Chapter 137: The Reason

"See you in the training room in an hour!" Daryl said to Galen before leaving with his two disciples.

"David, eat first!" Galen said with a smile, noticing David's puzzled gaze.

After David sat down, a waiter served dinner: a steak, a salad, and a piece of grilled fish for each of them.

The grilled fish intrigued David the most. Since arriving in this world, he had never seen a fish; Rock Planet had very little water, providing no conditions for fish to survive. The fresh food captured his full attention, momentarily making him forget about the upcoming battle.

"David, you won't find this steak or grilled fish in Pelan City. The steak comes from real, high-quality beef cattle, and the fish is specially farmed," Galen said, watching David eat with a smile.

Galen seemed completely unbothered by the duel he had just agreed to. Like a typical elder, he spent the time introducing the dinner dishes to David.

By the time they finished, only half an hour had passed.

"David, I originally asked you to bring your gear to see how much progress you've made lately. I didn't expect to bring trouble upon you, but since you've become my disciple, these troubles are unavoidable," Galen said with a helpless sigh, patting David on the shoulder.

"Uncle Galen, I will win," David said firmly, without further ado.

"I believe that. You are no simple person in Pelan City; the way you killed a peak armored soldier head-on—even I was shocked when I saw the results of that battle!" Galen laughed.

"That battle was sheer luck," David said, still feeling a lingering sense of dread.

No one knew just how dangerous that fight had been. Kush’s strength was far beyond that of any ordinary peak armored soldier; with his myriad of secret arts and hidden cards, if David hadn't been lucky, he would have fallen into Kush's hands and suffered a fate worse than death.

"One only grows after experiencing life-and-death battles. But a victory is a victory; there is no such thing as luck. Confidence is of the utmost importance," Galen said in a deep, instructional tone.

"I understand," David nodded.

"If there is anything you don't understand, ask Furness. I need to make some arrangements for the upcoming wager," Galen said with a smile before departing.

"David, we're fellow disciples now. Ask me if you have any questions!" Once Galen was gone, Furness’s personality returned to its usual relaxed state, and he spoke kindly.

"Furness, who is that Daryl? Is he very powerful?" David asked directly, without hesitation.

"That leads to the identity of our teacher. You know about the four major forces in the city—the government, the military, the Armored Soldiers Association, and the Naan Chamber of Commerce. Behind these forces lies powerful armed protection, essentially beings who have transcended the level of armored soldiers. They are respectfully called 'Transcendents'." When Furness spoke of Transcendents, his face was filled with visible envy and respect.

David had heard the term "Transcendent" before; it was what the mercenary had screamed just before Galen killed him. Now, hearing Furness explain that they were beings even more powerful than armored soldiers, David grew incredibly curious.

"Transcendents no longer wear standard exoskeleton armor; they use specialized armor that is far more form-fitting and powerful than ordinary gear. Of course, I've only heard these things—if you want to know more, it’s best to ask the teacher," Furness continued.

David thought back to the armor plates that had covered Galen’s arms during that fight; he guessed that must have been transcendent armor.

"All four major forces in Naan City have Transcendents behind them; they are the strongest guardians of this planet. The teacher is the Transcendent belonging to the government and serves as a government advisor for Naan City, while Daryl is a Transcendent from the Armored Soldiers Association," Furness added.

"How many Transcendents are there in Naan City?" David asked curiously.

"There are six in total. All the Transcendents on Rock Planet are in Naan City: two for the military, the teacher is the only one for the government, two for the Armored Soldiers Association, and one for the Naan Chamber of Commerce," Furness replied.

David gasped. Although Rock Planet didn’t have the billions of people found on peaceful planets, it still had over two billion inhabitants. To have only six Transcendents among so many people showed just how rare and difficult it was to reach that level.

"It isn't easy. Every Transcendent must pass through life-and-death trials. Of course, Rock Planet doesn't only have six, but only six have chosen to stay here. Once you promote to a Transcendent, you are inevitably courted by various powers, and it is very hard for our planet to retain them," Furness said with a bitter smile.

David understood. Even he, a student with potential, had received a large investment from the Titan Consortium. For a true powerhouse, the investment from such consortiums would be even more staggering; it was no small feat to resist such temptations.

Though David hadn't been in this world long, he deeply understood the harshness of life on Rock Planet. Thinking of the green forests he had seen as if they were heaven, he could easily imagine how poor the environment was. It was truly difficult to keep strong individuals in such a place.

"So, what is the wager between Uncle Galen and Daryl about?" David asked again.

"In any public setting from now on, you must use the proper honorifics. You must call him 'Transcendent Daryl'," Furness corrected, before answering: "It is said that when the teacher and Transcendent Daryl went to suppress the Zerg, they encountered a Level 3 Zerg known as a Space Ripper. The teacher killed it and obtained its heart. Zerg cores, especially from a Space Ripper, are extremely precious."

"If it was the teacher's loot, why is Transcendent Daryl trying to take it?" David asked, puzzled.

"Because Transcendent Daryl also participated in the attack on the Space Ripper, which is why he came after it," Furness said with a smile. "The world of Transcendents has its own rules. They generally do not fight each other; if there is a conflict of interest, it is resolved through a duel between their disciples. Of course, the challenger has to pay a price. Because of you, Transcendent Daryl had to pay a bit more this time!"

"What use does a Zerg core have that even Transcendents would fight over it?" David asked like a curious child.

"Zerg cores only form in the bodies of Level 3 or higher Zerg, and the probability of a Level 3 Zerg producing one is very low. Getting one from a Space Ripper was pure luck. As for their function, it depends on the type of Zerg; they usually grant specific abilities that can be activated in certain ways. That’s all I know!" Furness explained patiently.

"Oh, it's getting late! We need to hurry!" Furness checked the time, surprised at how much had passed, and hurried him along.

David, still carrying his two cases, followed Furness to the elevator and quickly reached the fourth floor.

At the elevator exit, two stern-faced guards in security uniforms were standing watch. They saluted immediately upon seeing Furness. Furness waved them off and led David inside.

"This area is locked down. This whole floor is a gym, and inside is a professional combat room," Furness explained as they walked.

David entered the room. It was encased in metal, specifically an alloy fused with Level 1 Zerg shells. It would be difficult to cause any damage to it without using graded weapons.

"David, come here. Leave your gear on the side; you can't use the weapons you brought in here," Galen said with a smile, beckoning him over.

Furness, who was ignored, seemed used to it; he pursed his lips and walked over anyway.

David saw Daryl and his two disciples standing on the other side of the room. It seemed they had arrived early to prepare.

"If those are David's own weapons, let him use them. It doesn't matter," Daryl said magnanimously.

"David's weapons are Level 2 graded. Are you sure you want him to use them?" Galen asked, looking at Daryl with a cryptic smile.

"Galen, you’re too good to your students. Giving a Level 2 weapon before he’s even officially entered your tutelage!" Daryl paused, then shook his head.