[Ding.]
[Announcement! Announcement!]
[We have entered the final phase of the game]
[Aspirants remaining — 81]
[Tokens obtained —
Bronze token — 16
Silver token — 11
Golden token — 1]
[Aspirants with the golden token — Candidate 160 and Candidate 220]
[Current location — Northwest Bermutha]
[Aspirants with silver token — Candidate 1, Candidate 6....]
...
...
"Look, someone has obtained the golden token." Candidate 221 alerted his partner, his voice edged with urgency as he scanned the faint glow in the distant sky.
"Their location is Northwest Bermutha.. Let's head there, maybe we could get lucky and retrieve it from them. After all, there are hardly any more tokens, and the game is coming to an end," replied Candidate 254, the partner of 221, tightening his grip on his weapon as anticipation flickered across his face.
This same conversation was circulating among the remaining aspirants that hadn't got a token yet.. They all had their eyes on the golden token as they moved in converging paths towards Northwest Bermutha, their footsteps echoing across the desolate terrain, driven by greed and desperation.
...
(Northwest Bermutha — in a container)
Among the loots that the Alpha Wolf dropped was a large chunk of meat which Mr. Jaggers was currently roasting over a low, controlled flame. The faint crackling of firewood mixed with the occasional hiss of fat dripping onto embers, releasing a rich aroma. Along the way, he had picked up some wild leaves from the island which he garnished with, crushing them lightly to release their fragrance. The aroma drifted into the air, thick and savory, filling Socrates' nostrils as the red-haired teenager stirred and sneezed himself up from the realm of unconsciousness.
ACHOO!
The sudden sound drew Mr. Jaggers' attention as he turned slightly, his sharp eyes softening for a brief moment. He quickly grabbed a bottle of water and passed it to him without hesitation.
Socrates caught the bottle without paying attention, uncorked it, and chugged down the content in it in one continuous motion, the water spilling slightly down his chin.
"Ahhh.." He stretched as he rose up to his feet, his joints cracking faintly as if his body had just been reforged.
"How are you feeling?" Mr. Jaggers asked Socrates without taking his eyes off his body, carefully observing every subtle movement.
"I feel hot... Very hot... Apart from that, I also feel energized." Socrates replied, clenching his fist as veins faintly surfaced beneath his skin. He had already dropped the empty bottle before standing up fully, rolling his shoulders as if testing a new body.
"Come and take a seat and eat your fill."
"Thank you, Senior." Socrates didn't stand on ceremony and took a seat beside Mr. Jaggers before grabbing a part of the roasted meat and started eating, tearing into it with hunger as the juices dripped down his fingers.
"Do you know why the bot energy core didn't do any harm to you?" asked Mr. Jaggers, his tone calm but probing.
Socrates shook his head slightly, still chewing.
"I don't know." He replied truthfully.
"Because you were almost at the state of dead... All the energy in it was used to repair your broken body... Since you were charred by electric bolts, only a mechanical bot core could repel it, and it did.. Minus plus minus will give us a plus." Mr. Jaggers explained, gesturing lightly with the roasted meat in his hand as if illustrating a simple principle.
"When you swallowed the monster core, you were perfectly fine, and that was why the overloaded energy in it wanted to explode your body.. Luckily, I found a solution, or you would have been long dead."
"Thank you, Senior.. I owe you my life.."
"Never mention it. You've saved me once before.. What I'm trying to explain to you is that, in every situation you find yourself.. Always think calmly... Don't act rashly.. There's always a way out of every situation... There's no gain without risk, but always have a sturdy foundation." Mr. Jaggers advised as he tore into the roasted meat again, his voice steady, almost like a mentor lecturing a disciple under quiet skies.
"Your words are too profound, Senior.. It makes me reflect on many things." Socrates wasn't lying... Even as he sat there, the warmth of the fire dancing across his face, he had already begun reflecting on his earlier decisions.
What if he had not killed Alee?
What if he had not consumed that energy pill and damaged his meridian?..
He had only acted brazenly and had not thought of how his actions would affect his clan...
How his clan had almost gone to war with the House of Ashur....
"Don't dwell on the past, Boy... It can't be changed. Focus on the present.." Mr. Jaggers tapped his shoulder, grounding him back to reality, and Socrates nodded slowly.
