[Perks]
| Balance: 28,802 HP
Consciousness Realization (★)
| 10,000 HP
Innate Spiritual Constitution (★★)
| 1,000,000 HP
Enhanced Meridians (★★)
| 250,000 HP
Supreme Marrow (★★)
| 900,000 HP
After a brief search, Urapus compiled the perks he'd be getting next. Most of them are related to his foundation. Unfortunately, he could only afford to buy one at the moment.
The major problem with this feature is the lack of information. Urapus often struggled to understand what is the meaning of these perks.
Of course, if it was still within his scope of understanding, he could make some hypotheses. He was especially excited about the Innate Spiritual Constitution. Spiritual was often connected to the soul, so perhaps it could be a bridge to connect him with his soul.
Supreme Marrow is obviously related to the blood, enhancing its properties to strengthen his physique even further.
Enhanced Meridians, simply put, would enhance his meridians. With his complete meridians, it would be a huge boost!
He also tried to find anything that had any correlation to the stars.
It was a pity. Below 3 stars, there are really none of them.
As of now, the power of the stars is out of his reach.
"Haah, I'll be damned. Anyway, just how deep are the roots the Outer Forces have planted? To the point where an idiotic lizardman could actually intrude and pry for information in the safest camp on the planet?"
The Outer Forces are made up of many lifeforms, obvious by the plural term in it. Their biggest strength is the diverse type of power within their ranks.
Each lifeform has its expertise, and it is an innate ability coming from the origin of its being. Like a lizardman famous for its camouflaging ability, while a siren could charm their enemies easily with their voice.
Unfortunately, what he lacked the most was information. Not to mention the secret parts of the ocean that could potentially be the base of the Outer Forces, he doesn't even know the relationships between major families.
Urapus was planning to learn everything he could as he trained himself to death.
"Hm?"
The effect of the Consciousness Realization is surprisingly direct. After a while, he could directly feel something, like a new area that he could control. It wasn't a part of his body, but he could feel it.
Urapus retained his focus on his hand, and a soft, white yet ethereal glow emerged from his hand. His eyes lit up.
"It's the soul."
Its form is obscure, but he could feel it as a part of him. Urapus tried to move it around, and while it was wobbly, it did follow what he wished.
If he compared it to his physical body, the soul seems like an embryo. It hasn't matured yet, and could not do anything but wobble around in the air.
"But how can your soul grow?"
He has a feeling that it has something to do with the realm beyond Mortal. Or perhaps it has something to do with his age.
After a while, Urapus lets it sink back into his hand.
He glanced at the window. The night sky no longer has its iconic moon, and instead, a meridian line that divides the sky into two is present.
It's the front line.
"Just hold on, I'll take care of everything on the Blue Earth first..."
17th June, Year 309 of the 2nd Phoenix Calendar.
"It's time."
Urapus opened his eyes, ready to undertake the inhumane challenge ahead of him. If the previous training regiment was insane, then this time, it would be monstrous, not in the human realm at all.
[Upgrade: Stamina II]
> Run 10,000 km for 10 days straight.
> 100,000 push-ups.
> 100,000 sit ups.
> Lift 500 kg 1,000 times.
> 10,000 HP.
| Reward: 100% increment in stamina.
...Nevermind.
Urapus almost cursed.
To put it into perspective, the former Blue Earth's diameter is 12,765 km. Although it has been enlarged since the Mutation Era, reaching over a million kilometers, it was still a daunting number.
Even with his ridiculous foundation, it took him over 2 months just to run over 100,000 kilometers to fulfill the requirement for speed.
That's over 1,600 km per day!
He was already giving his all back then, and now, he must do a 10,000 km run per day?
Above all, the HP requirement is equivalent to a one-star perk.
Urapus hesitated, but in the end, he decided to give up on the parameters for the time being. He's afraid that he needs to be able to transverse the space first before he can take on the requirements.
He doesn't even want to know what sort of exercise he must do to elevate his speed.
"How about the perks?"
Urapus chooses a one-starred perk first.
[Upgrade: Perfect Circulatory System]
> Circulate inner energy 1,000,000 times.
> Circulate your blood 100,000,000 times.
> Strengthened your heart, arteries, and veins (Completed).
> 20,000 HP.
| Reward: Extraterrestrial Circulatory System (★★).
He took a deep breath. The numbers are daunting, but blood circulates the body approximately 100,000 times per day by the heart. If he trained inhumanely, it could be increased up to 10 times.
With his enhanced heart, elevated physique, and the healing prospect of inner energy, it could go up even more.
The number is not absolute.
Moreover, although 100,000,000 sounds huge, with accumulation, a hundred days is sufficient.
