In the monster truck, Darius glanced at Aster while driving.
"I heard the Military College is participating in this year’s National College Ranking Tournament. Judging by how strong you are, you must be one of the participants. Am I right?"
Aster’s expression darkened. "Unfortunately... yeah. I have to participate."
Darius frowned. "You’re not happy about it? Is there a catch? Like someone trying to steal your spot?"
"Nothing like that. It’s actually the opposite."
Darius looked even more confused. "The opposite?"
"Yeah. Actually I don’t want to participate at all. I just want to slack off and live a lazy life, but somehow I keep getting entangled in things like this."
He let out a long sigh. Darius chuckled.
"So you don’t like working hard, huh? Then that’s even more reason to participate in these tournaments. Darius pointed at himself with a grin.
"Look at me. I was rejected by every college because my class was considered trash-tier. I had to work my ass off to build this guild from nothing. But now that I’m the Guild Master, I barely have to do any work. I just enjoy my life while everyone else handles the business."
Aster listened carefully.
"You have both the talent and the opportunity to show the entire world what you’re capable of. Most people never get a chance like this. And the stronger and more famous you become, the more freedom you’ll have to slack off later. After all, the weak are used by others, while the strong have the freedom to do whatever they want."
Aster’s eyes widened as realization struck him.
He’s right... In my previous life, I had the skills, but no company ever gave me the chance to prove myself. They underestimated me and took advantage of me.
Darius continued,"So use your strength to prove your worth. Once the world recognizes what you’re capable of, no one will have the right to tell you what to do."
Aster fell into deep thought.
With my unique class, becoming stronger is much easier than it is for others. Since I’ve already been dragged into all this, I might as well get stronger... and treat these tournaments like a vacation.
A smile finally appeared on his face. He looked at Darius and said sincerely, "Thank you."
Darius laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Don’t mention it, kid."
Soon after, they arrived at Saint Helena Martial Art College.
The massive gates stood proudly before them.
"Alright, this is your destination. I’m off now. See you later, kid."
Darius dropped Aster off at the entrance before driving away.
It was already evening. The sun had nearly disappeared below the horizon, leaving only a faint orange glow in the sky. Despite the darkness, the entire campus was brightly illuminated by countless light artifacts lining the roads and buildings.
Aster walked along the artifact-lit path.
I clearly remember the way...
Five minutes later...
"...Never mind. I’m lost."
"Damn it. Why does this academy have to be so huge? There’s not a single person around to ask for directions. And if I use Palm Strike to scout from above, it’ll probably cause a commotion."
After thinking for a while, Aster sat down on a nearby bench.
"Alright... this should work."
He activated Slumber Domain, allowing his consciousness to enter the Dream Realm. Then he used his newly acquired ability, Dream Archive, recreating the memory of the day Captain Lyra had shown him around the academy.
The scene unfolded around him from a third-person perspective. He could even see his past self walking beside Captain Lyra.
His current consciousness floated high above the recreated memory like a transparent phantom. Curious, he tried touching the surroundings, but his hand passed straight through everything.
"So... all I can do is observe."
Aster carefully watched the route they had taken. After following the memory for several minutes, his eyes lit up.
"Yes! So this is the way to the Artifact Refinement Hall."
Just as he was about to leave the memory, something else caught his attention.
Captain Lyra. She never smiled. Aster tried recalling a single moment where he had seen her smile...
Nothing.
He quietly stared at her expression. The longer he looked, the more familiar it became.
Her emotionless face...
...was almost identical to his own expression from his previous life. A lonely face. One that had long since forgotten how to smile.
"WHO ARE YOU?" A powerful voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.
Aster’s eyes shot open. He immediately found himself back on the bench. Standing directly in front of him was a middle-aged man wearing an instructor’s uniform.
Aster quickly stood up. "I-I’m Aster from Military College."
The instructor examined him for a moment before recognition flashed across his face.
"Aster... Right. You’re the kid who took first place."
His expression immediately turned into one of annoyance.
"What are you doing here?"
"I’m looking for the Artifact Refinement Hall."
"The Artifact Refinement Hall?" The instructor raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"I need to meet a friend there."
"...Fine."
Without another word, the instructor grabbed Aster by the shoulder.
Whoosh!
The next instant, they shot into the sky.
"He can actually fly!" Aster stared at the rapidly shrinking ground beneath them in amazement.
Within moments, they landed in front of a massive building. The instructor gently set Aster down.
"This is the Artifact Refinement Hall. Finish whatever you’re here for and leave as soon as you’re done."
Aster nodded. "Thank you."
The instructor gave him one last glance before soaring back into the sky. Aster turned around and entered the hall.
"This is my first time coming inside. Last time I only saw the storefront outside."
He had imagined a modern laboratory filled with advanced equipment.
Instead...
He saw rows upon rows of blazing furnaces stretched across the hall. The air was thick with the smell of molten metal.
The constant clang!
Clang!
Clang!
of hammers striking steel echoed throughout the building.
"I see..."
"It’s nothing like I expected... but it definitely looks promising."
Aster approached a muscular blacksmith who was hammering a glowing red steel rod.
"Excuse me, sir. Do you happen to know where I can find Leoric Wynne?"
The man scratched his head. "Leoric? Never heard of him."
Before Aster could ask someone else, another craftsman nearby spoke up. "Oh, Leoric? I know where he is. Come with me."
Aster followed him through several corridors until they stopped in front of a workshop.
Knock.
Knock.
The craftsman knocked on the door.
A moment later, it opened.
"Who’s bothering me now"
Leoric stopped mid-sentence the moment he saw Aster.
"...Aster?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, he’s all yours." The craftsman waved before turning around.
"Thanks for showing me the way."
"No problem."
After the man left, Leoric continued staring at Aster with a puzzled expression.
Aster peeked inside the workshop.
The room looked less like a workplace and more like a scrapyard.
Broken weapons, half-finished artifacts, scattered blueprints, gears, metal scraps, and tools covered almost every inch of the floor.
Aster looked back at Leoric and smiled.
"I have a job for you."