Chapter 797: Michelin-star-level cuisine [GT Ranking Bonus Chapter]
Asher could guess that almost everybody within that ranking was a third-year student within their various Academies and Empires, aside from him and Thalric, who were only first-year and second-year students respectively.
’I wonder what rank Thalric will finish at,’ Asher thought to himself as he gazed at Thalric’s points. The guy was basically one hundred (100) points away from second place.
Asher shook his head. He understood that in an hour or so, the rankings would change again. After all, everyone within the rankings would soon need to start unlocking their Astra Energy, so like Finch, they would also vanish. Although Asher guessed that they were all trying to gain as many points as possible to unlock their Astra Energy while still remaining within the top ten.
’I wonder how the rest of the gang is doing,’ Asher thought to himself as he scrolled through the list, his thoughts shifting to William, Vaelric, and Ryaen.
Asher found Ryaen’s name within the top two hundred, while Vaelric and William were within the top three hundred. Clearly, it wasn’t easy for any first-year student to climb into the upper rankings.
Asher and Finch were simply too abnormal.
Asher wasn’t sure those three would make it into the top fifty. After all, there were over fifty third-year students across all the Academies, meaning there were at least two hundred people who were already stronger than them. The fact that they were even within the top two hundred and three hundred was already a miracle in a sense, as the third-years across all the Empires were supposed to dominate those rankings.
Asher could only wish them good luck and nothing else.
With that, Asher’s mind shifted to his Astra Energy. Scrolling through the list on the bracelet, Asher clicked on Astra Energy. A beeping sound followed as four thousand (4,000) points vanished instantly, and with that, Asher felt his Astra Energy hum within his Astra Veins as it flowed freely, as though it hadn’t been restricted only a moment ago.
Without hesitation, Asher immediately channeled his Astra Energy throughout his body, cleansing himself of every trace of filth he had been enduring. The mud, the stains, the wet shoes and clothes, the smell, he got rid of it all.
After a few minutes, Asher let out a sigh of satisfaction. Personally, he still wanted to enter a shower immediately despite cleansing himself with Astra Energy.
With him paying four thousand (4,000) points, Asher’s points reduced, but he didn’t mind. He still had a few things to unlock.
Asher’s mind immediately shifted to which elements to unlock. He had Space, Light, Gravity, and Lightning, each costing two thousand (2,000) points to unlock.
But Asher wasn’t in a hurry. He had four days. He could also simply unlock just one element and use it throughout the four days without having to spend any other points. But as Asher thought about this, another thought occurred to him.
What if his elements remained locked in the next round?
The flag perks had stated that flags could be carried over into the next round. With that same logic, Asher reasoned that perhaps the bracelets might remain on their wrists as well, and after this qualifier round, those who didn’t unlock everything would have no choice but to remain handicapped throughout the next round and the one after that, if there was any.
Of course, this was merely speculation, but Asher didn’t like taking risks he could easily avoid just for the sake of taking risks. Yes, he believed he could fight and win with just one element, but he wasn’t here to go easy on anyone. It was best to spend the points and unlock everything. He could always gather more points later, he still had four days anyway.
But he wasn’t going to burn almost all of his points unlocking his affinities. If he did that, he would be left with only four thousand one hundred (4,100) points, meaning he would drop to a place if Arianna or anyone fought a stronger Monster. So, he decided to unlock only two affinities for now, spending four thousand (4,000) points and still retaining eight thousand one hundred (8,100) points, which was more than enough to remain in first place by a huge margin.
Asher’s eyes returned to his four elements. He didn’t even need to contemplate which affinities he would unlock. The obvious choices were Lightning and Space.
Lightning granted speed, attack power, defensive capabilities, destructive force, and even stamina revitalization. Its usefulness was simply too versatile and immense to be overlooked.
And so was Space. One didn’t even need to think to understand how useful it was.
With that, Asher paid the required points and unlocked both affinities, instantly feeling his connection to them strengthen. Lightning coursed through his body, crackling above his skin, while Space responded to his will with effortless obedience. He manipulated space and teleported two meters away several times as he tested his control over his affinities.
After all, who knew whether these bracelets had some hidden function that restricted elemental control and manipulation? It was better to check and be certain than make assumptions and discover the truth the hard way during battle.
Asher nodded, he was done with his elements. Now it was time to move on to the next step: changing his clothes.
His Murim-style clothing had thoroughly traumatized him.
With that, Asher took out a few clothes from the System Inventory, not bothering to hide the action. He had already demonstrated his ability to teleport. Anyone with two functioning brain cells would connect what they were seeing to some sort of personal subspace.
Asher immediately changed on the spot, switching into new shoes, a fresh shirt, trousers, and gloves.
With that done, Asher decided to treat himself. He hadn’t eaten breakfast, and he was ahead of everyone else by several thousand points. Why not sit down and have a proper meal?
With that, Asher pulled out a selection of cuisine and neatly lined it up on top of the cave. Asher didn’t care if anyone complained about cheating or unfair advantages. That had nothing to do with him.
While others had to search for food, water, and anything remotely edible, Asher poured himself a glass of wine as though he were enjoying a five-star vacation.
"Sigh... if only I could bet a few coins on myself to win the competition," Asher spoke aloud as he ate, not caring whether those watching the livestream heard what he said.
And indeed, Asher was unable to bet on himself.
A shame.
"If I could also watch other students’ livestreams while I eat, it would have been a good show," he murmured as he ate without a shred of haste, his posture calm and relaxed.
Asher, who was having the time of his life, was completely unaware that every student on the rankings was staring at his ridiculous point total in extreme shock as they wondered what exactly he had done to acquire such an absurd number of points.
A few became cautious. People like Isaac simply looked forward to meeting Asher even more.
But at the end of the day, if they met Asher, how would they know he was actually Asher? Anyone there could be anyone.
Even Finch could claim to be Asher and scam points from other contestants by threatening not to eliminate them if they surrendered their points without putting up any useless struggle and risking total disqualification.
And with that, Asher gazed at the beautiful sky above as he treated himself to Michelin-star-level cuisine.
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AUTHOR’S NOTE: I LOVE YOU ALL TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!!
