Trading Center

Despite still being a part of the academy, the aspirant district is like a small city of its own.

Since the academy premise is very big and has many sectors that Alex hasn't even been to before, he was surprised to see the number of aspirants walking around which was way more than he had anticipated.

Most of the places are quite full even though it was nearing curfew.

I've seen so many maps lately, this academy is really big.

Checking the holographic map on a glass notice board near the station, he found the trading center and quickly headed there to check if he had enough points to purchase some energy source to feed his Nexus Mark.

It takes about ten minutes of walking before he reaches the place.

Raising his gaze, he saw a big building, a masterpiece of architectural innovation that combines the principles of transparency and functionality in a way that is nothing short of an ambitious visionary, something that Alex had never seen before.

Its exterior is cloaked in a seamless glass facade, a mesmerizing spectacle.

Stepping inside, he was met with the atrium with massive transparent elevator tubes spiraling through the center of the building. Hovering walkways and glass-encased support rooms can be seen, ready with pleasant-looking clerks.

Alex stepped into one of the empty support rooms and got led to another section.

"Here we are" The clerk opened the door, revealing a small room of sleek white. "Swipe your student id and browse through to find the item you are looking for. When you're done, you can simply check the desired items and they will be transferred to the room"

Upon hearing this, Alex nodded his head and stepped inside.

When the door swung closed, he swiped his student id on the indicator with a beep.

His student id already arrived earlier in his room.

Taking a seat on a single sofa a the center of the room, he saw the light inside the room gradually dim to darkness, and after a brief wait, he saw interfaces appearing around him, and it was so real that he thought that he could touch it.

"Augmented reality tech, similar to the eyeglasses inside the classroom from earlier"

Soon enough, the main interface was opened before him.

[Main Trading Interface]

Name: Xander Zich Sitradus

Code: Aspirant 1313

Available Points: 1,000

Time: 19:23

Inspecting the main interface, Alex frowned, the available points exceeded his expectations.

Hmmm... I thought killing a Type-1 Beast gave me 10 points. Added with the Type-2 Beast I killed, it shouldn't reach 1,000 points. Maybe because of my feat, I gained additional points? Who knows? I'm not complaining though.

Nodding at the pleasant surprise, he then started to browse the available items.

From a glance, it seems everything can be purchased.

Weapons, advanced devices, various floras, alien beast skeletons, and even imperial credits.

Alex can find all of them listed in the trading center, and he couldn't help to have high hopes that there will also be energy sources. But his hope became a reality when he found all kinds of energy sources listed.

Energy cells, singularity power unit, fusion core reactor, hyperflux generator, and more.

It made him excited as even the singularity power unit gave him five bars, so he was excited to see how many a fusion core reactor would give him. He wouldn't be surprised if he saw a new color dying his Nexus Mark.

600 points for a fusion core reactor? I'll definitely take it!

Not even hesitating for even a second, he checked the fusion core reactor.

Even though he doesn't know why aspirants would do with a fusion core reactor that could fuel a fighter battle-ship for medium-volume combat, he was glad that it was available to be purchased in the trading center.

Just from that purchase alone, he now only has 400 points to spend.

Alex takes a moment to ponder about what he would do with the remaining points, he would need to think this carefully.  I wanted to buy a cheap gun to train my wind element, but I'm sure the academy wouldn't let an aspirant carry around a weapon.

Despite wanting to buy a gun, he knows that it will be futile.

None of the Aspirants he saw around brought a gun with them, obviously, it's not allowed.

It was clear that he couldn't buy a weapon, and he struggled to think of another thing he wanted to buy. But as he was about to give up, his eyes widened remembering something that could greatly help him.

Hold on, I'm sure it grew more in the Hyperion Empire's galaxy for some reason.

Screening through the list, filtering the tradeable goods to find the item that he wanted, Alex stumbled eventually managed to find it, and couldn't help but smile. Yes, it might be scarce in the Adudal Principality, but it's abundant here.

[Eneraflora Vitalis - 10 Points (Available: 301,552)]

Alex looked at this item with visible excitement, this plant is very useful for mages.

It was first found in a colonized Imperial Planet belonging to the Hyperion Empire.

Prestigious scholars found that this plant could help mages circulate and replenish mana faster, but it was only used by the Hyperion Empire for tea which is not that popular either. Only a limited amount of them was harvested from the planet before the planet was taken back by the Hyperion Empire.

A miraculous plant that could be life-saving for them.

