'So he is one of the Abnormals.' Cain's eyes narrowed as he studied the red-eyed youth's stats glowing on his virtual screen.
Within the Imperial Military Force, the word Abnormal carried weight. It was reserved for those who possessed the talent to walk into the gates of a prestigious Wave University yet deliberately chose the harsh, merciless path of the Imperial Military Academy instead. Their reasons varied. Some were scions of noble families seeking to temper themselves in blood and glory. Others carried ambitions too large for the sheltered walls of a university. A few simply wished to make their names blaze across the battlefield.
Cain had learned of these classifications thanks to Apex. With [Basic Hacking], the System Spirit had siphoned restricted files from the Empire's archives, and now Cain understood more of the world he was walking into.
He cast another glance around the cavernous hold of the Star Cruiser as more cadets streamed aboard. Familiar faces were scarce; the only officers he recognized were Tristan and Lodon, their expressions carved in stone as ever.
Finally, the massive gates of the cruiser groaned shut. A flood of notifications struck Cain's mind through his A.I. Chip Module.
The message contained mundane details—cots assigned to each cadet, schedules for meals, and daily protocols. Yet three attached archives seized Cain's attention immediately: Imperial Military Guide, Wave Beast Compendium, and Dark Races Compendium.
The warning attached was stern: Any attempt to copy or distribute these files without authorization will result in execution.
Cain smirked grimly at the severity. Knowledge in the Godslayer Humankind Empire was a weapon, guarded more tightly than gold.
Moments later, the Star Cruiser rumbled as it lifted, rising thousands of meters into the clouds before streaking away at supersonic speed. The vessel's invisible force field shimmered faintly across its hull, shielding it from turbulence and stray threats. Inside, there was no sense of motion, only the faint vibration of power coursing through the behemoth's veins.
---
Cain buried himself in cultivation. Hours bled into days. He paused only to eat quickly, and during those moments he absorbed as much information from the compendiums as he could. The files were basic introductions, but to him, they were invaluable—glimpses into the military's vast understanding of Wave Beasts, Dark Races, and the Academy itself.
Others trained as well, but Cain quickly realized his absorption was… different. He, along with the red-eyed Abnormal, devoured the Life Wave with terrifying intensity. It was as though black holes had opened in the cruiser, draining the ambient energy. The vacuum forced nearby cadets to shift uncomfortably in their cots, scooting further away to escape the suffocating draw.
Frustration smoldered in their eyes, yet none dared voice complaint. Power spoke louder than irritation, and Cain and the Abnormal radiated power.
---
Four weeks passed.
When the cruiser finally decelerated, the recruits pressed against the armored windows, awestruck. Even Cain, who usually kept his composure, could not resist staring.
Below sprawled a city of steel and light, carved into the heart of a colossal forest. Metallic walls gleamed like mirrors, stretching endlessly, and at its core rose a tower that speared the heavens itself. Over ten thousand meters tall, its peak disappeared into the clouds.
Cain's breath caught. 'Titan Tower.'
The name was plain, but the reality behind it was anything but. Titans were humanity's living mass destruction weapons, beings whose strength eclipsed even the Old World's nuclear bombs. To know that one resided within that tower made Cain tremble with equal parts fear and anticipation.
Other Star Cruisers descended toward bustling docks and landing bays, but Cain's ship diverted. It veered away from the main city, gliding toward a more isolated sector on the perimeter.
As the vessel landed, Cain chuckled quietly to himself. When he first saw the Star Cruiser, some naive part of him had expected an epic voyage filled with battles in the skies. But reality had proven simpler. No one dared attack a Godslayer Humankind military cruiser within the borders of Gaia. To try would be suicide.
---
Guided by soldiers, thousands of cadets filed out. The air was thick with murmurs, nervous laughter, and the rustle of boots on steel.
A striking woman awaited them, clad in a pristine white uniform. Her bearing was severe yet elegant, her posture ramrod straight. Cain was just moving to join the line when a voice thundered across the field.
"All those who have become Wave Warriors, step forward. Lady Sonia will handle the rest of you."
The speaker was none other than Vice-Captain Josef. His presence rolled across the crowd like a stormfront, silencing chatter instantly.
The order was not questioned. One by one, the Wave Warriors emerged. Out of more than five thousand cadets, only forty-two stepped forward.
