The next morning, Liam was already in front of the new school next to Lucas.
"Ready for hell?"
"Not really. Do we really have to go?" Lucas asked. "I mean, we're rich and the world is changing. Why do we still have to do these nonsense?"
"You know why."
"We are in three... I think together we can defeat her..."
Liam looked him in the eye and raised his eyebrow.
"Yes, you're right..." Lucas sighed in defeat. "We would be massacred."
There was a simple reason for that. Liam discovered that he could buy chests from various ranks in the store. Of course it was random, so they would have to rely on luck.
He bought countless Rank-G's Chests because it was what he had most. He also bought Rank-S Chests and even Rank-SSS. In the store there were only 1000 Rank-S Chests, 500 Rank-SS and 50 Rank-SSS. It cost a fortune, but he bought them all without hesitation. Of course he kept the rest of the family secret about these chests.
Liam revealed only that he bought Rank-G to Rank-A. Last night, he and his family spent some time opening chests. They started with Rank-G. It was 5000 chests and they opened only 157 of them.
There was a lot of good stuff, but it was not in their best interest anymore. Melissa was the luckiest. It seems that some of these chests were dropped while the fate of the awakened ones of other universes was increased and thus, some of them decided to sell to the store of the Order of the Gods.
Because of this, Melissa got a god-fearing ability. Just reading the name aroused his interest. Deciding to risk, she learned after reading only the name, she did not even ask for any of the orbs to identify before. And she did not regret it.
.....
Limitless Power-Up (Passive): the ability to generate unlimited power.
Rank: G (0/500)
Effect: Passively absorbs any kind of external energy around the user and converts to Attributes Points.
Conversion Rate: 1 Attribute Point every 60 minutes.
.....
Melissa described the ability for the kids who got their mouths open. What kind of joke was that? And on top of that, the skill was still from Rank-G. What if she leveled it? And that's what Melissa did. After using 6 Soul Core to increase their ability to Rank A, they saw the terrifying effect of that ability.
.....
Limitless Power (Passive): the ability to generate unlimited power.
Rank: A (0/32000)
Effect: Passively absorbs any kind of external energy around the user and converts to Attributes Points.
Conversion Rate: 64 Attributes Points every 60 minutes.
.....
It was easy for the 3 to do the math. All Melissa needed was to wait 24 hours and she would have 1536 Attributes Points to distribute anyway she wanted. She did not have to do anything but sleep to easily surpass anyone.
This was ridiculous even for Liam. The butt you kissed for your family to be having such damn luck like that? And why did your mother just receive this fraudulent ability?
The woman was already scary with no special power, imagine now? He and his brothers were screwed.
With a sigh, he turned his gaze to the big school.
"Come on, we do not want to be late in the classroom..."
They walked through the doorway. Some people watched them, while others ignored them, after all, not everyone was aware of who was new to school or not.
Lucas went to the other side of the school, where students his age studied while Liam went to look for his locker.
Genex, as always, floated on the automatic while following Liam. Sometimes he suspected that the Operator was sleeping, since most of it was silent.
It took him about 5 minutes to find his locker in the student's sea. He opened the closet and deposited all the books that were in his backpack that should be weighing more than someone normal would be able to carry without sweating.
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"So what's your level?" A female voice sounded behind Liam taking him by surprise.
His heart racing, he turned a little frightened.
"Damn, you want to kill me from the heart?" Liam can not help but exclaim.
She was a red-eyed red-eyed girl with faint makeup. She was very pretty. Strangely enough, she reminded him of a certain redheaded Teen Wolf actress.
"Mm... We both know this is not possible, not after waking up..." she replied intelligently. The girl exuded an air of confidence in herself.
Liam shrugged.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. Who knows? So far I have not heard anything that says otherwise, "he said turning around and closing the closet.
He turned his attention to her and put his pack on his shoulder.
"You know, even though it's not official, to ask for a person's level before I know your name or even introduce myself, I'm pretty sure it's uneducated." Liam said before bowing his lips in a half-cynical false smile.
And the girl shrugged.
"Probably... Growing up with parents a little absent has this effect..." she said in a casual manner. She gave an apology but did not sound like a victim.
"I'd like to say I understand, but... That would be a lie... and a mortal mistake..." he commented. Liam leaned back in the closet and stared at the girl. "Liam Mason."
The red-haired girl raised her eye brows before saying,
"Luana Mendes." Then, discreetly, she asked, "Operator, show me his grading."
"Genex, the same."
