Chapter 205: Thick Of It [1]


    ?


    ***


    Amon felt a sudden jolt in his body, forcing him awake.


    His eyes subtly opened, and Zephyra was found in her wolf form on his chest.


    ''What?'' He tiredly asked.


    [Wake up, it''s 4 PM.] Zephyra nudged him.


    Amon pulled up the sheets on his face, already feeling his eyes close.


    He was still tired from the [Void Training III]''s experience, even though it was only mentally.


    Unfortunately, sleep wasn''t in his luck as Zephyra pulled the sheets down from her mouth.


    Sighing, Amon forced himself up and stretched his arms.


    Walking to the bathroom, he sshed some water on his face and quickly freshened up.


    Wearing a simple white hoodie and ck jeans to contrast with it, he came outside.


    Lily wasn''t in the apartment.


    Since it was still early, there were still a few hours before Katherine would arrive back home. ''Tomorrow''s the [Battle Royale] huh?'' Amon questioned.


    Which meant that it was also the time for ''that'' to happen.


    Pondering on it for a few seconds, Amon decided to visit the HOU.


    Most of his equipment had been destroyed or torn up now.


    It was time to buy a new one.


    Taking a carriage, he quickly arrived at the City Center where he hurried up the steps to HOU.


    Inside, he was quickly greeted by the manager.


    It had been a while since he had visited this ce.


    "Wee Sir! Long time no see!" The manager rubbed his hands and shed him a courteous smile.


    Amon nodded.


    "I''m looking for some equipment."


    The manager nodded vigorously.


    "Certainly! Are you looking for aplete set or just standalone artifacts?"


    "Just standa-"


    His words were halted when he heard a familiar voice from the side.


    "Is that you Amon?"


    Amon turned, seeing Athenaing out of a room.


    He smiled and waved his hand.


    "Yo." He greeted her casually.


    The manager''s eyes widened at his casual response.


    Everyone knew how formal and cold of ady Athena was.


    Who would even dare to talk to her in tha-


    "Hey, it''s been a long time since youst visited." She smiled, making the manager''s jaw drop.


    But she quickly shed him a cold gaze, making him bow down and avert his eyes.


    "Yeah, just here to buy some equipment. The previous one is quite old and ragged now."


    "Oh, I see." She pondered for a moment with her hand on her chin.


    Then, she looked up.


    "Why note with me? I can show you better equipment."


    Amon''s brows raised in surprise.


    "Oh, that would be great."


    "Mhm." Athena nodded, gesturing him to follow her to a room.


    "Do not enter until I call you to do so." Her cold voice reached the manager''s ears.


    A wide contrast to her tone just a moment before.


    The trembling manager nodded.


    "Yes of course mdy!"


    Then, she spared him no nce and started to walk forward while Amon followed.


    As he passed the manager, he patted his bowed back lightly.


    "Tough times man. Don''t take it to heart."


    Without waiting for a response, Amon followed Athena into the hallway.


    ***


    Athena opened a metallic door and headed inside along with Amon.


    It was vastly spacious. Much more aspared to the previous room he sat in with Athena.


    It was beautifully furnished as well with a polished marble floor and exquisite furniture


    ced around the room.


    "Here, take a seat." She gestured to a sofa behind a table.


    "Thanks." Amon settled downfortably.


    Athena sat on the sofa opposite the table, facing him directly.


    "I heard you won the Team Battles from Amelia, heartiest congrattions."


    Amon smiled.


    "Appreciate your words."


    "You are progressing well. Your control and refinement of the mana both inside and around


    you seems to be much better now."


    Then, her right eye glowed, revealing the shining 9-leaf clover.


    A satisfied smile spread across her features.


    "Especially your [Void] element. The instability of the element in your body has dwindled by


    a lot. And your control over it is exceptional."


    She stared at him with widened eyes.


    "How did you improve this fast?" She asked.


    Amon scratched his cheeks.


    "Haha, just training. It just worked out."


    Athena was still surprised but nodded.


    "It''s so surprising. From what I see, not only did your mana and element improve, but it looks like your body also adapted to better suit the element."


    Well, she was perfectly correct.


    Athena''s deduction abilities with that eye of hers were certainly top-notch.


    "In any case, this is a big leap towards your [Void] element. I''m happy for you." She shed


    him a kind wide smile.


    Warmth rose in Amon''s chest at her kind remarks and he smiled.


    "Actually, I have something else to show you as well."


    "Hmm?"


    Amon raised his arm and opened his clenched fist.


