Chapter 148: Chapter148-Gold-Tier

As the Titan Stoneape thunderously fell to the ground, a moment of stunned silence enveloped the audience outside the test dungeon.

Then, deafening cheers and gasps of astonishment filled the air.

Someone blurted out in shock, "Damn, he actually managed to kill the Titan Stoneape in close combat. I thought he was a goner for sure."

An experienced awakener exclaimed in admiration, "This kid's judgment is incredibly precise. He must have spotted the Titan Stoneape's weakness, opting for a melee attack. It's hard to believe he's still a student undergoing assessment."

A bystander nodded in agreement, "Indeed, if he had waited for the Titan Stoneape to unleash a wide-area attack skill, he wouldn't have won so easily."

Another person reflected, "It's been a long time since I've seen such a prodigy. Just watching him is astonishing. It seems he's already secured first place in this Stellar Test."

The consensus was unanimous.

By this time, John's score had reached 20000, leaving the rest of the assessment candidates far behind.

Unless something unexpected occurred, it seemed unlikely for anyone else to contend with John for the top spot in this assessment.

Elsewhere in the audience, Silver Tear watched John on the screen, her eyes filled with admiration.

She couldn't help but say, "I never imagined John would become this strong. I remember when we first met him; he was just a newbie who could only grind in the lower areas of the Crimson Realm. Now, he's capable of facing a lv40 boss on his own."

Dark Fox, seemingly reminded of those days, nodded, "His strength has indeed grown rapidly, making him one of the fastest improvers I've ever seen."

Silver Tear murmured regretfully, "It's just a pity that Old Dog and Gold Flash can't see this. They would have been so happy."

Dark Fox patted her back, offering silent comfort without saying much.

...

In the Enchanted Forest, John gazed at the prompt in front of him and let out a long sigh of relief.

He had finally reached lv30.

Staying at the silver-tier for such a long time had been a source of frustration for him, to claim otherwise would be dishonest.

However, he genuinely lacked the time for leveling up, caught between training and earning money, which inevitably slowed his progression rate.

Yet, this was an unavoidable situation.

Leveling up in low-tier dungeons was excruciatingly slow, while high-tier dungeons and secret realms were rare finds.

Additionally, leveling up was quite expensive, necessitating time spent earning money to buy resources.

And the higher the level, the slower the progress.

This was not just because of the massive amount of experience needed but also because high-tier Breakthrough Stones were not available for purchase.

These rare resources were generally controlled by major powers, making John's future breakthroughs even more challenging.

Joining Hidden Stars and forming good relations with House Fairfax was partly motivated by the need to access high-tier resources more easily in the future.

However, neither Hidden Stars nor House Fairfax would provide high-tier resources for free; a price had to be paid.

John shook his head, clearing the clutter of thoughts, choosing not to dwell on these matters.

Future concerns could wait; for now, he was not in a rush.

With a thought, his storage ring flashed with light.

The next moment, a silver stone adorned with mysterious patterns appeared in his hand.

[Item]: Breakthrough Stone

[Level]: Silver-tier

...

[Hallucination Eye lv40 (MAX)]

[Type]: Intermediate Skill (Active)

[Description]: Upon use, you will mesmerize your target with an illusion. The duration of the skill depends on the difference in mind power between you and your target. The skill has a cooldown of 10 minutes and consumes 10,000 MP.

...

John meticulously reviewed the skill descriptions.

"Light Sword Rain" not only facilitates area attacks but should also be capable of targeting individuals. Additionally, the skill imposes a special status, making it a formidable attack ability.

"Teleportation" is a Magus's displacement skill. This ability greatly satisfied John, who lacks agility; its 120-meter range significantly enhances his survivability.

"Hallucination Eye" is particularly interesting. Illusion skills are considered rare, and in the hands of awakeners with weak mind power, such abilities are often underwhelming.

However, for those with strong mind power, illusion skills can have unexpectedly powerful effects in combat.

For instance, if John's opponent is a warrior with weak mind power, John's formidable mind power could potentially compel the adversary to succumb to self-destructive actions with just a glance, which is terrifyingly effective.

John nodded in approval; all three skills were potent.

He felt fortunate not to have acquired any subpar abilities.

Some awakeners, after their breakthrough, end up with skills of little use, leaving them with no option but to lament their misfortune and seek out skill scrolls to enhance their power.

Closing the panel, John glanced at the crowd gathered around him from a distance.

He could distinctly see some gazes filled with a mix of wariness and greed.

Were they eyeing him for his points, thinking him weakened from his recent exertion?

With a slight raise of his eyebrows, John twirled his Bloodthirsty Blade, casting a mocking side glance.

"Are you not leaving, or are you planning to hand over your points to me?" he taunted.

After a brief pause, his gaze sharpened dramatically.

He spoke coldly, "Or do you believe that I, in my current state, cannot deal with you?"

As his words fell, an intense aura suddenly erupted from him.

On closer inspection, this aura was even more formidable than when he battled the Titan Stoneape, a silent warning to those who might dare to challenge him.

John's words caused a uniform shift in the expressions of those around him.

Just as he had suspected, they indeed harbored intentions of seizing his points, drawn irresistibly to the substantial number displayed by his tally.

With more than 20000 points to his name, acquiring them could secure the top spot in this assessment for anyone.

Moreover, having just battled the Titan Stoneape, John was perceived to be in a less than optimal state.

It was clear to them that John's complexion had grown noticeably paler than before, a silent testament to the difficulty of his recent fight, suggesting that victory had not come as easily as it appeared.

Now seemed the perfect opportunity for them to make their move, their faces flickering with indecision.

Yet, upon hearing John's taunt, some turned to leave, daunted by the formidable strength he had displayed; none harbored the courage to face him in battle.

Seeing the makeshift alliance wavering, a leading Magus shouted, "Don't be afraid, everyone. John has just fought the Titan Stoneape; his energy must be significantly depleted. With so many of us here, even if each of us only uses one skill, we can still overwhelm him!"

Another gritted their teeth, adding, "Exactly, are you willing to watch such a bounty of points slip through our fingers? This might be our only chance to pass the assessment. If we let this go, are you confident you can make it into the top hundred of the scoreboard in the remaining time?"

These words halted many in their tracks, their faces betraying a struggle with their conscience.