Chapter 23: Add Points!
"Shadow Claw! Abyssal Swamp! Eroding Dark Bat Strike! Activate them all!"
Tomorrow, the early recruitment would end, and he would soon leave for a new place. There was no need to hide anymore, no need to hold back any cards.
As the combat skills activated, the fleeing prisoners were instantly plunged into endless pain and despair.
Their screams rose and fell, echoing across the execution ground.
This method of death, filled with terror and hopelessness, was far more lethal than ordinary execution. It forced them to taste the torment of fear in their final moments!
They were wrong to challenge him! They were dead wrong!!
Alex walked forward casually, slicing off the head of the last fleeing prisoner. Then, he tossed the still-dripping head directly at Lyra Vance.
"Ahhh!!"
Lyra, seeing the severed head suddenly appear before her, turned pale instantly and screamed in terror.
Her entire body trembled uncontrollably. Her legs went weak, and she stumbled backward subconsciously.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief and horror, screaming internally:
How can Alex only be Tier 1, Rank 5?
And how can he kill people of the same realm so easily, like butchering chickens?
Alex's black trench coat was already soaked in blood. The dark red stains stood out glaringly against the black fabric. He gripped the Death Scythe, which was still dripping blood, and approached Lyra step by step.
"What are you afraid of? Want me to chop a few more to liven things up for you?"
Lyra watched Alex closing in, panic-stricken. She retreated continuously until she slipped, losing her balance and landing heavily on her butt.
She scrambled backward on the ground, desperate to get away. "Don't come over! Don't come over..."
In her eyes, the current Alex wasn't human. He was a cold-blooded demon who killed without blinking!
"Idiot. You better pray you don't run into me again. Otherwise, I'll beat you every time I see you!"
For someone as arrogant and ignorant as Lyra, if she wasn't taught a harsh lesson, she would never learn.
"Alex! How dare you threaten the Young Miss? And scaring her like this?" Elder Vance roared loudly, stepping forward to intervene.
"Little Elder, what do you think you're doing to my son-in-law?"
Cyrus Xander walked up unhurriedly. He placed a heavy hand on Elder Vance's shoulder, applying subtle force.
Crack!
A crisp sound of bones fracturing was clearly audible.
"Urgh... City Lord... I was wrong." Elder Vance groaned in pain, quickly submitting and begging for mercy.
"Hahaha, good that you know your mistake. Now, why haven't you taken your Young Miss and left?" Cyrus revealed a meaningful smile.
Anyone with eyes could see that Lyra had picked a fight out of nowhere, provoking Alex first.
If it were anyone else instead of Alex, Lyra might have succeeded and been gloating right now.
Want to bully my future son-in-law?
Not a chance!
"Yes..."
Elder Vance didn't dare say another word. He hurriedly helped up Lyra, who was shivering and incoherent with fear. They rushed into their car and fled in embarrassment.
"Alex, well done! Finish off that last guy and the beasts in the cages, then come with me!"
Cyrus looked at Alex with satisfaction, smiling broadly.
Watching Alex now, he wanted to work even harder to secure this kid as his son-in-law!
Alex nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Uncle Cyrus."
Then, Alex walked slowly toward the Tier 1, Rank 9 prisoner, Klaus.
Klaus raised his head, a trace of relief in his eyes. "Dying by your hand... I have no regrets!"
This young man before him had thoroughly awakened something long forgotten in his heart—perhaps the respect for true strength.
But everything was too late. There was no turning back.
"In your next life, remember to be a good person."
Alex borrowed a sword from a guard and pierced Klaus's heart cleanly.
Next, he dispatched the remaining Three-Eyed Demon Rats. With that, the execution finally concluded.
[Slaughter Points: 2300]
Looking at the 2300 Slaughter Points displayed in the System, Alex's eyes flashed with excitement.
With these points, he could finally upgrade his strength properly!
Alex returned to Cyrus's side. The City Lord smiled and said, "Let's go, kid. I have some things to ask you in the car."
Alex nodded. Just as he was about to follow him to the car, Lee Guoan, the Deputy Director of the Awakener Administration Bureau, spoke up hurriedly.
"Alex, would you consider joining our Bureau after you graduate? I will contact my superiors immediately to secure the best treatment for you!"
Lee's eyes were full of anticipation and desire.
Alex's performance just now was simply too shocking. He firmly believed that the young man before him would achieve greatness in the future.
Alex shook his head slightly. "It's too early to talk about that. Let's wait until after graduation."
Always leave a bridge open for the future.
A trace of disappointment flashed in Lee's eyes, but he hurriedly handed over a business card. "If you need anything in the future, feel free to call me anytime. If you think I'm not high-ranking enough, I can have my superiors contact you personally!"
Failing to recruit Alex on the spot was undoubtedly a huge loss for him.
"Alright. If I need anything, I'll contact you."
Alex took the card and got into the car with Cyrus.
Lee watched them leave and sighed helplessly. "Clean up the execution ground!"
In the car.
