A Hundred Times: Ascending With The Strongest System-Chapter 21 - 20: Prodigy!?

'...There's no escaping this...' Zoey's body tensed as she looked at the crystal ball, already recognizing the device that would change everything. She knew that once she placed her hand on that device, the world will know of her Talents, and that would be really bad.

"Please place your hand on this crystal ball to finalize your application process." The agent said as she placed the crystal ball on the table, noticing the cookies and coffee haven't been touched yet.

'Does she think I'd poison her?' The agent asked herself, curiously raising a brow.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

"Alright..." Zoey muttered softly, steadily raising her hand above the crystal ball. Her hand trembled with the fear of the consequences of what her Talents could bring her, especially her [A Hundredfold Ascension] Talent.

'What do I do...' Zoey thought, anxiously breaking a sweat as she stopped herself from lowering her hand on the crystal ball, her breaking shaky. She knew that this task was mandatory, and she couldn't refuse it.

The room had cameras in it, and she knew that the Association Leader was probably watching her at this moment. Making her increasingly frustrated as she didn't want to lower her hand.

"What's wrong?" The agent asked, "Place your hand on the crystal ball, and it will show us whether or not you possess a Talent." She said.

'I have no choice...' Zoey said inwardly, closing her eyes as she felt the strange, round surface of the crystal ball underneath her palm.

The crystal ball glowed slightly, a crackling and buzzing sound echoing through the room. The agent glanced at her tablet as it lit up immediately, information showing up on her interface.

A shocked expression broke out on her face as she gasped in suprise, holding her hand over her mouth. She stared at Zoey with wide eyes, her body trembling slightly.

"An A+Ranked Talent...." She muttered softly, just enough for Zoey to hear what she was saying.

'Wait what? I have two Talents, why isn't she saying anything about the [A Hundredfold Ascension] Talent?' Zoey asked herself inwardly, confused.

"An A+Ranked Talent!" The agent rejoiced, clasping her hands together in joy.

"Please wait here!" The agent said as she quickly bolted out of the room, dashing down the hallways frantically as she ran toward the office of the Association Leader.

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A young man sat on his desk with his legs crossed over one another, he had neatly combed, curly brown hair and wore a white coat. He was surveying Zoey with the monitor on his desk, his eyes peaked in interest and curiousity.

"So the "Mana-Less" girl has finally awakened, hehehe~" he muttered to himself, chuckling lightly in amusement.

Just then, the door to his office burst open. The man quickly jolted, turning off his monitor to see one of his agents standing at his door, the one he had tasked with conducting Zoey's application to become a Hunter.

"Well? Tell me the results. Does she have good potential?" He asked, his tone curious and a bit impatient.

"She's brilliant, absolutely brilliant!" The agent said, gushing over Zoey like a waterfall, her eyes full of admiration as she continued: "She has stats far beyond the average awakened, already at D-Rank level. And that's not all, she has a Talent!"

The man's eyes widened upon hearing her words, immediately rising from his chair, "She has a Talent? She seriously has a Talent!?" He repeated, making sure he wasn't dreaming right now.

The agent nodded enthusiastically as she added: "Ascendant Rank Level! She has an A+Talent!" She said, her face beaming.

The man's face was full of shock as he stood there for a few seconds, processing her words. A+Rank Talent? Zoey was an absolute treasure, a diamond in the rough that he had to claim! No matter the cost!

"Show me that!" The man snatched the tablet from the agent with quick movements, his eyes hungrily roaming over the screen. His shock was apparent as he couldn't stop his knees from trembling.

Zoey was a god-sent, a girl with so much potential that guilds wouldn't hesitate to have for themselves. There hasn't been an Ascendant Ranking Hunter in Zolorius for years, the strongest Hunter being C-Rank in the High Rankings.

"Take me to her Immediately!" The man said as he ordered the agent, to which she quickly nodded, leading him down the hallways towards Zoey's room.

