Sendane District
Pele city Railroad station
Haumea
7th September 385 Post Global Unification
They decided to take the sea train all the way to Namer Island, since traveling by rail was far cheaper than using airships. The last—and only—time Eren had been to the island was also by sea train, so both he and Ash were familiar with how it worked. Fall had finally arrived. The oppressive heatwave of Haumea's summer had given way to cool air and a sky heavy with clouds. Thankfully, there hadn't been many downpours yet—early September had remained mostly dry and warm. Eren could hardly believe the day had finally come. He was going to become a Hunter.
Well… first, he had to survive the Academy. He wasn't sure what to expect from the school, but the uncertainty only made him more excited. Navigating the station required constant focus as he pushed through the dense crowd of passengers. St. Iluydich Station was packed—so crowded that they'd had to wake up early to make it to their line on time. Otherwise, they would have been swallowed by the traffic choking the streets leading into the station.
Eren's younger siblings had begged to come see him and Ash off, but Mother Ruth had insisted they couldn't bring everyone with them. So he'd said his goodbyes on the orphanage doorstep, forcing himself not to cry as they waved him off. Even now, standing in line at the ticket counter, he couldn't stop thinking about the tears on Patry's, Carla's, and Inca's faces. He was going to miss them—miss his home—but at the same time, his heart burned with anticipation for what the future might hold.
"The next train arriving at Platform Two will be departing for Namer Island. Passengers, please prepare to board."
"The gods be damned! That's your train," Mother Ruth swore.
Several nearby passengers stared at her, wide-eyed, shocked to hear such language from a woman of the cloth. Mother Ruth ignored them completely.
"Could you hurry up, please? What's taking so damn long?" she muttered.
Eren felt the same frustration. What was with this line? Ash said nothing. He'd been quiet the entire ride from the Lakane District to Sendane, where the rail station to Namer Island was located. Eren assumed the silence came from anxiety—after all, Namer Island was Ash's birthplace. Whether his people's old reservation was anywhere near the Academy, Eren had no idea.
After a few more agonizing seconds, they finally received their tickets. Mother Ruth wasted no time, ushering them toward the platform where the train was already preparing to depart.
"Remember to keep in touch," she said firmly. "And say your prayers every night and every morning when you wake up."
"You know I don't pray," Eren replied.
She gave his shoulder a gentle smack, her eyes soft as she looked between him and Ash.
"I can't believe you boys have grown up already," Mother Ruth said. Reaching into her handbag, she pulled out two small cube-shaped objects and handed them over. "I packed some food for you. Make sure you eat when you're hungry."
They were single-use dimensional storage tools.
Eren couldn't stop the tears from spilling over. His love for Mother Ruth only deepened in that moment. He wanted to say something—anything—, but the train's warning bell cut him off.
"Alright," she said quickly. "You need to go. I'll see you during winter break."
"Bye," Eren said.
Ash gave Mother Ruth a short nod, then turned and stepped onto the train. Eren growled under his breath and followed him inside. Finding their assigned seats took longer than expected. The train lurched forward and began to move while they were still weaving through the aisles, scanning ticket numbers. By the time they figured it out, they'd reached the far end of the economy section—the cheapest sector on the train.
Ash stopped and nudged Eren sharply in the elbow, pointing. "There."
They shoved their luggage into the overhead compartment and finally collapsed into their seats.
"Wish we were in first class," Eren muttered. "Those seats looked fancy."
Ash didn't respond. His eyes were closed, posture straight, as if he were meditating.
Is he really going to be like this the entire trip? Eren wondered.
He pulled out the storage cube and retrieved the lunch Mother Ruth had packed for them. Unwrapping the bowl, he inhaled the warm, comforting scent of chicken pot pie.
"That's supposed to be for lunch," Ash said without opening his eyes.
"I'm hungry," Eren replied.
"Don't complain to me later when you're starving."
Ash fell silent again.
Eren ignored him and dug in, eating with enthusiasm while watching the scenery slide past the window. The rail line stretched eastward through Haumea before eventually transitioning onto the searoad—a massive rail construct laid directly across the Atlas Sea, which separated much of the Western Continent.
Eren still couldn't believe humanity had managed to build a railroad over open water. The searoad was a marvel—an engineering triumph that linked nations across the ocean and helped bind the Global Union together. Before the Union's formation—before the Third World War—the Western, Southern, and Eastern continents had been divided by the vast Atlas Sea. It was only through the combined wealth and influence of the Six Great Families that such a feat had become possible.
And now, Eren was headed to the place where it had all begun. By the time he finished eating, the steady hum of the train and the endless blue beyond the window weighed on him. His eyelids grew heavy, his thoughts blurring as exhaustion finally caught up to him…
Master! Master! Wake up—wake up!
