Chapter 102 - Power Leveling
Hunter Association.
Looking at Cao Wudi decked out in multiple layers of special armor, Branch Leader Johnson turned to Secretary Jane with a frown, "Don\'t you think you overdid it a bit here, Jane?"
"It is what Mr. Wudi chose for himself after I told him that he could equip any armor and weapon he wanted, Branch Leader Johnson." Secretary Jane explained with a helpless look.
"But still..." Branch Leader Johnson smiled wryly at Cao Wudi\'s appearance and said, "This is too much... Mr. Wudi, you look like an armored war frame..."
Not only did the person equipped himself with multiple layers of special Phantasmium-transformed armor, but there were also two rocket launchers mounted on his shoulders, two laser sabers strapped to the side, and high-tech thrusters equipped for mobility.
The person was practically a miniature mobile suit Gunda—Ahem, a weaponized robot.
"Every battle is a battle of life and death, Branch Leader Johnson. I have to equip myself with the ultimate defense and firepower to ensure the greatest survivability," Cao Wudi said seriously.
Branch Leader Johnson\'s lips twitched in thought, \'Was this person really the person they were looking for? Why does he seem so unreliable?\'
Suddenly, Cao Wudi added with a face that exuded confidence, "Now that I am well equipped, I am ready to hunt.
"Oh? That\'s great to hear." Branch Leader Johnson\'s doubt was cleared instantly by Cao Wudi\'s courageous aura before he nodded, "Then I shan\'t keep you any longer. Happy hunting, Mr. Wudi."
"Un." Cao Wudi nodded solemnly.
Cao Wudi exited from the fortified Hunter Association building\'s main entrance before he rushed onto the road and roared to the skies, "Come at me, black fiends!—huh?"
A looming shadow of enormous proportions descended, occupying Cao Wudi\'s field of vision before color was wiped from his face, "Ahh, f*ck me."
…
Inside the Hunter Association building, Branch Leader Johnson threw Secretary Jane a glance, "What do you think, Jane? How many levels do you think Mr. Wudi will gain tonight?"
"Silvercove has little competition until reinforcement arrives, so I would say at least level 15 if Mr. Wudi is diligent." Secretary Jane answered after some thought.
"Un, I also thought the same." Branch Leader Johnson nodded before he said, "This is a rare chance for us as well. We shouldn\'t miss out on the f—"
BOOM!
The entire Hunter Association building suddenly shook with a terrible earthquake after being struck by something with significant impact but managed to endure it, nonetheless.
"—F*cking sh*t!" Branch Leader Johnson cussed before adding, "What the hell was that?"
"Seems like someone enormous just struck the building," Secretary Jane spoke as he looked outside the main entrance.
"Let\'s take a look."
…
The Behemoth\'s headless body flattened several surrounding buildings, but the fortified black Hunter Association building stood tall and strong.
"Jesus Christ! Look at the size of this thing!" Branch Leader Johnson immediately exclaimed before he suddenly added after a slight pause, "Wait, where did Mr. Wudi go? He didn\'t get flattened underneath this thing, did he?"
Roar!
Cao Wudi cleaved his way out of the Behemoth\'s body with twin laser sabers, his eyes bloodshot, and his face paled underneath his thick layer of Phantasmium-alloyed armor.
Branch Leader Johnson and Secretary Jane were quickly stunned. They shifted their gaze between the Behemoth\'s body and Cao Wudi intermittently in shock.
"Mr. Wudi, you… did you do this?" Branch Leader Johnson gulped.
How much strength had this person been hiding?
Crowds of reporters and people quickly flocked over to investigate the crash site of the Behemoth\'s body while others resumed their valiant battles with the interdimensional creatures.
"This…"
The news reporters paused upon Cao Wudi\'s face. Shortly after, their eyes brightened with a big scoop. Wasn\'t this Silvercove\'s new hero?!
