49,847
CRASH!
A girl's water bottle slipped from nerveless fingers, shattering on the floor. The sound went completely unnoticed.
Silence.
Absolute, crushing silence that pressed down like physical weight.
Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. Nobody could process what they'd just witnessed.
"F-f-forty-nine..." someone stammered, unable to complete the number.
"FORTY-NINE THOUSAND?!" Another voice cracked like breaking glass.
"That's... that's peak Tier 2 Warrior combat power!" Theron, the newly certified Tier 2, stared with his mouth hanging open. "I only achieved 21,000! He's at LV2 with DOUBLE my combat capability?!"
Selene stood frozen, documents forgotten in her hands. Her professional composure had evaporated completely.
Garrick made a sound like a dying animal—half wheeze, half sob. His entire worldview was crumbling in real-time.
Kaelith's ice-blue eyes had gone wide with genuine shock. In her previous life, she'd never heard of anyone achieving this level of combat power at LV2.
Fifty thousand combat power at LV2... that's impossible. Even with the absolute best equipment, the most expensive genetic enhancements, the highest-grade techniques... the mathematical limits shouldn't allow this.
Who IS this person?
This wasn't in my previous timeline. He's a complete unknown. An anomaly.
Her mind raced. Could he be another regressor? Someone else who returned from the future? Or something else entirely?
Through the consciousness link, Vaelor's main body registered Kaelith's intense scrutiny with interest.
She's analyzing me with far more depth than a simple talented teenager should possess. Her reaction pattern suggests... familiarity with power scaling that exceeds normal experience. Interesting.
The staff member finally found her voice, though it emerged as barely more than a whisper. "C-combat power assessment... passed. Far, far exceeded minimum requirement."
She fumbled with the badge storage, nearly dropping the container. "C-congratulations on achieving... Tier 1 Warrior certification. Though, ah, with this combat power you could technically challenge for Tier 2 certification immediately if you desired..."
"Tier 1 is sufficient for now," Vaelor said calmly, accepting the badge. "I'll advance the certification when I reach appropriate levels."
When I reach appropriate levels, several people thought hysterically. You're ALREADY beyond appropriate levels!
Selene approached on trembling legs. "The, ah, the Genius Development Fund... 100,000 points for certification before eighteen..."
"I'll claim it, thank you."
"Of course. Please, please follow me..."
As Vaelor departed to process paperwork, the testing area remained frozen in shocked silence.
Finally, Garrick released a long, shuddering breath. "I need to retire. I'm going to become a farmer. Martial arts is clearly not for my generation."
"I'm with you," someone agreed weakly. "These kids are playing a completely different game than us."
Theron, the Tier 2 warrior, just shook his head slowly. "The examination rankings this year are going to be absolutely terrifying. If there are multiple prodigies like these two..."
He didn't finish the thought. He didn't need to.
Kaelith studied Vaelor through narrowed eyes as he completed his registration.
Fifty thousand combat power. LV2. Unknown origin. Not in my previous timeline's records.
I need to investigate him. Carefully. If he's another regressor, we could potentially cooperate. If he's something else...
I need to determine whether he's an ally or an obstacle to preventing the apocalypse.
Vaelor, naturally, was acutely aware of her attention. Through Absolute Insight, he could practically feel her analytical gaze dissecting him from across the room.
She's definitely more than she appears. That level of scrutiny isn't normal. I should keep track of her.
Another prodigy to watch during the examination.
Warrior Association - Branch President's Office
After completing all paperwork and receiving fund disbursements, both Vaelor and Kaelith departed the Warrior Association within minutes of each other.
Inside the administrative wing, Selene carried two registration files up the stairs, her heels clicking against polished marble. She knocked twice on an ornate door before entering.
"Branch President Aldwyn, I have the information on the two high school students who passed Tier 1 Warrior registration today. Both applied for the Genius Development Fund."
Branch President Aldwyn Stormheart—a distinguished man in his fifties with salt-and-pepper hair and the bearing of someone who'd survived countless battlefields—looked up from the tactical reports he'd been reviewing.
"Oh? In addition to the prodigies from the Wintercrown and Ashford families, there are other high school students who managed to become warriors before the examination?" His interest was genuine. "Let me see."
Selene placed both files on his desk. Aldwyn picked up the first one, eyes scanning the information.
"Kaelith Frostborn... is she the illegitimate daughter of Silverpeak Conglomerate's late CEO?" He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Awakened A-Rank talent, Medic profession. Combat power of 6,947. Tut tut... everyone seems to have drastically underestimated this girl."
He set aside her file and picked up the second.
"Vaelor Draeth, common Shadow Reaper profession, E-Rank talent, combat power value of..." His eyes widened dramatically. "49,847?!"
Aldwyn looked up sharply at Selene. "Are you absolutely certain these numbers are correct?"
"I had him test twice to be sure," Selene confirmed, though her voice carried a note of disbelief even now. "The results were consistent. There's no error."
"Dear gods..." Aldwyn leaned back in his chair, staring at the file as if it might suddenly make more sense. "Peak Tier 2 combat power at LV2. With an E-Rank talent and common profession classification."
His eyes narrowed with decades of experience reading between lines. "Which means his official awakening data is almost certainly falsified. Nobody achieves these parameters with E-Rank talent. He's hiding his true capabilities."
"Smart boy," Aldwyn murmured approvingly. "After the Abyss Cultist attacks during awakening ceremonies, concealing exceptional talent is the wise choice."
He set down the file and made his decision. "Give them both the standard genius fund—100,000 points each. But add an additional Essence Cultivation Elixir to each disbursement. Consider it an investment in the future."
Selene's eyebrows rose with surprise, but she nodded professionally. "Yes, Branch President. I understand."
