The spar where I finally won against Shannon marked the beginning of another hellish training. The day after that, I had to endure the high intensity of gravity in one of the training rooms in the public training center.
Did you know what was funny? I collapsed in under three seconds. Shannon made a mistake by inputting the gravity level to level 5 when she was supposed to pick level 2.
Good thing the medical team was quick in rescuing me, or else I had to live as a cripple normal human even though I just started getting used to this life.
"There is no problem with his core."
"Fuh. Good."
One of the medics looked at me and Shannon then put on a reassuring smile.
"You hear that, kids? You're good and healthy. Just make sure not to let this happen again, okay?"
Shannon bowed a few times gratefully. Even when the medical team was out of our sight, she kept on bowing a few more times before she turned and looked at me with an apologetic expression.
I sighed and shrugged casually.
"Don't mind it. It was just an accident, right? It's not like you purposely chose level 5…" I said to reassure her.
Although I said that, I still have a lot of complaints inside my heart. 'Don't mind my ass, I thought I was gonna die!' that was what I said inwardly.
Still, even after I reassured her with my words, she kept saying sorry, but now her expression turned grim as if the world was about to end. It was just a small accident but why did she act like that?
"I said don't mind it, Shannon. Look here, I'm perfectly fine!"
Finally, she showed me her genuine smile, and I smiled back.
We returned to our home after the training. The sun was still up there at the highest point, the day was still long before the queen of night replaced the ruler of the day. And so, in the meantime, what should I do?
Of course, I decided to walk around the city!
There was nothing better than sightseeing in this city. Apparently, thanks to Shannon who I was not sure where her money came from, she could buy a medium cozy house on Octagram Island–the very place where the Octagram Academy was built as the center of this artificial island.
The artificial Octagram Island and Singapore were often called father and son islands because the size of the Island was only half size of Singapore and how close the two islands were to each other.
Also, a very obvious fact that it was named Octagram Island was because the shape of the island was an octagon and some story of the first generation heroes.
The 8 heroes that led humanity to victory in the war against the monster came from a portal gate–the abyss rift, some dozen years ago.
This artificial island was the powerhouse of the world just because it was built by those 8 heroes which now was remembered by the Octagram heroes.
Because of its small size, managing this island wasn't as hard as a country with a big ass land. Thus, developing was much easier here, it has become the land with state-of-the-art technology as well as the other thing such as education,
The hero association was built and operated on this island, and it was the second biggest building after the academy where plenty of heroes nurtured the young generation of heroes. And that one particular academy was the main stage where the protagonist and the other main characters would grow up together and become the best of the best… Well, in the end, they were all dead, leaving only the protagonist alone.
I, too, hoped that I could get into the academy as I lived in this world now. Not only for my own sake but this world's sake that was ruined by its own creator, me.
This redemption arc sounded so novel to me, bruh. I need to keep in mind that I was not the protagonist of this world… *sigh*.
Standing at the highest point of the towering building, the wind blew out and messed up my combed hair. It looked like even the world didn't want to see me comb up my hair, how sad.
For the record, this place wasn't just some place that could be visited by anyone. But, because of this card in my hand that was lent to me by Shannon. I could go anywhere I wanted on this island, and that was for free.
The black card was delivered in the middle of my 14-day training even though the new semester started in August. I thought that it was given on the first day of the new semester, was I wrong?
The sound of a beep coming from behind me, when I turned around, the sign hanging above the elevator door where I came from caught my interest. It was written 'Garuda Soar Tower'.
The elevator door slid, and coming out of the elevator was a young girl about my age with fiery red hair as if the hair itself was a burning fire.
I tilted my head as I observed her.
In contrast with her fiery red hair that looked like a burning fire full of passion and energy, her fire-red eyes were cold as fuck and expressionless.
"Wow. As expected, every female character I see in this world has exceptional beauty that exceeds even the top actors that I remembers. Hmm. I quite like her cold eyes though…"
When I casually observed her, it seemed like my skill was activated without my knowledge as there was a window screen popped up above her.
'Ember Crimson' was written there. Was that her name?
Soon after the sudden activation of my skill, she turned her attention to my direction, eyes looked like those of an eagle, we made eye contact for a moment which made me shudder.
As she walked out of the elevator, her attention was still on me before then she shook her head and went straight to the left section that led to a room, the sign above the door was written 'Library'.
'Red hair like flames… I feel like I know her, but I forgot…'
I shook my head and shifted my attention back to the city landscape scenery after wasting my time captivated by her beauty.
"Hahaha. I don't believe that a city like this exists… Humans are really scary, their imaginations are boundless and that includes me!"
I chuckled as my mind wandered through every imaginary fantasy possibility that could happen anytime in this enhanced world.
Sighing, I turned around and walked toward the elevator. Waiting for the door to open, I spent the waiting time with my phone.
Information was essential to me, even though I was busy with training for the past two weeks. I never once neglected my search for every piece of information I could get about this world.
I had been a reader before an author so I knew relying on a single source of information was both arrogant and foolish. So foolish that I got sick of seeing the "Oh no, because of me, the story I knew is changing. How should I progress from now that I couldn't rely on the original story anymore?????"
Ding!
The elevator door opened, but no one was inside. I entered and pressed the button to go to the first floor.
Just as earlier, I spent my time playing with my phone.
"Haa…"
It was useless.
"I think I need a more reliable source to get information from, other from the Ascension forum… The information they shared is either a blatant lie or has been fabricated by their novelty exaggerated writing."
Too quiet. Somehow, I felt nervous when it was too quiet not like before in my old world… Actually, I didn't know what I looked like or what was my personality like. I only got a hunch that I was more of a people-person type than a loner, maybe…
"Come to think of it. The room that the red-haired girl entered earlier is a library, right? I might learn some useful truth information from the book…"
I whistled.
"Yeah. Let's go back to the highest floor."
Ding!
The door opened followed by a little shock that I felt only a little to be noticed.
Still in the elevator, I pressed the button back to the highest floor again.
Thank God the technology on this island was more advanced, so it would only take 30 seconds to travel from the first floor to the 108th floor. So, it was one minute for me to go back and forth from the highest to the first floor and then back to the highest floor.
The door to the highest floor—the special observation deck was opened. And for the record, the 107th floor was the limit for a normal guest or visitor of this building. The 108th was an exclusive floor for the Octagram Academy student.
And as I stated, it was because of this black card in my pocket that I could get into this floor. Either a black card or a student card, whichever should get the student eligible to step in on this floor.
When I stepped outside of the elevator, the shock that was too little to be noticed by me earlier was now a greater one.
I blinked… I blinked and it was not even a second, but after that blink, the scenery in front of me had changed into that of forest outskirts filled with trees.
"Huh?"
I was confused at first, and after that, I panicked. I was so panicked that I didn't notice that there were also other people in that place suddenly.
"What happened?!"