to give him enough exp to level up.


    And without a level, he really did not feel confident enough for a fight. But there was still hope. He killed the cow, this time with a bit more force escaping from his frustration, which sent the cow¡¯s head flying, but he did manage to stop the knife before it hit the ground. A condition that was sure to damage the floor and spell the end for the knife; by that point, he would have to give reparations.


    ¡°Why did you hit it so hard?¡± the assistant quickly ran over and started rambling. Alexander quickly tuned it out as he looked at his notification.


    296 exp was the amount Alexander received.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Alexander said in frustration.


    After some rambling, the assistant started doing his work, which involved first skinning and then cutting the meat into huge chunks. Outside, customers were already waiting. They were very chatty, most likely regulars.


    But Alexander did not care; he was looking at his status screen.


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 9


    Exp: 1095/1500


    Strength: 27


    Perception: ___


    Dexterity: ___


    Agility: ___


    Constitution: 4


    Intelligence: ___


    Vitality: ___


    There it was: just an addition of 296 exp. He did not know why he even did this. It¡¯s not like opening his status screen would show the exp gained as higher or something, though he hoped for it, deep in his subconscious.


    No doubt he was frustrated and distraught, but there was still hope.


    Alexander sat in a moving taxi, his face almost lifeless and his mind racing. Should he take the risk or not?


    Five hours and many of his mom¡¯s calls later, there was nothing. Not a single cow came. According to what he knew, there were three kinds of customers in the shop, or this kind of shop, really.


    First, the regular kind, which almost never fluctuates. Then there is the hotel type. Due to constant need for meat in the big hotels, most of the mass-produced meat was reserved for them, so the smaller, not-so-well-known establishments gathered their meat from either themselves or sources like this who actually did not have the money to buy the machine for the work.


    Not to mention, for competitive advantage, they had to charge way less for their labor than usual. So it could be said that these shops were just working overtime all the time.


    And then there was the third type, which was the favorite for these types of shops. They were the ceremonial orders. Most of the time, it was the normal ones¡ªsome people like his father who wanted to eat organic meat, buy the cow, and take it straight to the butcher. Then there were the others that needed meat cut in specific ways. Those are the ones that get charged heavily. So Alexander waited, hoping that by some miracle, another cow would come for slaughter, even praying¡ªa prayer that was not answered.


    Coming home, the lifeless face was still there. Despite his mom¡¯s protests, he did not answer and said it was nothing she needed to worry about.


    Finishing dinner and all the accompanying things, Alexander lay on his bed. All this time, there was one thing running through his mind: should he or should he not take the risk?


    He was plenty strong enough, and it was not as if one level was going to give him a massive advantage. But there was something in the back of his mind protesting, as if something was going to remain incomplete if he did not go through with the level. It was as if he wanted to complete the goal he set for himself, not for anything else, just for himself, just to feel accomplished, not for others but for himself.


    There was always the possibility that the seniors might not do something tomorrow or might not do anything at all, but Alexander very much doubted it.


    So just before he was out cold, he had decided he was not going to go to the university tomorrow. Instead, he would spend the whole day at the butcher shop. This would extend his punishment by half a day more, but he did not care. He had to get that level, no matter what.


    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± the voice rang out in his mind. Of course, Alexander was not conscious to hear it. ¡°But at least you made the right choice.¡±


    The next day, he went out running as usual but this time a little late. That was because, even though the market was open 24/7, the butcher shop he was working at did not open before 10:00 am. A bunch of lazy people. Alexander scoffed internally, not noticing he was more lazy than them just a few days ago.


    His classes started from 9:00 am, so he could attend half of a class before joining the butcher shop, which should earn him at least an attendance. But he decided against it. He just did not want to take a chance.


    Alexander did not realize it at first, but the market was not that far from their house, well, relative to the university, of course. But even then, he was drenched in sweat and panting by the time he reached the butcher shop, deep in the market.


    No matter what, Alexander wanted to get the level today. And what he saw widened his eyes to the limit. And not in a good way.

 CHAPTER 36: PATIENCE AND RESULT

    The sight that greeted him was infuriating. The shop was open, but only the elderly shopkeeper was present, engaged in a heated argument with a man who was unceremoniously dragging a cow behind him.


    Alexander¡¯s instinct was to confront this fool immediately¡ªnot the cow owner, but the shopkeeper himself.


    It soon became clear that the shop assistant was still absent, which was why the shopkeeper stubbornly refused to handle the matter. Without hesitation, Alexander stepped in to defuse the escalating tension before the cow owner moved on to another shop.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Alexander interjected, his voice firm, attempting to diffuse the situation before it spiraled further.


    The shopkeeper paused, eyeing him with suspicion.


    ¡°Can you manage it?¡± the shopkeeper questioned, clearly doubtful.


    At that moment, Alexander felt an urge to face palm. How had this man managed to stay in business for so long?


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not exactly equipped, but I¡¯ll call Harry and see how far he is. If he¡¯s close enough, I¡¯ll handle the initial cutting, and when he arrives, he can manage the rest.¡±


    Fortunately, Alexander¡¯s call revealed that Harry was nearby. Alexander efficiently took care of the immediate tasks, and by the time Harry arrived, he was ready to take over the situation seamlessly.


    Alexander watched with mounting frustration as Harry bustled around. The paltry 247 experience points awarded was barely a drop in the bucket, falling far short of what was needed for a level-up. The cow¡¯s pitiful state hadn¡¯t exactly been a surprise, but it did little to ease his discontent.


    At least the day had started on a good note,According to some business superstition, that was a promising omen. Too bad that superstition seemed to be as reliable as a broken clock. By noon, Alexander was tempted to strangle the inventor of that nonsense. He and the shopkeeper had spent hours in a pointless debate over who had swatted more flies, not to mention neither of them actually hit one.


    He stared at the experience bar¡ª1342/1500¡ªas the shop assistant wrapped up the last piece of meat for a customer. Then came the excruciating wait. Boredom gnawed at him, making him focus on the second hand of the clock as it ticked away in a maddeningly slow rhythm. Even the flies had abandoned their torment, clearly bored by the lack of action.


    Five more hours had slipped away, leaving him with nothing to show for it. Maybe it had been a terrible idea from the start. No, no it was not. It¡¯s just his damn luck whenever something goes according to plan. Just, just at the last second, the last fucking second, some divine intervention happens to fuck things up. Always, always.


    Alexander¡¯s frustration reached a boiling point. He stood up, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white, veins bulging with the effort. But then he deflated, slumping back into the chair with a sigh of defeat. What could he do?


    He almost gave in to the urge to head home, but no. He would stick it out. The day might be a disaster, but he was determined to see it through. He settled back into his seat, a decision he would come to regret deeply as the evening dragged on.


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    By now, he felt like banging his head against the nearest wall. Just as he was about to give in to that impulse, a girl''s voice floated in from outside the shop, brightening his mood like a ray of sunshine in a thunderstorm.


    ¡°Hey, is this shop open?¡± she called out, and Alexander¡¯s spirits lifted instantly. Before he could react, the assistant darted across the room like a hyperactive squirrel, eagerly greeting the newcomer.


    The reason for the assistant¡¯s enthusiasm became glaringly obvious when Alexander laid eyes on the customer. She was a striking young woman, probably around seventeen, with a natural beauty that was hard to ignore. And with her age came the natural arrogence and all that. She was murmuring something about how she does not come to this kind of establishment and how it was an emergency. Simply how beneath this place was for her, and all that.


    Harry, the assistant, was practically drooling as he listened to her. Meanwhile, Alexander let out a sigh of relief. Even if he didn¡¯t level up, at least his waiting wasn¡¯t in vain. He glanced up and was immediately struck by a surprising sight.


    His eyes widened in shock as he felt an unexpected moisture in his eyes. ¡°Men don¡¯t cry, men don¡¯t cry. Dammit,¡± Alexander muttered, wiping his eyes frantically and checking to make sure no one was watching.


    There were almost 4 cows. Alexander was elated, God had listened to him, he had been paid for his hard work or, in this case, his patience. Though he preferred hard work over patience any day all day.


    It seems the shopkeeper, who was arguing with someone, also came back and took charge of the conversation. Though Alexander had never seen him doing anything other than counting money, the man was quite proficient and professional when it comes to business. It seems this was not for no reason this guy was the shopkeeper.


    Of course, the haughty princess type never partook in this kind of conversation. She was in her car, though it did not have tires. Alexander recognized it as one of the top-notch models of bentley¡¯ luxury line of SUVs. And true to her haughty nature, she was pouting most likely mad about some inconsequential, a rich kid problem, while heavy music rang. Though there was no way to tell as the car was quite frankly put in silence mode.


    The talking was done by an older gentleman, who looked like a proper man in a suit, hair all white, most likely her bodyguard. But why he was an old man, Alexander had no idea.


    Upon closely listening, Alexander¡¯s eyes lit even more. It seems for the birthday, the girl¡¯s family arranged a food charity for the local homeless and for the people who were in need. And also some dwellers, and the shopkeeper asked him to get a cow more if they could it would be better that way, and it seems they agreed.


    To Alexander, it was exp falling from the sky. He quickly made his way to the assistant who began to arrange the cows for slaughter. It was true God does reward those who have patience. Alexander was completely unaware that the girl was looking at him with interest in her eyes, even though really briefly.


    Inside the assistant was first at work, and his effectiveness and enthusiasm were double than normal. Alexander also got ready and started helping by sharpening the tools and all that.


    {You have killed a domestic cow, 302 exp}


    {You have killed a domestic cow, 309 exp}


    {You have killed a domestic cow, 312 exp}


    {You have killed a domestic cow, 275 exp}


    30 minutes later, Alexander¡¯s work was done as he looked at his status screen in shock. Yes, the cows looked healthy and good, but he did not expect all 3 amidst the 4 to give him exp over 300 and surprise he was more than willing to take. And the last one being quite low, it did not even register in his mind.


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 10


    Exp: 1040/1750


    Strength: 27


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    *Agility: ___


    *Constitution: 4


    *Intelligence: ___


    *Vitality: ___


    [Free points: 3]


    Alexander was completely awestruck after seeing his exp bar. Not only did he get his long-awaited exp but also another filled up half of what he needed for the next. To say he was over the moon would be an understatement of the century.


    Not to mention there was also a chance of another cow coming, which would give him more exp. It seems this venture of his was proving more profitable than even his outing outside the wall. But he knew this kind of order was not a daily occurrence.


    It was not all good news, it was later learned that the other cow was canceled. Though Alexander felt bad, but honestly, after getting this big of windfall was there any place to complain. He was more than happy.


    Even though there was no obligation, Alexander worked with the assistant and the shopkeeper till the end to finish the work and help them.


    It was almost 8:00 pm when the work was done, but at this time there was another surprise waiting for Alexander. It seems that the haughty princess bought a Yekthor, for her own friend¡¯s party. A Yekthor was a variant of Yak, that fell into the category of a wild beast. Just thinking about the exp was enough for Alexander to start drooling. It would at least give him 500 exp or so, or even better if it¡¯s one of the adult big ones, it might even give him more than 1000 exp, he just may get another level. This day was shaping up to be a very great day after all.


    But just as he thought it, it all came crashing down. The shopkeeper turned the haughty princess down. It seems to handle this kind of creature, special equipment was needed, and frankly, they did not have them.


    Alexander deflated like a licked balloon. ¡°What the fuck!¡± Alexander wanted to curse but did not. He reminded himself not to be too greedy, but it was a fucking shame nonetheless.


    Though the processing of the meat was almost complete, there were still some things left like, weighing the meat, processing the intestines, and all that. So Alexander decided to go home after taking his leave from the shopkeeper. But just as he left the shop, his eyes widened in disbelief.

 CHAPTER 37: LORDRIC

    As Alexander was about to head home, something outside caught his eye, making him freeze in shock. Without wasting a second, he dashed back into the shop.


    ¡°Mr., you need to come out now!¡± Alexander called to the shopkeeper, who was engrossed in counting money. Annoyance flickered across the shopkeeper''s face, but hearing the commotion outside, as if something clicked in his mind, he bolted toward the front where a line of cows stood, each cluster of cows with a different owner.


    Finishing up with the haughty princess¡¯s group, the assistant joined him.


    ¡°I almost forgot, tomorrow is Astronova day.¡±


    Alexander looked at the assistant in a way that said in no uncertain terms that he did not understand at all what he was implying.


    Then it hit him, ¡°Oh, I get it.¡±


    Tomorrow was the Astronova day. The day when the city of Astronova was formally opened to the citizens. At that time, filled with numerous beasts, the city was another stronghold for humans, a beacon of hope. Which was most likely achieved with desperation and blood. So naturally, after the city''s establishment, the day was later declared a holiday.


    Although at first, it was almost exclusively for patriotic reasons, celebrated with friends and families and showing respect to the men who laid down their lives to make this city a reality, over the centuries it turned into a holiday like any other.


    As with holidays, the restaurants would be busy. Naturally, all the high-end restaurants and especially the hotels had booked all the well-mechanically superior butcher shops in the area. This left the others with two choices: either get their supplies from somewhere else, which would undoubtedly be costly due to carrying fees, or use the local providers to save money. It was clear which option most businesses would choose.


    Alexander glanced at the clock¡ªhe was past the time he¡¯d promised his parents he¡¯d be home. The night had deepened after a day of cutting and helping at the shop. Reflecting on it now, it was one reason he could even attend the event. After all, this was like the 2nd hand market, no owner came here without exploring every option first.


    In this cutthroat environment, speed was essential, these businessmen were on tight schedules. The quicker they got their meat, the sooner they could prep for the next day''s celebration. Thanks to his boosts, the shop now had a significant edge over the days when only two staff managed operations. This enhanced efficiency not only streamlined their workflow but also racked up his experience points by securing more cows.


    Without hesitation, Alexander resolved to stay put, fully aware that this could drag on¡ªpossibly through the entire night. He couldn¡¯t just chase after the cow¡¯s decapitated head; the owner was counting on having three men at the helm, not two.


    Skipping university tomorrow was out of the question. Missing it meant enduring his punishment all over again, in which case his level up trip in the forts will go up in flames. Can¡¯t have that, now can he? To make matters worse, he was likely to be thrust into a fight the next day, one he¡¯d have to face on barely any sleep. Still, the chance to grab extra experience points and possibly hit another level was too good to let slip away.


    .........


    ¡°A few days earlier.¡±


    An apartment, well it would be more apt to say an apartment encompassing an entire floor almost one third of a football field. At its center lay a recessed octagonal platform, surrounded by three tiers of steps on each side. This platform was a chaotic jumble of books, papers, compasses, pens, and pencils, creating a cluttered yet vibrant workspace. In stark contrast, the rest of the apartment was meticulously organized, each area carefully arranged and efficiently utilized.


    But once inside, no one would notice the enticing woodwork, the immaculate ceiling, the soft, ethereal lighting, or the elegant furniture and arrangement, nor would they focus on the mess in the middle of the room.


    Their attention would undoubtedly be drawn to the young man, dressed in black pants and a white half-buttoned shirt, staring down at the sprawling city below from his glass wall. Even the magnificent capital beneath him, with its lights, grandeur, projections, wonders, and countless skyscrapers, would pale in comparison to the young man¡¯s back view.


    The young man gazed at the sky overhead. What he was thinking no one had the audacity to guess.


    Some time passed as the door opened and then closed. The person that entered was a woman. Although if the voice of Alexander¡¯s ancestor was present, he would describe her in another phrase entirely, the personification of the word, ¡°sexy teacher.¡± There was no two ways about it.


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    With her high heels, black stockings, low-cut skirt, almost see-through white shirt with a deep, oh so deep cleavage that could partly be seen with a tinge of indigo and the most important thing was a pair of butterfly glasses. She wasn''t just the personification but also the definition of the word "sexy teacher archetype." Undoubtedly, she could turn anyone''s kink meter to eleven.


    Her usual, confident demeanor was nowhere to be seen today. Instead, she appeared a bit flustered¡ªa rare sight that anyone who knew her, would just say absurd. As she stepped out of her heels and glanced up, a faint blush crept across her cheeks. She understood why; this nervousness was something new, almost alien to her. For as long as she could remember, there had always been many in her life, heck, some she even liked. But one thing was always constant, they wanted her, not, no, never the other way around.


    But now, looking at the reflection of the boy, that was at least 10 years younger than her, she was mesmerized. His deep piercing blue eyes, tall stature, imposing yet stable shoulders, not to mention his impeccable way of clothing, his chiseled and sharp appearance, that was further amplified by the pair of glasses he wore. He, he, didn¡¯t just capture her heart; he seared right through it.


    Though the boy''s face looked cute, he gave off what can only be perceived by a woman as ¡°daddy energy.¡± Her mind started going to weird places. But she quickly shook her head and connected with reality. A task she found daunting, seeing even now her student did not even look at her once. His piercing, focused, unwavering¡ªshe quickly stopped herself from going completely out of control, like something else in her body. As for him not knowing she was here, that was impossible for the best scorer in the capital university. The pride of Lestion.


    She stepped forward just about to call him, but¡ª


    Zzzzzzzzz


    In an instant, a crushing weight enveloped her, as if an enormous force¡ªa weight so immense it felt like an entire mountain range¡ªhad descended upon her with an undeniable presence. It was as though she stood in the presence of something so overpowering that it naturally commanded absolute subjugation. This force wasn¡¯t exerted with intent; it was simply a manifestation of its raw, primal power. Despite her desperate efforts to maintain her composure, the pressure proved too great. Her body could no longer endure the onslaught, and she was forced to double over, violently expelling a mouthful of blood.


    Things took a while to settle down, and even longer for everything to make any kind of sense. But was it ever going to make sense? What was going on? She was no normal lady. She was in front of a Baron once, and even his aura was not even close to this. Yes, she understood this was aura. And so pure, well, now that she thinks about it,¡ª


    But she didn¡¯t have time to ponder it now. There was some blood¡ªyes, she¡¯d vomited a bit¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t going to stop her. She was here to do something, and she was determined to see it through. Even if it seemed a bit absurd. Confidence in her body and appearance was her strength, and even a little blood couldn¡¯t change that. To make sure she was on point, she added a touch of makeup before coming here, though she always believed she didn¡¯t really need it¡ªit was just a trend, after all.


    Looking up, she still saw her student fixated on the sky, his hands pressed firmly against the glass. The blood smeared across the glass and pooled ominously in front of his shoes, painting a disturbing picture.


    She wanted to call him out but paused a little as he unbuttoned two upper buttons of her shirt and used the blood around her mouth to make her lips even redder.


    With a newfound confidence, she attempted to speak with the most seductive tone she could muster, ¡°Heyyy... ghhh, ghhhhhh.¡±


    Before she could complete her sentence, her voice faltered. She clutched her throat, a desperate gurgling sound escaping her lips. Warm, thick liquid oozed through her fingers. Though she didn¡¯t need to see it, the metallic taste in her mouth and the warmth confirmed her fear¡ªit was blood.


    For the first time, the boy''s gaze locked onto hers. But it wasn''t the joy one might expect; instead, her eyes were wide with panic, quickly spiraling into sheer terror. Did he know? Had he known all along? How was that even possible?


    Unlike the bleeding woman sprawled on the floor, the young man¡¯s expression was disturbingly straightforward. Annoyance. Nothing more.


    This wasn¡¯t uncharted territory for Lordric. From his teenage years onward, he''d faced similar scenarios. Usually, it was influential mothers or high-ranking figures trying to pair their little princesses with him. Initially, it was almost amusing, even flattering. After all, despite his talents, he was still a young man stepping into adolescence, and it came with its own set of, lets just say perks.


    But no matter how good a thing is, it would run out its welcome eventually. Not to mention his abundance was simply on another level. Soon he started to see past the veil everyone wore. He saw how they used their own daughters as bargaining chips. How they see it all as a process, a process to get to him. Just to make acquaintance with him.


    He chuckled. Thoughts like this bring back memories. Memories of her. And that day, the talk he had with her.


    He shook his head. She was something. Lordric dialed someone as he stood one meter apart from his teacher, well, former teacher.


    ¡°My room, there was another one,¡± Lordric said as he pulled out the small pen that was now embedded in the floor. The pen was lightly damaged. Seeing this, he frowned. ¡°Well, make it quick if you want to interrogate her.¡± Saying this he cut the phone.


    And then there were these ones, who came with a sole mission to either seduce him or, if failed, eliminate him. As for where she was from, he had a guess, but did not bother to think about it. That was why the interrogation existed.


    His coding was not as good as it should be; the pen got damaged, even though by a bit. Now he had work on it. In truth it was just a attempt at distracting himself. That presence, that aura it was driving him crazy. That array was beautiful but the intent and raw power of that intent, he actually could not describe it. it was as if using word to describe it was blasphemy. The pure fear was treating to consume him whole.

 CHAPTER 38: MR. SHINE

    [You have killed a domestic cow, 297 exp.]


    [You have killed a domestic cow, 265 exp.]


    [You have killed a domestic cow, 236 exp.]


    Not a single one gave him 300 exp, let alone over that. Well, he already guessed that much after laying eyes on them. It was a shame that he was just a little short of exp for the next level.


    Alexander inwardly chided himself. It was his greed talking.


    But could he complain? Never, he got more than what he hoped for. To him, it felt like a bonus salary.


    Alexander was not running toward his house but his university. And like the beautiful downy horizon, his eyes were completely red. His feet weren¡¯t stable either, as he found it quite hard to keep his balance. Unsurprising to say that from look or behavior, he perfectly encompassed a pot smoker. A sentiment not even a veteran pot addict could deny.


    As for why he was dragging himself through, that was obvious. If he missed uni today, he would have to start all over; never gonna do that. And as there was a chance of getting attacked today, he decided to finish all his work earlier. And also, the university was quite far away. As for why he did not get a taxi, that was the simplest answer. In these off hours, some, if not most, taxis charged more, and he was a damn stingy person.


    It took him almost 3 hours, well plus or minus 15 minutes, to reach the university. But he had no mood to determine it either, as he quickly ordered an espresso from the caf¨¦ conveniently placed right opposite the university gate. The convenient part was not, of course, for people like him, but for the many couples littered around the university.


    He took the first sip. ¡°Oh, damn, this was bitter.¡± Then the second one, no improvement on the taste department. Then the third sip, and that¡¯s when it hit him. And man did it hit him, like a damn truck. Knocking the sleep right out of his system.


    The fourth sip and it started to taste a bit better and a little less bitter. And by the final sip, Alexander felt like he got his money¡¯s worth completely. Alexander almost stood up ready for a day¡¯s work and possibly a fight. But thinking of the fight, he paused a bit.


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    Sighing, he ordered another cup of espresso, consoling himself, or rather his pocket, with a promise that he was going to thoroughly enjoy every sip. A promise he kept thoroughly, in memory of his spent money, oh his dear money.


    While paying, his face was so mournful that every barista had looked at him weirdly. But he was, of course, too sorrow-stricken to actually notice that.


    Walking through the university gates, Alexander decided to use his newfound sorrow as a motivation for his work. As he did not do the work with utmost of his capability, he would not be able to justify his spending money, oh his dear money.


    The work was, of course, tough, but he managed. By the time it was almost noon, considering everything, he was quite done for his last day of work. Well, technically not the last day, as he still had a half day¡¯s worth of work pending. But he could do that anytime later, even after joining the classes again, which he planned to do. Partly to throw the seniors off if they decided to attack him tomorrow on the basis that he would come for the half day.


    Now all that was left was to report to Mr. Anwar and go on his merry way. Except there was one teeny, tiny, minuscule problem. Even today, he felt gazes on him. But it seemed from when he entered the uni to up until now there was only one single pair of eyes following him, or at least that¡¯s what he could infer.


    Maybe they will not attack him today after all. The thought put a smile of relief on his face, which in the next moment turned mischievous. Something suddenly popped into his mind, and he could not wait, or rather wait to try it.


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    Alexander was just about to report to Mr. Anwar, but instead of that, he just sat on the roadside bench. His face in an exceptionally contemplative mood. And contemplation he did. But on what he did not know as most of the time was spent on dissolving into the subject, getting lost in the cosmos of his mind. Yes, there was no way he was actually dozing off.


    Next, he went into the cafeteria, and after ordering some food, he again did some deep thinking, some philosophy, some high-level thinking and all that, so much so that he did not even notice when food was just in front of him. Mostly because he had his eyes closed but in deep thought, that tends to happen, right?


    There was no library in the university anymore, so he did some spiritual mourning in front of the library next. You know, the kind where you sit under a tree and with your eyes closed mourn the loss of the previous building.


    Like this, one after another, he contemplated, meditated, and got lost in deep thought throughout the day, with his eyes closed of course.


    This continued until Alexander felt like the senior following him might not be able to endure more and come for him. At which point Alexander decided to go to Mr. Anwar¡¯s room for reporting. And also because it was almost after noon and it was his leaving time.


    But Alexander had to give it to the senior; he was still watching him. The damn thing had patience, if nothing else.


    As expected, the senior did not try to follow him into the administrative building. Mr. Anwar was on the 2nd floor, if Alexander did not hear wrongly. After some time of snooping around, he found the teacher¡¯s room and entered. Getting permission first, of course.


    Alexander was granted entry but he had to stand to the side; Mr. Anwar was already talking with someone, Mr. Shine, another newly joined lecturer.


    Mr. Shine was an odd one. If Mr. Anwar was someone that could be described with the word strict, Mr. Shine was something of an oddball. Mr. Shine did not attend most of his classes, and the ones he did attend, he completely half-assed them. As if to say he put no effort into his teaching.


