Stark checked the location before hand, and so he hailed for a taxi to drive him to the [Training] district of the capital, a district much more popular and powerful than the one in the city he was in before.
‘Maybe I should buy a car…’ he had more than enough money to do so, and he already knew how to do that from his past life.
Who cares about driving licenses anyway?!
In the end though, it didn’t matter, and he left the car after paying, the [Training] district before him.
In all regards it was pretty familiar to the one he went to before, though it was more populated, and you could sense it that the people in here weren’t kidding.
And you could clearly see it by the fact there weren’t this many fights/dramas: why would strong people even bother with that?
Only a weak person would let their ego get to them after all, and that is why Stark never respected these other people, openly mocking them and beating them if they tried something.
After passing the street with all the shops and people trying to form teams, Stark reached the building for the [Rift Storer Association], who seemed to be present everywhere in this world actually.
The building was bigger than the other one, which already as giant as three mansions, and so he went up to the lobby.
The general structure didn’t change, and Stark headed toward the [Rifts] section, reaching the massive hall with all the different rifts in it.
[Please choose the rift you want to enter!]
[Warning! Those below recommended level won’t be admitted inside a rift!]
Inside of the [Rift] section’s giant room were many other halls, each leading to another place further inside the ‘Rift Storer Association’.
The hall all the way to the right had the title [Level 10-25 Rift] above, the one next to it was [Level 25-50 Rift] and it continued like this until reaching [Level 225-250 Rift].
Which meant that there were 10 halls/rifts inside the [Rift] section, which people could access to hope to level up.
And as for Stark… well…
~FWISH~
He slowly began heading to the rift, meaning toward the rifts that are actually of higher level and more difficult.
At this point anything below level 175-200 wouldn’t help, he needed more.
But in opposition to before, the further he went, then the more people there were.
It was obvious why: the capital ACTUALLY had strong people in it, since they needed to be strong to begin with to survive.
Meaning that the most popular rifts in this place were the ones between level 175 and 225.
Once Stark reached the hall with the [Level 200-225] sign over it, it became increasingly difficult to navigate.
But even then he kept going.
Too many people were present, meaning a harder time to level up or find monsters.
He needed something else, and so he moved to the last one.
And… surprisingly…
“Huh?” once he passed the [Level 200-225] section… there weren’t any people at all, or at least a very small amount of them.
“What the?”
Yes, once he reached the hall with the [Level 225-250] rift, there was almost no one there.
Why? You might ask, well…
[Warning! Please do not take this rift if not prepared!]
[This is a mistake, you WILL die! Do not take this rift!]
The barrier was half sealed with planks of wood and such, as if to give the feeling that no one should enter it. But the association had left an opening big enough for anyone who wanted to still go inside to pass.
“…” literally no one was taking this rift.
And so, that meant that Stark would be alone inside.
‘YEEPIE!’ he was happy, since it meant more experience for himself, and in addition to that, taking on monsters above level 225 would mean enhancing his power.
To be honest, this was probably the BIGGEST jump in difficulty Stark would ever make until now.
The last rift he went through had monsters at a maximum level of 150.
But now… he would need to face some that had levels up to 250!
Was it recklessness? Or just the urgency and need to get stronger fast.
Because to be honest, Stark had only ever struggled against the calamity apostle: even Lother, the boss one, was destroyed by Stark’s clone alone, so there was no need to worry.
But it didn’t matter, so Stark began to walk toward the hallway, trying to pass through the small opening the association left.
And yet…
~ZAP! BOOM!~
The crimson barrier that was set up around each of the halls activated again.
‘Oh yeah… that thing…’ he sighed.
[You are level 70, please do not attempt to enter this rift again!]
Anyone below level 225 wasn’t allowed in.
But Stark had already managed to pass the barrier twice before in his previous city, so why should he care?
He got up from the ground and headed toward it again, this time activating his aura as to push through it.
He could sense the judgmental stares from the people who tried to head to the hall right next to his, or were just speaking: they were all thinking if that kid was crazy, some even mocking him.
A mere level 70 trying to enter a rift higher than the one they were entering? HELL NO!
Stark didn’t mind though, and right as he was about to push through the barrier using his aura like he always did… he was suddenly stopped, a hand landing on his shoulder.
“…”
“You shouldn’t do this, kid,” a middle-aged man spoke, but Stark didn’t bother to turn around to see his appearance.
“Y-Yeah, are you crazy?! Didn’t you read the signs, plus you’re level 70!” a woman spoke beside him.
“Wait… maybe he’s trying to commit suicide?” a third theorized.
“…” Stark didn’t respond, “Am I free to go now?”
He surrounded his body with aura, and instinctively, the man that held his shoulder removed his hand.
“What the…” he mumbled as for a split second, a zap went through his body, as if his aura was toxic to the touch.
~FWISH~
Stark continued walking, positioning himself in front of the barrier, then pushing through.
[WARNING! WARNING! YOU AREN’T ALLOWED!]
The sounds were becoming so loud that most people began looking at Stark, and even those on the other side of the [Rift] section came to check it out.
[WARNING…]
The barrier resisted, but Stark pushed through, surrounding his entire body with aura.
[WAR…NING… DANG…EROUS… RIFT…]
~SNAP, CRACK~
The barrier gave in as even with all these attempts, and Stark’s arms were still beginning to go through it, essentially deciding fighting this human wasn’t worth it.
If he died, then so be it.
~FWISH~
He phased through, then looked back at all the people, who’s jaws quite literally dropped to the ground.
Level 70 allowed to enter this rift?! The most dangerous one in this association, too?! Was this a joke?!
“Oh wow, looks like I’m allowed to pass,” he sarcastically said as he shrugged his arms, then turned around again.
~ZAP~
Several people after him tried to repeat what he had done, believing there was something faulty in the barrier, but alas, none of those below level 225 were allowed in.
Meaning… that this kid was different, and that he was hiding lots of things.
