Chapter 118: Final Assessment [1/3] (REVAMPED)
In the Earth's Foothold, the Alpha Chosen used the brief respite to reflect on their performance in the first two assessments.
Those who had struggled in the first assessment focused on honing their control over their respective Masteries, while the others turned their attention to improving their close combat skills. Each Chosen pushed themselves with renewed determination, aiming to address their weaknesses before the third assessment began.
When MJ's announcement came, summoning them back into the virtual space, no one hesitated. They gathered quickly at the familiar square platform, where conversations soon turned to Moro, the mysterious crimson-haired man whose overwhelming combat prowess had left a lasting impression.
While Dante, Olivia and Sergei knew Moro's identity, they chose to remain silent. It was clear that MJ had no intention of revealing more about him, and they respected that.
The rest, left with only speculation, debated his background but eventually shifted their focus. Many discussed the precise techniques Moro had showcased during the second assessment, dissecting his movements and sharing their interpretations with one another.
Before long, the group turned to Henry, hoping for insights from the one among them most skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
Yet, to their surprise, Henry, normally talkative and brimming with confidence—remained uncharacteristically silent. Concerned, Kasim and a few others approached him, commending him for ranking first in the second assessment.
Henry couldn't help but let out a dry laugh at their praise. It was surreal to him—being congratulated for defending himself in a field he specialized in. What struck him most was that he had barely held his own against an opponent who shared the same attribute stats as him.
But contrary to their fears, Henry hadn't suffered a setback. If anything, he was more motivated than ever. His journey to becoming a three-time heavyweight boxing champion hadn't been without its challenges.
He had faced numerous defeats in his early days, but his perseverance and relentless training were what ultimately propelled him to greatness. To him, Moro was just another hurdle, albeit an extraordinarily tall one.
Henry had set his sights on a new goal: one day, he would defeat Moro. He knew it wouldn't be easy. Moro's monstrous combat talent was unlike anything Henry had encountered, and self-training alone wouldn't be enough to bridge the gap. With that resolve, Henry turned to MJ.
"Great Venerable," he asked, his tone firm but respectful, "is it possible for me to train under that crimson-haired person if I use my Reward Points?"
His question caught the others off guard. They hadn't expected Henry to prioritize close combat training over using his Reward Points for leveling up or acquiring Rare Grade Spirit Equipment.
MJ smiled slyly and glanced behind Henry. "If it's about Moro, then why don't you ask my Master yourself?"
Henry froze, his eyes widening as he followed MJ's gaze. Turning around, he stumbled back in surprise, nearly losing his balance. Standing behind him was Jay's virtual avatar, his expression cold and unreadable. Henry quickly recovered, doing his best to compose himself.
The memory of Jay's overwhelming display of dominance back on Day-6 flashed through his mind. That moment had left an indelible mark on Henry, as it had on all the Earth's Alpha Chosen.
"Good day, Mr. Jay," Henry said, forcing himself to speak calmly despite his nervousness. "We all were waiting for you."
Jay gave a brief nod in response to Henry's greeting and then, without any further ado, he continued, "I overheard your conversation with MJ. Are you certain about using your Reward Points for training sessions with Moro instead of leveling up?"
Henry met Jay's gaze with unwavering determination. "Yes, I'm sure," he said firmly, nodding.
Jay regarded him in silence for a moment, considering his resolve. Then, with a thoughtful expression, he spoke again. "For now, I suggest you use your RP to level up. There's less than a day remaining before the Trial Region Tournament begins, and I want all of you to be as strong as possible. Our goal is for Earth's trial zone to come out on top, scoring higher than any other in the Trial World."
Though reluctant, Henry didn't argue, knowing better than to push the issue. But what Jay said next caused his eyes to widen with excitement.
"Since you're so adamant about this," Jay continued, "I'll arrange for you to have three sparring sessions with Moro in this virtual space after the first tournament. Beyond that, it will be up to Moro to decide whether he wants to train you. If you can convince him during those sessions that you're worth his time, you won't even need to spend RPs."
Henry's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Jay. I promise I won't waste this opportunity!"
Jay gave a small nod and didn't say more. Instead, he gestured to MJ, who waved his hand to summon a floating, meter-wide circular hologram board. Divided into nine sections, each displayed the name of one of Earth's Alpha Chosen. At the center of the hologram, an arrow hand, resembling the minute hand of a clock, began spinning.
The group quickly realized that this was to randomly select who would face Jay first in the third assessment. As the arrow spun, Jay's mind wandered back to his earlier decision.
