Classroom in Area C.
“Ding, ding, ding—”
The morning class had just ended, and Mike received another message from Violet.
Witty Wombat: Professor Gregory replied to the email. There’s an attached item. I’ll forward
it to you.
Deathsinger: Got it.
A well-sealed oil paper package appeared in the communication crystal.
Clearly, Violet hadn’t peeked during the transfer.
Even without opening the oil paper package, Mike could feel the sharp sword energy emanating from it.
Mike discreetly opened the oil paper package, revealing ten skill books lying quietly inside.
The ink on the skill books was still wet.
Skill Book: [Tear Wound]
[Tear Wound]: Inflicts continuous bleeding damage (100+ 20% Physical Attack + 15% Spell Power) per second on the enemy when slashing, and applies the Tear Wound effect, lasting 5 seconds.
Tear Wound Effect: The target with this effect will continuously lose blood from the wound while moving, taking additional physical damage equal to 30% of the displacement distance, lasting 5 seconds.
Cost: None
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Note: As I wandered the First Abyss, an old friend’s letter brought me some insight.
That familiar tone, that casual demeanor…
The author was obvious.
Mike took out his Lone Wolf badge and sent a message to Joseph.
“Joseph, I have a skill book that would fit perfectly into your. Interested?”
While waiting for Joseph’s reply, Mike picked up the communication crystal and asked Violet the same question.
“I want it!”
After reading the skill description, Violet’s eyes sparkled. This skill perfectly countered Wind’s Reach!
“As long as this skill has nothing to do with Thor, it’s fine!” Violet thought to herself.
In the end, Mike named a price, and Violet agreed without even bargaining!
Looking at the 1500 Lord merits he had just earned, Mike fell into deep thought.
Was making money supposed to be this easy?
Just then, Joseph replied.
Joseph: “There’s such a skill book? I’ll take one, no, two! How much per book?”
Thor: “I just sold one for 1500 Lord merits.”
Joseph: “I get it. 2000 per book!”
Mike: ???
This was the first time he had seen someone voluntarily raise the price!
Joseph was being unusually proactive!
“Ding, your Wolf’s Den savings card has received 4000 Lord merits!”
In the blink of an eye, Mike had 5500 Lord merits in hand.
Looking at the remaining six skill books, Mike suddenly felt he might have undersold them.
…
Guardian Shadow, Cross-Tier Challenge Arena.
Shadow Forty-Nine, Witty Wombat, returned to the familiar battlefield.
Her eyes were exceptionally determined, her right hand resting on the hilt of her blade, like a beast ready to strike.
With the sound of tearing flesh, and in the disbelieving eyes of her opponent, a strong warrior fell unwillingly.
“Witty Wombat, victory!”
A halo on Violet’s wrist flashed, the numbers on it changing rapidly, finally stopping at:
Thirteen. frёewebηovel.cѳm
Shadow Thirteen!
Violet’s eyes were filled with determination, her blood boiling.
She wasn’t trying to prove how great she was.
She wanted to show everyone that what she had lost, she would take back with her own hands (with Deathsinger’s help)!
With the remaining time, Violet rushed to her fallen opponent, urgently saying, “Quick, swear!”
The person smiled helplessly and shook their head, swearing by their true name never to reveal the details of their fight with Violet.
Especially that game-changing move that caused damage through movement!
After the oath, both figures flickered and left the arena, returning to reality.
“Yes!”
Violet pumped her fist, overjoyed.
With [Tear Wound], she had shot up to Shadow Thirteen!
“Who should I challenge next, Shadow Twelve or Shadow Eleven?”
Amid her excitement, Violet didn’t forget the biggest contributor to her success.
After each challenge, making the opponent swear to secrecy was something Deathsinger had
taught her.
And it worked!
Deathsinger had mastered these unconventional tricks.
She took out her communication crystal and started typing.
Witty Wombat: Deathsinger, I’m now back to rank thirteen!
Deathsinger: Impressive, impressive!
Witty Wombat: I’m planning to challenge Shadow Eleven. I have a 60% chance of winning.
