Atticus could not say that he was totally satisfied with 3rd as place as that made him miss out on a mid tier earth grade weapon. On the other hand professor Ragnar already informed him that each member of the task force would be given a low teir earth grade weapon.So that wasn't so bad afterall as he would get an earth grade weapon with no sweat. Besides it wasn't as if the other participants here were pushovers so getting 3rd place really showed the height of his skills.All three top rankers were given contribution points, with Atticus getting 10,000 contribution points! Which was a very large amount to Atticus. But when he thought about some of the Artifacts he was planning to get... He realized that human wants are every increasing with income .The arena was slowly emptying, the post-event buzz fading into a murmur of departing conversations. As the last students trickled out, a sleek metallic vessel descended from the sky, drawing gasps of admiration from the remaining spectat
The prickling sensation intensified, sharpening into a distinct sense of malice. Atticus stopped short, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger concealed beneath his cloak. He didn't need to turn around to know who was approaching - the acrid scent of cheap liquor and arrogance announced their arrival before they did.Emerging from a shadowy alleyway were three figures, their clothes disheveled and faces etched with a sneer. Their ragged movements and sloppy postures marked them not as students, but as petty thugs scraping by on the fringes of the town. A quick scan revealed their energy signatures – all three pulsated with the faint glow of the early Spirit Gathering realm.Atticus narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. He could easily overpower these ruffians, but resorting to violence in the heart of a neutral zone wouldn't be ideal. Still, a lesson needed to be learned."Looking for trouble, boys?" Atticus inquired, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.The lead thug, a hulki
A wave of tension seemed to linger in the atmosphere. The air crackled with hostility, and Atticus instinctively placed himself a half-step in front of Rin, his own posture straightening in response to the young man's arrogant demeanor. He didn't recognize the insignia of House Serpentis but now he remembered where he had seen the carriage.Rin, however, seemed to regain her composure quickly. She met the young man's gaze head-on, her eyes hardening with defiance. "Serpentis," she spat out the name like a bad taste in her mouth "What brings you to this fine part of town?""Don't play coy, Rin," the young man sneered. "We know you were here. And we know what you've been up to." His eyes flickered to the groaning figures scattered on the ground, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Looks like you've been causing trouble again for people under the protection of our clan, are you tired of life!""Just defending myself from some lowlifes who were picking on a couple of kids, didn't realize th
The next morning, anticipation buzzed through Atticus as he made his way towards the combat faculty. Unlike the serene atmosphere of the library, a vibrant energy thrummed in the air here. The building itself was imposing, constructed from dark gray stone with towering pillars that seemed to pierce the sky. Students milled about, clad in their designated combat gear – leather armor worn over loose-fitting pants and shirts, all reinforced with defensive enchantments. Atticus navigated the bustling corridors, his steps echoing on the polished stone floors. He exchanged brief greetings with passing students, some familiar faces from his classes, others unknown but radiating an air of focused intensity. Finally, following the directions Professor Ragnar had provided, he arrived at a large training hall.The scene within was a testament to the magnitude of the upcoming mission. Students, roughly thirty in number, were already gathered, their voices raised in animated conversation. In the
The students were back and Master Wei led them to a hall for further briefings and lessons on the spectral demons.The tension in the training hall crackled with anticipation. The thirty-two students chosen for the special task force, including Atticus, Xu Hua, Fen Yifan, and the Zu twins, sat poised with eager eyes fixed on Master Wei. Today marked the commencement of their intensive training – a crash course in the nature and combat of Spectra Demons."Alright, everyone," Master Wei boomed, his voice echoing through the room. "I trust you've all heard whispers about the Spectral threat plaguing our borders?" A chorus of murmurs filled the room, confirming his assumption."Knowing you've heard the term," Master Wei continued, his tone turning serious, "doesn't equate to truly understanding these creatures. Today, we delve into the theoretical aspects of Spectra Demons – their origins, their powers, and the weaknesses we can exploit."He paused, letting the weight of his words settle
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the enchanting process was complete. Master Wei led them to a large, circular training hall. The walls were constructed from polished obsidian, reflecting the flickering light emanating from magical orbs suspended from the high ceiling. In the center of the chamber, a shimmering portal pulsated with an ethereal light, its energy twisting and distorting the air around it.Master Wei stood before them, a solemn expression etched on his face. "Today's final training session will take place within an illusionary world," he explained. "This world has been specifically designed to mimic the environments where Spectral Demons are most likely to manifest."He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his students. "Within this illusion, you will encounter a variety of spectral entities. Your objective is to defeat them as efficiently as possible."A low murmur rippled through the crowd. The prospect of facing Spectra Demons, albeit in a simulat
The familiar clang of practice swords echoed through the training hall where other combat faculty students were practicing. Atticus and his teammates then started to reassemble. The experience in the illusionary world had left them drained but exhilarated. A sense of newfound respect hung in the air between them, forged in the crucible of their simulated battle. As they dispersed to catch their breath and share their experiences with other teams, a tremor of realization rippled through Atticus. He'd been so focused on the training that he'd almost forgotten. The time for the fight was already here, The day he settled his grudge with his stubborn grandson- Bai Feng in the Grand Melee.A surge of adrenaline coursed through him, chasing away the lingering fatigue. He excused himself from his teammates and made his way towards the dedicated training court for the melee. Stepping out of the familiar confines of the training hall, he was met by a vibrant spectacle.The training court, usua
Atticus looked at Bai Feng who was being dragged away and he could feel his demonic qi stir as his bloodlust threatened to consume him."Atticus!" A familiar voice called to him as he felt a soft hand hold his. Xu Hua's face then came to his view. "Atticus, your eyes!" She called out once again.At this point Atticus felt his rising blood lust decrease as he brought it under control.'What did she mean by my eyes?' Atticus thought.[When your bloodlust rises, your eyes start to turn red.] Rhea explained to Atticus, answering his thoughts.Alarm filled Atticus as he realized how dangerous this was. Red eyes that came with his bloodlust looked too similar to spectral demons.Even though the academy may be suspecting him to have ties to the scarlet soul faction, there was no need to give them actual evidence and then also a reason for them to get him pruned.Atticus just stared at Xu Hua putting up a confused expression as if he didn't realize what just occurred. Maybe she would chalk i