Two days had passed since the top one hundred emerged from the Gravity Trainer.
Kafu stood on his hill overlooking New Hope, the morning light painting the settlement in shades of gold and amber. Below him, his elite students gathered-one hundred legends-in-the-making, their bodies radiating power, their eyes holding the depth of two years of intense training.
But they weren't ready yet. Not for what was coming.
"Today, we shop," Kafu announced. "Today, you become unbeatable."
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THE SHOPPING EXPEDITION
Kafu activated the auction house interface, his remaining wealth of 2.26 quadrillion UC glowing in the corner of his vision.
[AUCTION HOUSE - PRIVATE PROCUREMENT]
Department Categories Minimum Purchase
Legendary Equipment Armor, weapons, artifacts 10 billion UC
Plant Life Forms Division-specific flora 1 billion UC
Disguise Treasures Camouflage, concealment 100 million UC
Kafu smiled. Time to spend.
---
THE TOP TEN - COMPLETE LEGENDARY SETS
For his top ten students, Kafu purchased complete legendary equipment sets-thirteen pieces each, perfectly matched to their abilities.
[TOP TEN - LEGENDARY SETS]
Rank Name Set Name Components Cost
1 Makena Eternal Blade Set Blade of Eternity (upgraded), Timeless Armor, Infinity Gauntlets, Moment Boots, Epoch Helm, Reality Cloak, Space Belt, Dimension Pendant, Void Ring, Creation Bracers, Destruction Pauldrons, Soul Greaves, Spirit Crown 50 billion UC
2.Nyx Shadow God Set Shadow's Embrace (upgraded), Void Cloak, Darkness Armor, Night Gauntlets, Dusk Boots, Midnight Helm, Abyss Belt, Gloom Pendant, Umbra Ring, Shade Bracers, Dark Pauldrons, Tenebris Greaves, Obscura Crown 45 billion UC
3.Tovin (Poison) Venom God Set Primordial Venom Vial, Toxin Armor, Poison Gauntlets, Antidote Boots, Venom Helm, Plague Belt, Contagion Pendant, Blight Ring, Rot Bracers, Decay Pauldrons, Corruption Greaves, Pestilence Crown 40 billion UC
4 Brutus Indomitable Set Unbreakable Shield (upgraded), Fortress Armor, Titan Gauntlets, Mountain Boots, Bastion Helm, Bulwark Belt, Rampart Pendant, Citadel Ring, Stronghold Bracers, Keep Pauldrons, Fort Greaves, Guardian Crown 35 billion UC
5.Ragnar Eternal Rage Set Ragekeeper's Band (upgraded), Fury Armor, Wrath Gauntlets, Berserker Boots, Frenzy Helm, Rage Belt, Vengeance Pendant, Revenge Ring, Retribution Bracers, Havoc Pauldrons, Chaos Greaves, Anarchy Crown 30 billion UC
6.Darius Dimensional Lord Set Dimensional Spearhead (upgraded), Space Armor, Reality Gauntlets, Infinity Boots, Void Helm, Dimension Belt, Portal Pendant, Rift Ring, Fold Bracers, Warp Pauldrons, Shift Greaves, Phase Crown 25 billion UC
7.Lin Universal Body Set Body of the Universe Scripture, Cosmos Armor, Galaxy Gauntlets, Star Boots, Planet Helm, Nebula Belt, Comet Pendant, Meteor Ring, Asteroid Bracers, Quasar Pauldrons, Pulsar Greaves, Singularity Crown 20 billion UC
8.Mira (Soul) Soul God Set Soul Mirror (upgraded), Spirit Armor, Consciousness Gauntlets, Mind Boots, Psyche Helm, Ego Belt, Anima Pendant, Essence Ring, Ghost Bracers, Phantom Pauldrons, Specter Greaves, Wraith Crown 15 billion UC
9.Tovin (Necro) Death Absolute Set Death's Whisper (upgraded), Grave Armor, Tomb Gauntlets, Coffin Boots, Crypt Helm, Sepulcher Belt, Mausoleum Pendant, Cemetery Ring, Epitaph Bracers, Obituary Pauldrons, Requiem Greaves, Necropolis Crown 10 billion UC
10 Kael (Spirit) Spirit King Set Spirit Caller's Chime (upgraded), Ethereal Armor, Ghost Gauntlets, Phantom Boots, Wraith Helm, Specter Belt, Apparition Pendant, Vision Ring, Hallucination Bracers, Dream Pauldrons, Illusion Greaves, Fantasy Crown 5 billion UC
TOP TEN TOTAL: 275 BILLION UC
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THE REMAINING NINETY - DIVISION-SPECIFIC SETS
For the remaining ninety students, Kafu purchased complete sets tailored to their divisions-slightly less powerful than the top ten, but still legendary.
