New Issues

Some things can be toughed out with willpower, but there are limits to that as well. Many people often discuss someone's spirit, someone's qualities, and praise their ability to overcome difficulties with sheer willpower. However, if there isn't enough supporting ability behind it, it's definitely not going to work.

William understood this very well, so he was more curious. When Duke heard him say this, he felt relieved. His use of awakening techniques had not been noticed by William.

One hour later, William distributed the rewards and announced that no more medication would be allowed in future training sessions. Then he dismissed everyone. At the mention of the pills, many couldn't help but look towards Edmund.

At this moment, he stood there as if he had lost his soul, and Danny and Viola didn't look pleased either. The Yuan-Replenishing Pill, which had a good chance of selling for at least five hundred thousand Dollar, was gone!

"You, sigh, I really don't know what to say to you," Danny shook his head, considering the money lost. Naturally, there was no way he could ask Edmund to return it, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to stay in this small team.

"He must have taken the medication too," Edmund said confidently, and Viola nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I think so too, otherwise, there's no other explanation," they said, and this made the others in the small circle feel a bit better. Otherwise, if someone who was lagging behind managed to defeat them all, they couldn't psychologically accept it.

Danny sighed, "Does it even matter if he took medication? The important thing is, the items are gone! Besides, even if he did take medication, he did it more discreetly than you did."

Edmund was at a loss for words. Unlike them, Louisa, Charles, and Arnold, who had rushed over after hearing the news, surrounded Duke, smiling.

  "Duke, from now on, you're my brother, you've got my back! You're amazing, even if you're taking medication, you're doing it so discreetly."

Arnold gave a thumbs-up, and Duke felt a bit frustrated hearing this. "I didn't take any medication."

"You're pretending, even to us," Arnold chuckled, "we won't report you, right,  Louisa?"

Louisa pretended to be angry and added, "Give me one of those pills, and I won't report you! Duke, you've even learned to play dirty."

Duke could only laugh and cry. Could it be that these people really thought he had taken medication?

"I really didn't taken medication."

"See, this guy not only got his Force back but also improved his acting skills. He's won big this time; we have to treat him to a meal!"

Among their group of friends, both Arnold and Duke were considered somewhat underachievers, and following Louisa always made them feel a bit embarrassed. Now, things were different, and he could consider Duke as another older brother.

"I agree," Charles, who had been silent all this time, said expressionlessly.

"Well," Duke wanted to treat them to a meal, but that so-called five hundred thousand Dollar thing wasn't money. How could he treat them to a meal when his pockets were emptier?

Just then, footsteps approached, and William walked up to the group with a smile. 

"Duke, come with me. The rest of you, go back and rest, we have more to do tomorrow."

Arnold and the others thought William was going to have a private talk with Duke, and they felt envious as they left one by one.

However, Duke's heart tightened. Could it be that William had figured out that he had used awakening techniques? He pondered how to explain it later.

The two of them walked to a lounge area near the training ground. William observed Duke, noticing a maturity in the boy that was uncommon for his age. He had already informed Principal Angus about today's events, which had naturally led to a scolding. After all, the Yuan-Replenishing Pill was purchased with Angus's own money, earmarked for a specific purpose.

"Don't be nervous; I'm not here to take your things. Have a seat," William said.

Duke exuded an air of caution, different from the typical student-teacher relationship. William could see it was a habitual defense.

"If I'm not mistaken, your Force has increased again since yesterday, right?" William asked.

Duke nodded. Apart from the small piece he had obtained last night along with the red crystal, he had used up most of his inventory.

"You're quite exceptional," William sighed. Although the high-quality Raw stone was excellent, it was still just an auxiliary item. The fact that Duke's abilities were growing so rapidly indicated that he had an extraordinary natural talent.

"But for this Yuan-Replenishing Pill, I suggest you wait four days before taking it."

Seeing Duke's puzzled look, William explained with a faint smile, "Don't think of awakening as something that's so easy. Your Force is increasing rapidly because your body can naturally accommodate this much Force. Think of it this way: your body is like a small pond."

"Force is like the water in the pond, and when you use Raw stone to replenish it, the pond becomes fuller and fuller."

"When this pond isn't full, it's fine to keep replenishing it, but what do you think will happen when your pond is almost full?" William asked softly.

Duke whispered, "It will overflow?"

"Exactly, the excess Force that overflows will mostly go to waste, but a small portion will slowly transform your pond, making it bigger," William explained.

Duke understood his meaning.

"Recently, you should have noticed that your efficiency in absorbing Raw stone is not as high as before, right? That indicates your pond, what we call the original pool, is getting close to being full."

Original pool was a term Duke had never heard before. He nodded in agreement, but upon careful consideration, he realized he hadn't really felt that way.

Seeing Duke nod, William assumed that Duke had already experienced this sensation. He patted his shoulder and said, "Expanding the original pool requires a robust physique and continuous use of Force to nourish it. That's why I had you all run. Your original pool is likely nearing full, so I suggest you wait to take the medication after this special training."

Duke furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Is a few days enough?"

William smiled somewhat reassuringly, "It's not quite enough, which is why I'd prefer you to take it after the awakening test day. But doing so might affect your final score. The choice is yours."

Duke looked up, somewhat surprised by William's honesty. For William, it would definitely be better for Duke to take the medication before the test day to maximize his benefits, but he still told the truth.

"Young man, don't look at me like that. This world isn't all filled with villains. Otherwise, do you think this wall can withstand those mutant beasts outside? It's thanks to those human heroes and the military holding the frontlines," William patted Duke's shoulder. 

"There's another thing I want to remind you of. Although it's unlikely, I have to mention it."

"Don't get into conflicts with people before the test day. If you get injured, it will have a significant impact on your results. Especially if it's a severe injury or heavy bleeding. While you can recover slowly, it will significantly reduce your Force levels for a certain period during the test."

William's words were initially casual advice, but they made Duke suddenly feel a sense of urgency. It would disrupt his plans. The green crystal was nearly used up. He had intended to spend his few remaining savings on good food these days and then continue using his own blood to nourish Monica.