    And just to drive the point home, even now he had a paper-wrapped bottle on his side, undoubtedly alcohol. The only time Alexander saw him without alcohol was when he was in the classroom. To be frankly honest, the man reeked of alcohol.


    Why such a new teacher was talking with someone as veteran as Mr. Anwar, who was a professor in rank Alexander had no idea. And frankly, there was no way to tell either, as though Alexander could completely see their mouths move, there was no way to actually hear anything. The room was completely silent. Alexander knew of this common skill. From the stage after the Xoe 9, which some called E-rank, people can use it. Well, theoretically, they can, but it requires a good grasp of qi control, on the inner and outer qi. As it mainly uses qi control to distort sound.


    It was kind of given; at least the teacher let him in, that¡¯s good. But the thing that truly perplexed, and really perplexed, was that according to their gestures and postures, they looked almost equal. It even seemed Mr. Anwar held Mr. Shine in high regard. Alexander scoffed; that cannot happen. Alexander chalked it up to the fact that Mr. Anwar was just being nice to his junior colleague. Mr. Anwar was nice like that, but the word nice and the image of Mr. Anwar clashed in his mind, immediately and with fervor.


    It took around 5 minutes before Mr. Anwar depleted the barrier of qi, as Mr. Shine stood up to go.


    ¡°Oh! Alexander, how is it going?¡± Mr. Shine said, a bit of shock in his voice. ¡°Wow, it seems you have opened more than 5 paths, well even more, it seems.¡± He then looked at Mr. Anwar and said, ¡°He must have passed your exam easily then.¡±


    Then again turning back to Alexander, Mr. Shine said, ¡°Well, it seems you are working hard, kiddo. Keep it up.¡±


    Saying this, he exited. But Alexander¡¯s mind just exploded. First, when did he learn his name? Alexander was no one important. Second, how did he know he had opened more than 3 paths? And third, and most importantly, his breath stank. Alexander almost felt like vomiting.


    ¡°Hey, Alexander, did you come to report?¡± Mr. Anwar asked as he stood up.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Alexander answered with utmost respect.


    ¡°Can you come here and help me with this?¡± Mr. Anwar said, pointing at an object on the wall that looked like a 7.5-foot tall metal pole or something as he could not see it due to it being completely covered in a polyester-like cloth of some kind.


    A teacher needing help, Alexander was all for it. But he became perplexed when the task seemed to be physical. Like you cannot ask a result of a teacher out of respect, Alexander too could not ask about a teacher¡¯s cultivation level. But he doubted, I mean really doubted that Mr. Anwar can need help on something physical. And that too form some one like him. Considering a teacher had to be a B-grade at the least to be a professor-level teacher in any university but the capital. In the capital, you had to be at least an A-level just to qualify for teaching. Yeah, it was a completely different case there. After all, there was a reason it was the source that produced most of Earth¡¯s geniuses after all.


    ¡°You just stand there. If it falls, just catch it. That¡¯s all,¡± Mr. Anwar said as he went to pick the thing up. But suddenly his hand slipped, and the thing tilted and slid on the wall toward Alexander.


    As per instructed, Alexander tried to stop it. But as soon as his hand made contact, he felt like he was actually stopping a 100 kg man or something. No matter what this thing was, it sure as hell was extremely heavy for its size. But from how pointy or rather sharp it was on its edge, Alexander was sure this was some kind of edge or modern art piece or something.


    ¡°Sigh,¡± Mr. Anwar sighed in relief. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I placed you there. You see, nowadays my hands are quite slippery.¡± Saying this, the man easily swiped the object from Alexander¡¯s hand.


    Alexander walked out of the teacher¡¯s chambers with confusion on his face. There was something off, but he just could not put a finger on it.


    After he took the object, Mr. Anwar dismissed him, saying he would take care of the report. No need for him to worry, for which Alexander was of course grateful.


    But he was more bothered than happy, not understanding the oddness in that room. Like a fly, it was buzzing in his mind.


    But all that was thrown out the window as he saw one of the seniors, who he was sure was stalking him, stop right in front of him with his hovering motorcycle

 CHAPTER 39: NAH, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO KILL HIM, RIGHT?

    Here¡¯s your passage, revised with corrections for spelling, grammar, and punctuation while keeping the overall tone and intent intact:


    Alexander was a bit afraid, and weirdly enough, he also felt a tiny amount of excitement. Despite how intimidating the man looked, riding a Harley-style motorcycle, wearing a black jacket and all that¡ªat least he wasn¡¯t rude. A fact Alexander appreciated very much.


    ¡°Hey, kid, you¡¯re Alexander, right?¡± Alexander just wanted to say no, but he held himself back and answered affirmatively.


    ¡°You do know who i am?¡± the man asked, to which Alexander again answered affirmatively.


    ¡°Okay, this makes it way easier. Get on my back. some of yours seniors wnat to see you,¡± he said, or rather, stated.


    ¡°Why?¡± Alexander blurted out.


    A question that seemed to throw the man off. Alexander could swear he saw the man¡¯s eyes become bloodshot or something, but he held it in as he took a deep breath.


    ¡°Look, boy, we are your seniors. It is our duty to take care of you. So when we call, you come. No questions asked, that is just simple protocol. Seeing as he neglected to give you guys such crucial information It seems I have to give your class representative a visit, . Now, do not waste my time.¡±


    Alexander wanted to retort, he really did, but seeing how everyone around was avoiding this happening as if it were a plague, either looking on with glee or pity, Alexander doubted kicking up this matter would lead to anything but making it a bigger mess.


    Convincing himself that this was completely normal, he got on the back of the motorcycle with a sigh and a head shake. An action that again seemed to anger the man for some reason, though he calmed himself down once more.


    ¡®What the fuck, was this guy high or something?¡¯ Alexander thought inwardly as the motorcycle roared and recklessly zoomed forward.


    Alexander was shocked when the motorcycle started heading toward the main gate. Were they going to beat him in front of everyone? Though it would garner the most audience, it would also be too much for the teachers to ignore at that point.


    But Alexander was even more shocked when the motorcycle zoomed past the gate. Were they going to get him outside? Maybe their dorm, a common practice for sure. But that didn¡¯t make any sense, because if he knew Taker, his main objective should be humiliating him, for which a corner of the campus would have been the most appropriate place.


    In any case, did any of that matter? No, not at all. But there was something that did. ¡°Stop,¡± he shouted as the senior gave a hard brake.


    ¡°What is it now?¡± the man shouted back.


    ¡°Can you wait a bit? I haven¡¯t eaten anything,¡± Alexander said as he looked at the coffee shop. ¡°I promise it won¡¯t take much time.¡±


    The senior looked as if he was about to say something, but in the end, after a small pause, he permitted it.


    Alexander quickly ran into the shop and, of course, ordered an espresso. There were two reasons for this. There was a high chance there would be a fight, so Alexander wanted to be at his best by topping off with one more coffee. And the second reason was quite simple: after a long and savage war between his cravings and his love for money, his cravings won.


    After a moderate amount of time, he came out of the shop, which, of course, earned him a glare from the senior. But he didn¡¯t care. There was no way he wasn¡¯t going to enjoy the beverage after he had paid fully for it. Senior be damned. He needed to get his moneys worth, first


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    Like before, Alexander could see the man holding back his anger as he started the motorcycle. Alexander got on, and they zoomed forward, the man¡¯s anger on full display in his reckless driving. But none of it mattered to Alexander. While sipping the espresso, he had time to himself, and the conclusion he reached was that it didn¡¯t matter what they wanted to do.


    In the end, it was all up to him¡ªwhat he wanted to do. And he sure as hell knew the answer to that question. If they wanted to beat him up, it was going to be a fight¡ªthere was no single doubt in his mind. Was he confident in beating them? No, not at all. For all he knew, there might be a small army of 30 to 40 people waiting for him.


    Worst comes to worst, he would just run away, but not before serving up some beatings of his own. There was no way he was going back to how he was.


    Though the man was a rough driver, enough so that he almost caused a dozen or so accidents, by the time the sun was setting beneath the horizon, they reached their destination.


    Behind the senior, whose name he had come to know as Dillen, Alexander walked up the stairs of the under-construction building. His footsteps echoed through the open, empty floor, the sound fading into the surrounding area due to the lack of walls.


    they did not take their to their dorm, which was a bit odd. but at this point Alexander was just along for the ride.


    Alexander knew this place, if memory served, a construction side for a new residential area for the upper-middle class. Some kind of half abundant project by the Rosell Group, that has not seen work for almost 6 month. Due to some disagreement or something, he hard it on news one time the deities were murky.


    ¡°What took you so long?¡± The entry of a new voice dragged Alexander out of his thoughts.


    He looked up. There were only two others on the floor besides him and Dillen, and, of course, a half-abandoned floor with no walls. Just as he thought, three. Yeah, sure, they were here to beat him up¡ªit didn¡¯t take a genius to figure that out. At lest, the worse did not come to pass, he sure as hell could not fight 30 to f40 man right now.


    However, Alexander recognized one of them, the one who was now walking toward him. He didn¡¯t know the guy¡¯s name, but he was the extremely short senior who looked at him piercingly that day at the cafeteria when he finished his sweet time with Taker.


    ¡°Dane, I told you not to send Dillen. The man is a softy,¡± the other guy, taking out the marijuana-lit cigarette from his mouth, said as he blew the smoke into the air. Now Alexander understood what happened, Dillen was not sporadically angry because he was high; he was sporadically angry because he was not high.


    ¡°Oh! Fuck off. It¡¯s not like your lazy ass would have done it,¡± Dillen shot back.


    As the two were about to start their banter, the short guy, whose name was Dane, stood right in front of Alexander. The guy was even quite a bit shorter than Alexander, who was short himself, as Alexander heard him murmur, ¡°Just one thing, and you couldn¡¯t even do that pro...¡±


    Alexander was just about to open his mouth, to clear things up or at lest try but before he could do so, or before the sentence had ended, Dane looked up, his blood-red eyes meeting Alexander¡¯s. In that single moment, alarms rang out in Alexander¡¯s head, but it was too late. In moments, before Alexander had the chance to do anything, with a 360 spin, Dane¡¯s elbow slammed into Alexander.


    All Alexander had time to do was reel his head back, but he failed to do it in time, resulting in the elbow smashing right into his jawline as he was flung back, hitting a pillar behind him.


    The other guy was knocked right out of his high, and Dillen was knocked out of his irritation by the lack of it.


    Alexander immediately coughed up blood. He was embedded in the wall, directly his back an inch inside. It was fortunate that Alexander had a Constitution of 4, otherwise, that blow alone would have killed him¡ªAlexander could feel it.


    Which was soon proven in the next moment: ¡°You are lucky, boy. If your Constitution was even at 1, that single blow was enough to send you to the hospital for a week or so,¡± his ancestor chimed in.


    ¡°And what if it was null, like before?¡± Alexander asked internally.


    ¡°Most likely, you would have died in the ambulance, but I doubt this one here would have let you.¡±


    ¡°Nah, there was no way he would actually ki...¡± The word got stuck in Alexander¡¯s mouth as he stared right into the bloodthirsty eyes of Dane through the settling dust.


    ¡°What the hell was that, man? I thought we were here to just beat the kid enough so that he couldn¡¯t cultivate anymore,¡± Dillen snapped at Dane.


    ¡°Yeah, man, what are you doing? I know you¡¯re just about to break through to E-rank, but with that kind of force, the kid will die. It¡¯s a miracle he¡¯s still alive,¡± the other one chimed in, confusion in his voice.


    ¡°Lay back, man,¡± Dillen said.


    ¡°Yeah, man, all we need to do is cripple this bastard and we get the money from Mr. Ben. So...¡± the other guy reinforced, but before he could finish, Dane spoke.


    ¡°I lied,¡± Dane said through gritted teeth, conflicted.


    ¡°What do you mean you lied?¡± Dillen asked slowly.


    Alexander was up by this time, but he was just playing dead or rather injured to hear the full story and to recover. This is when Alexander also noticed something¡ªthe pain was subsiding pretty quickly. Was it because of his 4 points in Constitution boosting his regeneration? Alexander didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°I lied. The offer wasn¡¯t to cripple this bastard but to kill him, and...¡±


    ¡°What the hell, man? We are not killers, mate. Yes, we do go overboard sometimes, but we do not kill,¡± Dillen shouted back before Dane could finish.


    ¡°I lied. I didn¡¯t get to the top of Xeo Level 9 this morning. I broke through.¡± There was a small pause. Not just from Dane, but also from Dillen and the other guy. They were dumbstruck.


    He continued, ¡°It was Mr. Ban, with just one of his piles not only did i reached the pick of xeo 9 but in one fell swoop, I broke through. And all of you can get it too. And not only that, if we do what he asked of us, we will be his man. We will get a job and all the legal protection we need. Out lives will be set¡± There was another pause as Dane heaved up and down.


    ¡°All we have to do, is kill this motherfucker.¡± With his red eyes Dane looked straight at Alexander.

 CHAPTER 40: OH, FUCKING SHIT.

    ¡°All we have to do is kill this motherfucker,¡± Dane declared, his eyes burning red, fixed intently on Alexander, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation.


    ¡°Fuck. So much for playing dead,¡± Alexander murmured under his breath.


    ¡°Mr. Ban told you this?¡± Dillen¡¯s voice wavered, his hesitation palpable as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of what was being proposed.


    ¡°No, not directly. But his son, Taker, did. He gave me the pill, along with the other two pills meant for you guys. And I saw the documents¡ªour implementation orders, all signed and ready. All we need to do is kill this bastard and add our signatures. I know what you¡¯re thinking, but once we finish the job, we¡¯re as good as his men, solid and untouchable.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Dillen began, his voice trailing off, only to be abruptly cut short by the sharp sound of glass shattering.


    The other guy, a bundle of nerves barely contained, suddenly sprang to his feet, fury igniting in his eyes as he hurled an empty bottle against the wall. The glass exploded in a chaotic spray, the sound echoing like a gunshot. ¡°No buts! I¡¯m in! I¡¯ll fucking do it!¡± he shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and adrenaline.


    ¡°Are you out of your fucking mind? This is just the high talking! Are you really ready to kill someone over something like this?¡± Dillen¡¯s voice cracked as he tried desperately to be the voice of reason, his eyes darting between the others, searching for some semblance of sanity.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s you who¡¯s out of your mind! Roy¡¯s the only one here with the balls to do what needs to be done. In this cutthroat market, do you honestly believe you¡¯ll land a job after graduation?¡± Dane calmly stated, his words laced with venom and bitter truth. The room fell into a tense silence, even Alexander couldn¡¯t deny the harsh reality. The job market was a battlefield, and cultivation had rendered men more efficient than machines. Jobs, well the ones that everyone wants, were hard, very hard to come b. unless you were above average in in cultivation talent. And that too by quite a good murine.


    ¡°And suppose you do have the talent and the connections, but what about us? We don¡¯t, and we¡¯ve made our choice. If Dane and I go through with this, do you think we¡¯ll leave you behind as a loose end? A witness roaming free? No fucking way,¡± Roy chimed in, his voice, a low, dangerous growl, shifting the atmosphere in the room completely.


    ¡°And besides,¡± Dane interjected, his voice cold and calculating, and, a bit helpless ¡°if someone like Mr. Ban asks you to do something, are you even allowed to say no?¡± His words hung in the air, heavy with implication and unspoken threats.


    A thick, oppressive silence followed, the kind that made your skin crawl and your heart race. Dillen finally caved under the pressure, his shoulders slumping as he backed off. ¡°Fine, fine. You do whatever the hell you want. I won¡¯t participate, and nether will I open my mouth. I¡¯ll keep my head down,¡± he muttered, his voice laced with defeat as he sank to the floor, his spirit crushed.


    ¡°This won¡¯t¡ª¡± Roy started to press, his voice rising, but Dane quickly cut him off.


    ¡°Enough. It doesn¡¯t matter. Even if Dillen doesn¡¯t get his hands dirty, just by sitting here and not alerting the authorities, he¡¯s implicated. He¡¯s as guilty as the rest of us. Now let¡¯s focus on the job. We need to do this right,¡± Dane said, his tone firm and final as he turned his gaze toward their target¡ªhis golden ticket to a better future.


    As for Alexander, he wasn¡¯t worried. Not in the slightest. He could see right through their bluff. They were trying to intimidate him, to scare him into submission, maybe even capture it all on video. But unfortunately for them their target was not that naive.


    Still, Alexander toyed with the idea of asking Dillen to join him, just to mess around a bit. But before he could act on the thought, dillen chickened out. A part of their planed paly, no doubt.


    His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as he instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a torso sized concrete slab came straight for him, curtesy of Dane. But in the next moment Alexander came face to Alexanderc with Dane''s fist


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    The impact was brutal. Alexander felt the fist sink into his flesh, every nerve in his face screaming in agony as the blow sent him flying across the room like a ragdoll. He crashed into a pillar, his body crumpling on impact, but there was no reprieve.


    ¡°What the fuck!¡± he managed to gasp, barely catching his breath before Roy charged at him, brandishing a jagged, broken bottle, aiming to drive it into Alexander¡¯s gut with deadly intent.


    ¡°Throat! Aim for the fucking throat!¡± Dane barked, his voice filled with cold, ruthless precision as he swung a thick metal rod, aiming to finish the job. Alexander¡¯s reflexes were sharp, but not sharp enough. The rod connected with a sickening thud, the force behind it driven by the sheer power of an e-grade cultivator.


    The blow sent Alexander spinning through the air, his body twisting and contorting as he tumbled to the ground. He hit the floor hard, the impact jarring, and as he came to a stop, a harsh cough racked his body, blood spilling from his mouth.


    This time, it wasn¡¯t a joke. At first, he had felt nothing¡ªhis senses were numbed by the initial shock, his pain receptors overwhelmed. But now, the pain hit him like a freight train, crashing through every barrier of his consciousness, drowning out everything else. His body screamed in agony, a relentless, searing pain that consumed him whole.


    He reached up to touch the spot where the rod had struck, and his fingers brushed against the swollen, blasted skin, the result of the sheer, unforgiving power behind the blow. Unlike the punch to his face, this was something his body couldn¡¯t shrug off. His knees buckled as he tried to stand, but the pain was too much¡ªhis vision swam, darkening at the edges as he teetered on the brink of collapse.


    He could feel it¡ªat least two or three of his ribs were broken, maybe more. There were cracks running through his ribcage like fault lines, and the ominous sensation of internal bleeding gnawed at him from within.


    By the time the two bastards reached him, Alexander¡¯s vision had cleared just enough to make out their shapes. There was no exchange of words, no hesitation¡ªjust cold, calculated violence. The rod swung down again, a blur of deadly force aimed right at him. Alexander twisted his body with every ounce of strength he had left, narrowly avoiding the blow by a hair¡¯s breadth¡ªonly to find himself in the path of Roy¡¯s kick.


    The impact was brutal, sending him tumbling across the ground like a ragdoll. It was only thanks to his constitution, bolstered to a solid 4, that he could withstand Roy¡¯s kick. If not for that, more of his ribs would have surely shattered. But before he could even finish the thought, he was already moving¡ªinstinct kicking in as he jumped back, the metal rod slamming into the ground where he had just been, the force of the blow kicking up dust and leaving a jagged crack in the earth.


    Alexander knew what was coming next. The deadly rhythm of their attacks. He bent his body backward, barely dodging another flying kick from Roy, the wind from it rustling his hair.


    In the next split second, Alexander let go completely, collapsing onto his back as the metal rod whistled through the air, passing just inches above his head where it would have surely caved in, and downright smooshed his skull. The sound of it slicing through the air was terrifying, a reminder of just how close he had come to death.


    As he hit the ground, Alexander didn¡¯t waste a moment. He rolled away in a frantic, desperate scramble, the rod following him like a predator hunting its prey. It smashed into the ground, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, each impact sending shards of concrete flying as Alexander barely kept ahead of it.


    But as soon as he stood up, he was met with a roundhouse kick from Roy, which he managed to stop with his palms. The force sending him skidding.


    And even then, in the little next moment, he had to duck to the side as Dane straight up threw the rod at him, destroying half of the pillar behind him, like a shot from a fucking cannon.


    What the fuck was it, a weapon? No, that was not it, it glowed as the same color as Dane¡¯s body. Green. It was a simple thick rod the motherfucker has coated in his Qi. A distinction of rank E from the initial Xeo level.


    And just as predicted, Roy¡¯s attack came. This continued for a while, in which time Alexander was mostly, well entirely, dodging as Roy went after him, not giving him a breather and Dane, he just destroyed almost a part of the floor with his reckless attack.


    Yes, Alexander was aware of it. As Dane recently, well quite literally, evolved to E rank this morning, his uses or his Qi was very crude, borderline wasteful. So he was burning through huge amounts of Qi every moment, but that truly did not matter much, as not only E grades had a large amount of Qi compared to a Xeo 9 but also it had been just around 6 minutes the fight, well, ok, the chase started. And Alexander had to admit he was not looking good. Heck, he doubted he could last another 6 minutes.


    Though he fought beasts in the forest, and also had quite a number of points in the strength state, but ultimately that did not matter. As the main problem of his was the first rod blow that connected.


    That place was bleeding, most likely his muscle being burst from the sheer force. Which he did not notice at first. Due to constant attack. But now, not only was there a huge bleeding problem, but also his ribs were breaking, and the nerves of that side were quite literally messed up.


    Alexander needed to finish them up quickly, yes finish them. At this point, there was no doubt in his mind that they were here to end, well there was no point in sugar-coating it now. They were here to kill him. The sheer thought of that sent shivers through his body. Not of fear but one of anger. What the fuck, they wanted to kill him just because he beat him up. That Taker deserved a beating.


    Alexander narrowly dodged another angular swipe of the rod as it slammed at the side creating a mini crater. As he stepped to the side, avoiding a punch from Roy.


    No, not at all, that motherfucker deserved to die. Alexander was consumed by anger. This was truly a childish thing.


    But no matter how childish or mature the situation was, it was not good for Alexander, he avoided another punch from Roy by sidestepping as in the next moment another pile of rubble crushed into him sending him flying, no doubt courtesy of Dane.


    Alexander started to see dizzy in his eyes again, and also red, as he saw Dane coming at him, his face that of a beast with his rod drawn to a mighty swing.


    He needed to do something, but what. The swing just came for him, as he instinctively ducked, the swing slamming right into the pillar behind him getting embedded into it as the sharp debris dug into Alexander''s neck and back as he was just beneath it


    Suddenly time slowed as Alexander got a clear look at the ferocious face of Dane and the crazy look of Roy. Suddenly something flipped, and Alexander came to a decision.

 CHAPTER 41: DESPERATION

    Alexander knew what he had to do. As he rolled back, he didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªspringing to his feet, he broke into a desperate run, with the two crazed bastards hot on his heels.


    His thoughts were muddled, clouded by the crushing pain and the overwhelming stress of the situation, but one thing was crystal clear¡ªthey were here to kill him. Every strike, every vicious blow they had landed wiped away any lingering doubt. There was no room for second-guessing; this was a fight for survival.


    Escaping from two high-level Xeo cultivators might have been possible¡ªjust barely¡ªbut not with an E-grade present. That level of power was beyond him, a wall he couldn¡¯t hope to scale.


    So there was only one option left: he had to take out the other two before dealing with the E-grade. Only then might he have a slim chance of escape. But even as the thought crossed his mind, doubt gnawed at him. Was it even possible? Could he really do it with the E-grade breathing down his neck? And if he somehow managed to incapacitate them, how long before the E-grade handed him over to the authorities?


    The rod swung again, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Alexander twisted his body sideways and backward, narrowly avoiding the blow. The rod grazed his earlobe, the high-speed friction turning it an angry red in an instant, sending a searing pain through his skull.


    He tried hitting back a few times, and though it was easy for him to tackle Roy, he was not yet there when it came to Dane, an E-grade.


    In his current condition, there was only one option for him: he needed at least a level up. Just one, to put up a fight against Dane. But the question was how he could get one.


    As mentioned before, he had no way to run away.


    But he did not get to think much as another swing came at him, and in his thoughts, he was just a bit distracted. For which the price he had to pay was a steep one. Though he avoided most of the swing, it still grazed his left biceps.


    The pain was instantaneous and overwhelming as his biceps muscle just burst out right, like a mine explosion as he was sent flying. But just as he flew two feet in the air, a foot slammed on the side of his head, derailing him from the trajectory mid-flight, sending him crashing into a pillar and then bouncing off it to a pile of rubble.


    The pain just did not nod but screamed at him as he felt muddled. But he did not have time as he shifted his upper body to avoid another kick from the crazed Roy.


    Rolling off again as he stomped, all while Dane made his way slowly. He was literally getting slaughtered. He needed to do something, and quick. If he wanted to live, he needed to do it.


    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he did not wait a moment, executing it. As the next leg of Roy came for him, Alexander did not avoid it; he stopped it with his hand.


    Without thinking anything, Alexander spread his hand, in turn spreading Roy''s leg, and with all the force he could muster, kicked Roy in the groin, sending him flying.


    Alexander did not need to hear the gut-wrenching scream, nor did he need to see the pool of blood forming under Roy to know he was no longer a man. But Alexander did not let up; he needed to finish him if he wanted the exp and to get a level, which, if he managed to do properly, might give him a chance of putting up a fight against Dane.


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    But just before he could reach his exp bag, Dane bolted in front of him, yelling about Dillen to help Roy or something, his face and eyes even redder, as he swung his rod with much more force as Alexander could hear the hissing sound from afar. Undoubtedly a massive blow.


    But what Alexander did next completely threw off Dane from his plan. Instead of dodging or stopping, Alexander bolted, bolted right at him. Fury, no, crazed, burning in his eyes.


