Time flowed steadily as Muria stayed on the Norman Defense Line, quietly keeping a low profile. Meanwhile, his father commanded a rapid-response legion, swiftly deploying to the most critical battlefronts based on command center intelligence. His father remained active in the fiercest combat zones, gaining widespread renown.
The legion he led, despite its high casualty rate, continued to attract numerous soldiers eager to join. In contrast, Muria's reputation had diminished over the years due to his lack of recent spectacular feats. Compared to his father's prominence, Muria was living a surprisingly low-profile life.
Muria's presence on his designated defensive line deterred alien forces from launching significant attacks, turning the area into a relatively calm zone. Yet, Muria wasn't idle—he focused on supporting the Douglas family's plan to cultivate new "batteries" for his unique power.
...
"Master Jerrods, the latest batch of seeds the family has prepared for you has arrived. Do you have time to handle this now, or shall we wait?"
A raspy voice called from outside Muria's room.
"They're here? Let's do it now."
In a luxuriously appointed chamber, Muria rose from a plush couch, stretching his body. The motion released a symphony of crackling sounds, like thunder and roaring tigers, as if an ancient world resided within his being.
Hearing the cacophony, the elder who had knocked pushed open the door and entered. Sensing the stronger pressure radiating from Muria compared to the day before, the elder's face broke into a satisfied smile.
"How many have they sent this time?" Muria asked calmly, his gaze fixed on the elder.
"This batch is slightly smaller than the last, only 125 children. But rest assured, each one has been meticulously chosen for their exceptional martial arts potential. They are diligent and resilient."
"I see. Let's meet them," Muria replied, nodding slightly. He understood the value of these children. Despite the small number, the effort required to send even a single child to a front-line warzone was immense.
In a spacious room converted from a warehouse, Muria met the 125 children the family had sent from the Federation. They sat quietly, meditating in an orderly manner. When they noticed Muria's arrival, they opened their eyes, their nervous yet eager gazes locking onto him.
The children had been briefed on their purpose and understood who Muria was. They knew what he represented in their lives.
"Don't be nervous. The process ahead might be painful, but it will benefit you greatly," Muria said with a warm smile. As he spoke, a radiant cluster of stars rose behind him, casting reflections of a dazzling night sky in the children's wide eyes.
Muria activated his aspect, separating 125 individual stars, each imbued with his power. He sent the stars into the children's bodies, where they began transforming them, reshaping them to harmonize with his energy.
After infusing each child, Muria turned to leave, satisfied as they were enveloped in pure white martial auras.
Outside, the elder greeted him, smiling. "Master Jerrods, have you completed the foundation building for these seeds?"
"Yes. Once they've adapted, let them rest for a night and arrange for their departure as soon as possible. This is no place for them to stay."
"Understood. This isn't my first time handling such matters. You can count on me."
Muria paused, then turned back. "How many batches has this been?"
"This is the seventh batch since you took up station at the Norman Defense Line."
"Handle them well." Without further words, Muria left.
For these children, destined to carry his power and serve as his personal batteries, Muria felt no particular emotion. Guilt was far from his mind.
After discovering the unique nature of Muria's aspect, the Douglas family convened a series of meetings to formulate a plan. They identified suitable candidates—children with exceptional martial potential—to serve as vessels for his energy.
These children, mostly orphans or abandoned infants, came from the lowest strata of society. Despite the Federation's developed social system, its vast population led to countless anomalies, including parents who abandoned their children for various reasons.
The Douglas family rescued and trained these children, selecting only those with the best potential to send to Muria. Once they accepted his power, their sole purpose was to train diligently and remain ready to have their energy drawn upon in battle.
In return, the children received food, clothing, and shelter, their material needs met entirely. For them, this arrangement was a blessing. The opportunity to rise from the bottom of society to a life of comfort in exchange for some effort and occasional fatigue was nothing short of miraculous.
"A fascinating aspect indeed!"
Back in his room, Muria observed his growing reservoir of energy sources. The addition of 125 new batteries brought a smile to his face.
Though he had yet to break through to the Legendary realm, his strength increased constantly, fueled by the countless family members cultivating on his behalf.
"If this aspect evolves to the Legendary level, its powers will likely grow even more unique. Even if not, simply amplifying its current traits would be impressive. And if I can push it to the Epic level, its potential would be astounding."
Muria pondered the possibilities with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. Over time, he had devoted significant effort to refining his aspect, reaching the peak of its potential within the Legendary realm.
However, transcending to the Epic level was an entirely different challenge. The world he inhabited lacked the knowledge and records to guide such advancements. To go beyond, Muria would need to forge a new path, surpassing the limits of the martial arts system.
"At the Epic level, this would likely involve tapping into the unique laws of this world," Muria mused. Achieving such a breakthrough would require accessing the world's primal energy at the moment of his ascension. Yet seeing it and mastering it were two different things.
In this world, acquiring primal energy necessitated the complete eradication of the alien invaders. The conflict between humanity and the alien race was one of irreconcilable survival.
The alien species, having brought remnants of their own world into this one, were impervious to its suppression. The Star Armor World's will naturally rejected the invaders, favoring humanity as its children.
But such favor was not enough to guarantee victory. The war's outcome would hinge on endurance, resources, and population—areas where humanity held the advantage.
Victory would come at a cost, however. Even if humanity triumphed, the scars left by the war, and the devastation wrought by the alien kings, could plunge the world into an apocalyptic state.
"An Epic-level aspect could tip the balance," Muria thought, his resolve strengthening. "The path is difficult, but it's one worth walking."
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