While the inner energy was circulated manually, most of the time, if he trained himself enough, it could be done by instinct. Like when a sudden assault from behind could be blocked by the movement from a trained and solidified instinct.
The exotic-sounding reward made Urapus feel like it was worth it.
As for the HP, he will find the way sooner or later.
"Alright, this will be my schedule for the next 3 months."
With that, Urapus rose from his bed. Vex was still sleeping, furrowing his eyebrows.
The kid looked strict even when he was unconscious. Urapus shook his head in amusement.
After a few hours, the clock hits 8 AM. Vex, who woke up an hour ago looked around the building. His roommate was already gone when he woke up.
He even went to the cafeteria, where most students are indulging themselves with the nutritious food the camp provides. The stout kid scratched his head. Where could he be?
"Vex!"
He turned around, noticing a skinny kid with a pair of glasses and bright aquatic hair. His eyes are deep purple.
"Oh, it's you."
"It's been a while. I heard you often hang out with that kid from the Ashford Family now?"
Hearing the veiled disdain in his tone, Vex felt uncomfortable. It's not because of being scorned by him. No, it's quite the opposite.
"Whane, don't talk like that. It's not beneficial at all for you to discuss Urapus with an inappropriate intention."
"Why? Although the Ashfords were formally acknowledged as one of the four major families, their era has passed long ago. Now, they don't even have servants, lest elders. Why the caution?"
Vex shook his head. Whane came from the Meykler family, hence his unconcealed arrogance. He was also accompanied by his otherworldly sister, thus it boosted his undeterred confidence even more.
"You don't understand. Urapus Ashford... He is a boy with a lot of secrets."
"Vex, I know you merely awakened an SS-rank talent. Unlike me and my sister, you're not even qualified to fight for the seat of the Family's inheritor. Still, don't bring me and my sister to your level."
"Tsk, mingling with a declining family nowadays. How ridiculous."
Whane quickly turned around, having no interest in interacting with Vex any longer.
The stout boy remained indifferent. He just looked at the swaggering Whane with a hint of resentment, along with a veiled amusement.
"Such a pity. I warned you as your former friend."
Of course, a year ago, Vex wasn't like this. Back then, he was devastated when he found out his talent. An SS-rank may be rare amongst the commoners, but he came from one of the three major families.
He was a direct descendant from the Head Family, nonetheless. In many people's eyes, an SSS-rank is the least he could have to befit of his status.
For the Head Family, an SS-rank talent is a disgrace. A mere Sovereign of an object, what can he do in the future?
Thus, he was cast aside, with only Elder Bern, his caretaker since he was a child, by his side as his support.
He lost hope.
He felt like he had lost everything.
And then, Urapus Ashford appeared.
Vex found out about him when the news of Roxanna being held by her 'brother' spread out in the news. For outsiders, that brother of hers is nothing to be concerned about.
Just a nameless child. If not for him being an untalented, unwanted child, what else could be the reason the Harden Family decided to hide him until now?
As for the relationship between him and Roxanna, it was just a fleeting feeling. When they grow up, they will naturally separate on their own.
But Vex has an additional source of information, that not even his esteemed siblings have access to.
It was Elder Bern, who was quite literally the best friend of Urapus's father, Ren Ashford.
Urapus Ashford, with an S-rank talent, was on par with Roxanna, who possessed the Demon Physique. He also had an almost 100% resemblance to Rex Harden.
"It's unreal. No, it can't be real." That was Vex's first reaction.
Yet, because of the trust of Ren Ashford for Elder Bern, a video was shown by him. And Vex was flabbergasted by what Elder Bern told him.
Overwhelming!
Cold-steel Demeanor!
Merciless!
Roxanna Harden, the most treasured heiress of the Harden Family, couldn't stand a chance. If it was a real battle and not a spar, she would have been wounded in multiple areas countless times.
She was completely suppressed by him.
It has to be mentioned that Roxanna Harden was famous because of her realm. At the tender age of 5, she reached the Major realm, and was invincible under the Lieutenant General realm because of her unusual talent in combat and her terrifying physique!
From there on, Vex realized.
Talent doesn't determine everything. Yes, although it may sound delusional, redundant and eccentric, he has been shown undeniable proof.
Even an S-rank talent could triumph over a genius like Roxanna Harden.
Still, Vex acknowledges that he has a long way to go. He must be realistic.
But at least, now, he has hope.
"If Urapus Ashford can't be arrogant, then what rights do these kids have to be arrogant?"
It's funny if he thinks about it. The mean face of Vex broke out into an amused smile. He brought his own food and sat on his own.
