Endless Extraction in a Game-Like World

[As the MVP, you’ve obtained the following:

1. Special Profession Card

2. EXP Booster Card (Mythical, 1-Star)

3.Ascension Token (Mythical, 1-Star)

4. Random EXP Card ]

Caelus stood on the roof of a building, looking around at the destruction. Fortis City had been completely wrecked by the Darkspawns. Black, viscous liquid was actively corroding buildings made of solid metal, and abandoned cars were violently blowing up as leftover miasma seeped into their engines. He saw several civilians running around; some were crying openly, while others sighed in despair as thick smoke rose from various parts of the city.

"It was too abrupt," Caelus sighed heavily.

Just then, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Two crazed people were ruthlessly attacking a lone Iron I player in a nearby alleyway. His high perception picked up their unnatural movements immediately.

"Null Players." Caelus clicked his tongue in disgust as his figure blurred.

"Another one for the sacrifice! We can truly feel our god’s presence now that we’ve reached the Middle Expanse... Ahahahhaha!" one of the Null Players shrieked with a crazed smile as he observed his cornered prey.

However, just then, a powerful wind blew violently towards them as golden lightning crackled from the sky above.

Bzzt! Squelch!

Caelus descended from the sky like a falling star, a dagger gripped tightly in his hand, golden lightning violently churning around his entire body.

The Null Players didn’t even have time to react. In a flash, a clean hole appeared in each of their heads. They fell heavily to the ground, their eyes shot wide open in permanent shock.

"Aaahhh!" The surviving player, seeing Caelus appear covered in lightning and blood, flinched violently and ran away in blind panic.

"Why don’t these players give any EXP?" Caelus glanced at the fleeing player and shook his head.

Ring! Ring!

His phone suddenly vibrated. It was Old Man Welt.

"Come to the City Magistrate Mansion immediately," Old Man Welt spoke in a rushed, tense tone before abruptly cutting the call.

"The City Magistrate Mansion?" Caelus looked up towards the sky. Suspended directly above the tallest skyscraper of Fortis City was a small, majestic floating island.

Whoosh!

His figure blurred as he began using the surrounding buildings to climb upward. His Telekinesis allowed him to levitate roughly five meters above the ground, and more if he expended mental force. As long as he utilized the surfaces of the buildings as stepping stones, he could effectively climb all the way up to the towering skyscraper.

But pure flying wasn’t efficient. There was a significant gap between each building; the instant he entered that empty space, his Telekinesis would lose its anchoring effect, or he would be forced to backtrack to the building he had just crossed over from.

Hence, he simply decided to use Projection Frame, heavily buffed by his Telekinesis for raw momentum.

Whoosh!

His figure blurred through the ruined city. He swept past countless players and terrified civilians, who all turned to stare at the golden streak of light. He was moving so incredibly fast that the very concept of gravity seemed nonexistent. He sprinted vertically up the glass panes of tall buildings; with one fluid motion, he crossed a roof, and with a powerful jump, he crossed to another. He moved like a glitch in reality, his figure blurring continuously towards the tallest skyscraper.

Whoosh!

As soon as he reached the designated area, he found an elevator leading up. It was a completely see-through glass capsule connected directly to the floating island above. He entered it and soon arrived at a truly humongous mansion, bigger than his own by a mile. The sprawling grounds were packed with countless Player Association members and various high-ranking Guild members.

The instant he arrived, his presence captured everyone’s attention.

"Who is he?" Among the gathered group, an arrogant man dressed in a rich blue cape bearing the insignia of a howling wolf sneered.

"Blue Wolf Guild?" Caelus tilted his head and murmured. The Blue Wolf Guild was one of the many prominent guilds here in Fortis City.

They were notoriously arrogant, and some dark rumors even suggested they had been secretly colluding with the Null Organization.

"Who let a mere Iron Rank in here?" the same person spoke again, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Is this the City Lord’s son?"

"Probably not. He only has a daughter, Miss Mia."

As they were talking in hushed, gossiping tones, Rachel stepped forward from the crowd and gave Caelus a warm, friendly smile.

"Come, Dad wants to meet you." Rachel swiftly took Caelus and led him inside.

"Hey, did the Frost Queen just smile?"