    Bam


    With a bam, his full-power swing was intercepted midway. The knockback force of the clash reeled his swing backward as the recoil force ravaged his hands. But the price Alexander paid was much more extreme as he saw Alexander¡¯s left hand reel back, now mangled and bloodied.


    He did not quite get the reason for Alexander¡¯s engagement like this until he did. But by that time, it was too late, as in the literal next moment, Alexander¡¯s right leg slammed into his unbalanced form, sending him stumbling to the side.


    And to his horror, opening a path directly to Roy. By the time Dane understood what happened, it was too late, as he screamed out Roy''s name.


    The scream cut through the soul-wrenching pain Roy was feeling, looking up to meet a rapidly enlarging fist, just moments before it struck him. Time slowed down as he felt every inch of the fist or the fury and desperation in it digging into his flesh.


    And the next thing he felt was the overwhelming force as his back hit something. But before he could completely bounce back, another punch hit him squarely in the chest, throwing him back onto the pillar.


    The punch felt like a blow of a hammer as it knocked all the air out of him instantly. He gasped for air, which was cut off short as another one slammed into his left side, pinning him farther into the pillar.


    Again, before he could take a breath, another one smashed into him, then another, then another, then another. He felt blow after blow crushing into his ribs as he slowly lost his voice. He felt his rib cage cave in; he felt iron in his mouth as his screams died out.


    And then, suddenly, the blows shifted as his head became dizzy, and a tsunami of pain assaulted his head as his vision shifted from side to side, becoming increasingly dizzy until everything went dark.


    [You have killed human, Xeo 5, 877 exp]


    [You have leveled up]


    The notification brought Alexander out of the reverie, but the feeling of leveling up or the weight of what he just did not get a hold on his mind as a huge amount of pain assailed him all at once. It felt like someone just outright crushed both of his arms.


    But that pain and concern, too, were flung out the window as suddenly he heard a yell behind him. But it was too late as the metal rod connected with him, sending him flying once more.


    This time, at his right side. His left rib area simply busted open from the sheer force, behind the strike. Landing far away, he tumbled for some time until he was almost at the edge of the floor, just one foot from falling to his death.


    Alexander was kind of afraid of heights, but honestly, the amount of pain coursing through his body nulled every other thought completely.


    In his dizzy and red vision, Alexander saw two people approaching¡ªmost likely Dillen. It seemed he couldn¡¯t stay still after his friend went down. But that did not matter; Alexander was furiously trying to move one of the lumps to his strength core.


    Most likely due to his banged-up condition, it felt more difficult to do than normal. But he pushed through with all his remaining strength, which bore fruit as he put the first one on the strength meridian.


    Dillen was yelling something about what Alexander had done or not, but Alexander didn¡¯t care as he started with the second one immediately. But unfortunately, the fucker, Dane upped his pace as he came up to Alexander, poised to kick him down.


    Alexander abandoned the second one halfway as he moved out of the way, but did not get the chance as the rod slammed into him, sending him flying once fucking more.


    But fortunately, this time, Dane forgot to infuse it with qi, or he was just running out, which let Alexander get off easy. Not that it mattered as he charged at him with crazed fervor once again.


    And even though in his crazed state the swing was not actually accurate, Alexander dodged by a hair¡¯s breadth as he, too, was not fully present. He tried to do something that he considered impossible just a moment ago. He tried to move the second lump toward the meridian as he dodged Dane''s crazed rampage. In this condition, it did not matter if he could or not; he had to.


    And yes, at this point, Dane was just rampaging. His strikes had far less accuracy but far more raw power. The old Alexander would have been just terrified to stillness, but though he wasn¡¯t still, he had to admit he was a little terrified.


    Alexander found out why it was not recommended¡ªto balance the outside, holding his wits against a crazy E-grade and also internally guiding the energy was impossible.


    Many times he almost got hit, and a few times he even did. And the number of times he misplaced the energy in the wrong path was beyond his count. At least Dillen did not get involved; he just watched with a conflicted look, but this time, there was a tinge of hatred when he looked at Alexander. But who cares? He was almost there, and after taking a full-on blow on his shoulder, he managed to put another lump of energy in his strength meridian.

 CHAPTER 42: FINALLY

    Alexander smiled through his pain as the 2nd lump entered his Strength Meridian as he felt the empowering effect wash over him. And without hesitation, he rammed his fist forward to meet the wild swings of Dane.


    A decision he regretted damn near instantly. "Fuck."


    He again felt a huge amount of pain as he took 3 steps back. The reeling force causing him to vomit blood, once fucking more.


    Without wasting a moment, Alexander started backing off. Though his condition was not at all optimistic, he saw the silver lining.


    This time, rather than getting flung back, he was just 3 steps back. Well, this time he did face it with more confidence and actually tried to stand his ground. But the important thing was he was getting there.


    Now all he needed to do was guide the last lump to the Strength Meridian. And then, then...


    Fuck, this was more than a bit hard and frustrating as he had to move the lump and himself at the same time. He dodged another stick as he kept trying, which really started to drive him crazy. He kept moving the lump into the wrong path again and fucking again.


    Alexander was just getting frustrated; he could not do it anymore. He greeted his teeth, stopped running, and relaxed as the rod connected and sent him flying.


    ...........


    Dane swung his rod like any other time. He could feel it, his arms were getting tired. But he, he could not stop. He was burning inside, burning with not just unquenchable anger and uncontrollable rage, no, he was burning with guilt. The guilt was eating him alive.


    How, how did everything just go to shit all at once? All they needed to do was this one thing for Mr. Ban and they would have been set for life. Every hassle, every shuffle, all would have been done. They, no he, would have found a path in his life.


    Well, that was it, wasn¡¯t it? It was all about him. It was not Roy¡¯s choice to be involved in this, he did not chose to be here. No it was him, He practically dragged him into this, for which now Roy was dead. He did it; he killed his friend. It was his fault. It was all his fault.


    No, not all of it; all of it was not his fault. Most of it, no, not even that, most of it was this fucker¡¯s fault, Dane thought as his swings became wider and also more dangerous.


    And it seems the little shit finally understood the grandeur of its mistake. As the bastard just stopped and let him hit right at his side, sending him flying. And this time far.


    Though he was a bit skeptical at first, now he saw how far seeing the taker kid was. Though he too was a bastard, he was right about one thing: this one had no right to live. And he was not going to tolerate any more of this fucker¡¯s breath in existence.


    Dane ran forward to the dust cloud that the bastard created after he fell into it. And swung with a massive arc to clear the scam and the dust in one strike.


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    Bam


    With a audible bang, the strike landed, dispersing the dust just as he planned, but what he did not plan was that the strike would be blocked. And yes, it was blocked, by Alexander. As his arm bled where the rod crashed into, but this time he did not move.


    Looking up, he smiled right at Dane. His white teeth now crimson with his own blood.


    ..............


    Alexander just could not seem to be able to push that one final time for the 3rd lump. Every time, he guided the lump through the wrong path, it seemed that he had spent all his focus guiding the 2nd one. And now it was proving borderline impossible to guide the 3rd one and dodge Dane¡¯s blow. And the most frustrating thing was he was so close as well.


    So Alexander did the only thing he could do, he stood there, still. Dane¡¯s blow connected like a bee stung and sent him flying to the side. Though Alexander did everything in his power to make sure that the blow would land as softly as possible, he failed miserably as he felt pain to his soul. But he did manage to be flung to the cement bag pile, softening his blow a bit.


    It kicked up a dust explosion making it hard to breathe, but that did not bother him much. Holding his breath, he calmly focused on pushing the last lump through the paths to his Meridian.


    It did not take long. Just as it entered, Alexander felt Dane closing in on him, mostly from all of his yelling. He put his hand forward, meeting the strike head-on, as a wave of strength washed over him. The collision force parted the surrounding dust instantly. Finally Alexander had a fighting chance.


    Alexander¡¯s mouth started to twitch. Now, Alexander tried, he really did. He wanted to stand there like a hero, taking the big bed swing like it was nothing. But there was one tiny, little problem. It was not, and I mean absolutely not, nothing.


    Alexander¡¯s mouth twisted as he could not hold it in anymore. Stepping back, he cursed out loud. ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.¡±


    Sure, he could stop Dane¡¯s blow. Well, okay, somewhat stop. But that did not mean he did not feel the pain. Even Dane seemed confused for a moment. And so did Dillon, who was watching from afar. But that did not last very long, as madness overtook Dane¡¯s eyes again as he swung.


    Alexander dodged, his hands still flaring about as if he wanted to shake off the pain from his hands. There was pain, and Alexander continually tried to dodge Dane¡¯s attacks, which gained more raw power somehow, but lost accuracy equally. But that did not mean he was not running his brain.


    There were two takeaways from here. First, he was still not able to completely match Dane¡¯s power level. Dane was stronger, but by so little that it did not matter. And the second thing, he surely had gotten stronger. Whereas Dane¡¯s previous strikes used to send him flying, he could take them on now.


    Emphasis on the word could. He could take his hits, but that did not mean he should. First of all, stopping them did not mean you would not feel pain. And second, why should he when he could just as easily, if not more so, dodge it?


    And also one other thing he did not feel previously but started to feel: exhausted. Alexander dodged one more horizontal swing as he ducked the follow-up. But instead of backing down, he lunged forward at Dane. A move Dane clearly did not anticipate as his fist landed square on his chest.


    Thud


    There was a thud, and after a second of Alexander¡¯s fist sinking into his ribcage, he was the one sent flying back two or three steps. There was shock in Dane¡¯s eyes, but before he could process it, he saw Alexander¡¯s enlarging fist.


    The first punch Dane dodged was aimed at his throat, but Alexander missed as Dane moved at the last second, mostly from his reaction. But that did not mean Alexander was going to let up. Contrary to his expectation, Dane was pushed back two or three steps, a gap Alexander rapidly shortened as he followed up with a wide swing at Dane¡¯s side.


    And as soon as it connected, he followed it up with a terrific uppercut. And then followed that up with a mean right hook.


    Alexander knew this was his chance and he needed to press it while he could or even downright finish the fight before Dane could regain all his bearing from the direct hit to his head.


    Dane saw the back of Alexander¡¯s shoes as Alexander continued with a roundhouse kick, and then another one, and another one. He followed that up with two or a dozen flying kicks right at his chest.


    And for the first time in this mess of a fight¡ªno, fuck that attempted murder¡ªDane coughed up blood as he fell and was sent sliding backward until he hit the wall of what should be a box for an elevator. The knockout force from that made him cough up blood.


    As Dane was in the midst of coughing up blood again, Alexander rushed forward intending to finish the job. He reached him in a moment and picked up a hand-sized boulder from the side to smash Dane¡¯s skull in before something happened.


    Bam


    But just before he could bring it down, a thick wooden board smashed into him from the side, sending him tumbling two to three feet.


    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


    For a moment, Alexander¡¯s ears buzzed as the wooden board smacked him right in the head from the left side. After two or three shakes, Alexander¡¯s vision became normal. Even though the blow was not as powerful as the previous one, one also had to remember Alexander was already more than pretty beaten up.


    As he looked up, his suspicion¡ªwell, rather guess¡ªwas confirmed. It seems Dillon could not stay still any longer,

 CHAPTER 43: THE END OF THE ROADS FOR A FRIEND GROUP

    Alexander¡¯s eyes fixed on Dillon, whose expression betrayed more guilt than he could possibly articulate. Alexander saw Dillon¡¯s lips move, but the buzzing in his head rendered the words inaudible. None of that mattered now. The fight had to continue, the only difference, one more.


    Alexander at least felt lucky; he managed to gravely wound Dane before Dillon joined in. Though, if he had to be honest, it was Dillon¡¯s foolishness that he joined in so late.


    As he charged, he saw Dillon shooting and threatening, or at least that is what he inferred as his head was still buzzing.


    But Alexander knew what to do. The feeling at the back of his head still urged him to finish the job as quickly as possible. Alexander did not forget that day, Taker¡¯s deadly blow at the last moment, which if connected he would not be standing there. And Alexander was not foolish enough to think they did not have something similar. Especially that Dane. He needed to finish him before he had the chance to do anything.


    ...


    Dillon felt like literal shit. Sure, Dane was a bit implosive, a bit selfish for sure, but that¡¯s why they loved him. He was always there for his friends, no matter what. One time he even broke a nose of a senior form another department just because they made fun of on of their friends.


    But even he did not know Dane would do something like this. He knew the past few months were not kind to him, but even so.


    On the other hand, Roy. Roy was never the brightest among them nor was he ever the one to shut up. But now, now his friend would never talk again.


    What, what the fuck just happened? It almost felt like a bolt from the blue just threw everything into chaos in the blink of an eye. He, a grown man, felt like crying.


    It would be more than a massive lie if he told he did not hate Alexander. He did; in fact, he hated Alexander more than anyone in the world. But what could he do? He was the one who unknowingly or knowingly dragged him to this ambush. He was equally filling guilty towards Alexander.


    He was conflicted with this thought as he suddenly saw the situation change once again. Like before, in the blink of an eye, everything was flipped on its head. As Dane got pummeled, then hit a bunch of times, and to his utter disbelief, coughed up blood.


    He already knew Dane''s condition. No matter the cultivation, no one could continue this level of assault for this long. He was spent as it was, and now that he got hit so badly...


    He just did not want to think about it. He was not going to lose another friend today.


    He took up the closest thing he could find and smashed it into Alexander¡¯s side before he could finish the job.


    He was the one who brought Alexander here and he would take responsibility for it. He would convince him not to go farther. He would have to convince Dane and Alexander both to give it up. And as for Roy''s death, he just did not want to think about it now. But to give this situation an ending, they needed his death to be sacrificed. But could he do it? He did not want to think about it now. All he needed to do was end it. And he had no intention of backstabbing Alexander with some false promises either.


    But of all his courage, his resolve, his thoughts were thrown out of the window as Alexander looked up. He just froze up. Alexander was bloodied and battered for sure; there was no question there. And he looked broken rather than anything menacing. But it was his eyes; they gave Dillon the creeps. It was the eyes of a monster, no, of a wounded monster who wanted to, just finish the fight. His eyes were ferocious.


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    Dillon just wanted to run, but seeing his bloody friend behind him who was doing his best to stand up, he shook off his fear as he stood his ground. He had to.


    His thoughts barely had time to finish, before Alexander threw his fist forward right at his face. He ducked, but...


    Bam


    In the next moment, the other hand flew right into his face. Fortunately, he was quick enough to put both of his hands in front, mostly thanks to his relax.


    Crack


    But that did not mean much as he felt like a fucking wild beast smashed into him. He was sent flying; one of his arm surely broken form the collusion,


    He crashed into a thick pillar as the knockout force immediately made him cough up blood.


    ¡°FUCKING HELL.¡± It was completely different, watching a fight and actually fighting one. Dillon had now completely understood why, even being in E grade, Dane was in this condition.


    But the thing that terrified him the most was Alexander was about to land a huge blow on the injured Dane.


    ...


    Alexander did not care as he charged forward. Dillon''s face was so open that he could not help himself but attack. But he ducked it. Alexander did not think much as he launched his other arm forward, which almost met right at his face. But he stopped it with his hands just in time.


    But what happened next completely shocked him. He was staring up, sent flying. Alexander even looked at his fist in confutation, when he had such powerful. As far as he knew, Dillon was Xeo 7 or something. Yeah, none of them held back when they wanted to show off to the juniors, especially the girls, so almost everyone knew the level of every senior.


    It seemed he did not put his all into it, Alexander thought. Well, serves him right for underestimating me. But Alexander was not distracted for much time. He knew what kind of shit he was in.


    Just one wrong step and he might die to any of their trump cards. So without any delay, he lunged forward toward Dane to finish the job as his full-powered fist aimed right at Dane¡¯s face.


    But just as the fist was about to connect and smash his skull in, Dane moved his head. Alexander¡¯s fist sunk in deep beside his head, exploding the concrete below.


    He was kind of shocked that Dane could still move, which in the next moment turned to rage as Dane spat his blood-mixed saliva right at Alexander¡¯s face.


    ¡°Motherfucker.¡± Alexander prepared another punch to finish the job.


    But just as Alexander was about to land the blow, he felt two arms closing in on his waist as he was flung off Dane, as Dillon practically yanked him forward.


    Surprised to say, Alexander was pissed. The more time Dane had to recover, the worse it was for him. He needed to finish him off before he got the chance to use his trump card provided by the banned group of industry.


    So Alexander did not hesitate even a little bit to do what he did next. He punched out at Dillon¡¯s side with all 30 of his strength behind the punch. What followed was a small explosion of flesh and blood mixed in as the point of contact just exploded, sending Dillon tumbling. As Dillon screamed at the top of his lungs.


    But he did not let go of Alexander either, resulting in him being tumbled with him. Alexander did not wait for them to stop as he elbowed Dillon from the left. It did not quite connect, but Alexander was sure it dislocated Dillon¡¯s jaw. His screams immediately cut off.


    Alexander felt one of the arms holding him soften briefly before tightening once more. He drove his elbow into Dillon''s left side again, and this time, he was ready. As soon as Dillon''s grip momentarily loosened, Alexander applied all 30 of his strength to break free¡ªand free he got.


    They separated, but the momentum still carried them forward, both coming to a stop after some violent tumbles on the ground.


    After two hard tumbles and a lengthy skid across the ground, Alexander finally came to a stop. But undoubtedly, it was Dillon who suffered the most as, after three or four violent tumbles, he crashed headfirst into the pile of concrete rubble, sending dust and debris flying.


    Alexander struggled to his feet, wincing as he clutched his battered left side. Each jarring bounce and agonizing skid across the floor had relentlessly pounded his left side. Now, the skin on that side was raw and torn in places, leaving it nearly bare. He intentionally tackled everything with the left side to at least make one side functional.


    As the dust settled, Alexander''s eyes fell upon Dillon, who was bleeding from both old wounds and fresh injuries. The most striking was the gash from Alexander¡¯s earlier punch, combined with the new gashes and abrasions from the brutal collision with the rubble. Dillon¡¯s head, too, bore the marks of his harsh encounter with the concrete rubble.


    With his jaw broken, blood leaking from every place, and overall condition, Alexander doubted he would live for much longer.


    All the distractions done with, Alexander shifted his eyes to his primary target. Dane stood up. Alexander saw anger flash through his eyes, but in the next moment, it shifted.


    What it shifted to, Alexander did not notice or frankly, he did not care. As he started, all the energy he had in his body as he ran forward.

 CHAPTER 44: SHIT JUST GOT REAL

    Alexander sprang forward, delivering a powerful double-legged kick to Dane¡¯s chest with all the strength he could muster


    The blow connected, sending Dane rocketing into a half-erected wall that crumbled upon impact.


    Alexander''s weariness was apparent, and the bruises and fatigue were taking their toll. The fall from kicking Dane with both legs hit him hard, and it took a while for him to stand, his entire body aching and drained of energy.


    But he refused to wait. Mustering every ounce of strength, Alexander charged forward. Reaching the freshly created rubble, he moved every brick and slab of concrete to reach Dane and finish the job. The blow might have been enough for someone like Dillon, but not for someone like Dane, who was already E-grade, and if Alexander''s intuition was right, deep into it.


    Alexander quickly shifted the rubble, finding his target. He was about to finish him off, but something made him stop.


    As predicted, Dane hadn¡¯t perished. Despite his battered body, he was still clinging to life. But it was Dane¡¯s reaction that gave Alexander pause¡ªhe was laughing, with tears streaming down his cheeks.


    The odd tableau lingered: one man weeping and laughing, the other on the verge of striking.


    "I did it, didn¡¯t I? Ha, ha ha, ha ha ha. Everyone is dead." Dane cackled, staring up at the ceiling as tears flowed unchecked.


    "Why did it come to this? Why did I take this job? Mother warned me so many times that dirty money always had strings attached. Why didn¡¯t I listen? Why am I so fucking stupid?"


    Dane turned his gaze to Alexander. "And you, you bastard. Why¡¯d you stop? What, are you pitying me? A no body like you, feeling sorry for the Great Dane? The youngest to ever join the Nova Command, the one who saved so many lives at the Cosmos and beyond?"


    ¡°How dare you. I will kill everyone close to you¡ªyour father, mother, sister, or whatever you fucking have. If you let me go, I will kill everything you hold dear. Why did you stop? Kill me. Kill me, or I will¡­¡±


    His words were cut short as Alexander¡¯s fist descended on his head once more. Dane was just about to gather qi in his right hand when Alexander panicked. Without thought, he brought his fist down on Dane¡¯s face. Blood splattered, and flesh mangled, but Dane did not stop gathering qi.


    Alexander¡¯s fear intensified. Without thinking, he brought his fist down repeatedly, again and again, as Dane¡¯s face became bloodier and bloodier. But two things never stopped: his crackling laughter, which had remorse mixed into it, and the qi gathering.


    Again and again, Alexander brought his fist down, each time harder than before, as the ground beneath them sank and Alexander¡¯s knuckles seemed like they were going to burst. But Alexander only panicked as suddenly the absorption rate grew. Not only that, he started glowing¡ªglowing golden, first his hand and then his whole body.


    Alexander¡¯s eyes widened in absolute horror as he swiftly dislodged Dane and threw himself back as far as he could. He felt the pull as Dane tried to hold on to him, but Dane was too spent, or too unstable to do that. Alexander threw himself backward and started rolling.


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    ¡°Squelch!¡±


    In the next moment, in front of Alexander¡¯s eyes, there was a fountain of blood spouting upwards, along with some flesh and skin.


    Alexander remained sitting on his butt for some time, the pure dread on his face from fear. It took him some time to get connected with reality.


    Slowly, Alexander stood up, ready for a fight, as he could still see Dane¡¯s body. But as he stood up, he felt like vomiting. The belly area of Dane was completely mangled, with his innards clearly visible, with his intestines sprawled about. Below his rib cage and up his ribs, it looked like a bloody skin in an area that would be enough to give anyone nightmares.


    Cough, cough


    Alexander suddenly heard coughing sounds, and even though he was afraid, he stepped forward and saw Dane was still alive as he coughed out blood. The son of a bitch was still alive. How?


    Now, did Alexander know what was going on here? Yes, yes, he did. But did he ever think it was possible? No, never. What Dane did was absolutely absurd. He tried to self-destruct, taking Alexander with him. This wasn¡¯t even a possibility for Alexander. Why? Because this was simply impossible, impossible for an E-grade. This was an art Alexander learned class, or rather, he learned about it in class. An art used in the old ages of war. It was self-destructive art to take your enemy with you. But the thing was, it was an art only a D-grade could perform, just because of the sheer control and amount of qi needed for this.


    According to the teacher, when a D-grade exploded, it could take at least a small building with it. And if he was significantly powerful, he could take out half a skyscraper, and a peak D-grade¡¯s damage would destroy most of a large skyscraper and damage the few around it.


    In the olden days when there were no cities, this kind of thing was very common, but nowadays not so much, except for some incidents when enemies or criminals, after being captured, detonated themselves.


    So, the fact that a newly reached E-grade could do that, or even try to do this, was enough for Alexander to recognize Dane¡¯s talent. Dane was not good for nothing, but his admiration soon turned to fear as he got closer.


    Dane¡¯s hand, where the power started to grow, was nowhere to be found, and it seemed the surrounding destruction and upturned part of the floor, in all its center, was his hand. That meant he almost succeeded. And a terrifying thought hit Alexander¡ªif Dane had not been in this banged-up condition, he might have been able to actually pull it off.


    Of course, this doesn¡¯t need mentioning that an E-grade self-destructing would not be as powerful as a D-grade, maybe this floor at most. But one thing was for sure, he could take him out, no questions asked.


    There was another coughing sound, and Alexander steeled himself to move forward.


    Here¡¯s the corrected passage with spelling fixed:


    ¡°Ha, ha. I failed even in this, ha, ha ha, ha. Cough, cough¡­¡± After seeing Alexander, Dane said, but the words were barely audible.


    ¡°Ha, of course, even at the last moment of my freaking life, I lose to someone like you. A junior and loser. Father was ri¡­¡± Dane¡¯s voice was cut off as Alexander got the message he was waiting for.


    [You have killed a human. 2793 EXP]


    All Alexander felt was relief. Even though he was tense and ready for anything to happen, why he even let Dane finish, he had no idea. Maybe he was just too tired. And speaking, or rather remembering about it, Alexander felt it. All the pain and exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he fell down on his butt.


    His whole body was tensing up; he could feel the pain, as if it was gnawing at his bones. It was¡­


    Suddenly everything just halted, as if time froze. No, that wasn¡¯t it; he froze, as an overwhelming number of emotions hit him all at once. What had he done? What the fuck had he done? Did he just¡­


    No, no, Alexander started running, where he left Dillon. He refused to believe he just killed three people.


    [You have killed a human. 900 EXP]


    Just as he was about to reach Dillon, the third and final message came. Alexander slowed down to a standstill and, after 2 seconds, fell down on his knees.


    Urghh¡­


    After a few seconds of collapsing on his knees, Alexander vomited, not blood, but¡­


    Urghhh¡­


    But his guts out.


    Urghh¡­


    Urghh¡­


    Urghh¡­


    Alexander just could not stop vomiting, especially after seeing the mangled and bloody body of Dane.


    ¡°I just killed¡­ I just killed a human. Or I just killed three humans.¡± These were his last thoughts as he passed out. His eyes rolled behind his head as he completely collapsed.

 CHAPTER 45: IVORY HALL AND CRIMSON THRONE

    Alexander woke up, once more, gasping for air. It had been almost half an hour since the incident, and this half hour was literally hell for Alexander. At first, he felt relief at the last moment of passing out, but in the next moment, he woke right up gasping.


