5 CHAPTER 5: The Street Interlude

"Hey, young man, here's your change"

Tyler received his change from the powered vehicle taxi driver, and alighted the vehicle.

As this world was already advanced in technology before the world change, most of the present day machines, vehicles and technologies had been integrated with or built with the things and materials brought about by world awakening, like different types of energies and treasures, materials or miscellaneous items, resulting to a more advanced products suitable for the present times level.

Examples are furnitures and products capable of withstanding the sheer strength and energy levels of different power levels.

Vehicles like the powered taxi car that he just alighted, are one of such products.

As this vehicle is one of the cheapest and affordable and less important product, it was reasonable to be used as a taxi by those with no potential, so as to use as a means to earn money for survival.

Normally, he would have gone home through the public train, which was cheaper, to arrive at the west side of the city, and then walk towards his home in the slum areas of the poor district, however, he opted to take a faster means as he couldn't contain his impatience and anticipation.

🎵 Astroworld's my planet, my home🎶

🎵Car's too hot, the fumes too strong 🎵

Tyler suddenly started singing a song he knew from his previous life, as he walked down the almost quiet and deserted street leading to his living quarters, while kicking an empty can, rippling and disturbing the calm and quiet surroundings with his actions.

🎵Mixed this cup for way too long (yeahhh)🎵

🎵Add it up, don't subtra... 🎶

"Lad, which song are you singing, cos it's unusual and filled with a strange otherworldly tune"

A youthful and manly voice disrupted his alone moments of reminiscing his previous world, through the song.

Turning to the left, he spotted a young man who seemed to be in his early thirties, possessing a strong presence that seems to pressurize a newly Awakened like him. The man had a shallow, long scar on his right eye. 

Looking at the youth's fierce appearance, Tyler's senses got alert. Regardless, he responded to the other party's question.

"Dark Knight Dummo by Trippie Redd ft Travis Scott "

"Interesting name. Never heard of such a song or stage name", the man thought for a brief moment before continuing," Kid, how about I make you an offer. Do you mind joining a power? If so, mind integrating into the force I belong?"

Hearing the question the man threw to him, Tyler didn't relax his awareness although he knew that he might not have enough power to resist the other party.

Who asks such question out of the blue! Moreover, without any introduction the man was already seeking him to join his force. It was clear that the man was here with a kind of motive.

With his words carefully chosen, he responded, " I don't have such thoughts for now as I only plan to enroll into Mystic Star Academy first, before any other considerations"

"Hmm... Kid, what did you say? You dare refuse me?" The unknown man's voice got sterner.

It was crystal clear that the man was being unreasonable.

Without waiting for Tyler to respond back, the former unleashed his aura, pressing Tyler down to his knees with the unbearable pressure. He was trying to forcefully make Tyler succumb to his demands.

Tyler gritted his teeth, trying to resist the beyond-mortal pressure and get back on his feet. Unfortunately, he couldn't do much in the face of such power.

At this moment, a powerful energy aura erupted from Tyler's body, repelling the foreign force, and blasting the other man twenty metres away.

[ Ding! 

Novice Protection Period Service: Till Master surpasses Tier 1, the system is to protect the Master's life, especially during a desperate situation. After reaching Tier 2, this service or functions disables.]

Upon hearing this, he quickly understood where the strange power that erupted from his body came from.

Looking over at the defeated man, Tyler got up and organized his clothes casually. After that, he walked up to where the man laid battered with blood flowing out of his seven orifices. Exhausted and close to death, the man couldn't muster up the strength to get back up. He laid there, secretly employing and circulating his energy to hold unto the flickering candle of life remaining in him.

Tyler shook his head twice. 

'Seems like I underestimated the power of that blast'

"I should really collect some interest from him"

Raising his foot, he smashed his right leg twice on the man's rib cage with force. 

"That's for continuously calling me kid, and also threatening me"

Satisfied, he resumed his journey back home, regarding this interlude as a small encounter of the day.

'Probably an Abyssal follower or Demon Beast god believer trying to recruit new members'

Unbeknownst to Tyler, those stomps he felt were light compared to a cultivator's/awakener's physique were actually what completely extinguished the man's life candle like a wind blowing out a candle of light.

Moments after he left that area, a dark shadow unveiled to reveal the outline of a man who came over and inspected the corpse of the unknown man.

"Looks like this kid isn't ordinary. For him to have life-saving measures on him proves that he might be from a hidden family. I guess we have to approach through another means. Since the clan can't find a similar class, then we might have to capture this Tyler. I need to report this to the clan"

The newcomer mused for a while before carrying the corpse of the dead man and disappearing into the dark.

