NOVPUBInside the training room, Valk was re-adapting to his body after completing his recovery. Opposite him, guiding the training session, was N, wielding an unsharpened steel sword.
N was a senior instructor at Blade Sequence 6 and had previously been a core operative at a major firm. After getting married, he resigned from his dangerous job to take care of his family and was subsequently recruited by Edess Academy.
At the start of the sparring session, Valk’s movements were slow, as if warming up. But as he gradually reacquainted himself with his body, his momentum began to rise.
"Ha!"
After a swift punch to block a sword strike, he used his powerful legs to launch a fierce kick at his instructor. The impact briefly created a vacuum in the air, producing a resounding boom.
The sheer force sent N staggering back several steps before he barely managed to stabilize himself.
"Not bad," N nodded slightly in approval before pointing out areas for improvement.
"In terms of explosiveness and power, you’ve done well. But if you’re up against a high-speed opponent wielding a sharp blade, this fighting style will put you at a disadvantage."
"Overall, you lack a variety of offensive techniques to handle different situations."
"Starting tomorrow, I’ll be teaching you firearms. You’ll be training alongside a few first-year students." With that said, the session for the day ended.
“Other people training with me?” Valk was silently curious when he heard that. While he wasn’t arrogant, he had seen many first-year students, most of whom were from wealthy families—pampered and lacking focus on combat. Instead, they specialized in other fields like technological research, finance, or the arts.
After returning to his quarters, he finished the academy’s customized nutrition meal, took a shower, and was about to meditate for a while before sleeping when the doorbell rang.
He walked over and opened the door, only to see a familiar figure—a slightly overweight man dressed in a brown suit jacket with an old hat on his head.
"Professor Sima." Valk was somewhat surprised by the late visit.
"Let’s talk inside." Sima, who was well-acquainted with Valk, didn’t waste time chatting at the door. The two went in and sat down in the living room.
Removing his hat, Sima carefully examined Valk before slowly speaking. "How’s your recovery?"
"Very well. Almost the same as before—I can’t feel any difference." Valk replied.
"That’s good... that’s very good." Sima rested his hands on his knees, unconsciously tightening and loosening his grip.
Seeing Valk’s confusion, he didn’t explain further and instead changed the topic.
"It was my oversight before, but after this incident, both of us should take this as a lesson. If the academy hadn’t brought in outside help, the aftereffects of your injury might have been irreversible for life."
"Yes, professor." Valk lowered his head. He had been anxious while lying in that hospital bed, afraid that his future would be ruined.
He had once feared nothing—simply surviving into adulthood had fulfilled his childhood dream. But now, things were different. If he fell, the orphanage’s funding might disappear, and Father Berys would face difficult challenges. Valk didn’t want that to happen.
"As long as you understand. Regarding your friend, I will coordinate with the police on your behalf. I promised to do my best to keep him alive, but beyond that, I hope you will no longer interfere. Do you understand?"
"I... I understand." Valk sighed. He was not yet strong enough to make demands of Professor Sima.
"Good. If he contacts you again, forward it to me. I’ll handle it."
"You’ve already done more than enough for him. If he still considers you a friend, he shouldn’t keep dragging you into danger."
"Mm..." Valk responded in silence.
"I know you two share a deep bond, but now is not the time for emotional decisions. You have a lot to bear in the future, and you can’t afford to be as reckless as before. Otherwise..."
Sima hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, but swallowed his words. As a mentor, he knew threats and intimidation weren’t the right way to educate—a principle strictly upheld by Edess Academy.
"...Otherwise, I would be very sad." Sima sighed. He hadn’t intended to threaten Valk, but his weary expression made Valk feel even more guilt-ridden.
"I’m sorry, Professor Sima. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble."
"As long as you understand. But I don’t want you to dwell on this too much, either." Sima shook his head, not wanting to make the atmosphere too heavy.
After speaking, he stood up, glanced around the living room, then found the water dispenser and poured himself a cup of hot tea. He gestured for Valk to get one for himself as well.
Sipping his tea, Sima leaned back on the couch, eyes half-closed, his expression relaxed. This, in turn, made Valk feel a little more at ease.
"Tomorrow, you start a new training program, right?" Sima suddenly asked.
"Yes, it’s firearm-related."
"Mm. Normally, these things wouldn’t be taught this early, but given the current situation, they’ve moved up the schedule."
"You’ll be training with others from your year, including..." Sima paused for a few seconds as if considering his words.
