As Day 9 began, Earth's Alpha Chosen, excluding Jay and Dante, were teleported to Earth's Foothold within the Trial World. Just as they were about to disperse and train in the various facility centers, MJ gathered them for an announcement.
"Today is the last day before the regional Trial Tournaments commence," MJ chirped enthusiastically.
"You've all trained diligently over the past few days and made noticeable progress. However, my master's ambitions extend far beyond just our Earth trial zone coming out on top among the 1000 trial zones in the upcoming tournament. He wants our zone to achieve the highest results across all tournaments taking place simultaneously in each of the 1000 Trial Regions of the Trial World.
To accomplish this, each of you must grow even stronger to make the entire team more formidable. The first tournament will be team-based, not an individual competition. That's why Master has decided to level all of you up using the Party function and provide each of you with Rare Grade Spirit Equipment tailored to your needs."
The announcement left many gasping in astonishment at Jay's ambitions. Some, like Henry, Kasim, and Gabriel, couldn't hide their excitement at the prospect of leveling up and obtaining Spirit Equipment.
For Kasim and Gabriel, who were the lowest-leveled among the Alpha Chosen, this was a particularly thrilling opportunity. However, their elation was short-lived as MJ continued.
"Don't celebrate just yet," MJ added, his gaze sharp. "This won't be free. You'll need to earn Reward Points ⧼RPs⧽ to exchange for these benefits and much more. These RPs will serve as currency within Earth's Foothold, not just for you but also for Earth's Beta and Gamma Alpha Chosen."
"To earn RP, you'll need to pass through assessments. The amount of RP you gain will depend on how many stages you can clear."
Kasim raised his hand hesitantly. "Great Venerable, what kind of assessments are we talking about?"
MJ didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned away, saying, "Follow me to the virtual training chamber. You'll see for yourselves."
The group followed MJ into the virtual training chamber, stepping into a vast, quiet space that felt almost otherworldly. The room was mostly empty, its smooth metallic walls glinting faintly under the pale green light that filled the air.
Embedded in the floor were dozens of small, circular disks, each about a meter wide. From each one rose a steady column of green light, glowing softly and stretching toward the high ceiling above.
"Step onto the disks and enter the virtual space. We'll continue there," MJ said, his cheerful tone cutting through the stillness. Without another word, his small body flickered and vanished, leaving them alone in the chamber.
Without a moment's pause, the group stepped onto the glowing disks, each choosing a separate one without discussion. Over the past few days, they had grown familiar with the virtual training chamber and its seamless process.
As soon as they entered the shimmering green columns of light, their bodies began to lift gently off the ground, weightless and suspended in the glow. One by one, their eyes fluttered closed as they slipped into a sleep-like trance.
When the Earth's Alpha Chosen regained consciousness, the world had changed entirely. They now stood on a colossal square platform, that seemed to float in the midst of an endless grassland, the soft breeze rustling through the lush green expanse around them.
The tranquility of the surroundings was almost disarming—cloudless skies stretched endlessly above, and the horizon shimmered with the warmth of a distant sun.
The tranquility was interrupted by a familiar, cheerful voice. MJ's words echoed across the platform, drawing their eyes to its center, where Baby MJ floated effortlessly in the air.
"Alright," MJ began, "let's talk about the assessments I'll be conducting here. There are three key aspects, and we're starting with the first: your control over your Innate Talent."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "This part consists of 10 stages. The higher you climb, the more Reward Points—or RPs—you'll earn. Simple enough, right?"
With a wave of his small hand, two massive screens materialized high above the platform, glowing faintly against the endless grassland backdrop.
The first screen displayed a detailed breakdown of the RPs awarded for each stage. It showed how the rewards increased with each level of mastery achieved. The second screen, by contrast, showcased a list of items and benefits they could exchange their earned RPs for.