"Alex, did you really need to overcome a fear of killing??"
Cyrus looked at Alex with amusement, asking with a smile.
Alex coughed twice, looking a bit awkward. "Ahem... after seeing the heinous crimes those prisoners committed, I got angry and felt there was no need to overcome it anymore..."
Cyrus clearly didn't believe Alex's excuse, but he didn't press further.
Everyone had their secrets. He didn't want to interfere too much.
"So your realm advancement wasn't just luck either? And the Tier 3 Combat Skill I just saw... was that also just 'good luck'?"
"Yeah, just luck. Pure luck. While cultivating yesterday, my brain got hot, and the skill just leveled up. My realm went up inexplicably too." Alex made up random excuses.
Cyrus shook his head helplessly, a faint smile on his face.
This kid doesn't have a single word of truth in his mouth!
There's no such thing as luck. It's most likely the result of his diligent cultivation day and night!
What a hardworking, good kid!
However, no matter how hard one worked, this cultivation speed was still ridiculously fast!
He then asked the last question lingering in his mind. "That scythe of yours... is it a Companion Spirit Weapon?"
"Yes, Uncle Cyrus."
In front of Cyrus, Alex felt there was no need to hide it.
"What rank is it?"
"S-Rank."
Hearing this, Cyrus nodded repeatedly, his face full of joy. "Good! Good! You kid really hid it deep!"
In the entire Federation, there were fewer than ten people known to have awakened a Companion Spirit Weapon!
The power of a Spirit Weapon far exceeded ordinary combat weapons, and ordinary weapons couldn't even scratch a Spirit Weapon.
Alex rubbed his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed.
He didn't intend to hide it on purpose, but once he went to the Awakener Academy, he should probably keep a lower profile.
"You flatter me, Uncle Cyrus. I was just lucky to awaken it."
Cyrus looked at Alex: "..."
"You kid... still humble. Have you figured out your Ability Characteristic yet?"
Alex shook his head. "Not yet."
"Don't rush. Take your time. Hunt more beasts. Truth is found in actual combat."
"Mhm, I will, Uncle Cyrus."
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you shine at those Awakener Academies!" Cyrus sighed emotionally.
With Alex's current cultivation progress and overall strength, he had already far surpassed the children of those old fogies in the Capital and Arcane City.
In previous years, the title of Number One Prodigy was always taken by someone from the Capital or the Arcane City.
This year, it was time for a change!
"I'm looking forward to it too!" Alex's eyes were firm.
A one-sided crush was far less satisfying than meeting a worthy opponent!
Beating the prodigies of Riverdale City meant nothing.
His goal was to defeat the top prodigies of the entire Federation!
After all, to restore the glory of the Darkness Class, small fights wouldn't cut it!
If I'm going to fight, I'm fighting the elites!
Back at the apartment.
Alex sat on his bed, the System panel glowing before him.
[Slaughter Points: 2300]
He took a deep breath. It was time to spend.
First, his realm. He was currently Tier 1, Rank 5.
"System, raise my realm to Tier 1, Rank 6!"
[Ding! Consumed 400 Slaughter Points. Host's realm successfully upgraded to Tier 1, Rank 6.]
A warm current surged through his body, his bones and muscles strengthening visibly. But he wasn't done.
"System, raise my realm to Tier 1, Rank 7!"
[Ding! Consumed 600 Slaughter Points. Host's realm successfully upgraded to Tier 1, Rank 7.]
The feeling of power was intoxicating. But the cost was getting steeper. He checked his remaining points: 1300.
Next, bone tempering. He was currently at the 2nd Round.
"System, upgrade Bone Tempering to the 3rd Round!"
[Ding! Consumed 400 Slaughter Points. Bone Tempering successfully upgraded to 3rd Round.]
Alex gritted his teeth as his skeleton felt like it was being compressed by a hydraulic press. The pain was sharp but brief. When it faded, he felt lighter, stronger.
Remaining points: 900.
He looked at his skills.
[Shadow Claw (Proficient)]
[Abyssal Swamp (Novice)]
[Eroding Dark Bat Strike (Novice)]
He decided to balance his arsenal.
"System, upgrade Abyssal Swamp to Proficient!"
[Ding! Consumed 300 Slaughter Points. Abyssal Swamp upgraded to Proficient.]
"System, upgrade Eroding Dark Bat Strike to Proficient!"
[Ding! Consumed 400 Slaughter Points. Eroding Dark Bat Strike upgraded to Proficient.]
Remaining points: 200.
He saved the rest for emergencies.
Alex stood up and stretched. The air around him seemed to darken slightly in response to his heightened affinity.
Tier 1, Rank 7.
3rd Round Bone Tempering.
Three Proficient-level Tier 2/Tier 3 skills.
And an S-Rank Spirit Weapon.
He walked to the window and looked out at the city lights.
"The Vance family duel is tomorrow."
A confident smile played on his lips.
"Elara... I hope you're ready. Because I'm not just going to beat you. I'm going to shatter your world."