Morning of the Academy Entrance Examination
The Cross household buzzed with excited energy.
Lirien had been awake since before dawn, preparing a special breakfast. Spirit grain porridge simmered in a jade pot, releasing faint wisps of qi. Cultivation fruit preserves sat in crystal jars. Qi-infused honey tea steeped in delicate cups.
Nothing extravagant—just what any loving mother would prepare for her child's important day.
Jake emerged from his study, a small jade token in hand. "Runar, this is our family's identification seal. You'll need it for academy registration."
Runar accepted it with both hands, the proper show of respect. The jade was cool against his palm, inscribed with intricate runes identifying him as a member of the Cross family—Tier 6 now, elevated by his anonymous technique submission.
His father and mother were still dumbfounded when they'd received the message and documents of their elevated status. It told them their son was the creator of the Stellar Foundation Method that had become compulsory. Well, they weren't too surprised—they'd even seen him upgrade it and teach it to Celestia.
"Thank you, Father."
"Nervous?" Jake asked.
"A little," Runar admitted. Not about the examination itself, but about maintaining his cover. About finally getting the real danger he needed to break through his bottleneck.
"That's natural." Jake placed a hand on Runar's shoulder. "Just remember—you don't need to prove anything to anyone. We're already proud of you."
"I'll make you proud," Runar said.
"You already have."
Across the city, the Stormwind household was experiencing its own brand of organized chaos.
"Celestia, hold STILL!" Seraphina commanded, wrestling with her daughter's perpetually wild silver-white hair.
"But Mama, it doesn't matter what my hair looks like!" Celestia protested, squirming. "They're testing cultivation and combat skills, not fashion sense!"
"First impressions matter," Seraphina said firmly, finally managing to weave the hair into an elaborate braid. "You represent not just yourself, but our family."
Celestia examined herself in the mirror, grudgingly admitting the braid looked good. Her violet eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement.
"Do you think Runar's ready?" she asked.
"I think Runar could probably teach half the academy instructors," Seraphina said dryly. "But yes, he's ready. Are you?"
"SO ready!" Celestia bounced on her toes. "I'm going to show everyone my techniques! Well, not the REALLY good ones—those are secret. But the normal-good ones that won't make people suspicious!"
"Remember the rules," Seraphina said seriously. "Stage 10 maximum display. No breaking past theoretical limits in public."
"I know, Mama." Celestia's expression sobered. "Runar explained why. If people know how strong we really are, bad people might try to hurt us or our families. So we pretend to be normal geniuses instead of..." She searched for words.
"Whatever you two actually are?" Seraphina suggested wryly.
"We are not monsters mum."
"If you are not that then what are you, the devil. Especially that boy, He is in his own league." Seraphina thought widely.
Caspian entered the room, resplendent in his special operations uniform. "My two beautiful ladies ready?" he asked, grinning.
"Papa!" Celestia launched herself at him. He caught her effortlessly, spinning her around.
"Excited for the big day?"
"Super excited! We're taking your new ship, right? The one from your promotion?"
Caspian's grin widened. "We are indeed. Wait until you see her—she's a beauty."
It was a Magnificent New Ship
The private docking platform on the outskirts of Velsinor City gleamed in the morning sun. And there, occupying the premium spot, was Caspian's new ship.
She was gorgeous.
Sleek lines flowed from nose to stern, the hull constructed from some dark alloy that seemed to shift between blue-black and deep purple depending on the light. The ship was relatively small—maybe fifty meters long—but clearly built for speed and luxury rather than cargo capacity.
Elegant runic arrays covered the hull in artistic patterns. Defensive shields, atmospheric processors, gravity stabilizers, quantum communication arrays, and an actual FTL drive.
"Holy shit," Jake breathed.
"Language," Lirien chided automatically, but she was staring too.
"Is that an Aetheric-Seven drive system?" Jake asked, practically vibrating with excitement. "Those cost more than most planetary defense platforms!"
