Show of Strength

Varian reached the Mission Hall. It was, in fact, a large and tall building. He was supposed to meet his 'teammates' on their mission floor in an hour.

One thing Varian learnt from his short military stay was that when they meant a meeting started at 7, it'd always be better to be there by 6:30, if not 6.

So he decided to check out the building a little for a few minutes before meeting up with the so-called team.

On the first floor, he saw hordes of students. Judging by their aura at Level 2, they were the first years.

First floor was also meant for first year Level 2 students.

From today, the first years could apply, any student was free to take a mission.

At the moment, they were checking out the huge holograms displaying thousands of missions and discussing with their peers.

{Clear the Lemon Section in Inner Area of Simp Dungeon.}

{Hunt the adventurer turned war criminals: Ash and Hau}

{Protect the junior scientist 'Big Brain' for 10 days}

{Infiltrate the Reaper gang and assassinate the hall leaders}

{Identify the cause of ….

...}

The danger level of the mission was Level 2. However, each mission needed at least 10 students to finish.

For instance, Ash and Hua were the mission targets. They were peak of Level 2 and could be finished off by 4-5 cadets. But they also had several level 1 and level 2 underlings. At least 10 cadets were needed to finish the job safely.

The reward was also varied. Some missions awarded 200 mp. Others gave 400. This seemed high at first glance, but when divided among a group of ten, each only got around 20-40 mp.

'I just need some mp.' Varian thought and realized all missions were at least 100 mp or above. Higher mp meant higher difficulty.

It wasn't that Varian hadn't thought of taking a mission alone at some point, but it was too risky. Unless he had no choice, he would not do it.

He swiped his comm and it displayed each mission's details. Everything in the database about the mission was revealed, except state secrets.

With right planning and execution, the success rate of any mission would skyrocket.

Well, of course, there were always accidents. No one could predict the future after all.

'Like my first dungeon experience.' Varian shook his head wryly.

There were quite a few times when a target who was in Level 2 for years suddenly advanced to Level 3. Those who took such missions never returned.

It was saddening, but not enough to change the system. The cadets weren't here for assurance of their personal safety.

"Isn't that the...guy?"

"He was at the bottom of the class."

"He's just a beginner Level 2. How did he get into the academy, anyway?"

Varian thought that someone was pointing at him, but he turned around and realized each of the comment was directed at a different person.

Unlike most cadets who were in groups, a few were left alone. They had weak auras and showed poor demeanour.

'So these guys are the weakest.' Varian shook his head.

Even if there was an entrance test, some got through luck. Such people, if they couldn't strengthen themselves or at least find a network, would quickly be eliminated by the system.

As he was about to leave for the higher floor, someone ran up to him.

"Hey man, let's team up?"

Varian saw a young man with hippie smile and frivolous demeanour. His foot work wasn't standard, his stance was problematic, and he lacked even the basics of combat ready posture regardless of Divine Path.

"No." Varian said curtly.

This guy should be someone who never attended Combat classes. As expected, no one partnered with him. There were only a few like him, but not zero.

'No one will risk their life for a guy they never saw fight.' He shook his head.

The onlookers, however, found this hilarious.

"These guys… both never attended combat classes."

"Even then, one doesn't want to team up with others. Hahaha."

"Especially that shady first ranker. Does he think anyone wants to team up with him? Even if he's not shunned by Xanders, no one will take him in."

The whispers were clearly audible, but Varian remained calm.

They were only half right. Varian's duel two weeks ago was enough to convince most teams to include him.

But these teams couldn't risk angering Xanders. However, on the surface, they needed a better reason to show themself for rejecting him. They needed to be independent and display a backbone.

'Tch. Waste.' Varian turned around to leave. He had no interest here. With increasing strength, he found no incentive in trying to form good relationships with these people.

The young man felt the gazes of onlookers and felt his reputation was at stake. So he immediately yelled at Varian.

"You waste. I want to team up with you. How dare you refuse?"

The floor fell silent, and everyone looked at the scene. Despite everything, they held a bit of envy towards Varian achieving the first position in the entrance test, being a level 2 like them. But they didn't try to overstep their boundaries since his tutor would be a strong and famous Awakener.

However, since he was opposed by the Xanders and didn't get a proper tutor, they need not hold back.

They wanted to step on him and prove themselves to be superior. To put it plainly, it was a sickening ego.

Now someone was doing the job for them. They were more than happy.

"You... what did you say?"

The young man was about to utter some threats, but felt a light sting and something cold on his neck.

He looked down and almost jumped in fright.

A long black sword was against his fragile neck. It slowly cut through the skin and a few drops of blood dripped onto the ground.

"No-nothing." He tried to step back and in trying, collapsed.

No one was able to react when Varian closed the distance with the young man and put his sword on his opponent's neck.

There was only one question buzzing in their minds 'Can I react in time if that's me?'

To their utter horror and helplessness, even the Body Awakeners, Morpher Awakeners whose forte was close combat, had only one answer. 'No.'

Varian saw the shock and fear in the eyes of the onlookers and his lips curled up.

Whether he admitted or not, there was a bad breath in his chest. This show of force was a good vent long due.

Even though it wouldn't stop him from being ostracized, it would elevate his status from being despised to being feared.

'It is better to be feared than to be loved, if you cannot be both.' He thought back to an ancient quote.

If they were going to ostracize him anyway, then it'd be on his terms. He'd abandon his peers, not the other way around.

The increasing strength gave Varian immense confidence.

He put the sword back into his space ring and glanced at the crowd coldly.

Since they were only Level 2, Varian was confident in overpowering them. He won a peak Level 2 a few days ago. But the him back then and the him now were different. Unlike the past him, he was confident in taking down a peak Level 2 with ease.

"If you want to step on me, then come. I'll always be ready." He smiled at his peers, but his eyes were chillingly cold.

"But remember, if you do this in normal times, you'll only get my rivalry. But if you do this now, you'll get..." he turned around and walked up to the upper floor.

"My enmity."

His emotionless voice reverberated across the room, sending shivers down the students.

Only the sound of chattering teeth and shaking armor remained.

*** *** ***

{Fifth floor} His comm buzzed.

'Fifth? Varian was shocked.

The second floor was for 1st year Level 3s.

Third floor was for 2nd year Level 3s.

Fight floor was for 2nd year… Level 5s.

Just what monster team did his tutor get him into?

*** **** *** 

A/N: Discord link below:

https://discord.gg/kBKaTtsrpb