Alex held two cards.
Heavy.
He looked at them.
Then at Ms. Chen.
Ms. Chen stood there.
Eyes still red.
She'd cried earlier.
Still hadn't recovered.
Alex walked over.
Handed her the fifty-thousand card.
"Ms. Chen."
Ms. Chen froze.
"Alex..."
"This is..."
"Split it with the Class 9 students."
Alex said it casually.
"Divide it equally."
"Everyone gets about one spirit stone."
Ms. Chen's hand shook.
"Alex..."
"This is too much..."
She stared at the card.
Fifty thousand.
Fifty spirit stones.
"You did 90% of the work..."
"Why..."
Alex smiled.
"Can't really explain it."
He looked at the Class 9 students in the distance.
"Just..."
"Got a feeling."
He turned back.
"I should do this."
Ms. Chen's tears fell.
"Besides..."
Alex patted his other card.
"I still got this fifty thousand."
"Plus the principal's twenty stones..."
"Seventy spirit stones total."
He shrugged.
"For me..."
"That's already really good."
Ms. Chen bowed deeply.
"Alex..."
Her voice trembled.
"Thank you..."
"On behalf of all Class 9 students..."
"Thank you..."
She looked up.
Face covered in tears.
"If you ever need anything..."
"We'll do everything we can..."
The Class 9 students gathered around.
Some cried.
"Thank you, Alex..."
"Really, thank you..."
A girl wiped her tears.
"My parents are sick..."
"Never had money for medicine..."
"With this spirit stone..."
She couldn't speak through the tears.
A guy clenched his fists.
"My family's in debt..."
He gritted his teeth.
"This stone can pay off most of it..."
Others nodded.
Eyes full of gratitude.
Alex waved them off.
"Alright."
"Go cultivate."
"Don't waste the stones."
He turned to leave.
"See you around."
Right then—
A system notification popped up.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations on completing Option Three!]
[Reward: Slime's all attributes +5%!]
[Detected Host's noble behavior!]
[Detected Host gaining loyal followers through charisma!]
[Unlocking special function: "Faith Power"!]
Alex blinked.
Faith Power?
[Faith Power Description:]
[During battle, briefly borrow the will power of believers!]
[Comprehensively boost Host's combat power!]
[More believers = stronger Faith Power!]
[Greater boost!]
[Current Believers: 59]
Instantly—
An invisible force surged from all directions.
Warm.
Pure.
The faith of 59 people.
59 people's gratitude.
59 people's loyalty.
This power transformed into golden light...
Flowed into the slime's body.
The slime was still covered in wounds.
Cracks everywhere.
But right now—
"Gulu!"
Its body glowed!
Golden light wrapped around it.
Wounds healed at visible speed.
Cracks disappeared completely.
Not just recovery.
Its body grew bigger!
The whole ball became more bouncy!
More glossy!
Surface crystal clear like jelly.
"Gulu gulu!"
The slime squinted.
Clearly felt itself getting stronger.
It jumped excitedly.
Bounced toward Alex.
"Gulu!"
Rubbed its head against him nonstop.
But—
Because Gigantification wasn't canceled yet...
It was still giant-sized...
"Whoa—"
Alex nearly got knocked over.
A massive bouncy ball pressing toward him...
He quickly steadied himself.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"You're still supersized!"
"Careful!"
The slime kept rubbing.
"Gulu gulu gulu!"
So happy.
Alex got pushed around.
But he smiled.
He reached out and patted the slime's head.
"Good job."
"Partner."
His voice gentle.
"You did great today."
The slime squinted.
"Gulu~"
Enjoying it.
Alex looked at it.
Suddenly thought of something.
"Speaking of which..."
"Should give you a name."
He rubbed his chin.
"What should I call you..."
The slime looked up.
"Gulu?"
Bouncing around.
In the stands.
Everyone watched this scene.
Watched Alex and the slime.
Watched the Class 9 students around him.
Watched those grateful tears.
"That guy..."
Someone muttered.
"Really different..."
"Fifty spirit stones..."
"Just gave them away..."
"If it were me..."
He shook his head.
"No way I could do it."
Others nodded.
