Capítulo 92: Into the Advanced Class [1]
Aurora's golden eyes sparkled mischievously as she turned to Alex with a grin that spelled trouble. "Well, now that I can touch you, should I give you a congratulatory kiss, Master?"
Alex groaned, rubbing his temples. "Aurora, can you not be weird for once? I just enslaved your soul—do you really think this is the time for jokes?"
Aurora gasped dramatically, clutching her chest as if mortally wounded. "Weird? Me? Master, you wound me! And enslaved? How heartless of you to say it like that. I'm just your poor, pitiful servant now, bound to do your bidding forever!" Her glowing form dimmed slightly, a mock display of sorrow.
She leaned closer, her smirk growing. "Now that you can order me around, are you gonna order me do naughty stuff with you?"
Alex sighed, crossing his arms and glaring at her. "I don't see you as a slave, Aurora. You're my friend, and you know that."
Aurora perked up instantly, her playful energy returning. She tilted her head, the faintest trace of a smirk on her lips. "Oh, Alex," she cooed, leaning in just enough to make him flinch, "we're more than friends now. After all, my soul is literally bound to yours. That's some next-level commitment, don't you think?"
Alex felt his face heat up, and he quickly looked away, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. "Why do I feel like I've made a terrible mistake?" he muttered under his breath.
Aurora burst into laughter, floating back slightly. "Relax, Alex. I'm just teasing. Besides," she added with a wink, "you've got the best soul-bound servant in existence now. You should feel honored."
Having teased him enough, Aurora floated back with a sly grin. "By the way," she began, her tone light and playful, "now that we're bound together, we can speak directly through our minds—like telepathy. Like this." her voice echoed inside his mind, smooth and resonant.
Alex blinked, a mix of confusion and disbelief flickering across his face. "Wait, what?"
Alex sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if bracing himself. Then, focusing intently, he tried to respond. "So... like this?"
"Exactly."
A small, reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "Well, I won't lie—this is pretty convenient. Now I can talk to you in public without looking like a lunatic muttering to myself."
After some time, when Alex had recovered from his mana fatigue, he brought up the pressing matter that had been lingering in his mind.
Reaching into the system inventory, he pulled out the Poison Essence Orb and began recounting his adventures in Opal Village and the eerie Poison Mist Forest. His voice was steady as he described the unsettling encounters with ghost-like entities and the strange occurrences that seemed to follow him.
Aurora listened intently, her expression shifting between curiosity and intrigue as the story unfolded. When he finished, she floated closer, her golden eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Hmm," she murmured, a spark of realization flickering across her face. "Now I think I understand why you can see me. I wasn't sure before, but now it's perfectly clear."
Alex blinked, his curiosity piqued. Leaning forward, he asked, "Understand what? What's the reason?"
Aurora turned to him, her tone growing serious. "You said you could see ghost-like entities—souls of the dead, correct?"
"Yes," Alex replied, his brow furrowing. "You're saying that's connected somehow?"
Aurora nodded, her voice steady and deliberate. "Alex, those souls you encountered aren't visible to most people. At best, others might sense them faintly—a whisper, a chill in the air—but you… you can truly see them. That's not normal. It's something extraordinary."
"Is it because I'm from another world?" Alex ventured, his tone uncertain.
Aurora's glow flickered faintly as she nodded. "It's a possibility. Your soul is unlike any I've seen before. It seems your very essence is... attuned to the spiritual plane—far more than any ordinary person. Which might explain why you can perceive and interact with things others can't."
Alex leaned back, trying to process her words. 'Attuned to the spiritual plane? What does that even mean?' He wasn't sure if he should feel awed or unsettled.
Sensing his inner turmoil, Aurora floated closer, her voice was gentle yet reassuring. "It's definitely not a bad thing. And you're not entirely alone—there are others who can perceive spirits, even if not as clearly as you. Think of it as a gift rather than a burden."
Alex exhaled slowly, nodding. Deciding not to dwell on it further, he reasoned that if it wasn't harmful or an immediate problem, it didn't warrant overthinking.
Switching topics, he glanced at the Poison Essence Orb in his hand. "By the way," he began, leaning forward, "while I was at the Poison Mist Forest, I came across a few strange things. There was this experiment involving Carrion Rats... and that peculiar Territory Boss monster in the marshland."
Aurora's gaze shifted to the orb, her expression sharpening. With just a glance, she could discern its origin. "That orb," she said, her tone thoughtful, "is formed from the fallen blood essence of a Poisonous S-rank monster. Essence orbs like this are incredibly rare and valuable. They can be used in a variety of ways, but given that you don't have an affinity for the Poison element, I'd suggest forging a weapon out of it using the monster materials you've collected."
Alex tilted his head, intrigued. "A weapon? That's what I was thinking too." 'A poisonous dagger or something similar would be perfect.'
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The next day, classes resumed for a few more days before the much-anticipated start of summer vacation.
When the results were announced, they sent shockwaves rippling through the academy. For some, it was a moment of joy and triumph as they excelled and advanced to higher ranks, while for others, it was a bitter pill to swallow as they flunked and were held back.
Among the first-year students in the Knight Faculty, two individuals stood out, earning the honor of advancing to the Advanced Class. However, the name that dominated every whispered conversation was none other than Alex.
He had become the center of attention, a subject of awe and intrigue for students and teachers alike. Alex hadn't just displayed extraordinary skills during the combat test; his performance in the theoretical written tests had also secured him a spot among the top-ranking students.
The reactions across the academy were as varied as they were intense. Some admired him, marveling at how he had seemingly defied all odds. Others, fueled by envy, resorted to gossip and baseless accusations to tarnish his accomplishments. Meanwhile, there were those who remained indifferent, content to stay uninvolved.
The ones most consumed by anger, however, were Marcus and his duo of underlings. Marcus had once been the star of the Intermediate class of the Knight Faculty, but Alex's meteoric rise had changed everything.
Now, not only was Alex ahead of him in rankings, but Marcus's own performance had taken a significant hit. He had lost several matches, and his test scores were lackluster.
With Alex now in the Advanced Class and his name on everyone's lips, Marcus's frustration was palpable. His underlings grumbled alongside him, but the defeat stung him most of all.
And there, standing in the center of the spotlight, Alex found himself before the large, ornately carved door leading into the Advanced Classroom. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, before pushing it open.
The atmosphere inside was markedly different from the Beginner Classroom. The students here were more seasoned, exuding a palpable air of confidence.
The room was spacious, with far fewer students, each seated at long tables. Some were engaged in quiet discussions, while others focused ahead on the board.
The moment Alex crossed the threshold, the room fell into a hushed silence, all eyes turning toward him.
Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder