Progress

Zhao Lin had stayed out until the sun rose. When he came home he did not get discovered. It was only when the family got together for breakfast, that the only one who knew was secretly asking him questions. Zhao Yun was only 7 this year, but was able to comprehend many adult concepts. It was like a small adult in a child's body.

She had always been a fan of Warriors too. Mainly the female. She wished to be a flying god one day and help save people. The family would always dot on her, and never talked about the negative things in front of her.

Zhao Lin did not just stay home after eating. He immediately went to go train. Like before he chose areas with decent opponents. Only with fighting difficult Beasts could he get stronger. All his abilities were enhanced since last night. His strength was growing and his reactions improved.

As He had been sharpening himself and was improving in his combat. He could react more accurately than before. When he fought he felt the each battle was a bit easier than the previous, his attacks were more damaging, he could dodge and jump and move beyond what he could do normally.

With such great results, it was difficult to want to do something else. During the training trip he received a mission. It was simple task, clean up a couple of F grade Rats. He finished the job with much difficulty. Even Rams were one of the more trickier fights. Mostly due to the numbers and speed. Zhao Lin could barely get a hit in.

Eventually he even tried a couple of E class Beast. He fought an E class snake and even fought an E class mantis. The snake was more simple because it was smaller, about his size. While the Mantis nearly took his life cutting him up pretty bad. He had a stay in bed for two days.

For the next month, he would go and train like the very first time. Every day or two he would gain another mission. Only after a month did things start to change.

—————

During the month all students in the Academy were preparing for the examination. They all had training to do from the school and families. One of the main ways to accurately gauge a students strength, was to watch them. As such, each student secretly had a probe following and monitoring one as they performed their mission.

Currently the Vice Headmaster was in his room reviewing many of the top students. One of the most eye catching was Zhao Lin. During the entire week, Zhao Lin became a rookie to a decent fight. His skills were improving each time he performed a mission. What's more was how he was training. Zhao Lin's Family standing were obvious to the academy. And the potential of Zhao Lin and grown from what the Vice Headmaster.

He went from taking on F class beast, to E class beast. Such a fast progression was beyond most of the student. Especially at his income. The Vice Headmaster was speculating what would happen if he was pushed a bit.

Training new Recruits were becoming essential, as everyday a stronger threat grows. They needed more Warriors, and the Human population was already at low.

Ever since the instructor had taken notice of Zhao Lin he put him in a list of many students. The Academy had over 150,000 students, and on this list was over 10,000. The list was comprised of the strongest and most talented individuals. Everything was taken into consideration, and was a system that the Vice Headmaster had created through many years. Some were always taken off and put on. Many were ranked on how terrifying the were to grow.

One reason that Zhao Lin made the list was because of his skills at such a young age. And also was the way he moved, he had the same look. It was like a yearning look, of wanting to see how far he could be pushed. The Academy had a age range of 10-29, each was graded by talent, their intelligence, strength, growth speed, and even background was all variables that made allowed one to get on such a list.

Zhao Lin's progress as of late had been beyond what they expected. At day 1 he had a base strength of 570 kg. After his first week he grew to 790 kgs. At the end of this month, he was at 1240 kgs. This speed was growth in such a short time was beyond most Warrior Families. Only someone at least Battle Master rank could train someone so quickly.

There was the possibility of someone taking him as an disciple. But then why make him go through the examination? That would give him unrestricted access into the organization already and also give him enough resources to train him.

The Vice Headmaster had the job one reporting and taking note of unique individuals. While Zhao Lin potential could be very unique, he had nothing unique to him. At the very least, he was more skills in combat than most students on his list. Still, it could be useful to have some extra Warriors, even at the Battle Warrior rank.

He had 3 parts of his list, each had a priority level. The highest would receive some special treatment in order for them to train quickly. The other list would receive less and less. Those on these lists would usually be the top of the litter so they received more than the rest of the Academy.

He then called someone on his computer. The person on the other line was one of the Academy instructors.

"I've made lists of students and their priorities. Get them their supplies, and give them more difficult missions."

"Yes sir."

The called then ended. He leaned back, and pulled open a draw, and taking out a cigar box. He took one out and started lighting it.

———————

This entire month for Zhao Lin had been great progress. In a month, he grew nearly 1000 kgs of strength. At this point, he would be a Beginning grade Battle Warrior. Or maybe even a Mid grade Battle Warrior by the time of the examination. The ranks had 3 grades within each rank. Each grade was gauged by a range of strength. The exact number he didn't know, but those would could take on D class beast were in a league of their own. A Top grade vs a Beginning grade. Top would win even against 20 Beginning grades.

Right now, he felt could enter the first 10000 maybe even in 1000. The competition would be fierce. Noble Families, Corporates, Freelancers, and even just students. The amount of people would be over a 200,000 alone. And the age was anyone between 13-29. The people he would be fighting would either be already stronger than he was, or just experienced. The top 50,000 would receive a single Low Evol Crystal. The top 10,000 would receive severalLow Evol Crystals, while the top 1000 would get Several Rank 3 Low Evol Crystals and other things as well, they would all entered into the organization as well in various places. The top 10 would be entered in the Warriors Organizations Special Training department. Where they train the best and top notch Future Warriors. They would be valued by the Organization as future core members Anyone under 20 would be allowed to entered. They would also receive a Rank 1 Mid Grade Evol Crystals. And other rewards.

