The Stellar Wind was impressive.
Jade stood at the viewport in the main boarding corridor, watching Nexarion shrink beneath them as the transport vessel climbed through the atmospheric layers. The planet's surface—a patchwork of industrial zones, cargo settlements, and the endless sprawl of junkyards—grew smaller by the second, soon reduced to a mottled sphere against the black of space.
Within minutes, they'd cleared the gravity well entirely, and the ship's FTL drives began their initialization sequence. A low hum vibrated through the deck plating, building gradually as exotic matter reactors spun up to create the spatial distortion field that would allow faster-than-light travel.
The ship itself was a marvel of engineering—nearly two hundred meters long, its hull a sleek composite of reinforced alloys designed to withstand both the stresses of FTL transit and the occasional cosmic debris impact. External sensor arrays bristled along its length like metallic quills, and the main drive nacelles glowed with barely-contained energy.
Through the viewport, Jade watched the stars begin to shift. The stars were not moving exactly, but stretching, as spacetime itself bent around the vessel. Then, with a sensation like the universe hiccupping, they jumped.
The stars streaked into lines of light. Colors that had no names in any human language flickered at the edges of perception. And the Stellar Wind hurtled forward through folded space at speeds that made conventional physics weep.
Two weeks of this. Two weeks to cross the distance between Nexarion's remote location and the tournament planet near the Central Galaxy.
Jade turned away from the viewport and took in the ship's interior properly.
The main passenger deck was spacious and well-appointed. Clearly designed for long-duration travel. Curved corridors lined with soft lighting led to various compartments: passenger cabins, dining facilities, recreation areas, training rooms for awakeners who needed to maintain their edge during transit. The walls were a pleasant neutral gray, accented with strips of blue luminescence that pulsed gently in time with the ship's systems.
Everything was clean, efficient, comfortable. This wasn't a cargo hauler retrofitted for passengers, this was a proper diplomatic transport, the kind used for official delegations and important personnel.
The kind of ship that made it very clear Governor Varros had pulled significant strings to arrange this passage.
"Not bad," Lio said, appearing at Jade's shoulder. He'd been exploring the immediate area while Jade stared out at space. "I've seen worse. Much worse. Remember that cargo transport we took to the outer stations last year?"
"The one where we had to share a hold with mining equipment?" Jade said dryly. "Yes. This is definitely an improvement."
"Improvement," Lio snorted. "This is luxury. We have actual beds. And a dining hall. And did you see?, there's a training room with kinetic dampeners so we can spar without damaging the hull."
Niamh joined them, her expression pleased as she surveyed their surroundings. "The Governor certainly didn't spare expense. This is far better than standard transport."
"Because we're representing Nexarion," Jade said quietly. "Kael wants us to arrive in a manner that reflects well on the planet. Can't have us showing up in a rust bucket."
"Smart politics," Niamh agreed. "Though it also means we're going to draw attention."
As if summoned by her words, footsteps approached from the direction of the other passenger cabins. The four tournament participants from Nexarion appeared, clearly having finished their own exploration of the ship.
They stopped a respectful distance away, their body language radiating discomfort and reluctant obligation.
The tall male alpha with sharp features—Jade vaguely remembered his name was Revik—cleared his throat. "We... wanted to express our congratulations. On your slot. In the tournament."
The words came out stiff, forced. Revik's jaw was tight, and his eyes didn't quite meet Jade's.
Beside him, one of the female alphas—a woman with dark hair pulled back severely—added, "Yes. Congratulations." Her tone was even flatter, carrying all the enthusiasm of someone reading a grocery list.
The other two alphas nodded, their expressions carefully neutral but their discomfort palpable. They clearly didn't want to be here, didn't want to be having this conversation, but felt obligated to maintain some minimal level of courtesy.
After all, Jade had the Governor's favor. And more importantly, Jade's reputation in Nexarion's underworld and awakener community was... significant. Not someone you antagonized casually.
Jade regarded them for a long moment, his silver eyes unreadable. He could practically taste their resentment—the frustration of having fought through brutal qualifying tournaments while he'd received an automatic slot. The alpha superiority complex that made them bristle at having to show deference to someone they assumed was a mere beta.
"Thank you," Jade said simply, his tone neutral and offering nothing.