Eneraflora Vitalis was found to only bloom where the planet is occupied with advanced technologies, nourishing itself with the dense energy surplus from them, and was to quicken the circulation and replenishment of mana.

High-ranking nobles of the Adudal Principality stashed this for emergency use.

It might save their lives in the future.

But this miraculous item only cost 10 points, substantially cheap for its use. 

Since the Hyperion Empire couldn't use this plant effectively, it's natural to find that the Eneraflora Vitalis is very cheap here. Alex didn't hesitate to spend most of his remaining points, buying 35 of this plant before he exited the interface.

Upon finishing his shopping, the light came back again.

About a minute later, an alcove-like container was opened on the side of the room.

Alex checked the inside and found the items that he bought were there, he quickly retrieved them and put them in a bag that was provided by the trading center. With that out of the way, he left the trading center with a satisfied look.

Now, sitting in a holo-pub, Alex decided to take one bite of the Eneraflora Vitalis.

It felt bitter to his tongue, in fact extremely bitter, but the benefit that it brought helped Alex in enduring this, and swallowed it in one go. Since it's rather fragile, he would need to eat it raw to gain its full effect.

Cooking it or anything would only damage the benefit, and he didn't want that.

Even though this is the Hyperion Empire, a rival empire, I'm sure Delilah would love this place.

Delilah was always a cheerful woman and she really liked colorful lights, and the bar he was in right now is adorned with a mystifying neon blue light, while the shops along the sidewalks of the aspirant section are a blend of multiple colors.

If she had been here, she would've definitely run around like a kid.

But then again, she couldn't do that considering that their child was on the way.

Remembering the memories of the past that he holds dearly, Alex sighed in vexation as his emotions started to resurface. He longed for Delilah's voice and her warmth, but that would never happen.

All because of his younger brother who brutally orchestrated her death.

Despite being similar to the Adudal Principality, having its own kind of beauty, Alex wouldn't be able to enjoy this place as he couldn't afford to lose his focus. The longer it takes to reach his goal, the longer Migel lived a peaceful life.

Someone like him doesn't deserve to have a peaceful life.

I hope you still don't have a family because if you do, I will also come for them.

Grabbing the beer he bought, he chugged it one go until the bottom.

Alex toasted with himself as he would endure all the hardships in the future in order to achieve his revenge. Finishing the beer, he was about to leave but stopped when his eyes caught someone sitting in the corner.

Is that the woman from earlier?

Looking at the woman sitting alone on the corner of the pub, his eyes flashed excitedly.

It was the woman wearing eyeglasses who was on the same table as him.

Pondering for a brief moment, he decided to approach the woman. 

Despite him openly approaching her, the woman doesn't seem to notice him as her focus is entirely trapped on a transparent device on the table. She seemed to be frustrated, judging from her messing her hair a couple of times in stress.

Standing beside the woman, he looked down and saw what she was doing.

But he smiled when he realized that the woman was studying, more importantly, she was studying about mages and was clearly having trouble with the questions. "Crystal, Lightning, Shadow, Lava, and Plant elements are inside the Third Ring of the Null Star"

"Aaahh!!" Upon hearing a masculine voice from the side, the woman jolted in surprise.

However, she soon realized that it was the new aspirant.

Alex ignored her yelp and pointed to another question, "Mages in the Grand Magus realm are the ones that possess Elemental Intent powers, this would effectively make them invulnerable to attacks associated with their elements. For instance, a Fire Mage with Fire Intent wouldn't be harmed with explosive shells"

"Y- You're very smart..." the woman whispered.

Upon hearing this, Alex smiled at her as he accepted that genuine praise.

Just then the woman quickly shakes her head, snapping out of her daze as Alex answers the questions she is struggling with flawlessly. "C- Can I help you?" She asked, her tone was whisperous, a perfect fit for her meek demeanor.

Taking a seat across from her, Alex replied, "Did I startle you?"

"I was only trying to be acquainted with you, after all, we're from the same class" He added.

But it seems a conversation like this is not her forte, "I- Is that so..."

Even answering Alex alone takes some time due to her awkwardness.

Despite her awkwardness, Alex is determined to engage in a conversation with her.

Stretching his hand forward with a friendly smile, he then introduced himself, "My name is Xander, we're in the same class, I'm sure you know already. Pleased to meet with you, Clara. If you have any trouble with those kinds of questions, you can ask me, I'm pretty good at it"

"Eh...?" Clara paused when she heard this, she seemed to be stunned.

Locking eyes with Alex for a moment, she then sucked in a cold breath. 'He knows my name...?'