Cody slurped up the noodles.
He was currently in a restaurant stall, a warm bowl of Essence-infused noodles before him.
He hadn't ever used chopsticks once in his life, but it was pretty easy for his enhanced body.
It had been two days since he and his team had arrived. Cody had explored the town, checked up on the Valkyries training. A few other groups had been brought in as well.
Cody had also gotten a glimpse of a short man with big eyes. At first, he had assumed that man was the Faction Leader, but everyone was saying the Faction Leader wasn't back yet.
It didn't make any sense to Cody. They were probably lying.
Cody dropped his chopsticks. Damian, whose face was stuffed into a bowl, paused as well.
They both sensed it.
The aura of a strong monster was approaching.
Beads of sweat appeared on Cody's forehead. He stood up, much to the disdain of the guy who manned the stall. He wasn't level 15 yet, so he couldn't sense the full aura… But Cody could.
Cody summoned his bow from the Lesser Storage Ring he had bought from Tah'Mahkul and went to the gate, Damian following behind.
Chris was already there, a grin on his face, daggers brandished.
The Valkyries, however, seemed completely calm.
How the hell are they so calm? A damn monster is approaching! Cody nocked a makeshift arrow that he himself had made.
Finally, they could see the form of the monster. It wasn't a monster at all. It was a man.
The man was tall, likely over 6 feet. His body was covered in a white and golden cloak, tattered and windworn like he had been on a long journey.
His hair was shaggy, falling around his handsome face like a barbarian king. The presence this man had, each step sinking into the ground, the way he moved with ease… He could handle them all if he wanted to.
Name: Prince Collins
(Towering Peak Faction of #2Y-B379)
Race: Human
Origin: Earth (#2y-B379)
Level: 49 (F-Grade)
4-49? The peak of F-Grade?
Cody knew before he knew.
The Valkyries bowed. "Faction Leader." They said simultaneously.
…
Prince had arrived, hoping to just sneak back in.
Unfortunately, he had forgotten to restrain his aura, and so the Valkyries and a few other guys he had never met were out there.
Prince didn't bother scanning them. He could already tell they were weak.
The building of the wall? Perfect. It had progressed a lot in just two days.
"Faction Leader," The Valkyries said.
Damn, Prince thought. They've already adjusted to their role? So fast?
"Yeah, yeah, relax." He said, walking forward lightly. Damn it, now he would have to deal with Olivia's nagging ass.
Prince pushed the large ornate doors open, entering the city. Immediately he withdrew his aura until it was right about his skin.
Mortals couldn't sense it, but they would still feel the pressure. They just wouldn't be able to measure his power.
Prince's cloak fluttered lightly as he walked. Immediately, he walked toward Tah'Mahkul, who was happy to see him.
"You ran away?" Tah'Mahkul said, laughing. Then the laugh sputtered out when he checked a screen. "Y-You…!"
Prince snapped his fingers. Tah'Mahkul opened the store without another world.
Prince picked out a Greater Information Package for now so he could figure out how he could break in E-Grade.
He had to hurry this up, and quickly. He didn't know how long it would take, and it was a race to reach the D-Grade.
And Prince was competitive.
He quickly walked through the town, intending to go up the mountain, when a familiar voice told him to stop.
Prince froze. And slowly turned around.
Olivia assaulted him with a barrage of insults and berated him for not giving her a heads up for anything. After that, she took a deep breath.
"You're preparing to breakthrough, right?" She asked.
"Yeah."
"Good. Your mansion is mostly done, and there's a meditation mat there for you, along with a personal teleporter."
"A personal what?"
"Which is needed. I purchased an Information Package from Tah'Mahkul." She said. "In a few weeks, before the incursion, the aliens will host an auction on Earth so we can prepare for our rise to the multiverse or inevitable fall. The survival rate of planets in this is usually 5%."
Prince blinked. "Hmm. I see." He nodded. "Then I need to get my strength up for that moment." He nodded again. "Don't worry…"
"I'll become the strongest," He turned around, cloak fluttering in the breeze. "The strongest in the apocalypse."
Olivia stared at him with a blank expression.
"Oh, and also," He said, summoning the items he got from the rewards in the dungeon. "I have these."
She quickly picked them up. "This'll be useful. Though we have no notable up and coming alchemists or anyone that can make use of these items they'll be great incentives."
Prince nodded, and then left without another thought.
He ran up the stone steps that snaked their way up the mountain, all the way to the peak. They had to be recently added, cutting a perfect path through the foliage.
Olivia sighed.
…
Tah'Mahkul had been slurping on a strange, exotic blue drink. Then he spat it out. "He's attempting to breakthrough?"
"Yes," Olivia said, slightly worried.
"Shit, shit, shit… The information package should help him, but once the process starts, it cannot be stopped. He didn't take all the safety measures, he has no Dao Treasures…"
"Should I..?" Olivia took to leaving.
"No." Tah'Mahkul said. "A pure breakthrough? If the kid can accomplish this… Well, it'll be interesting, that's for sure. I wouldn't be worried. He conquered an E-Grade dungeon at F-Grade."
"Anyway," The cat man smiled. "What did you want to buy?"