"Welcome to the Verest Training Camp, the future of mankind!"
In one of the biggest fields, a stage was held for Principal Orhelm. At first, Urapus was interested in the speech.
However, knowing that it was filled with formality to welcome the newcomers, he soon became like the rest of the cadets.
As the speech became the background, Urapus's eyes lingered on a few individuals mentioned by Roxy.
Even Tyr Berlyn was there, mingling with the son of the Thunder Sovereign. The latter is a blue-haired boy with aquatic eyes, looking weirdly interested in whatever the kid's talking about.
Urapus sniggered. I'll take care of you later.
What caught his attention was a cold, black-haired girl at the back. Her crimson eyes are sharp. Compared to other cadets, her outfit is relatively simple, with a white feather dress and a pair of thigh-high boots.
It was somewhat weird, but he didn't really mind.
"So that girl is the inheritor of the Angel's lineage."
It's the lineage of Raphaela, the love of his life on his previous life who has fallen and died out of grief by the end of the Renaissance Accident.
Urapus sighed, he didn't know how should he react at first.
In the end, he lets the past be the past. Raphaela wouldn't like it if he got sad by her death. That sweet girl would want him to live happily.
"Urapus, don't worry about them. Not to mention you, all of them are no match to me." Besides him, Roxanna suddenly poked his arm and smiled sweetly.
Urapus twitched. That's not the issue here. He just wanted to gather intelligence.
Even if he's no longer the Hero, beating up a bunch of kids is a bit too off-putting for his moral compass.
"Next, we will have the speech from the representative of the First Year cadets. Please, Rosheld Rostch!"
As the Principal mentioned the name, at the front of the row, a kid with neat blonde hair rose from his seat and took up the stage.
His face was exposed, revealing his stern and handsome face to the crowd. His eyes are sharp amethyst, inspecting the cadets with a gaze befitting the heir of the Sovereign.
After a few seconds into the speech, while the kids are in awe of his skillful narration, Urapus decides to inspect the crowd once more.
It's the same thing as the principal. The kids were in awe only because Rosheld was at their age.
"Huh, Rebecca and Maria also don't participate."
"They're the same as Roxenn. Before they enter the camp, they need to understand their talents first."
Urapus nodded in understanding. It seems like they're not as simple as he thought.
"Then how about that kid on the stage? I'm quite curious."
"Rosheld came from the Rostch family, famous for its expertise in controlling the energy itself. Their talent has something to do with the fundamental aspect of our universe, which is energy."
"They could utilize that?"
"Yes, but if the categorization of proficiency was used, they could only be qualified as Energy Conjurers when it comes to their talent. Despite that, they were hailed as SSS-rank talent."
Urapus does not refute the categorization. Instead, he agreed with them. The talent to control even a bit of energy is very scary.
Inner energy falls into the group of energy, and that does not include other scary matters convertible from energy.
However, theoretically, they're not as invincible as most people thought. They could control energy and convert it into anything, but they have no power over the elements and matters.
They could only control the energy itself. If it has turned into elements, they have no power over them. Other than the current inner energy, nature cannot produce the energy in its original form.
"Because of this, the Rostch Family is capable of everything. Unfortunately, their ability required extreme control over energy, and considering their limited proficiency, it was very difficult to produce a powerful Awakener, especially since they used their inner energy to convert it into offensive attacks. And because they have to manually convert them, unlike a spesific talent of a certain element or object that would give the Awakener a natural instinct to convert, the difficulty skyrocketed."
"If they used nature inner energy, it would be too risky because of the surreal amount of it. They would be overwhelmed, and in most cases, they would be swept away."
If they could, perhaps the Outer Forces would've been defeated long ago. It was quite a pity.
Urapus knew of a man from the Rotsch Family who had the highest proficiency of energy in the past. He was his comrade, and his precious advisor.
He is Merlin, mankind's greatest genius.
The rest of the speech was uneventful. At last, after the Principal ended the opening ceremony, Urapus rushed to his dorm.
He must checked out the agenda. Couldn't find himself clueless tomorrow.
It would be good if there are a lot of schedules for combat. Perhaps he could save some damsels in distress and get some pocket change for the SHOP.