Essence Cultivation Elixirs were premium genetic medicines worth 50,000 points each on the open market. They accelerated vitality refinement and helped break through cultivation bottlenecks. The Association rarely provided them except to warriors who'd demonstrated exceptional merit or potential.
"Also," Aldwyn added, his tone becoming more serious, "make note of both names in our priority watch list. If either enters dangerous situations or requests Association assistance, we respond immediately. These two represent the kind of talent that shapes the future."
"Of course, sir."
As Selene departed to arrange the additional disbursements, Aldwyn returned his attention to Vaelor's file.
Vaelor Draeth... what are you really hiding behind that E-Rank classification? And how did you achieve such impossible power at your level?
I'll be watching your performance in the Martial Aptitude Examination with great interest.
He filed both documents in his secure cabinet, making mental notes to track their progress personally.
The examination this year is going to be absolutely fascinating.
Outside the Warrior Association
Vaelor and Kaelith walked out of the Association building into the early evening air. The rain had stopped, leaving the streets gleaming with reflected neon light. Steel high-rises towered on both sides, their massive light screens playing advertisements for new genetic medicine varieties and smart home appliances. Aircraft shuttled through the sky above, their navigation lights creating streams of color against darkening clouds.
The scene carried a certain beauty—technology and nature coexisting in the aftermath of humanity's greatest crisis.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh, rain-washed air, Kaelith felt rare nostalgia wash over her.
Such a scene... I haven't seen something this peaceful since before the examination in my previous life.
Thinking of the disaster that had swept through millions not long after that examination—the God-Tier breach that had devastated an entire region—a shadow passed over her beautiful features beneath the baseball cap's brim.
She knew what was coming. She remembered the specific dates, the locations, the cascading failures that would lead to catastrophe.
But with her current strength, she couldn't prevent it. Not yet.
She couldn't tell anyone either. Changing the trajectory of fate too drastically might create butterfly effects she couldn't predict—potentially making things worse instead of better.
For the future of all humanity, all she could do was become stronger as quickly as possible.
Reach the power threshold where she could make a difference when the critical moments arrived.
Sensing the change in her atmosphere, Vaelor couldn't help but glance at her more carefully.
There's definitely something unusual about her. That expression... it's not the face of a teenager looking at a normal city street. It's someone seeing ghosts of the future overlaid on the present.
Another regressor? Or perhaps someone with prophetic abilities? Either way, she's far more complicated than she appears.
Kaelith pulled up the hood of her jacket, thrust her hands into her pockets, and walked alone with the bearing of someone who carried the weight of apocalyptic knowledge.
After walking ten meters, she turned her head and glanced back at Vaelor with cold suspicion. "Why are you following me?"
Vaelor raised an eyebrow. "Who said I'm following you? I'm heading to the Tier 1 Abyssal Rift in the southern district."
Kaelith's eyes widened slightly with surprise. "You too?"
"..."
Both fell silent, neither expecting such a coincidence.
They were both planning the same thing—register as warriors, then immediately enter an Abyssal Rift to hunt spawn and accumulate resources.
Without further conversation, they walked one after the other toward the transit terminal, maintaining about five meters of distance.
The Skyrail station wasn't far. They waited together at the platform, standing separately but obviously traveling to the same destination.
While waiting for the train, Kaelith broke the silence. "Are you planning to enter the Abyssal Rift alone? Without any weapons or preparation?"
"Yes."
Kaelith's laugh was cold and mocking. "Let me warn you in advance—the Abyss isn't as simple as you think. Don't overestimate yourself just because you tested well. Even Tier 1 Abyssal Rifts can bury Tier 3 Warriors if they're careless or unlucky."
"You're talking as if you're very experienced," Vaelor pointed out reasonably. "But isn't this your first time entering an Abyssal Rift as well? And you haven't made any preparations either, from what I can see."
"I'm different from you." Kaelith's tone was sharp. "Forget it. I'm just offering friendly advice. If you want to throw your life away, that's your choice."
Though I doubt you'll actually die, she added mentally. Someone with your level of combat power should survive a Tier 1 Rift easily. Unless you encounter something truly unusual.
Vaelor just felt puzzled by her contradictory behavior.
She warns me about danger while heading into the same danger herself. Acts like she's vastly more experienced despite being the same age. Definitely a regressor or something similar.
The Skyrail arrived with a soft hum, doors sliding open smoothly.
They boarded and sat across from each other in the nearly empty car, each maintaining their silence.
Vaelor's thoughts turned to the Cosmic Visualization Scripture he'd created. He wanted to practice it during the journey, refining his spiritual sea further while traveling.
Through his consciousness link, his main body—still at home in deep cultivation—continued advancing through the Eternal Cosmos Cultivation Scripture. The shadow clone would handle the initial Rift exploration, gathering intelligence and combat experience that would transfer instantly back to the original.
Perfect division of labor, both bodies thought in unison. The main body cultivates in perfect safety while the clone handles dangerous fieldwork. And if the clone is somehow destroyed, I can simply create another.
Kaelith, meanwhile, was lost in her own thoughts—strategizing her approach to the coming months, calculating optimal power progression paths, reviewing her previous life's timeline to identify critical intervention points.
Three years until the God-Tier entity emerges. I need to reach at least King-Tier by then, preferably higher. Which means aggressive dungeon farming, acquiring every advantage I can remember from my previous life, and...
Her ice-blue eyes flickered toward Vaelor.
...determining whether this anomaly represents an asset or a threat to my plans.
The Skyrail hummed through the city, carrying two exceptional prodigies—each with secrets that would reshape the world—toward their first true test in the Abyss.
Neither could predict how this chance meeting would alter both their destinies.
But the wheels of fate had begun turning, and nothing would ever be quite the same again.