Star Calendar Year 717.
Hu Ying Star, Maple Leaf City, Yucai High School, Class 1–2.
> "In the first year of the Star Calendar, humanity entered the interstellar era. The first lightspeed ship, Explorer, discovered Thundercloud Star, confirming the existence of extraterrestrial intelligent life. The Third Type of Contact officially began…"
The history teacher, Olivia, wore a fitted black blazer on top and sheer black stockings over her long legs. The slight dip at her chest revealed a breathtaking curve, the pale smoothness of her skin making several boys subconsciously swallow hard.
Even James, who had been zoning out, had to admit—this teacher was a stunning beauty, one that hit the sweet spot of most teenage boys.
For most adolescents awakening to desire, the allure of a mature woman far outshone that of a youthful girl.
Olivia's voice was soft and melodious, yet carried a subtle gravity as she continued,
> "Thus began the Age of Great Interstellar Discovery. In the same year, the Blue Star Federation was founded, ushering humanity into its most glorious and radiant age—until…"
Her eyes glimmered, and she suddenly called out,
> "James, please tell the class about the Day of Catastrophe."
James jolted slightly and stood up.
> "Yes, Teacher."
He appeared around sixteen or seventeen, slim, wearing Yucai High's white uniform shirt. There was a certain youthful energy about him, though his eyes showed a trace of doubt and unease.
> "I… have transmigrated…"
A storm raged in James's heart. He had once been an ordinary office worker on Earth, overworked and exhausted, his only hobby being to read novels. Who would have thought that after dozing off while reading one night, he'd wake up sitting in a futuristic classroom?
The vivid surroundings and the new set of memories in his mind left him utterly bewildered.
Still, he was naturally calm under pressure. He'd been silently observing and digesting his memories—until the teacher caught on.
> "I thought my daydreaming skills were perfected back in college… yet I still got caught. Blue Star Federation? Is this Earth's future? Did I travel to another world—or another time?"
Confusion filled him, but a classmate nudged him, pulling him back to reality. Drawing on the memories in his mind, he began to speak:
> "The Day of Catastrophe began in Star Calendar Year 112. At that time, the Blue Star Federation had already discovered over a hundred life-bearing planets. Interstellar exploration was the most popular pursuit—each explorer was a celebrity. Humanity enjoyed the fruits of this golden age of discovery and technological explosion… until November 1st.
> Explorer Jack discovered Canine Star, home to the warlike and savage Canine Tribe. They annihilated an entire fleet and hacked into the AI system to obtain Blue Star's coordinates, launching a full-scale war against the Federation…"
> "By Year 119, the Federation's forces counterattacked and defeated the Canine Tribe on their home planet. But when they cleansed the tribe's temple, they discovered that these bloodthirsty yet technologically advanced beings were actually the servants of another interstellar race—the Ross Tribe. And beyond the Ross Tribe existed entities even more terrifying!"
> "Facing an even crueler trial, humanity entered a war that lasted for centuries. Later, through a federal citizen vote, the 'All-Knowing Brain' decreed November 1st as the Day of Catastrophe…"
James spoke fluently.
> "Excellent. Please take your seat,"
Olivia nodded, giving him a "you passed" look before her voice turned solemn again:
> "We once believed that the dominant races of the universe were civilized—like the Rock Giants or the Wooden Star People. But after the Day of Catastrophe, we realized that in the dark jungle of the cosmos, madness is the norm. The Canine Tribe, and those behind them, are the true cancers of the universe!"
> "Through centuries of war, our Blue Star Federation paid a heavy price. Yet even so, our civilization has never bowed to the outer gods!"
---
After sitting down, James still felt dazed.
The textbook in his hands looked like ordinary paper but was weightless and slightly translucent—a kind of holographic projection.
On its cover were the words:
"Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Races."
Flipping through it, he found the page on the Canine Tribe. The illustration was blurred, as if intentionally obscured, but its outline resembled a humanoid dog's head.
Beneath it was a classification tag:
"Lower Servant Class."
The next few pages depicted a shadowy, mist-like figure labeled "Ross Tribe – Upper Vassal Class."