He's been quite worried lately. His HP has been stagnant since he used it. Most of the quests required long-term planning, especially the quest about Roxy Harden.
At its core, the system wants him to save people and be the ideal Hero, which is irritating and tiring.
Urapus steeled himself.
For the sake of point, I'm willing!
The male dorm was located right beside the Principal's Office. It was spacious, like an apartment. It was facilitated with workout equipment, snack chambers, and even a sauna and spa. For an apartment for kids, it was quite ridiculous.
Besides him, Roxanna's eyes saddened a little bit. Urapus became concerned, "What's wrong? Do you miss Roxenn?"
"I do, but that's not the main reason. It's just... The female dorm is located at the opposite of the male dorm. It's so far. We won't be able to meet often from now."
Urapus looked at the opposite of the apartment. Afar, a little dot could be seen, standing beside the Academical Skyscraper. It's a considerable distance.
"Let's meet up after training and class. And besides, you should make more friends."
Roxanna lighted up. She wanted to build her own team to resist the Outer Forces with Urapus. It's a pity that her project was halted because of training.
"Alright, I think you should check out your room. Prepare for your next training, even if it's meaningless for you. And don't be too conspicuous. Otherwise, the spies from the Outer Force would put a bounty on your head."
Laying low is the king of success, unless it requires exposure to reach a certain requirement to achieve it. Still, it would still be a selective exposure, not a whole thing.
Roxanna is aware of this. This generation was supposed to be the Golden Era, yet in her previous life, many of them were ambushed by the Outer Force that resides in Blue Earth.
Over 60% of them died out of carelessness when the End Year Test was held at the front line. It was very pitiful. As for the rest, some died in their dorm, and few even died in their own home.
One of them was her own sister. Roxanna clenched her fists. In her previous life, she was all alone. But this time's different.
She stared at Urapus, who calmly walked into the male dorm after reminding her.
It's funny.
The whole world only knows of him as an heir with an S-rank talent.
No one knows that he has reached the realm of Major General. As for his combat prowess...
Even she had no idea at all. The last time they spar, even with her Demon Physique, he could effortlessly follow her movement.
It has to be mentioned that she even used her expertise coming from her previous life. She was a Sovereign expert, yet the boy could easily keep up with an ice-cold demeanor.
In the end, it ended in a forced draw. Mainly because Urapus kept making lame excuses to escape from the spars.
Other than the First Hero himself, who could push her, a Sovereign expert, to her utmost limit? To the point where she was rendered helpless?
Roxanna left the area with a dreamy look, not noticing a pair of sleazy eyes observing them from afar.
"Don't stand out too much? Ssst... Fool, a bunch of kids think that they could hide from me? Ssst..."
After they left, a black figure emerged from the air, as if it was a part of the environment itself. It wore a full black attire, not exposing any of its skin.
"Ssst... Humans are foolish. They thought we would give them a chance to win? Don't they know all of this was a ploy from our Supervisor in this test? Ssst... I just don't understand why would my seniors fail to conquer this planet. They even perished here... Ssst..."
The figure's shoulders shook as if it were in amusement and glee. Its sleazy eyes looked around, finding the struggle to preserve their kind hilarious.
"Don't they know that this is just a mere test for a first-grade evolution? Sooner or later, they'll be destroyed whether they like it or not. A bunch of frogs in a well. Well, it's quite entertaining, so maybe I shouldn't scold them so much. Ssst..."
As it was in its own amusement, it didn't realize a small figure that crept behind it, gazing at its gleeful visage. It was eerily calm.
Urapus stared at the visage. Just for a 'mere' first-grade evolution, huh?
At the same time, a notice along with a grieving avatar of the world appeared. The gray-haired girl with her glistening blue eyes is in her real form, with eyes filled with grief and despair. Like a helpless girl who don't know what to do.
[H-Hero, a-a new quest... It has arrived.]
Urapus did not question the fear on her face. He understood her despair.
[I hope you succeed Hero. Please...]
Just imagine how hard it was for you to preserve yourself just to discover that you are nothing more than a test for a first-grade evolution...
