Exo Seeker: The Strongest Human Woke Up In The Future!

The entire fifth floor of the Level Up Center was full of Primers. Some wore their Exoskeleton Suits, while others were dressed in casual attire.

The Level Up Center was circular, and so were the floors. Unlike the lower levels, the fifth floor was vast and dimly lit—save for the hundreds of glowing pods lining the chamber's perimeter like silent cocoons of evolution. The floor hummed with low-frequency energy, and thin streams of blue light flowed like veins across the obsidian panels beneath their feet.

At the center of the room hovered a massive holographic ring suspended in midair, displaying real-time energy readings and success rates from ongoing Level Up Sessions. It also showed pod data and analysis, ensuring nothing was malfunctioning.

Some of the Primers lounged in the resting area, chatting or relaxing, while others stood in line in front of the pods, waiting for their turn.

The pods glowed like fireflies, flickering intermittently—some lighting up brightly just before a satisfied Primer stepped out.

Kael scanned the number of pods and found them to be in the dozens.

Seems like they've poured serious resources into this thing, Kael thought, walking toward the nearest pod. At least five Primers were already lined up, and Kael took his place at the far end.

The White Prime narrowed his eyes at the name displayed above the device:

Level Up Pod.

The pod stood three meters tall, wide enough for two people to fit inside without feeling cramped. Each unit resembled a sleek, black futuristic sarcophagus with curved edges and neon accents—though the overall shape was more like a vertical tube.

Transparent fluid tubes were attached to the sides and back of the pod, connecting it to the floor, where glowing energy patterns pulsed like living circuits.

Kael examined the blue liquid inside one of the tubes and guessed it was some kind of energy enhancer—probably to help the Primer endure the leveling process.

Other colored fluids flowed through additional conduits, likely to maintain system stability and synchronicity between the user and the device.

As he waited, Kael kept observing how the pods worked. He couldn't see what was happening inside—the thick white smoke concealed the process. But that was a good thing. It meant he could do whatever he wanted inside without anyone noticing.

Not that he cared if people thought he was up to something shady. But he didn't want interruptions. It would be a pain if they banned him from the Level Up Center, and with his current strength, picking a fight would only cause more problems.

Kael had no intention of delaying his plan to reclaim his full power. This Level Up Pod was his stepping stone—his launchpad to become the strongest human in the universe again.

Every second counted—unless it involved a woman, of course.

Kael waited. But the line didn't move.

Frowning, he tapped the person in front of him. "Hey."

The man turned around—a chubby guy with cheeks that bounced and a double chin that jiggled when he moved. "What's up?" he asked.

"Why's that guy taking so long?" Kael nodded toward the occupied pod.

"Are you new?" the chubby guy gave him a once-over. "You look new. Since I'm in a good mood, I'll let you in on a little secret. That guy inside? He's a motherf*cker who's probably wanking it. Yeah. Dude's probably staring at us while blowing his load on the glass."

For the first time since waking up after a hundred years, Kael was speechless.

He didn't know what to say. The chubby man just sneered and turned back around.

This guy… is he mocking me? Kael frowned, unsure how to react.

"Hey, you didn't answer me right," Kael said, his voice cold and low.

"Oh? You didn't get what I meant?" the man in front replied with a smirk. "Let me explain it in simple terms. F*ck off."

Kael's face turned colder. Killing intent surged from him, but the chubby man merely scoffed.

"You'll pay for this," Kael said, and he wasn't joking.

"Blah blah, not everyone is friendly," the chubby man waved him off, clearly unbothered.

"I see…" Kael nodded slowly, his eyes drifting to the nape of the man's neck.

He understood the insult loud and clear—but as a petty person, Kael wasn't about to let it slide.

Time for another quick revenge.

He glanced around as plans started forming. It didn't even take a minute for a wicked idea to bloom.

Just then, someone behind him let out a heavy breath, catching his attention.