    And in the next moment, fainting once more from sheer brain pressure. Alexander felt like his brain was melting in real life.


    He did not know what to do, so he did the only thing he could hear, and that was to move forward and away from what he just did.


    Somehow he made it through 1 floor down without an incident, but just as he was midway through the second, he vomited again, lost his balance, and started falling through the stairs, rolling. Halfway through it, he directly fell in between the stairs as he vomited and was struck left and right as he fell down.


    He fell on the ground floor headfirst, covered in his own vomit and blood, and the pain¡ªthe pain was literally eating him inside out. And he did not think for a moment that he could move a single muscle, but then some kind of voice in his head urged him on.


    He stood up or rather crawled forward to the nearest wall or elevator, something he really could not tell, as all he saw in his vision was red and blur.


    Reaching it, which seemed to be the start of the stairs, he stood up and vomited once again, though by this time the vomit was only water and mucus.


    After finishing this time and not seeing the corpse or rather his work immediately, Alexander got a breather. He took three or four deep breaths, at which point he felt a cool sensation in his chest. And in the next moment, the world around him started spinning, and Alexander fell flat on the ground, unconscious.


    ¡°What the fuck, man up.¡± This is what the voice, or rather his ancestor, yelled out at the end in his mind, but Alexander, of course, did not hear that as he was truly unconscious for good this time. His mind relaxed a bit after experiencing the pressure, and it instantly gave out, a change he very much welcomed.


    Ana fidgeted around with her legs as she stood under the lamp. She felt angry, expectant, shy, and yet excited. She had never felt all these emotions at the same time. It almost overwhelmed her. And she wanted to blame the cause of this emotion and his audacity to make her wait, but at the same time, it was another giddy feeling in itself.


    But lucky for her, she did not dabble in these newfound emotions for long as the man she was waiting for had arrived. A bit late, but he arrived. All of her being urged her to throw a jab at him for doing so, but she decided to be magnanimous; she would forgive him this one time.


    Shit, shit, shit. Fucked up. He completely fucked up. He never should have wasted time on those videos about the first date, dress-up, and picking the perfect gift. Oh, the gift! It took too much time. He never should have wasted thi...


    Chase¡¯s thoughts came to an abrupt halt as he looked at Ana in her white skirt, standing under the lamppost like an angel standing in the darkness. All the time he spent listening to gurus and all the preparation he made, all of it was just thrown out of the window. The whole of his mind was consumed by her.


    Ana seemed calm, outwardly at least. But inside, she was a mess. I mean, who dresses this well on the first date? And these accessories, it seems each one was hand-picked and placed by the fashion lord himself. It was as if he intended his date to have a scattered brain and it seems it was working, working too well even. Not to mention his smile¡ªoh, Ana didn¡¯t even try to look his. She would truly go crazy and loos herself if she took peck.


    For a moment, the two lovebirds just stood there, unable to talk or do anything as they just stood there admiring each other. Ana wanted him to take charge and break the stalemate, but the way he was looking at her¡ªwell, at her¡ªit gave a special feeling in her stomach. Is this what they call getting butterflies?


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    ¡°So where are you taking me?¡± Though she also wanted to feel Chase''s eyes on her for longer, people were looking.


    ¡°Oh, right. Here, here is the place I told you about,¡± Chase almost stammered out of his stupor as he said it.


    They started walking forward.


    Chase beat himself up for freezing up like that and being nervous, which he now tried to mask with a super attempt at making conversation, throwing out topics at random as they walked. Which made him seem more nervous.


    On the other hand, Ana was too busy in her own head to notice that. She got a bit red after she asked Chase where he was taking her. I mean, what kind of girl asks that?


    Then, as if some naughty thought struck her, she got even redder as she practically tried to push her head inside her neck. What if, what if Chase thought of it in that way?


    In all their silliness, what both of them did not notice was a giant-like silhouette tailing them from behind. A 7-foot giant silhouette.


    After 5 minutes of this show on the road, they reached their destination: one of the few 800-floor buildings in the city, on top of which was one of the most renowned chefs¡¯ small restaurants. This was a place supremely hard to enter. How Chase managed to get entry here was beyond Ana¡¯s comprehension.


    For a moment, she even forgot her embarrassment. Yes, they were both embarrassed, as both of them were red like tomatoes¡ªespecially Ana, the redness popping off her white skin.


    The reason? Well, that was simple. This was a popular place for dating, and one look from the veterans, and they could tell the first-time lovers apart in an instant, which elicited some muffled laughter, to say the least.


    Fifteen minutes after they reached the 727th floor, where the restaurant was. Yeah, just the elevator took 15 minutes to go up. A special feature of this building was its elevator, which was a scenic elevator providing a gradual panoramic view of the city as they went up.


    Everything aside, Ana would lie if she said she was not impressed. Reaching the floor and opening the restaurant room, what she saw completely mesmerized her.


    The restaurant spanned the whole of the floor, which was massive. The floor was all black marble, and the pillars, the lights were all pristine and pure golden. And this gold and black theme was carried out all throughout the place. With the table being black, the cloth being gold, and even the utensils and plates and absolutely everything.


    And there was not a single wall in sight; even the perimeter was covered in glass. No doubt the tables adjacent to the glass were far more prized as they offered an unmatched view. There was a reason it was rated as one of the best restaurants not just in the city but the whole of the planet. She had to at least take a photo along with the glass before going.


    Just as she thought that, one of the waiters saw them and came up to greet. At least this time Chase picked up. Seeing Chase take charge, she was just enjoying the view, not even paying any attention to what they talked about. Chase was the man, and according to her mother, in this kind of situation, men were the ones who should take charge.


    ¡°Follow me. Table number 13.¡± Finishing the talk with the waiter, Chase came back as he said with that charming smile of his.


    Ana followed him to the table, and she had to admit, well, at this point, she was not just impressed but downright amazed. He did it; somehow Chase managed to get a table by the edge. A table for two bordering the glass walls and offering an excellent view of the city below.


    Ana tried hard, but it was impossible to hide her shock, which Chase noticed as he flashed a toothy grin toward the now even redder Ana.


    But before she got overwhelmed by embarrassment, her date was sensitive enough to pull out the chair as he invited her to sit. A gesture she truly appreciated.


    Chase sat across from her, and finally, they both just sat there, looking into one another¡¯s eyes. Ana tried to put up a brave front as she looked back directly at him as if they were having a staring competition.


    But it was hard, hard for Ana to actually look at those eyes and not feel something, so needless to say, she lost. As she was about to open her mouth, she did not see any menu.


    But before she could do so, the waiters came one after another with various dishes. It just kept coming, and in minutes the table was full. There was seafood, meat, vegetables, and all that. But seafood was the more prominent one, which was unsurprising as that is what the restaurant was famous for.


    But she was truly surprised when at last they even brought two pristine glasses and a transparent high glass with what seemed to be clear yellow wine inside.


    Wow, now she felt uncomfortable. Because this was too much, especially considering that this was their first date.


    ¡°I am sorry, if I make you uncomfortable or if you don¡¯t like it, but I tried my best.¡± Chase said as he opened the bottle of wine and poured into both glasses, handing one over to her.


    On the other hand, how could she be mad at a face like his? So she did what her entire being told her to do. Forget everything and enjoy his presence and efforts.


    She took the glass and raised it towards his. Both of their glasses clinked in the middle for their dinner to begin.


    But just as the glass clinked, suddenly far away a place lit up. In the neon lights of the city below, the golden pillar-like lights stood out. And also, it seemed as if it was waving and dancing, giving it a unique look.


    Both Chase and Ana took it as a sign. And it seemed most around them did as well, as they too raised their drinks.


    But soon something felt off, and it did not take someone to yell out, ¡°That¡¯s fire!¡± as the surroundings were filled with sirens of different authorities, alarm sounds as heavy trucks, mostly that of fires, zoomed past, and so did various flying crafts as traffic halted, and the huge country-sized city had a wrench thrown into its ever-rotating clockwork.


    For some reason, she remembered that boy in the class, what was his name again? Oh, Alexander. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. He was a good boy, but why was she thinking of him instead of enjoying the most beautiful moment of her life?


    Alexander walked, his ordinarily clothes devoid of all fashion, now accessorized not with rings or chains but with his own vomit and blood, maybe his, maybe his victims, or maybe both. He did not know and did not care.


    There was a limp to his walk as one of his legs was completely bent. But he walked, walked forward as the building behind him burned. Burned in golden fire, as if harkening the rituals of old.


    ..........


    In the grand scheme, much was unknown¡ª


    A moment, three figures, two paths alone.


    Two worlds divide, each story untold:


    One of peace and joy, gentle and cold.


    Her life of ease, happiness her guide,


    While he seeks conquest, power by his side.


    For her, contentment, a life serene¡ª


    For him, oceans of blood for all to glean.

 CHAPTER 46: STRUGGLE FOR SANITY

    The surrounding zoomed past, almost a blur. Well, the train was actually running underground, so there was not much surrounding to speak off.


    Tired, he was too much to even put into words. But there was no way he could fall asleep. Every single brain cell of his was screaming at him. How he was held up until now, he did not know.


    What was he thinking, what the fuck had he done? He¡­ he just killed three living, breathing human beings. And to top it all off, he even torched the place in fire for everyone to see. What was he thinking, or rather, he was not at all; he just did what his ancestor told him to do.


    And no, he did not ask why¡ªby now he had this much trust.  Once he¡¯d cleared the area, which wasn¡¯t difficult since the construction site was nearly deserted at night, he immediately sought to clean himself up¡ªboth physically and metaphorically. He succeeded with the former, but when it came to cleansing his conscience, well, that was another story.


    He was also in new clothing, which he bought after getting out of the area with his clothes wet. He abandoned his shirt on the way and showed up to a local roadside vendor for a cheap shirt. And as for where he was going now, it was easy to guess.


    As in this day and age, the train was hardly used. It connected some important points in the city for the poor. but  the population of poor was not exactly little, even in this metropolis. Alexander still remembered his father took the train the first two years after buying this apartment of theirs. He was 4 or 5 then, but he still remembered that detail.


    As usual, the train was packed. Though his soaked pants and fresh shirt made him stand out, it didn¡¯t matter much. The passengers came in all types, but the most important thing was that they were too busy, too drained, or too tired to even notice him.


    Luckily Alexander found a seat, most were left standing. Many would still have a long distance to travel once they got off the train. such was the life if your salary was not over a certain thrash hole.


    Fortunately for him, he didn¡¯t have far to walk. His destination was one of the main stops on the rail line: the border wall


    Yes, he was heading to the border wall, and just like before, he planned to hire an agent to help him find a group for the journey outside. This time, though, the trip would be a long one¡ªor maybe his final destination, he thought with a chuckle.


    Though the train was for the poor, it did not mean it was slow. Well, not that much. After some time, Alexander reached the station, and he had to admit he was surprised. The station was kind of filled, and all with scavengers.


    Some were bloodied and battered, dragging their exhausted body¡¯s home. Others, eager for a new hunt, eyed potential loot and money.


    That reminded Alexander he needed to buy some equipment. It took him just 5 minutes of normal walking to emerge from the train station to the bazaar that was selling things.


    For fear of being caught by the authorities, Alexander did not wait much and quickly finished his shopping. As for what he bought: three things. A durable axe, like last time but this time far more expensive, a tent, a light, another spare half-sword, and his last and final purchase: one cell vial.


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    Then, just like last time, he managed a broker to find him a team that would sneak him through the wall. Fortunately for Alexander, this time the team had a connection with the guards, and that meant Alexander did not have to get into a box this time.


    The group this time seemed a bit more professional¡ªor perhaps "larger" was the better word¡ªor maybe it just felt that way because he didn¡¯t know anyone. All he knew was that no one bothered to strike up a conversation, and he sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to. Not in his current state. It took everything he had not to collapse under the weight on his shoulders¡ªor give in to the urge for an unrestrained, brutal slaughter to stop the voices in his mind.


    It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the last station¡ªat least, as far as these kinds of tracks went into the wilderness. They got off, one by one. Whether they spoke or not, he couldn¡¯t remember¡ªor maybe he just didn¡¯t care. All his attention was on his swinging axe, crashing down on the komodo dragon-like creature, as its blood splattered around and on him.


    As the warm blood splattered across his face and a surge of killing energy filled his body, Alexander felt a fleeting sense of relief. It distracted him from the war raging in his mind.


    But that relief was short-lived; the sensation vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by the dread and weight of what he had done. He whipped his head around, desperate to find something¡ªanything¡ªto end. He just didn¡¯t want to feel this way; he didn¡¯t want to think at all..


    Suddenly, he spotted something. It moved quickly¡ªhe didn¡¯t know what it was, nor did he care. it moved, It was alive, and he could kill it. that was enough for him. He lunged forward, ignoring anything in his path as he desperately sought the euphoric release of swinging his axe.


    The branches in his way were utterly destroyed, either crashing into him or falling victim to the arc of his massive axe as it came down.


    The axe slammed down, kicking up dust, but Alexander knew it hadn¡¯t connected. Just as the blade was about to strike, the creature sped away.


    Alexander whipped his head around, senses heightened. Not that he needed much help in that department; his instincts had been on high alert for hours now, and his expression was one of complete madness.


    Rustle.


    Alexander ducked at the sound of rustling behind him, just in time to see a seven-foot shadow leap over him.


    It landed not far away, its four paws scraping against the dry leaves below, producing a cacophony of noise .


    Just like the night surrounding it, a creature resembling a panther crouched on all fours, its body adorned with darker patterns reminiscent of a jaguar. It neither growled nor attacked; it simply fixed its gaze on Alexander¡ªonly Alexander.


    Alexander stared back, not with fear but with annoyance at having missed his first blow. What did it matter if it was a panther or a cat? All that mattered was that it was a living creature he could kill. He could fight it and distract himself from his thoughts. That was enough.


    Disregarding all sense of normality, Alexander initiated the attack as he charged forward. The panther appeared momentarily taken aback, stepping back to evade his first wide swing. But before it could leap onto him, Alexander harnessed the momentum of his axe and executed a 360-degree spin, which, of course, it did not connect.


    Alexander came to a staggering halt a moment later, breathless and disoriented. Just as he tried to comprehend what was happening, a massive paw crashed into his chest, the force of the blow sending him hurtling backward. He slammed into three trees in rapid succession, the impact reverberating through his body and splintering parts of the first two trunks as he broke through them.


    The moment he came to a stop, blood erupted from his mouth, nose, and ears. Alexander felt as if his torso was either missing or vibrating incessantly, the air knocked out of him. He struggled to breathe while simultaneously vomiting blood.


    It was a visceral feeling of dread, yet Alexander welcomed it, as it drowned out the chaos swirling in his mind. This was precisely the kind of fight he had been searching for.


    The creature¡¯s muscles coiled tightly, its body tensing in preparation for another attack. Alexander felt the shift in the air around him and instinctively ducked, rolling to the side just as the panther closed the distance with explosive speed. It swiped its massive paw toward the tree trunk behind him with a ferocious intent.


    In that split second, the weight of guilt faded away, replaced by a surge of adrenaline that sharpened his focus. His weary mind snapped back to the present as he spotted a fleeting opening in the panther¡¯s defenses. With a determined grunt, he swung his axe upward, aiming for its vulnerable side.


    The blade connected with surprising ease, slicing through the creature''s skin like butter and leaving a vivid red streak against its sleek black coat. The entire sequence unfolded in the blink of an eye, a chaotic dance of violence and instinct. As the creature¡¯s powerful strike shattered the tree trunk behind him, splinters flew in all directions, and Alexander felt the tremors of impact reverberate through the ground.


    But he didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it; his axe landed with a satisfying thud, and the panther reacted instinctively, its body tensing as it leaped back several meters, graceful yet powerful, like a cat evading a threat.


    If nothing else, this creature was a marvel of explosive agility and raw power. And as Alexander steadied himself, he was certain of one thing: no matter how swift or fierce its attacks, its defenses were surprisingly weak.

 CHAPTER 47: GORY HUNTING

    CHAPTER 47: GORY HUNTING


    If nothing else, this creature was a marvel of explosive agility and raw power. And as Alexander steadied himself, he was certain of one thing: no matter how swift or fierce its attacks, its defenses were surprisingly weak. He could kill it.


    Alexander did not need to see its glowing eyes and tensed muscles to know what was coming. He hastily put his axe in front of him at a flat angle.


    Boom.


    Just as he did so, he felt the force of a truck crash into his arms. Alexander felt like letting go of the axe, but even though he did not feel his hand for a moment or two, he tried his best to hold on to his axe with both hands as he was sent flying.


    Fortunately, he had foreseen this moment, his senses sharp and alert. As the chaos erupted, he instinctively pivoted, angling his body just right in the nick of time, narrowly avoiding the trees that threatened to snatch him as he was sent flying.


    Just as the force began to ebb and his speed waned, he twisted his grip on the axe. With a savage swing, the blade tore into the bark of a nearby tree, the impact reverberating through his arms as he came to an abrupt, jarring halt.


    But it was Alexander¡¯s body that reacted before his mind. In a heartbeat, he ripped the axe free and hurled himself downward. The air whistled above him as the spot he¡¯d occupied just seconds before erupted into a storm of splinters.


    Looking up, he saw the creature looming above, with a jagged trail of shattered treetops marking its path to him. In that instant, he realized he had severely underestimated it.


    Just as his feet hit the ground, Alexander sidestepped, poised for the creature¡¯s assault. As it lunged, he swung his axe toward its head with deadly intent. But midway through the strike, instinct kicked in; he ducked just in time to evade the beast¡¯s slashing claws. It seems it was learning from its mistakes with each encounter. Which was of cure not a good news for Alexander.


    Even though his swing was interrupted and derailed, the blade connected with the creature¡¯s head, striking just above its eyes. Though not at full power, the axe bit deep into its skull, eliciting a chilling howl as warm blood splattered across.


    Alexander didn¡¯t hesitate; he quickly backed off, a wise decision as the creature unleashed its fury. The panther, driven wild by pain, lunged forward with a feral snarl, swiping at anything within reach. Its powerful limbs crashed into the surroundings, sending splinters flying from nearby trees and kicking up a swirling cloud of dust and debris that hung in the air, thickening the tension like a shroud of chaos. The raw energy of its rage filled the clearing, an unsettling reminder of the primal force he was up against.


    Alexander gulped, his breath catching as the eerie rumble continued for several moments. Then, without warning, it stopped. The surrounding silence was sudden and unnerving. Alexander tensed, muscles coiled like a drawn bowstring, instincts sharp. Once again, his caution proved not just good¡ªbut crucial.


    One moment, Alexander saw something shoot out of the smoke. In the next instant, the tree behind him exploded into a shower of splinters.


    Alexander¡¯s aching muscles tensed, ready for another leap, but it never came. A gust of wind swept through, clearing the dust. What he saw was kind of thought-provoking, as the creature stood there panting, as if it had just run a marathon. Much time was not provided for that thought to be provoked.. It lunged again. Alexander, pivoting swiftly on his heels, twisted his upper body just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike.


    The cat was as fast and explosive as ever, yet, unlike before, it didn¡¯t immediately pounce at him. Relatively speaking, of course¡ªit was still lightning quick. But Alexander''s mind was laser-focused on the moment, fully aware of what this behavior signified.


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    Undoubtedly, the creature exuded power, its speed and firepower far surpassing what its size would suggest. Yet, it appeared to be not quite itself, as if it were burning itself from within. For a moment there Alexander thought he was screwed taking on something he never in a million year should have. As he quite latterly did not had any idea how deep in forest he was and what level of beast he was actually up against. in any case what ever it was doing it did not seemed to be a sustainable thing.


    Yet it seemed he remained within a manageable range¡ªat least, well at least that¡¯s what he wanted to believe. As for his plan, it was undeniably obvious. He would tire the damn thing out.


    But there was one tiny, tiny problem: it was easier said than done¡ªfar easier said than done. For the next fifteen minutes, Alexander jumped, bobbed, dodged, and rolled for his life. Even with his heightened reflexes, the challenge proved to be more than a little difficult. Especially when the creature didn¡¯t follow any predictable pattern; sometimes it surged forward with blinding speed, while other times it moved sluggishly. It had no courtesy to maintain any consistency, which earned Alexander quite a few scars.


    While others might call them wounds, to Alexander, they were scars¡ªmarks of survival. Wounds would slow him down, but scars wouldn¡¯t. So it was scars to him.


    But everything shifted in the final moment. The creature surged forward, its movements almost frenzied, each strike packed not just with raw force but also unnervingly precise accuracy. Alexander narrowly evaded a few lethal blows, the air whooshing past him as he ducked and weaved. Just as he began to contemplate fleeing into the safety of the shadows, the beast let out a thunderous roar, its massive form collapsing with a bone-rattling thud. In that fleeting moment of stillness, Alexander''s adrenaline surged; he charged toward the fallen monstrosity, weapon raised high, and aimed for the soft, vulnerable glabella that was his only chance to finish the fight.


    The agonizing pain made the creature thrash wildly, it¡¯s flailing limbs a blur of chaos. In that brief moment of carelessness, Alexander was struck and sent soaring through the air, his trajectory only coming to an abrupt halt as he collided hard with a nearby tree.


    Pain surged through Alexander¡¯s body, a relentless wave that threatened to overwhelm him. Every inch of him screamed in protest, but he pushed the agony aside, focusing solely on the task at hand. He needed to slay this beast, and now was the perfect moment to strike.


    Dislodging himself from the sturdy tree, Alexander lunged forward, his axe raised high in a powerful overhead swing. With fierce determination, he descended upon the sprawled beast, his strikes fueled by a relentless ferocity. The axe came down at the same spot where his last cut had ended, biting deep into the sinewy flesh of the creature¡¯s shoulder. The thick neck was not untouched, but the axe didn¡¯t sink as deep as he had wanted.


    Alexander struck again¡ªanother swing, then another, each blow ringing out with a brutal intensity. Some landed true, sinking into the flesh with satisfying force, while others missed their mark entirely. He couldn¡¯t deny the truth: his body was nearing its limits, fatigue creeping in as he fought against the overwhelming weight of exhaustion. Resulting in subpar forces behind the attacks.


    With each strike, the panther''s body tensed, yet it lacked the strength to thrash about, as if it had expended the last of its reserves. Alexander felt the weight of its desperation; the creature was fighting against an inevitable end. When he finally attempted to sever its spinal cord, he encountered fierce resistance, and at that point, the panther couldn¡¯t even muster a whimper. Truthfully, it was a miracle that it clung to life, continuing to endure the agony of its injuries, refusing to succumb to the darkness that beckoned. Just prolonging the suffering.


    [You have killed a mutated Asronum. 2500 EXP earned.]


    [You have leveled up!]


    [You have leveled up!]


    Drenched in viscous crimson, Alexander emerged from the now-lifeless body of the panther. There was one notable aspect about this particular creature: it had far too much blood.


    In any case, the two back-to-back level-ups were surprising but not entirely shocking. After all, he had been fighting for what felt like an eternity, though he had long since lost track of time. Heck, he wasn¡¯t even sure how deep into the forest he truly was. The only indicators of his battles and their toll on him were the aches in his body and the relentless drive pushing him forward.


    In the fight, he did not notice much, or rather he just ignored it, but his body was banged up. Even when he fought with the dogs or escaped from the two c grade beasts, his condition was not that bad. His body all over was aching like crazy. It was as if his body was rusted all over. Not only the pain and constant throbbing, but he almost felt like each of his limbs weighed a ton.


    To be honest, Alexander felt a mix of shock and a burgeoning pride; he had never pushed himself this far before. Yet, as quickly as those feelings blossomed, they were drowned out by a wave of dread, the thoughts he suppressed circling back to him. What had he done?


    He tried his best to suppress the intrusive thoughts as they emerged, but it proved to be a futile effort. Even as he attempted to actively focus on the throbbing pain coursing through his body, it provided little comfort¡ªif comfort was even the right word for it.


    Seemingly unable to stop, Alexander shifted his focus, attempting to guide the lumps toward the Maridian. He concentrated fiercely on both the agonizing pain coursing through his body and the intricate task at hand. In the chaos, he suddenly felt himself topple backward, landing in the exapning pool of blood with a sickening splash.


    He had been barely standing moments before, but now, as he actively juggled multiple thoughts, his balance crumbled. Not to mention, his mental stability and capabilities were rapidly nearing their breaking point.


    It didn¡¯t take long to guide the lumps to the Maridian or did it? Alexander honestly couldn¡¯t tell. All he felt was a surge of power mingling with an overwhelming exhaustion that threatened to pull him into darkness.


    But his mind betrayed him, thoughts crawling back like shadows in the night. Alexander needed to kill, he needed to kill something quick.


    And fortunately for him he soon found a solution.

 CHAPTER 48: INTO THE MAW

    Alexander yanked the axe free, collapsing onto his back. The sheer exaction threatening to overwhelm all his senses.


    The cave was drenched in blood, its walls slick with crimson streaks. Massive chunks of flesh clung to the stone, some large enough to be mistaken for entire limbs, smeared across the vast expanse in a grotesque display of carnage.


    ..............................


    Fifteen minutes? An hour? Maybe two? Alexander couldn¡¯t recall. Finishing off the panther, his eyes darted in a frantic sweep, hyper-focused. They finally locked onto something¡ªa lump of fat, shifting, writhing or something along those line.


    Without a second thought, Alexander hurled himself toward it, his body screaming in protest. But pain didn¡¯t matter now. He needed to get rid of the demons in his mind.


