"Well on second thoughts, I think I can agree to your offer."
Alex's voice changed immediately he saw the exchange system.
Small teleport talisman (Celestial): Will teleport the user randomly within a 10km circumference. Teleportation is instantaneous. Price: 1000...SP
Bull's rage (Celestial): Calls down the phantom of the Bull God to battle for you. Price: 1000.....SP
Superspeed talisman (Rare): Instantly triple your speed. Lasts for ten minutes. Price: 10....SP
...
Alex was stunned at the seemingly infinte number of zeroes on the price tag. He also did not know what the SP signified, but he guessed it was a form of currency.
[Ding. 'SP' is short for system points and is earned whenever the host does things that are deemed fun by the system.]
Before Alex could digest the information from the system however, he heard noises and sounds from outside the classroom that sounded like people talking. He quickly got up and seated himself on a desk. It would be too embarrassing if he was caught on the floor.
Shortly after, the door opened and groups of students in uniforms entered the room. One of them, a tall lanky boy with brown hair walked towards him.
"Argo! What are you doing? Don't tell me you slept here all day. I know things have been hard on you, but that's not an excuse for your behavior. Think about it, would your father be proud of you if he saw you like this?"
It took Alex a while to realise the boy was talking to him and a while longer to recall what he was talking about.
Firstly, his name was Argo Talean and the boy speaking to him was Jared, his best friend.
The planet was also called Earth, but it was Fives times bigger than our dear Alex's home planet. It was also more united. It was ruled under one governing body. The United Federation.
He also had an awesome father, Rema Talean. Rema Talean was one of the most talented experts the world had ever seen. He rose from a civilian to one of the most influential men on Earth. He had become the leader of one of the greatest forces in the United Federation and one of the four military commanders.
His father was nicknamed the 'Tiger General'.
However, Argo's father went MIA{1} in some secret mission a few years ago. Some said he died, others said he was captured but since then life had changed for little Argo.
After his father went missing, Argo was kicked out of the super-school for elites he was in, Babcock Academy high school.
The students of Babcock Academy high school were all exclusively the offering of nobles and military commanders. Money alone could not get you into the school.
Having lost his father who was a civilian without an influential family, His father's enemies argued that he was no longer qualified to attend the school, thus he was expelled and sent to the commoner school his father attended.
The high schools in the United Federation was different from the high school on Alex's home world. Besides conventional basic subjects, they were also taught martial arts and other useful knowledge prior to their Awakening.
The Awakening was similar to a ceremony where students find out their element affinity. During their last year in high school, students were to receive their one time 'Baptism' which was the magic Awakening.
Different people awakened to different elements. Alex... no, he should be called Argo now. Argo learnt from his memories that there were five common types of element: Water Element, Earth Element, Fire Element, Wind Element and Lightning Element.
In the United Federation, there were not just warriors and Magic users but also many other professions, such as Mecha fighters, scientist, pharmacists, weapon experts, etc...
Jared shook his head indiscernibly when he saw Argo being quiet. He thought inward.
So what if you're talented? You cannot accomplish anything if you can't recover from a setback. Although your father is missing and you were expelled from that school, your sulking about would only make your father ashamed wherever he is.
Jared had heard the rumors about Argo's time in Babcock Academy high school. He was known as an absolute genius in martial arts, he was known as an even greater genius than his father. But the genius who was given heaps of praises was now a degenerate that spent his days sleeping and sulking about. He had no intention of improving himself.
Jared had attempted many times to bolster Argo's confidence in the past with numerous pep talks and encouragements. It felt as if Argo had completely abandoned himself to vice.
Rrrring!!
With the bell ringing to signify the beginning of class, Jared went to his seat on his desk.
"Students, open your textbooks. Today, we will continue to learn about Materials knowledge. Do you still remember what I told you about..." The Teacher bellowed as he entered. He was a handsome middle aged man with dark hair and brown eyes, Argo recognized him as Mr. Nedillus.
Argo couldn't focus in class partly because he was still a but overwhelmed but mostly because he couldn't understand Jackshit about what the teacher was saying.
Rrrring!! Rrrring!!