It would be a miracle if he got first. But if he could get in the top 1000 that would be an amazing goal. With age gap going to 29, the difference in experience and strength could make to difficult. What exactly the examination would be is completely secret. Only those taking parts of its planning would most likely know.

Zhao Lin could only train until then. But right now he felt that he was getting a bit slow in progression than before. If this were to continue, he would be lacking in the next two months. With everything he hunted, and gathered, he saved up for almost 400 silver credits. That's 400,000 credits in total. Pretty nice sum, but he had hoped he could get 800 silver credits. This was to buy the rank 3 Low Evol Crystal. That was one of the only choices he had left. There was not much he could do else besides wait for missions. They were decent challenges, and they were always more difficult than the one before.

Zhao Lin was currently doing great he felt. He was following his dream, he brought food and credits home for his family. His sister was able to go to a small training place where she could train to be a Warrior. She had always wanted to go, and he now he was able to afford it for her.

His father and mother were worried occasionally, but his progress by looking at what he brought home, they felt he might be alright after all. His father had been staying home more often, and his pay was getting less. It was then that he decided to carry the family burden of income. He got both his parents to quit, and he was able to make enough for the entire family and a bit more.

He was out on the roof of his house fleeing the nightly breeze. He was practically dozing off to sleep, before a ringing came from his watch. Answering was an Instructor.

"Student Zhao Lin, for the great results you have produced, the Academy has approved of additional supplies for this month to you. Use them well."

When the called ended, he heard a some loud wind sounds coming from behind, turning his head he saw a small flying cube flying towards. It had a small smiling lit face on the top making look a bit cute. When it landed it opened up the front panel, and in was a small disk. Taking it out, it closed the front panel and began to hover up.

"Thank you Master Zhao Lin, Have a nice day!" It said before flying off. He hopped back inside his room and started downloading the data disk.

Zhao Lin pointed the ring at the disk, which scanned the disk, instead of storing it. The amount of storage taken up soon went up a bit. And when he went to take a look at what he was given. He found the contents were pretty amazing. He was given 10 vials this time, and 1 rank 1 Low Evol Crystals. This amount was pretty generous. It was practically a spot in the top 50,000.

Zhao Lin then was about to take out the Evol Crystal. But remembered his ability.

-Wait. Would I absorb the Evol Crystal too?- he thought. What would happen if he did? For one, he didn't know the true results of using one, he knew he would get stronger. He was afraid it would be a waste. Then again, how would he use it then if he couldn't touch it? There was also the question if he could even absorb it at all.

When he was training, he was able to absorb the beast cores as an energy boost when he trained. But they never gave a great amount of boost or feeling as he vials. The Evol Crystals were practically condensed energy in to solid. The amount was much more than your common beast core.

Zhao Lin weighed the pros and cons and ultimately decided. He took out the Evol Crystal and firmly grasped it. At first he felt only a small sensation. But when he started to concentrate on the crystal more, he felt a jolt of energy stream into him. He began feeling energized and full of power. It was so much he lost control of how much he was absorbing and his arm started to ache a bit.

"Sh*t this hurts!" He yelled.

The feeling grew a more and more painful, and the crystal began shrinking and became dim, until it disappeared. He was then just sitting their completely anchored by the force and pain of the energy inside him. He felt his body weigh several thousand kgs. And the energy was churching and beating inside him. He could barely keep in his voice before several grunts. He soon fell unconscious.

Unaware, inside of Zhao Lin, a change was occurring. The Crystal like object that Zhao Lin has picked up and now inside him, began to shake. The glow began to glow brighter and brighter inside him. The energy inside him began move towards it, diving into it. The Crystal swallowed much of the energy and it began to shake. Inside of Zhao Lin, the Crystal floated between the four elements.

Zhao Lin awoke to the scene of the crystal. Beside it was a flare of fire shining brightly. A stone that was black as night. A flow of water that revolved around itself, completely clear and was like glass. And a small tornado that felt like pulling him in. When he looked at it he felt like staring at a great phenomenon. But when it grew close, it was much smaller than he thought. The four elements were floating around the crystal, each the size of himself. The crystal was the size of a head.

-What is this?-

He reached out to touch the crystal, but when he got close he soon saw a bright thin stream of light. He also hears a crackle. It was then he knew that the sound sounded like electricity sparking. He immediately tried to pull back but was soon shocked by a current of electricity. He felt a current run through his body.

He opened his eyes to see electricity suddenly sparking from his hands. His hands were on the ground and soon the sparks created scorch marks. He immediately stood up and saw in the mirror that his body was giving off sparks.

"How do i stop this? I gotta control this somehow or else I'll start a fire everywhere i go." He thought that it might be his Psych, so he concentrated on his body. He thought about keeping his energy inside him. The sparks eventually stopped going out.

He let out a sigh of relief before sitting on his bed. He lifted his hand up and looked at his palm. He tried to produce some electricity in his hands instead. A small spark was produce, then a small stream of electricity from one finger to another. Which surprised him because it also made a snap noise.

He focused some more, completely immersed in his new ability.

"What do you know. I'm a Psych." He said smiling to himself.

He stopped when he was able to produce a couple of a streams of electricity. It wasn't good to practice at home or else he might blow something up. Tomorrow he would go somewhere he could test this new power. An Evol Crystal for a Psych power, maybe he could enter the top 10 after all. There was still two months and he had 10 vials. He also assumed he would get another package next month. So he was going to kick his training up a notch.