"Captain Wudi, what sort of ability was that black flash? Was it a lightning ability or a fire ability?"
"How strong are you really, Captain Wudi? How much are you still hiding from us?"
"Did you really slay the boss-like interdimensional creature, Captain Wudi?"
Cao Wudi was bombarded with feverish questions before he could even celebrate surviving a calamity, causing him to be at a loss for words, "I…"
"Of course, you did! You\'re the great hero of Silvercove, right?! Right?!" An impatient news reporter assumed with enthusiasm.
Cao Wudi was stunned, speechless.
"Dammit, what\'s the point of asking me questions if you are going to answer them for me? Not to mention, you are all wrong! I didn\'t do this!\' He cried mentally with distress.
…
Meanwhile, three big battles were also taking place around the world.
In the skies of River City, Aurora continent, Emperor Thanatos battled against a Behemoth-class Colossal Wyvern on the with his black daggers.
In the skies of Haven City, Armentia continent, Empress Una battled against a Behemoth-class Colossal Roc with her black sword.
And in the skies of Blackwater City, Europa continent, Kasin battled against a Behemoth-class Colossal Griffin with his black spear.
Regardless of their locations, they all sensed the surge of energy coming from the Asiana continent\'s direction, and their bodies trembled in response.
"This power…" The Three Emperors\' eyes flickered with dread in their hearts, "The Dark Emperor is alive!"
At the same time, inside a space station located outside of Earth, Emperor Polemos opened his eyes with a brilliant flicker of excitement, "I knew the boss was still alive! Long live the Dark Emperor!"
Polemos adorned his clothes and exited the space cabin before ordering a subordinate in white uniform, "Prepare my private spacecraft. I am returning to Earth."
"Yes, Lord Polemos!"
…
=====
<System Log>
[You have slain Lv.63 Behemoth-class Colossal Mutant Lizard.]
[You have slain Lv.15 Common-class Flying Fish.]
[You have slain Lv.21 Common-class Giant Crow.]
[You have slain Lv.3 Common-class Infant Roc.]
[…
…
[You have slain Lv.42 Elite-class Void Beast.]
[You have slain Lv.71 Behemoth-class Void Lurker.]
[…
…
[Achievement: Colossal Mutant Lizard first kill. 100 EXP has been awarded.]
[Achievement: Behemoth-class first kill. 10000 EXP has been awarded.]
[Achievement: Flying Fish first kill. 100 EXP has been awarded.]
[…
…
[Achievement: Elite-class first kill. 1000 EXP has been awarded.]
[…
…
[Error: Due to annihilation power of the 10th Tribulation Lightning vaporizing most of the Soul Energy, only a portion of Soul Energy had been retrieved and converted into EXP. Calculating remaining EXP gained.]
[Ding! You have gained 4950310 EXP.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[…
…
=====
[Status]: Level 43 Hunter, 839810/1000000 EXP (83.98% Progress)
Albion\'s eyes repeatedly twitched at the string of notifications as some dubious names appeared in the system log.
At the same time, the big leap in his hunter level almost gave him a heart attack.
"Haiz…" Albion shook his head with an emotional sigh, "When I am serious, I even scare myself."
"B-Big Brother Albion… y-you\'re incredible!" Xiao Hua stuttered with excitement. She gazed at Albion like he was a living god.
Shortly after, she began prancing around Albion with excitement and questions, "What kind of power was that? What is your Hunter level now? Why did your hair suddenly grow so long—"
Blop.
As Xiao Hua played with Albion\'s long white hair, it suddenly fell like loose sand and shattered into fine powders on the ground.
The two were immediately stunned.
"Eh… I didn\'t mean it, Big Brother Albion…" Xiao Hua apologized with guilt while sneaking glances at his bald head that shined in the moonlight.
"…"
Albion gazed at the white powder in silence before closing his eyes painfully, \'Why my hair too…\'
It seemed to have suffered collateral damage from the 10th Tribulation Lightning.