"Yeah, I think so..."

"Who the hell is that guy? What’s his relationship with her?"

Rachel soon guided Caelus into a grand room filled with powerful, high-tier Rankers. As he walked in, his eyes immediately fell upon Chairman Welt. Despite being heavily wrapped in thick medical bandages, the Chairman was casually conversing with a man who wore a calm, completely unreadable smile.

Standing quietly by that man’s side was a striking girl with flowing white hair and piercing, luminous purple eyes. She kept to the periphery, clearly careful not to disturb the important conversation. Dressed simply in a crisp white t-shirt that accentuated her ample chest, a modest dark skirt, and black pantyhose, her figure was captivating enough to draw secret, lingering glances from nearly every man in the room.

"You’re here, Caelus. Is Sylvia not with you? I told her to come with you." Seeing Caelus arrive, Chairman Welt spoke up with a hearty, if slightly strained, laugh.

"Did you get hurt? Drink a healing potion or something; why are you wrapped in bandages?" Caelus stepped forward and asked directly.

"Hahaha, I am afraid a normal potion isn’t enough to fully heal his injuries." The man next to Chairman Welt spoke softly, absentmindedly massaging his short beard. "The Darkspawns... if they manage to injure you, the wound gets inflicted with something known as Dark Corrosion. General healing potions won’t be able to fully cleanse it."

"There’s such a thing?" Caelus spoke in genuine surprise.

"I am afraid so. These Darkspawns are incredibly tricky. It is good that you weren’t hurt out there," Chairman Welt spoke with a heavy sigh.

But that fact alone spoke volumes of Caelus’s capabilities. He was terrifyingly strong.

"You are Caelus Kross, right? Your displayed powers exceeded my expectations." The man next to the Chairman spoke again, his eyes gleaming with interest. "You even beat my own daughter in the rankings just now."

"As the old saying goes, even with an E-Rank affinity, one can soar high." The man patted Caelus firmly on the shoulder. "Keep up the excellent work."

"The Kross family..." Then he sighed deeply, a look of nostalgia crossing his face. "I still vividly remember your mother and father."

"You knew my father and mother?" Caelus tilted his head, his interest immediately piqued.

"Yes." The man nodded solemnly. "Ah, where are my manners? I didn’t even introduce myself before all that. I am the City Magistrate of Fortis City; nice to meet you. You can simply call me City Lord Leon."

"While we are on that matter, I wanted to talk to you about something regarding your parents. When you are free, please come to the City Lord’s Mansion," City Lord Leon spoke in a serious tone.

"And while we are on the topic, meet my daughter. She is incredibly talented; she awakened an Upper A-Rank talent and boasts an S-Rank Affinity. Her name is Mia Midnight." City Lord Leon said proudly as he gently pushed his daughter forward to present her to Caelus.

"Hello. You bought a Weapon Manifestation skill from me once," Mia said with a completely expressionless face. Her features were exquisite and doll-like; strong emotions almost seemed like they wouldn’t suit her flawless face.

"It’s you." Caelus was genuinely stunned. He didn’t expect to see her here of all places.

This girl was also the very first woman he had had a personal direct message with in this world.

"What a coincidence," Caelus said with a small, polite smile. "But nice to formally meet you."

"Oh, looks like you two already know each other." City Lord Leon smiled broadly, clearly pleased. "You both should become friends then. Mia severely lacks friends; she rarely ever interacts with anyone her own age."

"Go out and have fun together; there are a lot of interesting attractions in Fortis City," City Lord Leon added encouragingly.

He was very obviously trying to set Mia up with Caelus. He had already heard a lot of high praise from Chairman Welt. With such terrifying talent, Mia definitely had to make friends with him.

"Okay." Mia nodded softly, taking his words at face value. "Let’s go out tomorrow, Caelus. I want to show and tell you something."

"???" Caelus looked at her in utter confusion.

Did she really just buy her father’s words that easily?

However, just as quickly, a sharp gasp escaped from someone right behind him.

Caelus turned around and immediately flinched. Standing right behind him was a beauty. She stared at him with dull dangerous red eyes, a slightly unnatural, forced smile hanging on her face.

It was none other than Sylvia, the maiden that slept in the same house as him.