Chapter 4: Chapter Four: Famous across White Star City

Chapter Four: Famous across White Star City

A few streets away from the White River Energised Chamber stood a massive villa known to others as White River Villa.

Servants came in and out of the villa every minute, going about their daily chores. The sun hung high in the sky, its scorching heat bearing down.

Within this villa, on the highest floor.

Two tender-looking ladies in their 20s stood on the balcony, overlooking almost half the city. In the distance, a crystal barrier could be vaguely seen covering the entire city.

Beyond the barrier was a skin-crawling sight of numerous monsters as dense as a black cloud attacking the barrier.

Fire flares, arrows, and several other attacks shot from within the barrier, attacking the beasts.

"The day walkers sure aren’t willing to give up so easily. It’s been a little over a century since the apocalypse. Although we have the humanity system, with how things are going, in another decade or so, Greenfield Planet would lose the war. Unless we conquer the abyss, there’s no hope." The lady on the right, dressed in a violet gown, sighed while shaking her head.

The other lady, wearing a long white gown, smiled wryly. "Samira, it’s not as easy as you make it out. On the last expedition to the abyss, even the Dragon Slayer failed. Although I don’t know how, but it’s a fact. Since your father is the current strongest person... second only to the city lord, you should be aware of this."

Samira—the young lady in violet—was about to reply when, all of a sudden, a blue screen popped before her and a notification from the system sounded within her ears, repeating thrice.

The young lady in white also heard this notification and, for a moment, shock rippled past her calm eyes. "How is this possible? Wait. Valen? Isn’t that the son of the Dragon Slayer? I heard he was 20 years old this year. To think he can still achieve such astonishing results. Truly, the world’s greatest prodigy isn’t a title anyone can take."

"Jamila, it seems your White River Energised Chamber is truly fortunate this time. Being able to test such a genius, the city lord might even reward you." Samira giggled as she snapped out of her shock.

Jamila—the lady in white—shook her head with a helpless expression on her face. "I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. An SSS-grade rating! Even his father had only managed an SS-grade."

"During my Body potential-rating three years ago, I met him and while I only got a High-grade body, he had a peak-grade one. Back then, everyone said he was the greatest genius. Recently, I also heard from others that he was a failure and had regressed. I guess rumours truly aren’t to be trusted." Samira smiled brilliantly.

Then, she raised an eyebrow and continued: "Oh. Contact the manager in charge of the Energised Chamber. Tell him to invite Valen for a meal. I’ll ask my brother to see him."

Jamila nodded with a serious expression on her face as she tapped her silver watch, sending out a message. She, too, was curious about this Valen who was previously known as the greatest genius and recently known as a faded prodigy.

Since her father owned the White River Energised Chamber, and she was the supreme manager, contacting the manager in charge wasn’t something out of her reach as the manager and all other workers in the Energised Chamber were under her management.

In short, her authority in the Chamber was second only to that of her father, Faris Night.

***

Throughout the city, numerous Evolvers—new and old—were in an uproar upon receiving the notification.

"What great rewards! A personalised equipment of any chosen class? How generous!"

"You’re talking about equipment?! Take a look at the points! 1000 points! I’ll have to grind for hours straight to get that."

"Purple coins!!! That’s 50 purple coins! I’ll be able to strive for a new level with so much!"

...

While the young Evolvers were envious of Valen’s rewards, the upper echelons were shocked by the notification itself.

"Wasn’t he supposed to be trash? How is this possible? Can there be a mistake somewhere?"

...

"He’s already 20 years old, right? Why is he still so talented? Isn’t it said that you begin to lose talent once you step into your 20s without evolving? So, what exactly happened?"

...

"As expected of my rival’s son. He’s extraordinary. Butler, call over my son. It’s high time he stopped lazing around and finally got serious. I had lost, but can’t let my son lose too."

...

"Interesting. After that monster from Yellow Flame city, there’s finally another SSS-grade rating in my Advanced Kleints Country. At least those old fogies from Starlight Federation and the other three advanced countries wouldn’t look down on us any longer."

...

The entire White Star City erupted in discussion when they received the system’s notification.

The feat of achieving an SSS-grade was just too difficult, so anyone who achieved it would naturally attract attention.

While the world was in an uproar over the system’s notification, Valen stood in the white room, dumbfounded.

He never knew his achievement would be broadcasted live for the whole city. This made him recall a vague memory from his early adolescence about seven years ago. Back then, he had heard a similar notification. Unlike his own which was limited to White Star City, that notification had spread throughout the cities of the Advanced Kleints Country.

It was about someone called Zayd who became the ’first’ person to achieve an SSS-grade rating in the country.

Valen could only let out a small laugh. Although he never anticipated the broadcast, it still helped in spreading his fame, so he didn’t really lose much.

Shaking his head to dispel those thoughts, he summoned his profile, wanting to check out his new stats. During Test One, his clogged up energy had melded and integrated into his body.

For those with a body potential of high-grade or lower, it would take half an hour to an hour at most for one’s level to increase after integrating the clogged up energy, but he had a peak-grade body, so what if his situation was different?

---

[Profile:

Name: Valen

Username: Night Star

Evolution Path: Twilight Gene

Rank: 0 (Apprentice)

Level: 0.08% Energy Absorbed

Points: 1000

Status: Normal]

---

"Sure enough, my level has increased and there’s really 1000 points. With this, I can buy a lot of things and prepare for my venture into the Astral Veil." Valen murmured.

Then, he asked: "System, how do I get my other rewards?"

He had received bountiful rewards from the system and the sooner he could claim them, the better.

A system notification immediately sounded in his ears.

---

System: [Select a class for your personalised equipment.]

---

"Swordsman."

