Month 196 (Day 15 Morning Outside)
The last two months passed in final consolidation and preparation.
Runar pushed through to Satellite Orbit Stage 16, with 1,616 spheres in perfect synchronized orbit. His cultivation speed had reached ×4,800,000—sixteen times his initial Satellite Orbit rate.
His Law comprehension had reached 1,049 Laws at 100% mastery, all automatically integrated into his Universal Fusion Body Tempering Technique.
Runar's Final Stats (End of 16 Years):
Realm: Satellite Orbit Stage 16/33 (1,616 synchronized orbital spheres) Physique: Peak Primordial Universal Refinement (99.9% energy conversion) Laws Mastered: 1,049 at 100% Body Tempering: Universal Fusion active (all 1,049 Laws in continuous fusion) Combat Power: Normal Late-Supernova level equivalent Special Abilities: Runic Omniscient Eyes (see everything) Universal Fusion Algorithm (coordinate 1,049 Laws simultaneously) Law Repository (can copy others' Law insights) Immortal regeneration (Life + Death Law synergy) Perfect particle-level qi control Weapons: Void Severance Katana Soul (Primordial Grade, fully awakened) Physical Age: 16 (appears 21 due to Law tempering) Physical Capabilities: Strength: Could punch holes in multiple solar systems Speed: Trans-relativistic (faster than light) Durability: Immune to normal Supernova attacks Regeneration: Microsecond full-body reconstruction Senses: Multi-galactic range perception Combat Assessment: Can easily defeat: Normal Late-Supernova cultivators Cannot defeat: Genius-level Early Supernova cultivators Will not survive: Normal early Neutron Star opponents Estimated full power: Normal Late-Supernova level
Celestia's Final Stats:
Realm: Satellite Orbit Stage 450/??? Physique: Peak Primordial Void Empress Laws Mastered: Ice, Water, Space, Void, Time (all at 100%) Law Fusion: Perfect mastery, can combine all 5 simultaneously Combat Power: Peak Red Giant level, can fight normal early Supernova cultivators Special Abilities: Major Spatial Sense (100km radius perfect perception) Void Generation (create true emptiness) Temporal Perception (5 seconds future sight) Frozen Concept (can freeze abstract concepts) Weapons: Heaven Piercer (Primordial Grade spear, length-adjustable) Techniques Mastered: 189 total, including her original creation "Frozen Eternity" Physical Age: 21 Mental Age: 21 (16 years training + original 5)
The Final Morning - Day 15, 6:00 AM (Real World)
Runar and Celestia emerged from the Pocket Universe portal in the guest room of the Cross household at exactly 6:00 AM, just as they had every morning for the past fourteen days.
But this morning was different. This will be the last time for a long while.
They stood in the guest room, looking at each other in the early dawn light filtering through the windows.
"Sixteen years," Celestia said softly. "Over in two weeks of real time."
"Only six minutes per night," Runar agreed. "Eighty-four minutes total. But we lived every second of those sixteen years."
"Our parents have been watching us grow up day by day. Watching us age. Watching us change. They know something profound happened, even if they don't understand what."
Runar nodded. "They've had time to adjust, at least. Not like when I suddenly aged from one month to seven years overnight. This has been gradual. They've seen us every single day, watched the transformation happen bit by bit."
"Do you think they're ready for today? The last day?"
"No. But they'll handle it because they love us." Runar took her hand. "Come on. Let's go face them together."
They left the guest room and headed downstairs.
Jake was already in the kitchen, as he had been every morning for the past two weeks. But this morning, his expression was different—sadder, more contemplative.
He looked up as they entered, and Runar saw his father's eyes sweep over them, cataloging the final changes.
Runar now stood at full height—six feet tall, with the build and presence of a young man in his early twenties. His silver hair seemed to glow with inner light. His eyes held depths that no sixteen-year-old should possess.
Celestia was equally transformed—a beautiful woman of twenty-one, graceful and powerful, with an aura that made the air shimmer slightly around her.
"Good morning," Jake said quietly. "Last day of training, right?"
"Yes," Runar confirmed, sitting at the table. Celestia sat beside him, closer than usual. "How did you know?"
"What isn't tomorrow the academy exam? So why wont I know" Jake said.
"oh yes, that totally skipped my mind." Celestia replied almost stuttering.
Lirien entered from the other room, already dressed for the day. She'd clearly been crying—her eyes were red, though she was smiling.
"My babies," she said, her voice thick. "You're all grown up."
"We're still your children, Mom," Runar said gently.
