Primordial Expanse: I have the Strongest Talent!

[Soul Core: D- 30%]

[Requirements for rank up: Kill an enemy 2 ranks above you, of the same class, without any outside help. (1/1)]

The requirements showed up in front of Alex when he concentrated on his soul core for 5 seconds.

And when he saw what he had to achieve, he was a little stunned.

'Wait, I've already met the requirement?'

The requirement itself was something that he had already done, and more than once.

When he saw the 1/1 next to it, he was a little overjoyed.

But it also posed a question.

'This isn't normal, is it?'

All things considered, it was asking him, as a D- rank, to kill someone who was at least D+ rank.

Not to mention the fact they had to be of the same class.

For Alex, this was very doable, which he had already proved through his previous fights.

However, if someone with a more average skill set were given a rank up requirement like this, he could imagine now why so many people had stagnated in the ranks, and why there were so few A tier and S tier awakened.

The system did say that each requirement would be tailor made and scaled to the person who receives it, but clearly there was still some degree of difficulty to them regardless since so many people struggled to fulfil them, and would likely never do so for the rest of their lives.

He could see now why the university valued talent's so much, as these were basically essential if awakened wanted to make it past D- rank…

'So all I need to do now is absorb maybe 3 or 4 more Variant class soul orbs, and I'll be D rank?'

Now that he didn't have the requirement to worry about, Alex felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders.

He had been worried in the back of his mind this whole time that he would never find out what his requirements were to rank up.

And here he had just found out that not only was it easy to check, but that he had already met them.

'I should see what this emergency meeting entails, then I can set out to focus on a plan to rank up.'

Alex would need a steady influx of Variant class soul orbs if he wanted to keep his previous pace.

And there were only two ways to achieve that.

The first was to go back to the Primordial Expanse.

But Alex didn't want to do that again so soon, as he had only just returned from a rather traumatic trip there if he was being honest…

Not to mention the fact that he wouldn't be able to return before he ranked up to D rank.

If he was unlucky, this could take months, with most of that time being used just searching for Variant class beasts around his rank.

Targeting the E tier Variant class beasts was always an option as well, but that would only yield him like 4% progress, with F tier Variant beasts not even being considered in this.

Not only were Variant class F tier beasts extraordinarily rare, rarer than E or D tier ones, but the progress gained from them would be negligible.

But regardless, Alex wouldn't pick this option.

Which only left him with the other option.

Floodgates.

This was one of the only ways Awakened could obtain beast cores and rank up outside of the Primordial Expanse.

And Alex was hoping he could find a mission in the university to help eradicate beasts from such floodgates.

He was much stronger now compared to last time, and the likelihood of another Divine beast coming through from the Primordial Expanse again was so small that Alex should consider himself the unluckiest person in the universe if it occurred again.

"We've arrived."

Mira brought Alex out of his thoughts as the two of them had just arrived at the clearing, where hundreds of thousands of students from all different years were currently waiting.

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The stage was still there from the freshman orientation, and there was only one man standing on there.

The Principal.

Even the staff were forced to stand below in the audience with the students.

They were far more likely to be conscripted for this war than the untrained, weak students.

In fact, it was written in their work contracts that they had to answer such a call to arms if a situation ever arose where it was required.

After another 15 minutes of waiting, the last few students were arriving and just as the last student, still soaked in water from the shower he was taking, arrived in the field, the principal started speaking.

"If you are not aware, or have not been watching the news over the last hour, then let me inform you now of the reason for this meeting."

His voice carried across to the 2+ million strong audience of students.

"The human race is now at ALERT level 1."

ALERT levels were the system the federation used to quantify threats to humanity.

It went from level 5, all the way down to level 1.

Level 1 meant that there was an existential threat, with an uncertain chance of survival.

There was only one point in history where this threat level had been reached.

And that was when the first beasts started appearing with the advent of the Primordial Expanse.

"War has been declared upon us, by a foreign race we still know nothing about, while they know everything about us."

Over 60% of the students present were watching the broadcast at the time, or had heard from their peers what had happened.

But for the 40% that didn't, this was a bombshell they never thought they'd experience.

It was too much information to take in at once.

"First, he just said we are facing an existential crisis."

"And now he's saying that a foreign race is coming with an army to attack us?"

"Did he just say foreign race? Does that mean Aliens are real?"

Many students started chattering, shouting and pushing up against each other as chaos ensued among the millions strong audience.

"SILENCE."

But things became dead silent with just one shout from the Principal.

He had leaked a little bit of his aura, spreading it across each and every student and staff present.

Everyone, regardless of rank, was instantly immobilised, unable to even control their own bodies, as they were forced to do nothing but listen until the Principal released his aura.

"I know some of you, no, most of you are disgruntled by this revelation. But it is true, and we as a race cannot ignore such a threat. I'm sure some of you have guessed why we are here today. And you have guessed correctly." He continued his speech, this time not hearing a peep from the audience below as they were all still succumbing to his aura.

"From this moment onwards, all classes will be increased in their intensity. Combat classes will now be mandatory to attend. Unless there is a special case, theory classes will be reduced to bi-weekly classes from weekly classes."

He took a pause, so each student and staff member could take in this information.

"From this moment onwards, you will train like your lives depend on it." The Principal let out a deep sigh, showing that even he was feeling unsettled about this situation.

"Because they do depend on it."