Chapter 23: Preparing for the Secret Exam (2)

It is just a couple of hours right after the sun sets, and inside a certain room within the Galilea Magic Academy’s male dormitory, a tall, sharp-looking young man opens his eyes as if he was sleeping in the lotus position previously, a surprised look on his face as he saw a pile of Evolution Crystal remaining unabsorbed.

Before he can even wonder why it stopped helping him grow further, a notification from the system appears in front of him, a conflicted smile appearing on his face as he wonders whether this is a boon or a bane.

[Rank limit reached. You will no longer be able to increase stats before you reach the next tier.]

[Breaking through to the next tier requires a massive amount of Evolution Energy]

[Detected that the system user possesses a high level of talent, the breakthrough resource requirement increased.]

[Detected that the foundational stats of the system user are far higher than those of other practitioners of the same tier, breakthrough resource requirements increased.]

[F-Tier Evolution Crystal Required: 1,289/10,000]

[E-Tier Evolution Crystal Required: 0/10]

’Just where am I supposed to get that amount of Evolution Crystals??’ seeing the absurd number displayed in front of him, Novus couldn’t help but think that this might be the retribution for him being lucky for several times in a row during the past couple of days, the massive improvement he had during those periods of time seemingly coming back to bite him in the ass with such a punishing requirement for him to take the next step.

’In my defense, I work my ass off to get those benefits, so shouldn’t it be a little bit easier at least?’ he complained on the surface, but deep in his mind, he is already starting to plan about how he is going to gather all those resources in one fell swoop once he is allowed entry to the Evolution Domain once again.

’I’ve grown a bit more from this meditation session, not to mention I have a variety of means to attack, but even then, can I even win against E-Tier opponents in the Evolution Domain?’ recalling how difficult it was for him to deal with the Amber Slime when he just entered the domain for the first time, Novus already assumed that he would be in for a lot of trouble this time around.

What’s the problem? Isn’t the massive amount of F-Tier Evolution Crystal that he needs to gather, as he knew that it’s only a matter of time and carefulness, before he gathers enough for his breakthrough requirements?

On the other hand, despite the deceptively small amount, the required E-Tier Evolution Crystal poses a bigger problem than the former, as he is well aware that just like how what is considered F-Tier creatures he encountered here far surpasses the F-Tier creatures he encountered outside, E-Tiers here will definitely be harder to deal with as well.

’Life is good, but well, it’s hard too,’ he laughed to himself as he decided to check the progress he had made from the time he spent meditating until he was woken up, no longer able to increase his strength, the system screen appearing in front of him this time displaying all information regarding his own combat prowess.

[Novus Helion van Argenta]

[Combat Rating: F+ (Pseudo E) Mage(?)]

[Talent: True Immortal Blood (EX-Rank Growth-type Innate Talent)]

[Current Evolution Domain Location: Verdant Expanse (1-star danger level)] 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

[Immortal Energy: 200/200]

[Strength: 100]

[Agility: 100]

[Vitality: 100]

[Arcane: 100]

[Harmony: 100]

[True Immortal Blood (EX-Rank Growth-type Innate Talent)]

[Growth Progress: 0.1% (99.9% before Talent Rank Up)]

[Mastery: Entry-level (12.29%)]

With stats over thrice the limits of any other mage of the same tier, he still couldn’t gather enough confidence to say that he can deal with the latter requirements of his breakthrough, the E-Tier Evolution Crystal, in a single domain entry.

"In the first place, I haven’t even encountered or even just detected any E-Tier creature yet..." he muttered to himself as he realized yet another problem, the specific area he is in right now seems to be a complete beginner area, the hardest challenge posing threats to him being the multiple Shadow Slimes teaming up against him.

And despite all that, these creatures are still F-Tier ones and no stronger than that.

"I planned on reaching the E-Tier before the exams start, but it feels like it’s going to be hard to achieve..." Novus remarked as he lay on the bed, the remaining Evolution Crystal already stored within the Storage Space once again, allowing him to comfortably spread his limbs without any care in the world.

"What was it that the old man used to say? If I remember it right, it goes like ’a little bit of bumps and troubles here and there makes life more interesting than it should’, wasn’t it" noticing the frustration forming in his mind, he encouraged himself as he brought his own body standing up after that satisfying self-improvement session, feeling like he shouldn’t just be lazing around even when the path ahead of him is currently blocked by a large wall he cannot easily break through.

Hence, out of even his wildest expectations, he decided to don some casual wear, intending to go outside and roam around as their professor earlier suggested, staring at his own self in the mirror, making sure that at the very least, he appears presentable to human eyes when he roams outside.

The combination of the clearly good sets of genes along with the helpful refinement of Evolution Energy just causes confidence to surge from deep inside Novus’ body. His height and frame fit well with the plain white shirt and the simple black coat over it. Down below, his lower body is completely covered by slacks the same shade as his coat, paired perfectly with dark-toned loafers to complete his fit.

"Well, this looks good at least," he nodded to himself, commending his little bit of knowledge when it comes to combining all sorts of clothing that he has, not knowing that the way he dresses himself is just barely reaching the most basic way to dress up oneself.

He doesn’t have the need to know all that, though, as he felt this little bit of pride that it isn’t all just battle, magic, and battle again that he knows, causing a little smile of confidence to crack out of his scanning face before he decided it’s about time he ends scanning himself in front of the mirror.

"What am I even going to do outside?" he asks himself as he pushes the door to his room open, being met with the outside air for the second time today, walking down the path that leads not to the academy, but rather, to the outside districts that he had never explored during his months of staying here in the academy.

With the sun already fulfilling its duty for the day, prepared to rest and set down the horizon, the ambience is just enough for a chill, calming stroll anywhere within this great floating island, the warm, orange sunset casting a mystical feel to everything it touches, almost as if it is a completely different kind of magic in its own.

And witnessing this sight, Novus can’t help but smile, thinking of something to himself.

’A break like this every once in a while isn’t that bad.’