Chapitre 14: Chapter 13: Future
After waking up, I noticed that the pod had been drying me with air. My body felt a bit sore.
Once I stepped out of the pod, I clenched my fist, feeling the surge of power coursing through me. The enhancement was undeniable. With more coins still in my possession, I contemplated re-entering the pod to further boost my attributes. As I neared the pod, a message materialized before me:
[Usage limit reached]
[Time remaining: 23 hours 55 minutes]
Damn it. That meant if I wanted to increase my attributes by 10 more points, I'd have to come back tomorrow and spend more coins to rent the enhancement chamber. It felt like a scam.
No point in dwelling on it. I should have researched better. Even the tower limits access to floors 1 to 10 to 3 days, so I'd have to wait before attempting the next floor.
Name: Alex
Health: 100%
Stamina: 100%
Fatigue: 0%
HP: 80
Attack: 12
Agility: 12
Defense: 8
Endurance: 12
Focus: 9
Additional Information:
Skills:
Basic weapon mastary
Basic hand to hand combat
Basic Battle Focus
Enhancements: [None]
Supernatural Abilities: [None]
Total Coins: 2400
I headed back home.
Once I was back in bed, I realized I needed water. I got up and grabbed a bottle, but to my surprise, it didn't bend in my hand. I had thought that with my current strength, I'd probably break something. I wasn't like those other protagonists who always seemed to shatter things after a power boost.
I still needed to gauge my strength increase, but I didn't want to use the training facilities in the tower. Every fictional setting seems to have an abandoned warehouse for training—where do they find these places? How is it that, in every fictional setting, the protagonist always stumbles upon an abandoned warehouse for training just around the corner?
I decided to try lifting my bed. I got up and attempted to pick it up from one side. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't overly difficult either. All I needed now was a good night's rest.
"Tomorrow is school," I sighed.
The next morning, I got dressed and went to the dining room, where Mom and Dad were already seated at the table.
"Can you call your sister down, Alex? She's still not here, and it's almost time for school," Mom said, frustration evident in her voice. "I don't know what's happening with that girl. Why is she always late lately?"
I knew the reason but kept quiet.
"I'm here, Mom," my sister's voice drifted in as she shuffled into the room.
"Alex, how are your studies going? Your final exams are approaching fast."
"And what about after high school? Have you decided what direction you want to go in?" Dad asked, curiosity in his tone.
"I haven't thought about it much yet," I admitted.
"Well, you should think about it. There's not much time left," Dad said firmly.
Their questions left me deep in thought. I had chosen my path to become a player, but I wasn't sure how they would react to that.
Let's think about it later.
When I arrived at school, our first class was starting. Instead of Mr. Carman, our usual teacher, someone else was with him.
"Good morning, class," the new teacher said with a warm smile. "This is Mr. Harrington, and he'll be taking over for me today. He's here to help you explore career paths for your future."
The class buzzed with curiosity as Mr. Harrington continued.
"Good morning, class. I'm Mr. Harrington, and I'll be your teacher for today. Some of you might already have an idea of what you want to do after high school, while others might still be unsure. Today, we'll discuss various career options and how you can prepare for them. It's important to start planning now, as your choices can shape your future."
"And I know some of you might be considering a less conventional career path," Mr. Harrington said, pausing for effect. "Such as becoming an official player."
The room grew quieter as he spoke.
"Yes, becoming a player. But be aware of the risks. If you become an official player registered with the government, you'll have obligations, such as responding to emergency summons and joining the Hunter Association," Mr. Harrington explained.
"But there's a smoother path to becoming a player," he continued. "You can enter a Hunter University. There are currently twelve Hunter Universities in the country, all operating under government jurisdiction."
He let the information sink in.
"And as for the usefulness of the universities, you all are aware that they provide genuine guidance from experts who are climbing the tower. But remember, guidance doesn't guarantee safety. If you're determined to climb the tower, attending a university is the best choice."
Mr. Harrington's tone grew more serious. "The universities have strict criteria. Each accepts only 1,000 students per year. While this number might sound large, the competition is fierce. Millions of students attempt the entrance exams, with only 12,000 passing and even fewer graduating."
He continued, "The universities don't just offer classes to become a hunter. They also provide regular academic courses, and you can choose a major. Your high school finals won't affect your chances of getting in, but the entrance exams are as difficult as those for top general universities. You need to show a tattoo, basic understanding of the tower, and demonstrate dedication, particularly through physical training. If they see you want to enter the tower but lack motivation to train, you won't be accepted."
He added, "If you've already attempted even one floor of the tower, your chances of acceptance are higher, but that doesn't make it easy."
Mr. Harrington then asked, "Any questions?"
A student raised their hand. "Yes, sir, what if I want to become a player without entering a university?"
Mr. Harrington nodded. "You could, but it's risky. The guides available for climbing the tower are not reliable enough for most people."
Another student asked, "Are there any scholarships or financial aid options available for Hunter University?"
"There are no scholarships," Mr. Harrington replied. "You're not charged for admission, but once you become a full-fledged hunter, a portion of your earnings is taken for a limited period."
"Does Hunter University have connections with the industry? Are there internships or networking opportunities?" someone else inquired.
"The university itself serves as an unpaid internship," Mr. Harrington said. "They provide world-class facilities, though not on the level of tower training grounds, which cost a significant amount of resources."
"Any more questions?" he asked.
With no further inquiries, Mr. Harrington concluded, "If that's all, I'll take my leave. Best of luck with your exams."
As Mr. Harrington wrapped up his presentation, the classroom buzzed with a lot of excitement. The idea of entering a Hunter University was both thrilling and intimidating. I could sense the varied reactions from my classmates; some were eager to pursue this path, while others were clearly overwhelmed.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone