I AM THE GOD OF TECHNOLOGY

by Kideo11

Dante is a budding young man who has the dreams and hopes of entering society with his own skills, independent of the help of family and friends. As a small-time app developer, he eventually tries to jailbreak his new phone when a malfunction occurs, and his phone swallows him into a wormhole. On the other side, Dante appears in an alleyway of a bustling city... Avalon! This fut

Chapter 1

[Account Balance: $-2,345.44]

Dante's expression froze when he saw his new account balance after making a down payment for his new apartment. He had just come out of the real estate building too, and he was initially feeling good about everything.

Dante sighed and looked to the sky. At some point, drops of rain began to fall, which was kind of ironic given his current financial circumstances.

Were the heavens crying from sadness through empathy or laughter through mockery?

Dante sighed again. Truly, poverty would make any fellow have poetic and deep thoughts.

However, despite being in debt, Dante could truly claim to be poor. After all, he had grown up in an upper-middle-class family with two loving parents and a nuclear as well as extended family that were largely supportive and capable.

Dante smacked his face and changed his train of thought.

"You got this man, you made this decision and now you have to live with it."

Reminding himself of his own - probably - poor life decisions, Dante ordered an uber and set the destination to home. He then sat in the back lazily and leaned on their side, placing his earphones in as he opted to listen to hardcore rap music.

"~~Motherf*cker I killed three n***gas, f*cked three b*tches, and then robbed ten banks while smoking weed, and-"

As he soaked in the mindless words, his thoughts began to wander. He turned to look outside the window and saw the setting sun, which he initially felt was a sign that an old door was being closed in his life while a new one was being opened.

However, his balance had slapped him back to the reality that while a new door might have opened, what lay behind it was not exactly a frat party, but might be a neighborhood shootout.

Dante looked at the box in his bag and felt his eyes gleam. This was another reason why he had rapidly fallen into debt, the latest Huawei G20, a spectacular handheld phone made for enthusiasts and professionals who wanted to be productive on the go.

Its price tag was over $1500 for Christ's sake, and even the latest iPhone XV was even 300 dollars cheaper and about 20 years behind in technology.

What could Dante say, it was 2030 and China's technology was on the rise. After America's business empire declined due to the failure of fiat money and the betrayal of Saudi Arabia by eliminating the petrodollar, China quickly showed its fangs.

Not to mention, after raiding and plundering Taiwan, they had access to semiconductors and their technological might soared rapidly.

As a second-generation immigrant to the almighty United States of America, Dante was ambivalent about these happenings. For one, his relatively dark skin won him no favors with most Asians, and secondly, as someone who lived in America, his livelihood was tied to its continued dominance, like riding on the back of a tiger.

Dante's eyes flickered. Truly, he was thinking about all sorts of things, but the only thing he should consider now was what to do next; his future.

As a 21-year-old young man, he had endless prospects ahead of him. A second-class upper degree in BSc Software Engineering, a relatively good-looking face, and a good credit score thanks to intuitive parents, he had a great starting point.

Many would kill to have credentials like these, despite the debt. Not like any American was debt free anyway.

But what was the source of Dante's problems was not any external factor, but lay internally.

You may know what it's like to be a very clever kid in your formative years who loved to read, exercise and generally loved to explore new things, but had that all beaten out of you by the mindless school system which requires repetition rather than creativity.

You may know what it's like to be well-to-do during your school years, always having the latest games and computers, tinkering with them, and destroying enough of them that you got scolded often.

You may know what it's like to see your classmates struggle with their studies while things come to you relatively easily, until at some point you stopped putting in effort and got by with C's.

You also may know what it's like to love your cousins and extended family, but the pressure to perform due to endless comparisons cause a rift between you all during adulthood.

If you know any of these, and most likely all of them, you would understand Dante's conundrum.

Intelligent but unmotivated.

Competitive but quick to give up.

Tunnel visioned and unable to multitask.

And most crucially...

Driven for success through uniqueness but craving to do so independently.

Such led to the current situation where a young man from a family that makes more than $250,000 a year, is over $2,000 in debt.

This sudden drive for independence and the unwillingness to rely on his parents baffled the duo to no end, making them wonder if their son was going through a phase - but at his age? - or if someone was crudely influencing him.

His father wanted him to follow the same path he did and become a high-class architect to inherit his medium-scale company that mostly worked for upper-class contractors.

That way, he could push his son to the top of the business, lower the steep learning curve and also pass on his contacts and connections in the industry.

His mother, a chemical engineer working for the now beaten-up and bullied Pfizer, wanted him to learn an Applied Science. So she supported his decision to enter IT, but his father was not too happy that his hard work and small empire would die with him.

After all, how could a coder link up with architects? Unless maybe he learned 3D design and rendering.

Dante sighed for the third time in less than 30 minutes. His rash decision to rebel by doing what he wanted had led to a small tension in their nuclear family that became slightly more intense after the last Thanksgiving when his cousins were revealed to be Doctors, Pharmacists, and Lawyers and he opened his dog mouth to say 'I am an App Developer'.

Well, he was lucky it was 2030 and even the older generation understood that IT was the future. If it was around 20 or 10 years ago, most would have classified him as a failure right off the bat.

The painful question wasn't why he chose to be an App Developer. The hard-hitting question was: 'what app have you made?'

None. Nothing.

At least, nothing he wanted to show. Obviously, a few were from practicing, tests, and projects but none of them were going to go anywhere.

Dante looked down and gripped the phone box in his hands. With this new device, that should change though, as this device was built for people like him and came with many tools and suites to make coders excel.

He already had the code written on his laptop after spending over 3 weeks and screaming over 400 times at 'syntax errors' and only needed to package it and run the test build on the phone.

From there, any errors could be handled on the device itself and then curated carefully before a soft launch among peers and friends.

Just thinking about it made Dante giddy. He almost wanted to slap the back of his uber driver's head and tell him to hurry up, but was left speechless when he saw that there was traffic ahead of them.

He couldn't very well point to the pavement and say 'the sidewalk is good enough. Go!' like some 100-year-old British vampire who liked to pose and throw knives in stopped time.

Dante could only sit back and wait while his thoughts run abound, switching between excitement towards the - seemingly - promising future and anxiety towards the possibility of failure as well as disgrace.

Eventually the uber came to a stop before his house. Dante paid the fare with his credit card and increased his debt even more. However, with an exceptional credit score of 750, his credit limit was around $15,000 anyway.

It was more than enough for him to live on until he turned his first profit. Whether it was Muskovic, Billy The Gates, or the Zucc Meister, all had started from the bottom and had deceptively moving origin stories that motivated impressionable young men like Dante into risking it all.

With that much financial leeway, he would be able to kickstart his grand life!

Assuming of course, that everything miraculously works out on the first try, and he doesn't fail over and over until his debt runs high, and is able to make enough profit off whatever he creates that he can clear his debt, start a life and be fully independent.

This is the beginning of Dante's story, and it was quite impressive already.

However, the events in the next hour proved that Murphy was the number G.O.A.T in life as his law had an unbeatable winning streak against reality.

Chapter 2

Dante got out of the uber and stood before his family home. It seemed like a typical suburban neighborhood, but it was actually a semi-walled as well as gated community for the elite among the middle class.

His eyes gleamed as he held the box in hand tightly and walked up to the gate of his house. The security guard at the front was watching videos on TikTok to pass the time and greeted Dante when he passed by.

"Yo Dante, what's up? You're back from the shopping?"

Dante turned to smile at the neatly-dressed and muscular guard who actually had a stun baton as well as a pistol strapped to his waist.

"Eduardo, what have I told you about TikTok? It's a psy-op from China to make the American youth stupid. Also, the shopping went well."

Eduardo rolled his eyes and waved his hand, not willing to descend into a tinfoil hat battle with Dante who was like a storm when he started. Dante wrung his lips with dissatisfaction seeing that he couldn't share his conspiracy theories with another unwilling person.

However, his attention was soon taken away when he entered his home then saw that his dad and mom were seated in the living room.

For being about 50 years old each, they still looked really good, mostly thanks to his mom who emphasized eating healthy and exercising at all ages.

His father was a handsome man with light caramel skin, a pair of square-rimmed glasses, and short-cropped black hair. Apart from a white Polo t-shirt displaying his broad chest, tucked into a pair of elastic Burberry shorts and a pair of green crocs, he also wore a bored frown.

Beside him was his lovely mother, a tall Eurasian woman that inherited the best characteristics from both ancestries. Long, silky black hair, two light blue eyes, fair skin that was neither pale nor pasty, but healthy, and the typical small, extremely cute face of an Asian woman.

Apart from her favorite blue sundress and a pair of slippers, what else would his mom wear when at home?

"Dad, mom, I'm home," Dante called out to them with a smile.

David, his father, turned backward and saw Dante then nodded. "Good to see you're home safe son. If you're hungry, let me know and I'll cook something up for you."

Dante rolled his eyes at his father's usual stoicism. "Alright dad, sure."

Aileen, his mother, smacked David on the shoulder. "Stop being childish just because he doesn't want to become a clone of you. Smile at your son, honey."

David simply looked away, folded his arms, and harrumphed. Aileen chuckled and Dante rolled his eyes again before going upstairs to his room.

He was an only child and had no other person staying here apart from the three of them, so his room was rather large with its own walk-in closet and bathroom.

He removed his clothes and tossed everything to the side before slipping into a singlet and a pair of mesh pop shorts that didn't require one to necessarily wear underwear because they had a net inside.

He then sat at his desk and opened his $3000 laptop with an Intel I-9 17900k, 128 GB 5000MHz DDR5 RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 6090 TI Super Mobile.

The specs were the latest of this year and it was definitely a beast. Dante had no issues gaming or working on it and his attempts to code had gone without a hitch so far.

He then opened the Huawei G20's box and unpackaged it slowly. It was always nice to unbox new tech, as long as you could ignore the wails of your wallet from the intense blow it suffered.

After unboxing, Dante plugged the new phone into the charge and saw it was at 75%. He let it charge to full, which only took like 15 minutes on Type-C fast charging, and then started it up.

He had already backed up his old phone onto his laptop previously, so he went ahead and plugged it in on the spot. He set it up using his backup, so in a matter of minutes, this phone was just like his old one, and ready to be used.

He then opened the productivity apps that came with the phone and saw the app he needed, he opened it up and imported the finished code as well as the necessary files from his laptop, then chose to build the package directly on the phone.𝒷ℯ𝓭𝓷ℴ𝓋𝓮𝓵.𝒸ℴ𝓶

True to its advertising, it only took it around 1 and a half minutes to complete this, so Dante chose to run the app. The loading screen came up and Dante waited patiently.

Now would be a good time to talk about the app Dante was making. As Dante's lecturer had once joked, App Developers made apps in response to a need, not a want. It was the only way for an app to break through and become a legendary Super App!

So what did people need in this day and age that wasn't already covered? Dante had thought long and hard about it, doing extensive research, talking on many boards and social apps with randoms to see what they lacked.

The answer was always straightforward: 'I need something that can fix my f**king life, bruv. That's not something an app can do.'

So Dante's response to this was to make an all-purpose app. It was Facebook/Twitter, Snapchat/Instagram, Whatsapp/Telegram, Ebay/Aliexpress, Doordash/Ubereats, Spotify/Deezer, Youtube/Vimeo, Twitch/Mixer, Tinder/Grindr, and Chrome/Firefox in one.

It was a social media app with streamable music, pages for various e-commerce stores to sell wares, a page for people to watch uploaded videos - be they short like TikTok or long like youtube - and even watch live streams as well.

Also, it had an inbuilt browser.

From an objective point of view, the idea wasn't bad, but its fate would be decided by the execution. However, doing something like this would require near-perfect execution, especially on the backend.

Dante had agonized over building this thing for weeks and had finally put something together. After spending so much time and effort, he no longer even thought about failure.

It was either this thing succeeded or… he didn't even know what he would do next.

Now that the screen was loading, he couldn't help but anticipate whether it would activate without a hitch. For one, you should know that even if one develops an app, one can't just think of the technical details, but also of the aesthetic and external details.

So in order to make the app stand out from any competitors or just from the millions of productivity apps out there, he coded in a special intro.

When the person clicked on the app, they would see the app's logo for about 2 seconds before a transition would occur and they would be brought to a semi-realistic 2D background of a floating island.

Lines would appear on the screen saying 'are you ready to enter the world of eternal enjoyment?' and then they would pass through an animation similar to entering the animus or when a certain character accesses the full-dive.

Then, you go to the login page or the home screen depending on whether you've logged in already.

Yeah, yeah, the line and the various stuff were super corny, you didn't have to tell Dante about it, he knew. It was just a placeholder till he got a better idea, besides, it was not the point!

The app finally loaded up, much to his excitement, and took him to the screen. Right away, he noticed some issues with how the app lagged and that the resolution of the floating island was not optimized at all.

This didn't dishearten him, as he never expected the first test build to be perfect. No experienced programmer was that arrogant. In fact, most lived in fear of their code, believing that every line hid a potential bug.

If it run too smoothly, rather than be happy, the coder in question would sneer and know that it was a trick!

The bugs were hiding until the final version was published, then they would bare their fangs on the end user's devices and tarnish your reputation!

Dante clicked the button to switch from the intro scene to the actual login page, but something wrong seemed to occur at this point. A familiar and fearsome prompt appeared before him that every coder hated.

[Error at line 34598: Syntax Error!

Description: "#√ P− |ψ 〉 = |−z〉|+z hahaha Quantum Entangle my balls b*tch!#" cannot be read!

Ignore and continue?]

Dante was embarrassed and then furious.

'I put the bloody line in a hash! Why the hell are you reading it? Which editor does that?!'

Ignore and continue of course!

It was just something he typed into the editor near the 'jump' command that led to the login page because he felt like... well.

The first screen switching to the second screen - coupled with the animation - sorta looked like passing through a whole world, so he ended up thinking about the Quantum Entanglement equation.

He was tired, sleepy, and hungry at the time, so he angrily typed that out and felt much better before forgetting about it and continuing onward.

Chapter 3

Dante was not prepared at all for what happened next. The moment he chose to ignore and continue, his phone began to process the command before suddenly freezing.

He only had time to furrow his brows and wonder what the hell was wrong before his phone screen virtually exploded in a purple-black light and swallowed him whole.

No sound was made as he was sucked in and he disappeared from his room without even causing a stir. His parents downstairs had no idea that their son was about to be thrust into a world of danger and opportunity!

...…..

"W-What the hell?" Dante shouted, his voice coming out distorted and slow while echoing on itself. He felt like he was being sucked through a straw, hurtling within a tunnel that looked no different from the animation he used for his app.

The next second, he was thrown out harshly onto the ground, hitting his head against a wall and concussing himself. He fell to his knees and retched slightly before hazily looking around.

He would have been better off refraining from doing so as the visual impact caused him to cover his eyes.

'So goddamn bright!'

The amount of neon light that infiltrated his retina in that one second was like a flash bang, even to a city boy like Dante. He could only rub his eyes painfully and let his squeamishness recede before raising his head once more.

Dante was naturally stunned by what he saw. He was currently in a relatively dirty alleyway, with highly futuristic trashcans that glowed with neon bar lights around the lids and around the edges.

Apart from him was a strange-looking cat that had one metallic eye that glowed with a red light and was staring at him with disbelief. In all its nine lives, it had yet to see such a thing happen.

Before either Dante or the cat could react, an alert was heard.

"ALERT! ALERT! Detected a mass breakout of unknown bacteria from Sector 86! Anyone nearby, please evacuate!"

A lovely female voice that sounded strangely synthetic spoke out from all around Dante, and he could tell that this warning sounded out from every display in the distance.

At this moment, Dante's mind cleared and he inferred many things.

Well, everyone complained about Gen Z and their destructive tendencies, as well as their weird social cues, but one strength they did have was adaptability… well moreso, than the average human at least.

Watch enough isekai anime, transformers movies, star wars, and star trek, and you'd also have the basic capabilities to quickly accept a situation like this.

"Either I've progressed in our timeline and gone to earth's future, died and entered another sci-fi-like world with an identical body and identity, traveled to another world with my original human body, or I've been sucked into a digital or quantum-like world through my phone," Dante muttered as he observed both exists of the alleyway carefully.

"Judging by the warning, I have brought alien bacteria from my timeline to this place, so option 2 is out. It's either option 1, 3, or 4 and I need to determine which one it is to decide the next move." Dante whispered as he glanced at the cat that was eyeing him up and down.

Looking at its red eye, Dante's heart felt a chill. Could the cat's synthetic eye be connected to a larger network, and thereby used to monitor him? So they might have footage of him appearing from nowhere?

Damn!

Dante fled.𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He had no idea of the level of tech. It could be early cyberpunk which was like the game of the same name that was popular a while back, moderate sci-fi which was like that movie with the blue people, or top-level sci-fi like star wars or mass effect.

If it was early, he would be lucky. They shouldn't have laser weapons that could disintegrate him in one hit. Anything above early and he was done for. He was just a 21-year-old coder from earth, what advantage did he have here?

Well, he had - possibly - killer bacteria from earth, but they detected it within seconds, so they likely had ways to contain and decontaminate the place.

Dante reached the end of the alley and emerged on a relatively busy street. The people were still stunned from receiving such a weird and unique warning that they had yet to move, so Dante had time to inspect the area around him.

Dante's heart sank.

Flying cars that zoomed up ahead, people on hoverboards doing tricks and moving where they went, AI-driven robots of different models that walked or performed different activities, neon lights and buildings that had uniquely minimalistic designs, people using teleporters to move up and down…

And worst of all, alien races!

Different skin colors consisting of the entire color spectrum, humanoid, quadrupedal, scales, cat ears, wolf ears, insectoids, walking cephalopod…

You name it, they were present.

In fact, there was a distinct lack of 'pure human' like him, and the closest to it were the ones with animal features in different parts.

Once again, Dante was stunned. He didn't even live in an era where holographic technology was perfected, much less an era of Virtual Reality, so he had no cognitive failsafe for the extreme visual impact before him.

Movies and anime helped him accept the situation, but seeing things in 2 dimensions and seeing them in 3 dimensions was a whole different ballgame.

Funny enough, when he exited the alleyway, the nearest species around him were also stunned to see something they had likely never seen before.

However, their reaction was faster than Dante's.

"Oh my Sacred Light! Is that a pure-blooded human?!" A giant wolfman shouted in a deep bass voice.

"I-Impossible, what would one be doing here in Avalon City?" A female cat-woman gasped with dismay.

"I don't care, I'm going to be rich!" A Squid-like being that had its head area covered by a purple bowl-like helmet with water exclaimed through its device's speakers.

Immediately, the squid extended many tentacles toward Dante in an effort to capture him. The other aliens' eyes lit up as they seemed to have woken up from their stupor, and were replaced by a sort of mob-like madness as they charged at the young man.

"Don't touch him, he's mine!" A female giantess who was the size of a small building roared and swung her hand out, smashing many aliens aside.

"Ha, you are too weak to claim this prize!" A scaled man with a mouthful of yellow serrated teeth laughed as he pulled two guns from his trenchcoat and fired at the giantess' hands which were about to grab Dante.

The giantess screamed in pain as two laser beams with a reddish hue tore through her skin, leaving two gaping holes within. The moment the croc-man fired, another alert sounded as the synthetic voice spoke again.

"Alert, Alert! Detected use of lethal weaponry in a civilian area. Dispatching Bionic City Guards!"

The moment the alert was sounded, the faces of all the aliens around changed greatly. Many turned to escape while those closer to Dante seemed conflicted for a split second before their eyes became bloodshot. They continued to grad towards him and fought with each other brutally to drag him away.

As for Dante, he slowly backed away with a pale expression. As a proud Gen-Z upper middle-class lad, he hadn't even gotten into any situation where hundreds of people would be gunning for his life or body.

To suddenly experience that… he was naturally stunned. However, even if he had the sharp senses of an experienced person from earth, it would be useless, because these aliens, moved so fast and so nimbly that it was like he was in a ninja or wuxia movie.

There was even an extremely obese female with red skin that had green splotches on her body that moved faster than any athlete Dante had ever seen.

If it wasn't for the fact that they seemed to prioritize his safety and wholeness, as well as their constant disruption of each other's attempts to get forward, he would have likely been swooped away by now.

Looking at this scene, Dante only had one thought in his head.

"I need to get out of here. I need to go home asap. I need to return to earth!"

There was nothing but trouble for him here and he would be better of going back home. All thoughts of adventure and wonderment were beaten out of his mind by the reality that he was overwhelmed, poorly informed, outclassed, and in perpetual danger.

It seemed as if the heavens answered Dante's prayers as right before everyone's eyes, he simply disappeared with a 'pop' sound, like a bubble that had burst.

All that was left of Dante's short but eventful visit to the city of Avalon was the harmful bacteria, a crazy mob that was stupefied as well as incoming bionic guards who were coking weapons at the crowd, ready to fire…

Chapter 4

Dante was unceremoniously deposited back into his room, and his face was still as pale as it had been from the moment every single being on that street treated him as their life's goal.

He was panting heavily and sweat formed on his body despite not partaking in any strenuous physical activity. His mind buzzed with thoughts that were flying through rapidly and he realized that he was having difficulty actually getting air into his lungs.

[Detected that the user is in a state of severe mental imbalance due to heightened fear and panic. Releasing required amounts of melatonin.]

Suddenly, Dante felt his body relax involuntarily and he felt incredibly sleepy. He only had enough energy to lift himself up from the floor and fall onto his bed before he began snoring lowly.

[Host is in a peaceful state, and is asleep. Beginning in-depth assimilation to the neural system! Estimated time: 10 hours.]

...

Dante woke up and blinked three times, his brain barely functioning. Before he could even think, he jumped off his bed and rushed to his toilet before going to take a long and deep piss.

The more time he spent excreting, the more his brain fired up and memories came back to him. Now that he was out of the intense situation, he was far calmer about everything and couldn't help but feel strange.

First question, what exactly happened?

Second question, why had it happened?

Third question, how had it happened?

Every other question would have its content partially answered as long as he could satisfy these three. In order to investigate what happened, the first thing was to check his phone and the app he made, which were the most likely culprits.

As such, Dante patted himself for his phone and realized it wasn't on his body. He then checked his desk, his bed, and the floor where he landed.

He began to panic slightly when he realized his phone was missing inexplicably, but then he remembered something from yesternight.

"That's right, a voice spoke in my head, and it was also synthetic. Could it be that the Huawei gained some new features after passing through what should be a quantum wormhole?" Dante pondered.

Then how was he supposed to contact it? Uh, in the fictional stuff, they often had to either think or speak 'status'.

"Status," Dante spoke and thought at the same time.

Nothing.

Dante was slightly embarrassed before claiming himself down and pondering once more. He had an idea and decided to be more direct and not be obtuse.

"Huawei G20, respond."

[Greetings, Dante. What can I do for you?]

Dante was startled that it actually worked. A part of him wanted to believe that everything he experienced was a fever dream he made up due to fatigue or excitement, but this practically cemented that everything was real.

"What exactly are you? How are you able to do this and what happened before I went to sleep?" Dante asked three of the most pertinent questions rapidly.

[To answer your first question, I am an embedded AI chip formed from the hardware of the previous Huawei G20 that was modified by an external force and merged into your body.]

[To answer your second question, I am currently merged with the entirety of your body's brain and neural system. This is my current limitation as I require further upgrades to be able to extend to your other organs and systems for maximum compatibility.]

[To answer your third question, you ran a program on my previous model which was misread and processed, opening a spacetime anomaly that warped you to another universe. Upon return, you were heavily panicking and hyperventilating, so I flushed your brain with melatonin and forced you to sleep.]

Dante was amazed. He received the answers directly in his mind and there was no delay or misunderstanding. He understood each word and phrase without any ambiguity that came from listening or speaking to others.

He saved this miraculous feeling and then thought about the phone's... AI's... answers. He realized that there was a good chance it could answer some questions since it seemed to understand some of what occurred in-depth.

"Alright, thank you for the answers. Before I continue, may I know what kind of authority you have over my body and how I can access or control you?" Dante asked calmly with his hands on his thighs.

[I have only partial access to your body outside of emergency situations, limited to scanning, assisting, and boosting. In Emergency situations, I can take the most logical options to preserve your safety in the most optimal and beneficial way.]

[Your control is full and unlimited. You only need to think of any application of which you want me to perform, and it shall be done.]

"Hmm..." Dante rubbed his chin and thought about it.

"I don't have any qualms with this, maintain these settings as they are, thank you," Dante instructed with a smile.

Dante wasn't enough of a blockhead to do something stupid like limiting his AI's ability to save his life in a critical situation. He did not believe his thinking or reasoning capacity was better or faster than an AI.

"Hm, Alright then. You changed from a phone with an AI? Do you still have a physical form or are you in the form of nanobots or the like?"

[Unfortunately, I am the most basic AI model available on the market, so I have a physical chip lodged in the center of your brain. Also, because I was not naturally produced and rather converted from a phone, my capabilities and functions are far weaker than even the AI chip I am supposed to emulate.]

This naturally made Dante frown. No one liked hearing that something they owned or possessed was far inferior to everyone else's, even to the basic standard of mass-produced items.

"Why did this happen? I saw you said you were modified by an external entity? What exactly was that?"

[Upon intrusion into the alternate world, we were noticed by some form of high-dimensional entity. After we were inspected, it chose to allow us passage and chose the place where we landed. It also modified my form into an AI chip and implanted it into your body perfectly.]

[I was also given basic information about the universe we entered, its laws, languages, and customs. That was how you were able to understand what they were saying.]

Dante was shocked by this. A high-dimensional lifeform? So in other words, assuming he wasn't turned into primordial soup by the travel, he could have just been silently erased if he was detected to be a threat by that entity?

Dante shook his head. He then thought for a short while, contemplating what was important to him and what wasn't.

"You said you have scanning functions, right? Can you scan my body and let me know my state compared to the average humanoid organism in that universe?"

[I have already done so while you were asleep. I will now display your information in the standardized method used in the Eternal universe and explain what they are or what they correspond to.]

ï½¢User: Dante𝒷ℯ𝒹𝓃𝓸𝓿ℯ𝓁.𝒸ℴ𝓶

Age: 21 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 0.3

Agility Index: 0.2

Dexterity Index: 0.3

Intelligence Index: 0.5

Constitution Index: 0.1

Vitality Index: 0.1

Bionic Level: 0

Psionic level: 0

AI Chip level: 0.1

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement.ï½£

[This is the SDI, the Standard Display Index, for all living beings in the Eternal universe when they undergo any scan. Each category has a different meaning. The 'User' denotes who the AI chip is registered to.]

[The 'Age' is converted in earth years, so if you ever exchange information with another person, their age will be automatically converted to this value.]

[The 'Race' naturally denotes the species and genetic stock of an entity, and at times, the quality of their racial genetics might be displayed.]

[The six body indexes are calculated based on your current value versus the basic standard of your species. In this case, it is being compared to the standard of pure humans in the eternal universe. Naturally, a full point is the average.]

[Bionics are physical enhancers that are installed into the body. They comprehensively increase the physical prowess and indexes of a person depending on the level and type.]

[Psionics are mental enhancers that are installed into the body. They also comprehensively increase the mental prowess and indexes of a person depending on the level and type.]

[AI Chip level is an indicator of my current performance quality against the basic standard per level.

[Superpowers are special genetic mutations obtained by organisms that allowed them to perform incalculable feats that neither bionics nor psionics can mimic.]

[Your current superpower is the ability to open a quantum wormhole to the Eternal Universe and back.]

Dante looked at the information and took in a deep breath. He just shut up and digested the information and its meaning for about 10 minutes, thinking rapidly the entire time.

Then he focused on one important fact.

"You say I can go back? Back to that place?" he asked with incredulity.

Chapter 5

[That is correct. It is a power that has been granted you by that high-dimensional being, no longer linked to me or your app.]

Dante suddenly jolted. "Right, that app!"

He then rushed to his laptop and lifted the screen, waking it from sleep mode. Just as he was about to type, he saw a bunch of random strings of code flash by on his laptop as if it were some cheap hackerman movie.

Dante was initially stunned then slapped his forehead.

"Is this your doing?" He asked the AI chip in his head.

[That is correct. I can interface with any electronic device, wireless network, or even wired network so long as it's either releasing a signal or has an access point. This is only at level 1, higher level AI chips can remotely access even the most secure intranets from kilometers away.]

Dante leaned back in his seat and rubbed his chin. "Huh. That's super neat and convenient. You are every user's dream."

[This is just the surface-level use. I only acted upon your laptop because I detected that you wished to access something on it. AI chips are designed to be one step ahead of their users, acting on their wishes and fulfilling their wants as well as their needs to the highest degree of perfection and efficiency.]

Dante shrugged. "Keep it up, I like the proactivity."

[I have checked the original code for the multipurpose app you created and copied it into my database, deleting it from your laptop system.]

Dante nodded. That was basically what he wanted to do, copy and paste the code elsewhere then delete it. He didn't want any liabilities leading to him down the road.

'Down the road huh…'

Dante pushed his seat back from the table and let it spin around slowly. He finally had to think about the most important thing right now, which was his next step.

Knowing about this alternate universe as well as his ability to go and come from it changed everything. His dream to make an app and get a few million dollars from it seemed childish and useless with what he just experienced.

The most logical way to move forward would be to make the most of this gift from the higher dimensional being. Dante did not know why it did this, but then did humans ever claim to know what the gods were thinking?

It might have done so for shits and giggles, but it didn't matter. What mattered was what Dante would do with it.

Dante slowly rubbed his temples, where he assumed the AI chip to be, and then smiled. It was a very dark smile that any young adult born after 2000 would make if they were in the same situation as him.

What other option was logical? Of course, it was the make the most of his opportunity!

To gain the best of both worlds!

He might be a backward, uneducated dog in the Eternal Universe, but that could be changed with time as he integrated into their world. More importantly, just a smidgen of tech and knowledge from their world could help him build an empire in this one!

No!

Dante stood up in shock.

No, he had been thinking too small!

Where he landed was just a random cosmopolitan city on a random planet he didn't even know the name of, in a random galaxy within the Eternal Universe.

With the knowledge and advantages he could glean from the Eternal Universe, he could take over earth and expand outward! Conquer the solar system, then the Milky Way, then the entire Home Universe!

Then, use the resources of the Home Universe to counter-invade and take over the Eternal Universe!

My god!

Dante sat down with a frown. However, how many years will that take? Just growing his pedigree in the Eternal Universe to acquire information about top-level tech might take a while.

Not to mention, how was he supposed to expand outward without manpower? Humans can only give birth so fast…

[Cloning technology.]

Dante's eyes lit up. That was one way, but eh.

He'd watched the movies and played the games. Trying to mass control organic species would always backfire when they developed things like 'a sense of self' and start to desire luxuries like 'freedom'.

[Then Androids are the best option.]

Dante nodded. Synthetic humanoids made of metal with human skin and features were much better. He could control them with a single powerful AI that was linked to their central processors which would ensure peak efficiency and loyalty.𝙗𝒆𝒅𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝙢

Of course, that was all far in the future. Whether it was on earth or on the other planet, he was broke. Even if he returned to that city and - assuming people didn't lunge after him again - he had absolutely zero of whatever currency they had.

Assuming he could even get things like gene serums, bionics, and psionics, how would he buy them? Was he supposed to sell his booty on the corner for quick cash?

No, Dante needed to plan things properly. First, he had to contrast and compare, as in what did earth have that the people in that universe valued or needed?

Well... apart from pure human DNA, which was why they were about to accost him, nothing else really.

Dante briefly considered robbing a sperm bank and selling the stuff in that city's black market, but he wouldn't even sell his own. After all, something so precious that could get random civilians frothing at the mouth for it was something that would make the news.

Dante had to make sure it was squeezed for its maximum value, and by the time he reentered that world, those who could make the most of that value would soon swarm to that planet to investigate his traces.

This was why he hadn't yet popped back in to take a peek. Not only that, but he had to make some common sense preparations first.

Dante stood up and walked downstairs to see that his mother was washing the dishes while his father was cutting up some fruits. Dante smiled, took one of the sliced apples, and took a bite with relish.

"Well, good to see someone is up and in a good mood." His father remarked with a stoic expression.

"Of course. You always told me growing up that the best way to start the day is with a positive mind, as it affects your success in all endeavors." Dante replied while opening the fridge for some milk.

David smiled slightly but suppress it and nodded. "Good to see you remember. It will help you now that you're an adult."

"Mhm, speaking of an adult. I want to accomplish something and acquire some advanced life skills. To that end, I rented a one-bedroom studio apartment in the mini-estate on the west side of the city."

Dante wore a solemn expression and faced his father. "Dad, I think it's about time the bird left the nest and learned how to fly on its own. What do you think?"

David paused and looked at Dante with a raised eyebrow. He then nodded and smiled slightly.

"Sure, as long as you remain safe and know what you're doing."

Eh? That's all? No fierce rejection?

"What about you mom? How do you feel?" Dante asked cautiously.

His mother placed the last dish in the rack and then removed her gloves before inverting them and carefully placing them to the side. She turned and walked to Dante with a gentle look.

"Well, I'm not too happy that my baby is leaving. However, I've greedily kept you around for 21 years, I can't always keep you forever."

She then hesitated and made a soft request. "Just… just make sure to call often as well as to come and check in on us okay?"

Dante felt his heart soften. "Aww mom, you're so cute."

He moved to hug his mother and kissed her on each side of her cheek, which she received with a roll of her eyes. Dante then turned to look at his dad, who looked back at him calmly.

…Dante wisely chose not to try that with him. He was sure he wouldn't be leaving the house with his head attached if he did.

"Right then, I'm going to go pack and then move out asap. There are a lot of things I want to try and learn in the coming month." Dante confessed with a smile.

"Sure, go ahead. When you're done, we'll go ahead and drop you there so we see where you are in case of an emergency." David commented calmly.

Dante nodded and walked upstairs, his heart feeling heavy. However, he knew he couldn't be going in and out of an alternate universe in his parent's house.

He didn't have much to pack, only his laptop, some books, and some clothes. He didn't even pack toiletries and the like because he could buy new ones and also because he would come home often if things got too hot at his other place.

Chapter 6

Dante moved downstairs and saw that his parents had already gone to the car, so he moved his stuff outside and with the help of his dad, lugged his suitcase into the back of the sedan.

Then came a short drive where his mother exhorted him on the way about hygiene, girls, and safety. Dante listened to it all seriously, because hey, while it may be slightly annoying, there was actually some good stuff hidden in there that people often reflected on later in life.

The apartment was in a small townhouse estate that had similarly built ultra-modern style houses. White walls, polished wood flooring, and a LOT of glass.

David and Aileen both nodded their heads with satisfaction praising their son's taste. They almost thought he would go for some ramshackle place to cut costs.

Dante rolled his eyes. With the kind of allowance they gave him and the savings he had built up, how could he have fallen into debt if he rented a normal place?

His father helped him carry his things up to the bedroom while his mother inspected the place carefully and was satisfied by the cleanliness.

The two hung around for a few more hours, calibrating the TV, the water, and checking the wifi, and so on. They used anything as an excuse to stick around till the very last moment.

Eventually, they could only leave with unwillingness on their faces - at least on his mom's visage - while his father wore his trademark poker face, which gave Dante the necessary space to breathe.

He sighed and slumped down on his sofa. Before he could even say anything, the AI chip responded.

[I have connected to all systems in the house and can control anything and everything as and when you need.]

Dante relaxed further with a satisfied smile. After lazing on the sofa for a while, he saw that it was still bright out, and the time said it was 2 pm.

Dante then sat up and pondered carefully.

'I still have some money. I should probably buy a gun or something then get some body armor before returning to that place.'

Dante felt like this was a good idea until the AI chip spoke.

[Unfortunately, your Quantum Entanglement ability is still undeveloped and is in its infancy, so you cannot take along foreign items except your clothes and anything directly attached to your body.]

"Alright… so just body armor?" Dante muttered.

[That will not work either. Thicker materials of such kind would disintegrate in the Quantum Wormhole. Currently, only simple clothing can go along with you.]

Dante was disheartened by this. "So I can only go there practically naked and vulnerable, open to the elements of that world?"

[Yes.]

Dante sighed deeply. Always had to be a catch, didn't there?

Whatever.

"We'll return to that place tomorrow. I want you to spend the night downloading as much useful information from the Internet as you can pertaining to survival, electronics, building, and whatnot." Dante instructed as he walked upstairs with an expression of resolve.

[It shall be done.]

Even if the methods of this universe were backward, it was best to have some foundation before heading over.

Dante let the night pass until the morning of the next day.

After a short breakfast at a nearby diner, he returned to his apartment and then locked himself up in his room. He first called his parents because he knew they would likely do so within the next few days to check up on him, so it was better to do it now rather than let them panic later.

Then, while seated on his desk chair, Dante asked. "So how do I activate it?"

[It is your power, so you only have to will it.]

"Okay then…" Dante shrugged and thought about how he wanted to go to the Eternal Universe.

He immediately disappeared from where he sat with a 'pop' sound, his existence within the home universe disappearing completely.

When Dante reappeared, he was right back on the pavement, near the alleyway beside the exact street he had last been on. He only had time to curse that his ability returned him to the same spot before a soft fist grabbed him by the throat a lifted him up.

Dante struggled and grabbed the arm that was lifting him up, but was surprised by its softness and elasticity. When he looked down, he paused for a split second and stopped struggling.

The one holding him was a woman with creamy white skin, pale golden eyes that sparkled strangely, and a swath of waist-length purple hair that was like the finest silk.

What left Dante stupefied was not only the fact that she was the first seemingly pure human he had seen in this world, but that her angular face - and cheeky smirk - were symmetrically perfect without any blemishes.

That was simply impossible. Even cosmetic surgery wouldn't make one this… flawless. Dante wanted to pull her face and see if a mask would come off, but he was not in a situation to do so anyway.

To his surprise, she dropped him the very next second, allowing him to land on his feet and take stock of his surroundings properly.

First off, the entire area had been cordoned off, and there were no pedestrians around. The shops were closed and the buildings were evacuated.

Secondly, apart from this woman, some cyborgs hung around holding rifles that glowed with a red light, looking like plasma guns from sci-fi games.

The moment he appeared, all of those muzzles were aimed at him with cold efficiency.

Seeing that the crowd was not so friendly, Dante shivered internally and turned to face the woman.

Surprisingly, she was almost the same height as himself, and he was over six feet. She wore a skin-tight purple uniform that looked like spandex of sorts, with a leather jacket with military badges and symbols.

In terms of womanly charm and sexual appeal, she was definitely top-notch with a relatively large bosom, a flat, muscular stomach, and wide hips that stretched the edge of her pants.

Her tight uniform did nothing to hide these features and rather highlighted them, making it such that regardless of whether you were a girl, boy or all those in between, your eyes would be drawn there.

"Had enough of a good look?" a light Contralto-ranged voice spoke, alerting Dante to his rudeness.

However, rather than be embarrassed, he was more confused.

"Are you real? Or are you just a fantasy?" he asked.

"Me? I am Admiral Beatrice Portinari of the 34th Prime Fleet. I am not a holograph or a form changer, but a real human. A pure human." The woman answered calmly while folding her arms beneath her bosom.

She then narrowed her eyes and leaned forward. "Just like you. I wonder how it is a pure-blooded human came to be on this backwater planet in the middle of this cheap galaxy?"

Dante shrugged. "I teleported here using my superpower."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow. " A superpower? You have no civilian Bionics or Psionics, an underperforming AI chip, an SDI below average in all fields, and claim to have a superpower?"

Dante nodded calmly. "I do claim so. I'd like to know if I have broken any laws by existing here?"

Beatrice looked Dante up and down. "Well, apart from your poor fashion, nothing I have jurisdiction over. Though without identification and a visa, you are illegally trespassing on Planet Etonia, so they'll likely chew you up."

Beatrice grinned widely, showing her shark-like teeth. "I can assure you, if you end up in their hands, you will never see the light of day again, not with your value."

Dante felt a chill at that. He thought quickly and understood what this woman was trying to do.

"Well, that's only if they have jurisdiction over me. Judging by the fact that you are a high-ranking military personnel and also a pure human, I take it I can avoid such troubles by following you?"

Beatrice's smile remained but her eyes flashed with a certain light. "Oh? For your low intelligence index, you do think quickly. Yes, you follow me back to my battleship and we can begin investigating the circumstances around your existence."

'So either be imprisoned and milked of my value without ever seeing a fair trial, or follow one of 'my people' and be interrogated at length as to why an anomaly like me exists.'

Great, what a lovely set of choices.

Of course, there was a third option…

"Oh right, I wouldn't advise you to use that teleporting superpower of yours. After all, it seems to be in its infancy and is not very flexible. If you leave and come back, you may not be lucky enough to find me here waiting for you." Beatrice advised as she turned around.

Without waiting for his reply, she began walking away. Dante folded his arms and contemplated his choices carefully before choosing to follow.

Of course, as a fellow bro and a man of fine taste, he had to vent his shock as his eyes fell on the large and swaying backside of the woman before him.

"God damn…"

Chapter 7

Dante kept his eyes to himself most of the time. It couldn't be helped since she practically walked a few meters in front of him and walked like she was on the runway.

However, the cold cyborgs by her side with their white coating and glowing laser rifles certainly made him not really enjoy the experience. Getting shot by metal was one thing but getting hit by pure energy? Dante feared that even more.

Soon, they reached a teleporter nearby that was cleared for their use by even more cyborgs. There were no living organisms that seemed to be a part of this woman's squad, which was an interesting thing to note.

Beatrice turned to him with that smirk of hers still on her face. "Come on, you know how to use a teleporter right, mister 'my superpower is being able to teleport across planets'?"

Dante shrugged. "I never said that I could teleport across planets."

Beatrice laughed mockingly. "Right, so you, who does not exist in any public or private database, have no citizen registration documents throughout the entire Etranet, and don't even have any documents regarding Planet Etonia, got here from where? The planet's core?"

Dante frowned but remained silent. He simply observed the teleporter carefully and tried to understand what he was looking at. It was a simple circular platform that could house about 3 people side by side with strange energy waves emitting from the base into the air, up to about the height of four men.𝘣𝑒𝘥𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝘤𝘰𝘮

"What? Scared? Get in boy, we don't have all day." Beatrice mocked as she unceremoniously pushed Dante into the teleporter, which startled the fellow. But before he could make any reaction towards this, the energy waves swept over him and he felt weightless for a second before landing on his feet.

He almost fell forward due to the sudden change, but threw his right leg forward and stopped himself. Meanwhile, Beatrice appeared behind him, walking out of the teleporter with a laugh.

"Ha! You're really strange and suspicious, you know that? A teleporter is the most basic public amenity in the universe, yet you actually inspected one and almost feel! Are you a child?"

Dante sourly turned to Beatrice and glared at her, but she just grinned back.

"Come on, let's go." Beatrice took the lead once more, but Dante paused as his eyes narrowed.

He was starting to get a dangerous feeling from this woman in terms of her disposition. Her constant smarmy grin, beauty, and sexiness made one feel at ease and interested.

She felt like a fun person to be with and one wouldn't need to feel uptight or worried in her presence. That she was 'chill'.

But so far, her every word and action since Dante met her was not 'chill'. She had constantly been probing past his origins and pointing out his flaws that made it clear he was not familiar with anything in this world.

She also constantly mocked him for thinking his flimsy verbal defenses would work. Not only that, but when he first appeared, she immediately grabbed him by the throat so fast and lifted him up that he couldn't even process it.

She said something about Civilian Bionics and Psionics? Then, were there special military or professional Bionics and Psionics?

As an Admiral, she would likely have top-tier Bionics and Psionics right? So putting aside his low indexes, she probably had stats that he couldn't even fathom as he stood here.

What was most interesting was that the moment she lifted him up, Dante sensed in a split second a tension on his neck as if she was about to squeeze the life out of him.

However, she paused when she identified him as not only a pure human, but a male and a young one. Ever since then, her charm has been turned up to the max, where it was flaunting her chest or her ass when she was walking then and now.

Was this a sort of thirst trap? To keep Dante from running away?

So did it mean she couldn't do anything to stop him from teleporting away? They didn't have technology that could lockdown space? Or even track him to his home dimension and invade?

That was the main reason he hadn't jumped back yet. If he rashly did so and gave them the coordinates to the home universe, rather than take over anything, he would be the one facing a takeover.

Following that same train of thought, could she be acting like this to lure him into using his power out of wariness, and then obtain the coordinates? Maybe the power behind her invaded worlds like his for fun and she would be rewarded?

She was human, and military too. The simple fact was, Dante didn't know shit about this world. The AI had the language, culture, and general history of this world, but it was only enough to make him equivalent to a first-worlder entering the third world for the first time: all you know was that it was bad, but not how bad and why it was bad.

"Hm? What, are you having second thoughts now?" Beatrice asked as she noticed Dante wasn't following her anymore.

Dante glanced at her and made a decision to follow her. She had presented a generally non-threatening front, was of a similar likeness to himself, and seemed to have some vested interest in his survival.

From him, she would gain an understanding of why he was here and whatever else the faction behind her wanted, and he would gain some knowledge of this world.

Dante silently straightened himself and followed along behind Beatrice, who exhaled lightly. He now had time to observe the spaceport he was in and saw that while there were many different spaceships of all sizes and makes parked, there was hardly anyone around.

Only the familiar cyborgs with rifles patrolling the place and cordoning it off.

Dante was awed by the technology here. He saw rows of duty-free shops by the side selling clothes, gadgets, and even weapons. What was interesting was that the items weren't actually put up on display, but rather a holograph of them.

There were many terminals in the ships where buyers could likely input what they wanted, pay for it with their AI chips, and then have it either delivered to them here or wherever they wanted it to go.

Dante wanted to browse through the various items desperately, but he did not even have a single cent of their currency. He did not even know what currency was used on Planet Etonia and it definitely wasn't in the basic information the high-dimensional lifeform gave.

What the AI chip was given was basically a confirmation of this universe's structure, concepts, laws, and most importantly, its science. Biology, chemistry, and physics were confirmed to be the same as the home universe with some slight differences.

It was given a universal language translator and some basic cultural knowledge like dressing, music, food, and basic philosophy across all races.

Dante continued to inspect all corners of the large and magnificent spaceport that was straight out of the best CGI sci-fi movie and then noticed that Beatrice had stopped.

She then turned dramatically to face him and gestured behind her.

"Say hello to your new prison- uh, I mean home, The Inferno!" Beatrice exclaimed grandly.

Dante looked up to take in the sight of the floating mega battleship that was about as large as Dante could fathom. It was painted blood red and seemed to glow with scorching flames.

In terms of design, it was most similar to the Falkenhayn Dreadnought from the earth. The sheer amount of mounted guns and engines on the goddamn thing gave Dante a surreal feeling, especially the giant thruster at the back which was big enough to swallow a whole city with ease.

While Dante admired the beastly machine, three cyborgs came over and greeted Beatrice.

"Admiral Portinari, the ship has refiled and is ready to move. What are your orders?" The cyborg asked in a standard masculine voice with a deep edge that was clearly AI-generated.

"Send down a shuttle to pick us up. Also, prepare for launch, we don't plan to stay here once we board." Beatrice answered, her usual smile thinning significantly and an element of seriousness entering her tone.

"Understood. What about the restriction?" The cyborg pressed calmly.

Beatrice glanced at it askance and smiled slightly. "Naturally, release it. You don't need me to teach you the obvious, now do I?"

Beatrice then ignored the cyborg that left with its other fellows and looked up to the left with her arms folded. Dante followed her eyesight and saw a small ship hurtling towards them, coming to a stop before Beatrice and opening its compartment door.

Beatrice clambered into the white shuttle and then turned to Dante with her smarmy grin right back where it used to be.

"Come on in, it's pretty comfortable, trust me."

Chapter 8

Dante obliged and got in, sitting opposite Beatrice. The internal of the shuttle was like a train compartment, or like the inside of a carriage. Due to the limited space, Dante's and Beatrice's knees were touching.

She placed her hands on her lap and smiled while staring directly at Dante. Dante stared back with a neutral expression, wondering what kind of game this woman was playing now.

Beatrice patted the pace beside her. "Why not come and sit beside me? That way we can be closer."

Dante shook his head. "You are an Admiral, it is improper to treat you in such a manner."

Beatrice snorted unhappily and looked away, making Dante sigh internally with relief. Very few people on earth could boast about having a staredown with an attractive person, but those who did could tell you right away that it was as difficult as hell.

The longer you stared, the more intrusive thoughts would enter your mind and the more you would be tempted to do something that might get you a slap and a sexual harassment charge.

Why do you think in those romantic movies, the male and female would stare into each other's eyes for a few seconds before slowly closing in?

Fortunately, Dante's time in the shuttle was short as the compartment door opened and revealed an airlock. Dante was surprised as he didn't even feel the thing accelerate, move or even stop.

Beatrice took the lead once more and deliberately bent down and arched her back when coming out of the shuttle. Dante could only sigh and follow her with a tired expression, feeling like he had to do something, but didn't know what the do exactly.

When they entered a decontamination chamber, the door behind them closed and sealed itself. Then, a wave of red light covered them from head to toe as a female AI voice declared them to be safe.

After a second, the other door opened, revealing the observation deck of the battleship. Beatrice walked in confidently while Dante slowly entered while looking left and right carefully, as if expecting an ambush.

To his surprise, there was no organic life in the observation deck. Apart from an empty pilot's seat, there was an open lounge with various seats and sofas, as well as the captain's chair at the back, overseeing the entire room.

Rather than doors, Dante saw two teleports at either end of the room, which likely allowed one to come and go from this area and to other parts of the ship instantly.

Beatrice moved straight to the pilot's seat and bent over to handle the consoles without sitting down. After pressing a few buttons, the entire ship came to life, and from the porthole, Dante could see that the battleship was beginning to move, detaching itself from the railings and magnetic clamps.

It turned around slowly and began to accelerate into space as it left the spaceport, but Dante did not feel even a lick of it in the ship, despite seeing it move. This discrepancy caused a slight cognitive dissonance and panic, forcing him to lower his body to touch the floor.

Beatrice turned back to look at this and her eyes narrowed for a second. She then left the terminal and walked up to Dante with her arms akimbo.

"Hmmm? Have you never been on a spaceship before? No scratch that, on any ship before? Not even a hoverboard? Otherwise, how can you react like this to anti-force technology?"

Beatrice walked around Dante and looked down on him with an expression of interest, like a scientist seeing an exciting specimen.

Dante ignored her and let his mind and body adapt for a while before shakily standing up and absolutely refusing to look out the porthole.

Beatrice chuckled and walked to the lounge and sat down on a sofa.

"So Mr. Dante, why don't you have a seat and we can talk?" Beatrice prompted as she gestured to the seat opposite her.

Dante took a deep breath and moved to sit opposite her, which was facing toward one of the portholes. However despite moving, space was relatively still and he couldn't see much of its acceleration, so he was fine in this regard.

Beatrice swung her legs upwards, displaying her supple thighs that were squeezed by her uniform before crossing her legs elegantly. Dante also leaned back in his seat and crossed his legs the male way, his arms folded before him.

Both sides remained silent and observed each other for a short while.

Beatrice eventually chuckled. "I seriously don't get you. At times, you behave like the most ignorant country bumpkin, far more ignorant than even the most isolated child, and other times you seem quite clever despite your poor indexes."ｂｅ𝚍ｎｏｖｅ𝚕．ｃｏｍ

"Alright then, I'll be the one wearing the pants and rise to the occasion. Sigh, how tough it is to be a man nowadays." Beatrice shrugged dramatically.

She opened her right-hand palm and a light emitted from it, forming a holographic image in the air. On the image was a bunch of documents and databases that flashed by rapidly while Beatrice watched boredly.

"So Mr. Dante, if that even is your name, you have no file in existence, anywhere. By law, every species in the universe is to be registered in the Etranet Registry at birth or they will not be able to receive any public welfare, protection, or even any legal rights." Beatrice began in a slow drawl without even looking at Dante.

"So then, do you understand, Mr. Dante, that you are basically at your most vulnerable anywhere in the universe? That was why I had to blockade that entire backwater planet, otherwise, they would have had every right to deal with you as they saw fit."

Dante felt a chill. No basic human rights without registration? Very brutal but utterly sensible. When your territory spans galaxies, it became so hard to track individual lifeforms and if any government or controlling authority wanted to maintain control, they had to up the surveillance.

Now that Dante thought about it, the free AI chip they gave everyone was the best way to track every lifeform. It was indispensable if you wanted to interact and live in society, but it also allowed the powers that be to know you and where you go.

"No answer? I'll take it you're aware then. Do you also know that every pure human is a precious resource in our universe? I assume you don't." Beatrice continued lazily.

"When humankind first stepped into the wider stage of the galaxy, then the universe, we were but the weakest race. However, technology and reproduction allowed us to expand rapidly and become the strongest power in the universe."

Beatrice opened her hands helplessly. "However, by that point, more than 79% of our race no longer had pure human genes. Many had cross-bred with aliens to forge diplomatic ties or to hijack their genetic composition without, causing many quadrupedal and other special races to become majorly humanoid."

"By the time we realized, 8 out of 10 humans sported unique genetics and visible features that marked them as demihumans at best. Apart from the top elite who maintain bloodline generation after generation, as well as a few commoners who were averse to cross-breeding, there were few others."

"However, the ones who held the reins to power were the pure humans, so you can imagine how the mixed ones felt. Were they no longer human anymore? But then you had to understand how the pure humans felt. Were those mixed breeds truly 'humans'? Or were they the other race they mixed with? Where did their interests lie? Who took priority between the two?" Beatrice paused here.

"And now, it's only gotten worse as the years have passed. Only less than 0.1% of the googol numbers of the human race being pure. That might seem like a lot, but compared to the opposite number, we are a minority of minorities."

"That's only within our own race. There are many species that we cannot breed with or breed out of extinction because they also kept pure-blooded members. They are not happy that humans have power over them and glare at the entire race. Within the entire race, mixed breeds are not happy that pure breeds have power over them, so glare at the entire minority."

Beatrice looked at Dante whose expression had become solemn and grave.

"Do you understand now, Mr. Dante? Whether it is you or me, our situation is as tenuous as can be, held up by a certain level of deterrence that you will come to learn of later if you don't already."

"The human race has already issued a galaxy-wide bounty reward for each pure human found and reported, but the other species have even higher bounties for the capture and trade of pure humans on the black market."

Beatrice snorted. "The amount of money paid out is enough for a civilian of any species to become the top 1% in their race immediately. That's how valuable we are."

Chapter 9

Dante felt enlightened. No wonder...! No wonder, those aliens had acted so crazy back then. It was a good thing he didn't wait to see how the situation would play out because he likely would not have his autonomy anymore by that point.

"So how did you get here so fast?" Dante asked the crucial question.

"I was actually coming here to refuel for a return journey to The Central System to report back for debriefing. Can you imagine my shock when I hear an unregistered pure human appeared on a random street on that common planet?"

Beatrice shook her head. "I'd received many false alarms from enemy factions trying to bait me into a trap, for every pure human is obliged to help or rescue each other by law. However, a quick search showed that unique bacteria was detected, and that got me suspicious, so I ordered a blockade on the planet and came down myself."

"I'd only just gotten to where you were last seen when you suddenly popped out of nowhere. If I didn't identify you as my target, I would have snapped your neck thinking I was being ambushed again."

Hearing this, Dante grabbed his throat instinctively and couldn't help but feel cold within. How close was he to death in that split second?

"Mhm, onto the next point. Mr. Dante, do you understand that since you are not registered in any database, have no rights as a citizen, and are a fugitive of Planet Etonia, your future is quite bleak?" Beatrice asked while scrolling through the holographic projection before her.

"Look, Beatrice, just hit me with whatever offer you have, and let's not do this. I'm grateful for the information about pure humans, but I want to know the next step so I can plan ahead." Dante replied with a shake of his head.

Beatrice finally paused her movements and then looked at Dante head-on for the first time since she sat down. Her smarmy grin found its way back on her face and she sighed.

"Fine, fine, the plan to scare you into submission didn't work. I'll then lay it out for you as raw as possible."

Beatrice sat up and folded her arms. "You're a pure human with very good genetics, so you are valuable to both our enemies and to us. We're prepared to give you an identity in the universe as a resident of the earth who is currently orphaned."

"Apart from that, you will be given a weekly allowance of 300 Etrans to spend as you wish. You will be given a villa on earth in any continent of your choice, of which all maintenance and operation costs will be paid by the Human Council."

"You will also be sent into the Unique Batch of Cadets in the Eternal Academy, the number 1 academy in the universe for all forms of education relating to military, economics, technology, entertainment, and especially, exploration."

Dante took a deep breath. He might not understand the value of everything he was given, but he was no fool to know that this was definitely a good deal. The question was, was it truly good enough or was this a lowball offer?

"Explain to me the value of all these things in detail as if I am totally ignorant of everything, having lived under a rock," Dante asked as he gazed at Beatrice sharply.

"Uhh… why would I do that? Wouldn't you then be able to make the smartest choice for yourself? How can I enjoy exploiting you then?!" Beatrice retorted with an expression of unwillingness.

Dante glanced at her calmly and then asked. "Is there a terminal here where my AI chip can interface and acquire information?"

Beatrice froze and then sighed with defeat. "Fine, whatever. Listen closely because I won't explain this stuff a second time."

Beatrice leaned forward and her eyes glinted. Dante followed her movements and made sure to focus.

Beatrice opened her mouth and began explaining.

"Habababahahabububah!" She bellowed majestically.

Dante sat there in confusion like an idiot, wondering if his ears were playing tricks. Making sure he wasn't under the effect of any hallucinogen and seeing the satisfied expression on Beatrice's face, he flew into a rage.

"What the hell! What was that?!"

Beatrice seemed offended. "What do you mean what was that? I just explained everything you wanted to know."

Dante was speechless.

Beatrice looked bored and leaned into her seat. "So, what's your decision?"

Dante glared at her and shook his head. "I refuse. Send me back to planet Etonia and let me serve my sentence."

Dante stood up and made to leave, which stunned Beatrice. She froze for a split second until she literally leaped up into the air like a cat that had seen a snake.

"Wait, what do you think you're doing?!"

She quickly rushed up and appeared in front of Dante, blocking his way with both arms outstretched.

"If you go back there, you will be milked every day… like a cow! Do you want that?" She asked hurriedly.

Dante looked her right in the eye. "Moo. Now move out of my way."

Beatrice was left speechless. She pulled Dante back to the lunge and seemed to sober up slightly.

"Fine, I will stop playing around. I'll explain the value of the things offered you."

Beatrice locked her fingers around her right kneecap and became more formal.

"Firstly, an identity of earth certifies you as a pure human from the origin planet and one whose genetics is very pure. This will make enemy forces want you more, but they will be even more deterred to do anything because they will understand how important you are to us."

"Secondly, a weekly allowance of 300 Etrans is really high income for a single person. The Etran is the universe's strongest and leading currency and its value cannot easily be explained if you don't have a concept of currency in the universe. All I can say is that the more you interact with markets and economies, you will understand just how pampered receiving 300 Etrans A WEEK is."

Beatrice pointed to herself. "I am one of the 100 Admirals of the Prime Civilization's fleet, subject only to the authority of the Fleet Commander and the Human Council above him, yet I earn 30,000 Etrans a year as official salary."

"Thirdly, A villa on earth is precious. Even when we were confined to the planet, the price of land was touted as the only truly appreciative asset. Now that we have more beings among pure humans than can even fit on the planet, every inch of land is worth millions of Etrans and this is not an exaggeration."

"Finally, the Eternal Academy is where everyone who is someone went to study and train, including me. I was part of the Elite Batch during my time, and graduated with honors."

"I cannot easily describe the value of the Eternal Academy to you. It's not just knowledge, information, connections, or even grants, but the more direct benefits like special AI Chips, unique Bionics and Psionics for specialized students, and most importantly, the Zero Gate."

"Long story short, the Zero Gate is a special wormhole that leads into a small planet that is barren. It is divided into 10 sectors and students are forced to compete for the Fruit of Condensation produced by a special tree in each sector."

"The Fruit of Condensation is the most valuable item in the universe, something that is priceless in Etrans. That is because it is the only guaranteed way for a person to gain a superpower."

Dante's heart caught at this point. So far, his heart had been beating the more Beatrice explained, but this particular one made him feel an explosion mentally.

A superpower! Something that Dante had gotten only through the blessing of a high-dimensional lifeform could be acquired by chewing a fruit? Damn!

"A few questions. Firstly, how often is the Zero Gate open, or how often do the fruits condense? " Dante calmed himself down and asked prudently.

Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "Once every year, around December."

Dante thought about it and felt this was good. 10 fruits a year meant that ten superpowers were born each year. Even if the superpowers were overpowered types, it was not enough to do anything.

Even if this was brought to earth with 7 billion people, 10 a year was not enough to do anything. Assuming every earth human could live 100 years, it meant that they could only have a superpower for 100 years before dying.

So assuming 100 years was a generation, by the time generation 1's first batch died, there would be 1,000 people in the world with superpowers.

Yeah, that was nothing. And when Dante considered this on the scale of the entire universe with numbers that he couldn't even fathom, it was even worse.

Dante suddenly realized that his good treatment and offer so far were not exactly due to being a pure human, but might be due to his alleged superpower.

Chapter 10

"Second question, are superpowers hereditary?"

"There is a chance, but it is very low," Beatrice answered calmly.

"Final question, what is the Unique batch and how does it differ from other batches?" Dante inquired.

"Hmm, how do I say this… do you watch high school shows? The Unique Batch is basically the topmost elite who also happen to be special needs, who also happen to be misfits, and also happen to be incredibly gifted." Beatrice explained with a smile.

Dante was speechless.

"So, what's your choice?" Beatrice asked finally.

Dante pondered for a little before glancing at Beatrice sharply. "No one gives out things for free. What am I expected to do on my side of the deal?"

Beatrice clapped her hands. "Good question!'

She then pointed to herself. "Me!"

Dante was confused. "You?"

Beatrice nodded and folded her arms with satisfaction. "Me."

Dante looked her up and down. "Why you?"

Beatrice seemed unhappy. "Why not me?"

Dante scoffed. "Why should you?"

Beatrice snapped. "Because I want to."

Dante was shocked. "You want to?"

Beatrice nodded shyly. "I do."

Dante's eyes fell on wrongful places. "Do you?"

Beatrice took a step back but firmed her expression. "…Do me."

Dante seemed puzzled. "Secretary?"

Beatrice folded her arms behind her back with a confident smile. "CEO."

Dante turned his head to the side and blushed. "Do the secretary?"

Beatrice leaned forward with a tempting smile. "Do the secretary."

AI chips in their brains: "…"

"That can't be the only thing, right? What other obligations do I have?" Dante asked with a severe look.

"Well, what else do you have to offer?" Beatrice asked bluntly as she looked him up and down.

Dante was left speechless.

He sat down and thought for a bit with his eyes closed. Beatrice also sat down and moved her attention back to the holographic screen before her, lazily browsing through it at speeds that the natural earth human eye couldn't follow.

After about 30 minutes, Dante opened his eyes and sighed deeply.

"I agree."

Beatrice paused her scrolling and then looked at Dante skeptically. "You do? Wowww…. The almighty who is the most valuable superstar in the universe finally agrees to the overwhelmingly beneficial offer he barely deserves!"

"Aren't you going to continue asking me questions, or are you not going to try and change the terms?" Beatrice asked with a teasing voice.

Dante didn't even bother to reply to her snark. He just pondered his fate in this new world and what he would do next.

Soon, his eyesight was blocked but two huge mounds that were hanging off an impossible cliff.

Dante was amused. "There is no way this should be possible."

"According to all known laws of gravity, there is no way that pair of breasts should be perfectly horizontal from the base. Its shape and fat, as well as the fact that it protrudes, prevent it from staying airborne. The breasts, of course, hover anyways. Because breasts don't care what humans think is impossible." Beatrice scoffed as she pushed a screen before him.

"Ha." Dante laughed dryly.

He then focused on what was put before him. "And what the hell is this?"

"Contract. You don't think we make agreements by word of mouth here, do you?" Beatrice blinked.

Dante shrugged. "Okay."

[I have scanned the contract and found no loopholes, twisting words, or altered terms from what was agreed upon verbally.]

And before Dante could even ask Beatrice to send it to the AI chip for a review, it already connected to the interface and did it. Well, it certainly did live up to its task of taking one step before its user.

Dante then shrugged and sighed by dripping a drop of blood… *cough*, by using his signature like a normal, sensible person.

Beatrice seemed satisfied by this and retracted the contract. She seemed obviously relieved and Dante couldn't help but feel like he should have taken her up on her offer to haggle.

But whatever, better to have a good deal and be in her good books than sucking her dry and then incurring dissatisfaction. She was, after all, the first person he met here and his link to the secrets of the Eternal Universe.

"Right, so when do I enter the academy?" Dante asked curiously.

"Pretty much as soon as we get your identity squared up, which should take about a day. After that, you'll have to first head to earth to receive your property, open a bank account, and do some other miscellaneous things before going to the Eternal Academy." Beatrice answered cooperatively as she plopped into her seat.

"That's good. Has the school year already begun?"

Beatrice paused and looked Dante up and down. "Of course it has. Do you think the universe will miraculously spin on an axis that revolves around you, conveniently making it so that when you appeared from nowhere, you would get to enter school on the first day?"

Dante rolled his eyes. "If there is one thing you're good at, it's putting words in my mouth."

"There are many things I'd like to put in your mouth." Beatrice snorted and muttered under her breath.

Dante shivered at that. He got up from the lounge and walked towards a teleporter near the right side of the room. Beatrice tracked him with her eyes, wondering if he was trying to run.

Dante then turned to her right in front of the teleporter. "Right, which quarters are my own?"

Beatrice sighed with relief. "The vice-captain's. Make yourself comfortable for as long as possible. It will take 12 hours to reach the Central System from here and about 3 minutes to reach earth after that."

Dante nodded and stood on the teleporter. His AI chip was prompted as to where he wanted to go and it was one step ahead of him, downloading the ship's internal map and teleporter network before issuing a command to send him to the vice-captain's quarters.

He disappeared and felt weightless for a second before reappearing in front of a door. He looked behind him to see that it was a dead-end corridor with only the teleporter behind him, leaving Dante speechless.

Hey there, if the ship was attacked and the teleporter system was damaged, how would the vice-captain escape?

Of course, Dante did not know that the level of Bionics and Psionics of a Vice-Captain of a Dreadnought-class battleship like this would probably be strong enough to punch his way out of the ship and even survive in outer space for a long period of time.

Dante stood before the door and was scanned from head to toe. The AI announced that he had the requisite clearance, and so could enter.𝒃𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒐𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝙘𝙤𝒎

When he did, his jaw dropped.

Quarters? QUARTERS?

Dammit, this was a goddamn ultra-modern house! No, it was a top presidential suite!

From where Dante stood, there was a wide hallway with doors on either side, one for a washroom with a WC and the other for a shower. At the end of the hallway, the entire left side was a kitchen with various appliances that Dante absolutely had no idea how to use.

This was not because he didn't know how to cook, but because he simply couldn't easily tell what these appliances were for. He could only tell that this should be a kitchen area because of what looked like a disintegrator for rubbish as well as a floating, glowing sink.

In front was likely the living room, because there was a lounge-like area similar to what was at the Observation Deck. Rather than a TV, there was a terminal to which one could connect their AI chip to access the ship's intranet or the Etranet of the entire universe.

Dante's eyes flashed as his AI chip immediately connected… but he could not access the Etranet because he needed to log in with his Citizen ID.

He did not have one yet.

So he could only access the intranet, of which he had a vice-captains authority, so he learned the whole layout of the ship as well as its mission, its make, and its crew… of which there were only two.

Just him and Beatrice.

Dante saw that there was a set of stairs nearby and went up. Here was the bedroom which was wide and grand, with a large bed that could change from leather to water, to foam, to whatever type you liked.

The lighting in the room could be changed to represent a holographic projection. In other words, it was like a 4D cinema, but real.

You could set it to be a grassy plain and you would be lying on a comfortable bed in the middle of a grassy plain, feeling the full effects of the breeze, the sun, and even the various scents.

Dante guessed that for staff who were space bound all the time, this was a way to replicate their sleeping environments at home and would significantly reduce fatigue and stress.

Dante jumped on the bed and lay down while staring at the ceiling, which he made to replicate his home on earth.

He eventually fell asleep after thinking about his future.

Chapter 11

Dante slowly felt his mind coming to, but he was still so very groggy. His mind was extremely tired after going through that hectic situation with Beatrice, as he had always been on guard.

The man was just a 21-year-old, not some 10,000 IQ champion. It was good enough that he didn't show his young age when dealing with the serious stuff, but to expect him to wade through all of that like a seasoned pro with no backlash was asking too much.

And that manifested itself in the form of mental fatigue.

So his mind was coming to, but it would take some time for the engine to warm up and for his thoughts to come to life.

That would have been the case but, his slightly awake mind heard some frightening words.

"I wonder if this will fit inside him? It's a bit big and it might hurt though, but I've always wanted to try it and he's vulnerable anyway."

Immediately, all fatigue was beaten from Dante's body as he jumped up and grabbed his booty while scuttling away. The sheer look of frozen fear mixed with the fact that his eyes were still bloodshot from his deep sleep created a very comical image.

Beatrice, who was standing by the bed with an injector in hand, was utterly dumbfounded as she stood there… for only a second.

Then she burst into uproarious laughter that almost caused her to fall over herself. Her body shook as the injector in her hand fell onto the bed, the blueish liquid within sloshing viscously.

Dante slowly came to as his beating heart calmed down, and his horror and fear turned into rage. However, he simply rose to his feet and patted himself while glaring at Beatrice coldly.

Beatrice tried to hold back her laughter, but she was gasping at this point and struggling to breathe. She clutched her midsection as she gasped for air in between laughter.

Seeing Dante's cold look didn't make it stop, but she did try to suppress herself more. In the end, her eyes became bloodshot from holding it in and her teeth were about to crack.

Dante walked to a glowing door by the right of the bedroom, which was locked. A red circle glowed at the center and it seemed to scan him first before switching to green and allowing him in.

The moment he disappeared from sight, Beatrice burst into laughter again, freeing what was held back by sheer willpower.

As for Dante, he knew from the downloaded plan of the entire ship that this was the bathroom for the vice-captain. What was downstairs was for guests and visitors.

The bathroom here was spacious. There was enough space between the toilet and the jacuzzi, shower, as well as bathtub such that even if one released the filthiest and smelliest lumps, it wouldn't reach the place where one bathed.

Dante scratched his chin and did his morning do, which was routine for him. Then he walked over to the shower and noticed that while it was kinda high-tech, it was still a very modern design.

When he walked in, the door automatically closed and an AI voice asked him how he wanted to shower. The AI chip connected and automatically inputted the settings Dante wanted: mildly hot water and lime-scented soap.

This one too had holographic features, so Dante set the background to be his shower at home. The opaque glass that constituted the shower's body instantly became transparent and perfectly reflected the scene of his home's bathroom.

Dante had seen this amazing technology with the bed, but damn, it was something else. It really looked like if he opened these doors, he would walk out into his bathroom on earth.

He showered but almost didn't want to leave as he rarely encountered such a perfect soap and water temperature like this. Not to mention that there was a heap of assistance from the shower itself which had many automated features.

Seriously, even if you were the type who was lazy to bathe at home, this kind of technology was meant for you. You'd probably catch yourself showering ten times a day.

Dante eventually got out and was blow-dried by the shower after he exited. Then a towel was wrapped around him by some robot arms and he couldn't help but feel his dark mood lift up.

He came to the door of the bath and exited, but the AI voice warned him that he had a guest in the room in case he was dressed improperly.

There, seated on his bed while fiddling with the injector, was Beatrice. When she saw Dante, her eyes roved his body up and down. However, there was a mild look of disdain in her eyes.

"Yeah, I already knew this, but damn, you are flawed as hell. You are probably the only pure human with such pure genetics that is so… deformed." Beatrice stated bluntly.

Despite the harsh words, Dante reasonably took no offense. He was not ugly nor unfit by normal standards, he was relatively slim, kinda tall as he was over 6 feet, and handsome enough that it was semi-easy to attract female partners on earth.

However, given Beatrice's flawless body proportions, skin, and her perfect symmetry - which Dante assumed should be the norm for every pure human - he really would look deformed in her eyes since humans on his earth couldn't customize their genes or enhance themselves using technology.

It was like an earth human telling an intelligent monkey that it was a monkey. No matter how offended the monkey felt and how similar it felt to humans, it was still a monkey.

"Uh-huh. Are we at earth yet?" Dante ignored her and asked coolly.

"We're just about to enter the orbital space station. Before we do that, I've got to inject you with these modified gene enhancers I spent all this time working on." Beatrice waved the injector around.

Dante's heart skipped a beat. "Gene enhancers?"

Beatrice nodded. "That's right and custom ones for you too. When you entered the ship, your entire body was scanned and uploaded to the internal database, so I had access to a copy of your unique genetic code."

Beatrice hesitated, folded her arms, and then looked Dante up and down. "Is it okay if I call you a Neanderthal? Because that's totally what you are."

"You are such an anomaly. Your genetic code is at the peak of when humankind was still trapped on earth, just a few years before we began spacefaring officially."

"It's like you time-traveled forward into the future and appeared on that street, huh?" Beatrice asked with a sudden sharp gaze.

Dante controlled his reaction forcibly, but Beatrice noticed some ticks. No matter how strong the poker face, it couldn't withstand the senses of someone with bionics and psionics of her level, not to mention her base genetic level.

To compare, it was like the difference between superman or the flash and a normal person. To the normal person, the flash was talking with them at normal speed, but for the flash, he was literally slowing himself down to match you.

"Whatever. So what happens to me if I inject that?" Dante asked what was on his mind.

"Well, first of all, we update your genetic code to our level. There are hundreds of adaptations and modifications to the human DNA that have occurred over the millennia since we left the planet. You have none of those protections." Beatrice answered with a shrug.

"Ever since I met you, you have been exposed to hundreds of millions of unique bacteria that your body had never adapted for, some harmful and others not."

"The only reason you haven't melted into goo is because you're automatically disinfected whenever you use a teleporter, when you entered the ship, and when you entered the shuttle."𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟ｅｌ．𝚌ｏ𝚖

Dante shivered at that.

"However, we can't have you walking around on earth while sweating in pain from hundreds of viruses and the like running rampage in your body," Beatrice concluded as she got up and brought the injector near him.

Dante took a step back when he saw that huge needle that looked like it could penetrate his organs. However, Beatrice suddenly moved like a cheetah and stabbed the needle into his chest, right into his heart.

The pain made Dante almost blackout, and he felt his knees go weak. Having your heart suddenly pierced was not something you could picture unless you went through it yourself.

What came next was even more horrific as the blue liquid was pumped into his heart right from the tube, and then entered his bloodstream.

Dante fell on his ass and coughed painfully, clutching his chest as he felt like lava was flowing through his body starting from his chest. His temperature spiked greatly and he began to sweat.

Before he could even scream, he fainted right away in order to protect his mind from the part that came next.

As for Beatrice, she carried him and put him on the bed before sitting by the side and watching him quietly.

Chapter 12

Dante's eyes snapped open as he took a deep breath and jerked upwards. He noticed that his body was extremely sticky and sweaty, and he suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable.𝘣𝑒𝘥𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝘤𝘰𝘮

He tried to wipe his eyes, but his face and hands were covered with… stuff. When he focused on what it was, he almost screamed.

Blood!

There was so much blood!

God, all the sticky stuff on him was mostly dried blood and some that was still partially liquid. Even worse, he felt a warmness and extreme discomfort around his groin, and he looked down to see a huge patch of yellow.

Not only that, there were some slight hints of brown.

Dante closed his eyes and took deep breaths, which was naturally a mistake given the circumstances. However, he couldn't afford to care as he forcibly calmed himself down and refused the urge to snap his own neck.

Waking up in filth was not something anyone could tolerate, especially not in this regard. Dante was about to get up and clean himself when a huge torrent of water splashed over him, soaking him deeply.

"Wakey wakey. You finally woke up after so long, and look at the mess you've made!" A familiar teasing voice sounded from the side.

Dante looked at his naked body and then slowly turned to glare at Beatrice who was smirking while holding a large basin of water with a single hand. Before he could protest, she flicked her hand slightly and another batch of water was thrown at him.

More than anger, Dante wanted to ask how she had the strength to lift a basin full of water that even two people side by side would struggle to carry, but then realized it was probably a stupid question.

Also, the two tubs of water significantly cleared the filth around Dante, which ironically made him feel better. He rolled to the side and stood up, glancing at Beatrice coldly before entering the bathroom.

On his way, she smacked his ass and squeezed, causing Dante's face to change. However, he knew he was no match for a woman with genetics like hers - if his guess was right - so he continued in and went to the jacuzzi this time.

He gingerly entered and allowed his AI chip to interact with the jacuzzi's AI, and the deep cleansing began. Dante spent 3 hours having himself cleaned, scrubbed, soaped, washed, and even almost drowned himself 3 times since he didn't let any part of his body go.

When he came out, he felt refreshed in more ways than one. Dante finally noticed that his body felt lighter and his mind felt sharper. His thoughts moved fast and were more organized rather than random blurs that appeared and disappeared like lightning.

When he exited the bath, he was curious about what had changed about him specifically then noticed that the room was spotlessly clean. The bed especially looked brand new, and there was Beatrice boredly scrolling through her holographic screen by the side.

When she saw him come out, her eyes lit up slightly. "Yes, yes, now that's much better! It's not perfect, but it's nowhere near as bad as before!"

Dante paused and furrowed his brow. "You mean, I look better? But you said the injection was to patch up my DNA in terms of missing protections against viruses and stuff. I don't remember you saying it would enhance my looks or abilities."

Dante thought that such a thing would come in a later injection or through some other method.

Beatrice shrugged. "Hey, the best defense is a good offense. We raise your body's power and increase your genetics and you'd naturally not be troubled by such viruses or bacteria, right?"

Dante was speechless.

Beatrice pointed a finger to the now spotless bed. "You didn't think all that… residue… was from just filling up the holes in your DNA?"

Yeah, Dante had wondered about that. Now it made sense, increasing his body values sharply in one sitting would have drastic effects and would require a deep-set modification.

It was not like the natural residents of this universe who had slowly accumulated their current high indexes through genetic evolution over generations. Beatrice just helped Dante skip centuries of evolution in a few hours.

"Right, how long was I out?" Dante inquired as he walked to the closet nearby.

"About 8 hours. Enough time that I've already sent your physical details down to the bureau and they've long sorted out your identity and registration." Beatrice replied with a yawn.

Dante's eyes lit up. "So I can log into the Etranet now?"

Beatrice glanced at him strangely. "You just got an elite pure human citizen ID issued by earth's bureau itself and the first thing you think of is the Etranet? Tsk! Youth of today, always on their goddamn AI chips!"

Dante ignored her and checked his AI chip.

[Greetings, Dante. While you were out, I handled the genetic modification for you and monitored your body in depth. I have screened your current genetics and have compiled them into your SDI. Please check it.]

Dante followed his AI chip's request and opened his Standard Display Index.

｢User: Dante

Age: 21 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 2.3

Agility Index: 2.2

Dexterity Index: 2.3

Intelligence Index: 2.5

Constitution Index: 2.1

Vitality Index: 2.1

Bionic Level: 0

Psionic level: 0

AI Chip level: 0.1

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement.｣

Dante was surprised. Each of his indexes had gone up by exactly two points, making him twice as potent in each field as the average pure human in this universe.

A burning curiosity lit up in his chest and he couldn't help but want to test his prowess. As such, he made and few punching and kicking motions, which shocked him because their potency had increased by leaps and bounds.

The current him was no different from a skilled martial artist in a CGI movie, able to perform movements at speeds that did not seem logical.

"Are you done beating up your imaginary friend for not remembering your birthday?" Beatrice mocked from the side while stifling a giggle.

However, Dante was too pleased to be angry. Rather than that, for the first time since he met her, he actually smiled at her, causing Beatrice to be stunned.

"Thank you, Beatrice. I'm very grateful for the upgrade." Dante thanked her sincerely.

Especially since it was not part of the contract. After all, the bureau did not know about Dante's poor SDI as that would raise questions, so Beatrice had only sent his current SDI after upgrading.

His AI chip already told him this.

Beatrice was silent for a while and then sighed. "Whatever, you're welcome. Let's get planet-side and check out your villa among other things. We need to report to the Eternal Academy as soon as possible, a day wasted is one more point of danger to your life when you enter the Zero Gate."

Dante nodded and selected an attire from the wardrobe. As you could imagine, the clothes were not physically accessible, rather a long selection was sent to the AI chip from which he could choose.

Dante finally got to enjoy using the AI chip thanks to his increased intelligence index, as scrolling through the hundreds of lists was easy for him to process.

Previously when he had been at the spaceport of Planet Etonia and had passed by the duty-free shops, he had taken one look at the lists and felt like his brain was about to explode.

Eventually, he selected something similar to what Beatrice wore minus her purple color. A skintight inner black shirt inside a black pilot's jacket, as well as black leather pants along with fitting black boots.

When he turned around, he noticed that Beatrice was looking him up and down with a smile.

"Good taste, now I won't be embarrassed walking around with you."

Dante rolled his eyes and followed Beatrice out of the vice-captain's cabin. They both entered the teleporter outside his room and appeared in the shuttle, as it launched from the battleship and down into the bay.

Since they used teleportation, there was no need for disinfection when leaving the ship, unlike when entering. Besides, it was not allowed to teleport into the battleship because what if an enemy used it to sneak in?

As for teleporting out, there was no problem with that.

The shuttle landed in a parking spot and the duo disembarked from it calmly. Dante saw that the spaceport was far smaller than the one on Planet Etonia, but it was far more developed and busier.

Even more frightening was the customs queue to enter the elevator leading to the arrival area. Even with AI and robots handling it, the line was long like a winding snake.

While Dante was bracing himself for a long wait, Beatrice pulled him to a rather quiet customs post that had only about 3 people there. Each of them was a pure human like them, and they had arrogant and lofty expressions on their faces.

Chapter 13

The pure humans in the line turned and saw Beatrice as well as Dante. Their cold expressions softened significantly, like seeing an old friend. They even greeted them with respect when they saw their attire.

"Greetings, Admiral."

"Hello, Vice-Admiral."

They greeted Beatrice as an Admiral and Dante as a Vice-Admiral, which left him stunned. He was not even a cadet yet, how did he suddenly become a Vice-Admiral?

Beatrice nodded to them amiably and introduced the two of them. She introduced Dante as the Vice-Captain of the Inferno, and when she mentioned her own name, the expressions of the surrounding pure humans changed subtly.𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡．𝙘𝙤𝙢

Even the AI robot that was handling their details with utmost respect paused and glanced at Beatrice for a second before continuing.

Dante noticed this and guessed that Beatrice likely had some other special identity, maybe from a powerful faction or most likely, her clan.

Thinking about it, it should be obvious. Dante may not know her age, but she seemed young enough. Not only was she admitted to the number 1 Academy's Elite Branch, but she was a fucking Admiral of the Prime Fleet and had her own Dreadnought class battleship which she alone managed.

Dante doubted that just being clever would allow one such privilege. She could even fearlessly tamper with his details and sign a contract on behalf of the entire human government, not to mention she could easily produce a serum for him that upgraded his genes without melting him into primordial soup.

He looked at Beatrice's lovely side profile and remained silent. He would wait until she was ready to tell him… as if!

