Looking at the boy, instructor Horvey knew Alex did not feel any danger coming from the void creature.
'I guess it is to be expected. He has a similar energy, after all.'
He recalled the first time he used his abilities on Alex and nearly collapsed in front of his students.
But now that they knew what kind of energy Alex used, it wasn't much of a surprise.
However, he didn't understand why Alex wanted to make it seem like he was affected when he was clearly not.
'Who knows what goes on in his head.'
He pushed aside that thought and turned back to the rest of the students.
Most of them had already broken sweats on their brows and were having a difficult time standing on their feet.
'It should be enough.'
He signalled the bots to put back the barrier and then moved towards them, Alex following behind with a pondering gaze.
It seemed his mind was wandering and wasn't paying much attention to what was happening around him.
"Congratulations. You have taken your first step into becoming powerful hunters. This is what we all go through.
"But don't worry, you'll get used to it as your strength grows."
He went ahead and encouraged them to continue growing stronger before dismissing them for the day.
Under his gaze, he watched as the students rushed out of the building, talking about their experience and wanting to take a good scrab.
Then there was Alex who moved as if he had a fire lit under his ass. He was in a hurry to get back with his Ross and Julia right by his side.
They all had different expressions as if they didn't know what happened to Alex.
After all the kids disappeared from view, he headed for his office.
Horvey had to write a report about the student's experience with the void creature and submit it to the head.
...…...
Alex's heart was racing as he strode towards his room, and he couldn't help the slight smile that was emerging on his lips.
'Finally, a way forward!'
He exclaimed inwardly.
At the moment when the barrier came down and the aura befell everyone, Alex on the other hand felt something he had never felt ever since he awakened.
He felt the very core of his being, his cells and energies shook with excitement as a slight pulse of void energy circulated through his body.
It gave a similar feeling to how mana was absorbed as once cultivated.
'Void creatures have traces of void energy in them! How did I not see this?!'
The trio eventually reached his room and before they could even sit, Ross asked the obvious.
"What was that about?"
He and Julia had been holding back their curiosity since they left the building.
"Hehe… You're not going to believe it."
"That void creature aura has no effect on you?"
Julia inquired while taking a seat.
Alex was too excited to sit as he was moving around like he was eager to go somewhere.
"Well, that was to be expected. But that is not what I'm talking about."
Realizing he was too excited for his own good, Alex took a deep breath to calm his increasing excitement.
"I think I found a way…"
He dropped the bomb and for a moment, the two were confused and exchanged glances.
However, as they looked at their friend's expression and what had bothered him for so long, they finally realized what he was saying.
Abruptly, they stood up with wide eyes as their faces slowly changed from shocked to excited.
"Y-You're serious? You found a way to increase your level?" Ross asked just to be sure they were on the same page.
In response, he simply smiled.
Julia squealed in excitement and jumped Alex who caught her with ease. The two spun around with broad smiles as Julia buried her face in Alex's neck.
"Finally! It's about time."
She had watched Alex feel frustrated about his situation for so long. There was nothing she could do for him and could only watch Alex despair about being left behind.
But now, he could finally make progress like the rest of them.
The last couple of times Julia and Ross sparred with Alex in their base form, they had beaten him black and blue and if it weren't for his combat prowess, Alex wouldn't even have a win under his belt.
Ross ignored the lovebirds and recalled what went on in that storage shack.
'Alex was the only one who didn't back away; he wasn't affected by the aura… And an aura is just a manifestation of one's energy. That means the void energy in the void creature is the key…'
Ross deduced and his eyes returned to his friends after they separated from their embrace.
Ross didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, but he had to make sure his friend had all his bases covered.
"Now the question is: how do we get that energy?"
Ross's question made them turn to him, pondering on the issue. Yes, he had found a way, but what about the source of the energy?
Where was he going to get it and how was he going to collect it? It wasn't like void energy was something humans handled on a daily basis.
If anything, they wanted nothing to do with that energy. The void creatures they captured to use as resources were used after their remnant void energy had dissipated.
Alex thought long and hard about the issue. Then he recalled his lessons on void creatures.
'Void creatures are basically bathed in mana and void energy. Their cores and blood c-….'
Alex's eyes widened when he got his answer and then smiled.
"I know how…"
He explained to them how he could get that energy and although they would be low as most of the energy would have dissipated, it was better than nothing.
"And we can use this?"
He accessed his watch and pulled out the business card he received from that salesperson.
They had a shop right in Academic City and the trio had nothing but free time.
"It's time to go shopping…" Alex smirked in delight.
His comeback was finally in sight.