Near the heart of Earth's Foothold lay a spacious plaza, as large as half a soccer field. At its center stood a humming Space Platform, its surface glowing softly as Jay and his three Raid Parties stepped through the portal.
Jay moved forward with purpose, but most of his followers couldn't resist looking around in awe. Once a modest settlement, the Foothold had transformed into a vibrant, futuristic hub spanning nearly the size of a small town.
At the very center stands a sleek, thirty-storey tower, dominating the skyline and symbolizing the heart of the settlement. Surrounding this central tower is a ring of ten-storey buildings, each with a modern, metallic design, exuding sophistication.
Beyond the ten-storey structures lies various training quarters, Hyperbolic chambers, and recuperation facilities. On the outermost edge of the settlement, single-storey residences form a broad, encompassing ring.
These compact homes are minimalist yet futuristic, with smooth metallic finishes that match the aesthetic of the inner structures. The arrangement creates a hierarchical yet harmonious community layout, where the towering center gradually steps down to the modest, sleek residences on the outskirts.
The entire layout resembled a well-organized, high-tech fortress town—structured in perfect concentric rings, blending functionality with a modern aesthetic that looked like something out of a sci-fi world.
From the towering central hub to the surrounding rings of progressively smaller buildings, Earth's Foothold had become a miniature city designed for both advanced training and seamless living.
"MJ will fill you in on the modifications and improvements," Jay said, his voice carrying over the crowd. "He'll let you all know when to reconvene." Without waiting for responses, Jay turned and quickly made his way to his residence in the thirty-storey tower at the center.
Just as Jay disappeared from view, a small figure in a navy-blue suit with perfectly slicked-back hair popped up in front of the group, hovering just above them, positioned so everyone could see him clearly. MJ, looking every bit like a distinguished gentleman, clapped his little hands to gather attention.
Kasim raised his hand, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Great Venerable," he addressed MJ with respect and asked, "Will the hourly reservation cost for the Mastery Grounds increase, or stay the same?"
MJ gave a knowing nod. "Naturally, the operating costs for each Mastery ground are sky high—without the resources that Master has been securing from the Obelisks, these improvements wouldn't have been possible. But you'll be pleased to know," he added with a grin, "that the discount rates remain as they are."
Kasim nodded, but glancing around, MJ noticed the mixed expressions among the group. The reason was clear: the discount rates varied based on one's position, a divide that created a bit of quiet competition among Jay's followers.
Henry patted Kasim's shoulder with a sigh. "Man, I envy you. As a Core Member, you get a 50% discount—that's double what I get as an Inner Member. At this rate, I'll be left behind while you guys race ahead."
Kasim chuckled wryly. He understood Henry's frustration; he likely would have felt the same if he hadn't come so close to death, only to be saved by Jay and granted the status of Origin Sigil Holder.
That event had earned him a spot as a Core Member, alongside Olivia, Dante, and Sergei. Beyond them, there were three others—Akor, Rex, and Pompa—all of whom shared the distinction of being Origin Sigil Holders, except for Dante.
Yet, holding an Origin Sigil alone wasn't a guarantee of Core Member status. All the Atlans, Lycanthropes, Horned Beetles, and Rock Magmites among Jay's ranks had Origin Sigils as well, though theirs were Minor ones.
Still, as Minor Sigil holders, they were granted the privileges of Inner Member status, a position that provided significant benefits. The ones who had lost comrades to Jay's devastating║HEAVEN BREAKER║attack were also granted Inner Member positions, securing them more favorable discounts.
Then there were the Owlites, Seliphians, Teliphians, and Centaurs, grouped as Outer Members. Their discount was a modest 10% when using Reward Points, a significant drop compared to the Inner and Core Members.
And with every advanced training facility—whether Hyperbolic Chambers, Mastery Grounds, Advanced Recuperation Chambers, or other growth-enhancing facilities—requiring Reward Points as a form of currency, that discount difference weighed heavily.
Even the powerful Tier-4 individuals, like Seath, Vral, Tyuk, and Vorqen, were classified as Outer Members, since they hadn't fully committed to Jay's faction and were viewed more as short-term allies than long-term team members. The discounted rates served as both a reward and an incentive, pushing those outside the Core and Inner ranks to consider deeper loyalty.
They hesitated, weighing the pros and cons. Although they missed out on the significant discounts and reservation priority that Core and Inner Members enjoyed, there were still many benefits to staying on as Outer Members.
Jay was undeniably powerful, yet some remained skeptical, worried about the possibility of getting caught in the crossfire between Jay's faction and Urzo's—potentially becoming casualties in a larger conflict.
What held them back from distancing themselves entirely was the lure of Reward Points and the Secondary Authority they'd been granted over the Obelisks they'd helped Jay conquer. These Obelisks were treasure troves, and their value only grew with time.
Even though Secondary Authority entitled them to only 25% of an Obelisk's resources, it was still far more than what they'd gather on their own, even as Primary Overseers elsewhere. Those resources could strengthen their home planets, securing a brighter future for the chosen from their worlds.
As they mulled over these thoughts, the wristband prototypes on everyone's arms buzzed to life. MJ's presence drawing attention as he announced, "I've updated your Reward Points based on recent contributions. The Armory has also been refreshed with all sorts of Equipment and Spirit Items Master Jay obtained during the Obelisk conquests. Take a look and use your Reward Points wisely. Prepare well for the upcoming tournament—there are only ten hours left before Day-19 ends. All qualified for tomorrow's event, reconvene here in the plaza fifteen minutes prior. Master has some things to discuss with you all."
With his message delivered, MJ disappeared, leaving the plaza buzzing with excited conversations as members examined their wristbands and strategized how best to spend their points. Many were eager to see how much they'd earned and exchanged tips on spending Reward Points efficiently for the maximum benefit.
Dante, meanwhile, was wide-eyed as he scrolled through the information on the hologram projected from his wristband. His gaze stopped, fixed on the number of Reward Points he'd received. He blinked in disbelief, barely able to process the figure displayed before him.
Exclusive artwork for every free chapter is now available on my PATRE0N page! You can find the link in my Discord server.
I'm thrilled to share that I'm taking a big leap forward! Alongside Earth's Alpha Prime, I've launched the first sub-book for EAP.
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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