    Reaching the lump, Alexander didn¡¯t hesitate. He aligned himself and brought the axe down in a powerful overhead swing, pouring all his strength into the strike. To his shock, the fatty mass split apart in a single, decisive motion, cleaving in two as warm blood sprayed outward in a vivid arc.


    The ease of it all left Alexander dumfounded, further compounded by the modest experience gained.


    [you have killed a worker Mournworm, 750 exp gained]


    Though he didn¡¯t see what he¡¯d killed, he couldn¡¯t miss the spike in EXP. It was far from modest¡ªespecially considering the effort he¡¯d poured into taking it down.


    It didn¡¯t take him long to spot another one lurking nearby. The moment it saw, smelled, heard¡ªsomething! Alexander wasn¡¯t sure. But the second it felt his presence, it reacted. . But instead of attacking, it turned and bolted, contradicting all of Alexander¡¯s expectations. Panic drove its movements, but it didn¡¯t get far. Alexander wasn¡¯t about to let it escape.


    This time too it did not take long just in 4 swings, it died,


    [you have killed a a worker Mournworm, 724 exp]


    A smile spread across Alexander¡¯s face. Looking up, he spotted his next target¡ªor rather, the next two targets. More of those larva-like, ten-foot creatures called Mournworms.


    From there the numbers kept growing as he ventured deeper, and at some point he found himself inside a cave. Not that it mattered much.


    So he did what he did best, endlessly mowing down numbers upon numbers of beasts, creatures, insects or whatever they were.


    And along the way he somehow found himself facing two, the thing were the same but of a different color and somehow way harder to hit. And of course way hard heating.


    .....................


    It took a lot of time, but he managed it. To be honest, this was the kind of fight he needed; it was exhilarat.......


    his world started to spin as it went dark.


    Drip


    Drip


    In the darkness, Alexander heard only one sound: a persistent drip. It continued incessantly, maybe for a second or a century. As if parting two curtains, the darkness barely lifted as Alexander opened his eyes. To his surprise, a stony wall loomed in front of him.


    Against his body''s will, he shifted to face upward. What greeted him was not the familiar ceiling of his room but the rugged roof of a cave, adorned with patches of moss and tree roots snaking through the stone. Confusion washed over him. Where was he? Why was he here? What had happened? And why was every part of his body aching like hell?


    And all at once, it hit him.


    Sigh


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Alexander let out a long sigh.


    Then laughed aloud¡ªor at least he thought he did¡ªbefore erupting into a fit of coughing. He lay there, staring at the moss and root-covered ceiling. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to move; he just couldn¡¯t.


    The thought of murdering three people flickered through his mind, but this time it didn¡¯t hit him as hard. And even if it did, so what? There was nothing he could do about it.


    ¡°How long was I out?¡± Alexander asked looking up.


    ¡°Well a better question would be how long were you fighting?¡± The voice replied in his mind.


    ¡°Well, then how long wa.....¡±


    ¡°16 hours, approximately your were fighting for 16 hours, it was a miracle that your body held up to that long.¡± before Alexander could as his ancestor replied.


    ¡°And as for as long as u were out exactly 25 hours 3 minutes.¡±


    ¡°Ha ha, I was sure you were even going to add the seconds.¡± Alexander joked.


    ¡°I am not that bored.¡±


    With a mental nudge, Alexander opened his system menu and notifications. Though he remembered what he had been doing , the details were still more then a bit hazy.


    [you have killed a Velkron, 486exp]


    [you have killed a Thornex, 248 exp]


    [you have killed a Frostclade, 567 exp]


    [you have killed a Emberite, 328 exp]


    {you have killed, Murkwyld, 312 exp]


    ...........................................


    Damn, he was shocked, to say the least. He had killed¡ªhe had killed a lot for some damn things: Velkron, Thornex, Emberite, Murkwyld. What were they, especially Emberite? The name felt familiar, like he had heard it somewhere before, but now it eluded him. Maybe it was all the pain; it was hard to focus on memories when he felt like this.


    On the other hand, fuck he got a lot of exp.


    [you have leveled up]


    [you have leveled up]


    [you have leveled up]


    He had leveled up three times in a row. What the hell! Not to mention, each time the leveling process became more difficult as u go farther.


    Unable to move, Alexander decided to circulate all the nine, wait a minute, thirteen lumps? it seems he also get another level at some point most likely when he killed all the seniors. but even then he should get 12 points not 13? He immediately asked.


    ¡°Oh, that¡­ I¡¯m not quite sure how it all works, but if I had to guess, you¡¯ve crossed some kind of threshold. I think¡­ ah, I¡¯m not sure. I mean, he did say something... well, that¡¯s not important.¡±


    ¡°What the hell, you old fart? You left me with more questions than answers!¡± Alexander snapped, his irritation bubbling over. He was truly not in the mood for cryptic nonsense, but he immediately regretted his outburst as pain radiated through his aching body.


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    He stood, bracing himself to lessen the pain, knowing there was no point in asking his ancestors any more questions.


    As he sifted through the memories of everything he¡¯d killed, one creature finally stood out: the Thornex. It was a carnivorous, plant-like being that relied mostly on traps to catch its prey, and somehow he had taken down quite a few of them. How he managed it, he had no idea.


    It didn¡¯t take him nearly as long to recover as he expected, mostly thanks to his constitution, if he had to guess. But that didn¡¯t mean he was ready to move. He could, but each step sent sharp waves of pain coursing through his body.


    So he did what any sane person would, well, kind of. He lay there, motionless, but started moving the lambs.


    It took almost another eight hours for him to finish moving the lumps. Normally, it shouldn¡¯t have taken so long, but there were two important differences this time. First, it got harder as Alexander leveled up, and second, it hurt like hell as he dragged the lumps through his pathways.


    It felt like molten iron balls were burning through his veins. He wanted to scream, but he knew that would only bring more pain. Fortunately, by the end of it, the agony subsided almost instantly


    After channeling all his points into Strength, he forced himself to stand. His body still ached, but the pain was manageable. He took a tentative step, and as for where he was headed, of course, it was deeper. This relentless spree had earned him three back-to-back levels, and with progress like that, he didn¡¯t mind pushing himself to the brink again.


    As he limped forward, deeper into the unknown, he opened his status screen¡ªlike any sensible adventurer would. Well sensible to him at least.


    Name: Alexander


    Race: Human


    Level: 17


    Exp: 10/4275


    Strength: 55


    *Perception: ___


    *Dexterity: ___


    *Agility: ___


    *Constitution: 4


    *Intelligence: ___


    *Vitality: ___


    a sight of the status screen put a smile on his face, though most of it was empty the number beside the strength state put a smile on his face.


    And not just that, even in this broken state of his body he could actually feel the raw power coursing and pluming through him. This time distributing all the accumulated point at once fee could felt the, almost tangible difference.


    It didn¡¯t take as long as he expected to reach an impasse. The path wasn¡¯t smooth sailing either; along the way, he encountered two more Mournworms. Thankfully, they were just worker variants, and it didn¡¯t take him long to dispatch them.


    As for which direction to take, he resorted to the most time-tested and reliable method of all: the legendary technique of ¡°eeny, meeny, miny, moe.¡±


    Which led him to the left passage, a dead fucking end. Paddling back he went with the right. The phenomenon repeated it self multiple times. And each time he applied the mighty method of eeny, meeny, miny, moe. And thankfully like the fist time it did not led to dead ends, well mostly did not lead to dead ends.


    Of course, he encountered many Mournworms during this time. Fortunately, all of them were of the worker variant, allowing Alexander to dispatch them quickly. While this yielded some experience points, it paled in comparison to the massive amount he needed for his next level.


    Another thing he noticed was that not all the paths were the same; some had just two, while others branched out into more than two dozen. Yet, the legendary method of "eeny, meeny, miny, moe" always proved effective. Alexander was increasingly convinced that this wasn¡¯t merely a cave but a full-blown colony of these things.


    But given the abundance of weak variants he encountered, it seemed these creatures weren''t powerful or fully grown yet.


    Rumble...


    Rumble...


    Rumble...


    He rerated it as soon as he thought of it. He was just rising red flags for himself.


    [[ rate the chapter if u will.]

 CHAPTER 49: PERILS AND PROMISE

    CHAPTER 49: PERILS AND PROMISE


    ¡®Back.¡¯


    The word shot through his mind like a lightning strike, and his body reacted instantly, tensing up as though bracing for impact.


    The ground beneath him rumbled, then gave way entirely as the surrounding walls began to crumble, stone by stone, in a deadly cascade. Roots of ancient trees snapped like brittle twigs, echoing with a sharp crack that mingled with the roar of shifting earth. Moss and thick clouds of dust erupted everywhere, filling the air with a choking haze.


    Alexander scrambled backward, heart pounding, instincts kicking in, but he was a split second too slow. The crumbling floor dropped out from under him, and he fell¡ªplummeting down, down, until he crashed roughly 8 feet, 15 feet or was it 20 feet below into a massive underground cavern, its walls looming like silent, shadowy giants.


    He barely had time to catch his breath or get his bearings. The space was vast, its edges swallowed in darkness, but before he could fully grasp where he was¡ªor what might be lurking there¡ªhe heard it. A rattling sound, ominous and unsteady, rising from the dust-filled air. Then, just as unnervingly, the chirp of a bird echoed faintly, slicing through the tension like a mocking whisper.


    His eyes widened, muscles locking in shock that morphed quickly into fear as his mind processed the sound. His blood ran cold. Not a bird¡¯s chirping¡ªsomething else entirely. Hundreds of legs, clacking together in eerie, rhythmic sync.


    And then, it emerged from the dust, slithering into view like a nightmare made flesh.


    One look¡ªone dreadful, bone-chilling look was all he took before he turned and bolted. Panic surged through him, every nerve on fire. There was no fucking way he could fight this thing.


    He sprinted in the opposite direction, eyes darting frantically, desperate for any sign of an exit. But the cavern¡¯s ceiling loomed just low enough to trap him. He couldn¡¯t escape the way he¡¯d fallen in. He was trapped.


    The relentless clattering of legs grew louder behind him, echoing off the cavern walls, a sickening reminder that it was gaining on him. His heartbeat thundered, matching the frenzied rhythm of his footsteps, and sweat streamed down his face as he ran, lungs burning with each panicked breath. Glancing back over his shoulder, he caught a glimpse of it¡ªa twisted, multi-legged creature slithering after him, its movement swift, fluid, and disturbingly effortless.


    It wasn¡¯t as if he hadn¡¯t encountered horrors like this before. He recognized the creature¡¯s thick, scaled armor¡ªit was one of those monstrosities he¡¯d fought in the cave once, right before he blacked out. But this one¡­ this one was different. A small difference, maybe. Well, tiny if you were feeling optimistic. Because this thing was at least nine times the length and four the width of the ones he¡¯d seen before.


    In other words, this thing was fucking massive.


    And the worst part? It was slithering through the towering stalactite-like pillars with eerie grace, each movement smooth and powerful, like it was born to dominate this cavern. It was almost¡­ unfair. Something that size should be lumbering, awkward¡ªanything but this fluid. What the hell was this thing? Some kind of cheating monstrosity?


    Before he could fully process it, Alexander hurled himself to the side. And just in time. The behemoth swept through, destroying everything in its path with terrifying ease, gouging out chunks of earth as if the ground were made of loose sand.


    Alexander staggered to his feet, hardly daring to glance back as he scrambled up, legs shaking, and eyes darting around frantically. There had to be an exit¡ªthere had to be. But all he saw were endless walls of rock, shadows and small vegetation. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.


    Meanwhile, the creature spotted him, its eyes narrowing with unsettling focus, scales rippling as it readied itself for another swipe.


    Fuck.


    Fuck.


    Fuck.


    Alexander¡¯s thoughts spun wildly, panic setting in, clouding his vision. He tore his gaze around, searching desperately. A hole, a gap, anything¡ªany possible way out.


    He rolled to the side, barely in time¡ª


    Standing up once again, there was nothing. Nothing he could use, no way out, and every precious second slipped through his fingers. Alexander¡¯s mind raced, frantic, his skin slick with sweat as the creature closed in, its monstrous legs scraping against stone, the threat of another pounce imminent.


    No time. Nothing around him¡ªno way to escape. For one dreadful moment, the thought of surrender brushed his mind, the temptation to just stop running, to let the end come. But Alexander gritted his teeth, forcing the thought away before it could root itself. It had cost him a fraction of a second¡ªa heartbeat he simply couldn¡¯t afford to lose.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    And though dread clawed at his mind, Alexander knew one thing for certain¡ªhe was going to die in the next moment.


    Rumble.


    Rumble.


    Rumble.


    Suddenly, the entire cave shook. The tremors thundered through the walls, echoing louder each time, and a fresh shower of dust and grit cascaded from the ceiling.


    Alexander didn¡¯t know what was happening, but he didn¡¯t need to. The monstrous creature paused, distracted by the rumbling, giving him a precious sliver of a chance to escape this suffocating battlefield¡ªor, more fittingly, this ¡°choking field.¡± He didn¡¯t waste a second. Before it could refocus, he spotted a narrow hole leading to a tunnel just a few feet away.


    Pkhaaakakakakkakkkk.


    He made a break for it, sprinting towards the tunnel. But just as he was about to dive in, the creature let out a bone-rattling roar, its attention snapping back to him with renewed fury.


    A fresh jolt of panic surged through him. Without a second thought, he changed course and hurled himself towards a much smaller hole in the ground¡ªone that was closer. Instinct screamed at him that whatever he had done, this thing was enraged beyond reason.


    The creature lunged, its twisted, segmented body hurtling toward him just as Alexander leaped. His heart thundered, his pulse a frantic drumbeat in his ears. By the barest hair¡¯s breadth, he managed to pull his legs in, narrowly avoiding the creature¡¯s reach as he tumbled headfirst into the tiny, dark opening.


    auch


    Alexander collided headfirst into the small hole in the ground, an instant wave of regret washing over him as he struck the rocky floor with a jarring thud. Beneath the surface, he discovered a layer of rough rock, each fragment oddly shaped like an ostrich egg, adding to the surreal quality of his descent.


    His heart raced, refusing to slow. He couldn¡¯t shake the fear that the creature would scoop him up along with the soil, dragging him down into its maw. All he could hope for was this guy did not see him jump into here


    But that fragile hope shattered in an instant. Alexander could hear the creature slithering around the perimeter of the small hole, its presence palpable and terrifying. Fuck. He realized he was in a dire situation. Even if he somehow managed to leap out right now, escape seemed impossible.


    With grim determination, he braced himself for the impact, teeth clenched tight, eyes squeezed shut. But just as he prepared for the worst, the earth trembled violently beneath him again. Rumbles echoed through the cavern, one after another, sending shockwaves through the air. Dust and debris rained down from the cave¡¯s ceiling, like the sky itself was collapsing.


    Alexander was just about to pcik outside to see what was happening when the ground beneath his feet crumbled away. With a gut-wrenching scream of despair, he began to fall. First, he plummeted through the air, and then, after a harsh landing, he tumbled further down, his body rebounding painfully against the unforgiving surface.


    He knew he was spiraling down a tunnel-like path, but he felt utterly disoriented, as if he had lost all control. How much longer could this agonizing descent last? Finally, he landed with a thud on solid ground, the shock reverberating through him as he struggled to catch his breath.


    The pain hit him like he¡¯d leapt off a 60-foot platform straight into an iron wall. Every bone in his body vibrated painfully, a relentless hum that threatened to shake him apart. At the same time, it felt as though his flesh were on fire, searing him from the inside out. His skin stung from dozens of cuts, some gouged by roots, others from sharp rocks or jagged bales that had snagged him on his brutal descent¡ªsome he couldn¡¯t even remember getting.


    He didn¡¯t know how long he lay there, face smashed into the cold ground, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. But it was long enough for his mind to settle, reassured, somehow, that he was no longer being hunted.


    When he finally stirred, he caught sight of a faint, bluish glow filtering in from somewhere unknown, casting eerie shadows along the dirt and stone walls around him. Slowly, his vision adjusted, and he realized he was in a narrow tunnel, its cramped walls lined with twisted roots, old and gnarled, some as thick as his wrist.


    There wasn¡¯t much to see. It was a tunnel in every sense¡ªbare, claustrophobic, with barely enough room for him to breathe, let alone stand. He couldn¡¯t rise; there wasn¡¯t even the space for him to straighten his back. So he pressed his palms to the cold, gritty earth and crawled forward, each movement jarring his bruised bones, his heart pounding in the oppressive silence.


    At this moment, there was only one thing going through his mind: he needed to exit this hellhole and escape the entire cave system. He was pretty sure he was being hunted.


    If he had to guess, it was most likely that he had angered the creature by killing so many of its kind. Alexander waited as he crept forward, but his ancestors¡¯ voice did not come as it often did when he was in a pinch or fight.


    So, he decided not to kill any more of them. After crawling for five or so more minutes, and forcing his way through a tangle of roots and deformed stalactites, Alexander finally emerged.


    And what greeted him was another underground cavern. But this one was, in a word, beautiful. In front of him was a small underground pond, and he could tell because, unlike the previous area, this one wasn¡¯t dark, but lit in a purplish-blue hue.


    What greeted him was another cavern, deep underground¡ªbut this one was, in a word, beautiful. In front of him stretched a small underground pond, its surface shimmering with a purplish-blue glow that illuminated the space. Unlike the previous cavern, this one wasn¡¯t shrouded in darkness; the soft, radiant hue bathed the stone walls, casting gentle reflections on the water.


    The cave''s ceiling appeared to twinkle with countless, faintly glowing points, as if the night sky itself had been tucked away within these hidden wall.


    He caught a glimpse of it in the reflection on the pond¡¯s surface¡ªstars, or at least, that¡¯s what it looked like. When he looked up, it felt as though the night sky, woven with endless twinkling stars and soft shades of blue and purple, was gazing back at him. The sight was enchanting, like a cosmic mirror drawn down to earth, and for a moment, he was lost in it.


    But he quickly snapped out of his daze. The water wasn¡¯t that deep, its surface smooth and still, with a cold, lifeless clarity. There was no time for distractions. He needed to cross this place and get out as fast as possible.


    And he was determined to do just that. Today had already been more than enough adventure. There were other ways to gain experience up above¡ªways that didn¡¯t involve risking his life in a shadowy, insect-infested underground.


    As he waded out of the water and onto the other side, he couldn¡¯t help but take in the surroundings. Strange as it was, this place almost felt like its own world, an isolated ecosystem untouched by anything else. There were no animals, no signs of movement, just an odd, comforting stillness that wrapped around him like a blanket.


    But the illusion shattered as he took a closer look¡ªthe place was teeming with bugs and insects, skittering and crawling just out of sight. Cozy was not the word for it anymore.


    Well, regardless, he needed to find an exit.


    A sigh drifted through Alexander¡¯s mind, quiet but heavy with an undeniable sense of foreboding. The weight of it lingered in his chest, leaving a bad taste on his tongue.


    ¡°We can¡¯t actually leave, yet¡± his ancestor¡¯s voice rang out, uncomfortably clear. The thought of struggling to survive, of being trapped in this endless nightmare, flooded Alexander¡¯s mind. He saw himself desperate, foraging for food, eating insects to stay alive¡ªand then, the thought of eating himself in the cold darkness of the cave. His stomach churned.


    ¡°Calm down, calm down. What the fuck are you thinking? It¡¯s not like we¡¯re trapped.¡±


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain at first, but the deeper I ventured into the cave, the more I felt something. It was faint, barely a whisper of energy, but it was there. I ignored it, thinking nothing of it. But it turns out, it was fortune you were attacked by that monster.¡±


    ¡°Fortunate? Really?¡± Alexander muttered bitterly, incredulous.


    ¡°Listen, kid, there¡¯s an old saying in our time: no pain, no gain,¡± the voice replied, a hint of irony mixed with wisdom.


    ¡°Anyway, that should be the queen in this rapidly developing colony. And I felt it¡ªfelt that same energy again, only this time, it was much stronger.¡±


    A brief pause stretched between them, the words settling in Alexander¡¯s mind. Slowly, the meaning began to sink in.


    The voice continued, its tone serious now, ¡°That means there¡¯s a massive source of energy buried deep underground. In fact, this might be the reason why the colony¡¯s growing so fast¡ªtoo fast.¡±


    Alexander remained silent, processing everything. The voice pressed on, ¡°That means you¡¯ve gathered enough energy to possibly unlock another maradian.¡±

 CHAPTER 50: MOSS, MUSHROOMS, AND MIRAVINE

    ¡°I felt the same energy in this one¡ªonly much more potent. There¡¯s a reason a relatively new and inexperienced mownworm colony is thriving here. Judging by the hive¡¯s size, it looks fresh, newly formed. Creatures like this have a natural balance between their numbers and the hive¡¯s scale. But here? There¡¯s something off. The hive is way too small for the swarm of mownworms we encountered. I¡¯d bet anything that this energy source is behind it.¡±


    His ancestor paused, the weight of his words settling before he continued.


    ¡°I won¡¯t stop you if you want to go. But understand, an energy source this powerful could let you open¡ªor, better yet, create¡ªat least one more maradin. No, scratch that, multiple maradins, in one go. The decision, however, is yours.¡±


    After this, his ancestor fell silent, leaving only a heavy stillness between them.


    In truth, the choice wasn¡¯t nearly as hard for Alexander as it might seem. On one side was the reward: the chance to seize new maradins, to add their strength to his own. And the risk? Death. But then, death was already waiting for him back in the city, lurking behind accusations of murder. So really, what was there to lose? It wasn¡¯t like this was a guaranteed death sentence, after all.


    In fact, it might be the perfect opportunity to strike. If his ancestor¡¯s whispers were true, the queen was out scouring the lands, hunting him with relentless fury¡ªwhich meant that the power source lay unguarded, ripe for the taking. Maybe the best time for taking it.


    Alexander made his way though the cavern, ¡°so what are this monewarms, do they have any weakness i should know about? Or more importantly is there more variant of them.? And ....¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa¡­ hold your horses!¡± The voice in his head sounded almost amused. ¡°I said ¡®this kind of creature¡¯¡ªmeaning insect-like monsters that behave as a colony. I¡¯m seeing this variant for the first time myself. And listen, it¡¯s not like I was some nerd like you, cataloging every creepy-crawly. Even if these things did exist back in my day, I wouldn¡¯t have had a clue.


    ¡°Variant?¡±


    At first glance, the cavern had seemed enormous, its shadows stretching endlessly in every direction. But as Alexander took a few cautious steps forward, he realized it wasn¡¯t as vast as it appeared. Just ahead, a towering rock wall jutted straight up, slicing the cavern like a barrier of stone. The wall was around 15 feet high, sheer and rough, with jagged edges breaking off where it met a ledge above. From there, the cavern continued, winding onward at a higher level.


    The walls¡ªstretching high on all sides¡ªwere dotted with clusters of small, blue, glowing mushrooms, their soft light scattered here and there like faint stars. But the ceiling was a different story. There, the mushrooms were packed so densely they formed a shimmering blanket of blue, transforming the stone overhead into a radiant, otherworldly night sky.


    Each mushroom along the walls and ceiling was bound to the rock by thick, gnarled roots, like the ancient tendrils of a massive tree. They looked sturdy, woven deep into the stone itself, as if they¡¯d been there for centuries. Alexander didn¡¯t doubt for a second that they could hold his weight.


    ¡°Yes, variant,¡± the voice echoed in his mind, a touch of sarcasm in its tone, ¡°all the insect-like creatures here are part of the same empire, or colony¡­ whatever you want to call it. You¡¯ll figure it out one day¡ªwhen you reach space.¡±


    Reaching the rock wall covered in thick clusters of mushrooms, Alexander carefully tested them with his hand. After making sure they could support his weight, he began his ascent, fingers gripping into the soft, spongy caps as he climbed upward.


    ¡°Do you think that could ever happen?¡± Alexander asked with a hint of wonder, though he kept his tone light. ¡°Me¡­ going to space, I mean?¡±


    A dry, mocking voice echoed in his mind¡ªthe voice of his ancestor.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Did you ever think you¡¯d kill three human beings and survive the pursuit of a thirty-foot-long centipede?¡± his ancestor retorted, the words laced with a familiar bite.


    Alexander gave a breathless laugh, though his fingers tightened on the mushrooms.


    Though Alexander lost the argument, it still brought a small smile to his face.


    ¡°Hey, around the time the queen was about to attack me, before everything started shaking, I felt something in my chest, like something was rising¡­¡±


    Alexander trailed off, his focus shifting to the wall before him. It was only about 15 feet high, so he managed to scale it quickly. But when he reached the top and took in the sight before him, a wave of indescribable frustration hit him. Beyond the climb, the cavern abruptly ended just 10 feet further in.


    ¡°What the fuck!¡± he muttered, exasperation spilling into his voice.


    A new fear prickled at the back of his mind. On one hand, he questioned whether he¡¯d even be able to get out of this place; it was a nagging doubt, one he tried not to focus on but couldn¡¯t quite shake. On the other hand, time was slipping through his fingers¡ªhe couldn¡¯t waste a single second. The queen wouldn¡¯t search for him forever, and he needed to find that power source before she moved on.


    Alexander frantically looked around. As he was on the upper area, it was easier to scan his surroundings. From this vantage point, the place looked almost like a domed cave, but the emphasis was on the word almost.


    Alexander swiped through the whole area three or four times, and though there were many cracks, there was no exit.


    ¡°Hey, wait,¡± his ancestor yelled out in his mind as he was scanning one last time.


    ¡°Go there,¡± he said, and Alexander felt a mental nudge toward a mossy rock, one of many scattered in the area below.


    Now that he noticed it, there was something shiny there, but it was hard to spot, as everyone¡¯s vision would be drawn to the glowing mushrooms on the ceiling and the surrounding walls.


