Jay exited the Obelisk, and soon found himself standing near the space platform— a teleportation device crafted by Halbor to travel from one Trial Region to another.
The space platform stood as an impressive structure, crafted from high-grade Spirit alloys in a circular design large enough to accommodate a small group. At its center, a radiant blue portal was suspended within a towering, intricately carved arch. The arch was adorned with detailed engravings and Spirit Energy conduits that pulsed faintly, giving the entire structure an otherworldly glow.
The platform's base was surrounded by numerous control panels, each displaying glowing symbols and flickering real-time data on holographic screens. The surface of the platform was etched with precise patterns, blending futuristic appeal with aesthetic elegance.
It was an upgraded version of the Space Platform prototypes that Halbor had developed before the 1st Tournament. Its range had been significantly enhanced, expanding from the original 100-kilometer radius to the ability to travel between entire Trial Regions.
Designed to instantly bridge vast distances, the Space Platforms played a crucial part of conquering Obelisks, enabling swift movement between distant Trial Regions. Over the past nine days, Halbor had worked tirelessly, constructing nearly a hundred platforms—enough to connect every corner of Continent 7.
Despite the number of platforms built, Jay hadn't deployed them in every Region. At first, they had tried. The idea was simple: with a platform in each region, Jay and his forces could teleport freely, conquering Obelisks one after another without delay.
But their enemy, Urzo, had systematically targeted and destroyed many of the platforms, slowing Jay's progress and frustrating his plans. It was a clever move, aimed at limiting Jay's mobility and ability to command his forces.
To counter Urzo's attacks, Jay had to be more strategic. Instead of placing platforms everywhere, he had them installed only in regions where they could be properly defended—where his forces were strong enough to protect the platforms and maintain control.
The particular space platform that was positioned outside the Obelisk they had just conquered served as a crucial point for travel to the next Obelisks in line. Surrounding the platform were several makeshift camps, all closely guarded by members of the 2nd Raid Team.
It wasn't just Jay's arrival that caught their attention—it was how soon he had returned. By their estimation, it should have taken at least another hour for Jay and the 3rd Raid Party to conquer the Obelisk, notorious for being overrun with monsters and filled with complex settlements to dismantle.
Yet, there he was, ahead of schedule, as if the victory had come effortlessly. They weren't entirely surprised—after all, who else could accomplish such a feat but the strongest Alpha Ranker himself?
Rex didn't waste time dwelling on his thoughts like the others. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his tone respectful yet eager, "Liege, I hope the acquisition went smoothly. Shall we set out for the next Trial Region right way?"
Jay shook his head, his expression firm but unreadable. "Call off the rest of the Raid Teams. Tell everyone to return and get some rest. I want them ready for tomorrow's Tournament."
The unexpected command stunned Seath and Tyuk. It was the first time in weeks they had heard Jay suggest anything other than advancing to the next Obelisk. Since Day-11, he had been relentless in his pursuit, driving them forward without respite.
He had participated in every Raid Party, throwing himself into each battle as if possessed by some unquenchable fire. Even after each Obelisk's acquisition, Jay never lingered, never allowed himself the luxury of rest. His obsession with growth and power was evident, almost as if he were chasing something none of them could see.
What truly left them speechless, though, was the realization that even Jay—the strongest Alpha Ranker, with a Power Index far beyond anyone else—continued to push himself harder than anyone.
If someone like him felt the need to train endlessly, to strain his limits, what right did they have to slack off? His determination made them reflect on their own efforts.
As their thoughts swirled, Jay turned his attention toward Seath. "Come with me," he said, his tone calm but decisive. "I need your assistance with something."
Seath blinked, taken aback by the request. It was only the second time Jay had called upon him directly. The first had been a significant moment—Jay had asked him if he was willing to become a Sigil Holder, an offer that came with immense power and restrictions.
But Seath had declined. He valued his freedom above all else, and the thought of being bound to anyone—even Jay—didn't sit well with him. To his surprise, Jay hadn't pressed the issue. He had accepted Seath's decision with grace, leaving it at that without holding a grudge or treating him any differently.
In fact, despite his refusal, Jay had entrusted Seath and the other Owlites with considerable influence. They were given their fair share of Obelisks they had conquered—Secondary Authority over four of the 51 Obelisks, to be precise.
It was more than enough to secure the survival of the Beta and Gamma Chosen from their home planet, providing them with resources and protection that would ensure their future. Seath couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect for Jay, who had proven time and again that he was a leader who valued fairness and loyalty, even in the face of personal rejection.
Seath was puzzled by the sudden call for assistance. 'What could someone as powerful and capable as Jay possibly need from him?' But instead of voicing his confusion, Seath merely nodded.
Silently, Seath followed Jay as they both left the camp, stepping away from the Obelisk's premises and into the mist-covered forest terrain of the Trial Region.
After crossing several kilometers, Jay came to a halt, and Seath instinctively stopped beside him. In their line of sight stood a mid-phase Tier-3 monster—a massive jackal, its body as large as a military tanker, crackling with flickers of lightning that danced across its fur.
The beast was feasting on the remains of a Tier-2 monster, but its attention soon shifted to the two intruders. Blood still dripped from its jaws as it snarled in anger, its growl resonating with a low, thunderous rumble.
Without turning around, Jay calmly addressed Seath. "I'll handle this. Move back and keep your distance. Watch for any fluctuations in the time-space continuum and let me know the moment you sense anything."
Seath obeyed, retreating to a safe distance while the Lightning Jackal began its aggressive advance toward Jay. With every heavy step it took, the ground trembled slightly, the air around it crackling with blue lightning.
The massive creature closed the gap quickly, and as it neared, it swiped at Jay with its electrified claws, arcs of blue lightning dancing along its arm. Seath braced himself, expecting Jay to dodge or counter. But to his surprise, Jay remained perfectly still, making no attempt to move.
At the last moment, the upper portion of Jay's full-body armor retracted, exposing his bare chest to the incoming strike. The jackal's lightning-infused claws raked across Jay's chest, leaving three deep, bloody gashes.
The force of the attack pushed Jay backward, but he dug in his heels, refusing to be sent flying. In a swift motion, he summoned the Origin Glaive, which materialized from the tattoo on his right arm. He drove the weapon into the ground, using it as leverage to halt his backward momentum, preventing himself from being thrown any further by the impact.
Despite the severity of the injury, Jay had intentionally restrained himself, using only a portion of his vast arsenal of defensive skills. He allowed just enough protection to avoid critical damage but ensured that the attack would still inflict serious wounds.
Even more curiously, Jay toggled off his regeneration-related passive skills, slowing his natural healing factor to a crawl. The claw marks on his chest oozed blood, healing at an unnaturally slow rate, far from the rapid recovery Seath had seen in previous battles.
Seath, watching intently, couldn't understand why Jay would intentionally handicap himself that way. But then, something caught his eye—a brief, almost imperceptible glitch over the silver-black Glaive in Jay's hand. It flickered for a split second, as though time itself had momentarily warped around the weapon.
Most wouldn't have noticed the subtle disturbance, but Seath's Time Innate Talent made his senses finely attuned to shifts in the Space-Time continuum. His eyes narrowed as he realized what Jay was aiming for—he was testing the weapon, one that somehow had the ability to manipulate time.
ALTER REALITY: Online
The first ten to comment for new chapter releases will get '1 ADVANCED CHAPTER' for free on Earth Alpha Prime's Discord server.
In the discord server, I opened a private channel for those Top 10 candidates, where I posted the respective Advanced Chapter.
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Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :
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