After Dante was done with the advanced training, he felt the difference much stronger now. His SDI had not increased by a single point, but it felt like his ability had increased comprehensively by more than ten times its previous value.
It was simply the difference between giving a gun to a toddler and giving the same gun to a marksman soldier. The power was the same, but the skill and usage of this power was far different.
Dante thanked the elder and left the training world today with a tired sigh. He rose from his bed and went to the bathroom to take a long soak in the Jacuzzi like tub while thinking about his visit to the Black Land today.
Dante wandered how the teachers would react to his presence and he also wondered if he could advanced Quantum Entanglement to the D rank before the week came to an end. If he could raise it to the D rank in time, could he then rise to the C Rank?
Also, he checked the school forums to see that the results of their breakthroughs had been pasted there. Whether it was their batch or the others, all of them had their times posted, which directly highlighted their potential.
Dante checked it and was speechless.
[Rankings of Potential among the Unique Batch of 10998;
1. Dante - 10 seconds/EX+
2. Humphrey - 2 days/SSS
3. Slessor - 2.1 days/SSS
ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm 4. Some loser - no one cares/blah blah
…
28. Louisa - DNF/D(Temporary)]
Dante almost wept on Louisa's behalf. She was such an obvious proud and pampered young mistress, but ever since she came to this academy she had consistently and unanimously been taking Ls nonstop. When would she finally get a win for herself?
Dante did not bother about her anymore. He tidied himself up and left the house, walking towards the teleporter. Just like the other time, his other 'classmates' also came out, and all of them glanced towards him immediately.
After all, what happened in the academy was not surpassed because Lara didn't care. Besides she wanted to sue the consequences to teach those clans and factions who thought they were invincible a lesson.
The students were shocked to see that Dante was back and unharmed, while others glanced at him with dangerous flickers in their eyes. They had seen his time in breaking through and felt like Dante was a severe threat to everything they stood for.
After all, the important reason why the school had a Unique Batch was because the most important resource, the Zero Gate gave out superpowers once a year through 10 Fruits of Condensation.
However, in the world behind the Zero Gate, SDI's were suppressed, Bionics were not usable and Psionics were also banned. Even AI chips did not work. The only thing that worked there were superpowers, so the better your superpower, the higher your chance of survival and claiming a fruit.
Hence, the higher one's superpowers rank before entering, the better. Dante who could advance one level with an already ranked SSS superpower in just a few seconds was a dire threat. Even second and third year seniors might have lower rank superpowers than him by the time it was possible to enter.
Well, if that was the case, why was no one showing Dante any friendliness? Why only hostility and darkness?
Well, the reason was simply because he was already affiliated with a force. Dante was signed with the Portinari family, so even if he wasn't obliged or compelled to fight for their benefits, it was assumed that he was.
In truth, Beatrice had currently been causing ruckus when she heard Dante was attacked, but when he heard that he teleported away, she was relieved. However, the clan behind her was Dante's backing and they fully supported this young man with great talent.
They had almost gone to war with the factions that caused Dante trouble, and this was something Dante found out when he was on Etonia. The story was quite amusing because the other families did not necessarily have a daughter who commanded her own fleet.
Most admirals were detached from such forces or were part of truly top tier forces that wouldn't even bother with Dante no matter how monstrous. Only the Portinari clan had a 'free' dreadnought available in the hands of their monstrous first daughter.
With that in mind, Dante ignored the other students and walked through the teleporter to enter the Black Land's staging area. There, a new set of teachers were waiting for the group, and just like the students, all the eyes fell on Dante.
He shivered as he could feel the endless greed in the eyes of the teachers, but they clearly did not dare to cause trouble this time. Xue Bing was here though, as she was not punished but rather awarded for her previous actions.
When she saw Dante, her eyes lit up with relief. She walked over and patted him on the shoulder while nodding her head with satisfaction, which left Dante amused. She did not say anything and lead Dante as well as Slessor through the usual formalities.
She teleported the two to the lead cabin which had obviously been rebuilt by Lara after she reversed time back then. Seeing this place, Dante had a weird expression on his face and even Slessor couldn't help but glance over at him.
Meanwhile, Xue Bing's lips twitched as she remembered the beating Leonidas gave her last time she was here and she couldn't help but feel peeved. She had almost died at that time and if it wasn't for the headmistress, she would currently be a cold corpse.
The teacher for Humphrey flew over and nodded to Xue Bing, casually glancing at Dante. The group of students entered their respective 'cultivation' rooms and sat cross-legged on the mats before them.
When Dante focused and began absorbing the Zero Energy again, he felt the difference compared to before.
The Zero Energy flowed into Dante's body with a newfound intensity, surging through his veins and filling him with an exhilarating power. As he absorbed the energy, he could sense his superpower, Quantum Entanglement, resonating with it, becoming more attuned to the fundamental forces of the universe.
The training room seemed to fade away as Dante delved deeper into his cultivation, his consciousness expanding beyond the physical realm. He visualized the intricate patterns of quantum entanglement, manipulating them with ease and precision. It was as if he could see the invisible threads connecting everything in existence, bending them to his will.
Time became an abstract concept as Dante lost himself in the flow of energy and his own abilities. Hours passed like mere minutes, and with each passing moment, he felt his mastery over Quantum Entanglement growing. His SDI remained unchanged, but the depth of his understanding and control surpassed what any numerical value could represent.
Suddenly, a voice reverberated through the training room, pulling Dante out of his meditative state. It was Xue Bing, the teacher overseeing his progress. "Dante, come out. We need to discuss your next steps."
Dante opened his eyes, finding himself back in the physical realm. He stood up and walked out of the cultivation room, his mind still buzzing with the residual energy of his training. As he joined Xue Bing in the lounge area of the cabin, he noticed a solemn expression on her face.
Xue Bing wasted no time and got straight to the point. "Dante, your progress is extraordinary. The teachers have been closely monitoring your growth, and it's clear that you possess immense potential. However, this also means you've drawn the attention of some dangerous factions within the academy."
Dante's expression became cold as he listened intently to Xue Bing's words. He had known that his sheer talent would attract attention, but the mention of dangerous factions heightened his sense of vigilance which had relaxed somewhat due to his ability to teleport between his Quantum Markers.
Xue Bing continued, her voice tinged with altruistic concern. "There are factions within and without the academy that seek to control the distribution of the Fruits of Condensation. They believe that by monopolizing these resources, they can consolidate their power and dominance. Your rapid advancement threatens their plans, and they won't hesitate to resort to extreme measures to eliminate you as a potential rival."
Dante was stunned. "The fruits can be brought out?!"
Xue Bing glanced at Dante strangely. "Of course. Otherwise, the system here would be far different from what you're accustomed to."
Dante's mind raced with possibilities. If the fruits of condensation could be brought out of the Zero Gate, it meant that the power dynamics within the academy extended beyond its walls. It also meant that those who controlled the distribution held a significant advantage in the outside world.
"I see," Dante replied, his voice filled with a newfound determination. "If the fruits can be brought out, then they become even more valuable. It's no wonder these factions are vying for control."
Xue Bing nodded, her gaze steady. "Exactly. The fruits are not only a means to gain power within the academy but also a key to influence and ascendancy in the wider realm. Those who possess multiple fruits hold immeasurable strength and authority."
A spark of curiosity ignited within Dante. "Do you know who currently holds the fruits? Which factions are in control?"
Xue Bing hesitated for a moment before answering. "The distribution of the fruits is shrouded in secrecy. Only a select few individuals know the exact details, and they guard that knowledge closely. However, rumors suggest that several influential factions hold sway over the fruits, manipulating the distribution to further their own agendas."
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