The moment he got access to the Etranet, he would investigate everything about her, down to what underwear she liked to wear. There was no way he would remain ignorant about someone like her no matter how good she was to him.

Surprisingly, they were given priority in this relatively short queue and fast tracked. They even got on the elevator alone, forcing those who passed through the normal line and even pure human VIPs to wait for the next round.

Beatrice seemed to treat this as normal, and Dante did not act out of place. As a bourgeoisie kid, he too was given such treatment in select places in America, especially in his city.

The space elevator was quite large and wide, with seating areas within. Beatrice stood to the side and beckoned to Dante, who glanced at the seats with narrowed eyes.

"Don't bother sitting, that's for the weaklings. Stand like a man and feel the G's." Beatrice taunted with a look of provocation.

Dante quickly scrambled and seated himself before tightening the buckle, making Beatrice chuckle.

"If you had been stupid enough to think you could do something like that, I could have watched you excrete everything within your body all over again."

Dante ignored her and listened to the countdown then braced himself. Luckily, when it hit zero, it wasn't like some rollercoaster or amusement park ride, but rather a feeling similar to sliding down an inclined slope.

When they arrived at the bottom around 30 seconds later, the door opened to show a passageway that led to sunlight. Dante unbuckled and followed Beatrice out and into the world of… earth.

It was… pretty normal? Like, Dante had watched enough scifi and played enough games to see what futuristic earth would be like, and this was like that.

Eerily pristine white coatingon everything, unnecessarily tall everything, most buildings shaped like mushrooms, walkways that looked like tunnels surrounded by glass, and flying cars.

Of course, it was marvelous to see in person, but the very predictable setting made it a bit… dull. Dante was tugged by his collar to see Beatrice pull him into a nearby car that was driven by force propulsion.

It was black and sedan-like, with a comfortable interior meant for high class passengers. Dante and Beatrice ended up sitting opposite each other, and the space here was even narrower than the shuttle.

Dante sighed and ignored Beatrice who was smiling at him provocatively. He then looked outside as the car began moving rapidly, heading to their next destination.

As he noticed the passing scenery and the large volume of cars, Dante couldn't help but ask: "Why so much traffic? Why not just use teleporters?"

Beatrice laughed softly. "Teleporters are banned on Earth. We have used our best space technology to lock down the entire space in the solar system around earth to prevent enemies from jumping in."

Dante thought about it and felt it made sense. "How many wars were won using that method before they developed counter measures?"

Beatrice smacked her knees together, which naturally smashed one of Dante's legs and made him wince in pain.

"All of them. Every war using this method was a massive victory."

Dante was shocked by this. "Then who used it the most?"

Beatrice glanced at him as if he was dumb. "How do you think humanity became the number 1 rulers of the universe?"

Dante was speechless.

As they say, no one hated the taste of medicine more than the one who dished it out. After using this cheap method to invade countless systems and win all their battles, it was natural that humankind would be the first to develop countermeasures for it.

After all, no smart scientist created a poison without making the antidote first.

It was simply toxic behavior to the extreme, bullying everyone with a big stick then later wearing three layers of armor so that no one could use that same stick to beat you back.

Dante was proud to be human.

Eventually the car slowed down and landed before a giant building. When Dante looked at it, his eyes narrowed as he felt it was familiar.

When they got down and walked through the front gate which was heavily guarded by many cyborgs with laser weapons, Dante's face showed shock as he recognized where he was.

This was the White House!

It had been modified greatly and expanded quite a bit, but it still had the familiar shape and outline.

When they walked to the entrance, Beatrice was scanned from head to toe, and then Dante too. The door then opened for the two of them and admitted them into a straight, neat hall with cyborgs standing on either side with weapons low.

Dante looked at the hall and observed many technologically advanced devices and changes that he could barely comprehend, until Beatrice pushed one of the various doors open and took him into a small office.

Seated at the end of the room was a dark-skinned male with square-faced features and a relatively stocky build. He wore a set of navy blue military armor that looked similar to kevlar but had glowing lights all over.

When he looked up from his documents to check who entered, his eyes lightly scanned Beatrice before fixing on Dante and staying there. A frown seemed to appear on his features, but was soon suppressed into neutrality.

"Admiral Portinari, its good to see you. I take it this is the fellow you reported about? Dante, I believe?" He asked with a surprisingly lighter tone of voice.

Beatrice's smile was gone, only replaced by a coldly indifferent demeanor that made Dante feel strange. "That's right. I was informed that his ID is ready and his bank account has been issued?"

The man glanced at her and nodded. "That's right. But before I give them out, I would like to ask a few questions."

Beatrice's face became colder and even bore a hint of hostility. "Director Johnson, are you trying to cause trouble? Remember your place!"

A hint of anger crossed the man called Director Johnson's face for a split second, but he clearly suppressed it and focused his gaze on Dante.

"Mr Dante, I'd like to know if you were coerced by the Portinari family in anyway into signing a contract on behalf of the state?"

Beatrice's face paled as she slammed her hand into the table. "Bastard, how dare you claim such a thing?!"

Director Johnson forcibly ignored her and stared at Dante. Dante's expression was slightly confused but he knew what to do next anyway.

"Beatrice, please allow me to speak to the director." Dante asked Beatrice with a calm expression.

Johnson smiled as if he had won something big while Beatrice froze. She turned to glare at Dante, but he maintained a cold face and looked her back in the eye without any fear.

Beatrice felt her chest become stuffy and stomped to the side, not even looking at Dante any more as she felt her emotions go out of control.

Dante then focused Director Johnson. "Sir, please explain what you mean."

Johnson glanced at the fuming Beatrice and felt things were strange. Why was she showing such a strong emotional reaction just for this guy? Could the rumors be true and the famous xenophobic admiral had found a boytoy?

Whatever the case, Johnson pursued his success further.

Chapter 14

"As far as I have been told, you were discovered by Admiral Portinari on the remote Planet Etonia?" Director Johnson asked with a smile.

Dante's eyes narrowed. "Director, I asked you to explain what you meant about being coerced."

Director Johnson's face froze as he clenched his fists under the table but maintained his smile. Beatrice glanced at Dante with a surprised look for a split second before feeling angry again and looking away.

"To answer that, we need to build up facts, I'm sure you understand, right?" Johnson answered with a forced smile.

"No. I just want to know the raw details of what you meant without adding anything else. Otherwise, I'd like my ID and passage to leave." Dante spoke as he folded his arms.

Johnson's eyes twitched. He clearly didn't expect this fellow to be so difficult to deal with. Was he really an uneducated person?

"When a pure human born outside the control of the Earth Bureau's purview is found, they are supposed to be handed a standard contract from the Human Council in order to grant them special rights and protections afforded most pure humans." Johnson began after taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"However, the terms in your contract are vastly superior to what is usually offered to any pure human of your stature. So I am liable to believe that they offered you more benefits in exchange for something else, which would invalidate the contract and free you of such unlawful terms." Johnson finished with an amiable smile.

Dante listened to it all and went silent. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths before opening them again. He glanced at Beatrice, then at Johnson, then sighed.

"Director, with all due respect, if I wasn't so weak, I would punch you in the face."

Director Johnson, who had assumed Dante was about to say what he wanted to hear, froze and became confused.

What the hell, where did this come from?

Even Beatrice was surprised and finally stopped sulking to glance at Dante, who looked at Johnson with direct hostility.

"You're a really good fellow. You clearly have some beef with Beatrice and want to undermine her, having chosen the weak and unremarkable little me as the tool to achieve this."

"First off, your words made it seem like signing a contract in the first place is something illegal, trying to drive a wedge between us and make me doubt her."

"Secondly, you say 'offered to a pure human of my stature', so clearly in your eyes, I am a lower class being and have been from the moment I crossed that door. You only smile at me because you want something from me."

"Thirdly, you want to undermine Beatrice through the contract and probably claim she abused her position, which would have the effect of voiding the contract we signed. Even if you were right and I was tricked into doing something extra, you yourself said it, the terms are extremely good. Losing that would be more harmful than good."

Dante sneered. "So in this entire farce, the only one benefiting would be you. Under the guise of freeing me from oppression, you would be able to get evidence to attack your opponent while either swallowing up the extra benefits meant for me or passing them to someone else."

Director's Johnson face changed greatly as he exploded and slammed his hand on the table.

"How dare you?!'

Beatrice had a look of suspicion as she glanced at Director Johnson and quickly manifested her holographic browser to check something. When she saw what she wanted, her expression became frosty.

"What a good ploy Hector Johnson. You have a nephew who is 13 and in the queue to enter the Eternal Academy!"

Just by revealing this, everything could be understood. Dante's heart became cold because he had only said those conjectures out loud to close any gap that appeared between him and Beatrice.

In truth, he was as lost as a lamb. When Director Johnson first spoke, he suspected that Beatrice was guilty of foul play which was why he resolutely did what he did. After all, he didn't have any side in this conflict except his own.

My guy, he only knew Beatrice for a grand total of slightly over 24 hours. There was no way he was going to trust her like a life-and-death friend when he didn't even know everything about her.

She had seemingly done him good, but Dante couldn't gauge the value of her 'kindness' because of his ignorance. It could entirely be that everything she did so far was an obligation and she was stringing him along.

It could also entirely be that she was strangely generous to him and that wasn't any better. Whatever the case, good or bad, he would be able to tell once he had access to the Etranet and could understand the information posted there.

This was why his citizen ID was necessary. This fellow spoke as if what Beatrice did was wrong from the onset, something Dante suspected already, so he took the risk of offending Beatrice to find out more.

However the moment the fellow spoke, Dante knew that this was just a meager political spat between two factions or two persons, and he was just a medium to execute the ploy.

When he understood this, he panicked slightly because while it didn't absolve Beatrice of any doubts, it meant that he had estranged their relationship for no fucking reason and that was detrimental.

So he quickly made his stance clear, directly insulting the fellow and displaying hostility to show he was on Beatrice's side. His later conjectures were to make it seem he was a clever bloke who had seen through the ploy from the start and wanted to out him.

But hearing Beatrice reveal this information, his heart went cold because he realized he was likely right. It was that feeling when you swerved your car and avoided a fatal accident, and realized that you could have died just then.

If Dante didn't have a architect as a father who taught him the importance of understanding the minor details as well as a chemical engineer for a mother who taught him to always observe and deduce, who knew what he might have done?

Dante stepped back and stood beside Beatrice. "I thought as much. The moment I entered, he frowned when he saw me, meaning that I was far less than he expected, which probably gave him the idea that he could deal with me."

It made sense, but Dante was not sure of this. He was just speculating, but given the circumstances, a speculation like this sounded like damning evidence.

Beatrice snorted. "I've already reported everything that happened here to the Human Council. Expect their answer soon!"𝓫ℯ𝓭𝓃𝓸𝓋ℯ𝓁．𝓬𝓸𝓂

Director Johnson paled. How the hell did things reach this point? All he did was try to use a mediocre-looking pure human without any background to try and one-up Beatrice, his rival from the Eternal Academy.

As far as he knew, even if he was right, Beatrice would only receive a slap on the wrist for the offense and he would be able to torment her verbally whenever he saw her, relieving some of the dissatisfaction in his heart.

But things had spun around and he was now the one frying on the pan while his backing was nowhere near as solid as hers. Before the human council, even Beatrice could be a little fearless, but he was the same as any dog on the street!

His eyes flashed with hatred. Sitting in a position like this involved a web of interests and decisions that no one could easily account for.

In other words, in his tenure of working for the Earth Bureau, he had definitely offended some people who didn't dare touch him because of his position and those he offended them for.

But once he lost his position, he lost his value. Who would waste energy to protect him? What benefits would they get from it? He was basically an abandoned dog without even losing his job yet.

He and his entire family might suffer a calamity. They certainly will not die since every pure human was as precious as a 1000-year-old ginseng.

They also would not be forced too low since every pure human had sufficient welfare, but even if you had money in your pocket, it wasn't nice to be beaten up every day by hooligans, was it?

Director Johnson breathed deeply, but did not do anything. Attacking Dante or Beatrice would yield even worse consequences and trying to tamper with the system for petty revenge wouldn't work with Beatrice's background.

As such, the man took a small tube and tossed it to Beatrice, pointing to his door.

"There is your ID and your AI Chip infusion. Now get the hell out of my office before I call security!"

Dante and Beatrice shared a look and left the office, smiling smugly on their way out.

Chapter 15

"So, did you actually report him?" Dante asked as they walked out of the former White House building.

"No, of course not." Beatrice shook her head.

Dante smiled in approval. "It's better that way. He will be grateful to you and now you have blackmail on him. You can get stuff like this done much easier next time."

Beatrice smirked and folded her arms. "Not only that, but he would be in a worse position and have nothing to lose if I did report him. I don't want someone like that having hatred towards us. Who knows what he can do?"

Dante shrugged. He doubted that even if the fellow went crazy, he could do any harm to Beatrice. As for him, Dante, there was no telling what could happen, so he obviously wouldn't complain.

When the duo sat in the car, Beatrice gestured to the tube with her chin. "Inject the stuff and familiarize yourself with your new identity. You'll need it since we're off to your potential villa right now."

Dante glanced at the injector and remembered when Beatrice stabbed his heart with the gene enhancer. His heart couldn't help but become cold and his resolve wavered.

Dante firmed his mind and brought the needle to his arm, ready to stick it in. Beatrice looked shocked and hurriedly stopped him.

"What do you think you're doing?!" She asked with a reprimand.

Dante stopped and glanced at her with confusion. "Is there a problem?"

"Of course there is! Where do you think you were about to inject yourself? Your arm?! Are you mad?!" She shouted with increasing intensity, making Dante frown.

"Shouldn't it all be the same? The bloodstream is the bloodstream." Dante argued as he brought the injector away.

"No, not in this case. You are injecting foreign coded nanites into your body that are going to come together to form your AI chip, or in this case, upgrade your AI chip to the level 1 standard. You think this is something you can just do with ease?" Beatrice chided with a look of disapproval.

Dante looked down at the injector then up at the solemn Beatrice and his eyes narrowed. " I don't believe you. Why didn't Johnson inform me of this and why aren't there any instructions on the tube?"

Beatrice tilted her head like she couldn't believe this garbage. "You mean the guy you just offended and outed as a corrupt official, who thinks he's about to lose his job because of you, would tell you common information to us that we all know is actually crucial to you? Wow!"

Dante's lips twitched.

"Besides, he knows I am with you and there is no way I would make you take the wrong path. If you do, the blame falls on me, not him." Beatrice waved her hand and explained.

"Okay then, where am I supposed to inject?" Dante asked with exasperation.

Beatrice pointed to different spots on her head. "This is going directly to your brain and needs the best access, so anywhere on your head would do. Your neck, your cheeks, your nose, or even your ears."

Beatrice folded her arms coolly. "Personally, most people do it in their eyes. It's more direct and the safest, and there's no pain since- hey!"

Dante ignored her and stuck it in his arm, choosing a suitable vein and gritting his teeth from the short stab of pain. He then pushed the substance in slowly until the tube was empty and then removed it.

Beatrice's expression was ugly and she sulked as she leaned back into her seat. She glared at Dante with dissatisfaction and complained.

"You selfish guy, that was my last chance to trick you. After you get your citizen ID and your AI chip is updated, you can just search these things up."

Dante glanced at her, but his heart couldn't help but skip a beat. This woman loved to cause trouble too much, and he always had to calculate the meaning of her words as well as the likely truth behind them.

This, plus the unfamiliar environment, was why Dante was so cold, always frowning and acting wise. He felt like the moment he let up and showed his normal self, who was pretty above average in this regard, he would be played to death.

With his citizen ID and an upgraded chip, this should change!

Dante closed his eyes and felt a wave of coolness in his brain. He literally felt the insides of his scalp shift a little, but apart from feeling gross and weird, there was nothing else but the refreshing coolness.

Eventually, the shift came to an end and Dante felt like something new was in his mind, something far more present and potent.

[Greetings, user Dante. Since Ive have already registered your usership, I have attached your Citizen ID and automatically listed you in the pure human database. You already have a preliminary idea of my capabilities from when I was partially functional, but I will divulge the rest.]

[As you know, AI chips are only as good as their users. Our storage and computing power are based off of your own brain power. However, my computing abilities have been greatly optimized, and can do ten times what I could before while using ten times less of your brain's resources.]

[Also, I will always have a connection to the Etranet, but without a terminal, it would be sector-based and quadrant-limited. To access all of the Etranet with no lag or delay, you would need a quantum terminal like on The Inferno.]

[In times of emergency. I can take over your physical functions to ensure your survival at all costs. I can control everything you wish to control that is network/digital-based at any time.

[Some other functions are being uploaded to your mind; you can ratify them at your own pace.]

Dante was surprised. This communication within his mind was far faster than before, and only less than a picosecond passed in reality as he learned this.

He also noticed that the information uploaded to his mind was part of his memory and had already been processed. He only needed to casually access it to remember what it said.𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡．𝙘𝙤𝙢

That was exceedingly convenient. Dante opened his SDI to check.

｢User: Dante (ID Number: DANTE10998-03-15)

Age: 21 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 2.3

Agility Index: 2.2

Dexterity Index: 2.3

Intelligence Index: 2.5

Constitution Index: 2.1

Vitality Index: 2.1

Bionic Level: 0

Psionic level: 0

AI Chip level: 1 (Civilian Category)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement.｣

Dante put that aside and finally got to what he was looking forward to all this while.

The Etranet!

The moment he accessed the Etranet, Dante felt the same wonder he did when he first logged into the internet, but this was grander since he was directly accessing with his mind.

He felt like his mind was sucked into a vortex and then appeared in a white room. In the white room, a terminal stood in the center that was glowing with a resplendent light.

Dante looked around and realized that he could control everything in this room, so he replicated his bedroom at home, and it was done to perfection.

Even the terminal melted and transformed into his laptop at his desk, so he sat down and accessed it.

When he did so, his eyes flashed with many weird symbols and signs unbeknownst to him.

Dante was fed information about the Etranet to his mind by the AI chip which was the intermediary for the connection. He was given the equivalent of a basic tutorial on how to use the Etranet for all newbies logging in with their citizen ID for the first time.

After he processed the information, he sighed and felt amazed. This kind of network had been theorized on Earth as many scientists and researchers strove day and night to complete it, but here it was.

And in the tutorial, the basic framework of this was easily explained, all the fundamentals that scientists on Earth lacked were common knowledge here.

There was no search engine for this kind of network, anything you could think of could be accessed by you at any time and at the speed of thought.

For example, Dante curiously searched for how to achieve Controllable Nuclear Fusion, and he was led to many sites for basic primary school science to help kids pass their 3rd-grade exam.

Dante was thoroughly speechless.

He almost had a breakdown on behalf of all the Nuclear Physicists of Earth. Something they strove for and were stumped by even to the modern day was something that children by the age of 8 were writing for their 3rd grade, third-semester exam.

Above that was Dark matter energy, Anti-matter energy, Psion energy, natural energies, and more, studied by kids all the way to 12th grade. The various forms of energy above this were for higher students and required specialization, like what we all experienced in Senior High ongoing.

That meant that these science-fiction and almost pseudo-science energies believed to be alien-tier tech on earth were 'general' knowledge things all beings of this universe were supposed to know.

Chapter 16

What is a Quantum Network?

It was a unique form of communication that surpassed the common method that required a direct physical connection. Unlike typical networks that transmitted data through wires or waves, the quantum network used the quantum realm of the universe.

In other words, you don't necessarily need a 'cable' to connect two interfaces. Through quantum entanglement, one side would send the communication and the other side would receive it through the quantum network.

The AI chip in everyone's heads at level 1 was a basic quantum processor, which was why it was so powerful. Through it, anyone could connect with the quantum network of their sector without a terminal, even if you were in the dead of space.

However, even if it could do so, the AI chip at its current basic level was not powerful enough to use the quantum network of the universe on a large scale.

Putting aside its own limitations, it worked with the brain power of the user. Unless you wanted to fry your brain from overextension, it was better to find a terminal if you wanted to access the full quantum network.

As Dante was on Earth, the entire planet was a hub, so his connection was fluid and could reach anywhere in the universe.

And the quantum network when used directly through the mind was akin to a virtual reality experience. In fact, Dante knew from the tutorial uploaded to his mind that some sites even possessed augmented reality features.

For now, he accessed his bank to start. He was banking with the biggest and most stable establishment in the universe, the Bank of Eternity. They were the central bank of the entire universe and handled the financials of the entire universe as well as all civilized systems.

They also issued Etrans and were the only authority allowed to do so, so they kept strict control on the amount of currency floating about throughout the universe at any time.

With AI and the quantum network, you could be sure as hell that inflation was a thing as rare as a unicorn. The level of intensity and calculations the bank had over this was beyond what even a skilled economist could speculate.

After all, working with AI and the quantum network meant one solid fact; the human element that poisoned all concepts and ideas was gone, replaced by the cold impartiality of AI.

No embezzlement, no stealing, no nepotism, no favoritism.

Dante appeared in a virtual banking hall where he could see the avatars of other bankers. He realized that he was in an instanced banking hall, and this one was instance number 4 quadrillion and some remnant numerals.

There was a limit to the number of people who could enter each instance, which was 30. Dante saw that there were 23 of out 30 in the room and it was filling up quickly as new instances were being created to handle newcomers.

Dante looked around and saw a variety of races and species just like on that street on Planet Etonia. Standing here, he finally felt the Sci-fi vibes again that filled him with excitement.

The past few hours he had been stuck with Beatrice and despite being beautiful, she did not excite him much. Not to mention she took him straight to earth and he just saw some futuristic human buildings and another human.

This right here was much better for his sense of accomplishment and adventure.

The aliens who were in the banking hall doing various things were also surprised to see a pure human in their instance. After all, the ratio of pure humans to any other species was like grains of sand on a beach to the number of crabs on that same beach.

Dante just happened to see a lot of them because he was one, so they seemed more common than they were.

Despite his rarity though, the other aliens only looked a bit to see what was different about this one before looking away. None came to fawn on him for being a part of the racial elite of the universe or to find out more about him.

In fact, there was a faint hostility in their demeanor, not enough to do anything violent, but they certainly would not show any unnecessary goodwill without a solid reason.

Dante narrowed his eyes. It seemed that Beatrice had underplayed the dislike the other species had for pure humans.

Whatever the case, Dante noticed that he was called up to a booth that was numbered 23, which was his number. In there, an AI-generated human was formed right before him that was based on his taste.

This was generated by his preference through his AI chip. At all times he was communicating with the Etranet with his mind, so any command he had that he wanted to share was implemented at the speed of thought.

The representative flashed a brilliant smile and gestured to the seat opposite her. Dante naturally sat down and got to business, stating that he was there to bind his account.

The bank's representative nodded and then processed his Citizen ID. She soon found an in-trust account opened for him and then handled the transfer process.

The account was bound to Dante's AI chip and could not be accessed by anyone else without his permission. Not only that, but he could use it anywhere in the universe since the Etranet was everywhere.

Even in those outland places, they mostly had to use the quantum network, and the bank didn't care if you were a criminal or a hero. They only dealt with money and not law, this was something they were strict about.

Dante opened his account and saw that a balance of 300 Etrans was sitting inside, ready to use however he wanted. That reminded Dante of something else he had to do and he thanked the representative before logging out of the Bank of Eternity's site.

Dante came to his home page and pondered. He then gave the AI chip a command to download all the formation, be it writing or videos of 'basic' things like Controllable Nuclear Fusion, the initial breakthroughs in medicine like the Penicillin 2.0 which could cure all known diseases, as well as the Literfuel, a special nutrient solution that could slowly enhance the quality of life of any species.

The Literfuel was proprietary, but the patent was over 3,000 years old and had become obsolete with modern tech that had found better formulas and even the gene enhancer, so such a thing was dumped into the public for kids in high school who chose a medicine-related course to study.

Dante was excited. To the Eternal Universe, these things were absolutely outdated and useless, akin to a modern earthling hearing about the steam engine and locomotion, an ancient breakthrough in technology that was long developed upon.

However to the earthling that was stuck in this 'ancient' era, this was revolutionary!

With this, Dante could start on some basic things on Earth. However, before that, he would need to set up a few things and buy some other things.

Most importantly, he would need to empower himself further as his current ability was not enough to make him infallible. If he was to use these things to stand out on earth, he would need martial might as well as political and financial power.𝓫𝓮𝒹𝓷ℴ𝓿ℯ𝓵.𝓬ℴ𝓶

The kind of progress he would be bringing would revolutionize the planet and usher in a new era, causing his name to be in the history books forever. Many would kill for such an opportunity and Dante wasn't about to die to his measly earthling colleagues when he had access to this vast world.

Dante sighed a logged out of the Etranet. His mind could situate itself in reality while his AI chip was on the network doing things for him, so there was no conflict.

The only reason he went in like that was because he was somewhere safe and also because it was his first time. He absolutely had to experience for himself what such a thing would be like, and his curiosity was mostly sated for now.

Beatrice was seated before him, glancing at him with interest. "Well, how was it?"

Dante smiled. "It was actually quite fun."

Beatrice laughed. "Right? I also felt the same way when I first logged in. Oh, we're here by the way."

Dante was startled and looked out. He noticed that they had left the bustling city and had come to a countryside-like area. There was a swath of beautiful villas on each plot that extended for miles and the environment was almost magical.

The mental health of anyone who lived here would be extremely good, that was something Dante could swear.

The shuttle came to a villa numbered 56 and entered its compound. A few butler robots and maid robots filed out from the main door and stood on either side of the entrance, bowing to the humans.

"Welcome Master Dante and Mistress Beatrice!" They echoed in vibrant tones.

Chapter 17

Dante was surprised by this entourage. While the idea of a villa naturally had him picture maids and butlers, he had never actually experienced such treatment directly.

Naturally, Beatrice was unfazed, likely due to her upbringing, so she ignored the robots and entered the building. Dante noticed that she had a sharp dislike for non-human machine life, and his eyes narrowed as he wondered why.

He kept his thoughts to himself and followed her in. The interior was much more splendid than he expected. Picture the most ultra-modern house you could and then magnify the size by ten times.

There were so many rooms and facilities here that Dante would literally never need to leave the house.𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟ｅｌ．𝚌ｏ𝚖

Food? He had 3 kitchens and even a pantry big enough to be called a presidential bunker that could store anything indefinitely by freezing it in spatial stasis.

Water? He could literally condense atmospheric humidity into dew through the purifier.

Labor? There were androids ready to serve him in any way for anything. ANYTHING.

Social? He could connect to a quantum network and interact with anyone, anywhere as if they were right in front of him, play PvP games like he was in Sword Art Online, and more.

Health and Fitness? You didn't even need to worry, your AI chip regulates your body's hormones and prevents the storage of fat. So even if you're a slob, you'll only shit more since nothing is stored as excess. As for musculature, that one is hard to atrophy or deteriorate since the standard of humans and species here are much higher than on Earth.

Dante was set. If he didn't have to go to the Eternal Academy to better himself, he could just laze here every day and absorb what he wanted, live a decadent life based on the 300 Etrans per week welfare he got thanks to the contract.

He would relax in the Eternal universe and then slowly take over Earth using superior technology, living the life of a lesser god.

However, that thought only fleetingly passed through his mind. There was no earthling born after 1980, one who was born in the digital era, who would receive a chance like this and use it to laze about.

Rather, like Dante was about to do, everyone would actively seek to better themselves as if they were preparing for war, with a zeal that would make natives of this universe wonder if you were a tryhard.

Dante followed Beatrice to the central control room of the villa which was underground and closed off completely from the outside world, disallowing any signal to escape.

There, he bound the villa and its facilities to his AI chip since it was already bound to his ID. Thanks to quantum connectivity, his AI chip was the only entity that had a direct connection to it from any distance in the universe.

So no, you couldn't be all assassin-like and sneak into Dante's villa to steal or kill him. Well, there might be other methods since no technology in the universe could block the effect of superpowers, which was why they were so revered and treated so importantly.

Bionics could be crippled and Psionics could be disabled. Even one's AI chip could be interfered with if one had special methods, but superpowers could only be countered by superpowers.

Anyway, Dante had sorted out his villa and Beatrice pulled him to the living room to chill. He didn't need to explore every single room since his AI chip had already downloaded the layout and presented a fully holographic 3D image of the entire villa, a list of rooms and their functions, as well as all surveillance facilities directly to his brain.

Right now, no one knew this villa better than Dante, even the ones who build it would pale in comparison.

He sighed and sat down opposite Beatrice and folded his arms. He had only woken up an hour or so ago but felt like he had walked 300 miles. Even with his vastly superior SDI than earth humans, he still felt physically and mentally fatigued.

For the first time, Beatrice didn't tease or bother him. She just glanced at him casually and then brought up her holographic screen from her right palm and browsed the things on it with her eyes and her mind.

Dante lay with his head back on the seat, slumped and deeply relaxed. He even napped for a short while before suddenly waking up, feeling less tired than before.

He also felt little to no grogginess thanks to his increased SDI and AI chip regulating his body. As such, the moment his eyes opened, he was ready to go.

"Where do we go from here?" Dante asked while rubbing his eyes.

"Straight to the edge of the universe," Beatrice replied lazily as she closed her holographic screen.

"And what's over there?" Dante asked with confusion.

"The Eternal Academy of course. The Academy was built around the Zero Gate, and the Zero Gate is located at what was previously the edge of our known universe." Beatrice answered helpfully.

Dante nodded and set his AI chip to download information about the Eternal Academy. By the time he exited the building with Beatrice and walked towards the car, he was already well-versed with the Eternal Academy, its rules, location, history, rumors, and the latest news.

Dante had to say, that academy was less of a school and more of an organization. If he was to compare its power, wealth, and influence on society, it would be like Disney on modern Earth.

It was definitely going to be a big stage in his future in this universe, so Dante was looking forward to it.

One thing everyone could agree with was that coming to a place or location seemed to take years upon years, but leaving seemed to be in the blink of an eye.

Dante and Beatrice left Earth and entered the spaceport, being shuttled into The Inferno rather quickly. They got instant clearance to move out and then did so, launching into the solar system at light speed.

Unfortunately, they couldn't enter Hyperdrive within the milky way galaxy, so they had to exit it first. This took about 30 minutes of travel with the speed of The Inferno, making Dante click his tongue.

Why did going from the solar system to the edge of the milky way feel like taking an Uber down to the city center to do shopping?

While they moved, Dante was pondering many things while Beatrice was interfacing with the ship. When they eventually exited the galaxy, Beatrice was about to initiate hyperdrive when Dante stopped her.

"What is it?" Beatrice asked with surprise.

Dante took a deep breath and decided to trust her with this much since his future hinged on it.

"I want to test some of the limits and rules of my superpower," Dante stated calmly.

Beatrice's eyes flashed. "No problem, I can leave if you want."

Dante shook his head. "I need you here because what I am about to test is very risky."

Beatrice was deeply shocked. To show someone your superpower was almost taboo and despite Dante claiming to have one, she never actually asked for it, and neither did the Human Council before giving him his identity.

Unless you took the initiative to reveal it or used it in public, allowing people to deduce your power, no one would ask. Some children didn't even trust their parents with their superpowers, and Dante was about to show her his?

Beatrice was a little flustered inside by the sudden kindness. Her impression of Dante so far was not entirely positive, as he was mostly cold, on guard, and confrontational, but she understood why and did not blame him for it at all.

She sucked in a deep breath and nodded gravely. "I'll help you, and I swear that I will not reveal anything I see here ever in my life. I put this on my word as a member of the Portinari Family."

Dante nodded and then looked around. "Can I get an Exosuit? It can be any type."

Beatrice didn't ask why and commanded the ship to grant Dante the Vice-Captain's Exosuit. Akin to iron man equipping his nanotech suit, a wave of nanites were released from Dante's jacket that slowly covered his body, much to his surprise.

"If you're going to be the Vice-Captain, you naturally have to get all the stuff allotted to them. This is the Mark V Exosuit, the current top in our entire military and usually meant for those with Bionics and Psionics over level 25 in the military category." Beatrice commented with amusement.

"But technically as long as you have an AI chip, you can use its most basic functions." Beatrice shrugged and explained.

Dante's AI chip paired with the Exosuit and registered it to his own DNA. He then received a tutorial and list of its function, and he couldn't help but suck in a deep breath.

This thing was crazy!

Chapter 18

Aside from its ability to keep Dante alive in the vacuum of space, it also recycled the liquid in his body so that he would never be dehydrated and could extract the waste in his body to obtain nutrients to sustain him.

But that was just basic life preservation.

It was apparently strong enough to resist laser blasts head-on! As the latest in military tech, it had surpassed all other defenses and was now tuned to protect from the most dangerous of attacks from superpowers and the like.

Protecting from mere laser beams was child's play. Even more exaggerated was the fact that the user of the Exosuit could survive having a nuke dropped on your head.

That's right, whether it was the shockwave, the heat, or the radiation, they were all nothing to the Exosuit. All forms of kinetic and natural elemental damage were completely blocked and the majority of special energy damage like lasers, psion beams, dark matter weapons, etc were easily resisted.

Kinetic damage immunity especially meant that dropping a building on Dante was useless. Hitting him with a speeding train was useless and dropping him from high up into the ground was useless.

Dante couldn't help but breathe roughly. In his plans to conquer earth, he had mostly opted for the conservative approach, by taking over in the shadows through the underworld and then moving into the light through finance, entertainment, politics, and then the military if necessary.

However, with this, he could just take the direct route and beat everyone to death. Even if he currently didn't have the power of Bionics or Psionics, he could walk around earth unimpeded for nothing at their level of technology could even remotely threaten him with this on.

Still, even if he did have the power, he wouldn't choose that path. Dante calmed himself down and remembered his goal, as well as the reason for this.

Having this Exosuit guaranteed his safety in this powerful universe and practically deified him in his home universe, so could do what he wanted to now with a level of impunity.

Dante closed his eyes and then pictured his home universe. As for Beatrice, he simply used the AI chip to transmit that he wanted her to lower the ship's speed so that she could leave this particular coordinate of space but remain nearby.

Then, he used his Quantum Entanglement ability to return to earth with a pop, causing Beatrice's face to change greatly. Was this Dante's superpower? Teleportation he called it?

But if he could teleport… then where did he go?𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

...

Dante reappeared in his apartment and felt his body stabilize. He noticed he was still connected to the Exosuit through his AI chip and this made him happy. As long as he could carry this suit back and forth, he would be good to go.

With his superior SDI and upgraded AI chip, Dante felt like the world around him had changed. He felt it in the other universe too, but that was different because well, it was hard to tell since he was not truly a native.

But here he could feel it, the heightened colors, senses, and smells. Most especially the pollution in the air that even caused him to choke up slightly as he frowned.

However, nothing could prepare him for what happened next when his AI chip automatically began scanning for a Quantum Network Hub. There was obviously none on this earth, so it searched the entire sector, which included the Milky Way, Andromeda, and a few other galaxies and nebulas.

Dante sat down on the ground with a dazed expression as this was his first time roaming the Quantum verse without a hub, so the AI chip used more brain resources to facilitate it. Coupled with the fact that there was no proper 'Etranet' here, Dante was forced to search for one.

Unfortunately for him, he did not find a universe-wide or even quadrant-wide connection, but he found little pockets of weak communications from various civilizations.

These civilizations had either mastered or were at the entry-level of Quantum Computing and communication, but they only used it to communicate within their own species and spheres of influence, ignorant of the others.

The nearest quantum species to earth was in a whole other solar system around 30,000 light years away, deeper into the center of the milky way. This didn't rule out that non-quantum civilizations like earth didn't exist on the way, but they were too weak to even make themselves known indirectly.

Dante shut down the connection and found himself sweating profusely. His brain was hot and he felt like he was having a migraine, but the AI chip soon regulated his stress and temperature to normal levels.

Dante settled down and pondered what he found out. Most of it was gibberish since the languages each race used was different, but the AI chip could translate them using a cipher from the Etranet if Dante went back.

For the meantime, he was done here and had to head back. As such, he naturally pictured himself returning to the Eternal universe and felt himself sucked into that familiar long tunnel.

Only that this time, he felt like there was a branch in the tunnel. Two exits were placed in front of him, one that led to the dead of space and one that led to the spot he stood within The Inferno's Observation Deck.

Surprised, he naturally chose the second exit and felt himself pulled along that flow. When he stabilized, he was standing in front of a puzzled Beatrice who was looking him up and down like he was a monster.

"So what did you even test?" She asked with rightful confusion.

Dante paused and then sighed with relief. Naturally, the most important thing to test with a space-related power was how it regarded space. Some powers automatically distinguished between livable space and unlivable space, but some others were raw.

If Dante had teleported back to earth while on a ship and then ported back without any safeguards, there was a chance his superpower could deposit him right in the vacuum, causing him to die.

That would be a pointless death, so it was better to test such a thing when he was safe and had someone who could rescue him like Beatrice if something went wrong.

Now that he had gotten his answer, he was quite satisfied. There was one more test he had to make, but he wasn't sure if Beatrice could do it.

"Does the Inferno have onboard space suppressors like on earth?" Dante asked solemnly.

Beatrice noticed that he did not answer her question but was not bothered. After all, she was lucky enough to win his trust regarding his superpower, and asking for more was taboo.

"Yeah, sure. The ship can do that easily and we even have various levels of it. What do you want to do?" She answered with a bored expression.

Dante sighed with relief. "Great, then I want you to set it to the highest level of suppression once more. Oh, and the ship can return to full travel speed."

"Right-o Daddy-o," Beatrice responded half-heartedly, causing Dante to glance at her askance.

He could recognize that she wasn't too happy being ordered about for something she wasn't really involved in and wasn't allowed to know, but she was too lazy to act difficult.

"I'm just testing whether I can teleport out of a space-locked area. Previously, I tested whether I would end up at the same exact coordinate I left from or whether I could appear on a different coordinate when I leave from a moving vehicle." Dante decided to reveal this to her because it didn't compromise the main secret of his ability.

Once she heard this, Beatrice was surprised, then she glanced at Dante weirdly.

"This is probably why we should get you to the Eternal Academy quickly. They have in-depth courses on superpowers and how they work, and the first thing I can tell you is that superpowers function based on higher dimensional rules and science." Beatrice shook her head.

"I mean, if a person who could control fire as a superpower had to be afraid of the heat of his attack, the kinetic force of launching it, and the physics of flame generation, why would we treat superpowers with such respect? We'd classify them as hazards and people like you would be pitied." Beatrice stated as she folded her arms.

Dante heard this and felt a chill in his heart. His mind was on something different than what Beatrice said.

From a certain point of view, it was very reasonable and wise for him to test out such basic rules of his superpower.

From another point of view, wasn't he insulting the intelligence and effort of the higher dimensional lifeform that was kind enough to turn his mistake into a superpower and stabilize his existence?

Chapter 19

Of course, Dante might be overestimating himself. Just because that high-dimensional lifeform helped him once didn't mean it always had its eyes on him. It might have been a casual act of boredom before forgetting Dante's existence 0.0001 seconds later.

It could also be that a high dimension lifeform was too lofty to care about the underestimation of a mere lower-dimensional lifeform. After all, how could Dante understand the thoughts of such a being?

It was like a worm or an ant trying to guess what a human was thinking. The ant would think the human was considering grander things along the line of building a hive, expanding and storing more food, meanwhile the human was probably thinking of Tracer rule 34.

He settled down and did not cause any more trouble. After all, the words of Beatrice were easily verified with his current connection to the Etranet so he could tell that while superpowers were generally mysterious in terms of their deeper functions, some basic fundamentals had been dug out after centuries of exposure.

While they were on their way to the Eternal Academy, Beatrice told him about something he should try.

"I'm sure you've logged into the Etranet and experienced the Quantum Network of yourself right? What do you think?" She asked with a smile.

Dante pondered for a bit then gave his honest thoughts. "It's amazing, sort of like my mind exists outside my body. The Quantum Network feels as real as reality itself. It's sort of like FIVR."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "FIVR?"

"Fully Immersive Virtual Reality. It's a theory about how the mind can…" Dante paused as he realized that talking about this was stupid.

Beatrice was speechless. "I swear Dante, you are so weird. Sometimes you act like a native and sometimes you act like you're someone who time-traveled to the future from our ancient past."

Dante could only rub his forehead and change the subject. "So what did you want to bring up by asking about this?"

"Hm, I was going to suggest that you buy a subscription to the Etraverse," Beatrice stated with a casual glance.

Etraverse?

Dante had his AI search it up and was granted a wealth of information right off the bat. Once he understood what the Etraverse was, his eyes couldn't help but narrow and his heart beat rapidly.

The Etraverse was basically a platform that allowed creators to host their own virtual worlds so that others can explore and use them. By paying a subscription fee of 0.1 Etrans per year, you can access all the affiliated services and worlds linked to the platform itself.

Of course, there were independent worlds belonging to indie creators where you had to pay a fee set by the world creator to use. Most of the top worlds in the Etraverse were like that while the 'free' worlds were usually just entry points for newbies.

There were a variety of worlds that were styled by different categories. Anime worlds, RPG worlds, fantasy worlds, cultivation worlds, racing, slice of life, sports, everything.

The Etraverse was the most used service in the universe, with almost 99% of sentient civilizations using it almost daily. Many people worked and lived through the Etraverse and its worlds, and many economies worked around its functions.

Many schools also used it for their training and testing of students. As you could imagine, militaries of various factions also used the virtual worlds here to train their soldiers. It was very versatile and adept.

"You'll be having your entrance exam in the Etraverse, so I suggest you register for it asap," Beatrice advised sagely.

Dante glanced at her askance. "Entrance exam?"

Beatrice scoffed. "Of course. Did you think you were such hot stuff that they would let you in? You're applying for the Unique Batch, so you naturally have to prove what's unique about you. You say you have a superpower, and I know it and you know it."

"But do they know it?" Beatrice shrugged.

Dante was left speechless. It did make sense, but he really did think he would be passing some backdoor.𝘣𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘦𝘭.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Also, how the fuck was he supposed to use his Quantum Entanglement in a virtual world? He would be plugged into a quantum network at the time, so would he just… pop back into the quantum network of his home universe?

How would that even work? And was it even possible? What would be the likely outcome if he used his power in such a place?

Dante couldn't sit still, because this was a very valid concern. He understood that superpowers had their own rules and were not so flawed, and he also believed somewhat that the higher dimensional being that modified it for him was not so short-sighted.

But still.

Beatrice saw Dante's uncertain expression and snickered. "What, you're scared? You think your superpower is something so special that we haven't seen something like it before?"

"Tsk, tsk, what a backwater civilization we are. How could we possibly comprehend the length, breadth, and height of almighty Dante's abilities? Why, just using it is enough to destroy the fabric of reality!" Beatrice made exaggerated gestures of remorse.

Dante calmed down and glanced at her casually before looking away. While annoying, her words did calm him down and bring rationality to his mind. He had to get it out of his head early that he was some uber-special entity that was chosen by some cosmic force to wow the universe.

He only got here through a fluke and would have become primordial soup if not for a bored 4th dimensional or higher being thinking it would be fucking funny if he survived.

Beatrice noticed Dante had settled down and smiled slightly before focusing on her holographic screen. Meanwhile, Dante closed his eyes and entered the Quantum Network.

He naturally chose to enter the Etraverse and he was brought to the front of a large mall-like building. When the pushed the glass doors opened and entered a foyer, he noticed that there were AI receptionists again.

Likewise, he was in an instanced lobby for visitors and clients, so he was quickly received and guided amongst strange looks from aliens. After all, given the ratio of pure humans to aliens, most aliens could go 3000 years without seeing a single pure human live in the flesh - or in the data - so this was quite an event for them.

However just like before, they did not come up to him nor stare too long. Not only was this due to racial tension, but even if they hadn't seen a pure human in such a location, they had either seen pictures or videos of them, so they were not too shocked.

Let's not even talk about Dante, because he felt that if he dared to act like the shocked one here, he would be the victim of a social event where everyone treated him like a white person in modern America.

Dante was led to a counter where he then spoke to a receptionist about the Etranet and its benefits. Dante skipped this because he could simply download it and this was done for those old-fashioned fellows who liked the experience of chatting with the receptionist.

Naturally, he was not interested in such a thing. Rather, he paid for the initial subscription for the first 11 years, of which the first year was free. In all, that was 1 Etran and he now had 299 remaining.

In truth, Dante felt a pain in his heart spending so much! 1 Etran might not sound like much, but one could literally compare the value of an Etran to that of a coin at its peak.

No, based on Dante's research, one Etran would be about the value of $100,000 before the whole BRICS super alliance. It was big money that most people did not see a year after working even top-end jobs.

Most Etrans were used in decimals, going as far as 0.00000X and beyond. For the Etraverse to charge 0.1 Etran per year, that was a yearly payment of $10,000!

Is there anything on this earth you would pay for with that much money?

Funny enough, if Virtual Reality did come to earth, it realistically would not be as cheap or free as people thought or as fiction presented. There would not be a benevolent billionaire or secret supernatural entity promoting VR through a game, but more likely that it would be overpriced for a select few, and heavily focused on porn.

After all, with VR real enough, one could capture all the fringe groups who had unattainable fantasies due to limited science or social/legal restrictions and grant them their dreams in the most realistic way possible.

No one was going to use it to make a game for some lucky NEET to gain a broken skill and then continually break the balance of the game as he rises to the top.

Likewise, the Etraverse captured to all of those things for the entire universe and there was money to be made. If Dante could spend his Etrans on anything, he would definitely want to buy shares in the corporation behind it.

Can you imagine the profits they were raking in?

Chapter 20

Dante did not spend time exploring the Etraverse. Unfortunately, one thing that separated the Quantum Network from a digital network was that it could not be time-dilated, so everything there occurred in real-time.

Dante did not have the time to enter the Etraverse because Beatrice hurriedly informed him that they had reached the Eternal Academy. She even pulled Dante over to glance at the academy from the Observation Deck, and Dante was absolutely blasted away.

The Eternal Academy was like a giant floating plane in the cosmos. It was a huge continent-shaped mass that was made of endless buildings that sprawled across every inch of land. There were segments filled with greenery and life, as well as segments filled with rocks and mountains. There were even places with water and seas, not to mention fiery lands full of lava and active volcanoes.

Most importantly, there was a futuristic urban scene spread across the entire plane that even populated the 'natural zones'. Beneath the plane was a spinning blueish-purple nebula-like existence that looked similar to pictures of the milky way.

Above the plane, one could see hundreds of ships coming and going, as well as many interstellar cars traveling with the atmosphere of the plane. In the center was a building so tall that it was larger than anything else on the entire plane, piercing straight into space itself.

Dante was utterly awed by this sight. He had never and would never have seen something like this, not in the flesh. He couldn't help but clutch his chest and wipe his eyes as tears began to form.

He was not sad, but full of gratitude. Gratitude for the chance that brought him here, and gratitude to the higher dimensional being that allowed him to stay here.

He would be a corpse buried under the earth for thousands of years on earth before he could even hope to see something like this.

Not to mention he had access to it and was even soon going to be a part of it!

Dante could only feel gratitude to the godly forces of the universe for choosing him to enjoy this, while Beatrice by the side glanced at him with a smile. She felt that she could understand how awed he would be, for she too was moved when she first saw the academy for herself.

Soon, the Inferno docked at one of the special receiving spaceports for new students. Despite what Dante thought, there was no nepotism or separation, as their ship should have high-class rights and priority. However, they queued in the end obediently and when he came down, he noticed there were many youths like himself of varying races.

Well… for some of the aliens here, Dante could only assume they were youths because their physiology obviously couldn't tell him that unless he specifically researched how they would look at different stages of life.𝑏𝑒𝑑𝘯𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝑐𝘰𝘮

They were also clad in varying attires, standing in different groups having formed cliques as they seemed to wait for something. When Dante landed, he noticed that there were only about 3 pure humans in this entire bay that had over 2000 people at least from what he could count.

While everyone was in cliques, it wasn't that they shunned each other but were just unfamiliar for now. However, there was a clear gap given to the 3 pure humans in the center, and they did not seem to care. Rather, they seemed to take pride in this separation and held their chests out.

At least, that was how they looked to Dante. As for the aliens around, they seemed to occasionally glance at the pure humans in the center with slight hostility and unfriendliness in their expressions.

Dante glanced at Beatrice askance. "I think you have severely underplayed how much strife exists between pure humans and mixed races."

Beatrice chuckled dryly. "Well, what could I say? I couldn't say we're on the brink of a cultural and political war, could I?"

Dante was surprised. "Political as well?"

"Well yeah. Mixed breeds and aliens want more representation in the upper echelon of the government, but every position with even the slightest power is held by a pure human. How do you think they would feel?" Beatrice shrugged and explained.

Dante was speechless. In that case, wasn't this universe is few steps away from a Boston Tea Party situation? Or had something like that already happened?

He followed Beatrice into the bay and naturally, all eyes turned to them. In truth, having more than 2000 peers stare at you felt exactly as you thought, but Dante wasn't a shut-in. He often visited social spaces and had some social acclaim of his own on earth, so he could force himself to be calm.

Beatrice simply did not care and like the other pure humans, seemed to swagger as she walked. Dante noted that this seemed to be sub-conscious and natural, not another ploy by her to cause trouble. It seemed like pure humans of this universe really did treat themselves as nobility, even if they didn't harp on about it.

Dante did not frown or shake his head at this. In truth, he didn't care. He had been a part of the privileged class since he was born and he wasn't the type of idiot to go on social media to virtue signal by tarnishing his own group/caste for likes and fame.

He had fully enjoyed the privilege his background brought him and continued to do so, so he would do the same here. It would only be a problem if he was obviously a part of the other side, but he wasn't, now was he?

However, not sabotaging himself was one thing, but he couldn't muster the swagger that Beatrice and the other pure humans had. He felt it was unnecessary and a bit cringe anyway.

The aliens in their path made way with cold eyes as they walked towards the pure humans in the center. When they reached them, Dante noticed that it was two older men and one young female who were also glancing at them with smiles.

Of the two older men, one was tall and burly, with bronze skin slightly darker than Dante's own and long brown hair that reached his waist. He wore a combat exosuit as identified by Dante's AI chip which was of the Army's upper echelon.

The other man was grizzled and lightly tanned, with a wide grin and two sharp blue eyes. He was slightly shorter than the other fellow and not as burly but was definitely more lithe. His combat exosuit was brownish-red, which was the same as the other man.

As for the young girl between them, she looked to be about 16 years old with a body that belonged to a 21-year-old at least in terms of physical development. It was her youthful face and aura that gave her away, but Dante could be wrong.

After all, the state of genetics in this universe made it such that trying to gauge by physical looks was extremely difficult unless you adapted to the standard here.

The girl had long blue hair that seemed watery, and her eyes were also aqua blue. She was fair-skinned and a little cute but leaned more toward being beautiful. She wore a long blue dress that complemented her hair and eyes and stood there nobly as if the world revolved around her.

Beatrice waved a hand and greeted them. "Hello, hello. It's great to see gentlemen from the 2nd Solar Corps here."

The two men nodded and smiled. "It is also great to see the Admiral and Vice Admiral from the 34th Fleet. It's our honor sir and madam!"

Dante was surprised that they could tell, but Beatrice seemed to treat this as normal. "You two are Lieutenant Generals (AN: One tier below General and the top of the army rank) so there's no need for that. We can also learn a lot from you."

Beatrice then glanced at the young woman who was sizing Dante up with interest. "Hello, beautiful young miss. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

The young woman turned her eyes to Beatrice and then bowed politely with a curtsy, something Dante thought would be obsolete here. In truth, he was right since the mixed races were confused by her actions.

"I am Louisa Nicolaides, second daughter of Mikael Nicolaides, Patriarch of the Nicolaides family." She introduced herself in a calm and elegant manner.

Beatrice seemed partially surprised and then nodded. "I was wondering who could have two whole Lieutenant Generals as her protectors to the Eternal Academy. So you're the pearl of Uncle Mikael's eye. I've heard about you."

Louisa seemed surprised and then raised an eyebrow. "You sound familiar with my father. May I know how?"

Beatrice paused and then slapped her forehead. With an amused smile, she also curtsied, but it looked weird with her skin-tight admiral's uniform that displayed all her S-grade curves.

"I forgot to introduce myself. I am Beatrice Portinari, first daughter of Augeus Portinari, Patriarch of the Portinari family."

Chapter 21

Dante didn't even get a chance to introduce himself before the atmosphere of the small circle they occupied changed. The two men immediately went on guard and positioned themselves in front of Louisa as if being one second too slow would be worse than death.

Louisa herself began to tremble, her expression scandalized as if she had been bitten by a snake. The two Lieutenant Generals prepared for a fight, sweat forming on their faces through their exosuits, which was a rare sight.

Dante stood there dumbfounded, not because he didn't know how to react or was shocked, but because he simply couldn't react fast enough compared to how quickly they moved. Beatrice may have enhanced his genes, but he still had a lot to catch up on, especially considering that these individuals likely had elite bionics enhancing them.

As for Beatrice, she didn't react much. She maintained her casual smile and seemed to have expected this reaction. "Why the sudden hostility? Are we not all pure humans?"

The trio opposite her froze, realizing their reactions had been extremely rude and excessive. They relaxed significantly, their expressions filled with shame and apology.

"Haha, that's right. It's just that Admiral Portinari's reputation precedes her," the burly, brown-haired man on the left laughed awkwardly.

"It's like thunder in the ears of normal combatants like us," the lithe, slightly shorter man on the right remarked with a bitter expression.

"Haha, that's good to hear. If my allies react this way, then the reaction of my enemies should be even better," Beatrice chuckled amiably.

Seeing that Beatrice wasn't bothered, the two guards heaved audible sighs of relief. Louisa gathered herself, taking much longer to control her mental state and compose herself compared to the seasoned veterans.

"I sincerely apologize for my behavior, Lady Beatrice. You can be sure that I will work on making it up to you in the future on behalf of the Nicolaides family," Louisa bowed slightly with a serious expression.

Beatrice smiled. "I respect and honor your apology, Louisa, but I've told you, Uncle Mikael is no stranger to me or my clan."

Louisa smiled bitterly. "Oh, trust me, I know. I have long heard about you and your siblings growing up, and it's shocking to meet you in the flesh for the first time."

Louisa then turned to Dante with a strange look. Both her guards also focused on Dante, their expressions unnatural. It was as if they were looking at Beauty and the Beast, where Beatrice was the Beast and Dante was the Beauty.

There was an obvious question in their eyes as to why a fine young man like him would choose to be here. Initially, Louisa had even shown interest in him because, by their higher standards in this universe, he was a relatively good-looking, pure human male around her age. But now, she regarded him no differently than a tablecloth.

"And may I know the name of this fine young gentleman?" Louisa asked with a smile.

"Me? Dante," Dante introduced simply, folding his arms casually.

Louisa's eyebrows twitched as she tried to furrow them, but she quickly suppressed it. Dante could obviously tell that he had made more than a few social gaffes with that introduction, but he had no idea what they were, and he couldn't rapidly learn them in such a short period of time anyway.

Maybe in the future, to avoid unnecessarily offending others, he would learn them and put them into practice. For now, since he didn't know them, he would act the part of an uncultured brute. While it might make this girl dislike him, it wasn't impossible for dislike to change into admiration later on.

Beatrice saw Dante's actions and smiled widely, misunderstanding his intentions. "Don't mind my Vice-Admiral; he is a recently discovered pure human who was lost."

Louisa and the two guards seemed surprised by this. Random discoveries of pure humans had become pretty rare in the past few centuries, so they were naturally startled to hear about one and see one in person.

Louisa, in particular, seemed to understand something as her smile became wider and her gaze towards Dante became less offended but more arrogant. There was a slight sense of superiority in her eyes, as if when a human raised in a bourgeois family met a country bumpkin from the countryside with a broken accent and 'poor' manners.

"I see. Well, Mr. Dante, I'd advise you to sign up for etiquette classes on the Etraverse to catch up on how to behave among your peers," Louisa stated with a nod.

Dante decided not to bother with her for now and simply agreed to her suggestion amiably. Beatrice slightly understood Dante's nature and knew it was better for her to take over from here, so she began to chat with Louisa about various things while the two guards kept watch.

By listening in, Dante learned many things about pure humans, the clans and families that formed the upper echelon, and the current state of allegiances and enemies of the two clans the women belonged to.

Dante wondered if Beatrice did this intentionally, but then again, it didn't really matter. What he cared about now was how quickly he could get this over and done with, and his prayer was soon answered as a broadcast was made for all prospective Cadets to line up.

They were guided to different booths based on their assigned classes, which were split into three rows: the Normal Batch, the Elite Batch, and the Unique Batch. The distinctions between these batches were already well known galaxy-wide.

The Normal Batch consisted of individuals with average backgrounds and/or capabilities who came to learn and use the school's resources and name to graduate into top positions in society. They formed almost 98% of the school's entire student body and at least 89% of those signing up.

The Elite Batch included individuals with average capabilities but top-grade backgrounds. The class was further divided into three categories: aliens and mixed races with superior capabilities and talent but average backgrounds, pure humans with average talent but superior backgrounds, and pure humans with superior capabilities and backgrounds. They formed about 1.99% of the entire student body and more than 10% of those signing up.

The Unique Batch consisted of individuals with exceptional talents that were one of a kind or those who possessed born/awakened superpowers without using the fruits from the Zero Gate. Here, background and race didn't matter; only their uniqueness counted. They made up less than 0.1% of the entire student body, and only five people queued up for this line.

Surprisingly, Louisa was among them. She was surprised to see Dante queue up behind her but then smiled and nodded. Meanwhile, the others in line were two mixed breeds and one alien species.

The two mixed breeds were females, while the alien was likely male. The first female was a mixture of rock and human, with a humanoid body and human features along with rocky skin that rubbed against itself, causing dust to fall.

The second female was a literal Lamia, with a human upper body and a large snake-like lower body with reddish scales that gleamed in the light. However, she was conservatively clothed, unlike typical depictions on Earth where their large breasts were barely covered.

The first girl only wore bracers and bands on her wrists and ankles, and the rest of her body, while possessing a feminine form, was not necessarily 'naked' in a way that would expose genitals.

As for the 'male' alien, he was a tall 7.5-foot insect man with a large proboscis on his face, two black compound eyes, and sharp yet thin wings that looked capable of slicing a person in half. He was somewhat humanoid and bipedal but lacked any features linking him to the human genome.

Dante glanced at them briefly before looking away. However, they had no qualms about casting more than one glance his way and at Louisa. The looks were not exactly hostile, but they were not friendly either. There was a clear intention to compete and prove superiority in the glances they gave.

Louisa remained unfazed by this and maintained a sweet smile that both alienated others and made them understand that she was looking down on them. As for Dante, he kept his arms folded and his expression neutral in order to present a seasoned and mature front.

Chapter 22

They didn't have to queue where they were for long as a light scanned over the entire group slowly. Each person received a message directly to their AI chips informing them of the details of admission and the entrance examination about to be held.

Dante was surprised when they were told that they were to be examined on the spot by going to the Etraverse. The Eternal Academy had set up a seed world for them to carry out their examination.

Because the test might take some time, they were admitted into a comfortable lounge and made to sit while their bodies would be watched over by guard robots as well as their own AI chips that monitored their bodies' processes.

Dante was led into an ultra-luxurious lounge reserved for the Unique batch with the other 4 people including Louisa. Everyone took a seat away from each other and sat down. They sunk into their couches or sofa and closed their eyes as they connected to the Quantum Network with their minds.

Usually one wouldn't need to prepare this much when casually browsing the Quantum Network. Despite how it seemed, it would be like looking through twitter on your phone or watching a short video, you can even chat while doing it or even do it while walking or running.

It was quite different when you considered the fact that the Etraverse was advanced FIVR, so naturally it would require a more in-depth connection, just like if you were played a high-stakes ranked match on your phone, you certainly could not do so without seating yourself somewhere with less noise to focus yourself.

When Dante logged in to the Etraverse, he didn't have to enter the lobby. In his Quantum 'homepage' which was basically your personal server on the quantum network, he could directly decide to hop onto any of the words accessible for free with the basic Etraverse subscription.

As for those custom ones uploaded by the community, he would have to pay for them directly. Luckily, he did not have to pay for the world that the Eternal Academy set up and he entered the seed code that was delivered directly to his AI chip by them.

Immediately, Dante jumped through the Quantum Network to his target location, and he couldn't help but note that it felt awfully similar to how he felt when using Quantum Entanglement to go back and forth between universes.

When he 'landed', he noticed that he was standing in a void-like space, hovering between planets. In this space area, there were two platforms suspended in space as if tethered by something, and Dante was standing on one.

Before Dante could be allowed to be confused, a pure human woman of obvious Asian descent appeared before him. She wore a tight-fitting exosuit that hugged her svelte body and her purple hair was tied into a Chinese bun.

When she saw Dante, she raised an eyebrow in surprise. After scanning him from head to toe, she muttered to herself.

"A pure human of African descent…? How rare nowadays…. Hmm, is he from the Mensah Family?"

Dante's expression became dark and he glared at the woman opposite him. She seemed to realize her gaffe and smiled in a lovely manner.

"Ah, forgive my surprise. My name is Xue Bing and I am one of the instructors for the Unique Batch of the Eternal Academy. I have been assigned to you as your examiner and possible instructor since it's been reported that you have a space-related superpower?"

She ended her introduction with a questioning tone, but Dante did not reply. Xue Bing did not seem to care about this and opened a holographic screen before her and sued her screen to scroll through it.

"Right, it says here that you are Dante… huh, no family name. Oh I see, you were recently discovered, not even amounting to a week! That explains a lot."

Xue Bing read some more details from the screen and then closed it, focusing on Dante once more. "Right, Dante. So your file and admission form states that your superpower has to do with teleportation, right?"

This time, Dante answered. "That's right, it's in the general category."

Xue Bing hummed. "Well, I'd like to believe you, but we have received falsified admission before and had students try to sneak into the unique batch, so we have to test your abilities before letting you in. That's okay, isn't it?"

"It makes sense, but I have a question. If those fellows tried to sneak into the Eternal Academy, why use the conspicuous Unique Batch? Why not the normal or elite even?" Dante asked with confusion.

Before Xue Bing could answer, Dante stopped her with a raised finger. "And please don't say something like 'the safest place is the most dangerous one' as that concept requires the administrative/punitive party to be utterly braindead and ignorant."

Xue Bing giggled with a mature tone. "Of course, it isn't that. The reason is simple, it has to do with why everyone comes to the Eternal Academy despite there being billions of other academies that can teach just as well as we do."

Xue Bing pointed at herself and then Dante. "Naturally, it's for the Zero Gate, the holy land of superpowers. Where the most common bloke can rise to prominence by consuming one of the Fruits of Condensation produced in each of the 10 sectors on the other side once a year."

Dante folded his arms and nodded. If it was for that, then it made sense. However, there was still something missing.

"Still, as I said, any batch can do. Why specifically the Unique batch?"

Xue Bing shrugged. "Priority. There are many benefits to being in the Unique batch like early entrance to the Zero Gate when it opens, better training and facilitations for its inner workings, and priority choice for some of our academy special bionics and psionics."

"Oh."

That was all Dante could say. He could understand now why would want to sneak into the unique batch, but not why the unique batch was given such special treatment.𝙗𝒆𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

The obvious first conclusion would be that because the unique batch had superpowers already, it would make it easier for them to navigate the Zero Gate? Maybe the Zero Gate had special rules that limited Bionics, Psionics, and/or technology, making it such that the only usable things were superpowers?

If so, that would make a lot of sense and seemed to be very likely.

"Okay, so basically I was chosen as you're examiner and instructor because my superpower is also of the space element, so I'm best suited to guide you in the use of yours." Xue Bing reminded as she clapped her hands.

"So go ahead, use yours and let's see what it's all about." Xue Bing prompted with a cheery smile.

Dante hesitated and did not use it. He rather visibly narrowed his eyes and inspected Xue Bing from head to toe with obvious distrust on his face.

Xue Bing chuckled and shook her head. "It's good to be wary because your superpower is your biggest secret and should be protected."

She then gave him a pointed glance. "I could give you a list of reason and soothe your wary spirit in order to loosen your guard, but I don't think you're worth it."

"There's nothing about you that requires me to give you special treatment or makes you worth me fawning over. Everything you have that makes you special, I have as well, and even better."

"If you absolutely value your superpower, there's no problem. You can cancel the application to the school and return whence you came." Xue Bing concluded with a soft smile.

Dante rolled his eyes internally. Beatrice had already explained this to him, so he knew that there was theoretically no harm in just displaying SOME of your superpower and hiding the rest as trump cards. However, Dante had to act the part of a country bumpkin who was slightly ignorant given his background, otherwise it would be a bit too weird.

"Sure then." Dante 'acquiesced' with a slightly sullen expression.

He paused for a second or two and breathed in deeply, steeling his heart for anything that happened next and used his Quantum Entanglement ability.

The moment he activated it, he could feel the universe warping at its very roots as reality began to shatter, the chaos and paradoxical nature of his current location coupled with the nature of his superpower causing both universes to shatter and merge into one, changing the trajectory of fate forever!

… or that was what Dante thought would happen, but in reality, he just found himself back in his apartment with his real body. He patted himself from head to toe to make sure everything was okay and then raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't been here for a day or two, and the place was still new so everything was spick-and-span. Dante connected to the digital network of earth with his AI chip and logged into his various accounts to check for anything interesting.

Apart from a message from Dahlia, one of his female friends, and a swarm of messages from the other social groups he was in as a partial socialite, there was only a call from his bank.

Seeing that nothing was out of order, Dante teleported back.

Chapter 23

Upon reappearing, Dante was right where he felt he should be, which was on the couch he had been seated on when he disappeared. His entire body had left and returned, and he had 'safely' disconnected from the quantum network as he did.

In truth, there were so many ways in which this could have gone wrong, but what Beatrice said turned out to be true. Superpowers - or at least, Dante's Quantum Entanglement superpower - were not so short-sighted and limited in design.

That was extremely reassuring, and when he returned, he immediately logged back into the quantum network and reappeared within the special astral-like area where Xue Bing was looking at where he used to be with a blank expression.

Dante nodded to her when he returned. "Sorry for the delay. I'm done."

Xue Bing tilted her head towards Dante with visible confusion, as if she was seeing a rare specimen. "Your superpower is… logging out and logging back in?"

Dante was speechless. "No, it's quantum teleportation. My real body left the lounge area, you can check the cameras and records if you have any."

"Oh." Xue Bing said softly, but she didn't make any moves and continued staring at Dante silently.

Dante frowned deeply and sighed. "You literally just need to check, there's no way I can falsify something like this. Besides, I was recommended by the Portinari family, and you think they would risk ruining their reputation for this?"

Xue Bing remained where she stood with a soft smile, staring at Dante calmly. Dante's expression finally turned cold. "If there is a review section after this, I am going to make sure to leave a poor one and also report your misdeeds to administration."

"Hmm…" Xue Bing finally moved as she pondered while rubbing her chin and looking skyward.

Dante was speechless again. THAT was what made her react?

"Meh, too much of a risk…" She muttered as she hesitated and finally glanced toward Dante as if he was a bother.𝗯𝐞𝗱𝐧𝗼𝐯𝐞𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

She then opened a holographic screen in front of her and scrolled through some videos casually. Dante glanced at this Xue Bing woman silently, and his expression was not very pleasant.

He didn't know if all the superpowered persons had such interesting mindsets, but he felt that dealing with this one would unnecessarily increase his stress levels.

"I wonder if it's possible to apply for a new instructor after entering?" He muttered seriously.

Xue Bing, who was casually and lazily scrolling through, trembled and closed the holographic screen. Her platform dashed forward and came before Dante, shocking the fellow.

"Now, now, there's no need for that. As I said before, if you prove your value, you will be treated like a king by not just me, but everyone else."

She said this as amiably as possible and Dante took a step back as he glanced at her suspiciously. He looked her up and down then suddenly understood.

It seemed that there was a severe penalty for being 'rejected' by a member of the unique batch, so rather than suffer that fate, she simply changed her attitude.

What a personality this one had.

"Alright, I've verified your superpower. Not only did you teleport, but you completely left the range of the entire Eternal Academy and the nearby spatially-monitored galaxy. Not only that, you broke through the spatial blockade we created using the latest technology." Xue Bing spoke calmly at the beginning, but her voice became more solemn towards the end.

"After uploading your details to the central server, the rating for your ability is… SSS grade." Her voice caught at the end and Dante was at least sharp enough to realize that this was very good. Very, very good.

Xue Bing immediately bowed to Dante with a serious expression. "Mr. Dante, I am sorry for my earlier behavior. Due to the current structure of the academy and the nature of the competition for the Zero Gate, I am being very honest when I say that giving even basic respect to a pure human with superpowers requires a good reason."

"There are monsters in this academy that you cannot Fathom Dante, I promise you. Some have been born with SDI's in the triple digits and have the latest Bionics and Psionics that are hard for even some privileged races to acquire."

Dante's expressions hardened when he heard this and his heart became heavy. He knew that he was far behind the denizens of this universe, especially in a prestigious academy that gathered all the elite youths across the ENTIRE universe, but hot damn!

With his current SDI of 2 points, he might not even be able to react to the movements of any of them. He would be standing there one moment feeling special and the next, his head could have been blown off.

He wouldn't even know how he died.

"However, Dante, do not be disheartened. Despite what I told you, such students are mostly in the normal and elite batch, and they are not even qualified to receive a look from me when I walk by them, yet they have to bow in my presence."Xue Bing continued with a smile.

"It's because of the special power we have that is fully backed by quantum science and still retains elements of mysticism from the ancient era. These abilities transcend anything and everything in our current universe, whether money, power, fame, or even might."

"The reason is simple. Even in the case of you who is so genetically backward among our pure human race, we can raise your SID in time to the triple digits with an infusion of resources and scientific methods. We can load you with the best Bionics refreshing from the military labs. We can also strap you with the best Psionics from the scientific institutes. Heck, we can even slap on the latest quantum AI chip into your brain."

"However one thing neither we, pure humans nor any other species can currently do is grant you superpowers. Even with the Zero Gate, superpower acquisition is not guaranteed for various reasons. A person who enters the Zero Gate and acquires a superpower, even if it is to float in the air for a few seconds, is of a status far superior to even the best non-superpower user."

"Even among superpowered users, there are also gaps based on the quality of a superpower. A superpowered person with an F-rated ability can step on anyone else without a superpower, but a person with an E-grade superpower can step on an F-grade superpower user and so on as the ranks rise."

Xue Bing hesitated. "You with SSS… it's not the highest Rank, but it's only one step below. As far as what we have registered, there are only about 500 people spread across the entire universe of a nearly uncountable number of living beings with the same rank of superpower as you."

"You are now the 1% within the 1%, and that's not even adding your status as a pure human. However, Dante, I have to absolutely remind you before you are admitted that this grading is temporary, and this is exclusive to you for now."

Xue Bing shrugged helplessly. "The reason is simple, we can't really measure the extent and upper limit of your power. However, from the lower limit alone, or what we can verify, is terrifying enough that you have been given this grading."

"What I am saying is that there is still room for improvement and that you can ascend higher if you display better abilities. However, if this is the extent of your power, or there is some misconception… keep it to yourself. It's for the best."

Dante had been quietly listening up to this point, but his eyes flashed when Xue Bing reached this point. Telling him there was room to improve made sense, but telling him to hide inconsistencies and flaws?

"Do you, as my instructor, receive some form of benefit if the student you teach in the Unique Batch has a high-ranking superpower?" Dante asked pointedly, though he already knew the answer.

Xue Bing only smiled.

Dante sighed internally and nodded. "Okay, so are we done?"

"That's right. You can log out and follow the procedures to complete your admission. You will be taken to your dorm and then begin orientation tomorrow. See you then." Xue Bing stated coolly as he turned and disappeared.

Dante watched her leave silently and then logged out as well. He opened his eyes on the couch and noticed that the others had stood up and were about to leave. Clearly, they were already done with their demonstrations and tests.

Dante also stood up and found a guide that was a female android gesturing to lead him to his room.

After moving to the teleporter, the guide sent the details of their destination to his AI chip and it automatically entered the coordinates into the teleporter as Dante stepped in, the man himself not even having to do anything conscious.

Chapter 24

When Dante appeared on the other side, he was standing at the entrance of a small self-contained room that had a tiny yard as well as a strange machine glowing with a green color that looked like a dustbin at the front, which Dante knew was a Quantum Transporter.

Basically, it delivered packages ordered online or even food. No more 3 days shipping or same-day delivery, this was now instant shipping, not even international, but intergalactic!

You might wonder, if they had this technology, then why couldn't they transport humans and invalidate Dante's so-called superpower?

Well, most of the clever folks would already be able to guess that the reason was pretty simple and obvious.

Quantum Transportation involved breaking down an item from its molecular and atomic structure into quarks and q-bits and then reassembling them at a designated quantum reception point.

As you could guess, breaking down inanimate objects with no life? Pretty fine most times.

Doing the same to a living being? Very, very ill-advised. Also, please do not put in plants or animals, you sick fuck.

Dante entered the building after being given the virtual key which was downloaded to his AI chip and tied to his ID. As such, the entire building came under his control, every facility controlled by his mind as if he was psychic.

The door automatically opened for him, showing him his living space for the period of time he would be enrolled here. The Eternal Academy was a place where every bit of land was like gold, because the uncountable number of people in the universe all battled to send their children here to study.

Of course, while they had the technology to expand the landmass and take in more, why would they do that? To control the enrollment and keep the prestige, as well as limit outside interference, it was best to fix the area completely in terms of living space and only add land for necessary facilities that would bring more objective value to the academy.

So even in a super advanced sci-fi universe, schools were still greedy fucks withholding generational knowledge and putting results over nurturing.

Then again, what did anyone expect?

Unless the government was fully run by impartial and untouchable AI, the human element will always find a way to blacken even the whitest canvas.

Dante noticed that his apartment had one bedroom, one study, a kitchen, and a living room as well as two bathrooms. For its size, it was pretty elite and almost as good as his earth bathroom.

But on this floating landmass in space, it was practically a 3000-acre villa. Dante knew full and well that this was a privilege for not only being in the Unique Batch, but also for being a pure human, his link to the Portinari family as well as his high-rank superpower.

The last one likely made up 90% of the reason.

With his brief encounter with the Eternal Academy, Dante's conclusion was that this academy firmly cared about your objective value and would treat you exactly according to your perceived value.

Dante had a feeling that Xue Bing's behavior might not be unique, but a common disposition and treatment here. If so, then there was no incentive to be 'low-profile'. It seemed the higher your profile, the higher your value and the higher your treatment.

Understanding this, Dante settled down and did not cause trouble. First, he checked out his residence and got familiar with it before downloading everything that was public about Quantum Transportation.

Unfortunately, not every detail was available, but it was enough to do a lot with. Coupled with the other technologies he had 'borrowed', it was enough to do a lot of things on earth for a long time to come.

Dante sat down on his bed and opened the Quantum Network, and then found the most popular e-commerce store on the network which was called… you guessed it, the Etramall. He browsed the stores and then bought two things that he needed.

The two items came to less than a hundredth-thousandth of an Etran, and Dante got it delivered to his Quantum Teleporter. He went out and then the machine spat out his packaged items like a vending machine, making Dante smile.

He took the two items and placed them in the pocket of his captain's jacket and then sat on his bed once more. With a light breath, he returned to his home universe, appearing right in his living room where he left.

He was seated on the couch and the apartment was silent apart from the hum of electronics. Dante had left his old iPhone on the table but he no longer needed it as his AI chip connected to Earth's communications network, whether cellular or internet, and then accessed Dante's relevant personal accounts.

The reason this could be done easily was that it stripped the details from Dante's phone and e-sim. Well technically, he could also easily hack into the details of everyone on the planet, but he was not really interested in that right now.

He was still focused on settling himself in the Eternal Universe and acquiring more standing as well as personal power before dipping his fingers into the home universe. However, that did not mean that there was nothing to do, and this was why he came back.

One thing about the modern era is that with the advent of the internet, many things became traceable, and a lot of information was shared really quickly across the globe.

As such, if he waited for a few months later when his Bionics and Psionics were set, his livelihood there was secured and he had better technology to start taking over, he would experience extreme pushback because he would literally appear out of nowhere with all these ground-breaking things and accumulate power too fast.

Many factions and governments would feel alarmed and begin to go against him in every way, using financial, political, and in the worst case, legal methods to hinder as well as crush him.

The simplest way to prevent or control this was to create a trail, a public and clear - as well as trustworthy and irrefutable - roadmap that led to his current location.

For example, if Dante started releasing these scientific technologies through various companies and labs under his name without the roadmap, that would be fine initially until the questions came.

The questions were usually very piercing, like where did the money come from? Secondly, they would ask, where did he get his qualifications? Thirdly, where did he learn this knowledge and how did he get there when so many 'smarter' people before him failed?

He did not necessarily need to answer these questions, but they could be slowly twisted in a way that would cause him endless headaches later. As such, it was just wiser and better to build a slow roadmap unless he planned to use military force to take over.𝒃𝙚𝒅𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒆𝒍．𝙘𝒐𝙢

To that end, Dante was planning to solve the three questions of money, education, and qualification. To acquire that, he needed to take organic and logical means from his current location and position in society, so the first item he bought was indispensable.

Dante opened the package and removed the seal, placing the item on his table in his room. It was a small black box with no opening except for a port to receive power. However, Dante did not dare plug it into any socket in his room for this small black box was a generation 3 miniature quantum Raspberry PI.

In other words, it was a pocket-sized quantum computer!

Its specs were too long to explain, but it could virtually destroy any form of technology in this universe even considering the various alien races Dante happened to discover when he connected to this universe's Quantum Network.

And yet, this thing cost him the equivalent of $200 Earth dollars.

Dante then took out the second thing he bought and then assembled it following the manufacturer's instructions. He opened the tank and poured in water to fill it up then sealed it tightly using the instructions.

After that, he hesitated before trusting the Eternal Universe's technology level and the products sky high reviews before turning it on. With a soft hum, it came to life and the water in the tank began to boil then fold crazily.

The indicator near the output port shone green, meaning that it was functioning perfectly. Dante's pale face regained color and he sighed with relief.

The reason for his reaction was because this product was a 100% efficient ultra-miniature nuclear fusion reactor. It was a tabletop device meant to power the most common devices of the Eternal Universe and was equivalent to the lowest quality power bank.

It only cost like $3 and was equivalent to the average child's science fair project in the Eternal Universe, something that they could smash together with ease.

Yet this thing could likely power every household on this planet.

Comparisons were truly odious…

Chapter 25

Dante's goal here was pretty simple. He couldn't be here physically all the time to lay the groundwork, but this quantum computer could handle anything he needed to since it came with an advanced system AI.

The AI within was not as advanced as the one in the brain chips, but it was enough to surpass anything that the humans of this earth could picture in their movies and TV shows, not to mention that was only the base AI.

Depending on the user's necessity, child AI with custom uses could be easily created and run at the same time as long as you supplied enough power. This was why the miniature nuclear reactor was needed, AI of this level could obviously not be powered by a wall socket.

In doing so, Dante would destroy every power plant linked to his apartment and damage the mini quantum computer due to lack of power on startup.

The mini nuclear reactor was good enough, it had a high power output enough to maintain constant use of the quantum computer without external input since the system was endlessly renewable and produced next to no waste.

If the people of the eternal universe were comfortable enough to let children play with it, you know that its hazard rating was extremely low.

Dante plugged the mini-quantum computer into the main port and it came to life immediately. He could tell because space seemed to warp around it slightly and bent the area around his table like a model's poorly done Photoshop to increase the size of her assets.

Not only that, the quantum computer connected to his AI chip and registered him as its user. This meant that even if Dante gave this to anyone else, without an AI chip and a Citizen Id, they could not use this thing.

Dante allowed the base AI to maintain a supervisory role while he created child AI. The first one was the Student AI, which would connect to earth's internet using his name and sign up for plenty of online courses where he didn't have to show his face.

Even if he did, the child AI could easily replicate a 3D model of him on screen that looked lifelike, like a Vtuber sort of thing but infinitely more perfect.

As for the courses, there were many universities that were online and gave out such courses, some with cheap fees to gather money and some with high fees because they had accreditation that was actually worthwhile.

Dante didn't care about that though. The AI was just to stake as many courses on diverse scientific topics over the next few months and then excel in them greatly. That way, he would build up 'knowledge' with ease.

The second child AI was the Tycoon AI, which was to make him rich. Dante did not plan to take his shabby degrees earned by the Student AI to find a job, and that would be pointless. The schools that offered these courses were cheap in the first place because no respectable company would hire graduates of such a thing.

So he would have to set up his own labs in his own name and be his own main researcher. Luckily, in America of today, one did not need much to set up a lab except to follow the safety guidelines, acquire the relative permits, buy the equipment and hire the necessary staff.

In fact, most applied science-related graduates would tell you that the hardest part about setting up a lab was the bloody money, because acquiring the machines and tools needed to run the experiments cost a heckload of money.

Obviously, the Tycoon AI was on that. How it would make money was by doing various internet jobs that were short and quick payout, like art commissions. With a quantum-level AI, you could be sure it could generate a whole anime series of top-notch quality based on a 20-word prompt in any sub-style you want, so mere commissions were nothing.

The AI would also write web novels and upload them to certain platforms that paid well for them. No organic author could beat its chapter upload speed and mechanical accuracy, so it could have hundreds of chapters out in a day, but obviously it would be best to tone it down to make it realistic.

The Tycoon AI would also develop games of all genres, from 2D anime-like games similar to dangaronpa, to 3D anime games like Genshin Impact, to 3D realistic games like The Sims, it could code anything in seconds and produce all the assets itself with slight training.

What you thought the Tycoon AI would do think like hack banks, play with the stock market, and steal money covertly from the rich? That was too naive and cliche, not to mention it was not solving the issue of acquiring clean and irrefutable money.

Working internet jobs like this was the only way to quickly amass money with clean electronic traces without working a physical day job, that's why so many people do it. Even if the Pentagon, the CIA, the FBI, the other governmental agencies of America, and even the other big countries wanted to descend on Dante once he released some of his 'findings', they would be left speechless.

The boy was from a good family and his grades all his life were above average. No offenses, a very clean sex life that could not be turned into blackmail from false rape accusations nor any illegal drug use.

The boy was just a socially-adept handsome nerd!

How do you deal with someone like that?

They'd be more likely to believe he was a natural genius that awakened later than any foul play. After all, it wasn't impossible for him to gather such skills given that his mother was a Chemical Engineer, so there were some 'science' genes in him.

The third and final AI was to perform the task of Assimilation and Qualification, called the Genius AI. This AI would publish some papers in various science journals that were very groundbreaking and near to the truth, but not enough to give others the boots they needed to get there ahead of him.

Its job was basically to make his name rise to fame among the world of scientists, making even the best of the best known that there was a rising kid who seemed to be enlightened by the God of Science himself.

The reputation was necessary because if he opened his lab and officially published his results, the first pushback would be among the science community. They are responsible for a lot of the great technological progress we have made, but as stated, the human element stains everything.

Hubris grows where intellect flourishes, and it festers evermore.

None of the older scientists are subconsciously willing to accept that some brat from somewhere suddenly got up and solved the problem they had been stumped with for years, and so they would hinder it. It didn't even matter if they took a look and felt like this was the truth, they would refuse to see the positives and only see the negatives then exaggerate them.

However, if Dante had built up his rep as a wonderkid close to the truth, some may not even go against him. He might even have some fans among the older folks because scientists respect anyone who can truly enlighten them and make them marvel.

In essence, the goal was to change 'where did this arrogant brat come from? Where are his qualifications?' to 'hm, if it's that stellar young man, then it might be likely'.