The silence that followed was awkward, stretching uncomfortably as the four alphas clearly struggled with whether they were dismissed or expected to continue the conversation.
Lio, bless him, stepped smoothly into the gap.
"We're looking forward to seeing what Nexarion's finest can do at the tournament," Lio said with easy charm, his smile friendly even if his eyes remained assessing. "It's not often our planet gets representation on this scale. Should be interesting to see how we all fare."
His tone was diplomatic, warm, giving the alphas an easy exit from the uncomfortable interaction while also subtly reminding them they were all theoretically on the same side.
Revik latched onto the opening immediately. "Yes. Quite. We should... settle into our quarters. Long journey ahead."
"Of course," Lio agreed. "We'll likely see each other in the dining hall. Or the training rooms."
The alphas nodded, offering stiff but polite farewells before retreating down the corridor with barely-disguised relief.
Once they were out of earshot, Lio let out a quiet breath. "Well. That was painful."
"They hate me," Jade observed, his tone matter-of-fact.
"They're jealous and resentful," Niamh corrected. "Which isn't quite the same as hate, though it can certainly feel similar. They spent months fighting for their slots while you received yours through different channels. From their perspective, it's unfair."
"Life's unfair," Jade said.
"True," Niamh agreed. "But we should still be careful. Resentment can fester during a two-week journey, especially if they start feeding off each other's negativity."
"I'll keep an eye on them," Lio promised. "Make sure they don't cause problems."
A soft chime echoed through the corridor, followed by a pleasant automated voice: "All passengers, please proceed to your assigned quarters. Cabin assignments are displayed on your personal datapads. Dinner will be served in the main dining hall at eighteen hundred hours. Welcome aboard the Stellar Wind."
"That's our cue," Niamh said, pulling out the datapad the crew had provided during boarding. She checked the display. "Looks like we're on Deck Two, starboard side. Cabins 2-14 through 2-16."
They made their way through the ship's corridors, following the directional markers embedded in the walls. Other passengers moved past them occasionally—mostly crew members going about their duties, though Jade spotted a few other individuals who had the bearing of awakeners heading to the tournament.
Their assigned section was quiet when they arrived, the corridor empty except for them. Three doors in a row, each marked with a number and a small status panel.
"Adjacent cabins," Lio noted with satisfaction. "That's good. Easy to coordinate."
Niamh keyed open her cabin first—2-14—and peered inside. "Comfortable. More than adequate." She glanced at Jade and Lio. "Get settled. Rest. We can meet for dinner and discuss plans."
After she disappeared into her cabin, Lio opened his—2-15—and grinned. "Actual beds! With real mattresses! Jade, we've made it. This is luxury."
"It's a bed, Lio."
"A good bed! On a spaceship! Appreciate the small things, brother."
....
After Lio retreated into his cabin, Jade stood alone in the corridor for a moment, staring at his door—2-16. The last in their little row.
Finally, he keyed it open and stepped inside.
The cabin was indeed comfortable—more spacious than he'd expected, with a proper bed built into one wall, storage compartments, a small desk with a terminal, and even a tiny ensuite bathroom. A viewport took up part of the outer wall, currently showing the streaked stars of FTL travel.
Jade closed the door behind him, and the silence settled like a blanket.
For the first time since the morning's chaotic farewells, he was alone.
He moved to the bed and sat down, feeling the exhaustion of the day catch up with him all at once. The emotional goodbyes, the tension with the other participants, the weight of expectations—all of it pressed down with familiar heaviness.
But beneath that was something else.
Determination. Drive. The burning need to never be helpless again.
Jade closed his eyes and reached inward.
Status, he commanded mentally.
The familiar display materialized in his mind's eye, and Jade let himself examine it properly for the first time in weeks.
[DING!]
STATUS
Name: Jade
Age: 17
Level: 140
STR: 285
AGI: 295
INT: 445
STA: 310
HP: 140,000
MP: 140,000
Available Stat Points: 83
Available Skill Points: 28
BLOODLINES:
Yin Phoenix Bloodline [Unique]: Ice/frost total dominion, regeneration, extreme cold resistance.
Void Belgusari Bloodline [God Tier]: Darkness/void manipulation, spatial awareness, reality erosion.
