Chapter 16: Preparations and Graduation
Date: 5 February 2560 (present-day)
Earth, Astellas continent, Hunter state, sector 9
Within the streets of Sector 9, a speeding car could be seen. Its destination was the sector's nearly created portal station. It was the closest one to their location. Due to the massive increase of people using realm tunnels in the past few years. The federation has created multiple facilities that function like airports. But instead of people going to board planes, they would go to use a realm tunnel portal.
These places were heavily manned by Federation soldiers and had everything that was needed to transport both people and larger items. Within the speeding car, a father-son pair could be seen. The middle-aged man by the driver's seat had short hair with a well-trimmed beard. He wore a specialized combat suit that gave him great defense while not hindering his movements.
He wore glasses that added an intellectual charm to his face. The young man beside him was hastily fixing the suit he wore. He had a decently looking face that gave him a very honest appearance. His slightly longer hair was tied into a bun. "Why did you have to oversleep? Now look at us." Jack said with irritation in his voice "My bad I spent all night training and got very tired" Samuel said with a yawn.
"Your apology doesn't make things better. Do you know how bad it looks for a leader to show up late for a meeting? Especially this one. We are finally going to conquer the fire salamander's nest" Jack said and proceeded to smack the boy on the head. "hey! I said I was sorry. And besides I trust you guys will get the job done. Sai and I have been planning this for the past few weeks. You guys won't fail" Samuel said with a smile of confidence.
Suddenly a small spherical drone floated out of Jack's pocket. It flashed with some light and the hologram of a beautiful woman appeared. "That is indeed correct Samuel. This plan will 100% be successful. And good morning boys." Said the woman. Her voice was beautiful and pleasing to the ears. She had light brown skin, black hair and blue eyes. Every time Samuel and Jack saw her. They questioned how such a beautiful woman could exist. She looked like she was in her late twenties and was by all means one of the most if not the most beautiful woman both men had ever seen. "Hey Sai, like what you did with the hair today. Looking good" Samuel said with a smile "Good morning Sai." Jack said as well.
"Thanks, Samuel and I'm good on my side. But as for you two. Jack, you are already 5 minutes late. I've told you about punctuality and here you are" Sai with a cool tone. "It wasn't my fault. I was ready a long time ago. It's this brat's fault." Jack said trying to defend himself. "That's no excuse as leader and father you are supposed to make sure everything goes well. I don't want to hear any more excuses is that understood?" Sai said her expression serious.
"Sigh! Yes mam" Jack said feeling like a victim. Samuel chuckled at his dad's misfortune "Samuel fix your collar, you are going to your friend's graduation ceremony. You have to look proper. And make sure to wear your glasses" Sai ordered. Samuel quickly did as told and replied " Yes mam. Everything's good." He said while wearing some black sunglasses.
"Good boy, as for you party leader. You have 5 minutes if you aren't by the meeting area you will regret it" Sai said. Her tone was gentle when talking to Samuel but got very strict when talking with Jack. Her hologram vanished and it returned to Jack's pocket. The father-son pair then looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"This woman is crazy," Jack said. Ever since she had entered their lives it felt like a missing part had finally been filled. They didn't know how to explain it. "How did we reach this point? She used to be so shy at first now she's so bossy." Jack said with a smile. " Yeah it's crazy but it's not bad. She's made life that much more brighter " Samuel said. Jack only smiled at his words and then soon arrived at the portal station.
Samuel had never known his mother because she died during childbirth. But the appearance of Sai in his life. Has given him a motherly figure and he liked it. But he would never say it out loud, especially in front of Jack. He knew his dad and also knew how much he loved his mother Sara. He'd caught him enough times late at night staring at her pictures to know he still missed her.
So Samuel would never say anything to make Jack feel like someone was taking the place that rightfully belonged to Sara.
The two drove into the facility and were led to one of the larger portals that allowed them to go in with their car. Samuel exited the car and went to one of the smaller portals. He said his goodbye as Jack went into the portal. The golden light within it that represents its connection to Nexus made Samuel sigh. It was almost time for him to go to Nexus. After all yesterday he finally completed his mission.
[You have successfully completed your mission.
Mission: master the basic abilities of your Karna. (Progress: 100%)
Rewards: 1. First teleportation to Nexus will bring you to a suitable apocalypse zone
2. +5% Mythos compatibility
Time until forceful teleportation: 40 hours, 14 minutes, 12 seconds]
The moment he finished the mission he felt a wave of gentle energy strengthening his Karna. It was finally stable and no longer in pain due to his training and the mission reward strengthened it further. His previously dim star now glowed with a stable and bright light. A clear sign that it was now stronger. He felt the quantity of his mythos increase and his Karna could finally store its own Mythos. Karna users have 2 Mythos energy pools. One in themselves and the other in their Karna. This allowed them to effectively use their abilities without unnecessary strain.