'I can't believe it....after so many years...an Ascendant Ranker will be born in our city!' The man thought with a joyous expression, clenching his fists as he giggled like a little girl.

The agent too matched his enthusiasm, giggling alongside him as they moved further down the hallways and towards Zoey's room.

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After a short while Zoey's room opened with a click as the agent from before and a new person walked into the room, her eyes narrowed as she observed the man walking up to her, a weirdly excited look in his eye.

'This must be the Association Leader, why is he acting so....weirdly?' Zoey thought, frowning slightly.

"Zoey Monroe!" The man said as he walked up to her, sitting across her on a seperate couch, "I see that the results of your application has been fruitful. You've actually awakened, not only with high-stats, but with a Talent as well!" The man said.

"....Who are you?" Zoey asked simply, ignoring the man's admiration.

"Oh, how rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself." The man said chuckling slightly, "My name is Christopher Columbus, and I'm the leader of the Hunter Association base in Zolorius City." Christopher said as he introduced himself.

"You see...." Christopher started, his tone slow "Zolorius hasn't had an Ascendant Ranking Hunter in the past couple of years, our Association has tried our best to scour for the best Talents, but we've only ended up with mediocre results, producing E-D rank Talents mostly."

"There have been many dungeons appearing lately, ones that are very hard to deal with. We only have one High Ranking Hunter that has been able to keep our city safe, without him, our city would be in ruin and we all could've lost our lives.

Our Association doesn't have enough money to pay Hunters from more powerful neighbouring cities to assist with the problems, so we are heavily reliant on that High-Ranking Hunter to take down dungeons and provide resources to strengthen our own Hunters."

'...I see where this is going...' Zoey thought, a small smirk forming on her face.

"But with you here," The man stood up from his chair, "We can take down these dungeons plaguing our home, take Zolorius to greater heights and raise powerful-" Before the Hunter Association leader could continue further, Zoey told him the next 2 words that would shatter his world.

"I refuse," Zoey said, rising from her chair "I came here to apply to be a Hunter, not your slave. I don't care what happens to this city, it doesn't concern me if it doesn't benefit me." She said, crossing her arms over her chest.

".....hehe....Heehahahaha!" The man laughed, "You Hunters all speak the same language, huh?" The man said as he turned to her, "Fine then, 500 Million." He offered.

"Just give me my ID card, I don't have time for this." Zoey said, uninterested, "I don't plan on staying here forever."

The man grit his teeth as he begrudgingly offered, "1 Billion, final offer." The man said.

"No." She replied, "I'll make my own money through hard work, but I'm not going to work like a slave. Just like that C-Rank Hunter you all rely on so much." Zoey said as she walked towards the door.

"Fine!" The man yelled, frustrated. Turning to the agent by his side, "Give her that damn card." He said angrily.

The agent quickly scurried out of the room and a few minutes later returned with a sleek white card. "Here you go, congratulations on becoming a Hunter." The agent said kindly, extending the card to her.

"Thank you," Zoey said as she took it, glancing at it with a proud smile. "D-Rank, huh?" Zoey mused, grinning playfully. Just then, a slight buzz came from her phone in her pocket.

She quickly reached into her pocket and pulled out her smart phone, noticing that it was Christine who had sent her a message.

[Christine: Hey Zoey! Congratulations on becoming a Hunter, I'm so proud of you <3]

[Christine: Anyways, I've been browsing on a couple restaurants we can go to for our date~]

Zoey felt a heat rise on her cheeks as a light blush formed on her face, as she quickly typed: [Zoey: It's not a date!]

'She keeps saying that, it's so annoying!' Zoey thought, the blush on her face increasing as she recalled all the moments Christine had teased her whenever they ate together.

[Christine: Yeah yeah, anyway. I'll be coming by to pick you up by 10:00 Pm, be ready for me. <3]

[Zoey: Sure.]

Zoey smiled softly, shoving her phone back into her pockets as she glanced back at the Association Leader, her expression serious, before walking out of the room, ready to go on a hunt and grow stronger!