> "Outer God's Vassal…" James murmured to himself.
In the vast depths of space lurked the Outer Gods—beings dwelling across incomprehensible dimensions, embodying insanity and terror. They stood above all alien vassals and civilizations, ancient and unspeakable foes of both the Blue Star Federation and other advanced species.
Even their servants and minions possessed power sufficient to annihilate entire early-stage civilizations.
Yet, they were not invincible—otherwise, the Federation would have perished long ago.
James turned to the final page. An image appeared—a dark, extinguished star.
Beside it was a note:
> "Star Devourer — Keg'Tureim. Its true body is a stellar mass. The first Outer God ever slain by the Blue Star Federation. Classification: Lower Dominator."
> "Lower? So even Outer Gods have ranks? The Federation must have included this in textbooks to boost morale… but that extinguished star definitely isn't its real form. Such beings are said to be 'unseeable'—any human who looks upon them loses their sanity. Even their subordinates spread madness like a contagion. Scientists speculate that this 'blind frenzy' might come from a shared origin—or perhaps from worshiping a single source… but if that's true, it's terrifying. It would mean that beyond the Outer Gods, there exists an even higher being… something like a Creator."
He pondered deeply.
Just then, the class bell rang.
> "That's all for today's lesson. Goodbye, students~"
Olivia smiled and waved. Her figure shimmered—and vanished.
> "Ah, another projection…"
James's deskmate, Noah, groaned.
The textbook in James's hand dissolved as well, confirming it. The Federation's teachers and materials were all holographic projections—yet the realism was far beyond any 3D simulation.
Noah, the same age as him, had a slightly receding hairline and some acne on his cheeks.
> "I don't get it," he complained. "Didn't the Federation say the 'Knowledge Injection Device' was already perfected? Why do we still have to attend school? Total waste of time! I'd rather be working to pay off my debt and buy out my apartment…"
James sighed.
> "Because the next class is Martial Arts. That can't be taught by projection. Even the most advanced hologram can't simulate Martial Will. The human mind is more complex than any science. And as for direct mind-injection learning—there are still safety and ethical risks. Imagine if some cultist tampered with the educational data—disaster."
> "Ethics, huh…?" Noah snorted. "We 'bio-humans' don't really have much right to talk about ethics, do we?"
James fell silent.
According to his inherited memories—alongside technological advancement, human reproductive norms had shifted drastically.
After the Day of Catastrophe, with war, aging populations, and declining birth rates, the Blue Star Federation passed laws encouraging citizens to donate eggs and sperm for state-controlled gestation and upbringing.
Children born this way were called Bio-Humans, while those conceived naturally were Naturals.
> "So I'm basically an orphan by default?"
James couldn't help but sigh internally.
> "At least it's only external gestation—like a test-tube baby—so not too bad. The Federation didn't go as far as cloning or genetic engineering. Come to think of it, my biological parents might still be alive… maybe even high-ranking officials if they had top-tier genes."
And why would they be high-ranking?
Because in the Federation, the better your genes, the more you're worth cultivating.
Just like on old Earth—if someone had the choice, they'd pick the sperm or eggs of Nobel laureates or Olympic champions.
But James's true despair lay in this:
He was born in debt.
Every bio-human owed the Federation a massive "child-rearing fee" from birth. If they reached adulthood without repaying it, they were forcibly assigned to government work—usually as front-line soldiers.
As he lamented this, the classroom suddenly shifted.
The desks and chairs sank into the ground, replaced by smooth flooring.
Moments later, a tall, muscular man in a sweat-soaked military-green shirt strode in. His body exuded raw strength and discipline.
The instant their eyes met, James felt a chill run through him.
> "This man… he's no hologram. He's real. And powerful—a martial artist. According to my memories, he's our martial arts instructor, Mike. I wonder what level he's at?"
In this world, after contact with higher alien civilizations, the ancient martial arts of Blue Star had evolved anew—becoming the most common path of human advancement. Martial Artists were now one of the most widespread professions.
James lowered his gaze, but in his heart, anticipation flickered.
(End of Chapter 1)