"Including a girl named Thilan. Try to get to know her and build a good relationship with her."
"Why?"
"I can’t explain the details. Just take it as a personal suggestion from me. No need to force it—just be friendly."
"I will." Valk had always been friendly with his classmates, so he didn’t see any issue with it.
Seeing Valk’s lack of awareness, Sima shook his head subtly and didn’t explain further. The situation was too complicated. Even though Thilan was a benefactor who had saved lives, her identity couldn’t be revealed yet. Too many factors were at play—factors Sima himself only partially understood.
"That’s all for today. Get some rest, and contact me if anything comes up." With that, Sima put on his hat again and left.
...
The Next Day, Academy Underground Shooting Range.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three crisp and precise gunshots echoed through the range, followed by the AI system announcing the results.
[10, 10, 10—All three shots hit the mark.]
"Excellent, Thilan. You’ve completed today’s training." N clapped his hands and approached.
The young girl, wearing noise-canceling headphones, set down her ’Black Pearl-G2’ pistol and nodded at the instructor. She was dressed in a black-and-white casual dress, with deep gray tights covering her legs.
Among those training alongside Thilan were Evony, Alen, Valk, and two male students at Sequence 4.
Since it was the first day, the curriculum was light, mainly focusing on firearm types, characteristics, and basic military knowledge. The group quickly completed their progress.
"Pistols may have weaker firepower, but their portability, ease of use, and legal leniency make them the most commonly encountered firearms in everyday life."
N picked up the ’Black Pearl-G2’ pistol Thilan had just used, reloaded it, and aimed at a distant target before firing.
"This ’Black Pearl-G2’ is very comfortable to hold and comes with built-in aim correction, making it highly suitable for beginners."
He then went on to discuss various types of ammunition, from the most common gunpowder-metal bullets to specially enchanted and inscribed rounds.
"Compared to the era of cold weapons, firearms are now widespread across every corner of society. Even highly skilled transcendents use guns to adapt to different combat scenarios."
"Convenient, fast, and efficient—these are the advantages of firearms. However, they are far from omnipotent. In battles between high-level transcendents, the effectiveness of guns diminishes."
"Why does their effectiveness diminish, teacher?" A student raised their hand.
N glanced at him, a smile forming at the corner of his lips.
"That’s a great question. Let me explain why."
"First, firearms have limited output. Right now, you are only at Sequence 3 or 4, so you naturally find them useful. But as your Sequence level rises, they will start to feel cumbersome. Against lower sequence enemies, you can eliminate them instantly without needing a gun. As for formidable opponents, they all possess protective gear, whether in the form of enchanted armaments or exoskeletal armor, making it difficult for bullets to penetrate. Even if you hit them with a dozen rounds, it would be less effective than a single decisive melee strike."
"Second, they divide your attention. Human concentration and focus are finite. When you rely on firearms, you inevitably become dependent on them, which reduces your proficiency in other aspects of combat due to less training and real battle experience."
"Third, their replaceability is too high. The advantage of high sequence transcendents lies in utilizing their unique abilities to amplify their strengths in specific domains. If you rely on firearms, you are essentially forfeiting this advantage and making yourself no different from a common AI-controlled combat unit."
"Transcendent abilities are an extension of one’s will, as natural as moving your fingers. The higher your sequence, the more agile, rapid, and versatile you become—far beyond the monotonous attack patterns of firearms."
"My advice to all of you: You should learn how to use firearms and become proficient with them, but never become overly dependent. They are useful tools, but they should never be your crutch."
"Understood." The group nodded.
Over the following days, the six of them underwent rigorous firearms training and began learning how to integrate gunplay with close-quarters combat and battle tactics.
"In open areas, especially on chaotic battlefields, snipers remain the bane of lower sequence transcendents. They employ specially enchanted high-penetration bullets. These rounds are expensive, but their effectiveness is undeniable. Taking down a Sequence 4 target might take only a second and a 6,000 Federation credit bullet, whereas training such a soldier would take at least ten years."
"During the Federal Civil War four hundred years ago, the early chaos led to a surge in urban warfare and street battles for territorial control. No one had anticipated that the civil war would erupt so quickly, and many were caught off guard—assassinated and ambushed before they could react. This led to the tragic deaths of numerous talented individuals. As the war progressed, both sides became more cautious."
"Urban combat presents a highly complex environment—streets, skyscrapers, indoor corners—unexpected situations arise constantly. Operating alone carries extreme risks. Soldiers typically execute missions in tactical squads. The most basic formation is the triangular setup: one focuses on offense, one on support, and one on vigilance."
