The price was within Soren’s budget, but he didn’t immediately agree. Instead, he asked, “How much attack power do these daggers add?”

The quality of a weapon directly correlated to its attack power. The higher the quality, the greater the boost. Even the best black iron weapons only added 5 attack points. Middling quality ones added around 3, while the poorer ones offered a mere 2.  Soren needed to be sure; if they didn't even add 2 points, they weren't worth buying, no matter how cheap.

“They all add 2 attack points,” the shopkeeper replied directly.

Reassured, Soren casually inquired, “Any discount if I buy in bulk?”

The shopkeeper paused. “How many are you thinking?”

“Thirty,” Soren stated calmly.

Thirty daggers meant a 60-point increase in attack power – enough to handle even Black Iron rank 3 otherworldly creatures.  He could use the remaining Aella Credits to buy speed-boosting boots.

“Thirty?” The shopkeeper was stunned.

It was common knowledge that a Transcended had six equipment slots, plus one for a carried item, making seven in total.  And those seven couldn’t all be offensive items; at least one slot had to be dedicated to speed boots.  Six attack items were more than enough. Why would this student want so many? What use could he possibly have for them?

“I’m buying them for my classmates,” Soren explained, hiding the truth about his expanded inventory. He couldn’t risk revealing his secret.

“Oh,” the shopkeeper said, understanding dawning on his face. “If you’re buying thirty, I can give you a price of 1400.”

“Deal.” Soren didn’t hesitate.

Money and goods changed hands. Soren equipped six daggers, checked his status screen to confirm each one added 2 attack points, then left the Equipment Emporium, the remaining daggers cradled in his arms.

Reaching a deserted corner, he quickly transferred the rest of the daggers into his inventory.  His next stop was a shop selling speed boots.

Speed boots were far more expensive than offensive items, with the cheapest pair costing over three thousand Aella Credits. Soren had 7000 left, enough for two pairs. Most people would only buy one, needing to carefully allocate their limited equipment slots.  But Soren had no such concerns. Sixty inventory slots meant he could equip whatever he wanted.  He was *that* well-off.

After half an hour of searching, he found a shop with reasonable prices.  Following some haggling, he purchased two pairs of black iron speed boots for 6700 Aella Credits.

Purchase complete, Soren headed home.  The first thing he did was open his status screen.

Name: Soren Hawthorne

Class: Wood Summoner

Rank: Black Iron 1

Attack Power: 60

Defense: 10

Agility: 14

Mental Power: 10

Experience: 0/100

Health: 200

Mana: 100

Intelligence: Unknown

Skill: Summon Lesser Treant (1)

Seeing his attack power boosted to 60, Soren nodded in satisfaction, but also felt a twinge of regret. He’d only used 32 inventory slots; 28 remained empty. If he filled them all with attack items, how powerful would he become?  Instantly killing Black Iron rank 5 creatures wouldn't be a problem.  But alas, he lacked the funds.

Sighing, Soren closed his status screen and went to the kitchen to cook dinner. After his meal, he watched the news and went to bed.

…

The next morning, Soren and Wyatt walked to school as usual.

Seeing the dagger in Soren’s hand, Wyatt asked curiously, “Soren, what’s with the dagger?”

Summoners weren’t melee fighters.  Who carried a weapon? Shouldn’t he have a mana-regenerating staff?

Soren raised an eyebrow. “Who says a summoner can’t carry a weapon?”

Wyatt was speechless.  While technically true, what use was a weapon to a summoner?  Were they supposed to charge into battle like warriors?  That was a joke.

Soren twirled the dagger, a sharp glint in his eyes.  He might lack a swordsman’s skills, but with 60 attack power, he surpassed most swordsmen of his rank.  Carrying a dagger seemed perfectly reasonable.

Wyatt, still bewildered, asked, “Soren, have you found a team yet?”

“No,” Soren replied casually.  He’d decided to solo the trial, so teaming up was out of the question.

“Don’t tell me you’re giving up?” Wyatt couldn’t believe it. Even powerhouses like Autumn Montgomery formed teams.  Soren was going solo?  Where did he get the confidence? Did he think otherworldly creatures were vegetarians?  He might not even survive the trial, let alone pass it.

Soren patted Wyatt’s shoulder, saying meaningfully, “Strength needs no team.”

Wyatt’s jaw dropped.  Wood Summoners had *what* strength?  They summoned a single, practically useless treant.  Soren knew this, so why was he so confident?  Had he lost his mind?

Without further explanation, Soren continued walking.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Coastal City High.  A school bus was parked at the gate, with Lysander Longwind standing beside it.

“Principal Longwind,” Soren and Wyatt greeted him.

Lysander nodded. “Get on board.”

Today’s trial location was the Endless Desert Secret Realm, a hundred kilometers from Coastal City, reachable only by bus.

As Soren and Wyatt boarded, they immediately drew attention. Most eyes were on Soren, or rather, the dagger in his hand. A summoner with a dagger was an odd sight.

Rhys Crowe couldn’t help but ask, “Soren, what are you doing with a dagger?”

“Killing monsters, of course,” Soren replied matter-of-factly.

The students exchanged confused glances.  Was Soren pretending to be a swordsman?

Christian Shaw sneered, “Couldn’t afford a mana staff, could you?  Is it so hard to admit?”

“Ah, I see,” the others murmured, understanding dawning. Mana staffs were expensive, even black iron ones costing tens of thousands of Aella Credits.  It was understandable that Soren, from a poor family, couldn’t afford one.  Many students looked at him with pity.  Being a Wood Summoner was bad enough; not even being able to afford a staff was truly pathetic.

Ignoring them, Soren walked to the back of the bus.  There was no point arguing with Christian now. He’d show him who was who after the trial.

Soren leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.  The other students began to chatter.

“Did you hear?  It’s not just our three Coastal City academies this time.  Students from Gleamlight City and Greatwood City are coming too.”

“Gleamlight High has a hundred students who Transcended into main combat classes.  They have over a dozen mages alone.  How can we compete with them?”