"Simon, how come you're so strong" Do you have any tricks? Teach us too!"
As soon as Instructor Ethan dismissed them, Ivan and Tyler approached him.
Simon smiled. "There is no trick, I've just been practicing as soon as I got off work and usually didn't stop until midnight, then after training I start absorbing Astral energy the whole night.
And when I am unable to do either of them, I fidget with the skill, by creating fire shape in my free time."
That was the truth!
As an adult, he was matured and long passed the stage of having fun.
Plus, having superpower was his dream, in both worlds.
So, Simon is working twice as hard.
Unknowingly, in just short two months, a huge gap was created between him and others.
"You've been doing additional training after work!"
Tyler scratched his head and said embarred, "I've been drinking and eating with old classmate, after work I went out drinking with friend or playing games with them.
I've never done any additional work."
"I am about the same!"
Ivan felt ashamed of his behaviour, in the past two months, he had become a successful person in the eyes of his family and friends.
He was popular and sought after for eating, having fun and socializing.
Where could he have time for practice?
Sudden success clouded Ivan and Tyler's judgment resulting in their poor performance.
Simon shakes his head.
He could understand that they were still at playful age, where sudden success just boosted youthful pride and clouded their mind.
"Regardless, you two should take this seriously. Passing the assessment in 4 months is very important for us.
It's the key to our future in the company"
Simon advised them.
"Yeah, Simon is right. We need to work more and harder, if not we might not pass the exam."
"Yes"
…
After the test, everyone was fired up, understanding the urgency and seriousness of the matter.
They became much more serious than before.
Observing this, Simon worked even harder. He did not want to be overtaken by a group of brats.
Like that time passed, in a blink of an eye two more months were gone.
Today, as Simon was about to get off work, Eira Sylvana, the general manager, walked into the training room.
Instructor Ethan and others straighten up seeing her.
"Ms. Eira, you're here!"
Instructor Ethan stepped forward greeting her.
"Instructor Ethan, how are they doing?"
Eira glanced at the 11-trainee standing neatly in a row with their head held high.
"Passing the assessment shouldn't be a problem!" Instructor Ethan replied confidently.
"Is that so?"
Eira looked at Simon and others, "I have some bad news for you people, due to some reason governments have made some changes in the examination this year.
As they will include rejected ones from previous year.
That means, this year's exam will include newcomers and also Astral lord who have independently awakened their Astral skill. Also, those who failed the exam previous year."
Expressions on Simon and others faces changed drastically.
In previous year, only new recruits would participate in examination. Most of them would be from high schools and some would be those that awakened independently.
Before this, those who had been eliminated in the past were not be allowed to participate.
Yet, this year those who had failed previous year would be participating. It was huge change!
One needed to understand that those who were eliminated in the past years had nearly one year to training and some even longer.
A whole year! What level of strength could they have reached in that time?
Naturally they would be stronger than newbies, which would have been fine if the rules of the examination were not cruel!
"The content of the assessment is same as in the previous years. You will be sent to a base infested with Dreadbeasts, you need to hunt them down and collect their hearts."
Eira said plainly, "The more beast hearts you collect, the better your results will be.
Although killing others in trail is not allowed, you are allowed to snatch from one another!
That means, even if you try your very best to kill the Dreadbeasts and dig out their hearts, there is a possibility that someone can take them from you.
In other words, this year's assessment is extremely unfavourable to you newcomer!"
Hearing this Simon and others heart sank.
In the previous years, only newcomer competed, and everyone was basically at the same level to strength. And even if they were to snatch from one another, it would be relatively fair.
But his year was now different. With a group people who had been previously eliminated, their strength automatically would be higher that this year's newcomers.
"But there are two sides to a coin!"
Eira spoke. "The harder the examination is, the more you will stand out.
Diamond in rough is still a diamond; it will shine the brightest when under pressure.
Using my authority as general manager, I promise you, those who rank in top 3 will be a receiving a rich reward!"
"There are rewards?"
Simon ears immediately perked up.
"The first reward is intermediate-level Astral technique that is worth one billion!"
"What!"
Simon and others were in an uproar, even Instructor Ethan was shocked.
"Intermediate-level Astral technique, worth a billion is the reward for this year!"
Efficiency of low-level Astral technique's absorption is 10 time better, while the efficiency of intermediate-level Astral technique is 100 time better.
If two Astral lords were to start training together where one uses low-level and other intermediate-level, where the later will skyrocket through levels gaining strength in short time.
10-days of continues hard work result in a single-day.
"If I could obtain it, my speed of absorbing the Astral energy will skyrocket"
Simon was very tempted.
"There is second reward, resigning the contract!"
Eira continued, "Your current contracts are C-level, if any one of you people can achieve top three, their contract will be upgraded to A-level."
"A-level contract!"
Everyone was once again shocked.
They had been in company for almost 4 months now, so they learned a lot about the company, one of which was A-level contract.
Normal employee generally had D-level or C-level contracts that gave them salaries that amount to several thousand, making them no different from high paid worker in Simon's old world.
And Astral Lord's Contract start off with C-level contract them higher on, S-level being the highest.
Even though it is just under the top-level contract don't not mean that its bad, if a normal man ever to sign this contract their life will turn 180 degrees changing it for better.
With a million-dollar salary, a stand-alone mansion in most secure part of the city which in itself was worth billions of dollars.
Astral lords start off with C-level contract, and not only did they have a basic salary of 100,000 Novas, they also have many privileges which is better than ordinary employee.
And many other benefits, but what left the deepest impression on Simon was that he can enjoy a 45% discount when he shops on company trade centre.
An intermediate-level Astral technique worth 1 billion can be brought under six hundred fifty million.
That was the benefit of an A-level contract!
Eira Sylvana moved her eyes over them. "After all is said and done, it still comes down to the same thing. As long as you perform well, the company will not be stingy! So, do your best!"
Then she walked out with others.
Simon and others where dismissed.
On his way, he touched Ethan's shoulder started asking some things about examination.
But his aim was some thing else as black character appeared Infront of his eyes
Name:Ethan Valor
Race: Human
Astral Skill: Reinforced Muscles (Awakened, Replicate)
[Author's Note:- Readers, I the author, would be publishing 25-chapter this week after which i will follow up with 5 chapter per week format so that i can have time, and it does not overwhelming me]