Alex was in a state of genuine panic.
He had already decided that if the people chasing him turned out to be from an Emperor family, he would swallow his pride and apologize. Even though the whole mess had started because of that ant. Cough. Because of that boy who had tried to shove him aside by force.
Alex stared at the road ahead.
The flying car had no driver. It was operating in full automated mode. Through the reflective looking glass, he could clearly see another vehicle tailing them closely.
Soon, the car slowed down and stopped in front of the massive gates of the Aurora Martial Institution.
Alex paid the fare, and only then did the door slide open.
But he did not run.
Now that his mind had cooled down, he already knew how to handle the situation. If they were from an Emperor family, he would apologize. If they were from a Saint family, he would tell them to get lost.
And if they were beneath his status?
Hehehe.
He would pummel them.
It was simply human nature to bend according to circumstances.
Another car stopped behind him. Four young men stepped out. The one Alex had tossed away like a rag doll earlier was not among them. He was probably lying in a hospital bed by now.
"Bastard! How dare you injure one of my lackeys and run away?"
The handsome youth roared as he pointed at Alex.
Alex replied calmly, his tone polite.
"My good sir, may I have the honor of knowing who you are?"
Instantly, the boy's ego inflated.
He gestured for one of his followers to speak.
"He is the third young master of the Windsor family. Ren Windsor. Our family's ancestor is Monarch Feren Windsor."
"Huh?"
Alex was completely dumbfounded.
Why the hell would the heir of a Monarch-level family chase someone without knowing their background?
That curiosity amused him more than the threat itself.
The reason was simple. The Windsor family lived far away in the Eastern Continent, where they ruled their city as absolute overlords. Their worldview had become narrow and stagnant.
Ren Windsor still thought he was the unrivaled young master wherever he went.
Their ancestor had accumulated merit and used it to send the younger generation to this five-day training camp. That was all.
Alex did not waste another second after confirming their status.
Bang!
He slapped all four of them.
It was like watching an adult discipline unruly children.
"Bastards. I ran for nothing."
"You sons of bitches wasted my time and ruined my mood."
He slapped them purely out of irritation.
Then he turned around and left, humming to himself.
Before leaving, he even called an ambulance for them. All four had lost consciousness from his casual slap.
Alex paused near the gate and peered into the Aurora Martial Institution through the narrow gaps.
The buildings inside looked magnificent, grand beyond words. Unfortunately, he could not see much.
As he leaned in a little more, a security guard immediately warned him that the area was off-limits.
Alex sighed and stepped back.
After that, he visited several prominent landmarks in the city before heading toward the Tower of Ascension.
But he could not even get close.
A five-kilometer radius around the tower was completely sealed, guarded by powerful soldiers.
He could not properly explore the institution, nor the Tower.
Still, the night was not a complete waste.
He learned a lot about the city and its culture.
And that culture was simple.
The strong preyed on the weak.
Throughout the night, Alex encountered countless so-called young masters trying to assert dominance. The moment he flashed the insignia of a Saint family, their arrogance vanished and they began groveling.
One night was enough for Alex to understand this world a little better.
He returned to the hotel and went to sleep.
As he lay on the bed, his thoughts drifted to the virtual battlefield.
Tomorrow, he would use all six levels of swordman ship.
After that, he would ask his mother to teach him the remaining three.
With that thought, he opened the system panel.
[Cultivation Base: 650000/10M]
[Energy Absorption: 9/s]
The numbers were staggering.
Still, Alex wanted to break through to the next major realm before challenging the Tower.
That would require another 187 top-grade cosmic crystals.
Even if he had them, it would take at least twelve days.
And he only had thirteen days left.
Alex contacted his mother and requested another one hundred top-grade cosmic crystals.
Elizabeth was puzzled about how her son was consuming so many resources.
But she gave them to him anyway.
Alex happily recharged all the crystals into his system and activated cultivation.
Then he went to sleep.
Only two hours remained before morning.
At exactly 7 a.m., Alex woke up, washed up, and headed downstairs.
The first floor housed the hotel restaurant.
Most members of the Aurelion family were already present.
He did not see his mother or his third uncle, so he sat alone and ordered a large meal.
He specifically ordered Grade 1 monster meat.
This meat was packed with energy. Just ten grams could keep an ordinary human full for two days.
Alex ordered five kilograms.
The entire restaurant froze instantly.
"Does he want to die?"
"Who is he trying to impress? Lady Anna?"
Whispers and ridicule filled the air.
Even the restaurant manager hurried over, bowing nervously.
"Young master, this amount could seriously harm your body. Please reconsider."
"You don't need to worry. Just bring the food."
The manager was trembling. If anything happened, Lady Elizabeth would erase him from existence.
He immediately contacted her.
"Give him the food. Don't worry.",Elizabeth confirmed.
The manager's eyes widened, but he complied.
Alex finished everything and left the restaurant.
The elders were already waiting downstairs.
Behind him, the entire dining hall was silent in shock.
Only Martial Warriors could consume that much monster meat.
Anna sucked in a cold breath. Even her body could not withstand that energy.
Her fists clenched tightly.
Ten minutes later, everyone departed for the Alliance Headquarters.
The training would be conducted there.
Upon arrival, Alex saw over five thousand young men and women, each accompanied by elders.
All of them came from Saint or Emperor families.
Some were even from Monarch or King families, having received special recommendations.
Suddenly, Alex's gaze locked onto a group at the very front.
They looked familiar.
Then he noticed the insignia.
The Moriarty family.
Their eyes met his.
Instantly cold hostility flashed in their gazes.
But Alex did not flinch. He looked away as if they did not exist.
A handsome youth dressed in white robe clenched his fists.
"I'll crush your father's record and become the highest talent in the family."
Then a middle-aged man stepped forward from the Alliance building.
"Welcome, young hopes of the world."
"I will not waste time with nonsense."
"You will participate in a training camp. Since it is virtual, you will not stay here."
He raised a helmet.
"This is a virtual battlefield device. Put it on and enter at exactly 9 a.m."
"You will fight twelve hours per day."
"The more monsters you kill, the more points you earn."
"After five days, the champion will receive the latest wristband developed by the Alliance."
"This device will assist Ascender in the Tower."
"You can even use it during mental battles every ten floors."
"We seek the absolute genius among you."
"So tell me."
"Do you have what it takes to claim the ultimate wristband?"