MTLNOVEL Chapter 13: Another Visit
"Status."
...
Name: [Vorden]
Path: [Hollow-Eyed]
Rank: [Top-Level]
Attribute: [Adaptation]
Hindrance: [Injury Limitation]
Augmentations: [Creed Blade, Heavenly Beast, TOC (Tip of Cremation)]
Special Sense: [Black Ice, Third Formation]
Caculs: [800/5000]
...
Vorden smirked.
He had never found the time to properly test the Special Sense.
It was a reward for killing that idiotic dwarf during his time in the Night Shift.
Technically, it had belonged to the fool he had slain.
Even now, Vorden wondered—had that been the man's first Night Shift, or had he just been pretending like him?
Not that it mattered.
Dead men didn't answer questions.
Special Senses were divided into five formations.
For Top-Level Seekers, that number doubled.
Each formation strengthened the ability, refining its effects.
Fortunately, the fool had already pushed this one to its third formation before Vorden took it.
This stage allowed him to freeze anything on contact and destroy it from within.
Vorden pulled a useless scrap of metal from his pocket and tossed it into the air.
Why the hell did he even have this thing?
The moment he used the Special Sense, black ice spread across the surface.
He clenched his hand.
The metal cracked apart inside the ice before dissolving into liquid.
Without hesitation, he flicked the remains into the recycle bin.
A soft chime sounded as it erased the waste.
"Nice."
If he wanted to push his Special Sense to the next formation—and he planned to—he'd need to spend Caculs points.
1,200 of them.
...
[Upgrade Failed]
[400 Caculs points required]
...
"Fucker. Just give me a loan already."
'…Or maybe I should call Amy and get her to send 500 points.'
'As her older brother, she wouldn't dare refuse.'
A grin crept across his face, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Then, just as quickly, he shook his head.
"No. Work for it."
He wasn't about to let his younger siblings think he was some idle fool.
He was stronger than them.
Or… should he just take the easy way and let their respect for him drop?
No. Nein. Aniyo. Bu—all means 'No.'
For a month now, he hadn't earned a single Caculs point.
Not surprising.
He was stuck here, unable to hunt beyond the city without a pass from the Gate Administration.
A Night Shift run?
He had to wait ten days for the next opening.
When it did, Seekers would flood in from every region.
The transport stations were ready for it.
At least he had one week of freedom after discharge.
Enough time to get into a Night Shift and hunt.
A mechanical voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Arrival! The Academy's staff has arrived."
Vorden sighed. Time to deal with them again.
Endless questions.
And another Power Scaling Test—because the Academy just had to check if he had ranked up.
Again!
'How would I? I'm stuck in this place. And that test is useless. I'm not even at the Fang-Wrought rank—only that idiot knows what HE did to hide his real level.'
The whole family seemed to have a talent for that trick.
The entrance slid open.
Three figures entered Vorden's medical room—two young, one middle-aged.
The young woman, around 5'7", had sharp, unwavering eyes and a defined jawline.
Her straight, shoulder-length hair framed a face that rarely showed emotion.
Next to her stood a younger man, approximately 5'10", with a strong, angular face and a sharp nose.
His hair was neatly trimmed, and his posture remained upright and focused.
The tallest of the three, at 6'1", was a middle-aged man with a short grey beard and a structured face.
His deep-set eyes held an air of authority, and the faint lines on his forehead suggested a man used to making rough decisions.
These were the Academy staff who regularly assessed Vorden.
As they approached, the older man extended a handshake.
Vorden took it, offering a brief grin in return.
"Shall we begin?" The man, Darius, spoke in a low, even tone.
Vorden nodded.
A panel materialised in front of Darius, and he began logging responses.
"First—what's the most dangerous place you encountered during your first Night Shift?"
"The same," Vorden replied.
"The Black Forest and the Stream of Darkness, maybe."
Marked.
Same response as always.
"How did you escape, and what did you receive from Glory?"
Vorden answered, giving only the necessary details.
Nothing new.
He stated he had received only a Special Sense and Caculs points.
The questioning continued, Vorden offering only what was required.