    And immediately, scorching ck-amethyst mes coated his arm.


    But he quickly took them out, not wanting to burn his clothes.


    Looking up, he saw Athena baffled at what she had just seen.


    Amon broke into a chuckle.


    He still wasn''t used to seeing her disy so many emotions whenever he met her now.


    In the novel and from his early days in the academy, she had always been portrayed as a cold


    character.


    But rather than asking him how this time, sheplimented him with amazed eyes.


    Inside those pitch-ck orbs, he could see a glimmer of excitement and curiosity in them.


    "This is astounding." She met his gaze.


    "You have improved so much in a short time period."


    Amonughed, scratching his neck.


    "Thanks, it was difficult." "Let''s move on to the artifacts shall we?" she asked and Amon nodded.


    ***


    [An Hour Later]


    Amon walked out of the HOU, content with what he had purchased.


    He had a satisfied smile on his face.


    As he walked out, he suddenly heard a familiar shout from the side.


    "Amon!?"


    Recognizing it, he turned his head only to find Michael staring at him from a distance.


    He sported a casual dress with a white undershirt and blue jacket.


    He waved at him with a smile.


    But Michael wasn''t the only one staring at him.


    He had others with him as well.


    Or to be precise, his whole friend group.


    "Join us!" He shouted enthusiastically.


    Charlotte and Alya waved at him as well, gesturing at him silently to join them.


    While Ren just ran towards him, not caring to give a gesture.


    And put his arm around Amon.


    "Wassup broski?" He gave Amon his usual carefree smile.


    "I''mpletely fine as you can see," Amon replied slowly, trying to free his neck from the


    tight lock of Ren.


    "Great, join us for the hangout then." He patted his back and started pulling him towards the


    group.


    "Wait, listen..." Amon was unable to say anything as Ren tightened his group further.


    "I ain''t hearing any excuses. You got time to spend with my sister but not with us?"


    Amon tried to mumble through his grip but it was too strong. ''Motherfuck*er, I was already nning to, free me!'' He wanted to cry out.


    As he was dragged before the group, Ren finally released him.


    Amon coughed.


    He red at Ren.


    "Hell, you mean spending time with your sister?"


    Ren, however, ignored his question as if he hadn''t heard it and whistled in the air.


    ''This guy...''


    "Just so you know, I ain''t against it. You are way better than the gramps." Ren muttered and


    shrugged.


    Amon wanted to bury himself in his response.


    ''Fuck you mean by not against it!?'' There was nothing between them that this guy was assuming.


    Rather to him, Athena was like an older sister, just like Katherine but much more mature.


    Almost like a maternal figure.


    And same could be said for Arthur.


    And besides, Arthur would bury his past, present, and future 6 feet deep if there was even


    something like it.


    Amon turned to Charlotte, who greeted him again.


    "Hey, we didn''t expect to catch you here. Elizabeth told us that you had something busy." She


    smiled, her face moving to Elizabeth.


    Thetter''s mouth opened.


    "Ah, yes, that was what he told me in the morning."


    It seemed that she was in deep thought before Charlotte interrupted her.


    Amon nodded at Charlotte.


    "Yeah, I had some business at HOU. Just finished up right now."


    Charlotte pped her hands in glee.


    "That''s great, you can join us then." Looking at the time, Amon noticed that it was still only 6 PM.


    There was still a lot of time to spare before he went to bed.


    So why not?


    He nodded with a smile.


    "Sure, I''m up." Michael grinned and tapped his shoulder.


    "Nice, where should we head first?"


    At the mention of ''first'', Amon raised his brows.


    "You guys are just starting?"


    Alya nodded.


    "Yeah, it''s still early into the night after all."


    "Let''s head to the mini-games section first." Ren joined in.


    Amon''s ears perked up at the mention of mini-games.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Surely enough, it was an aspect that he had not only practiced in his previous life but was an


    unparalleled master in.


    "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."


    Elizabeth nodded with a smile.


    "Sure, we can head there first."


    A glimmer appeared in Amon''s eyes that Alya was quick to notice.


    A scheming grin appeared on her face.


    And she called him out from the side.


    "Prepare yourself, Mr.Amon."


    Hearing her words, Amon looked at her devilish expression and understood what she meant.


    After all, this girl had been sneaking out of the royal pce for these kinds of things from the


    time she was just a kid.


    But...


    Amon smirked back. "Sure, Ms.Alya."


    He wasn''t one to lose.


    Never in this field.