You understand nothing at all, but the word 'first-grade' clearly signified that you are nothing but a lowly existence, not worth anything at all. Your only worth is an opportunity for a first-grade evolution.
Even Urapus felt a sense of desolation.
My home, my birthplace, the place where everything I know and love.
All this time, it's nothing more than a requirement for a 'first-grade' evolution... How ridiculous.
How audacious!
[Quest: Hero of the World I]
[Universe is vast. It is ever-expanding. It is also a cruel place, where a planet couldn't be compared to a speck of dust.]
[You discovered that the Blue Earth is nothing but a lowly place where any lifeforms could just go and destroy it all for the chance of a first-grade evolution.]
[It was originally a rural place, however, because of an unknown existence, the will of the Blue Earth was threatened and activated the mechanism of self-defense, which is inner energy.]
[After a hundred years, other lifeforms started to notice it, and regard it as a planet worthy of a material for first-grade evolution.]
[It signified that out there, beyond your current reach, exists hegemons that could dominate a large part of the ever-expanding Universe. Beings that could treat stars like toys, and the Universe as its playground.]
[As the Hero of the World, the World's Beloved, and the World's only Hope, you are required to protect the World.]
[Objective: Destroy any oppositions that threaten the safety of the Blue Earth.]
[Requirement: Destruction of the Outer Force, destruction of the ???]
[Reward: 100,000,000 HP, World's Beloved evolution (First requirement). Knowledge beyond the Mortal Realm, a random (★★★) perk, 500,000,000 HP (Second requirement). Special Gift from the World (Both requirements).]
[Notice: Mankind will extinct if you fail.]
The utter disregard for what mankind has done is just heartbreaking. Especially for Urapus.
He was the First Hero, the being who has dedicated himself to the safety of the planet.
Yet, all of that struggle, the blood he bled, the bones he destroyed, the tears he cried, the grief he suffered, the despair he felt, the pain he underwent...
All of that, just for some amusement of supposedly, a being below this so-called first-grade evolution?
Urapus felt an intense rage. His veins bulged with ferocity. Even the betrayal has not provoked him this badly. Looking at the amused figure before him, his whole body spasmed.
His subconsciousness used the advanced physique to exert the most devastating offensive means he could do to the being before him, and with every one of his veins bulging with rage, his dashing figure shot like a canon.
It was devastating.
It was destructive!
The amused figure still laughed mockingly when a force unimaginable than anything it had ever felt crashed against its spine.
It was pure power.
Pure rage!
Even his Unbreakable Will regards his current wrath as something essential, therefore the immunity was lifted.
The training camp was serene when an explosion akin to a bomb suddenly rammed against the inhabitant's eardrums within the vicinity.
The black outfit was destroyed, revealing a lizardman devastated beyond recognition being clogged up in one of the walls.
Urapus looked at it coldly before he quickly rushed to his dorm. A notification appeared but he ignored it for the time being.
| +10,000 Hero Points!
The sense of safety of 6 years of living in peace has long been pulverized. Now, if Urapus was a maniac before, after this incident, he promised himself to make use of the available features to their best capability.
He'll wholeheartedly thrive in order to destroy any threats!
In his room, Urapus sighed in relief as he lay down on his bed. The main reason he could sneak up on the lizardman is because of the Advanced Physique. With it, he could control any part of his body to imitate the environment.
Especially his breath and his meridians. With these two being hidden, it was quite hard for Awakeners to notice him.
It's relatively easy because unlike hormones, DNA, and any other molecular anatomies, he is only required to stop the activity of his trachea to stop his breath. As for meridians, they're even simpler.
He just has to move the inner energy into a spot devoid of condensed meridians. It may sound a little bit weird, but it works. Although some of his cultivation was lost, it was still relatively inconsequential.
As he searched around the SHOP while memorizing the schedule for the next week, the door suddenly opened, and a figure with a mean face and a stout physique came into his view.
Urapus's mouth twitched. So he'll be my roommate. Not bad. Not bad at all.
"Greetings, Urapus Ashford. How are you?"
Vex Raven looked at him suspiciously, raising his eyebrows at him. So he's still suspicious after all this time...