Copper Esper

For the next few days Lake had added in his skill training into his routine. He wanted to increase the levels Ape's Might and his other skills but after reaching level 5 there wasn't any more experience gained.

Despite his efforts he made no more progress in his skill levels. So instead of wasting his time on that he decided to focus his efforts on breaking through to become a copper esper.

Lake only needed a few more points in his intelligence and wisdom before officially becoming an esper.

After advancing successfully he would have access to a multitude of benefits and other things.

Copper Espers had access to the Starview forest, although it would only be the outskirts. The town prevented those not yet an esper to leave the city to enter the forest, they basically needed the ability to protect themselves before being allowed to venture out.

He would also gain access to the Evo library within the Ability Association. It contained the Evo styles collected by the Association branch, these Evo styles weren't like the ones provided by the school. They had the power nearing that of abilities, but that also meant they were much harder to master.

Though the Association provided Evo Styles to the citizens there is still a limit to it. From the Copper and Iron stage, access is granted to low-tier styles. Every subsequent breakthrough to a new realm allows them access to a higher grade evo style.

Also Espers are only allowed to take out one per new realm they breakthrough.

They are allowed to take out more but this would require them to pay in contribution points from the Ability Association. These are gained from missions that the Association assigns.

The points aren't just used for the Evo Styles either, they can be spent on elixirs, armaments, as well as instruction from powerful teachers that work for the Association.

There have been some arrogant people from wealthy families who thought they could just purchase contribution points. However, the Association prevented that since it wouldn't sit well with the commoners.

The missions came from the missions board. This was something on the database from the Ability Association, it contained different missions for Espers to take and complete for rewards provided by either the association or the person who posted the mission.

The missions varied by difficulty level, from 1 star to 10 star depending on the importance of the mission.

Despite them varying in difficulty it didn't necessarily mean difficult as in dangerous, it could just be something extremely difficult to accomplish. Like concocting a high-grade elixir or forging a powerful armament.

However, they also had restrictions on who could take what missions. For example, a copper esper can only take missions ranging from 1 to 2 stars.

They all came with a corresponding reward, and those rewards were always random. But they would always contain a certain amount of contribution points.

There were all types of missions that are posted in the mission board. Most of them are taken pretty quickly but there is always a great amount of missions available.

With how close Lake was to becoming a Copper Esper, he was also close to obtaining all the benefits that came with being one.

With his constant training his mental prowess increased quickly until one day he felt a change in his body. Energy circulated throughout his energy channels more vigorously than before and it was accompanied by a new orange hue to it. The orange glow signified his breakthrough to the Copper Esper stage.

Whenever an Esper breaks through into a new realm, their energy undergoes a change in it's appearance and purity. Orange for copper, red for iron, green for bronze, silver for silver, and gold for gold.

And though Lake's energy had already reached the iron level, it won't take on those characteristics until the rest of his stats reached the same threshold.

Since Lake was now a Copper Esper the Alt Tech on his wrist collected his data and sent it into the Association's database, officially registering him as an Esper.

This also gave him access to the benefits previously mentioned.

"Haha! Finally! I bet even the teachers didn't reach this stage at my age." Lake exclaimed while satisfied with his progress.

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Lake Halma - Ability Unclear

[Physical Fitness]

(Strength) - 120

(Defense) - 100

(Agility) - 100

[Mental Prowess]

(Intelligence) - 100

(Wisdom) - 100

(Willpower) - 100

[Energy Capacity] - 200

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A normal human would have all their stats at 100 when they broke through, while some talented Espers could have a stronger physique or psyche upon their advancement.

Not many could have stats like Lake's when they broke through, who had a whole 20 extra points in strength and a whopping 100 extra points in energy.

He truly broke limits with his advancement.

When he advanced the time was only around 1 pm. Seeing as how he had time to spare he wanted to hurry and collect his Evo Style from the Association. Not wasting any time he put on some casual clothes and headed to the door.

But before he could he saw his mother walk in and greet him.

"Hi honey, where are you off to?"

"I'm going to the Ability Association mom, I won't be gone long."

"The Association? What kind of business do you have there?" Hearing about where Lake wanted to go she was curious since there was no need to go until you advanced. Then she came to a realization.

"Lake, d-did you breakthrough already?" She asked in disbelief.

"Hehe." Chuckling he channeled his energy towards his palm and showed his mother. A gasp escaped her mouth as she saw it's color, as it only appeared on a Copper Esper.

Suddenly a tear escaped her eye as she started crying.

Startled Lake rushed to her side, "Mom?! What's wrong?"

"Nothing dear, I'm just very happy. I always knew my Lake was a genius." A smile blossomed on her face as she looked at the strength her son had shown.

Throughout the years, even though Lake never revealed any trace of it, his mother knew all the things that he had gone through. She knew about how all the students had treated him, about how devastated he was when he learned he would be powerless.

She knew how much hard work he put in to not fall behind the other students in his generation, and it broke her heart to see her child go through so much abuse.

Lake was a strong child, and she knew any kind of comfort was useless, so she just silently encouraged him from behind the scenes in any way she could. To see her child become a Copper Esper at such a young age made her truly happy, happy that he wasn't a trash that everyone said he was.

Seeing the smile on his mother's face caused a warmth to well up inside him, everything he had done and will do was all for this woman. All to see her smile, to live in happiness.

As he looked at his mother, a smile formed on his face as well. It was only in front of his mother that his frosty exterior would melt and he'd embrace his emotions.