CHAPTER SEVENTEENGALE was walking towards the Office of their Department Dean wearing a serious look in his face. His heavy footsteps echoed through the long, empty corridor of the ground floor of the Agriculture Department Building as he focused his eyes towards the huge double glass door of the huge office he's headed to.Earlier, as he came back at their dorm after completing his daily quest at the gym, he was notified by his roommate, Eric, that he was being summoned by their Dean - for what reason, Eric has no idea.The Dean's status in the Academy is nothing to joke about, that's why despite having no idea why he's been called, Gale immediately rush his way here.Unlike the crowded upper floors where the numerous classrooms that housed hundreds of students every day was located, the ground floor of this six story building was quite and almost empty. And it was simply because, this floor was where the faculty offices, the Department Secretary's office, the Registrar's office, an
CHAPTER EIGHTEENGale was led by the Dean's secretary back to the Dean's Office. When they arrived, he noticed a middle-aged man sitting across from the Dean, his posture stiff and his presence commanding.The man wore an expensive black suit with a crisp white shirt and a neat black tie. He looked about the same age as the Dean, but while she seemed worried at the current situation, the VP's face was stern and unyielding. His sharp eyes scanned Gale from head to toe, as if judging whether he was worthy of standing there."So, you’re Gale Rushton," the man sneered, his voice cold and dismissive. His gaze made it clear that he thought Gale was beneath him, unworthy of being in the same room sharing the same air with him."Y-yes, Sir," Gale replied, bowing his head, trying to hide the nervousness creeping up inside him.Gale wasn’t afraid of the man. He knew this was the Vice President of the Academy, a man whose power came from his position, not from any physical strength. Gale could e
CHAPTER NINETEENTHE exam questionnaire given to Gale was a mountain of a challenge with its one hundred pages, where each page was packed with an average of five questions. It was a massive collection of problems pulled from the Licensure Examination for Agriculturist, totaling six hundred questions.Normally, a student would need three full days to tackle this kind of test. But Gale? He was only given two hours to answer it—a nearly impossible task for anyone at his level. The questions were as tough as those on the board exam, and the short time frame made it even worse. It was obvious that the Vice President wanted Gale to fail.As Gale raced through the questions, the VP sat back on the couch with a smirk playing on his lips. He was certain that no matter how quickly Gale worked, he would never make it. The VP knew that even the brightest students would struggle with this test in such a short time. And Gale? He was just an ordinary student, wasn't he?However, what the VP didn't
PROLOGUEIN THE heart of a man-made pine forest east of La Verde City, a car cam be seen speeding along a narrow asphalted road. Tall pines lined the path with their dense branches forming a green tunnel overhead. The scent of pine needles and fresh earth lingered in the air as the road twisted and turned, guiding the car toward the horizon where the colossal Bronze Mountain stood, its majestic peak dominating the skyline.As the car approached the well known tunnel road under the huge rocky hill leading beyond the city's boundary, the couple inside wore anxious expressions. Their faces reflected a mix of worry and regret as they silently stared at the tunnel looming ever closer in their view."Are you sure he'll be okay on his own?" The man, who appeared to be in his late thirties, asked the woman in the passenger seat beside him. His cyan eyes were fixed on the road, especially on the tunnel looming ahead, as if bracing for what lay beyond."You know you don't have to do this, right
CHAPTER ONE"GALE, get my package delivery from outside the gate," Danny shouted, pulling a crumpled bill from his pocket and tossing it at Gale. "Keep the change, if there's any," he added as he shrugged off his hooded jacket, the fabric clinging to his sweat-drenched skin as he returned to the basketball game in the dormitory courtyard."Check it first, make sure nothing's broken or missing, or I'll make you pay for it," Danny added without looking at Gale, as he was focused on shooting the ball that he'd just caught."Grab the water I had refilled outside too. It's already paid for."Before he could pick the money that Danny threw, Jeric, one of Danny's teammates called out, flinging a twenty-peso note towards Gale."Guys, isn't this too much? Why is it always Gale who has to do everything for you?" a girl sitting on the bench, spectating the game, asked. She's obviously new here since she seemed affected by what the other is doing to Gale."Nah, he's used to it. If we didn't give
CHAPTER TWOAFTER relaying the message over the intercom, the security guard gestured for Gale to sit in the dormitory's waiting lounge.He waited, feeling the eyes of the passersby on him, until he saw the doors of the dormitory flung open. Out walked a group of women, and among them, a vision of unparalleled beauty made her way towards him. Her fitted purple t-shirt accentuated her curves, highlighting her ample bosom, while her short denim skirt showcased her slender, flawless legs. Each step she took was graceful, her hips swaying with an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly.A mere glimpse of her was like looking at an angel from heaven.For a moment, Gale was spellbound by the sight of Sherly White, one of the Academy's most beautiful students, listed among the top ten beauties of the school."You piece of trash!"However, Sherly's harsh words snapped him back to reality. Her voice was sharp, a stark contrast to her angelic appearance.Gale quickly composed himself, straight
CHAPTER THREEIn moments of peril, the human body awakens a primal response, surging adrenaline through the veins, sharpening senses, and amplifying strength and reflexes. It’s the fight-or-flight instinct, an ancient mechanism meant to safeguard human survival.For Gale, this instinct kicked in as he teetered on the brink of death. His lungs burned, and his muscles screamed in exhaustion, but an unexpected warmth spread through him, igniting a desperate resolve. With a final, explosive effort, he propelled himself upwards, cutting through the water with astonishing speed. He broke the surface and found himself hurled several meters into the air, landing in the shallows. He collapsed by the lakeside, gasping for breath, disbelief washing over him. He had escaped death.But what saved him was not merely the fight-or-flight instinct. Something else awakened an unknown energy within him when he chose, using his mind, the [Yes?] option that appeared before his eyes.He had no idea what w
CHAPTER FOUR"YOUR complaint is being processed, Rushton. We'll just call you if we have any updates regarding this matter," the officer said upon returning snapping Gale from his daze."Thank you, Sir," Gale replied, bowing slightly to show his respect as he stood before leaving the station.While walking, Gale decided to check on the notification from the weird system that seemed to be inside his head. He was staring at it earlier, clueless, when the officer interrupted him.Now that he's alone, he can check on it while walking back to Lexington Academy campus.[System Sync Complete][You are now ranking up][Ranking Up Status: 2%]Gale frowned upon reading the notifications again. He's really confused about this system thingy as it seemed to be loading all the time.'What's the use of it when it's always like this?' He complained in his mind and decided to close the system as it only hinders his line of vision.After more than thirty minutes of walk, Gale finally arrived at the Aca