The Genius Evolution Store

Auric just looked at his teacher with twisted lips.

”Hahaha. Okay, okay. I’m going to stop.” Maya waved her hand down, gesturing for him to calm down. ”For the time being, I have only searched for people whose backgrounds are not impressive. I’ve made sure that they’re not connected to any people with powerful backgrounds currently. But with so many people...”

”Yeah, I know. What is happening right now can’t be hidden. When those people return to society, some might be able to play dumb, but some might accidentally slip up. That slip-up might end up in the hands of someone powerful.”

”People will know that Sunlight has this kind of power. They might threaten you.”

”I don’t care. They can threaten me, but for now, they have no information about me. If they threaten me, I can threaten them in return. In the worst-case scenario, I will just confirm the rumor. At least playing dumb will be my first move.”

Maya nodded. ”Still, I’m afraid that they will be using this connection to deal with other people politically. For example, there are plenty of people with unique elements who came from good backgrounds.”

”Those who know about it will use this information to entice those people to take advantage of their power. In other words, they’re using me to gain even more power.”

”Yep. That’s going to be difficult to deal with.”

”I know, but I am the one who has the weapon. I am the one who chooses the people to invite. If there are people who are trying to recommend someone, we can check the leak and remove that person entirely. This will put pressure on those people as well, sending a message that I’m watching you.”

”Well, you need to get stronger fast. If those people find you before you have the strength to protect yourself, it’ll be a hassle.”

”That’s what I’m planning to do.”

Maya sighed. ”I feel like this is going to get troublesome, but I guess your big plan has to be readjusted because of that incident.”

Auric knew Maya was talking about Eric’s incident. If he hadn’t shown his power or even revealed his identity as a powerful evolution master, Auric could have used this identity as a weapon this time.

But because he had exposed himself, he had to readjust everything.

Auric smiled. ”It’s fine. I have never regretted the things I do. After all, I just do it first in a way I won’t regret and fix the mess from my actions later.”

”Must be my grandfather who influenced you.” Maya rubbed her forehead. ”He always said the same thing. You shall regret doing something rather than doing nothing.”

Auric chuckled. ”Well, good advice.”

Maya waved her hand. ”Anyway, I should retrieve the bag. It looks like that guy is about to finish.”

”Yep. Thank you for your help this time, Teacher.”

”Not yet. We are only done with this week’s quota. We will need to catch a flight to another city for the remaining eight people. Then, we’ll spend the rest of the week sneaking into the Unique Valley.”

Auric nodded. ”Yeah. A lot of things need to be done.”

Maya simply disappeared, using her power to reach the park in the fastest time possible. Then, she retrieved the bag before getting ready to leave.

...

Meanwhile, the president had received the complete report regarding the national selection.

”So, this kid is that talented? Not only is he extremely good at fighting, but he is also planning to become a gold-grade evolution master?”

”Yes, sir! That’s what Chief Lucas said, but we haven’t been able to confirm whether he will be able to do that or not. It’s not about his skills. I don’t doubt Chief Lucas’s assessment regarding his skills as an evolution master.”

”Then?”

”It’s about his power. To be honest, even if your element rating is 1.0, it will still be hard for you to reach Rank 3 in just a few months. No, it’s actually not even six months. Judging from the situation, if he really wants to hide himself, he’s probably going to register for promotion the normal way. This will allow him to blend in with the normal evolution masters.”

”That’s indeed clever. The test should be held in a month and a half, yes?”

”Two weeks before the training program begins, but yes.” The supervisor nodded with a serious expression.

”Can he do it?”

”I’m not sure. His power is still lacking. He needs to evolve his element to Rank 3 first. As I said earlier, there are reasons why people can’t just eat all the materials and evolve. If they can do that, those big families will be able to do it with their resources.”

”I am not a fighter myself, but I know the reasons.” The president crossed his arms. ”To evolve, it’s true that you need elements, but for fighters, you need to have a body that can adapt to all that energy, and you need to know how to use it. Or you will end up becoming weaker than other people.”

”Not only that...” The supervisor nodded. ”...but you also need to refine your energy. Your body naturally does it for you as time passes, so people don’t really talk about it. But if you want to get stronger fast, you need to forcefully refine that energy.”

”Ah, you’re talking about that!”

”Yes, sir. When you absorb the energy into your body, it’s true that the energy becomes yours, but your body will have to assimilate that energy. For a normal body, it will usually take six months if your avatar is in baby form.”

”Still, a lot of students are so talented that they’re able to evolve their avatar in just three months. If I’m not mistaken, the record is about a month and a half.”

”But the world record belonged to the guy who focused on his element. He practically had no combat skills.” The supervisor shook his head. ”But Auric Elfe possessed extraordinary combat prowess. And for an avatar in juvenile form, you will need approximately one year.”

”So, naturally, you can reach Rank 3 in one and a half years.” The president nodded in understanding. ”But there are many geniuses in our nation who can do it in less than that.”