...

Moments later, Tyler arrived in front of a three story building with ordinary structure and appearance with the absence of the modern day level of technology, in contrast to the building he saw on his way home from school. Buildings in this area had similar appearances featuring worn-out roofs, worn-out painting and unkempt surroundings with few areas oozing out bad stench, which spoke volumes of how unhealthy the environment is.

Areas like this were rare in Astroworld, as more areas were occupied because of the need for land in order to build or establish projects, organizations quarters and business facilities or buildings or excavated by some powers in search of a unique treasure or resource.

Tyler sighed, but his heart relaxed when he remembered that Cloud Star High school had already prepared to reorganize and clean up the slum areas in the city, as it would help them raise the star rating of the city.

Yes!

Cities, clans, sects, academies and organizations have star ratings.They are grouped in an ascending order of : 1star -10 star. After that, they can graduate to a Prime Level Force and above.

Well, such things are easier said than done.

Forget about graduating to a Prime Force, even leveling up from a 1 star to a 2 star force is resource exhausting and incredibly difficult, as some difficult and time exhausting conditions need to be fulfilled.

'Forget it, such problems don't concern me, and I also believe that I would soon leave this place and also travel out of the Mystical Heart Continent. I just need time, that's all'

With that, he resumed his ascension up the stairs while humming out the previous song.

"Hohoho... Isn't this Tyler. I heard that our handsome teenager didn't awaken a powerful class which led to his mental breakdown. Don't worry this big sister will take care of you"

Hearing the teasing voice, he didn't need to think twice to know that the speaker was his neighbor, Natasha.

Turning around, he saw his next door neighbor, Elma and her close friend, Natasha standing in front of their door, preparing to go in through the already opened door.

Up till today, Tyler has been trying to figure out how these two came to become friends, cos no matter how he thought about it, such a thing was literally and reasonably impossible.

Why?

Simple, because both of their characters were a sharp contrast of each other.

Natasha is a nineteen years old charming beauty with a stunningly attractive face featuring a blazing red eye lashes and pink pupils, added to the the black dot below her right eye and a small but straight proper nose, coupled with a red alluring sexy lips, added to her long wavy red hair cascading down her back, her face was alluringly charming and captivating. Those red eyes were always exuding magnetic gazes.

She wore a sexy club off shoulder long sleeve tight dress, which clearly accentuated her prominent curvaceous and voluptuous figure, needing her to just stand still and she would be able to send some naive virgins and young masters running after her.

While Elma being a sharp contrast to Natasha, is a captivating innocent beauty, who had a blond long, silky hair with a well-defined beautiful face featuring almond eyes and pink-ish red lips, supported by a flawless, porcelain-like fair skin glued to a body with perfect curves. Her boobs were smaller than Natasha's but bigger than average, looking ample yet soft and firm, added to her slender waist with well-defined hips and alluring curvy thick thighs, it was clear that she possessed a mesmerizing allure from head to toe.

'I guess their awakening improved their beauty and is still transforming it to a higher level. But what spoilt Elma's allure, in my eyes, is her timid and innocent personality. Aiyaa! I once had the urge to seek Natasha out in order to break away from this my unpleasant title of being a virgin. Well, I guess that might not be possible again as things might change from today'

He stopped looming his eyes over their bodies and got ready to respond to her teasing.

"Fufufu... Looks like a certain youth can't keep his lustful eyes off sexy and beautiful bodies, as he has low control over his hormones. Mmmm... I wonder what the certain youth plans to do with those beauties in his heart, probably having unholy and sexual thoughts"

Natasha's teasing rang out once again.

"Hehe... You guys should fuck off! I can't be bothered to break the hymen of an old lady"

Tyler retaliated with a tease and disdainful sneer.

He had been friends with both of them for over ten years, however with the way he socializes with people, he doesn't usually talk much with them. He could even count the number of times he had cracked a joke with them, thereby making this current scene a rare one.

"Y-Y-You... Hai! I just can't be bothered with you. You are simply no fun. Elma, let's go"

Dragging the timid girl, who was blushing as if she understood what they were saying, she entered the opened room next door and...

Bang!

She slammed the door shut.

"Hai... Such a pity that I might be leaving them soon. Her allure really attracts me"

He reminisced a bit about Natasha's beauty before he went into his already opened room, with the final thoughts of getting rid of his unpleasant title and also checking out the system.

[ Ding! It is recommended that master should open the Universal Beginner Gift Bag in the next four minutes or the gifts might be refreshed and degraded]

Right then, a notification sounded in his mind.