That evening, Marcus attended his first Ascending Circle meeting. The North Tower study hall was impressive—enchanted privacy wards, advanced equipment, reference texts worth fortunes in collective value. The eight members were all exceptional: Elena the enchanter, Victor the artificer, Lucian the combat genius, three others specializing in various magical disciplines, and a quiet girl named Sarah who apparently was a Platinum-grade healer despite being only seventeen.
"Welcome everyone," Elena began, sitting at the head of a large table. "Today's topic: breakthrough barriers and how to overcome them efficiently. Marcus, you went from Iron to Bronze Peak in under three months—that's ten times faster than normal. How?"
All eyes turned to him expectantly.
Marcus had prepared for this question. "Three factors. First, high-quality mana crystals absorbed consistently every night. Second, strong cultivation foundation built during Iron Rank—I didn't rush advancement. Third, practical combat experience that forced my body to adapt quickly. Stress accelerates growth."
"Practical combat experience?" Victor asked. He was a stocky young man with artificer's calluses on his hands. "Like the tournament?"
"And mercenary work before coming to the academy. Escort missions, guard duty. You learn faster when failure means death."
That wasn't entirely a lie—just substituting "mercenary work" for "assassination contracts."
"The mana crystal absorption rate is still unusual," Sarah said softly. She was observant, her Platinum-grade healer senses probably detecting things others missed. "Most cultivators can only absorb one crystal per night safely. More causes mana poisoning. You must have exceptional constitution."
"Strong foundation," Marcus repeated. "Built my channels carefully to handle higher throughput."
The meeting continued for two hours, each member sharing techniques, discussing theory, debating cultivation philosophy. Marcus learned that Victor could create artifacts that stored spell matrices—essentially one-use magical items that unleashed prepared spells. Elena could enchant equipment to enhance specific abilities beyond normal limits. Sarah knew healing techniques that could recover from near-fatal injuries in minutes.
All useful information. All potentially valuable allies.
As the meeting ended, Lucian pulled Marcus aside. "There's another contract. Silver Rank - Mid Stage target this time. Mercenary captain named 'Iron' Garrett, wanted for war crimes. Bounty is 75,000 gold. Interested?"
Marcus was always interested in high-value contracts. "Details?"
"Operates out of a fortified compound in the military district. Twenty Bronze Rank mercenaries under his command, all combat veterans. He's personally responsible for civilian massacres during the border conflicts—women, children, elderly. Three villages burned, four hundred confirmed deaths."
Someone who definitely deserved killing. "When?"
"Whenever we're ready. I've been tracking his patterns for two weeks. He's vulnerable during weapon training every third day—separated from most of his men, focused on combat drills. If we strike then, we face him plus maybe five guards instead of twenty."
"You've been planning this on your own?"
"You said I needed to stop freezing, stop being reactive. So I'm being proactive. Planning ahead, gathering intelligence, finding optimal attack windows." Lucian's amber eyes were intense. "I want to be the one to kill him. Last time you saved me against Crane, then I got lucky with the backstab. This time, I want to prove I can handle a target myself."
Marcus studied him. Lucian was growing rapidly—not just in cultivation, but in mindset. The noble genius was becoming a true predator.
"Fine. You lead this contract. I'll provide backup, but the kill is yours if you can take it. We split the bounty equally either way."
"Thank you." Lucian smiled genuinely. "Three days from now. Be ready."
After Lucian left, Marcus sat thinking about how quickly things had evolved. Two months ago, he'd arrived at this academy as an unknown Iron Rank alchemist. Now he was Bronze Peak Stage, tournament champion, member of the elite study group, training an ambitious genius, and regularly executing assassination contracts.
His dual life was becoming increasingly complex. More connections meant more vulnerabilities. More success meant more attention.
But it also meant more power, more wealth, more resources to ensure survival.
Marcus pulled out three high-grade mana crystals and began his nightly cultivation routine.
BRONZE PEAK STAGE: 89%... 92%... 95%
So close to breakthrough. One more good contract and he'd reach Silver Rank—a milestone that took most people five to seven years from Bronze Peak.
He'd achieve it in under three months total from entering the academy.
The system had given him incredible advantages. His Midas Touch let him generate infinite wealth and cultivation resources. His 100x Effect made him temporarily unstoppable. His willingness to kill and absorb enemies accelerated his progression beyond normal limits.
But none of that mattered if he got careless. One mistake, one moment of overconfidence, and everything could collapse.
Marcus finished his cultivation and prepared for tomorrow. Classes in the morning, Ascending Circle research in the afternoon, equipment maintenance in the evening, then preparing for the contract in three days.
The cycle continued. Power through violence. Wealth through assassination. Growth through absorption.
And somewhere in all of it, Marcus Aldrich was becoming someone his previous self would barely recognize. Stronger, certainly. More capable, definitely. But also harder, colder, more willing to kill for advancement.
He wondered if that transformation bothered him.
It didn't. Not really.
Because in this world, the strong survived and the weak perished. And Marcus had already died once from weakness.
He wouldn't make that mistake again.