After the morning classes ended, the group gathered for lunch.
Kaelum and his companions had just conquered the Twenty-Ninth Floor, breaking through a significant barrier, and naturally, they wanted to celebrate.
“Getting past the Twenty-Ninth Floor is like having one foot in the door of becoming a ninth-tier Battle General,” Kaelum said.
Cain asked, puzzled, “When does the other foot step in?”
Anderson replied solemnly, “The other foot is already inside.”
Anderson had already reported Cain’s SS-grade change class to the higher-ups. The department responded quickly, temporarily awarding Cain 1,000 points. Once verified, Cain would receive even more resources.
Cain had fully taken Mike’s advice. If he had kept it hidden, these resources would never have come his way. The first thing Cain did with his points was try to repay Mike, only to be refused again.
Mike waved it off, “You can pay me back the $16.5 million later. It’s no big deal; I’m not short on money. Nowadays, people are lining up to treat me to meals and drinks.”
“$16.5 million?”
Cain’s head filled with question marks. Didn’t he owe $10 million? Where did the extra $6.5 million come from? Was there a mistake?
“Mike, the new batch of recruits has arrived. This afternoon’s combat test needs you to lead the team, don’t forget!” Kaelum said, feeling fortunate. “Mike is reliable. Cain getting an SS-grade change class exceeded Anderson’s expectations. Mike never gives me such ‘surprises.’ When it comes to D-grade talent, Mike is consistently stable.”
As long as Mike remained this way, Kaelum’s plan to stay back a grade was almost certain.
“Lead the team…”
Mike instinctively wanted to refuse. With the great battle imminent, he didn’t know what the trigger would be. The only certainty was that when the battle started, wherever Mike was would become the center of the battlefield!
Mike’s idea was to avoid crowds if possible. At the very least, he shouldn’t be in the middle of a crowd, as that would endanger others.
“Mike, don’t even think about running away,” Kaelum reminded him. “Carson specifically requested you to lead the team. Running away would get you disqualified from the summer camp.”
“Do you think so little of me? Do I look like someone who would run away?” Mike rolled his eyes and retorted.
Then he thought, given Shadow Nine’s meticulous planning, they wouldn’t fight an unprepared battle. When the battle started, they wouldn’t let these Supreme Being seeds be wasted. Fine, I’ll go. When the battle starts, I’ll find an excuse to slip away.
After lunch, they headed to the training hall. Mike noticed something was off today. The usual instructors and coaches were nowhere to be seen. Along the way, there wasn’t a single Battle Chief, and even Battle Generals were scarce!
The order at the training hall was maintained by some senior students. Most importantly…
“What are you guys doing?”
Mike looked at his team and felt a headache coming on. According to the previous rules, the top 50 and bottom 50 in the combat test had to participate, with Mike leading the team.
Standing before Mike were ninety-nine people, more than half of them carrying a Big Bertha. Ethan, whom Mike had defeated before, was the most exaggerated, carrying two Big Berthas!
This was too much! They didn’t look like students at all!
Mike righteously scolded, “Are you here to fight or perform acrobatics? Every day, you learn nothing good, only these tricks…”
Mike unleashed his full fury, scolding all ninety-nine of them. Meanwhile, Cain whispered, “Wasn’t Mike the first to use Big Bertha?”
Kaelum nodded slowly, “That’s why he’s especially shameless.”
Cain: …
After a thorough scolding, Mike sighed in resignation. “Fine, as long as you can win.”
“Let’s go!”
The group marched towards Area A. Even those not participating in the afternoon’s combat followed to watch. Among all the teams, the C District, carrying Big Berthas, was the most eye-catching, drawing a lot of attention.
“Why is everyone in C District carrying Big Berthas?!”
“Haven’t you heard? Mike from C District has a D-grade talent but used this method to beat Ethan, who has an S-grade talent!”
“Cool—who’s Mike?”
“Isn’t it obvious? The one carrying two Big Berthas! Who else could be so shameless?”
Ethan: “….”
According to Carson’s arrangement, C District was up against A District. This combat not only determined elimination spots but also affected future resource allocation between the districts. That’s why both sides were giving it their all, trying to outdo each other. And C District, carrying Big Berthas, was clearly prepared. They had already won in terms of momentum!
Whether or not these things were practical, they certainly looked intimidating!
Cain whispered to Mike, “James is here too, with the Elemental High School group. He’s in A District.”
“No worries, nothing to fear,” Mike had a plan. “If he wants to challenge me, he has to beat Ethan first.”
Ethan turned his head, looking helplessly at Mike. ‘I’m right here! Is it appropriate to say that in front of me?’
“You don’t know James, do you? He’s pretty tough. It took me over ten moves to beat him,” Mike said seriously. “If you beat James, we can have another match.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow, immediately stepping out with his two Big Berthas, looking towards A District’s team and shouting, “Who’s James?”
Carrying Big Berthas already made him stand out. Now, calling out A District naturally drew everyone’s attention. Many also looked at another person—James.
Compared to a week ago, James looked stronger and seemed to have grown taller. When Ethan called out, he was chatting with an instructor.
This instructor was from A District, from Elemental High School, known for his humor, wide knowledge, and popularity among students.
The instructor’s name was Michael.
Mike looked at James and saw Michael.
As Mike saw Michael, Michael also looked at Mike.
Their eyes met, a moment to be recorded in history.
Michael smiled at Mike, nodding slightly, seemingly conveying goodwill.
Mike smiled back. Michael’s head was filled with countless notes:
[Former Fourth Demon Cult Leader Terenas Bloodscribe]
[Reborn as a demon cult member]
[Currently holding positions as the first, third, fourth, and sixth demon cult leader, a General with No Troops]
[Lv.899, Class: Chosen Arcane Title Magus, Title: ‘Favored by the Goddess of Luck’….]
[…]
Mike had once asked Shadow Nine, “When will the great battle start?”
Shadow Nine replied, “When the battle starts, you’ll know it has started.”
Mike always thought this was a useless answer. Until this moment — now he finally understood what it meant. your-MVLeMpYr-source
Mike glanced at Michael in the crowd. Shadow Nine naturally saw him too. And of course, the Fourth Demon God noticed Mike as well.
It was like hearing thunder in the silence; meeting meant deciding life and death.
You die, we live!
The battle begins.