"Aetheric-Nine, actually," Caspian said smugly. "Top of the line. Can hit 0.99 lightspeed on thrusters alone. And the actually FTL drive system lets not talk about it its not like we can use FTL inside the solar system, obviously."
Runar's eyes were analyzing the ship's systems through his runic vision. The integration was masterful—every component optimized, every array perfectly balanced.
"The armor plating is layered stellarite composite," Caspian continued, warming to his subject. "Can withstand direct hits from Stellar Ignition realm attacks. The shield generators are rated for Solar Flare realm combat. And the weapons—"
"Caspian," Seraphina interrupted gently. "Perhaps we could discuss specifications after we're not standing on the platform?"
"Right, right." But Caspian was still grinning. "Wait until you see the interior."
They boarded via an extending gangway, and even the women had to admit the interior was impressive.
The main cabin was spacious and elegant—plush seats that adjusted automatically, holographic displays, a fully stocked galley, and large observation windows.
"Your company gave you THIS for discovering a new alien race?" Lirien asked incredulously.
"Well, technically I led the first successful diplomatic mission to three new species in the past year," Caspian explained. "The Zenthari were particularly valuable—they've agreed to a trade alliance that will bring in trillions annually. The company was... generous."
Jake and Runar were already examining the cockpit, their eyes gleaming with identical expressions of masculine appreciation.
"Look at this sensor array!" Jake pointed. "It can track objects at ten light-minutes distance!"
"The targeting system uses Intent-guided calculations," Runar observed. "And these weapon mounts—are those plasma lance projectors?"
"Modified versions," Caspian confirmed. "They can fire either standard plasma or be channeled with cultivation qi."
The three males continued their technical discussion, voices animated, hands gesturing.
Lirien, Seraphina, and Celestia watched with identical expressions of fond exasperation.
"Men and their machines," Lirien sighed.
"Always the same," Seraphina agreed.
"Runar's just as bad as Papa and Uncle Jake," Celestia giggled. "Look at them—they're like kids in a candy store!"
"BOYS," Seraphina called out. "As fascinating as this is, we have an academy entrance examination to attend. Perhaps you could discuss specifications during the flight?"
"Oh, right!" Caspian shook himself. "Everyone strap in. I'll get us airborne."
They settled into the comfortable seats. Caspian's hands moved across the controls with practiced ease.
"Welcome aboard Stormchaser," a pleasant voice announced. "All systems optimal. Awaiting departure clearance."
"Request clearance for academy route Alpha-Seven," Caspian instructed.
"Clearance granted," Gaia's omnipresent voice responded. "Safe travels, Ambassador Stormwind. The Cross family. Young Runar and Celestia."
There was something in Gaia's tone when she said Runar's name—a subtle emphasis. She's still watching me, Runar thought.
The ship lifted off smoothly, anti-gravity generators negating Telstra's crushing gravitational field. They rose through the city's designated flight corridor, other vessels giving way.
As they cleared the city and entered open airspace, the view became spectacular.
Telstra stretched below them in all its impossible glory. Cities glittered like jewels. Oceans bigger than Jupiter reflected twin suns' light. The four moons hung visible even in daylight.
"FTL is prohibited inside planetary atmosphere," Caspian explained for Celestia's benefit. "So we're using conventional thrusters. Still faster than most people's 'fast,' though."
The ship accelerated smoothly. Mach 50. Mach 100. Mach 200. They felt no gravity as the inertial dampener were at work. The machine utilized gravity runes to work.
"The academy is on the other side of the planet," Caspian continued. "About four hours at cruise speed."
They settled in for the journey. Jake and Caspian continued discussing ship specifications, occasionally pulling Runar in when they wanted his opinion.
The women had their own conversation in the main cabin—discussing academy politics, family matters, occasionally laughing.
Celestia bounced between both groups, excited about everything.
For a few hours, they were just two normal families heading to an important event. No world-shaking secrets. No hidden powers.
Just... normal.
It was nice.
It couldn't last.