He hoped that having Henry interact with Moro would achieve more than just refining Henry's combat skills. The present Moro, nearly devoid of emotions, rarely interacted with others.
Jay believed that Henry's outgoing and persistent nature, coupled with their shared experience of losing parents at a young age, might help Moro take a step toward socializing. Shared pain, after all, was a powerful bridge between individuals.
Jay's musings were interrupted as the arrow slowed to a stop, its tip pointing to Brandon's name. The others turned their attention to him as MJ announced, "Brandon will be the first to face the Master in the third assessment."
Brandon stepped onto the platform, his face set with determination. As he took his position, MJ waved his hand, summoning a transparent shield that surrounded the square platform, isolating the platform from the outside area.
Jay observed Brandon's stance, noting his readiness, he said, "We'll start directly from Stage-3. MJ, restrict my virtual avatar's stats to 30% of my full capacity."
MJ complied, adjusting Jay's avatar. At 30% power, Jay's stats equaled 300, placing him at the strength of a peak Tier-2 lifeform.
While Brandon was at the peak of Tier-3 Low-Phase with approximately 550 stats, the gap of 250 overall stats between them was substantial.
It was evident that Brandon was nearly twice as strong as Jay in raw numbers. However, strength in battle wasn't solely determined by stats—it hinged on how effectively one could utilize their innate talent abilities. Jay, despite his handicap, had a trump card: the newly mastered Tri-Element, Lightning Flame.
The moment MJ announced the fight's start, Brandon closed the distance with lightning-fast speed, aiming to eliminate Jay's chances of initiating an attack. His strategy was simple: exploit his superior stats and prevent Jay from setting the tempo of the fight.
But Jay anticipated this. Before Brandon could reach him, Jay conjured a wall of Lightning Flame, its purple-red glow crackling as it erupted between them. The wall radiated searing heat and electric pulses, halting Brandon's advance.
Jay knew that engaging in close combat was a losing proposition. With his restricted stats, he needed to keep Brandon at a distance to even stand a chance. The wall of flames gave him the breathing room he needed, forcing Brandon to pause.
Brandon, a skilled Lightning element user himself, instinctively recognized the danger. Even at 30% capacity, the Lightning Flame carried a terrifying power that warned him against carelessly crossing it. He could sense its potency—it wasn't something to take lightly.
Once the gap was established, Jay dispersed the flame wall to conserve his limited Spirit Energy. With precision born of practice, he conjured several arrows of Lightning Flame and launched them toward Brandon. The arrows streaked through the air with incredible speed, glowing like shooting stars.
Brandon reacted swiftly, relying on his rich combat experience. He dodged the first few arrows but quickly realized their speed was too great to evade them all. Enveloping his spear in a coat of lightning, he swung it in rapid arcs, deflecting the incoming projectiles. The impacts sent crackling sparks across the platform.
While Brandon successfully deflected the attacks, the sheer force behind them pushed him back. The impact of the Lightning Flame was unlike anything he had faced before. Sliding tens of meters across the platform, Brandon had to plunge his spear into the ground to anchor himself and stop his retreat.
From the spectator seats, gasps of astonishment filled the air. The destructive power and speed of Jay's Lightning Flame left everyone wide-eyed. Even Brandon, one of the strongest among the Earth's Alpha Chosen, was struggling against an opponent operating at only 30% of their full power.
Jay himself was momentarily stunned. In his earlier tests, he hadn't accounted for the impact factor of his attacks. Now, seeing the practical effect, he realized how crucial it was to the Lightning Flame's destructive potential. Combining the raw attack power of the Flame with the blazing speed of the Lightning element had created a force that was both devastating and disorienting.
The clash had only taken 3% of Brandon's health, a seemingly minor loss, but its significance was evident to everyone watching.
Brandon had lost health while defending, not from a direct hit. It meant that even if Brandon successfully blocked or deflected more of Jay's attacks, his health would continue to drain with each interaction.
The realization sent ripples of shock through the spectators. They exchanged uneasy glances, murmuring about the implications of what they had just witnessed.
'If this was only 30% of Jay's full strength, how overwhelming would he be at 100%?'
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Author Note:
The revamped version of Volume 1 is now live on Kindle. You can find it on Amazon by simply searching the book title. Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy the new edition!
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Volume 2 Revamped Chapter Release Schedule
📅 Daily Releases – A revamped chapter will be released every day until Chapter 130. (Jan 1st to 30th)
These revamped chapters won't interfere with the usual chapter updates.
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