"Strong..."
"And so righteous..."
"Someone like that..."
Someone took a deep breath.
"Definitely gonna be big someday."
Raven sat in a corner.
Watching all this.
Her eyes complicated.
This person...
She remembered first meeting Alex.
He screwed over Rex.
She thought he was just a troublemaker.
Today's arena battle.
He showed terrifying intelligence and strength.
She thought he was just a calculating genius.
But now...
He gave fifty spirit stones to Class 9...
She suddenly realized...
She couldn't read this person at all.
What kind of person is he really?
Raven bit her lip.
Heart racing.
Why...
Why do I care so much...
"Oh my~"
A voice suddenly came from beside her.
Raven jumped.
Turned her head—
Luna.
Her best friend.
Grinning mischievously.
"Whatcha looking at~"
Luna leaned in.
"So focused~"
"Drool's about to drip down~"
Raven's face instantly flushed.
"I'm not!"
She quickly wiped her mouth.
"I just..."
"Just happened to pass by..."
Luna laughed harder.
"Happened to pass by?"
"Happened to stare for that long?"
She poked Raven's shoulder.
"You've been watching him for ten minutes~"
"And you say you haven't fallen~"
Raven's face got redder.
"I really haven't!"
"It's... the noise here was loud..."
"So I..."
"Just took a look..."
Luna smirked.
"One look?"
"What kind of look lasts ten minutes~"
She mimicked Raven.
Eyes glazed.
Mouth slightly open.
"Like this~"
"Just staring~"
Raven's face burned.
"Luna!"
"Stop it!"
She reached to cover Luna's mouth.
Luna dodged, laughing.
"Don't be shy~"
"If you like him, you like him~"
"Alex is pretty cool~"
Alex's side.
He patted the slime's head.
Suddenly felt a chill on his back.
Like someone was watching him?
He turned around.
Nobody there.
Weird...
He shook his head.
Looked at the slime's yellowish color.
How about... Custard Pie?
The slime's eyes curved into crescents.
It jumped hard a few times.
Duang! Duang!
The whole floor shook.
"Gulu!"
Then it disappeared back into the contract beast space.
Time to sleep.
Bob rushed over.
Gave Alex a bear hug.
"Alex!"
"Holy shit!"
"That was insane!"
He couldn't form words.
"That...that faceslapping!"
"Man!"
"Just incredible!"
Bob let go.
Still jumping around.
"Those rich kids!"
"Always so damn arrogant!"
"Today they got wrecked!"
He got more excited.
"So satisfying!"
"You didn't see Ethan's face!"
"Hahahaha!"
Bob suddenly leaned in.
Lowered his voice.
"And..."
He wiggled his eyebrows.
"I noticed a lot of girls..."
"Staring at you with hearts in their eyes!"
"Tsk tsk tsk..."
"That look though..."
Alex smiled.
"These average ones..."
He waved it off.
"Not really interested."
Bob froze.
"Huh?"
Alex leaned to his ear.
"I mean..."
"Got Lilian at home."
"Got the campus beauty Raven in my contacts."
He patted Bob's shoulder.
"Gotta focus on what matters."
Bob's jaw dropped.
"Holy...shit..."
"You..."
"Living the dream, man!"
Alex smiled.
"Alright."
"Heading home."
He thought of something.
The explosion potion...
Should show Lilian.
She'll definitely be interested.
Right then—
A few girls walked over.
"Alex~"
A long-haired girl smiled sweetly.
"Can...can I get your number?"
Another moved closer.
"Me too~"
More lined up behind them.
Eyes sparkling.
Alex looked.
Waved them off.
"Sorry."
"Pretty busy."
He smiled politely.
But his answer was clear.
The girls froze.
"Oh..."
"I see..."
Disappointed.
But nothing they could do.
They scattered.
Bob watched from the side.
Thumbs up.
"Damn..."
"Even turning down girls..."
Alex smiled.
"See you."
He recalled the slime.
Turned and left.
Walked out of the arena.
Sunlight hit him.
Warm.
Home.
Show Lilian something cool.
He touched the explosion potion in his pocket.
Corner of his mouth lifted.
Today...
Big gains.