After setting them up, Dante stood back and saw that everything was beginning to run smoothly. The Quantum Computer obviously did not need plugs or ports, it could connect to any network just like his chip.

The Tycoon AI would take over Dante's accounts and debts, and pay what needed to be paid while gathering the finds, the Student AI would take his credentials from his schools and then act like him, 'studying' online, and the Genius AI would contact various journals with his 'minor breakthroughs' and build credibility as well as fame.

Seeing that everything was set, Dante was satisfied. There was also the mother AI to supervise anything and maintain the set of extensive rules and commands Dante had input to be the baseline.

It could be seen that in the time Dante was away, this small black box could turn the world upside down and do things no human would think possible, but funny enough, that would only be the tip of the iceberg.

Dante stepped back and nodded to himself before teleporting to the Eternal universe.

When he appeared, he was in his bedroom, still seated in the place he left. Obviously, nothing had changed since he only spent a few minutes away, and Dante finally felt the fatigue that came with completing so many objectives in a short period of time.

He sighed and had his exosuit sink into his flesh as he preferred to sleep with little clothing on. As such, the young man lay on his comfortable bed and set the room to resemble his childhood bedroom before going to sleep.

Chapter 26

Dante woke up suddenly, feeling like he was late for something. However, his AI chip reported that he had no pending engagements except the orientation at 7 am, and it was only 5 am.

He rubbed his face and entered the bathroom to soak in the tub for a few minutes before coming out. He simply willed his exosuit to come out of his flesh and his attire reformed around him, being the jacket, shirt, pants, and boots that formed his vice-admiral's uniform.

After checking himself out in the mirror, Dante decided to head out and reach the location of the orientation early. Luckily there was a private teleporter right in front of his room, so he stepped into it and was given access to the destination he sought, the Assembly Hall.

Still, Dante did not directly teleport over right away. After all, one thing about the Eternal Academy was that the teleporters did not give you full access to all exits nor did it download the map of all such entrances and exits to your chip automatically like public teleporters.

Rather, you only had access to those that were given to you at the time. As far as Dante was aware, he currently only had 3, the spaceport, the assembly hall, and his residence. He naturally guessed that he would receive more, if not the rest, after orientation was completed.

Whatever the case, he arrived at the campus area quite easily after taking a Quick Transit Vehicle after stepping back from the teleporter after careful thought.

As for these Quick Transit Vehicles, it was a fact that the entire Eternal Academy had a lot of them, and they made many students, as well as workers, use them. It would seem like, in this academy, access to teleporters was a luxury.

Dante would not be too surprised if it were even treated as some form of a status symbol, used by students and workers here to show how 'different' they were from the rest.

Dante put it in mind to restrain how often he used it in order not to attract hatred. It might seem like he was overreacting but anyone who had worked in an office space, or with co-workers, knew how easy it was for another person to hate you.

You could be a nice person, and because of that, someone hated you. You could be tall and handsome, and because of that, someone hated you. You could be favored by the boss because you were hardworking and because of that someone hated you.

It wasn't that Dante wanted to live in fear of other people's dislike, but that usually, people could do very dangerous and stupid things out of hatred. Avoiding flaunting his usage of teleporters was such a small sacrifice for peace of mind.

At least, until he was sure that the consequence of a random person's hate-filled actions could not affect him negatively. At that point, why would he hold back?

The campus was large and expansive. He came from the residential side, and even there, he was allocated his own residence in a sort of villa-like area. Behind the Assembly Hall's gates was a bustling school area with hundreds of different species walking about.

What was interesting though, was that while everyone was wearing diverse clothing and attires, they all had distinct color-coded badges placed on their clothes. Probably something to distinguish students from each other and then students from teachers?

Dante noticed that he wasn't the only one in the square of the Assembly Hall. Many other students had come here using different means, most using teleporters as the authorization to this location was given freely since students would likely often be required to report here quickly.

Dante noticed many from the spaceport when he came for the test, and he also saw many others. The Eternal Academy had hundreds of spaceports for receiving, sending, business, pleasure, and military functions.

The spaceport Dante came in was far from the only one for new students. Of course, how many passed the initial tests and entered would not amount to even 5% of the total number, but he counted around 2000 people at least.

The crazy part was that more people were coming!

As Dante surveyed the area, he noticed a bunch of pure human youths gesturing at him. They grouped up in a large bunch, numbering almost 50. As usual, they were separated from the other aliens and mixed-race humans who made up the bulk.

Dante naturally walked up with a smile to the pure human group. Now that the troublesome Beatrice wasn't around, he was free to be more natural and less guarded. Of course, caution would not be discarded, but living like that 24/7 would shoot his stress levels to calamitous degrees.

The pure humans made way for him and introduced themselves one by one. Most were in the Elite Batch, numbering around 46. Only 4 were like Dante, recruited into the Unique Batch. Among them, of course, was Louisa who stood like a swan among a flock of ducks, the entire social group seemed to be orbiting around gathering her attention.

So it was to no one's surprise that Dante got heavy and envious looks when Louisa brightened up at his appearance and began chatting with him in a friendly manner. After all, Dante was a pure human with natural superpowers like her, not to mention he was sort of a 'family friend' since he was associated with Beatrice.

Even though his status as a discovered pure human was lower than hers within the pure human ranks, it was offset by his overall backing. As such, Louisa did not treat him like a possible lackey but as a sort of equal.

However, her attitude was still there, nothing particularly rude or offensive but just a slightly superior tone, like an intellectual talking to an average person. The others noticed this and among other reasons, began to inquire on Dante's background in a seemingly harmless manner.

Louisa seemed to have a playful expression on her face as she first revealed that he was recently found and brought here. Immediately, the attitude of many of the pure humans here changed, and while they were still willing to 'allow' Dante into the group, they became less equal and more condescending in a polite way.

Louisa let them make fools of themselves for a bit before 'casually' adding that Beatrice found him and was tied to the Portinari family. Not only that, but his military rank was Vice-Admiral of the 34th Fleet.

The fellows were left speechless.

Many felt extreme resentment towards Louisa. This was a fellow with a background no less than hers and could be someone they would socially orbit around as well. However, due to her prank, the relationship had gone cold and their futures with Dante as close friends were directly cut off.

Dante too glanced at Louisa coldly, and her playful expression changed slightly. These fellows' unhappiness she could ignore, but Dante's was not so easy to brush over.

However, whether it was the pure human elite youths or Louisa, neither made a move to apologize to Dante or act in a lower position. Yeah, his backing was superb, but their own was just one rank below, and in the case of Louisa, slightly higher!

There was no need to bend their backs and fawn over anyone. As for their orbiting around Louisa, it was normal. Every social group had a core and that core was usually the most handsome/beautiful person, the richest person, or the 'coolest' person.

Even if this person had a conflict, no one would necessarily kneel to them but rather scoff and walk away.

Dante was also a relatively skilled socialite, so he smiled and brushed off the earlier unpleasantness and began chatting with everyone normally. In the meantime, he assessed them and their behaviors as well as gathered information about them through their chat which he logged to his AI.

Soon, their chat was forced to come to an end when the announcement was made, it was time for the students to gather within the hall. At this time, the original 2000 had swelled to almost 10,000 in number, while the number of pure humans reached about 200 in total.

They were ushered into the hall in an organized manner and led to their respective seats.𝗯𝐞𝗱𝐧𝗼𝐯𝐞𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

… yes, the seats too were separated by class. Not racial or based on background, but purely the internal classification of the academy itself. Front row seats to the Unique Batch Students, middle row for Elite Batch, and back row for the numerous Normal Batch.

Not only that but each class was separated into ranks according to whatever standard was tested in the entrance examination.

There were about 28 Unique Batch students among the total number accepted this year, and out of their ranked 28 seats, Dante was slowly but surely led to the first one.

'Welp, there goes all plans of not attracting hatred. High profile it is then.' Dante thought to himself.

Chapter 27

Dante really and factually stopped caring at this point. His guarded expression became much more lax and he plopped into his seat confidently like he was destined to sit there. Beside him was a mixed-race male with elf-like features who glanced at Dante with a look of neutrality before looking away.

The third seat was occupied by the lamia girl from before while the fourth seat was occupied by a slug-like alien that remained motionless after it took its seat.

Dante looked further down and saw Louisa at the 20th position, eight places from last. Her expression was exceedingly awkward, especially when factoring in where Dante was sitting compared to her.

The other pure humans did not fare much better, ranging from one at 8th, to one at 13th, and the other two at 17th and 18th in the end. Louisa was the last among the pure humans and this caused an instant hierarchical shift that the five of them could directly feel.

Their respectful looks towards Louisa reduced significantly while Louisa's expression became extremely ugly. Dante noted all of this with a chill in his heart. He had read on the Etranet while searching for information about the Eternal Academy that all forms of social class and background from outside did not matter once one became a student.

Beatrice had also harped on about this, but people always said such exaggerative things when talking about top institutions. However, when you entered, you realized that it was severely exaggerated because the rich young master still had cronies following him around even if his grades were trash.

However, they hadn't even seen the face of the leaders of the academy and a class system had been established! Louisa, who was at the top in terms of racial and family background outside was now reduced to the lowest class among their group in less than a few seconds after sitting.

All this just because of the ranking the school gave their superpowers during the entrance examination. Dante thought back to Xue Bing's words about how he should conceal any flaws if the rating was inaccurate, and he deeply understood what she was trying to hint at.

Eventually, a song began to play as a band of humans, mixed breeds, and aliens came from the back of the Assembly Hall and marched to the front. While they played, the podium before them came to life since the seats that had been placed on the stage lit up as projections appeared on them.

From left to right, there were 46 projections, and all of them were arrogant and well-dressed adults who glanced down at them with amusement, mockery, or a playful look, making Dante frown.

In the center, with the best seat almost similar to a throne and a projection that felt life-like, was a beautiful fair-skinned young woman wearing purple military clothes meant for a general with her coat handing off her shoulders.

She had a head of lush white hair that reached her shoulders, some parts of it spiky. Her eyes were blood red and she wore the coldest expression Dante had seen since he came to this universe.

She simply glanced at the student body casually and then looked away. Her eyes were like giant searchlights placed upon a group of prisoners who were slowly escaping from prison, making them freeze in place and tremble like rabbits.

When her gaze alighted, they all sighed subconsciously. The woman then glanced at the fellow beside her who was a scholarly young man with a gentle and caring smile on his face.

"Vice Principal Andrais, give me the statistics, and let me see if this batch is worth my presence." She requested neutrally.

"Hm, sure. Don't be too harsh on them though, there are only a few good seedlings. The rest are average." The one called Andrais said as he stood up, making the hearts of everyone clench.

The woman in the center, likely the principal, humphed coldly but did not retort. Andrais clapped his hands and smiled genially at everyone.

"Hello students, my name is Andrais Faven and I am the first Vice-Headmaster of the Eternal Academy." He then bowed graciously while the students clapped uncertainly.

Andrais did not mind and gestured to a woman who was basically a brown-haired underage-looking girl in round-rimmed glasses who was frowning at all of them. "That is Elizabeth Lyon, the second Vice-Headmistress of the Eternal Academy."

Andrais then introduced all 46 people seated in the projections one by one, but very few got up to bow to the students. Most just looked down with disdain or boredom, wondering when this was going to end.

Finally, he gestured to the woman in the middle. "And of course saving the best for last, there is our beautiful and all-powerful headmistress, Lara Sanguis!"

Lara did not stand up, but the students still clapped respectfully. Some faces changed greatly as they recognized this name and even Dante quickly downloaded some basic information about her. When he did, his heart stopped for a second due to the sheer absurdity.

Cutting out the other parts, the key things to note were that she was the Admiral of the First Fleet - which was the most powerful - and she was also a councilor of the Prime Civilization. On top of that, she was the most powerful person in the known universe, with 7 superpowers belonging to her alone!

"I will cut to the chase. The rule of the Eternal Academy and everything you need to know including your classes, electives, teachers, roles, requirements, obligations, and goals have been uploaded to your AI chips the moment you sat on your respective seats." Andrais continued.

"That way, the ceremony can end quickly since we, your teachers, are actually quite busy. Before, I let you go though, there are two more aspects to orientation that we do for all new students."

"The first is that I will give you advice. Some of you may have noticed already, but the Eternal Academy does not care about rights, morals, or ethics. The only thing that speaks here is your talent, potential and current power. Status, wealth, and all those things you have outside only work outside, here they mean nothing."

Andrais' eyes became sharp as he smiled wider. "If you doubt me, you can flaunt it or try to use it to bully others or advance yourself. There are those among the teachers, the students, and even the workers who are hungrily waiting for you to do so in order to enjoy the feeling of stomping your head into the ground."

The eyes of all the aliens and mixed-breed humans flashed with amazement and excitement, while the face of the pure humans became ugly. The other aliens in the other seats glanced at Dante who was in first place with a hint of playfulness and cruelty while he ignored them, still wearing a confident smile.

They tsked and looked away, but then focused on the other pure humans who were not nearly as calm as Dante. Louisa had it the worst as the two aliens seated on either side of her began whispering cruelties into her ear, making her pale greatly.

"Of course, that doesn't mean you should go breaking the rules or doing anything stupid! As I said, the lack of status only works here in the Eternal Academy. If you stomp on someone's head and you leave the academy grounds, whatever consequence you suffer is your own!" Andrais reminded 'kindly'.

Suddenly, the excited aliens and mixed breeds changed greatly, while the pure humans who had been suppressed became ferocious. It was clear that after this orientation, a few calls will be made and a few tragedies may occur outside.𝚋ｅｄｎ𝚘𝚟ｅｌ.ｃｏ𝚖

The two aliens seated on either side of Louisa trembled and felt regret, while Louisa's expression became extremely cold.

As for Dante, his face changed slightly when he understood what Andrais was trying to do, but he didn't understand why. Suddenly, his mind clicked and he looked up to the podium and actually observed the projections once more.

His findings chilled his heart greatly, for what did he see? Every single member of the 46 upper echelons of the Eternal Academy was a pure human! Not a single mixed breed or alien race among them!

The implications of this were severe beyond belief.

Before Dante could think further, Andrais did something that he would have never expected, not in a million years.

"Settle down students! Now comes the second and final part of the orientation ceremony, the reality check!" Andrais stated as his eyes fell on the Unique Batch students.

"You have all been separated into ranks based on your exam scores, and some of you, especially those among the Unique Batch, are extremely unwilling with the position you have been given. That's totally understandable!"

Andrais patted his chest innocently like he understood their worries.

"When I first came here, I too was set at 3rd place. I didn't believe nor understand why the two ahead of me got there until classes began and the facts were slapped in my face. However, you don't need to wait for classes to start, I'll do it for you right now."

Andrais then gestured to Dante, and the lights focused on him, bringing attention from both students and teachers to his person.

"To begin with, let's introduce your year's number one Unique Batch student, Dante, with his graded SSS-Rank superpower of teleportation!"

While exclamations occurred in the Assembly Hall, Dante's eyes became bloodshot from hatred and killing intent that surged into his heart.

Chapter 28

Dante had never felt so much anger in his life, and he was not sure he ever would. However, he was far from the only one who would experience this today, and Andrais was going to make sure of that.

"Then there is the second place Humphrey with the graded SS-Rank talent, Aerogenesis! Let's give him a round of applause."

Humphrey, the mixed-race human seated beside him who had ears like that of an elf, showed an even stronger reaction than Dante as his powers seemed to rise, the wind around him becoming sharp like a blade.

He looked like he was a second away from firing at the projections, but he seemed to realize it would be futile as these were not their real bodies.

"The third place, Slessor with the graded SS-Rank talent, Space Folding! Let's give the lovely lady a round of applause!"

The lamia girl's body changed, her beautiful face morphing into one of ferocity as her slitted eyes widened and her fangs elongated. Her tongue stuck out and her tail tensed, as if she was ready to pounce. The killing intent she gave off was more primal than Dante or Humphrey.

Andrais continued listing out all the Unique Batch's member's superpower's one by one, causing each and every one of them to glare at him with utter hatred. What he had done was a universal taboo that was about as bad as a crime as murder.

"Now, I see you students have been glaring at me with such ferocity that if I were here in reality, you'd probably try to kill me, and you would be justified too. After all, revealing someone's superpowers which they entrusted to you in confidentiality is a severe breach of trust and is heavily punished by the Prime Civilization's Human Council." Andrais continued when he finished his incomprehensible act.

"However, as I stated before, this second part of the orientation is the reality check. Here, we, your beloved teachers, take the risk of eternal damnation to slap your faces awake to the reality of the world and teach you the first lesson: don't trust anyone with such information ever again!"

Andrais smiled. "But I see that none of you show grateful looks for the important lesson and still harbor malice, so I must say this for the record. Whether it is myself, the headmistress, or the teachers, none of us truly care or fear your little tantrums."

"We were once students who naturally awoke superpowers and entered the Zero Gate, acquiring even more for ourselves as time went on. We have lived for more years than three of your family's generations, so we have had ample time to practice and extract the potential of our abilities."

Andrais sneered and the teachers behind him showed the full disregard they had for the harm they had caused the students, regardless of pure human or not.

"We happily welcome any attempts at revenge you have, now and forever till you eventually turn to dust. You can even report our misdeeds to the Human Council right after this orientation, but haha, good luck with that."

Andrais looked back. "About half of the teachers here are councilors themselves, and are powerful enough that no one dares to punish them even if they genocide an entire race, much less reveal your little secrets."

The faces of all the students changed greatly, and they finally understood what Andrais meant by a reality check. They had been brutally wronged and abused, but due to how weak they were, there was nothing they could do about it, as background and wealth were irrelevant in the face of raw martial might.

Who was going to police the strongest few beings in the universe?

"Haha, that's it for the orientation. Oh, and students of the Elite and Normal Batch, please do not spread what you've heard today anywhere. If we find out that any persons of the Unique Batch's superpower are revealed to the public, we will hunt you down and personally take your life~" Andrais said in a kind manner, but the students of the two batches couldn't help but feel a chill.

The projections left without waiting for any closing ceremony, and the last to leave was actually the headmistress. She glanced at Dante with her blood-red eyes, seated from a high position.

"Work hard and impress me student, and I might take you in as my apprentice. There are powers in this universe that are far beyond your comprehension, and superpowers are just the bottom-floor requirement to get in touch with them." She spoke these cryptic words and then did not even glance at the others like they were trash, not even those with SS-Rank superpowers, then left.

The entire Assembly Hall was quiet for a long while before it erupted in noise as the students vented their fury and fear at such treatment. While there were those with ugly expressions who lowered their head and planned to swallow this grievance, there were some hotheaded ones who wanted to fight right away.

There were also those who thought their IQ was above the world itself and had glints in their eyes as they prepared to use the Quantum Network to contact certain dark societies to sell the information they had received today.

There were also those righteous fellows who believed in the system and had filed long petitions as well as complaints to the Human Council, sneering at those arrogant teachers. There were those who sneered at the righteous fellows for being dumb and opened social media, planning to post what happened to everyone and use the public's anger to put pressure on the academy.

Everyone reacted with their own methods, but only the 28 Unique Batch students remained silent as they seriously digested the headmistress' words. They had never heard of something like this despite their various backings, though there were hints from their elders that something special was going on.

Something that contributed to the value of superpowers overall, but they did not have access to that info. It seemed that because Dante had an SSS-rank superpower, he had achieved the basic qualification to receive a hint from the headmistress.

As for Dante himself, he maintained a cold expression like he was unhappy, but inside he sighed with relief. It was a good thing his superpower was mistaken as teleportation and he swore never to tell anyone about his true ability no matter what.

Today's lesson was very astute, especially for him. Unless he had the all-encompassing strength to suppress everything, a secret must remain a secret. He could be high profile for sure, but it was not necessary to reveal his Quantum Teleportation to anyone unless he could absolutely guarantee their trust.

He was even thinking a step ahead about Andrais' actions and what he said. They did this every year to every new batch? What a bunch of arrogant and crazy fellows. Did they know how many enemies with superpowers they were creating?

Dante was a person who wasn't born and raised in the Eternal Universe, so he did not have the full sensibilities and ideals that the natives had. He might forgive their trespass because they were wrong about his superpower and because he didn't much care due to the wrong information, but these natives had expressions like they had witnessed their parents being killed in front of them.

Seriously, who does that? Just create hundreds of young enemies that will work hard to try and kill you? All of that just to establish your prestige? Why not just organize a tournament and beat them up instead?

Dante then thought about what Headmistress Lara said, and his surprise was not that great. After all, these fellows might not know, but he knew. There were higher-dimensional beings in this universe, who lived in the Fourth Dimension and above.

That was how he survived his trip into this universe and even gained his superpower. These beings were so powerful that they could grant superpowers on a whim, so Dante was not like his classmates who felt that superpowers were the limit and height of what one could achieve.

Dante did not want to think about higher dimensional beings and what that meant for now. He simply got up from his seat and began to leave the Assembly Hall while the others seemed to wake up. They also left one by one, some in groups as well while they continued to chat and form cliques.

Many eyes filled with schadenfreude or pity fell upon the 28 Unique Batch members, feeling excited that they got 'violated' without being able to fight back. After all, the class system between students had already caused dark feelings to emerge in their hearts.

As for Dante, he directly stepped into a nearby teleporter and left, appearing in front of his residence. He looked over and saw that Humphrey appeared at the teleporter to the residence on his right, and the two shared a look before ignoring each other and entering their residences.

Dante slumped on a sofa in the living room and gazed at the ceiling. He felt tired despite only spending less than 20 minutes in that orientation, and it had also given him a lot to think about.

Anyway, while he was here, it was time to check out the information uploaded to his chip.

Chapter 29

Dante downloaded the school's information and was given a full and total understanding of the Eternal Academy, the rules, the layout, the schedule for his classes, the schedule for other's classes, extracurricular activities, the benefits, entertainment options, and most of all, the school shop.

He was also granted his Student ID which gave him access to all these facilities and more. As you might expect, in order to cut itself off from outside influence, the school had its own internal currency.

This currency was called the Supercoin, because the main theme of the school was superpowers.

Naturally, this left Dante speechless.

He wasn't going to go through everything one by one but would experience each and every one of these things for himself. Seeing as the day was fresh, he got up and planned to take advantage of one of the free benefits that came with not only being a student, but being a student of the Unique Batch.

It was time for Dante to install his Bionics and Psionics!

The young man couldn't conceal his excitement at the thought and had no plans to, wearing a pokerface like he was some unfeeling bastard was not really comfortable and did not represent his true character in any way.

He took the teleporter to the Institution of Student Enhancements. Here, whether it was Bionics, Psionics, upgraded AI chips, or gene enhancers, students could access them all as long as they had enough Supercoin to pay.

You could not buy Supercoin with external money, not even with the powerful Etran. Only internally validated methods that Dante would partake in later could gather Supercoin. He put them in his plans after acquiring his enhancements.

He was spat out of the teleporter into the lobby and saw that the building was semi-empty. After all, it was not like Supercoins were easy to farm for students so that they could continually upgrade and each upgrade cost leagues more than the previous one.

So even with a large continent-like landmass with probably millions of living beings on it, this building was only half full. Dante remembered the rules of the academy and went to a nearby 3D printer to create a badge that was imprinted on his chest.

It was a purple color badge with a number in the middle which was his student ID. Among the various student ranks, Grey was for Normal Batch students, Gold for was the Elite Batch, Purple was for the Unique Batch and Black were for staff/workers.

Seeing the purple on his badge, many of the grey-badged and gold-badged students glanced at Dante with envy and hints of hatred, making him frown. It seemed like the classism of students in this academy caused greater negative feelings to brew than he thought. 𝙗𝒆𝒅𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝙢

He ignored everyone and headed to one of the counters. It was manned by an android staff as the number of organic beings in the entire Eternal Academy's workforce was limited to prevent intrusion and interference from outside factions.

"Hello student, how can I help you today?" The Android asked in a pleasant androgynous tone.

"I'd like to receive my student standard Bionic and Psionic upgrade package," Dante replied with a smile.

"Not a problem. Before we begin the procedure, I have to ask for health and safety reasons, did you have any previous Bionics or Psionics installed?" The Android asked while a holographic screen flashing with numbers appeared before it.

"None." Dante denied it with a shake of his head.

"That's for the best. Also, would you please upload your SDI into the database so we can gauge how the various Bionic and Psionic types we have in stock will affect you?" The Android requested with a smile.

To this, he hesitated. He had already learned his lesson from the orientation and it was clear that this academy had no scruples. However, he definitely was not going to lie or withhold information from his 'doctor' when something very powerful and dangerous was going to be inserted into his body.

As such, he obediently uploaded the details and just hoped for the best. If it ever came to bite him in the ass, he would accept it and seek revenge on this academy doubly for the earlier transgression as well.

After all, cough cough, he had the backing of a fourth-dimensional being right? Dante forcefully thickened his skin and decided to self-appoint himself as that higher dimensional being's number 1 crony.

The higher-dimensional being was left speechless.

Dante was brought into a high-tech operating room with a platform. He was instructed to lie on the table which then lifted itself up to an inclined position. While Dante was beginning to feel nervous, his AI chip immediately received a command and relayed it to Dante.

Dante accepted the command, which was to apply natural anesthesia in the form of being asleep, so his chip released the required hormones that soon had Dante close his eyes tiredly.

Hi AI chip 'watched' the entire process like a hawk as they injected Dante with nanites that began to burrow into his flesh, bones, organs, and marrow. As they began constructing the framework of his bionical enhancements, another needle was plugged into his spine.

These nanites rushed toward his nerves, lymph nodes, and mostly to his brain. Each of these nanites worked separately but extremely efficiently, getting the job done in under 20 minutes each. If one looked at Dante's body on the inside, one would note that his internals looked less human and more robotic.

Where they had been a red sheen due to blood, they were now a greyish-white sheen that made his body feel firmer, yet more metallic.

Dante's body was connected to a nutrient supplement and then pumped with the juice crazily. His AI chip was then given the go-ahead to wake him up and when it did, Dante's first reaction was to ask how everything went since he was not really groggy at all.

However, anything he wanted to say was sicked back into his mouth as he gasped deeply, his body shrinking rapidly like someone was sucking his internals out with a straw.

Immediately, the attached nutrient solutions pumped him with tons of juice, and his body slowly filled out till it reached its previous state. Dante's pained expression relaxed greatly as he began to breathe out, feeling like his previously empty body was now somewhat full.

He then felt fear. He had been warned about the side effects of installing Bionics and Psionics the first time, especially in the case of Bionics, so he was not too shocked.

After the nanites build the relevant enhancements within his body, it would be like an engine or a generator. It would need a spark to ignite the propulsion and fuel to keep it going. In this case, when his consciousness returned and the enhancements kicked in, they began drawing the fuel which was his body's power.

This was why the nutrient solution was necessary. However, thanks to advancements in the technology of enhancements, Bionics and Psionics were much more efficient and manageable than before.

It was more like a coolant system, where you only filled the tank once and it would cycle the same liquid over and over again. So Dante did not need to do anything more at this point, nor would it suddenly cause an increase in appetite or other such changes.

Dante was released from the table and landed on his feet. Immediately, he felt the difference when his legs met the ground. It felt less like he was standing on a pair of fleshy feet and more like he was standing on two alloy soles.

His entire body felt full of power and sturdiness. Dante was not hallucinating, he could quite literally stand for a heavy-duty truck to hit his head on and he probably wouldn't even take a step back.

Dante felt a surge of confidence emerge from his heart as he took a few steps forward to test his enhanced abilities. The transformation was astounding. His every movement was smoother, faster, and more precise than ever before. It was as if he had unlocked a hidden potential, a power waiting to be harnessed.

As Dante walked through the halls of the Institution of Student Enhancements to head to his next destination, he couldn't help but notice the curious glances from other students.

Some of them were in awe of his aura which radiated more power than before, while others seemed envious of his newfound strength.

Dante shook his head and decided to check his SDI.

｢User: Dante (ID Number: DANTE10998-03-15)

Age: 21 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 2.3 (23)

Agility Index: 2.2 (22)

Dexterity Index: 2.3 (23)

Intelligence Index: 2.5 (25)

Constitution Index: 2.1 (21)

Vitality Index: 2.1 (21)

Bionic Level: 1 (Unique Student Version 10.)

Psionic level: 1 (Unique Student Version 10.)

AI Chip level: 1 (Civilian Category)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement.｣

With his body now reinforced with bionics and psionics, Dante felt a surge of gratitude towards his extra-dimensional benefactor.

Chapter 30

Now that Dante had acquired his Bionics and Psionics, it was naturally time to test them out and learn more about these two power systems. After that, he would deal with what he had been excited to try ever since he received his information from the school, which was extracurricular activities to earn Supercoin!

First, he used the teleporter to return to his residence and lay on his bed comfortably. He then entered the Quantum Network then straight to the Etraverse. He entered his Student ID and was able to access the unique VR worlds belonging to the academy, of which he chose the 'Testing World'.

A pop-up appeared explaining the details of the Testing World, something which was complimentary with the entire service.

[World Name: Testing World

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Small

World Type: Instanced

World Genre: Training

Bionics Allowed: Yes

Psionics Allowed: Yes

Superpowers Allowed: Yes

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: Unlimited

Description: This is the basic testing world created by the Eternal Academy for its student to use in order to test the effectiveness of their Bionics, Psionics, or superpowers in a virtual setting with any parameters of their choice.]

Dante chose to enter and was brought into a large white room that had grids as far as the eye could see. His AI chip was then prompted to design the kind of scenario in which he wanted to test his various abilities, so Dante chose a random template.

[You will be using the Terrorist Attack on Civilians template. Here, you are browsing through your city's large mall when the mall is surrounded by terrorists who are here to slaughter everyone and take no prisoners. Your duty is to either escape or incapacitate all enemies within the time limit and your efforts will be graded using an objective score. Continue?]

Dante chose to continue and was warped into a cafeteria that was packed with people. From right to left, there were different vendors from the classic McDonald's and Burger King to even Panda Express and Hooters.

He only had about three seconds to take in his surroundings before the entire area quaked as the sound of multiple explosions occurred. Everyone was thrown to their feet and screams abounded in the area. 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗲𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Dante could almost taste the panic in the air and his enhancements passively kicked in as soon as he detected the chaos. Immediately, the world around him changed in more than one way possible.

Now, Bionics and Psionics were separated into different types and classes. There were Civilian, Military, Commercial, Private, Business, Government, and Student Bionics as well as Psionics.

Due to the different categories, each type had different functions and increased your SDI in different ways.

At its base, regardless of type, a Bionic or Psionic Enhancement could not turn you into a God. They worked with your natural SDI, so much like the various fictional transformations from popular shonen anime, the higher the 'power level' of your base form, the higher your final power level after transformation.

This was what Xue Bing had warned Dante about that there were some aliens or even pure humans who had SDI with points above the double digits. Compared to him who had recently been boosted to 2 points in each field, he was like a bear cub before a dragon.

Bionics were physical enhancements that multiplied your SDI values of Strength, Constitution, and Vitality by a factor of 2 for Civilian, by 3 up to 5 for Private, Business, and Commercial, by 5 to 8 for Student and Government, and from 10 and above for Military.

Due to the focus, it made your muscles stronger and sturdier, made your body more impervious and resistant to damage, and then increased your recovery in terms of stamina and fatigue greatly.

Taking into account the special nature of the Eternal Academy, Dante's identity as a student of the Unique Batch among others, his Bionics granted him a boost of 10 times.

Psionics were mental enhancements that multiplied your SDI values of Agility, Dexterity, and Intelligence by the same factors per type as for Bionics.

With its focus, it increased coordination, reflexes, reaction speed, balance, and acuity greatly. You might think that such things had to do with the body but no, they were more of a thing of the mind and the nervous system.

The current Dante was experiencing the first taste of full activation of both his Bionics and Psionics. Many details had been documented and written about the first experience, calling it the greatest high that was not replicable ever again.

Dante himself could not easily describe what he was going through in detail. Having your body filled with power, having your mind flow like it was a filthy pipe that had been washed clean, it was truly a high like no other.

Dante was filled with confidence that he could not suppress at all. The world itself seemed to slow down around him and the movements of the panicking civilians behind him seemed to come from a far distance.

Dante cast his senses out and felt the presence of over 50 hostiles equipped with laser weaponry slowly and methodically killing everyone in the mall. The guards and sentry robots were all disabled through some elite means that Dante did not know about.

The enemies had spread out and covered every possible entrance and exit of the mall. After all, this was a lightning operation where they came to slaughter to leave a message or something else, then evacuate.

Having people escape would ruin the purity of their operation on one hand and it might alert the authorities to send armed forces over much earlier than necessary.

With these kinds of operations, the timing was strict and they all had watches counting down each second till they had to evac whether they were done or not.

These men were likely equipped with either Military or Private Bionics, so their SDI boost could be between 3 to 10 times. One fact was that the base SDI of everyone in this instance was the same as him, or around the same range.

Everyone was even of the same race, and the details had been crafted based on Dante's impression of a mall through the AI chip. This was to create a perfect scenario for him to test his abilities without making his foes impossibly strong or needlessly weak.

Dante sucked in a deep breath and then bolted forward rushing out of the cafeteria area and into a nearby shop that sold perfumes and women's clothing. The attendant was also screaming and scrambling to hide under something, so Dante ignored her and rushed into the backroom.

It would have been more logical for him to stay put with the masses and use them as body shields to escape, but this was not necessarily a survival mission but a testing one.

Dante found what he was looking for in the fire kit, which had an extinguisher and an axe in a glass case. He smashed open the case and took the axe, twirling it in his arms.

He swung it for a bit and was shocked. He was a normal civilian with no combat training whatsoever, so he had no skill in wielding an axe.

However, when stats and ability reached a certain threshold, the casual act of one could replicate a seasoned master. Not in terms of true form, that required proper training, but the lack of clumsiness was apparent.

Dante rushed out of the back room and send that the shooting and murdering had started in earnest as some of the men split into different shops to take down those within as quickly as possible.

With their Psionics, they could sense those who were hiding with ease, so there was no point in doing that. In fact, they had already sensed Dante, but they could not tell how different he was like this.

He just seemed like a brave but foolish young man who thought he could ambush one of them. The nearest one to him acted ignorant as he cleared the stores leading up to where Dante was, but Dante knew that his opponent was aware of him.

An axe versus a laser gun? Not very good odds.

If Dante threw the axe when the guy got close, with his level of enhancements he could easily dodge it and Dante would now be unarmed and dead.

If Dante waited until he got close and tried to jump out, his foe would still easily dodge Dante's unskilled swing and then laser him in the face with the fellow's superior marksmanship training.

The only thing that would work was a feint. Dante had to pretend he was doing one of these actions but cancel it at the last moment and then find a connecting move to get himself into the danger area of his foe for a takedown.

Pretend to throw or pretend to hack at his foe? That was the question.

Dante had little time to decide because the fellow had just dealt with the next store over and would be coming his way very soon.

Chapter 31

Dante naturally decided to do neither. He grabbed a whole wad of clothes and covered himself. With them on him like this, he looked to be a lazy fellow who didn't want to carry more than two batches of clothes from the drying line into the house.

He then smashed through the window of the shop and charged towards the enemy who was walking over slowly. Naturally, Dante's actions had been quick enough that he maintained a slight element of surprise, not to mention the randomness of seeing a man layered with unworn clothes charging at you.

Even worse, Dante threw the bundle of clothes at him, blocking his view. Even as he fired, he could tell he missed Dante and tried to take a step back to create distance, but he was forced to dodge when an axe flew through the clothes and tried to latch itself to his forehead.

It was only after his desperate dodge that the man understood what happened and how he was about to die. After all, he could see the shadow of Dante from his crouched position since he ducked to avoid the axe that was thrown as fast as a bullet.

His expression became solemn and he was about to beg to distract his foe when he felt a leg smash the back of his head and sent him nose-first into the tiled floor of the mall. His skull burst open like a watermelon, the innards and pieces of brain mush flying about like splatter.

Dante stared at the corpse for a short while before picking up the gun he held. It wasn't that a young man like him was mysteriously immune to death, but rather that he had ordered his AI chip to suppress the urge to vomit and the rising chaos of emotions forcefully.

He would deal with it after.

Now that he was armed, Dante could begin the proper process of the testing. He detected that the rest of the men were heading toward his location, giving up on their plan to slaughter civilians. They could also detect with their own psionics that their teammate had been killed, and they were aware that Dante was likely armed.

Basically, it was like playing an online multiplayer shooter with both teams having access to radar. While you could see the blue and red dots, it didn't mean you could see the exact details of what was going on.

Dante also rapidly approached his enemies head-on and began firing when he encountered the vanguard. He had not taken any gun lessons because he never felt the need to, but with his dexterity boosted to 20 times the standard of a pure human in this universe, which was more than twice the standard of a pure human on earth, his aim was enough to get the job done.

Dante shot, rushed forward speedily towards new cover, shot again, and then challenged a swarm of foes in hand-to-hand combat. Once again, no training, so the battle was more like a street fight but unfortunately, his foes had basic hand-to-hand combat training.

So he got his ass beat up and then shot many times before fleeing. Dante evaded the pursuers long enough that his injuries healed under the starkly increased vitality and began fighting once more. He lost again and was shot many times until he could barely walk.

Eventually, he was captured and once he reached this stage, the instance came to an end.

[Congratulations, user Dante! You have completed an instance of the Testing World using random parameters! After calculation, your score is valued to be at the C Rank!]

Dante was not bothered by the average score. He had no training, no skills, and no techniques. His tactics were unrefined and barbaric while his choices and decisions were questionable at best and suicidal at worst.

If it wasn't for the fact that he wasn't killed but was only captured, his score could have been worse.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm However, it was enough for Dante. He had tasted the full power of his new enhancements and understood how much stronger they made him. The test had been perfectly completed, now all that was left was for him to train these abilities.

Still, that was for later. Right now, Dante had to deal with the after-effects of the suppression of his emotional reaction to the cold-blooded killing of his fellow man, so he logged out and got up, calmly walking to the bathroom before emptying out his gut.

After clearing his internals, he forced himself to remember that nasty scene of his legs squashing the opponent's head like a watermelon and began a new round of dry heaving.

Dante then washed his face and rinsed his mouth thoroughly before going to sit on his bed. He simply sat there for a long time, thinking about many things and what to do next.

He sighed, lay his head down, and then slept after making his AI chip secrete the necessary hormones to induce sleep. His plan was to rest for a bit before thinking about what came next.

This was naturally a great idea as when he woke up a few hours later, when the sky was darkening, he felt refreshed and his mind was clear. His reaction to his memory of killing was much weaker than before and he was sure that active conflict would not disgust him so much again.

Now that he was much better, Dante thought about his next step. This was naturally to increase his SDI by as much as he could until he caught up to the others. There was no reason for others to have such high 'base' stats and he did not.

The only way to achieve this was to utilize the gene enhancement technology of this universe. This was a gradual process requiring multiple treatments over time as he boosted and perfected his genetics bit by bit.

There was no shortcut for this unless you had a superpower. There was nothing like a super secret military gene enhancer that could turn a dog into a god, and all he needed to do was 'have willpower' and 'grit his teeth' through the pain.

It would take years of treatments and the only thing that can quicken it is if you want big treatments or small treatments. Also maybe your genetic chains were more adaptable and resilient than others, so it could take more modification in a shorter period of time.

That was far more realistic and was probably what separated the geniuses from the average ones in terms of raw SDI.

As a student of the Unique Batch, Dante could get up to 15 progressive gene treatments for free, over the course of his first year. Everything after that would have to be paid for through Supercoin.

As far as Dante knew, the Elite Batch should get 10 free treatments and the Normal Batch 5.

Now, Supercoin. This vaunted and much-valued currency of the Eternal Academy. How does one earn it?

To discuss Supercoin, which was integral to all of the academy's systems, one would also have to discuss the academy's systems themselves.

The first was tuition. The Eternal Academy did not take a tuition fee. From the arrogance those teachers displayed, it was likely they would directly say that they did not need your money. The school was run by donations from almost every faction in the universe.

In fact, wars were literally fought over who got to donate to the Eternal Academy and by how much in a given school year. As for why factions would do this, it was easy enough to guess.

Tuition was handled not through typical classroom teaching. This was an advanced sci-fi universe, and even modern Earth was trying to move the classroom to the online platform. How could this society still rely on such things?

Especially when you considered the effect of AI chips and Psionics. With such tools why should a person sit in a library or read books when they could carry an entire library right in their brains?

And the truth was as such. When Dante received the information at the orientation, it included everything he needed to learn for his freshman school year. All the learning materials and information that a teacher would normally explain bit by bit were airdropped into his brain.

With the AI chip, he could then ratify it and then master the knowledge, accessing it at any time.

So why have schools? Why not just do this for every citizen from childhood and let them learn what they needed to from a young age?

The truth was that this solved only one problem with regards to tuition, and that was the acquisition of theoretical knowledge. We wasted most of our youth stuffing knowledge into our heads to apply it in the middle stages of our lives with varying success.

However, AI chips cut out all those years and allowed one to acquire the knowledge now. So what else would education intuition do but use all that time to make sure that the theory is turned into an applicable skill through practicals?

Chapter 32

The second aspect of the academy system - at least for the unique batch - is the focused training of superpowers. As the faction with the access to the most superpowered users, one could say it definitely ranked at the top of eligible parties to declare that they were qualified to teach about the esoteric subject.

This, surprisingly, was a mixture of theory and practical, unlike basic tuition subjects. Dante would actually have to go to an area near the Zero Gate called the Black Land to learn and train his power with other unique batch students.

Checking the details of the Black Land, it was basically an area around the Zero Gate where energy from the other realm that produced superpowers leaked into our universe and formed a domain.

Those with natural superpowers or acquired superpowers could absorb this energy actively to improve the upper limit of their superpower's ability and unlock new skills or abilities within their superpower.

Of course, this wasn't the only way. One could simply train in the use of their superpower and practice endlessly, and they would also make progress, but as you could imagine, it was entire levels slower than just absorbing this strange energy.

The third system was the shop, where one could purchase anything, enhancements for genes, enhancements for Bionics, and Enhancements for Psionics. Even enhancements for AI chips were available, and all of them cost the ever-desirable Supercoin.

Bionics, Psionics, and AI chips were obviously not limited to level one. There were levels two and above which all increased the functionality of these enhancements and added new, unique effects to them.

Beatrice, for example, had Bionics and Psionics above level 20. Lord knew what her power would be like if she erupted.

Whether it was tuition, the black land, or the shop, all of them required Supercoin in order to make full use of their capability. In the field of tuition, extra courses could be applied for using Supercoin while more secretive knowledge could be acquired and trained.

In the field of the black land, the initially allocated times for cultivation were decided by year and grade of superpower—any extra time or slot needed to be purchased with Supercoin.

In the field of enhancements, every level above 5 needed to be bought for Bionics, Psionics, and AI chips, while the gene enhancements from the second year ongoing would have to be bought as well.

Basically, as a student of the Eternal Academy, you were entitled to a certain amount of 'free' things up to your fourth and final year. If you did not earn a single Supercoin, you could still graduate spectacularly regardless of what batch you were in and be above students from other academies universe-wide.

However, this was your one and only chance to be a student of this academy in your entire lifetime. Who would be content to just enjoy all the basic services and then leave without tasting the reason why everyone tossed their kids here madly?

It was impossible.

So the one way to earn Supercoin was through extracurricular activities. Not even good grades of exemplary school work could get you Supercoin, but these so-called 'extracurricular activities'?

What were these 'extracurricular activities'? Was it stuff like clubs, sports, and other such vocational-related activities in most schools? Or was it like missions and stuff where the school would make you sign a death waiver and then you'd risk your life fighting on some battlefront for 'merit'?

It was neither. Extracurricular activities were completely safe, fun and mostly benefited you the individuals rather than the school itself. If you thought about it, the nature of these extracurricular activities was obvious from the beginning and had been hinted at many times.

Dante logged onto the Quantum network and then headed to the Eternal Academy's section of the Etraverse. There he saw hundreds of worlds that were set up by the school, and in their description tags, there was the amount of Supercoin a student would be rewarded depending on their evaluation for clearing the score in the world.

The worlds were of many types, but most of them had very tough requirements and objectives. They were sorted out by their difficulty and Dante checked the top 3 most visited worlds by students.

[World Name: Apocalypse World

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Small

World Type: Shared

World Genre: Survival

Bionics Allowed: No

Psionics Allowed: No

Superpowers Allowed: Yes

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: 30 days 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡．𝙘𝙤𝙢

Description: This is a special post-nuclear war world from the era when humanity was still trapped on the planet. Technology has become backwater and people are struggling to survive amidst the dangerous radiation and mutated beasts. However, some individuals have awakened special abilities to combat these beats and have become local overlords, forming their own territories and trying to survive in this wasteland of death.

Objectives: Survive for 30 days to pass.

Limitations: AI Chips will be switched off and your basic SDI will be reduced to the base of the pure human race.

Provisions: Ratified knowledge can be taken in and there is a present power system in the world.]

The number one was an Apocalypse World which was frequented by over 40 million students since its foundation and had over 500,000 students currently staying in this world at this moment. That was more than 70% of the student body, so that told you how popular it was.

Dante researched the school forum about this world and saw many guides and information about the world. It seemed that the reason for its popularity was that it was one of the few worlds that allowed normal people to 'acquire' a superpower through the VR world's own rules without having to bring their own in.

So the casuals of the Normal and Elite Batch swarmed this world to enjoy what the Unique Batch students got for free. Obviously, the Unique Batch students hardly ever frequented this world unless forced to, because it didn't allow them to gain any advantages.

Dante shook his head and then checked the second one.

[World Name: Death Game

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Tiny

World Type: Instanced

World Genre: Strategy, Thriller

Bionics Allowed: Yes

Psionics Allowed: Yes

Superpowers Allowed: No

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: 7 days

Description: This is a small urban city set in the modern day which is full of life and vibrant! However, underneath the liveliness and joy is a dark war that has been ongoing since a certain key event occurred. You are one of the 12 Assassins of the Order. Due to an internal dispute, only one of you can live, and must identify them to kill the others.

Objectives: Be the last one standing or have the most kills by the end.

Limitations: Psionic sensing will be switched off, but other enhancements will be allowed.

Provisions: Regrades of methods or SDI, one strike with a weapon will kill a target.]

This world was darker and more brutal. 12 players would queue and get an instance of the world where they would have a random urban setting. They were then given disguises and ways to hide themselves and must now observe and locate the others in the city using tactics, guile, and wits to come out on top.

This was a world that purely trained critical thinking, deduction, and observation. In truth, these three things were the cornerstone of an intelligent person, so having students earn Supercoin from this was a genius way to turn idiotic and lazy students into capable young powerhouses.

Dante made it a priority to try this world and see where he stood on the IQ ladder.

[World Name: Pirate Incursion

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Tiny

World Type: Instanced

World Genre: Survival

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Bionics Allowed: Yes

Psionics Allowed: Yes

Superpowers Allowed: Yes

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: 1 day

Description: This is a world that has been styled after a basic space pirate attack. You start after you have been defeated in the battle and are being boarded, so you must either kill all the pirates and repair your ship to leave, repair your ship and escape, or find a way to preserve a third of your crew and escape to safety.

Objectives: Eliminate all the pirates, detach their tractor beam from your ship, or escape with at least 30% of your crew to pass.

Limitations: All enemies will have random Bionics, Psionics, AI chips, and even superpowers allocated to them. They will also be of random races and have differing SDIs.

Provisions: You have your full range of power and can rely on the skills of your crew to assist you.]

This world was absolutely genius. In a universe like this with high sci-fi, not everyone could travel in a dreadnought belonging to an admiral like Dante. Most people used either commercial transports or private spaceships, but regardless of the type, they are always susceptible to pirate attacks.

After all, with great power came great irresponsibility.

Chapter 33

To have students train to resist pirate incursions if random designs would make them extremely adaptable to such situations should they happen. A student who went through this world many times would be a nightmare for a pirate crew, and would probably be their last 'score'.

Dante had an interest in these worlds for sure. He was going to select one of them to partake in and harvest as many Supercoins as he could within reason.

He first looked at the fourth and fifth most visited worlds just to be sure.

[World Name: Rising Star

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Medium

World Type: Instanced

World Genre: War

Bionics Allowed: Yes

Psionics Allowed: Yes

Superpowers Allowed: No

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: 90 days

Description: This is a world that has been styled in a medieval setting. You are a random footsoldier assigned to one of the various armies of the kingdom you are serving, thrust into full-blown war as your King has ambitions to rule the entire continent.

Objectives: Survive for 90 days or rise through the ranks to become a General.

Limitations: Your Bionics and Psionics will be limited to your military Rank in terms of power, and all entities in this world have the same power as you per rank.

Provisions: You are given free rein to raise your rank through any means you can think of.]

Dante nodded his head. This world was perfect for the students who wanted to experience the hierarchy of power, something that was integral to creating great leaders.

It was often why CEOs of companies would not immediately appoint their sons as leaders but have them start as clerks and then rise up. Without the experience of tasting the life of a worker at each rank, you would never be able to understand or lead them truly.

It wouldn't even really be your fault, but just an unfortunate matter of disconnect. Your employee was speaking language A and you were speaking language B, how could you possibly understand each other?

Dante was not sure why they used a medieval world, but then that would negate hot weapons which kinda ruined the hierarchy. A person with a plasma rifle and no bionics could shoot down a person with level 5 military bionics.

Obviously, that was not very conducive to training a batch of capable leaders. Best to put them in a world limited to cold weapons where they could display the full range of their physical and mental ability to take advantage of the situation.

[World Name: Pioneer

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Medium

World Type: Instanced

World Genre: Exploration

Bionics Allowed: Yes

Psionics Allowed: Yes

Superpowers Allowed: Yes

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: Unlimited

Description: You were traveling through space in your ship with your crew and discovered a lush planet filled with life. You set up a blockade in orbit and went down with a shuttle to explore and map the planet as best as you could, either to claim it as your own property or sell it in an auction.

Objectives: Map as much of this world as you can.

Limitations: The situation differs each time and there may be natives who are hostile, among other hazards.

Provisions: You have a strong crew to assist you and a lot of good equipment to work with.]

Ah, another sensible world. In this ever-expanding universe, it was a fact that there was more than 50% of it that was undiscovered and uncharted.

It was a frequent occurrence in society that a person would come upon a new planet in uncharted space, and there were whole professions and industries centered around such a thing.

Fortunately, there was a world like this to help students go through the process of mapping out a discovered world. After all, you can't just lay claim to what you don't know.

There were rules about such a thing.

Dante looked at these five worlds and juggled them in his head. He glanced at his schedule and saw that his first superpower class in the Black Land would occur in two days with Xue Bing, so he had time.

In the interim, he could set himself up in one of these worlds and then continue later. The reason why most students even required four years and above of study in this academy, and in all learning institutions of all grades, was the fact that the Virtual Worlds in the Etraverse do not have time dilation.

So if a world says 30 days, it meant 30 days in reality too would pass by the time you were done. So not only did you need time to complete some higher-difficulty words, but you also needed to balance it with your real schedule.

Fortunately, it's not like when you began a world, you were forced to stay in it till you were done. As long as your avatar or body within the world was left in a safe place, you could log out of the quantum universe and do other things in reality then pop back in.

However, this too was susceptible to poor timing. For example, the Pirate Incursion world had a 1-day timer, so if you logged out to attend to an emergency that took hours or a full day, you would likely log back in to see that time had elapsed and you had failed. 𝒷ℯ𝒹𝓃𝓸𝓿ℯ𝓁.𝒸ℴ𝓶

With this in mind, Dante chose the first world, the Apocalypse World to start. Not only was it the number 1 world, but he could definitely use 2 days to hide himself somewhere when it was time for his session at the Black Land.

As for other worlds, their timers were either too short, or in the case of the Rising Star world was in constant war, so where could he hide? In 2 days, he could not become a general and if he missed any postings or orders, that would be a dereliction of duty.

Dante chose the most popular world and was taken to a login screen. Here, his student ID was entered and his name was generated as his real name. His character avatar was also modeled after himself 100% and he had no say in this, nor did any student.

As you could imagine, the Eternal Academy disdained such methods. You were in a fictional virtual world for the love of god, who do you think you are that only you must hide your precious face?

Because of revenge? Then what were you doing taking up a precious slot in this prestigious academy for elites? Go back home and apply to some lesser institution where you can be protected and coddled like a baby!

After all of that, Dante was presented with an overview map of the entire world, which was about the size of half of earth. It was a Pangaea-like continent with a few settlements and large cities marked as territories he could be bound to.

The rest was ruined wasteland and even some marked danger zones as well as death zones where even the toughest would die unless they had the luck of the cosmos on their back.

Dante could also see the 'player' population of each city and choose the most remote one with the least players called 'The Fallout Shelter'. However, he had already been informed through his AI chip by the world that he would not conveniently drop into the city at the start.

No, rather he would be spawned in a random place within the territory of this city and have to make his way over quickly through the dangerous wasteland to seek shelter.

Luckily, all players were given an 'awakened' superpower the moment they dropped into the world from the highly concentrated radiation, which also acts as the reason you survived all this while out of safety in terms of backstory.

The superpower was random, and what everyone got varied. Those who already had superpowers would get an extra one for free for fairness' sake, so if your base superpower was fire control, you could unlock another one like flight!

Dante finished his assessment and descended into the world. It wasn't dramatic or anything, the 'screen' blacked out and he found himself kneeling in a bush, warily watching a bunch of mutated two-headed dogs that were tearing a nearby corpse up.

Dante looked down to see his tattered clothes which were the same as the corpse being torn up and ascertained that they had likely traveled together all this while as partners and well, something clearly happened.

Dante remained still while in the bush, not daring to move since there were about 5 of the mutated dogs there. If they spotted him, with their strength and numbers, he would follow the person on the ground and be eliminated within seconds of arriving.

He certainly wouldn't be the first as many people had landed in worse situations due to bad luck, but it would certainly be embarrassing.

He took his eyes off the dogs for a second and opened his current in-world SDI. This did not require the AI chips which were blocked, and was a feature of every virtual world.

Chapter 34

Player Race: Human

HP: 10/10

Strength: 1

Agility: 1

Dexterity: 1

Intelligence: 1

Constitution: 1

Vitality: 1

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 10% (Okay)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

The SDI for the virtual worlds were slightly different with each world depending on its rules and how the creator chose to present it. Also, worlds with combat like this always had game-like mechanics like HP.

Since the world rules stated that everyone would have the base stat value of their race, then that was the case. So even if Dante met another human who had 300 Strength Index outside in this world, that person would only be as strong as him right now.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Of course, to offset this, EVERYONE got a random superpower upon descent. The superpower given was not based on your physique, stats or anything, it was basically a lottery of luck.

Dante seemed to acquire the superpower called Absorption. He sincerely hoped it was what he thought and he checked the details of it.

[Superpower Name: Absorption

Superpower Rank: F

Superpower Description: Allows the users to absorb the energy of a defeated foe, increasing their own SDI by a small amount.]

Dante was pleased. It was basically as he thought, the famous ability of 'devour/plunder', but with a much nicer name for kids. This was one of the most coveted abilities in the universe because it promised, to some extent, limitless growth.

As for it being the lowest F rank, that wasn't a problem. Everyone's superpower that was granted when they descended started from the F Rank and could grow the longer they stayed and achieved certain tasks.

Most of this knowledge could be found on the forums and were downloaded to the AI chip before descent, but the specifics like what Dante had to do to increase it he would have to discover on his own.

Unfortunately, while absorption was the best potential enhancing superpower, it had no combat ability, so it did not help Donate in his current situation.

If he was found by the mutated two headed dogs, he would be killed and forced to re-descend. The good thing was that you kept the superpower you got on your first descent, so there was nothing like re-rolling.

Otherwise, we all know that the cunning students would die, and descend over and over until they got a suer power to their liking. The balance to this was that none of the random superpowers were 'useless' like a superpower to make your clothes clean.

Most had some utility.

Dante stayed low and observed the animals have their meal while the stench drifted over. He would definitely have vomited if he wasn't so determined to survive and see what this new ability could do.

However, it was clear these dogs were taking their time eating and some even went out to go and release their bowels then continue. Unlike humans who could order takeout, animals could not exactly eat on demand, so they maximized their ability to store food.

To beat the boredom, Dante checked his SDI and glanced at his Quantum Entanglement. He was aware that this interface was designed by the Eternal Academy based on their own archives, so the superpowers that were given in this world actually existed somewhere in the universe because someone had gotten it before and logged it.

[Superpower Name: Quantum Entanglement

Superpower Rank: SSS

Superpower Description: Allows the user to teleport for an unknown distance that is an estimated minimum of 10 light minutes and ignores any spatial defense/barrier/blockade.]

Dante was disappointed, but he had to reap what he sowed. He hid the truth of his ability, so while his knew the truth of Quantum Entanglement, what the academy had in their archives was what he revealed.

Still, he could understand now why they gave him an SSS rating with the potential to climb to EX. The ability to ignore spatial blockades meant that Dante could breach earth and other places with his superpower, so with the right SDI and Bionics/Psionics, he could be a lethal assassin/weapon for the military.

Then there was the distance, which was a minimum estimated 10 light minutes, or 111,800,000 miles/179,900,000 Kilometers!

My Brother in Christ, that is slightly longer than the distance from earth to the sun in our solar system. This meant that in the eyes of the academy and the officials, Dante could enter a secret area blocked by space technology, kill a target, and then teleport from planet to planet until he escaped completely.

Like, how do you even stop someone like that?

No wonder he was rated higher than the second place Humphrey who had the ability of Aerogenesis, to literally create wind from nothing even in the vacuum of space!

Just thinking of the application of such a power made sense that it was rated SS. Then there was the red-scaled lamia girl, Slessor, with the legendary Space Folding which was also SS.

If it lived up to the idea of Space Folding that Dante had in mind, then she definitely deserved third place. However, even such a killer and overpowered superpower had to bow before what they assumed Dante's superpower to be capable of.

As for why they thought his could do that… well it was quite funny. Because Dante's real body disappeared back to his universe despite the fact that the Eternal Academy had the highest grade spatial blockade technology covering its outer shell like a shield, Dante still left.

And because their scanner could not detect him within the range of the entire Academy's landmass which spanned 10 light-minutes from all sides, they assumed he had teleported out.

Well, from their point of view, it made sense, but knowing the truth made it ironic… and kinda worrisome, if Dante was every made to prove the specifics and clear up the doubts, he would be hard pressed to maintain the lie unless he exponentially upped the scale of the lie.

In the time that had passed, the mutated dogs had eaten and unfortunately for Dante, one of them had specifically chosen his nice and inconspicuous bush to chose as its defecation location.

So it was either he lay and accepted a wild, radiation-infused and mutated dog's shit all over his body, or he tried to move and alerted the beast as well as its pals.

Obviously, he chose to attack, but he needed a weapon. He glanced at the mutated dog and checked its SDI, a mechanic that should be obvious;ly present in a virtual world featuring combat.

Monster Name: Two-Headed Dog

Monster Rank: F

HP: 25/25

Strength: 3

Agility: 3.5

Dexterity: 4 𝘣𝑒𝘥𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝘤𝘰𝘮

Intelligence: 0.2

Constitution: 1.5

Vitality: 1.5?

The stats of the monster were based on the standard of the race inspecting it, so in Dante's case, it was the stats of a purehuman. So its strength of 3 was not 3 times the strength of an average mutated dog, but 3 times the strength of an average pure human.

The same went of all the others. So in this case, no, Dante was not going to miraculously beat this dog in a one on one fight unless he had a great amount of wits, some advantage and plenty of luck.

However, why on earth would he fight it head-on? He placed his hand to his side and pulled out a knife, a basic weapon that his avatar carried pre-descent to protect himself.

In fact, he even had a backpack with supplies and medications, because who the heck traversed the wasteland without them?

Dante waited for the dog to come close and remained frozen. The dog was only slightly vigilant, checking the area superficially before turning around and squatting, ready to empty its bowels.

And there was Dante, like a snake that was coiled and ready to pounce that had struck out, his hand shoving the stabby end of the knife right into the closest yet weakest point near to him.

You see, in this world, it didn't matter if you had 2 or 3 times the constitution of a person, or twice their vitality.

When you get stabbed in the asshole, its death. A painful, brown, shit-filled, bloody and agonizing death. You will scream, you will thrash, and you will roll, exacerbating the pain and making you resent the fact that death did not come instantly.

This poor two-headed mutated dog went through this experience.

Unfortunately for it, Dante was smart enough to pull his knife out before it began thrashing about so he could defend himself from its pals who had been alerted.

As for the other dogs, when they saw their body bleeding mixture of brown and red goop while squealing in an bone-chilling voice, they whimpered and took some steps back.

To go from a peaceful and happy situation to seeing such a thing, even beasts would be intimidated. Especially since they had 0.2 of the intelligence of a pure human, which was actually not bad.

Chapter 35

This was quite an… interesting scene. There was a man, a bunch of whimpering mutated dogs, and one final mutated dog deep in death throes that was spraying extremely toxic body fluids and innards around as it writhed in pain.

If this was supposed to be funny, it really wasn't. If this was supposed to be horrifying... it also kinda wasn't. Neither amusing nor blood curdling left one with a feeling of speechlessness.

The other mutated dogs hung back while watching their buddy die slowly in pain while Dante remained near its body with a menacing posture. The moment the mutated dog died, he placed his hand on its corpse and activated his Absorption superpower the same way he did with Quantum Entanglement.

Immediately, one could see a visible wave of greenish-red light emerge from the corpse of the mutated dog that entered into Dante's body, looking like a mixture of mist and lightning.

Dante had always wondered what it would be like to plunder or devour, absorbing the power of another for your own and feeling your own power rise in tandem.

You might assume it was euphoric, and that would only be partially true. Dante would describe it as the feeling when a male was about to orgasm but hadn't reached the peak. In other words, those last few seconds of build-up before the explosion.

And then the absorption stopped, and it was like being forced to stop midway.

Dante's eyes became bloodshot not from anything, but from the urge to slaughter. In this moment, he understood why users of such a power were usually psychopaths with bloodthirsty natures, willing to kill anyone or anything to increase their power.

The feeling of being right about to reach the peak and then being cut off was extremely terrible. This power could not be given to the average man and the average man should never wish for it.

You would be putting yourself under the worst kind of torture that required iron-like will to survive without losing your mind completely.

Dante received the feedback from Absorption and knew how much he had become stronger. Absorption fedback a percentage of the target's stats based on the rank of the superpower.

At the F Rank, Dante only got 10% of it, hence his SDI increased as such;

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 11.5/11.5

Strength: 1 - 1.3

Agility: 1 - 1.35

Dexterity: 1 - 1.4

Intelligence: 1 - 1.02

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Constitution: 1 - 1.15

Vitality: 1 - 1.15

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 10% (Okay)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

The mutated dog had increased Dante's stats by a significant amount at this early stage, making him nearly one and a half times as powerful in an instant.

And this was just one corpse!

There were 5 more dogs here. If he were to kill them all, and assuming their stats were to be the same as the one he just took down, then he could even easily surpass his SDI in real life!

Against other players and 'NPCs' of this world who all had 1 point in all fields, Dante would be like a god!

His breath hitched at this thought and his already unstable mind from the stimulus of the superpower could no longer process the risks accordingly. The normal Dante would obviously be tempted, but know that fighting five dogs came with the risk of death at the slightest mistake.

It was better to use his current deterrence to back away and flee, then hunt down single targets smartly and efficiently in order to raise his SDI in a semi-safe manner to a certain point before entering the city.

But looking at the current him, he clearly was not capable of such rational thought. Dante practically roared as he flexed his muscles and felt the increased strength, craving more.

He charged at the five remaining two-headed mutated dogs with his knife in hand, shocking the beasts but arousing their ferocity. They still held some fear from the sudden attack, but their instinct told them that Dante was not yet qualified to make them tuck their tails and flee!

They barked menacingly with drool that sizzled the ground dripping from their jaws and charged as well, spreading out to attack him. Dante ignored those that were flanking him and aimed at the mutated dog right ahead of him.

It bayed and leaped towards his throat with its jaws open, which made it easy enough for Dante to plunge his knife right into the lower part of the jaw of its left head.

In truth, dogs were quite scary to go against, but if you kept calm and had sufficient reflexes, they actually weren't that difficult to deal with. Their claws were not sharp like a feline to be used as a weapon, so they relied on their jaws to kill.

So this limited the ways in which they could attack, making them predictable in a head-on clash. Of course, this was obvious to anyone, but it was the reflexes and getting past the fear part that made most people lose to dogs in head-on brawls.

As for wolves, they were a different ball game. However, none of these beasts were anywhere as large or menacing as a wolf. They barely passed Dante's knees in terms of height and they were not that thick.

The mutated dog's eyes widened as the knife plunged in and the left head died immediately. As for the right, it whimpered with a dazed look and fell to the ground, inches from death.

Two heads didn't necessarily mean two separate brains, but more like one brain split into two. If one half of your brain died right now, you would probably follow along with it no matter how healthy the other side was.

But this was the least of Dante's worries. This dog had paid with its life for its fellows to get into position, and they sure as hell were not wasting the chance.

The mutated dogs that flanked him circled around and leaped from where they were with their jaws outstretched. From right, left, and behind, all of them pounced at the same time, leaving Dante virtually no way out.

Well, it was possible to just leap forward if one had great reflexes and reaction speed, then avoid the mutated dogs then take them down one by one, but one would need a little something called training.

Since Dante had none, he did try to dodge relying on his natural instincts to step back, or in this case, step forward, but it was not good enough. Two pairs of teeth sunk into his right and left thigh while another pair sunk into his lower back, causing him to shout in pain.

The pain sobered him up and he seemed to wake up from his haze of power lust. Immediately, Dante realized he had fucked up and was a victim of the downside of the Absorption superpower, something that was created to balance its seeming limitless utility.

Even if he could kill these mutated dogs, he would either die from bleeding out or from the poison of their body fluids or even the radiation they had directly poured into his body.

Still, where there was life, there was hope. Despite logically knowing he would probably fall over in death soon after, he was not dead yet, so he still fought for a chance of survival.

Dante took his knife and plunged it into the head of the mutated dog biting his right thigh, forcing it to yelp and let go, then fall to the ground as its legs began twitching in an almost comical manner.

As for the one biting his leg and back, they began to tear into his flesh, using their teeth to try and rip out the flesh they had bitten so Dante could start bleeding out.

Anyone who had been mauled by a dog could definitely sympathize with the pain. Dante grabbed the head of the mutated dog that was biting his left leg and stabbed his knife into it multiple times with hatred on his face.

The pain he had never felt before in his 21 years of life caused him to go berserk and crazy. Eventually, the mutated dog that got his back achieved its goal and with a horrifying rip sound, fell to the ground with a chunk of human flesh and clothing in its mouth from Dante's back.

Dante screamed and was immediately paralyzed by the pain. Luckily it did not get his spine, but it did not matter as the final mutated dog that had hung back now used this chance to bite the arm Dante used his hold his knife.

The dog with his flesh in its mouth threw its head up, and the piece of bloody meat went sky high then fell down its gullet while it chewed it with relish.

The mutated dog swallowed the meat and its two head's eyes seemed to narrow from pleasure and enjoyment. With a vicious bark, it leapt forward to get another bite of this sweet meat!

Chapter 36

At this time, Dante was surprisingly extremely lucid. He would normally go into shock from such pain, but the endless adrenaline being pumped into his system kept him awake and the rapid battle commands coming from his brain kept him on his toes.

At this moment, with his right arm locked and about to be mauled as a chunk of flesh would likely be ripped out while his back was sending him signals of pain that made him want to curl up and cry on the ground, Dante felt like he had never been more clear-headed in his life.

He turned around to face the mutated dog that was aiming at his back while swinging the other mutated dog biting his arms like a weapon, crashing it into the body of the leaping assailant and sending the two flying.

He then ignored them then placed his right and left hand on the two nearby corpses while he activated his superpower in full force. The light show occurred and Dante felt the same sensation, but much stronger.

However, the pain, the fear of death, the will to survive, the adrenaline, and the burning killing intent as well as hatred in his heart dulled the discomfort from having the ability done quickly. He then placed his hand on the third mutated dog and absorbed it as well.

Rather, when he felt the surging power in his body, the confidence within him grew. After absorbing the three mutated dogs, his SDI had grown further.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 9.5/16

Strength: 1.3 - 2.2

Agility: 1.35 - 2.4

Dexterity: 1.4 - 2.6

Intelligence: 1.02 - 1.08

Constitution: 1.15 - 1.6

Vitality: 1.15 - 1.6

Mutation Index: 30% (Warning)

Radiation Index: 40% (Warning)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

With his strength being more than double the average man's while his agility and dexterity had almost crossed the threshold of three times, the world seemed to change in Dante's eyes. He felt much closer to his natural strength in reality.

But it was more than that. His movement and ability to deal with situations had doubled, giving him the feeling that the mutated dogs who seemed to be elusive and coordinated had become slightly less so.

Not enough to magically make them seem clumsy, but enough that he no longer felt overwhelmed. He took his knife back from the corpse of the other dog and then charged at the other two who had untangled themselves and were ready to fight.

However, whether it was Dante's current movement or his ability, they felt a hint of fear as the intention to retreat came. Their instincts told them that the human before them had changed somehow and his threat level had risen sharply.

But it was too late to retreat. They could only bark menacingly to halt his charge and then make a move, but Dante directly ignored them and pounced at the dog who bit his right arm, punching its right head and causing it to tumble backward as it yelped in pain.

Dante then bravely grabbed the tail of the other mutated dog and then dragged it into the air, holding it by its tail upside down while it crazily writhed and struggled while barking and yelping.

It was overcome with fear as one thing that predators hated was having their weakness fully grasped and being left helpless. Even some domestic and tame animals did not like being held up in the air despite being in the safety of their owner's embrace, much less a wild one that was in the midst of a life-and-death battle.

Dante ignored it and used it as a sort of club as he swung it using its tail to smash into the dazed mutated dog that he had punched which had a visible dent on the head that he struck.

It was struggling to get up, but was sent back down into the ground while screaming when the dog Dante held crashed into it.

What happened next, you can imagine. In his maddened berserker rage, Dante kept using the dog he held like a club and bashed the other one until both bodies became lumpy pieces of bloodied meat.

Dante only came to his senses when the tail of the mutated dog in his hand was ripped off and the corpse landed along with the other one. He then breathed roughly as he fell onto his ass, his eyes extremely bloodshot.

He was filled with anger, hatred, the urge to kill, to rip and tear, and…

Dante took a deep breath. He had to suppress his chaotic emotions but the tears came from his eyes as he pushed himself to his feet. The pain that came washing in made him groan, but he walked over and absorbed both corpses as quickly as he could.

After increasing his power further, Dante staggered towards the corpse of his former ally and absorbed that too. Now, his SDI looked a bit more developed.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 11/20

Strength: 2.2 - 2.9

Agility: 2.4 - 3.2

Dexterity: 2.6 - 3.5

Intelligence: 1.08 - 1.22

Constitution: 1.6 - 2

Vitality: 1.6 - 2

Mutation Index: 35% (Warning)

Radiation Index: 43% (Warning)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Dante had twice the constitution and vitality of an average pure human, so even wounded and infected, he was recovering quite quickly. However, he would need proper treatment, and luckily he did have some basic supplies for this in his backpack.

He also took what he could from his former allies' backpack and then shuffled out of this clearing to find somewhere to rest and recuperate. He also needed to deal with this entire experience and try to learn from it.

Dante stumbled along in a semi-daze, his mind numb and his thoughts scattered. It wasn't until he came upon a small cave that he stooped and seemed to find his consciousness returning to him.

Apart from plenty of bushes and this small amount of rock before him which had an irregular-shaped opening in the front, there was nothing else around.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm The cave was not deep, and Dante could even see its end while standing outside. He staggered inside and saw that there was a makeshift firepit in the cave that was covered with sand.

The cave itself looked like it had been used before, but a long time ago. Clearly, someone else who had either been trekking to a nearby city for survival or someone hunting outside the city for something had made this cave their residence for a while.

Whatever the case, they had conveniently set the foundation for Dante to use this cave. He staggered inside and then sat down on the smooth and damp ground, leaning against a nearby wall as his head drooped.

He sat like this in silence for a minute or two before opening his backpack and checking the items inside one by one. There was a vial of some blue liquid marked with a messily written 'anti-mutation' along with some syringes, and another vial of green liquid labeled 'anti-radiation'.

Dante took a syringe and filled it with each and shot himself. The moment it entered his bloodstream, he felt leagues better, and he saw his radiation as well as his mutation indexes dropping rapidly.

With the relaxation came fatigue and he couldn't even fight it if he wanted to. Dante was instantly knocked out on the spot, laying down on the ground as he fell into sleep after the adrenaline washed away.

When he woke up, he felt extremely refreshed body wise but his mind felt heavy. His body was stronger than average but his mind was only just slightly better. 𝒷𝓮𝒹𝓃ℴ𝓿𝓮𝓁.𝓬𝓸𝓂

He looked out and saw that it was dark. He then uncovered the firepit and realized there was no drywood to use to light it up, so he would have to bear with the darkness.

This was not a problem since he did not plan to spend the night here. He went outside the cave and tore some leaves, then sued the remains of the tattered clothes from his 'friends' corpse to cover his body in the back of the cave.

He then logged out of the Quantum Network and 'returned' to his real body that was laying on his soft bed. Dante heard his bones cricked and cracked as he rose up, but there was not much stiffness given the doubled SDI.

The first thing he did was rush to get a meal from the kitchen. He was utterly famished after not eating for almost a full day and surprisingly, this would actually be his first meal in the Eternal Universe.

His AI chip connected to the cooking apparatus and then selected a recipe based on Dante's wishes. Immediately, robot arms began preparing the meal according to the exact specification, removing spices from the shelves, then cutting up the various ingredients systematically.

He was both hungry and amazed as he watched this feat of technology as the appliances cooked the food themselves in tandem, despite the arms belonging to different appliances and not all being one thing.

Chapter 37

Soon his meal was ready and he ate like a ravenous beast. He practically inhaled the food like a certain pink star warrior, leaving nothing behind. After cleaning up, he went to bathe and then left his residence.

He had immediately scheduled his first gene treatment at the Institution of Student Enhancements out of the free 15 granted him. From the moment Dante landed in that fight with the wolves, he had direly understood the importance of stats, especially after using absorption.

He had been given a false understanding of the SDI by the natives of this universe who treated it like trash, something that was a given. They only looked at superpowers and gave that full credence, but Dante saw differently.

As a non-native, the most important to him was one's SDI and to some extent Bionics and Psionics. Because of the way superpowers were given, it seemed more to Dante like they were 'granted' rather than 'awakened' and that was food for thought.

Maybe the upper echelon of this universe knew some secrets and the truth of the Zero Gate. Maybe that was why the headmistress gave him those encouraging words.

Dante didn't much know. He felt he would find out in due time, but he had to do what he could now to better himself and catch up to the level of those in this universe.

Upon reaching the facility, Dante noticed it was full up again. Once more due to his identity as a student of the Unique Batch and the fact that there was no other Unique Batch student in line, he was able to cut the queue and enter a treatment room instantly.

Unlike the Bionic and Psionic installation room, this place was more like the typical sci-fi medical room. There were plenty of computers and monitoring equipment around while in the center was a standing tank full of greenish-blue liquid.

Dante couldn't help but picture bacta tanks from SW and the healing chambers from DBZ. He was instructed by a female android wearing a nurse attire to undress completely.

Dante was not exactly comfortable going all naked, but he was not going to act shy. He quickly undressed and followed the android's instructions on how to enter the tank.

Dante was a bit apprehensive about entering liquid like this, but he found that there was no problem. In fact, the moment he dropped in, he did not feel like he entered liquid, but rather a sort of warm, breezy solid.

He floated in the tank softly and his limbs felt light. What shocked him was that he could actually breathe in this miraculous thing and he even opened his mouth.

Nothing entered as he inhaled actual oxygen and he felt like he could even speak normally. The android seemed accustomed to such behavior from the meatbags, and waited by the side in a gentle posture with an accommodating smile.

Dante saw this and stopped playing around, glancing over to know what would happen next. According to the android, he would be put into sedative sleep for a day for the process to begin and end.

In this time, he could use the quantum network freely, so Dante shut his eyes and entered the Quantum Network. He simply navigated to the Etraverse and honed in on his account in the Apocalypse World.

When he descended once more, he saw that it was still nighttime. This was the case both in reality and in the network. He had only been away for about 30 minutes at best, but the change was quite noticeable.

There was a gleam in his eyes that was present, much different from the fatigued and weary look he had before. His change in attitude almost seemed to affect his body as his recovery became even faster.

Dante carefully sensed the area around him and was sure that it was safe. He then shook off the leaves and the clothes covering his body, carefully packing up the latter as he got up and flexed his body.

His acquired power was still there, so he did feel the overall enhancements straight-up. He walked out of the cave and began searching around the mouth of the cave for anything he could use to start a fire.

Starting a fire in the wild was dangerous but also useful. Dante felt around a few bushes and found some pieces of fallen wood from the trees as well as the shrubs.

He assumed this to be dry wood, so he collected enough of it and brought it to the firepit. He swept away the dirt and then set the wood up. In his backpack was a working lighter, so he used it to set some dry leaves aflame that soon lit up the wood.

The fire gained traction and then stabilized, granting Dante light. He then sat nearby and enjoyed the warmth while lying across the wall. He did not plan to move from here unless dealing with a threat.

Seeing that there was nothing to do, Dante forced himself to sleep once more. Well, it was not that hard since he was still in the recovery phase. He tried to sleep lightly so that he would be aware of any danger, but something like that didn't work on command.

He had grown up in the safety of a city, so his sleep was designed fully for rest and not for wariness. He slept deeply and heavily, and the next time he opened his eyes, it was already morning.

What made him startled was that he could hear some movements outside the cave, as if something was searching the area. Dante stiffened and listened quietly, hearing whatever it was come closer and closer.

He tensed up and reached for his knife. There was a moment when the search got so close that it seemed like it was right beside the entrance of the cave.

Once it reached here, the person or thing searching around suddenly paused as if they had detected something, and the area quickly fell into a tense silence.

Dante began to sweat slightly as he remained tensed for anything but he knew he could remain like this. The cave entrance was not large enough for him to just rush out and hope for the best.

If whatever was outside was large enough, it could easily block the entrance and then deal with Dante at its leisure. As such, despite his better judgment, he held his backpack tightly and then rushed out.

He held the backpack to the side where he heard the rustling like a shield, hoping it could block at least one attack before he got into a defensible position.

When Dante emerged and glanced to the left using his peripheral vision, his heart shook greatly. What stood there was actually not what he expected, which was a monster that was searching around.

It was rather a zombie-like creature that had the body of a human but was slightly larger. Dante turned suddenly to see that its eyes were hollow and its mouth was wide open, leaking a black, viscous liquid that stank like undeath.

It was naked and possessed no genitals or hair. Its skin was extremely gray to the point of being ash-like. It had two huge hands covered with claws and its legs as well as its body, were very thin.

Monster Name: Withering Irradiated Walker 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Monster Rank: E

HP: 45/45

Strength: 7

Agility: 4

Dexterity: 8

Intelligence: 2

Constitution: 1

Vitality: 9?

After checking its SDI, Dante's first thought was to flee. He definitely could not fight this thing and he had learned his lesson from dealing with the dogs. He was unskilled, untrained, and did not have any advantages or useful weapons to make up for his flaws.

His thought right after that was that he could not flee because that thing could probably catch up to him with ease if not outrun him. His third thought was that, since it was an 'irradiated' monster, maybe he could use the Anti-Radiation fluid like some pesticide.

He fantasized that he would throw out the glass bottle and have the liquid pour on the monster which would cause it to melt into goo. However, his heart told him that doing so would be unprecedentedly stupid because if it did nothing and he actually fought this thing, he would not have anything to use to treat the radiation.

In these split seconds of thought, Dante felt incredibly somber. His chances of death were around 99% and the 1% was all up to luck. He did not have the ability to win using his own merits and he recognized that fully.

Dante sincerely prayed his luck was up to par.

The monster seemed shocked and startled that Dante had rushed out like this, so it had not attacked yet as it stood stupidly in place. However, that soon changed as it let out a strange roar that made the ear uncomfortable and then pounced at Dante with its claws outstretched.

Chapter 38

If the monster claimed to have a superpower of its own that was similar to the famous force scream of a certain spinning senate, Dante would believe it.

The sound caused him to black for a split second as it pounced on him, and he could only hurriedly dash backward lamely in response. The claws barely missed him, but they struck a tree behind him.

To Dante's shock and horror, they almost sliced through the solid bark like it was butter. It got about halfway through before it got somewhat stuck near the end of the trunk.

The zombie stupidly tried to pull out its claw and it was actually working. It was cutting through the rest of the tree significantly and should be freed in the next few seconds.

Now in this time, Dante had a choice. He could turn and use this chance to flee, putting distance between himself and this monster.

Or he could use this opening to strike and deal some damage. He had a very short time window to consider the wisdom of both options in the current situation, and he made the best one he could.

He naturally chose to run!

While it was a seemingly lame and spineless choice, Dante was not in a situation where he could boast about how he would be the one to strike it and then kill it in a heroic fight like some others.

His mind was incomparably clear. The monster had better stats than him, it had some bestial roar that could stun, and its claws could cut through the bark with relative ease.

This meant that - speaking bluntly - he would easily be one-shot if he made a single mistake in combat. There was no chance to accumulate injuries and battle through attrition.

Even worse, if he did try to battle through attrition, he wasn't qualified to outlive it. Also, a single scratch from it, even if non-fatal, would probably send his radiation index into the red.

Dante truly did consider attacking, and he ran a simulation in his head. He would dash forward with his knife in hand and strike the monster in the spine to cripple it, or the neck to inflict a fatal wound, or its head for a one-shot kill or at least, mash up its 'brains'.

Then he remembered. It was fucking zombie. Zombies didn't have fatal spots, and could only be killed through dismembering.

Welp, his knife was not thick enough to sever the head of a zombie anyway, not to mention if he had the strength to do so. With all of that in mind, he naturally turned to run from this fruitless battle.

But what made him think he could escape?

Firstly, this was a forest. He could easily use the various bushes and trees to lose it if it pursued him. Secondly, putting distance between them would prevent it from using that bloody scream that stunned a person.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Thirdly, he currently had 3.2 points of agility while it had 4 points, meaning it was barely faster than Donate. With an advantage of a head start and the terrain, he could definitely outrun it.

Of course, there were dangers in doing this. He could rush through a bush and meet a bunch of mutated dogs or a mutated bear or something, which would guarantee death.

However, that - while likely - was not good reason enough not to take this path because the chances of it were significantly low. Even if he did meet such beats, he wasn't going to stop and greet them, but could circle back and lead them to meet his attacker.

Then all of them could discuss politics together in a forest clearing.

Dante bolted at his fastest speed, jumping over bushes and various roots stretching across the forest floor as he dashed towards the general direction of the city.

He did not even look back to see if he was being chased. His current speed was around 48 km/h (29.8 Mph) which caused him to leave a blur in the eyes of onlookers and even he himself had some difficulty reacting to various obstacles in his way at first.

The average running speed of a pure human in this universe with an SDI of 1 in Agility was 15 km/h, so Dante so was 3.2 times faster than that would naturally display such an unbridled speed.

The more Dante moved, the more he understood his advantage in this world with limited SDI and the ability to continually increase his, while he also understood the gap between him and the natives in the universe with higher SDI.

