"Jones, are you okay?"Karina's voice trembled despite her efforts to control it.She had witnessed everything that had just happened. More than anyone, she understood how humiliating it must have been for Jones—a genius who had once stood at the very pinnacle of Norman Academy—to be publicly mocked and reduced to a laughingstock.Jones paused.He still remembered that when his Titan Awakening had gone wrong and he became the target of the entire academy's ridicule, Karina had been the only person willing to speak up for him. She had even endured Catherine's insults because of it.He looked at the young woman before him, his brows drawing together slightly.Karina looked terrible.Her complexion was pale and exhausted, dark circles lingering beneath her eyes. She wore a worn-out set of ordinary leather armor, and the potion pouch hanging at her waist was nearly empty.It didn't take much imagination to guess that the past ten days had been incredibly difficult for her."You don't look

“The Chosen One, you have arrived at a branching point in the River of Fate.”Throughout the battles of the graduation examination, you have discovered numerous abnormalities.Now, you have two choices.Option One: Immediately withdraw from the examination and report the anomalies to the academies. As the price for ending the test early, you will receive only the most basic evaluation.Reward: An official bounty of 1 million credits for reporting the information.Option Two: Continue investigating the dungeon and gather all available intelligence before leaving.Reward: Unknown (dependent on the nature of the information uncovered).—(Hint: The God of War's gaze remains fixed upon you.)…Jones lowered his gaze to the score tracker on his wrist.23 points.Every zombie he killed was automatically recorded by the device all graduates were required to wear. Whoever accumulated the highest score would become the champion of this trial.Withdraw now and report the situation?A minimum eva

BOOM!Jones's greatsword crashed head-on into the Subterranean Basilisk.The blade struck the monster's thick scales, sending sparks flying in every direction. A weapon that could normally slice through steel now felt as though it had struck solid metal. Only a few shallow white marks remained on the creature's armored hide.The basilisk instantly flew into a rage.Its massive legs kicked off the ground, and it charged forward like a speeding train.Jones was sent flying.He slammed into a rock wall with a deafening crash. The impact shattered several ribs, and a mouthful of blood erupted from his lips.But the basilisk didn't pursue him.Its narrow reptilian eyes shifted coldly toward Karina.The monster opened its mouth.Its tongue shot forward like a spear.Pfft!The tongue pierced straight through Karina's left shoulder before coiling around her body.She struggled desperately.Every ounce of Titan Power she possessed surged forth.But how could a newly awakened Level 1 Hero with

Chapter 36 – The Plan to Rebuild the PortalBob placed Jones in the center of the formation.It was the safest position possible, protected by teammates both in front and behind.“My name’s Bob,” the large man introduced himself. “I’m from Steel Sentinel Academy. Everyone calls me Big Bob. Don’t worry. As descendants of veterans, we never abandon our companions. Since you’ve joined us for now, you’re one of us. You don’t need to worry.”Jones immediately understood what Bob meant by worry.Bob thought he might fear being used as bait to scout ahead or being abandoned as a sacrificial rear guard.In a dungeon as dangerous as this, such consideration toward a stranger—and treating a so-called “worthless Titan user” no differently from anyone else—was incredibly rare.After enduring endless scorn and contempt, Jones understood better than anyone the value of that kindness.A warmth he had never found at Norman Academy—a place governed by cold, ruthless self-interest—stirred within him.“S

At the entrance to the camp, a black tide of monsters surged forward like a living flood.Crimson eyes glimmered in the darkness.Putrid saliva dripped from rows of jagged fangs.Bob immediately rushed to the highest point in the camp to assess the situation.But after a single glance, he felt the blood in his veins turn cold.Ahead of them stretched a sea of monsters that seemed endless.Zombies.Ghouls.Venomous spiders.Layer upon layer of horrors packed together so densely that they blotted out the tunnel beyond.Their collective roars shook the cavern, sending dust and fragments of rock cascading from the walls.At least two hundred monsters.And on their side?Only forty heroes.Of those, barely more than thirty could still stand.Eight were critically wounded, lacking even the strength to grip a weapon. They could only lie helplessly on stretchers.Bob forced himself to calculate.Even if every fighter managed to kill five monsters before falling, they would still have to fight