    Alexander felt the question bubble up¡ªwhy? But he quickly shoved it down. It didn¡¯t matter. With a resigned sigh, he jumped down.


    The instant he landed, he knew it was a mistake. He managed a superhero landing¡ªknees bent, fist to the ground, looking every bit the part¡ªbut pain shot up his legs, sharp and unforgiving, making him grit his teeth. A second later, the pain seemed to deepen, settling into his bones with a fierce ache that refused to fade.


    He could practically hear his ancestor¡¯s laughter echoing in his mind, barely restrained, as though he was holding it back with every ounce of strength he had.


    ¡°Fuck you,¡± Alexander muttered internally, clenching his jaw as he pushed himself upright and started moving. So much for his constitution; it might¡¯ve been high, but apparently, not that high. Or maybe his body was just too bruised and battered to care. Either way, his joints protested every step, reminding him of just how rough this journey was turning out to be.


    As Alexander reached the moss-covered rock, he crouched down, eyes narrowing as he examined the curious objects nestled in its surface. They looked like something caught between a crystal and a hardened, transparent gel.


    ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± Alexander murmured, his voice laced with intrigue.


    ¡°Oh, damn, boy! You¡¯re lucky,¡± his ancestor¡¯s voice rang out with a mix of awe and excitement.


    ¡°Lucky? Seriously? Again?¡± Alexander replied, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Oh, come on. Stop being so nitpicky. Do you even realize what you¡¯ve found? This is a treasure! These alone could cover the costs of you coming here¡± the voice said, sounding almost exasperated.


    ¡°So, you still haven¡¯t told me what they are,¡± Alexander pressed, mentally rolling his eyes. He leaned closer, picking up each piece, one by one. They came free easily, not too deeply embedded in the rock.


    All told, there were four of them, each varying in size and shape, but all small enough to fit neatly into Alexander¡¯s palm¡ªnot that big.


    ¡°These are called Miravine. And these four should be enough to cover all the expenses for this trip of yours this time.¡±


    Alexander was shocked. These four pebbles were that valuable? ¡°This is the information you start with, man.¡±


    Now that that was out of the way, he needed to find a way out of this cavern.


    Fifteen minutes later, Alexander had checked almost the entire cavern twice, mainly to find an exit and also to see if he could find more of those crystals. And as luck would have it, he failed on both fronts.


    There were no other crystals apart from those four, and his ancestor said even that was rare in this environment, as it needed far more intensity of poison to form. And yes, the place was filled with poison¡ªthat meant he needed to get out as soon as possible. According to his ancestor, if his constitution were only at 1, he would already be sick.


    And as for a way out¡ªthere was simply none. Well, there was a web of cracks, some of them deep, but none that led out of the cavern.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    Alexander sighed; it seemed, in the end, he had to go along with his ancestor¡¯s plan. So he made his way to one of the corners of the cavern. As he approached a crack in the wall, he noted its width and depth. Was it wide? Yes. Was it deep? Yes. But was there no other crack wider and deeper than this? Yes, yes there were.


    But after some prodding into each crack, his ancestor told him this was the best option. So Alexander stood in front of it, took a deep breath, and then raised his gigantic axe overhead.


    Taking a deep breath, Alexander planted his feet, squaring his stance. He stood before the rock, lifting his massive axe over his head until his arms strained with its weight. The air around him grew dense, thick with tension, and he felt his muscles coil, each one drawn taut as he channeled every ounce of his strength.


    And with a powerful yell, he swung.


    Bang!


    The clash of steel against stone thundered through the cavern, a shockwave of sound that echoed like an explosion. The force of the blow reverberated through him, traveling down his arms and into his core, leaving his muscles trembling from the impact.


    But as the dust settled, his heart sank. Not a single crack marred the surface of the rock. Frustration bubbled up within him, threatening to spill over as the stone remained stubbornly unbroken, seemingly mocking his effort.

 CHAPTER 51: SWEAT, BLOOD, AND STONE

    Alexander¡¯s breath hitched, his chest heaving as he stared down at his trembling hands. His fingers throbbed, swollen and red, but his fury was far from spent. With a guttural roar, he hefted his axe and brought it down again. THUD! The vibration shot up his arms, but he ignored it. Again. THUD! Sweat stung his eyes, but he didn¡¯t care. Again. And again. Each swing a declaration of rage, each impact a cry of defiance. He wasn¡¯t counting anymore. Three swings, five¡ªit didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was this wall would fall.


    His arms screamed in protest, and his grip faltered. The axe slipped from his fingers, and he stumbled back, collapsing onto the cavern floor with a grunt. His breath came in ragged gasps as he sat there, defeated. His head fell back, and he blinked up at the ceiling, willing the disappointment away.


    Then it happened.


    Crack.


    The sound echoed through the cavern like a whisper from fate itself. Alexander¡¯s heart leaped as his eyes snapped to the wall. There, right along the lines of his earlier attacks, a crack was widening. It wasn¡¯t just a small fracture¡ªit grew. Jagged and rebellious, the fissure crept upward, splitting the stone like a hungry beast carving its way free.


    Joy surged through him, wild and invigorating. The crack expanded, opening just enough for him to slip through. No grand exit, but Alexander wasn¡¯t picky. He¡¯d take whatever escape he could get.


    Gritting his teeth, he staggered to his feet. His body screamed for rest, but he had none to give. With a grunt of determination, he raised his axe again, driving its blade into the fracture. Sparks flew. The cavern rang with the relentless clang of steel on stone. He hacked away like a man possessed, his blows fueled by desperation and hope. Eight minutes¡ªeight grueling, sweat-soaked minutes¡ªof relentless effort.


    By the end, Alexander¡¯s arms felt like lead. His hands were blistered and raw, and his legs barely held him up. His chest rose and fell in rapid bursts, his lungs burning. His once-bright tunic clung to his body, darkened with sweat and grime. But as he stood there, panting and aching, he smiled. The crack was now more than just a line. It was an opening.


    With a shaky breath, Alexander pressed forward, wedging himself into the fissure. He gave the wall one final shove with his boot¡ªand stumbled through. He emerged into a different cavern, his body sliding against the cool stone as he caught himself. The space beyond was vast and eerily silent, cloaked in a suffocating darkness. His eyes adjusted quickly, but the oppressive black seemed alive, thick and all-encompassing.


    Relief flooded him. He was out. Finally, out.


    But his relief was short-lived. Way too short lived, as in the literal next moment, he bent his body backward out of pure reflex as a form from the dark, one of the mownworm , lunged at him.


    Of course, the normal ones always bolted at the mere sight of him, their wormlike bodies slithering away into the shadows. But this one? It stood its ground. Of course an armored brute, its exoskeleton gleaming faintly in the dim light. Alexander barely had time to tighten his grip on his axe before movement flickered at the edge of his vision.


    Instinct kicked in. He threw himself back at an awkward angle, his boots skidding across the rocky ground as another mownworm lunged from the darkness. Its maw snapped shut just where his torso had been moments before, its fetid breath brushing against his skin.


    Close. Too close.


    The second creature collided headlong into the first with a wet, sickening thud, their tangled forms crashing to the ground in a writhing heap. Alexander wasted no time. He hit the ground in a crouch, scanning the cavern, his pulse pounding in his ears. His eyes darted through the suffocating blackness, searching for any more of the creatures lurking in the shadows.


    Nothing. For now, fortunately.


    But he wasn¡¯t in the clear. Far from it. The oppressive darkness swallowed everything around him, leaving him nearly blind. His only guide was the faint, flickering light coming from the jagged hole he¡¯d carved in the wall behind him. Without hesitation, he moved closer to it, keeping the light at his back while his eyes darted between the shadows. Every second felt like a lifetime, every breath a gamble.


    A sharp hiss echoed from the dark as one of the mownworm charged, its grotesque form unfurling with terrifying speed. Alexander twisted to the side, narrowly dodging the creature¡¯s snapping jaws. The moment it passed, he swung his axe in a wide arc, channeling every ounce of strength into the blow.


    BANG!


    The axe struck the creature¡¯s side with a deafening impact, and the force sent it hurtling into the cavern wall. It slammed against the stone with a bone-rattling crunch, its armored scales cracking under the impact. Alexander could hear the splintering of its shell as fragments shattered away, a slick trail of dark, viscous blood oozing from the fractures.


    He stepped back, breathing heavily, his eyes locked on the creature. That should¡¯ve been enough, he thought, but the mownworm twitched, its segmented body writhing as it fought to rise. Alexander¡¯s gaze shifted to his axe, and his heart sank.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The blade was dull. The once-sharp edge that had cleaved through enemies with ease was now a blunted wreck, the result of hacking through solid rock. His swing had the power, with his recently dumbed points on the strength state. But not the cutting edge. The axe wasn¡¯t slicing anymore¡ªit was just battering.


    Fantastic. His grip tightened on the axe witch was now more like a heavy handed wired looking hammer or club.


    Before Alexander could dwell on the agony of his ruined weapon¡ªan expensive tool now as useless as his hopes of escape¡ªanother shape surged from the darkness. He didn¡¯t have time to curse his luck or mourn the money he¡¯d wasted, oh the money he wasted, and that hurt him more. The creature lunged at him,


    In that single moment, fate seemed to take pity on him. As the creature lunged toward him, Alexander swung with every ounce of strength he had left. The dull, battered edge of his axe struck the creature¡¯s skull with a sickening thud. A spray of dark, foul blood burst from the wound, splattering across the walls as the creature was thrown backward. Its head was left with a deep, jagged wound, blood oozing from every crack and hole, but it didn¡¯t die. It didn¡¯t collapse.


    He staggered back, vision blurry, body trembling like a leaf in the wind. His biceps burned with a fire so intense he was sure they were about to tear from their sockets. Alexander¡¯s chest heaved with each desperate breath, sweat pouring down his face, but he didn¡¯t stop. He couldn¡¯t afford to. The fight wasn¡¯t over.


    Gritting his teeth, Alexander backed away toward the hole he¡¯d crawled through earlier, his muscles spagoming in protest. His body felt like it was on the verge of collapse, and he knew he couldn¡¯t keep this up for much longer. With a grimace, he made his choice¡ªno more unnecessary risks. He had to fight smart, not hard. And smart meant isolating his enemies.


    He retreated into the narrow makeshift tunnel, the cramped space feeling like a strange, temporary sanctuary. Here, at least, he had the advantage. He had the room to move, to maneuver, and these overgrown caterpillar didn¡¯t. If they followed him, he could handle them one at a time¡ªat least, that¡¯s what he hoped.


    And follow him they did. The faint skittering of legs and the slithering of slick bodies confirmed that his plan was working. His heart pounded, adrenaline surging as the creature¡¯s rancid scent grew stronger, but Alexander was unbothered. In the narrow space, he had the upper hand. He wasn¡¯t a massive brute like those writhing horrors¡ªhe was nimble, quick. He could dance around them, exploit their sluggishness in the confined space.


    The first one lunged, its gaping maw snapping shut just inches from Alexander¡¯s head. He stepped back with pure insect, despite the protest of his every fucking mussel, and the creature¡¯s jaws clacked shut on empty air. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. He quickly repositioned, taking a few steps back to get into stance, his axe raised high. It was as if he was going to unleash a devastating skill.


    His body screamed for rest, for the mercy of a break, but Alexander pushed through the pain. His grip tightened on the axe¡¯s hilt. His muscles groaned under the effort, but he ignored it. He wasn¡¯t about to back down now.


    But sadly, he did not know one. Well, come to think of it, would a skill even work with his cultivation method?


    You could not learn every skill you wanted. It had to go hand in hand or at least had to synchronize¡ªor let¡¯s just say support¡ªyour cultivation method for usage. And considering Alexander was using something that was not even considered Qi in the normal sense, and he was not even cultivation in the normal sense, he was unsure what he could do.


    The creature was close now, its rancid breath hot against his skin. Alexander¡¯s muscles tensed as he dropped into a stance, his axe raised like a celestial hammer. With a fierce grunt, he brought the axe down¡ªTHWACK¡ªa blow of such raw power that it felt as though the heavens themselves had struck. The axe cleaved through the creature¡¯s skull with a sickening crunch, caving it in. Blood and viscous matter began oozing from the cracks in its head, spilling down in sickening streams. The creature let out a tortured, guttural screech as it twisted in pain, its massive body thrashing around in the narrow cave, trying to escape the agony of death.


    Pain shot through Alexander¡¯s arms like wildfire, every muscle screaming in protest. His hands were raw, fingers burning from the relentless strikes, but the damn creature still hadn¡¯t gone down. What the hell? He was sure that last blow had been enough to finish it. The impact had rattled his whole body, and the way the mownworm had recoiled¡ªthere had to be enough force behind it to end this.


    But no. It wasn¡¯t dead.


    With a growl of frustration, Alexander swung his axe back¡ªmore like a hammer now, its weight unbearable¡ªand slammed it down on the creature¡¯s head once more. THUD! He gritted his teeth as his body screamed in agony. Again. Another strike. THUD! His vision blurred from the pain, but he didn¡¯t stop. Not yet. THUD! The vibrations from each hit racked his bones, and still, the thing moved, thrashing violently in the tight tunnel. It was like trying to kill something that refused to die, its death throes only growing more furious.


    And then, Alexander heard it¡ªthe shrill screech of the mownworm as it thrashed again, this time in desperation. It was thrashing so violently that the entire tunnel seemed to shake, the rock walls groaning in protest.


    Alexander¡¯s stomach twisted with dread. This wasn¡¯t good. Not good at all. The walls were narrow, barely wide enough for the creature to squirm through, and now another one¡ªanother damn mownworm ¡ªwas trying to force its way in from the other end.


    The ground beneath Alexander¡¯s boots trembled with each violent movement of the first mownworm The tunnel was already unstable¡ªeach swing of his axe sending another shudder through the rock. It was only a matter of time before the whole damn thing collapsed.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± The curse escaped him without thought, his frustration boiling over. His mind raced as he tried to assess the situation. There was no way he was going back. Not to that poison-laden cavern¡ªhell no. That was a death sentence in itself. But even as that thought crossed his mind, reality slammed into him. He couldn¡¯t stay here either. Not with two of these monsters now in the tunnel.


    He couldn¡¯t make another passage. Not with his axe¡ªhis weapon was little more than a half-swinging hammer now, too battered to do much else. And who the hell could say if any tunnel he dug would be any safer than this one? There was no time to risk that kind of uncertainty. The walls were shaking. The creatures were closing in. The whole situation was falling apart¡ªand fast.


    Time was running out.


    So Alexander did what he could. He took a leap of faith as he ran forward, disregarding everything, as he attempted to escape the cavern before it caved in on itself.


    From the other side, another one that Alexander sent flying with a stick before, tried to enter, but suddenly it felt a pain, a deep point in its body, and as it looked, it saw its own blood pouring, no spewing out. But before its simple mind could process what was happening, it started feeling multiple pains one after another.


    And suddenly, its whole body was on fire, or at least that¡¯s what it felt like. And as it looked back, it saw the puny creature that attacked it. It was battered, and bloodied, and panting. It knew it could eat it if it wanted, but suddenly it saw its vision going blurry and then black.


    As soon as Alexander got out of the tunnel, he did not wait a single second as he dropped his big, blunt axe and, taking out his sword, he thrust it right in between the two plates of the another creature that was trying to get in.


    But he did not stop. As soon as it slid in, he took it out and stabbed another area, then another and another, and this continued. Continued for as long as he could, and after the 7th consecutive stab, Alexander felt like his body turned stiff as it simply refused to move.


    But it made him happy to see the thing was bleeding all over, but that all vanished as it maliciously looked at him in the next moment. But luckily for him, it killed off in the next moment. And almost like a realm, simultaneously, the makeshift tunnel caved in on the another, trapping the mownworm


    Alexander sighed in relief as he calmed down. Among the two, none of them was dead. The one stuck in the tunnel would die soon, but this one was failing out of blood loss. How long it would be alive, Alexander did not know and frankly did not care, as his body was simply banged up.


    Because even though he made it out of the tunnel, he was not exactly unharmed. More than once, the thrashing body of the creature bashed into him, slamming him into the walls, but somehow, he made it out.


    At this point, he felt like his whole body was about to give up, as his vision blurred. So he decided to do something he really did not want to.

 CHAPTER 52: THE RED WORMS LAIR

    Alexander grimaced as he pulled the small, glimmering pill from his pouch, its polished surface catching the faint light. He hesitated, staring at it with a mixture of desperation and regret. This wasn¡¯t just any healing pill¡ªit was the healing pill. The one that had cost him more gold than he cared to remember. Swallowing it felt like swallowing a piece of his soul.


    His fingers tightened around it. Every aching muscle in his body screamed for relief, but the thought of wasting something so valuable made his stomach churn. ¡°Damn it,¡± he muttered, raising the pill to his lips. ¡°You better be worth it.¡±


    Just as he was about to toss it into his mouth, a voice cut through the silence.


    "Do not consume it, boy."


    Alexander froze mid-motion, the pill hovering inches from his mouth. His eyes darted around the dark cavern, his pulse quickening. ¡°What? Why?¡± he demanded, his voice edged with irritation.


    "You might need it later," the voice replied, calm but firm. "For now, just power through it. With your constitution, it won¡¯t take long."


    Alexander clenched his jaw, his gaze shifting from the pill to the shadows around him. Logic warred with frustration. His body needed this. Every fiber of him was begging for relief. But there was something in that tone, something unshakably certain, that made him pause.


    Reluctantly, he lowered the pill. ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered, stuffing it back into his pouch. ¡°But if I end up half-dead because of this, it¡¯s on you.¡±


    The voice didn¡¯t respond. Silence fell once more, leaving Alexander alone with his thoughts¡ªand his pain. His muscles throbbed with every heartbeat, his body trembling from the strain. Moving wasn¡¯t an option, not yet.


    So he stayed where he was, slumped against the wall, breathing slow and steady as he fought through the ache. Time dragged. Every second felt like an eternity. Minutes bled into each other until roughly two hours passed, but Alexander stayed still, his resolve hardening with each painful breath.


    He might not have been up and running yet, but he was healing. And when he finally got back on his feet, he¡¯d be stronger.


    There was always the fear, on the back of his mind that another creature might step on to him, but fortunately, that never happened. When he finally emerged, the reason became clear. After moving through the tunnels for about 10 minutes, he hadn¡¯t encountered a single mownworm.


    In truth, he was following the guidance of his ancestor, who insisted he could sense the aura from the source. As for light, Alexander had fashioned a makeshift torch using scraps of muscle and burning flesh from the fallen mownworm.


    Was there a stench? Absolutely. Was there any other option? Not in the slightest. So, he pressed on, enduring the suffocating smell.


    Nearly 45 minutes later, Alexander was still making his way through the tunnels when suddenly, the voice of his ancsetero thundered in his mind: ¡°Dim down the glow, now.¡±


    Alexander thrust his makeshift torch into the ground, the flame sputtering out with a faint hiss, plunging them into near darkness. His voice was low, steady, but laced with tension.


    Ahead, the tunnel sloped upward, the light thinning until it opened into a broader space. Alexander hesitated at the top, peering out from the shadows. His eyes adjusted to the dim glow seeping from the cavern beyond¡ªand what he saw turned his blood cold.


    His heart slammed against his chest.


    The tunnel overlooked a vast cavern below, stretching wide and deep. The ground was a seething mass of writhing bodies. Mownworm. Dozens of them. Their pale, grotesque forms shifted restlessly, the larger, armored ones towering over their smaller, white brethren. Alexander¡¯s eyes darted across the scene, instinctively counting.


    Fifteen armored¡­ at least fifty regular ones¡­


    ¡°Shit,¡± he muttered, the word slipping from his lips like a hissed breath. His mouth had gone dry. His hands clenched tighter around his axe until his knuckles whitened.


    There was no time to think. No time to strategize. His pulse hammered in his ears as panic threatened to consume him. Without a second thought, Alexander spun on his heel, heart pounding, and legs moving on instinct. He bolted back down the tunnel, each footfall barely muffled by the soft dirt. He didn¡¯t stop, didn¡¯t hesitate. There was no way he could face them¡ªnot all of them.


    His mind raced. The other route. There had to be another way out.


    But running didn¡¯t mean they were safe. This wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d encountered these monstrosities since escaping the mushroom cavern. The memory of the two he¡¯d fought there was fresh, their grotesque forms still haunting his mind. And since then? Thirteen more. Thirteen heavily armored beasts, each one a brutal fight for survival.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Alexander didn¡¯t stop running. He couldn¡¯t afford to.


    His main weapon, the axe, was useless. So he had to deal with them using his blade, which was not aligned with his style of fighting. A blade or sword relied more on precision rather than brute force, so Alexander had to adapt on the fly.


    Needless to say, he did not kill all 13 of them; he killed just 5, and from the rest, he just ran away somehow. His changing of path did come at a cost. Now in front of him were three armored ones that he needed to go through to get to the other side.


    But Alexander decided not to. Two reasons: he doubted he could take three at the same time, and even if he could, the cavern where an army lay was just in front, so he did not want to bet his luck on if they might call for reinforcement or not.


    There was also another thing¡ªhe did not have that much time.


    Alexander took out his axe and bent down before he harled himself with everything he had. But not at the three mown worms that were minding their own business but the wall them.


    Bam!


    With all his strength, he hit the wall as the place was engulfed in dust. Alexander did not waste a single second; using his chance, he made a run for it.


    And he did not stop unless he was sure there wasn¡¯t a single one chasing him.


    And like this, Alexander continued his descent. Along the way, he did come into contact with several monworms¡ªsome he killed, some he fled from. All in all, he had been doing this for quite some time, and by this point, if he was not wrong, he was more than 5 kilometers deep beneath the earth.


    The thought alone was enough to send chills down his spine, but he continued downward. He came too far not to do anything.


    It was during this relentless descent that Alexander encountered something new. The first sign came as a faint squelching sound, then the sight of strange, smaller worms. These creatures were only about three feet long and entirely red, their slick, fleshy bodies glistening under the faint light. Their presence was jarring at first, but after a quick encounter, Alexander found they were hardly a threat. A single swing of his axe was enough to end them. Sometimes two, but no more than that.


    Their fragility made them almost laughable compared to the mownworm, and Alexander quickly stopped paying them any real attention. They weren¡¯t worth the effort to fear or avoid. With that settled, his focus returned to navigating the endless network of tunnels.


    He¡¯d been down in the caves for so long now that time had become meaningless. He was far too tired to keep track, and the monotonous, unchanging environment didn¡¯t help. But one thing was clear¡ªhe was deep. Deeper than he¡¯d ever imagined he¡¯d go. And according to the whispered words of his ancestor, he was close. The source of the overwhelming power he¡¯d been chasing was near.


    But if that was true, Alexander couldn¡¯t feel it. Nothing in the atmosphere had changed. The tunnel was still just a tunnel¡ªits walls riddled with countless holes. It was hard not to feel like the oppressive silence was mocking him, as though the labyrinth was alive and playing with his resolve.


    Yet, not everything was bleak. The endless battles had their perks. Fighting wave after wave of worms had honed his skills and pushed his limits. He had leveled up again. If he¡¯d been bolder, if he¡¯d risked fighting every worm he came across instead of slipping past when he could, he was certain he¡¯d have gained another level. Maybe even two.


    But Alexander wasn¡¯t stupid. Ambition was one thing. Recklessness was another. Survival always came first.


    Still, as he moved through the tunnels, his grip tightening around his axe, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder: how much deeper could this go? And when he finally reached the source, would he be ready?


    He soon reached the end of the tunnel, and as he exited it, it opened up to another cavern. And Alexander felt it just as he entered. There was something different about it, first of all, it was not that big, like the others ones he saw, and it did not have that many holes going from it either, just some here and there and the most obvious difference, a greenish-purple crystal-like thing stuck on a dead tree root at the end.


    His ancestor did not need to say anything before he understood, this was the thing he came here for. But just as he started approaching it,


    Clink.


    The faint, metallic sound came from behind him¡ªor was it above? Alexander¡¯s head snapped up instinctively. His breath caught as his eyes locked onto the creature clinging to the cavern ceiling.


    It was one of the red worms. But not like the ones he¡¯d been cutting down with ease.


    This one was massive¡ªeasily twice his size, its hulking form spread out across the stone like some grotesque, mutated gecko. Its muscular front legs, eerily human-like, gripped the ceiling with unnatural strength, while the rest of its body retained its worm-like grotesqueness. Scales covered patches of its flesh, glinting in the dim light, particularly on its forehead, chest, and along its back.


    It tilted its head, the slick, glistening scales on its face catching the eerie glow of the crystal. A long, split tongue slid out, licking the air as though tasting his presence.


    The sight might have been the stuff of nightmares for anyone with geckophobia, its gecko-like movements combined with its monstrous size creating a surreal terror. But to Alexander?


    He frowned.


    ¡°Really?¡± he muttered under his breath, hefting his axe.


    Sure, it was bigger. Sure, it looked more durable with those scales. But in the end, it was just a larger version of the red worms he¡¯d already killed countless times. And bigger didn¡¯t necessarily mean tougher.


    Alexander braced himself, his fingers tightening around the axe handle. This thing might be more intimidating, but he doubted it would be much of a challenge. Still, his instincts told him not to underestimate it.


    "Let¡¯s get this over with," he growled, taking a steadying breath as the monstrosity¡¯s tongue flicked out again, the faint glow of the crystal casting jagged shadows around them.


    ¡°jump¡±


    The command roared in Alexander¡¯s mind, sharp and urgent. He didn¡¯t stop to question it. Trusting the voice, he dove to the side in a swift roll.