Turning around, Kael saw Trey, drenched in sweat, holding a duffel bag in one hand and another bag in the other.

"What happened to you?" Kael asked. Not a shred of concern in his tone.

"D*mn, why'd they have to hold a sale today of all days…" Trey muttered, clearly annoyed. He had just come back from the Mechanic Store on the first floor, which was packed to the brim. He had to push through the crowd and cut in line just to grab a tool.

Apparently, there was a sale—a hammer made from the final boss of the Grey Fissure.

Mechanics and engineers had swarmed the place, and Trey had to thicken his face just to get in and out with anything useful.

"Did you get what I told you?" Kael asked.

"I managed to buy some tools," Trey said, handing the bag over. "It's just basic stuff though… but I hope it works."

Kael hadn't been specific about what he needed, so Trey just grabbed whatever caught his eye.

Kael took the bag and gave it a quick glance. "This will do," he nodded.

"Great… I really don't want to go back to that store," Trey sighed with relief.

"But I might need something else from you," Kael said.

Trey's face fell. "What is it? Please don't send me down there again."

"Do you have a weapon?"

"A weapon?" Trey tilted his head, confused. "Why would you need a weapon here?"

"For revenge," Kael said plainly, not bothering to hide the truth.

"Revenge?" Trey blinked, even more confused. Seeing the seriousness in Kael's face, he shook his head. "I don't have a weapon on me."

"I see. Just asking." Kael turned back around, his eyes once again locking onto the back of the chubby man's head.

"I don't like what you're thinking," Trey muttered, sensing a strange, chilling aura coming off Kael.

He was starting to get a feel for his teammate's personality, and only one word came to mind: crazy. No—two words. Absolute lunatic.

He's good at fighting… great at engineering… but his brain's definitely cracked, Trey thought, slowly taking a few steps back. "I'm just gonna stand a bit behind you," he said, trying to keep a safe distance in case Kael decided to go off the rails.

If Trey could hear Kael's thoughts right now, he might've pissed his pants.

Hmm, should I stab this guy in the neck?

The screwdriver should be enough to pierce the carotid artery…

What about his head? Kael narrowed his eyes.

The chubby man suddenly shuddered, a chill running down his spine. But he shrugged it off, blaming it on a random breeze.

The molecular wrench kit's vibration could make him braindead if I drive it into his skull… but that's not painful enough. Instant death is no good—they won't feel a thing, Kael thought, resting one hand under his chin in deep contemplation.

There were many ways he could kill the chubby man, but some would surely land him in jail. Worst case? Death penalty—if this planet had one. The other methods might work, but they wouldn't deliver the kind of pain Kael was aiming for.

One by one, Kael dismissed the options, narrowing them down until only one remained. Simple. Quick. Unlikely to raise suspicion. And most importantly—it would hurt.

The White Prime's gaze settled on the Level Up Pod, specifically on the circuitry and the glowing symbols that connected the transparent fluid conveyances to the pod. His eyes gleamed coldly as the line finally began to move.

Primers entered the pod one by one, the length of their session depending on how many Growth Orbs they brought. Some came out in five minutes, their faces pale and unsettled. Others stayed longer and emerged smiling, satisfied.

Those who didn't want to wait in line could go to the VIP area—but that cost a fortune.

Kael and Trey waited thirty more minutes before it was finally the chubby man's turn.

"I'm off, man," the chubby Primer said, turning to Kael with a mocking look. "Why don't you crawl back to wherever you came from? I'll probably be done by the time you finish pissing your bed, hahaha!"

Kael's cold eyes glinted dangerously.

As the chubby man stepped into the Level Up Pod, Kael activated the Speed Burst Technique from the Drakorite Tribe. Every muscle in his body tensed, his speed erupting in an instant. With a swift wave of his hand, he tossed something toward the ground—right where the pod connected to the transparent fluid lines.

The movement was so fast, it left only a faint blur.

"Now let's see your smile," Kael muttered, watching as the pod slowly filled with white smoke.