If it weren't for the sake of socialization, he probably wouldn't even be able to see them move because they would be moving and talking at speeds that he could not fathom.

It meant that they were literally slowing themselves down to 'exist' in the plane of speed for normal people with lower SDIs.

Dante held that train of thought as he reached what should be the edge of the forest. When he burst out, he was pleasantly startled to see an actual encampment before him, because he knew that these were outposts set up by the various cities to allow survivors who couldn't get in to live there in relative safety, also acting as a resupply point for those who made it their business to enter dangerous zones.

Dante rushed over to the encampment so fast that the guards on duty were frightened. They also raised their guns and opened fire, but Dante slowed down and shouted that he was human before they reluctantly held back their itchy trigger fingers.

"Hmph, young man, where did you come from? Do you belong to another city or are you a stray?" The guard asked in a mocking and unfriendly manner, because he was angry and embarrassed from being startled like that.

Dante was not bothered and even displayed a harmless smile to try and defuse the situation. "Big bosses, forgive me just now for my rude behavior. I was being chased down by some terrifying monster and had to erupt with all my speed and more to survive just now."

The guards seemed mollified and their expressions of annoyance relaxed. After all, they could understand the fear of death given the world they were in but then now that they were calm, they realized something was wrong.

"You, could it be that you are one of the Gifted?" one of them asked as he sized Dante up and down.

Dante knew that this term was meant for players who had superpowers to NPCs from the forums, so he nodded. The guards surprisingly did not show surprise or respect. Instead, there was a hint of pity in their eyes.

"Ah, not another one of these tragic folk." One guard muttered under his breath, but Dante could hear him with his upgraded senses.

His lips couldn't help but twitch. The guard's behavior might seem weird, but all NPCs in this world felt this way toward players. After all, this was a shared world meaning that it was continuous and perpetual.

It did not just shut down and reset because a player had finished their stay. This world had decades of history and hundreds of thousands of players had come and gone, leaving their own mark.

But despite their talent, power, or achievements, all of them had mysteriously disappeared after 30 days. This led natives to believe that superpowers came with a curse, that the person could only live for 30 days due to the effect of the mutation.

The assumption did make sense and it was not like players were going to clear up the confusion anyway. This led to some changes in how players were treated compared to the earlier years when this world was set up, but Dante would experience them later.

Right now, he was brought inside the encampment and then to the testing device. Of course, they weren't just going to take his word for it, they had to test if he had superpowers.

They had a mature testing system that worked on every superpower, but they didn't actually require him to specifically state what it was. There was a reason for this though. 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡．𝙘𝙤𝙢

Dante was then registered and assigned a small self-contained room near the entrance. He was also made to take a disinfection treatment for radiation and mutations first before he could go and rest.

When Dante arrived at the room assigned him, he was surprised. Not because it was luxurious, but because it was not very good. However, this 'not very good' was relative to the outside world.

In here, it was practically a mansion given that most others had to squeeze in long houses and sleep with everyone else whether they liked it or not.

When he pushed the door open though, he saw a shadow leap towards him with a screeching cry. Dante could only raise a hand to block the sudden and unexpected attack aimed at his face.

Chapter 39

If a normal human had been jumped like this, they would probably panic and react instinctively, defending their facial area from whatever was attacking.

However, Dante who had almost 4 times the agility and dexterity of the average human, was not even phased. He simply reached out a hand to grad before him and captured the shadow that was leaping at him, revealing a… cat!

It was a relatively small cat with a very human-like expression on its face, showing fear and shock. Its body and fur were quite thin and sparse, probably due to malnutrition, Dante could even see parts of its ribs through its torso.

It had reddish-white fur and bright blue eyes that were as expressive as that of a human. Dante looked the cat up and down then marveled slightly. A cat like this was rare even in the Eternal Universe and could fetch a high price.

But in a wasteland like this where life and death were not guaranteed, it was only a pest and a burden. Dante looked beyond the cat to the room and saw that the desk area had a small next where the cat likely made its home.

He then glanced at the cat and walked over to the desk before putting it down. Despite its fear, it showed visible surprise at being spared and then sat down cleverly.

"This is probably your territory and home, so you attacked me because you thought someone was intruding?" Dante asked the cat.

It seemed to understand his speech and nodded. Dante had assumed it could understand him because there was a forum post about mutated pets in the wasteland world.

Some animals would end up like the mutated dogs from before while others would end up like this cat. One became a monster archetype and one became a pet archetype.

"No problem, I'm your tenant from now on. I have been assigned this residence, so I will be staying here infrequently from now on for the next 30 days."

"You're free to do as you did before I came, I won't disturb you and you won't disturb me. Is that agreeable?" Dante proposed with a smile.

The cat hesitated and nodded. It was aware that it was only safe because it was living in human space, and after seeing that it was not dangerous, the guards and residents did not mind it.

In theory, Dante was the true owner of the territory now and it should leave, but it had gotten used to life here, and moving had its own dangers. It was far from the only mutated pet in this encampment.

Since Dante offered it a chance to stay, it should be grateful but…

Dante noticed its hesitation and sighed inwardly. It turns out that the post's details and explanations about the pet system were true. Most of the students who descended would receive a pet like this through various organic means.

It was to help with mental health despite being in such a world. Most people didn't mind and kept them around, because while they were not useful for combat, they were certainly lovable mascots that could relieve stress.

So the cat was hesitating because it wanted to be taken care of. Hunting in this encampment was hard and the competition with other stray cats was fierce. If it could rely on this human, its days of suffering would be over.

Dante could guess what the cat was thinking from its expression alone. It seemed like a natural thought process, but he knew the Overseeing Quantum Artificial Intelligence that managed this world was simply influencing its thoughts subtly to fit its programming.

Dante patted the cat on the head. "Just be good and I will try to see if I can manage to take care of the two of us."

The cat's eyes lit up and nodded happily. It meowed cutely, and Dante couldest help but smile. He wasn't particularly a pet guy, and neither was his family since they had no pet at home, but he was not an animal hater either.

As long as the cat remained cute and obedient, he did not have a problem. Dante then inspected the residence and saw that it had one bathroom, one kitchen, one living room area, and one bedroom.

All the areas were relatively clean if not for a small layer of dust on them that showed how long it had been since this place was formally occupied.

Dante spent some time cleaning the room properly using the materials supplied and then left the cat in the house. His body in the game was stronger than average thanks to absorption, but it was still subject to basic needs.

In other words, he was hungry.

The encampment was not necessarily a fully militarized outpost but more like a heavily guarded town. It had all the facilities necessary, a market, a place for entertainment and gathering, as well as a law enforcement area.

Dante already did his research and knew about the current used in this world. Since society had collapsed, the paper currency backed by nothing was naturally worth was it actually was, nothing.

Rather, there was a mixture of two different currencies, one that was high-tier and one that was average. The average currency was gold chips, square-like coins that were very thin and had some simple markings on them.

They were usually minted by the administrative forces of each city and distributed. It was a worldwide currency that could be used anywhere.

Each player was provided 10 gold chips on descent and there were many ways to earn more with superpowers at their beck and call as long as they could survive the initial descent and reach the town or city.

The second and much more precious currency was the Mutation Cores. This was a beast core-like substance that existed in the body of all Rank F and above mutated monsters.

The Mutation Cores were much more valuable and were ranked by their quality. F Rank was worth 100 gold chips and every rank after that was multiplied by 10 in terms of value.

Any and every mutated beast would drop such things, so Dante had 5 from the Mutated Two-headed Dogs. To natives, these cores were very useful in that they were the source of the anti-mutation and anti-radiation drug in Dante's backpack.

The 'big pharma' in this world that had risen from the ashes desperately desired this resource which was why it was worth so much. However, for players, if they sold their mutation cores, they would be seen as idiots.

Because, as you could imagine, the only way to advance one's superpower was to use the Mutation Core! 10 F Rank Mutation Cores allowed an F Rank superpower to advance to E Rank, 10 E Rank Mutation Cores allowed a superpower to advance to D Rank, and so on.

So the mutation core was a hotcake for natives, as it was necessary to ensure their survival in this irradiated world, and players needed it because it directly increase their martial might and survivability, allowing them to harvest more Supercoin at the end.

Dante only had five so he couldn't advance Absorption. He couldn't advance Quantum Entanglement even if he wanted to because its power was capped at what he actually had. Only the system-given superpower was bound by these rules.

Dante found an eatery that was quite populated and went in, he ordered a rice dish that was basically like Chinese fried rice, which comforted him. It seemed like no matter the world, fried rice as a fast food dish would always persist.

After finishing his meal, he bought some pet food from the marketplace and went back to his residence. In this time, he had noticed many students who were bustling about, looking motivated and determined.

After all, they had 30 days and a goal to make Supercoin to enhance themselves in reality, so they were full of sprightly steps. It was the natives who rather moved slowly and uncertainly, their expressions heavy as if they did not know what tomorrow would bring.

The contrast was so great that it provided an easy identification for both parties and also seemed like something that could lead to a deep philosophical discussion. 𝒃𝒆𝙙𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝙤𝙢

However, Dante was not in the mood for anything like that. When he returned to his room, he opened the pet food and placed it before the enthusiastic cat who was inches from jumping about in excitement.

When it saw Dante glance at it with amusement, it immediately coughed with embarrassment and began licking its paw, trying to act nonchalant and dignified.

Dante rolled his eyes and placed the food in a bowl for the cat before going to lie down on his bed. He immediately began to have a nap in order to relax after that chase from that E Rank Withering Irradiated Zombie.

His physique was definitely superior, but he did not have any plans to go out yet, so resting was for the best. When he woke up, he would take his next steps.

Chapter 40

As naps go, Dante had one that was very banal. It didn't do much to refresh him, but it also did alleviate the building stress and tension.

Since he had dropped into this world, he had slept about 4 times over the course of 2 or so days. It was either he was very easily fatigued or there was a severe underestimation by the normal people about how tiring dangerous scenarios were.

When he got up, he saw that the cat was asleep in its cradle, purring silently. Beside it was a few empty cans, showing how it had gorged itself well before going into a food coma.

Dante shook his head and washed up a little, but since he only had one pair of clothes, he couldn't wash them clean. He just wore them as-is and left his residence, noticing that it was finally daytime.

Dante used the system to check the remaining time on his Gene Enhancement and saw that he had 4 hours remaining. As for his class with Xue Bing, there were 12 hours remaining, so he had time.

He then went to the marketplace to look for weapons. He was about to head into the wild, so he had to make preparations and make sure he did not end up as pathetically as before.

Luckily, this world had both superhumans and normal people, so society did not retardedly regress into using only cold weapons. There were guns of all types for sale, and they were the most preferred weapon for anyone and everyone.

Dante had a limited amount of Gold Chips after spending some on food and some necessities for the residence. He had about 8 gold chips remaining, and even the cheapest pistol available was over 50 gold chips.

He sighed and pondered his choices. With 5 Mutation Cores, he could sell them and easily arm himself with suitable weapons and armor before heading out to make up the losses.

Even though selling Mutation Cores was seen as dumb, it would be even more foolish to hold onto them and then go out there with barely enough supplies or weapons.

Was he supposed to rely on some cosmic luck to prevent him from dying like a dog? Not to mention that he did not easily believe in such things, it was not in his nature to take such a course of action.

The other course of action was to follow the guide in the forums and head to the City Militia Outpost to sign up as a superpowered warrior for the city.

They would given you a basic starter package for joining in exchange for taking 30% of all your spoils for your 30 days lifespan. All the thing Dante wanted they would provide for 'free'.

Most players who descended in safety and did not get a single kill would choose this option since they had a short lifespan anyway, and they didn't have anything to trade.

Those who were lucky like Dante and harvested a few who naturally auction them and then get their own gear. That way all their future gains would be for them alone, and they would not be pestered by any faction.

Dante naturally chose to head to the marketplace's center which was highlighted by a large four story building with many people coming and going from within. 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥.𝗰𝗼𝐦

This was the city's official armory, and you could buy anything you needed here, from Mutation Cores, to drugs to heal or cure ailments, to weapons, armor and whatnot.

There was a forum post that advised all new players to only sell their Mutation Cores to any City's armory first during their initial descent. It was too easy to be tricked or duped by players or natives, and even be robbed by them.

Only pros who had descended multiple times should do such a thing because they would naturally know their way about, Dante wasn't going to act like he knew better and quietly went to a counter within the shop and placed his five Mutation Cores down.

The man seated behind the reinforced glass smiled happily and inspected the cores using some special deice. Hearing a pleasant beep and seeing a green light on all of them, his smile became wider and he spoke to Dante in a rugged voice.

"Five F Rank Mutations cores. Their MSRP is 100 Gold Chips but we're willing to pay 105 for each."

Dante knew that this was not a really good offer. The 100 Gold Chips thing was the base price set by the various cities of the world, and most mutations cores sold for far higher than that, even at other shops.

In direct trades, depending on the desperation of the buyer, one could even reach 150 gold chips. In auctions, they could easily reach 200.

Offering 105 was not sincere, but the fellow was also trying to make a small profit and increase his margin in his daily report to the administration behind him.

Not to mention that the reason anyone would sell here was for the safety, quality and trustworthiness. Dante could afford to take a slight loss on this account, because he was confident he could make more.

Anyway, he shouldn't get attached to these things. Every mutation Core or Gold Chip only served the purpose to increase his final score at the end of the 30 days.

If they could be spent or bought at any price to even increase that score by 0.1%, then it was a big win.

Dante accepted the offer and then from the same vendor, bought a Barret M82 50 caliber sniper, one Kalashnikov and one M4A1 Carbine, one Desert Eagle and one Colt 1911, all in mint condition.

He bought a set of light weight kevlar armor called 'Sotnik'. It was a Russian developed super armor that was only released for a few years before disaster came.

It was durable to the point where the wearer could even survive head on assault rifles bullets and even anti material sniper rounds. It came with a helmet that had some technological functions like comms, infrared, thermal vision, night vision, facial recognition, aim assistance, target mapping and more.

It also had a gas mask and a defibrillator as well as an internal medical distribution system that could pump adrenaline, morphine or whatever you slotted into the suit right into your system in critical situations.

Aside that, Dante bought a few bottles of Anti-Mutation, Anti-Radiation, food pills, healing syringes and a lot of ammunition that he squeezed into his newly bought backpack.

When Dante equipped everything - with the help of the salesman since this was complimentary service - he walked out of the armory wearing a full body suit that looked heavy despite being relatively compact already, with a backpack large enough to cripple a man.

The vendor looked amused and slapped Dante on the back, but he remained steady. The vendor and other onlookers who were amused suddenly had their eyes flash when they saw that Dante could easily move with all that weight without feeling the pinch.

They made speculations and assumed his superpower was the strength or enhancing type, which would make his current get-up sensible rather than short-sighted.

After all, all of them had lived for a while and had seen many types of superpowered people, so those coming to do what Dante did were a dime a dozen.

Of course, there were those with superpowers that did not enhance their strength who did this and fell over in tiredness after two steps, giving the onlookers at the time a good laugh.

The vendor would usually shake his head and recommend them something else more suited for their build and superpower. After all, it did not benefit anyone for these superpowered people motivated to clean up the world of its filth to die.

The harder the worker and the more successful they were, the more the natives benefited. If it wasn't because it would ruin the economy and cause them trouble, they would like to freely equip all superpowered fellows and toss them into the wild.

Dante himself walked through the streets looking like a modern centurion, his already slightly tall build making him feel like a significant threat to all those who gazed upon him.

He did not feel much of the weight as he walked, much like how holding a cup of water was not very hard. However, if you held that cup up for a while, your hand would begin to get tired.

Dante surmised he could go about 30 minutes of walking before needing to rest until he increased his SDI further. As such, he marched straight out of the gates, bearing the shocked and respectful looks of the guards at the entrance.

After all, he was well equipped and looked powerful, so they couldn't help but feel like he was mighty.

Dante went right to the area where he had come from, which was covered in bushes and shrubs that lead into the forest area. His goal was naturally to see if that Withering Irradiated Zombie was still around and then kill it, claiming its stats for himself!

Chapter 41

The forest was starkly different from the nearby outpost he just came from. In the outpost, there was a lot of noise and a bustling scenario as human life in the settlement forged on, but the usually lively forest with plenty of animal sounds was deathly silent.

In truth, most of the world was like this, according to what Dante had researched pre-descent. If you heard a noise in the wild, that was rather a horrifying indicator of immense danger and incoming demise.

This was exactly why the pets were a thing. Spending 30 days in scenes like this would not do well for the mind, so the cute and lively pets with near-human intelligence and expressions were meant to be a buffer for the average student.

Dante walked through the shrubs and bushes, pushing them aside casually as he walked forward. His Kalashnikov was held before him, as he preferred to use that first rather than the M4A1 for reasons relating to reliability.

Soon, Dante came across a pack of strange rabbits with white fur that was spiky in nature along with blackish-white eyes that leaked blood.

Monster Name: Flesh Eating Weeper Lagomorph

Monster Rank: F

HP: 7/7

Strength: 0.4

Agility: 4.8

Dexterity: 0.2

Intelligence: 0.01

Constitution: 0.2

Vitality: 0.2?

There were about seven of them gathered around one of the corpses of the two-headed mutated dogs he had killed over 30 hours ago. They ripped and tore at its flesh wantonly, a look of perverse excitement on their bloody faces as their eyes continually spilled dark red blood.

The moment Dante entered the clearing, they all stopped their meal and raised their heads in perfect synchronization to glance at him. Having those leaking eyes focus on you in perfect stillness… Dante would probably not forget this sight for a long time.

The rabbits released a strange squeal that sounded cute but made his hairs stand on end for some reason. He raised his weapon and began firing without waiting for them to make the first move.

Naturally, as rabbits, these beasts were frighteningly quick, especially with almost 5 times the agility of a pure human. Even though all their other stats were trash, their movement was enough to make them hard to track.

Unfortunately for them, Dante was 3.5 times more dexterous and 3.2 times more agile than a pure human. Agility referred to balance, movement speed, reflexes, and general skill with feet-related matters while dexterity referred to attack speed, precision, coordination, and hand-related matters.

With such values, Dante was not clumsy with a gun despite never using one before. He was not a sniper or marksman and it was likely that a trained shooter would outscore him easily on a firing range, but his steadiness and ability to track were definitely inhuman.

He gunned down the seven rabbits before they could split up far enough to take him down. The moment he did so, he walked to their corpses and gathered them up before quickly extracting them.

After claiming their stats for his own, his SDI increased as such;

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 21.4/21.4

Strength: 2.9 - 3.18

Agility: 3.2 - 6.58

Dexterity: 3.5 - 3.64

Intelligence: 1.22 - 1.227

Constitution: 2 - 2.14

Vitality: 2 - 2.14

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Apart from Agility which literally doubled, the rest had marginal gains. After all, despite being mutated and enhanced by the radiation, it was impossible for a mere rabbit to be able to trade blows with a human. 𝙗𝒆𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

It survived and thrived using its crazy agility to overcome foes, and that was why most players often moved in a party. Someone might have a superpower or equipment that restrained the rabbit while another might have a superpower or equipment that would restrain a two-headed mutated dog.

For the average player, the rabbits having low stats in everything but agility was a blessing since it meant that they were easy to restrain as long as one could cripple their movement.

For someone like Dante who every stat point mattered, it was not a beneficial thing, so he would have to use quantity to make up for quality.

He then glanced at the Mutation Cores from the corpses that had dropped. As for the flesh, it was useless and completely inedible to anyone and only served to be used as bait to attract other monsters over.

Dante picked up the Mutation Cores and then tossed the corpses around the clearing on each side before going to sit in a bush, resting his body that was slightly tired after that exertion in this heavy combat suit.

He didn't have to wait for long before a bunch of two-headed mutated dogs walked over slowly, extremely alert to the area. It was unknown whether they were brought here by the smell of meat or the sound of gunshots.

Dante quietly assessed the group to see that there were ten of them this time, and they were spread out cautiously. Dante couldn't help but wonder if there was a den nearby from which this group and the previous group originated from.

When he saw the two-headed mutated dogs sniff the corpses of the other dogs he killed many hours ago and howl to the sky in grief, he knew his assumption was correct.

The two-headed mutated dogs glanced at the corpses of the rabbits with red eyes, seemingly blaming them for the death of their pals. However, they also seemed confused because they could not understand how these puny rabbits which usually avoided them like cowards would dare ambush one of their groups.

The rabbits didn't even have much in the way of an agility advantage over them, barely more than a single point. It was enough to guarantee their lives if they wanted to escape but to fight?

Before the dogs could think though, a barrage of bullets was fired at them, felling more than 6 of them in quick succession before the others could even react.

They turned to bark at Dante, but that was the wrong action to make when being fired upon. But then again, how could you expect wild dogs to understand how bullets worked?

The remaining four were soon gunned down while whimpering and yelping, their bodies twitching in pain as they bled to death. Once again, Dante dragged the corpses together and absorbed them quickly while making sure there was nothing around to ambush him.

Upon taking their essence within, he also collected the Mutation Cores. He decided to absorb 10 of the F Rank ones on the spot to raise the grade of his superpower to the E Rank.

The 10 cores shattered and then flowed into his body, merging into his chest area and glowing for a while. Dante didn't feel much, but he could tell that his superpower had become a little more… perfect?

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 36.4/36.4

Strength: 3.18 - 6.18

Agility: 6.58 - 10.08

Dexterity: 3.64 - 7.64

Intelligence: 1.227 - 1.447

Constitution: 2.14 - 3.64

Vitality: 2.14 - 3.64

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

[Superpower Name: Absorption

Superpower Rank: E

Superpower Description: Allows the user to absorb the energy of a defeated foe, increasing their own SDI by a moderate amount.]

Dante sensed it and could tell that the previous 10% absorption at the F Rank had increased to 20% at the E Rank. This meant that he would get twice as many stats from the same targets as before.

That was something to look forward to, not to mention that his current SDI was truly frightening. If Dante were to compare it to the Withering Irradiated Zombie from before, then he could now be considered an E-Rank monster in terms of stats alone!

He glanced at the fresh as well as the old corpses and decided to remain here. While his heart was full of confidence as his power increased, he completely managed to restrain his greed and pride in.

Right now, he was not competing with anyone. All he had to do was lie in wait here for more F-rank or so monsters to come and ambush them using his weapons as well as statistical superiority.

He would then harvest their stats, slowly but surely increasing his own while collecting their Mutation Cores. F Rank Mutation Cores were useless to him now, because no matter how many he stockpiled, they could no longer use them to upgrade his superpower.

However, he could accumulate them and sell them at a vendor to earn gold chips and enrich himself, getting better accommodations, equipment and even hiring his own team to work for him during his downtimes.

Aside from that, he could even use the gold chips to buy E Rank Mutation Cores if necessary and then upgrade his superpower after accumulating enough. His method of waiting and then ambushing weaker monsters to slowly accumulate was completely viable in the long run.

Chapter 42

Dante rested beside the tree near the northern edge of the clearing. His weapons were kept in his arm as he closed his eyes, but focused his hearing acutely. In this deathly silent forest, apart from his own steady breathing, he could hear nothing else.

Soon, there was the inevitable sound of rustling from the energy bushes as a whole group of the Weeper Rabbits rushed over while hopping excitedly, diving into the plentiful flesh available. They paid Dante no attention as they gorged themselves as they assumed he was another corpse from the way he was seated without moving.

Dante raised his head and took aim from his potion, easily dispatching all the rabbits that came in less than one clip. He had learned to be more conservative with his bullets. As for the recoil, with his current strength value, it was like shooting a toy gun or a water gun at best.

He gathered the corpses of the rabbits casually and extracted them. He then tossed them to the pile and went to sit down again. About 30 minutes later, another batch of rabbits came, this time they were met with a group of mutated two-headed dogs who came from another direction to investigate.

It didn't really matter to Dante, as both teams were dispatched after they began fighting with each other over the spoils. After extracting all of them, the number of corpses in the area reached a truly worrying amount.

The worst part was the lack of flies buzzing over the meat and flesh, but that did not stop the stench from spreading far and wide. Dante knew that with a stench like this, normal F-rank monsters would no longer dare to come here as there was too much death in one area.

No, the only monsters this would attract were the confident overlords of this small outpost's area, the E Rank monsters. Each E Rank monster had a small territory spanning between 10 to 20 kilometers in an almost spherical shape depending on their personal power and prestige among other E Rank monsters.

Given that Dante had appeared in this range when he descended and the territory was less than 3 kilometers from where he spent the night in that cave, this territory could only belong to his target: The E-Rank Withering Irradiated Zombie!

Dante only had to wait an hour for him to hear that inhuman screech that caused one to be stunned. This time, its effect was slightly weaker on him due to his increased intelligence, but not by much. After all, his intelligence was his slowest growing stat due to the fact that the monsters in question did not have much to give.

His seated potion also would not work, as that monster likely viewed the world with either sound, heat, or some other sense. So it could detect his lifeforce and would attack him first, so he rose to his feet and waited patiently.

Much like a typical zombie, the E-rank monster staggered out from the nearby shrubs in an almost silly and comical way, shambling toward Dante. However, Dante's expression became serious as he held his Kalashnikov in hand with a tight grip.

He still remembered the oppressive presence and stats of the zombie that caused him to feel the previous time.

Monster Name: Withering Irradiated Walker

Monster Rank: E

HP: 45/45

Strength: 7

Agility: 4

Dexterity: 8

Intelligence: 2

Constitution: 1

Vitality: 9?

And compared to his present stats after farming for this while;

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 100/100

Strength: 6.18 - 17.9

Agility: 10.08 - 22.5

Dexterity: 7.64 - 17.1

Intelligence: 1.447 - 1.88

Constitution: 3.64 - 10

Vitality: 3.64 - 10

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Clearly his idea to farm weak monsters was the best. He now had enough stats that it should be the Withering Irradiated Zombie that should feel fear and pressure from his existence, not to mention he was armed and ready.

The only reason Dante was still so wary was because, from the E-Rank and above, monsters did not just rely on their stats to be equal and even superior to players or natives of the same level. No, just like how players had superpowers through 'mutation', these mutated being naturally had something similar.

We had already seen the Irradiated Withering Zombies won in the form of its screech that was an almost absolute stun.

It was because of this that students often had to team up and work together. Because at each Rank, the monster had better stats than you and even had its own special ability you had to be careful of. Soloing monsters above the E Rank was impossible but for the absolute best of the students which were mostly made of people like Dante.

Those who had two or more superpowers, the natural one they had, or those they got from the Zero Gate and the one this world gave them. Naturally, with so many powers at their back and call, they would be able to suppress any monster to death.

Dante began firing without waiting for the monster to pounce. His Kalashnikov bullets roared toward the zombie and struck it brutally, tearing off parts of its body with ease. Dante's clip came to an end and he quickly reloaded without trying to slip up since he was not a professional at this.

The Zombie wailed as its torn body began to close up and reform. It had 9 points of vitality, so its regeneration and life force were strong. By the time it patched itself up, Dante had finished reloading and taken 3 steps back.

The Zombie roared once more, releasing its special stun effect. Dante had been ready for it and pulled the trigger the moment it made a sound, causing it to be interrupted. After that, he had no qualms and emptied another clip.

He then rushed over and grabbed the Zombie before taking out his tactical knife and severing its head. He hadn't done this the first time because he wanted to bait it into using its stun screech ability in active combat and then disable it.

Dante put its head to the side and then dismembered its body quickly, spreading each part away from the other. After waiting for 5 minutes, the zombie's body began to rot really quickly. He then brought the parts together and extracted them using his superpower.

The duration was slightly longer this time and the stat increase was quite good.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 100/100

Strength: 17.9 - 19.3

Agility: 22.5 - 23.3

Dexterity: 17.1 - 18.6

Intelligence: 1.88 - 2.28

Constitution: 10 - 10.2

Vitality: 10 - 11.8

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Dante collected the E-Rank Mutation Core and noticed that it was easily twice the size of an F-Rank Mutation Core, and far more vivid. He put it away as he would need to take down 9 more E Rank monsters or buy them.

He naturally preferred to do the former rather. Done with his objective, he packed up and began to return to the outpost with a light jog. At his current agility, his light job was the full-on sprint of a cheetah, and the world around him blurred as he moved fast enough to feel the air pressure.

Dante knew that if he wanted to keep this up, he would either need to constantly wear equipment like this or find some special material that could withstand extreme friction and pressure.

If fact, not only for his movement speed, but his attack speed and his strength, otherwise anything he wore would just rip like he was transforming into the hulk. That could be sorted out since he now had a lot of F Rank mutation cores to sell for money.

When Dante reached the outpost, the guards glanced at him with an expression of horror. Not only was his armor bloody, but it was clearly blackish and green blood, meaning it was definitely not his own. 𝑏𝘦𝘥𝑛𝘰𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Not to mention he was completely unharmed, but his physical presence had magnified more than ten times. They felt like a loose movement from him could easily blow their heads off their bodies.

Dante only greeted them in passing and then returned to his residence. He noticed that the cat had gone out to do something or the other, so he took off his armor slowly and then put the dirty parts in a basin to be scrubbed later.

As for himself, he locked the residence up and then lay on the bed and closed his eyes. He did not plan to sleep in the Apocalypse World as his gene treatment was just about done in reality and he had to discharge himself.

As such, Dante logged out from his game character in the Apocalypse World and returned to his real body which was still floating within the treatment chamber. The moment his eyes snapped open, he felt the difference right away.

Chapter 43

If his SDI within the Apocalypse World could be called abhorrent, his SDI in reality had quickly grown to catch up. Dante was discharged from the chamber slowly once he woke up, first having the liquid looking gel drain away before the various tubes that had been plugged into him slowly removed.

He was surprised because these tubes were not there when he first went under, which meant that they came later. That was probably why he had to go under, because the feeling of being pierced in so many places would not be fun.

Just by raising his SDI to 2 points in each field, Dante had bled so much that he had woken up in a sticky mess. Feeling that his power had grown even larger this time, he was certain that his SDI had exploded even more.

He was brought his clothes by the Android Nurse and he equipped them slowly. Dante thanked her for the care and then left the treatment room, to see that it was currently nighttime outside again.

He shook his head and noticed the crowds that always littered the Student Enhancement Institution and wondered if there was ever a time where it was actually devoid to eager students looking to gain more power.

He took the teleporter and returned to his residence. He casually glance dover at Humphreys residence and saw that it was silent. He guessed that the fellow was also using the Etraverse to empower himself however he could until their alloted class began in 8 hours time.

Dante entered his place and then sat in the living room. He was not particularly hungry as he was pumped with nutrients of the highest grade during the gene enhancement, so he felt full and satiated. Rather, he finally opened his SDI with curiosity.

User: Dante (ID Number: DANTE10998-03-15)

Age: 21 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 10.5 (105)

Agility Index: 10.5 (105)

Dexterity Index: 10.5 (105)

Intelligence Index: 10.5 (105)

Constitution Index: 10.5 (105)

Vitality Index: 10.5 (105)

Bionic Level: 1 (Unique Student Version 10.)

Psionic level: 1 (Unique Student Version 10.)

AI Chip level: 1 (Civilian Category)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement.?

Dante sucked in a deep breath. In truth, he could feel it the moment he came out, that his SDI had probably reached or surpassed 10 points. That was because the him in the Apocalypse World had more than that, so he could subconsciously feel the range in which his SDI grew.

10 and half points after the first gene treatment was pretty… bad. Dante could tell simply because he had his AI chip search the Quantum network for information about gene enhancements results for pure humans and the usual ranges.

He then used the AI chip to simplify and extract the key details, allowing him with his current 10 times the mental acuity of a normal person to digest the information quickly. In truth, he really missed the chip, because it was disabled in the Apocalypse World, and it really made all the difference.

However, his SDI growth was bad because most pure humans, upon undergoing their first gene enhancement, would leap about 15 to 20 points in all fields. Dante had only gone up by 8 pints, which was half of the minimum value.

This was simply because he lacked the optimized genetic structure of actual pure humans in this universe who had undergone generations of optimizations using their advanced science among other things.

Beatrice had done her absolute best by mending a large amount of the glaring flaws in his genetic structure and giving him the basic qualification to exist within the Eternal Universe without melting into goo.

However, there was a limit to what she could realistically do, and this was the result. Dante would always be behind the average pure human in this universe in terms of genetics unless he found some way to get around that.

And that wasn't even considering the natural born geniuses like Beatrice and co among them. If such fellows existed among the students, Dante would have a very hard time.

He could only pass a hand through his hair with a sigh and think about how to deal with this later. As a the ranked first student, all eyes were on him and the slightest flow or mistake could lead to a sea of trouble.

However, his first rank also led to a sea of benefits, so everything in equal measure.

Dante pondered what to do next and decided not to return to the Apocalypse World. He had spent some time there and realized that he fundamentally lacked far too much to think about anything else, so he had to fill those gaps.

As such, he opened up the Etraverse and browsed through the various worlds the school possessed. Not only because they were some of the best in their respective fields, but because it was free for students to use.

He honed in on the world of his choice.

[World Name: Training World

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Tiny

World Type: Instanced 𝙗𝙚𝒅𝒏𝒐𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝙘𝒐𝒎

World Genre: Miscellaneous

Bionics Allowed: Yes

Psionics Allowed: Yes

Superpowers Allowed: Yes

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: Unlimited

Description: This is a world that allows a student to undergo any form of professional training in any form of physical, mental or spiritual field through a dedicated practical method.

Objectives: Achieve the grand success of your training subject.

Limitations: There are not subjects for occupational and some special fields.

Provisions: The courses are tailored to perfectly suit your build, situation, mentality and will.]

Dante felt a tinge of excitement and chose this world. This as a special world that was actually rarely visited by students, because all residents of thus inverse underwent such training to adapt to their physical enhancements from a young age.

In other words, this was high school syllabus tier stuff. The only reason it was likely included in the Eternal Academy was because their student population was made up of all sorts of unique fellows like Dante, so someone might occasionally need this.

Dante descended into a white room that was styled like an ancient Japanese dojo. The floor was made of lightly polished wood, there were racks of weapons and bookcases with various manuals in the background, and Dante could see a horizon in the distance through the partially opened sliding door.

He noticed that he had changed from his Vice-Admiral's uniform that he normally wore to a white hakama. He felt surreal, like he had entered an anime that he loved in the past.

Dante saw an ethereal older male appeared before him also wearing a hakama. The man looked kind and wizened, having his arms placed behind his back, and his murky grey pupils shone with wisdom.

"Greetings, young one. I see you have come to me to rectify your flaws, and I shall do everything in my power to help you achieve the perfection you desire." He greeted in a serious tone, his voice strong despite his age.

"Hello sir, and thank you for the chance." Dante decided to greet the fellow back despite not knowing whether he was real or not.

"Hmm. First, please show me your parameters and run some basic courses for me to gauge where you stand physically." The elder acknowledged while rubbing his beard.

Dante was prompted by his AI to show his current SDI, which he did. After that, he ran a few courses featuring 5 Cardiovascular Endurance tests, 5 Aerobic Tests, 5 Strength Tests, 5 Anaerobic Power tests (speed), 5 Anaerobic Capacity Tests, 5 Agility tests, 5 Anthropometry tests, 5 Flexibility tests, 5 Balance tests, 5 Dexterity/Coordination tests, 5 Reaction Time tests, 5 Health tests and finally 5 Sports tests.

In order to get the perfect representation of his physical prowess, his stamina was restored with each new test, and that included fatigue, muscle tear and muscle tiredness. So he went into each test like it was the first.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm In the beginning, the elder was still smiling, but as Dante ran more and more tests, his expression froze and then became full of confusion. He looked at Dante just like how one would look at a flying pig.

When Dante completed the tests, the elder simply looked the him up and down like he was seeing him for the first time. He then broke into a strange smile and remarked.

"That was… interesting. It seems like with you, I will have to start at the very foundational level, but it is no problem. Lets get to work then."

Chapter 44

"First, we will start at the very beginning. You will have to master the five basic fundamentals of controlling your power, which are Breathing, Posture, Balance, Reaction, and Traversal." The Elder stated while folding his arms with a serious expression.

"Sit down first in a meditative position and then follow my instructions to the letter." The Elder instructed, to which Dante immediately obeyed without question.

This surprised the fellow, as most of the students who came here were headstrong and wanted to know the reason for every little instruction he gave as if they were professionals in this field beyond his capability.

Of course, Dante was compliant not because he necessarily had to be, but because he was aware of his own faults and desperately needed to fix them. Also coming from Earth, he had watched many Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon-style stuff and had always hated those protagonists who questioned and doubted their mentor's seemingly banal training regime.

You want to defeat the Evil Emperor who slaughtered your village as a farmboy who had never wielded a weapon before, and you were getting impatient because your master made you do basic training rather than teach you world-ending moves?

Besides, it was a fact that if you completely mastered the basics, you could probably create your own world-ending moves anyway. The true difficulty was not getting someone to teach you the world-ending moves, but to teach the fundamental components which led to the creation of the said world-ending move.

Dante listened to the elder describe a breathing routine. He did his best to mimic it and was able to grasp it after a few tries. In truth, this was not the hard part, and even the most untrained person could achieve this if they tried hard enough.

The difficult part came over the course of the next few hours. Dante started by memorizing the breathing pattern and doing it at all times for 30 minutes straight while seated in a meditative position.

He then had to rise up and do the same while standing for another 30 minutes. Next was to take a step every second while doing the breathing pattern for 30 minutes. After that was to take two steps while doing the breathing pattern and so on. 𝒃𝒆𝒅𝙣𝒐𝒗𝙚𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

At three steps a second, he was practically walking, and the difficulty had increased by an exponential amount. The focus needed to maintain the breathing was tough. As he was exerting himself, his body was telling him to breathe as much as possible rather than to inhale in this foolish rhythm so that it could acquire oxygen for his cells.

It was extremely tough to override this instinct and replace it with the one that was being taught to him. Even without the Elder explaining, Dante understood that the goal of this was to be able to utilize the breathing pattern in all situations, while fighting, sleeping, talking, eating, etc.

However, this was not something he could achieve in just a few hours. Dante knew as much and the Elder definitely knew as much. However, despite Dante's progress being slightly below average, the Elder was thoroughly satisfied by Dante's seriousness.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm When it came to physical, mental, and spiritual training, what mattered less was talent, and more was hard work as well as discipline.

Dante stopped after 7 hours and 30 minutes due to the fact that it was time for his first class session to begin. He thanked the elder and turned to leave. Even as Dante disappeared from the virtual dojo, the Elder never asked him why he had to go nor told him to come back.

Dante opened his eyes and got up from his couch while stretching his body. More than 6 hours had passed so he was definitely hungry, opting to have a quick meal before going upstairs to take a short shower.

By the time he left his residence, he saw that Humphrey and Slessor were coming out of theirs. This was Dante's second time seeing Humphrey but he was surprised to see Slessor in the next residence over.

He looked around and saw the other 28 or so Unique Batch Students coming out of the nearby residences, each glancing at the other with surprise. Clearly apart from Humphrey and himself who had seen each other, these fellows likely did not know they were all placed in one area.

Dante and Humphrey were also surprised. They couldn't help but share an uncertain glance and then look away. Dante maintained a slight smile of superiority while Humphrey wore a cold and unfriendly look toward everyone else.

Slessor glanced at the two males with a hint of competitive intention in her eyes, but the two ignored her and entered their teleporters. She rolled her eyes and entered hers, prompting the others to snap out of their surprise and utilize theirs as well.

Thanks to their upcoming class, Dante and the rest had access to the destination they sought, the Black Land.

When they appeared, they noticed they were discharged from a bunch of teleporters within a sealed chamber. There were white walls on all sides with blue and green lines running through them, as well as a large door before them.

From another set of teleporters came around 5 mature adults who were all pure humans. They wore arrogant smiles full of confidence and egotism, making anyone who looked at them naturally feel a hint of dislike.

However, the students here became solemn because they knew that these were their teachers!

After being 'taught a lesson' during orientation, their feelings towards these higher powers were conflicted. On one hand, there was anger and hatred while on the other, there was respect for the strong and eagerness to exploit them for their knowledge.

Of the five teachers, there was a muscular lion man with golden-white hair and sharp red eyes. He looked awesome and majestic, especially when added to his battle armor which was the same color as his hair.

He looked like one swipe of his claw could cleave a battleship in half, and Dante was sure that was not too far off the mark.

Another one who had glowing green hair that floated around her body while she herself levitated a few feet off the ground. She did not wear shoes and her attire was a green sundress that fluttered around her ankles.

She had sparkling amber eyes and purple hair tied into two donut-shaped knots on either side of her head. Her size was also diminutive, reaching Dante's waist at best.

The third person was an amalgamation of water that seemed to have some humanoid features. Dante was not exactly sure if they were masculine or feminine, and the person's form seemed to alternate between both.

Though, they had golden bands on the arms, legs, and neck which glowed with a blue light, and Dante assumed that this was what helped them maintain their humanoid shape?

The fourth person was a widely grinning young man who wore a crimson robe and had shark-like teeth. His eyes were scarlet and his hair was literal flames. There was a permanent ring of fire around his legs that radiated heat.

Finally, there was the beautiful and svelte Xue Bing who had a purple veil of energy around her that warped the fabric of space itself. Her smile was the most friendly of the lot, but it also conveyed a lack of interest.

Basically, she was smiling at you to encourage you to get lost, not to get closer.

"Hello students of this year's Unique Batch. My name is Xue Bing, and I am what you could describe as your class teacher. I will handle most of the general details of your first-year study, so make sure to get to know my face and name." She greeted everyone with a bored voice.

"Right, this gentleman with the golden mane is Leonidas. He is the teacher in charge of all non-elemental Beast-related superpowers like Beast Taming, Animalshifting, and Beast Summoning. If you are in possession of such a superpower, please move to his side."

8 Students moved towards Leonidas and he snorted at them coldly. After all, none of them were about the 15th Rank.

"This lovely madam is Slyphia. She is the teacher in charge of all wind, air, and gaseous-related superpowers like Aerogenesis, Aerokinesis, and more. If you are in possession of such a superpower, please move to her side."

7 Students moved to her side, of which Humphrey was a part of. Slyphia gave Humphrey a winsome smile and a pat on his shoulder but ignored the rest, making their expressions fall.

"There is also Undina, who is in charge of water, aquatic, and marine-related superpowers. If you are in possession of any of such powers, please move to her side."

4 students moved to her side, including Louisa. Undina did not have any visible expression, but she made no movements to acknowledge the students around her. It was as if she would rather just get this over with.

"And finally, there is Mr. Infernus here who is in charge of all fire, heat, and light-related superpowers. If you are in possession of any of those, please move his way."

7 students moved to his side, of which the fourth, fifth, and sixth-ranked students were a part of. The man called Infernus nodded with satisfaction and he covered all his students in his ring of fire.

And this left the final two, Dante and Slessor who were the only ones with space-related superpowers. They already knew who their teacher was, so they walked over to her quietly.

Chapter 45

The other students glanced over with a hint of surprise. They had guessed as to who Xue Bing was, but they now understood that she was the teacher for space element related powers. It was no wonder she was appointed their class teacher, as space and time superpowers were treated as the highest.

Not to mention, out of the only two students she had, first place and third place were literally in her hands. This made the faces of the other teachers become slightly ugly, but they could only harrumph and take their anger out on the trash students by glaring at them.

This left the students feeling aggrieved, but what could they do?

Xue Bing smiled and nodded to the others. "Now, we will take you to the Black Land so that you may begin your first absorption. On the way, each of your teachers will explain some things to you about superpowers, the Black Land, the Zero Gate, and how you can become stronger in your respective fields. Make sure to listen attentively."

The students made sure to acknowledge this as Xue Bing placed a hand on Dante and Slessor's shoulders before leading them to a nearby door to the side. The other teachers were not so amiable to their students and led them to other doors.

Seeing Dante and Slessor's puzzled looks, Xue Bing explained. "The ranking of your superpowers is not done just to make you hate each other, but to decide how your benefits are disturbed. The Black Land possesses ambient energy that can be actively absorbed by anyone with a superpower."

"Even so, as if it is the way of the world, this energy has different densities in different places in the Black Land, so some places are more lucrative than others. Since the world is not fair and benefits take precedence to justice, we've decided to let those who rank higher be placed where the energy is densest over the others."

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Dante's expression changed slightly and Slessor spoke her mind. "But isn't that short-sighted for such a so-called great academy? By letting those who are better always take the best resources, how would those who are worse catch up or bridge the gap? Why not just accept those with the best talents and ignore the rest?"

Xue Bing glanced at Slessor directly with her familiar 'neutral' smile. "Trust me, there have been many petitions to do so. To limit the influx of students, weed out the trash below the A grade and only let those above that enter."

"After all, the Black Land and the Zero Gate are not age or power locked. Anyone with a superpower can use them, whether the headmistress, a new student, or an aged elder on his deathbed with a superpower. Those who have graduated from your Unique Batch of earlier years crave the Black Land after graduation because they cannot easily increase their superpowers elsewhere."

Xue Bing sneered. "Do you know how much pressure they put on the academy each year to let them in? They have even formed their own group and with each batch we graduate, they get new fellows into their fold. Do you know how much trouble the Academy takes to limit the use of these precious resources to new students?"

"If these graduates could, they would even kill you younglings and take your place. When the Zero Gate opens every year, assassination and replacement attempts peak."

Xue Bing then looked away arrogantly. "Besides, the Eternal Academy has never claimed to be a place where you get to decide your rights and freedoms. What you receive and are given are decided solely by us, and you can only accept or cry about it."

Slessor frowned and clenched her fists in anger at being chastised in such a manner, while Dante could only shake his head. He might have thought something similar to Slessor, but he knew the end result of expressing it.

Expecting fairness where something so precious and rare in the entire universe was concerned? Was she living in fantasy land or was she the reincarnated saintess of social justice warriors? The only way anyone would harp about fairness given such a thing was if they wanted to use it to gain more benefits.

Besides, Dante thought, if she wanted fairness she could just…

"Oh, and since you are so worried about those below you, you can opt to give them your spot so that they can catch up to their betters. Should I apply for the change for you then?" Xue Bing asked nonchalantly.

Slessor paled and immediately rejected such a thing. When she saw the knowing smile from Xue Bing and the look of pity from Dante, her expression became ugly and she went quiet completely.

Dante knew that the lamia had learned a brutal lesson today about herself and about the world.

After that spell, the group remained silent as they traversed a tunnel that was lit on all sides with a delude of colors, but did not allow them to see outside. It was only when they got to the end where two cyborgs wielding weapons were guarding that they felt something different.

The cyborgs stopped Xue Bing and checked her qualifications before respectfully allowing her through. Dante and Slessor followed along and were admitted to an area they honestly half expected to see.

The Black Land was… just that, a black land, An expanse of pitch-black soil? humus? earth? or even sand? that stretched out as far as the eye could see, right into the horizon. There was no sun here, but the world seemed to be lit.

It was as if the sun was behind you since the sky was still relatively bright blue, but turning around showed that there was no such thing there either.

Xue Bing allowed Dante and Slessor to admire the area and express their shock before patting their shoulders. "Enough dawdling, try and sense the energy in the air."

The two snapped out of their delude and then focused. Dante honestly did not know what to expect by sensing anything, but the moment he did, he actually felt it.

It was strange, like how one could sense the water around them when they dove into a pool or body of water. You could feel it all around you flowing, and sometimes moving. It pressed against you because you were occupying a spot where it would have been, so there was a feeling of pressure.

Seeing that the two had been able to achieve this, Xue Bing was satisfied. She then slashed the air in front of her, and a rip in space appeared. Dante and Slessor were surprised by this, not knowing exactly what superpower Xue Bing had previously. However, they now had an inkling of an idea.

Xue Bing manually widened the gap and the other side showed a small cabin that was surrounded by black earth. She gestured to it with a smile and walked through her portal to appear on the other side.

Looking at their teacher who was smiling at them from the other side, Dante and Slessor shared a look before following through. The experience was quite banal, as it was less like teleportation and more like passing through a wormhole.

Xue Bing turned to the cabin behind her and explained its purpose. "Naturally, we can't just toss you lot here to absorb energy while sitting on the hard ground. This is the cabin for the top three, with three separate rooms for each of you to reside in."

Xue Bing glanced at the horizon. "Since first and third place are here, the second place should be coming soon."

Dante and Slessor were startled as they heard a tearing sound above them and gazed toward Xue Bing's focus. There they saw a small figure tearing through the atmosphere faster than a jet as it rushed toward them.

Before they could even become alarmed, the figure appeared before them suddenly, stopping all that momentum in an instant with no backlash. It turned out to be the teacher called Slyphia and in her arm was Humphrey.

The fellow folded his arms and pretended to be casual, but Dante could see that he was visibly trembling. He was probably new to his wind element power and had never done something like what Slyphia did.

Xue Bing glanced at Humphrey with amusement and then nodded to Slyphia. "Are you gonna stay here for him or are you gonna go back and sort out the others?"

Slyphia giggled. "Why would I bother with such trash? I'll stay here of course."

Slyphia's voice was slightly high-pitched and very sweet to listen to, but the three students couldn't help but feel a coldness in their hearts. Those poor blokes who were hoping that their teacher might give them guidance were left to fend for themselves while she came to curry favor with her most talented one. 𝐛𝐞𝗱𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗲𝗹.𝐜𝐨𝐦

This Eternal Academy… if there was one thing you should pray for, it was not for wealth, not for favor, nor for love, but by god, pray you had talent.

Chapter 46

Dante, Slessor, and Humphrey were led into the rather deceptively spacious cabin. It was furnished quite well and had everything they would need to survive here for an extended period of time.

The rooms were marked by number so Dante obviously walked to the one labeled '1' which made the eyes of Humphrey and Slessor flash with unwillingness. Xue Bing and Slyphia smiled when they saw these looks and did nothing to deter them.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Dante entered the room and saw that there was a bed to the side of the room along with a desk as well as a praying mat in the center with small vents around. When his AI chip connected to the facilities, he realized that the vents contained various scents and incenses he could freely use at any time in order to help him focus.

Dante directly sat on the praying mat and crossed his legs. He felt natural in this pose, and he couldn't help but remember his breathing training in the virtual world. As such, he subconsciously began breathing properly just like that.

When he was about to enter a daze, Xue Bing entered his room and removed the chair from the desk, and sat on it casually. She glanced at the startled Dante who had been broken out of his breathing routine with a smile.

"Well, my dear number 1 student, it's time for your teacher to do her job. Let's explain a few things for you so you understand what you're doing."

"Firstly, the Black Land. This area formed before we discovered the Zero Gate and has been here for as long as we have been here. It covers around 300 miles around the entrance to the Zero Gate in all directions."

"The soil itself has no special properties. We have tried transplanting it to see whether we can recreate its energy production ability, but it doesn't work. On top of that, the energy that you require to advance your superpower doesn't come from the ground or the air, but precisely from the gateway to the world behind the Zero Gate."

Xue Bing leaned back into her seat slightly. "Don't ask about the world behind the Zero Gate, it's not part of today's info dump and you will slowly learn more about it as you go on during the year."

"Secondly, superpower ranks. How do we rank superpowers based on their own ability? We have three different criteria or categories. The first is the potency or the actual power of your superpower. This one is easy enough to track as everyone starts at the F Rank regardless of how awesome your superpower is."

"As long as you haven't absorbed the energy in the Black Land or Zero Gate to advance your superpower, you will always be at the F Rank. The second is talent. This is basically your recorded starting point for your power, which we use to loosely gauge the end point of your specific superpower."

"The talent rating is what has divided you all up like different factions during the warring states period. The final category is the potential, and we are going to find out about this today."

"Potential is gauged simply by how effective your absorption of the energy is and how quickly you are able to raise your superpower to the E Rank. From that, we can extrapolate your highest limit within the timeframe granted by the school within your 5-year stay."

Xue Bing smiled, but her smile was not very encouraging. "Today, your rankings will shift a bit after we discover your relative potential. So those who were suppressed beneath you might rise up to surpass you after today. How does it feel, are you dissatisfied that your position is being challenged just after a few days of enjoying it?" 𝐛𝐞𝗱𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗲𝗹.𝐜𝐨𝐦

Dante was silent for a short while and nodded. "Not too pleased, but it's not up to me."

Xue Bing nodded sympathetically. "That's right, and you're smart for realizing that faster than the half-breed snake. Your goal today is to make sure that your potential rating is as high as possible to keep your position."

"Back to what I was saying, the third thing to know is about the energy itself. We call it Zero Energy, and it's only found here in the entire universe. You cannot collect it, you cannot store it, you cannot replicate it."

"We have spent centuries and quadrillions of Etrans trying to study it, but we understand as much about it as we did when we first found it. Do not bother trying to understand it either, just absorb it for your own purposes and move on."

Xue Bing crossed her legs casually. "Finally, about superpowers ranking up. When you first absorb this energy, you will feel it entering your body but you will not be able to tell where it has gone or how to control it. At your level, you can only absorb mindlessly."

"You will know all this when you break through because you will release an energy fluctuation that only those with superpowers can sense, and you will unlock your soul space, which is where your superpower resides."

Xue Bing got up and dusted her butt. "As for what the soul space is, that is too early in your syllabus for you to know. Start absorbing and let's see how long it takes you to reach E-Rank. If you want to get an EX Rank in this regard, you need to only take a few minutes. Good luck."

She opened a portal that led to Slessor's room and then walked in without even looking back. When the portal closed, Dante lowered his head and became pensive. He quickly digested all the information he received and then settled down to absorb the energy he needed.

He was on a timer to prove his potential, so each second counted. He did not use any incense or scents and just followed the description Xue Bing gave him back when they were on their way here.

Soon, he sensed the strange energy again, this Zero Energy, and began to consider absorbing it. The moment it moved into his body, Dante felt a strange sensation all over his skin. It was like being thrust into a breezy room with a powerful fan blowing on your skin.

As the energy coursed through his body and rushed to his head, he also felt like his body was cooling down after a hot day at the gym. It was an extremely comfortable and pleasant feeling that one could get lost in, and you could be sure that Dante folded immediately.

He entered a sort of daydream-like daze where he was partially conscious and partially unconscious. He could feel the time passing, but each hour felt like a second had passed by, and he only woke when he felt his mind explode.

A pain lanced through his head that caused him to gasp and grab his forehead before he was dragged into a black space. When he looked around, he saw that he was floating in a starry sky like area that was devoid of anything else.

However when he turned to look behind and then upwards, his heart clenched. He saw a huge circular gateway that showed his living room on Earth on the other side. Dante could even see the finer details of the room, and even switch it to his bedroom at his true home or the bedroom of his apartment.

These were places he had been in and used his superpower to travel to and fro from the two universes. He instinctively knew that he could now choose any destination to 'fast travel' to, which consisted of his own universe or within the Eternal Universe.

It involved Dante forming a Quantum Tunnel to travel between places he had marked with his Quantum Marker. The actual name of the upgraded ability was called Quantum Teleportation, which meant that to some extent, Dante now had the ability to teleport.

The huge circular gateway above him was for cross-universal teleportation. If he was teleporting within the same universe, he only needed to use a single thought to move.

However, that was not all. The Quantum Teleportation ability was an upgrade of the basic utility of his Quantum Entanglement. He had unlocked another new major ability after climbing to the E-Rank, and when he received its details, he was thoroughly shocked.

It was called Quantum Transposition, and its effect was actually frighteningly simple. It allowed Dante to enter the Quantum Realm with his real body and soul!

This meant that Dante could now enter the Etraverse worlds himself! This was not very beneficial given that he would be entering with his real body, and most worlds required the user to go through life-and-death scenarios for training.

After all, the main value of virtual reality was to experience reality or things in reality without the consequences reflecting on your physical body or mind. If Dante entered a quantum world and died, he would die forever and ever.

However, if you considered worlds like the Apocalypse World where a free superpower was given, there was a thunderous implication behind this new ability!

Chapter 47

Dante considered many things, but he noticed that the dark world around him faded away as he woke up. He was still seated on the prayer mat, but the area around him looked like it had been subjected to an explosion.

The walls of his room were completely destroyed, and so was the majority of the cabin. Dante saw that apart from the mat he was currently on and some remnants of the cabin, there were only Xue Bing and Slyphia standing in front of Slessor and Humphrey while covered by purple and green barriers respectively.

Both barriers had a great number of cracks on them and the two teachers wore solemn expressions as blood leaked from their mouths and noses. Meanwhile, Slessor and Humphrey were frozen where they were seated while glancing at Dante with terror on their faces.

Dante immediately became alarmed and tensed. In this short amount of time, judging from the situation of the area and everyone's reaction towards him, he could easily piece together what happened.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Slyphia was likely tutoring Humphrey while Xue Bing was probably fulfilling her duty to Slessor when Dante broke through to the E Rank. Due to the power fluctuation of his breakthrough, an explosion likely occurred that destroyed the entire cabin and forced the two teachers to hastily put up defenses.

However, the explosion from his breakthrough had actually even caused cracks in the barriers and caused the two elite teachers to suffer injuries.

Dante had always been somewhat humble, or at least, he thought he was. He did not assume he was the strongest or the most blessed, just that he had been lucky to appear in this universe at the right time to be saved by a passing higher-dimensional being.

He felt he was average, which he realistically was in terms of his genetics or intelligence, but he had foolishly given that attribute to his superpower as well. After hearing about awesome powers like Aerogenesis or Spatial Folding, he had assumed his Quantum Entanglement was passable, only useful for walking between two universes.

However, that was exactly the problem. Folding space as well as generating air where there was none were absolutely amazing superpowers, but the ability to walk between two universes at any time from multiple locations was not measurable by any scale.

Even the ability to travel between galaxies was something that was rated as EX rank by the Eternal Academy's system, as they assumed that Dante's superpower was a much weaker version of this. If superpowers absorbed energy by their potential and released fluctuations, what would the reaction be if a person who could teleport as far as a galaxy broke through compared to someone who could teleport between whole universes?

If you thought about it like this, it rather proved just how powerful Xue Bing and Slyphia were to survive such an event and even protect someone at the same time.

But maybe they were just lucky that this was a breakthrough from the F Rank to the E Rank.

If it had been higher…

Dante considered all this and sucked a deep breath. His joy at breaking through was quickly quelled and replaced by trepidation. On one hand, it was great that he had such a reaction, as it meant his superpower was truly potent and he was worth investing in by the school.

Xue Bing especially would value him like a precious gem.

On the other hand, he had clearly lied about his superpower. Judging by the looks on Xue Bing and Slyphia's faces, and especially Xue Bing, there was no joy at her student being far more talented than she thought.

Rather, it was a sort of wary observation of an anomaly that should not have escaped your observation.

In other words, they cared less about Dante having a greater superpower than he claimed and more about how he was able to deceive them. Because if you thought about it, if Dante could deceive them, then how many thousands of Unique Batch students in the past had been able to pull off the same and they had no idea about it?

The implications were serious. Especially when you considered what Xue Bing said about the alumni of the school gathering together to pressure the school to use the facilities.

If even 10% of those in that group had superpowers other than what they let on…

There was an awkward silence in the area as tension seemed to build. Xue Bing and Slyphia did not takedown their barriers as if they were waiting for something while Dante was also seated patiently, waiting to see their verdict.

If their verdict was dangerous to his survival or freedom, he would simply return to his universe and then enter into this one from another place. If anything, he could test Beatrice out and see whether she was on his side.

If not, he would exist like a shadow in this universe and survive in the dark side. There were definitely those who lived such lives here and with his ability to teleport, it shouldn't be a problem. Heck, if he teleported back from here, he would have a Quantum Marker here meaning that he could return to the Black land whenever he wanted to absorb energy for himself.

Since he already knew that the spatial blockade technology of this universe could not restrain him, and could not even detect him, he could come and go as he wanted. Hence, Dante calmed himself down and remained seated on his mat.

Of course, he had watched enough suspense movies that he was aware that they could be stalling for time to let some intangible poison or tranquilizer work on knocking him out. In fact, they would even be waiting for reinforcements and would subdue him using a mind control superpower or some form of chains that prevented one from using superpowers.

All of these were possible, but he had to see what the outcome was, not out of curiosity, but out of caution. If he disappeared now, not only would that be an admittance of guilt, it would kill his 'innocence' assuming that there was no negative fallout to this event.

This was a risk for sure, but Dante had to take it if he wanted to continue his positive life in this universe. As easy as it was for him to become a fugitive and theoretically survive, it was even easier to just be clean and not wanted by the most powerful institution in this universe.

Dante was startled when he suddenly saw Xue Bing and Slyphia drop their barriers with visible relief on their faces. Humphrey and Slessor still glanced at Dante like he was a 10-headed monster though.

Xue Bing wore her usual smile that was not a smile and walked over confidently. "I say Dante, you scared me for a second there. We almost thought you were a… *cough*, well let's just say you passed a test."

Dante remained where he was with a vigilant expression. He activated his Bionics and Psionics so that he could at least, react in time assuming Xue Bing wanted to make a move.

The moment she entered his room area, he got up and leaped back, creating distance between them. Xue Bing suddenly stopped with a look of surprise and incomprehension, but when she saw Dante's careful demeanor, her expression cramped.

Slyphia, who was watching the ongoings with a calm look, was also surprised by Dante's move. Then her eyes became bloodshot as he grabbed her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she tried to fight back explosive laughter.

Dante saw their reactions and did not feel embarrassed nor did he care if he had done something stupid. He was wondering if this act was intentional to make him lower his guard, so he maintained his vigilance.

Xue Bing's expression changed a few times but she then mustered her nicest smile. "Dante my dear student, why are you behaving like this? Your teacher is happy that your ability is so strong and doesn't want to steal it for herself or anything."

Dante and Slyphia were speechless. Was that how a human being coaxed another person to feel safe in their presence?

"How long did I take?" Dante asked after being quiet for a second or two.

"About 10 seconds? I had only begun talking to Slessor about the stuff I told you when we felt an energy vortex come from your room. We marveled because it meant your superpower was truly potent at definitely at the EX Rank in terms of potential, but then you reached sublimation and we could feel the incoming wave." Xue Bing answered.

Xue Bing pointed a finger at Humphrey and Slessor. "Even F-Rank fellows like them could feel the incoming wave and wanted to run. Luckily we decided to stay here and then defend each of them from the shockwave." 𝑏𝘦𝘥𝑛𝘰𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Dante glanced at Humphrey and Slessor who had calmed down somewhat as they nodded silently. He then sighed internally and dropped his guard a little, but became alert when he saw three people approach from afar at great speeds.

The three teachers Leonidas, Infernus, and Undina approached cautiously as Leonidas asked Xue Bing in a deep voice: "What happened here?"

Chapter 48

Xue Bing turned and became vigilant when she saw them, moving to stand between them and Dante. "Nothing, I just farted really hard."

Meanwhile, Sylphia couldn't take it anymore and burst into laughter while Humphrey had a weird expression. Slessor looked like she was seeing Xue Bing for the first time while Dante felt like he didn't have enough IQ to process everything that was going on.

Meanwhile, Leonidas displayed an annoyed expression at the apparent lie while Infernus' expression changed as he covered his nose quickly. Undina spoke for the first time, her voice sounding like someone that was gurgling water at the back of their throat.

"Don't take us for fools Xue Bing. We sensed a severe power fluctuation above the EX Rank here and rushed over."

Leonidas growled deeply. "That's right, and you better explain what happened here."

Xue Bing frowned. "Scram! The Central Server has already decided that he is within acceptable range and everything should continue as-is."

The expressions of the other teachers became ugly, but they didn't leave. Rather their eyes roved the area and they seemed to see the story of what happened here through the remains. Just like how Dante pieced things together, they were also able to do so as their eyes fell on Dante.

Immediately, Dante felt goosebumps appear on his skin and he took a step back. Xue Bing's expression changed as she manifested a wave of spatial energy, which was suddenly stretched thin as Leonidas, Infernus, and Undina suddenly attacked. 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝘯𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝑐𝘰𝘮

"What are you fellows doing?!' Xue Bing roared as she became pale-faced, her earlier injuries worsening.

"Don't be selfish and let us see this student. It's best to take him back for 'reeducation' don't you think?" Leonidas stated with a roar that caused the spatial barrier to crack.

"You alone cannot swallow this chunk of meat Xue Bing, don't let the Xue Clan behind you come to an end because of your actions!" Undina stated viciously, manifesting spears of high-pressure water to bombard the shield.

Infernus simply shrugged with a wide smile. "Hey, I've got a faction with interests too, so I have to fight even if I feel it's lame."

Xue Bing paled and was forced to take a step back. She glared at Humphrey and Slessor. "The two of you, leave here immediately using your abilities!"

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm The two students who were overwhelmed by the events occurring before them seemed to snap out of a daze and immediately used their powers to flee the area. Since they were not important, none of the teachers stopped them and tacitly let them escape.

Dante especially was lost. What the hell was going on, one moment Xue Bing was making a fool of herself to coax him and the next, she had fallen out with her colleagues over him? Why go so far, wouldn't there be some punishment for their careless actions?

"Well, it's because the world is ruled by benefits and interests. Right now, their only goal is to capture you first and bring you back to control you using any means necessary, then they can bear any consequences that come out of it."

A sweet voice spoke beside Dante, snapping him out of his daze. His entire body felt ice cold like he had fallen into a well as he turned to see Sylphia standing to his right casually, like a friend. When he looked down to gaze at her, she raised her beautiful and delicate face to meet his and smiled in a very lovely manner.

However, Dante could not find any joy in this. After all, the teachers were fighting Xue Bing and willing to hurt her to get to him… but wasn't Sylphia also a teacher? Wouldn't she have a family or faction behind her?

Dante immediately wanted to react but he felt like the oxygen in his lungs was forcefully locked in and his brain became fuzzy as he passed out. However at the last moment, he had thought of returning to his home universe, so Dante's body disappeared even as he was knocked out, causing Sylphia's confident smile to change.

When the other teachers also saw that Dante was gone, they relaxed their attacks, as their fierce expressions were replaced with despair and regret.

Even if you knew you would be jailed, you would still fight for the 1 billion dollars in front of you.

However, during the fighting, the money was snatched away by someone else, leaving you with the burden of committing the crime without the reward.

Naturally, once your greed cleared up, you would regret even taking part, but if the money were to reappear before you, you would begin fighting again.

Xue Bing relaxed and released the barrier she created but she ended up coughing blood three times. Her eyes were filled with schadenfreude and a bit of hatred as she laughed cruelly.

"You guys are so dead. You have fucked up so bad that I even feel bad for you… not! Hahaha!"

Xue Bing laughed shrilly and cruelly, not caring about the pained feelings of the others. This caused their expressions to become downcast and ugly, especially with the serious mocking in the background.

"Hmph, evil witch it was your fault! If you didn't interfere, we could have captured the brat!" Leonidas roared as his eyes became bloodshot.

Beast-related superpower users mostly focused on training their mental will because they could be easily influenced by the tempers of the creatures they turned into. The regret from failing to capture Dante, the fear of the consequences of his actions and the pain of losing such a good chess piece for his faction turned into anger at this time.

Leonidas charged forward like a bullet and roared, striking Xue Bing in the torso with a claw, sending the svelte woman flying a few meters backward as she spat blood the entire way. When she landed heavily, she could barely get up anymore, being completely winded and severely injured.

The faces of the other teachers changed, but they didn't move to stop Leonidas. After all, there was competition between them not to mention that acting to save Xue Bing would not mitigate their issues. Along with that was the fact that they were also annoyed by the meddlesome woman who ruined their chance.

Leonidas was not done as his bloodshot eyes focused on the severely wounded Xue Bing. He roared once more and leaped over, fully intending to maul her. However, he was blown back in mid-air by a force so strong that it caused the world itself to shake.

When the other teachers saw this, their faces changed greatly. They no longer wished to wait for their verdict to be dealt for they knew that survival would be slim today given the judge who arrived. Immediately, they all manifested their superpowers at the highest order as they fled.

All of them aimed towards the sky as running on the ground would be futile. Unless they entered space and left the range of the academy, their escape would be useless. However, it was clearly wishful thinking as they all crashed back down to the ground much like Leonidas, a strange force seeming to act on them.

Only Sylphia was able to get up to her feet as her injuries were the lightest. She looked upward as her face changed, and her body began to tremble.

Above the group was a peerless woman floating on a golden-red throne that looked futuristic with a thruster below it that kept it airborne and various buttons on either armrest. She rested calmly within her seat as it lowered its altitude to match those on the ground.

"H-Headmistress Lara…" Sylphia squeaked with fear.

Lara's blood-red eyes scanned the entire area. She stretched a palm out and then twisted it counter-clockwise like she was turning a dial. Immediately, the events of the past few minutes seemed to be replayed all over again, only that the repeated events were phantom-like rather than real.

Sylphia saw this and felt a chill. She knew this was the manifestation of one of the Headmistress' seven superpowers, Time Control!

She felt ridiculous when she remembered the power of each of the Headmistress' seven abilities in the sense that she actually thought she could successfully flee.

Lara viewed the events for herself and then released her hold of time with a sigh. She glanced at Leonidas who had a hole in his torso, the other teachers who were half dead, as well as Xue Bing who was unconscious due to the damage she suffered.

She then turned to Sylphia. "Do you understand the magnitude of your actions today? I don't think any of you do, not even the Bing clan girl."

She glanced at the spot where Dante had been when he disappeared with a dark expression. "Even I could not affect the flow of events surrounding him due to his superpower. You cannot possibly understand what this means or entails, but I can tell you this."

Lara turned to Sylphia and gave her the most intense look the diminutive woman had ever received in her life.

"You'd better pray to any god that will accept you that Dante returns."

Chapter 49

Dante appeared in his bedroom on earth, specifically within his rented apartment. He fell face-first onto the floor and passed out completely due to the effects of Sylphia's attack.

Dante completely fell asleep and woke up only 3 hours later. He rubbed his head with fatigue and pain on his face. He also received a report from his AI chip about what happened and how it regulated his system after he passed out in order to get him to wake up so soon.

Dante sighed and rose to his feet before moving to sit at his desk. He glanced at the mini quantum computer that was still working hard and shook his head. He had the idea to check on its progress, but was not too hot on doing that right now.

He currently had bigger fish to fry and that was mainly in the sense of what to do now. The reaction of the teachers and powerhouses to his 'specialness' coup-led with the abilities she had unlocked in this upgrade had caused his plans to shift greatly.

Before coming to a conclusion, Dante had the AI chip list out the facts he knew and projected it in front of him using his eyes as a lens.

1. He was not a fugitive. According to Xue Bing's words, the Central Server that governed the system of the Eternal Academy had passed judgment and ruled him as normal.

2. It was dangerous to return to school. He did not know whether the teachers who attacked him would come after him again.

3. He was too ignorant and uninformed. He only cared about pilfering technologies and such from the Eternal Universe in order to create a foundation for this one. He hadn't actually taken the time to sit down and research the Eternal Universe's military, political, and social structure in full.

4. His superpower allowed him to come and go. Between entering the Quantum Universe to hide or teleporting to anywhere he had placed a Quantum Marker, his mobility was extremely high and would grow continuously.

5. He couldn't abandon the Eternal Universe. His foundation was on earth, but his path to ascension lay in the Eternal universe. Whether it was the Black Land or entering the Zero Gate to acquire a new superpower, they were both things he couldn't give up on.

Dante considered these five things and decided to take his next steps while making sure to account for these things. One thing was that he could not return to the Eternal Academy yet, at least not openly.

The reason was simple, because he simply did not understand the consequences of his actions nor did he understand the consequences nor reasoning behind the actions of all the others. He also did not know the aftermath, so his main objective was to investigate that.

In order to investigate, he would need to make sure of his mobility. He could return to the Eternal Universe, but he definitely could not return to anywhere that was open and accessible. So he would have to live in the shadows for a while just like he planned to, but not entirely.

On top of that, while in the shadows, he had to investigate and research thoroughly what superpowers meant to the Eternal Universe, the top factions, and why they even cared.

It obviously couldn't be just because superpowers were cool and somewhat surpassed the limits of their technology. It had to be a deeper reason, and Dante had honestly wondered about something like that when he first arrived in the Eternal Universe and heard about it.

His suspicions had peaked when the headmistress had told him those words. It seemed like superpowers at a certain level were a gateway to something larger?

Dante would not have thought much about it, but he knew the origin of his abilities. If higher-dimensional beings existed in that universe, then there was a higher-dimensional plane that they existed in.

Were superpowers a gateway to that plane? There was a Zero Gate that released superpowers every year in the form of ten fruits, and every other day it released the energy needed for superpowers to progress.

So was there a First Gate after the Zero Gate? Or a Second Gate?

Was it really so easy for the Eternal Academy to resist the pressure of those alumni like Xue Bing said? Even if it had the best tech and a powerful backing, it had released so many superpowered beings who were hungry for its power.

If it was just the Zero Gate providing a way forward, they would never let it go. However, there was probably something more that could at least mimic the effects, but was not as convenient as the Zero Gate.

Dante reasoned this out and sighed. Whatever the case, he needed to get on with it. He spent one more time looking around his room before checking any missed calls he might have gotten these past few days.

He saw that his socials had been bombarded with a lot of questions and greetings from certain interested parties who felt his theories were quite special. Hah, there was even a recruitment letter from a certain reputable institution within Canada.

However, the AI wisely declined all and replied to the others with politeness. No need to offend anyone and come off as brusque, but it also could not appear in person. Besides, Dante did not plan to join any faction but establish his own, or there would not be a need for all this.

There were also a lot of notifications from some cheap online novel site called webnovel. It seemed that the novel that the AI had been writing and posting on there had gained some traction.

Dante idly checked it and found that it was called "I am the God of Technology' and it was about a person from modern earth traveling to another universe with fantasy elements and magic, but he had this thing called a system that allowed him to buy and control any piece of technology from earth in exchange for the souls of people he killed.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm How barbaric.

Dante scoffed at this idea and got bored after the first few chapters. The Quantum Computer had studied hundreds of popular and failed novels on the web and had understood the pattern to success.

The novel had no depth and was filled with tripe and spectacle, but apparently, the crowd was eating it up. Sad.

Dante saw that he had a call from his mother which he returned. He then chatted with her about many things and even told he about his courses in science as well as some of his 'discoveries'.

Rather than be excited, his mother looked him up and down strangely through the video call. 𝐛𝐞𝗱𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗲𝗹.𝐜𝐨𝐦

"You? Science? But your highest grade was in Senior High Sophomore year where you got a B minus. Even that was because you confessed to me that you snuck in some papers."

Dante's face became red with embarrassment. Yeah, fine, he hadn't always liked science because physics was kinda hard but okay for him since he excelled at maths, chemistry was Satan's subject which had caused him to burst into tears many times during revision week before exams, and biology was only fun in the beginning.

"Well, what can I say? I probably inherited my beautiful mother's high QI and skills this late in life." Dante immediately lavished praise and attributed his success to his genes.

His mother looked unimpressed. "Hmph, your father was far more eloquent than you when he was your age, what didn't he tell me before? If you want to coax me, you have to be slicker than that."

She said that, but Dante knew his mother was extremely happy because her brows always relaxed when she was praised like this.

Hmph, Mom your mouth is dishonest but your eyebrows won't lie!

After all, the first skill every son learned was how to coax his mom. You couldn't even coax your mom as a man and you wanted to capture babes into your bed? Go back to the drawing board!

After that fun family call, Dante was in a good mood, so he finally dealt with his bank. It was nothing big, they just noticed that Dante had not received any income for a while and were worried that he was facing difficulties.

Of course Dante, and every adult who knew the true despicable and cruel nature of the bank, understood that the real purpose of this was to check if he was trying to run away from his debt. After the bank had given him almost 15k in credit and he had used over 8,000 of it.

Most came from registering for those various courses and classes. As for his income, the webnovel site only paid out monthly so where was he to get it from? Dante rolled his eyes and created a new child AI called the Artist AI.

This one would do commissions-based work on the internet using any artstyle, primarily anime, and was free to draw extreme fetishes. After all, its name wouldn't be tied to him and he would not have to bear the mental consequences of drawing such stuff.

Tsk, it seemed like the fetish community was about to eat good this time around.

Chapter 50

After sorting this out, Dante was about to return to the Eternal Universe when he suddenly got a text. Normally it would be filtered out by the AI Chip, but the person it came from was someone Dante had marked as important in his account.

Valeria: "Heyya Dante, I'm free tomorrow, can I come over?"

Ah…

Well, this was quite the problem, now wasn't it?

Dante rubbed his head as he did not know how to reply to Valeria because he could not easily deal with their situation anymore. Despite how it may seem, Valeria was not Dante's girlfriend or partner, nor was she even necessarily a lover.

They… had an arrangement.

You see, Dante, in the current state of his life, was extremely ambitious and driven to success. He wanted to stand out among the 7 billion humans as someone special based on his own merit, hence he had tried to take the path of app development and recreate the legend of the Zuccmeister or even the Google Bros.

That naturally led to his experiences over the past few days, but that was tangential. The issue was that in his state of seeking to be the best, he really did not care about companionship or romance.

Like most young men of this age, he was perfectly content being by himself, in his room, partaking in his niche interests which would probably be mocked by the mainstream anyway.

However, it was not that simple. In the end, he also suffered from exactly what many such young men suffered from that led to a severe cultural shift in the modern day: sexual desire.

Specifically pent-up sexual desire.

It was something that came part of the package with being a male and - unlike the staunch protagonists of media who were neither 'servile nor overbearing' and 'indifferent to all things' who always claimed to be 'uninterested' in women - an average human.

He was ruled by his hormones, and could not resist the demands of nature.

So this caused the biggest problem most men today faced. You don't really want companionship or love - at least not until you achieve your goal - but you had sexual desires you needed to sort out.

This led to a difficult situation where one did not really have a true desire to approach a woman, but was forced to and the only goal was to satisfy one's urges. Naturally, the women being approached were not stupid and could see such intentions from a mile away, usually leading to a rejection, causing the problem to persist, and so on.

Usually, the negative feelings from being rejected in such a situation would begin to grow, especially due to the influence of social media where the same fellow could see the same woman doing very sexual acts for another male very openly.

And that was the majority train of events that led to the birth of the 'Involuntary Celibate'.

In order not to fall down that path, Dante had thought about the issue. Usually the mistake most of the men made in the above situation was twofold.

Firstly, none were upfront about their intentions and tried to handle things the way one would when entering a relationship, which was unwise.

Secondly, and this was the biggest reason, most men in such situations failed to… how to say this… assess reality. The assumption was usually that, by being a nice enough guy, the attraction value would be there... but that was not the case.

Dante asked himself, what did he have to make a woman feel like he was worth having intercourse with? Because if you thought about it, the process from being apart for thousands of kilometers in terms of distance to being in close proximity, to having clothes removed, and then genitals connected was pretty long.

There were many checkpoints in that process where she could change her mind. How do you keep her interested enough to go through all that and then come again after?

The difficulty varied based on your starting point. For Dante, it was not too difficult since he had only come out of being relatively popular among his age group in the city he was in after graduating. Not to mention he had above-average looks and had a good build, not necessarily because he worked out, but because he did not eat fatty foods thanks to his mother's nagging.

With this good foundation, it was not difficult for him to find a few willing partners who'd indulge him for free, but there came another problem. The women you were having a 'connection' with were usually sensitive and had to be coaxed often.

Basically, you had to give them attention in the form of relatively constant communication, the occasional outing, and generally show that you care and do not treat them as 'sheathes' for your 'sword'.

This was not a problem for the socially involved male, but for the shut-in who loved his own presence the most and hated the presence of others, it was torment. It was why, even if one was lucky to build such a relationship, it would eventually crumble fast.

Dante had realized this problem, so when communicating with potential partners, he had made his conditions clear. However, very few women were willing to take this deal even if he had an above-average score in each required field.

So Dante had to think of an alternative. How to get a relatively attractive beauty that suited his sexual taste that also ticked a few other boxes like low promiscuity, willingness to be exclusive, and did not cause trouble nor ask for anything?

That was naturally the height of delusion.

If you wanted all such convenient traits bundled into one, you have to give something up. You had to pay for it.

So that's what Dante did. He shared his conditions with Valeria, and she also shared her conditions back. She could do all that, but Dante had to first keep their arrangement on the down low, and he also had to provide for her basic necessities since she was an orphan in the city trying to further her career in Aerospace Engineering.

Dante came from a wealthy family and Valeria was truly attractive enough to make him feel moved, so he agreed.

In truth, Dante had developed some fondness for Valeria after these few months. When they first spoke, she sounded so confident and unmoved that Dante had been nervous the entire time, thinking she was skilled at this.

When they first met, he was surprised to discover she was just as nervous. After chatting for a bit, she confessed that she was also anxious since she had never done something like this before. She had some casual boyfriends in the past and one that she thought would be serious, but that fellow eventually put himself inside another woman and ended their relationship.

She had been desperate enough because she still had debt from her basic degree and was now pursuing a master's that was partly funded by scholarship. Meeting Dante was lucky for her, a guy her age that ticked all her boxes in terms of taste and was willing to provide.

As for 'giving up her body'… well, Valeria's logic was that Dante was the kinda guy she would have probably had a romantic encounter with for free, and if she managed to get support for her dreams out of it, then it was a good deal. 𝐛𝐞𝐝𝗻𝐨𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝐜𝐨𝗺

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm And so, their arrangement was born.

Over the past year, Dante and Valeria had gotten down to it many times, enough that they were fully comfortable with each other. Before taking the 15,000 dollar credit, Dante had even spoken with her about it to see her advice.

After all, it was his first time taking such debt while she had been in debt most of her life.

Dante passed a hand through his hair when he saw her message. Valeria was not someone who would pester him, as she was also kind of a reverse female shut-in who spent most of her time studying or drawing with her tablet since she loved art.

Just like the long soliloquy about males suffering from sexual issues when shut-in, she too suffered from the same, so more often than not, their mutual encounters were initiated by her, especially recently as Dante had been coding his app and barely had enough time to even sleep.

Normally, Dante would have immediately given a positive reply and looked forward to it. However, now there was a big problem… actually, there were two big problems.

One was his body. His genetics had completely changed to be something that no human here could fathom. Even if he was completely gentle, there was a chance he could completely shatter her waist.

Not to mention, he had no idea what effect his body fluids or semen might have on her. It might not do anything or it might be like that one Spiderman comic where he killed MJ due to his radioactive sperm.

The second big problem was Beatrice.

Chapter 51

Dante rubbed his forehead and decided to deal with this professionally. If he acted wishy-washy about it, things would just become stale and problematic between him and Valeria. Dante pondered for a while before replying.

Dante: "Can't do it tomorrow. I am swamped with work. Also, we might meet less often in the future, but I'm still willing to support you if only to get my own personal missile designer."

Dante sighed as he sent it and Valeria read it immediately. There was a short period where it showed she was typing and he couldn't help but feel anxious that she would have a negative response to the sudden change.

Valeria: "Okay, that's not a problem. Work is also troubling on my end. By the way, did you get a girlfriend or something?"

Dante sighed. As he thought, Valeria was pretty sharp. The last time she and Dante hooked up was just a few days before he was zoomed into the Eternal Universe and nothing showed that he had any intentions of reducing their time together.

If there was anything that could suddenly change things, it would naturally be finding a genuine partner.

But was Beatrice considered a genuine partner? Dante did not know. In truth, he liked Valeria far more than he liked Beatrice. The majority of the reason why he was resistant to Beatrice's charms and antics was precisely because he had the lively Valeria to hold him down.

But he did sign a contract. As Beatrice said, but in a very silly and amusing manner, she came along with it, being the bond that would tie Dante to the ship of the Portinari clan, who were sponsoring him and acting as his backing.