    A split second later, a hissing sound filled the air, followed by a wave of heat and the assault of a vile, choking stench that made his stomach churn.


    Alexander turned his head to see the ground where he¡¯d just stood. It was bubbling, the stone corroding and melting into a smoking mess.


    ¡°What the fuck! Acid?¡± he blurted, his voice tinged with disbelief and anger.


    ¡°Move back and cover your nose!¡± the voice barked again, more commanding this time.


    Alexander didn¡¯t argue. He staggered backward, clamping a hand over his face as the acrid fumes clawed at his senses.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t acid¡ªit¡¯s poison,¡± the voice hissed.


    ¡°What?¡± Alexander¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°Yeah, but the poison is so potent it can even melt rock. I don¡¯t think I need to spell out what¡¯ll happen if you get hit with it.¡±


    ¡°Well, of course not,¡± Alexander grumbled, narrowly dodging another deadly strike as the poison-laced projectile slammed into the ground where he had been standing just seconds before. His heart raced, and panic threatened to rise within him. Things were escalating far faster than he could keep up with.


    ¡°And of course, the poison spreads...¡± the voice continued, coldly matter-of-fact.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know,¡± Alexander muttered, the words barely escaping his gritted teeth. He was on the move again, racing for his life. Each moment, the poison seeped into the atmosphere, thickening the air with danger. He couldn¡¯t afford to waste any time¡ªif he did, the poison would start to work against him, and the time he had left would dwindle.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Alexander cursed, frustration bubbling up as he pushed off the ground with every ounce of strength he had. He had to keep moving¡ªhe had to make it to the laser, had to hack it down, whatever it was. His breath came in sharp gasps, sweat pouring down his face as he sprinted forward.


    Without warning, he swung his axe with all his might, aiming for the target ahead. But then¡ª


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    His swing faltered mid-motion as a cold wave of realization hit him. His fingers gripped the dull axe, not the sharp blade he needed.


    He saw his wild, desperate swing cut through the air, heading straight for the monster. But the axe wasn¡¯t going to make it through the armored scales. It wasn¡¯t going to do anything.


    The scales on the creature''s hide mocked him, gleaming like a sick joke as his strike continued onward, hitting nothing but the unyielding armor.


    Time was slipping away, and Alexander was starting to realize that he might have underestimated just how dire this situation was.


    Just as Alexander¡¯s axe swung down, the creature made a swift, unexpected move. It lifted its front leg, holding it up just in time. Alexander¡¯s wide swing connected, but instead of striking the soft flesh, it hit the thick, scaly armor covering the calf. What happened next, however, caught Alexander completely off guard

 CHAPTER 53 : A DANCE OF BLOOD AND VENOM

    Bam.


    Thud.


    The blunt axe struck with the force of a battering ram. Though its edge was dulled to near uselessness, the sheer power behind the swing was enough to rip the creature¡¯s legs clean off. Not severed, not even cut¡ªjust torn away as if its body were made of soggy paper. The detached limbs slammed into the wall with a wet splatter, leaving streaks of red blood in their wake.


    The creature''s ear-splitting screeches echoed through the room, blood gushing like a broken dam. Alexander smirked, the sound and sight confirming his suspicion: the damn thing had defenses softer than moldy bread.


    For Alexander, this was a game against the clock. The longer he took, the more the poison spared. But for the lizard-like monstrosity clinging to survival, it was all about not getting hit again¡ªa deadly round of cat and mouse where a single misstep spelled doom.


    Seeing his first strike land with devastating success, Alexander surged forward, eager to follow up before the momentum of his swing dissipated. His axe arced toward the creature with ferocious speed, a blur of raw power¡ªbut the thing wasn¡¯t there. It scurried up the wall with gecko-like reflexes, faster than he could track.


    The missed blow threw Alexander off balance, and his forward motion carried him to the ceiling. He twisted midair, landing with a loud crack as his boots met the surface. Wasting no time, he kicked off, rocketing back toward the creature in an all-or-nothing charge, determination burning in his eyes.


    Wait. Wait, wait, did he just pull that off? Like a professional kicked of the wall and attacked again in one fluid motion.


    The thought brought a crooked smile to Alexander¡¯s face. Adrenaline coursed through him as he darted toward the creature once more, his movements fluid and purposeful. This time, he drew his blade mid-stride, slashing with a swift, ruthless arc. The edge bit deep into the creature¡¯s side, leaving a gaping, oozing gash that spilled dark blood onto the ground.


    Alexander landed with a solid thud, crouched and poised for his next strike. But as he lunged forward to deliver another blow, he froze, a wave of revulsion washing over him.


    The gash wasn¡¯t healing¡ªnot in any way that deserved the word. Instead, the wound festered and writhed, hot blood spurting out as grotesque tumors began to swell in its place. The lumps pulsated angrily, some filling the gap like poorly mixed plaster, while others swelled to bursting before exploding in a gory spectacle of viscera.


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Alexander recoiled, his nose scrunching at the sickening stench wafting from the mess. He couldn¡¯t decide if the thing was regenerating or just failing miserably at not dying. Either way, the sight churned his stomach¡ªand fueled his resolve


    If someone had shown Alexander a video of this grotesque scene just a few months ago, he would¡¯ve retched on the spot. Now, though, there was no room for nausea¡ªjust a singular thought pounding in his mind: Strike before it healed.


    Without hesitation, Alexander launched himself toward the creature again. The blade gleamed in his grip, poised for another devastating slash. But as he closed the distance, the creature did the unexpected¡ªit simply let go.


    Like a discarded puppet, it dropped from the wall, tumbling toward the ground with a sickening lack of resistance.


    Alexander¡¯s instincts took over. Twisting mid-air, he planted his feet on the ceiling, the motion fluid and precise. Muscles coiled like springs, ready to propel him downward in a crushing dive. But just as he prepared to strike, his eyes caught a flash of green¡ªa jet of liquid spraying toward him with terrifying speed.


    His body reacted before his mind could fully process the danger. Every hair on his body stood on end as he twisted his trajectory. With a grunt of effort, he redirected his momentum, legs straining as he kicked off the ceiling with all his might.


    The force of his escape was so immense that faint cracks spider-webbed across the ceiling where his boots had been. He didn¡¯t see it, but the moment he was clear, the creature¡¯s venomous spray hit the ceiling, sizzling as it melted through the material like acid through paper.


    Alexander had poured every ounce of force into his jump, pushing his body beyond its limits. The result was inevitable¡ªhis landing was a chaotic mess. He crashed to the ground, rolling forward in a flurry of motion, sending a puff of dust and debris into the air.


    ¡°Fuck!¡±


    Alexander spat a mix of blood and frustration as he pushed himself to his feet. His shirt was torn in places, and blood oozed from a gash on his head. The pain was sharp, but it didn¡¯t matter.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    His eyes snapped to the creature.


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    The words were bitter, sour on his tongue. The gash he¡¯d inflicted had healed, and to his disgust, the hand that had been severed had regrown, thick and grotesque.


    But then, something struck him¡ªsomething was off.


    The creature, now pale and still, stood motionless. It wasn¡¯t charging him or even writhing in pain; it was just¡­ there. As if it was gathering its strength¡ªor perhaps, unable to muster any more energy after the brutal blow.


    Alexander¡¯s frustration mixed with a flicker of realization. This was his chance.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Alexander went to confirm himself, He didn¡¯t give the creature a chance to react¡ªhe leaped toward it, his voice a sharp, furious roar:


    ¡°Take this, you motherfucking ugly bitch, or whatever the hell you are!¡±


    The creature shifted, just barely managing to dodge his attack. But to Alexander¡¯s surprise¡ªand twisted satisfaction¡ªit was slower, less nimble than before. All the difference was minuscule Alexander noticed it.


    It wasn¡¯t enough to stop it completely, but its movements were sluggish, and that small victory sparked a grin on Alexander¡¯s face.


    He knew what needed to be done now.


    The plan was simple: force it to heal over and over, wear it down until it couldn¡¯t move. Until it was too weak to fight back. Alexander¡¯s eyes narrowed with cold determination. Each strike would be a step closer to crippling it, and once that happened, he wouldn¡¯t give it the chance to recover.


    With newfound determination, Alexander launched into his assault¡ªa blur of strikes that bordered on frenzy. Exhaustion gnawed at him, but his focus was unwavering, his mind locked onto one singular goal. But its venomous breath, nearly claimed him several times.


    Each time, Alexander barely managed to dodge, his reflexes saving him by mere inches. Three times, he had been a breath away from death, each close call leaving him with a racing heart and a deeper resolve.


    But there was a new danger now. The ground was littered with small poison pits, their deadly gas slowly seeping into the air, thickening the atmosphere. It was becoming harder to breathe, harder to move. The venomous air clung to him, tightening his chest with every breath.


    Still, Alexander wasn¡¯t without success. He had already landed several cuts on the creature, each strike cutting deep, though none as long or as severe as the first. Yet, despite the damage, the creature showed no signs of the wounds remaining.


    It was as if the cuts were erased in an instant, the creature¡¯s healing factor kicking in automatically, almost passively.


    Why would the creature keep healing itself when its condition had deteriorated so much? Alexander couldn¡¯t understand it. The thing was now ten times slower than when it started, and its once vibrant red hue had faded to an unsettling shade of pale, almost pinkish.


    Alexander¡¯s eyes narrowed. Another detail caught his attention¡ªwhenever the creature sprayed poison, it grew even paler. He wasn¡¯t a biologist, but it seemed clear: using its deadliest attack took a heavy toll on its body.


    It wasn¡¯t like Alexander was faring much better. His body was sore, his limbs heavy with exhaustion, but there was no time to rest. He couldn¡¯t afford to stop now.


    Taking a deep breath, Alexander lunged forward again, despite the fatigue clawing at him. The creature seemed almost too willing to give him the opening.


    As he closed the distance, the thing swiped at him with its claws, a lethal strike aimed to tear him apart. If it connected, Alexander would be sent flying, his chest crushed under the weight of the blow. He didn¡¯t hesitate.


    With a fluid motion, he ducked under the swipe and, using its exposed underarm as leverage, dashed toward its belly. His blade slashed across its soft flesh, leaving a jagged gash that spilled red blood.


    As the creature wailed in agony, Alexander noticed something different this time. The usual gooey, strange tumors began to form around the gash, but they didn¡¯t heal. Instead, they burst in violent, cursing explosions of grotesque, pulsating flesh. Each eruption sent waves of blood into the air, yet the creature¡¯s cries continued.


    And then, a twisted smile curled onto Alexander¡¯s lips. It wasn¡¯t regenerating like before.


    Alexander didn¡¯t waste a moment. Despite the screaming protests of his aching body, he lunged again, his blade slashing through the creature¡¯s pale skin. The cuts weren¡¯t as deep as he hoped, the strength behind them faltering, but they were enough¡ªenough to make the creature bleed. Blood poured from the wounds in torrents, splattering the ground like a broken dam.


    Alexander lost track of how many times he struck, his mind consumed by a singular focus. He didn¡¯t stop. Even as his body screamed in pain, his joints aching and his heart pounding in his chest, he kept going.


    He could feel it¡ªhis body was on the edge of collapse. His muscles were screaming, his heart rate a frantic drumbeat, but he couldn¡¯t stop. Not now.


    Both of them were at their limits. The air was thick with poison, suffocating and heavy, and the ground was soaked with a pool of dark red blood.


    After another barrage of strikes and narrowly dodging the creature¡¯s frenzied counterattacks, Alexander managed to make some distance between them. He hopped backward, pushing off with every last ounce of energy, and the creature seemed almost too eager to give it to him. It, too, was at its breaking point¡ªexhausted, nearly bloodless, and barely able to stand.


    After catching his breath, Alexander¡¯s chest heaved as he clenched his fists, rage igniting within him. He lunged forward again, his yell cutting through the air. To his surprise, the creature did the same¡ªits movements fueled by a raw, desperate fury.


    For a brief moment, Alexander was caught off guard, but that hesitation quickly turned into an overwhelming surge of anger. His yell grew louder, fueled by a primal drive to end this.


    As they collided, the creature swung its right paw with terrifying force, its claws tearing through the air. At the same time, it unleashed a jet of poison from its mouth. Alexander hadn¡¯t expected it¡ªthis was the last thing he anticipated¡ªbut it didn¡¯t matter. Dodging the swipe, Alexander dove inward, ignoring the poison entirely. The creature¡¯s breath attack was wasted, its poison hissing harmlessly into the air.


    With a primal scream, Alexander drove his blade deep into the creature¡¯s flesh, the sharp steel sliding through its underbelly as he ran forward, using his momentum. Blood splattered, and the creature¡¯s scream pierced the air.


    As Alexander emerged from underneath, his body drenched in its blood, the creature¡¯s life force poured out behind him. Blood erupted in a sickening fountain, and with a final shudder, its intestines slipped free from the wound, falling with a wet, sickening thud.


    Exhausted beyond measure, Alexander collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. Every muscle screamed in protest. The fight had drained everything from him. But there was no time to rest¡ªhe couldn¡¯t stay here. The poison was spreading fast, but the crystal area was far enough away that, that place was safe.


    With his sword gripped like a cane, Alexander forced himself upright. His steps were slow, every movement a battle, but he kept moving. The crystal area was still a distance away, he intentionally did not fish t close to it and the creature also did not seem to go near it.


    But that meant Alexander had to drag his beaten body for even longer. His every step was a struggle, each one heavier than the last. After what felt like an eternity, nearly five minutes later, he finally reached the place.


    The area was bathed in a soft, ethereal light that seemed to hum with an almost palpable energy. As soon as he stepped within a certain range, Alexander felt it¡ªa sudden jolt through his body. His muscles loosened, his heartbeat slowed to a calmer rhythm, and he could feel his body rejuvenating, the pain in his limbs easing with each passing second.


    It was as if the light itself was recharging him, revitalizing his very essence. The exhaustion, the weariness, the lingering effects of poison¡ªall of it began to fade away.

 CHAPTER 54: UNCONTROLLABLE GREED

    The refreshing feeling was good, but his ancestor, living rent-free in his mind, shot him back to reality. There was not much time, and he needed to finish absorbing this power to open up another meridian before the big boss made its return.


    There was no time to waste. He needed to get this done.


    With a determined breath, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. But after a few moments of trying, he frowned. The power wasn¡¯t flowing into him the way it should. It was as if an invisible barrier was keeping him from absorbing it.


    Just as he was about to ask for guidance, the voice of his ancestor rang in his mind again, dripping with annoyance.


    "Boy, you''re not proficient enough yet. You need to touch the damn thing."


    Alexander could almost hear the face palm in his ancestor¡¯s tone.


    Flushing with embarrassment, Alexander let out an awkward laugh, muttering, "Right, right," as he moved to touch the crystal again.


    This time, as his fingers made contact, a surge of energy flowed into him. The power rushed in like a torrent, and at that moment, a strange technique appeared in his mind¡ªhis ancestor''s gift.


    With his heart pounding, Alexander began to guide the qi according to the path laid out in the technique. It wasn¡¯t long before he hit a couple of snags, fumbling as his mind struggled to understand the flow. But after a few failed attempts, he finally started to get it right. The technique wasn¡¯t as complex as he¡¯d feared.


    He knew which meridian he would open first¡ªthere was no doubt in his mind


    It took almost two hours for Alexander to get accustomed to the technique.


    At this point, his ancestor''s voice rang out, "Do as I say," echoing in Alexander¡¯s mind¡ªclear and commanding. Without hesitation, Alexander followed the instructions.


    Almost instantly, his absorption rate increased dramatically.


    According to his ancestor¡¯s teachings, Alexander first adjusted his position. Instead of drawing energy in the usual way, he aimed at hitting the crystal at specific points. When the energy began to flow inside him, Alexander carefully followed the method his ancestor had outlined.


    However, the ancestor didn¡¯t forget to jab at Alexander, reminding him just how awesome he was. According to the ancestor, there were far better techniques available at his disposal, but they were beyond his current strength and constitution. Those techniques required a sturdier foundation to handle.


    Once the energy coursed through him, the rest came easily. Although the meridian he was forging didn¡¯t follow the exact blueprint for strength, it was close¡ªover 70% similar. Surprisingly, it was easy for him to replicate, and the process continued smoothly.


    As time dragged on, Alexander delved deeper into his focus, though at first it felt like wading through thick fog. Slowly, he sank into the rhythm of it, a faint sense of clarity emerging from the haze. But even then, his concentration was still fragmented, a tenuous grip that never quite allowed him to dive fully into the depths. Energy poured out of him, a constant drain he couldn''t control, as the source wasn¡¯t coming from within like before, when he was making the strength meridian.


    But there was something else gnawing at him¡ªsomething he hadn¡¯t noticed during the chaos of the fight. Now that things had calmed, he felt it. The ground beneath him quivered, faint but undeniable. It wasn''t a constant rumble, but a series of intermittent tremors that shook the earth from time to time. The deeper he was, the more intense it felt, and that was when it hit him¡ªthe source of the shaking had to be above. Alexander had burrowed far underground, and whatever was causing this movement above was powerful enough to rattle even this place. He could feel his focus slipping, every vibration a tug on his concentration.


    But Alexander didn¡¯t have the luxury of thinking about what was happening above. His focus was already fraying, the tremors below sending waves of distraction through his mind. And now He couldn''t afford to let his mind wander. If he let himself think about anything else, he knew it would shatter his focus completely.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Time trickled by, and Alexander wasn¡¯t sure how long he had been down here, but if he had to guess, it was probably more than a day.


    The one silver lining was that he was almost at the finish line¡ªhis next meridian was within reach. But just as he was about to acknowledge his rotten luck for finally taking a break, his ancestor¡¯s voice sliced through his thoughts.


    ¡°Something¡¯s coming. Something big.¡±


    And like a bad joke, Alexander¡¯s rotten luck slapped him right in the face.


    He didn¡¯t need to guess what it was. It had to be the queen of those worms, or whatever nightmare he had encountered before. He was surprised it had taken this long for it to find him.


    Alexander shook his head, trying to shake the thought away. He was so close. He had to finish. Closing off his mind from everything else, he focused with single-minded intensity. There was one thing Alexander was good at, well all lazy people to be exact, and it wasn¡¯t hard work¡ªit was focusing when deadlines loomed. And right now, his deadline was more than a reminder¡ªit was knocking at his door, giving him all the reason he needed to focus like his life depended on it.


    After what felt like an eternity, Alexander let out a triumphant yell as another meridian formed within him. A surge of power flooded through every cell in his body, making him feel as if he were being electrified from the inside out. He didn¡¯t see it, but a golden shockwave erupted from him, rippling outward from the center of his being.


    But that victory was short-lived.


    The next moment, Alexander collapsed. His body felt like it was tearing itself apart, every muscle and bone fighting against each other in a brutal process of regeneration. Blood poured from his nose, mouth, and ears in a torrential flood.


    "FUCK!"


    "FUCK!"


    "SHIT!"


    "FUCKKKK!"


    The screams tore out of him as golden energy¡ªpure, unrelenting¡ªripped through his body. It was agony unlike anything he had ever felt.


    But then, the pain slowly ebbed away, leaving him trembling on the ground, covered in sweat and blood. Alexander didn¡¯t know how long it had taken for the excruciating process to subside. All he knew was that he was alive, and somehow, he was still standing. He forced himself up, pushing against the cold ground with his hands, wiping the mixture of saliva and blood from his mouth.


    His body screamed in protest, but Alexander knew he couldn¡¯t stop now. Looking around, he saw that the creature hadn¡¯t made it this far yet, so he figured not much time had passed. It was time to go, to make his escape before things got worse. The moment that thing saw him, his chances of fleeing would drop by more than half.


    But just as he was about to rise and head toward the exit, an idea so wild, so dangerous, struck him like lightning. He tried to push it down, tried to ignore it, but it kept gnawing at him, urging him closer to the crystal.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± the voice in his mind roared, a harsh demand that echoed inside him


    "I need to do this," Alexander muttered, almost in a trance, as his fingers brushed against the crystal.


    His right hand met the surface, and the absorption began once more, a familiar rush of energy flooding through him. Soon, his left hand followed, and Alexander leaned in closer, almost merging with the crystal.


    With laser focus, he pulled the power in, drawing it into himself like a lifeline. The energy surged through him, a tidal wave of force, and Alexander instinctively funneled it into his body, desperate to form another meridian. The crystal still pulsed with far too much power, an irresistible temptation he could not ignore.


    "What are you...?" The question barely formed in his mind before his thoughts were consumed with a single command: Just give me another blueprint now.


    And to his astonishment, it came. The formula appeared in his mind, clear and precise. But there was no time for surprise. The world around him shook, the tremors growing stronger as the pressure mounted.


    Alexander barely registered it. With all his concentration, he funneled the immense energy into the structure of the next meridian. His body trembled with the effort as he guided the raw power, pulling it, shaping it with every ounce of his will.


    But just as the final strand began to form, the ground beneath him trembled violently. Alexander¡¯s focus wavered for a split second. He knew it wasn¡¯t just the crystal¡¯s energy; the thing was coming. He could feel it, the queen will burst through at any moment.


    But Alexander refused to give up. Even in the face of overwhelming odds, he couldn''t bring himself to walk away. The reality, however, was harsh: even with all his focus, even with every ounce of determination, he still needed at least six hours to create another meridian¡ªat best, if everything went perfectly. Time, however, was not something he had.


    The tremors beneath him grew stronger, turning into actual shaking, and Alexander could feel the weight of it pressing down on him. He was certain the queen was nearby, and that certainty made the situation clear¡ªstaying here would lead to certain death. But to leave, without using this energy, felt like a sin, a waste too unbearable to bear.


    Then, as if struck by a lightning bolt of desperation, an idea shot through him. Without hesitation, he redirected the energy he had been gathering into forming the new meridian. But the backlash was instant and brutal. Blood poured from his mouth as the force of the energy slammed back into him, making him feel as though a small explosion had detonated inside his stomach.


    Pain lanced through him like a jagged, burning firework, but he didn''t care. He couldn''t afford to care. With grim determination, he focused harder, the urgency flooding him like a tide. He stopped trying to form another meridian and instead channeled every ounce of energy into one singular focus: his strength meridian.


    There was no energy buildup, no compacted force; he simply poured everything directly into that one point, driving it with ruthless precision. Was it painful? Of course. Did he mind? Not in the slightest. His mind had narrowed down to a single, desperate objective¡ªgetting every last drop of energy into his strength meridian. He didn¡¯t know if it would even work, or if the meridian would burst under the strain, but in that moment, he didn¡¯t care. The only thing that mattered was making full use of this opportunity before it was too late.


    Crash.


    The deafening sound echoed through the chamber, a resounding crash that split the air. Alexander whirled around, his body tensed for whatever was coming next, and there, emerging from the wreckage, was the queen. Well, at least her head was.


    The creature didn¡¯t even waste a moment. Without hesitation, it seemed to tear open another passage entirely, its immense power cracking the walls around it.


    It was clear¡ªsomething had set it off. A surge of rage pulsed through it, and in that moment, Alexander realized with cold clarity that the queen had figured out what had been happening. The siphoning of her precious crystal, it seemed, had been noticed. And she wasn¡¯t going to wait for it to be finished. She was coming for him, fast.


    As she burst through the walls, the two of them locked eyes. The intensity of that gaze was suffocating, and Alexander¡¯s breath caught in his throat.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he muttered, his mind scrambling.

 CHAPTER 55: THE ESCAPE PART 1

    The moment their eyes locked, Alexander knew¡ªhe fucked up. He fucked up bad.


    But even then, he refused to stop siphoning the energy. He couldn''t. Every last second mattered. Every drop of energy was worth the risk.


    If the queen hadn¡¯t been pissed before, she was now. Not that it made much of a difference¡ªshe¡¯d already been murderously enraged, so Alexander figured this wasn¡¯t entirely his fault.


    His scrambled mind barely had time to register his own nonsense before the queen lunged. The entire cave warped around her slithering mass, the air itself twisting under her sheer presence.


    And yet, even as the monstrous force of nature barreled toward him, Alexander hesitated. Just a little longer. He could squeeze out just a little more¡ª


    Then, reality slammed back into him. Ten meters. That was all that separated them. For a creature of her size, that wasn¡¯t even three seconds of distance. He wasn¡¯t going to make it.


    His body moved before his mind could. He ripped himself away from the crystal, rolling to the side with sheer, animal desperation. His eyes squeezed shut. He was dead. He had to be. He doubted he was fast enough to dodge in time.


    But the pain never came.


    Instead, a deafening crash rocked the entire cavern. A shockwave of air hit him, throwing dust and debris everywhere. His eyes snapped open to find himself lying far from the impact zone. The queen had slammed into the crystal, her massive body coiling around it in a dazed mess.


    But the crystal¡ªit was fine. Untouched.


    Alexander barely registered his own survival. His first thought, to his own disbelief, was relief that the crystal hadn¡¯t been destroyed.


    ¡°What the fuck are you doing, boy? Run!¡±


    His ancestor¡¯s voice snapped him back to reality like a whip.


    The queen wouldn¡¯t stay down for long. He didn¡¯t have time to hesitate.


    Without a second thought, Alexander turned and sprinted for the nearest tunnel, his breath ragged, his body screaming. Unlike the queen, he couldn¡¯t just carve through rock and make his own path. He had to take whatever escape he could find.


    But at least¡ªat least his legs weren¡¯t failing him.


    Alexander had always believed that, if it truly came down to life or death, he could move faster than ever before. And now, as the monstrous presence behind him stirred, as survival surged through his veins like fire, he knew it was true.


    He could go faster. He had to.