"You can actually analyze your gain through the system... But I think your meridians have been damaged even more." Mr. Jaggers wore a faint sorry expression.
Socrates tapped on the wristband and a blue interface came up, casting a faint glow across his face in the dim container.
"Full body scan and tell me the current state of my meridian and the solution for it."
[Scanning]
...
[Aspirant information]
Name — Socrates
Age — 17
Height — 5'8
Background — Son of Trueblood
HP: 100/100
Candidate no — 220
Cultivation level — Average Human, Damaged Meridians (Can be fixed by consuming a Sixth Tier Meridian Refinement Pill)
Current Location — Northwest Bermutha Island
Equipped items:
Silk black boxers
Digital wristband
Physique — Hot Reflexive Physique (Earth rank)
Passive Skill — Steam Burst
Inventory —
Desert Eagles
Antler Daggers
Mechanical Suit
4mm bullet.
Partner — Candidate 160
...
"You've gained a lot, Boy... An Earth rank physique is equivalent to a late stage apprentice... Luckily, I've also advanced to the late peak stage, if not I would be calling you fellow brother by now... hahaha." Mr. Jaggers teased lightly, though there was genuine admiration behind his words.
"You flatter me, Senior.. All of this was able to happen because of your help."
"Don't give me too much credit, Boy... You've a strong will... The will of a warrior.. If you can evolve your physique to the Sky Rank, you'll be able to stand toe to toe with an Energy Condensation Realm Cultivator."
"Wow.. That sounds intriguing.." Socrates said, his eyes lighting up faintly, a new sense of direction forming in his mind.
"Well.. It's not an easy feat, and definitely don't go about swallowing monster cores. You luckily survived this one doesn't mean you'll be lucky next time.." Mr. Jaggers warned, his tone turning slightly stern.
Socrates scratched his head awkwardly.
He was about to grab a piece of meat when an object suddenly flew towards their direction, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
Mr. Jaggers caught it without even looking, his reflexes sharp, and then glanced down at the object only to realize it was a grenade.
His eyes narrowed instantly.
He quickly threw it back, but it exploded mid-way... The force pushing them backward violently as heat and pressure filled the confined space.
"Ambush.." The two men said at the same time as Mr. Jaggers quickly deployed a gloo wall, the white barrier forming instantly between them and the outside.
Socrates retrieved his mechanical suit when Mr. Jaggers handed him an item.
"Magnetic Gauntlet.."
The name itself caught Socrates' fancy as he quickly replaced it with his mechanical glove, the device locking into place with a faint metallic click, humming softly as it synchronized with his arm.
"Leave it to me, Senior.. I'll deal with them." Socrates said boldly, his voice steady, and Mr. Jaggers nodded without hesitation, trusting him.
Socrates jumped out of the gloo wall, landing firmly as he faced the Candidates that had lined up in front of them, their guns raised and pointed directly at him, their expressions tense yet eager.
They were six present here, while several others had already surrounded the hangar from different angles, forming a loose encirclement.
"Hand over the golden token, or we will be forced to take action."
"I want you to take action. You see, I just gained a new prowess, and I don't know what I'm capable of.. You all are going to help me achieve that." Socrates replied, his lips curling slightly into a faint, dangerous smile.
"You speak too much.. Fire.."
Shots ×6
Six consecutive bullets tore through the air towards Socrates at close range, their metallic trails cutting sharply through space.
Socrates' eyes flared as the sound of the bullets reached him first, his pupils contracting—and at that same moment, he moved.
He didn't dodge, nor did he retreat... Instead, he ran straight towards the bullets.
And then he twirled, his body flowing in a smooth, almost unnatural motion, spreading his arms as he weaved between the bullets by mere inches, the projectiles brushing past his skin as if guided away.
In the next instant, he arrived in front of one of the candidates who was about to fire another shot.
The candidate opened his mouth in shock, his reaction a fraction too slow, as Socrates wrapped his right fist around the head of his gun, crushing its aim, and with his left clenched fist, he threw a punch that sent the candidate flying backward, tumbling several meters away across the ground.
Socrates the son of Trueblood has...