Once Samuel got the extra 5% Mythos compatibility. He was able to sense his Karna much better. Their bond deepened and he could tell that his Mythos compatibility was less the 1% before. Due to the damage he suffered that day. But once he mastered its abilities it reached 1% That's what stabilized his Karna and its star. Plus the increase in his compatibility rate made his Karna get stronger.
Samuel made his way towards the portal that would lead to planet Solomon. Today Rick, Blessed and Billy are graduating. Of course, he was going to be there.
Unfortunately, Tina and Jennifer were still on a mission in Nexus and would only be back tomorrow. Because of the over 40 hours left before he would go to Nexus, he was able to come to see his friends on their special day.
Samuel arrived by the portal. He soon entered it and within a few seconds, he appeared on the other side. This new portal he exited was within the Celestial Academy. Samuel did not waste time and headed towards the closest staff member. The man's appearance was clear in his senses. From his hair to the clothes he wore. Samuel could see him perfectly and everyone around him. Only his surroundings were still in darkness.
He could sense anyone that was within a 90-meter radius of him in all directions. "Excuse me sir I'm here for the graduation ceremony," Samuel said to the man. The staff member was a little surprised but he answered politely "Oh I see. Who are you here for?" the man asked. "Billy Smith, Rick Bachmann and Blessed Lunga," Samuel said. The man checked something on a Tablet and then said "Everything's good, take this token and follow its map to reach the hall where the ceremony will take place"
Samuel smiled and accepted it. This token wasn't just a map it was proof that you weren't trespassing. The token was clearly shown in his senses.
He could now also see items that were in contact with other people. So once it was handed to him it still stayed in his senses. Samuel then went on his way, but he suddenly stopped as a unique aura caught his attention. Around 50 meters away from him he sensed an individual that was definitely not human.
The man had a horn on his forehead. Samuel stopped in his tracks, it was clear to him that this guy was a Vashin. 'Isn't that a Vashin? How is a Vashin walking in the academy and no one is saying anything' Samuel thought. But little did he know that his senses gave him the ability to see through disguises. The Vashin he saw clear as day looked like a regular human to everyone else.
He was about to ask the staff member about it when his senses caught multiple Vashin arriving near the realm tunnels. 'What the hell is going on' he thought with panic.
…
Within one of the classrooms of the Celestial Academy, many students could be seen. All of them were full of smiles and having casual conversations. One group of students stood out amongst the rest. Billy, Rick, and 5 more other students could be seen.
"Damn man I can't wait to see the look on Samuel's face when he sees me in the top 3," Billy said with a smile. "You just want to flex, don't you do enough of that regularly here," Rick said with a chuckle. "This Samuel guy is that friend of yours you told us about, the one who's still on Earth," said a short orange-haired girl. "Yeah, you guys always talk about him like his some genius. Why didn't he come to the academy" Said another boy with curly hair.
The other students were 2 boys and 3 girls. They were all curious about this so-called Samuel. But Billy and Rick never tell them much about him. "Of course his a genius. Unfortunately, some very special circumstances keep him away from the academy. But I assure you his an incredible guy" Billy said with a bright smile.
The others didn't trust his words as he was known for exaggerating things. "Billy isn't lying. Samuel is a good person. If it weren't for him we wouldn't be here." Rick said quietly with a lazy expression. The others got their curiosity peeked. It was always a mystery as to how they had made it to the celestial Academies A tier class and how people from normal families awakened such powerful Karna's.
So hearing that this "Samuel" has something to do with it made them want to know more about him. As the group of students kept talking the sound of massive explosions suddenly reached them. The ground trembled and everyone's expressions became serious. They looked out the windows and saw rising smoke clouds.
Then the sound of emergency alarms rang across the entire academy. The students instantly realized it was serious. They all summoned their Karna and jumped out the windows. Their destination was the source of the explanation.
Billy jumped from building to building with incredible speed, his dragon appeared next to him. Rick had his staff in hand as he flew on a cloud of condensed darkness. Then suddenly a silver flash appeared next to them. The armored figure became clear. It was Blessed looking like a knight straight out of a fairy tale. The boys all nodded at each other and kept going. Their wristwatches then rang with the sound of Sovereign.
"All academy staff that aren't stationed please head to the realm tunnels. All 3rd and 4th year students are to assist them as well. The academy is under attack by the Vashin" Everyone was left speechless. How had the Vashin entered their planet much less the academy grounds without being detected?