    And he did.


    Alexander barely avoided the massive thrashing body of the queen, the air around him whipping with the violent force of her attacks. His heart pounded as he twisted, narrowly dodging each blow. The ground beneath him cracked and groaned with each strike, and the air was thick with the stench of decay . Alexander¡¯s instincts kicked in, and with one final desperate roll, he dove into one of the narrow tunnels, the cold stone walls barely squeezing him through.


    But he knew it wasn¡¯t over¡ªnot by a long shot. He could feel the presence of death lingering just behind him, the queen¡¯s fury a constant pulse in the ground beneath his feet. His ancestor¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, a steady reminder to keep moving. The walls of the tunnel seemed to close in on him as he sprinted, every muscle screaming in protest. He didn¡¯t care. He had no choice.


    Rumble.


    Rumble.


    Rumble.


    The vibrations rattled through the earth like a warning, but Alexander didn¡¯t dare stop to look. He just pushed harder, his breath coming in sharp gasps. The ground trembled beneath him, each shake amplifying the urgency in his chest. He was pushing himself harder, faster, his feet pounding against the tunnel floor with reckless determination. The rumbling grew louder, the force shaking through the air like an animal on the hunt.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Alexander cursed under his breath. ¡°The thing didn¡¯t even take three minutes. Come the fuck on.¡± His voice was raw, frustration flooding his thoughts. His legs felt like they were turning to lead, but he poured everything he had into his feet, each step a desperate attempt to put more distance between him and the queen.


    And, surprisingly, it worked. For a moment, the tunnel seemed to stretch just a little further ahead of him. His body was screaming, every tendon and muscle aching, but he felt the surge of adrenaline propelling him forward. He was faster. He was almost there.


    But it didn¡¯t matter. Not even a minute had passed when the sound of grinding stone reached his ears. Alexander¡¯s heart stopped in his chest, and he dared to glance back. His blood turned to ice as he saw the queen¡¯s enormous limbs smashing through the tunnel behind him. She wasn¡¯t just chasing him anymore. She was destroying everything in her path, the walls crumbling and the earth splitting as she surged forward.


    The queen¡¯s body was a massive wrecking ball, and Alexander could hear the sickening crunch of stone and metal as she pulverized everything in her wake. Dust and debris filled the air, and Alexander¡¯s breath hitched as he sprinted, the very ground beneath him cracking with each of her monstrous steps. Her breath was a toxic force, searing the air as it crashed down on him, and Alexander could feel the heat of her proximity like a storm in his veins.


    Fuck.


    The tunnel was shaking apart, the walls buckling under the queen¡¯s assault. Her roar was deafening, and Alexander couldn¡¯t hear anything over the sound of his heartbeat. He pushed harder, his body moving on sheer instinct now, but the shaking intensified. It was as if the very earth had turned against him.


    Fuck.


    Fuck.


    Fuck


    Alexander pushed his legs harder, urging them to go faster, and to his surprise, they obeyed once more. For the first time in his life, it felt like things might actually go his way. But that was a laughable thought. Who was he kidding? The literal queen of the colony was on his tail, and this wasn¡¯t some victory march. No, this was a desperate, heart-pounding escape.


    Even with the newfound speed coursing through his body, it wasn¡¯t enough. The queen was closing in¡ªquickly. Alexander¡¯s mind raced as he darted left, then right, shifting through thick vines and jagged rocks, trying to lose the queen in the labyrinth of nature. But the earth seemed to shudder beneath him as the beast just tore through everything in its path¡ªan unstoppable juggernaut of destruction.


    Nothing¡ªnothing¡ªcould stop her. Not the trees, not the thick brush, not even her own children, who were crushed under the massive weight of her fury. The sound of bones snapping and bodies being ground into meat paste was a sickening accompaniment to the chaos. Alexander¡¯s stomach churned at the thought. Then again, did it even matter? When you had hundreds¡ªno, thousands¡ªof children, what was a few crushed underfoot?


    The queen was relentless. And now, she was only fifteen meters behind him.


    Alexander¡¯s heart skipped a beat. This was it. He was done for.


    The ground shook with each massive step she took, feel the oppressive heat of her presence closing in. Her footsteps weren¡¯t just loud¡ªthey were world-shaking. And the vibrations? They were slicing into his concentration like hot knives, each tremor pulling him back to the reality of his impending doom.


    He glanced over his shoulder, just for a second. The queen¡¯s massive body loomed, a monstrous silhouette that seemed to swallow the very air around it. And then¡ªcrack¡ªit happened. The ground beneath him groaned, and he felt the shift in the air. The queen¡¯s speed had suddenly increased. Without warning, she was on him.


    In a blink, the distance between them closed from seventeen meters to a mere six.


    Fuck.


    The blood drained from Alexander¡¯s face. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat louder than the last. There was no escape. No way out. The crushing weight of inevitability pressed down on him.


    Alexander almost closed his eyes, ready to face the end. The crushing force, the suffocating weight of the queen¡¯s attack¡ªit was coming. He could already imagine the feel of her claws ripping through him, the crushing impact of her body.


    But then, just as he steeled himself to be crushed like a bug¡ªironically, by some kind of bug¡ªhe felt it again. That warmth. That familiar, searing sensation deep within him, bubbling up from some forgotten place, as though it was about to explode.


    It was the same feeling as before. The sensation he had last felt when he narrowly escaped the queen¡¯s grasp the first time.


    Rumble.


    Rumble.


    Rumble.


    The ground beneath Alexander''s feet trembled violently. The cave shuddered in response to the intense shaking. It felt like the entire mountain was about to come crashing down. His body swayed, unsteady, as he tried desperately to keep his balance.


    But just as the earth beneath him rumbled with a deafening roar, Alexander lost his footing and fell hard. His head hit the ground with a sickening thud. The vibrations in the air were relentless, shaking the very bones of the cave. Every stone, every loose shard of rock trembled with the force of it.


    Alexander thought, This is it. This is where I die.

 CHAPTER 56: THE ESCAPE PART 2

    His chest tightened, his breath a ragged wheeze as the weight of the situation sank in. He could feel his heart pounding in his throat, suffocating him. The queen was still close. He had no doubt that now the queen¡¯s mouth was his only destination


    But as his eyes opened, he saw something the queen had stopped. No, not just stopped. It had been forced to halt, from the instance shaking for some reason.


    The ground continued shaking in brutal intervals, the vibrations too intense.


    ¡°Dumbass, what are you doing? This is your chance, Ran.¡±


    The familiar, gruff voice of his ancestor broke through the confusion like a whip-crack. Alexander¡¯s mind snapped back into focus, adrenaline surging through his veins.


    Right. Right... the chance.


    He needed to move. He had no time to waste. The queen was still a threat, even if she was temporarily immobilized. And yet, Alexander¡¯s legs felt like they were made of stone, each movement sluggish as he tried to push himself to his feet.


    But the tremors didn¡¯t stop. They grew worse, every second feeling like the earth was about to tear apart. Alexander gritted his teeth and forced himself up, only to stumble as another violent shake sent the ground beneath him into chaos. He fell again¡ªhard¡ªand slid face-first across the uneven rock floor, his hands scraping against the sharp edges.


    ¡°Get up, you idiot!¡± The voice in his head barked again, but this time, Alexander didn¡¯t need the reminder. He was beyond that now.


    His legs finally obeyed, his feet moving with the raw, desperate energy of survival. He ran¡ªstumbling, sliding, and scraping his palms against the cold stone as he fought for every step¡ª but he ran.


    He didn''t even have the luxury of thinking about how much his body ached or how his mind was barely clinging to consciousness. There was no time to pause, to think. Only forward, only escape.


    But even as he felt a glimmer of hope, as he rounded another sharp corner in the winding tunnel, the ground beneath him gave a deafening crack.


    No.


    Alexander turned just in time to see the tunnel behind him collapse, rocks and debris tumbling from above, filling the passage he had just sprinted through. Dust rained down in sheets, clouding his vision and choking the air. His heart raced even faster now, panic beginning to claw at his insides.


    Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.


    at this point the ground beneath him was latterly giving up. He saw dust raining down before but never thought this could happen.


    Alexander threw everything he had into running, and somehow¡ªmiraculously¡ªhis legs obeyed. Every step was a battle, his muscles screaming, his breath ragged. He wasn¡¯t just running from the collapsing tunnel; he was running from death itself. The queen was again right behind him, tearing through the earth like a force of nature, and the walls around him were crumbling faster than he could process.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    How the hell had he ended up like this? Maybe those old sayings had a point¡ªgreed truly was a sin.


    The ground cracked beneath him, sending jagged stone and dirt flying as he stumbled. His foot caught on a loose rock, and before he could react, he was down¡ªhitting the ground hard. Pain shot through his limbs, but he couldn¡¯t afford to care. He clawed forward, scrambling like a madman, pushing himself upright and throwing his body into another desperate sprint. The tunnel itself was betraying him, collapsing bit by bit, forcing him to keep moving or get swallowed whole.


    Then things went from bad to worse.


    A chilling realization struck him¡ªhe could no longer see the queen behind him.


    Fuc¡ª


    The curse never made it out.


    From the side wall, with a thunderous explosion of stone and debris, the queen¡¯s enormous, gaping maw tore through.


    Alexander¡¯s body moved before his mind even registered what was happening. He barely managed to throw himself into a sideways leap, the monstrous jaws missing him by a hair¡¯s breadth. The sheer force of its emergence sent a shockwave rippling through the tunnel, flinging him through the air like a ragdoll. He hit the ground, rolled, but didn¡¯t stop¡ªnot even for a second.


    No thinking. No hesitation. Just run.


    Behind him, like a nightmarish, living train, the queen''s head burst from one wall, disappeared, then re-emerged from another. It was hunting him in a zigzag pattern, each impact obliterating the tunnel around them. Stone shattered, dust filled the air, and the very earth itself seemed to scream as the monstrous force tore through it.


    Alexander risked a single glance over his shoulder¡ªand that was enough.


    Terror ignited his muscles, and he sprinted harder, pouring every last shred of willpower into his legs. He didn¡¯t care about the searing pain, the cramps threatening to lock up his muscles, the ground shifting beneath him. He stepped on whatever he could¡ªloose stones, broken debris, even the jagged walls if it meant moving faster. His body was running on sheer instinct now, pushing past all limits.


    Then¡ªjust as his legs felt like they would finally give out¡ªhe saw it.


    A glimmer of hope. A break in the suffocating darkness.


    Light.


    The tunnel sloped upward, forcing Alexander to push harder with every step. His legs burned, his breath came in ragged gasps, but he had no choice¡ªhe had to keep moving. And it seemed the queen knew that too.


    The rumbling deepened.


    The ground quaked harder.


    Its speed increased.


    Alexander gritted his teeth. He had noticed something earlier¡ªthe farther he moved, the more the queen¡¯s speed had dwindled. But now, just as he was nearing the tunnel¡¯s exit, it suddenly surged forward again.


    Everything shook violently as he climbed higher. Loose stone and dust poured from the ceiling in thick sheets, vines snapped under his hands as he tore through them. He barely noticed. His focus was singular¡ªescape.


    9 meters.


    8.


    6


    5


    Then¡ª


    A monstrous shadow.


    The queen lunged from above out of nowhere the colossal body twisting through the tunnel like a living avalanche, her gaping maw yawning wide, ready to devour him whole.


    Alexander¡¯s eyes widened. His pulse roared in his ears. His mind blanked.


    Instinct took over.


    His back leg was still grounded¡ªhe shoved all his power into it and¡ª


    Boom!


    Alexander shot forward like a cannonball.


    A shockwave exploded from the spot where he stood. The ground beneath him shattered, cracks splintering outward like jagged lightning. The tunnel groaned as dust and debris erupted into the air, swallowing everything in a storm of chaos.


    And then¡ª


    The queen¡¯s jaws snapped shut on nothing but empty air.


    The very ground where Alexander had stood just seconds ago collapsed in one massive gulp, devoured in an instant.


    Alexander¡¯s eyes had been clenched shut as he pushed off with every ounce of strength he had. And when he opened them¡ª


    First came the blinding light.


    Then¡ªweightlessness.


    Alexander felt his stomach lurch as he was hurled through the air, flung out of the cave like a stone from a slingshot.


    ¡°AHHHHHHHHH!¡±


    The scream tore from his throat, but before he could even process what was happening¡ª


    A sudden, white-hot pain ripped through his leg.


    His breath hitched, his body tensed. He forced his gaze downward, and his stomach twisted. His right leg¡ªsoaked in blood. It dripped from him like sweat, running in thick streams, staining the air with the sharp scent of iron.


    And then¡ª


    He started falling.


    Wind roared past his ears, his body twisting, weightless, and helpless. But even that didn¡¯t matter because¡ª


    BOOM!


    The cave he had just escaped from detonated in an explosion of dust and shattered rock. A deafening crack split the sky, the force sending debris flying like shrapnel.


    And from the chaos¡ª


    The queen emerged.


    It didn¡¯t just crawl out¡ªit erupted. A monstrous form tearing free from the collapsing ruin, dust rolling off its body in thick waves. Its shriek split the air, high-pitched, unnatural, the kind of sound that scraped against the bones.


    Alexander gasped, his lungs burning as he sucked in air. His body was still plummeting, but his thoughts locked onto the queen as it twisted its massive head, its many eyes finding him in an instant.


    And then¡ª


    The world darkened.


    A massive shadow blackened him and everting around him .

 CHAPTER 57: THE FRANTIC ESCAPE

    is this ok or should i tone down the descriptiveness


    CHAPTER 57: THE FRANTIC ESCAPE


    One moment, the world was bathed in sunlight. The next, The light died, the air turned thick and oppressive, as a monstrous shadow blotted out the sky.


    KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!


    The screech came first, a chilling, otherworldly cry that froze Alexander''s blood in his veins. Even before his eyes shot up to the source, the sound alone told him what was above him. A primal instinct ripped through him, and even the Queen, towering and regal, couldn¡¯t tear her gaze from him to the sky fast enough.


    A split second later, the colossal talons of the Skybane Eagle¡ªthe size of trucks¡ªcrashed into her with a force that reverberated through the very mountain. The air snapped with the shockwave, and Alexander''s heart hammered as his body reacted before his mind could even catch up.


    The Queen staggered, her immense form twisting and writhing in sheer, unrelenting pain. But that was nothing compared to the deafening sound that followed¡ªa cataclysmic roar that could shatter mountains, a grinding noise so violent it felt like the earth itself might split open. Alexander¡¯s eardrums rang as though they would burst under the pressure. His body was hurled through the air with an impossible force, tumbling end over end, spiraling downward at the mercy of an unstoppable force.


    The dust, thick and choking, swirled around him, swallowing the world.


    BAM!


    His back collided with something hard¡ªwooden, rough, but unyielding.


    CRACK!


    The sickening sound of snapping wood echoed in his ears as the branch broke beneath him, sending him plummeting once more. Wind howled past him, a deafening roar as the world spun uncontrollably. Every twist of his body felt like he was being torn apart, gravity itself reaching out to claim him.


    But there was no sweet, weightless freedom in the fall¡ªonly pain and chaos. His body slammed into the ground with brutal force.


    THUD! -THUD! -THUD! -THUD! ......


    He bounced, once, twice¡ªthen again and again. Each impact felt like his bones were shattering under the immense pressure. His body slammed into the earth, carving deep craters with every hit, as if the land itself was fighting to swallow him whole. The shockwaves of his fall sent massive plumes of dust and earth shooting into the air, blanketing the world in a choking haze.


    And still, he fell.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his body came to a shuddering halt. He lay in a deep pit of broken earth, only a few feet away from a lone tree¡ªone of the few things left standing in the wake of the destruction. Its bark was cracked, splintered, as though it had barely survived the chaos.


    Alexander¡¯s body was a mangled wreck. His blood pooled beneath him, painting the earth crimson. He could barely draw a breath¡ªevery attempt to move sent spikes of agony tearing through him, the pain an unrelenting tidal wave crashing against his senses. He could feel the crushing weight of his injuries, the oppressive pressure of his own shattered body.


    Then he realized the worst truth. His bones¡ªhis ribs, his legs, his arms¡ªweren¡¯t broken, but they were far from whole. They were cracked, each fracture sending waves of torment through him. If he hadn¡¯t reached constitution 4, if his body hadn¡¯t been strengthened by his ascent, he would have been reduced to nothing more than a bloody smear on the ground.


    A shudder ran through him at the thought. But it was swiftly drowned by the white-hot agony coursing through every fiber of his being.


    There was no mistaking it¡ªif he stayed like this, he wouldn¡¯t survive. He was already teetering on the edge, and the abyss was only a breath away.


    For a fleeting moment, as his mind struggled to regain focus, Alexander was able to steal a shallow breath¡ªand it was then that the full extent of his condition slammed into him like a freight train. It wasn¡¯t just the external wounds¡ªthose were bad enough¡ªbut the real horror lay within. His insides felt like they had been torn apart. He could almost feel the internal bleeding spreading through him like a slow, lethal poison. His body¡ªhis very essence¡ªwas in ruins. The pathways that channeled his mana were a wreck. He could almost hear them, each circuit almost cracked, like a fragile spider¡¯s web under the weight of a truck crushing it over and over again.


    It was worse than he''d feared. Much worse. His time was running out faster than he could even comprehend. At best, he had five minutes¡ªmaybe¡ªbefore the dark curtain of unconsciousness dragged him under. And if unconscious, death would come to claim him within thirty minutes.


    In the midst of the agony, his ancestor''s voice cut through, . It was the last thing he could rely on. With every ounce of willpower he could muster, Alexander forced himself to move. But it was like dragging his body through thick mud¡ªeach tiny shift was a monumental struggle. His muscles screamed in protest, each movement sending jagged waves of pain through his body. It was as if every inch he gained was earned at the cost of ten miles.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    But he had to push through. Desperation clawed at him, and he reached into his pocket with trembling fingers. It felt like it took an eternity, but finally, his hand closed around the vial. The healing serum. His last hope.


    With a grunt of effort, he forced it to his lips, swallowing the liquid in one agonizing gulp. Even drinking it was a battle¡ªhis throat felt like it was being shredded from the inside,


    What the fuck. his sense of taste was completely absent.


    But then¡ªalmost immediately¡ªhe felt it. The serum wasn''t some miracle elixir that would return him to perfect health in an instant. It didn¡¯t regrow limbs or heal gaping wounds with a snap of the fingers. No, it was more subtle, yet still powerful in its own way.


    A slow, soothing wave of relief spread through his body, like cool water cascading over an open wound. The healing sensation seeped deep into his bones, curling around his nerves, and even infiltrating the very depths of his injured insides. His body¡ªbroken and battered as it was¡ªsuddenly felt less unbearable, like the burning pressure was being eased, bit by bit.


    BOOM!


    The world around him trembled as another massive blast rocked the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth beneath him. The impact rattled the pit he had crashed into, shaking it violently. Dust swirled in the air, thick and choking, and the chaos around him escalated as the earth groaned under the weight of destruction.


    But Alexander couldn¡¯t focus on any of that anymore. His mind was too fogged, too overwhelmed by the storm of pain that continued to rage within him. The sounds of battle¡ªroars, crashes, the rumbling earth¡ªbecame background noise, distant and muffled.


    The only thing that mattered now was surviving long enough to make it out of here. Staying in this crater was no longer an option. But moving blindly, with the devastation still unfolding around him, was a death sentence waiting to happen. A stray shockwave, a falling boulder¡ªanything could end his life in an instant. But as much as he wanted to act, to escape, there was no easy way out. Every second felt like an eternity, each breath like it might be his last.


    Twenty-six minutes.


    It was a number that felt almost unreal, but Alexander had no time to question it. After what felt like an eternity, his body began to respond. The healing serum had worked its magic faster than he''d thought possible¡ªfar faster than the pain had allowed him to anticipate. His muscles, still weak and trembling, could move again, albeit sluggishly. He felt the faintest flicker of hope, but it was fleeting, swallowed quickly by the harsh reality of his situation.


    The battle, no the hunt, was still ongoing, and Alexander had no choice but to escape, to move, to survive. But the danger still lurked all around him, lurking like a predator waiting for a single misstep to strike. The odds of survival were razor-thin, but he had to take the chance. There was no other choice. The serum healed him. True but it was far from enough with his injured he needed medical intervention fast.


    There was no time to think¡ªonly to move.


    With clenched teeth and a body screaming in protest, Alexander launched himself out of the knee-deep crater. He didn''t dare look back. His only goal was forward.


    The air was thick with swirling dust, an impenetrable fog choking the battlefield. He could barely see five feet ahead, and that was the least of his concerns. Jagged debris rained from above. The earth trembled with aftershocks. A single misstep, and he''d be sent hurtling through the air like a ragdoll¡ªor worse, buried beneath the mountain¡¯s wrath.


    His feet pounded against the uneven terrain, kicking up ash and rubble with every step. The world around him was a death trap.


    At one point, his foot nearly slipped off an unseen drop¡ªa sheer cliff waiting to swallow him whole. His breath caught in his throat as he barely pulled back in time, his momentum threatening to carry him into the abyss.


    Another time, he skidded to a halt mere inches from a gaping hole in the ground¡ªanother entrance to the nest. His stomach twisted. Had he stepped a second later, he¡¯d have plunged straight in, delivered himself right back into the nightmare he was trying to escape.


    But that wasn¡¯t the worst of it.


    A shadow loomed to his left¡ªhe barely had a moment to react before a boulder the size of a carriage plummeted down.


    BOOM!


    The impact sent a shockwave tearing through the ground, blasting chunks of rock and dirt into the air. The force alone nearly swept him off his feet. If that thing had landed a foot closer¡ªno, he didn¡¯t even want to imagine it. He would¡¯ve been reduced to nothing but a smear on the rocks.


    The tremors didn¡¯t stop. Even though the behemoths above were locked in combat high, their power still reached the earth. Alexander felt it in the vibrations underfoot, the way the world seemed to groan under their might.


    But there was one relief¡ªtheir battle was drifting higher and farther away. The shockwaves were growing weaker. They no longer felt like an invisible force shoving him forward with each step.


    Still, the suffocating dust cloud refused to fade, stretching endlessly into the forest ahead.


    "Fuck."


    The curse left his lips in a frustrated breath. The thought had struck him hard¡ªhe was practically blind in this storm of debris. If something lurked within, stalking him from the shadows, he¡¯d never see it coming. Worse, even if he did, it could finish him off before he had a chance to react. Not to mention his banged up condition.


    But there was no turning back.


    Behind him, two monstrous beings clashed with power that shook the heavens. He doubted hey were named beast the one that are the most powerful on the planet but he doubted they were far from that level especially the skybane eagle. he only had the option of moving forward. .


    Everything was still drowned in a choking haze of dust and ruin, but he at least had a sense of direction. The mountain was tall¡ªbut the city walls were taller. He had seen them while falling, their towering silhouette etched against the sky.


    If he could climb high enough, he could probably spot them again.


    But that came with risks. The trees here weren¡¯t just trees¡ªthey were hunting grounds. Snakes, muckers, and god knows what else could be lurking in their canopies, waiting for prey to wander too close. The last thing he needed was to scale a tree and find himself in a monster¡¯s jaws.


    So he ran.


    His body screamed for rest, but he ignored it. His wounds burned, but he pushed through. The healing tonic had dulled the worst of the pain, but it was wearing off fast. He needed to put as much distance behind him as possible before it lost its effect completely.


    He focused on a single thing¡ªthe walls. The city. Safety.


    Forty-five minutes passed. The air slowly grew clearer, the thick dust thinning into a heavy mist. His surroundings became sharper. Shadows turned into trees, rocks, uneven terrain.


    Another few minutes, and he¡¯d see the sky again.


    The relief should have hit him. But instead, all he could think about was the burning in his lungs, the searing pain spreading through his limbs. The comfort of the tonic had faded long ago.


    And yet, despite it all, he was still moving¡ªstill running. His speed had barely dropped. Seventy-five percent of his strength remained, a stubborn defiance against the pain threatening to drag him down.


    He didn¡¯t question it. He didn¡¯t dwell on it.


    All that mattered was reaching the city. Reaching safety. Reaching help.


    Because if he stopped now, there was no getting up again.


    Another surprising thing¡ªhe hadn¡¯t seen a single beast in the past forty-five minutes. Not even a hint of an attack. It seemed like his luck was finally turning around, but he doubted it. This was the calm before the storm. His upcoming hospital bill was already more painful than his current injuries.


    What he didn¡¯t know¡ªwhat he couldn¡¯t know¡ªwas that every creature in the area was already paralyzed in terror. Not from him, but from the sheer magnitude of what raged behind him.


    The Eagle and the Queen.


    Their clash was more than just raw destruction¡ªit was domination. Each collision sent a shockwave through the Qi itself, the energy so dense, so suffocating, that the beasts of the forest had no choice but to hide, cowering in their burrows, their nests, their dens.


    Even the apex predators had gone still, unwilling to risk drawing the attention of the monsters above.


    Alexander ran on, oblivious to the unseen war of instincts and power keeping the world around him frozen in place.


    Time blurred. Pain and exhaustion gnawed at him, but he kept moving. His vision swam, muscles burning, lungs aching. Every step felt heavier than the last.


    And then¡ª


    The wall.


    It stood in the distance, a towering colossus of stone and steel. The city gates, bustling with life, gleamed like a beacon of salvation.


    Relief slammed into him like a crashing wave. His breath hitched. His body sagged.


    He had made it.


    But in that single, fleeting moment of peace¡ªhis body betrayed him.


    The strength in his legs evaporated. His vision darkened at the edges.


    And just as the tension in his chest finally released, his body gave out, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.