"It was unexpected, but feels really great."
The abrupt surge of power reverberated throughout his entire being, reminiscent of the sensation when he attained Level 1. His energy core, which had gradually expanded with each passing day, had now reached full maturity, akin to a tightly clenched fist.
While the sight of those status alerts filled him with ecstasy, the sensation of increased energy coursing through his body allowed him to savor the true essence of ecstasy.
"I think I should hit the shower," murmured, glancing at the vividly rising entity in his pants.
The tandem of ecstatic sensations and heightened energy consistently accompanied each breakthrough, with the exception of a singular incident in the future. These reactions were the natural responses of the human body to the experience of transcending to another level.
It served as the body's inherent method of embracing the new energy pathway and adapting to it, or so the experts claimed. Yet, the true reason remained shrouded in mystery. Only the Goddess knows, as a response often echoed by a Goddess's Priestess devoted to the divine entity.
However, a significant distinction existed between Level 1 and 2: enhanced senses. If his perception was akin to viewing things in 720 pixels before, it had now elevated to the clarity of 1080-pixel HD.
This disparity extended to all five of his senses. An example is the fact that his hearing became so amplified that he could discern the footsteps of someone walking in the corridor beyond his soundproof walls.
Following a swift shower, Leon opted to wander around the base, preferring not to work up any more sweat. It was still around eleven and a half o'clock, the usual time when he would be engrossed in gaming in his room, uttering a stream of colorful expletives.
However, those activities were now a thing of the past for him. This hour now signified his bedtime after the night training sessions.
Even though the location was situated beneath the city, darkness did not prevail. Meticulously positioned lamps adorned the tops of each cave and spanned the literal extremities of the area.
If not for the predominant orange hue and varied tones, one might mistake Rebellious's concealed base for nothing less than a vibrant nightclub.
As Leon strolled around the massive circle crafted from metals and stones, people of diverse races mingled within. Some continued to socialize, while others headed to their respective rooms, bearing the sweat earned through their arduous efforts.
A subtle shift occurred in their eyes whenever they caught sight of Leon.
The Stone City branch boasted a manageable number of members, as the leader had previously mentioned—akin to a sizable, close-knit family.
Having spent numerous days among them, Leon had firmly established a place in their hearts, becoming a stabilizing force within the group. Initially, it was a tentative position, but now the dynamics had shifted entirely, aligning favorably with Leon.
Previously, barely anyone acknowledged him, but now, at the very least, everyone offered a nod in greeting. Hailed as a genius, he played a pivotal role in their missions and demonstrated his capabilities not once but twice in succession.
The brilliance of Leon, destined to reach Level 6 in the future, and perhaps even ascend to the status of a God's Bane, commanded respect from anyone who recognized it.
'What's she up to?'
The person who invariably terrorized his door whenever she entered caught his eye. She descended the stairs on the opposite end of the secret base, holding a small bag reminiscent of those from supermarkets, concealing its contents from view.
'Let's wait and find out,' and retraced his steps all the way back to his room.
Triss, a beacon of joy within the branch, received similar treatment to Leon. However, while Leon's nods were rooted in respect, Triss garnered greetings purely for being herself. Pausing intermittently, she engaged in brief exchanges, reminiscent of a friendly neighborhood where everyone knew each other.
"What's up, Leon?"
"What's up to you?"
Triss's eyes traced the path of Leon's pointing finger before she could even pose a question. A fleeting expression of surprise crossed her face, momentarily concealed from Leon, as his focus remained fixed on her bag, attempting to discern its contents.
"N-Nothing, just grabbed some groceries."
"Groceries? You buy like three apples or what?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"I'm just saying, that bag looks like it can hold about three apples. Besides, we're in the base, you can't really buy much here. You think I'm dumb?"
"A-Aren't you getting a bit too clever?"
"I have a brain, I can use it."
This single sentence washed away her anxiety, replacing it with a smirk on his face. He had indeed handed her an opportunity, and she wouldn't be hesitant to seize it.
"Really now?"
"What?"
"Did you forget what you pulled during the mission?"
An unforgettable event for Leon, stemming from the sheer peculiarity of the situation, had firmly taken residence in his mind, residing rent-free. The moments of his skirmish with a Sand Tier guard played on a loop in his memory.
"Good night."
"Heh," triumphantly walked into her room, "Good night."
---
Sigh…
I couldn't do anything during the mission. My help seemed meaningless. I want to contribute, be useful to others, to Rebellious. I also aim to become strong enough to exact my revenge, but right now, I still feel powerless to achieve it.
On the other hand, there's Leon. He's a real genius—smart, strong, talented, and handsome. Well, he's also a bit cheeky. No, scratch that, he's cheekier than anyone.
However, I think he's got the right to be so. Even though he started this whole universal energy arts matter later than me, he's already surpassed me. He's climbed so much in such a short time.
That guy is seriously a genius. Not only did he play a crucial role in the mission, but he also managed to punch away a Sand Tier guard.
He's the man on a mission. If he's got a job, he'd do it no matter what. I need to be more like him. I've got to prove myself as a Rebellious member too.
No, I want to prove myself. It's not like I have to, considering Rebellious has members from all kinds of job fields. It's not necessary for me to be a combatant like the majority of the organization. However, I want to be a God's Bane and make others fear my name.
And…
Becoming a God's Bane is the only path for me to take revenge.
Yet, being a Level 6 isn't enough to become a God's Bane. I also need to have talent in various things. I have to enhance both my physical and magical abilities and become strong enough to have my name resonate throughout the entire world.
'Also, I have to improve myself in this,' and I gazed at the bag atop the desk.
That bag, what's lying inside is my cheat. Yes, it's my cheating ability, and I have to get better at it. My mother, father, and big sister always told me that if I master it, I can even face a Goddess's Priestess in the future.
They mentioned only a handful have the innate talent I possess, and that's what makes us terrifying.
I have to polish my innate talent to the brim. After all, that's my cheat reaching for the skies.
---
"So, are we really going?"
"Of course we are, Leon."
"Absolutely, bro. You guys got the money, so we've got to spend it right away."
"I think saving it for the future would be better, though. And I doubt we can buy much with this much."
A black-framed card rested in Leon's hand. However, at first glance, it appeared indistinguishable from an empty, rectangular frame. It was only when Leon slid through the upper side that a transformation occurred.
A blue light emanated from the four edges of the card, saturating the void with a radiant blue glow.
Now, it bore a striking resemblance to his status screen in terms of shape, with the exception of the frame portion, as he hadn't possessed one initially.
From then on, he tapped the screen twice, mimicking a phone gesture. What materialized were six vacant boxes. 693123—the code engraved by Leon's fingertips.
A flawless 10,000 gleamed in white on the screen. Though it might seem an ample sum of God's Credit for a child, in reality, it represented a standard amount. The average monthly salary stood at 2,500 God's Credit, rendering 10,000 a considerable sum in the eyes of most.
However, that average salary applied to people engaged in simple tasks, such as moving documents from one place to another.
Those involved in more strenuous occupations naturally earned significantly more. Yet, when measured against the extravagant items available in grand shops—objects that everyone coveted—this amount seemed as insignificant as an ant standing before an elephant.
"10K is a lot, bro. Let's eat it."
"Because it's not your f*cking money!"
"Your money is our money, man. Don't be stingy."
"Sigh…"
"Let's hit the Black Market!"
"Triss, please stop yelling."
"You become all kind out of nowhere, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah," and a devilish smirk spread across Leon's face.
"Don't smile like that. It's creepy."