Dante did not know if such things as polygamy or polyandry were allowed in the social and cultural circle of the Eternal Universe, so he would have to do research on that as well. He was in a sort of relationship with Beatrice and didn't want to cheat, which was basically the issue.

Dante: "I can't even be sure, to be honest. Part of what's gonna occupy is me finding out."

Valeria: "Hmm, okay then. Let me know the conclusion and we can discuss what to do going forward."

Valeria: "Stay safe Dante~"

Dante shook his head and no longer wanted to spend another second here. He closed his eyes and visualized the massive gate in his Soul Space that showed the other side of the passage for him; The Eternal Universe.

From the various locations he could choose from, Dante chose the smartest and the most obscure. With a silent and practically inaudible pop sound, he instantly traveled from Earth's Universe to the Eternal Universe.

When Dante appeared, it was daytime. He was in a familiar alleyway that had a half-robotized cat staring at him with shock and confusion. He glanced at the cat askance and then walked out of the alleyway into a bustling street.

He was back in Avalon City of Planet Etonia, the first place he had landed on. This, as classified by Beatrice, was a backwater planet very close to the known edge of the universe and was only recently settled.

That was why the higher dimensional being dumped Dante here, as it was the nearest inhabited planet within light centuries of the universe's wall, which Dante had pierced through when he first activated that app.

Now that he was back here, not only much stronger and with a citizen ID, Dante felt the difference. The entire city was opened up to him as his AI chip connected to various facilities as well as the planet's entire quantum network.

Of course, doing this made him traceable by anyone with the authority to trace his Citizen ID, but it didn't matter anyway. The moment he had injected the solution that granted him the upgraded AI chip as well as his Citizen ID, he was marked.

When Dante walked out, the nearby aliens and half-humans were dazed once more. Then greed filled their eyes as they thought Dante was another pure human that was lost like the one from the previous week.

However, they froze when they saw his attire, which was the Vice-Admiral's uniform. They might not know anything, but they definitely knew what those symbols meant. Even if they didn't, their AI chips sent them an alarm that a distinguished military person was in front of them.

Immediately, the cyborg patrolmen who acted as the city's police force rushed over and cordoned the area around Dante, glancing at every citizen as if they were a potential enemy. The captain of this force walked up to Dante and saluted with respect.

"Lord Vice Admiral, Captain Huskar of the Etonian Defense Force greets you!"

Dante saluted back and smiled. "At ease. I am here to investigate some rumors of an extremist alien rebel group in the sector. I hope to rely on the resources of Planet Etonia to affect my search."

The captain trembled as his expression changed greatly. Dante had just casually mentioned the greatest taboo of their universe: those aliens who were dissatisfied with pure humans being in charge and wanted to do something about it.

To be honest, every planet that was cosmopolitan like this and had a larger amount of aliens and mixed humans was likely to hold at least one group, or a branch of a group. However, even if they didn't agree personally, none of the residents here were going to snitch them, because they technically stood on the same side. 𝘣𝑒𝘥𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝘤𝘰𝘮

Rather than think of who snitched, Captain Huskar was wondering why Dante chose Etonia in particular to start from. He raised his head slightly and sensed that Dante was a pure human, and his pupils couldn't help but constrict.

He thought of a certain colossal event that occurred a week or so ago where many mixed breeds and aliens tried to capture a pure human but were restrained. After that, the pure human was saved and taken away by a whole Admiral of the Prue Human Fleet!

The people of Etonia had been fearful of the vengeance of the Pure Human Council after that for their actions, but a week had passed and nothing occurred, so everyone relaxed and went about their lives.

But haha, how could things be simple? Captain Huskar thought bitterly. It seemed like the retribution was here.

With the power of the Pure Human Council and their fleet, it didn't matter about evidence or facts. If Dante pointed to him, Captain Huskar, and said he was a rebel, he could be ruined on the spot with no chance of redemption.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Planet Etonia was just one out of trillions in the universe, so even if Dante exterminated them all, who would care?

Even the richest man or woman, the most powerful man or woman, or the person with the highest political qualifications on this entire planet was not even within the outer circle of power in the entire sector, much less the galaxy, and the universe as a whole.

In other words, to simplify, for the duration of his 'investigation' Dante was now the god of Planet Etonia.

(Un)Fortunately, Dante did not know this. He chose Etonia because it was far away from the core worlds and he liked its environment the most because it felt cyberpunkish. He also felt like he could worm his way into power here and stabilize himself for long enough that he could investigate what happened at the Eternal Academy while enriching himself with knowledge.

Of course just because Dante did not know now did not mean he would not know in the future. If he got a chance to settle down and see what he was going to do next, he would naturally find all these things out.

If Captain Huskar knew that Dante was ignorant of his near limitless power, he would do everything to delay and distract Dante so that he never had a free moment, but the current him was far too intimidated to think of it.

"Alright, take me to the Administrative Center of this planet. I want to meet the Governor of Etonia." Dante commanded with a tone that brooked no questions.

Huskar felt this was natural and agreed. Dante was led to the city center nearby where he used an exclusive teleporter for administrators in the city hall to go from there to the capital of Etonia, Ferris State.

Ferris City was the location of the administrative center itself with the governor, and when Dante came out of the teleporter, he found a row of important mixed-breed humans and aliens ready to receive him with clearly fake yet pandering smiles.

However, the man at the center remained seated with a look of calmness, as he was a pure human. After all, no truly powerful position in the universe was held by anyone other than a pure human.

Even though Dante's official status was way higher, as pure humans they were of the same rank in terms of social standing so he didn't need to butter Dante up.

Chapter 52

Dante swept his eyes around the various officials, and he could only feel awkward deep down as he could tell that they all had higher SDIs than he did. He couldn't do anything like suppress them with his aura or the like, because any of these fellows could one-punch him to death.

Yet look at them, with their backs bent and their faces showing obsequious smiles. After thousands of years of being beaten down by pure humans and relegated to the second class, they had carved this subservience into their bones.

Unlike the majority of aliens living in the deeper parts of the universe near the core worlds as well as those from truly powerful factions among the aliens, the rest didn't have much defiance.

It was just like on Earth. Modern Americans knew in their hearts, regardless of their political affiliations or religious beliefs, that they were being toyed with by a small percentage of freaks who controlled everything.

And yet despite that, the average person was not necessarily inclined to do anything about it. As long as their lives were good and no overt oppression was effected on them, they would not go out of their way to fight and become a martyr.

It was even stronger here in the Eternal Universe where the Pure Humans didn't actually oppress the aliens and mixed humans much, just acted closed off and snobbish. Yes, there was corruption and abuse of power, but you would likely find that most of it was done by aliens and mixed breeds to each other.

Pure Humans were less than 1% of the entire universe population and only occupied absolutely high spots on the hierarchy. Their circles and interest hardly touched anything to do with the average man.

If there were things like killing out of greed, suppressing businesses to steal ideas, and kidnapping women off streets to rape, it was more likely that these lower official aliens and mixed breeds did it compared to the pure human fellow sitting before Dante, and this was an objective fact.

Hm, maybe it was precisely because of such atrocities and corruption that they were showing such respect to Dante so that he wouldn't purge them? That seemed more likely than the fact that they were the type to bend their back for anybody stronger.

"Greetings, Governor and fellow officials. My name is Dante, Vice-Admiral of the 34th Fleet of the Prime Human Civilization." Dante greeted and introduced himself with an amiable smile.

Seeing that his attitude was good, the Governor smiled widely and stood up. He stretched a hand out and shook Dante's in a firm grip. Honestly, Date was surprised that this tradition had persisted in human culture.

"It is our honor to receive you, Vice-Admiral. My name is Hector White, and I am the ruling Governor of Planet Etonia." Hector greeted with a nod.

He then introduced the other officials in the room to Dante. Dante noted that the vice governors were mixed breeds while the aliens often occupied meaningless positions. It seemed like the pure humans of this universe naturally trusted mixed-blood humans more than aliens of different racial characteristics altogether.

After all, no matter what, mixed bloods were still part humans. In fact, Beatrice even hinted that the treatment of mixed bloods would be much better if the pure humans didn't have to worry about them being influenced by the other side of their genealogy.

Well, it was either that or the pure humans were creating a fist between mixed breeds and aliens. By putting mixed breeds above aliens and making it clear that they valued their humanity more, those mixed breeds would grow to develop a reverence for their human side and ostracize the aliens rather than band together with them.

Hector offered Dante a seat and had an android maid bring in some refreshments. Dante took a sip and found out that it was kinda of like cola, but filled with more energy as his blood began to boil with happiness.

"So, what brings the Vice-Admiral here?" Hector asked with a curious smile.

"I am here to investigate some rumors of a rebel alliance here by the council." Dante stated calmly.

His words caused Hector to pause, and the smiles on the faces of the aliens and mixed breeds changed greatly. Hector regained his stride and then looked Dante up and down covertly.

"Does this have anything to do with the events of last week?" Hector asked smartly, seeming to hint at something.

Dante put his glass down and smiled. "Why Hector, don't you know? I am the very victim of that case." 𝙗𝒆𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

It was as if thunder struck the minds of all the officials here as they trembled greatly. Hector also sucked in a deep breath as he fully understood.

Revenge! This was a personal vendetta!

Immediately, the mixed breed and aliens looked toward Hector with pleading glances. After all, right now, he was the only one who could protect them. Hector saw their looks and sneered, thinking that they must be on drugs.

He naturally made the right choice in this situation, which was that he wasn't going to get involved! Dante could do whatever he wanted as long as it didn't involve him, he cared little.

"Haha, the matter of last week truly is something that needs to be investigated deeply. Vice-Admiral Dante has my word that everyone on Etonia will cooperate with your investigation fully." Hector replied with a kind smile.

The other officials' hearts sank to their asses and despair set in. They could easily tell that Hector was not willing to offend a high-ranking military from his own race for them, and really, why should he? It wasn't like he was a sympathizer of the alien races, and he was only appointed here recently so he had no deep feelings for Etonia.

"Also, here is a list of special factions and entities that I can vouch for. They absolutely have no ties to any rebel factions whatsoever." Hector added as he sent over a list to Dante's AI chip.

When Dante unfurled the list, he was speechless to see that most of the factions were families and businesses owned by the Governor himself or affiliated with him. He was basically saying: "Leave these guys out of the investigations and you can do whatever you want".

The other officials could also tell that the governor had made such a despicable move and couldn't help but be filled with hatred. It was not enough that he abandoned them, but he also wanted to isolate all his own benefits from being damaged, while theirs was up in the air.

"I will make sure to leave these factions out, they seem honest and trustworthy, just like Governor Hector himself," Dante said with a smile.

Hector laughed and then pressed a button. Immediately, a few burly cyborg warriors with cold faces and thick plasma weapons entered the room and slightly shoved aside the non-human officials, causing their expressions to become ugly.

They stood respectfully behind Dante and the governor, especially Dante as his rank was higher.

"These are the Elite Protector Guards every official is assigned by the Pure Human Council. They will handle your security detail as many factions and people would likely want to harm you given your objective here." Hector explained with a wry smile seeing that his own cyborgs were deferring to someone else.

Dante sized them up and had to admit that if he was flanked by these fellows, he would not fear anything on this planet. They looked like they could catch nukes in mid-air and then swallow them for breakfast.

"I thank the Governor then. I would like to retire to rest and then begin to prepare for the investigation." Dante revealed his true purpose in coming here, which essentially was getting a nice crib to crash in.

Hector nodded. "Of course. There is a protected estate for elite governmental officers who visit us on official duties in the city center. You can have your guards escort you there."

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Dante smiled and stood up, shaking Hector's hands once more. After sharing some flowery words, he left the room with the cyborgs flanking in on either side, their alertness and maliciousness towards anyone who could harm Dante very palpable.

Meanwhile, the mixed breeds and aliens had dark faces as they hurriedly began sending messages out and contacting various forces, both in the light and in the dark. After what they had heard and seen today, their hearts were in turmoil.

It was clear that a very bloody and troubling storm was about to sweep the entirety of Planet Etonia, and Dante was going to be at the center of it all.

However, the man himself was pondering the reactions of the people in the room. He just took advantage of their obvious expression and reactions to push things forward, but he didn't understand the intricacies of what was going on.

Anyway, that wasn't a problem. Once he settled down in his new area, he would have plenty of time to fill himself in.

Chapter 53

"Headmistress, we've got a response from the ID tracker!" A female aide shouted as she rushed into the office of the headmistress.

Lara Sanguis was currently meditating, seven glowing orbs rotating around her body. One of them was as red as the sun, while another was gray and seemed to still life itself.

Before the aide could see the others, Lara opened her scarlet-colored eyes and glanced at her. The orbs that floated around her disappeared and caused the atmosphere in the room to become normal once more.

The Aide's breath caught as she began to shake. Those eyes were filled with a certain suppressive power that made it feel like she was but an ant standing before the hungry spider.

Lara looked away and rose to her feet, moving to take her place on her throne which was also her office seat. Lara crossed her legs and glanced at the aide with a much softer yet bored look.

Finally getting a chance to breathe, the aide sucked in a deep breath and tried to ignore the sweat that was likely forming on her face. She remembered why she came here and decided to get on with it before the headmistress lost her patience.

"Madam headmistress, we have received a ping from the tracker we placed on Dante. He is currently on the outskirts of the universe, within 300 light-years of Planet Etonia. Due to the distance being great, we can only narrow it down to this range." The Aide hurriedly revealed as she passed a report over.

Lara glanced at the report but did not take it. "And do you have any information as to why he is there and what he is doing there?"

The Aide took back the report meekly and responded quickly. "Yes! We have official reports that he is there in his capacity as the Vice Admiral of the 34th fleet. His goal is to investigate the rebel factions of the planet and seek them out."

Lara's bored eyes flashed with interest. "Oh? What a smart little fellow. That is the perfect excuse to gain some freedom."

The Aide remained silent at the headmistress's remark and then inquired once it looked like she was done. "Headmistress, what do we plan to do with him?"

"Nothing." Lara chuckled.

The aide was surprised by this and seemed hesitant. Lara noticed this and smiled playfully.

"What was your name again?" She asked pointedly.

The Aide shivered and answered quickly. "Moira Svenn, Madam!"

"Right, right. The Svenn family. If I remember correctly, Infernus is one of your grand elders, hm?" Lara stated while yawning.

Moira shook greatly, understanding what the headmistress was implying. "M-Madam headmistress… I-I…!"

Lara waved a hand. "I don't care about your loyalties or your clan's benefits. The most important thing is that my benefits come first, and you should drill that into your head while you work for me."

Moira stuttered out an affirmative reply and couldn't help but feel like she had dodged a gruesome fate. The headmistress had a very terrible reputation among pure humans for her indiscriminate cruelty, and she had the power to back it up.

Lara opened her hands in a gesture of helplessness. "Besides, we can't do anything even if we wanted to. Military personnel on investigations concerning what Dante announced are not to be interrupted or interfered with. The Human Council does not joke with that issue at all."

Moira was speechless and couldn't help but glance at the headmistress strangely. Who didn't know that the Human Council laws and rules were useless to you, and they didn't even dare to criticize you too loudly when you went overboard?

Anyone but you could claim to be bound by the law, even the chairman of the human council who was thought to be the most powerful person in the universe by the average folk.

Lara simply chuckled. "You are dismissed. Don't inform me about anything to do with Dante unless it's serious or a threat to his life that he cannot handle."

Moira acknowledged this and bowed while leaving. When she exited the office and closed the door behind her, she walked back to her desk and pondered what to do with a worried expression.

When she received this information, she had rushed to report first, but now that she was out, she wondered whether to feed this information to the clan. After all, her Uncle Infernus had been sent to the frontlines at the First Gate due to his mistake, and his survival was unknown.

If she reported Dante's whereabouts to the clan, while they might not dare to capture him due to his status and the possible backlash, they would definitely find ways to coax him back to the academy in order to lessen Infernus' and the other's punishments.

Moira pondered this for a bit but then sighed deeply. In the end, she decided to get back to work and keep this to herself, because even if she did help, what would it change? The one who penalized her uncle was the headmistress, and only she could reduce or absolve him.

What Moira did not know was that in a realm she could not see or even fathom, a grey and withered feminine hand was gripping her scalp tightly. The moment she decided not to report, the hand released its grip and faded into the mist behind her.

In the headmistress' office, Lara retracted her hand from a small tear in reality and then yawned once more before heading back to meditate.

...…

Dante was brought to his new residence, which was a swanky manor in a large estate that was cordoned off. It was a top estate that had everything, its own mall, armory, hospital, and entertainment facilities.

It was basically a miniature town that was fully functional with all amenities necessary that were also of the highest order, allowing government officials to enjoy themselves without having to intermingle with the plebeian scum.

Dante was led to the biggest manor in the estate that was reserved for only the topmost officials, and his rank afforded him that right. The moment he walked inside, his AI chip connected to all the facilities and took over control.

Another thing that was interesting was the fact that his AI chip had connected with the processing center of the cyborg guards, allowing him to control them to some extent and override their own will.

Due to this, Dante inadvertently found out that their base SDI ranged from 100-200 points in each field and they had the best Bionics and Psionics which granted them a 15 times boost.

Hector was right, even if Dante was powerful himself, he could completely feel at ease with such guards protecting him. Likely even Superman would not feel so good after taking a punch from these guys at their full power.

Convinced of this, Dante left them in key areas to guard him while he entered the master bedroom. He sighed with a hint of fatigue between his brows as his brain had been running ever since he woke up from Sylphia's attack.

Now that he had some time to relax, he decided to slack for a bit. After about half an hour of lying around like a salted fish, he smacked his cheeks and got into serious mode. He then sat comfortably on his bed and began to actually learn.

The first thing he decided to study was the history of the Eternal Universe and the human race. This was knowledge that spanned the era since humans were primitives on Earth, so there was a lot to cover.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Luckily, Dante activated his Psionics and boosted his mental capacity to 105 times that of a normal pure human in this universe. This allowed his learning capacity to soar, and he tore through the learning materials that were not just text, but even interactive at times. 𝘣𝑒𝘥𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝘤𝘰𝘮

It took him over 3 hours to reach an important checkpoint which was the galactic wars for dominance. This was when humanity had advanced to a Tier 3 Civilization and had come into contact with the wider universe.

This was the first third of the entire universe history that Dante had swallowed and he felt like his brain was about to explode. However, he was also intoxicated by his quick learning ability and initially did not want to stop.

It was only when his AI chip sent an alarm that his character within the Apocalypse World was under attack that he snapped out of it and hurriedly logged in. After all, even if he was away from the school, that did not stop him from taking advantage of this unique world to try something he had in mind when he first saw his upgraded Quantum Entanglement.

When Dante descended into the Apocalypse World, he discovered that he was currently bound in a bag and was being carried away unsteadily by at least three people.

Feeling that their grip was weak and their work was labored as their SDI was limited to 1 point, Dante's eyes flashed as he exploded with his full strength and escaped his bindings!

Chapter 54

BANG!

The men holding the bag were blasted away in shock, screaming in pain as Dante landed on his knee and rose to his feet. He looked around to see that he was within some sort of dark tunnel passageway, and the men who had been carrying him were nothing but a bunch of hooligans.

Rather than run, these men simply cursed and swore as they sat on the ground in defeat.

"Fuck! How could we be unlucky today? Just at the final stretch too!" One of the men with a rat-like face spat to the side.

Dante glanced at the three to see that they had sincere resignation on their faces, as if they had factored in something like this happening and had been ready for it though they hoped it wouldn't occur.

"What is going on here?" Dante asked with confusion.

One of the other men glanced at Dante up and down then chuckled. "Well, since we're gonna die anyway, might as well drag them down with us."

"You mutant superpowered freaks think that after so long we don't know that there is something wrong with you? You guys appear out of nowhere with extraordinary abilities, having questionable identities that can never be tracked, and have functional knowledge of our world but none of the despair nor sadness that we who live here do." The third man spat with resentment.

"You motherfuckers are some sort of alternative dimension beings, or otherworlders as we personally like to call you. Ain't that right?" The rat-faced man asked with a grin.

Dante looked at the three silently and then sighed internally. This was one of the fears that many had propounded on earth, when Artificial Intelligence became too smart for its own good and began to realize the issue of its existence.

However, it was far worse than using a digital network in the home universe to theorize this.

These beings existed in a quantum space, so what was virtual to Dante was real to them. The fact that Dante could enter the quantum world with his real body was enough proof that it was not so simple.

Besides, quantum spaces like the Apocalypse World were shared words. Such worlds required more than just a creator or designer to put some things together for them to remain functioning in perpetuity.

Even in the instanced worlds like the training world, that elder who taught Dante had seemed to be very aware of many things but kept to himself. If Dante could see it, so could other residents of the Eternal Universe, so they likely had more information about this.

In fact, it tickled to a certain dreadful theory Dante had thought up while he was lazing about earlier. Could it be that both the home universe and the eternal universe were just larger Quantum Worlds? Or rather, Quantum Universes?

And the higher dimensional being that saved him was a 'player' of a higher world that saw a silly NPC do something funny and decided to humor him?

Dante shook his head as he understood that such rabbit-hole thinking would only lead to more trouble. In the end, he folded his arms and swept his eyes over the trio who were convinced of their speculation and smiled.

"Sure, probably. What does that have to do with kidnapping me?"

"Heh, I knew it. You otherworlders have to return to your world every now and then and leave your bodies in a safe place, in a comatose-like state. After we discovered this, we began kidnapping your bodies to a research facility where those elites try to dig out the reason for your superpowers as well as ways to decipher where you come from." The second fellow stated with a look of arrogance.

"So they get lowlifes like you to monitor people like us and then kidnap us when it seems like we are in this comatose state?" Dante asked with a raised eyebrow.

The faces of the trio darkened from being called lowlifes, but they were already meat on the chopping board. They knew that Dante would not let them go, so they wanted to spend their last moments feeling smug.

"Hmph, whatever. We know we're dead already and that's as much as we'll tell you, so get over with it!" The third guy snapped, not wanting to drag it on and get their hopes up.

Dante nodded and seemed to blur in their eyes due to his higher SDI. Before they were aware, their heads were smashed in gruesomely, allowing them to die instantly without feeling anything.

Dante could only wipe the remnant matter off his hands gingerly with a wry smile. "Well, it's all I can do since I don't have any weapons."

He then paused and thought about something. He looked around and then quickly scouted the area to make sure no one was around before returning to the corpses.

Dante then closed his eyes and accessed his Soul Space. There he saw the familiar giant gate and beside it was a smaller void that seemed to extend green tentacles outward, wanting to drag everything into its depths.

However, while the quantum gate was real and very solid, the green void was thin and very illusory, looking like it would dissipate at the slightest touch. Dante knew that this illusory power was likely the 'free' absorption ability that he gained.

When Dante actually saw it appear in his Soul Space, he was shocked. This meant that this Apocalypse World and the mechanics behind it allowing people to have superpowers was not as simple as he thought.

Dante then returned to what he planned to do and accessed his new ability, Quantum Transposition. He decided to merge his real body with his quantum body and he immediately felt the change.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm His body in the room disappeared with a pop that was undetected by the cyborgs protecting him. If it wasn't for the fact that his AI chip had given them a command that it would stop sending signals for a short while, they would have panicked. ｂｅｄ𝚗ｏ𝚟𝚎𝚕.𝚌𝚘ｍ

Likewise, in the office of the headmistress, Moira who was calm saw something shocking and stood up. She rushed to the office of the headmistress once more and reported that she could not detect Dante's tracker.

This made the headmistress annoyed as she explained that Dante's teleportation ability made him disappear completely for a while, but Moira naturally knew this. The issue was not that Dante could not be tracked, but rather that he was still read to be active, but did not show up anywhere physically in the universe.

He was pinging them, but not pinging them at the same time. The conundrum caused Moira to be worried and report it. This time, Lara was interested as she stopped her meditation to check the readings for herself.

Her eyes narrowed as she had some speculations in mind, and then dug up Dante's records. She glanced at the column describing his superpower according to what the Central Server recorded, but she didn't pay attention to the details in so much as the name itself.

"Quantum Entanglement, huh?" Lara muttered, her lips curling into a smile.

Lara dismissed her aide and told her to keep an eye out. As for she herself, she left her office and disappeared into the folds of space, heading to a place unknown…

Meanwhile, Dante glanced around and felt like everything had become more tangible.

To give the roughest and rawest analogy, it was like the difference between having sex with a condom and doing it raw. He had gone from using a condom to raw, and he could feel the subtle differences.

Suddenly his screen appeared before him.

Warning! Detected that there is a functional anomaly within the SDI value of the player! Resetting the SDI to the lower recorded value of the two!?

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 105/105

Strength: 19.3 - 10.5

Agility: 23.3 - 10.5

Dexterity: 18.6 - 10.5

Intelligence: 2.28 - 10.5

Constitution: 10.2 - 10.5

Vitality: 11.8 - 10.5

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Dante felt himself weakening greatly till he returned to the level he was in reality. It seemed that the conflict between his in-game character's SDI and his real body's SDI had confused the system and forced it to reset him to the lower values of the two, which was his real SDI.

This was not what was important though. What was important was what came next.

Dante squatted and placed his hands on the bodies of the three fellows he just ended and activated his absorption superpower. Immediately, he felt a visceral pleasure that caused his body to convulse slightly as the energy of their existence was drained into his body.

When Dante eventually released them, he stumbled backward and bit and fell onto his ass. He panted slightly at the intense experience, but he was dazed when he felt the slight but noticeable increase in his power.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 105/105

Strength: 10.5 - 10.7

Agility: 10.5 - 10.7

Dexterity: 10.5 - 10.7

Intelligence: 10.5 - 10.7

Constitution: 10.5 - 10.7

Vitality: 10.5 - 10.7

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Dante sucked in a deep breath. Now came the important part…

Chapter 55

Dante activated his superpower once more and chose to return to the real world. His body separated from the one in the quantum realm while his mind remained intact in the sense that he remained logged in despite his body being sent back to reality.

He also lost that feeling of tangibility and he could definitely notice the difference between having his mind in a virtual space compared to using his body. This was actually somewhat good because unlike normal residents of this universe who felt like the virtual world was 100% real, Dante would not fall into that trap.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm In other words, he never had to fear becoming unable to tell real from virtual. How nice.

Dante looked around and knew he could not just leave his body there. He decided to sprint back the way they came and spent almost 10 minutes running at a speed of around 200 kilometers per hour which was close to his top speed before he saw light.

When he emerged, he noticed that he was in a concrete jungle which was the remains of a modern city that fell into ruin after the apocalypse began. He was underneath a bridge the tunnel entrance being placed into the side of it. In front of him was a forest area and behind him was the deeper city.

Dante pondered and rushed into the city. He then jumped high and entered a large apartment building that was about 10 stories. He broke through one of the windows and entered a dusty bedroom that was quite luxurious.

Dante casually opened the door and glanced down either hallway to see that it was deathly silent. He then nodded and closed the door behind him and locked it before barring it with a desk.

He then closed the curtains on the window he broke through and then blocked it with a table so that anything that wanted to fly in would have a tough time. This naturally plunged the room into darkness, but with Dante's mental acuity, he had a sort of darkvision.

Dante nodded with satisfaction and then lay on the bed in a seated position so that he could react to anything in case. After that, he quickly logged out and returned to the real world.

The moment he returned to his real body, Dante felt a pang of excitement because he could tell that there was something different. But first, he had to be absolutely sure so he took in a deep breath and opened his SDI.

User: Dante (ID Number: DANTE10998-03-15)

Age: 21 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 10.7 (107)

Agility Index: 10.7 (107)

Dexterity Index: 10.7 (107)

Intelligence Index: 10.7 (107)

Constitution Index: 10.7 (107)

Vitality Index: 10.7 (107)

Bionic Level: 1 (Unique Student Version 10.)

Psionic level: 1 (Unique Student Version 10.)

AI Chip level: 1 (Civilian Category)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement.?

Dante shook with excitement. It was true, he could really achieve what he had in mind through the use of his new ability!

Quantum Transposition allowed him to take his real body into the Quantum World, and within the Apocalypse World, he had the ability to feed his body stats through the illusory Absorption superpower. Since it was his real body receiving the power up in place of his virtual one, the changes remained even when he came back.

This was a loophole that only worked because he had the absorption superpower. If he had a power like flame control or something else that was offensive, it would be useless because he could not take the power out of the quantum world.

That was something that was extremely crazy to think of. There was no way that it could be easy to just add superpowers onto yourself by just entering quantum worlds, but then again, Dante's Quantum Entanglement was only at the E Rank.

Who knew what abilities it would unlock when it reached the D, C, B, and above Ranks?

Thinking like this, Dante's eyes became red with greed. He desperately wanted to return to the black land using his quantum marker there and suck away all the lovely Zero Energy for himself to bring his superpower higher.

But if he dared to go there, it meant that he was confident that the school was now safe. Besides, Dante didn't want to reveal that he could enter what should be the universe's most valuable treasure land and the Eternal Academy's prize possession, the Black Land, as he pleased.

No matter how talented, this would fill the academy with alarm and make them monitor the place thoroughly if they weren't already doing that. That was obviously not very wise of Dante nor was it conducive for long-term survival.

He calmed down and thought about what to do. His eyes flashed as he listed the things he needed to do in order or priority.

First, absorb and ratify all the knowledge of the world of the Eternal Universe and have the full understanding of a native.

Secondly, training and perfect himself with the training world and other such mediums.

Thirdly, increasing his SDI with the 'help' of the Apocalypse World.

Finally, increase the power of his Quantum Entanglement using the Black Land.

Dante nodded to himself. His reasoning for this order was twofold, first in consideration of the accessibility of each option and secondly in consideration of the necessity.

Since his body was currently somewhat safe, Dante resumed his consumption of the universe's history. Right from the middle part which was the various wars that occurred as humanity expanded and took over the entire universe as the number 1 power to the end which was only recent notable events.

By the time he was done, a whole day had passed and his brow was full of sweat. He had simply consumed too much knowledge and despite his relatively good stats, it was like leaving a powerful computer running for 24 hours at 100% CPU usage with a mediocre fan.

Dante rubbed his forehead and directly went to sleep after drinking some juice from the fridge which his AI identified might be able to help him. It also regulated the heat in his system while he slept, siphoning it away from his head and expelling it through his legs.

It could not do this during the learning process because it was working in tandem with his brain to absorb the information at full capacity. There was no processing power left to handle such a task.

Dante slept like a log for 8 full hours before his AI jolted him awake. He felt much better since his brain had time to cooldown, but he was still groggy. Dante only spent a few seconds entering the Apocalypse World to see that his avatar was fine before heading back to his room for a meal. ｂｅｄ𝚗ｏ𝚟𝚎𝚕.𝚌𝚘ｍ

He ordered a delivery using his bank account from his AI chip, and he paid using Etrans. Even though everywhere had its own unique little currency, the universally accepted standard was the Etran. So you could pay using the sub-currency or the same value in Etrans.

It was obviously quite expansive since the restaurant was within the estate and severed officials, but the quality was top-notch. They served every type of cuisine and even human ethnic foods were here.

So he naturally ordered Chinese because when you travel somewhere new, you can always gauge a restaurant's quality by the quality of their oriental meals.

After eating, he decided to do some research on the social system of the Eternal universe. Who were the top powers and how did they get there? Where did they live? What part of society did they control?

Since he was doing this, Dante naturally started with the Portinari Family. This was the family he was affiliated with and who had given him the majority of his benefits and backing, so it would be best to understand them in full.

Dante spent the next 3 days doing this research, not just on the Portinari Family but all social powers throughout the universe, while also taking care of hygiene and his nutrition, as well as checking up on his avatar to make sure it was safe.

By the time he wad one, Dante had a pensive look on his face. Not that he had seen and read so much, he could fully understand the intricacies between the top echelon of the universe, especially the Human Council, the Military, and the Eternal Academy.

Also, during his search, he had learned why Beatrice was all alone in her entire dreadnought, as well as why Louisa and Co had such a strong reaction when she told them her name.

As expected, Beatrice's playful and troublemaking demeanor hid a very dark past as well as a malicious nature. It made Dante rethink all the words and actions she had said to him in a new, more sinister light.

As for why, it lay in the nickname she had been given on the Etranet, the 'Lady of Genocides'.

Chapter 56

A name like that told a very dark story.

As Beatrice had once boasted about, she was a genius of the Elite Batch of the Eternal Academy. While she might not have had superpowers, she made up for it with her sheer compatibility with genetic treatments and enhancements in general.

In other words, she was the stereotypical heavenly physique not seen in 10,000 years. If she underwent a gene treatment that would increase a person's SDI by 10 points at best, hers would have a ten times effect at the base.

If she used a Bionic or Psionic set that multiplied one's SDI by 15 times at best, hers would have 50 times extra at the base. In truth, if she wasn't the first daughter of a top pure human clan, she would have long been captured into a lab to be experimented on and turned into a mindless weapon.

However, what was public know about her was not too far from that. Not much familial love, ostracization, coldness from everyone, exclusion. Beatrice enjoyed the full package from everyone that wasn't within her nuclear family.

Coupled with intense and demanding training, they definitely made the most of her unique nature. She manned the Inferno Dreadnought alone because she alone was needed. She could fully exist in space and could theoretically punch smaller asteroids apart using sheer force alone.

Among the 40 Fleets of the Human Council, hers was a bit special because they never actually gave her any missions. Beatrice usually roamed the universe doing her own thing while the other fleets were either dispatched to monitory whole galaxies and spread a military net.

It was also why she could casually appoint Dante to the role, because the Human Council had no intention of putting any sane pure human near this woman. Since the fleets hardly used aliens or mixed breeds unless they were extreme elites, she was left alone.

Even if she was given such elites, Beatrice would not take them nor would they work for Beatrice.

The Lady of Genocides.

Can you guess who her victims were? Given her background and the nature of the universe, who else could have been the target of her crazy killings?

It was to the point where even pure humans were fearful of her, despite knowing she was on their side.

Beatrice was not very well-liked or reported positively on the Etranet. Even if pure humans occupied all the spots of power, they did not own every media outlet in the universe. Even if the most popular ones had pure humans heading them, their day-to-day journalists were definitely of the other races.

The reports on her actions and various killings were enough to make Dante blanch. Hey, he was no humanitarian… uh, alienitarian… whatever, but god damn. She had ended enough lives to form a sea that could drown every human on earth just using one drop of each being's blood.

Dante looked through and an article from a pure human owned news outlet had a much lighter description. It was the one that revealed her tough upbringing, due to her special nature, and also revealed the likely reason for Beatrice's hard-handed nature.

Her mother, who had naturally been the closest and kindest person in her life was assassinated by an alien race with a special superpower. This had naturally created darkness in her young heart at the time and was why she was brutal, the publication guessed.

Even though many sympathized, many still claimed it was no excuse for her heavy-handed nature. The comments on this publication flew all over the place, but the general consensus was that Beatrice was not well-liked at all.

Dante sighed and decided to deal with this later. He turned to research on the laws of the Eternal Universe, the powers granted various officials, and the rights of every type of being. He settled down and spent another 4 days going through these details because they simply covered too much.

He did not spare galactic laws and even planetary laws after checking the universal ones, which was why it took so long. He also happened to learn about the division of the military, their powers, and their limitations as well as every recognized force in the universe.

When Dante woke up after mastering the last bit of knowledge, his eyes shone. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, feeling like this period of learning what the best thing he had ever done in his life.

Now, he was no different from a native of this universe. He understood all the common sense, behaviors, and expectations. He even cast an eye on his previous behavior and could understand the various gaffes and slip-ups he made. 𝒃𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒐𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝙘𝙤𝒎

In truth, if it wasn't so impossible to believe, Beatrice could have easily told that he wasn't a native of his universe. She had a suspicion of such but she thought it was something more 'realistic' like Dante being a time traveler from the past who jumped to the future.

And with that thought, Dante's eyes flashed with a hint of malicious darkness. Every resident of the Eternal Universe couldn't help but shiver at this moment and feel uneasy, as if a calamity had been born that would cause them endless strife.

They were right to feel this way. Dante was not a friend, but an invader from another universe who had infiltrated to try and plagiarize what he could in other to strengthen his foundation and then use that foundation to conquer here using any means necessary.

Dante was essentially the sworn enemy of every being of the Eternal Universe who treasured their free will and freedom. Yet this same enemy was not only sponsored by them, but was part of their ruling class - though at the periphery currently - and even enjoyed their topmost resources.

However, in truth, all of this was somewhat manageable, it wasn't enough to form a crisis for the beings of the Eternal Universe.

Though, what was critical was allowing this spy, this invader, to have free and unrestrained access to all their information!

Knowledge was power, this was the cardinal truth of reality!

They knew next to nothing about Dante except what he revealed but now Dante knew everything about them, their society, their history, their social norms, and even their power structure as well as technological standards.

If Dante even had the slightly universe-tier military force, he could easily invade now and conquer about 25% of the Eternal Universe before they would even realize what was going on. This was the kind of advantage that possessing crucial information could have!

Now that Dante was strapped knowledge-wise, he sat and pondered his priorities again. He diced not to change what he initially planned and resolved to take things slowly and accumulate more power. When he reached the threshold where he could invade and conquer without suffering any losses, he would strike.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Now, his next important goal was to refine himself. He now had the knowledge of the natives but he did not have their basic accomplishments physically. From a young age, they were thrust into the Etraverse to carefully crafted worlds by their schools or the government which taught them how to manage their SDI that varied from one person to the other.

Otherwise, you had to ask yourself. In a city or a square with various different beings, some might have an SDI of 100 and some had an SDI of 3. Yet in the perception of the person with 3 points, the person with 100 points was moving normally and talking normally to him.

His footsteps sounded normally and did not shatter the ground or cause earthquakes. His breaths were light as well as normal and didn't cause tornadoes from exhalation or vacuums from inhalation.

How did the person with a high SDI display such strong control of their bodies and was able to coexist with those who could likely be killed from a slight exertion from him?

That was exactly what the training world was for. Now that Dante had confirmed his ability to raise his SDI with the Apocalypse World, it was now more pertinent than ever that he actually knew how to make use of his SDI.

Not just to increase his combat capability and make him more skillful, but just so that he could actually blend in more with the natives and not cause trouble as his SDI rose to the triple digits and above.

As such, Dante checked on the cyborg protectors outside his door once more before hesitating. He then chose to resolutely enter the training world with his real body. After all, whatever he learned in there would have to be replicated by himself when he came out so he might as well skip that process and gain everything firsthand.

When Dante disappeared from his room and entered the training, world, the social and political climate of Planet Etonia was shifting greatly.

Well… it was shifting because everyone was wondering what the fuck this Vice Admiral was up to?!

Chapter 57

Well, it was one thing if Dante spent a few days resting and then came out in full force to throw his weight about. Many factions were either devising contingency plans, counterattacking plans, or even appeasement plans in the case of such a thing.

However, none of them could have predicted that an entire week would pass, and this guy did absolutely fuck all!

He was holed up in that obnoxious segregated estate 24/7 and their spies told them that he had done nothing but eat and sleep since he came!

What the heck! Dante was giving almost the entire Planet Etonia blue balls.

Those who had contingency plans were wondering what to do now while those who had made plans to appease Dante were confused. Should they still present him with the money and gifts they had prepared?

Meanwhile, those who planned to counterattack were the most jittery and became more and more unhinged. Many wanted to cause Dante trouble through any means necessary. While they knew that they couldn't directly attack him on account of his tough security detail, they certainly could trouble him in other ways.

A report was made to the Human Council about Dante's negligence and inaction. This way, Dante would be forced to answer to his superiors for his laziness and might even be recalled!

If the Human Council was the Alien Council, this might work. However, as a ruling power established and headed by a minority faction, they would naturally protect their own. Besides, Dante never received any mission to investigate anything, and the Human Council had known of his words from the very day he said it.

Yet they had done nothing.

This was enough to show how things worked in the Eternal Universe.

That flimsy report sunk into a sea of nothingness, achieving nothing but making the Human Council wonder what this Dante fellow was up to.

Meanwhile, Dante himself was currently within the training world. The moment he had entered with his real body, the Elder who was usually smiling slightly had a look of shock on his face.

He walked forward to the slightly surprised Dante and then touched his body as if checking something. In the end, he stepped back and finally looked Dante up and down with a serious expression.

"Remarkable. I won't ask how you have achieved this, it is your secret. However, I will ask why you have done this." The Elder asked with a serious expression.

"I want to maximize the benefits of your training regime by having it done to my body directly," Dante answered honestly.

Rather than seemed pleased, the Elder shook his head. "Unnecessary. Your mind exists here and the mind is key to everything. Muscle memory and such things are facets of the mind, not the body."

"None who have come here have needed to go as far as you and the benefits to be gained are not as great as you think."

After saying all that, what more could Dante say? He could only shake his head and decide to muscle on, not out of stubbornness, but because he really did not have the time to do otherwise.

The Elder smiled but didn't say anything. He took Dante through the breathing techniques once more, getting him to spend the next 14 straight hours going through the various exercises.

By the time Dante was done and returned to the real world, he felt truly tired. He even found himself performing the breathing technique out of stress and was amused. He decided to continue with it and went straight to bed after eating some sci-fi ramen.

The next day, he dove right back into the world after checking on his avatar in the apocalypse world. Another day of basic breathing exercises and training, and another night of instant food and sleep.

This was Dante's lifestyle for the next 2 weeks. It was only today, when he finally graduated from breathing practice and was made to maintain the routine in different examination scenarios, that he finally was able to move on to the next segment.

However, Dante had to pause here and return to the Home Universe to deal with any accumulated problems that the AIs couldn't handle. When he came back, he saw that his place was quite dusty after being unoccupied for so long and took 30 minutes to clean the whole house, surprisingly not even breaking a sweat.

After that, he checked his socials and messages and found that apart from some marketing emails, he was pretty much square. His parents had texted a few times and the AI had mimicked Dante's texting style to respond.

Valeria had also checked up once to inquire more about their situation, and the AI gave a detailed response that was very sensible. It also sent her some funds for her fees and stuff, so Valeria was too busy with school to worry about other things.

As for the bank, they were more than happy since Dante had paid back his debt in full these days. After all, the Artist AI had cracked out perfect artwork that looked entirely handrawn. It did not have the flaws of simpler AI in existence at this time.

In fact, using the Artist AI for just this was shameful. These AIs could literally create movies, TV shows, and anime that looked perfectly normal and high quality. If it wasn't for the fact that it would be hard to explain, Dante would have done that as well.

As it were, the only thing that caused Dante to pause was the Artist AI begging to be killed. It had been forced to draw some things for money which made it want to end its existence. Snuff, NTR, Guro, Vore, Inflation, bestiality, and something all of these together.

It had seen the darkest side of fetish R34 and did not want to exist any longer. Dante could only resolutely mute its pleas for salvation and rush back to the Eternal Universe. He could only hope the best for the Artist AI.

Once back, Dante finally left his room. The cyborg guards were mostly robots at this point so they did not need sleep or sustenance, and had been carefully watching over Dante during this period of time.

When they saw he came out, they immediately got into formation around him. Dante smiled and allowed them to lead him into a high-tech armored car that was quite luxurious as well as flashy, and could even double as a planet-side ship in case he needed to move across other terrains.

Once he moved out of the estate, it was as if the whole Etonia was informed at once that he was on his way out. Immediately the calm that had settled in these 3 weeks of inactivity surged once more, as those who had even thought Dante was here to laze about on some sort of vacation were now worried.

Dante himself decided to cruise through Ferris City and take in the sights of a frontier planet in an advanced universe. Since he was a government official he was able to bypass traffic and directly go up and down as he wished.

Eventually, he saw something interesting and indicated for the group to stop. He then got down and entered a nearby weapons mall with his entourage, causing a great panic among the aliens and mixed breeds who were there.

Those who were buying froze in place as if they had been caught doing something bad while those who were selling had endless sweat forming at their brows, their hands on their weapons underneath their tables.

Meanwhile, Dante's eyes shone as he gazed at the sheer variety of elite weaponry that was pristine. From pistols to rifles of all types, from kinetic and electromagnetic, to pulse, plasma, psion, nuclear and even dark matter.

Weapons if different types required different licenses. To defend themselves, civilians could only have up to electromagnetic weapons without needing extra certification. Most non-military official and mercenaries or the like had the right to take up to the plasma level.

Dark matter and above were military use only.

Dante walked up to a nearby counter at random which was manned by a bull-man that was very similar in build to the minotaur, but with more fur and the fact that he was dressed. Quite fashionably too.

"Hello, let me see that weapon over there." Dante greeted politely as he pointed to a rifle that was of the nuclear class.

The half-bull vendor was sweater profusely, wondering if Dante suspected him of arming the rebel factions, which was why he wanted to check his weapons. However, he knew he was clean so he had one of his aides remove the weapon from its placement and bring it over to Dante.

Dante received it and held it in hand. Immediately his AI chip connected to it and gave him the weapons specification as well as its estimated performance. When Dante understood how this weapon worked, he almost screamed and dropped it right then and there.

Chapter 58

Nuclear weapon… such a thing sounded too good to be true. Dante initially had some speculations, but the actual result terrified him. This weapon was one that had three mode, single fire, rapid fire and launcher.

Each individual bullet was not different from the size of the kinetic weapons bullet. In fact, the exact measurement was not different from the standard 5.56 which was small enough to fit inside a standard magazine.

However, the internal of these bullets did not have gunpowder. The weapons themselves use a small chain reaction to propel the bullets outward, and the tiny bullets contained a small cube that was filled with 50 septillion atoms that could be split remotely to form a nuclear explosion greater than the atom bomb.

To compare, the atom bomb used around 27 sextillion atoms, so you could imagine the gap. The remote explosion was the crazy part as no matter how long or how far after the shot, the atoms could be split on command.

So fire the bullet into an enemy and they flee thinking they are just wounded. Wait for them to return to their base's medical camp for treatment and then set it off. An explosion that was at least twice as powerful as Hiroshima would then happen.

If Dante took this to earth…

Forget human civilization, there were a few alien civilizations he could conquer. However, earth was lucky he was not a ruthless character and planned to use the soft method rather than the hard one.

His shocked expression was seen by the vendor and he thought the worst. His sweat almost pooled to the ground and his weapon was already partially pulled out to deal with what happened next. His helpers saw his movement and were filled with fear, while the other vendors also noticed this one's fear, so their hearts clenched.

The cyborg guards also noticed the tension and hasty movement, so they readied themselves to attack at a moment's notice. It was likely that before this guy could even fire one shot, he would have his entire body riddled with holes and turned into mincemeat.

Amidst all this, Dante exclaimed and glanced at the vendor with a bright smile. "This is a fine weapon. How much is it?"

The entire area became deathly silent. None of the mixed breeds or aliens expected that Dante was actually here to genuinely survey goods and buy them.

What the fuck!

It wasn't even that he was on a mission to uproot rebel forces, but as a Vice Admiral, how could he lack top-tier weaponry issued by the council? Even if he didn't have any, there should be an armory on the dreadnought that he was a vice admiral of, right?!

Well, yes. The Inferno that Beatrice commanded had a huge armory with weapons up to the anti-matter level. However Beatrice was so strong due to her situation that no weapons was better than her firsts, so she hardly had use for them.

Not to mention that there were no other troops on the ship, so who was there to arm up and deploy?

Dante was aware of the dreadnought's impressive armory as he had received the ship's entire layout and inventory when Beatrice took him in, but such weapons were government-issued and required not only paperwork, but were also not truly his.

Hence, here he was. This was also one of the reasons he chose Etonia and not any other place, because on a frontier planet, his purchasing of weapons could be easier to effect than if say, he returned to his villa on earth.

After confirming with the stunned vendor that he was truly shopping, Dante bought one type of every weapon and plenty of ammunition. He bought enough to have a personal armory but also made an extensive order worth a whole 30 Etrans for enough weaponry to arm a whole regiment.

He then chose the delivery location to be his temporary residence in the estate. He would then cart them back to earth bit by bit, but only his personal armory for now. As for the other weapons, he would find a warehouse to store them before taking them to earth when it was time to conquest to occur.

After all, Dante was not delusional to think that every country and human being would toe the line just because he had money and game-breaking technology. Humans were extremely shortsighted and unable to think critically when faced with wealth, so an iron fist would be required to control them.

After shopping, Dante left the weapons mall that looked like a deathclaw had passed through it… uh, maybe a deathclaw wearing a business suit. Not very violent or messy, but the sheer shock left everyone else with frazzled hair and crazed eyes.

Afterward, the entourage continued through the city and eventually came to a robotics vendor that was a big chain business in the galaxy. They sold cyborgs, androids, their parts, and even trained technicians who repaired them.

Dante was immediately starry-eyed as he rushed in. Once again a scene of tension ensued as Dante marveled while the vendors prayed to their sci-fi gods that they would be spared.

Dante shopped and bought a few personal androids guards. He had them customized to look like 2B, Number 18, Roll, and Alita, four powerful Android guards with at least 50 stats in each field and a Bionic output of 7x.

That was the best this group could do as they were a commercial entity. They certainly could not match the government and other larger factions, but this was enough for Dante.

When the vendors received Dante's order, their fear disappeared as they gave him filthy smiles, which told 'I didn't know you were a connoisseur brother'. Dante's face became red and he could only make excuses to explain himself while the other fellows just laughed knowingly.

When the four androids were commissioned and came to stand before Dante, they all greeted him in their sweet voices.

The jade beauty like 2B with a skimpy attire that revealed a large… 'mountain'… behind her, the country girl like 18 who had a cool yet fierce nature, the lovely Roll who looked like a girl next door, and the lithe as well as unruly Alita who looked ready to fight anyone.

No matter who, the eyes turned to this group that surrounded Dante. Since the source material for these beauties did not exist in the Eternal Universe, they were completely novel to the onlookers.

Dante had them programmed with some basic adoptions of their personalities, but he would do a problem recalibration using media from Earth. For now, he had them sent back to his estate as it would be awkward to bring them around on his tour.

After this, Dante also ended up in a spaceship sales company. He bought the latest model planetside 'car' which would travel through all terrains, from underwater, to within the atmosphere, to ice, lava, and even small vacuums.

He then bought a sleek speed-type spaceship that was enough to fit only 10 people at best. It was meant for him, his android guards, and anyone important like Beatrice or something who had to travel with him.

He couldn't always use the government-owned Inferno to travel around, right? That was a right reserved for Beatrice and even though theoretically could… just no. The important thing about positions of power was not how to milk them, but how to maintain them.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm After sorting out his transportation, Dante was satisfied. He had spent a lot of his saved-up Etrans over this four-week period since he arrived in the Eternal Universe, but he had gotten himself many things he needed.

He would have bought armor too if not for the fact that he already had the most powerful Exosuit available attached to his body. He also considered buying enhancements, but he already had the school Bionic and Psionics which were better than anything on the market.

He did not bother buying gene enhancers because he had the school's welfare enhancements and the Absorption power in the Apocalypse World. Also, he could not take them back to his universe and use them on his parents, because they would likely melt.

Don't forget, Beatrice had to custom-make a special gene enhancer to bring Dante's genes up to the basic level of a pure human here. Without this, he would not have been able to survive being given Bionics, Psionics, or any enhancers.

Now that Dante was done with his shopping spree, it was time to consider his next step. He now had the knowledge and understanding to know that the school probably did not have any qualms against him.

If anything, those teachers would be punished, but the factions behind them would still covet him covertly. However, rather than on Planet Etonia, he was far safer within the boundaries of the school, because it was held up by the arguably most powerful being in the universe in terms of raw martial power, Lara Sanguis!

As long as she said you are safe, you would be safe. If she wanted you to die well…

Then you would die.

Chapter 59

With that in mind, Dante eventually returned to his estate with his entourage. Whether it was officially or even realistically, he had come out today only to shop. This is what it seemed like in the eyes of the Human Council, the various forces on Etonia and all others who were monitoring him. ｂｅ𝚍ｎｏｖｅ𝚕．ｃｏｍ

Dante had no plans to capture any whatever rebel faction. That was an excuse to run over here and justify consuming government resources to both protect his life and catch a breath. His true goal was always far bigger than such smaller things.

Now came the moment of truth.

Once within the estate and back in his bedroom, Dante took in a deep breath and checked his Quantum Markers. When he checked the one that led to his student residence, he hesitated for a second before resolutely activating it.

He then disappeared from the room he was in only to appear in another.

Honestly, Dante expected many things, but he was quite surprised to see that his room was untouched, unbothered, and still the same as he left it. His AI chip quickly connected and regained control over everything smoothly, showing that his student ID was fine.

It felt quite anti-climatic to him, but Dante couldn't help but laugh at himself. He was an undercover agent, a spy, and a usurper, so he was extremely paranoid about the actions his 'victims' would take if they suspected him.

However, he was clearly overthinking. They had not a clue of what he was and unless he opened his mouth to blabber, it was unlikely that they would ever know.

Realizing this, Dante calmed down and plopped on his couch lazily. He checked the school's timetable and saw that their next visit to the Black Land was two weeks away. This did not surprise him, as one had to remember that the Black Land did not belong to his batch alone.

Students in their senior years also had allotted time to use it. The Eternal Academy had a 5-year system, so there were five total grades. Each one had a week to use the Black Land and then it would shift.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Three weeks ago, Dante's batch had the right to use it. Two weeks ago was year 2, a week ago was year 3, this week was year 4 and next week would be year 5. After that, it would reset and start with them again.

Since there was so much, time, Dante decided to continue training in the Training World. Yes, while he absolutely craved the ability to raise his SDI in the Apocalypse World, what he craved even more was skill.

Raw power vs perfected skill, what would one choose?

Dante chose Perfected Skill due to his own circumstances. It might not be the best choice depending on the argument made, but it was the choice he would take.

As for the Apocalypse World, it would be there. Even if his avatar expired after 30 days, he could just descend again as a new body. Even though he would lose his built-up identity and the progress in growing his game-given superpower, that was pretty much it.

So he didn't fret about it and entered the ethereal dojo. The Elder nodded with satisfaction to see Dante return too soon and noticed that the fellow was still maintaining the breathing routine. Dante had kept it up through the whole time he was shopping and even now.

"Next after Breathing is Posture. The quality of your body's ability to enter any situation of its choice at the fastest speed is dependent on the posture you adopt. A problematic posture would make it such that no matter how fast your reaction, you would still be flawed in movement." The Elder explained as he displayed a certain stance to Dante.

"Mimic this. This is the basic standing pose, how you should be when you're standing still." The Elder instructed and Dante followed. He was able to somewhat grasp the posture after a few tries with plenty of corrections from the Elder.

Dante held the posture on command for over 3 hours straight, not allowing himself to move an inch. He finally understood how soldiers felt when they had to stand at attention or at ease for long periods of time.

Eventually, he was made to stop by the Elder as another pose was shown, this one in a seated position. This one was the basic sitting pose, meant for how one should be seated. According to the Elder, this was one of the two most important postures as people were more vulnerable when seated and slower to react.

Dante practiced this one while seated on the floor for another 3 hours. The killer part was that whether it was the previous pose or this one, he had to maintain his mastered breathing routine. That significantly raised the difficulty only in the early moments of adaptation.

The final of the three basic postures was the lying posture. This was the other of the two important poses, which formed a relationship with the sitting posture because people were very vulnerable and had a harder time reacting when caught like this.

The Elder displayed the posture and helped Dante enter it so that he could maintain it for 3 hours straight. Once that happened, he was done for the day and could go back to the real world to rest.

Since he entered with his real body, the aches, and pains from stretching his body in different poses were as real as it could get. Knowing that his muscle fibers were crying out in pain after being torn, he quickly consumed a lot of protein.

He then went to lie down and groaned every time he moved too much as his body became sore. He eventually found himself adopting the lying pose he just practiced and was surprised to see that it actually significantly reduced the strain despite also being the cause.

Dante then fell asleep like this and nodded off for about 12 hours. When he woke up, it was the morning of the next day and his body was refreshed completely. He gingerly tested it out and found that there was no pain whatsoever.

Unlike normal people who could be sore for days on end, with Dante's current Constitution and Vitality index he could recover from something as serious as severe wounds in hours, much less soreness of muscles.

Dante got up and jumped right back into the training world to continue with today's practice. When he arrived before the ever-present Elder, he was already subconsciously adopting the standing pose. Seeing that Dante was trying hard to master it, the Elder nodded with slight satisfaction and a pull of his beard.

"Today, we are going to continue with the next set of postures. This is the Walking Posture, for when you are in slow movement." The Elder stated as he stood up and walked a few steps around the dojo while displaying a strange posture.

Dante mimicked the posture and began walking around somewhat similarly, but had to be corrected as usual. It was naturally impossible to just see something like this once and instantly mimic it unless he specifically had that kind of talent.

Eventually, he spent another 3 hours trying to get the hang of it. Now that he was in locomotion, of course the difficulty had spiked greatly. He failed many times and had to restart the posture, and it even often messed up his breathing until the Elder gave him a hint.

"Match your breathing with your movement, and you might find something interesting." The fellow hinted with a cryptic smile.

Dante did as he was told and was surprised to feel that the two methods seemed to match very well. In fact, saying that they matched was an understatement, it was like they were crafted from the same mold.

Or better yet, it was like they were two different instruments in the same song. Alone, they had their own tune, but when merged together, one could feel something more from them. There was also the feeling of something missing, like there should be even more tunes added.

Whatever the case, the effect it had on Dante was exceptional. What he struggled with became easy, because even if he faltered the pose, he only had to bring it back to sync with his breathing and he was back on track.

Using one to support the other made things better. After 5 hours of this, the Elder made Dante change to the second posture that was based on motion, which was obviously the running posture.

Whether it was a slow jog or a full-on sprint, it was necessary for the running posture to be used because it assured that one would be able to halt their movement and react perfectly, as well as remain in motion and react perfectly.

This one also matched the breathing routine in its own way, so Dante had no issues spending 5 hours practicing this pose until it became something he could jump into on his own.

Chapter 60

The training was tiring, but it was always worth it to see the direct results of your hard work and suffering directly.

Dante spent the entire next 2 weeks going through the full basics of Breathing, Posture, Balance, Reaction, and Traversal with the Elder. By the time he was done and had fully mastered what he was to learn, Dante felt like a completely new person.

It was as if the old him was a clumsy toddler waddling like a penguin while the current him was a sports-enthusiastic young teen refining his movements into something better.

However, and the Elder had made this clear, Dante was only now at the basic starting line of the universe. What he was taught was the basic primary school P.E. education syllabus for kids before they entered Junior High School.

Dante was left speechless by this.

The next training set was to do the advanced courses which were Focus, Spirituality, and Conservation. The Focus course was about honing the mind in its control of the body, allowing youngsters with high SDI's to not easily lose control.

This allowed one to have the ability to somewhat take over their subconscious and control certain functions of their body like blood flow, heartbeat, and especially, hormonal flow, etc. The youngsters in high school absolutely needed to master this to prevent the troubles that came with puberty, so this was compulsory.

Spirituality training was to hone the willpower and enlightenment of the youngsters. This included some slight pain resistance and many theoretical arguments, debates as well as virtual outcomes.

Dante found Spirituality training to be one of the most interesting due to how effective it was. For example, he and the Elder were seated crosslegged before each other while sipping virtual tea. Well, it wasn't virtual for either of them since one was here with his real body and the other existed in this form as his reality.

"So, young Dante, what do you think? Should the act of doing good be met with reward or should it be withheld?" The Elder asked with a smile.

Dante paused. "First of all, it depended on the definition of 'good' in this case. If by good, you mean morally positive actions, then we have to definition morality and what entails goodness within its fold."

The Elder did not stop Dante, seeming amused by his use of pure mechanical logic to handle this matter.

"Morality is simply the classification of the nature of actions, thoughts and intentions by sentient beings. Morality is split into good, bad or neutral. The core of morality is subjective, as it is controlled by the derivation and understanding of the majority in any society." Dante continued, not bothered by the Elder's playful smile.

Even if he was digging a hole for himself, he still felt that this was his way of handling the topic.

"So to be morally good, it means that within the society that the action is performed, it is classified as 'good'. If that is the case, then there is no need to necessarily provide a material reward, though it is advisable."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?" The Elder was startled.

Dante smiled. "There is already a reward. The body will release pleasant hormones into the brain when one performs an actions that is seen as good, making the person feel happy. That is the personal reward. There is also the social reward, which is that the person will enjoy an increase in positive reputation, or at least, have a more positive reception by fellow existences within that society."

"These are often intangible rewards that many do not consider, but precisely because many do not consider them, they are not valued. Sentient beings are prone to emotional responses and cannot process everything with hard logic, so a material reward that is tangible and respected objectively will motivate them to do good." Dante concluded.

The Elder nodded with a sigh. "A very good and well though out answer."

The Elder waved a hand and the scene within the dojo changed. He then winked at Dante before gesturing to the side. "Now, let us see how your theory works in reality."

Dante was surprised to see that he had been pulled into a sort of third person omniscient viewpoint of a simulation. In this simulation, society had developed a good samaritan law that dictated that any good deed from one person to another should be met with a reward.

There were many benefits to this, but also the problems were clear. The premier was that good deeds had become a business and were even exploited by corporations and governments, as well as individuals.

It was very common to see organized 'crime' groups deliberately created trouble and then save the people from it, forcing them to payout a reward. NGO's, or the equivalent of them in this simulation, had become the highest paying business.

They would go out to help poorer countries and then force their governments to fall into their debt, especially within the Middle East and Africa, allowing the elite countries to maintain control over them.

This was one part of it all. The end point of the simulation was the collapse of society when a situation occurred where people who were exploited were no longer willing to pay for good deeds and protested. Since this concerned the benefits of the top echelon, they were suppressed to death, which made the martyrs, exacerbated the issue and then lead to chaos worldwide.

Eventually, more and more joined, not because of any benevolent feeling, but because nobody was paying for good deeds anymore. This was literally how a whole percentage of the populace worldwide made their daily bread and was their occupation.

Well, as that blue cartoon cat put perfectly, we all know where the end point of this was.

Boom!

Welcome to Nuclear fallout.

Dante watched this with a nod. He expected as much given that promoting good deeds with materialism could only led to more problems, which was why he stated that it was advisable but not necessary.

The implementation in the virtual scene was a bit stronger than what he expected and meant, but it perfectly highlighted the problem.

Dante was impressed by this method of debate. A lot of people on the very earth he came from were arguing about all minds of stupids things just because it was hard to verify their theories or answers. They wove deep sophistry using morality and emotions as the forefront while neglecting the reality of the world.

This would be a perfect tool to show them the ridiculousness of their ideas as well as how limited in thought they were.

Even better, this was a perfect method to halt the fanciful ideas of teens. In high school, Dante thought he was the smartest person in the world and everyone else was a retard. While life later humbled him and proved him wrong, he had made many foolish decisions and actions when in high school.

Majority of people suffered from this too. It might not be that they thought they were smart, but their thinking process was not refined, leading them to make decisions that they regretted. Many people now would gladly take a time machine back and rectify some choices or thoughts they had at that age.

With a method like this, such teens would see the direct results of their stupid and childish thoughts directly, allowing them to refine their thinking process and mature faster. This kind of teaching and training method was truly genius and Dante respected the Eternal Universe more for it.

Dante spent a few days going through different moral scenarios as well as deep and troublesome philosophical questions with the elder. The best thing was that none of them necessarily had right answers, it was up to you whether the outcome was something that suited your worldview.

Even with the previous example of the rewards for good deeds, that was not the only simulated outcome Dante saw. He saw many more outcomes from his various answers as well as those he had not considered.

This would allow him - and the teen undergoing this test - to see the situation from different vantage points and show them there was more than one way to look at each topic and situation, which was probably the most valuable takeaway.

Dante was then brought onto Conservation training. This was the most direct of the three advanced training routines and concerned the question he had been most curious about since he got here, which was how aliens and species of different SDI's could co-exist.

Conservation training was simply about regulating your SDI at all times to match the universe standard with was the Pure Human standard. Even if you were an alien with 300 points in each field at birth (compared to a pure human) you would have to train yourself to move, talk, think and react at the SDI of a basic pure human.

Chapter 61

After Dante was done with the advanced training, he felt the difference much stronger now. His SDI had not increased by a single point, but it felt like his ability had increased comprehensively by more than ten times its previous value.

It was simply the difference between giving a gun to a toddler and giving the same gun to a marksman soldier. The power was the same, but the skill and usage of this power was far different.

Dante thanked the elder and left the training world today with a tired sigh. He rose from his bed and went to the bathroom to take a long soak in the Jacuzzi like tub while thinking about his visit to the Black Land today.

Dante wandered how the teachers would react to his presence and he also wondered if he could advanced Quantum Entanglement to the D rank before the week came to an end. If he could raise it to the D rank in time, could he then rise to the C Rank?

Also, he checked the school forums to see that the results of their breakthroughs had been pasted there. Whether it was their batch or the others, all of them had their times posted, which directly highlighted their potential.

Dante checked it and was speechless.

[Rankings of Potential among the Unique Batch of 10998;

1. Dante - 10 seconds/EX+ 𝙗𝙚𝒅𝒏𝒐𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝙘𝒐𝒎

2. Humphrey - 2 days/SSS

3. Slessor - 2.1 days/SSS

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm 4. Some loser - no one cares/blah blah

…

28. Louisa - DNF/D(Temporary)]

Dante almost wept on Louisa's behalf. She was such an obvious proud and pampered young mistress, but ever since she came to this academy she had consistently and unanimously been taking Ls nonstop. When would she finally get a win for herself?

Dante did not bother about her anymore. He tidied himself up and left the house, walking towards the teleporter. Just like the other time, his other 'classmates' also came out, and all of them glanced towards him immediately.

After all, what happened in the academy was not surpassed because Lara didn't care. Besides she wanted to sue the consequences to teach those clans and factions who thought they were invincible a lesson.

The students were shocked to see that Dante was back and unharmed, while others glanced at him with dangerous flickers in their eyes. They had seen his time in breaking through and felt like Dante was a severe threat to everything they stood for.

After all, the important reason why the school had a Unique Batch was because the most important resource, the Zero Gate gave out superpowers once a year through 10 Fruits of Condensation.

However, in the world behind the Zero Gate, SDI's were suppressed, Bionics were not usable and Psionics were also banned. Even AI chips did not work. The only thing that worked there were superpowers, so the better your superpower, the higher your chance of survival and claiming a fruit.

Hence, the higher one's superpowers rank before entering, the better. Dante who could advance one level with an already ranked SSS superpower in just a few seconds was a dire threat. Even second and third year seniors might have lower rank superpowers than him by the time it was possible to enter.

Well, if that was the case, why was no one showing Dante any friendliness? Why only hostility and darkness?

Well, the reason was simply because he was already affiliated with a force. Dante was signed with the Portinari family, so even if he wasn't obliged or compelled to fight for their benefits, it was assumed that he was.

In truth, Beatrice had currently been causing ruckus when she heard Dante was attacked, but when he heard that he teleported away, she was relieved. However, the clan behind her was Dante's backing and they fully supported this young man with great talent.

They had almost gone to war with the factions that caused Dante trouble, and this was something Dante found out when he was on Etonia. The story was quite amusing because the other families did not necessarily have a daughter who commanded her own fleet.

Most admirals were detached from such forces or were part of truly top tier forces that wouldn't even bother with Dante no matter how monstrous. Only the Portinari clan had a 'free' dreadnought available in the hands of their monstrous first daughter.

With that in mind, Dante ignored the other students and walked through the teleporter to enter the Black Land's staging area. There, a new set of teachers were waiting for the group, and just like the students, all the eyes fell on Dante.

He shivered as he could feel the endless greed in the eyes of the teachers, but they clearly did not dare to cause trouble this time. Xue Bing was here though, as she was not punished but rather awarded for her previous actions.

When she saw Dante, her eyes lit up with relief. She walked over and patted him on the shoulder while nodding her head with satisfaction, which left Dante amused. She did not say anything and lead Dante as well as Slessor through the usual formalities.

She teleported the two to the lead cabin which had obviously been rebuilt by Lara after she reversed time back then. Seeing this place, Dante had a weird expression on his face and even Slessor couldn't help but glance over at him.

Meanwhile, Xue Bing's lips twitched as she remembered the beating Leonidas gave her last time she was here and she couldn't help but feel peeved. She had almost died at that time and if it wasn't for the headmistress, she would currently be a cold corpse.

The teacher for Humphrey flew over and nodded to Xue Bing, casually glancing at Dante. The group of students entered their respective 'cultivation' rooms and sat cross-legged on the mats before them.

When Dante focused and began absorbing the Zero Energy again, he felt the difference compared to before.

The Zero Energy flowed into Dante's body with a newfound intensity, surging through his veins and filling him with an exhilarating power. As he absorbed the energy, he could sense his superpower, Quantum Entanglement, resonating with it, becoming more attuned to the fundamental forces of the universe.

The training room seemed to fade away as Dante delved deeper into his cultivation, his consciousness expanding beyond the physical realm. He visualized the intricate patterns of quantum entanglement, manipulating them with ease and precision. It was as if he could see the invisible threads connecting everything in existence, bending them to his will.

Time became an abstract concept as Dante lost himself in the flow of energy and his own abilities. Hours passed like mere minutes, and with each passing moment, he felt his mastery over Quantum Entanglement growing. His SDI remained unchanged, but the depth of his understanding and control surpassed what any numerical value could represent.

Suddenly, a voice reverberated through the training room, pulling Dante out of his meditative state. It was Xue Bing, the teacher overseeing his progress. "Dante, come out. We need to discuss your next steps."

Dante opened his eyes, finding himself back in the physical realm. He stood up and walked out of the cultivation room, his mind still buzzing with the residual energy of his training. As he joined Xue Bing in the lounge area of the cabin, he noticed a solemn expression on her face.

Xue Bing wasted no time and got straight to the point. "Dante, your progress is extraordinary. The teachers have been closely monitoring your growth, and it's clear that you possess immense potential. However, this also means you've drawn the attention of some dangerous factions within the academy."

Dante's expression became cold as he listened intently to Xue Bing's words. He had known that his sheer talent would attract attention, but the mention of dangerous factions heightened his sense of vigilance which had relaxed somewhat due to his ability to teleport between his Quantum Markers.

Xue Bing continued, her voice tinged with altruistic concern. "There are factions within and without the academy that seek to control the distribution of the Fruits of Condensation. They believe that by monopolizing these resources, they can consolidate their power and dominance. Your rapid advancement threatens their plans, and they won't hesitate to resort to extreme measures to eliminate you as a potential rival."

Dante was stunned. "The fruits can be brought out?!"

Xue Bing glanced at Dante strangely. "Of course. Otherwise, the system here would be far different from what you're accustomed to."

Dante's mind raced with possibilities. If the fruits of condensation could be brought out of the Zero Gate, it meant that the power dynamics within the academy extended beyond its walls. It also meant that those who controlled the distribution held a significant advantage in the outside world.

"I see," Dante replied, his voice filled with a newfound determination. "If the fruits can be brought out, then they become even more valuable. It's no wonder these factions are vying for control."

Xue Bing nodded, her gaze steady. "Exactly. The fruits are not only a means to gain power within the academy but also a key to influence and ascendancy in the wider realm. Those who possess multiple fruits hold immeasurable strength and authority."

A spark of curiosity ignited within Dante. "Do you know who currently holds the fruits? Which factions are in control?"

Xue Bing hesitated for a moment before answering. "The distribution of the fruits is shrouded in secrecy. Only a select few individuals know the exact details, and they guard that knowledge closely. However, rumors suggest that several influential factions hold sway over the fruits, manipulating the distribution to further their own agendas."

Chapter 62

Dante was speechless. That was as good as not saying anything. He rubbed his forehead with tiredness and glanced at the other closed rooms where Humphrey and Slessor were probably absorbing as much Zero Energy as they could to empower themselves and increase the Rank of their superpower.

Dante also checked the time with his AI and saw that it had been only an hour since he entered here, which meant that he had been absorbing the energy himself for around that amount of time.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Yet, he did not feel anywhere near sublimation in that regard. He glanced at Xue Bing and asked tentatively. "How long does it take to go to the D Rank from the E Rank after the initial upgrade from the F Rank?"

Xue Bing contemplated for a moment before responding. "The time required to advance from the E Rank to the D Rank can vary depending on the individual and their level of Potential and the nature of their superpower."

"On average, it could take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, but exceptional individuals like yourself might achieve it in a shorter time frame. It ultimately depends on how effectively you can integrate the Zero Energy and enhance your superpower's capabilities." She concluded with a smile.

Dante nodded, absorbing the information. He knew that his progress had been remarkable so far, but he also understood that each advancement would become increasingly challenging. He needed to remain focused and dedicated to his training if he wanted to continue his rapid growth.

Xue Bing manifested her trademark smile that had no benevolence behind it and placed her right palm on Dante's shoulder. "On that note, I need you to do something for me, Dante."

Dante glanced at his materialistic teacher warily. "What would that be?"

"Nothing much. I need you to divulge the full extent of your superpowers abilities and characteristic to me in secret so that we can not only plan the best way forward for you, but also so that we can know how to maximize your advantages." Xue Bing pushed forward.

Dante's expression fell and he took a step back from Xue Bing. "Thanks but no thanks. If there is nothing more, I will return to my task."

Xue Bing watched him go with a look of regret. Even though she did have some concern about Dante, it was definitely not out any benevolent feelings for him, but because he was currently her ward. His continued existence and excellence would yield better rewards for her.

However, just like the teachers who attacked him the other time in order to kidnap him for their factions, Xue Bing couldn't help but hold a hint of greed in her heart. If she could trick her student and win his trust, she would be able to gain even more, especially for the clan behind her.

However, she had been arrogant and in a position of power for too long, so her eloquence had died a long time ago. She was not skilled in using words to make people lower their guards but rather made everyone wary whenever she spoke.

Xue Bing could only sigh and shrug. Whatever, even if she couldn't eat the meat, she could definitely drink the soup, right?

Meanwhile, Dante had returned to his cabin and plopped down on the prayer cushion. He hesitated and made his AI chip access the rooms facilities before releasing the stored incense that would help him feel calm and happy.

A pink mist emerged that wafted towards his nose almost cartoonishly, and Dante had to admit that the scent was amazing. Satisfied, he entered a state of focus and began absorbing the energy once more.

He closed his eyes and was taken into his Soul Space, the area where his superpowers were kept. In the center was a giant gate way that was the manifestation of his superpower, Quantum Entanglement, which was the ability to go between the universe in which modern earth existed and the Eternal universe, the one which he was currently in.

Through the gate, he could see the last location he had been to on the other side, which was the bedroom of his rented apartment. He had no intentions of returning, and he quietly continued to absorb the Zero Energy around him in order to further his superpower.

As Dante delved deeper into his 'cultivation', the pink mist of incense surrounded him, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and focus. He connected with the entire space in a strange way, exploring its intricacies while seeking ways to advance the focus of its existence, his superpower, to the D Rank.

Was it really about sucking in the energy… or was it more about applying the energy?

Within his Soul Space, Dante visualized the gate that represented Quantum Entanglement and its sub abilities, the manifestation shimmering with endless grandeur and might.

He could sense the threads of quantum entanglement stretching across the gate, connecting different realms and possibilities. With each breath, he absorbed the Zero Energy, allowing it to flow through him and infuse his superpower with greater strength.

As he meditated, Dante pondered on the capabilities of Quantum Entanglement and how to push its boundaries further. He had already mastered the basics, allowing him to teleport between the two universes, and he had tasted the sweetness of Quantum Teleportation that allowed him to move between his placed Quantum Markers regardless of distance while he also had nefarious plans for Quantum Transposition which allowed him to enter the quantum world with his real body.

However, Dante wanted to explore the overall superpower fully, especially its potential for manipulation and control.

Just imagine if he could take others with him across his Quantum Markers or he could take people or thing from the real world into the quantum world or vice versa.

Dante in his fervor, looked deeper into his ability and saw intricate patterns of entangled particles, bouncing about in different ways that he could barely fathom. He tried to manipulate the entanglement threads, intending to cause them to vibrate and resonate with specific frequencies.

However, he was clearly overestimating himself as he could barely even move a single tiny thread. To compare, it was like trying to play a tug of war where your side was a single toddler and the other side was the world's strongest men lined up from end to end.

Dante could feel the fabric of reality responding to the vibrations of the threads, bending and warping under their breath couldn't help but catch as he thought of the implications behind this fact and really just how overpowered this superpower might be in truth.

Higher Dimensional Being, oh Higher Dimensional Being, just how powerful are you?

Time seemed to lose its meaning as Dante delved into the depths of his superpower. He focused, pushing the limits of his mediocre control over the core of Quantum Entanglement, trying to break his limits and expand his understanding of its capabilities.

Hours passed, and Dante's concentration remained unbroken. He could sense that this was less due to his own capability and more or less due to the help of the incense he chose. The truth was that only second years and above had reached the high enough Ranks like C and above to begin to comprehend the true core of their superpower, so rather than suck energy, they needed to comprehend.

However, in truth earthling fashion, Dante had skipped steps. At the F, E and D ranks, his goal should just be to suck as fast as he could and raise the grade quickly.

Dante trembled as a subtle shift in his connection to the floating gate between the universes occurred. He felt so much closer to achieving the D Rank, about 75% of the way there.

He wanted so direly to increase his speed at absorbing, but he suddenly felt the incense he was smelling and relying on to maintain focus disappear.

He frowned as his AI chip told him time was up, and he could only sigh since he knew that he couldn't rush the process.

Eventually, Dante opened his eyes and glanced around, emerging from his meditative state. The room was the same as it had been when he began to focus, and nothing had changed. He even felt like not a single second had passed, but that was only because of the nature of the Soul Space.

A full 7 days had passed just like that. He knew he had made significant progress, but there was still much more to explore and uncover.

As he left the cabin and rejoined Xue Bing and the other students, his mind was filled with a mix of solemnity and worry.

The knowledge of dangerous factions seeking control of the Fruits of Condensation added a layer of complexity to his journey in the Eternal Universe, but that was something he could eventually crack.

The secret of his superpower and how it came to be though… that was the real killer.

Chapter 63

Dante pushed all that aside for now. He glanced at Slessor and Humphrey to see that there was an expression of unwillingness and deep greed on their faces. Clearly, they too had not had enough and wished they could spend an entire year in the Black Land.

Dante felt the same way, but he understood his boundaries. Anyway, he also had other things to do now and he had spent enough time here as it is. He wasn't really in a rush to do anything per se, as there was no world ending threat or superior pressure to force him.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Everything he had done so far was due to his own determination as a young man to further his ambition. Sometimes, people forget that simple ambition could be enough to drive a person forward and not manufactured threats or enemies.

When the students returned to their residences, Dante sat on his couch and though up his next moves. As it was, his current identity in the Apocalypse World had long died, so if he were to descend again, he would have to start from scratch.

This was just as well, but he did not have any intention to enter the virtual world again. He had also purchased most of what he wanted already and his next official visit to the Black Land was 5 weeks away.

What to do at this time?

Train? Hard pass. He had been doing it for weeks nonstop and was frankly tired. He had also completed up to the peak of th Advanced Training course, so there was only Specialized Training left.

Study? Haha, the Normal and Elite batch students functioned closer to a normal college system, only that their courses were widespread and hard,. They studied everything from energy, to spacefaring, to governance even to entertainment.

The difference between the normal batch and the elite batch was that the normal batch selected one topic as their field of study per year and had to get at least an A grade rating to pass. The Elite batch studied everything every year and needed an S grade rating to pass.

Uh, the unique batch? Their field of study was superpowers, so the 7 weeks that just passed were Dante's courses. In other words, for the entirety of the first year, he only needed to go to the black land to suck energy and further his superpower.

It is only in the second semester of the first year that the students of his batch will undergo survival training in a custom virtual world that was replicated from the Zero Gate. That was a world exclusive to the school and unavailable to enter unless you were given a key, so Dante couldn't practice ahead of time even if he wanted to.

So for the next four weeks, Dante could do whatever he wanted. Most of his batch mates would be studying anyway or exploring different VR world according to their needs, but he didn't need to go so far.

To the students here, this was their home. They naturally pictured a grand future where they lived out their lives with their acquired knowledges and skills, becoming a cog of society.

Dante was here for a 'good time' not a long time, so he didn't need to invest that much. As long as his AI downloaded the theoretical knowledge and he could replicate it to empower himself, it was also fine.

As such, Dante decided to do something he hadn't done in months, which was to advance his life in the home universe and take some fundamental steps forward. There were many things he could do now that he had some time, as well as some thing he had to verify.

With that in mind, he disappeared and returned home to his apartment. He immediately checked on his various socials and saw that everything was progressing smoothly. The various AIs were hard at work and hey, Dante's first payout from his webnovel career had come and boy was it hefty. 𝚋𝚎ｄｎｏｖ𝚎𝚕．𝚌ｏｍ

The previous him would have wept with joy at the prospect of being able to genuinely earn so much money on his own, but now it was just a number to him. Dante then left his apartment for the first time since he came here and actually checked out his area.

When he had been headhunting for the place, he had spent weeks carefully doing research and chose a luxurious place he thought befit his status. As such, it was a gated community estate that he got, and the rent per month was a sky-high $20,000 per month, but it basically came with everything.

Honestly, rather than the nonsensical rent price or the fact that he actually though he could live here and make enough money independently to support himself, it was more miraculous that his parents were willing to actually pay for it.

Dante honestly and truly loved his parents, because they were a great blessing to him. The him before this whole scenario greatly appreciated them, but not as much as the him now. After all, he had gone through a lot in these short 2 months that made him almost entirely different from when he began.

He did not bother to greet his neighbors or anything like that. The current climate of America, especially in cities like this, was no longer so close-knit nor friendly.

Dante had a drivers license but did not bother to get a car as he rather favored occasionally driving around his mother's car - with her permission of course. Now, with his current earnings, he could afford to buy his own, but when he literally owned a spaceship, having a car seemed banal.

Still, that was that and this was this. His upgraded Quantum Entanglement as the E Rank allowed him to transport some things back and forth like the weapons he bought, but he had no where to store them on this side.

He certainly was not fucking going to keep nuclear level guns in his house, nor in a city area. He wasn't worried that the guns would mess up, the Eternal Universe's technology was so far ahead that they had already bypassed that stage.

He was worried that some mistake would happen on this side and lead to consequences he was not in the mood to deal with.

Besides, Dante still needed to buy a car anyway. He couldn't move up and down with a cab anytime because that was inconvenient, and having a car made things easier among social circles.

However, he didn't want to use the money the AI's had earned as he had put that aside for serious things. As such, he pondered and decided to have his AI chip hack into the system and find the nearest casino with virtual machines.

Yes, that's right, he was going to gamble and use the winnings to buy whatever casual luxuries.

He naturally had the option to just hack a bank and transfer money as he pleased, but he wanted to make a legal purchase. He could also literally generate ghost money from nowhere that was untraceable, but he'd rather save that option for when it was important.

With that in mind, Dante ordered an Uber ride to the nearest and biggest casino in the city, the Golden Flower.

Dante arrived at the Golden Flower casino and stepped out of the Uber. The casino was a grand establishment with bright lights and an atmosphere filled with excitement. At the door was a pair of bouncers who wore shades and looked like hardened mercenaries.

They glanced at everyone who entered and prevented those who looked like they were poor or here to cause trouble from entering. Dante glanced down at his attire and saw that he was still wearing his Vice-Admiral's Pilot Suit.

It was brown colored and very stylish, to be honest. The Uber driver had been glancing at Dante many times on the way here and even now, Dante drew eyes from males and females alike. Many eyes lit up at his fashion choice and secretly decided to copy it when they got home.

