As the old man boasted arrogantly, Tran dashed to him at superhuman speed and sent him flying with a single staff strike. Gray energy radiated outward, revealing the blow's sheer power.
"Youngster, what ability is this?" the old man's shocked voice rang out. He never expected to be humiliated mid-boast! He'd activated an ice shield the instant he was hit—but it was utterly useless. He still flew backward...
"None of your damn business! Just wait to get beaten," Tran retorted, twirling his staff. This weapon felt more comfortable the more he used it... Was he the Monkey King's reincarnation?
"Hmph! You don't know your place!" the old man snapped. "A lucky hit makes you this arrogant? It's just a defense-ignoring superpower—how dare you!" He unleashed a chilling aura again.
The hall transformed into the world's coldest place. Frost coated everything, turning the space into an icy blue realm under his control—except for one exception...
"Whoa, old man! It's freezing! Did your AC break?" Tran joked, hugging his staff and rubbing his hands.
"What!?" The old man gasped. This was his domain skill—a prototype, but a huge leap toward SS Rank! "Your ability is impressive. Join our family. I'll overlook your intrusion and grant you generous benefits."
"Benefits? What kind?" Tran leered.
"What kind?" The old man blinked, confused. Besides money and jewels, what else counted?
Seeing the senile fool, Tran dropped the act. He gripped his staff and swung.
"Hmph! I offered mercy—you refused!" the old man roared. Ice soldiers, beasts, and giant monsters materialized. "This is my domain, [Ice City]. Here, I command an army—" Before he finished, Tran charged in, slaughtering everything.
The soldiers fell in two hits. But the ice beasts radiated strange energy—they were different.
Context: By 3300, superpowers dominated the world. Some could open dimensional gates. Each dimension held unique energies, even fantasy monsters. But crossing dimensions cost dearly...
Like in novels, monsters had magic cores. The old man injected them into ice constructs to create these powerful troops.
Tran struggled now. The ice monsters spat poison, blasted sound waves—it was messy.
"Surrender, and I might spare you," the old man called. He hated wasting talent. As a minor branch leader in the World Superpower Association, his near-SS Rank strength was worlds below true SS Rank.
SS Rank was strategic reserve—no comparison to mere S Rank. The Association's thirteen SS Rank members could each crush him one-handed.
Tran shot him a disdainful glance. Gray energy surged into his limbs. His speed skyrocketed. He blurred through the beasts, staff swinging wildly.
Gray energy coiled around his weapon. One massive sweep wiped out all nearby enemies. Wings condensed on his back. He appeared instantly beside the old man, who flinched back instinctively.
"Sorry, old man—I'm not interested. And I'm a guy!" Tran kicked him flying. He crashed through the wall, collapsing it. Behind the rubble, special forces stared in shock.
They'd heard the fight but couldn't enter—the old man's skill blocked them.
"President Bruce!" Hank rushed to the fallen elder. Spotting Tran, he froze. "Grab that intruder!" He raised his gun.
Tran slammed his staff into the ground. A pit opened—he jumped in. The staff shattered. He missed Fili's unused gift already...
"Lucky this basement's big," Tran muttered, landing in dim light. It looked like a dungeon. He ran through it, searching for Alice's cell.
"Help me!" a weak voice cried.
"Hmm?" Tran followed the sound. Cages lined the walls—a real dungeon. Was this a family estate or a prison?
"Beautiful lady! Save me!"
"Yes! Save us! I'm rich!"
"Please..."
Voices multiplied. Tran was used to "beautiful lady," but it still annoyed him.
"I'm a guy! Why are you locked here? Shouldn't this be a proper prison?" he demanded.
Silence. Everyone stared—why would such a pretty girl claim to be male?
Soon, one spoke: "I opposed the Leit Family's economic expansion in Temple City. We fought over trade territory—I was winning when they captured me."
"Me too! I blocked their education takeover. I was Director of Education!"
Over twenty others revealed similar stories—all Leit Family enemies.
"We have unique superpowers," another voice added. "They're experimenting on us. Our abilities could reach S Rank—they want to mass-produce them."
"Mass-produce?" Tran was stunned. He'd never heard of that.
"Not yet. But they'll turn our powers into potions. Users gain them temporarily—"
Footsteps echoed behind Tran. The dungeon was large—he'd had time to listen, but not anymore.
"I'm leaving! I'll save you later if I can!" Tran sprinted away from the noise. Finding Alice came first—no extra complications now.