His reputation does not do him any good, but Vex couldn't care less. He was introverted. Being alone is a disguised blessing for him.
Moreover, when you have the strongest of them all as your friend, who needs more friends?
Although there's a monstrous girl who could easily defeat the granddaughter of the previous Sovereign, Vex is confident Urapus wouldn't lose out.
With a peaceful heart, Vex eats his food with ease.
"Now that Urapus Ashford has exposed himself, what do you think the next step should be?"
In the principal office, Principal Orhelm calmly sipped his tea as he inquired.
Roxy, who leisurely sat on the sofa, showed a smirk, "Back then, it was necessary because he had no one to back him up. But with me as his guardian, do you think those old coats would dare to do anything to him or his family?"
Principal Orhelm chuckled, "Ah, so now that both have entered the Verest Training Camp, you could rest assured that no one would attempt to kidnap Urapus? Lest having you as his guardian?"
Roxy scoffed, looking at Orhelm as if it was ridiculous, "Hah! Who needs protection and a guardian? That kid can even hold out a General expert on his own! All of this effort is because of his troublesome request of not wanting to stand out, stating that the spy from the Outer Forces would take notice of him."
Principal Orhelm paused. He looked at Roxy with a solemn gaze, questioning the authenticity of her statement.
"It's true. Tsk, that kid seems to be aware of the hidden turmoil. I wonder when he realized it."
"If that is so, then, it seems like our hard-earned haven would be ravaged once again by the flames of war..."
Orhelm has an aura of desolation. He looked tired, like an exhausted middle-aged man in a crisis. Meanwhile, Roxy's crimson eyes burned as she stomped the floor.
"Should I mobilize it?"
"Not yet. Pretend you did not see anything, let them spy as they please, should they stay from a certain line. We couldn't afford to have a battlefield amid the civilians. We're not the First Hero, who could single-handedly suppress the Outer Forces by his own power. We need to gather reinforcement and experts from various families first before we can send a devastating blow."
Orhelm continued solemnly,
"Even the Sovereign was tied down by the interest of these deep-rooted families and his lack of power. Although the Rotsch family has been the lineage that was crowned as the Sovereign because of the initiator of the 2nd Phoenix Era, Sage of Mankind, Merlin, it has been weakened for the last century by the lack of talents."
Roxy shook her head in pity, "Indeed. Merlin Rostch was truly the greatest genius mankind has ever conceived. I suspect his talent far surpassed our means. If only the First Hero has left behind his offspring..."
Orhelm and Roxy looked at each other, with sadness coloring their eyes. The extinction of the First Hero's lineage is truly the biggest loss in humanity's history.
However, Roxy is not entirely in despair. She remembers a kid who surpassed the human limit in terms of physique.
"I do have some hope that Urapus could replace the Exalted One."
"You're confident of that kid?"
Orhelm raised his eyebrows. He was doubtful. However, Roxy was a discerning individual who wouldn't carelessly praise anyone. She was even hailed as the Rose Monarch by the Sovereign.
Her words are just too sharp. Even the Sovereign himself was not spared by her.
"Hm... Let's just see how he will develop. Anyway, how about the accident yesterday?"
"It was a spy from the Outer Forces. It was a lizardman."
"Damn it! Just how could they have reached this camp?! Who the hell is in charge of security anyway?!"
Orhelm brought out the report from his underlings. He too, has a look of anger in his eyes.
"It was a lizardman comparable to a General expert. The person in charge assumed that the lizardman took advantage of the lack of an expert in charge of overseeing the security, and was planning to gather information regarding the recently recruited First Year cadet."
"It could be concluded that they have the intention to target the Golden Generation!"
Roxy was furious. She read through the report and was on the verge of shredding it to pieces.
"Orhelm, I swear if you can't even bring a single Sovereign expert to protect this place—"
"No. Both of us are enough. We were just too careless yesterday. The Sovereigns cannot be easily mobilized. Each of their posts represents a line of defense of humanity. Besides, wasn't the spy got killed?"
"We don't even know who killed it! We don't even understand anything about the other party, lest his intentions on killing it! Besides, you think I want to stay in this place filled with stinky brats?!"
Orhelm looked at her, as if she was a fool. Roxy felt like something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
After a moment of silence, Orhelm smiled, like a father amused by his daughter's antics.
"You forget?"
The befuddled Roxy widened her eyes. Wait, what did she forget? And what does that have anything to do with staying in the camp?
"Roxy, you wanted Roxanna to enter the camp with Urapus. In exchange, you have to be in charge of the Combat class of the First Year cadets for a whole year."
"I did?!"
After a few seconds, Roxy slapped her forehead.
"Shit! I did!"