The plane landed smoothly on the academy's airstrip. Soldiers and staff in black uniforms guided students off the ramp with practices efficiency. Roman's boots hit the metal floor. At first, he was confused—then understanding dawned. This had once been an island. But over time, it had been renovated, layer by layer, infused with precious materials looted from Origin World expeditions.
Now, what was once just a remote island had grown into an artificial continent. The streets were far cleaner than those of smaller islands like Athkar. But even in this advanced world, beggars hadn't disappeared. Just ahead of him, several knelt near the academy's edge, hands stretched out for food.
A small ache tugged at Roman's chest. He recognised the look in their eyes—not of laziness, but of loss. These weren't locals. Most were once wealthy, powerful even—people from other worlds, now stripped of everything. All they had left was hunger and shame.
After all, Ashtrum I was considered the most peaceful planet within the Ares solar system. And Ares itself, protected by the strongest military force known in the region, was the safest place to live. But poor people from other planet couldn't came here before paying the enormous entry fees. Here, one wouldn't die from frostbite, war, or plague. If death came, it was either by one's own hand or by losing every penny you have.
"Welcome, Cadets" a cold mechanical voice echoed AI, but a person who was covered in machine like arms and machine. Roman stepped in, and the chaos of the outer city faded into the harmony of clean stone paths, levitating transport pods, and instructor drones operated by human hands.
In front of the grand auditorium, a holographic banner displayed the words:"Awakened Batch 9743."
Roman spotted Lily standing under a silver column, her face buried in a digital handbook. He raised a hand in greeting as an announcement boomed across the yard:
"All new cadets, proceed to Classroom Wing Beta-7 for orientation. Tardiness will result in deduction of weekly merits."
Roman sighed. "Hell now i had to do class now."
Roman trudged toward Wing Beta-7 with the rest of the cadets, his boots echoing against the pristine stone floor. The academy grounds were a dizzying mix of futuristic design and classical military austerity—silver trees that pulsed with soft light lined the corridors, while large banners bearing emblems of old Ashtrum Flag in artificial wind.
Statues of legendary Awakened stood like silent guardians, their eyes seemingly watching each new generation with cold judgment.
Inside Beta-7, the classroom was unlike anything Roman had seen. Tiered seating arranged in a semi-circle surrounded a sunken center filled with combat dummies, and a large mana convergence field in the shape of a lotus.
"Take your seats," barked a voice as sharp as a blade.
"From today onward i will be your class teacher, any mission and duty call of yours will directly handle by me."
The voice came from the entrance—firm, sharp, but laced with a sultry undertone that made heads turn instinctively. A tall woman walked in, her steps precise, almost hypnotic.
She wasn't adorned in anything fancy—just a standard-issue military uniform, black with silver trim, regulation-tight—but on her, it fit like a second skin, hugging every curve with unsettling perfection.
Her dark hair was tied in a high bun, not a strand out of place, and her eyes gleamed like polished obsidian, reflecting both disdain and quiet amusement.
Every movement she made was calm, deliberate, and carried the weight of someone who could kill a man before he blinked—and leave him grateful for it.
"My name is Instructor Nlfat Nlatina from Ashtrum III. You all will not forget it."
Roman blinked, trying to keep his expression neutral.But gods, that name—Nlfat Nlatina. His mind betrayed him, whispering the syllables again: Fat Latina. He clenched his jaw. Seriously? Who names their daughter that?
He didn't dare let the smirk rise to his lips. Not here. Not under her gaze. Because despite the name, there was nothing funny about this woman.
Her eyes swept the room again like twin scanners, pausing for the briefest second on Roman, as if she had heard the joke in his head.
He swallowed.
"As cadets of Ares Inter-dimensional Imperial Academy, you are no longer children of your worlds," Nlatina said. "You are soldiers. Weapons. And soon, commanders of forces most of you cannot even imagine."
She stepped into the centre of the lotus field. A hum of Mana pulsed under her boots.
"Before we proceed, you will each demonstrate your current capabilities. One-on-one sparring. No killing blows. Everything else is permitted."