Chapter 184: Rules

After some time, Alex finally made his choice.

"I’ll take the Lesser Supreme Rule of Blood Sap."

Principal Drax glanced at the selection and nodded.

"An interesting choice."

Blood Sap was a plant- and blood-related Rule. It allowed Alex to inflict damage on his enemies while absorbing some of their vitality, giving him an additional means of sustaining himself during prolonged battles.

It also complemented his existing abilities, allowing him to recover some of the health he lost while fighting.

Not to mention it will make his plants more powerful.

After Alex confirmed his selection, Kaiser continued browsing through the remaining options.

Eventually, he settled on the Lesser Supreme Rule of Shattered Soul.

Unlike Blood Sap, Shattered Soul was an offensive Rule that specialized in attacking the soul directly. It could strengthen his offensive capabilities while allowing him to inflict soul damage on his enemies.

Kaiser was particularly interested in this Rule because it complemented his Death Genesis abilities and his undead army. Many of his existing skills focused on death, souls, and the manipulation of undead creatures, making Shattered Soul a suitable addition to his arsenal.

Once both boys confirmed their choices, Principal Drax nodded.

"Good. These are your selected Rules. I’ll arrange for the corresponding Rule Crystals to be prepared. Once you comprehend them, your training can officially begin."

After some time, Alex looked at Principal Drax.

"How long will it take for us to comprehend the Rules?"

Principal Drax smiled slightly.

"Just a few minutes. The hardest part is withstanding the Rule energy and allowing it to enter your body and soul. Once you manage that, the Rule Crystal will help you comprehend the Rule."

As he spoke, suddenly the machine on the table buzzed and two boxes appeared on it.

"Here we are."

He placed the boxes in front of the two boys and opened them.

Inside the first box was a greenish-red crystal that emitted a faint glow. The second contained a black crystal with several white patterns running across its surface.

"These are your selected Rule Crystals. The greenish-red one contains the Lesser Supreme Rule of Blood Sap, while the black one contains the Lesser Supreme Rule of Shattered Soul."

Principal Drax looked at both of them seriously.

"Remember, comprehending a Rule is not the same as mastering it. Even after you successfully comprehend one, you’ll need to spend time understanding its abilities and learning how to use it effectively. Don’t assume that obtaining a Supreme Rule will automatically make you invincible."

Alex nodded while looking at the crystal in his box.

"Understood."

Kaiser also nodded. He had already experienced the power of Rules in the Cosmic World, so he understood how dangerous they could be.

"Good. Now, each of you should hold your respective crystal and begin absorbing its energy. Don’t rush the process. Let the Rule energy flow naturally through your body and soul."

Following his instructions, Alex picked up the greenish-red crystal, while Kaiser took the black one.

The moment their fingers touched the crystals, both of them felt a strange energy spreading through their bodies.

Alex’s crystal released a mixture of plant and blood energy, while Kaiser’s crystal emitted a dark, oppressive force that seemed to reach directly into his soul.

Both boys closed their eyes and began absorbing the energy.

Several minutes passed.

Suddenly, the greenish-red crystal in Alex’s hand began to glow brightly. At the same time, the black crystal in Kaiser’s hand released a faint wave of dark energy.

The crystals gradually lost their luster as their energy entered the two boys.

Then, a notification appeared before each of them.

[Congratulations! You have successfully comprehended the Lesser Supreme Rule of Blood Sap.]

[Comprehension Progress: 1%]

Alex slowly opened his eyes, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

He could feel a new kind of energy within his body. It was different from mana, yet he could sense how it connected to his blood and plant-based abilities.

Before he could examine it further, another notification appeared before Kaiser.

[Congratulations! You have successfully comprehended the Lesser Supreme Rule of Shattered Soul.]

[Comprehension Progress: 1%]

Kaiser opened his eyes and examined the notification.

’Only one percent?’

He wasn’t particularly surprised. Rules were among the most difficult powers to comprehend, and even a small amount of comprehension could make a significant difference in battle.

Still, he couldn’t help wondering how much stronger he would become once he had fully mastered the Rule of Shattered Soul.

Principal Drax watched the two boys for a moment before nodding in satisfaction.

"Good. Both of you have successfully comprehended your chosen Rules."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"Now, you have one and a half months to increase your comprehension to at least five percent. Once you reach that threshold, you’ll become eligible to join the military and receive further training."

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Only five percent? That doesn’t sound too difficult."

Principal Drax gave him a stern look.

"Don’t underestimate the difficulty. Comprehending a Rule is one thing, but increasing your comprehension requires time, effort, and a proper understanding of its nature. The higher your comprehension becomes, the harder it will be to make further progress."

Alex scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Right. I guess I spoke too soon."

Principal Drax continued, "If you fail to reach five percent within the next month and a half, you’ll lose your opportunity to join the military this year. You’ll have to wait until the next examination, which will take place a year from now."

Both boys became serious after hearing that.

"However, there’s another condition," Principal Drax added. "By the time the next examination takes place, you’ll need to have reached at least twenty percent comprehension to qualify. So, if you fail this time, you’ll have a much harder requirement to meet next year."

Alex stared at him.

"Twenty percent? That’s quite a jump."

"Of course. The military invests a considerable amount of resources in its members. It won’t keep offering the same opportunity to those who fail to meet its requirements."

Principal Drax leaned back in his chair and looked at them.

"You both have considerable potential, and your ability to withstand Supreme Rule energy is proof of that. However, potential alone means nothing if you fail to put in the necessary effort."

Kaiser nodded calmly.

"Understood. We’ll reach five percent before the deadline."

Alex also nodded, his earlier casual attitude disappearing.

"Don’t worry, Principal. I’ll make sure I qualify."

Principal Drax smiled faintly.

"I hope so. Your training begins tomorrow. Until then, familiarize yourselves with your newly comprehended Rules and try to understand how they interact with your existing abilities."

He stood up, signaling that their meeting was over.

"That’s all for today. You may leave."

Kaiser and Alex got up from their seats and left the principal’s office together.

As they walked down the corridor, Alex glanced at Kaiser.

"Well, looks like we’ve got a month and a half to get ready for the military."

Kaiser nodded.

"Five percent comprehension shouldn’t be impossible."

"That’s what I’m hoping." Alex sighed before grinning. "Still, I wonder what kind of training they’ll put us through once we join."

"We’ll find out soon enough."

With that, the two continued toward the academy entrance, both thinking about the challenges that awaited them.