n

n

n

nIt's not that she can totally ignore the armor and energy armor of her opponents. It has still limitations.

nThe reason why it was deadly was because she combined the properties to ignore armor and armor penetration ability into a single burst attack.

nThat's why she could kill someone at S-rank even though they had a protective field around their bodies.

nSouta thought that she was the only A-rank expert that had the potential to kill him. Well, in the end, she was still an A-rank and one powerful shot from him would be enough to heavily injure her.

nHe ended the test after he thoroughly defeated Franklin and Isabella. They were good and their combination was extraordinary as they understood each other.

nThey even managed to force him to use some of his aces.

n

"Good job, I think that the two of you will pass the physical examination with a flying score.

" Souta praised them.

n

"Thanks.

" Isabella bowed her head.

n

"You've grown stronger once again. I couldn't even keep up.

" Franklin grinned.

n

"It's nothing. Now, let's go back to our room.

" Souta waved his hand before he turned around.

nAs for Yenxa, he was planning to train her. She was still a second evolution monster but she was close to reaching the third level. That's why he was going to train her.

nOn the next day, Franklin and Isabella began to study for the written exam of the Athen's Champion. Since they don't have a problem with physical examination according to Souta, they could focus their attention on written exams.

nA week had passed before Franklin and Isabella took the examination of the Athen's Champion. Both of them were prepared so they passed just like what Souta was expecting. They didn't disappoint him.

nWith them being an official warrior of Athen's Champion, they joined the Astros Squadron.

nSince they reached the minimum number of members, their circle finally become an official Second Class Yellow Squadron. Their next target was the Third Class Yellow Squadron and then the Blue Squadron.

nWith that in their mind, each of them took missions to complete to increase the pace of their achievements. Although they didn't know the number of their achievements, their Grain Leader was recording it. They had records of the achievements of each Squadron under their name.

nTheir achievements kept piling up. They were close to advancing the rank of their Squadron once again.

nIn just two weeks since Franklin and Isabella joined the Astros Circle, they've already completed dozens of missions.

nThe Astros Circle became one of the most active Squadrons in the Tenth Grain War. The rewards that they received from completing missions accumulated so Isabella decided to take a leave.

nIt was time for her to start brewing potions once again since she gathered various ingredients from completing missions.

nSouta had no problem with it so he gave her his permission.

nAs long as she doesn't forget to train her power level, she could bury herself in potioneering all day long.

nSouta and Yenxa kept training. For combat experience, Souta took a mission to exterminate bandits. He let Yenxa fight these bandits so that she could gain combat experience.

nIn the past week, Alice had reached the high stage of S-rank. Her strength had grown once again.

n

"How is it?

" Souta asked.

n

"It's good. I've stabilized the energy in my mana pool.

" Alice spoke while looking at her hand.

n

"Good.

"

nSouta, Alice, and Yenxa were walking in the streets of Champion's Den. They just finished doing a mission about subjugating bandits.

n

"Battling is really the most efficient way to stabilize one's energy,

" Alice commented.

nSouta smiled at her words. Their Squadron will experience a huge upgrade in their fighting power soon.

nEztein was close to reaching Shackled Realm. Yenxa will promote to third evolution stage while Souta was close to reaching the fourth evolution stage.

nOnce that happened, the overall might of the Astros will become higher. His group will be able to suppress the witches. Right now, half of the witches weren't convinced about him so he had to show his dominance.

nSouta smiled faintly while thinking about it. He shook his head and glanced at Yenxa.

"Is there anything that you want?

" He asked.

n

"Nothing My Lord. Accompanying you is my greatest pleasure.

" Yenxa said.

n

"Is that so...

" Souta simply shrugged his shoulders. He stretched out his hand and ruffled her hair before he added,

"If you need something just tell me about it.

"

nYenxa slightly closed her eyes as Souta's hand was on top of her head,

"I understand, My Lord,

"

nNow that he thinks about it. He remembered Yenxa's tribe in the Astros.

nHe wondered if they were doing fine. After all, their tribe was the weakest group in the entire Astros while the witches were the strongest.

n'I will check it later.'

nSouta's group arrived at the central plaza.

nThere were no changes in the ranking curved on the stone monument at the center of the plaza. Children of Zeus was still the top legion while Athen's Champion was Rank 6.

n'I'll try to get a high-level mission so that I could level up faster.' He said inwardly.

nThe three went back to the Headquarters of Athen's Champion. Souta quickly received various news. It seems that something happened while he was away.

nThe first news was the troublemaker Franklin. He joined the mini-tournament in the colosseum and fought a lot of warriors from different legions.

nHe provoked a lot of people. He fought which resulted in him laying in the medical room of the Headquarters.

n

"That guy... If he wanted to win the mini-tournament he should've improved his power level first. The initial stage of S-rank isn't enough even if he had the parasite.

" Souta pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Leave him be. He deserved it.

"

nThe second news was different. It was about his friends on the Giza Continent.

n

"Souta, Lumilia said that they will be dispatched to confront the demons,

" Alice said to him.

n

"What?!

" Souta was surprised.

nThey were just students but why were those bastard countries dispatching them on such a dangerous battlefield.

nHe didn't even need to ask why as he realized the answer to his question quickly.

nThe countries lacked manpower.

nThere were no players that could take quests to confront demons on the frontline. Hundreds of thousands of players rushed onto the battlefield back in the game but now... There were no hundred thousands players.

n'This is troublesome... This means that the demons would be able to break through the barricade early. They would be able to confront the Heretic Dynasty and the Gigantis Kingdom.'

nSouta narrowed his eyes. He lacked information right now and he didn't even know if the large countries formed an alliance.

nThose bastards. They should've formed the alliance sooner before it became too late. The Heretic Dynasty and Gigantis Kingdom will fall sooner without the help of players.

nSouta knows it. The demon army here in God's Continent will stop advancing while the army in Giza Continent will advance.

nThey haven't realized the graveness of the situation.

nA brutal war against demons will occur in Giza Continent while God's Continent will fight Gluttony's forces.

nIt's happening... Slowly, the entire Imperium will be wrapped in flames of war.

nThere will be no place to hide.

n

"I just need to do what I need to do,

" Souta mumbled while looking at the system interface.

nThen, he glanced at Alice and saw her downcast expression.

n

"Don't worry, it's not your fault. Bryan and others will be fine.

" He assured her.

n

"I-I know...

" Alice said in a low voice.

nSouta didn't say anything. He understood why she was worried. Her race was raging a bloody war on the other continents and her friends were about to participate.

n

"As for the last news...

"

nThe most surprising news was the news that they received from the Headquarters of Astros.

nThe title of the strongest in Astros had changed. Doranjan successfully evolved in the fourth stage. He became the most dominant creature in the Headquarters of Astros.

nDoranjan was stuck at the third stage for a long time. So it's natural that he achieved the fourth stage. He's slowly stepping on the stage of Imperium.

nHis evolution was on time. The things that were happening around the world were getting worse.

n

"I guess it's time for me to step it up...

"

nSouta stood up. He looked at everyone in the room and said,

"I'll go back to my room. Don't disturb me if it's not an emergency.

"

nAfter saying those words, he locked himself in his room and set up several barriers.

nHe focused his attention on the system interface that appeared in his vision.

n

"It's time.

"

nWithout hesitation, he used the points that he accumulated in the past to unseal the Star Veins. Then, he used points once again to integrate it into his body.

nA total of 80 skill points disappeared in an instant.

nAt the same time, Souta felt a stinging sensation all over his body. It was as if thousands of needles were poking him.

n

"ARGHHHH!!!

"

n

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