---

System: [Noted. Your personalised equipment would be ready and available in 2 hours for pick-up at the nearest system store. Your 50 purple coins can be retrieved from any system store and at any time.]

---

"With fifty purple coins, I should be able to increase my level significantly." Valen smiled brilliantly.

Following which, he tidied himself and took off a black object glued to his ears.

"My System Relay is now sticky due to the blood from earlier. I guess I’ll have to get a new one." Valen mumbled as he stared at the small device in his hands.

System Relay. This was a term very familiar to the modern people. It was a small, ear-mounted device connected to the Humanity System, allowing users to receive system notifications, alerts, and communications directly in their ears.

Earlier, when he had bled due to the overlapping of sounds in Test Three, it had drenched his system relay. Although it was liquid-resistant, using it like this still made him slightly uncomfortable.

"System, disconnect from this device and delete all data stored. I’ll no longer be using it." With that, Valen clenched his fist, crushing the system relay within his fingers.

He threw the fragments on the floor and slowly exited the room.

***

Outside.

The hall was deathly silent when Valen exited the white room. Everyone only stared at him like they were looking at a monster. Maurice, Conrad, Jerome and Edward stood still, bewilderment colouring their faces.

After a while, Maurice smiled bitterly, shaking his head. Conrad glanced at Valen with a fierce glint in his eyes. Jerome’s eyes blazed with fighting spirit and Edward advanced with a complicated look in his eyes.

"I’m sorry for ridiculing you earlier. Congratulations on your win! But do not get complacent. When all is said and done, I possess a high-grade body and I will strive to defeat you. Until that day, however, let’s become friends." Edward smiled as he stretched out a hand to Valen.

Valen similarly smiled. He had expected Edward to be a sore loser, but it seemed that he had underestimated his character—if he wasn’t putting on an act of course. Still, Valen shook his hand. A healthy competition was always better than a malicious one.

Edward stepped aside, gesturing at three teenagers behind him. "These are my friends from high school. This is Maurice, that is Conrad and the burly guy is called Jerome."

"Nice to meet you." Maurice let out a smile.

Conrad licked his lips, rubbing his hands. "Just don’t die in the Astral Veil, okay? And never get defeated by Edward. I’ve already beaten him up. If you were to lose to him, it wouldn’t be fulfilling when I defeat you."

"Yeah, I second Conrad’s words. In fact, if you’re free right now, let’s battle." Jerome stepped forward, his large figure casting a shadow over them.

Valen smiled wryly. He never expected to meet such an eccentric bunch. Even so, he still nodded at them all.

"Ahem." A clear voice cut through the chattering of the people and glancing at the source, everyone realised it was Michael.

Michael stepped forward, sweeping a glance past everyone. His gaze lingered on Valen for a brief moment before turning away. Retrieving a bunch of white cards from his coat, he said; "I believe that, by now, everyone should’ve known their Evolution Paths. So, we’re going to end today’s assessment by handing out the passes to the Astral Veil. Seven days later, the Void Ship would depart for the Astral Veil. As for those who hadn’t evolved, I’m sorry but you would have to leave."

Immediately, a small group of people wearing disappointed expressions exited the testing hall.

Michael didn’t pay those people any heed and began to distribute the white cards. He didn’t think anyone would pretend to have evolved whereas they hadn’t. After all, only Evolvers could use the pass. To others, it was useless.

As for taking it to sell to an Evolver? That was impractical. Every Evolver could receive a pass for free from any Energised Chamber.

Valen held onto the Astral Veil pass, a surreal feeling filling him. He glanced at the receding backs of the disappointed teenagers who hadn’t evolved, not really knowing how to feel.

A few hours ago, he had been just like them. Now, however, it felt like it was once upon a time.

Valen chose to no longer linger within the Energised Chamber and wanted to leave. He sent a few glances at the calm red-haired teenager and at the cold black-haired youth.

Although he wanted to recruit them for his future guild, he was in no rush. They would take the same Void Ship to the Astral Veil after all. So there would be enough time.

Just as he was about to leave the hall, he had to abruptly halt his steps when a middle-aged man blocked his way. Valen recognised him. He was Michael—the manager of the White River Energised Chamber.

"Young Master Valen, what’s the rush? Please hold on for a moment. The supreme manager of the White River Energised Chamber has asked me to invite you for a meal." Michael said with a calm smile on his face.

Valen was a bit stunned. He had heard of the Supreme Manager of the White River Energised Chamber—Jamila. She was someone out of the reach of normal people.

Although he had a bit of status and fame due to his father, the Dragon Slayer, and sister who was an Evolver, he never thought Jamila would go out of her way to invite him for a meal.

"I’m sorry but I’ll have to refuse." He shook his head after giving it some thought. What a joke! He had been waiting for his evolution for a long time now. He had to make preparations before venturing into the Astral Veil and couldn’t waste time on minor matters.

With that, he circled Michael and headed out of the testing hall. Michael was astonished. In fact, he wasn’t the only one. Everyone who had listened in on their conversation also had their lips twitching.

That was Jamila, the supreme manager! Meeting her could form a connection and perhaps in the future, they might have a request which only she could carry out. Yet, Valen had given up such an opportunity.

They wanted to grab him and give him a piece of their mind. Sadly, he was already gone.

"Someone actually rejected her request? Should I say as expected of the scion of the Dragon Slayer?" Michael muttered underneath his breath, feeling a slight headache as he wondered how to relay the message back to her.

*********

Author’s Note: The minor arc of Evolution has been complete. Next up, Silver Legion’s Legacy. Curious as to how he would get it? It’s all coming in the next few Chapters. So, donate powerstones to cheer me up, sit up and observe the amazing journeys ahead!