"You know," Lucas said, his voice flat, "using your Origin Aura to intimidate a high school student isn't exactly polite."


The man blinked, surprised by the kid's bluntness, before laughing. "Fair point. Let me introduce myself. I'm Jay Yates."


Lucas didn't back down. He stood his ground, neither humble nor arrogant.


"I have to admit, I'm curious," Jay said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you really have a High-Absorption Physique?"


He was suspicious. According to the files, Lucas's Origin Force had only recently started skyrocketing. And the speed of his growth was insane. Jay had never seen a freak of nature like this before.


"Wolfe told me that's what I have," Lucas lied with a straight face.


Jay nodded slowly, buying it. "Essence Pills are potent, but average people waste a lot of that energy during digestion. But some people... some people are sensitive to Elixirs. They can absorb almost everything. If you really have that physique, you might be absorbing one hundred percent of the medicinal efficacy."


As he thought about it, a flash of jealousy crossed Jay's eyes.


Envy from Jay, Credits +5.


The notification popped up in Lucas's mind. This guy actually contributed five credits? Too bad five credits was chump change to Lucas these days. He barely batted an eye.


"You're already controlling your Origin Force like an Apprentice Warrior," Jay noted, staring intently at him. "Did Wolfe teach you that, too?"


Lucas just smiled. He didn't explain. In situations like this, saying less was more. It was better to let the instructor fill in the blanks with his own theories.


"Alright, let's get a reading. I want to see your current levels." Jay pulled out a scanning device to test Lucas's Origin limit.


The machine beeped.


"Thirty-one."


Jay stared at the number, shocked again. It was even higher than the rumors suggested. Was this kid's limit increasing literally every single day?


"Well," Jay said, putting the device down with a serious look. "You're in. You've been admitted to The Elite Combat Class. Starting tomorrow, report there for your lessons."


Lucas gave a small nod. He acted like this was exactly what he had expected.


Jay watched Lucas's calm—almost bored—reaction and felt a little helpless. This kid really didn't act like a normal student.


"If we're done here, I'm going back to class," Lucas said.


"Sure. Just remember, tomorrow morning, report to The Elite Combat Class. You know where..."


"I know where it is."


Lucas didn't wait for him to finish. He nodded once and walked out.


"That kid..." Jay shook his head, chuckling wryly.


Maybe he was annoyed because Jay had tested him with the Origin Aura earlier? It made sense. After that incident with Vance Falkner trying to crush him with Aura, Lucas was probably allergic to anyone trying to pull that move on him again.




"Lucas, what did the homeroom teacher want?"


The moment he slid back into his seat, Dave Weber and Tom Johnson spun around to interrogate him. Morning reading wasn't technically over, but the chanting in the room had quieted down significantly. Half the class had their ears perked up, desperate to hear the gossip.


"Oh, that," Lucas said casually. "The instructor from The Elite Combat Class just wanted to tell me to report to them starting tomorrow."


The moment the words left his mouth, the room went dead silent.


"First the Class President takes off, and now you're ditching us for the Elite Combat Class, too?" Tom sighed, sounding like his puppy just died. "I didn't see that coming."


Tom looked at his friend, feeling totally lost. A few weeks ago, Lucas had been just like him—a nobody with rock-bottom Origin Points. Now? He was leaving everyone in the dust.


Envy from Tom: Credits +5.


The notifications were blowing up in Lucas's internal display.


Then, his actual phone buzzed in his pocket.


Lucas pulled it out and stared at the screen. His jaw nearly hit the desk. A notification pinged with a deposit alert: $3,000,000.