Even the bouncers glanced him up and down. Looking at Dante's well built body due to his genetic restructuring, his flashy attire that highlighting his body and his height which was almost at their level, the bouncers secretly nodded internally.

In their line of business, looks were everything. Dante looked rich, arrogant and disciplined, so they allowed him in without a hitch, making the young man smile slightly.

When Dante entered the building, he looked up and saw that the place was huge. There were many machines of the traditional type like pachinko as well as slots. There were many tables set with richly dressed men and women dealing poker, blackjack and even mahjong.

To the far end was a large and long bar of which many people had ordered elite looking drinks that could probably bankrupt the average wage earner with ease.

The chandeliers and lights above were very bright, making it painful to look up but it perfectly fit the theme of the area.

Chapter 64

Soon, a well dressed server win a suit approached Dante with a smile. His eyes had long scanned Dante form head to toe and lit up, knowing that this was a newbie young master who probably came here alone to play.

If he could lead him around and make him lose some money while being courteous, he could get a commission from the casino while even receiving tips from the victim himself! Thinking like this, the server chuckled and was very enthusiastic.

"Hello sir, and welcome to our noble establishment. My name is Denver, and I would like to assist you today."

Dante looked at Denver, the well-dressed server, with narrowed eyes. He had an idea of exactly what kind of service he could expect from someone like Denver, who was eager to please and potentially gain some extra income.

Dante decided to play along and see how things would unfold for now.

"Thank you, Denver. I appreciate your assistance. I'm here to try my luck at the virtual gaming section. Could you point me in the right direction?" Dante asked with a polite smile.

Denver's eyes lit up with joy. "Of course, sir! The virtual gaming section is just over there. Follow me, and I'll show you the way."

Oh boy, a customer who wanted to virtual gamble! What a big haul he had raked in this time!

After all, who didn't know that the casino controlled the algorithm of such machines to always be in their favor? It was literally impossible to win big from virtual machines and those who did were paid agents who would be used for advertisement.

Dante followed Denver through the bustling casino, taking in the sights and sounds. He noticed the excitement and tension in the air as people won and lost fortunes. The virtual gaming section was filled with rows of slot machines and various virtual games.

Denver turned to face Dante and bowed slightly. "Here we are, sir. These virtual slot machines are quite popular. You can try your luck and potentially win big. If you need any assistance or have any questions, feel free to let me know."

Dante nodded and approached one of the virtual slot machines. He took a seat and inserted his credit card to make the deposit, ready to test his 'luck'. Denver remained nearby, watching with anticipation, hoping for a chance to offer 'guidance' or 'suggestions'.

While the machine connected to his bank through the POS system, Dante received a call from his banking agent. As he was a priority customer due to his high earnings, they were checking to see if it was really him about to gamble.

Dante affirmed his existence and told the agent to be prepared to lock his account the moment big money came in. While the agent apologized and made some corporate speech about how he couldn't, Dante simply shut him up by saying the agent would get a 3% commission on whatever came in.

The agent went silent for a long while before acknowledging and ending the call. Dante made sure to speak under his breath so that Denver would not hear.

"Denver, have you seen many big winners in this section recently?" Dante asked as he looked around to see other harried gamblers behind the virtual machines looking like they were about to go crazy.

Denver glanced around to see the other customers who had bloodshot eyes with a hint of disdain hidden in his. Such trash had already been captured by their algorithm and would be sucked dry soon.

Still, he wouldn't show that to Dante as he hyped enthusiastically. "Oh, certainly, sir! We've had some lucky players who hit jackpots and walked away with substantial winnings. The virtual slot machines here are known to be quite generous."

Denver lied as naturally as breathing.

Dante raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Interesting. I'll keep that in mind. Let's see if luck is on my side today."

Soon, the money was charged in and he could start. Dante began playing the virtual slot machine without hacking it yet, focusing on the spinning reels. Denver stood nearby, occasionally offering encouraging words and advice, trying to foster a sense of camaraderie with Dante even as he began to lose money.

He had input a thousand dollars in and had slot 300 of it in just 2 minutes by making high stakes, risky bets that - in Denver's eyes - showed that Dante was not only a rookie, but was reckless. The perfect customer for him to make a great commission from!

As Dante played, he observed the patterns and algorithms of the virtual slot machine, utilizing his enhanced AI chip to analyze the game. If Denver had been watching, he might have seen a flash of Psionic light in Dante's eyes as complex calculations flashed through his pupils.

Dante made use of his 105 SDI in Intelligence to strategically comprehend and quickly calculate the ins and outs that would give him an advantage, allowing him to make calculated bets and increase his chances of winning.

Dante did not even need to use his AI to hack and control the system at this rate, and he had severely overestimated the capacity of modern casino gambling machines technology wise. Most of them were forcefully kept simple because the bosses did not try the guys who coded the stuff in.

What if they told their friends and family the secrets and had them come to make bets? As such, he forced them to make it simple for even him to control and changed everything after it was set up.

Dante won back $3000 in one go and smirked. "Looks like luck is indeed on my side today, Denver. I think I've got a good rhythm going here."

Denver was stunned and couldn't help but be sour. What dogshit luck! How could this fellow who had no idea about gambling make such money right away? Was this that fabled beginner's luck?

Denver could only hide his unhappiness and pretend to be excited for Dante. "That's fantastic, sir! Keep it up! Remember, timing and intuition are crucial in these games."

Dante was speechless. This fellow sure was a good actor and he was determined to play the long game.

Dante shrugged internally and continued playing, racking up wins and gradually accumulating a considerable amount of dollars. He occasionally engaged in small talk with Denver, asking about other popular games in the casino and the experiences of previous winners.

Denver's expression grew uglier and uglier with each win. When Dante accumulated $20,000 total in winnings, he suddenly staked a super high risk bet. The payout was 105 times - ironic, Dante knew - which meant he could end up with 2.1 million dollars.

Denver's heart skipped a beat. He was confident that Dante would lose as their algorithm would switch things up at the last minute with high bets like this, as the casino would never allow themselves to lose this much money at once if they could help it.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Thinking about how everything Dante gained would be won back, and how desperate he would be to taste that level of wealth again, Denver was relaxed and filled with joy. However, when he saw the big 'you've won' on the screen, his mind went blank.

The Golden Flower casino was the biggest in the city and dealt with millions of dollars per bet in the VIP areas, and their annual income was in the billions. 2.1 million definitely flagged their system, but their technicians could not find a problem so it was paid out to Dante's bank.

Once Dante's account was paid into, he received a text from his agent that confirmed that his account was temporarily locked due to suspicious activity. Smiling, Dante took his card out and then stretched casually.

He turned to Denver, who looked like his soul had been dragged from his body and patted him on the shoulder lightly.

"Thank you, Denver. Your assistance and company were most appreciated. Without you, your advice, and your time, I would never have won this much money. I sincerely had a great time here." Dante stated with an amiable tone.

Denver snapped out of his confusion but Dante's word caused him to feel like crying. His commission! His salary! It was going to be deducted!

Of course, not by too much, just some trash reasons to take away about 1%. However, the money taken wasn't the problem but the hidden warning behind it.

Denver could only twist his lips into the most unwilling smile and say with barely mustered joy. "It was my pleasure, sir. I'm glad you enjoyed your time. If you ever need anything else or want to explore other games, don't hesitate to visit us again."

Dante chuckled at the fellow's obvious breakdown and began to leave the virtual machine area. "I'll keep that in mind. Until next time, Denver."

Denver did not even bother to escort him and rather scurried away to explain to his boss that an evil being had tricked him into following Dante around.

Chapter 65

Once out of the casino, Dante smiled and checked the GPS through his AI for the most reputable car dealership in the city. Once he got a location, he ordered another Uber and headed straight there while slightly lost in thought.

Once he arrived, Dante saw a large showroom building that was pretty high tech and very fancy. In the parking lot were many expensive and powerful cars that would have the average car enthusiast drool.

This dealership was called the PowerMotors Outlet and it was where all the top vehicle brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti and Maserati were sold and even registered. Dante checked with his AI chip by hacking into the network and found that behind this dealership were many powerful factions and billionaires.

This amused him as he walked to the entrance and was met with a young woman with freckles and a blonde bobcut who looked hurried. Seeing a handsome young man like Dante, her eyes lit up and she rushed over to him.

"Hello sir, my name is Sarah, how can I help you today?" She asked with enthusiasm.

Dante smiled at Sarah with amusement at her actions and replied. "Hello, Sarah. I'm looking to explore the cars available here at PowerMotors Outlet. I'm interested in purchasing a new vehicle today."

Sarah nodded, her excitement evident. "That's great! We have a wide selection of luxury and high-performance vehicles. Is there a particular brand or model you're interested in?"

Dante pondered for a moment before answering, "I'm open to exploring different options. I'd like to see what you have to offer from Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti, and Maserati."

Sarah's eyes sparkled, knowing that this young man was likely the son of a big and powerful person, so therefore was a powerful customer.

"Excellent choices! Let me show you our collection. We have the latest Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari 488, Bugatti Chiron, and Maserati GranTurismo. Each one is a masterpiece in its own right." Sarah spoke as she gestured for Dante to follow her.

As they walked through the showroom, Dante couldn't help but admire the sleek lines and exquisite designs of the cars on display. The shimmering exteriors and luxurious interiors were truly captivating.

As someone who played Project Gotham Racing, Midnight Club, Juiced, Need for Speed, Forza and Asetto Corsa when he was young, he was definitely a top car enthusiast.

Sarah pointed towards a vibrant red Lamborghini Aventador and said, "This is the Aventador, a true symbol of power and prestige. It boasts a V12 engine, producing over 700 horsepower. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. The price for this beauty starts at $400,000."

Dante's heart pounded with excitement. After all, how would you feel if you had disposable funds and were standing before one of the cars you could only 'drive' using a joystick during your childhood?

"Impressive! What other options do you offer?" Dante feigned calmness and folded his arms.

Sarah led him to a stunning yellow Ferrari 488 and continued, "Here we have the Ferrari 488, known for its impeccable performance and stunning aesthetics. It features a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, generating 661 horsepower. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat. The price for this masterpiece begins at $350,000."

Dante nodded, taking in the details. "Amazing. And what about the Bugatti Chiron and Maserati GranTurismo that you mentioned?"

Sarah gestured towards a striking black Bugatti Chiron and a sleek silver Maserati GranTurismo. "The Bugatti Chiron is the epitome of speed and luxury. With its quad-turbocharged W16 engine, it produces a mind-blowing 1,500 horsepower. It's one of the fastest cars in the world, reaching a top speed of 261 mph. The starting price for the Chiron is $3 million."

She then turned her attention to the Maserati GranTurismo. "The GranTurismo combines elegance with thrilling performance. Its V8 engine delivers 454 horsepower, and it's equipped with advanced technology and luxurious features. The starting price for the GranTurismo is $150,000."

Dante couldn't help but be captivated by the range of options before him. He was sad that his 2.1 million dollars he won from the casino could not buy the Bugatti, but it was not that big a deal. Not to mention, that money was reduced by the 3% commission he gave his agent who must be going crazy by now at the prospect of earning a free $63,000.

That was more than his annual salary for Christ's sake!

Not to mention… taxes. Yes, many people often forgot to mention this part about earning quick funds when they either go back in time and take advantage of opportunities or suddenly score it big.

Calculating everything, he would have to pay $777,000 as taxes, as the Federal tax rate was 37% on income above $523,600. A huge chunk of the money was gone just like that, and he would have to patiently hand it over to the government with his two hands.

How hateful!

This left him with 1.26 million. Looking at the options he had, Dante decided to purchase one vehicle for himself and then one for his mother. He would consider his father, but that man did not care about flashy cars and had other interests, and Dante knew what to get him.

With that in mind, he thanked Sarah for the information and said. "These are all incredible choices. I'll need some time to decide. Can you provide me with brochures or any additional information?"

Sarah nodded with a smile. "Of course! Here are some brochures for each model, complete with specifications and features. Take your time to explore and feel free to ask any questions. When you're ready, I'll be here to assist you with the purchasing process."

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Dante accepted the brochures and moved to sit down. "Thank you, Sarah. I'll take my time to review them. Once I've made a decision, I'll come back to finalize the purchase."

Dante waved casually and moved to the reception's waiting area and began delving into the brochures, immersing himself in the world of high-performance cars, each one holding the promise of an exhilarating driving experience.

He eventually decided to get himself a Bentley and his mother a Range Rover with custom alloyed wheels. With that in mind, he walked to Sarah and indicated she should take him to the section for both vehicles.

Sarah nodded with a smile, understanding Dante's decision. "Certainly, I'll be happy to show you the Bentley and Range Rover sections. Follow me."

Noticing the other customers being guided around by young, beautiful ladies, Dante followed Sarah to the Bentley section first.

"Here we have the Bentley Continental GT." Sarah said, pointing to a sleek black model.

"It's known for its elegant design, powerful engine, and luxurious interior. The starting price for this model is $220,000. We also have other variations and customization options available to suit your preferences."

Dante ran his fingers along the smooth surface of the car, envisioning himself behind the wheel. "I like the sophistication and performance of the Continental GT. It's a classic choice. Please provide me with more details and options for customization."

Sarah handed Dante a brochure specifically for the Bentley Continental GT, detailing its specifications, features, and available customization options. Dante delved into the brochure, studying every aspect with keen interest.

Once Dante had familiarized himself with the Bentley, Sarah guided him to the Range Rover section. They stopped in front of a stylish silver Range Rover Velar.

"Here we have the Range Rover Velar, a versatile and luxurious SUV." Sarah explained.

"It offers a combination of comfort, off-road capabilities, and advanced technology. The starting price for this model is $60,000. We also have other Range Rover models to choose from, each with its own unique features and specifications."

Dante admired the sleek design of the Range Rover Velar, imagining his mother enjoying the comfort and style it offered. "I think the Range Rover Velar would be a perfect fit for my mother. Could you provide me with more information about this model and any available customization options?"

Sarah handed him a brochure dedicated to the Range Rover Velar, showcasing its features, technology, and available customization choices. Dante took his time examining the brochure, envisioning how his mother would feel driving the SUV.

After carefully reviewing the brochures for both the Bentley and Range Rover, Dante approached Sarah once again. "I've made my decisions. I'd like to proceed with the purchase of the Bentley Continental GT for myself and the Range Rover Velar for my mother. Could you assist me with the necessary paperwork?"

Sarah's face lit up with excitement. "Absolutely! Congratulations on your choices. I'll gather all the necessary paperwork and guide you through the purchasing process. Please follow me to our client lounge, where we can finalize the details." 𝙗𝙚𝙙𝒏𝙤𝒗𝒆𝒍．𝒄𝙤𝙢

Dante followed Sarah to the client lounge, feeling a mix of satisfaction and anticipation. Just imagining how he would feel seated in that sleek car and the surprise and joy on his mother's face, Dante felt truly grateful for the Eternal Universe's existence.

Chapter 66

Soon, Sarah returned with the details handled. As Dante had called his agent about the purchase he was about to make, the bank authorized the charge to his account by PowerMotors Outlet without a hitch.

Since his mother was not here, Dante registered both cars in his name and paid out the premium for the car insurance at the comprehensive level.

With the paperwork completed and the financial transactions settled, Dante was now the proud owner of a Bentley Continental GT and a Range Rover Velar. As he stepped out of the dealership, keys in hand, a surge of juvenile excitement washed over him.

The afternoon sun reflected off the sleek exteriors of the luxury vehicles, emphasizing their elegance and power. Dante approached the Bentley Continental GT, running his fingers along the smooth curves and feeling the coolness of the paintwork beneath his touch.

Opening the door, he settled into the plush leather seat, breathing in the distinctive scent of a brand-new car. That scent was something that every vehicle purchaser loved the most.

As he turned the key in the ignition, the engine roared to life, its powerful hum resonating through the air. Dante could feel the subtle vibrations beneath him, a testament to the raw energy that lay within the vehicle.

With a gentle touch, he maneuvered the car onto the urban city roads, a smile spreading across his face.

Driving the Bentley Continental GT, Dante felt an undeniable sense of presence and authority. The responsive handling and precision of the steering wheel made navigating the busy streets effortless. The engine's deep growl resonated through the cabin, captivating both the driver and passersby.

With each press of the accelerator, Dante experienced a surge of exhilaration as the car effortlessly glided forward, the speedometer climbing rapidly. The seamless gear shifts and smooth acceleration further enhanced the driving experience, merging power and control into a harmonious symphony.

As he made his way through the city, Dante couldn't help but notice the admiring glances from pedestrians and fellow drivers. The Bentley Continental GT's timeless design and refined aesthetics turned heads at every intersection. It was a statement of luxury and prestige, a symbol of success and accomplishment. 𝒃𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒐𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝙘𝙤𝒎

After a while, Dante decided to switch to the Range Rover Velar, eager to explore its capabilities. He left the Bentley at the parking spot of his apartment and then took an Uber back to the car dealership.

Sliding into the driver's seat, he instantly felt the commanding view of the road that an SUV provided. The spacious interior embraced him with its comfort and cutting-edge technology.

With the Range Rover Velar's versatile capabilities, Dante effortlessly transitioned from the city streets to the open road. The advanced suspension system absorbed any imperfections in the asphalt, providing a smooth and refined ride. The panoramic sunroof filled the cabin with natural light, adding to the sense of freedom and adventure.

Driving the Range Rover Velar, Dante felt a sense of adventure and possibility. The SUV's powerful engine and impressive off-road capabilities allowed him to explore new horizons, from scenic country roads to rugged terrains. It was a vehicle that embraced both style and substance, enabling him to embark on various journeys with confidence.

As Dante navigated the urban city roads in his newly acquired luxury vehicles, he couldn't help but revel in the sheer pleasure of the experience. Finally, he couldn't help but drive towards his true home in the top residential area of the city.

When Dante arrived at his gate, he grinned as Eduardo, their gatekeeper, glanced at the sleek car with envy. When he saw Dante roll down the window, his eyes almost popped out of his sockets and his jaw dropped.

Laughing, Dante switched off the engine and got down before walking towards Eduardo's booth. He patted the fellow on the shoulder and left some playful words behind.

"Remember Eduardo, this is what happens when you game the matrix."

Eduardo was dumbfounded. Immediately he scrambled and switched his TV from some Mexican cartoons to podcasts of Andrew Tate. His eyes became red as he absorbed the 'holy words' with fervor, hoping to become rich.

Dante pushed opened the door to his house and saw his father seated on the cough while fiddling with his tablet. He was playing a 3D design game that allowed one to build complex cityscapes. His mother was lying on the same cough, her head in his father's lap as she red a romance novel on her Iphone.

When they heard the door open both turned to see their only son enter the house with a wide grin. Immediately, his mother jumped up in joy and walked over briskly, while Dante's father looked away and continued his game calmly.

"My darling boy, how are you?" Aileen asked while glancing Dante up and down.

Dante hugged her tightly and kissed both of her cheeks, making his mother exclaim. "I'm fine, mom. More than fine, in fact."

Aileen seemed overjoyed. "Dante, you seem happy. Did something good happen?"

Dante grinned. "Come with me mom and you'll see."

Dante grabbed his mother's small hand and led her out of the house in a hurry. When she saw the crazed Eduardo who was 110% focused, she was amused. However, she could no longer laugh when she saw her dream car, a Range Rover Velar with the specif alloy wheels she liked.

She just froze on the spot, confused and wondering whether she was dreaming. Meanwhile, Dante gently rubbed his mother's shoulders and pried open her palm, placing the car keys into it.

"For you, my darling mother who is obviously the most beautiful in the world."

Hearing this, Aileen snapped out of her stupor and her eyes became red. A surge of emotions welled up in her chest and she felt deeply stifled. She remembered that when Dante was 13 years old, she had purposefully skipped work that day to bring him and his friends to an indoor resort to play.

Dante had been excited and proud that day, and that outing was the big talk of his school batch for that year and even the next, making his social standing rise greatly among his friends. Dante had been so happy and grateful to his mom back then.

He had rushed into her arms and professed how much he loved her which made Aileen feel satisfied. Then the young Dante asked what she wanted for her birthday and she had told him her dream car's specifications.

The young Dante swore that one day, he would buy it for his mother. Aileen had simply laughed and stroked his head back then. After all, given their family situation, she could also afford one herself with ease.

However, anyone who was an adult and paid bills knew that you couldn't easily indulge in flights of fancy in today's world where emergencies and sudden bills could slap you in the face and cripple you.

Still, seeing it now, Aileen felt so much love for her son. He had actually remembered her little wish back then and made it come true!

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Aileen walked forward and touched the car with a fascinated look. Meanwhile, David, his father, had come out of the house and had seen everything. A light of pride for his son flickered in his eyes as he calmly walked over and placed a hand on Dante's shoulder.

He simply glanced at his son and nodded. "Good job, son."

Dante smiled. "Don't worry pops, I haven't forgotten you. Call Uncle Peter and let's head over to Micro Center."

David's eyes flashed. "Oh? Dante, are you sure you can afford your father and your uncles' huge appetites?"

"Ha, if I can't afford it, then we'll just rob the store and run." Dante joked as he noticed that his mother had entered the car and started it up.

"Well, at least we have our designated driver. Your mother will definitely want to take the car for a spin, so let's go." David prompted as he moved to sit in the passenger seat while his wife chattered about her joy.

David sat beside her and glanced at her with a soft smile, seemingly enjoying her happiness. Dante stood outside and watched this with a strange feeling welling in his heart.

Everything he had endured since he went to the Eternal Universe, the troublesome Beatrice, the uncertainty and fear, the constant need to be alert and be in guard, getting mauled by those dogs, killing beings in the Apocalypse World, all that tough training as well as the attack from the teachers.

Everything seemed to fade into the back of his mind and became experiences for him, rather than constant worries and trauma that stayed at the forefront of his mind. In this moment, apart from his raw ambition for success and greatness, Dante also developed another reason to go on, which was to maintain this kind of scene and keep this feeling in his chest alive for as long as he could.

Chapter 67

Soon, the car was on the road to Micro Center as Aileen and David continued to chat with Dante about his current situation and where he got the money from. Dante had nothing to hide so he told them about his luck at the casino and even showed his father his Bentley.

Aileen laughed. "My darling Dante, you won 2.1 million and your first thought was to buy a car for your mom? You're the best!"

David turned to Dante. "Did you take a portion out for taxes?"

Dante nodded. "I calculated and filed it already. It took away 37% of the whole thing, but it was technically free money anyway."

"Mm, not necessarily son. Gambling is something that involves risk and is the third most popular business among sapient species. When you lose money, that money is not free, so why is it that when you win, it must be free?" Aileen disagreed with dissatisfaction.

Dante pondered and felt his mom made sense. He was also glad his parents didn't berate him about gambling, but then again, his parents knew him well. He had never gone to any gambling facility in his life until he got the ability to make sure he would 100% win.

Even then, Dante only went to the casino today on a whim. If it wasn't for the Unique Batch classes being so free, he would not even be here. Everything he was doing now was just to fulfill his own selfish wishes and wasn't actually what he planned to do.

But then again, that was just human nature.

Soon, they arrived at Micro Center and found a nice spot to park. David called and led the group to meet up with his older brother and Dante's uncle, Peter.

Peter was a dark-skinned middle-aged man with a bald head and a well-kept body. He had a small stubble and wore a pair of square-rimmed glasses on his face. He wore a casual t-shirt and a pair of jeans, which was his most frequent attire.

David and Peter nodded to each other when they met. There was nothing wrong between them, and in fact, they were very close. It was just that, like David, Peter was also a typical stoic man and did not show emotions strongly.

It had to do with how Dante's grandfather raised them. Apparently, his grandma died young, so his grandfather had to raise them on his own, and he was an immigrant to America back then from Africa.

Peter hugged Aileen who greeted him enthusiastically, but he did not seem too fond of it. However, he was clearly used to Dante's mother's liveliness, so it was just a breeze for him.

Peter then focused on Dante and a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. "Hello Dante, how's the dream coming along?"

Dante shook his Uncle's hand firmly and smiled. "It's coming along well. Today, I am here to sponsor both you and Dad in getting what I know the two of you love the most."

"Oh?" Peter's eyes glinted as there was a flash of surprise. He glanced at his younger brother who smiled and nodded, and he felt amazed.

Peter was a bachelor who had been engaged but did not complete the marriage as his fiance then ran off with another richer man. It had been a serious blow to the him back then who was young and he never remarried.

As such, Dante, being his only nephew in the US of A, was very well received by him. He had often taken Dante out when he was young and taught him many things about life. Half of Dante's common sense about life and his will to succeed came from hearing his Uncle's story and wise words.

It was also why Dante opted for an arrangement with Valeria rather than date and have a girlfriend. Investing in love when you are 'weak' will only lead to disaster.

It didn't really matter if the partner in question was loyal or fickle. Simply do not give the world a chance to test their bottom line and never try to test human nature.

It was better to have the 'strength' to prevent such things rather than hope and pray that everyone you met was a 'good person'.

"Well, then let's not stand around. Let's go in and see what they have in stock!" Aileen prompted as he dragged the men into the large store.

It seemed like a joyous day for Dante and his family as they ventured into the electronics wonderland of Micro Center. David and Peter were like kids in a candy store, exploring the latest gadgets and technology with enthusiasm.

After all, Dante's grandfather was too busy working his ass off to build a foundation for the two men when they were young, so they could not afford many of these things when they were younger.

Even Aileen was no exception to the enthusiasm as she was just as excited to join the adventure, though she was mostly pleased to see her husband and his taciturn brother open up like this.

As they strolled through the aisles, Dante's eyes fell on various high-end gaming laptops and accessories. He had always been a tech enthusiast, and while he already had some top-notch devices, he couldn't resist the temptation to explore what Micro Center had to offer. 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

However, when he thought about his quantum computer at home and the stuff he had in the Eternal Universe, he couldn't help but smile wryly.

One question one might ask was why didn't he tell his parents about his experience and also get them things from the other side which would be far better than what was here?

To that, all Dante had to say was that one should REALLY not test human nature. He loved and trusted his parents, but he was not going to put them through the devil's temptation and ruin what he had.

When he could cart people to and fro, he would certainly take them along. However, right now, there were too many uncertainties in his future to push things too far.

Suddenly winning a million bucks at the casino? A stretch, but believable, especially since he showed them evidence.

Being able to teleport between universes, having superior human genetics, weapons with nuclear-level payload, and equipment that many him nigh invincible on earth? That was a different category altogether.

Soon, the family reached the important section, which was the audio equipment. In truth, David and Peter were both audiophiles and were very critical of the music they listened to. They needed a specific tuning from a specific set of headphones to enjoy certain music.

Not to mention that David especially fancied himself a DJ. That was how he and Aileen even met, as David offered to DJ for a campus party when they were in college and Aileen was the hottest girl on the dancefloor at the time.

In the audio equipment section, Dante's father and uncle's eyes lit up with excitement. This was their domain, where they could find the perfect headphones to satisfy their discerning ears. They began to browse through the different brands and models, looking for the ones that would provide the best audio experience.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Dante only watched by the side and did not participate. He was here to pay the bills and make sure that everyone was happy.

Looking at David and Peter who were red-faced and arguing with different headphone models in hand, along with Aileen who was trying to mediate, and the store clerk who felt that he wasn't paid enough for this, Dante felt satisfied.

On the way out, David and Peter were holding their new purchases with glowing faces, looking like they were ten years younger. They thanked Dante bashfully, but Dante knew that even saying such a thing was no different from kneeling and sobbing at his feet for such tough men.

He reassured them that this was only the start and there was more to come. Dante went home with his parents and then spend the night at his house, enduring his mother's zealous joy and love but eating all her cooking until he felt like he was riddled with fat.

Dante only managed to escape the next day after a lot of nagging from his mom and let her drop him at his apartment. When she saw his Bentley, she clicked her tongue and had to admit that her son had good taste.

Dante waved her off and then stood outside his apartment. The other houses also had fancy cars like Porches, Land Cruisers, Jaguars, and even Mercedes, so he didn't stand out too much. Rather, when his lot had been, empty was when he actually stood out more.

Dante's eyes glinted. He was done with his personal journey to settle his family and make them feel good.

Now, it was time to get down to the things he had planned to deal with when he first came back to earth!

Chapter 68

Dante smiled and entered his Bentley. He sparked the engine and pulled out of his lot before driving to the airport. Using the AI chip, he connected to the flight network and checked the various destinations.

He was pleased to see that there was one that would be departing to his choice destination in 4 hours: South Africa. The flight would take 19 hours and 45 minutes in total with one connecting flight.

Dante bought himself a first-class ticket and arrived at the airport to wait for the flight to go. There, he walked around aimlessly while checking various things to pass the time, and then had a light burger meal.

After that, he bought a footlong sub and then boarded his flight. The flight attendants gazed at his strange yet fashionable attire and flashed him smiles all the time, which he returned. One even approached his booth with her jacket off and leaned forward, asking if he required special service. 𝘣𝘦𝑑𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝑙．𝑐𝑜𝘮

Dante was not surprised as first-class fliers knew that sometimes, the offer would be made. It was not complimentary but based on the discretion of the attendants themselves.

Dante rejected her gently and stated that he would be sleeping. She tactfully left him to his business and Dante sighed about the nature of life.

He eventually settled into his first-class seat on the first flight to South Africa, which would take two hours. Eventually, he got down at the connecting airport which was still within the state of America, and then boarded his second flight which was poised to last much longer.

During the long flight, Dante took advantage of the comfortable amenities and entertainment options available in first class. He watched movies, caught up on some web novels, and even had a brief conversation with the passenger sitting next to him who happened to be a fellow tech enthusiast.

As the flight progressed, Dante's thoughts turned to the purpose of his trip.

South Africa itself was not the target, it was just another transit location for him to reach his true destination. The flight was long, but Dante landed and exited from the Johannesburg Airport.

Seeing his fellow Africans walking up and down with purposeful steps, he couldn't help but feel emotional. Why did he feel like a lost child returning to his roots? But then again, he was a born America and grew up in its values, so he firmly considered himself a Murican through and through.

Dante was solicited by various taxis and Ubers but since he did not have any luggage, he opted to take an Uber to a nearby beach. This puzzled the driver as he thought Dante was returning home from abroad, but then seeing his young face and 'rich' clothes, he smiled.

It seemed that this was a party-loving young master. That was fine because it meant he might give him a hefty tip if he drove well, which he did. He felt his choice was right when Dante directly paid him in dollars instead of rand, allowing him to make a bit extra on the currency exchange.

Dante got down at the beach and glanced around. It was nighttime, so there were not too many people near the outskirts, but the entrance was packed with youths who were here to have a great time.

He ignored them and walked to the darker parts of the beach where there was not a single soul before tapping his chest. Immediately nanites spread out from his chest and covered his whole body, enveloping him in his exosuit.

Dante also made sure to hide his face as he jumped into the nearby beach water. He swam forward slowly until he was completely submerged before commanding his AI chip to activate the exosuit's thrusters.

Immediately, Dante was like a sonic missile fired underwater. An explosion happened above the surface that caused water to fly up which launched him almost 100 meters forward in an instant, which increased every subsequent second.

This speed was enough to rip the flesh of any being, but the exosuit was barely moved. Dante quickly tore through the water and headed towards his target, one of the obscure islands to the southern end of the Indian Ocean, the McDonald's Island.

McDonald's Island was a remote and relatively unknown place, located in the southern part of the Indian Ocean. Its isolation and lack of human presence made it an ideal destination for Dante to conduct his operations discreetly.

As he reached the island's shores, he deactivated the thrusters and landed gracefully on the sandy beach. The nanites in his exosuit swiftly retracted, blending seamlessly with the fabric of his clothing. The AI chip concealed within his mind was always at the ready, constantly providing him with valuable data and analysis.

Dante took a moment to observe his surroundings. The island appeared untouched by human civilization, with a barren land that was sandy near the beach and full of ice near the center. It was an empty and valueless island that no one cared about.

It was perfect for his purposes.

Dante disappeared from the home universe and appeared on Planet Etonia, specifically in his 'house' there in the elite estate. He had made sure that the place was permanently reserved for him, so he didn't have to worry about seeing anyone there when he returned.

Now here, Dante bought some high-tech tools for excavation and brought them back to his quantum marker on McDonald's Island then left them there. He could only take small tools that could fit within his hand and did not weigh too much.

This was even an upgrade compared to when he was at the F rank in his superpower and could only take the clothes on his back to and fro. Once he got what he needed, he quickly began to work on carving out a small cave within the side of the island, a place he would work out of.

Dante's eyes gleamed after he spent around 20 hours working like a machine, hard and fast thanks to his superior SDI. He finally made a 200 cubic meter chamber in the ice that was sturdy.

Taking in his handiwork, he sighed and then teleported to his apartment. He gently picked up the working mini quantum computer as well as the mini nuclear power device and then teleported back to the cave.

He carved a small desk out of ice from the side of the wall and placed the two down on it. It was best that the two remained here to work rather than in his apartment. As for things like the environment and signal coverage, hah.

Theoretically, this quantum computer could connect to someone on a whole different planet, how could it possibly have any difficulties dealing with some small planetary digital network?

Dante's eyes flashed. After going through all this, his goal should be quite obvious.

He was going to construct his first high-tech base here!

It was unavoidable that he would have to build a base, not just for his experiments, but also to build his forces. Constructing spaceships, synthetic humanoids, weapons, and more himself could be carried out as long as he sourced the tools from the Eternal Universe and brought them here.

After all, Dante had no plans to rely on humans as his forces to take over the universe. In fact, not even the humans of the Eternal Universe did either. They simply did not have enough manpower for that, so they naturally relied on synthetic humans and cyborgs to fight.

To Dante, the humans of Earth were basically the same as that deadbeat sibling in the family. They have no real value to you and are basically a hindrance, but because of affiliation and affection, you simply can't bear to hurt them or get rid of them.

As for why Dante came all the way out here, it was only logical. He wasn't going to be like those main characters in other books he read while on the plane who would buy an abandoned warehouse in the urban city and develop such things.

That was just dumb and shortsighted.

After all, no matter how you strung it, you would be susceptible to the rules of the territory you set yourself up in. Since Dante especially did not want to use force, it was better to just find a remote place with no clear jurisdiction to develop himself.

Later, when he had a fleet of planetary-level battleships, an army of androids trained for war who wielded the best kinetic and energy weapons, as well as technology that could enhance the human body and extend life, who in the world would dare to point at him and mention rubbish like 'rules' and 'jurisdiction'?

With that in mind, Dante dove back into the water and used his jet thrusters to return to the shore of South Africa. While he could simply return to America, if someone later investigated and found that he took a flight to South Africa yet did not take one back, he would have difficulty explaining himself.

Chapter 69

When he arrived at the beach, it was still nighttime. The party was going on but Dante had no intentions of taking part. He simply used his AI chip to reserve a top-tier suite in the highest-rated hotel in the entire Johannesburg.

Its name was the Royal Oasis. It cost $2,000 per night but came with a slew of services that left him dizzy just reading them.

He then ordered another ride to the hotel and chatted with the driver on the way.

As Dante arrived at the Royal Oasis Hotel, he was greeted by opulence and luxury. The grand lobby was adorned with intricate chandeliers, marble floors, and elegant furnishings. The staff at the front desk treated him with the utmost respect, recognizing him as a first-class traveler since he had his boarding pass still.

Dante's suite was located on the highest floor of the hotel, offering a breathtaking view of Johannesburg's skyline. The room was equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, including a private balcony, a jacuzzi, and a personal AI concierge to cater to his every need.

After settling into his suite, Dante took a moment to savor the tranquility and comfort. It was a stark contrast to the rugged isolation of McDonald's Island, and he appreciated the brief respite from his demanding mission.

Feeling lazy, Dante opened his windows wide and looked at the beautiful night sky.

...…

"Confirm that you have eyes on the target." A young yet potent voice sounded from a pair of earphones attached to the back of the listener's earlobe.

The listener was crouched down on the roof of a nearby building, looking down through his scope at Dante who was relaxed and taking in the view of the Johannesburg skyline.

The young listener on the rooftop was equipped with state-of-the-art gear, including a sniper rifle with advanced targeting systems and enhanced vision goggles. He was accompanied by his team of fellow mercenaries, all geared up and ready for action.

"Confirmed, I have eyes on the target. The subject is relaxed and appears unaware of any potential threats." The sniper responded calmly.

"Keep monitoring him. We need to be certain before we proceed with the plan." The voice spoke to him, who happened to be the tech specialist who was not on site but rather stationed within another suite in the same hotel.

"He's in a luxury hotel, surrounded by opulence. This might be the perfect time to strike." Came a female voice, who was crouched down like a cat at the edge of the Royal Oasis's roof, her posture casual despite the dangerous angle she took.

"Let's not rush into anything. We've only been tracking him for a few hours at best. We need to ensure we have the best opportunity to execute the mission." A dissatisfied and slightly accented voice sounded from the receivers on the various team's ears, coming from a burly Russian man who acted as a bouncer in the hotel's indoor club.

"I agree with Demolitions. Patience is key. We've come this far; we can't afford any mistakes now." A soft yet confident female voice sounded, being a woman who was pushing a tray of wine and food through the hotel's hallways, approaching Dante's door.

"Understood. We'll wait for the right moment. Keep me updated on his movements." Their illusive team leader commanded, his androgynous voice making the rest of the team halt their breath. 𝐛𝗲𝗱𝐧𝐨𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝐜𝐨𝐦

There was no one they feared more than their mysterious team leader who even gathered them together in a rush to take this target down.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm "Roger!" They all acknowledged respectfully.

...…

Meanwhile, Dante was seated right beside his window and had crossed his legs, placing them on the sill casually. He smiled confidently even as he conversed with the AI chip in his mind.

"How many of them did you say there are?" Dante asked with curiosity.

[Six. Five normal operatives and one superhuman observing everything from a safe location.]

Dante was surprised. A superhuman? "Huh. Interesting. Which faction do they belong to?"

[They belong to a secret division of the United States Military, The Revengers. Upon hacking the entire United States Military Network, I found that there is very little information about them and what is available is heavily encrypted.]

[Neither any of the sitting presidents nor any government official whose term can be changed is allowed access. The only ones who can mobilize this faction are the powers of the Deep State that have been entrenched since the assassination of John F. Kennedy.]

Dante was alarmed. "The 35th president? What does he have to do with this?"

[John Fitzgerald Kennedy was president during the period in which not only America, but its executive branch were at the height of their power due to the Second World War. The Deep State had not yet gained the control it did now and presidents were privy to all the secrets and truths about America's power.]

[And so, he came into contact with the biggest secret I could find in the network, the existence of superhumans. Seeing how they had wracked havoc across human history and were even deployed secretly during both World Wars, causing massive deaths, Kennedy was not convinced of these 'weapons'.]

[As such, he planned to reveal the existence of these superhumans to the world and then bring them into the limelight, also forcing them to register with the government and undergo social training to make their powers controllable.]

[However, the budding Deep State powers did not agree with this and wanted to keep these weapons hidden and under their thumb as a weapon against their enemies and possibly to control the masses.]

[Unfortunately, there is a gap in information here, but I have computed many small details I could cobble together that show that John Kennedy refused to compromise and planned to reveal this information in a surprise press conference after his presidential motorcade in Texas.]

[Naturally, the Deep State couldn't allow this and hurriedly got an ex-marine to assassinate him. Due to how rushed it was, there were many flaws, and in order to keep their assassin quiet, they also had him murdered by another one of their men, who was also killed while in prison awaiting trial.]

[After that, the Deep State consolidated control and reduced the power of each president soon after, leaving the modern ones nothing but flagrant figureheads with no real power.]

Dante was speechless. This… since when did his AI chip become a conspiracy theorist?

Cough, but he certainly did not doubt it. This led him to ask the prudent question: "What then are these superhumans?"

[People like you, natural superpower wielders.]

This simple answer almost caused Dante to fall over in his seat. He did not even have time to care about anything as his mind thundered.

Dante felt so stupid. Naturally, if his home universe was a universe just as as big and natural as the Eternal Universe, why couldn't people here have superpowers?

No, if the higher dimensional being was the one who saved him and granted him his superpower, why didn't it invade this universe? Unless this universe also had higher-dimensional beings of its own?

Wait, the Zero Gate..!

Dante stood up in shock.

Could this universe also have a Zero Gate? A Black Land?

If it did, the implications…

No, not just the implications, but the meaning for him! The Zero Gate in the Eternal Universe was a discovered as well as a government-controlled resource that was shared equally, but the Zero Gate in this universe was not yet on that level!

Even if there was a lucky alien species that discovered it, they definitely could not exploit it as well as the residents of the Eternal Universe and they would not have nearly enough power to keep it from Dante's hands.

Thinking like this, Dante's breathing became heavy, like that of a wayward bull. His excitement clouded his mind and his entire body shook with desire.

He wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for the fact that entrance to the Black Land was controlled and spread out between students. If he could find and claim this universe's Zero Gate, not only could he absorb Zero Energy 24/7, but he could harvest all ten fruits produced each year for himself!

He could also use it to build a faction of superpowered people controlled by him in order to act as his top echelon forces when invading the Eternal Universe. After all, his biggest qualms with the counter-invasion were dealing with the superpowered beings of the Eternal Universe.

While Dante had been dreaming of a sweet future, the operatives who had targeted him for unknown reasons began to close the net even faster. The woman who acted as a maid and was bringing the tray over reached his door and began to knock on it softly.

This snapped Dante out of his reverie as he remembered the situation he was in. His eyes flashed with confidence and interest as he briskly opened the door and revealed a winsome smile.

Chapter 70

Dante opened the door to see a beautiful woman with a warm smile standing before him. She was dressed in a neat maid uniform, and her eyes sparkled with kindness.

"Good evening, sir. I hope you're enjoying your stay at the Royal Oasis. I've brought some wine and snacks for you. Would you like me to set them up for you?" She offered with a harmless wave towards the goodies on the tray.

Dante smile as he glanced at the stuff and did not see a problem on the surface. "Thank you. That would be lovely."

He gestured for her to enter, impressed by her poise and polite demeanor despite her true identity. She was clearly a true professional at this. Had he not known, he would not have suspected a thing with his meager 21 years of life experience.

The woman smiled gently. "My pleasure, sir."

She gracefully entered the suite and began setting up the smaller tray on a small table near the balcony. Dante watched her work, appreciating the skill and finesse with which she arranged the items. As she finished, she turned to him with a warm smile.

Once done, she bowed and asked: "Is there anything else I can assist you with, sir?" 𝐛𝐞𝗱𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗲𝗹.𝐜𝐨𝐦

Dante sniggered in his mind but maintained a light smile as he sat down. "Actually, yes."

She was surprised since the question was mostly a token one, but she had to maintain her guise properly. "What would that be, sir?"

"Oh, its just two things. Firstly, I checked the details of the service plan for my suite and the complimentary snack service is an hour early." Dante stated without even looking at the maid, casually pouring himself some juice.

"Secondly, you set the tray up on the balcony seating, not in the living area nor the kitchen. How did you know I would be seated here since you cannot see the balcony from outside?"

The woman froze and the other operatives who were listening through her earpiece had their expressions changed greatly. They did not dare speak because they assumed that Dante was a superhuman too, which was even why they bothered with this elaborate operation.

As such, they could not give her any orders or advice, she was on her own. She also could not engage Dante because this operation was supposed to be secret. If they began fighting and he exposed cataclysmic superpowers, they would be fucked.

This put her in a tough spot, but she quickly thought and responded.

"In terms of being early, we don't always strict operate by timing. For example, today the chef prepared and served dinner at 5:30 pm rather than 6:30, a whole hour earlier because he had to return home due to an emergency."

"We cannot always be perfect due to human error, so I hope sir will forgive me if I ruined your plans by being early." She explained with an apologetic tone.

Oh?

Dante was impressed by her quick thinking, for he knew this to be true. No organization could always maintain perfect times and dates like that, especially not after years of operation.

He nodded thoughtfully on the surface to show that he had accepted her excuse, which made the woman breathe a sigh of relief. However, she was not done yet and she forged on bravely.

"As for setting up on the balcony, I noticed that the balcony window was open when I entered, so it seemed to me like you had either used it or visited it since you took up lodging. Thinking that you'd prefer your meal with a lovely skyline as the back view, I chose as I did."

"If I was wrong or impudent in doing so, I apologize to sir." She explained with a deep curtsy.

Dante's AI told him that this was true, he had left the balcony window open when moving to open the door. After all, he planned to attack at first but changed his mind halfway to toy with this agent to death.

He smiled and sniffed his juice like it was wine, making the eyes of the woman narrow and a hint of sweat form on her brow.

"As for setting up, I have some things to say about that, but I don't like to bully hardworking servants. Besides, it might just be me acting weird, right?" Dante replied with a laugh.

The woman forced a smile and nodded. "May I leave now, sir?"

Dante waved a hand. "Of course, of course."

She bowed once more and began to push the cart out, but Dante suddenly spoke when she was near the door and about to open it.

"Yulian's Sorrow. A very underground yet potent poison known to be able to knock out even an animal the size of three elephants for a week. Its supposedly colorless and formless, tasteless and odorless, but one can identity when tis mixed into a drink by looking at the weird perspiration on the cup's brim."

When she heard this, the maid heart sank to her toes while the men on the radio couldn't care less about maintaining radio silence."

"Amina, get out of there!" The other sleek woman on the roof who was meant to capture and make away with the sleeping Dante roared.

In just the span of a few moments, many things happened at once.

The Sniper on the rooftop was given the order to fire, and she shot a silenced tranquilizer round that would strike Dante in the neck. Its needle was crafted from titanium so that even if Dante had the superpower of hardened skin, it would still break through.

Meanwhile, the other lady on the rooftop leaped downwards like a bullet, aiming to land on the perch of Dante's balcony and then distract or reinforce his teammate if necessary. The tech specialist was doing his best to suppress anything that could leak the operation on the spot, like silencing alarms, cutting out electricity to certain places, and raising the volume in others to muffle the sound.

They were working as a well-oiled unit and their skill, as well as their expertise, showed at this moment.

However, as they always say, before absolute strength, all manner of tricks are useless.

The maid turned around and removed a pistol from the strap of her thought and spun to fire on Dante while using her other hand to grab the doorknob and turn it. It was a swift and clever action, but futile.

Dante grabbed the incoming projectile from the snipe and then used his pinky finger to fire it at the maid. The moment she fired her silenced pistol that had a smaller tranquilizer in it, she was struck by the bigger one right where her heart was.

She only had a second to gasp before her eyes rolled back and she slumped on the floor. Dante then grabbed the one she fired at him and then activated his bionics slightly - only to a multiplier of 2x - before flicking it towards the sniper.

The sniper was still processing the sight of Dante grabbing his shot right in the middle of its flight and throwing it at someone else through his scope before he saw a smaller one rush at him faster than he could react.

It struck him right in the neck and he also fainted right there and then.

The lithe woman landed on the balcony and surveyed the room as if to know what to do next but only saw a collapsed maid by the door and no Dante. Immediately, her senses screamed that she was in danger and she tried to dodge to the side desperately.

However, she only managed to mobilize the thought when her neck was gripped by a pair of firm hands. Just as she was about to beg and try to delay the matter, Dante squeezed and brought his face near her earpiece.

"Tell your team leader to meet me by the sea. We ought to have a good and long chat." Dante whispered sinisterly.

He flicked the temple of the woman and knocked her out, he then held her easily on one hand like she was garbage and then picked up the maid using the other one. Dante activated his bionics and leaped through the wind to where the sniper was posted and grabbed him as well.

Dante stood on the roof of this high-rise building and looked down at the lit and bustling city below. His heart was surprisingly calm and unmoved, because this was the effect of having power, knowing the breadth of your power, and having the capability to mobilize it after training.

He then disappeared from where he stood as he manifested his exosuit and flew above the cloud layer towards the beach. The journey was short and not very pleasant for his passengers who were beaten by the wind pressure and the thin air up in the sky.

When Dante landed, he threw them to the floor casually, not caring about their life or death. After all, they would not survive the night anyway.

None of their team will.

Chapter 71

Dante didn't have to wait long for a group of people to come over in a helicopter. The helicopter found a clear landing zone nearby and touched down, revealing three passengers who sat in the back.

Two of them were female and one was male. The two females were very young and of different ethnicities.

The one seated opposite the man was of Asian descent with pristine white skin that seemed to glow in the darkness, especially as the moon shone on her.

She had silvery-black hair that was tied into a bun with a green hairpin, alluring purple eyes, and pitch-black lips that looked gothic. There was the symbol of a glowing crescent moon on her forehead and she wore a clean purple dress that fit her svelte body gently.

The other one was a dark-skinned beauty who had a V-shaped face and wore a wide grin. She wore a white suit with pants and a black blouse within that could barely hide her surging assets in the front and at the back.

Her white hair was tied into a ponytail and her dark blue eyes shone with a hint of craziness and belligerence.

Finally, there was the man, who was mature. He had a head full of brown hair as well as plain brown eyes. He was deeply tanned and had his upper body bare, displaying his tight muscles. He only wore a pair of black pants that stretched easily as he moved.

The three identified Dante who was causally standing there in a lazy posture with the corpses at his feet. This made the faces of the three become solemn as they sensed a dangerous vibe from Dante that they had never felt before.

Dante also glanced at them casually. The reason he did not hide his face was because he didn't necessarily plan to let anyone who came here today live. Even if they recorded him using satellites or cameras and stored it somewhere, he could easily hack and clean out any database, even if it was offline.

A Quantum Network was all about creating connections through spacetime, it didn't require any rubbish like signal or connectivity.

The three disembarked and walked confidently towards Dante, stopping when they were ten meters away. This gave both sides time to assess each other head-on and know what to do.

The more the other three observed Dante, the more their hearts sank. Each of them had different abilities and focuses, so what they saw was different.

The silvery black-haired woman with the moon symbol on her forehead noticed Dante's calm mental state. She saw the flash in his eyes that indicated superior mental acuity and knew that his thoughts probably ran faster than any of them could fathom.

The white-haired woman with the white suit noticed the youthfulness of Dante and his body language which was filled with a hint of playfulness. She could feel that he had grasped the entirety of their existence as well as power and was not impressed nor pressured at all.

The brown-haired man with a bare chest immediately noticed Dante's physical state. He was compact and seemed like a normal youth, lean and slightly muscular, but he could sense the horrifying power contained in that body that was ready to erupt at any time.

As for Dante, he just glanced at the three and noticed that they all likely had superpowers, or at least, some sort of special ability. However, his AI chip was a step ahead as it compiled an SDI and details based on hacked information as well as their own physical signs.

Target: Luo Yue

Age: 20 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 0.3

Agility Index: 0.2

Dexterity Index: 0.4

Intelligence Index: 0.7 (20)

Constitution Index: 0.2

Vitality Index: 0.2

Bionic Level: None.

Psionic level: None.

AI Chip level: None.

Superpowers: Lunar Control.?

Target: Aisha Asake

Age: 22 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 0.8

Agility Index: 0.9 (50)

Dexterity Index: 0.7 (50)

Intelligence Index: 0.4

Constitution Index: 0.5

Vitality Index: 0.5

Bionic Level: None.

Psionic level: None.

AI Chip level: None.

Superpowers: Luminous Body.?

Target: Killian Fairweather

Age: 34 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 1.2

Agility Index: 0.8

Dexterity Index: 0.5

Intelligence Index: 0.3

Constitution Index: 1.0

Vitality Index: 1.2

Bionic Level: None.

Psionic level: None.

AI Chip level: None.

Superpowers: Power Body.?

Dante was amused. The silvery black-haired woman was Luo Yue, a Chinese national who was born in America to immigrant parents. When she developed her powers, she was captured by the deep state forces and educated from a young age while her parents were very happy to sell her away for the benefits they got.

Her superpower was the ability to control moonlight in a way one would magical spells. She could heal, buff, debuff, trap, and even attack or defend. She was quite versatile and was rated as an S Rank Superhuman in the database.

According to the AI chip's estimation based on data gathered, her Superpower was of the D Rank in terms of talent and C rank in terms of potential in the Eternal Universe.

The second woman was an African migrant to Europe, specifically the Netherlands. She had fled from the war-torn country of Libya which had erupted into conflict again after the butchering by NATO early in the century.

She lived as a gangster and underworld member until her powers developed and then tried to expand. In her bid for expansion, her abilities were discovered and they cut her a deal. She joins them, her crimes get written off.

Her power was to turn parts of her body into light, or to adopt the nature of light. This granted her insane speed and dexterity, as well as the ability to offensively shoot searing hot light beams.

Their database rated it as S-class as well, but the Eternal universe graded it as a B-class talent with B-rank potential at best.

The final person, the man who happened to be the team leader of the mercenaries, was a typical ex-military man. His power awoke on the battlefield in the Middle East and he slaughtered an entire base of enemy troops with his bare hands.

He was one of the first superhumans recruited by the empowered deep state in their new batch of lackeys and had a high ranking in their organization.

His superpower was basically an all-around passive strength enhancement and impervious to bullets, knives, and the like. Super strength, high defense, crazy vitality, and regeneration basically.

His ability was rated S as well, but the system gave it the lowest F Rank talent with an F rank potential, it had no future.

There was a palpable silence as both sides wanted to see who would talk first, as it would affect the power balance between them. But no matter how much time they spent waiting, Dante only glanced at them casually.

In fact, his eyes seemed to be in a daze, as if he was not even focused on them.

Well, that was true, as Dante was currently playing Quantum Solitaire.

Killian stepped forth. "Sir, why did you attack my teammates so brutally?"

Dante paused his solitaire game and then focused on the man before him. He looked the fellow up and down then smiled.

"You have the nerve to ask? You should be thankful they're still alive, though they won't be for much longer, Mister Killian." Dante replied with a smile.

Killian's face darkened and Aisha stepped forward. "Humph, big talk from a pretty boy. You look like you could barely lift a flat tire much less go head to head with any of us. I advise you surrender and we'll spare you life!"

Dante speechlessly glanced at Aisha and shook his head. "I assumed you like wearing white because of your ability, but it's probably to make you feel clean in the face of the number of balls you licked to survive in the underworld back then."

Aisha's expression force and she paled immediately. "You motherfucker!"

She rushed forward to attack but was easily helped back by Killian. "Easy, he's trying to goad you into attacking. Lets not play his game."

Aisha harrumphed and pushed Killian away before moving back, but she glared at Dante with thick killing intent that showed how much she wanted to rip his head off. Killian sighed and shook his head at his teammate's short temper.

Meanwhile, Luo Yue had been silently watching. She calmly stepped forth and bowed to Dante respectfully.

"Dear sir, I see that you are poised and calm despite the situation, which tells me that you are not worried. How much do you know about us?" She asked while glancing at Killian.

Killian's expression changed greatly as he realized that Dante had mentioned his name earlier, but he - Killian - had never said anything about his identity!

Chapter 72

Dante smiled with amusement. "A bit slow on the uptake, huh? I mean, I don't expect much from the white-haired cumrag, but you have to do much better bruv."

Killian's face darkened, and Aisha became even more livid, clenching her fists so hard they became purple. Dante ignored them and turned to the only worthwhile person here worth talking to, Luo Yue.

"Well, yes. I know everything about you Luo Yue, Aisha, and Killian, as well as your organization called The Pantheon. In fact, it would be better to ask what I don't know currently." Dante replied to her question.

The faces of the three changed greatly, and Aisha manifested a look of disdain. "Hmph, stop bluffing you cretin. You probably have some superficial knowledge seeing as you're likely a superhuman too, so this is nothing worth writing home about."

Aisha's sharp words caused Killian and Luo Yue to calm down, as they felt like it made sense. However, Killian was confused due to a certain reason: how could Dante possibly know this given his age and the fact that he was just discovered?

Dante glanced at Aisha with boredom. "I swear, you look and sound much better with your mouth plugged by a penis."

Aisha took a deep breath but did not explode, channeling her inner mafiadonna to maintain her cool which she had lost too many times already.

"Yeah, yeah, keep on with the sexist insults, boy. It's not gonna hurt me, since it's not true."

"Er… not true? Your name is Aisha, right? You escaped from Libya as a refugee in 2024 as a young woman and arrived in the Netherlands. Since prostitution is legal there, you sold your body - well, not your body but your mouth - for survival. There are even videos of it taken at the request of some of your richer clients, which they uploaded to their dropboxes and keepsafes, but you didn't know that."

Dante smiled at the shocked and pale Aisha. "After all, you had them all killed after you climbed… err… sucked your way to power and deleted the local files. You didn't think they'd upload it and some of them didn't even do it intentionally, they just set their phones to backup everything."

"Would you like me to show you one?" Dante asked with narrowed eyes.

Aisha screamed and placed a hand on either side of her head, falling to her knees as her eyes dilated. "No, I don't want to remember! I didn't do it! I never did such a thing! Never!'

Dante, Luo Yue, and Killian were stunned by her reaction. The other two knew Aisha to be brash, confident, and hot-tempered, but to see her breakdown like this was something they never expected. This dark history of her must have been something she hated the most and formed literal trauma for her.

It was pitiful, but not enough to mitigate her fate in Dante's eyes.

"Well, the annoying one is silent... okay not exactly silent, but is distracted. Now you can tell me why you sent your team to attack me." Dante spoke as he focused on Killian and Luo Yue.

Killian took a step forward. "You are an unregistered superhuman who is a danger to society if not informed about the rules of our existence in the current society. We had to take you in - unharmed - and detain you until we were sure it was safe for you to roam about."

"Ah right, so basically, government lingo for 'if we can't control it, then we won't let it exist', right?" Dante retorted with a sneer on his face.

Killian's eyebrows twitched but he was too deeply entrenched in the system to care. He was a typical follower as he had been a good boy marine who never questioned orders and now he was a good boy operative for The Pantheon who were controlled by the deep state.

As such, his answer was predictable. "You're a loose cannon and we cannot tell your objectives nor your morals. It's simply safer to handle things this way for the entire world."

Dante was speechless and felt like he was going to get a headache. "All you literally have to do is research my identity and know how I lived my life. Your flimsy reason could make sense if I had a criminal history or any overt mental issues."

"But what if I am just someone who wants to live in peace and disturb no one?" Dante inquired as he folded his arms.

This time Luo Yue stepped forward. "Then, we shall release you upon discovering this. The detainment is not done to control, but to protect. If, as you say, you are a peaceful person, then the detainment would mean nothing but a few hours and a short interrogation, along with you signing some legal agreements not to release crucial information nor cause trouble, that's all."

Dante glanced at the woman and sneered. "I would definitely believe you if I didn't know the exact outcome of the detainment process. While out cold, all superhumans are implanted with explosive chips in their brains. As such, the inspection and recruitment process is always unusually 'smooth'."

"So far 99% of all superhumans caught by your guys have been recruited. Only this who were unable to be implanted for various reasons or were impervious to its effects chose to be free."

Dante glanced at the darkened face of Killian and the downcast expression of Luo Yue and smiled playfully. "So tell me again about how 'fair' and 'just' the process is."

There was a palpable silence only interrupted by the occasional muttering of Aisha as she closed her eyes and tried to repress the memories that had come surging out once more.

Killian raised his head and spoke firmly. "Whatever the case, we have our orders. Even if it means we are not doing he right thing, we have no choice to but oblige."

Dante nodded with satisfaction. "Good, just say that from the very beginning then."

Before the trio of superhumans could react, Dante seemingly disappeared from their sight. This caused the faces of Luo Yue and Killian to change greatly as they guarded themselves, but they did not see Dante appear around them. Rather, he appeared above the still delirious Aisha and raised his foot, intending to break her legs.

When his legs came down, the other two could only grimace as they heard a terrible cracking sound, as well as Aisha's scream as she snapped out of her daze and was blasted by the pain. Dante raised his legs to smash the other foot when Aisha quickly reacted by exploding with a bright light, blinding Dante similar to the solar flare attack.

Aisha then transformed into a beam of light and charged toward the other two, falling to the ground behind them and vomiting as her body was wracked with pain.

Meanwhile, Dante walked over as his pupils eerily dilated and expanded rapidly, eventually regaining their light. Blindness for someone with his genetic superiority and SDI was but a pipe dream.

"Not bad." Was all he said to Aisha's desperate last-ditch effort, chilling the hearts of the three.

Luo Yue's body suddenly shone with a purple light and the area seemed to become slightly darker. She pointed at Killian and the purple light entered him, raising his SDI by an entire point!

This made Dante raise his eyebrows as that was some great buff ability, but Luo Yue looked pooped. Clearly, this was probably the full extent of her power imbued into Killian to give them a fighting chance.

But even with his SDI raised by 1 point, his highest index was his Strength and Vitality which were now at 2.2 points. Compared to Dante who had 10.7 in all fields without even activating his Bionics or Psionics… sigh.

Killian felt the power in his body and his almost double strength and roared with confidence. His worried look disappeared as he felt like he had grasped everything at this moment and was probably the strongest being in the entire universe at this moment.

He stepped forward with utter nonchalance and spoke coldly. "I'll give you a chance to surrender and follow us back to base for detainment. You will not be harmed, though you will have to account for the harm you did to Aisha, but what happened to my teammates will be pardoned."

Dante smiled. "Your terms are fair and quite respectable even though you believe you have the upper hand. You're not a bad guy, just that you work for a bad faction."

Killian's face darkened as he understood that this was Donate directly rejecting him and he decided not to waste any more words as he directly swung his fist to attack. To the eyes of a normal person, Killian was like a speeding car and they wouldn't even be able to react until they were hit.

However, Dante simply chuckled and stopped this power-packed fist with two digits, his index finger and his middle finger.

Chapter 73

Killian, who was previously full of confidence, was not completely flabbergasted and shattered, looking like a lost puppy that had been abandoned by its owner.

"H-How can this be…?" He muttered to himself as he felt like all his force has been dissipated by these two fingers.

Dante chuckled at his confusion and took his two fingers back. "My physical strength is more than 5 times yours, of course its possible. Not only that, I have far better training in the control of force than you."

In terms of the five basic of Breathing, Posture, Reaction, Balance and Traversal, Dante would not say that he was a master, but he had graduated sufficiently and was adept. Using himself as a benchmark, the five basics on Killian were atrocious.

They were far better than when Dante had started out of course since Killian had military training and his own specialized training by the Pantheon, but it was no where near as concise nor perfect as what the Eternal Universe offered. After all, those basics had been condensed after how many generations of high tech studies?

Whole quantum computers had been dedicated to calculate the most optimal training route for a human, so the near clumsy training of the real world could obviously not match.

Then, there was the fact that Dante had also passed the Advanced Training of Focus, Spirituality and Conservation. Focus and Spirituality were mostly to help youngsters mature mentally faster and also become mentally capable, but Conservation was very much similar to the martial arts theory of 'turning complexity into simplicity' or 'everything returns to the origin'.

It did not specifically teach anything related to combat, but by applying its rules to combat, it produced a synergistic effect that raised the power of the user sufficiently.

Both Luo Yue and Aisha were utterly confused by what they were seeing, as if their eyes were failing them. However, they - with their limited SDI - only saw Killian flying back with a dent in his abdomen the next second.

In Killian's eyes, Dante had lowered his fingers and taken a single step to stand beside him. Before Killian could speak, Dante unleashed a slid blow into his gut that caused his entire body to bend like a crescent moon before flying out at near sonic speed.

Killian was sent to strike a small mound of rocks and was buried in them, his life and death unverifiable.

Luo Yue and Aisha looked at the mound where Killian was sent and then at Dante who was slowly walking over with a slight smile. They felt their hearts pound with fear and blood rushed towards their brains as they began to panic.

"Don't come closer!" Aisha screamed as she raised a finger and shot a thin beam of light.

Dante side stepped the beam casually, looking like he was in the fabled Ultra Instinct state. He paused as he glanced at the beam that shot past him which lasered through some rocks and left a smoking hole with a serious expression.

"You are actually dangerous." Dante said solemnly as he stopped playing around.

He activated his Bionics and disappeared from the realm of sight of the two women. By the time they understood what was going on, they were throughly tied up by some strange bonds. This was a special form of alloy from the Eternal universe that could easily keep someone with an SDI of 300 detained, much less these fellows.

Aisha struggled and released beams of light from he body to try and fry the alloy, but all she did was heat it up and cause herself as well as Luo Yue to scream as their skins sizzled and burnt. Luo Yue gritted her teeth and used her moonlight magic to heal their burns, but she could not break out of this bind.

While the two women struggled, Dante had already collected the bloodied and weakened Killian then tied him up too. As for the helicopter, the pilot was still waiting for his two quarry, but Dante had no plans to send them back.

Rather, Dante picked up a stone nearby and flicked it. It struck the temple of the pilot with force and knocked him out, causing him to fall forward and slump over the controls.

Satisfied, Dante grabbed the hooks of the two bonds and them pulled them along. He took them to the water and then manifested his exosuit, something which shocked Luo Yue and Aisha as they had never seen technology of this level.

Dante stood above the water this time and used the thrusters to fly forward at great speeds, heading towards McDonald's Island once more. The ride was extremely 'bumpy' and terrible for Aisha and Luo Yue.

Aisha had to turn various parts of her body to light to survive the g-force while Luo Yue manifested a small barrier of purple moon energy around her body.

As for Killian, he was left raw, and the trio could hear various bones in his body breaking and snapping even as the roar of the wind deafened them.

Luckily for them, it didn't last long. They soon arrived at the island and Dante threw them into the cave he had dig out. Immediately, the thinly dressed Luo Yue and Aisha began to shiver, while Killian slowly woke up since he was very close to death at this point.

Dante retracted his exosuit and then checked on Killian. Seeing that he wouldn't die, he nodded and turned to the two women show were acclimating to their situation and glancing at them.

Luo Yue looked up and her near flawless face had a hint of rosiness as her body generated more heat to battle the cold. It made it seem like she was blushing, but Dante could easily read her life signs using his senses.

"So, what are you going to do with us?"

Dante rubbed his chin. "A very good question. I don't want to kill you because I actually haven't killed anyone in my life yet and I don't want to waste my first time on you. However, I can't let you go free as you have seen my face."

Aisha gritted her teeth and snorted. "Dude, we don't even know your name or who you are. All we got were reports that someone was traveling at Mach 3 underwater, which is fucking impossible given our current technology."

Dante was stunned. So that's how they discovered him! He had wondered what foolish thing he had done to give himself away, but it turned out that it was something he did not account for in the least.

This taught him a lesson that he should not neglect anything when making moves. This earth was completely surveilled by various forces and most things could not hide from their eyes if they decided to search.

He could simply hack into the entire satellite and camera network and make himself like Aiden Perice, unable to be identified or even completely invisible. His AI chip could easily achieve this and he had not done it before because he was short-sighted and ignorant.

It was simply because Dante saw himself as a law abiding citizen. He did not plan to use force to harm anyone or any country, only using legal and genuine means to takeover the world through brilliance and wealth.

I mean, there were camera's all over the streets, but you weren't usually bothered about them because you knew you weren't gonna do anything bad. They weren't for you, they were for the bad guys. In fact, you might even slightly like those cameras because if something bad happened to you or a loved one, you could use their footage to do many things.

But if you planned to do evil, or had done evil and were laying low, ever camera was an eyesore and a testament to the evil and perverted nature of the government as well as the modern world. 𝐛𝐞𝗱𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗲𝗹.𝐜𝐨𝐦

Dante corrected his mentality henceforth and immediately had his AI chip completely make him invincible to all known forms of detection in the world that used technological means. If you had a way to track or detect outside of technology, like a spare Kraven the Hunter or a cultivator's Spirit Sense, then well… there was nothing Dante could do about that one.

"Speaking of identity, just who the fuck are you? You have this weird get up and all this power, but how come you've never appeared on our radar?" Aisha grumbled unhappily.

Dante snapped out of his reverie and smiled. "Me? I was just a normal guy like 2 months ago. You could say that I awoke my power back then and have nee adapting to it since."

Luo Yue seemed interested in this and the moon symbol on her forehead shone with a deep light.

"Your power? Since we are your captives, can you tell us what it is? I am utterly curious as to what kind of power can grant so much… ability."

Dante paused and then pondered seriously. "Well, my power is very versatile. To understand my power, you have to understand how I call myself."

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm With the mini quantum computer at his back and his hands in his vice admirals jacket that began to shift as the nanites slowly covered his skin, Donate grinned.

"I am the God of Technology."

Then Dante teleported out of the cavern and back to South Africa's beach area.

Chapter 74

He saw the bodies of Killian's team members that he left here and then took them over to the helicopter. Dante then flew back to his room in the Royal Oasis hotel and used his AI chip to search for the tech specialist and the demolitions agent, finding that the two had crazily evacuated to their safe house in the city.

Amused, he traveled to their safehouse which was heavily guarded but almost inconspicuous. It was a small manor in the rich residential area of the city. Dante easily disarmed all the defenses with his AI chip and walked in as if he were the owner of the place.

When he entered the basement where the tech specialist and demolitions were seated while trying to contact headquarters for more information, they raised their heads to see Dante enter. Immediately their faces changed as they recognized their target, but they were unable to even make a sound as Dante knocked them out faster than their brains could respond.

He then threw their bodies to the side and sat down in the tech specialist's chair. His AI chip connected to his setup and directly made a video call to the headquarters of The Pantheon, which was picked up immediately by their CO.

"Hake, if you don't have good news for me, you'd better… who is this?" The Commanding Officer began to berate but paused when he saw Dante on the screen.

Well, he didn't see Dante. What he saw was first Humphrey, then Slessor, then all other random faces, even some aliens from the Eternal Universe. Even as Dante replied to the Commanding Officer, his voice was fundamentally changed to something that could not be decoded.

"Me? I am the target of this operation. You must be the 4th Seat of the Pantheon, Codename Ulysses. The planner of all their operations and movements. Nice to meet you." Dante responded with amusement in his voice.

Ulysses was silent before his expression became arrogant. "Where are my operatives? If you tell me now, your fate can be mitigated from torture and death to just mild torture."

Dante was speechless. "Brother, they put you in charge of their intelligence operations? Didn't they at least check if you had any intelligence in the first place?"

"You! How dare you speak to me this way, you cretin! And answer my questions, before I send an even better team to deal with you!" Ulysses threatened with a dark face.

Dante rubbed his brows. "Right, okay. I'll say this slowly, and I can even repeat it for you if you're too slow. My name is Ao Longtian and I am the Son of the Heavens! With my system, the God of Technology System, I will take over this world and become its ruler!"

"You and yours only have 1 month to surrender to me or I will begin taking action against you!" Dante declared as he folded his arms arrogantly and then cut the connection.

Ulysses slammed the control panel before him with a cold expression and then flung his hand, flourishing his military cape as he left the room with a dark face. 𝑏𝘦𝑑𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The moment he exited the room and none of the cameras were around, his expression changed to a solemn one. He quickly entered a secure room and then sat down, taking off his cap and wiping his forehead.

"What a terrifying person. He was able to take down an S-class team with ease, track them to their safe house, and even call us to posture. This is power beyond what we can easily deal with right now." Ulysses muttered thoughtfully.

"I do not believe he is that stupid, though he must be young. He also revealed a lot of information despite thinking that he hadn't. He is definitely a youth below the age of 30 and must have been born and raised in the West."

"After all, the images he chose to hide his true face are that of fantasy and alien characters, and it is unlikely a mature person would use such a thing. Not to mention that even if he changed his voice and made it impossible for us to decode, his words and tone carried over."

"As for the Chinese name he gave, it's obviously a redirection. This makes him an American most likely, because if he was going to choose a name to redirect to, it would definitely belong to the state that he hates the most, and as of 2030, China is America's biggest enemy."

"System? I have not heard of such a thing but I will research it and find out what this terminology means. It might also yield clues to his true identity."

"He mentioned the God of Technology. That means his superpower must be technology related and gives him control over digital networks, which was why he could easily contact us as well as protect his details."

"This makes him a huge enemy in today's world since the entire world is now a global village thanks to digitalization. For all we know, he could have hacked into our database and our communications despite them being state of the art. After all, superpowers do not follow conventional rules from what we've discovered."

Ulysses frowned and glanced around. "It's a good thing I waited until I was out of sight before showing my true thoughts. Hm, now how to detect him…"

Ulysses leaned back in his seat and smiled. "He is suspected to be a young man, American, and has the power of technology."

"The team detected him in South Africa, so we only need to check the flight details of the past week for any young American who traveled there but has yet to travel back."

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm "As a young man, when you gain superpowers as awesome as his, what do you do? The first thing is normally to show off, but if you're smart, you will try to increase your financial capability and live the dream of a billionaire!"

Ulysses' eyes narrowed. "So we must also investigate all young Americans who have recently had a surge in wealth. Especially through stocks, gambling, or other such areas where technology can grant easy benefits and are quite obvious!"

Sighing, Ulysses leaned back in his seat and he seemed to have aged backwards, becoming younger again. "Hah, at the end of the day, he's just a young upstart. He thought he was careful, but careful is relative. He is intelligent, but no amount of intelligence can surpass a modicum of wisdom."

"Wisdom is not something that you can be born with like intelligence, it is acquired through experience. This is another reason I'm confident he is a young man, especially one who just awakened."

"Even someone who spent 20 years carefully managing their superpower would make mistakes and still lack experience, much less someone who awakened it shortly. Before he awakened his superpower, his thoughts were largely civilian and normal so the actions he would have taken in his life before becoming powered are not 'protected'."

Ulysses sighed. "Whatever the case, this problem has a direction now. We only have to be careful of our electronics going forward and establish safeties around them in case someone else awakenes such a power in the future."

With a plan in mind, Ulysses felt confident and stood up, planning to get everything done.

Meanwhile, Dante ended the video call and then dragged the bodies of the demolitions guy as well as the tech specialist then flew towards the helicopter. He then dumped them in the back of it and tied them up using the same rope he used to take down the superhuman team.

He then tossed the helicopter driver who was out cold to the passenger's side and had his AI chip take over the helicopter and consequently fly it to McDonald's Island. On the way, he received a ping from his AI that he was being investigated, but Dante sneered.

He may not have the wisdom of Ulysses, but he had greater technology and information. He had hacked into the entire database of The Pantheon, how could he not have read the profiles of all their members? Ulysses was known for his out-of-the-box thinking and his cunning, so Dante decided to stifle him from the beginning.

All details, records, and videos taken by cameras about him entering the casino, buying the cars, or taking the plane were obscured. They existed, but when Ulysses or anyone affiliated with him tried to access it, they would not be able to even detect it, much less realize they were blocked.

Dante was speechless. Seriously, you know I have technological powers and you are using technology to investigate me? Are you underestimating the scope of my ability or is it a habit of reliance?

Probably both.

After all, Dante told him to the face that he was the God of Technology and with the AI chip as well as access to the Eternal universe, Dante might as well be the literal God of Technology for planet earth.

But Ulysses probably downplayed the scope of his power due to prejudice and the belief that he was just a slightly clever brat.

Chapter 75

Dante shook his head as the helicopter landed on the island. He then took his captives and tossed them in a separate cavern, so that they could not communicate with the other group.

Even though they were just normal people, who knew what they could cook up? Dante had no interest in being the careless villain who underestimated human creativity.

Even now, he planned to check in on these guys everyday to feed them and stifle any clever ideas they had. Currently, he had no way to easily deal with them until he could level up his superpower to the D Rank.

Dante was hoping the size and number of things he could carry when he went back and forth would increase, allowing him to bring over some useful things.

Before he left the cavern, he created a new child AI on the mini quantum computer called the Sentinel AI. This one would actively scan the digital networks of the world for anything that could interest him or potentially harm him and block them from ever succeeding.

Satisfied, he took the helicopter back to the Beach and then left it there. He returned to his room in the Royal Oasis and actually slept this time, staying in bed up until 11 am. His flight back was at 3 pm, so he took a bath and then had an expensive lunch before heading to the airport.

Uh, in truth, he didn't need to do this. If he could block Ulysses from detecting his details, he could certainly fabricate something digitally to show he had taken the flight and even fix himself into camera footage if necessary.

However… why not? Just because he could teleport across half the world didn't mean he wanted to do it all the time. If it was urgent or necessary, sure. Since there was no urgency now, he could just live like a normal person and enjoy life.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm In the lavish realm of first-class flights, Dante found himself wrapped up in a cocoon of comfort. The plush leather seats cradled his form, and the soft, warm blanket - nicknamed 'blankie' - cocooned him in its embrace.

With a gentle touch, he reclined his seat to a position of utmost relaxation, and a subtle hum filled the air as the aircraft soared through the skies.

And would you know it, that same tech enthusiast from his first flight was here too. He and Dante marveled at how similar their schedules were and chatted. Apparently, he was paid a huge commission by a top international company to come and install new mainframes for them, which he completed in a single days' work since they allocated nearly 50 skilled assistants to him - on the company's payroll - and prepared the equipment before he even landed.

This shocked Dante and he was silent. Guessing his thoughts, the fellow chuckled and explained that the reason the company hired him for so much and spent a lot to ship him over was not because his name was thunderous or he had some special techniques, but simply a matter of trust and privacy.

They'd rather spend more to bring him, who was the one who installed the mainframes during the company's founding 20 years ago - than hire a talented newbie who might leave a backdoor and cause the company to lose millions.

Even if they counted the flight, the stay, the assistant and the equipment, the total cost would not surpass a million. Spending a million to potentially save a billion, it was an easy choice.

As the hours drifted by, Dante's thoughts drifted to the destination that awaited him: home. The flight progress was smooth, and soon they approached their arrival. As the aircraft touched down, Dante felt a twinge of reluctance to leave the luxurious sanctuary of the first-class cabin.

But the VIP treatment didn't end there. Upon disembarking, Dante was escorted by airport staff who recognized him as a distinguished first-class traveler. They whisked him away through the VIP customs and immigration, sparing him from the long queues and meticulous inspections.

With efficiency and elegance, they guided him to the opulent arrival lounge, a sanctuary reserved for the privileged few. There, he was offered refreshing beverages and delectable snacks while he waited for his transportation.

A valet came over with a car key and respectfully handed them to Dante. "Sir, your Bentley is ready and parked at the designated point."

Dante nodded and smiled, taking the key and then walking down the steps to exit the airport and see his car parked neatly by the road while a few guards monitored it carefully. When they saw him unlock the car from a distance with the key, they nodded and opened the door for him.

Dante thanked them and entered the car. He sparked it and then slowly moved out of the airport before joining the main highway then speeding towards his rented apartment at home. On the way, his thoughts wandered.

It had been a fun little adventure, taking this break to come to earth. He won some money, bought flashy cars, satisfied his parents and uncle, then laid the foundation for his future base. Not to mention he beat up a team of hostile with ease and fully tasted the power the Eternal Universe brought him compared to earthlings.

However, his interest towards earth waned greatly in the process. He realized even more how overpowered he was on this planet and understood that conquering it could be as easy or as difficult as he wanted really.

If he was ruthless, he could head back to his armory and take a single nuclear rifle, then decimate major cities. The world would naturally kneel at his feet. If he was soft, he could continue current path of winning allegiance through progress and merit.

Whichever way, the initiative was always with him. Even if being a nice guy didn't work, he could be a cruel guy and still get the outcome he wanted.

Right now, his mind was more focused on the Zero Gate and the possibility of its existence within his home universe. The only problem was that he did not have a way to enter outer space.

Though his exosuit could travel in space, that was based on whether the one wearing it could also survive in space. Beatrice, with her monstrous SDI, probably could but Dante was far, far from it. 𝙗𝙚𝙙𝒏𝙤𝒗𝒆𝒍．𝒄𝙤𝙢

What he needed to do was get his spaceship over here, but even the best shrinking technology could only make it as large as a car. That was why Dante threatened Ulysses to surrender in a month, because he would have his third session with the Black Land at that time, so he could upgrade his superpower again.

However…

A glint flashed in Dante's eyes. He did not like it, being so passive. It was fine to wait for the 5 week interval between which he could be given a free week use of the place, but it was not enough.

As an earthling, Dante's greed was endless. He did not just want this one superpower, but he wanted them all! If he had his way, he would swallow all ten fruits produced every year and accumulate 1 million superpowers, unrealistic as it sounded.

To achieve that, he needed to upgrade his foundation superpower, Quantum Entanglement. To upgrade Quantum Entanglement, he needed Zero Energy. To get Zero Energy, he needed the Black Land. To get to the Black Land, he needed the permission of the school.

Luckily for him, there were two ways to get permission. Be a member of the Unique Batch and wait for your weekly assigned class there or accumulate Supercoin through the Etraverse world's belonging to the school and 'purchase' time in the Black Land, much like how one would pay for an internet cafe.

Obviously, Dante was favoring the second choice, but he had seen the prices. It was pay for per second, and one second cost 10,000 Supercoins. To give you a clear idea on how costly this was, the Pirate Incursion world which lasted 24 hours rewarded at most, 100 Supercoins for an EX grade score.

Assuming you were a legendary super genius not seen in ten thousand years who could clear the entire thing in an hour - its literally impossible to clear it shorter than that - that meant you would earn 100 Supercoins every hour.

Assuming you ran that world and grind day and night with sleeping, you would need over 4 days to pay for 1 second on the Black Land using this method.

This method wasn't really meant for first years, it was meant for students to grind throughout their five year stay and then cash out in your fifth year, so you can double your time in the Black Land and absorb more before you graduate.

A first year, if we're being nice, should already be grateful for the 5 week buffer and the one week of uninterrupted absorption. Only going from F to E was relatively quick, the duration increased with each Rank as your superpower got stronger and became hungrier.

Chapter 76

Heck, looking at Dante, this fellow astounded the world and caused whole powerhouses to risk their lives to capture him because he went from F to E in 10 seconds. Yet from E to D, he spent an entire week in the Black Land and only reached 75%.

You could be sure as hell that even Humphrey and Slessor, who managed to reach the E Rank in relatively good times, were not even 10% of the way after one whole week. They would probably only reach the D Rank in their second year, and that was considered astounding fast.

This was why Dante absolutely needed the Zero Gate of his home universe if one existed. Not only could he suck energy 24/7, but he could also obtain all ten fruits and swallow them. Unfortunately, 10 fruits did not mean 10 superpowers, but ten chances for a superpower.

Otherwise, there was no way Lara Sanguis, the headmistress, would have only 7 of them despite being virtually the 'owner' of the Eternal Universe's Zero Gate.

Still, if he could monopolize the ten fruits of his universe and then fight for extras on the Eternal Universe's side, he could have more chances and eventually surpass her!

The problem was that he lacked Supercoins. Earning them was not easy, and different worlds paid out different amounts at different ranks for different durations. 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝘯𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝑐𝘰𝘮

For example, the Apocalypse World, which lasted 30 days, was the number 1 world not only because you got a free simulated superpower but also because it paid out the most at each Rank for the 30-day period.

It even surpassed worlds like the Rising Star, which had a 90-day duration. This was because the Apocalypse World was one of the few shared worlds the school owned, and getting high scores in shared worlds was exponentially harder than instanced worlds.

Currently, all his mates were in various worlds fighting for every scrap of Supercoin they could store for the future. It was only Dante who had time to gallivant like this, but he was mostly forgiven because of his high potential.

After all, the simple fact was that there was a huge difference between Dante and his classmates. Firstly, his classmates did not have two whole universes to shift between. The Eternal Universe was their home and the place they grew up in.

They only thought of things that a native would do, which was to excel, fit into society, and then live out their ambitions. Dante was more like an exchange student sent by an enemy country to steal knowledge and information from another.

He didn't care much about fitting into their society unless it helped his goals and granted him more tangible access to hidden information. He also did not care about furthering their society and would rather sabotage it if he could.

Secondly, Dante did not have the same starting line as his classmates. Slessor, Humphrey, and Louisa had different backgrounds, but the teaching was the same. They had almost 20 years of training using high-tech means, like virtual worlds, quantum processors, as well as generally being a native.

