Chapter 22: The Titan Industries Construction SiteMax strode through the academy’s bustling pathways, his steps purposeful yet unhurried. The late afternoon sun stretched his shadow across the stone pavement, painting long streaks of gold over the academy grounds.His hands gripped the cleaning equipment tightly, the weight familiar against his palms. Today’s assigned locations numbered seven in total—each one another reminder of his current predicament. He had long since come to terms with his punishment, yet a simmering determination burned beneath his calm exterior. This was temporary.A step toward something greater.For now, he moved through the motions.One of his tasks included returning the history books he had borrowed under Miss Raelyn’s name. He planned to check whether other volumes were available, particularly those covering restricted periods of history. The deeper he delved into the academy’s archives, the more apparent it became—something wasn’t right.Fragments of in

Chapter 24 - Death CrisisMax barely evaded the strike.Jace's palm sliced through the air, missing his face by the width of a hair. The sheer force of the swing sent a sharp gust past his cheek, a reminder of how close he had been to getting hit. But before Max could completely stabilize his posture, Theo had already shifted his weight, his movements swift and unrelenting.A knee came rushing toward Max’s stomach—fast, precise, and impossible to avoid.In an instant, Max braced himself, crossing both forearms in front of his torso in a desperate attempt to block.Bang!The impact exploded through his arms like a shockwave, the sheer force launching him off his feet. His body twisted midair, flipping backward as he hurtled across the rooftop. A sharp crack resonated through his bones—a sickening pain jolted through his wrists.[Regeneration has been activated]Even as the system’s notification flickered in his vision, the agony still lingered. His regeneration worked fast, but the ini

Chapter 26: Becoming a Zeta-Ranked Xeon User"Just who is Miss Raelyn?"Cedric's mind kept circling around this question.Not only had she forced the XAO Inspectors to release him immediately, but she had also overturned the Disciplinary Committee’s punishment without hesitation. An ordinary teacher wouldn’t have that kind of influence.Although Cedric was suspicious of her background, he no longer felt wary of her.After all, she knew exactly what he had done last month.Even though his punishment had ended, Cedric still arrived at school early. Waking up before sunrise had already become a habit.A Part-Time JobOver the past month, Chef Caleb had given him a part-time job in the academy’s kitchen. It wasn’t much, but Cedric had earned close to five thousand rad in total.Rad was the official currency in BB City. It was comparable to the old-world British pound.That money had been useful. It allowed Cedric to mix his legitimate earnings with the “compensation” he had taken from The

Chapter 28 – A Feast Before the StormThe moment Max Vale tapped the smooth metallic surface of his storage device, a faint hum resonated through the room.Troooiinn!A holographic projection flickered to life before him, displaying four distinct items in a grid-like formation. His eyes swept over them quickly—A sleek, rectangular metallic slab.A neatly stacked wad of cash.A small, reinforced briefcase.A tall, oven-like apparatus.Without hesitation, Max selected the fourth option, and in an instant, the large device materialized in front of him, standing at nearly two meters tall. His body swayed slightly as exhaustion threatened to pull him into unconsciousness, but he fought against the pull, reaching out to grasp the handle of the oven-like equipment.With a grunt, he wrenched it open.A rush of warm air carried the rich scent of seasoned meats, freshly baked pastries, and roasted delicacies. The sight before him was almost overwhelming—trays stacked with juicy steaks, golden-

Chapter 30: Measuring StrengthA lush expanse of greenery spread across the environment, where vibrant patches of flowers and carefully cultivated grasses swayed gently in an artificial breeze. Despite being within a massive enclosed space, the ceiling above was a stunning replica of the sky—a seamless illusion of blue with drifting clouds, making it appear as if one stood beneath the open heavens.Scattered throughout were wooden structures, their architecture reminiscent of traditional bungalows. These compact buildings were arranged in an orderly fashion, each adorned with white sliding doors crisscrossed by black lattice patterns. The entire area was vast—easily spanning the size of ten stadiums combined—yet astonishingly, this elaborate design existed within what was technically a business complex.Max Vale had been taken aback the first time he arrived here. The sheer scale and craftsmanship of the place had been unexpected, yet the ancient aesthetic blended with modern enhancem