Outside of the Viper City:
Carlos Kent's mouth curved into an arc. He knew the girl was in a state of shock. So he gave her some seconds to digest the words. After seeing her, she calmed down.
He again said, "I want you to cooperate with me to kill Zack Lockwood. If you do that, I'll give you free resources."
"With that, you will have no problem reaching the SS-Elite Stage," He added further.
Eurice Frye is again dumbfounded. "SS-Elite!" She was shocked to the core. It's not easy to become an SS-Elite. You have to cross countless resources to reach that rank. One of them being the rare resources.
After a few seconds, she calmed down. She then recalled the unknown powerhouse's demand. "Killing Zack Lockwood?" Her eyes flickered.
For a moment there was silence.
She doesn't know whether the powerhouse will allow her to leave if she says "No"
Her heart was in a state of conflict. The next second, she shook his head in denial and answered, "If I kill Zack Lockwood in the area, then I would be met with the same end."
"The Special Faction Members won't let me go. Especially their faction head will hunt me down. People say that the Special Faction Head is stronger than other Heads."
"I don't want to take a risk," After saying that, Eurice closed her eyes. She is ready to face her end.
Carlos Kent's mouth twitched. He never expected himself to be hindered by his plan. But he was pleased by her words. His deterrence is still affecting the minds of the warriors.
With a proud smile on his face, he answered, "You don't have to worry. Their faction head won't act during the duel. He will turn a blind eye to your actions."
"What?" Eurice felt she heard something wrong.
Carlos saw through her thoughts.
"Don't worry, no one will take the risk for a dead genius.," he said again.
Eurice hesitated for a moment. She was right, the words are not imaginary. The powerhouse is talking to her.
After knowing that the Special Faction Head won't act, her fear was reduced to some extent. Then she finally began to consider the proposal.
To reach SS-Elite rank and above is her dream. Now someone is offering free resources just to kill one person. Her heart wants to accept the proposal.
But her mind was in a state of conflict. She also knew Zack was a special student in the academy. He hadn't attended the classes so far.
Even the teachers and other elders turned a blind eye to this. Which shows that person has the backing of either the Special Faction Head or the dean.
A quick glint flashes in her eyes.
"I'm happy to cooperate but what about the dean?"
"If she finds something wrong then it would spell trouble," Eurice cautiously asked the powerhouse.
Carlos Kent sneered. He didn't care about the aftermath. After witnessing Zack's death, he plans to leave the academy. He doesn't want to confront the dean yet.
But he can't say that to this girl. So he replied," She will not act without evidence. I will give you a poison pill and antidote. Just crush it during the duel. "
"The poison pill doesn't have any smell or taste. It's colorless. Once Zack inhales it, he will be slowly poisoned to death. "
Eurice Frye shuddered in fear. Poison pill? She heard about it before. But not this specific colorless one. After hearing about it, she felt a lot more relaxed.
"If it works then I can escape without causing any suspicion," She muttered in her heart.
Finally, the greed for free resources overwhelmed her heart. Even if she works hard to compete for resources. There is no way she could complete resources.
As long as she kills Zack, she will get resources. She can enter seclusion to cultivate and consume their resources.
When her heart and mind come to the decision. Her demeanor completely changed. A cunning glint flashes in her eyes. She didn't consider Elder Alice who taught her.
"Ha....Ha...ha...,"
Carlos Kent laughed out loud.
"Good"
"Good".
"If you don't take risks, you won't achieve big things in your life.," Carlos applauded her.
Earlier he wanted to convince the girl to kill Zack on the fighting stage itself.
But after looking at her cautious mind, he changed his plan. Consuming poison pills is the safest method. Which also gives him time to escape as well.
Then he brought a pill bottle before him. Inside there are 2 poison pills. One is enough to take Zack's life. But he doesn't want to take any chances. Using 2 poison pills will be overkill. But he doesn't mind.
He waved his hand as the pill bottle appeared before Eurice.
"There are 2 pills in it. I want you to use both during the duel. And here is the antidote for it.," Carlos said.
Then another liquid bottle appeared before her. Eurice placed both bottles in her storage ring. The liquid bottle is a medicine bottle containing an antidote.
Eurice hesitated to ask for resources.
Carlos saw through her thoughts. Then he thought for a moment before taking out one storage ring. The storage ring contains resources for the breakthrough Super Elite Stage.
The storage ring appears before Eurice. She immediately caught it and put it inside her storage ring.
"The Storage ring contains resources for Super Elite rank breakthroughs. The remaining resource will be sent to you after completion of the task."
Eurice heard Powerhouse's words. She paused for a moment before saying, "I will make no mistake."
"Good," Carlos commented before grabbing her.
In a blink of an eye, he dropped her at the monster facility. Where her friends are searching for her.
Eurice Frye stood in the spot in a daze. She felt the conversation was unreal. Then she used her consciousness to check the items.
Seeing the poison pill and antidote liquid. Together with another storage ring. Her heart skips a beat.
"Eurice, are you alright?"
"Where did you go?"
Suddenly, she heard her friends' voices. She quickly recovered her emotions before acting as usual.
Meanwhile,
Carlos Kent arrived at his home. His face was full of smiles. He didn't think that girl would backtrack. Because he saw the same greed in her. The same longing and hunger for resources.
For some people, talent is there but they lack resources. Even in this blessed academy not everyone can have full resources. Forget A-grade institutions, other institutions are scrambling for resources.
The higher the rank, the higher will be demand for the resources. Now he is not worried about Zack's status. He will come for the duel. And that day would be his last day.
....
Dean Office,
Rebecca is busy with her work. But don't know why? Zack's current status affects her concentration. She doesn't know what he is doing?
Usually, she will get the news about Zack. Including the day-to-day updates. If Zack goes to the cafeteria or monster zone, she would eventually know.
But now it is completely void. There was no day-to-day update.
"Don't tell me he is cooked up in his room.," She said in her heart. She also knows about Zack's lack of essence. She thought he would come to her and ask for help.
"Is he going to win it by using his abnormal physique?"
Doubt appeared in her heart. Zack's performance in the bedrock city was vivid in her mind.
"If he thinks his body strength would help him, then he is underestimating the opponent," She said to herself.
She knows Alice taught strange water techniques to Eurice. Her water essence might affect Zack's body. Thinking about it, she decided to remind Zack.
Initially, she wanted to stay neutral. But Zack's position is disadvantageous. His lack of essential practice is something to do with her. She had promised him to find a suitable place for lightning cultivation.
But this challenge duel came in between. Then she contacted Zack. But the call was not connected. She frowned. Why is he not attending the direct call?
Then she tried again but the result was the same.
"Let's summon her friends.," She mumbled. She thought they might know something.
Then she instructed Ernest and Laverne to appear in her office.
A few minutes later,
Ernest and Laverne entered her office.
"Dean"
Both of them greeted her.
"Sit," Rebecca said.
Seeing that both of them sat down comfortably.
She went straight into the topic.
"What is he doing these days?" She asked.
Ernest and Laveren looked at each other.
"Dean, are you asking about Zack?" Laverne asked back.
Rebecca nodded her head before saying, "He is not answering my call. I don't know what he is doing right now. Did he tell you, guys, anything.?"
Ernest and Laverne are surprised by Dean's words. The same thing happened to them as well.
....
(From MC's Perspective)
Days passed,
On the uneven mountain peak, I have been cultivating hard without minding day and night. Constantly, my essential strength is getting improved these days.
And I have a feeling that I will touch the limit in a few hours. Once it happens, I will use the remaining days for the breakthrough.