“You formed your ultimate?” Alex asked with surprise as he looked at Miles lying on the ground with a grin and grimace mixed. He already saw it with his own two eyes, but in the midst of battle, he couldn’t spare any of his thinking power for trivial things. Now that battle was over, he realized what had happened.
“I did.” Miles grinned but was too tired to even move. An ultimate was the peak form of energy in Form-Rank, using at the low-tier cost dearly on Miles. It was much easier for Alex as he allowed his ultimate to suck lightning elemental energy from the atmosphere. But Miles could only use his own energy to bring out this power.
“Why so surprised? You formed yours just after you advanced to Form-Rank.”
“I used a cheat. You already know that.” Alex answered with a stupefied expression. Alex’s ultimate was sort of a cheat. It was using the lightning element in the air and required a long time to charge. “You, on the other hand, are a beast.”
Miles laughed as he looked at the room. Although the training room was built with durable alloys, there were still lots of injuries on it. They refrained from using lethal attacks as they both knew each other’s limits, but they were still strong and the attacks caused depression on the walls.
“What is your ultimate?” Alex asked as he sat beside Miles who was panting heavily.
“Armor of Payback.” Miles didn’t hold back and answered.
“Does it return any damage?” Alex asked.
“Not only the damage,” Miles said. “Any harm will be paid with harm, and any virtue will be paid with virtue.”
“That is a fitting ultimate.” Alex smiled as he patted Miles's shoulder and stood up to leave. He was summoned by Miles to try his ultimate, now that it was done, he had to meet with his team. Miles lied on his back and smiled foolishly minutes after Alex returned. He was glad, he was so happy! He too could form an ultimate, despite not having a seed. Although it sounded impossible there it was! He was maybe the first person ever to form an ultimate without a seed!
“Miles, I have to report something, but I am not sure yet.” Coin said.
“What happened, buddy?” Miles asked.
“Your energy might have improved.” Coin said, but lightning cracked in Miles's mind. He jumped on his feet and looked at the hologram body in excitement.
“You sure?”
“No! I am not sure yet. I am not sure how much energy the ultimate spends, but if my calculations are right, your energy shouldn’t be able to last throughout the fight.” Coin reported.
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“It must be the ultimate cause of it!” Miles beamed with happiness and rushed to the city. Coin caught up with him and asked while he strapped to his wrist. “Where are you going?”
“I am going to buy another strengthening serum to test it, of course,” Miles said while running. Students around looked at Miles running with excitement and wondered what had happened. Almost everyone learned what had happened, and why alarms went off the other night. So, they were curious about Miles too, but now that they saw him running healthily.
Miles arrived at the Administrative Office responsible for distributing serums. “Hello, I would like to buy the 6th strengthening serum,” Miles said.
“Scan your AI, please” The woman behind the counter looked at Miles with a questioning gaze. Although this was an academy full of beasts, for a person at the age of 18, being able to use 6 strengthening serums was still something unheard of. After scanning his ID, the woman said politely, “It seems that you haven’t used the fifth serum yet. Have you acquired it by other means?”
The other means she was speaking of was, of course, Black Market. Miles used the same lie when purchasing the second strengthening serum under his alternative name. It wasn’t illegal to use the black market per se, although it wasn’t legal either. It was a gray zone where risks were one’s own. Although not all medicines on Black Market were fake, they weren't the best option. After all, all the medicines made by the science center would be tested, and after being checked from all those tests would they be distributed, but could Black Market guarantee the same elaborateness?
But Miles didn’t buy the medicine from the black market. Milosh gave it, and he didn’t know if he should have mentioned it. After all, what Milosh did was unfair to other students, and he favored Miles.
“I will return, please give me five minutes,” Miles said and rushed out. The woman shouted behind him, but it was too late. Miles reached the Dean’s room.
“Dean Milosh.” Miles entered after hastily knocking on the door. Milosh was looking at the reports streamed in the air. He dispelled it when Miles entered. He looked at Miles with questioning eyes.
“You have formed your ultimate?” Milosh asked with disbelief.
“How do you know?” Miles asked.
“Your energy feels denser. It is something different than before.” Milosh said and asked, “What brought you here?”
“I want to buy a Strengthening Serum but since you purchased the fifth for me, I can’t buy the sixth,” Miles explained.
“What did you say?” Milosh slapped the table and raised to his feet with an angry expression on his face. He looked murderous. Miles for a second saw an angry beast but it was like a mirage. “Wasn’t it yesterday that you almost died from it?”
“Yeah, but now that I fixed the problem. I formed my ultimate and even my energy cap increased.” Miles explained.
“I don’t give a shit about your ultimate or energy. You almost died from using it! It is a miracle you were able to use the 5th one, let alone the 6th!”
“It is solved now. I think the reason was because of the ultimate. I had to condense it to advance, now I did, I can once again use the serums!”
“Look kiddo, I know you are eager to get stronger as fast as you can, it is admirable but equally stupid. Power does not come quickly, it comes with consistency. Swinging your sword a thousand times in a day would do nothing for you but swinging your sword once for a thousand days would make you a better swordsman. It is not the amount that matters but the consistency.
You have to work day after day after day, every day. And when you overcome what is preventing you from advancing, you will naturally progress.”
“Dean, I promise you. I can feel it. What was stopping medicine was my body as it wasn’t ready, but I know myself best. I know I can advance. Please, allow me.”
“Go die if it's what you want. See if I care!” Milosh shouted in irritation as he swayed Miles away. ‘I hope he doesn’t die, or Evelyn will kill me.’