----
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the battlefield ruins, Kent stood with his arms crossed, looking at Jade Monroe. Bro, Kent said, nodding thoughtfully. "We’re about to do something big."
Jade Monroe grinned, adjusting his gauntlets. Yeah, bro. Tonight, we will make history. Today, we will catch the highest number of Dark Alliance members in one go.
Nearby, Tyler Stone rolled his eyes. "Can you two stop acting like lifelong friends? You are a student, Kent, and you are a principal, sir."
Ding!
+500 SP Copied from Tyler (Annoyance).
Kent smirked. SP farming was already starting.
Alright, focus, Tyler said. We’re taking out all the low-level Dark Alliance members first. The stronger ones will panic and rush inside the ruins, where we’ll deal with them later. No mistakes.
Everyone nodded.
The night air was thick with tension. Watchers and Nexus operatives spread out through the area, hidden in the shadows. The Dark Alliance members had no idea they were being hunted.
Kent, of course, was utterly ready to cause problems. Step one: Trigger emotions to farm SP. He activated the Spiritual Clock, cloaking himself, then snuck near a group of Dark Alliance members.
SNAP!
Kent broke a branch behind them.
One of the Dark Alliance members turned around. "What was that?"
"I don’t know…" another muttered.
Kent grinned. It was time for the next phase.
He picked up a handful of dirt, crept behind the nearest one, and—!!!
PLOP!
Threw it directly into the guy’s face.
ACK!!! The Dark Alliance member stumbled back, coughing. "Who the hell just threw dirt in my mouth?!"
"I-It wasn’t me!" another member stammered.
Ding!
+1,200 SP Copied from Dark Alliance Member (Confusion & Rage).
Kent snickered in the shadows. "Too easy."
THWACK!
Before the guy could recover, a Nexus operative slammed him with a staff, knocking him out.
One down. Forty-nine to go.
Kent repeated his ’dirt attack’ strategy a few more times, each time causing panic. Some Dark Alliance members started arguing.
WHAT THE FUCK… WHO KEEPS THROWING DIRT?! one of them shouted.
"I SWEAR IT WASN’T ME!"
"WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME?!"
Ding!
+999 SP Copied from Dark Alliance Members (Suspicion & Frustration).
Meanwhile, the Watchers took advantage of the confusion, striking fast and knocking out enemies left and right.
Kent leaned against a tree, enjoying the show. Man, who knew dirt was so effective? Just then, one Dark Alliance member spotted something moving in the darkness.
Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.
"THERE! IT’S A WATCHER! ATTACK!!"
Suddenly, all hell broke loose. Seeing that the fight had started, Kent decided it was time to join in and farm more SP.
He activated Flashing Step and appeared in the middle of the battlefield.
WHOOSH!
Yo, boys! Kent said, grinning. "Guess who’s here to ruin your day?
One of the Dark Alliance members growled, swinging a dagger at him.
Kent caught the guy’s wrist mid-swing, twisted it, and slapped him across the face.
SLAP! 👋
NO VIOLENCE IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN! Kent scolded mockingly.
The guy looked too shocked even to react.
Ding!
+888 SP Copied from Dark Alliance Member (Humiliation).
Kent then punched him straight into another Dark Alliance member, knocking them both out. While Kent was busy farming SP, Jade Monroe was on a completely different level.
One Dark Alliance member charged at him with a sword—!!
CLANG!
Jade caught the blade between his fingers.
"Pathetic," Jade muttered.
Then, with a flick of his wrist—|||
CRACK!
The sword shattered.
Ding!
+999 SP Copied from Dark Alliance Member (Terror).
Jade casually kicked the guy in the chest, sending him flying backwards into a rock.
Kent, watching from a distance, nodded approvingly. "Okay, Jade’s got style. Gotta admit." Kent noticed a group of Dark Alliance members huddling together, trying to regroup.
He rummaged through his bag and pulled out— A Regular SPIRITUAL FRUIT. 🍎
A very, very smelly one.
"Hehehe… time for the ’Fruit Grenade Special’."
Kent chucked the fruit into the middle of the group.
PLOP.
A second later—
BOOOOOOOOM! 💨💥
A horrific, nose-burning stench filled the air.
"WHAT IS THAT SMELL?!" one of them screamed, gagging.
"I CAN’T BREATHE!!!" another shouted.
Ding!
+1,500 SP Copied from Dark Alliance Members (Disgust & Horror).
Tyler Stone, who had just arrived, pinched his nose and glared at Kent. What. The. Hell. Did you throw?
Rotten spiritual fruit, Kent said proudly. The smell alone can kill.
"YOU JUST CREATED A GAS ATTACK?!"
Kent shrugged. "Hey, whatever works."
Within an hour, all fifty Dark Alliance members were either captured or knocked out.
The camp fell silent.
Jade wiped the dust off his shirt and nodded. Good job, everyone. Now we wait. Kent sat on a rock, counting his SP earnings.
[SP Balance: 1,784,000 SP]
"Oh yeah," Kent whispered. "I’m rich."
Tyler Stone approached him, shaking his head. I don’t know whether to call you a genius or a menace.
Ding!
+600 SP Copied from Tyler (Conflicted Emotions).
Kent smirked. "Both work."
The next morning, the ruins were still sealed. Kent, Ethan, and Mia were bored out of their minds.
Why are we just waiting? Kent groaned. Let’s break the gate open.
Are you insane? Ethan snapped. That would kill us all.
Ding!
+500 SP Copied from Ethan (Fear).
Kent laughed, easy SP. Relax, I was joking.
Jade Monroe walked up to them. Be ready. We’ll move when the strong batch of Dark Alliance members enters.
Late into the night… A massive explosion rocked the area.
BOOOOOM! 💥🔥
Kent’s eyes shot open. "What the—"
Ten Level-C cultivators and one Level-B cultivator emerged from the shadows. They’re finally here, Jade muttered.
The Dark Alliance members didn’t hesitate. They charged straight into the stone gate. Jade turned to Kent. You know the plan. We wait until they’re fighting the guardian, then we strike.
Kent smirked. "Yeah… about that."
Jade raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
Kent stretched his arms. "I’m going in now."
Jade’s eyes widened. "You WHAT?!"
"I’ll sneak in and pretend to be one of them," Kent said, grinning. "Gotta farm more SP."
...You’re insane. I can’t let you go alone. Jade said.
Kent says, don’t worry, bro. I have a sneaking technique. I can handle it. If there are multiple paths, then I will leave a mark on the walls. That way, you all can come on the right path. Before Jade could say anything, he entered the stone gate and ran after the Dark Alliance members.
Jade sighed. He gets inside without listening to me. I wanted to tell him that we both can go together. My men will follow later. Jade shrugged. My bro will make money.
Jade nodded. Yeah, probably. But, sir, you can’t leave us. You are our leader. You have to act like it. Kent is your student. Stop calling him, bro.
Jade Monroe says. When we get out of here, he will be given an official position in the watcher rank. When he gets the position, we will be bro. Nothing to worry about. It’s not embarrassing. I can’t appoint him as a Tier-3 member at any time based on his contribution to this ruin.
SIGH!! Sir, he will be a student. He needs to graduate before he can join us full-time. He can work as a trainee before he enters college.