Deathsinger: 60% chance? That’s a guaranteed loss. Why fight?
Violet stared at the message on the communication crystal, deep in thought.
She hadn’t scored high in school exams, but she had paid attention in math.
How did a 60% chance equate to a guaranteed loss?
Deathsinger: A 60% chance means you’ve already lost 40% before the fight even starts. If you lose another 40% during the fight, you’ll be left with just 20%. Rounding down, your win rate
is practically zero!
Violet read the message three times.
It seemed to make sense?
Witty Wombat: So, what do you suggest I do now?
Deathsinger: Lie low, then strike with a thunderous impact.
On the other end of the communication crystal, Mike detailed his combat philosophy,
opening Violet’s eyes.
Mike put away the communication crystal, concluding Violet’s matter.
Now he had to worry about-Calderon.
“If I’m not mistaken, Calderon will come looking for me by this afternoon.”
Mike had agreed with Shadow Nine that if Calderon issued a challenge, Mike would face him.
Shadow Nine would handle keeping Mike’s identity secret.
During a break in the training hall, Kaelum approached with a joyful expression.
“Mike, dinner’s on me tonight!”
He pointed towards the cafeteria, whispering, “I’m paying. Let’s celebrate tonight.”
Mike couldn’t help but be curious, “What’s got you so happy?”
Anderson added, “He just spent all his money.”
Hearing this, Mike looked at Kaelum in surprise.
Spent all his money and still this happy?
“Just a bit of cash!”
Kaelum waved it off, unable to contain his excitement, “I just bought a skill book from my
nephew. It’s amazing. I can’t share the details, but I can tell you it’s definitely from… a
powerhouse!”
Kaelum was hiding a lot, playing the mystery man.
Little did he know, Mike was already well aware of everything.
Listening to Kaelum, Mike’s expression was a mix of amusement and nonchalance, “Even if
it’s from a Lord-tier powerhouse, how much could a skill book cost?”
Kaelum casually replied, “Not much, just 4000 Lord merits.”
“Spit-”
Damn you, Joseph! Making a profit as a middleman?
Unbelievable!
“That much?” Cain exclaimed, shocked, “I heard 1 Lord merit equals 1 million gold coins.
You’re loaded?”
“Yeah.”
Anderson explained, “He spent all his SSS-level mission rewards.”
Mike felt his heart bleeding!
He sold three [Tear Wound] books for 5500 Lord merits, but Joseph sold one for 4000.
Mike lost 6500 Lord merits!
Mike could only console himself, “No worries, I’ll make that back from Joseph eventually!”
As Mike was lamenting his lost merits, he saw a familiar, sexy woman.
Fake Thor-Bad Woman!
The SSS-grade talent training camp was supposed to have an exchange with Area B today.
Since ‘Thor’ hadn’t fought Mike yet, they came again.
Bad Woman entered the training hall, not immediately looking for trouble with Mike, but
checking the time.
“It’s 3 o’clock, time to pee.”
This was something Shadow Nine taught them: to go to the restroom at regular intervals to
live more like humans.
Shadow Nine always had these quirky teachings, calling them ‘the first step to being human.’
Standing in front of the restroom, Bad Woman hesitated.
She had been beaten in the men’s restroom yesterday, leaving her with a psychological
shadow. So this time, Bad Woman headed straight for the women’s restroom.
As she entered the empty restroom, a cold voice came from above.
“Thor, I heard you got an SSSSS rating last night?”
Bad Woman:…
“Can you avoid hitting my face? I…”
That was her only request!
Before she finished speaking, a fist came crashing down.
Boom-
A few minutes later, Shadow Two staggered out of the restroom, her face untouched but her
body swollen.
With a sneer, Bad Woman’s face showed mockery and disdain.
What nonsense about Calderon, the second Ultimate Lord of humanity, Shadow Nine’s rival,
the best fighter…
All lies!
Even with full force, he couldn’t kill me?
And twice at that!
I should be Shadow One!
Shadow Two was beaten vision blurred. She vaguely saw five identical people approaching.
Bad Woman rolled her eyes and finally succumbed to Calderon’s beating, passing out again.
