Chapter 142: A Big Gift
The next morning, Daniel slid into the driver’s seat of the Voidshadow, the limited-edition origin-power sports car growling with a low, predatory hum that promised ludicrous speed.
"The gull-wing doors hissed shut, enclosing him in the sleek cockpit. At a thought, the car surged out of the villa’s private hangar and merged into Rivernorth’s main traffic lanes."
"BOOM!
Even at a quarter of its potential, the car generated a soft sonic boom as it accelerated, a sound that made a few nearby students jump and spill their morning nutrient smoothies.
Daniel just grinned. Vice-Principal Aslaug was right, this car definitely tempted one towards excessive velocity.
He zipped through the gleaming crystal structures of Astralis Academy, the sleek vehicle standing out against the worn, battle-hardened students he passed.
He saw them everywhere, sparring in open-air arenas, meditating in serene energy gardens, their faces engraved with a grim determination.
They were the elite, the best of the best, working with a focus that was impressive, if somewhat unfamiliar to him.
His SSS-Rank [Soul Assimilation] talent had given him a shortcut to power so profound it almost felt like cheating.
He respected their dedication, but deep down, he knew that a single successful hunt could earn him more than they might achieve in a lifetime. It was a lonely, slightly alienating truth.
He arrived at the Combat Techniques School, a stark fortress of dark metal and reinforced plasteel, always showing signs of ongoing repair.