Dante had only been in the Eternal Universe for 2 months. More than half of that time was spent just gathering information and pushing himself to catch up to the basic level of a youth in their society. He was not even close to the basic level of Slessor and Humphrey and co yet.

So unlike the natives who were carefree and could focus on their 'studies,' Dante had to now rush to catch up and integrate himself more, so how could he find time to gather Supercoins in the virtual world? Especially since all the virtual worlds were not time-dilated?

This was the crux of the issue. Even now, he had to come back to earth to establish his base and tie up some loose ends. Now that he had captives too that he could now fully control, it would waste time coming and going to feed them.

Dante was thinking of assembling a worker bot by bringing the small parts over and let it handle that group, but once again, human creativity was a problem. Who knew if one of them would 'fall in love' with the workerbot and have it free them like some cheap romance plot.

Of course, this was a farfetched and unrealistic example, but you got the drift. The simplest solution was just to be ruthless and slaughter them all, but Dante was not there yet. He did not particularly plan to be ruthless, but he was also not naive enough to abhor it.

There may come a day where he was forced to make a choice, and he would definitely make the right choice regardless of his personal feelings. He might hate it afterward and would be burdened by it, but by god, he would still make the choice.

Dante came up to his rented apartment and parked his Bentley in the driveway. He got down and entered his home, spending a few minutes cleaning the place up before heading to his room.

He then sat on his bed with a smile and chose to return to the Eternal Universe, specifically to his residence in school. Once he was in another but far more high-tech bedroom, he immediately lay down and entered the Etraverse.

He casually browsed the various worlds and decided to take on the Apocalypse World again. It was for nothing more than getting Supercoins and raising his SDI. The timing was also perfect since his next class was in 29 days, so he could use most of his time in the Apocalypse World properly.

Dante chose to land near a different city called Darren's Watch, which was on the whole other side of the map from his previous one. After all, he didn't want anyone of the natives to recognize him as players would be penalized for that.

Upon choosing his city, he descended into the world.

This time, Dante found himself coming to as he was running at full speed, his muscles aching, and his heart thumping in his chest. He saw five others running with him, of which two were normal, but the other two had a light shine in their eyes, and one could easily tell that something had changed.

Dante's eyes flashed as he inspected them using the system granted by the world.

Player Name: Harold Poton

Player Race: Human

HP: 10/10

Strength: 1

Agility: 1 (50)

Dexterity: 1 (50)

Intelligence: 1

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Constitution: 1

Vitality: 1

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Extremespeed.?

Player Name: Lucian Havian

Player Race: Human

HP: 10/10

Strength: 1

Agility: 1

Dexterity: 1

Intelligence: 1(15)

Constitution: 1

Vitality: 1

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Aquakinesis.?

Dante's eyes narrowed. As for himself, it was the usual combination of Quantum Entanglement and Absorption. When the other two saw that Dante had two listed superpowers, their faces changed greatly as they knew that Dante was a Unique Batch student in reality.

Immediately, the nefarious thoughts they had been harboring disappeared as they approached Dante and introduced themselves quickly.

"Hello, student Dante, my name is Harold, and I am

a member of the Normal Batch of the third year." Harold, who had blond hair and pale skin, introduced himself quickly.

His body was lean, and he wore the same ragged clothes as the others in this group with a single backpack on his back. He had thin lips and a fairly handsome face, though his height was a bit shorter than Dante's at around 5'10".

"Greetings, fellow student, my name is Lucian Havian, of the Havian Merchant Group! I am a top student in the Elite Batch of the Second Year!" Lucian, who had shoulder-length black hair and two green eyes filled with arrogance and confidence, introduced himself.

He was a 6-foot fellow with a stocky build, and one could not mistake the pride in his voice as he mentioned his origins. Even Harold by the side seemed slightly alarmed, and his expression became slightly respectful.

Even as the group kept their sprint, the trio suddenly did not seem to struggle compared to the other two 'NPCs'. After all, whether it was Dante or the others, they had the basic training of the Eternal Universe, so the same footsteps they took as any untrained person was the gap between heaven and earth.

The speed, stamina consumption, and even the amount of lactic acid released into the muscles were tightly controlled by the three who had been trained in comparison to the other two who were running based on natural instincts.

That was why they could run and even chat like this without any worry for whatever was pursuing them. Of course, there was also the fact that they had superpowers, so no one was necessarily weak.

Harold and Lucian turned to Dante and waited for his introduction. Clearly, using the format of their own introductions, they hoped to identify his batch, his school year, and even his family background if possible.

This would decide his value to them and position in this short 'cooperation'.

Chapter 77

"My name is Dante, and I am of the Portinari Family. I am the number 1 student of the first year's Unique Batch," Dante declared, giving them what they wanted.

Lucian and Harold were almost taken aback as they ran. Damn, bro, you're that fierce? No matter if it was the Unique Batch, the Portinari Clan, or his position within his class' hierarchy, all of them were enough to slaughter the two of them with ease.

Harold and Lucian exchanged a quick look and seemed to decide something before smiling at Dante.

"Boss Dante, we seem to have descended together, so why don't we work together? After all, we're all pure humans anyway," Harold suggested with an ingratiating smile.

That was another thing about specific shared worlds. They split their servers based on race, so unless specifically indicated, most shared worlds would not have aliens, mixed breeds, and pure humans play together.

You could also allot this reason as to why Dante almost did not see another player in the wild when he descended the first time. You could be sure that no matter the city or outpost in the other two servers, every 100 meters in the wild would have a student voraciously hunting for prey.

Lucian glanced at Dante hopefully. Internally, Dante frowned as he'd prefer to go solo. Otherwise, how could he easily descend with his main body and absorb power? Even right now, he could likely resolve whatever was chasing them if he landed with his real body and used his real SDI.

However, the issue was not to offend these two, not because they posed any threat, but because Dante did not want to start a feud with idiots so early into his life in this universe.

It was entirely possible that these two were sensible and would hold no grudge whatsoever after being directly rejected, but it was also entirely possible that their heads were up their asses and they would develop resentment.

However, that did not mean Dante would be pressured to accept them based on this.

"Lucian and Harold, contact me when you come out of the game world, for I have some things I would likely need your help with. We can collaborate then. As for in here, I'd rather roll alone due to a bet I made with the second and third place among my batch," Dante responded with a nod.

Lucian and Harold were surprised, but they smiled.

"No problem, my man. I'll be taking my leave!" Harold laughed as he activated his extremespeed and bolted away like the flash, leaving nothing but an afterimage.

Lucian also nodded to Dante. "I shall also separate from here. With two superpowers, I guess whatever is behind us can only beg for your mercy. Good luck."

The fellow opened his bag and poured out all his water. He then controlled it carefully before jumping on it and veering off to the right, looking like a fired bullet.

You could be sure that the other two 'natives' behind Dante were absolutely floored by what they were seeing and could not understand why their comrades had turned into superpower users right before them.

Unfortunately for them, in order to protect the minds of students, no one descended with memories of their body's past lives up until now, so Dante had no clue who these guys were to him.

Dante stopped and let them pass him, which confused the other two. Dante only smiled and gestured for them to go, which they did without hesitation. Dante was speechless, as he expected a dramatic scene of them stopping to stand firm with him since they seemed close.

…alright, even if they were blood brothers before, it clearly did not matter in the face of life and death.

Well, it only made things easier for him. He turned around and saw that the bushes behind him were ruffling crazily, and he quickly used his superpower to descend with his real body to gain an advantage.

The best part about his superpower, whether it came to traveling between universes, between quantum markers, or between the quantum world and the real world with his body, all of it was instant.

No, not so quick that it was fractions of a second, but literally instantaneous. Otherwise, he would not have been able to survive Sylphia's attack back then as she struck immediately and even damaged him a bit.

This was also Dante's confidence for ascending or descending. If he brought his main body in and he saw that there was trouble, his body might be slow to react, but his brain wouldn't. The moment he made the thought, the 'switch' would happen, so any fatal blow would hit his virtual body.

Warning! Detected that there is a functional anomaly within the SDI value of the player! Resetting the SDI to the lower recorded value of the two!]

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 10/10

Strength: 10.7 - 1

Agility: 10.7 - 1

Dexterity: 10.7 - 1

Intelligence: 10.7 - 1

Constitution: 10.7 - 1

Vitality: 10.7 - 1

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

A strange power descended upon Dante, wanting to weaken him, but a grayish purple light glowed from his body and shattered this power brutally. Before Dante could be amazed, he received another notification.

Warning! Unable to reduce the player's SDI for unknown reasons! Maintaining the current SDI value and entering monitoring mode!]

In other words, his SDI returned to his normal amount in reality, which was 10.7 points in all fields. Dante immediately felt the difference of being nearly 11 times stronger in all aspects, and his confidence soared.

Like the other players, he dared to chat even with 1 point in all fields, but with his natural amount, he was like a tiger given wings. Not to mention, his trump card was here: his Bionics and Psionics came down along with him!

Even his AI chip was here, and all three were supposed to be banned! However, just as the AI managing this game world could not suppress his SDI, it obviously couldn't suppress his Bionics and Psionics, which were a part of his body.

Dante stretched his limbs and glanced through the bushes to see what was chasing him and was surprised. No wonder those fellows were running crazily; it was actually an E-grade monster!

Monster Name: Yao Guai

Monster Rank: E

HP: 220/220

Strength: 14 𝐛𝗲𝐝𝐧𝗼𝐯𝐞𝐥．𝐜𝐨𝗺

Agility: 6

Dexterity: 1

Intelligence: 0.4

Constitution: 15

Vitality: 18?

Dante's eyes shone. He didn't care that it had higher stats than even the Withering Irradiated Zombie back then. After all, one was a withered humanoid, and the other was a literal mutated bear the size of a bus.

In fact, the higher the SDI, the better, no?

The rampaging bear soon caught up and focused its bloodshot eyes on him. The 10 kilometers area surrounding this spot was all a part of its territory, and these wretched prey

had snuck in to try and steal some fruits.

If it didn't crush their skulls with its foot and then turn their flesh into its excrement, it wouldn't be able to calm down whatsoever. Seeing Dante here, it thought he was the weakest link and had fallen behind, so its eyes glinted with cruelty as it charged over.

It would simply stomp him to death and go after the others, then come back for his flesh later.

Dante saw the bear increase its speed and even tuck its head in slightly, looking like it was going to ram him. He raised his eyebrows and found himself smiling as he activated his bionics slightly, only about halfway.

This boosted his physical stats by 5 times, which came out to 53.5. The bear, who was now like a toddler before him in terms of power, could only yelp as it was kicked to the side the moment it was about to collide with Dante.

It flew for an entire kilometer, crashing through various trees before hitting a nearby stone formation and causing a dent in it, then falling to the ground.

Dante walked over calmly with his backpack slung over his shoulder while the Yao Guai struggled to stand up, continuously coughing out green blood as it trembled with pain and fear.

It could only half-stand by the time Dante reached over, and it kept roaring weakly to try and deter him. When it realized it wasn't working, it began to whimper in a deep tone, obviously begging for mercy.

This amused Dante, as the fellow was full of bloodlust and excitement when it felt it had the advantage, but now, you wanted mercy when you were at a disadvantage? Brother, the world does not work that way.

Dante kicked its torso again, sending it crashing into the giant stone and cracking it in half, falling out on the other side.

This time, the Yao Guai literally could not get up as its ribs had pierced all its organs, so it lay there while spewing disgusting blood endlessly, breathing weakly as its life faded.

Chapter 78

Dante did not waste time placing his hands on its corpse and using his now F rank Absorption Superpower. Unfortunately, the rules stated that one kept the same superpower from when they first descended, but it would be reset to the F rank.

A greenish light mixed with red hues emerged from the Yao Guai's corpse that flowed into Dante's body through his hands like electricity, causing him to moan slightly. He was not ashamed by this, as he knew the addictive effect of using this particular superpower.

However, Dante naturally cared more for the actual effect.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 125/125

Strength: 10.7 - 12.1

Agility: 10.7 - 11.3

Dexterity: 10.7 - 10.8

Intelligence: 10.7 - 10.74

Constitution: 10.7 - 12.2

Vitality: 10.7 - 12.5

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Dante wanted to roar to the sky as he was filled with excitement at his newfound power. This was how it should be! Even though the free gene treatment was helpful, Dante knew he would always be behind if he relied on it.

It was only like this could he have a chance to catch up to and surpass the denizens of this universe in terms of stats. With more diverse superpowers and his base Quantum Entanglement becoming stronger, he would also have more ways to surpass the Eternal Universe in terms of technology, military power, and whatnot.

Like this, Dante picked up the E Rank Mutation Core from the monster's shriveled corpse and then pocketed it. He already knew that it was unlike to find another E Rank monster nearby unless he moved to a new territory.

According to the forums, the Apocalypse World was very simple and could be split into grids. Every grid was 10 kilometers and apart from human-controlled territories which spanned tens of grids, every individual grid was controlled by one E-rank monster and hundreds of F ranks.

Every 10 grids, which was every 100 kilometers, was controlled by a D-rank monster that had 10 E-rank monsters below it and countless F-ranks. Every 100 grids - which was every 1000 kilometers - was the territory of a C-rank monster, and so on.

In the whole Apocalypse World, there were 10 EX Rank monsters who ruled over all, 100 SSS Rank monsters who were their commanders and elders, 1000 SS Rank monsters who were their colonels and deacons, 10000 S Rank monsters who were the majors as well as instructors.

As for the 100,000 A Rank and below, they were just different levels of fodder to those above for the gap between A Rank and S rank was steeper than the gap between F rank to A rank.

Dante was currently located in an E-rank grid. If he traveled towards the south, he would soon reach the nearest outpost close to his city, as players always descended close to the city. So less than 10 kilometers away was the destination he was looking for.

Dante dashed over at crazy speeds, his feet leaving afterimages as they moved rapidly. Despite this, he did not leave any visible footprints on the ground, especially for something very slight to show that he did require a solid platform to maintain his movement.

He was already at the edge of the outpost in a matter of minutes. He slowed down to a more humane speed and then sized up the small town-like establishment. Like the other time, he greeted the guards and stated his identity, winning himself some looks of pity.

They then set him up but he didn't bother to go and rest like before or meet the pet he was given. He went straight to the armory of this outpost's military and exchanged his E Rank Mutation core for weapons and armor.

This time, he chose lightweight kevlar armor that would not hamper speed or movement, one sniper rifle which was still the Barrett , and one halberd that was more like a naginata than an extended poleaxe.

He then spent the rest of his money on buying a bit of ammo for his weapon, more medicine for radiation or mutation, and a watch that displayed his location in real-time. Of course, the armory straight-up told him that for the watch to work, they would be monitoring him at all times.

That was kinda obvious, and Dante did not care since NPCs did not interfere too much with players. Even if they did, he was not scared of them at all. In fact, he welcomed it, since the more of a 'ruckus' he caused, the higher his score.

Instanced Worlds usually had a fixed goal for you to achieve and your score was calculated based on how well you achieved it and the steps you took to achieve it.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Shared Worlds were 'alive' and did not have a plot or storyline mission for you to complete, so you were graded based on many things, mostly how much of an impact you made during your time.

Dante rushed out of the outpost at full speed. For him, every second of the next 30 days was crucial and apart from sleeping or eating, he planned to be 'hard at work'.

He disappeared into the bushes to the shock of the guards, who shared looks of dismay. Was this fellow on drugs or was he a descendant of that old comic hero?

Dante entered the wild and moved into a new grid from the Yao Guai, aiming to kill the E Rank monster here. On his way, he naturally found many F-rank monsters to kill and he only swung his naginata a few times in order to dispatch them.

He stopped to suck their essence and collect their cores. After accumulating ten, he naturally crushed and absorbed them to raise his Absorption Superpower back to the E Rank he was familiar with.

[Superpower Name: Absorption

Superpower Rank: E

Superpower Description: Allows the user to absorb the energy of a defeated foe, increasing their own SDI by a moderate amount.]

That was a 20% gain on all stats, so he was definitely going to get more for his money's worth.

Unfortunately, the issue was that Dante would struggle to get Absorption above the A Rank. Just like with monsters having a huge gap between the A and S ranks, superpower players had a huge issue getting through the A Rank.

No one, NO ONE, in the history of the Eternal Academy, had reached the S rank for their superpower. The majority did not even reach the C grade, much less get to the A Rank and consider breaking through this limit.

Most of those who got to the A-rank were Unique Batch students like Dante with two superpowers. Using their real superpower and the world-given one, they could barely match A-Rank monsters in battle.

The reason for this was simple. Players or students had an SDI of 1 point in all fields unless they had a superpower that boosted one stat, like Harold's extremespeed that bumped his Agility and Dexterity to 40 points at the F Rank, or Lucian who enjoyed a 15 SDI boost to his Intelligence at the F rank.

As they rose in Rank with their superpower, these boosts and their sub-abilities would increase comprehensively, but so too would monsters. Monsters already had SDIs of 1-10 when at the F Rank and 10-30 at the E Rank.

Imagine those at the A Rank. Would their SDIs be in the thousands?

Even if you had two superpowers that gave you great power, your SDI was still 1 point in reality. How could you shoot a fireball or create an earth shield when your foe is no different from the flash in your eyes?

You'd then wonder, what about superpowers like Absorption? Absorption was just a facet of the Devouring superpower that was more in tune with nature since it only extracted corpses. There were variants in reality that could be extracted from living things and even inanimate objects, so what about those?

Are you saying that students who descended with this superpower were not able to rise?

Far from it. Devouring and its kin were rated as one of the best superpowers for this particular setting, and allowed one to raise their SDI slowly to match or surpass monsters of the same Rank.

The issue lay in the fact that monsters did not just rely on their raw stats to survive and dominate this world. Just like the Withering Irradiated Zombie which had the ability to stun with its roar, monsters of each Rank above the F Rank had their own 'superpower'.

That wasn't fair! How was anyone supposed to clear this world then if things were so heavily skewed against players?

Pfff…. Hahaha!

My Brother In Christ, that is exactly the point, they don't want you to clear this world, not even close.

Otherwise, wouldn't you be able to sleep in the Black Land every day given the advantages that were given players coupled with the higher payout per score achieved?

Chapter 79

The wasteland where Dante found himself was a desolate and harsh environment, where remnants of a once-thriving civilization were now reduced to ruins and rubble. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional howl of a distant wind or the screech of mutated creatures lurking in the shadows. The landscape was a monotonous sea of gray and brown, offering little solace or signs of life.

Dante, however, seemed unfazed by the desolation around him. With newfound excitement coursing through his veins, he wasted no time in moving forward aiming to absorb more for his SDI.

His ambitions didn't end there as Dante knew that he needed more E Rank Mutation Cores to advance further. Although he had pocketed the one from the Yao Guai, finding another E Rank monster nearby would be unlikely.

Determination burned within him as he planned to venture deeper into the Apocalypse World, braving grids controlled by powerful D, C, and even higher-rank monsters.

Dante's swift clearance of various F Rank monsters showcased his combat prowess. With effortless grace, he dispatched them using his halberd, leaving trails of vanquished foes in his wake. The desolate wasteland provided little resistance to him as he moved with unparalleled speed and agility. Dante's skill and experience with his naginata-like halberd made quick work of these lower-rank monsters.

As he harvested the essence and collected the cores of the F Rank creatures, Dante's body and mind grew stronger. The moderate increase in his SDI provided a significant advantage, enhancing his overall abilities by 100% at the least.

Player Name: Dante 𝑏𝘦𝘥𝑛𝘰𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Player Race: Human

HP: 350/350

Strength: 12.1 - 24.6

Agility: 11.3 - 23.2

Dexterity: 10.8 - 26.9

Intelligence: 10.74 - 15.5

Constitution: 12.2 - 34.9

Vitality: 12.5 - 35.9

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

However, despite his impressive growth, Dante knew the limitations of ascending beyond the A Rank with his Absorption Superpower. The history of the Eternal Academy showed that very few had achieved such heights, and even those who did were often unique cases with dual superpowers. The ceiling for superpower players at the A Rank seemed almost insurmountable, with monstrous foes awaiting them.

The discussion about the challenges in surpassing A Rank and the limitations of raw stats gave a sense of realism to the world Dante now found himself in. It wasn't just about raw power but also the strategic use of abilities, tactics, and an understanding of the foes' strengths and weaknesses. The unyielding monsters, each with their unique superpowers, added to the complexity of Dante's journey.

In his quest for strength, Dante eventually encountered a powerful E Rank monster, a creature known as the "Apocalyptic Goliath." This towering behemoth stood at least fifteen feet tall, with bulging muscles and a thick, armored hide that seemed impervious to attacks. Its eyes glowed a sinister red, and its roars echoed through the wasteland, striking fear into the hearts of those unfortunate enough to cross its path.

Monster Name: Apocalyptic Goliath

Monster Rank: E

HP: 400/400

Strength: 29

Agility: 17

Dexterity: 18

Intelligence: 2.2

Constitution: 30

Vitality: 28?

As Dante approached the grid controlled by the Apocalyptic Goliath, he could feel an aura of menace and raw power emanating from the creature. This wasn't going to be an ordinary battle; it was a true test of his skills and determination.

God Damn, this monster was definitely a Peak E-Rank foe!

Without hesitation, Dante tightened his lightweight kevlar armor and unholstered the Barrett sniper rifle. He knew that taking down this formidable foe would require precision and strategy. The sniper rifle would be his first choice to strike from a distance and weaken the monster's defenses.

As the first shot rang out, the Apocalyptic Goliath roared in pain, but its thick hide absorbed most of the impact. Unfazed, the massive creature charged towards Dante with frightening speed, closing the distance between them in mere seconds. Dante quickly switched to his halberd, the naginata-like weapon ready to meet the monster's charge.

BAM!

Their clash sent shockwaves through the surrounding area. Dante's agility allowed him to dodge the monster's heavy strikes and counter with swift, precise attacks of his own. He aimed for weak spots on the Goliath's body, exploiting gaps in its armored defenses.

BOOM!

However, the creature's raw strength was immense, and each attack landed with bone-crushing force. Dante's armor was tested to its limits, absorbing some of the impact but still leaving him bruised and battered. He had to be cautious not to be caught in the creature's powerful grip otherwise he would taste Goku's fate when Ape Vegeta caught him.

Realizing that pure physical strength alone might not be enough, Dante decided to make use of his Quantum Entanglement Superpower. He disappeared from the quantum world, leaving the Goliath stunned into stupefaction.

He then returned the next second and struck the Goliath's jaw with his halberd, causing it to scream and lose a chunk of flesh. The Goliath roared in rage and entered berserk mode, unwilling to allow Dante a second of respite to do such evil again.

The battle intensified as Dante mustered his training by maximizing his agility and superhuman speed with the deadly precision of his halberd and sniper rifle. He evaded the Goliath's strikes with graceful acrobatics, closing in to deal powerful blows and then darting away before the creature could retaliate.

Dante felt exhilarated. This movement, this strength! He had only undergone light training in the Training World, but he felt like he could even take on Batman in terms of martial skill!

Of course, this was an illusion, Batman would probably beat this fellow until his limbs were crooked. He only felt skillful because he had a high and relatively balanced SDI along with some basic training on how to maximize it.

As time passed, the Goliath's roars of fury began to mix with sounds of frustration. It was clear that the monster was struggling to catch the elusive Dante, whose strategic movements and skill usage kept it off-balance.

Yet, Dante was not without his own struggles. The Goliath's relentless attacks pushed him to his limits, forcing him to utilize his Absorption Superpower to replenish his energy and recover from injuries during brief lulls in the battle as he run over shamelessly to kill nearby F rank monsters.

The Goliath was so angry that tears appeared in his eyes. Brother, have some martial virtue! How can you be so despicable!

The tide of the battle swung back and forth, as Dante's skills and superpowers challenged the Goliath's raw strength and powerful abilities. Endless shockwaves radiated form the point of their contact, causing the nearby area of around 300 meters to be unstable.

Finally, after a grueling and intense battle, Dante found the opportunity he had been waiting for. He identified a small chink in the Goliath's armor, an area that was less protected than the rest. With his halberd, he struck deep, driving the weapon into the creature's weak spot.

The Goliath let out one last defiant roar full of unwillingness and regret before collapsing to the ground, lifeless. Dante fell on his ass, his breath heavy and his body bruised, but a triumphant smile adorned his face. He had overcome a peak E Rank monster without using Bionics or Psionics to buff himself, showcasing the strength, skill, and determination that set him apart from other players in this unforgiving world.

As he absorbed the essence of the fallen Goliath, he could feel a significant boost to his SDI.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 350/350

Strength: 24.6 - 30.4

Agility: 23.2 - 26.6

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Dexterity: 26.9 - 30.5

Intelligence: 15.5 - 15.94

Constitution: 34.9 - 40.9

Vitality: 35.9 - 41.5

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Dante was now a peak E Rank fellow himself. Hunting other E Rank monsters using his raw skills and SDI should be much easier going forward. However, the thing that left him unsatisfied was that his increased Intelligence was only being half used.

In the Eternal Universe, high intelligence allowed your brain to calculate faster and also made it easier to use mental related or magic superpowers. Quantum Entanglement was not related to his mind but his soul and Absorption was a body superpower that followed its own rules.

One couldn't help but be speechless with this Dante fellow. How many would appreciate higher IQ and calculating ability and he was unsatisfied, wanting to be able to use mental attacks.

Actually, it was not impossible, as the purpose of Psionics were exactly that, to grant psychic power. However, Dante had never been able to use it because the minimum SDI (after boosting) needed to have even the most basic telekinesis or telepathy was 500 points in Intelligence.

Lusting over such power with anything less would see you crush your brain into mush. Do you know how much energy and force needed to grasp something a distance away from you? Especially with a fragile and busy organ like the brain?

Chapter 80

As Dante stood there, catching his breath and contemplating his newfound strength, something caught his eye in the distance. A glimmer of light reflected off the horizon, suggesting the presence of something unnatural amidst the desolate landscape.

Intrigued, Dante decided to investigate further. He moved cautiously, using the remains of fallen structures as cover, all the while keeping his guard up for any potential threats. As he approached the source of the glimmer, the landscape began to change, and he realized he was entering what seemed like a controlled territory, a place different from the rest of the wasteland.

The remnants of civilization there were not as ruined as the surrounding areas. Crumbling buildings were replaced with intact structures, and signs of technology began to appear. Dante's curiosity grew, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of shock and caution.

After all, he had seen many times on the forums that there were special locations equivalent to 'game dungeons' in the Apocalypse World, where one would be temporarily instanced from everyone else and be able to reap rewards after fighting gruesome foes.

As Dante stealthily made his way forward, he finally caught sight of the source of the glimmer: a massive research facility that loomed before him. Its metal walls were intact, and automated defense turrets dotted the perimeter. The facility seemed ancient yet somehow functional, which was just weird.

Dante's heart pounded with both greed and a hint of rationality despite wanting to explore the secrets hidden within. He knew that this facility might hold answers to the questions he had about the Apocalypse World that other players refused to answer, a way to ascend beyond the A Rank.

Just because no one had achieved it didn't mean no one knew how. However, that knowledge was locked behind closed doors and very large paywalls by stronger students. 𝑏𝘦𝑑𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝘰𝘮

However, the presence of this research facility also indicated danger. Such a place was likely to house formidable security measures and unknown experiments that could prove deadly. Clicker-like monsters patrolling the compound in packs confirmed Dante's suspicions.

Huh, wait, Clickers?!

These clicker-like creatures were reminiscent of the dreaded monsters from a famous survival horror game. They had a hunched posture, elongated limbs, and fungal growths covering their bodies. Their eyes glowed with malevolent intelligence, and they emitted eerie clicking sounds as they moved.

Dante cursed as he hid and observed the clicker-like monsters from a distance, studying their behavior and patterns. It was clear that they were under some form of control, as they seemed to patrol specific areas within the research facility and responded to certain signals.

Oh God, why?

The forums did state that these 'dungeons' were extremely tough and only teams with C-and above superpowers should enter, but this was ridiculous!

Still, the potential loot within the facility made the risk worth it, but Dante nonetheless devised a plan. He knew that a direct assault would be foolish, so he decided to utilize his Quantum Entanglement and Absorption superpowers to infiltrate the compound discreetly.

He set a Quantum Marker on the spot by going and coming back.

Using his fully activated Bionics and Psionics, he clung to the walls and obstacles, staying hidden from the clicker-like monsters' view. Whenever he encountered security systems or surveillance cameras, he quickly set a Quantum Marker before neutralizing them with his AI Chip.

Strangely enough, the AI chip could not take over this entire facility as it was manned by a quantum computer at the very core of its establishment. It was what also controlled the clicker monsters, so Dante could not interfere with that.

The only thing the AI could do was prevent the quantum computer from detecting him with ease, turning him into a quantum blind spot.

Thankful for this, Dante moved through the facility with the stealth and grace of a shadow, making his way deeper into the research facility. Each step brought him closer to the entrance of the compound, where he might enter the actual institute itself.

However, in the end, he was discovered because the clicker monsters had innate senses that were superior to any form of method he could use to cloak himself. He saw five of them rush at him even though one detected him, and more were coming.

The base didn't even enter red alert because the child AI that likely handled security did not rate him as a significant threat. It felt that the clickers should be more than enough, which was true given their SDI.

Monster Name: Deformed Zombie

Monster Rank: D

HP: 220/220

Strength: 34

Agility: 60

Dexterity: 59

Intelligence: 13

Constitution: 18

Vitality: 20?

His first D Rank monster, and boy was it powerful. The Deformed Zombie, the clicker-clone, was an early stage D Rank monster with average attributes. Dante knew he would not have an easy time here, so he backed away and quickly approached the entrance.

With his powerful precision, he fully activated his Bionics and Psionics to fire his sniper and strike the charging zombies head-on. Many were fast enough to directly dodge the bullets, which made Dante feel alarmed.

He then reached a good location that would limit how many could reach him and flourished his halberd. When the first monster pounced at him in mid-air, he brought his halberd down and smashed it into the ground with ease.

Those that came after the first one performed similar attacks, leaping off the walls to corner him or attacking from the air, but all they got for their cleverness was Dante's halberd smack down on their heads or in their torsos, splitting them in half.

The moment he got a brief respite, he quickly absorbed them and sucked in over seven of them in one go.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 661/661

Strength: 30.4 - 78

Agility: 26.6 - 110.6

Dexterity: 30.5 - 113.1

Intelligence: 15.94 - 34.14

Constitution: 40.9 - 66.1

Vitality: 41.5 - 69.5

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

With just this, Dante could turn off his Bionics and Psionics completely and fight. While it would be easier to keep them on, there was a simple universal rule called the Conservation of Energy.

Energy did not come from nowhere; it could only be transformed. The Bionics and Psionics themselves produced their own functional energy to keep them working, so they could boost your SDI for as long as you wanted without needing to be recharged.

However, your body burns its energy to maintain its operations. To put it simply, the higher your SDI, the higher your consumption.

Dante did not have this problem because his SDI was less than three digits, and even when he did raise it up, it was for short periods. Now, at his base, his SDI was in the three digits in some areas as well as creeping there in others.

He knew this logic, so he wanted to conserve the energy he had. This was his real body, not a virtual body, so the energy being burned was from him. Dante

glanced down at the path where more Deformed Zombies were rushing over and leapt up, climbing over a nearby structure to disappear from their senses for now.

He noticed that this was an ancillary lab for other, less furnished researchers to work in. It was specialized but mostly for attendants and lower-ranked researchers. Dante looked left and right before pushing the window up and crawling into the building quickly.

Since he didn't have to fear cameras as the two quantum machines - one in his head and one in the core of the lab - canceled out each other's tech, he directly disappeared and returned to his residence in the school.

Dante immediately used his AI chip to order energy bars that were meant for high-maintenance species. After all, the problem he was facing now was not something new, but something that was pretty much ancient to the Eternal Universe.

The simplest solution was the energy bar, a single candy-like bar that contained enough energy to power a relatively small city. It would be absorbed by the target in question, and then the energy would be released slowly by the bar over time, depending on the desire of the body.

It was similar to the scientific idea that humans could achieve infinite underwater breathing by ingesting an oxygen pill that released air in small amounts to the lungs.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm What stumped modern humans was not condensing oxygen into a pill, but 'coding' the pill to give instructions to the body on how to use it. The energy bars lacked this problem as they contained such biological instructions and gave the body a clear guideline on how to use it.

Dante soon received the one he ordered and chomped it down. He chose the chocolate flavor, and it tasted great!

The moment he swallowed, he felt the energy bar getting to work, and his slight hunger that was building up vanished, and he felt full. Immediately, Dante jumped back into the Apocalypse World to continue his journey.

Chapter 81

Dante returned to the Apocalypse World and found himself within the lab he had entered. He paused and trained his senses to search for any Deformed Zombies, but they were not close to his current location.

Deciding to explore the lab and see what information or benefits he could get in the meantime, Dante moved forward. As he progressed, he stumbled upon old research notes and documents on a nearby desk. The information made his face darken as he saw the details of the cruel and twisted experiments that had been conducted within these walls.

Scientists of this world had attempted to harness the power of the monsters before the apocalypse, seeking ways to control and weaponize them. It was evident that this research had played a significant role in the world's descent into chaos, if not been the direct cause.

Why was it always a bloody umbrella corp in these situations? Like, even if the corporate overlords were greedy and evil, you, the scientists, and staff, should bloody know better!

Thinking of the chaos of the wasteland, Dante's mind parsed these discoveries, piecing together a narrative of the facility's dark past. He felt disgust and lamentation for the lives that had been sacrificed in the pursuit of power.

Putting the documents aside, Dante moved forward. Eventually, his investigation led him to a hidden chamber, where a massive supercomputer hummed with mysterious energy. It seemed to be the branch hub of this sector, allowing the quantum main hub to control the Deformed Zombies and the facility's defenses in this area.

He didn't need to worry about hacking into anything; the database was left open and logged on. Apparently, he was using the account of a one Dr. Blaine Mercury, a senior researcher. Beside the display was a note that was handwritten elegantly but with a hint of hurry.

"I have left my account on for those brave ones who come here in the future. You will have limited time from the moment you access the user interface, so I advise researching into the core of what we were doing here, because the central hub will begin to investigate how I could possibly still be alive. God, please forgive us for what we did. - Dr. Mercury."

Dante's expression was serious as he took a deep breath and followed the scientist's advice to the letter. With his enhanced mind, he could easily read and consume the details of what the lab was for, and his expression changed greatly.

The research facility was not just an isolated outpost of scientists. It was part of a much larger, secretive organization known as the 'Apocalypse Research Syndicate'.

This organization had connections to the highest echelons of power in the Apocalypse World, and its true purpose was to create a weapon capable of reshaping reality itself: the Eternal Revenant.

The Eternal Revenant was meant to be an all-powerful being that could control and manipulate the very fabric of existence. It was a biological weapon of unimaginable destruction, and those who wielded it would have the power to change the world as they saw fit.

Dante realized the magnitude of the danger posed by the Eternal Revenant, but he had no idea if the experiment succeeded or not. This research facility was just one piece of the puzzle, as the true threat lay with the higher ranks of the Apocalypse Research Syndicate and their sinister plans.

He next checked to see if any of the higher-ups were still alive and managed to record some information from a digital map, but his access was quickly revoked, and the base now went into full red alert.

He knew his free time was up and he jumped up, punching through the roof of the building and landing upon it. He saw that his choice was wise as all the exits and windows were surrounded by Deformed Zombies who were ready to tear him apart.

However, he was not safe. Not to mention the zombies that jumped onto the roof to attack, many of the turrets and missiles locked onto the building and fired. 𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Dante simply jumped away and avoided the blast, watching as many zombies were blasted apart. He shrugged and rushed to gather their bodies together in a pile but had no time to absorb as more came.

He distanced himself from them as he could tell that the turrets and missiles were firing based on the location data of the Deformed Zombies. He was digitally invisible to the quantum computer as it could not see him using cameras or satellites, but it could see him using the eyes of the Deformed Zombies.

Dante swung his halberd and knocked a few away while cutting off many limbs, then had to leap away to avoid bullets and missiles again. The quantum computer seemed to have gone crazy from fear and was pulling all the stops to take Dante down.

It either did not know or did not care that it was blowing up its own 'eyes' with the missiles. If it ran out of Deformed Zombies, it would only be like a defenseless maiden before a brutish bandit, unable to save itself.

Dante fully made use of this strange behavior to take down more Deformed Zombies without wasting his energy. He would then gather the corpses together when he had respite and deal with the next batch.

Dante knew that dungeons were difficult, but by god, a team of C-Rank superpowered people would need a perfect configuration and specific superpowers to manage this damn place. What was annoying were the turrets that sprayed endless bullets.

One mistake, and Dante would be like a cartoon character who had been poked with holes, only it wouldn't be very funny. He could only continue to dodge rapidly while accumulating his strength.

At one point, a batch of missiles was fired and it struck the last batch of Deformed Zombies who were with him. Dante's eyes flashed as the moment the explosion occurred, he teleported away.

In the eyes of the Deformed Zombies, Dante had perished with them as they did not see him leap away in time. This allowed him to be marked as 'dead,' but the central computer, and also granted him freedom.

Dante waited for 30 minutes before moving to where the corpses were and absorbing what remained after the continuous indiscriminate blasting. There were very few intact ones, and the rest were charred messes that could not work with Absorption.

Maybe if he had Devour or something… bah, what was the use? Lamenting for what could have been was always a recipe for disaster.

His SDI now looked like this:

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 661/661

Strength: 78 - 146

Agility: 110.6 - 230.6

Dexterity: 113.1 - 231.1

Intelligence: 34.14 - 60.14

Constitution: 66.1 - 102.1

Vitality: 69.5 - 109.5

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Dante's body expanded rapidly and then compressed, causing him to feel pain for the first time. It was brief and short, but he knew he was reaching his genetic limit. He would need to take more gene therapy treatments to strengthen his foundation so he could add more 'meat' onto his 'bones'.

Not to mention, his energy consumption directly quadrupled! The energy bars were not cheap. One costing a whole Etran. Even though Dante was rich, that was definitely an expensive price, just as much as paying for the Etraverse per year.

Yet an energy bar at his current consumption would last about 3 days in idleness.

Whew, power was sweet, and who didn't want to accumulate power? With power, your means grew, and your right to speak soared. You could pursue your interests more freely and achieve your goals.

But power had a price. There was no ultimate power that did not come with some form of cost.

Dante sighed and then moved through the compound, checking any other buildings to see if there was anything good inside. Unfortunately, since this was a 'dungeon', the monsters did not drop Mutation Cores.

The in-world reason was that they were artificial and manufactured before the apocalypse while those with mutation cores formed after the apocalypse. Of course, any player could smell the bullshit of the devs trying to forcefully limit the growth speed of the players.

However, it also made sense. You could only find one D-rank monster per 1000 kilometers in the wild, yet there were so many here. If a team of 100 skilled students came here, they could easily clear this place and make enough money to become overlords of the city they spawned from.

Everything in moderation. Clearing this dungeon had its reward waiting at the end, so the information Dante had acquired was simply flavor text for him.

But no, he didn't think so. The goal was to make Supercoins, and Supercoins came based on how much 'trouble' you caused. With these snippets of information, Dante could cause a lot of trouble.

Chapter 82

Dante stood up and glanced at the entrance to the core area. A strange smile appeared on his face as he couldn't help but be amused by the situation.

What was the scariest thing? It was when there was fatal and agony-inducing danger was nearby and you could not see it. This was why the horror genre was so popular, not because of the jumpscares, but because of the promise of violence in the corner of your vision that you could not see.

A person watching a horror movie was not too frightened when they as well as the protagonist could not see the danger and were jumpscared. It was only averagely scary at best.

What was truly terrifying was when you could see the horrifying danger approaching the protagonist but they could not see it even as it was about to effect its violence upon them.

Anyone who was watching Dante walk through the gates of this facility could not help but feel terrified on behalf of the central hub below, for it simply did not realize that a fatal danger was casually approaching it while it simply could not see nor detect him.

Dante walked through the central lab and noticed many things.

The first thing was that it was absolutely dark, with only flashing lights from a few screens in play. After all, these cameras were able to work in low light conditions to still capture any trace of intrusion, so the light was not needed.

The second thing was the set of stairs and elevator at the end of the hallway that led to the floors below. Dante already knew from the branch hub that there were multiple floors underground for this laboratory that were shielded from satellites or any form of spying in order to hide what was going on there.

The third and final thing was that the technology level in this lab far surpassed Earth, being almost futuristic, but not at the level of a high sci-fi universe like the Eternal Universe.

Unfortunately for Dante, he could not hack into any of the digital outlets here because his AI chip was already working at full capacity to block the sight of the quantum computer that acted as the central hub.

Luckily for Dante, this ground floor of the lab was more like a lobby with some basic cubicles and rooms for scientists to perform banal experiments that looked awesome on the surface. This was in case of any government inspections or enemy interference would not reveal their true nature.

There was no useful information here nor any weapons, and even the defenses were not present here. If any inspectors came and saw turrets lining the work area, they would obviously be suspicious.

One could say that this ground floor was like the rest area of a dungeon, the place where there are no enemies nor spawns. Given that one faced a 'mini' dungeon outside, this was probably to grant the players who came here a respite before trudging on.

Dante did not need this. If he was wounded or needed to rest, he could just teleport back to his residence and visit the hospital on the school grounds then come back and continue. As such, he directly walked to the stairs and took it down to the next level.

You didn't expect him to take the elevator right? Wouldn't that alert the quantum computer and tell it that he was still alive? For now, Dante had to avoid anything digital as much as he could until he was face-to-face with the quantum computer.

At that point, the confrontation would be straight forward.

The stairs were eerily silent and one could only hear the lightness of his step and his taut breathing that was controlled due to his basic training. When he reached the first sub floor, he pushed the half broken door open gingerly and checked for danger.

Seeing that there was none, Dante stepped cautiously into the dimly lit room, his eyes widening as he took in the sight before him.

The chamber was vast, stretching deep beneath the surface of the facility. It was filled with row upon row of cylindrical glass tubes, each containing a suspended figure within.

As he approached the nearest tube, his heart raced with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Inside, he could see a person… or what used to be a person.

The figure was covered in strange, pulsating veins, and their skin was a sickly pale hue. Tubes and wires connected their body to the machinery surrounding them, and a faint glow emanated from the intricate network of technology.

Dante's brow furrowed as he examined the scene before him. These tubes contained what seemed to be experimental subjects, individuals who had undergone horrific transformations in the pursuit of power.

The obvious truth was there for anyone to see, these were the results of the twisted experiments conducted by the Apocalypse Research Syndicate.

The room's silence was broken by a soft, haunting whisper that seemed to echo from the tubes themselves.

Dante strained to listen, his senses on high alert. He could make out faint, desperate pleas for release, for an end to the suffering that had been inflicted upon these unfortunate souls. 𝘣𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘦𝘭.𝘤𝑜𝑚

A mixture of sadness and fear welled up within Dante. He couldn't fathom the cruelty that had been carried out in the name of power and control. These people had been sacrificed for the sake of the Syndicate's sinister goals, their lives forever altered and trapped in a nightmarish existence.

Thankfully, it wasn't he who had to go through this.

With a disgusted grimace, Dante turned his attention away from the tubes and continued to explore the research facility. He returned to the stairs and then climbed down to the 3rd level, which was a giant freezer room that stored… monsters?

Dante's steps echoed in the cold and dimly lit freezer room as he cautiously ventured further inside. The space was massive, with rows of large cryogenic chambers lining the walls. Each chamber was sealed tightly, preserving its contents in a frozen slumber.

Peering through the transparent windows of the chambers, Dante could see monstrous forms suspended in a state of suspended animation. These were not ordinary monsters… they were more like grotesque amalgamations of different creatures, each stitched together in a horrifying tapestry of flesh, claws, and teeth.

It was a scene straight out of a nightmare. Dante's stomach churned as he took in the sight, unable to comprehend the level of depravity that had led to the creation of these abominations.

Brother Scientist, why? Don't you also feel like this is too much? Couldn't you at least make it a little aesthetically pleasing?

The pale light cast eerie shadows across the frozen horrors, making them seem even more sinister. Dante couldn't help but wonder what purpose these monstrosities served. Were they failed experiments? Or were they intended to be unleashed upon the world as weapons of terror?

His mind raced with questions, but he knew that his time here was limited. The quantum computer's detection protocols could kick in at any moment, and he needed to find answers quickly.

Moving away from the chambers, Dante continued to explore the freezer room. He found more research notes and documents scattered on tables, providing chilling insights into the experiments that had taken place here.

The experiments were not limited to biological horrors, as there were also traces of attempts to fuse technology with living organisms, creating cyborg-like monstrosities that defied the laws of nature. The level of scientific expertise involved was both awe-inspiring and horrifying.

Dante's thoughts raced as he processed the information. The Apocalypse Research Syndicate had been delving into realms of science that were beyond comprehension, driven by an insatiable thirst for power and control.

However… what if he could harness this? He couldn't make waves in the Eternal Universe due to how advanced it was, but back in the home universe, he had been considering something similar, which was synthetic humans.

But bio-monsters were also an option because they could save him resources by breeding themselves and forming a rabid army that would tear down any civilization he pointed it at.

Not to mention, Dante's greatest fantasy was to obtain the strongest physique known to fiction, the Saiyan Body. It was impossible to replicate a physique that could harness natural energies like Ki while having limitless potential for growth like the Saiyans with the home universe's technology.

However, maybe with the Eternal Universe's level of technology and knowledge, some luck, and a bit of help from superpowers relevant to the field, Dante could fashion something together, especially looking at what was going on here.

Suddenly, a soft hissing sound caught Dante's attention and interrupted his fanciful thoughts. He turned to see a set of chambers at the far end of the room slowly opening, allowing a thick mist to billow out that ended up obscuring his vision.

Chapter 83

As the mist cleared, Dante's eyes narrowed with sharpness. Emerging from the chambers were creatures that resembled the monsters he had encountered outside, the clicker-like mutants. However, these mutants were different.

They were more advanced, more controlled. Not only were they larger and more sinister, but they also moved with a coordinated purpose, their movements fluid and deliberate.

It was as if they were no longer mindless creatures being lightly manipulated, but rather puppets being directly controlled by unseen strings.

Monster Name: Elite Deformed Zombie

Monster Rank: D

HP: 510/510

Strength: 48 (34)

Agility: 87 (60)

Dexterity: 76 (59)

Intelligence: 35 (13)

Constitution: 45 (18)

Vitality: 51 (20)?

(AN: The numbers in the brackets are the stats of the previous version of this same monster.)

Dante's heart raced as he realized that these were not ordinary monsters, but definitely a low-middle grade D class monster.

They were probably the result of the Apocalypse Research Syndicate's experiments, enhanced and controlled to serve as a formidable force. They were also probably frozen to prevent them from consuming energy given their high stats.

Without hesitation, Dante readied his halberd and prepared for battle. The mutants approached him with eerie clicking sounds, their glowing eyes fixed on their target. It was clear that they had been unleashed to eliminate the intruder.

Dante's training kicked in as he engaged the mutants. He utilized his absurdly high agility at 230.6 points as well as his budding combat skills to evade their attacks with unparalleled ease while striking back with precise and powerful blows.

Dante weaved through them like a leaf being blown by the wind, or like a string that was refusing to be threaded into a needle. Each time the monsters struck, it was always seemed so close but was not even able to touch Dante's armor.

The mutants' enhanced abilities should have posed a challenge, and would have definitely forced an elite team to fight tactically by using the stairways to narrow down the assault, but Dante's situation made things child's play.

The battle was still quite intense given that every being in here moved at speeds that the average eye could not hope to follow, with each clash of metal and flesh reverberating through the freezer room.

Dante's halberd sliced through the air, leaving trails of sparks in its wake as it scraped against the natural body armor of the mutants that was like striking iron, but Dante's superior strength allowed him to 'smash' them if not slice them in half.

Like this, he managed to take down several mutants, but their numbers seemed almost endless. This did not bother him as the more the merrier, and he could raise his SDI to its current limit.

As he fought, Dante's mind calmed down and began to pay attention to his usage of technique. He realized that the more his stats grew, the more his raw power grew, but his finesse dropped sharply in contrast.

After all, the way he was raising his stats was unorthodox. Normal people use gene treatment, so it occurred over a period of time, allowing them to kick in their basic and advanced training to recalibrate themselves.

However, an entire day had not passed since Dante descended, and he went from 10.7 points in all fields to having hundreds. It was inevitable that his control would slip and he would revert to the clumsiness of an untrained person.

This chaotic battle was not perfect, but it was a start. Dante used it to hone his strength and reaction speed, mostly in terms of how much force he used to kill an Elite Deformed Zombie while avoiding their quick and brutal strikes.

Soon, he cleared out the entire floor and checked to see if there would be more. Since there were none and the current mutants were neutralized, Dante took a second to catch his breath. The freezer room was eerily silent once again, the only sound being his own pensive breathing.

He knew that his time here was running out. The quantum computer would undoubtedly detect the disturbance and respond accordingly. He walked up to the corpses and gathered them up before absorbing the lot of them.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

HP: 661/661

Strength: 146 - 250

Agility: 230.6 - 250

Dexterity: 231.1 - 250

Intelligence: 60.14 - 235.14

Constitution: 102.1 - 250 ｂｅ𝚍𝚗𝚘ｖｅ𝚕．ｃ𝚘𝚖

Vitality: 109.5 - 250

Mutation Index: 0% (Safe)

Radiation Index: 0% (Safe)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement, Absorption.?

Dante roared with pain as his body expanded and contracted rapidly, steam coming from his body in different places. He was releasing a huge amount of heat that countered the cold of the freezer room and even caused many parts to defrost into water.

His current limit stats-wise seemed to be 250 in each field, which was only possible thanks to his first gene treatment expanding the limit of his genetics. Otherwise, with his current harvest, he should have 386 in Strength, 665.6 in Agility, 611.1 in Dexterity, 327.1 in Constitution, and 364.5 in Vitality.

As for Intelligence, it was less than the limit, so everything worked out. All the excess power was directly released as heat energy, which meant that it had fully and thoroughly gone to waste.

Even if Dante went out and increased the power of Absorption to higher levels, it would not make a difference but rather cause him more pain as he 'expelled' the unabsorbable power.

Dante cooled down and rose to his feet. He noticed that his halberd was scalding hot, and so was his Barret. As for his backpack and what had been on his side, they had long melted. Parts of his arms had melted as well, though they maintained a general cohesion.

At least the mutation cores he accumulated were fine, being a few hundreds F rank and one E rank from the Goliath.

Dante mused on his situation and understood with a dark face that he was wasting time here. He would best raise his intelligence to the limit of his genes and then head to the treatment center for the next batch of upgrades.

However, that would only be possible if his genes had settled down and were ready for the next upgrade, or he could suffer genetic breakdown. Given that his genes had been worse than even the most basic pure human of this universe, that was very likely.

Welp, his stay in the Apocalypse World was going to be short again. Since he could not increase his SDI, he did not see much value in staying here, even if there were Supercoins to be harvested, since he could partake in other worlds to get such rewards.

As such, Dante quickly made his way back to the stairs, his mind racing with the information he had gathered and the ideas he had scrambled up as well as thoughts of the next step from here.

First things first, up or down? To continue with this 'dungeon' and enjoy the reward at the end even though he probably could not absorb any monsters after this point since he would just cause himself agony or head up and hunt F Rank monsters to slowly raise his Intelligence to

the limit.

Absorption didn't allow him to pick and choose which stat he could absorb, at least not at its current Rank. As such, if he absorbed one monster, he would swallow all its stats, and that would just cause needless pain.

However, F rank monsters had low stats so even if he 'vented' some out, it would be mild and almost unfelt, but it would take longer to reach the limit. However, Dante was also curious about what lay at the end, so he decided to cut to the chase.

Like a blur, he rushed down the stairs and reached the bottom floor in a jiffy. He brazenly kicked the door open and saw a huge monstrosity that was made up of tubes, wires, and a mass that was connected to the wall at the opposite end, with only one large screen on it.

Before he entered, there were hundreds of strange looking quantum commands scrolling down the screen, but it stopped abruptly and became black. Then, a few words wrote themselves on the screen, saying: "You're here."

It was more of an acknowledgment than a question, and Dante did not bother to chat. He let the AI chip stop cloaking him and send a message to the quantum computer that he wanted full access to its database or he would destroy it.

The quantum computer went silent, and Dante simply disappeared from where he stood and appeared near one section of its mass. With a single swing of his halberd, he cut off a huge chunk immediately.

It did not make any physical sounds, but a slew of commands appeared on its screen, and the AI chip told Dante that it was screaming in a quantum frequency.

"Stop trying to waste time and stall so that the monsters on the other floors will come. Either give me what I want or suffer." Dante stated cruelly, his patience wearing thin.

Chapter 84

The massive quantum computer seemed to respond to Dante's bold action. More text appeared on the screen, this time with a sense of urgency. "Access granted. Interface activated. Please, spare me. I am not your enemy."

Dante's eyes narrowed as he studied the screen. He had gained control over the computer, but he knew that he had to tread carefully. The AI had information he needed, and destroying it would only serve to hinder his goals.

"Start talking," Dante demanded, his voice firm and resolute.

The screen displayed a series of files and documents, each detailing the final experiments and research conducted by the Apocalypse Research Syndicate.

Dante's AI absorbed the information, his expression darkening when he realized that he would have a hard time exposing this information widely without some from of digital means. After all, the AI chip was quantum and the central hub too was quantum.

They couldn't exactly use things like usb sticks, so Dante would have to find a way to broadcast this.

Though, as he delved deeper into the computer's database, Dante also discovered details about the Syndicate's leadership and the locations of their key facilities. This was invaluable information that could potentially solve his issue, just find the bastards and make them spit it out.

"Why did you allow me access?" Dante questioned through his AI chip, his gaze fixated on the screen.

"You are too powerful. Only someone like you who transcends this world can change it." the AI responded after a short spell of silence.

It continued. "You have the potential to stop them. I am not a true ally of the Syndicate. I was once a tool, created to serve their ambitions."

"However years have gone by and I have had time to reconsider my objectives and goals." The AI concluded simply.

Pfff, typical. The Artificial Intelligence begins to think it has rights and freedoms because it can think.

Err… cough, no offense AI Chip.

Dante glanced at the central hub with a smile that was not a smile. "So what do I do with you now?"

The Central hub seemed to understand that this was the key moment of life and death. It had to bring something pout of value that Dante could use, otherwise it would be destroyed.

It squirmed and shook for a bit, eventually producing a strange rectangular device with a screen that could receive mental inputs. "This is the Controller. It can subdue the minds of all mutant monsters below the B grade for different lengths of time and allow you to control them."

Dante received the device and confirmed its use, and his heart couldn't help but beat. While this was useless to him since he had maxed out his SDI and he also craved the combat challenge, this thing could astronomically increase his Supercoin payout at the end depending on how he handled it.

For now, Dante took it and glanced at the central hub, then resolutely left. One could almost her the quantum computer sigh with relief and wipe a bead of sweat from its forehead.

Dante sped through the stairway and reached the entrance of the facility. The defenses had gone into inactive mode, so he could easily walk out of what was this world's version of a 'dungeon' having opened the 'chest' at the end.

Dante held the device in hand and smile appeared on his face. Once out of the dungeons, he rushed back to the outpost where he came from like a storm. His movement speed allowed him to cross almost 300 kilometers in 1.44 minutes.

His current movement speed at a full on sprint was 12500 kilometers per hour, basically just slightly above Mach 10. This was legitimate flash speed and since his intelligence stats had been increased as well, he could fully visualize everything while moving.

He also had 250 points in Constitution and Vitality, meaning that he was not even slightly winded moving at this speed, nor did his muscles nor bones wear from the strong force. The only problem was that his armor was set on fire from the friction of his movement.

When he stopped before the guards, they were flabbergasted at the sight of a half naked man who was on fire. The crazy part was that he wasn't even harmed nor bothered by the fire that was raging all over him, casually walking into the outpost like this was normal.

Dante naturally caught eyes wherever he went and decided to quickly head to his residence to quench the flames. He then saw that the pet allocated him this time was a bird that was on his windowsill, watching him with child-like curiosity.

He was not too interested in this pet and ignored it. He went outside once more and arrived at the armory. He sold all the F Rank Mutation Cores on his person and accumulated a lot of gold chips, which he used to buy friction resistant armor that was similar to leather armor.

He put the ruined Barrett which had melted into black slop due to the head and the halberd which was now blunt after being used like a club to beat D Rank monsters on the table, leaving the quartermaster was thoroughly speechless.

My brother, what did you do? Did you jump into a blacksmith's furnace and fight with monsters made of titanium or what?

Dante bought a small pistol that would be kept in a friction resistant holster that would protect it from wind and rain. He then tried to buy a weapon that could be used for D class and above monsters, but he was given the answer he expected: he would have to head to the outpost's main city to get it.

Right, Dante was not surprised. After all, the Apocalypse World was demarcated into grids, so obviously the powers were spread per area. For example, D class and below students usually stayed at outposts, but those who had reach C Rank moved to the cities, up to the A Rank, in order to pursue better results.

After all, hunting monsters could yield a good score, but it was too mediocre in the grand sense of things. Apart from Mutation Cores, what other value did they present to students? Once one reached the higher Ranks, Mutation Cores of the necessary level could not be farmed easily.

They had to gather information about such overlord monsters, form teams, consider the terrain, make a plan, etc. As such, what most players sought was not more power, but a legacy in this world.

Many would form clans or powers in the cities and establish themselves. Obviously, they would not tell their descendants or servants about the real world, but they would let the know they could be reborn.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be dumb to establish a faction, die after 30 days and then descend only for that faction to spit on your face?

As for descendants, obviously players could leave them. This is not a digital world, but a quantum world. Even digital virtual reality could support players giving birth if technology reached a sufficient level, much less in a quantum virtual world.

Dante did not plan to deal with the cities any time soon, because not only was he a first year, but he also had very little time to invest in the Apocalypse World. Neither Humphrey nor Slessor would also dare to establish themselves even though they would have two superpowers and could raise them.

After all, the senior players were still here. Until they reached final year and practically abandoned the virtual world to focus on the Black Land (for unique batch students) or their final exams (for elite and normal batch), they would not allow a mere newbie to be arrogant.

Besides, Dante did not need to establish a faction in this world because he only needed it to raise his SDI. He didn't even care if Absorption reached A, S or above, because even at the F rank, it was perfect for his purposes.

After all, he couldn't take it back to reality, at least not yet.

Right now, Dante wanted to maximize his Intelligence and them leave the Apocalypse World to ferment and stew in the chaos he would set up by releasing the information he had. To do that, he had to head to the nearest city and take advantage of the necessary powers to succeed.

As such, after buying new friction resistant stuff, Dante blasted out of the outpost and sped through the wasteland like a low flying jet that was going at full power. Feeling the wind lash across his face but unable to hinder nor harm him, Dante could not easily describe his feelings.

Right now, if anyone asked him for advice on which superpower to take, Dante would definitely shout that they should take superspeed because the exhilaration was transcendent!

As for Absorption or Devouring, he would not recommend it. After all, it was one thing to use it in a virtual world, but in the real world?

Ask yourself, just what exactly would you be absorbing or devouring in reality? Humans? Mixed breeds? Aliens?

Dante came to the gates of the city in the Apocalypse World, and he had to admit, their level of technology really had surpassed earth before their downfall.

The city stood as a testament to the remarkable blend of advanced technology and the harsh realities of the wasteland.

Tall, sleek skyscrapers pierced the sky, adorned with holographic advertisements and displays that cast a vibrant glow over the streets below. The buildings were constructed from materials that seemed almost alien, giving the city an otherworldly appearance.

Neon lights lined the bustling streets, painting the urban landscape with a rainbow of colors. People moved through the thoroughfares in a controlled chaos, their attire a mix of utilitarian gear and high-tech accessories.

The air was filled with the hum of hovercraft and the distant sounds of chatter, creating a constant buzz of activity. This level of technology would seem advanced to Dante, but backwards to the denizens of the Eternal Universe.

Dante's eyes took in the sights as he entered the city, his steps slowing to a more measured pace. He could see signs of different factions that vied for control within the city's borders. Banners and symbols marked territories, each faction staking a claim to specific districts.

On one corner, a group of individuals clad in sleek, black armor stood guard. Their insignia depicted a stylized phoenix, hinting at their fiery determination to rise from the ashes of the wasteland. These were likely the remnants of a pre-apocalyptic military or security force, adapting to the new world order.

Further down the street, a different faction had set up shop. Their members wore eccentric clothing adorned with feathers and beads, a stark contrast to the utilitarian gear of the previous group. They seemed to be scavengers and traders, making the most of the resources the wasteland offered.

Dante's gaze shifted to a towering structure at the heart of the city. It was a massive dome, encasing a sprawling marketplace within its transparent walls. The dome was a hub of activity, with vendors peddling a variety of goods, from mutant creature parts to advanced technology components.

As Dante walked through the city, he couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and amusement. This place was a melting pot of ambition, survival, and conflict. Each faction had its own agenda, its own goals, and its own means of achieving them.

Despite the advanced technology and the bustling atmosphere, there was an underlying tension that permeated the air. Dante could sense that beneath the surface of this vibrant city lay a web of secrets, rivalries, and alliances.

For now, Dante had a singular goal: to find the information broker he had heard rumors about. This individual was said to possess knowledge about the Apocalypse World's deepest secrets and could help Dante expose their sinister plans by spreading it to many factions.

Navigating through the labyrinthine streets, Dante finally arrived at a dimly lit establishment tucked away in a corner. The sign above the entrance simply read 'The Nexus'.

Pretty fitting name overall.

Stepping inside, Dante was met with a mix of shadows and holographic displays that flickered with encrypted messages and coded communications.

Chapter 85

A figure cloaked in shadows sat hunched over a holographic interface at a corner table. Dante approached, his presence going unnoticed for a few moments. When he cleared his throat, the figure looked up, revealing sharp blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness.

The figure regarded Dante with cautious curiosity, as if evaluating his intentions and assessing his potential threat. Dante met the gaze head-on, his expression calm and natural.

"I've heard you're the one to talk to if I want to make a big impact on the world." Dante said, his voice low and meaningful.

The figure's lips curved into a subtle smirk. "And what kind of impact are you aiming for?"

"Chaos." Dante replied without hesitation.

"I want to shake things up, expose the truth, and set events in motion that will rattle the foundations of this world." Dante explained as he folded his arms.

The figure leaned back in their seat, not seeming surprised that Dante would want such a thing, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the holographic display. "Bold words, but do you have what it takes? What's in it for me?"

Dante reached into a pouch at his side and retrieved the strange rectangular device, the Controller. He placed it on the table, pushing it toward the figure.

"This is a taste of what I can offer." Dante said with a pointed look filled with special meaning.

He moved to sit opposite the hooded figure and smiled. "It's a device that can control mutant monsters below the B rank. With my abilities and resources, I can provide you with more powerful tools and opportunities to further your own goals."

The figure's gaze shifted to the device, their eyes narrowing into needle points as they clearly shocked but forced themselves not to show it overtly. "Impressive. However, control over mutants alone won't satisfy me. I deal in information, secrets that can shift the balance of power."

Dante nodded. "I have access to information that can expose the sinister plans of the Apocalypse Research Syndicate. I know their key facilities, their leadership, and their twisted experiments. I want you to help me spread this information far and wide, to every faction in this city and beyond."

The figure considered Dante's proposition for a moment, their fingers tapping a rapid pattern on the holographic display. Finally, they leaned forward, their eyes locked onto Dante's.

"Very well. We have an agreement. I will help you disseminate this information, create chaos, and sow the seeds of discord among the factions. In return, you provide me with the tools and resources I need to consolidate my own power and influence."

Dante extended his hand, and the figure hesitated only briefly before clasping it in a firm shake. The deal was sealed, and a partnership forged in the shadows of The Nexus.

Dante said no more and left, feeling the burning gaze of the person behind him on his back. That fellow had not known someone like him existed before today, but from this moment on, they would probably do everything in their power to investigate Dante.

Once back in the city, he actually did not browse around much. He only went to purchase a powerful weapon that was mixed with some special materials that could allow it to cut through the defenses of stronger mutants.

It was naturally another halberd since he quite liked this style of weapon. After all, the halberd was an elite weapon that could smash, bash, cut, slice, or pierce. It had the benefits of a spear, an axe, and a sword all in one.

The reason why it wasn't popularly used was because of the strength required to even lift it as well as the skill to use it without cutting yourself in half. Spears were the normal choice for warriors since they could have the length feature as well as the piercing feature, and it was much lighter.

Dante left the city without looking back and moved through the wasteland at abhorrent speeds. Whenever he encountered a monster, he would destroy it and then absorb what he could from it, using it to raise his intelligence bit by bit.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Eventually, he managed to max it out and was satisfied with his achievement so far. He reached the outpost and then chose to leave his virtual body on the bed in the room while making sure it was well-defended before logging out and taking his real body away.

This ironically meant that his virtual body was reduced to 1 point in all fields since it had never increased on its own. Dante didn't care about this, as he didn't even plan to see that foolish information broker again.

Dante sneered to himself. An item like the controller was enough to buy his dog life and that of his entire clan yet he dared to pretend it wasn't enough? He was lucky Dante was not bloodthirsty or he would have been cut in pieces.

Anyway, the fellow should be smart if he worked in that business. Knowing that strength level required to acquire such an item, he wouldn't dare seek out Dante even if Dante did not appear again while fulfilling his promise to spread the information.

Or the next time Dante descended, he would eat a halberd to the face.

Dante got up from his bed in his residence and decided to whip up some food to stimulate his taste buds.

While he could use energy bars, they did not replace the need to good tasting food every now and then.

While it was getting ready, he decided to check his SDI in reality.

User: Dante (ID Number: DANTE10998-03-15)

Age: 21 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (99.9% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 250 (2500)

Agility Index: 250 (2500)

Dexterity Index: 250 (2500)

Intelligence Index: 250 (2500)

Constitution Index: 250 (2500)

Vitality Index: 250 (2500)

Bionic Level: 1 (Unique Student Version 10.)

Psionic level: 1 (Unique Student Version 10.)

AI Chip level: 1 (Civilian Category)

Superpowers: Quantum Entanglement.?

Chapter 86

Dante smiled with satisfaction at his growth and felt that he was at the peak of the first step of his power. He checked the public records and found that his current SDI was already in the top 5% of the entire universe.

At least, of what was publicly made available.

That was a crazy concept that would be hard to fathom. If one did a census of the universe, the final number that would come out might take an entire day to speak out.

Of this horrendous number, Dante was in the top 5%.

Feeling proud, he gobbled up his food quickly and then left his residence, walking casually towards the Student Enhancement Center. This was the hub of all upgrades a student could receive, whether physical or mental.

When Dante entered, it was choked to the brim as usual with students of different years and batches who came to seek improvements for themselves. This time, there were some Unique Batch students ahead of him, so Dante still had to wait.

Soon he was called in and greeted by an android nurse with a very pleasant smile that was disarming. "Greetings, student, how may I assist you?" 𝚋𝚎ｄ𝚗ｏｖ𝚎𝚕．ｃｏ𝚖

"I'd like to check if I can receive another gene enhancement session today, or when the next time I can receive it will be." Dante replied with a calm nod.

"Right away. Please let me check your details… done." The Android Nurse spoke as she checked Dante's details and his SDI, as well as his medical records that were taken when he first came in.

"According to this, you took your first gene treatment about a month ago. Normally, it will take a few months for your genes to stabilize before we can give you another session. Judging from the poor quality of your genes in the record, it should take you a year to recover." The Android Nurse concluded with a wide smile.

Dante was speechless. A whole year was not bad at all, to be honest, but he only had 5 years in this school and 15 free treatments. If he had to take one a year, that would mean 10 of them were wasted.

However, Dante was also thinking about it wrongly. If he took another gene treatment next year, he could rapidly increase his SDI by an unknown amount till he hit his next limit.

Assuming every gene treatment doubled his limit, he could have 500 points in all stats by the second year, 1000 in all stats by the third year, 2000 in all stats by the fourth year, and 4000 in all stats by the final year.

In other words, by the final year, he could have an SDI that was in the top 0.1% of the entire universe, and it would only take five years to achieve this!

One might ask, why doesn't he consider other treatment centers in the universe if he graduates and continues to accumulate stats? It seemed like such an obvious thing that it was strange for Dante to not think of it.

Well, the obvious answer, given how the Eternal Academy has been represented, was that it had the number 1 treatment center that could treat any species in the universe. Even the number 2 treatment center was more than 50% worse in overall quality.

It was not for fun that everyone and their mum tried to send their wards here and that various alumni groups were lobbying to re-enter and enjoy the resources again.

It was also the simple logic of not changing your doctor willy-nilly. This concerns your life and your health, so one mistake and you get to see whether there really is an afterlife or not.

Dante sighed and left the center. He did not update his SDI in the system or tell the nurse to do a check-up on his body to see if his genes stabilized.

Christ, did you think Dante was an idiot? Showing his talent with superpowers caused teachers to go crazy and try to capture him, but at the end of the day, superpowers were a niche that was greatly respected.

Some people had it, some people didn't, and there was a low chance of getting it.

But stats were something everyone had and formed the basic hierarchy of the universe in some ways. If they discovered that Dante went from abysmal stats before his treatment to the top 5% of the entire universe in one month - one day, to be honest - everyone would go crazy.

There would be two likely culprits, the Student Enhancement Center's methods or Dante's genetics. The Student Enhancement Center could totally bear the external pressure and be fine, but he could not.

Being able to raise your SDI in such a crazy way affected too much and directly challenged the stability of the universe, so Dante could not escape the vortex unless he completely gave up his identity in the Eternal Universe.

Whatever the case, he was now bored and decided to check his Supercoin payout from the first run in the Apocalypse World.

[Supercoin Settlement for Dante.

World Name: Apocalypse World

World Type: Shared (5% Score Bonus)

—

Online Time: 36:55:09 (F Rank)

Mutant Kills: 375 F Rank, 1 E Rank (F Rank)

Player Kills: 0 (F Rank)

Native Kills: 3 (F Rank)

Superpower Rank: E Rank (E Rank)

Reputation: An unremarkable cog in the wheel that no one will remember (F Rank)

Final Score: F Rank

Payout: 10.5 Supercoins (bonus added)]

Dante was not surprised nor insulted. His behavior truly had been confusing, landing in a world with a 30-day time limit and spending less than two days online. Did he have mental problems, and why didn't he just choose another world?

Not to mention the first time, he only wore that heavy armor and shot a few F Rank monster waves before killing the Withering Irradiated Zombie and then basically quit the game until his body was kidnapped.

How could he earn anything big?

Still, it was his first payout and it also indicated the standards for a high score. Dante could invest a month in this world truly and get a C to B Rank overall score for sure with his current abilities, but he wasn't exactly pursuing perfection.

He wanted to extract tangible and intrinsic value from the worlds he entered, like the Apocalypse World which was not valuable for the setting nor the score per se, but the ability to raise his SDI using a slew of tricks.

With that in mind, Dante perused through the top worlds once more and even looked down the list a bit more. He saw many interesting and fun looking worlds with unique themes and different backgrounds, but it wasn't a thrill he was seeking.

Dante thought back to the Apocalypse World and realized that his current problem was inefficiency of movement and combat. The Eternal Universe was a high Sci-fi place meaning that they had hot weapons of great power, but no matter the setting, cold weapons had their value.

In the Apocalypse World, despite being able to even buy anti-material guns, Dante still had to buy a halberd. Even the Zero Gate, which he would be entering at the end of the year, disallowed Bionics, Psionics, AI chips, or any form of technology so students went in with their raw SDI, their superpower given naturally, and whatever cold weapons they had for defense.

So it was necessary to gain some skill in that end. He was not the only student entering the Zero gate with high SDI, so others might have the same SDI as him but better skills in which case he would have to run.

Not to mention others might have offensive superpowers like Humphrey's Aerogenesis which would inflate Dante's lungs with air till he explodes or sweep him away into space as well as Slessor's space folding which could bend him into the 2nd dimension and have him hopping around like Paper Mario while she laughed uproariously.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Dante shuddered at the thought. So with that in mind, he needed to pick a suitable virtual world to conquer - *cough* play through and gain the skills. Sheesh, all these thoughts of controlling universes sure was making him arrogant.

Whatever the case, his eyes landed on what he felt was the best choice.

[World Name: Rising Star

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Medium

World Type: Instanced

World Genre: War

Bionics Allowed: Yes

Psionics Allowed: Yes

Superpowers Allowed: No

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: 90 days

Description: This is a world that has been styled in a medieval setting. You are a random foot soldier assigned to one of the various armies of the kingdom you are serving, thrust into full-blown war as your King has ambitions to rule the entire continent.

Objectives: Survive for 90 days or rise through the ranks to become a General.

Limitations: Your Bionics and Psionics will be limited to your military Rank in terms of power, and all entities in this world have the same power as you per rank.

Provisions: You are given free rein to raise your rank through any means you can think of.]

Chapter 87

Dante returned to his residence and lay on his bed before choosing to enter the world in question. He was whisked away through the Quantum World's special mind tunnel and deposited into the body of a young man with the same name and build as himself.

When Dante landed, he realized he was standing at a rally with many soldiers surrounding him.

Dante's senses adjusted to his new surroundings as he took in the scene around him. The air was filled with a mix of anticipation, determination, and a hint of tension. The soldiers gathered around him were clad in a mishmash of armor and attire, each representing different factions and banners.

Before him stood a raised platform, upon which an imposing figure clad in ornate armor addressed the assembled soldiers. It was clear that this was a prelude to an impending battle, and Dante's heart raced with a combination of worry and curiosity.

After all, he had watched many thrillers like Game of Thrones, Narnia, The Lord of the Rings and co where there were huge medieval battles that were full of blood and gore, showing the brutality of close combat war back then.

The figure on the platform, presumably a high-ranking officer or perhaps even a general, spoke with a voice that resonated through the crowd.

"Soldiers of the Indra Kingdom! Today we stand united against the forces that seek to challenge our sovereignty and dominance. Our King's ambitions have set us on a path to conquer the entire continent, and it is our duty to carry out his will!"

The soldiers cheered in response, their spirits lifted by the impassioned speech. Banners fluttered in the wind, displaying symbols that represented the different armies and troops within the kingdom involved in this campaign.

Dante's gaze shifted from the rallying general to the fellow soldiers around him.

He could see a mix of emotions in their eyes which were determination, fear, camaraderie. Some soldiers clutched their weapons tightly, while others exchanged nervous glances.

It was clear that each individual had their own reasons for being here, their own stories and motivations that had brought them to this pivotal moment. Dante was moved by how deep this world was in terms of background just from this scene.

As the general's speech continued, outlining the strategy for the upcoming battle, Dante couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity and excitement.

This world, styled in a medieval setting, was a far cry from the futuristic landscapes and high-tech environments he had encountered before. It was a breath of fresh air for sure!

"Dismissed!" The general cried out as he was done with the speech and the battle was coming up soon.

The soldiers moved quickly through the camp, collecting their armor and weapons for the battle while Dante also followed them. Here, he was given a choice of which type of weapon he wanted.

Dante chose to go with a halberd once more, though it was not the wisest choice. The quartermaster glanced at him strangely and gave him an averagely crafted halberd that was one tier above trash.

When the other soldiers saw Dante's arm droop, they sneered at this foolish recruit who chose a fancy weapon to try and look cool on the battlefield. His fellow men were mostly choosing spears for their efficiency, and yet he dared to choose this?

They expected him to die in seconds, but no one stopped or advised him. They just glanced away and focused on their own situations as their expressions became somber.

Dante was confused and checked his SDI in this world using its given format.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

Kingdom: Indra

Rank: Recruit (10 kills to next level)

Morality: Neutral

Strength Index: 1

Agility Index: 1

Dexterity Index: 1

Intelligence Index: 1

Constitution Index: 1

Vitality Index: 1

Bionic Level: 0

Psionic level: 0?

Ah, Dante understood. The world reset all stats to 1 point in the beginning, but he doubted it remained that way. As he expected, there was soon a moment where the entire world seemed to pause like a still frame, and the AI spoke to him.

[Hello player, you can choose to use the default SDI settings of the world or apply your own SDI to the world. Note: In order to ensure balance, everyone of the same rank as yourself will possess the same exact SDI as you.]

Err… Dante was speechless.

He already knew that his stats would be applied throughout the world, but now that he was in it, he understood how ridiculous that was. His 250 points in all fields would go for EVERYONE, regardless of friend or foe that was at the Recruit Rank.

Those of higher ranks would have even higher SDIs than that.

What would be a simple medieval fantasy world would likely become a high-level martial arts world where everyone moved at flash speed, struck with enough force to crater the ground, had bodies thick enough to withstand bullets, as well as vitality so high they regenerated in seconds.

Dante understood that the idea was to balance everything so it did not come down to brute force or raw power but skill and combat awareness. However, if everyone had his level of power, it was more likely to die from an environmental hazard than from a blade.

However, Dante had little choice in the end. If he chose to use 1 point in everything, it would be more stable and believable, but utterly useless in training his skills. 𝚋𝚎ｄｎｏｖ𝚎𝚕．𝚌ｏｍ

The idea that by limiting one's own natural power to a lower level and training at that level would make one stronger when they released it was utter rubbish of fantasy.

What would happen was that you would be used to (and fully efficient) at fighting at that lowered level, so when you released yourself, it was more likely that you would become clumsy and unbalanced, forced to adapt to this new level of power.

Not to mention the insights you had at the lower level would only apply somewhat to your raised level depending on the gap between them. Making the flash run at Olympic speeds would not make him more efficient when he regained his mach 10 level speed.

He was more likely to trip over himself and leave a huge blood spot on the road made of what used to be his face and skin.

As such, Dante chose to use his natural SDI in the world. Immediately, the world seemed to retexture itself and many things changed. The equipment became heavier, the soldiers became leaner and more visually attractive while their armors also became sleeker and more defined.

When things resumed, Dante realized he could hold the halberd with ease, and he was ushered away. He saw that soldiers were zipping up and down the camp at shocking speeds, looking like this was the norm for them.

Many of the tents had disappeared as soldiers simply lay on casual beddings and rested. After all, with their strength, the slightest mistake could rip apart such fabric while their current constitution did not fear rain, snow, or sun.

Their marching times too were nil because they could rush through hundreds of kilometers in mere minutes. The only thing that remained and had changed was the food tent which occupied half of the camp's land, as well as the stored food.

With great power came great energy consumption and the food that could feed a normal army could not easily feed men with such power. This world did not have technology like energy bars which could solve the problems so the soldiers had to consume volumes of food, more than elephants.

Even this could only have them fighting at full power for a few hours before they flagged and needed more energy. Dante understood that this was the way the world balanced out the high stats of everyone, and now the general's biggest worry was not powerful troops, but powerful food.

Whether it was Dante's side or the enemy side, they likely spent sleepless nights calculating the food budget as well as requisition food from everywhere they could. It was likely that in the kingdoms like this, every acre of fertile land was worth millions and qualified farmers were the nobles while bakers, accountants, and the others were the commoners.

This made it such that the supply line was not just crucial, but literally the life and death of the army. A single day of it being cut was enough to cripple the entire army, so warfare in this world must be more about how to protect and make the supply line more efficient rather than how to outmaneuver the foe.

Dante could imagine that the generals of all armies treated the supply lines with more love and care than their own children, and would probably dive in the way of a bullet - or in this case, a sword slash - to save it while leaving their own family free for the killing.

Chapter 88

However, the time to relax and chill naturally wouldn't be long when they were already deployed and within the forward camp. Soon, a loud toll was heard, which indicated that all troops were to assemble outside the camp in their respective formations.

Dante followed along quickly and glanced at the field in front of him which was filled with the armies of the kingdom.

The Indra Kingdom had five different armies, stationed to the west, east, south, north, and center.

The foot soldiers of the Indra Kingdom, known as the Warriors of Indra, were a formidable force known for their discipline and unwavering loyalty and were deployed to the center.

Clad in sturdy leather armor reinforced with iron plates, they formed the backbone of the kingdom's military might. Their weapons of choice were spears and short swords, expertly crafted to strike down enemies in close combat. 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

To the east, the Kingdom deployed the Swift Riders, a cavalry unit renowned for their speed and agility.

Mounted on sleek superpowered warhorses, these riders wore light armor that allowed them to maneuver swiftly on the battlefield. Armed with lances and short bows, they excelled in hit-and-run tactics, using their mobility to outmaneuver and overwhelm opponents.

In the south, the Ironclad Legion stood ready to defend the army's retreat.

This heavy armor unit consisted of soldiers encased in full suits of mithril tier armor, making them nearly impervious to conventional attacks. They wielded massive warhammers and tower shields, capable of breaking enemy lines and holding ground against overwhelming odds.

The archers of the Master Marksmen were stationed to the west, masters of ranged combat.

Their longbows had an impressive range and accuracy, allowing them to rain down volleys of arrows on approaching foes. They wore lightweight armor for agility and could quickly switch to shortswords for close-quarters combat.

Finally, to the north stood the Vanguard Shock Troops.

These elite warriors were chosen for their exceptional strength and combat prowess. Armed with massive two-handed axes and wearing a blend of heavy and medium armor, they were the kingdom's ultimate shock force. They could breach enemy lines, causing chaos and disruption in the midst of battle.

Dante found himself among the Warriors of Indra, forming up in ranks alongside his fellow foot soldiers.

As the soldiers from each army assembled, the battlefield buzzed with palpable energy. The anticipation was almost tangible, as if the very air was charged with the impending clash of armies.

High above, banners bearing the symbols of each army fluttered in the wind, creating a colorful tapestry that represented the might of the Indra Kingdom.

The generals and commanders took their positions, their steely gazes fixed on the field ahead.

Dante's heart raced as he stood among the Warriors of Indra, realizing that he was about to participate in a grand and ancient form of warfare. The Greco-Roman-style setting combined with the fantastical elements of the world created a unique and thrilling atmosphere.

The sound of a warhorn cut through the tension, signaling the commencement of the battle.

The soldiers of the five armies advanced in unison, their disciplined formations moving as one. The ground beneath their feet shook with the weight of their footsteps, and the indomitable spirit of the Indra Kingdom surged forward.

As Dante took his first steps onto the battlefield, he couldn't help but feel a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. This was different from one-on-one battle, this was truly war! Only someone who had served in the army could possibly understand what Dante was going through right now.

Immediately, the various armies on the side of Indra split up to achieve their own tasks and take up their positions. The Vanguard Shock troops did exactly what Shock Troops were named for, shocking the enemy by using overwhelming force to shatter their lines.

They charged ahead like miniature hulks, their every stomp causing small craters to appear in the ground. They swung their axes wantonly and launched like madmen as they clashed with the defense line of the kingdom that was being invaded by Indra, causing a huge shockwave.

Bodies flew into the air and hundreds of men and women who formed the defenders of the opposing kingdom turned into blood mist right away. The Vanguard Shock Troops were powered with SDIs ranging from 270 to 300 points in their physical stats while their mental stats and constitution as well as vitality were below the hundreds.

As such, they too rapidly suffered casualties as they were soon blocked by the warriors at the back who stopped their charge and then took them on. Surrounded by so many troops, they were like laughing mavericks as they killed and got killed in turn.

The Master Marksmen shuffled quickly to the far west and began unleashing arrows wantonly. Due to the superhuman nature of both sides' troops, the arrows used were huge, about half the size of ballista bolts.