”Yes. But Auric is planning to reach Rank 3 in less than six months! This is simply crazy.” The supervisor shook his head helplessly. ”I’m more worried about his body than his achievements at this point.”

”That’s a fair assessment, but Chief Lucas should also know about this. If I’m not mistaken, he has been in contact with that kid. If Chief Lucas allows this, I don’t think there’s a reason for us to worry about that kid.”

”Well...” The supervisor couldn’t exactly refute it. Besides, Auric was also an excellent evolution master who should know about this fact. ”So, are we going to accept it?”

”Of course. For now, let him pass the national selection, but don’t announce it. We have to respect Chief Lucas’s opinion as well. Hence, we will do this. We’ll let the kid join the national selection, even though he has already passed. This will show at least he is not given priority like what Chief Lucas wants.”

”But won’t it cause trouble? What if other kids provoke him?”

”Just tell the instructors to mark that kid and tell them he has passed, not as a fighter but as an evolution master. Each country will send its respective evolution masters, so even if a blockhead is the instructor, he has no choice but to give this guy special treatment. The instructors will use any excuse to prevent anyone from provoking him. If someone wants to provoke him, just have them start early or something!”

”Ah!” The supervisor hadn’t considered this idea. ”I understand. I will do just that.”

”Good. You may leave.”

”Yes, sir.” The supervisor nodded excitedly.

”It looks like we will have some fun this time.” The president smiled, wondering what would happen in the training program. ”For now, I should figure out a way to keep this kid in Esfrata. It will be troublesome if other countries end up enticing him. No, wait. Will they succeed in seducing him? Honey traps work 70% of the time...”

...

There were five countries in the Europe Stronghold. The ones that inhabited the former Spain, France, and Italy became the country of Esfrata. There was also the country that combined the former Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark: Dermania.

Norway and Sweden had also combined into one country in the north, becoming a country called Granda.

In the end, the former United Kingdom absorbed Ireland and retained its name. Last but not least, the powerhouse in Eastern Europe, residing in the former Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Latvia, and Estonia, Lech-Aistia. Each country sent its respective representatives to attend the training program.

...

Dermania.

A blinding light flashed for a split second. The next second it faded, trees fell down.

”Huuu...” Gloria let out a long breath. She didn’t have a shield with her, since the spear was her original weapon.

Her offensive power had increased considerably since the last time she fought alongside Auric and the others.

In another corner of the country, a phoenix rose into the sky as the man who was refining his skill was levitating above the volcano.

The man had long red hair and sat down in the lotus position, meditating as if he was using the heat from the magma to reinforce his power.

Two people watched him carefully.

”It looks like Antonio is doing well. At this rate, he will be able to complete that skill before the training program begins.”

”Indeed. We won’t be losing to anyone this time.”

...

Granda.

The sun was shining more intensely, burning everything within a hundred meters.

”This is so hot. Can’t you tone it down slightly? This is not a beach...” A woman struggled to reach the center, only to find a woman with long crimson hair sunbathing in her bikini. ”This is not a beach! Why are you sunbathing?”

”Because I’m the sun!”

”You are not the sun. You are Theressa Lee! If we’re talking about the sun, it should be that one from Esfrata. The so-called Sunlight from the Sun Store. People are worshiping him like the Great Sun already.”

”Hmph. It’s because they don’t know me. If they knew me, they would be worshiping me as the Great Sun. If I happen to meet this Sunlight in the future, I will slap him and make him kneel to the real sun!”

The woman let out a long sigh.

On the opposite side of the country, a man with dark eyes sighed. ”I feel pressured. I bet that delusional woman is sunbathing again. I don’t even know why she can stand so much light.”

”Nicholas, you need to focus, okay? You are going to dominate the other evolution masters.” An elder pumped his fist. ”You’re not allowed to lose.”

”I know, I know. Let me sleep already!”

...

United Kingdom.

A woman kneeled on the ground with her sword in front as though she was praying.

”Clarice. You are not allowed to lose. I’m sure there are people better than you at using elements, but you shall dominate the swordsmanship, understood?”

”Yes, Master!”

”Very well. I shall bestow this title upon you. You are now the bearer of the name Arthur. Be proud and make sure not to disappoint that title.”

”I will not disappoint you, Master!”

The country also sent another person, whose element was the opposite of Tommi’s, The wielder of the Pure Water element, Timothy Wellington.

Though, he was currently enjoying his life.

”Hahahaha!” He laughed. ”I am water, and I can shoot water! Let me shoot you all!”

”Kyaa!” The girls acted as if they were trying to get away, even though they were in a nightclub.

...

Lech-Aistia.

”Miss, the patriarch is looking for you.”

A green-haired woman calmly sipped her tea. ”Is it about the training program?”

”Yes.”

”I see. I wonder why people have to show off to each other. Can’t we just live in harmony?” She sighed while standing up.

”Please don’t say that. This is a matter of pride, and you are the pride of our Bellegarde family, Miss Selena Bellegarde, the bearer of Life.”

”That’s... so cringe. Uncool.”