A few minutes later, the routine 25 questions were complete.
Next was the Power Scaling test.
The young woman stepped forward, retrieving a white disk resembling a fingerprint scanner.
Vorden placed his thumb on it, exhaling through his nose.
Same outcome, as always.
The man behind him, holding a translucent tablet, glanced at the screen and nodded as the familiar data appeared:
...
Name: Vorden
Rank: Fang-Wrought
Special Sense: Black Ice
Attribute: [None yet]
...
For some reason, his attribute remained absent—unusual for someone at his rank.
Well...
Not his problem.
The staff exchanged glances.
Vorden simply shrugged.
Strength wasn't the issue.
Moments later, they exited, speaking amongst themselves.
He watched them leave with a wide smile, then shifted on his feet, flicking tiny black ice shards into the recycling bin.
"Run, you mug, run."
After a while, he threw himself onto the bed, facing the holographic wall.
...Shaking his ass.
Detached. Restless.
Celebrating… umm... something.
***
One Week Later: Day of Discharge.
---
Dane stepped out of the hospital doors with a grin.
Finally discharged from that miserable place. Time to move.
First, he needed to stop by the Academy for some information before heading home.
And maybe, on the way, he'd pick up that cage for May.
He glanced up at the artificial sun, tucking his hands into the pockets of his white sweatpants.
Comfort, for him, was sweatpants and shirts.
Mostly because they were cheap.
Despite his wealth, Vorden still preferred living like a broke billionaire.
At the air train station, he bought a ticket to the Soul Academy—18 Biel.
This was the Kingdom's currency.
The Biel was divided into several denominations:
Copper Biel (₿1 - ₿99): Used for small purchases like food or transport.
Silver Biel (₿100 - ₿9,999): Mid-tier currency, common among working-class citizens.
Gold Biel (₿10,000 - ₿999,999): Used for higher-end transactions, business deals, and luxury items.
Platinum Biel (₿1,000,000+): Reserved for nobles, major investments, and high-tier Academy expenses.
Vorden's ticket had only cost 18 Biel, barely anything compared to his wealth.
Payment was made through the wristband on his arm, a device his younger sister had returned to him.
Technically, it had always belonged to him. She had just taken it.
His account balance?
Over 9 billion Biel. Enough to buy hundreds of noble estates across the Kingdom.
The air train lifted off, aligning with the aerial transit routes before gliding at high speed.
Within seconds, it reached the Academy entrance and descended smoothly.
No driver. It was fully controlled by the Transport Department's AI system.
...
Arriving in front of the Academy, he stared at the structure.
The Soul Academy stretched out ahead, a futuristic megastructure spanning nearly the size of an Earth city.
Students moved in and out, preparing for the new term set to begin in a week.
Massive buildings, sleek metallic walkways, and hovering transport pods dominated the landscape.
It was a place of learning, but also a hub for wealth and status.
Vorden stepped forward.
A small flying robot intercepted him.
"Destination?"
"Administration office."
"Follow me, nice one."
The bot muttered under its... well:
"First decent human I've met this term. The rest are brats."
Vorden heard it and held back a laugh.
It was no surprise.
A prestigious Academy meant plenty of arrogant, entitled students.
Still, not all of them were unbearable.
Clearly, though, this bot was already fed up.
It guided him to a towering building designated for administrative matters.
Inside, multiple offices bustled with activity, attendants handling enquiries while students came and went.
Some glanced at Vorden—casually dressed yet striking in appearance. Others ignored him entirely.
...
Meanwhile, across the Academy, a notification lit up wristbands and holographic panels.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
A new student has surpassed 900 others, entering the Academy's top three most handsome boys. If you wish to focus on your studies, best avoid them.
Vorden remained oblivious.
...
Inside the administration office, he found himself face-to-face with Darius.
Neither had expected this meeting.
"Didn't see this coming," Darius remarked, gesturing for him to sit.
"Pleasure to meet you again, sir," Vorden replied, his voice thick with resonance.
"Enough pleasantries. Let's get you the information you need before you start next week."
"Alright."