Eren jolted awake, breath hitching as he frantically scanned the booth. His heart hammered against his ribs, the echo of the nightmare still clinging to him. His head throbbed, his body heavy and unsettled, as if sleep itself had rejected him. He forced a slow, steady breath.
Only then did he notice Ash watching him.
His friend sat calmly across from him, quietly eating his lunch. Outside the window, the sky had shifted—the afternoon sun was gone, replaced by a gathering of clouds stained purple by the coming dusk. Evening had already fallen, and Namer Island was still far away. The journey by sea train took a full day. They wouldn't arrive until morning. If they'd traveled by airship, they would've reached the island by nightfall.
Eren inhaled deeply, the salty scent of the sea filling his lungs. Beyond the glass, the ocean stretched endlessly, its surface glowing beneath the violet clouds. He found himself wondering what lay beneath it—what secrets waited in the crushing, lightless depths.
The unknown tugged at him.
It felt like his future. For most of his life, Eren had believed there was only one path waiting for him. Now, he was finally moving toward it. But if he could truly do this—if he could succeed—then what about the other desires he'd buried deep within his heart? The dreams he'd abandoned because of who he was and where he came from? So many things had once felt impossible. And yet… maybe they weren't.
Across the Atlas Sea, beyond even this route, lay the Eastern Gondwana Ocean—and within it, a country Eren had dreamed of visiting since he was young. A kingdom named after the sea goddess herself: the Yemaja Kingdom. There were countless places he longed to see, worlds beyond the narrow horizon of his past. As a Hunter, he would have the chance to reach them. He would have the chance to—
"Hungry?" Ash asked.
Eren shook his head. The thought of food didn't stir anything in him. His mind was still tangled in the memory of his nightmare—of standing on the edge of death at Reyna Greyron's hands. It was unsettling, in hindsight. After his encounter with Alastor Kinsway, Eren had nearly died twice.
Twice. He was alive only by chance. And that knowledge made his survival feel hollow. Luck wouldn't always save him. Next time, there might be no escape. He had to grow stronger. Stronger than anyone else in his class. Stronger than Ash. If he wanted to reach the future calling to him—if he wanted to seize the destiny waiting ahead—then he had no choice. He had to become strong. Not just strong. The strongest.
They arrived on Namer Island at the first break of sunrise, though it wasn't yet their final destination. Academia City lay at the island's center—the place where Namer Academy itself was located.
Namer Island looked much the same as it had the last time Eren visited: an absurdly vibrant place overflowing with life. Bustling crowds filled the streets, and massive square business complexes dominated the skyline, symbols of the island's ever-growing economic power. Most of the Global Union's major industries had their headquarters stationed here, and their presence fueled the island's relentless expansion.
When the train finally came to a stop, Eren was more than happy to get off. His legs ached from sitting for so long, and the feeling of solid ground beneath his boots was a relief. He was so eager to escape the train that he nearly collided with other passengers disembarking.
"You should pay more attention to your surroundings," Ash said as Eren bumped into someone.
The man wore a long trench coat and a wide-brimmed hat, a suitcase tumbling from his grasp.
"Sorry about that," Eren said quickly, stooping to pick it up and handing it back.
"Thanks for the help, kid," the man replied, tipping his hat before vanishing into the flow of people moving through the station.
"This way," Ash said.
Eren followed him outside—and stopped short. His mouth fell open at the sight before him. Brilliant, flashy buildings stretched across the cityscape, their surfaces reflecting the morning light. Flying crafts drifted overhead in orderly lanes, humming softly as they passed. But what truly captured Eren's attention were the massive transparent tubes threading through the city, glowing with flowing magic.
"Those are Warptubes," Ash explained. "One of the magical inventions that relies on the magic of my people—"
He trailed off, falling silent for a moment before pointing toward a bus parked among a row of vehicles.
"That should be the one taking us to the Academy."
Eren nodded, still awestruck, and followed Ash over. Several other kids from their train were already boarding. Once they found seats, the bus pulled away, rolling onto the main road that led straight toward the university at the heart of the island.
****
A naked figure rose from the smoldering heart of a vast volcano, emerging from thick, churning lava as if it were water. His jade-colored skin gleamed in the infernal light, long black hair flowing freely down his back. Vermilion eyes scanned the ash-stained sky above, calm and assessing.
His internal sense stirred. There were others nearby. His gaze settled on her. Several meters away from the lava dome, his aide stood with her head bowed. Avita was clad in full Bushido armor, unmoving beneath the heat, her posture one of absolute discipline.