"I know. I know." Lirien sat down, reaching across to squeeze both their hands. "I've watched you transform over these two weeks. Day by day, hour by hour. Watched you grow taller, stronger, more mature. And I won't lie—it hurts. It hurts that I missed your teenage years, your gradual growth into adulthood. But I'm so proud of who you've become."
"Both of you," Jake added. "Celestia, you're as much our daughter as Runar is our son. These two weeks... they've been a gift. Getting to see you both every day, even as you changed. Most parents don't get that when their children grow up suddenly."
The door opened, and Caspian and Seraphina entered—they'd been coming every morning for the past week, wanting to spend as much time as possible with Celestia.
"Final day," Caspian said, his voice rough. He looked at his daughter—his little girl who now stood taller than him, who radiated power that made his Star Fusion realm cultivation feel insignificant. "My little snowflake. All grown up."
Seraphina was crying openly. "I know we've had two weeks to adjust. I know we've seen you every single day. But knowing today is the last day of this... this accelerated growth... it's hitting me hard."
Celestia crossed to her mother and hugged her fiercely. "I'm sorry, Mama. I know this hasn't been easy."
"Don't apologize for becoming strong," Seraphina said, pulling back to cup her daughter's face. "Never apologize for that. I just wish... I wish we could have had more time. Normal time."
"We'll have time," Celestia promised. "After the academy accepts us, after everything settles. We'll visit. We'll stay in touch. This isn't goodbye forever."
"Academy?" Caspian looked between them. "The Continental Academy entrance exam is tomorrow. But arent you too big to attend middle school now."
Runar and Celestia exchanged glances. They'd discussed this last night in the Pocket Universe.
"Actually..." Runar started carefully. "We don't think Continental Academy is appropriate anymore."
Silence fell over the table.
"What do you mean?" Jake asked slowly.
"We've... outgrown it," Celestia said. "In age and in combat power. The Continental Academy is designed for students from Stardust Awakening through Planetary Core realms. Their strongest instructors are Solar Flare and Star Fusion level."
"And you're beyond that?" Seraphina asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
"Significantly beyond," Runar confirmed. "We could probably teach most of their curriculum ourselves at this point. It wouldn't challenge us. Wouldn't help us grow stronger."
The parents stared at them in stunned silence.
"How far beyond?" Jake asked quietly.
"I can fight Red Giant cultivators," Celestia said. "Normal ones, not geniuses. And probably hold my own against early Supernova opponents if they're not too skilled."
"And you, Runar?" Caspian asked.
"Higher than Celestia," Runar said simply, not wanting to elaborate on his ability to fight Late-Supernova cultivators. "The point is, we're both far beyond what Continental Academy can accommodate."
"Then what do you suggest?" Caspian asked. "There are galaxy-level academies on the capital worlds. Special institutions for prodigies. Those might be more appropriate."
"Maybe," Celestia said. "We were thinking we could research options, find somewhere that—"
"Wait," Caspian interrupted, his expression becoming serious. "You're saying you've outgrown Continental Academy. That you can fight Red Giant and Supernova cultivators. That's an extraordinary claim." He looked between them. "Can you prove it?"
Runar and Celestia exchanged glances.
"What do you have in mind?" Runar asked carefully.
"Combat testing," Caspian said, pulling out his communication device. "There's a Virtual Reality Combat System—top of the line, used by military and high-level academies. It simulates combat scenarios with 100% accuracy. Body physics, cultivation mechanics, combat techniques, even the universal laws—all perfectly replicated."
He tapped on his device. "I'm ordering two helmets through Space-Time Express Delivery. They'll be here in... 10 Seconds."
"10 Seconds?" Seraphina blinked. "Caspian, those systems cost—"
"I don't care about the cost," Caspian said firmly. "If my daughter and Runar are claiming combat power that defies their age by multiple realms, I want to see proof. Not because I don't trust them, but because I need to understand exactly how powerful they've become."
Jake nodded slowly. "That's... actually reasonable. If they're going to apply to higher-tier academies, they'll need combat assessments anyway."
True to Caspian's word, 10 Seconds later, a spatial portal shimmered into existence in the living room. A delivery drone emerged, carrying two sleek helmets that gleamed with runic arrays and technological sophistication.
"Virtual Reality Combat System - Model Infinity," the drone announced. "Guaranteed 100% accuracy in combat simulation. Used by Federal military academies and elite training facilities. Signed, sealed, delivered."
The drone departed. Caspian picked up both helmets, examining them with satisfaction.