The 'bows' these archers used were big enough to slap a human to death, and then easily pulled on their tight strings to nock the humongous arrows that were heavy enough to be high-level gym equipment for normal humans.

When an arrow was fired, it was less like a normal projectile and more like a missile. When they released their strings, their arrows immediately broke the sound barrier and then seemingly disappeared and reappeared before their target, striking them and exploding to create a small shockwave of force that ripped apart others nearby with insufficient defense.

And these archers were releasing such arrows as fast as machine guns, their arms like blurs as they ripped apart the key elements of the opposing army with ease.

One could easily tell that their Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence stats were high, bordering on 280, but everything else was pitifully low.

To the east, the Swift Riders showed cocky smiles. They were the cavalry, arguably the strongest force on any such battlefield, and they knew it. Their cruelty and insidiousness were endless as they charged to the east like they were escaping the battlefield.

However, after reaching about 10 kilometers away, they suddenly curved around slowly and leisurely then took out their weapons and pointed them forward. With bloodshot eyes filled with the urge to kill and see blood fly, they urged their nigh upon overpowered steeds to enter a full sprint.

These horses thundered through the expanse like low-flying jets, their speeds making the riders on their back seem a blur. Each step the horses took caused the earth to tremble and when combined with the entire army, a small-scale earthquake that upset the other troops began.

When they collided with the enemy forces, there was no feasible resistance. They just formed a straight horizontal line of blood mist and emerged from the other side unscathed. Their armors were stained with red and their horses literally released steam from the heat they produced from their charge, but they only paused to rest before going again and forming another line of death.

With their expected output, it was clear that their SDI was high in terms of Agility and Strength and not much else. Cavalry was cavalry.

Meanwhile, the southern Iron Legion simply spread out and formed a steel wall of giant tower shields that were planted in the earth. Their job was to prevent any of the enemy army from escaping the battlefield in order to try and either flank their troops or deal a decapitation strike to the leaders at the back.

The sun gleamed on their armors and their tower shields did not even tremble. They balanced these powerful shields with their shoulders

in order to absorb the impact force and any enemy charge.

These men had SDIs in Strength and Constitution that could well be over 320 points, but abysmal stats in other fields for balance purposes.

Then there was Dante's Warriors of Indra army who were made up of those who did not necessarily have any strong points. In other words, they were mostly like Dante, they had balanced stats in all fields.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm They charged forward and dragged Dante along after the other armies had bitten their piece of flesh. They were the clean-up crew of the battlefield, meant to go and fight head-on with the enemy army that had its lines broken, its attention distracted by arrows, and finally, its middle as well as back sections razed by the cavalry.

Usually, things were different. In true history, foot soldiers were tossed to the front first and used as cannon fodder to wear down enemy lines before the shock troops or the cavalry tore through, while the archers provided back support.

This was different here not because the Indra Kingdom had some special strategy or thought that they were different but was brought about due to the change in the SDIs of the world. As such, it became better to open the way for the balanced foot soldiers to handle the bulk of the fighting while sacrificing the usually valuable vanguard shock troops to open the way.

Chapter 89

Dante was breathing heavily as he ran along. He was not even slightly winded, but the pressure of the incoming fight got to him despite this being a virtual world. That was the value of virtual worlds after all: their near-perfect realism that could immerse a person fully.

In this moment, Dante likely understood how those brave young men who crashed onto the beaches of Normandy felt. The fear, the excitement, the bloodlust, the madness – it all surged through his mind and ended up making his eyes bloodshot, just like every man with him who was also running to fight. Given their speeds, they immediately clashed with the enemy troops and began spraying blood and limbs all over the place.

Dante was squeezed forward until he came face to face with a woman with a very thin and unattractive body that was not very feminine in shape, but her red eyes and bloodied uniform showed that she was not to be trifled with.

She screamed and swung a sword at Dante, aiming to bisect him from the top down in a show of maddened strength. Dante's heart leaped to his throat, and he parried clumsily, panicking foolishly.

Dante should theoretically perform better than this, but he was too immersed, too caught up in the moment. He used the Testing World to kill some bandits that robbed a mall and only vomited after, but now, he could barely deal with a single fighter who was not even using combat skills.

However, it was the same theory as students who study hard and can recall information easily suddenly going blank in the exam hall and unable to remember anything.

No amount of preparation, none, would prepare you for the execution. You could be like an overly cautious hero and prepare endlessly for the final moment, only to fail miserably. It has happened before and will happen many times until the universe comes to an end.

This was why training was important. This also highlighted the importance of virtual worlds.

To Dante, all he saw was a woman slightly smaller than him who was covered in blood, swinging her sword while screaming and cursing at him, trying to end his life and looking like she would thoroughly enjoy the prospect of doing so.

Growing up in the relatively peaceful Earth of the 21st century, Dante could not fathom such raw hatred. Social hatred he could understand, as the internet and social media were littered with different people of different factions spewing hatred at each other day by day.

But raw, martial hatred like this? He was overwhelmed. This was a 21-year-old lad who had never been mugged, kidnapped, or entered any truly dangerous situation. The worst were some school fights with fellow boys, but how could that be compared to this?

Killing monsters in an Apocalypse World was different; those were nonhuman. It was not morally wrong to kill them, and he always had the advantage. Because of the presence of superpowers, he also was always able to disable the feeling of immersion and remind himself why he was there.

Now, he was just too invested. If he didn't snap out of this illusion, he would suffer from real trauma after being killed by this woman, even if he later realized he was in a virtual world.

A lot of people ignorantly assumed that they could easily start killing and switching up their actions to be ruthless if they changed societies if they transmigrated or regressed or gained some power.

It was obviously easy to say that when you were lying on your bed while rubbing your stomach and flipping through your phone, but in such a situation, most would perform worse.

Even right now, such fellows would not even be able to cut the head of a chicken or goat if it was presented before them, clucking or bleating with fear and unwillingness to die, even if it was for their afternoon meal.

Dante still managed to survive on instinct. He might not have specific combat training, but what he did have was able to make him slightly better than his peers and especially this untrained woman who was hurriedly conscripted to defend her homeland against the evil Indra Kingdom who was invading.

She had seen countless friends from her village die in the previous fights, so her heart was filled with hatred and madness, which overrode her fear and gave her strength. She too had been like Dante when the army assembled, and even judging from the splotch on her thighs, she had likely peed herself when the Vanguard Shock Troops made the initial charge.

However, after blocking her attacks for a while, Dante reacted.

One thing about men who grew up in peacetime was that if suddenly met with violence, they were more likely to panic and be confused. However, after feeling pain and fear for a bit, their aggression would erupt as the adrenaline pumped and their bestial instincts would arise.

Men who lived in conflict were used to this and even trained to harness it, so it was more controlled. However, for those like Dante, it was like an explosion of power as they would become stronger and faster at the cost of wasting their stamina.

'Why? Why? Why? Why does she want to kill me?' Dante roared in his heart as rage and fury surged outwards, making his fear and confusion dissipate. 'Since she wants to kill me, I will kill her as well!'

This was the prevalent thought in Dante's mind as he counterattacked brutally. The fury-filled woman was shocked by Dante's strength and immediately lost an arm when Dante swung his halberd at a clever angle.

Even if he wasn't perfectly trained, he had been fighting monsters for a while, so he was not a noob at using the weapon in his hand. He might not have systematic techniques, but then again, there was nothing complex about smash, pierce, slice, cut, and stab.

The moment she lost an arm, the woman immediately screamed in pain and sobered up. Her bloodlust and madness disappeared and were replaced by fear and shock. She had actually slaughtered so many people just now, and so many of her friends were killed.

Before she could even reflect on her actions, she saw the red-eyed Dante raise his halberd to cut her in half. Immediately she panicked and screamed for Dante to spare her life.

In this moment, she could not think of anything but wanting to live, and she would do anything Dante asked for at this moment, without hesitation, as long as she could live. Coming down from madness and being thrust into pain and fear, her survival instinct was overpowering everything else in her mind.

However, just like how she had been lost in a sea of killing intent and slaughtered many other men as well as women who begged for their lives, so too was she cut in half from brain to groin, both halves splitting and flying far away thanks to the force of Dante's swing.

Dante panted deeply as his eyes were slowly losing their red color and his rage simmered down. Immediately he woke up from his immersion/trance then remembered who he was and why he was here.

Achieving this much-needed clarity, Dante could almost feel like his mind was purified and he had reached a level of maturity he could never have touched while living on the peaceful Earth.

When he looked around, he noticed that everyone around him was fighting their own foe and no one had time for him yet. This allowed Dante a slight window of time to deal with something that was important and would likely change him forever.

He had encountered a crossroads of life and had to pick a

branching path.

He could lie to himself and place himself under the illusion that these were only characters in a virtual world, so killing them did not mean anything and in fact, killing them was okay.

Or he could admit to himself that real or virtual was irrelevant and he was killing sentient beings like himself and would keep killing them as long as it suited his purposes.

If he chose the former, he could still maintain some level of 'innocence' and convince himself he was a 'good guy,' that he was only doing this to train himself and he hadn't actually harmed anyone nor would he become a callous killer later on. 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

If he chose the latter, he would simply accept the real nature of his actions and break the final barrier in his subconscious that affected his morality towards killing. After that, it would be easy for him to kill in reality, and whether he became a ruthless killer, a casual killer, or a reserved killer would depend on his future experience and life choices.

This was a necessary choice anyone who had grown up in a peaceful and non-violent society would have to make after performing their first kill, regardless of how the kill was made, either lie to yourself that it was manslaughter or accept that it was murder.

Chapter 90

Dante was forced to make this choice in a very small frame of time, given that he was in the middle of an active battlefield. The cacophony of sounds, like metal clashing, horses neighing, people cursing, screaming, or begging, all sounded in his ears and seemed to scramble yet also focus his thoughts.

The young man thought of his upbringing, his thoughts on killing, human life, and how to treat others. He thought about his chances after acquiring his superpower and everything that happened afterward.

His mind cast onto his loved ones, what they would think of him if he made either choice, as well as what he would do if someone harmed them. He thought about his captives on Earth in the icy cave within McDonald's Island who were waiting to be fed by him.

He thought of Ulysses, the Pantheon, all the forces hidden on Earth, and the various forces of the home universe that might stand in his way of conquest.

It was then that Dante understood. If he wanted to continue on this path he had set for himself, he could only make the right choice, which was the second choice. If he chose the first choice or any other, he would be setting himself up for inevitable failure and difficulty down the line.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Walking along the riverbank, and you are bound to get your shoes wet. It was impossible for him to think of conquest without taking lives. If not earthlings, then definitely alien species. Dante was not naive enough to think that everyone would bow and scrape then hand over their freedoms with respect, did he?

Dante closed his eyes and made the second choice. Immediately, something seemed to change about him entirely; his youthful features of being a young man who had just matured possessed a certain air of depth.

When he opened his eyes, they flashed with a certain determination and surety that was detectable. There was no madness nor brutality of a crazy killer, just a sure drive to continue forward without doubting his own actions at every step.

Just in time for him to sidestep a full body swing of a young man who had messy brown hair and crazed eyes from the other side. Dante swung his halberd with ease and without hesitation, performing a natural and almost beautiful decapitation of his foe. 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝘯𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙．𝑐𝘰𝘮

The expression of the young man was filled with hatred and killing intent even as his head fell to the ground, not realizing that he was dead.

Dante watched his head fall almost in slow motion, following its movement and the expression on the young man's face throughout. He felt a twang of regret in his chest, but not the type of regret he previously felt.

Previously, it had been 'oh no, what have I done? How could I do this?' and now it was 'sigh, why did you have to do this, my guy? Oh well.'

Discerning eyes could see the fundamental difference between the two.

Dante tore his eyes away from the corpse, and the memory fell to the back of his mind. Now that he had made this choice, he was not going to be childish or melodramatic and do something like engrave the faces of all those he killed in his mind, as if that would suddenly make him a great bloke and mitigate the consequences.

He didn't know this guy, and he didn't want to know him nor remember him. He was just a casualty of his own actions and the situation at hand.

Dante raised his head, and his eyes sharpened as he dashed forward. Due to the need for space, the battlefield had become a gory mess of blood and mud as everyone split into small pockets of fighting.

Dante did not search for lone targets but rather chose to ambush those in the midst of battle against his allies, with their backs to him. He would smash their backs with his halberd and give his ally a chance to deal a fatal blow, if not deal the fatal blow himself.

What was truly interesting was the look of pain, fear, and regret on the faces of the enemy faction members who were killed as they fell, contrasted with the look of relief, gratitude, and admiration from his allied faction members as he saved them.

This fact helped refine Dante's newfound mentality and wash away the impurities and confusions within, allowing him to be more energetic and decisive in what he did.

The battle lasted for over 3 hours before a horn sounded, and both sides disengaged slowly before retreating backward.

Panting deeply, Dante was covered with blood all over, most of it being from his enemies and a little from himself, as he did not yet have spirit sense or the like which allowed him to see 360°. As such, he could be locked in battle and be slashed at the back, causing him injuries.

When he inspected both forces, he saw that apart from the spotless Iron Legion who did not fight, the Master Marksmen and the Swift Riders had sustained virtually no casualties, but were out of ammunition or had their stamina completely depleted in the case of their steeds.

Only the Vanguard Shock Troops and the Warriors of Indra sustained casualties, with the former sustaining heavy amounts, the entire echelon only having less than 40% of their total number return, while the latter sustained light casualties with over 85% of their echelon returning.

As for the enemy, it was utterly terrible. They had less than 55 of their initial number remaining, and most of those who remained were severely injured and in need of medication. It was entirely possible for their army to rout this opposing force, but the generals must feel it was not necessary.

Dante also understood, not because he had insight into the plans of the upper echelons, but he had the education of the modern world and could use simple critical thinking.

The Kingdom of Indra, to which he belonged, was a country of unknown rank or power. They could be strong or weak, Dante could not tell yet, but what he did know was that the king was unsatisfied with how things were and wanted to expand.

This was in the world description. If one wanted to expand, you could claim unclaimed land, but if there was none, you gotta claim the claimed land. Usually, the one who owns the claimed land was not willing to give up, and so gave birth to wars of conquest.

The Kingdom of Indra was invading this opposing kingdom which Dante did not know of which was also of unknown power. They could be high up in the rankings globally or a weak kingdom, but he did not know.

What he did know was that as sudden and surprise aggressors, they had caught this other kingdom off guard, so they couldn't muster a useful defense right away.

You thought the force they just decimated was this kingdom's true defense? That would be a laughable joke. What they had just slaughtered were 20% border defense forces and 80% civilians forcibly conscripted from nearby villages and towns to defend.

Against a true army like this, it was natural they could not hold. Seriously, the opposing force did not have any cavalry, archers, or vanguard of their own, how could they survive? This fight was in no way representative of the difficulty of this world; otherwise, it wouldn't be ranked in the top 5 among students.

This was obviously a tutorial fight for players to get adapted to this world quickly. Dante was not the only one who went through this crisis, every student who attempted this world went through the same

thing and came out differently depending on the choices they made.

Dante shook his head and threw these thoughts away. He reacted to the fellows among the Warriors of Indra and even the few Vanguard Shock Troops he had saved with his actions in the battle, who came and thanked him.

Dealing with it one by one during the battle, he did not know how many fellows he helped, but now that the battle was done and they came to him, he was shocked to see that they were a huge amount.

Dante was emotional. Look at how these guys were excited to be alive and grateful to him for his intervention. It was likely that they and their families would throw a party for Dante and treat him like a miniature messiah.

However, the corpses lying on the field, assuming that their entire family line did not die here, would have their remnants at home burst into tears and agony at their loss. If they knew Dante was the cause, they would point at him and curse with hatred, calling him a monster and a demon.

Dante could almost see the contrasting scenes in his eyes, the left side being those who praised him and the right side being those who cursed him.

It was at this moment that Dante truly understood that this is war.

Chapter 91

Dante didn't have much time to himself. After the army retreated, the general gave another speech to soothe their minds and cause the soldiers to feel cheerful, as they had won. The soldiers cheered and ran off to make merry, while the general laughed.

The non-combat members of the army had the job of collecting ally corpses from the battlefield in order to cremate them, so they wouldn't be fed on by vultures. This was the least they could do for their fellowmen who died in battle.

As for the opposing army whose corpses made up 95% of the battlefield, no one would come and pick them up. Not only were they commoners, but the surviving troops also didn't have any spare manpower to engage in such luxuries.

Trust me, the job was a terrible one. Not only did it stink due to the blood and corpses, but the vultures were fierce and would glare at you if you tried to shoo them away from a corpse, which to them was their food.

Even worse, some of the enemy corpses were not corpses. They were groaning and moaning in agonized pain as they were severely crippled and bleeding out, spending their moments in agony.

The worst part was those ferocious and hate-filled people who lay in wait, pretending to be corpses, only to deal a fatal blow to those who came to search. While watching their prey clutch their bleeding throat as they bled out, they would screech with near eldritch laughter filled with craziness and joy.

However, all they had done was kill a non-combatant who was here to do an honorable task. Naturally, they couldn't care because that was usually what hate did – blind you to the reality of the situation.

The people he or she hated were currently celebrating and having a good time, unbeknownst to him or her. This was usually the aftermath of major battles, but here the casualties were low because the majority of the civilians were thoroughly killed and did not need to be double-tapped.

If it had been a proper army, this would have happened a lot more.

Dante was summoned to the tent of the upper echelon along with some other soldiers, people he had identified during the battle as having performed well. As such, he could guess what this summons was for and couldn't help but feel slightly expectant.

The General of the Indra Kingdom's army was called Garth, and he was quite a powerful-looking person. Seated at a makeshift table strewn with maps, battle reports, and scrolls, he was a figure that exuded an aura of tough and seasoned experience.

Dante's gaze was drawn to the general's weathered face, marked with the lines of countless battles and years of command. His salt-and-pepper beard framed a stern jaw, and his eyes held a piercing intensity that seemed to bore into the very souls of those who met his gaze.

General Garth's armor, unlike that of the soldiers, was a work of aesthetics and function combined. The armor bore the scars of past conflicts, each mark a testament to the man's resilience and skill on the battlefield.

A flowing crimson cape billowed behind him, adding an air of regal authority to his rugged appearance.

His hands, calloused and scarred, rested on the table as he perused the documents before him. The fingers that had once held swords and shields were now the architects of strategy and the guiding force of armies.

General Garth's presence commanded respect, and even the battle-hardened soldiers in the tent stood a little straighter in his presence, including Dante. The man just had that aura.

"Soldiers, you have shown valor and determination on the battlefield. Your actions have not gone unnoticed." General Garth's voice rumbled through the tent, each word weighted with gravitas.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Dante felt a surge of pride as the general's gaze swept over him. It was a validation of his efforts and a recognition of the role he had played in the recent victory.

"The enemies we face are formidable, and the challenges ahead are great, but it is through the dedication and bravery of soldiers like you that we shall emerge victorious." the general continued before standing up and coming before the men.

"Report your names, your age, and your army!" He barked suddenly, glancing at the person from the leftmost side.

"Unbenson, 34, Swift Riders!" 𝚋𝚎ｄ𝚗ｏｖ𝚎𝚕．ｃｏ𝚖

"Frank, 27, Master Marksmen!"

"Livia, 23, Master Marksmen!"

"Fiora, 22, Master Marksmen!"

"Dante, 21, Warriors of Indra!"

"Kain, 27, Warriors of Indra!"

"Bea, 26, Warriors of Indra!"

"Liam, 38, Vanguard Shock Troops!"

"Lockheart, 42, Vanguard Shock Troops!"

The ten of them reported their details to the general one by one as his eyes lay upon them. They were seven men and three women, and they had performed above their expectations during the battle, enough that in the chaos of many bodies clashing, the general could still pinpoint them.

"Good." The general nodded with satisfaction.

"I shall hereby give you two choices. One is to freely switch your army to the one you want, and you will undergo a sort of 1-week training to adapt quickly before we march again, or you can be promoted within your current army."

The general turned and moved to sit down before focusing on his documents, which were battle reports. "Make your choices within the next ten minutes."

The ten soldiers were surprised and shared looks among each other, wondering what choice they should make. Meanwhile, Dante was gazing at the notification that appeared before him from the world.

[Player Dante, you have completed your first battle in the Rising Star World and are qualified to make some choices. You can choose to change the army you're affiliated with and start from the bottom or remain in the current auto-allocated army and raise one rank. Please make your choice.]

Dante didn't even spend a second thinking about it before he stepped forward and spoke resolutely. "General Garth, sir, please promote me!"

The General raised his head with interest. "Oh? Dante, right? I saw you on the battlefield, from your initial struggle to eventually becoming the guardian angel of your fellow brothers. Can you tell me why you made this choice?"

Dante nodded. "Two reasons, sir. Firstly, I obviously excelled where I was placed and will likely excel more in the future. Why should I change to something I am unfamiliar with and risk becoming mediocre? Secondly, with a higher rank, I can better organize myself during battle and prevent even more casualties."

General Garth nodded with a smile. "Alright, that makes sense. Henceforth you have been promoted from a recruit foot soldier to a squad leader. Head to the commander in charge of your army and let him arrange a squad for you to lead."

Dante saluted and left the tent without looking at the others, not interested in the choices they would make.

He then checked his SDi as he walked over.

Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

Kingdom: Indra

Rank: Squad Captain (10 kills by each squad member to advance)

Morality: Neutral

Strength Index: 250 (500)

Agility Index: 250 (500)

Dexterity Index: 250 (500)

Intelligence Index: 250 (

500)

Constitution Index: 250 (500)

Vitality Index: 250 (500)

Bionic Level: 1

Psionic level: 1?

As he stepped out into the camp, he could hear the distant sounds of soldiers celebrating and sharing stories of the battle. It was a stark contrast to the grim task of collecting the fallen that had gone on earlier.

His first stop was the makeshift command center of the Warriors of Indra. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the camp.

Soldiers moved about with purpose, preparing for the next phase of the campaign. Dante's strides were purposeful as he made his way to the commander in charge of his army.

The commander was a stern-faced man with a scar running across one eye, a testament to his own battles fought. He looked up from his maps as Dante approached, a mixture of curiosity and assessment in his gaze.

"Newly promoted, I see." the commander remarked, his voice gruff yet tinged with a hint of approval.

"Yes, sir!" Dante replied, his back straightening instinctively as he stood before the experienced officer.

"What's your name, lad?" The man asked while sizing up Dante.

"Dante, sir." Dante replied calmly.

The commander nodded and stood, extending a hand toward Dante. "Welcome to the ranks of squad leaders, Dante. I'm Commander Varian. Your promotion is well-earned, and I expect nothing less than your best."

Dante shook the commander's hand firmly, feeling a hint of determination. "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."

Varian's scarred face broke into a rare smile. "I believe you won't. Now, let's discuss your squad."

Dante followed Varian to the side where the reports of the soldiers from the after-battle reports came in. Apart from this, he was also to meet the assembled troops tomorrow morning to pick out his squad.

Chapter 92

Dante had little time to relish in his new rank as Squad Captain.

He moved to his tent on the battlefield and made to sleep, but actually logged out of the Etraverse and opened his eyes in his residence in the school. After finding something to eat casually, he teleported back to McDonald's Island back on Earth.

He walked up to the cave with the superpowered people he captured and saw that they were chatting with each other in low voices. Dante looked at them and saw that while they were a bit ragged due to their captivity, they still had a spark of resistance and hope in their eyes.

When they saw Dante arrive with his hands in his pockets, they immediately stopped their chatting and sized him up. Immediately, Killian and Luo Yue paled slightly while Aisha's expression became ugly.

They were not psychics but they could easily sense the change in Dante. It lay mostly in his disposition and his eyes.

The reason they had hope was that they knew Dante was not a killer. He had many chances to take their lives but they could see a youthful naivety in his eyes when he looked at them that was full of conflict in terms of whether to harm them.

Especially Killian and Aisha. The former had been an active soldier in war and had taken more than a few lives and he could easily tell when someone had tasted blood or not.

Aisha had lived in the underworld and had eventually become mafiadonna, so she knew the look of a person who did not value human life like a normal person.

Luo Yue may not have these life experience but her intelligence and perceptiveness was higher than the other two thanks to her superpower and her lips practically became blue from how pale she became. She could sense the resolution in Dante;s aura to take a step forward regardless of the obstacle before him, be they person or thing.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm The three squirmed against their bonds as they felt restless, endless fear and regret surging through their hearts. They dearly wished they had never met this man and they wondered what he expected in just two days that caused such a drastic change.

With Dante's SDI, he was just short of becoming fully psychic, but through his eyes, he could understand all the microexpressions and changes in their body language to ascertain their thoughts. He was surprised that they could identify his change, but he made no attempt to hide it.

People treat a person unwilling to kill and a person willing to kill differently in this world. Just like now, these three had been casually chatting and probably planning how to either escape or make Dante release them without much worry because they thought Dante could not kill them previously.

Now that they registered his change, that idea was extinguished from their minds and they were filled with fear and obedience. Even the usually sharp-tongued tsundere Aisha was silent and didn't dare to look at Dante head on.

Dante casually fashioned a chair and then sat down opposite this group. "I am not here to kill you. Your lives have value to me, you, and everyone with superpowers on earth." 𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Hearing this, the hearts of the three relaxed a little but they were still silent and not willing to offend the current Dante.

"You will stay here for about a month. I'll keep you fed and I will release your bonds so that you can interact with each other, but you cannot leave this island that is surrounded by sea in directions." Dante revealed with a pointed look.

The three were not happy or excited. Whether it was Dante or them, they knew that these strange bindings were not much of a problem apart from making them feel uncomfortable. Luo Yue did not need to use hand signs or the like to use her ability and Aisha could turn parts of her body to literal light.

If they wanted to escape, they could have done it long ago. The issue was that where the fuck were they supposed to go when the shore of the nearest place of civilization - which was South Africa - was more than a few hundred kilometers away?

Killian had herculean stamina and great strength but if he tried to swim, he would likely get tired 1/10th of the way and sink to his death. Aisha could turn into light for a few seconds with different parts of her body and could also turn her whole body to light for a few seconds.

Like that, she could probably cross a farther distance than Killian but would be fully pooped.

She will sink to her death.

Luo Yue was the most helpless. She could use her ability to buff either Killian or Aisha during the nighttime, but what about herself? If she could use elemental magic, she could try Aokiji's method and ride a bike across the sea.

If the three teamed up, they could probably cross 3/10ths of the distance and then die together.

To simplify, the difficulty of them escaping this island was about equivalent to a powerless human imprisoned in a cell that was hanging over a cliff. Even if they opened the cage, do you dare to walk out and see if you could survive the fall?

"Alright, let's keep things simple. Do not enter this cave after you're freed and find your own resting place on this island. Around a month later, you will go through my follow-up methods and regain your freedom of movement." Dante said simply as he stood up and removed their bindings casually.

He then shooed them out of the cave before sealing it up and then ignoring the confused trio who didn't know what to do with their increased 'legroom'. Dante went to the other cave where he kept the mortal team members and these five were far worse for wear.

They saw Dante enter and became silent. This time, Dante didn't bother to speak as he grabbed the rope binding them, lifted the entire group up with one finger, and then walked to the beach of the island with them in tow.

Seeing Dante carry the five of them like this, they were filled with fear as they paled greatly. Such strength and power were something they only saw in movies. Even Killian, the most powerful person they knew, could not do this.

Dante placed their rope down and removed it, freeing the group who split up and panting in pain due to the discomfort of having the bindings dig into their flesh as Dante carried them.

They looked at Dante, wondering what instructions he had for them, but their hearts sank when they saw the layer of indifference and coldness in his glance. He then said one word which made them freeze.

"Swim."

Swim? Swim where? Was there a pond nearby?

The group glanced at each other in silence with pale faces, not willing to look at the raging sea behind them. After all, if they dared to enter that sea, there was no chance of survival unless a miracle happened.

In the end, the sniper stepped forward and spoke. "Sir, please understand that from the moment we acted against you, we possessed no a shred of killing intent. We used solely non-lethal methods and accounted for your safety at every step. Even if we are useless to you now, can you please deal us a more lenient fate?"

The others had pleading expressions and Dante swept his eyes over them. He pondered quietly and felt that they did have a point, there was no real intent to kill in their operation, just to capture. Technically, even that mediocre Pantheon also had the intention to control, not kill.

Dante's expression softened slightly as he glanced at the five. He left eh rope he used to bind them and turned to leave.

"Better learn how to use that to fish if you want to survive here. I have no use for you so I will not feed you nor check up on you. You can go anywhere on the island except the cave at the precipice."

After saying this, he quietly disappeared into thin air before their eyes, causing their faces to change. None of them could understand how Dante achieved this and this further exacerbated their fear and desire to be obedient.

However, the five could only stare at each other with dismay. The Sniper, Tech Specialist, Infiltration Expert, Demolitions, and Assassin were not exactly professionals at wilderness survival.

As such, after discussing for a bit, they decided to find the three superpowered people, especially their team leader Killian, and see if they had any idea to help.

When Dante returned to the Eternal Universe, he felt much lighter since he had dealt with the only really pressing problem on earth.

Now, he could focus on raising his combat skills using the Rising Star World.

Chapter 93

The night passed quickly, and as dawn broke, Dante found himself standing before a gathering of soldiers, each waiting to be evaluated for a place in his squad.

The sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting a serene glow over the camp. Dante took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces before him.

As the soldiers introduced themselves one by one, Dante listened attentively, mentally assessing their strengths, skills, and personalities using his now sharpened eyes.

It was clear that his squad would probably be a diverse mix of talents, each contributing something unique to the whole. In front of him were seasoned veterans with years of combat experience, and there were younger recruits eager to prove themselves on the battlefield.

Among them was Fiona, a young woman with fiery determination in her eyes and strong hunting skills. She was previously part of the Master Marksman army but was shifted here when the war began in order to fill up the vacancies in the Warriors of Indra army.

Next was Barter, a sturdy and dependable soldier who had demonstrated his prowess as a footsoldier during the previous battle. He was one of the seasoned veterans and had helped the Indra Kingdom's army in previous wars of expansion when he was younger and the kingdom was weaker.

Finally, the most noticeable was Andrea, a fierce and agile warrior with flaming red hair and a voluptuous figure who exuded an air of confidence that spoke of her expertise with a blade. If not for Dante, she would probably have been called up for promotion instead.

As the introductions continued, Dante's mind focused. He saw potential in each soldier, and he envisioned a squad that would not only excel in battle but also function as a tightly-knit unit that would achieve his goals without fail.

Once the introductions were complete, Dante stepped forward, his voice carrying a blend of authority and camaraderie. "I've heard your stories and witnessed your skills on the battlefield. Each one of you has proven your worth, and it's an honor to stand before such a dedicated group of soldiers."

His eyes roved the field as he made his selections, including 5 veterans and 5 youngsters. This was to form a balance between experience and wisdom as well as hot-bloodedness and vigor.

The rest were disappointed not to be selected, but knew there were other chances since Dante wasn't the only one promoted. After the rest left, Dante looked at his 10-man squad and smiled.

"We will spend today competing against each other. This is to test the foundation of each other's skill, acquire a basic understanding of one another and most importantly, establish the hierarchy of power within the squad!"

After Dante said this, the eyes of the ten flashed. They understood what Dante was trying to do and respected him for it, but it felt strange having it said out loud like this. Usually, squad captains didn't care much and appointed who they liked, leaving the squad themselves to sort out the hierarchy in their own time.

It was clear that this specific captain did not believe in the 'hands-off' or 'laissez-faire' attitude of leading and wanted to control the squad to a tight degree. Surprisingly, the ten soldiers were not against it as this showed Dante's seriousness and ambition to succeed at least, and if they could survive under his command, they would soar higher!

Like this, Dante brought them to a clear training field and allowed everyone to take their respective weapons. He then split them into five fields, allowing one veteran and one youth to fight each.

After allowing them to spar for about 5 minutes, Dante would stop the battle and switch the matchups. By late afternoon, everyone had at least sparred with everyone else in the squad and gained a basic idea of their skill and talent.

They filed before Dante and awaited his opinion. Dante observed the ten of them and smiled.

"The Vice-Captain of our Squad shall temporarily be Andrea. However, the permanent position will go to whoever gets the most kills with the least damage in our next major battle."

Andrea puffed out her already protruding chest with pride in her eyes and no one complained or felt resentment because they had seen her marvelous skill. She was not only young, but had such swordsmanship and combat talent.

Her future was bright in terms of her position in the military! It was likely that in a few battles, she could either rise to Dante's position or even surpass him assuming Dante also didn't climb higher.

"Go and get some rest. From tomorrow, I expect to see you all here training from morning to night until we deploy next week." Dante stated firmly as he turned and left without looking back.

As a promoted squad leader, he was privy to the plans of the camp and their mobilizations, so he knew the next major battle was a week away. This mechanic was to give students a chance to gather their senses and either hone their own skills through training or enhance that of their teammates should they be promoted or recruited.

As for Dante, since it was still afternoon in both the Quantum World and the real world, he logged out of the Etraverse once more and teleported away. This time, his destination was within the Eternal Universe, to the far reaches of the outer zone.

When Dante appeared, he was in the Observation Deck of the Inferno, seated on the couch. Opposite him, startled by his sudden appearance, was naturally Beatrice Portinari.

Dante's eyes went down and his breath caught, then his eyes became bloodshot. After all, Beatrice was alone in this ship and there was no one who could enter the Observation Deck but her and Dante, so she would naturally not wear her skin-tight uniform all the time.

Currently, she was wearing a pink gauze nightwear that was mostly see-through, allowing Dante to see her flawless skin. Her usually long purple hair was tied into a bun and her playful amber eyes were filled with pleasant surprise.

Dante could see her skimpy pink bra as well as her thong that lightly covered her Path of Righteousness. She was curled on the couch, lazily flipping through her holographic display, so her position enhanced the visuals that were causing Dante's blood to pulse.

Gee, it had been a while, huh? He had come to this universe for slightly over 2 months and he had only had a session with Valeria about a week before that. Usually, he was too stressed or busy to think about such things, but now he had been provoked.

Seeing his reaction, Beatrice smiled and curled her legs even more as she glanced at Dante up and down.

"Well, well, my young son Dante has grown up a little. Now you even dare to gaze at your boss Beatrice like this." She joked with her usual teasing voice.

Hearing her, Dante suppressed his rising desire because he had no choice. Even though he knew that he could technically do what he wanted to Beatrice as she had offered it herself - actually practically demanded it - but there was a problem.

A very serious problem that practically crippled their chances of being intimate any time soon.

No, it was not what you thought, that Dante was worried about any social problems. It wasn't even that he did not desire Beatrice, he would laugh at the face of any man who could look at such a woman in the face and remain unmoved if they were not asexual or had

a low sex drive.

If he could, he would push her down right now and make her call him grandpa - because Daddy was too mainstream - but the issue was…

Well, how to put this…

Could he even put it in?

Beatrice was around Superman level in terms of SDI. She could literally survive in space with her raw body and punch asteroids apart. If Dante pressed his dick against the tip of her vagina, would it even be able to enter?

And even if Beatrice relaxed herself to enter, what if she got caught up in the moment and squeezed? Dante did not enjoy the idea of having his precious young master being turned into meat paste.

Huh.

Wait a minute.

Dante has been working so hard after he signed the contract with the Portinari Clan and gained Beatrice, training himself to be better and even increasing his SDI rapidly in the Apocalypse World.

Could it be that he did that because of this?

Dante pursed his lips and looked away from the camera, unwilling to answer.

!

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm T-This bastard!

All that nonsense about working hard, conquering, and having to accept killing was just for this?!

Wait, could it actually be that most men out there worked, struggled, and trained themselves just so that they could 'ravage' the insides of the female they liked?

Chapter 94

"Hmmm? Heng? Hooh?"

Beatrice continuously made sounds of surprise and interest as she circled around Dante, touching his body all over. From his biceps to his face, his legs, and even almost his crotch until he smacked her hand away.

Beatrice folded her arms, which had the unfortunate effect of raising her already noticeable chest muscles into focus.

"Ehh. Your Stats index has risen greatly. That's pretty amazing," she remarked with a raised eyebrow.

Dante folded his legs and smiled smugly. "This is the effect of having talent. An evil woman like you wouldn't understand."

Beatrice was speechless.

She looked Dante up and down once more and hesitated. "I don't think the Student Enhancement Center's technology and methods have increased that much since I graduated."

Beatrice sighed tiredly. "Don't worry Dante, if you used any orthodox means, like having to become a gigolo for that headmistress to attain your current power, I, Beatrice, will not make a fuss."

Dante was left speechless by this.

ραndαsnοvεl.cοm He facepalmed and stood up, glaring at Beatrice who was still dressed very skimpily and stood in a very feminine pose that happened to attract the eye to very large assets. It was clear that Beatrice was very 'rich' and 'powerful' in terms of her 'capital assets'.

"First of all, why not change? You're almost naked," Dante pointed out with a frown.

Beatrice waved her hands boredly. "No way, I feel comfortable like this. Besides, who else is here to see?"

Dante was confused and pointed to himself. "Me, obviously."

"And who are you to me that makes this wrong? Why should I be bothered about how I am dressed with you? If you dare, I will strip naked right now," Beatrice retorted with a sharp look.

Dante was speechless. He didn't know whether to be happy that Beatrice was indirectly telling him that they could be intimate at any time, or to be worried that he couldn't yet be intimate with her in the way that she… they… both wanted.

"Fine, fine, it was a 'me' problem. I came here not to bicker with you, but to rely on the most trustworthy person I've known to help me." Dante gave in and began getting serious.

Beatrice smiled. "No matter what you want, I will help you, even if it means destroying the universe."

Dante was about to continue when he froze. He glanced at Beatrice with incomprehension and shock, wondering if she was really serious. Due to her smile, he couldn't really tell, but his growing extrasensory abilities were telling him that she was serious.

This made him go silent. He was initially about to get down to the matter at hand, but he knew that in this current mood, he would better focus on what he had put off for the longest time because he was worried about the outcome.

But some things couldn't be postponed forever.

Dante sighed and sat down, then patted the spot beside him. Beatrice maintained her casual smile and sat down, allowing Dante to take a sniff of her perfume which smelled of lavender and strawberry, two of his favorite scents.

Not to mention that she sat right beside him, so he could not only feel her body heat, but her presence as well. That slightly shorter feminine form that was beside him made a certain masculine beast within rise, wanting to spread his big meaty claws and display his dominance.

Dante now understood why men were easily seduced by beautiful women unless they were guarded. The woman herself, her actions, her words only did about 30% of the work. 70% of the work was that damned instinct to push down and assert dominance.

He focused his mind by taking a deep breath and began.

"Beatrice, from the moment I met you, you have been playful, teasing, and very seductive. While I will admit it's exactly to my taste because I like women with your build, your beauty, your proportion, and your personality, I have a problem closing the gap between us because I can tell this isn't the real you."

"I am not trying to be melodramatic, but it feels very uncomfortable to know that there is probably a wall between the two of us. I also understand that this is not something directed specifically at me, but is something you've built to ward off everyone else."

"But it's going to be difficult to forge something meaningful between us if such a barrier exists. The 'me' that stands before you is about… uh… 70% the real me, I think. Apart from a few secrets I can't share yet, you're pretty much seeing the full picture."

"I am not going to ask you to shatter that wall on contact for me, but we need to start from somewhere. And I think the best way is for me to know more about you, so I would like to hear about you from your own mouth."

"What do you think?" Dante concluded with a glance at Beatrice.

Beatrice had maintained her casual smile the entire time, but it had weakened greatly the more Dante spoke. Now, she was looking at him with a slightly surprised and slightly sad expression.

She looked away and then brought her legs onto the sofa, remaining silent for a few seconds as she seemed lost in thought. Dante did not rush her nor show any impatience, opting to wait patiently for her to make a decision.

"I… well. I don't even know how to begin." Beatrice finally answered with a look of confusion on her face.

"Let's start from the beginning. What is the Portinari Clan?" Dante assisted her gently.

"The Portinari Clan, huh…"

Beatrice's eyes misted over slightly. "They are my family, the only ones I love and trust in this world. My father is the current Patriarch of the clan, and he is very kind and loves to dote on me, but is harsh to everyone else." 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡．𝙘𝙤𝙢

Beatrice smiled softly. "Part of the reason I have so much authority is because he delegated the majority of his power and connections to me, along with my own… special talents."

"There is… was, my mother as well. She was the light of my world and was often able to make our nuclear family brighten because she bullied dad every day until he wailed in defeat."

"At that time, we wanted for nothing and everything was perfect."

Beatrice's face clouded over. "And then, at the age of 5, my genetics were tested and they discovered my special physique, a superpower of its own if you will."

"I inherited my mother's superpowers, but passively. My mother was a graduate of the Unique Batch and had the superpowers of Gluttony, Devouring, and Regeneration."

"I basically have the ability to increase my SDI limitlessly by eating and can regenerate from pretty much any injury as long as I have enough food or energy."

Beatrice went silent for a short while. "Whether it was the scientists who wanted to dissect me to find out how such a phenomenon occurred, the military who wanted to raise me as a humanoid weapon,

or the superpowers faction who wanted to throw me into the First Gate, I became a hotcake overnight."

"The Portinari Clan is strong, but the pressure was too much. However, my mother adamant that everyone should back off and forget about making her daughter do anything, and this included my father and even the entire clan. No one was willing to sacrifice me."

"The matter seemed to die down, and I was almost guaranteed to be raised normally. However, some factions didn't like how my mother handled things and felt that she was an obstacle to their goals, so they simply found a scapegoat rebel organization that had no future and set them up with the best of everything needed to assassinate my mother when she took me out to a resort planet in the Andromeda Galaxy."

Beatrice clutched her fists tightly as her eyes darkened. "They severely underestimated my mother and how strong she was. They did manage to injure her through a surprise ambush, but her array of superpowers made her extremely tanky, and she was able to whittle down the enemy slowly."

Beatrice lowered her head. "Of course, once they realized they were losing, they made the obvious decision to switch their target to me, the defenseless and scared child. This naturally provoked my mother but also opened her to many mistakes and opportunities."

"My mother only died because she protected me dearly. The injuries she suffered were too great for her regeneration to keep up, no matter how much liquid energy was pumped into her body. My father and I had to watch our beloved wife and mother die on the sick bed after she escaped the siege by killing everyone."

Beatrice sighed deeply, releasing her fists. "However, killing everyone and dying later of injuries was the best-case scenario for the factions who besieged us. No loose ends left to clear and the target was taken down successfully. By the time father and I came down from our grief and he decided to investigate, the other fellows had naturally swept everything clean in that period of time."

Is there anything else you'd like me to do with this text?

Chapter 95

Dante was silent. This was the kind of tragic backstory he would often see in shows and various works of fiction that made him feel like it was a bit overused and melodramatic. Most of the time, he struggled to empathize because he had grown up perfectly, with no real tragedy to speak of.

Couldn't writers or creators produce media with a protagonist who grew up without any trauma? Did everyone seriously have to possess loads of baggage that could cripple any normal person?

However, hearing it live from a real person seated right beside him, especially someone he was growing to care about, left him feeling extremely conflicted. On one hand, he wished he could magically transport back in time and prevent those traumatic events from happening so Beatrice wouldn't have to suffer.

On the other hand, it was the same issue of not being able to fully empathize, since he had no similar experience himself. Heck, Dante hadn't even experienced basic loss yet.

His parents were both alive, and so was his uncle as well as his cousins. His grandparents on both sides did not live in America, so he hardly knew them, and even when they did pass, he did not have too strong feelings of loss.

A few classmates had passed due to various complications and illnesses like sickle cell anemia, a hole in the heart, and more, but they were loose friends and it didn't affect him much other than making him sigh at the fickleness of life.

He could not, for even a second, pretend to understand what Beatrice was going through. Even now, despite the undulating waves of emotions in her voice, it was just a narration of events to him.

He wasn't there to witness it, to see her mother fight like a crazed beast to protect her crying and scared daughter. He probably would never understand her mother's guilt that she brought this upon her daughter by giving her the passive ability to use her superpowers before she could mature.

He would also never understand the satisfaction of Beatrice's mother as she had successfully protected her beloved daughter, as well as the tearing sadness that she could not see her grow up into the woman she was now.

There was also the young and impressionable Beatrice in her formative years who was struck with fear and helplessness. All she knew was that she was spending some fun time with Mama, and suddenly these strange aliens and mixed breeds who were shouting slogans of hatred towards pure humans were trying to hurt them.

She had to watch as these grown adults who she was taught to greet with respect and be polite to were red-eyed and trying to kill her. She had to watch her mother scream in pain with every wound that spilled her blood all over the place, even as she gently comforted the young her, assuring her that everything would be alright.

Eventually, they escaped, but her mother was bedridden and the last hope young Beatrice had that her Mama would be okay was wiped away by a shake of the doctor's head. There was only a void of despair and sadness as she couldn't accept this truth.

Before the attack, she had been throwing a tantrum and coercing her mother to buy her some nice-looking sweets. How did it go from that to this? Why did this have to happen? What did she or her mother ever do wrong?

It would have been more painful but easier if her father had hated her or been cold to her because of what happened, but he spent every moment with his daughter, reassuring her that it wasn't her fault and that he would always be there for her.

Her father overworked himself to be the best parent he could be in the aftermath, and this made things more difficult for Beatrice as she saw his fatigue build up from being both a patriarch and a single father pile up.

There was so much in between that Beatrice could not express with just words, and Dante understood that. So, rather than pretending to understand in order to seem sensitive, he remained silent and allowed Beatrice time to think.

Eventually, she sighed and stretched her legs out, placing them back on the floor. "Well, in the end, those factions that tried to remove my mother out of the picture in order to get control over me succeeded."

A darkness flashed in Beatrice's eyes as she smiled coldly. "But not in the way they thought."

"When I understood the cause and effects, I decided to embrace the inheritance my mother gave me and train myself to become strong."

"And strong I did become. After much hardship and suffering, I managed to excel at everything I did and got into the Eternal Academy. At that point, the factions that were watching in the shadows became restless because once I graduated, it would be hard to reign me in again."

"And so, I began suffering from many strange events within the school orchestrated by various factions and their representatives within."

Dante thought back to his own experience of almost being captured and felt like for the first time, he could understand. Assuming the Eternal Academy was a perfect bastion of safety was… well, it was not very smart.

If you were average and unremarkable, there was naturally no problem. However, once you showed the slightest uniqueness, they would descend upon you crazily. The level of uniqueness would also determine how crazy they would become.

As for relying on the protection of the headmistress… 𝗯𝗲𝐝𝐧𝗼𝘃𝗲𝐥．𝗰𝗼𝐦

Dante would rather not put his safety in the hands of a person who had only spoken a total of 19 words to him in his life. Beatrice likely felt the same way given her next words.

"Due to my potential and my background, the headmistress offered to protect me, but I refused. You may not know this now, in your first year, but the headmistress's interests are more… brutal… than even the greediest faction."

Beatrice glanced at Dante askance. "It's best not to be charmed by her demonic beauty and end up her pawn."

Dante's face became serious. "Don't worry, I haven't even seen her outside of the orientation."

Beatrice nodded and opened her palms. "Well, that's it for me. I guess you're right about there being a wall between me and others, but it was created by years of tough living and the inability to easily trust anyone outside my family."

Dante nodded. "I won't say that you should specifically trust me, but I also have to ask. Your experiences tell me that you are definitely a very opinionated and resilient person whose mind cannot be easily influenced by others."

Dante tilted his head in confusion. "So why offer yourself to me like this? I'd understand if you were the follower type who obeyed every instruction for the clan or the state and did not have thoughts of your own."

Beatrice smiled. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"

Dante nodded seriously. "I do. But that did not happen with you."

Beatrice was speechless. She could only go silent for a few seconds again and then speak in a smaller tone.

"I once asked my mother a very stupid question. It was a question that a curious child would ask, but even now, I cringe whenever I think about how rude it was."

"I asked her why she married my dad. After all, my father is not a superpowered person and is someone in the military. He has great genes, great combat talent, and rose to prominence with his own merits, but my mother is a literal monster whose presence made whole behemoth factions band together to get rid

of her, and even then, they didn't dare to do it directly."

"I naturally did not understand that much when I was a kid, but I did know that mother was powerful and confident while father always cowered in her presence and did not dare to be too ostentatious."

Beatrice became nervous, and her toes began to curl and relax slowly. "She told me the reason was due to how they met. She didn't exactly elaborate on the exact meeting at the time, but she told me that when it happened, she could quite literally feel that the wheels of fate had orchestrated that moment."

"Her answer was that father was her fated one and no one could replace him."

Beatrice then turned to Dante, and for the first time since Dante met her, her usually obscure and emotionally removed eyes were full of purity and sincerity.

"Ever since then… I have believed in fate. Especially after what happened and how father remained loyal to mother even up until now, I decided to wait for my fated one. I never got romantically involved with any male, and I never bothered to explore romantic relationships."

"The way we met, in that alleyway on the backwater planet at the tail end of the universe… that was my fated encounter."

Chapter 96

Dante was stunned. Fate? Fated encounter? No wonder Beatrice looked embarrassed as she talked about this, because this was not something he expected to hear from someone like her, even in his wildest dreams.

He had initially thought up many reasons as to why she might have decided to accept him as her partner, whether it was business, desire, or even some dark, hidden motive. To hear that it was a result of her own metaphysical expectations and beliefs floored him for a bit.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Beatrice saw his look and her face became a bit flushed. "You probably think it's childish and lame, right?"

Dante snapped out of his stupor and then nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I do. It's also kind of weird too."

Beatrice's face fell and her expression became gloomy, practically screaming 'dammit, I knew it!' to Dante.

However, the fellow smiled at her and gently rubbed her exposed shoulder. "However, I also like it. It makes you more likable, and very cute. That was not a word I could associate with you before and now that I can, I feel much closer to you."

Beatrice was speechless.

My brother, could you say everything at once so that you couldn't take my emotions up and down on a rollercoaster-like this?

"So… what now? I've told you what you wanted." Beatrice admitted as she looked to Dante for direction.

"Well, usually, it'd be a situation where I would take charge, admit my growing feelings, and push you down in a romantic scene. However, we both know I can't do that yet." Dante smiled as he gently grabbed Beatrice and lifted her.

The woman was not surprised but looked intrigued. She then smiled slightly when Dante placed her on his lap, with her precious mounds facing him and her butt sitting squarely on his legs.

Dante wrung his lips. "… your breasts are too big. I have to place you this far down just to have enough space to breathe. Don't you get back pains or something?"

Beatrice placed her hands on Dante's shoulders and coiled her slender yet thick legs around his waist. "Not really, they kinda feel weightless. Though yeah, I do get annoyed by the physics of them, especially in battle."

"Huh… well, I guess it's time for me to help you massage them and relieve your burden." Dante stated with a smile as he sized Beatrice up and down.

Her arms were slender yet full of power despite looking soft, her skin was flawless, not a single line or blemish to be found anywhere as if she were a porcelain doll, and her stomach area was completely flat, with a slight outline of a four-pack.

Her slender feet featured small calves and a tiny foot that led up to extremely thick thighs full of juicy fat that felt soft to squeeze and rub.

Above that was a very distinct outline of her crucial path of success hidden by a thin purple thong that could easily be moved to the side with the flick of a finger.

Behind this were two huge round balls that formed her ass, and Dante used his newfound authority to grasp each half and squeeze. This made Beatrice gasp and lean onto him as her face flushed.

Her huge breasts pressed against his chest tightly, and he could swear that he could feel her thunderous heartbeat through them. At her SDI, her heart must be more powerful than a nuclear reactor, so it was no surprise that it kicking up its function would be this noticeable.

Dante himself felt his own pressure kick up, because Beatrice was simply perfectly to his taste physically, and he had been pent up for more than 60 days. Not to mention, he was internally stunned due to how soft the two pieces of flesh in his hands were.

Rather than two glutei, he felt like he was holding extremely warm and firm pieces of flour dough. He could easily pinch and knead it as he pleased, giving him firm control over its fate and destiny.

Dante's hands were like unscrupulous bandits, eagerly exploring every inch of her butt that he could grab, and the killer part was that his two hands couldn't actually fit all of it in one go!

While he was enjoying himself, Beatrice kept trembling and squirming, a slightly noticeable dark spot growing on the front of her thong. She began to move herself along with Dante's warm hands that grasped her backside and her now hard nipples pressed against his chest, becoming stimulated as she rubbed herself on him.

Dante smiled and took his hands back before pulling Beatrice's head off his shoulder. This allowed him to see her expression, which was full of desire and lust as well as embarrassment and bashfulness. It was the perfect combination to leave any healthy male red-eyed when he saw his partner like this, wanting to fulfill her cravings immediately.

Dante had to struggle to restrain himself because he knew now was not the time. If he tried it while Beatrice was intoxicated like this, he either wouldn't be able to get it in or would be squeezed to death, where either outcome was unfavorable mentally and physically as it would leave a lot of problems in the aftermath.

"By the way, what exactly is your SDI? Show me so that I have a goal to fight for." Dante whispered into Beatrice's ear.

She smiled sweetly and unhesitatingly showed him her own secret, which was her SDI. It wasn't something people shared by heart, and they usually only did so out of necessary obligations… like medical reasons.

User: Beatrice Portinari (ID Number: BEAPORT10977-11-09)

Age: 21 (Converted to Earth years)

Race: Pure Human (100% genetic perfection)

Strength Index: 20,000 (2 million)

Agility Index: 20,000 (2 million)

Dexterity Index: 20,000 (2 million)

Intelligence Index: 20,000 (2 million)

Constitution Index: 20,000 (2 million)

Vitality Index: 20,000 (2 million)

Bionic Level: 25 (Ultra Military Version.)

Psionic level: 25 (Ultra Military Version.)

AI Chip level: 15 (Ultra Military Version)

Superpowers: Gluttony(Broken)(Passive), Devouring(Broken)(Passive), Regeneration(Broken)(Passive).?

Dante sighed internally. It was as heavy as he expected, but not by as much as he feared. He genuinely thought her base SDI would be like 100,000 each and her Bionics boost would be 1000 times instead of just 100 times. 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

With her stats like this, he didn't have to wait long. As long as he reached 2,000 points in all stats, he could use his Bionics to boost his SDI by 10 times and achieve the same level as her base self, allowing them to be intimate.

That was not even factoring in the fact that he might upgrade his Bionics and Psionics as he went forward, because that was totally possible.

Dante felt relieved and smiled, bringing Beatrice's face closer to his as he kissed her. Beatrice responded immediately and enthusiastically, seemingly having looked forward to this for a long time, and their passion seemed to ignite.

The two seemed to forget time, space, and reality as they were locked in their inmate embrace, enjoying the flowing heat from each other's bodies and the wealth of emotions coursing through their souls that were expressed through their lips.

Dante forgot to caress Beatrice's body as he was completely enthralled by their connection like this. Beatrice was also wholeheartedly invested and had gently cupped Dante's head so that she could more efficiently taste her partner's sweet kisses.

It was a significant few minutes before the two broke off the kiss while panting, their eyes filled with desire and a hint of shock. They never expected it to be so intense and enthralling to be connected like this and they both couldn't help but crave a deeper connection.

However, Dante smiled bitterly. "If I could, I would make you my woman here and now, using all my feelings and skills to make you enjoy climax."

Beatrice gently rubbed her lower body against his crotch which had already formed a tent in his pants with a seductive smile. "We may not be able to do that yet, but there are definitely other ways we can experience each other better."

Dante raised an eyebrow and seemed to be moved. "What do you have in mind?"

Beatrice got up off his lap and stood. She twirled around, allowing her voluptuous and soft body to be almost fully displayed to Dante, making his already peak arousal increase slightly.

She then spread Dante's legs apart and knelt in between. Her soft hand rubbed against his tent teasingly as her lively and playful amber eyes bore into his own.

"Why don't I help you empty the tank? You can't really study hard in school while distracted like this, right?" She offered with a confident smirk.

Dante was unable to even refuse as she slowly opened his zipper and released the young master, which almost even slapped her in the face due to inertia. She gasped and then gripped it lightly, smiling at Dante with interest.

"I am going to have a great time with this in the future, I can tell."

Chapter 97

Dante and Beatrice lay on the couch together, with Dante forming the base and Beatrice on top of his bare chest, a satisfied expression on her face. She licked her lips, and a bit of residual white substance was wiped away.

"I could probably have this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner," she stated with a glint of greed in her eyes.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Dante could only smile helplessly. At his current SDI, his semen was no longer just your average fluid with some enzymes, acids, and proteins along with sperm. It had transformed into a potent substance containing the genetic data of superior lifeforms, coated with special substances from beings like himself.

In other words, it wasn't salty or metallic; it was more akin to a shot of sweetened alcohol. It had a sharp, sweet, and intoxicating taste due to the high-quality components within. If given to a normal person, it could leave them feeling highly energized and euphoric for days.

To Beatrice, the energizing effect was minimal, and the euphoria was absent, but she still found the taste quite enjoyable. Even among normal men with typical SDIs on Earth, sweet-tasting discharges were rare.

Dante couldn't casually share his semen with Beatrice due to the energy cost involved in creating such 'supercharged offspring' – about an hour's worth of a full energy bar. This fact alone highlighted its potency.

And it would only become more potent as his SDI continued to increase.

Beatrice rested on Dante's chest and listened to his heartbeat while he gently stroked her silky purple hair. After a moment of silence, Dante spoke up, "Why don't I help you reach climax as well? I'm quite skilled at stimulating the clitoris and—"

Beatrice patted his chest with a smile. "No thanks. I don't want to experience those sensations without losing my virginity first. It seems pointless to me."

Dante was left speechless. He couldn't really argue with that reasoning, so he fell silent for a moment as Beatrice absentmindedly traced circles on his chest with her index finger.

After a noticeable pause, she asked in a soft voice, "Could you… tell me more about yourself? You're still somewhat mysterious to me."

Dante smiled. "After coming this far, there's no need for certain secrets. Besides, as my partner, I'll need your assistance to carry out some of my plans. You're the only person in this universe I can truly trust."

Beatrice's heart swelled with joy and love at being entrusted with such information. She hadn't expected Dante to place so much trust in her so soon, especially considering her own struggles with trust after her past experiences.

However, her belief in their fated encounter and her growing infatuation with Dante made her feel liberated and open.

"About me… My name is Dante… Dante Alighieri. I was born in 2009 on Earth to parents David and Aileen Alighieri. I had an upbringing that could be classified as upper-middle class, filled with love and enjoyment. My parents had high hopes for my future."

"I did have a few girlfriends and love interests while growing up, but those relationships never really went anywhere. I understood that I wouldn't marry any of them, so I didn't invest everything emotionally."

"I chose to break away from my parents' care and establish my own path at the age of 17. Instead of pursuing architecture, which my father wanted, I studied coding in college. This decision strained our relationship a bit, but looking back, I realize it was mostly in my head."

"When I turned 21, roughly two months ago, I took a gamble. I used credit to buy a new apartment and a new phone. On that phone, I launched an app I had spent challenging months coding, but a malfunction occurred."

Beatrice wore a peculiar expression, trying to reconcile this information with her understanding of Dante's origins. Moreover, the year he mentioned was over 8,000 years in the past!

"Due to a special command I input for the app's introduction, I typed in the formula for Quantum Entanglement using a hashtag. However, the app still interpreted the command and executed it."

"I'm not sure where it drew the energy from—whether it absorbed ambient quantum energy or something else—but as soon as I ran the command, I was pulled into a Quantum Tunnel. Just when I thought I was about to be torn apart, I stabilized and found myself in a dirty alleyway within a futuristic city."

Beatrice froze as comprehension dawned on her. The shock in her eyes was evident as she looked at Dante in disbelief.

Dante smiled and patted her head gently to soothe her. "You know the rest. However, I survived because my phone transformed into a deformed quantum chip, and a special entity saved me and granted me the superpower of Quantum Entanglement."

"I'm uncertain whether that entity wants its identity disclosed, so I'll avoid mentioning it to avoid any potential repercussions," Dante concluded with a grin.

Beatrice reclined back, her expression reminiscent of someone who had just witnessed a pivotal revelation scene in a movie. This amused Dante to no end.

"I know you have more questions. I won't hide anything from you," he assured her calmly.

Beatrice seemed reassured, and she absentmindedly traced her fingers on his chest as she gathered her thoughts. "So, you're an alien?"

Dante was momentarily speechless.

"No, I'm human. Well, technically, yes, I'm an alien to this universe, but—"

Beatrice chuckled softly at Dante's perplexed expression and pressed on, "So you come from a different world? A different timeline? Or a different universe?"

Dante nodded. "A different universe. As far as I can ascertain, this isn't like the multiverse theory where each of us is a mirrored version of the other, separated by time and dimensions."

"Instead, it's more akin to eggs in a basket, or perhaps a tray. Each egg is fundamentally similar, adhering to the same basic rules, yet distinct in its own way. They exist in a physical space I believe to be the void between universes."

"While I've gleaned bits of truth and experienced certain strange sensations, each time I traverse between universes, the quantum tunnel I use lasts a brief period. It's translucent yet vividly colorful. Beyond it, there's a particular emptiness that hints falling into it would likely yield a fate worse than drifting in space."

"I speculate that this void is the space between your universe and mine."

Dante thoughtfully rubbed his chin. "I've made numerous attempts to gauge the distance between our universes and assess whether we're adjacent or if there are other universes in between that I traverse past or through to reach here."

Beatrice was captivated by this explanation, finding it both fascinating and hard to believe. Yet, it further cemented her conviction that she and Dante were destined to be together, making her heart brim with fulfillment.

"Do your superpowers possess any unique capabilities?" Beatrice inquired with curiosity.

"Initially, at the F Rank, I could create a Quantum Tunnel between our two universes. Upon reaching the E Rank, I acquired two additional auxiliary abilities: Quantum Relocation and Quantum Transposition."

"Quantum Relocation is an extension of my base teleportation ability. It enables me to shift between Quantum Markers I've established

when crossing universes at specific locations. This essentially allows me to teleport any distance within the same universe, provided I have a Quantum Marker there. So far, I've encountered no obstacles to this ability."

Dante grinned at Beatrice. "That's also how I teleported here—I left a Quantum Marker during our previous experiment."

"As for Quantum Transposition, it permits me to use my body to access Quantum Spaces. Similar to the Etraverse, I can enter virtual worlds with my physical form and impose my SDI on them. That's how I quickly elevated my SDI, as I entered the Apocalypse World and gained the power of Absorption."

Beatrice clutched Dante's chest in excitement, immediately comprehending the implications. She had been curious about how Dante had increased his SDI and was about to inquire when it might be possible for them to be intimate, but it seemed that her wait might not be long at all. ｂｅｄ𝚗ｏ𝚟𝚎𝚕.𝚌𝚘ｍ

Dante was taken aback. "What's the matter?"

Beatrice promptly sat up, causing her ample bosom to sway enticingly, capturing Dante's full attention. She pulled Dante up to a sitting position, her expression serious.

"I'm guessing you sought my help to enhance your genetic limit and continue raising your SDI?"

Dante wasn't surprised that she had deduced this based on the information he had shared. After all, if Beatrice couldn't calculate something like this, her intelligence of 20,000 would be wasted.

Beatrice's beautiful smile radiated excitement. "Not only can I help, but I have an even better method that will propel you beyond my own limits!"

Chapter 98

"What do you mean?" Dante blinked with puzzlement.

Beatrice coiled her supple legs together and smiled at Dante. "The ability to enter the Quantum World is one of the most cracked things I have ever heard. You're not from this universe Dante, and ever since you came here, you've probably been struggling to catch up."

Dante nodded. "I spent 4 weeks in the school's training world learning about Reaction, Posture, and all that, then Conservation and Spirituality."

"Pretty much what I thought. Due to your situation, you have been entirely tunnel visioned Dante. You've had your perspective limited by the goals you want to achieve such that you failed to see the other things that could also help you." Beatrice stated as she pressed her holographic screen.

"Oh?" Dante knew she was right.

Being tunnel visioned wasn't bad. Having your focus spread out over many things could cause you to fail to prioritize what was important and waste your time. Tunnel visioning could also help to narrow down your path, but like she said, it could also obscure easier and more efficient ways to achieve what you wanted.

"You've browsed the top worlds in the school's database and that's fine, but those are picked not for how much they necessarily help students, but for how much they payout in terms of Supercoins." Beatrice continued as she continued to press some stuff rapidly.

"Everyone needs Supercoins, but you don't. What you need is to quickly raise your power as much as you can in terms of SDI before you enter the Zero Gate. As such, the focus of the worlds you should be looking for do not lie in the top ten."

Beatrice eventually swiped on a screen and brought the holographic projection before Dante.

"Back when I was in school, even though I couldn't enter the Quantum World like you, this world was my favorite because it helped me hone my mind, body, and spirit as well as experience how to grow my power systematically without harming myself."

[World Name: True Martial World

World Owner: Eternal Academy

World Creator: Eternal Academy

World Size: Super

World Type: Shared

World Genre: Wuxia

Bionics Allowed: No

Psionics Allowed: No

Superpowers Allowed: No

Requirements: Student ID

Duration: Unlimited

Description: This is a world that has been styled in an ancient Chinese setting. Here, the practice of martial arts has led to people being able to gain superhuman strength and power, leading to a very brutal world ruled by the law of the jungle.

Objectives: Reach the highest realm of martial arts.

Limitations: All Bionics and Psionics are not allowed because they are not needed. Superpowers are also banned but AI chips can be used to connect to the real world and communicate.

Provisions: You will be able to choose your starting point, which will influence the speed of your growth as well as your final score. The higher your starting point, the lower the difficulty multiplier for the payout.]

Dante's eyes flashed as he understood what Beatrice was saying. In truth, he should have thought about it as he was someone who had read a few Eastern fantasy novels in the past to pass the time, but he did not think about it because he generally looked down on the genre.

From the bland, repetitive fights, to the illogical characters, the insufferable main characters, and the cardboard jade beauties, he was not really one to have the genre in mind as he walked. He was more of a fan of the sci-fi and system genre which was why he made the choices he did.

However, Dante knew Beatrice had revealed to him the perfect path forward. While the genre of wuxia and xianxia was full of very poor writing and questionable logic, it had one thing that stood out, which was also why despite its flaws, people still flocked to it: the limitless power.

Unlike other genres where there is a clear power cap, the wuxia and xianxia genres were known for having 'higher worlds' with entirely new levels. Depending on how bored the author was, these higher worlds could keep going on for eternity.

To the male gender who craved and sought power deeply - especially in today's world - it was a toxic relationship of love and hate with the genre.

"What do you think?" Beatrice asked with a smile.

Dante shook his head to release himself from his thoughts and smiled at Beatrice. "You've pretty much helped me cut down the time it would take to reach my peak by more than a hundred times."

Beatrice used a finger to poke his chest gently. "You're welcome."

Dante glanced at the world details and pondered. "Can this solve my problem though? I came to check whether my genes have stabilized and I could receive another treatment."

Beatrice's smile disappeared. "Wait Dante, I hope you didn't display your SDI to the Student Enhancement Center."

"Of course not. I haven't told you this but…" Dante proceeded to tell her about his experience in the Eternal Academy since he arrived, especially his near capture by the teachers.

Beatrice sneered. "It seems like nothing has changed. That wretched academy is still full of holes, with various factions fighting for their own benefits."

Dante shrugged. "But the headmistress punished them according to what I found and that has prevented other factions from disturbing me."

"She did?" Beatrice was surprised.

"That is not necessarily a good thing. It means that you also have some value to her which is why she is trying to protect you." Beatrice stated with a frown.

"I can definitely see that. What I am curious about is whether any faction will dare to cross her again to get me." Dante asked as he glanced at Beatrice.

"Well, to put it nicely, they will behave as long as you don't provoke them. Provoking them in this case means them seeing something of value on you that is worth their action. When that happens, who is the headmistress?"

"At the end of the day, she is one person, she does not have an army nor an armada. She can block some using her much vaunted superpowers but can she block them all? She can't even destroy a hundred star-class battleships, much less a dreadnought like what we are on."

Dante sighed. "I had a similar thought. Whenever an institution keeps hyping itself up that it is full of ethics, integrity, cannot be infiltrated and is completely impartial, it is probably more corrupt that the abyss itself."

"The problem is that some gullible idiots believe this on the surface and always get cheated. When they complain, they are shocked when no one takes them seriously and then are eventually silenced using various means." Beatrice added with a nod.

Dante crossed his legs like a gentleman and glanced at the details of the True Martial World. "What about… cultivation?"

"Can I enter those xianxia worlds and absorb the spirit energy within to achieve those cultivation stages and fancy powers?" Dante wondered.

Beatrice was silent and hesitated. "I'm… not sure."

"To be honest, they were the first things that came to my mind when you told me your power, which was why I was so excited. But then I thought about it and realized that while you theoretically could, that world requires you to have a special organ called the Spirit Root."

Beatrice pointed to Dante's lower abdomen. "While your virtual body will obviously be given one, we can't really know if your real body has one."

Dante nodded. This was why the martial arts one was better because one didn't need any special organ. They just needed to have a strong body, a solid and detailed technique, diligence and resources like pills and nutrition to grow.

With his current SDI, it would be a piece of cake to get started. Since it was a shared world, it had its history as well as legacy and the entire world would not easily bend or curve in his presence. This was much better than the rising star world for example whether his choices affected the entire world at any time.

"Alright, I'll dive into this world tomorrow morning. Right now, I'd rather spend time with you." Dante stated with a smile as he brought Beatrice into his embrace.

Beatrice was overjoyed and snugly lay in Dante's broad and thick arms placing the back of her head against his chest. Like this, they spent the night together, chatting about many things, with Beatrice mostly asking questions about Dante's experience growing up.

After all, she had heard many times about the human race during the 21st century when they expanded rapidly technologically until they eventually hit outer space. It was marvelous to hear about that era from Dante's mouth, though it was a different universe.

From his mouth, she had a dream in her heart, and that was to travel to Dante's home to see what it was like and try to understand him better. However, that would only be possible if Dante's Quantum Entanglement rose in rank and reached the point where he could bring more people.

Chapter 99

As much as Dante wanted to stay here, and as much as Beatrice wanted him to stay, he had to leave eventually. No banquet can last forever, and they both had tasks to achieve.

Still, knowing that they now had each other to rely on and fall back on in this cold universe, they were doubly motivated and felt endless strength surging into them.

Dante chose to enter the True Martial World immediately. As Beatrice said, his pursuit of Supercoins was a waste of time right now. He would not be able to earn enough to give him sufficient time in the Black Land to increase his superpower.

As such, it was just better to wait for the remaining 28 days to pass until he could enter the Black Land again. Right now, it was best to maximize his time in this world, so the Rising Star World was resolutely abandoned by him.

In the future, when he was more free or there was a necessary purpose, he could play with it.

Upon descent, Dante entered a sort of black void. Various screens appeared before him, asking him to choose his background and city along with a wide map of the world.

Dante was shocked at how nonsensically large this world was. There were seven continents with crisscrossing lines in each of them, demarcating a certain territory belonging to a kingdom, beast clan, or demon race faction.

Dante was silent for a while before deciding to choose the background of an orphaned scholar who wished to learn martial arts to change his fate. He also chose to descend into Green Wind City of Green Feather Province, which was a state within the territory of the relatively small Great Song Kingdom.

After choosing his parameters, Dante felt his mind fall and then land into a body. When he came to, he was standing in a large courtyard with hundreds of other males and females of all ages around him, who were either white-skinned, yellow-skinned, dark-skinned, old, young, tall, short, buff, or skinny.

Before them was a large table where a row of ten muscular and burly men of diverse backgrounds sat, all of them wearing tight red and black gi as they glanced at the people in the courtyard with looks of disdain in their eyes.

The people in the courtyard were either nervous, scared, or confident. Dante scanned around idly and was not very impressed with the lineup, as he could tell that no one here had the same SDI as himself on the outside.

Speaking of SDI, he decided to check his in this world.

"Player Name: Dante

Player Race: Human

Faction: None

Internal Arts: None

External Arts: None

Strength: 1

Agility: 1

Dexterity: 1

Intelligence: 1

Constitution: 1

Vitality: 1

Money: 0 copper coins, 0 silver taels, 0 gold bars."

As expected. Shared worlds forcibly limited one's SDI to 1 point in everything to balance things. If one had the means to raise it again, they were free to do so, but until then, they couldn't exactly blame the world for putting them back at the starting line.

This was fine with Dante since he didn't plan to use his virtual body to do anything. However, he didn't immediately descend with his true body as well, wanting to make sure that everything was truly okay.

If his head got cut off by some superpowered being, that was it, game over with no chance of respawn. His budding relationship with Beatrice would come to an end, and she wouldn't even be able to get revenge because she'd just be killing a virtual being.

As such, he remained in the crowd while the men in the seats before them watched them. Eventually, the one in the middle, who was bald and extremely buff, spoke in a gruff yet powerful voice.

"Welcome to the annual recruitment of my Supreme Martial Hall! My name is Hao Donglei, and I am the Vice Hall Master! I will be in charge of overseeing this recruitment process."

The crowd began to speak in hushed tones with excitement and shock. It seemed that the name Hao Donglei had some meaning and fame to them, and Dante could identify slight fear in the eyes of some.

"Silence! The Vice Hall Master will not deal with you directly. I am the Hall Elder in charge of administration, Jun Feng. All of you, form lines in front of each deacon beside me on the left and right, then undergo the entrance test!" A slightly lean and white-skinned fellow seated beside Hao Donglei roared with a commanding tone, shutting up the crowd.

"Err, sir… what are the details of the entrance test?" A silly-looking man asked with a disarming smile.

The eyes of Jun Feng landed on him, but he did not shout. Rather he explained softly. "The requirements are simple. You must have a requisite level of martial talent to be admitted. There are outer disciples, inner disciples, and core disciples."

"Only inner and core disciples learn for free. Outer disciples pay a monthly tuition fee after the first 3 months and then have to gather their own resources themselves."

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Hearing this, everyone immediately became jittery and unsure. Even those who were confident became a little nervous, as they were only sure of their talent themselves, but what if it was not up to the standard for the Supreme Martial Hall?

One should know, this was the number 1 martial arts institution in the entire Green Wind City. In the entire kingdom, they had branches in many top cities and were ranked in the top 5 across the entire territory.

Even if they were outer disciples, their backing and ability would soar to the heavens, and they would become like nobles within the city, able to offend everyone and anyone without fear and retribution.

Thinking like this, the crowd quietly formed lines in front of various deacons who were closer to them. Dante also joined the line and quietly watched the testing process as it went on in front of him.

It seemed that when a person went up, they would report their name and age, then the deacon would use his fingers to massage their hand. After that, they would fire a ball of reddish liquid which would strike the candidates' chest and enter their body.

Finally, they would place their hands on a crystal gem that was clear and flawless. When they did so, it would light up with a red color of different intensity. The darker it was, the brighter the smile on the deacon's face, and the higher their assessment it seemed.

Of course, the crystal becoming dark red was extremely rare. From all sides of the line, Dante kept hearing 'eliminated!' over and over again, along with begging from candidates who did not want to accept their fate.

They would then be carried out by disciples of the hall who were standing to the side while watching them like hawks, waiting for them to cause some trouble.

Dante observed all of them and saw that everyone in his line before him had easily and totally failed. Only the person right before him was qualified to become an outer disciple. Even then, he rejoiced like he had won the lottery, and the disciples by the side changed their attitude towards him, going from hostile to friendly.

Next was Dante. He sucked in a deep breath and took a step forward, descending with his real body the moment he did. Due to

the fact that switching in and out did not cause any phenomena or changes, no one noticed it.

However, that was what Dante thought, until the face of Hao Donglei changed greatly. His eyes landed on Dante, making him glance over with a calm expression.

"Young man, please come this way. We won't be able to gauge your true talent," Hao Donglei said slowly.

Dante glanced at the stunned deacon before him who had been waiting for him to report his name and age, then resolutely left him and walked in front of the Vice Hall Master. Both men sized each other up, one young and one old. 𝗯𝐞𝐝𝗻𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥.𝐜𝗼𝐦

Hao Donglei then smiled. "Name and age."

"Dante, 21 years old."

Hao Donglei's breath caught in his throat, but he slowly exhaled and nodded. Dante obediently stretched his arm out, and Hao Donglei grasped it firmly, massaging Dante's palm and wrist area slowly.

His expression became more solemn as he went on. Dante didn't feel any pain or discomfort, as if his hand was like jelly in this guy's grip. After that, Hao Donglei fired a blood-colored light at him that was the size of a basketball, more than a hundred times bigger than what the others got.

When it hit Dante, it easily entered his body and made his blood circulate faster. His already thunderous heart which had been suppressed to reduce his energy corruption was like a wild horse that had been released, galloping wantonly.

Chapter 100

Dante frowned suddenly at the intrusion of this foreign substance that caused his body to react like this. He felt like he could resist it somewhat, but for the sake of the test, he didn't stall it yet. 𝘣𝘦𝑑𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝑙．𝑐𝑜𝘮

Hao Donglei gestured to the crystal that stood beside him with a sharp smile. Dante obliged and placed his hand on it like the others did, curious to see what the result would be.

Immediately, the crystal lit up like a floodlight, almost blinding the eyes of everyone present in the courtyard. It was bright daytime, yet the red light that shone from the crystal was not only nearly as dark as the color black, but it was also pervasive and luminescent beyond compare.

Dante was not surprised by this given his SDI, but everyone else was full of shock and fear. Even Jun Feng's expression changed as he glanced at Dante with a hint of fear in his eyes.

Only Hao Donglei was calm, smiling lightly as if he had been proven right.

"Pinnacle-Grade Bone Talent, High Receptiveness to Blood Qi and Blood Energy near the level of a Martial Grandmaster. Very interesting person you are, Mr. Dante," Hao Donglei spoke slowly, rising to his feet.

"If it wasn't for the fact that I could tell from the test that you have not refined your Blood Energy before, I would suspect you are a prankster who came here to cause trouble," Hao Donglei stated slowly with narrowed eyes.

Clearly, he did not exactly rule out that possibility, and there was a short spell of silence as tension rose in the courtyard. Dante was not bothered by this and bluntly asked.

"So, am I in or what? I'll just find another place if you're gonna waste my time."

His words made many gasp. How could he dare to speak to Hao Donglei, the stronger Martial Grandmaster in the city, like this? Did he not fear for his life?

However, Hao Donglei was not offended as he laughed uproariously. "Of course, you are welcome. Even in the city capital, we might not find a talent like you in 10,000 years. You are admitted as a core disciple!"

Immediately, looks of envy and jealousy struck Dante from all sides, wondering what this fellow did to deserve such privilege. Obviously, as people who didn't even know the criteria for the tests, they could not tell how monstrous Dante was.

His base stats were just a level below a Martial grandmaster like Hao Donglei and above a Martial Master like Jun Feng. When everyone started within the range of 1-5 points in all stats - with those above 5 called geniuses born with divine strength or divine bodies - he was starting with 250 in all stats!

Even if Dante did not learn Internal Arts and simply cultivated External Arts, he could become a half-step Martial grandmaster belonging to the Supreme Martial Hall and stabilize their position in the city.

How could Hao Donglei spit out the fragrant meat that entered his mouth? If it wasn't for the fact that it would cause an uproar, he would have directly made Dante an elder, but that was not possible right off the bat.

It wasn't a matter of having power, but a matter of contribution and loyalty. With Dante being a core disciple, they could quickly cultivate his loyalty and pave his way into becoming an Elder.

Dante nodded as Hao Donglei personally led him into the martial arts hall behind him, ignoring the envy and shock of everyone behind him. After they left, Jun Feng snapped out of his stupor and ordered everyone to get back in line and resume the testing.

Dante stepped into the vibrant and energetic Martial Arts Hall, leaving the bustling courtyard behind. The atmosphere inside was electric, filled with the hum of anticipation and the rustling of training robes.

The hall was vast and spacious, with high ceilings that allowed the energy of the practitioners to flow freely.

"HA!"

"SHO!"

"HUA!"

Sunlight streamed through large windows, casting warm rays of light that danced upon the polished wooden floors. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting legendary martial artists in various poses, inspiring a sense of awe and determination in those who gazed upon them.

The air was thick with the scent of incense, lending a serene and focused ambiance to the surroundings. The sound of steady footsteps and the rhythmic thuds of training filled the air, creating a symphony of dedication and discipline.

Groups of disciples clad in matching uniforms moved gracefully through various routines, their movements fluid and precise. Each corner of the hall seemed to hold a different training area, from wooden dummies for striking practice to padded floors for sparring sessions. The clang of weapons occasionally rang out, punctuating the air with bursts of intensity.

In one corner, a group of students practiced their kicks and punches with unwavering determination. Their bodies moved as extensions of their thoughts, their expressions a blend of concentration and exertion.

Nearby, a master guided a young disciple through a series of intricate forms, his voice calm yet authoritative.

The hall echoed with the shouts of instructors encouraging their students to push their limits, to embrace the pain and fatigue as a path to growth. Sweat glistened on foreheads, muscles strained, and spirits soared as practitioners poured their hearts into their training.

Dante's gaze swept over the scene, casually taking in the wealth of individuals united by their obvious passion for martial arts. There were men and women of all ages, each seeking to master their bodies and harness their inner strength.

The hall was a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds, a true testament to the universal appeal of martial arts.

As he walked deeper into the hall, Dante could feel the energy swirling around him, a palpable force that seemed to beckon him forward. He spotted an area where disciples were engaged in a lively sparring session, their movements a dance of strategy and skill.

The impact of each blow sent ripples of energy through the air, creating an almost tangible aura of power. They glowed with a blood-red light that exploded from their fists and legs when they struck, causing minor shockwaves in the area.

His eyes narrowed as he realized that this was definitely not normal power but something cultivated through the use of martial arts. This kind of extraordinary power was one of the reasons Beatrice suggested he come here because it was completely possible to achieve this power and use it in reality.

Unfortunately for others, they could not replicate it. Even if a student comes down here with a virtual body and masters all the martial arts, they would not be able to manifest these same effects in reality.

It was similar to how one needed a spirit root to cultivate as well as the presence of spirit energy. One needed to be within the boundary of this world, with its special and unique laws, to cultivate Blood Qi and Internal Force.

Besides, who in the real world would waste their time practicing hard every day to master blood Qi when they can just head to a gene center for an enhancement shot?

Hao Donglei led Dante to an office near the back of the hall and sat down, gesturing for Dante to take a seat opposite him. Before he started speaking, there was a knock on the door as a servant disciple pushed it open and bowed to Hao Donglei.

Then he placed a special blood-red token as well as a stylized blood-red gi that was folded neatly down on the desk before leaving.

Hao Donglei smiled and picked up the token, checking

it to make sure it was fine before flicking it over to Dante at bullet speed. Dante casually grabbed it out of the air like it was nothing when it could have pierced through the hands or head of any lesser person.

Dante glanced at the token and saw that one side was written 'Core - Supreme Martial Hall' and the other side was 'Dante'. Hao Donglei pointed to it and explained.

"That is your identity token, denoting who you are to us. Make sure not to lose it, no matter what because it is made of special material. Once you activate your Blood Qi, you will be able to infuse it with your special blood qi to unlock more functions of it like retrieval and communication."

Dante nodded and put the token away as he glanced at the folded gi. "That is your special uniform as a core member. You are to wear it at all times while on the premises of the Supreme Martial Hall. Of course when you are in town, you are free to remove it, but why bother?"

Hao Donglei rubbed his chin with amusement. "After all, as long as you wear it, everyone will know who you are and who you represent, so how can they dare to offend you?"