The master stepped fully from the volcano's mouth and flicked his wrist. An onyx band resting there pulsed with light. It expanded, unfolding into black undergarments and a fitted shirt, followed by a dark tunic and trousers. A moment later, vermilion Bushido armor formed over his body—an armored jacket etched with martial sigils. At his waist, two swords manifested: a longsword and a shortsword, spirit weapons that settled against him as if they belonged nowhere else.
As he approached, Avita raised her head. Her eyes widened slightly. His cultivation had advanced again. He had crossed beyond the lower tier of the King Rank and entered the mid-tier. This land—rich with rampant fire-elemental world energy—was the perfect crucible for his growth. Only someone with his affinity could endure immersion within a lava dome and emerge strengthened rather than reduced to ash.
"It seems the forces of Aran have pushed this far into the wasteland," the Blaze King said. His internal sense traced the distant Anima signatures advancing toward the Khan region of the Kazhan Wasteland. His expression hardened. "What in the gods' names is the Security Council thinking?"
"The Aran army has broken through the border garrisons," Avita replied. "We've requested reinforcements, but by the time the Global Union sends additional Hunters, they'll have reached the capital."
The Kazhan Wasteland lived up to its name—a land of endless volcanic eruptions, barren plains, and scorched skies. Cities were few and far between, isolated by rivers of magma and chains of active volcanoes. The capital itself sat at the center of the inferno, surrounded by hundreds of erupting peaks. After thousands of years of occupation, the Kazhani people had evolved an innate affinity for fire. To outsiders, the land was hell. To natives and fire-aligned cultivators, it was sacred.
So why were the Aran forces pushing into it?
"And why hasn't a single King-class Hunter been dispatched?" Aguero Kazhan asked.
"The Council believes deploying a King would be interpreted as a declaration of war," Avita said.
The two of them rose into the air, flames spiraling beneath their feet as they flew toward the approaching Aran squads.
"Idiots," the Blaze King growled. "If the capital is attacked, that is the war they're trying to avoid. The Khan Empire won't let an assault on its cities go unanswered."
The Khan Empire ruled the entire Eastern Continent. Kazhan was part of its domain. And the empire did not forgive transgressions lightly.
"The Council is insisting on negotiations with the nation of Aran," Avita said. "They wish to avoid drawing the ire of the Demon Dragon Goddess."
The Blaze King let out a low grunt at the mention of the monster—the guardian deity of the Middle East, and the single greatest reason the Global Union had never been able to bring the region into its sphere of influence. As long as the Demon Dragon Goddess existed, the Middle Eastern alliance possessed the power to stand against the Union, making any attempt to establish a foothold on the Northern Continent a fantasy.
"Additionally," Avita continued, "the rulers of Aran have officially denied involvement. They claim the forces that breached the border are rebels—exiles driven from their homeland."
"What a convenient excuse," Aguero said.
Frustration burned beneath his calm exterior. He still had unfinished matters on Namer Island, and dealing with invading 'rebels' in his homeland was the last thing he'd expected after completing his cultivation. He'd only returned to this region because it was the ideal environment to temper his power—not to clean up political cowardice.
"While reinforcements from the Hunter Association are en route," Avita said, "your mother has already dispatched a force of warriors to intercept them. I only wished to inform you so you wouldn't need to get involved—"
"Doesn't matter," Aguero cut in.
He accelerated, and moments later, the enemy came into view. A squad clad in green armor surged through the jagged terrain, mounted on war steeds as they thundered between volcanic rock formations. Their numbers swelled to nearly five hundred—large enough to be called an army.
Large enough to die here.
Aguero released the restraint on his spirit circuits. His spiritual pressure exploded outward. The presence of a King-rank cultivator crashed down like a raging tsunami. Soldiers froze mid-motion, terror flooding their senses. Even their mounts screamed and skidded to a halt, some throwing their riders violently to the ground. Aguero drew his shortsword. The silver, single-edged blade ignited in crimson light as runes were torn from the air itself, assembling into a blazing blade spell matrix.
[Vulcan Blade Pillar]
Eight colossal pillars of molten lava erupted from the ground, encircling the Aran soldiers. Each pillar was shaped like an enormous blade, radiating heat so intense that those closest were instantly incinerated, their bodies unable to withstand the inferno. The remaining four hundred and ninety-four soldiers scrambled inward, clustering together in panic, trapped by the blazing barrier that sealed off every path forward.
"There," Aguero said calmly. "They won't be moving until the force Mother sent arrives."
He passed a glowing rune mark to Avita. "This will allow safe passage through the pillars. Give it to them so they can enter and finish the foreigners."
Avita accepted the rune, then glanced at him. "Are you returning to the boy?"
A faint smile tugged at Aguero's lips.
"My pupil seems quite dedicated to studying at the esteemed Namer Academy," he said. "I shouldn't keep him waiting for too long."