Chapter 1 – The Beginning of Delay
第一章:迟到的开始
Linevar City, Year 4500 — Three Years After the CosmicFalls.
莱因瓦市,4500年 —— 宇宙坠落后三年.
The orange light of a metal-tainted sky leaked through the cracked third-floor window of a crumbling apartment.
满是金属气味的橙光透过破旧公寓三楼的窗户洒落进来.
Military sirens and transport drones screamed faintly in the distance, echoing the flow of time that waited for no one.
远处传来军方警报与运输无人机的尖啸,仿佛在提醒——时间从不等人.
"RYZE!!"
"莱兹!!"
The shout thundered from the kitchen, shaking what was meant to be a peaceful morning.
厨房里爆发出的喊声震撼了原本宁静的早晨.
"Your national exam is today, idiot! It's two minutes to seven!"
"你今天考试啊,蠢货!现在都快七点了!"
On a dusty bed, a seventeen-year-old boy with messy black hair jolted up.
一名十七岁的黑发少年从床上猛地弹起.
Ryze Aether—he gasped and looked at the red digital clock. 06:58.
莱兹·艾瑟喘着气,看向墙上的红色电子钟——06:58.
"Damn it," he muttered, throwing on his battle academy uniform in a panic.
"糟了."他低声咒骂,一边慌忙穿上格斗学院的制服.
Without breakfast, he grabbed his ID from the drawer and kicked the door open.
来不及吃饭,他一把抓起身份卡,一脚踢开房门.
The apartment stairs reeked of rust and hummed with the low buzz of a backup generator.
公寓楼梯间弥漫着锈味,低频的备用发电声嗡嗡作响.
As Ryze rushed through the hallway, three shadows blocked his path.
正当他奔向楼梯口时,三个黑影拦住了他.
Grinning.
笑得讥讽.
> "Hey, Ryze. Captain Arven says you should skip today's exam. Justice for the galaxy, he said."
"嘿,莱兹.阿尔文队长说你最好别参加今天的考试.他说这是为了银河的正义."
Ryze scoffed. "Tell Arven I'll surpass him without kissing anyone's ass."
莱兹冷哼:"告诉阿尔文,我不会靠拍马屁就超过他."
"Big words." One of them lunged forward, aura swirling on his fist.
"嘴巴倒是挺大."其中一人挥拳冲上,拳头缠绕着淡淡的灵气.
But Ryze was gone. In a blink, he twisted the attacker's arm and slammed him down.
然而莱兹早已消失.他身影如影如魅,一瞬间扭住对方的手臂将其摔倒.
In two seconds, the three were groaning on the floor.
两秒钟后,三人全躺在地上呻吟.
> "National exam, bro," Ryze said, running down the stairs.
"考试时间到了,兄弟."莱兹头也不回地冲下楼梯.
07:16.
07:16.
He pounded the exam room door just before it closed automatically.
他在系统自动关门前猛敲考试室的门.
A bald instructor glared at him.
一名光头监考官怒视着他.
> "Ryze Aether. Sixteen minutes late. Quarter grade penalty."
"莱兹·艾瑟.迟到十六分钟,成绩扣四分之一."
> "Fine," Ryze replied flatly.
"没关系."莱兹淡淡地答道.
> "Enter."
"进去吧."
The room was silent. Holograms flickered, fingers tapped glass.
教室寂静无声,只有全息影像闪烁与指尖敲击声.
All eyes turned to him—some in disgust, others in curiosity.
所有人都看着他——有人厌恶,有人好奇.
But Ryze sat calmly and began the test.
但莱兹沉稳地坐下,开始操作光屏.
After the exam, the sun had risen high.
考试结束后,太阳已升得老高.
He walked home through narrow alleys.
他穿过狭窄的小巷返回家中.
As usual, trouble wasn't done with him.
麻烦还没放过他.
A group of upper-class students blocked his path—Arven among them.
一群高级班的学生拦住了他——阿尔文就在其中.
> "How are you still standing? My men were supposed to take care of that."
"你怎么还在?我不是让人阻止你了吗?"
Ryze stared blankly. "Told you—I don't kneel to the weak."
莱兹面无表情:"我说过——我不会向弱者低头."
Arven struck, but Ryze struck first.
阿尔文出拳,但莱兹抢先出手.
Aura clashed. Dust rose. Residents slammed their windows shut—just another day in Linevar.
灵气相撞,尘土飞扬.居民关上窗户——这对莱因瓦来说太常见了.
Inside an unmarked black military vehicle, a spectacled man watched the fight.
一辆无标记的黑色军车内,一位戴眼镜的男子盯着战斗画面.
> "Basic technique… but interesting speed. Name?"
"基础还行...但速度很有趣.名字?"
> "Ryze Aether," his assistant replied.
"莱兹·艾瑟."助手答道.
The man smiled. He stepped out of the vehicle.
男子微笑,走下军车.
The fight ended in two minutes.
战斗在两分钟内结束.
Ryze stood, panting slightly.
莱兹站起,微微喘息.
> "Ryze Aether," the man called.
"莱兹·艾瑟."那人喊道.
> "This is my card. You belong in the military. If you ever want more than grades and bullying, contact me."
"这是我的卡片.你属于军方.如果你想要比分数和被欺负更多的东西,联系我."
> "I'll consider it. After talking to my family."
"我会考虑的.但得先和家人商量."
At home, his sister Felyn glared.
在家里,妹妹费琳皱着眉看着他.
> "Fighting again, Ryze? The neighbors saw everything!"
"你又打架了?邻居都看到了!"
> "None of your business."
"不关你的事."
He went straight to his room.
他直接回了房间.
Undressed. Showered. Stared out the window.
脱衣,洗澡,望窗外.
Linevar glowed under metal-filtered skies.
莱因瓦在金属般的天空下泛着幽光.
He sat cross-legged. Closed his eyes.
他盘膝而坐,闭上双眼.
> [Cosmic Cultivation Mode: Activated]
[宇宙修炼模式:已激活]
[Void Energy: 12%]
[虚空能量:12%]
[Status: Initial Recovery]
[状态:初始恢复阶段]
He inhaled slowly. It was time to shut out the world—and awaken something deeper.
他缓缓吸气.是时候关掉世界,唤醒更深的自己了.