Chapter 11: The Engine of Change
Today was 25 September, year 2531 of the All Calendar.
In this New World, the ancient cycles of Earth held little relevance. The cycle of day and night was unnervingly similar all year round, the moon's influence was gone, and the sun only appeared once a month. Humanity, one of the now-prominent Phosphorus Races, had survived countless destructive events, but much of its history and culture had been lost. Yet, the Old Calendar—a mere timetable of the forgotten Earth—had somehow endured.
For Fighter, today wasn't special, but the year was crucial. According to the lore of [Lightning Boy's Adventure], this was the year the Main Protagonist (MC) would enter the United Central Academy (UCA).
The Path of the MC
Fighter's primary, overarching goal was to align himself with the MC. There were many reasons for this, but the most pressing was to thwart the plan of personaX—the unknown entity who had transmigrated him into this world.
Plot Armor Protection: Fighter reasoned that by sticking close to the MC, he could leverage the protagonist's inherent plot armor and survive events that would normally kill him.
A Center of Influence: He needed to be at the center of the coming changes. The MC, known in the later stages of the novel as the "Great Change," was the single most destabilizing and transformative force in their world.
'I will invest in the MC,' Fighter thought, a flicker of excitement lighting his eyes despite his foul appearance.
Fighter had been through a harrowing journey, crawling out of the Human Void, dealing with his new body, and the realization that he was a Story Bearer without a System. Now, the weight of his filth, hunger, and feverish exhaustion seemed momentarily lifted by this singular, electrifying goal.
Fighter: "I will invest in the MC. I will be in the center of the change. A great change, the change with the power to rewrite new history."
Fighter was an isolated island in the bustling station. He reeked of stale blood, pus, vomit, and the general decay of the Human Void. His occasional, intense mumbling and abrupt silences—the internal debate with Rechel and the rush of his new plans—made him appear entirely unhinged. The commuters gave him a wide berth, their Auras shimmering and retreating as he approached, as if the energy fields themselves were trying to avoid contamination. They saw a madman covered in filth, patiently waiting.
Fighter waited for the Air Train.
The Air Train
The Air Train was a masterpiece of Magitec, a fusion of magic and technology that defined this new world.
It was the fastest man-made vehicle, capable of reaching speeds between 900 and 1,245 kilometers per hour. The journey to UCA would take between six and seven hours.
After five agonizing minutes of waiting, the train arrived.
It was a magnificent, unbelievable sight that instantly eclipsed any memory of Earth's historic rail lines, such as the Orient Express or the Trans-Siberian Express. The Air Train was immense. Its front carriage was shaped like a huge, gleaming cylinder, and its body was painted in a bold color scheme of black, yellow, and green.
As the colossal vehicle came to a smooth, silent halt, its sheer majesty was unforgettable. Fighter, despite his profound exhaustion, felt a surge of awe.