But now, onto other news. Amon Yashin has done it again wi..."
Zephyrion's heart raced as his name was mentioned on the news. Fear and panic gripped him as he wondered if the authorities had found the two corpses in the jungle, revealing him as the killer. The suspense hung in the air, leaving him drenched in sweat as he anticipated the news reporter's next words.
"Amon Yashin continues to dazzle us, achieving yet another perfect score on his high school exam, shattering records with every stride. Let's not forget that Yashin previously aced his junior high school exam last year.
This remarkable young mind is a true prodigy in the realm of knowledge and within the annals of Solara's history, there's no equal to his intellectual brilliance. It's regrettable that such a prodigy lacks the innate energy for martial arts and magic, but his achievements remain a source of inspiration," the news reporter conveyed with a beaming smile, maintaining his professional demeanor."
Zephyrion exhaled a sigh of relief, his racing heart finally finding solace. Throughout the news reporter's gripping broadcast, he had been teetering on the edge of his seat.
It all came flooding back to him—the events of a month ago when Yashin, eager to pursue higher education, sat for his college admission exams.
Despite the news reporter's polished smile and facade of professionalism, Zephyrion managed to detect a glint of disdain in his expression and a subtle undertone of mockery in his voice.
Zephyrion couldn't be bothered to let the low-level reporter ruin his day. Sooner or later, the same reporter would find himself compelled to broadcast Zephyrion as one of the greatest geniuses in history.
Zephyrion picked up the TV remote and switched to other channels. He was planning to watch TV the whole night to learn more about this world and its customs.
He couldn't shake the feelings that the government was concealing crucial information from its citizens. The tidbits he came across on the computer this afternoon were mere scraps of common knowledge in this world.
To access the vital details about the coming wars, he realized he needed to raise his strength and status in this world.
Like that, Zephyrion watched TV the whole night, switching from one channel to another.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In that very moment, as the news broadcast unfolded, thousands of families and houses away, a young vibrant seventeen-year-old with fiery red hair sat bored before the television set.
His eyes rolled with a hint of disdain as he caught sight of Zephyrion's image on the screen. "Why is the news channel reporting on such insignificant matters? Can a high score on exams and a love for books truly save humanity from the besiege of three races?" he wondered aloud, a trace of scoff tugging at his lips.
The fiery-haired young man who had just spoken was none other than Aric, one of the three prodigies showcased on the screen moments ago.
Seated beside him was a middle-aged gentleman, sporting a matching spiky mane of red hair, none other than Aric's father.
"Calm yourself, Aric. You're a prodigy, after all. Why trouble yourself with someone of lesser caliber? This news serves a purpose—to instill a sense of belonging among the ordinary folks. While it may not save humanity from the clutches of the beasts and the other two races, it does give solace to regular folks, assuring them that the government still cares about them, even if they don't have the talent to practice any arts and fight for humanity's survival," Aric's father explained in a single breath.
"I understand you, Father, but I can't help but feel it's a bit excessive. After all, a trash is trash no matter what."
"Oh, never forget, you're amongst our kingdom brightest genius, the very hope of humanity's future. No need to concern yourself with such trivial matters," Aric's father brushed off the topic, putting an end to the discussion.
"By the way, it's high time you headed to your own room for some cultivation. You've recently entered the early inner stage, and it's crucial to stabilize your realm. Don't allow the other two prodigies in our city to surpass you."
"Of course, Father. You're absolutely right, I must focus on stabilizing my realm." With a final disdainful glance at Zephyrion's image on the screen, Aric strode to his room.
If Zephyrion were to overhear the father-son conversation, he'd probably spit a huge amount of blood. In every turn of their conversation, Aric had relentlessly labeled him as lowly and trash, enough to make anyone's blood boil.
As for Zephyrion, he had already slipped into a deep slumber after a few hours of watching the television. He had dozed off right on the sofa, the moment dizziness came over him.
["Hmm, this kid's sharp. He caught onto my little slip-up in an instant. I'll have to tread carefully from now on in case he grows suspicious."]
The mysterious human-like voice of the system echoed in Zephyrion's head once again.
~~~~~~~
Yaaawwwwnnn!
A big yawn escaped Zephyrion's lips as he stretched his arms, his golden eyes holding a hint of weariness as he surveyed the living room. "Looks like I dozed off right here in the living room," he mused, his gaze fixated on the still-illuminated television screen.
Suddenly, a glint of determination sparked in his eyes, accompanied by a sly grin on his lips.
"Hehehe, today marks the day I ascend to martial arts greatness. Should I freshen up or..." he paused, a mischievous glint in his eye, "Screw it! Becoming stronger is the utmost priority!"
With that resolve, Zephyrion moved swiftly towards his bedroom, every step radiating determination, almost as if he was running towards his destiny.
BAAMM!
With swift precision, Zephyrion kicked the bedroom door wide open, then darted to a specific corner of the room. His hands reached out, effortlessly moving the wardrobe in disguise aside, revealing a hidden door adorned with a mysterious code panel, demanding a password for access.
Without hesitation, Zephyrion entered the password, his memories providing the key, the door clicked open, announcing his successful entry.
Taking a deep breath, Zephyrion stepped into the room. Inside, a wide empty room greeted him, except for an enormous large box in the center, complete with a convenient handle placed on top.
The box was long and large that, its sheer size made Zephyrion pondering what would be kept there. Without a moment's pause, he approached the box and flung it open eagerly.
As he did so, Zephyrion couldn't help but recall the novels he had devoured back on Earth. This situation mirrored the thrilling adventures of protagonists stumbling upon grand treasures, and he felt as if he had stepped into one of those captivating tales himself.
His thoughts came to an abrupt halt as the box's contents were revealed. Zephyrion's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped in sheer astonishment, finally understanding why the box was so large and grand.
Within the box lay two small, hefty manual books, a mysterious wand, and a majestic war hammer so long and big that it could rival the height of two people combined.
Its grandeur was so captivating that Zephyrion couldn't tear his gaze away. Eagerly, he extended his hands, yearning to run his fingers along the exquisite craftsmanship beneath his fingertips.
[The host is now in contact with an intermediate weapon known as 'Skullsplitter.']
[Strength +15]
[Agility -3]
[The host currently lacks the require strength to harness the full potential of this weapon]
[Skullsplitter: Forged by a novice blacksmith from the core of an intermediate-tier creature. True to its name, this weapon possesses the ability to effortlessly split and shatter the skulls of even the most basic-tier beasts.]
=========
{A/N}:
Hey guys, don't forget to support this novel by voting with powerstones.