"These simulate everything," he explained. "Your actual body's capabilities, your cultivation level, your techniques, even your intent and Law comprehension if you have any which you should have since your claim is you can defeat red giant cultivators. The opponents are drawn from Federation combat databases—real recorded combat data from actual cultivators."
He handed one helmet to Runar, one to Celestia.
"You don't have to go all-out," Caspian said. "Just show us what you can do. Celestia, you said you could fight Red Giant cultivators?"
"Normal ones, yes," Celestia confirmed, putting on the helmet.
"Then let's start there. System, load Red Giant opponent—normal talent level, peak stage."
Celestia's body went still on the couch as her consciousness entered the virtual space. On the living room's holographic display, everyone could see what she was experiencing.
The virtual sapce battlefield materialized—a standard combat arena, reinforced to handle Supernova-level attacks. Across from Celestia stood her opponent: a towering alien warrior with crimson skin and eyes that burned like stars. Peak Red Giant realm, normal talent.
The fight began.
The Red Giant moved first, launching a devastating punch that carried the weight of collapsed stars. Space cracked around its fist.
Celestia didn't dodge. She thrust her Heaven Piercer spear forward.
Frozen Eternity: Partial Manifestation.
Her five mastered Laws—Ice, Water, Space, Void, Time—fused together in perfect harmony. The spear pierced through the Red Giant's attack as if it didn't exist, and space froze around the tip.
One thrust. Clean. Precise. Devastating.
The Red Giant's body crystallized into ice, void energy severed its connection to cultivation, and time stopped for its consciousness. All simultaneously.
The entire fight lasted five seconds.
SIMULATION COMPLETE
Victor: Celestia Stormwind
Combat Assessment: Peak Red Giant level confirmed
Remark: Opponent significantly outmatched
Celestia removed her helmet, breathing normally, barely exerted.
The parents stared at the display in shocked silence.
"Five seconds," Seraphina whispered. "She defeated a peak Red Giant cultivator in five seconds."
"That alien was five major realms above her apparent level," Jake said faintly. "Five realms."
"Now you," Caspian said, turning to Runar with a mixture of awe and trepidation. "You said you were stronger than Celestia. How much stronger?"
"Significantly," Runar said, putting on his helmet.
"Then... System, load Supernova opponent—normal talent level, peak stage."
Even Gaia, who had been silently monitoring the household, increased her attention allocation. Peak Supernova realm was cosmic-level existence. Life forms at that level had transcended mortality, existed partially outside normal space-time, and wielded power that could devastate Galaxy clusters.
For a Meteor Forging cultivator/Satellite Orbit Cultivator—even one at an impossible 3333 stages—to fight one was theoretically impossible.
The virtual battlefield loaded. Runar's opponent materialized: a humanoid figure wreathed in stellar fire, its body composed of plasma and nuclear fusion, its presence warping reality itself.
Peak Supernova realm. Normal talent, but still a COSMIC LEVEL LIFEFORM.
The moment the fight began, Runar moved.
He knew he couldn't afford to let this fight develop. Supernova cultivators existed at the cosmic realm—their life level was fundamentally superior to anyone below that threshold. They could manipulate space-time instinctively, their attacks carried Rule-adjacent authority, and their reaction speeds approached instantaneous.
Against such an opponent, holding back meant death.
Full power. Single burst. No hesitation.
His Void Severance Katana materialized in his hand, the Primordial-grade weapon soul blazing with void-purple energy.
His body transformed into pure starlight as the Universal Fusion Body Tempering activated—all 1,049 mastered Laws flowing through his physical form simultaneously.
His soul weapon resonated with his intent, amplifying his next attack beyond normal limits.
And he activated the technique he'd developed specifically for this moment: Starlight Severance: Myriad Law Annihilation.
An early Primordial Grade technique that fused all 1,049 Laws into a single katana slash, executed with perfect subatomic qi control and backed by his soul weapon's authority.
The attack was instantaneous.
Not fast—instantaneous. The slash existed in one moment and struck in the same moment, bypassing the normal flow of cause and effect through perfect Space-Time Law manipulation.
1,049 Laws compressed into a single edge. Every element, every concept, every principle of reality he'd mastered—all flowing together in the Universal Fusion Algorithm's perfect coordination.
The katana slash was beautiful and terrible. It didn't glow or shimmer or announce itself with dramatic effects. It simply was—a line of absolute severance that cut through space, time, matter, energy, and concept simultaneously.