"The advantage of transcendents lies in high speed and destructive power. They utilize their abilities to maneuver flexibly, seize openings, and break through swiftly, rather than hunkering down for a firefight or engaging in close-quarters combat in a confined, inescapable space. The former limits their potential, while the latter makes them vulnerable to overwhelming firepower."
"Additionally, many high-ranking transcendents possess abilities that alter terrain and the environment. If used strategically, these can grant overwhelming advantages in urban warfare. For example, four hundred years ago, the leader of the ’Red Death Cult,’ ’Flame-Eater Sinner’ Herslet, turned an entire city of a million inhabitants into a sea of fire. The roaming beasts of flame devoured every enemy in sight, utterly annihilating the headquarters of the opposing ’Holy Blue Cross Order,’ which had supported the opposition."
"This act cemented the ’Red Death Cult’s’ terrifying reputation, striking fear into countless hearts. However, after the war, such ruthless actions led to consequences. The cult was banned from preaching or expanding beyond the Deep River Star Region for a hundred years, and Herslet himself was shackled for fifty years, only allowed freedom in his final moments."
"Then there was ’Lightning Cavalier’ Hadmia, who single-handedly piloted a transformable combat mech into an enemy space station, released an electromagnetic storm, and paralyzed the entire facility—thus preventing the conservative opposition from mobilizing their army. He later founded ’Hadmia University,’ a prestigious institution. The renowned ’Thunder Edge Academy’ in Southern 1st District is one of its affiliated high schools, though the university itself is located in the adjacent Thunderhorn Star Region."
"Each combat sequence has its own distinct fighting style. At Sequence 4, firearms are commonly used. By Sequence 5, you can start exploring alternative methods. At Sequence 6, combat becomes highly individualized, allowing each of you to shape your own fighting style."
"As for Sequence 7—at this level, you become a beacon on the battlefield, a hero surrounded by thousands, the key ace capable of shifting the tide of war. You can effortlessly decimate cities, pierce through space stations, and break through any weak defensive line."
"Keep pushing forward. There are countless thrilling challenges waiting for you in the future."
N’s words ignited a fire in the hearts of the group. The only exception was a black-haired girl, whose gaze remained calm and serene.
"Thilan," N suddenly called her name.
"Present," she stepped forward.
"Your next training exercise: You must defeat everyone within two minutes. That is your goal. As for the rest of you, your objective is to last at least one minute and thirty seconds against Thilan’s onslaught."
A collective gasp escaped the group, some even wondering if they had misheard. Over the past two days, they had become familiar with the black-haired girl. While she was a good shot, her delicate frame and quiet demeanor hardly gave the impression of overwhelming strength. Besides, they were all prodigies in their own right—why was it assumed they couldn’t withstand her attacks for even two minutes? Was this an insult?
N offered no explanation. He simply signaled them to prepare.
As both sides took their positions, they gripped their blunted training weapons and locked eyes. On one side stood only the black-haired girl, holding a steel sword.
"Are we really doing this, Teacher N?" she turned to ask.
"There’s no need for hesitation, Thilan. It’s time for you to recognize your true level. Excessive humility is not a virtue." N shook his head.
"Alright. Begin!" He swung his hand downward like a blade, sending a shockwave through the air that marked the battlefield’s centerline.
The battle commenced.
Alen, an elven prodigy, chanted an incantation and scattered a handful of seeds. Before they even touched the ground, they sprouted, forming a twisting web of vines to create a favorable battlefield.
On the other side, Evony frowned at her opponent, extended her palm, and summoned a rapidly condensing fireball before launching it forward.
Valk, meanwhile, clenched his fists together, his body sinking slightly as he stood firm like an immovable iron tower, his gaze locked onto the slender girl.
With a single sweeping motion, Thilan deflected the incoming flames, slicing them apart before they could detonate. As bullets rained down, she weaved through them, her sword dancing as she sliced each round in midair.
A moment later, she was among them, striking down Alen, then overwhelming the rest one by one. Within seconds, all fell, leaving only Valk. Even his indomitable defense crumbled under her blade’s eerie blue glow.
"Battle over. Thilan wins," N announced.
The room fell silent. The once gentle girl sheathed her sword and offered a polite curtsy—but the way they now looked at her had changed. She was no longer just a quiet presence among them.
She was an enigma. A force to be reckoned with.
