Julian's current strength had already reached the peak of Mortal Rank 9. He stood at the very threshold of the Innate Realm.
After three days of intensive meditation within the Ember-Fall Manor, fueled by ten Essence Refinement Pills, his energy had undergone a fundamental change. The once gentle, flowing mana in his body now carried a sharp, searing edge—the signature of the Solar Flare technique.
Name: Julian Thorne
Realm: Mortal Rank 9 (Peak)
Technique: Solar Flare Meditation
Architecture: > * Lotus Sanctum (Rank 9): 500/1,000
Ember-Fall Manor (Rank 9): 0/1,000
Destiny Points: 500
Julian realized his Destiny points had surged again. He suspected it was a combination of his rapid breakthrough and officially binding a high-grade building like the Manor. Without hesitation, he funneled all 500 points into the foundation of his Sanctum.
If he could push the Lotus Sanctum to Rank 8, it would expand significantly and allow him to house more powerful Relics. In this world, your Realm was your battery; the stronger it was, the more power you could draw upon in battle.
Julian arrived at the Blue Star Academy's rear courtyard, following the instructions left by Instructor Orrin. Most of the High Dragon Class was already there, buzzing with nervous energy.
"Julian! Your aura..." Cyrus was the first to notice him. He walked over, squinting at Julian as if trying to see through his skin.
"Three days ago you were Rank 7. Now you're at the peak of Rank 9? That's some monstrous growth, brother."
"I got lucky with my meditation," Julian replied with a modest smile. He knew that for noble heirs like Cyrus or Elena, reaching the Ascendant Realm was expected, but for a commoner to jump two ranks in three days was unheard of.
"Is everyone here?" Instructor Orrin shouted, stepping into the center of the courtyard.
He held a silver token etched with swirling starlight. "This is a Level One Stargate mission. Your objective is simple: return with ten Blessed Stones. These stones are the bedrock of any Hallowed Realm."
Orrin's expression darkened. "The Stargates contain fragmented worlds. Even at Level One, the environment and the inhabitants are unpredictable. You might find a paradise or a slaughterhouse. Do not lower your guard."
He raised the token, and a massive blue portal of light tore open in the air.
"Enter. You will be scattered upon arrival. I will be waiting here for your return."
"Julian, last chance," Elena Vane said, stepping toward the portal with her team. "The Stargates are dangerous for a lone wolf. Join the Vane expedition."
"Thanks, Elena, but I have my own path to walk," Julian declined. He didn't want to be tied to a Great House's agenda. He knew the Vanes and their rivals, the House of Garrow, were likely targeting specific high-value treasures inside. Joining them meant fighting their wars.
"Still stubborn, I see," a cold voice interrupted. Gideon Garrow walked past, a longsword clanking at his hip. He spared a condescending glance at Julian. "Don't get yourself killed too quickly, commoner. It would be a waste of a good Realm Trait."
Julian ignored the jab, checked his gear—a sturdy steel sword and a pouch of basic healing salves—and stepped into the blue light.
As the last student disappeared, a second man appeared beside Orrin. He was bald, with a face covered in scars, and a heavy saber strapped to his back. This was Captain Kaelen, a Superhuman-rank warrior.
"They're all in?" Kaelen asked.
"They are," Orrin sighed, staring at the portal. "The higher-ups are pushing them hard. The border conflicts with the alien races are getting worse. They need elites, and they need them now."
"It's the survival of the fittest," Kaelen grunted. "Only the ones who can handle the chaos of a Stargate will survive the coming storm."
Kaelen looked at Orrin, his voice softening. "Still no word on a treasure to repair your Hallowed Realm?"
Orrin's eyes flashed with a brief, bitter loneliness. Years ago, his own Realm had been shattered in a Stargate ambush, stalling his cultivation forever. "The Stargates have everything, Kaelen. But finding a specific cure in a million worlds? That's a fool's hope."
He turned back to the portal. "For now, let's just hope these kids come back in one piece."
Julian materialized in the middle of a dense, unfamiliar forest. As he regained his footing, he immediately noticed the sky. It wasn't the clear blue of the Academy; instead, the heavens were spider-webbed with jagged, glowing fractures, as if the entire firmament was a mirror on the verge of shattering.
"So this is the Stargate," Julian muttered, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword.
The shattered sky cast a flickering, artificial light over the landscape. While the flora looked like a typical forest, there was a strange, metallic sheen to the leaves, and the air smelled faintly of ozone and heated oil.
Roar—
A deafening, mechanical roar ripped through the trees, vibrating in Julian's chest. He unsheathed his steel sword, his expression turning sharp and vigilant.
"A tiger?"
The sound was undeniably feline, but it carried a grinding, metallic resonance that no biological beast should possess. It was a low growl—a clear warning that he had stepped into something's territory.
Holding his sword low, Julian moved toward the sound. He stepped over roots that looked suspiciously like bundled copper wiring, his eyes locked on the dense foliage ahead.