A few hours had passed since the end of the tournament and it was an ending no one expected, nevertheless, a satisfying one.
With every win giving one hundred points, every student who partook in the tournament and secured at least one win could boast about ending some brownies. For those who were able to climb all the way to the finals, it meant having to come out victorious against hundreds of others.
With that many points, students in the lower classes could hope to climb to a higher one. However, that in itself was another issue. The ones who had the most wins were those already in a higher class.
What's more, the students didn't exactly know how many points were required to climb higher.
With Alex's unique situation, he needn't worry about his allotted points as all the previous matches he missed were counted as part of his win. His display of strength today had proven that he was still the top student in the academy.
With two events concluded, there were two more left to complete.
...
Alex and his friends return to their meeting place—his room a few hours later after the small details were settled.
Prior to returning, he had met Abigail in a small conversation to find out what her plans were regarding the next event. And to his surprise, Abigail stated she wanted to go solo, to challenge herself.
She didn't want to continue relying on him.
It would go against what she was here to learn; to grow strong enough to become an asset and not a liability to the empire.
"So, what do we do for the rest of the day?"
Alex was still full of energy despite the kind of day he had. It had its ups and downs, but it was relatively okay.
"What are you talking about? Unlike you, Julia and I had to fight hundreds of battles."
Ross raised his brows in his direction. While the exhaustion he felt wasn't physical, his mind needed the rest it could get. There was no way he was stepping out to do something else.
"You don't have to come if you don't want to. Besides, I think it would be great to have just me and Julia go out. Sort of like a small date."
Julia's eyes brightened at Alex's suggestion and in an instant, appeared by Alex's side.
"Definitely. Ross, you can stay here. You already complained about seeing us romanticize. This way, you can rest while Alex and I go out."
She was ready to depart at any moment and the bright grin on her face refused to subside. If it were up to her, she and Alex should be glued at the hips.
"Haha, relax woman. Just—"
A notification came from his smartwatch before he could complete his sentence, drawing his attention and the others to it.
"What is it, Xex?"
[It's Lord Zol. He wishes to meet you, all three of you. He's waiting at the same place you met him yesterday.]
Julia tilted her head in wonder as the message concluded.
"Lately, my uncle has been meeting us more frequently than the number of times I've met him in the past.
"You must have really garnered his interest, Alex."
A nervous smile appeared on his face having no idea how to respond to that.
"Do you think he's found a way for your level problem?"
Ross asked as he sat up. If that was truly the case, then Hunter Zol didn't need to see all three of them, Alex would have sufficed.
Thinking thus far, he recalled Alex's weird question in the arena before. 'Let's put that aside for now. The Alex I know wouldn't keep something like that from us unless he had to.'
"I'm not sure. Let's go find out."
...…
"Sit down."
Hunter Zol instructed the kids to sit down before doing so himself. His back was to them as he stood at the large window overlooking the academy.
"Congratulations are in order. You three did well, I'm proud."
He turned around and walked over to the other seat facing the three.
"Thank you, Lord Zol."
Ross and Alex accepted his praise with smiles. Julia on the other hand, just stared at her uncle with curious eyes.
"I understand your confusion calling you out," Hunter Zol replied, briefly glancing at his niece. He knew the girl all too well and the questions in her eyes were understandable.
After all, a person of his standing had met mere students two times in less than two days. While it wasn't a big deal, it was strange to see.
"I summoned you for a simple reason."
Hunter Zol retrieved three large rectangular hard cases placing them on the table between them.
"To give you this."
Hunter Zol gestured for them to open it.
Exchanging glances with themselves, the trio nodded and proceeded to open them.
Inside each hard case was a visible upper portion of armour that glowed the same colour as the physical manifestation of their mana, their chosen weapon and what looked to be a small vial.
The armours were the exact ones they each used whenever they used the VR world. Alex's face brightened as he moved to retrieve the short black staff he used and noticed the same mechanical features that allowed him to change its form whenever he wished.
Julia's case had a long sword shimmering in blue and white light giving off strands of cold energy. With a glance, Julia could tell the material used had cold properties.
Ross got something he hadn't used much before. And because of the weapon he got, his hard case was the longest of the three.
Inside his case was a greatsword with fiery marks that gleamed along the length of its blade, his expression beaming.
"The armour is made from nanites that could be dissolved into your storage and retrieved with a thought. They are capable of withstanding the attacks of a Class C awakened indefinitely and a few blows from a Class B.
"Inbuilt into the suits are protocols that link your weapons to them. As long as your weapon remains within a 100-kilometre radius around you, you call always call it back."
Alex and Ross couldn't believe what they heard. Having armour and weapons like these was one of their dreams. It had never crossed their minds they would be getting one so soon, and high-graded ones at that.
Nanite armour was versatile in its use as it could take on different forms if programmed. This meant the armour could be programmed to take on casual everyday wear. That and the ability to put it on at a moment's notice made it all the more exceptional.
Alex swallowed the rising heat from his chest, wondering why Hunter Zol would go that far.
"Those small vials contain storage nanites."
Suddenly, the expressions of Alex, Ross, and Julia changed from shock to disbelief. Of course, they knew what storage nanites were; who didn't?
The issue was their cost. They were ridiculously expensive and only the wealthiest of hunters and families could afford them.
They were the ultimate form of spatial storage a hunter could have. It guaranteed absolute security and only responded to its users. They were difficult to detect as once inside circulation the nanites continuously moved around.
Never staying in the same spot for long. A user only needs a thought to access the items in there.
"Uncle… Why do all this? I don't understand,"
Of course, Hunter Zol was only doing this for Alex's protection, but he couldn't leave his friends out of it. Julia was his niece and she could have these things anytime she wanted and she knew that.
Julia knew why her uncle did this, but what she wanted to know was why. He could have gifted them with something more to their level instead of giving them something a lot of hunters out there would kill for.
"Don't worry about it. Consider them a small gift for your performance so far."
He looked at Alex and then continued, "Your armour and weapon are slightly different from your friends' due to the nature of your 'energy'. Keep the armour and weapon close on yourself at all times."
Alex squinted his brows and then gave a nod of understanding. The subtle message in there was clear. And while he was not sure, he had his own guess.
'The Order'
"Good. Let's proceed with the injections."
Julia still wore a frown as the explanation her uncle gave wasn't enough. Since he refused to say more, she could only leave it at that.
Hunter Zol picked Alex's vial and gestured for him to stretch out his hand. The procedure was simple and quick, needing just a tap on the hand with the in-built needle.
He did the same for the others and then linked their armour to their weapons. Once that was done, the trio went ahead to store their suit and weapon inside.
"That would be all for now."
He stood up and the trio followed suit.
"I wish you luck with the rest of the events. And Alex… Stop holding back."
Alex gave a curt nod, his eyes remaining locked on Hunter Zol's.
"Good."