In front of him, appeared focused on the screen 50. Top
1: Yun Li - Level 88: Altar Contention
2: Jun Gao - Level 87:Altar Contention
3: Lara Carter - Level 78: War Altar
4: Leonardo Mason - Level 76: Altar of Force
5: Erik Stwart - Level 72: Altar of Justice
6: Ji Ning - Level 71: Altar of War
7: Misha Denver - Level 70: Altar of Illusion
8: Susan Calton - Level 69: Altar of Heroes
9: Katherine Mills - Level 68: Altar of Justice
10: Henry David - Level 66: Altar of Illusion
11: Liam Mason - Level 61: Order of the Altar
12: Stefan Singer - Level 61: Altar of Illusion
....
43: Luana Mendes - Level 44: Altar of the Force
Liam was a bit surprised to see that she was in the Top 50. Not because she was a woman, but rather that another Brazilian was strong enough to get into the Top 1000.
Liam was one of those people who did not really like the country itself.
"Wow... A Brazilian in the Top 15... I'm surprised... From what I've heard, the most powerful rankers are all foreigners..."
"My big brother is the one in the fourth position." Liam said simply making her eyes widen.
"Two members of the same family were randomly selected for Neutral Dimension? What are the chances?"
Liam shrugged.
"Perhaps someone capable of seeing the future has observed the future of all humans and chose those who would be stronger?"
Luana pondered for a second before waving.
"Yes, until it makes sense..."
They started to walk down the hall.
"So, which class are you?"
"B-1," Liam replied.
"Maybe fate wants us to be best friends?"
"Maybe... Or it's just a huge coincidence," Liam commented.
"You... You do not have many friends, do you?"
"I've never seen the need."
"They ignore you."
"Yes."
Strangely, Liam, a card-carrying antisocial, found talking to Luana was not so bad as it seemed at first. She was smart and she really had something to say instead of getting involved in teen dramas.
By the time they reached room B-1, they could already consider themselves friendly to each other.
Liam sat in his wallet next to Luana and spent the hours there.
...
By the time of the break, Liam was already aware of how things were at that school. Whom he should keep away, not why it was dangerous, but whether he wanted to stay away from trouble. He also discovered that altogether, including two teachers, there were 12 awakened at school, 13 relying on Liam.
"Any idea what to do going forward?" Liam asked before taking a bite of the apple.
"Not really." Luana shrugged. "Although they are distant because of work, my parents are not that bad. I have a good life and as far as I know, no enemy. So I guess I intend to continue as if nothing has changed. Obviously I will not stand in the face of threats."
"Have you ever considered joining a guild?"
Luana's confused look told her she was not aware of the guilds. Then he explained to her and made a formal invitation to the guild of his brother who still had no name.
"It's all right. I accept your invitation. Being part of a guild that has its leader as a Top 10 and one more member about to get into the Top 10 should serve something."
"Thanks... I guess?"
Luana grinned.
"You're welcome."
...
The detective, Sarah Lance, entered the abandoned building where homeless people spent the night.
It was already about ten o'clock in the morning. His day had not begun very well. Soon after her vacation forced by the department after her partner's death, Sarah was assigned to a case of homelessness disappeared. In the last 3 days there has been an outbreak of homeless people disappearing without a trace.
With the gun in her hand, she went up the stairs cautiously. The building was known to be inhabited by beggars. She decided to start here and see if there was any clue. Strangely, he was silent. With no sign of life beyond her.
"NYPD, do not move!" She exclaimed, pointing the gun at the man on his back at the end of the corridor in front of the window.
From what she saw, he must have been four feet two inches, almost sixty pounds, healthy, fit, short hair, half shivering and black. He wore a black overcoat of the kind seen in movies. White. Probably around 30 years old.
"Hands where I can see and then turn slowly!"
The mysterious man did not answer her or obey her. He turned his face and looked over his shoulder.
Handsome face, beard with 4 days left unmade.
He smiled faintly.
"You should drop this case while you can, officer. Some things are best kept secret. That might end up hurting you."
"Hands up and turn around!" She ordered, a little irritated.
"I see you're the type that when you bite the bone, do not let go. Just do not say I did not warn you. Maybe we'll see each other again..."
Then, before the unbelieving eyes of Sarah Lance, the man disappeared into a black smoke like a certain mutant. Teleportation was the only thing that came to mind when he saw the man disappear leaving only that mixture of black smoke with black energy that was dissipating in the air.
In this current era where films of heroes dominate theaters, it would be strange if she did not recognize such an impossible ability to exist in reality... or not so impossible.
"I think I've had too many drinks..."