Varian felt a huge pressure as he stepped onto the fifth floor.
It was as if he was plunged deep into the ocean tied to a boulder and had to swim up.
Vulnerability. That was the feeling he got facing everyone here.
Level 5s of the second year. These people were cream of the crop.
In the Imperial Defense Academy, an average cadet would join at level 2, advance into Level 3 in their second year.
Then they would push through the hard bottleneck and advance to level 4 in their third year. They would graduate as a Level 4 and enlist in the army.
Then there were geniuses.
They joined the academy at Level 3. They would advance into Level 4 by the end of the first year and break into Level 5 by the end of the second year. In the third year, they'll make the leap of breaking into Level 6.
None of these could break through into Level 7. There was a chasm between Level 6 and Level 7 similar to between Level 3 and Level 4, except wider and harder.
It took years for a Level 6 to overcome their bottleneck.
'Genius is not the end of the story.' Varian thought as he walked into the hall.
Charles Xander was a Level 6 by the end of his second year. This was a guy who surpassed the definition of genius.
However, advancing into Level 7 was another matter. Even Charles Xander was projected to take at least two years.
'But can you really judge him by conventional methods?' Varian was a bit worried.
His arrival attracted the attention of some seniors. Some raised their eyebrow in displeasure and others straight out ignored him after sensing his aura.
A few, however, approached him with a menacing look.
They were some of the weakest auras in the room but to Varian; they were still countless times stronger.
"Get off."
"Fucker, do you think this is a place for the likes of you?"
"How dare you climb this floor?"
As expected, the world never lacked arrogant young masters, who, despite reading countless novels and watching countless dramas, tried to satiate their fragile self worth by stepping on people weaker than them.
One of them even went as far as to say:
"Do you know who my grandpa is?"
'Wait a second! What does your grandpa got to do with this? Is he the security guard to fifth floor or something?' Varian had the urge to retort but controlled himself.
Instead, he opened his comm and projected the team's invitation details.
{Team Name: Siarah
Members: 5
Invited: Varian}
"Hiss"
All the four seniors sucked in cold breath.
"Plop"
"Plop"
The next moment, they kneeled without hesitation and begged:
"Little brother, I have eyes but can't see Mt. tai."
"I deserve death, but I beg you to spare me. I have old parents at home."
"I have three kids. The third one is still in my wife's belly."
"Please spare my life. I will call you grandpa."
'What the fuck! Are they crazy or did I come to the wrong place?!' Varian distanced himself from these maniacs and looked around.
On the opposite of the holograms, there were exquisite tables. His comm pointed the direction, and he approached one of them.
There were four people sitting around a blue table. There were two men and two women.
'Eh? Who are they waiting for?' Varian didn't think it was him.
"Hi. I'm Varian. Thank you for the opportunity. I'll contribute my best." He introduced himself and gave a light bow.
The young man with red hair was browsing his comm, glanced at him for a moment and then ignored him. The other male, a hunky one, waved his hand and said perfunctorily, "Yeah. Yeah."
The petite female of the group ignored him. The young woman in the team with brown hair smiled at him and said, "Sit. We're waiting for the captain."
Varian gave her a polite smile and sat down.
The encounter was really awkward.
'Next time, I'll just do missions on my own.' He thought to himself.
He looked at the four and saw they were all busy with their comms.
One was observing the duels of some powerful awakeners and studying. Other was reading a bundled online book about Abyssals. The remaining two were checking out the latest records of some "Treasure Ranking?"
Varian didn't bother them and instead checked the mission details.
{Abyssal Traces:
Abyssals have used Cross Tunneling 2,300 times in the past month and entered many Low Dungeons on earth.
They were able to conceal themselves for reasons we do not know. But with more and more Abyssals entering the Dungeon, the more dangerous it is for the adventurers.
The Abyssals are particularly targeting geniuses. Until now, there have 302...303 deaths.
Find out where and how the Abyssals are hiding.}
The death count was updated in real time and was climbing every day.
Varian recalled the words of the Inspector.
'There are rumors that cadets of Imperial Defense Academy will be sent to look into this.'
'But Level 5s? Isn't that an overkill?' he wondered and continued to check the mission details.
{Minimum Mp: 3000
Extra Mp rewarded based on the intel
Target: Virgin Dungeon.}
"Hiss" Varian was shocked.
Virgin Dungeon!
He recalled his near death.
'I have a strong feeling that it won't be good.'
"Hey junior, I'll call you Varian," the brunette said and continued. "This mission might look easy, but the enemies are at all on Level 5.
To be honest, you won't be of any help and will instead be a burden. But since Captain owes someone a favor, she is letting you in.
Follow what we say. Help us with trivial tasks. Make the most of this experience."
Varian was uncomfortable initially, but realized she was only being honest. There was no contempt in her tone and she said things as they were.
"I won't cause you trouble." He thought for a moment and said.
'I am weak now, but not for long.'
She checked her comm and stood up.
"Then let's go. Captain said she will directly come to the mission location." She said, and they exited the mission hall.
They boarded a star treasure hover car, which was much faster than usual hover cars, and in a few minutes, Varian found himself in front of the familiar dungeon gate.
Except this time, the Dungeon was far more strictly guarded. Varian even felt auras as strong as Level 5.
The crystal gate covered with inscriptions. The gate that nearly took his life, but also gave him a new one.
He took a deep breath. This time, he was different.
"Let's go." A cold and commanding voice said.
Varian turned around to see the Sarah, Senior Sister of that day in her combat uniform.