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Combat Assessment Stages
Stage-1: 5 RPStage-2: 10 RPStage-3: 25 RPStage-4: 50 RPStage-5: 100 RPStage-6: 150 RPStage-7: 200 RPStage-8: 250 RPStage-9: 500 RPStage-10: 1000 RP
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Reward Point Exchange
1 Level Up: 100 RPRare Grade Spirit Equipment: 100 to 250 RPDurability repair: 10 RPGrade-3 Spiritual Fruits: 50 RPGrade-2 Spiritual Fruits: 25 RPGrade-1 Spiritual Fruits: 10 RPSlots of Training Facilities: 10 RP per hour.
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Among the Earth's Alpha Chosen, Olivia, Andrea, and Min-soo stood out as the only ones who had advanced to Tier-3 Mid-Phase, their levels ranging from 34 to 42. The rest of the group lagged slightly behind, still in Tier-3 Low-Phase, at levels 26 to 33.
Min-soo and Andrea had managed to reach their current phase largely thanks to Jay's generosity in sharing Life Energy from slain monsters. However, Jay had stopped the supply as soon as both had crossed into Tier-3 Mid-Phase, forcing them to rely on their own efforts from that point onward.
Olivia, in contrast, had forged her path by hunting Tier-3 Low-Phase monsters roaming the Earth's Trial Zone. She not only improved her own level but helped several others make progress as well.
Kasim and Gabriel, through similar persistence, had also reached Tier-3. The only members of the group still in Tier-2 were Dante and Jay himself.
Their growth, however, hit a wall. Monsters in the Trial Zone grew scarce, leaving them without opportunities to level up. As their progress stagnated, so too did their rankings on the Trial World Leaderboard.
One by one, they plummeted out of the top 100 until only Olivia remained, barely holding onto the 95th position. Min-soo and Andrea had fallen into the 400s, while Brandon and Sergei teetered dangerously close to being dropped from the leaderboard entirely. Jay, notably, had long since fallen below the top 1000.
Despite their sliding rankings, the Earth's Alpha Chosen weren't truly weaker than their higher-ranked peers. The advanced training facilities within Earth's Foothold had enhanced their skills and mastery, making them powerful and formidable adversaries.
Now, with the promise of Rare Spirit Equipment and level-ups available through Reward Points, the group's determination reignited.
Gabriel, unable to contain his excitement, strode forward and addressed MJ eagerly. "Great Venerable, please start the first assessment with me."
Baby MJ, floating with his hands clasped behind his back, nodded approvingly at Gabriel's enthusiasm. With a snap of his fingers, a massive portal-like entrance materialized on one side of the platform. From within, the sound of howling winds burst forth, fierce and untamed.
MJ pointed to the swirling vortex. "What are you waiting for? Step through that entrance. You'll find yourself in a separate part of the virtual space filled with raging winds and storms. The first assessment measures your control over your Innate Talent. Since yours is a Wind Innate Talent, this environment was specifically designed for you."
He continued, "For every 100 meters you manage to cross, you'll progress to a new stage of the assessment. The further you advance, the more Reward Points you'll earn, based on the final stage you reach."
Before MJ could finish, Gabriel had already dashed toward the portal, leaping into its swirling depths with confidence etched on his face. The howling winds seemed to intensify as he disappeared into the storm, leaving the rest of the group watching with anticipation.
As Gabriel disappeared into the portal, MJ raised his small hand and conjured a glowing screen in the air. The translucent display hovered high above the square platform, providing the rest of the Chosen with a clear view of Gabriel's progress inside the assessment space.
The screen showed a harsh, storm-ravaged environment where Gabriel was already in action. He moved effortlessly against the raging winds, a confident smirk plastered on his face as layers of swirling wind element wrapped around his body, shielding him from the ferocious currents.
With ease, he crossed the first 100 meters in mere seconds, barely slowed by the storm. But as he stepped past the 100-meter mark, the challenge intensified. The wind currents doubled in ferocity, howling louder and battering him with greater force.
Gabriel's speed dipped noticeably, yet he pressed on, each step deliberate as he pushed toward the 200-meter mark. He pressed forward, determination etched on his face, as the storm itself sought to stand in his way.
