As Valerian settled into his room, his bewilderment at the glowing interface was
quickly eclipsed by sheer terror as the first quest materialized.
The words burned like embers in the dim room:
[Ding! Quest Issued: Build a Worthy Physique]
[Progress: 0%]
[Failure Penalty: Death]
[Quest Reward: Powerful Body + ??? Opportunity]
"Death? A failure means death? And what in the world is that reward?" Valerian
shouted, desperate for an answer, but the system remained hauntingly silent.
An absolute stillness settled in, as if the system viewed its host as nothing more than a tool.
Valerian inhaled deeply; suddenly, a fierce, primal resolve ignited
within him—the kind born only on the edge of the abyss.
To build a worthy body, what must be done?
Without wasting a second, he sprinted to his private gravity training chamber.
He knew time was his most precious asset, so to maximize the efficiency, he
cranked the gravity to three times its natural force.
As he began the drills, every muscle fiber in his body screamed under the crushing
pressure, yet he didn't falter. Progress climbed at a glacial pace: 0.1%, 0.2%... but every three minutes of rest caused the
percentage to drop, forcing him to transform his body into a machine that refused to stop.
...
Elsewhere, the atmosphere was starkly different.
After Ray tucked the wooden box away, Professor Ariadne dismissed everyone except him.
Archion walked out, brow furrowed in deep thought: What does she want with him? Ever since Ray’s emergence, the world has shifted.
Unexpected changes are accelerating every single day.
Inside the office, only Ray and Ariadne remained.
She held a stack of files, her voice quiet but carrying an unbearable weight.
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"A troublemaker, a useless brat causing chaos wherever he goes, disowned for insulting a princess... that’s the record before me.
Yet, standing here now is a youth with prodigious talent, a perfect mana core, and techniques I’ve never seen in my life."
Despite her calm tone, a suffocating, oppressive aura radiated from her, vibrating the very walls.
Ariadne sensed every flicker of Ray’s power, while he analyzed the situation: She’s suspicious. She’s interrogating me.
Ray spoke up steadily. "My mana core was forged during the academy entrance exam, in front of everyone.
As for my talent, how could it have manifested without a core? Isn't that logical?"
Ariadne retorted sharply, "Your logic holds, but how do you explain your combat techniques?"
Ray didn't hesitate. "Don't forget, despite my exile, I was the heir to the strongest duchy in the kingdom."
His story is clear and convincing, Ariadne muttered to herself, then pivoted.
"You possess three elements, yet in every fight, you’ve only used one. What about the rest?"
Ray sighed, feigning frustration. "I can't use them; my core is too weak."
Ariadne contemplated this for a moment before deciding, "From now on, I will supervise your training personally.
But first, go use what’s in that box, and when you’re done, report back to me."
Ray left the office and navigated the halls to his room.
He locked the door and sat on the floor, opening the wooden box to reveal a small, faintly glowing golden pill.
The Phoenix Pill. He muttered to himself.
The pill was packed with dense mana, and the proper method was to absorb it slowly over time.
Ray scoffed at the thought. Hell, I don't have the luxury of time!
He was desperate to reclaim his peak strength and return to his original world.
In a reckless gamble, he shoved the entire pill into his mouth, crushed it with his teeth, and swallowed it whole.
Instantly, mana erupted inside him like a dormant volcano.
He felt agonizing pain, as if his insides were being shredded.
The sheer volume of raw energy began tearing at his magic channels, and blood started seeping from his pores.
Ray gritted his teeth until they nearly cracked, growling, "All or nothing!" He
forced the rampaging mana toward his core, commanding it to absorb the energy
before his body could be annihilated by the internal explosion.
...
Meanwhile, Archion was marching with purposeful strides toward the academy’s massive library.
He attempted to enter, but was blocked by two hulking guards with Gold-rank cores.
Archion produced the permit Ariadne had given him; the guards stepped aside with respect.
"You have one hour, and only two books."
Archion wandered the aisles, searching for a specific target.
Where is it? He thought. There was a legendary grimoire containing
forbidden dark spells—a book no one in this era had been able to decipher—but he
knew that in the future, Noxianth would crack the code.
After a half-hour search, he found it. The book was tattered and choked with dust.
He pulled it from the shelf, inhaling the scent of ancient history.
He spent another half-hour finding the second volume to complete his strategy.
He took them to the librarian to register: The Nialsak Grimoire and The Fancion Tome.
The librarian looked at the books in disbelief.
"Fancion is a light-magic masterpiece, a fine choice.
But Nialsak? It’s a strange, neglected relic. No one has deciphered it for centuries. Are you sure?"
Archion answered with firm resolve, "I am."
The librarian sighed. "Another soul trying their luck... Fine. You have a month for Fancion.
As for Nialsak, keep it as long as you want; nobody ever borrows it anyway. I hope you manage to crack the seal."
Archion offered a faint, knowing smile, took the books, and left the library, feeling
the threads of his future finally weaving together in his hands.
Across the academy, the winds were shifting.
Ray was in his room fighting for his life to regain his power, Valerian was in the
gravity chamber selling his soul to the system to crawl out of the gutter, and
Archion was plunging into the secrets of the ancients.