The bell sounded an hour and half later to signify the end of school. Argo bolted out the door immediately, both to dodge Jared but also because he wanted to get home ASAP{2} so as to sort himself out and figure out his plans moving forward.
As he got outside the school gate, he was violently pushed from behind which sent him toppling unto the floor.
Hehe...hehe
Silent sniggers rang out from behind Argo. He presumed it was coming from the culprit that pushed him.
"Oh, It's our dear Argo. I didn't see you just then... hehe. Where are you rushing to? why don't you come play with us."
Two boys came to stand in front of Argo. One was bulky like a body builder, the other was more lean and well proportioned.The one who spoke was the lean one.
Argo recognized them as two of Kenny Lee's henchmen.
Who was Kenny Lee?
Kenny Lee was probably the one who hated Argo most in the school. He was supposedly the most talented guy in the school. He was tall, handsome had a prince charming smile that sent girls wild. He also loved fame and that was why he hated Argo. Because when Argo was first admitted into the school, he was thrown to the side as all everybody talked about was the son of the great Tiger General. He was the happiest when Argo turned out to be... unexpected. Since then, he went out of his way to make Argo's life a misery.
"Let's go, Boss Kenny wants to see you" The bulky guy said to Argo.
"You...how do you want to die?" Argo stood up and asked calmly as he dusted himself.
"What!" The bulky guy was shocked as a took a step backwards.
"Idiot, he's just scaring you. Do you seriously think someone like him can fight?" The lean guy sneered at his partner just was almost scared off with a few words.
"What, you wanna fight? I'll be glad to accompany you. The school rules that prohibit do not apply outside the school grounds."
The bulky guy was confident once more after hearing what his partner said. Cultivation was an ever-regressive state. The lack of practice for a few days slowed down one's reflexes not to talk of a few years. No one had seen Argo practicing for years now, so it was almost certain that his combat prowess had regressed to almost nothing.
It was like a professional boxer. After a period of time of zeroes practice, they needed enough time to recover and train in order to compete in matches again. One does not grow stronger doing nothing.
BAM!
Argo suddenly stepped forward and threw a punch toward the bulky kid. He was confident in his ability to take care of a couple of high school bullies.
He was mistaken.
The bulky guy easily caught his bunch, then struck him in the stomach with his knee sending him to the floor.
Argo was stunned. He had forgot two things! One, This was no longer the Earth he was familiar with. Here, high school bullies could knock him out with a punch. Two, he was too weak... yes too weak. The previous Argo hadn't practiced for a long while now, he was as weak as a baby.
"Haha, is this how you are going to kill us?" the two kids sneered in disdain.
"Fuck, you scared this daddy for a second" the bulky kid was particularly pissed.
Ouch... Argo struggled to stand up when suddenly...
[Ding. First mission issued.]
[Mission: Break the bones of the boys in front of you and have them beg for Mercy.]
[Reward: 100 SP, +5 strength]
Argo...
Fuck!
Contrary to expectations, Argo was not happy about the mission instead he wanted to curse the system. How was he supposed to fight the gorilla and the other guy?
[Ding. Host may use the body strengthening pill to strengthen his body on the spot. Warning: It might sting a little.]
The system immediately provided a way out to Argo. Out of options, Argo discreetly retrieved the pill and threw it into his mouth. Although he was still a little bit puzzled by the systems warning.
CRACK! CRACK!
Argo was immediately assaulted with blinding pain as his bones and muscles were being strengthened. He felt like his bones were being broken a d fixed back repeatedly.
The lean guy and the bulky guy were confused by Argo's expression of pain. A kick to the stomach did not warrant such expression.
"Could my strength have gotten stronger"
"I doubt it, he must be faking it"
If Argo could talk, he would surely curse their mothers.
Fake my ass! If you can bear this pain without making a sound I'll call you daddy!
"Get up, get up" The bulky guy went forward and started kicking Argo, urging him to stand up.
The look of pain in Argo's eyes gradually disappeared and was replaced by one of amazement, then excitement. He could feel the power contained in his body and he almost couldn't feel the bulky guy kicking him.
'Ohh... It's payback time!'