Unknown Galaxy - Demon Territory - Hours Earlier
Deep in the Ashfire Wastelands, on a planet called Cinder's Rest, a throne room carved from obsidian and ash stood at the heart of a ruined city.
This was a world the Cinderfiends had already consumed. Once, it had been a thriving civilization—forests, oceans, cities teeming with life. Now it was nothing but scorched earth, ash fields, and the lingering smell of destruction.
Perfect for Cinderfiends. They didn't burn worlds for the joy of destruction—they burned worlds because they fed on what remained after the fire. Ash was their sustenance. Ruin was their home.
On the obsidian throne sat Lord Ashclaw, a Supernova Rebirth realm Cinderfiend and one of the demon race's most feared commanders.
His body was a nightmare made manifest—towering three meters tall, formed from cracked obsidian and compacted ash. Veins of ember-fire ran through the dark stone like lava through rock. His eyes burned with cold, cruel intelligence. When he breathed, cinders fell from his mouth like snow.
Before him, kneeling on the ash-covered floor, were twelve Red Giant realm demons and hundreds of lower-realm Cinderfiends. All of them trembled under the weight of his aura.
"Is everything ready?" Lord Ashclaw's voice was like grinding stone and dying flames. "I do not want any mistakes this time around."
His aura pressed down heavily on the kneeling demons. Several of the weaker ones collapsed completely, faces pressed into the ash.
"Yes, my lord!" the lead Red Giant demon—a creature called Emberhorn—responded immediately. "Everything is ready! The cult members on Telstra have been in position for decades. They're prepared to sacrifice themselves as portal nodes."
"And the invasion force?"
"Assembled and awaiting your command, my lord. Two hundred thousand demons across all Stellar realms. Twelve Red Giants including myself. All eager to feast on a capital world's ashes."
Lord Ashclaw leaned forward, his burning eyes narrowing. "Telstra is not just any world. It is one of humanity's crown jewels. The birthplace of their cultivation civilization. Home to one of the Eight Supremes."
"Which is why we strike now, my lord," Emberhorn said quickly. "Intelligence reports indicate that all of the Eight Supremes and other powerhouse are currently away—dealing with threats on other fronts, exploring distant regions and only Red Giant Cultivators are on the planet. Telstra's defenses are at their weakest in centuries."
"And the AI? This... Gaia?"
"Powerful, but distributed. She cannot focus her full processing power on Telstra alone without leaving other worlds vulnerable. By the time she mobilizes a full response, we will have already converted half the planet to ash."
Oh how wrong they were.
Lord Ashclaw was silent for a long moment, considering.
The Cinderfiends had tried to attack human multiple capital worlds before. It never went well—humanity's defensive capabilities were formidable, their response times, TERRIFYING, and their willingness to deploy overwhelming force, ABSOLUTE.
But the potential rewards...
A planet like Telstra, with its dense population and rich spiritual energy, converted to ash? The entire demon army could advance multiple realms from consuming such nutritious destruction. And the planet's core, once properly incinerated—Stellar realm demons could feast on it for centuries.
"For the glory of ash," Lord Ashclaw said finally, rising from his throne. "Begin the invasion."
"FOR THE GLORY OF ASH!" the assembled demons roared.
Back on Telstra.
They were two hours into the flight, cruising over the Crystalline Ocean, when every terminal, every display, every speaker in the ship activated simultaneously.
ALERT. ALERT. ALERT.
Gaia's voice—usually calm and measured—carried an edge of urgency that sent ice through everyone's veins:
"PRIORITY ALERT TO ALL CITIZENS OF TELSTRA. THIS IS GAIA. WE ARE UNDER ATTACK. REPEAT: TELSTRA IS UNDER ATTACK."
"Spatial anomalies detected across multiple continents. Unauthorized portal formations. Hostile entities emerging."
"Classification: Cinderfiend demons. Estimated force strength: one Supernova Rebirth realm commander, unknown number of subordinate forces."
"All civilians: seek immediate shelter. All military and combat-certified cultivators: report to nearest garrison. Planetary defense forces are mobilizing."
"This is not a drill."