Alex finished his breakfast and leaned back slightly in his chair. His gaze drifted toward his wrist, waiting for the familiar band to appear. Once it did, he would leave for the institution.
Soon, Tenzen entered the restaurant where Alex and his mother were having breakfast.
"Hello, Mr. Moriarty. Hello, Lady Elizabeth. Good morning," Tenzen greeted them with a polite smile.
"Mr. Tenzen, you came personally?" Alex asked, a trace of anticipation in his voice.
"Yes," Tenzen replied calmly. "There have been some major upgrades. I came myself to explain the new functions."
"Oh yeah?" Alex's eyes lit up with excitement.
"You can now create a full-body armor at the Saint level, a weapon at the Saint level, and up to fifty flying knives at once. You can use the armor in the wilderness, and the dark miasma will not harm you at all. You will also be able to see clearly in complete darkness. No additional gadgets are required," Tenzen explained.
"Really? Thank you so much," Alex said sincerely as he accepted the wristband from him.
According to Tenzen, the Omniweave was now a fully fledged Saint-level weapon. Even the flying knives it produced were Saint-level.
Meaning, Alex would be able to use it all the way until he reached Saint-level strength himself.
"Okay, Mom. I am leaving now. Wish me luck in the hunt," Alex said as he exited the hotel on his surfing board.
Elizabeth watched him leave, worry visible on her face. This was the first time her son would leave the Light Domain and hunt in the wilderness.
The outside world was infinitely more dangerous and completely unpredictable. Even near the Light Domain, extremely powerful monsters could suddenly appear.
"Do not worry, Lady Elizabeth. Alex will be protected by ten Saints at all times during the hunt, including me," William's voice came from behind her.
Hearing that, Elizabeth relaxed slightly.
...
Alex appeared on the campus of the institution.
Seven hundred and fifty students were already gathered there, including Rey, Anna, Aren, and Selena.
Alex landed near the group.
Anna and Selena both waved at him at the same time.
Seeing both beauties waving at Alex, Aren clenched his fists, his teeth grinding with jealousy and anger.
"Alex, let's compete," Aren shouted. "Let's see who can kill more monsters. If you lose, you will not go near Lady Anna anymore."
Alex looked at him as if he were staring at a clown.
"Huh? Why would I do that? Who are you? Do I even know you?" Alex scoffed.
Aren's face turned red with embarrassment.
"If you win, I will give you our clan's SS rank body cultivation technique," Aren said through gritted teeth.
"Oh?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you have the authority to make such a bet? A body cultivation technique is an SS-rank cultivation technique, worth over one hundred billion FC."
Everyone around them began looking at Aren. They were thinking the same thing.
Aren knew he had already messed up, but as a man, he had to stand by his words at any cost.
"I am one hundred percent sure. We can make a written contract. I will give you a copy, not the original version," Aren said.
Before Alex could respond, Anna looked at Aren as if she were staring at a dead man.
"Who are you to decide who comes near me? Do you want to die?" she asked coldly.
Aren did not even look at her. In fact, he seemed afraid to. Instead, he shouted at Alex.
"Are you doing it or not?"
"The offer is tempting, but the bet is not fair," Alex replied calmly. "How about we change the deal? If I lose, I will give you the eighty percent discount right of the Grade 0 Elite."
Aren's hands trembled when he heard that.
"Are you sure? You cannot go back on your words," Aren said, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Let us make a contract."
Anna suddenly felt a sweetness wash over her heart.
Alex had changed the conditions. He was willing to sacrifice such a supreme privilege just so he could come near her. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.
"Alex, you do not have to do this. My family has body cultivation techniques too. I will give one to you," Anna said seriously.
Alex shook his head.
"The world can fall apart if it wants to. A man's word should not." Alex replied calmly.
Aren had been afraid Alex might cancel the deal, but now he let out a sigh of relief.
He wasted no time. He created the contract and signed it.
After the farce ended, the instructor arrived.
"Students, you will go to Sector 7 for today's hunt. It is located near the western continent.
Everyone will wear full-body armor and special goggles to see in the darkness.
Points will be allocated accordingly.
Martial Warrior low-level monster: 1 point
Martial Warrior mid-level monster: 5 points
Martial Warrior high-level monster: 10 points
Martial Master low-level monster: 30 points
Martial Master mid-level monster: 50 points
Monsters above this level are impossible for you to handle.
The hunt will last for twenty-four hours. Your wristbands have scanners that can assess a monster's power level and calculate your points.
Your battle suits contain a teleportation button. If you encounter real danger, use it immediately.
Remember this. The mortality rate is over twenty percent. If you still wish to participate, go and prepare yourselves.
Then board the airship. We will depart in thirty minutes."
The instructor continued giving advice about survival in the wilderness.
Alex, Anna, Selena, and Aren did not need battle suits since they already had personal ones.
Rey, however, did not.
"Okay, guys. I will go get ready," Rey said before leaving.
Alex looked at the instructor.
"Sir, can we form teams?"
The instructor shook his head.
"This is a test of courage and battle prowess. Team formation is not allowed. You also cannot leave a one hundred kilometer radius during the test."
Anna and Selena looked disappointed. They had been hoping to team up with Alex.
Alex nodded.
"Okay. Best of luck," he said to Anna and Selena before entering the spaceship.
"Idiot," Aren muttered with a grin. "Darkness is my kingdom. Once I am out there, I will become omnipotent. You will never be able to compete with me, even if you are a once-in-a-lifetime genius."
He then entered the airship.
Thirty minutes later, the airship departed from the central continent and headed toward the western continent, near Sector 7.
One hour later, it landed.
Everyone disembarked.
Alex looked ahead.
Three hundred meters ahead, he could see nothing. Only darkness. This was the end of the Light Domain.
"Go. Your time starts now," the instructor announced loudly.
With a sonic boom, Alex vanished into the darkness on his surfing board.
He was wearing full-body armor, a sword gripped in his hand.
Ten obsidian flying knives floated around him, created instantly.
He was ready to fight real monsters.
[Strength: 3850 tonnes
Speed: 500 m/s
Defense: 3850 tonnes
Spirit: 600 tonnes
Combat Power: Top Martial Grandmaster Level 1]
This was his current status panel.
With six hundred tonnes of spirit power, he could envelop a six-kilometer radius with his mental domain.
Alex decided to hunt as many monsters as possible, because these points would be converted into academic credits.