"Enough. Don't dwell on those who perished," C99 said, trying to comfort Aric. "Focus on how many are still alive. Besides, you've just become a Nova and awakened your power."
Aric fell silent, unsure of what awaited him. He knew the attackers who went after Ryan were really after the system that C99 said was now within him.
However, that didn't mean Aric should just hand it over. Who knows what calamities they would unleash if they obtained it?
It was better for Aric to complete all the missions, become stronger, and eliminate them. After all, they had hurt Ryan, and for that, they would pay. He wouldn't let them get away so easily.
As Aric was lost in thought, he suddenly heard four strange sounds coming from above the main area.
WIZ WIZ WIZ WIZ!
Each sound heralded the arrival of an individual in a robe and a mask adorned with a letter motif. They emerged from teleportation portals, their letters marked G, H, I, and J.
"Is our target here? Isn't this fortress supposed to protect ordinary humans?" asked J, still irritated by what I had done to him earlier.
"Don't underestimate our target. Look over there," H pointed to the carcasses of the Steel Bulls and Terralions scattered around.
"Interesting," I smirked mischievously. She saw a teenager who didn't look particularly strong but had an incredibly handsome face. He was sitting cross-legged, seemingly calm.
H, however, remained silent upon seeing Aric's face. Her expression was unreadable, and she didn't move a muscle. No one could discern what was going through her mind at that moment.
"Aric! Be careful!" C99's voice echoed in Aric's mind, filled with urgency.
Despite being inside Aric's body, C99 could sense the formidable aura and power emanating from those four individuals. These were not ordinary enemies!
"Scan," Aric commanded, using the power lent by C99 to analyze his adversaries.
"Level 59?!" Aric was shocked to see G's level.
However, when he scanned H, something strange happened. The information displayed was glitching, and even C99 couldn't explain why.
Meanwhile, I and J were both at Level 58. Their levels far surpassed Aric, who was currently only at Level 14, even with the power boost from Elis's copied power and attributes.
There was no way he could defeat them all.
Moreover, he could see their powers and grades. Even one of them would be a disaster for him to face alone.
"Any ideas, C99?" Aric asked, desperation creeping into his voice. Before C99 could respond, a message from the system flashed in his mind.
.
[Host has received a secret mission]
.
Before Aric could decide whether or not to open the mission panel, it opened on its own. The message displayed within the secret mission intensified his awareness of the peril he faced.
.
[Escape from the enemy. A mysterious reward will be given]
.
"I think you've got your answer. The system considers all possibilities. With your current strength, you can't defeat them. To escape? You have a chance, even if it's just 50-50," C99 replied, her tone unusually serious.
Aric's fate was linked to hers, so she needed to give him the best possible advice.
Aric sprang up, using aerokinesis to propel himself toward the exit. His mind was focused on two objectives. First, to save himself, and second, to prevent any battles near the civilians taking refuge in the fortress.
Seeing Aric's escape, J immediately gave chase. "Hahaha! Where do you think you're going, kid?"
J's mocking tone only fueled Aric's anxiety, his mind racing for a way out.
Suddenly, J's face was right in front of Aric. "Aha! Surprised?"
Aric had scanned his enemies and gathered information about their powers and grades. He knew J could read minds, which allowed him to anticipate Aric's actions.
J had used the same trick against George earlier, effortlessly predicting his every move and driving him to frustration. J thrived on the shocked and stressed expressions of his enemies, a result of his mind-reading prowess.
Fortunately for Aric, J couldn't read his mind while he was communicating with C99. So that secret remained safe.
However, Aric was anxious because the scanning power couldn't reveal their weaknesses.
According to C99, the significant gap in their levels meant there was much information Aric couldn't access.
Moreover, as individuals grew stronger, they often shed their weaknesses, making them harder to defeat.
Despite all that, Aric managed a sarcastic smile directed toward J.
.
[Power Booster activated]
[Host received 60% of the power and attributes of the copied Nova]
.
In an instant, Aric's capabilities surged to 60% of Elis's full strength, combined with his original level and attributes, elevating him to the equivalent of a Level 59 Nova, which was now one level above both I and J.
With this boosted power, he felt a rush of confidence. Channeling the power, Aric delivered a powerful punch to J's face. Meanwhile, he let C99 think on his behalf, ensuring J couldn't read his mind.
J staggered back, his eyes wide with shock. "What the...?"
Aric didn't waste the moment. "You underestimated me," he said, his voice steely. "Big mistake."
