ive holographic billboards suspended from the vaulted ceiling replayed high-intensity combat fo

t pillar, glancing at the

3. Assembly

aft window, the academy's automated system had officially dumped him

of cosmic void-storms, but navigating a terminal full of

fortlessly past two burly upperclassmen without brushing a single thread of their coats. As he glided pa

ith messy blond hair was pacing back and

ster yelled, waving both ar

fering a slight, amuse

t, out of breath. "Word on the forum is that you absolut

ally nothing better to do, Kieran though

k, fire-engine-red military hover-bike drifted violently across the polished tiles, s

his leg over the chassis. He wore custom

ng said. He pulled off his tinted visor, pumping a

ely in his pockets. His passive energy field devoured

ned confidence, Kieran noted internally. Did he buy the 'Arrogant

y armored personnel carrier parked nearby. Leaning against the

us?" Kade Tucker's voice sounded li

wn energy surged inside like magma trapped beneath thin rock. Three fractured energy pathways, Kieran analyzed

. "You're nothing but monster bait. The second you slow me down

ieran b

e the vein on Kade's temple throb. He took a heavy, aggres

second, Kieran let a microscopic sliver of his ancient aura slip. Kade's beast instincts scr

sement. With those blocked arteries, you're three angry stomps away from a massive car

high heels broke

ulders hunched, while the female wore an immaculate, perfectly tailore

?" Talia Reynolds complained, waving a manicured hand in fron

nty minutes ago, but oka

ured a soft, pathetic plea

arming smile. "My apologies, my lady. Ma

ieran. She took in his sharp bone structure and

netic dead-end. No wonder your engagement was broken. You were thrown away like garbage-just a pathetic, broken toy. Hon

ly. A few travelers waiting at nearby

line," a passing mercenar

lling him to kill himself? These noble kids are psycho," a wom

nd the murmurs of the crowd, Kieran'

of introductions? Kieran mused, genuinely impressed by her audacity. Ten out o

face flushed beet-red with anger, his fists clenching

against the boy's collarbone, sending a microscopic pulse of absolute-zero energy into Leo's ne

fering his friend a mild, calming smi

g of these low-dimensional children was nothing more than the squirm

ace ordered, clapping his hands togethe

t a leisurely pace. Kade threw a hesitant, profoundly fearful look over his sho

port announcer chimed again. Its cheerful tone was

ced. Unstable spatial rifts and anomalous Grade-S energy signat

en, suffocating spike in atmosphe

spheric pressure made his eyes narrow. It wasn't just a shift in the