Novel's Extra: I Awakened The Strongest Physique From The Start Chapter 202 CHAPTER 203 - Impending Clash?

Alex stood amidst the shifting ruins of the ancient palace, arms crossed, as he watched the command crystal pulse with energy. The process of reconstructing the palace was tedious—each stone had to be reassembled, each structure carefully realigned, and each hall, chamber, and corridor ticulously restored.

He lifted his hand, the crystal floating above his palm, glowing as it sent out waves of power. Around him, broken columns slowly repaired themselves, missing pieces of shattered walls drifted back into place, and grand staircases reford as though reversing ti itself.

The intricate golden engravings that once adorned the palace flickered back to life, shimring under the soft glow of ambient mana.

Lilia stood beside him, arms folded, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "I still don't get it," she mused. "You were the one who destroyed this place, Alex. Why are you going through all this trouble to rebuild it?"

Perched on her shoulder, the tiny chibi spirit, Jessica Valdamire, bobbed up and down with excitent. "Yeah, yeah! You blew it all up, and now you're fixing it? That makes no sense!" Her tiny arms flailed in animated confusion. "Is this so kind of weird power move?"

Alex chuckled, glancing at the half-ford palace. "It's simple. Destroying it was necessary to break its defenses. This palace isn't just a building—it's a symbol of power and authority. Leaving it in ruins sends the wrong ssage. If I reconstruct it, I can shape it however I want and claim this place as mine."

Lilia raised an eyebrow. "So you're planning to make it your base?"

Alex smirked. "More than that. A fortress hidden within the ruined city, one that's completely under my control. Imagine the possibilities."

Jessica tilted her head, considering his words before a realization struck her. "Wait, wait! Then why did you destroy it in the first place?!"

Alex and Lilia exchanged glances before simultaneously looking at Jessica. Their mont of silent understanding was enough to make the tiny spirit feel an inexplicable sense of dread. Her cheeks puffed in frustration. "Hey! What was that?! What are you hiding?!" She flailed her tiny fists, eyes narrowing. "Tell !"

Alex sighed dramatically before grinning. "I destroyed it to scare you."

Jessica blinked, her expression frozen. "...What?"

Lilia smirked. "Alex figured that if we made you panic, you'd give us the inheritance without a fight. And, well... it worked."

Jessica's eye twitched. She stared at them in stunned silence before an intense wave of fury overtook her tiny form. Her fists clenched, glowing with power, her small body trembling with rage. "YOU TRICKED ?!"

Without another word, she launched herself at Alex, fists glowing with all the power she could muster. Alex's eyes widened as he sensed the incoming attack. The sheer amount of energy packed into her tiny fra was... considerable.

Or so he thought.

Jessica's tiny fists collided with his leg.

It felt like she was dusting his pants.

Alex let out a long sigh, turning back to the palace construction. "Are you done?"

Jessica's face turned red with frustration. "YOU—" She kept punching him, each tiny strike barely registering. "I AM A SPIRIT OF WAR! FEAR !"

Lilia chuckled, watching Jessica's futile rage. "You look like a toddler throwing a tantrum."

Jessica puffed her cheeks, her eyes filled with frustration. "THIS ISN'T OVER!"

Before she could continue, Alex suddenly paused, his expression shifting. His hand moved to his pocket, pulling out a small communication device. His brows furrowed.

Lilia and Jessica noticed his reaction imdiately. "What is it?" Lilia asked, her playful deanor fading.

"Zahara's calling," Alex muttered. "We already spoke today, so this must be sothing important."

He answered the call, and Zahara's face appeared on the holographic screen. Gone was her usual playful smirk. Instead, her expression was serious, and Mira was nowhere in sight. She was in her student council attire, seated in her official chamber.

"Alex," she started without preamble, "we have a situation. Keryu left the academy."

Alex's eyes sharpened. "He left? When?"

"I don't know. He bribed the portal manager to keep it hidden, but our informants caught sight of his movents. After investigating, we confird everything."

Alex exhaled through his nose, his thoughts racing. 'So, Keryu finally made a move.' A thought flashed through his mind—eliminating Keryu the mont he arrived. Would the demon lord notice?

Lilia, as if sensing his intent, quickly spoke. "Don't even think about it, Alex."

He turned to her, his expression unreadable. "I won't. But chances like this are hard to co by—"

She cut him off. "The demon lord, my father, would see the face of whoever kills his child, along with the force backing them."

Alex held her gaze before humming in acknowledgnt. He already knew that. But that didn't change the fact that Keryu was now a variable he needed to account for.

[He might already be in the ruined city,] Sophie comnted, causing Alex to stroke his chin thoughtfully.

"It's possible," he muttered, staring at the direction of the exit of the trial ground. "But we can't be sure yet."

Alex's fingers tapped against the crystal, his mind calculating. 'If he's here, though...'

He smirked. 'I might be able to make him lose sothing.'

...........................

anwhile, Keryu and Natasha moved through the ruined city in silence, their footsteps echoing against the abandoned streets.

The oppressive atmosphere did little to deter them as they approached the city's heart—the ruined castle where the organization that ruled this city resided.

In just a while they neared the massive structure, the air grew heavier, charged with an unfamiliar tension.

Keryu's sharp eyes flickered to the towering gates ahead, the ancient tal slightly rusted yet still imposing.

This place was supposed to be nothing more than a husk of its forr self—a crumbling stronghold led by an organization weakened by infighting and greed.

Yet, as he stepped forward, the castle gates creaked open, revealing an unexpected sight.

Barbara stood at the forefront, her erald eyes cold and unyielding; her stance was rigid, her aura crackling with restrained power.

Surrounding her, nearly two dozen figures stood with weapons drawn, their postures tense, their eyes locked onto Keryu and Natasha like predators eyeing their prey.

But that wasn't what made Keryu freeze in place.

His senses sharpened, and his expression darkened as he felt it—the unmistakable presence of power far beyond what should exist in this place. Five distinct auras flared to life, pressing down on him like invisible chains.

Five Star Connection Realm experts.

This shouldn't be possible.

He knew every detail of this place, every strength and weakness of the organization. By all accounts, there should have been only one expert at this level—that too was supposed to be soone in the early star connection realm.

Yet here he was, facing five. The realization sent a cold wave through his spine. Sothing had changed. Sothing had shifted the course of events he had ticulously planned for.

Natasha, sensing his hesitation, stepped slightly closer, her pink eyes flickering with amusent and curiosity. "Looks like we walked into quite the welco party," she murmured.

Keryu clenched his fists, forcing his shock down. He had to reassess and adapt.

But before he could speak, Barbara's voice cut through the air, sharp and devoid of warmth.

"What are your intentions by coming here, outsider?"

There was no politeness in her tone or a hint of welco. Only cold suspicion and an unspoken warning.