I, the All-Class Magus, All My Awakening Skills are LvMax

The decision was quickly communicated to Benedict in the test dungeon through a special secret method.

Benedict, observing John's smiling demeanor, couldn't help but feel that indulging him might not be the wisest decision.

However, he chose not to comment further.

After all, with his presence, no significant trouble could arise.

At the bridgehead, the crowd was dumbfounded.

They, who had initially sought to extort others, had now become the victims of extortion.

Hannah was equally bewildered.

This... this wasn't quite the knight in shining armor she had envisioned.

Seeing the lack of response from the group, John feigned indifference, "It seems you're not that keen on joining Star Cluster Academy. In that case, I might as well eliminate you."

Following his words, the thunder arrows moved slightly forward, the ice around them beginning to melt under the ferocity of the thunder.

Feeling the terrifying thunder right before their foreheads, the assessment participants were close to despair.

Big brother, at least give us a chance to speak!

They were so anxious they could almost burst into flames, but being frozen, they couldn't say a word, only managing to blink frantically.

John then realized he had forgotten to give them a chance to speak.

"My apologies, it slipped my mind," he said with a somewhat remorseful smile.

He wasn't worried about them suddenly attacking; he simply dissolved the ice binding them with a mere thought.

Within a few breaths, the participants, their complexions blue from the cold and bodies soaking wet, shivering uncontrollably, were freed from the ice by John.

John looked at the group with a smile, "Anyone wanting to opt out of the assessment can step forward now. Don't say I didn't give you a chance to refuse. This is a mutually agreeable arrangement. Once you leave, you can't accuse me of extortion."

Hearing this, everyone's mouth twitched.

Really now, you call this mutual agreement?

The participants exchanged glances, seeing the reluctance and anger in each other's eyes.

Some even clenched their staffs, ready for action.

Noticing this, Hannah took out her whip, cautiously watching the group, and whispered a warning to John, "Be careful, they might have second thoughts and gang up on us."

John just smiled at Hannah's caution, unfazed.

Absolute power brought absolute confidence.

To him, the capabilities of this group were as negligible as those of three-year-olds, hardly capable of stirring any trouble.

Seeing John's confident demeanor, a glimmer of admiration appeared in Hannah's beautiful eyes.

Though he was different from what she had imagined, she suddenly found the current John quite attractive.

Several of the participants indeed harbored thoughts of banding together against John.

After all, they numbered seven or eight against just two, seemingly holding the upper hand.

However, just as they prepared to act, the knight young man leading them, holding a shield, spoke gravely, "I suggest you better not make a move. Do you remember how he took control of us at the beginning?"

At his reminder, they all paused.

All they had seen was a flash of blue light, and by the time they realized what was happening, they were already frozen solid by John.

The knight youth spoke earnestly, "This guy's strength is terrifying; he's probably beyond what we can handle."

A rogue with a dagger retorted discontentedly, "We were just caught off guard at the start, which allowed his sneak attack to succeed. United, are we still supposed to fear just him?"

Another warrior also raised his voice in anger, "Exactly, after such a loss, are we supposed to just swallow this without retaliation?"

The knight youth looked at them deeply and said, "Suit yourselves.I've said what I needed to. If you're seeking death, that's on you, not me."

With that, the knight youth extracted a bank card from his storage ring and approached John.

Offering the card, he smiled, "I choose to buy back my assessment qualification. My name is Thomas Brown, from Imperial Capital's House Brown. There are 10 million federal coins on this card. The extra 5 million is because I'd like to be your friend."

John gave him an additional glance; the guy indeed seemed insightful.

However, John didn't accept the card.

Pushing it back, he gestured dismissively, "Keep it. I'll remember the offer. As for being my friend, no offense, but you're not quite there yet."

This statement came off as rather arrogant.

The outside audience was abuzz with comments.

Some criticized, "This kid sure talks big, claiming even Thomas isn't qualified to be his friend."

Another frowned, "Thomas is the young master of House Brown. While not as renowned as House Fairfax, it's still a prominent financial dynasty in Imperial Capital. This guy is truly audacious."

Yet another shook their head, "I think he's not wrong. Top talents are entities even the four great families seek to curry favor with. John clearly belongs to this elite class of prodigies, finding House Brown beneath him isn't surprising."

...

At the bridgehead, Thomas paused upon hearing John's words.

The notion of not being qualified momentarily took him aback.

Instead of reacting with anger, Thomas offered a nod and a smile, "I understand what you're saying. I just hope we can become friends later on at Star Cluster Academy."

With those words, Thomas turned and left without hesitation.

Hannah looked somewhat puzzled, not fully grasping what Thomas had understood.

She just felt that when John said Thomas wasn't fit to be his friend, he looked incredibly cool.

John chuckled to himself.

He interpreted Thomas's response as acknowledgment that he didn't regard the Brown family highly.

Thus, Thomas's parting words hinted at proving his worth at Star Cluster Academy in the future.

John shook his head, not dwelling on it further, and turned his attention back to the remaining few, reminding them, "Hurry up. Those willing to pay should do so quickly, or else I'm sending you back home for dinner."

Seeing Thomas comply and hand over the money, the others hesitated no longer and proceeded to pay John.

A few didn't have enough money in their storage rings, so John accepted their equipment as collateral.

Given that all participants of the Stellar Test were of certain means, and considering these individuals had reached gold-tier at such a young age, their gear was naturally valuable, often worth far more than five million federal coins, so John wasn't concerned about being shortchanged.

Soon, five or six people had settled their dues.

However, when it came to the rogue and the warrior, John refused their payment, instead stating coldly, "For the two of you, it's ten million each."

The rogue and the warrior were momentarily stunned before their faces flushed red with rage, eyes burning with fury.

Clenching his fists, the rogue bellowed, "Why does everyone else pay five million and we have to shell out ten million?!"

The warrior, equally enraged, glared at John, his eyes filled with humiliation and anger.

John, however, responded with a cold laugh, "Did you think I didn't hear what you were saying just now? This extra five million is for the privilege of a second chance in the assessment. Had I not been in a good mood, I would have cut you two down the moment you spoke out of turn."

This revelation made the expressions on the rogue's and warrior's faces freeze.

They had indeed thought John hadn't overheard their mutterings, believing it wouldn't matter even if he had.

Now called out, they were at a loss for words, internally cursing John for his pettiness.

But they had no choice.

Not paying meant disqualification, an outcome they were unwilling to accept.

Begrudgingly, they handed over the ten million federal coins to John, a sum largely comprised of their equipment as collateral.

After all, which serious awakener carries so much cash?

Any wealth they had was invested in enhancing their powers.

Swallowing their pride, they stripped off their gear.

Had John not deemed it improper and allowed them trousers, these two would likely be standing in nothing but their underwear.

Surveying the plethora of equipment in his storage ring, John nodded in satisfaction.

In just a brief moment, he had amassed nearly fifty million federal coins.

This not only compensated for the expense of purchasing the Breakthrough Stone but also netted him an additional ten million plus.

Suddenly, John's gaze upon the group softened.

However, they didn't perceive it that way.

To them, John's gaze resembled that of a ravenous beast eyeing its prey, sending shivers down their spines.

At this moment, all they wished was to swiftly escape from John's presence, to distance themselves far from this individual.

Yet without John's permission, they dared not move.

One of them, with a trembling voice, inquired, "Can... can we leave now?"

John withdrew his gaze, his smile broadening at the question, "Oh, don't be in such a rush to leave!"

Hearing John's response, a collective shiver ran through the group.

Their expressions filled with panic, a foreboding feeling brewing within.

Could it be that after taking their money, he still wasn't planning to let them go?