Chapter 35 | Back On Earth
The exit portal in the human base was surprisingly easy to find, a swirling vortex of golden light positioned right in the center of the plaza where Alicar and the others had first appeared months ago.
It shimmered with an ethereal glow, the same energy that had brought them to this place, now waiting to take them back home.
"Well then, see you later," Alicar said simply to the two with a faint smile on his face, a hint of reluctance in his voice.
"You too," Iris beamed, her eyes bright with excitement. "Let’s call each other later if you want, I’ll be heading to the Awakener Association as soon as I’m out!"
"Same," Leon sighed, his expression a mixture of relief and anxiety. "Though I’ll have to explain everything about why I was gone for 2 years..."
"As I said before, if anyone questions your new powers... just tell them it was a reward," Alicar replied, his voice carrying a note of finality.
Leon and Iris gazed at Alicar’s eyes and nodded, understanding he didn’t want any of this to be out, that their shared secret would remain buried.
And just like that, the two of them passed through the portal, their forms dissolving into brilliant light as they were transported back to Earth.
Alicar took a deep breath while holding the S-Rank core steadily in his hand and did the same, stepping into the swirling energy.
Though as he left, he saw one final panel, its letters glowing with an almost teasing light.
[See you in the First Layer, Soulless One.]
As Alicar’s vision cleared, he found himself back in his home, and more precisely leaning against his bed, the familiar weight of his surroundings grounding him.
The first thing that hit him was the smell, the distinct musty odor of his cramped apartment that he had grown so used to over the years.
Alicar coughed, but then he smiled, a genuine expression of warmth crossing his face. "Damn, after 2 weeks I almost forgot about this smell."
His apartment was the same as ever, the same mold creeping along the corners of the walls, the same white pieces of peeling paint scattered across the floor, the same old TV that barely worked, compact kitchen that could barely fit one person, and cramped bathroom that felt more like a closet.
It was... his home, the only place he had ever truly known.
Seems like nobody actually even cared enough to check on him all this time, his absence going completely unnoticed by the world.
’Well, except if they wanted money that is,’ he thought bitterly, his jaw tightening.
Alicar grabbed his phone and noticed several notifications that had accumulated during his absence.
[Your payments are due in 2 weeks.]
"Heh," Alicar chuckled dryly, shaking his head.
Fortunately, Alicar didn’t really need to worry about this anymore, not with the treasure he now held in his hands.
He looked down and saw that in his hand was the same S-Rank core from before, its fiery glow still pulsing with power, it had been carried over with him through the portal.
That was his key out of poverty, his ticket to a new life, and he would make sure to sell it as quick as he could.
Alicar quickly grabbed a small backpack and carefully placed the core inside, securing it with extra padding, then got ready to exit.
Every awakener upon returning from the Initial Stage was tasked with registering with the Awakener Association, a mandatory requirement for all who wished to continue their journey.
That was to allow them to access the more secure parts of the forum, the Trading Centre where items could be bought and sold, and unlock many more benefits that came with official recognition.
As a Tier-0, Alicar obviously wouldn’t get the best stuff available, the top-tier equipment and rare materials reserved for higher-ranked awakeners, but at least he’d be registered and recognized as legitimate.
’They’ll know that I failed my awakening though,’ Alicar thought, his mind already working on excuses. ’I’ll have to find an excuse that doesn’t raise too many questions.’
Alicar would also need to focus on his advancement tasks, much like every other awakener who had reached Level 10.
Of course, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be able to come back to the Initial Stage, since none of them had cleared their Advancement Task and thus were still Level 10, unable to progress further.
In fact, most awakeners needed to return to the Initial Stage to clear their tasks, spending weeks or even months in that dangerous realm.
Alicar and Iris didn’t need to though, since the former’s advancement tasks could be cleared even without coming back.
’Well, I can always try to acquire cores and corpses, but the Initial Stage’s loot probably won’t be enough,’ Alicar sighed as he left his apartment with the backpack slung over his shoulder. ’For now, I’ll focus on leveling up Elemental Attack.’
It was the "cheapest" skill in terms of Evolution Points, and if he calculated correctly, with 2 EP per day, it would take... 504 Evolution Points, or 252 days to reach Level 10.
"...Fuck," Alicar muttered, the number hitting him like a physical blow.
Even if he acquired a third vessel, increasing his strength and Evolution Points output, he would still need 168 days, nearly half a year of waiting.
Half a year just to complete an advancement task was unheard of, a timeline that would make him the laughingstock of the awakener world, but still, Alicar had the feeling that this couldn’t be it.
There had to be another way to earn Evolution Points, he could feel it deep in his gut, he just didn’t know how to unlock it.
Alicar exited his apartment and made his way through the lower area of the megacity, the streets crowded with people going about their daily lives, none of them aware of what he had just accomplished.
The buildings around him were old and worn, their facades covered in grime and graffiti, a stark contrast to the gleaming towers of the wealthier districts.
’If something like the Sun Beast was unleashed here, I wonder how much damage it would cause.’
He hailed a taxi, the only one that would stop in this neighborhood, and gave the last few dollars he had in his backpack to the driver, watching the meter tick upward with each passing minute.
The ride took him through the heart of the city, past massive skyscrapers and bustling commercial centers, until finally, he arrived at the Awakener Association in the middle of the day.
The building stood before him like a monument to power, its gleaming glass and steel facade stretching high into the sky, dwarfing everything around it.
Massive pillars flanked the entrance, adorned with intricate carvings depicting legendary battles and heroic awakeners from ages past.
Hundreds of other awakeners milled about the entrance, their equipment gleaming in the afternoon sun, some wearing full armor, others carrying enchanted weapons, and many adorned with magical accessories that pulsed with faint energy.
It truly felt like a whole other world to him, a place he had only ever seen from the outside, a place he had never thought he would belong.
He had always mostly lived in poverty since his parents died, scraping by on whatever scraps he could find, dreaming of a better life that always seemed just out of reach.
And now he didn’t need to anymore, he was part of the awakener world, and stronger than many at his level, his power proven through blood and battle.
Alicar took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, and stepped through the massive glass doors into the Awakener Association.
...
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