Two days had passed since the start of the tournament.
The first phase’s ranking battles had grown increasingly intense. Corrupted beasts were being slaughtered all over Mars in what was becoming an unprecedented spectacle. Back on Earth, observers were completely engrossed, thoroughly entertained by the sheer scale and ferocity of the fights. For three straight days, the tournament had delivered non-stop action.
Many freshers had already made names for themselves, impressing not only the viewers but also the senior students, teachers, deans, and even the Director of the Academy.
Director Aaron looked around at the bustling control room, noting the excitement and joy etched on everyone’s faces. A sudden idea struck him. Rising to his feet, he called out,
"Gemini, since this tournament has reached a level of hype we’ve never seen before, I think it’s time to spice things up."
He continued with a gleam in his eyes, "I’ve got an important announcement to make. Link me to every drone on Mars."
From the other end of the communication line, Gemini replied, "Please wait a moment, Director. I’m initiating the special broadcast link."
A few seconds passed before she added, "The line is hot, sir. You’re good to go."
Director Aaron smoothed back his hair, cleared his throat, and began his speech.
"Hello, everyone. This is your Director, Aaron, speaking."
His voice echoed through every drone speaker scattered across the battlefield.
"My dear freshers... I won’t lie. These past three days have been absolutely thrilling. Watching your battles, your rising ranks, your ingenuity... I’m having the time of my life—and so is everyone else watching. Your performance has been nothing short of extraordinary."
"Now, listen carefully—I have another big announcement."
He leaned slightly forward, as if about to reveal a secret.
"You’ve all heard the stories about the Awakening Age—the rise of the Divine Tree on the African continent."
"But what most don’t know is this: the Divine Tree you revere today was once merely the seed of something far greater—of a being, a living humanoid entity with power beyond comprehension."
A hushed silence swept across the listeners.
"The Divine Tree arrived in our solar system while escaping from a coalition of powerful alien races. Their battles raged for decades across the system. In that time, they built secret hideouts and outposts on planets, moons, asteroids—every celestial body... except Earth."
Aaron’s tone shifted, becoming more deliberate.
"On Mars alone, there are over ten known ruins from their time. We call them the Titan Ruins—remnants of structures destroyed during the war of the Armageddons."
"And one such ruin, Titan Ruin No. 3345, is located near your current location, on the boundary between the Third Zone and the Fourth Zone."
He let the suspense hang for a moment before continuing.
"This ruin is no ordinary place. It is a treasure trove—filled with alien relics, advanced technologies, high-grade mana stones, and ancient medicines of immense power."
He added with a serious tone, "However, according to our latest reports, the site is heavily infested with corrupted beasts of every kind—some of them ranked 2-star, 3-star, or even higher. And the ruins themselves are riddled with traps and unknown dangers."
"But if you’re brave enough to venture there, simply speak to the nearest bee-sized drone and say the words: Bring me to Titan Ruin No. 3345."
He took a breath, then concluded, "This challenge is entirely voluntary. It’s an opportunity—but also a risk. The Academy will not be held responsible for any injuries or deaths. Choose wisely. This is not just a test of strength—it is a test of your ambition, your greed, and your limits."
"Good luck... and may the rankings favor the worthy!"
Every participant on Mars heard the announcement loud and clear.
It stirred ambition and greed in most—until the final words of the Director’s speech. That part struck differently. Doubts crept in. Why risk our lives for rankings and bounties? Climbing the ladder slowly felt safer. The stakes were too high, the dangers too unknown.
Hesitation became visible in the crowd. Still, nearly half of the students made up their minds. One by one, they commanded nearby drones and began their journey toward the designated location.
The announcement also reached the ears of the senior students and instructors stationed on Mars—those sent to protect the freshers and fulfill other objectives.
They were far from pleased.
The Director’s decision meant they, too, had to move out, minimizing what could be a catastrophic fatality rate among new recruits during this phase. But none dared question the Director’s voice. All they could do was sigh and redirect their drones toward the coordinates of Titan Ruin No.3345.
Meanwhile, Zane had just stepped out of another dungeon, the corpse of its boss still cooling behind him.
He paused when the Director’s announcement echoed in his ears. A grin stretched across his face.
He pulled out his green card and checked his status. His rank had climbed—now sitting at 5326.
"It’s already the third day, and I’m still not close to the benchmark," he muttered. "But this... this might be my chance. If I’m right, everyone’s going to storm that place."
As he moved toward the nearest drone, the familiar chime of the System rang in his ears.
[Analyzing Titan Ruin No.3345... Completed!]
[Multiple Quests Available]
[Quest 1: Slay a 2-Star Corrupted Beast or Higher]
Reward: +200 points to all stats per final blow.
[Quest 2: Steal-Kill 100 Mana Beasts]
Reward: +100 points to all stats.
[Quest 3: Snatch 100 Green Cards from others] Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
Reward: A special map revealing treasure locations, rare ores for your Sword-Soul, alien tech, medicine, and other valuable resources.
Zane blinked at the list. Then, he laughed.
"Last hits, steal-kills, and snatching? Seriously, System, did you binge-watch Breaking Bad or something? What are we, a gang of thugs now?"
[If Host finds the quests unsatisfactory, System will begin quest termination shortly.]
"Whoa, whoa—hold up. I’m kidding! Just joking! These rewards are... tempting. I’ll gladly play the bad guy—just this once."
He looked around. Not far from him, three bee-sized drones hovered, waiting for a command.
His figure flickered, vanishing from view and reappearing right in front of one of them.
"Hey, drone," he said with a smirk. "Take me to Titan Ruin No.3345."