TALENTS:
Divine Soul Dual Pupils [EX]: Perfect perception, can see through essence/mana/aura/information/illusion/barriers, analytical capabilities beyond mortal comprehension
SKILLS:
ACTIVE SKILLS:
Cryokinesis [A]: Advanced ice manipulation, environmental control
Frozen Domain [S]: Area effect ice control, temperature manipulation
Glacial Armament [A]: Ice weapon creation, enhanced durability
Absolute Zero [S]: Ultimate cold technique, molecular stasis
Belgusari's Hunger [S]: Devour attacks/energy, convert to power (targets within 30 levels)
Seed of Darkness [S]: Void manipulation, shadow control
Void Step [SS]: Instant spatial movement, long-range teleportation
Shadow Dominion [S]: Control shadows, create constructs
Advanced Healing [S]: Regeneration
Glossomancy [S]: Universal language comprehension
Clairvoyance [S]: Information gathering, enhanced perception
Aura Mastery [A]: Control and manipulation of personal aura
Sensory Enhancement [A]: Enhanced all senses
PASSIVE SKILLS:
Void Sense [S]: Detect presences through void/darkness
Combat Mastery [A]: Enhanced fighting instincts
Pain Resistance [A]: Reduced pain sensation
Cold Affinity [S]: Natural resistance and power boost for ice
Dark Affinity [S]: Natural resistance and power boost for void
Intermediate Weapon Mastery: Affinity for any weapon weilding.
ARTIFACTS:
Spectra's Band [SS]: Concealment artifact.
Khao's Whisper [A]: A harbinger of doom, it's arrows whispering sweet nothings to their targets, striking true with deadly precision.
QUEST:
Win the Tenday Tournament:
Time Remaining: In Progress
Reward: Nyx's Kiss (Legendary)
....
....
Jade stared at the display, feeling a mixture of satisfaction and determination.
Level 140. Fifty levels gained in three years through relentless training, constant dungeon runs, and pushing himself to the absolute limits of what his body could endure. His stats had nearly doubled across the board. His skills had evolved, growing stronger as he'd poured experience and practice into them.
All of it driven by one memory. One moment of absolute helplessness that he'd sworn would never happen again.
Four years ago, Varen had reduced him to a writhing mess on the floor. Had crawled toward him with vile intent while Jade's own body betrayed him, while his powers refused to respond, while he lay there completely vulnerable.
Never again.
The training had been brutal. Punishing. There were days when Niamh had looked at him with worry, when Lio had tried to convince him to rest, when even Gorvoth had suggested maybe he was pushing too hard.
But Jade couldn't stop. Wouldn't stop. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Varen's face. Heard those words. Felt that helplessness.
So he'd trained. And most importantly, he'd practiced his teleportation until he could blink across places without conscious thought.
He'd run dungeons rated for teams of five by himself. Had taken contracts in the underworld that tested his limits.
All to ensure that if he ever found himself in danger again, he'd have the power to end it. Immediately. Absolutely. Without question.
The tournament participants he'd face wouldn't know what hit them. Millions of planets sending their best, and Jade was determined to walk through them like they were paper.
Not out of arrogance. Out of necessity.
Because being strong enough wasn't sufficient. He needed to be overwhelmingly powerful. Needed to ensure that no threat—physical, or otherwise—could ever make him feel that way again.
Jade dismissed the status window and opened his eyes, staring out at the streaked stars beyond the viewport.
Two weeks until they arrived. Two weeks to prepare mentally for what was coming.
The Tenday Tournament was supposed to be the pinnacle of awakener competition—a gathering of the strongest young talents from across multiple galaxies, fighting for glory and prizes and the attention of powerful factions.
Jade wasn't interested in glory. Or attention.
He just wanted to win. Completely. Decisively. To prove to himself more than anyone else that he was strong enough now.
That he'd never be helpless again.
A soft chime from the cabin's terminal indicated a message. Jade checked it—a reminder about dinner in the main hall at eighteen hundred hours.
He had time. A few more hours to rest, to center himself, to prepare for the social minefield of sharing a ship with people who either resented him or would eventually try to use him.
Jade lay back on the bed, staring up at the cabin's ceiling, and let his mind drift.
....