The number was pitiful, but unsurprising. Unless one possessed a Wave Talent above Low Tier 2, achieving Level 1 in less than a year was nearly impossible.
The selected recruits snapped into military stances before Josef. The Vice-Captain said nothing. He simply stood, silent and immovable, yet the weight of his aura pressed down on them like a mountain. No one dared fidget.
---
Half an hour crawled by. Another cruiser landed, releasing its load of cadets. Once more, Josef summoned only the Wave Warriors and subjected them to his crushing silence.
Four long hours passed this way. By the time the number of assembled Wave Warriors surpassed two hundred, Josef finally stirred.
"Follow me."
Nothing more. He turned on his heel and broke into a run.
The recruits hesitated for only a heartbeat before chasing after him. At first, the pace was steady. Manageable. But with each passing minute, Josef increased his speed. The city blurred around them.
Cadets began to falter. Some gritted their teeth and summoned their Wave Cloaks, the energy flaring around them to keep up. Others tossed aside their luggage, unwilling to be dragged down by extra weight. Cain was grateful he carried only a small military backpack, light and compact.
Eyes began to turn toward him.
While others gasped for air and stumbled, Cain's strides remained strong. Sweat dripped, yes, and his muscles ached, but he pushed forward steadily. His identity as a commoner was obvious from his plain gear, yet he outpaced many who bore the marks of noble birth.
And when the pressure grew too heavy, when even his honed body screamed in protest, Cain ignited his Astral Wave Cloak. The dark-purple energy crackled around him like living flame.
Gasps erupted. He was not the only Astral Wave Warrior among them, but he was the only one who bore no family crest, no noble insignia. A slum rat cloaked in Astral power—it was a sight that burned itself into their memories.
The run dragged on for an hour and a half. By the end, even the strongest staggered, their Wave Cloaks flickering. Only the red-eyed Abnormal ran with effortless grace, his cloak still dormant, as though the grueling pace was nothing more than a stroll.
Cain's chest heaved, lungs aflame, yet he remained upright. His eyes lifted to see where Josef had brought them.
A massive gate loomed ahead, its steel surface etched with ancient runes.
An old man waited beside the gate. His uniform was tattered, faded with age, the insignia barely visible. His body appeared frail, almost skeletal. Yet when he opened his eyes, a wave of crushing force swept over the recruits.
It was not the raw power of a Wave Cloak—it was something deeper, heavier, primal. Knees buckled. Some cadets nearly collapsed.
And then it vanished.
The old man's lips never moved, yet a voice resounded in their minds. 'So these are the brats?'
Shivers ran down spines. Even those from noble families, accustomed to power, felt their pride shrink before the man's casual display.
"Yes, Sir Oliver," Josef replied, bowing his head slightly.
The cadets exchanged glances. If a Vice-Captain showed such respect, who exactly was this Oliver?
The old man closed his eyes once more, dismissing them without a second glance.
---
Josef turned back to the cadets, his voice cold as steel.
"Listen carefully, brats. Since you are already Wave Warriors, you have earned the right to participate in the Military Academy's Secret Trial." He gestured toward the gate. "Beyond this lies a Tier 0 Danger Zone. Hundreds of Wave Beasts roam its depths. Some are weak. Some reach Level 2."
Murmurs rippled through the ranks. Everyone knew of Wave Beasts—animals twisted by exposure to Life Wave. Lacking Sacred Organs, they could not refine energy like humans, but their mutated bodies made them ferocious foes.
A Level 1 Wave Warrior might handle a Level 1 Wave Beast. But Level 2? That was another matter entirely.
Josef let the tension build before continuing. "There are also treasures. Wave Artifacts among them."
Gasps filled the air. The word alone ignited greed in their eyes. Wave Artifacts were priceless. Even the weakest one was worth more than a common family could hope to earn in generations.
Josef's smile turned sharp, cold.
"Oh, and before I forget…" His gaze swept over them like a blade. "The zone is not empty. Dark Races' Wave Warriors are in there as well. Some… very powerful."
The smiles vanished. Excitement curdled into dread. A few cadets trembled visibly.
Wave Beasts were dangerous, yes, but predictable. You could flee if overwhelmed. Dark Races, however, were intelligent, cunning, and merciless. Facing them meant real war. Facing them could mean death.