Snow fell endlessly from the dull gray sky, a relentless blizzard that showed no sign of stopping. Yet instead of raging winds and violent howls, the snow drifted down in a slow, gentle hush, like a quiet breath exhaled by the heavens.
Nova and Noah stepped out of the station and were greeted by the calm storm. Snow clung to Nova's hair and fell his shoulders, melting into his jacket. It also buried the tips of his shoes. The cold bit at the exposed skin of his neck, yet he barely reacted.
Beside him, Noah wore only a light blue T-shirt and simple pants. He walked as though the storm were warm sunlight.
Noah glanced sideways and gave a small nod. "Your resistance to the cold has improved."
"It's because of your training," Nova replied, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
Noah said nothing as he continued walking forward and Nova followed closely behind. As they walked along the crowded sidewalks, Nova stared at the city. Even under a blizzard, the streets buzzed with life. Compared to Helid, the population here was much larger.
"Uncle Noah… why are there so many people?"
"This region turned into a commercial hub," Noah replied quietly.
Nova frowned. "Why only the northern region? Shouldn't the whole planet become a commercial planet?"
Noah glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "Every region will become a commercial hub soon." He paused before adding, "Why do you think they added a new planet to the MPU?"
"Oh… that explains it."
"..."
"So if this is a commercial hub… which region does he lives in now? And why didn't we take a STT there?" Nova wondered.
"The west," Noah suddenly said as though he had heard Nova's thought.
Nova blinked. "huh?"
"We're going to the western region."
"…Then why didn't we take the STT there?"
"Only local STT operate in the west."
"Ohh..."
They continued walking until they reached a junction and hailed a cab. Minutes later, the cab stopped at the foot of a massive hill that looked more like a small mountain.
Nova stepped out… and froze.
Its slopes were swallowed by snow and jagged stone. A narrow path carved its way upward like a scar across the hill, lined with more than a hundred steps.
Dark lines practically etched themselves across Nova's face.
Noah paid for the ride with his card. He stepped out and noticed Nova still staring upward.
"What are you waiting for?" he walked toward Nova.
"I know you like mountains and scenery and all that… but why so many steps?" Nova stared at the long steps in front of him.
"Stop complaining. You know this helps your stamina. And it's only seven hundred steps."
Nova stared at him.
"It's only five hundred more than the old house."
Nova noticed a faint hint of sadness in Noah's voice and didn't like it. He knew if it were possible, his uncle would buy an entire mountain. Thankfully, the MPU didn't sell things like mountains or forests.
Without another word, Noah began climbing.
Nova sighed and followed.
Nova reached the top but his breathing remained steady. He looked completely unfazed.
"You climbed the steps easily. Yet earlier you where whining like a little girl."
Nova avoided Noah's gaze as he felt a little embarrassed. They walked through the snow swallowed the whole hill then they finally arrived in front of a massive house. It was somewhere between a mansion and a penthouse.
"Since when does Uncle Noah like luxury?" Nova wondered staring at the house.
After entering, Noah showed Nova to his room, and Nova immediately collapsed onto the bed.
•••
"Hmmm," Nova grumbled, his voice filled with sleep as he was woken by his uncle, Noah.
"Get up, training," Noah said.
"No training... sleep," Nova mumbled turning away from Noah as he pulled the blanket to cover himself.
Nova suddenly sensed something wrong as he felt an overwhelming aura.
"Oh shit!"
Nova knew it was his Uncle behind him, he shot off the bed, dashing out of the room. Seeing this, Noah couldn't help but shake his head as the aura around him vanished, he then followed after Nova.
Noah entered a room where Nova was already in the midst of pushups, situps, squats and various others.
"Nova, eight more sets and twenty laps around the room," Noah instructed "Then pick a sword and take your stance."
He then moved to a pillow in the corner of the room and assumed a lotus position, meditating.
Nova did a set consisting of a hundred push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and more. He completed the eight sets as instructed and after the eighth set he began the twenty laps around the room. The hall stretched roughly fifty meters long and seventy meters wide.
After twenty laps, his face remained dry. His breathing stayed calm and even.
Training like this was nothing compared to the hellish regimen Noah forced him through on Planet Herya. He couldn't slack off even for a day. The AI maid monitored everything under Noah command.
Nova walked over to a wall in the room, it was filled with swords, spears, bows, arrows and more. He grabbed a sword and stepped into the center of the room taking his stance.
"I'm ready Uncle Noah... uhm I mean Sensei,"
Noah didn't respond, he picked up the remote next to him and pressed a button. A figure suddenly emerged from a corner of the room. Long metallic claws scraped against the floor as it approached and stopped just four feet away from where Nova was standing.
A combat training AI.
"Sensei... why the bot? It's been three years now, can't I spar with you?" Nova asked looking confused.
"Defeat the bot first," Noah replied calmly.
Nova swallowed his protest as he glared at the combat bot in front of him, his gaze cold. The bot stood in his way from sparing against Noah.
He dashed forward and struck the bot. Sparks burst as the claws crossed to block the attack.
Nova spun and kicked the bot's side. His leg was instantly caught, but he twisted and launched a second kick, smashing into the bot's face and forcing it backward.
Noah just remained stoic, still sitting cross-legged and seemingly enjoying his tea.
"You don't like that... sensei?!" Nova said inwardly as he once again lunged at the bot.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal echoed through the room as they clashed relentlessly. Nova's movements were sharp and fluid. His hair fell across his face but didn't block his vision.
With a powerful strike, he severed the claws on the bot's left hand.
Nova stepped back and inhaled slowly. He then threw his sword to the ground. And this piqued Noah's curiosity as he dropped his cup and placed his focus more on the match.
"If this was three years ago, I wouldn't be so bold to try this. And I wasn't even fighting a high level combat like this at the time." he sighed inwardly as he thought to himself. "I don't want to drag this long enough so I wouldn't bore him. Time to end this!"
Nova shot forward and so did the bot. Its claws sliced through the air, missing him by inches. Nova's fist slammed into its torso, launching it across the room.
Noah's expression instantly changed to one of shock, but Nova didn't see it as he lunged forward at the bot.
His hands shot forward grabbing the throat of the bot and—
BOOM!
He slammed the bot hard to the floor, succefully winning the match.
Nova helped the bot up and turned toward Noah with a hopeful smile.
But Noah's face had already returned to his calm mask, while his mind was anything but calm.
"If I'm not mistaken… that's only a tiny fraction of his power. The Nexus Lock is weakening. But how did I miss it? And how is he using cosmic power? Does he even know?"
His thoughts spiraled.
"Uncle Noah?"
Noah blinked back to reality.
"Yes?" he calmly replied.
"So… how did I do? Do I get to spar with you?"
Noah said nothing, he stood up calmly and walked to the weapon rack, and picked up a sword. Then he returned to the center of the room.
"Pick up your sword and take your stance."