Seizing the advantage, Aric moved with newfound speed and precision, each strike backed by his enhanced power. J struggled to keep up, his previous smugness replaced by panic.
In the background, C99 continued to strategize. "Keep pushing, Aric. He's disoriented. Use your aerokinesis to outmaneuver him."
Aric followed her advice, darting around J with blinding speed, delivering blow after blow. J's defenses crumbled under the relentless assault.
When to strike and how to strike were left to C99 to decide. Aric was merely the instrument, executing each command with precision. The punch shattered J's mask into pieces.
Not only that, J fell backward. It was the first time in a long while that J had been hit this hard by anyone outside of their organization.
"What?!" J exclaimed, shock evident in his voice.
As someone with strength on par with Champion Novas, he was astounded to be attacked so badly by a teenager. He had underestimated Aric, never expecting such a powerful impact from him.
"That was a greeting from me," Aric said sarcastically.
This was a direct response to J's earlier behavior. According to Aric and C99's calculations, J could be defeated using the Power Booster. The secret mission given by the system had to be related to the strength of G and H.
That's why he dared to confront J like this. He didn't know who would chase him, but it made sense that higher-level Novas with higher positions wouldn't bother.
His pursuers would most likely be I or J. Fortunately, he was right. He didn't care much which of the two chased him, as their powers were similar—more mental than destructive.
"Aric, allocate your Free Attribute Points to Strength, Endurance, and Agility. You'll need them to get out of this situation," C99 advised.
Aric nodded, instructing the system to follow C99's suggestion.
.
[Host adds 15 points to Strength]
[Host adds 15 points to Endurance]
[Host adds 15 points to Agility]
.
This was the first time Aric used his Free Attribute Points. Each time he leveled up previously, his attributes increased incrementally.
Now, the change was significant; his muscles became larger and more refined. His physique and face also underwent noticeable transformations, though he hadn't had the chance to see himself in a mirror.
Regardless, he didn't have time to admire these changes. He was still in danger.
Aric, who had just knocked down J with a punch, quickly sped off using Aerokinesis toward the exit. If he managed to open it, he could ask C99 to activate the safety features in the corridor.
Upon reaching the door, Aric realized his predicament had worsened. The door could only be opened by specific individuals due to the retina scanner.
"Can't you do anything, C99?" asked Aric in a hurried tone.
"I need some time since the system used here is not something coming from Earth," replied C99 as she was impressed with what she had seen in front of her right now.
"How long do you need?"
"Twelve minutes."
"We don't have that much time. My Power Booster's limit is ten minutes only. Other option?" asked Aric.
Did they have another option? Yes, Aric could try to break the door down. But he knew that was impossible; the fortress had been built by his father using the strongest materials. He recalled David's stories about the shelter's construction.
He also understood why his enemies had used teleportation portals to infiltrate the shelter instead of the doors—they couldn't breach them either.
"Hahaha! Did you think you could escape, kid? Go. Try breaking that door," J taunted, laughing.
J's face was now fully visible, his mask shattered. Aric realized J was trying to provoke him. He noticed H channeling her power through the floor towards the door. If he touched the door, he'd be attacked by H's electrokinesis.
"What can we do, C99?" Aric asked, feeling the pressure of time. The ten minutes of Power Booster use was ticking away.
He couldn't risk depleting his power before defeating his enemies. It would be disastrous. C99 was also trying to find a solution.
While they thought and discussed, Aric continued exchanging blows with J. This time, Aric was struggling because C99 was seriously thinking about the way out from here.
J delivered a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Aric's head. Aric ducked and landed a strong punch to J's left abdomen. 'Damn! It's as hard as iron!'
Even with powers, most Novas like J would fortify their physical bodies to an absurd degree. J smirked and clasped his hands to hammer down on Aric from above. His strike was incredibly fast.
Aric quickly dodged backward. J's attack missed by an inch. Without the Power Booster, Aric would have been dead long ago.
Aric executed a strong front kick aimed at J's chin. Seeing the attack, J smirked, "You are raw. Never learn a proper martial art? Do you think you have a chance?"
As J tried to dodge, Aric accelerated his kick with aerokinesis. The wind-propelled leg made his attack unpredictable.
The kick hit its mark. J's body flew backward, and Aric used the wind to propel himself, shooting toward J. He landed an elbow strike with his left hand on J's still airborne body.
Once again, J was sent flying, giving Aric an opportunity. "Anything, C99?"
"Portal... That's your only chance, Aric," C99 replied.
Her voice trembled slightly, knowing the suggestion was risky. If the earlier additional attributes could provide any benefit, now is the time.