Chapter 163
Chapter 164 The Gate of the Dead
“Ah! Okay p>
The SAT phase was already over. On top of that, she now held an overwhelming lead. Joanna finally slowed her pace.
She no longer needed to survive on four hours of sleep every two days.
Of course, sleeping eight hours a day was still impossible. She adjusted it to six hours a day instead.
She also made an agreement with Nighthowl and the others. Dungeon runs, arena matches, and Skyreach Spire would take no more than ten hours a day. That was enough.
Still, after reading the reports during the day, Joanna felt something was off.
After she finished washing up, Alwyn walked over. Warm sunlight-like heat radiated from his body. The dampness in her hair vanished at once. It felt like standing under the sun-comfortable and gentle.
“Joanna,” Alwyn said softly. “If it’s just the two of us, can I sleep in human form tonight? It feels more comfortable. My transformed form is … the result of mutation. I don’t want to look like a monster p>
Since he said it so plainly, Joanna naturally agreed.
“Then, can I have a good-night kiss?” he asked.
Joanna hesitated, then kissed his forehead.
Well, she had kissed Nighthowl before. She couldn’t show favoritism.
She was fair to everyone.
“Then,” Alwyn said, leaning closer, “may I give you a good-night kiss p>
He moved down from her forehead.
1/4
So it really was true. Being too much of a gentleman had its limits.
Day three.
Although official classes would only begin after 10 days, 99% of the candidates had already joined teams and started pushing hard.
But from day one, they had realized something.
The gap was real. Joanna’s total domination made it hard for anyone else to breathe.
In previous years, everyone chased each other closely. The differences were small.
This time, the gap was ridiculous.
The most pressure fell on the few SS-rank talents.
Salem teamed up with Ivan and three high-damage players. They focused on clearing dungeons together.
Katherine became obsessed with the arena. She discovered that her ultra-long- range attacks made her a perfect sniper. Arena matching pulled players from across the universe, not just the program. That gave her a huge advantage. She earned points as easily as slicing vegetables.
Audrey, who had given Joanna the Substitute Scarecrow, used her connections to secure a fixed spot in Nighthowl’s team. Other support players already had their own groups. That left Taylor in eighth place, Dominic in ninth, and Axel in tenth. They were under enormous pressure, like ants on a hot pan.
But there was still hope.
At the Dungeon Plaza, a new notice for public dungeon appeared.
“System Alert: Space Alliance has detected a newly discovered high-risk
dimensional coordinate. Eligible explorers: Professional Rank, Level 20 and above. Monster: Phantom-type
“Danger Modifier: Gate of the Dead
“Estimated Monster Count: Approximately 1 billion
“Reward: 1 credit per hour for exploration or defense”
Joanna skimmed the message at first. Then her gaze stopped on one line. The
monster count.
Wasn’t this the perfect place to farm affinity aura?
Once she made her decision, Joanna quickly analyzed the situation and bought supplies.
Sealing talismans, lightning talismans, tracking charms, barrier breakers, black hound blood, silver swords, exorcism pills, red mineral powder, and spirit-calling candles.
Alwyn’s ability, Eternal Sun, naturally countered phantom-type enemies. Still, Joanna preferred to be fully prepared.
After that, she bought four transmog outfits.
Once you tried it
tried it once, there was always a second time.
They were just too useful.
She chose four black cloaks. Luckily, they were cheaper than formal dresses or suits -only 10,000 Starcoins each.
“Unexplored dimensions can be more dangerous than monsters,” Joanna warned. “Hide your identities. Don’t let the locals figure us out p>
Cases like this were taught again and again in textbooks.
Space Alliance explorers had entered unknown dimensions to save the local, only to be captured by those very people.
One famous case was always mentioned.
There was a gun specialist named James Clem. He had explored a world overrun by
a zombie virus. At the time, only one human survivor base remained.
The zombies there were level 50.
Naturally, humans who survived that long had awakened transcendent abilities. Where there were level 50 zombies, there could also be level 50 professionals. In that world, the transcendent path was called “ability users,” and their top level was also 50.
James was level 30. He entered with advanced combat mechs. The ability users captured him almost immediately.
James told them he could help humanity reclaim their world.
But the locals believed he was an alien invader. They thought outsiders wanted to take their planet. They refused to listen.
James was imprisoned for three full years. In the end, only his brain remained, floating in a tank to keep him alive.
It was all about profits. The locals still controlled one base, but the entire planet belonged to them. Those in power enjoyed their profits. They didn’t want change. They didn’t want someone stronger standing above them. So, they chose to kill James.
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