The Supernova cultivator didn't even have time to perceive the attack before it landed.
The void-black slash severed the alien's connection to space-time, cut through its cosmic-level defenses as if they were paper, and bisected its stellar core—the source of a Supernova's power.
Instant death.
The entire fight lasted less than a tenth of a second. Perhaps 0.001 seconds from technique activation to kill confirmation.
SIMULATION COMPLETE
Victor: Runar Cross
Combat Assessment: ERROR - RECALCULATING
Combat Assessment: Normal Peak-Supernova level confirmed
WARNING: Technique analysis indicates Primordial Grade fusion method
WARNING: Law comprehension detected - 1,000+ Laws at peak mastery
ALERT: Combat data flagged for Federation military review
Gaia who had been watching quickly blocked the alert from reaching the Federation Military.
Runar removed his helmet calmly, though inside he was satisfied. The technique had worked exactly as designed.
The living room was dead silent.
Everyone—parents, Celestia, even the air itself—seemed frozen in shock.
"He..." Jake couldn't finish the sentence.
"He killed a peak Supernova cultivator," Caspian whispered, his face pale. "Instantly. Without giving it time to react. That's... that's..."
"Impossible," Seraphina finished. "That should be impossible."
Lirien was staring at her son like she'd never seen him before. "Runar... what have you become?"
Even through the terminal, Gaia's attention increased —her analysis subroutines working overtime to process what she'd just witnessed.
Gaia's Private Analysis - Real-Time Update:
ALERT: COMBAT ASSESSMENT EXCEEDED ALL PROJECTIONS
Previous estimate: High Genius level
Actual capability: EXTREME Genius level probably more
Comparable to: Top 10 geniuses in Federation history at equivalent age
Technique Analysis:
Primordial Grade fusion method confirmed
1,049+ Laws at 100% mastery CONFIRMED (previously theoretical)
Perfect subatomic qi control observed
Soul weapon integration (Primordial Grade minimum)
Space-Time bypass technique (approaching Rule-level authority)
Updated Threat Assessment: If unprotected and existence leaked, assassination attempts within 72 hours: ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN
Required protection level: Supreme (Universal realm) minimum
Updated Projection: 99% probability: Reaches Supreme realm within 20 years
85% probability: Surpasses current Eight Supremes
55% probability: Discovers new cultivation paradigm
100% probability: Achieves something unprecedented in human history
Action: Immediate Prime Origin invitation MANDATORY
"Continental Academy," Jake said slowly, still processing what he'd seen, "is definitely not appropriate."
"No academy on Telstra is appropriate," Caspian agreed, his voice hollow. "Maybe no academy in this entire galactic cluster. They need..." He trailed off.
"They need the best humanity can offer," Seraphina finished.
Every terminal in both households suddenly activated simultaneously, as if on cue.
End of Chapter.
AN: I am fixing a plot hole, it is important information I forgot
Physique Awakening - Mental Maturation
Some Real World Days ago
"Runar, Celestia... I understand you've grown physically. But mentally? How are you handling this? You're thinking like adults, speaking like adults. How?"
Runar and Celestia exchanged glances. They'd discussed how to explain this.
"The physique awakening," Celestia said carefully. "It didn't just change our bodies. It inserted... memories. Life experiences. Not ours, but compressed understanding of how to think, how to process emotions, how to handle complex social situations."
"Like the physique was teaching us how to be the age we appeared," Runar added. "Every day as we grew, new understanding would surface. How to move in a taller body. How to control stronger power. How to think with a more mature perspective."
"It also provided cultivation guidance," Celestia continued. "Techniques, insights, tips on Law comprehension and qi control. Like the physique awakening came with an instruction manual embedded directly into our consciousness."
"That's why we don't feel like children trapped in adult bodies," Runar explained. "The physique made sure our mental age matched our physical age. We lived the growth, even if it was accelerated. The experiences might be artificial, but the maturity is real."
Jake nodded slowly, seeming relieved by that explanation. "So you're not confused or overwhelmed?"
"We were at first," Celestia admitted. "Especially in the first few days. But the inserted memories helped us adjust. By now, we genuinely think and feel like the age we appear."
"That's... oddly reassuring," Lirien said. "I was worried you'd be children pretending to be adults, confused and lost."
"We're not pretending, Mom," Runar said gently. "We're really this mature now. For better or worse."
It was a half-truth. The physique awakening had provided some guidance, yes. But the real maturation came from their sixteen years in the Pocket Universe—real experiences, real training, real growth.
But their parents didn't need to know that.