[REMAINING NINETY - BY DIVISION]
Division Students Set Type Cost per Student Total
Assassin 9 Shadow Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Poison Master 9 Venom Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Warrior 9 Warrior Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Berserker 9 Berserker Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Spear Master 9 Spear Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Sword Saint 9 Sword Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Martial Artist 9 Martial Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Soul Master 9 Soul Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Necromancer 9 Necro Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Spiritualist 9 Spirit Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Elementalist 9 Elemental Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Rune Master 9 Rune Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Arcanist 9 Arcane Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Puppeteer 9 Puppet Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Forgemaster 9 Forge Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Alchemist 9 Alchemy Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Array Master 9 Array Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Talisman Master 9 Talisman Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Beast Tamer 9 Beast Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Summoner 9 Summon Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Enslayer 9 Enslave Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Dominator 9 Dominate Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Healer 9 Healer Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Buffer 9 Buffer Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
Protector 9 Protector Adept Set 1 billion UC 9 billion UC
REMAINING NINETY TOTAL: 225 BILLION UC
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THE PLANT LIFE FORMS
With equipment purchased, Kafu turned to the plants-living organisms that would enhance each student's abilities, accelerate their recovery, and bond with them permanently.
[PLANT LIFE FORMS - BY STUDENT]
Student Plant Type Effect Cost
Makena Golden Blade Bloom Enhances sword intent, sharpens perception 100 million UC
Nyx Shadow Moss Deepens shadow affinity, enables shadow healing 90 million UC
Tovin (Poison) Venom Orchid Concentrates toxins, produces antidotes 85 million UC
Brutus Iron Vine Strengthens body, regenerates armor 80 million UC
Ragnar Rage Root Controls fury, prevents burnout 75 million UC
Darius Space Fern Enhances dimensional sense 70 million UC
Lin Body Bud Accelerates body refinement 65 million UC
Mira (Soul) Soul Flower Nourishes soul, enhances projection 60 million UC
Tovin (Necro) Death Bloom Harvests death energy, empowers undead 55 million UC
Kael (Spirit) Spirit Vine Attracts beneficial spirits 50 million UC
90 others Various Division-specific 10-40 million UC each
[PLANT PURCHASE - TOTALS]
Category Quantity Average Cost Total
Top 10 plants 10 75 million UC 750 million UC
Next 90 plants 90 25 million UC 2.25 billion UC
TOTAL PLANTS 100 - 3 BILLION UC
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THE DISGUISE TREASURES
Finally, Kafu purchased treasures to disguise their legendary equipment as ordinary gear-unremarkable, uninteresting, forgettable.
[DISGUISE TREASURES - BY STUDENT]
Item Effect Cost per Student Total
Veil of Mundanity Makes equipment appear ordinary 10 million UC 1 billion UC
Aura Suppressor Hides cultivation level 5 million UC 500 million UC
Identity Shifter Blends with crowd 2 million UC 200 million UC
Memory Distorter Makes observers forget details 1 million UC 100 million UC
DISGUISE TOTAL: 1.8 BILLION UC
---
THE SHOPPING TOTALS
Kafu reviewed his expenditures.
[SHOPPING EXPEDITION - COMPLETE]
Category Amount
Top 10 legendary sets 275 billion UC
90 adept sets 225 billion UC
Plant life forms 3 billion UC
Disguise treasures 1.8 billion UC
TOTAL SPENT 504.8 BILLION UC
WEALTH REMAINING 2.259 QUADRILLION UC
---
THE THREE KAFUS
With the shopping complete, Kafu turned to his final preparation.
He raised the Dream Devourer-the legendary staff that combined the Yan Sen and Monkey King weapons-and activated its ultimate power.
[MONKEY KING STAFF - MAXIMUM MULTIPLICATION]
Two perfect copies of Kafu materialized beside him-each with 100% of his power, each with his full consciousness, each capable of independent action.
[KAFU - THREE ASPECTS]
Aspect Role Location Mission
Original Kafu Leader RVC Recruitment Guide top 100 to victory
Clone 1 Infiltrator Varnax Command Maintain alliance, gather intel
Clone 2 Commander New Hope Lead Varnax-3 liberation
The three Kafus clasped hands.
"Two fronts," Original Kafu said. "One victory."
Clone 1 smiled. "The Varnax family will never see us coming."
Clone 2 nodded. "And our people will be free."
---
THE BRIEFING
That evening, Kafu gathered his top one hundred for their final briefing.
"Tomorrow, you travel to the RVC recruitment drive. You will pose as survivors of the Aethelgard Remnant. Your equipment is disguised. Your plants are bonded. Your techniques are mastered."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"You are ready."
Makena stepped forward. "And you, Master? What will you do while we're gone?"
"I will be with you. And elsewhere." He smiled. "There are two fronts in this war. The RVC recruitment is one. The liberation of Varnax-3 is the other. I will be on both."
Her eyes widened. "How?"
"The Monkey King staff. It allows me to be everywhere at once."
She nodded slowly. "Then we won't let you down."
"I know you won't."
---
THE SYSTEM'S FINAL NOTIFICATION
As the briefing ended, the system pulsed.
[DIVINE GOD SYSTEM - RVC RECRUITMENT REGISTRATION]
"Host has registered 100 candidates for RVC recruitment. Identity packages verified. Equipment disguised. Mission parameters set."
[RVC RECRUITMENT - MISSION STATUS]
Phase Objective Status
1 Registration Complete
2 Preliminary trials Pending
3 Main competition Pending
4 Final selection Pending
5 Induction Pending
Kafu smiled. The game was about to begin.
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