Back on the square platform, the rest of the group watched the screen with rapt attention. As Gabriel's journey progressed, they couldn't help but envision their own impending trials. Would their surroundings be just as unforgiving? Would they be able to perform well?
By the time Gabriel crossed 600 meters, his pace had slowed drastically. The winds had grown monstrous, and he was forced to lean heavily into each step, fighting for every inch.
At 690 meters, he came to a halt, unable to move forward. Cyclones pressed down on him with immense force, his wind barrier flickering and threatening to collapse. The once-confident look on his face had vanished, replaced by a grimace of agony as his virtual avatar bore the brunt of the storm's fury.
Finally, his body gave out. He stood frozen as the cyclone tore into him, shredding his defenses. Gabriel's virtual form crumbled, and pain radiated through him—dulled but still excruciating.
Back on the platform, MJ waved his hand, and Gabriel's virtual avatar reappeared, fully restored. A moment later, Gabriel collapsed onto the floor with a heavy thud, gasping as he recovered from the ordeal.
Kasim, standing nearby, stepped forward and extended a hand. "You could have given up before that cyclone tore you apart," Kasim said, pulling him to his feet. "Even if it's only 20% of the pain, it still sucks to die in here."
Gabriel sighed, his face shadowed with disappointment. "Man, I was so close. Just a few more meters, and I could've hit the 700-meter mark and Stage-7."
Kasim gave a reassuring pat on his shoulder. The two had grown closer over the past few days, bonding alongside Dante as the lowest-leveled members of the team. Together, they had supported each other, sharing tips, motivation, and a shared determination to grow stronger.
"You'll get there next time," Kasim said with a grin. "Besides, if Dante were here, he'd tell you the same thing, maybe even yell it in your ear."
Gabriel managed a faint chuckle at that, though the disappointment still lingered. Meanwhile, Dante, along with Jay, was far away in another trial zone, tackling challenges of his own.
MJ floated before the group, his small figure commanding attention as he gestured toward the screen. His voice took on a serious yet instructive tone. "Let me make one thing clear about this assessment," he began, his gaze sweeping over the Chosen.
"It doesn't matter how high the grade of your Innate Talent is, nor does it depend on the current height of your Innate Talent Mastery. The sole factor here is your control—how much command you have over your talent and how effectively you can utilize it."
He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. "The virtual location Gabriel entered was tailored specifically for him. It was designed so that, theoretically, if he utilized 100% of his Innate Talent's potential, he could have crossed the 1000-meter mark and completed the assessment. Since Gabriel reached 690 meters, it indicates he's currently accessing 69% of his full potential."
MJ turned toward Gabriel, "And Gabriel," he added, "if it weren't for your training in the Wind Cultivation Grounds and the other facility centers over the past few days, I can guarantee you would have struggled to even reach the 500-meter mark. I'm not saying this to discourage you. Quite the opposite—I'm pointing out how much you've already improved, and how much further you can go. With consistent training, it won't be long before you can not only break through 700 meters but surpass it by far."
Gabriel straightened slightly, the earlier disappointment in his eyes replaced by a determined glint. MJ's words had struck a chord, igniting a renewed resolve to push himself harder.
The rest of the group watched intently, curiosity and anticipation evident on their faces. They were eager to find out how far they could go in their own assessments, their thoughts already racing with possibilities.
Breaking the moment of tension, MJ gave an exaggerated yawn, stretching his tiny arms before addressing the group with a playful grin. "Alright," he said casually, "who's stepping up next?"
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Author Note:
The revamped version of Volume 1 is now live on Kindle. You can find it on Amazon by simply searching the book title. Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy the new edition!
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Volume 2 Revamped Chapter Release Schedule
📅 Daily Releases – A revamped chapter will be released every day until Chapter 130. (Jan 1st to 30th)
These revamped chapters won't interfere with the usual chapter updates.
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Exclusive artwork for every free chapter is now available on my PATRE0N page! You can find the link in my Discord server.
The first ten to comment for new chapter releases will get '1 ADVANCED CHAPTER' for free on Earth Alpha Prime's Discord server.
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Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :
https://discord.gg/maQC7xDBYZ
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