"Is this Senior Brother Ryder really that famous? What's his background?" Kael Voss asked in surprise.
"You don't know Senior Brother Ryder?" the Bean Counter exclaimed.
"I've been in seclusion for several years," Kael replied.
"Right, right! I totally forgot about that," the Bean Counter suddenly realized, hurrying to apologize. "My memory's terrible. I just assumed every apprentice in the Seven Luminaries Tech Conglomerate knew him, so I slipped your seclusion out of my mind."
"Can you tell me about him?" Kael pressed.
"Of course, Senior Brother Kael!" the Bean Counter said eagerly. Seeing that Zhang Changgui's side hadn't sent out an opponent for Ryder yet, he launched into the legendary tales of the famous apprentice, his eyes lighting up and gestures vivid as if he were the protagonist himself.
From the Bean Counter's detailed account, Ryder's story truly had a touch of legend.
Ryder had joined the Conglomerate four years earlier—not in the same selection batch as Kael. He hadn't passed the initial assessment outright, only becoming a probationary apprentice. But in the evaluation six months later, he not only topped every single test item but also made history during the final sparring with senior apprentices: he was the only probationary apprentice to last thirty rounds against them. This record shattered all previous benchmarks for probationary candidates, catching the attention of several high-ranking officials.
A subsequent genetic scan revealed a surprising result: Ryder's genetic sequence was merely average, with limited growth potential. The diagnosis disappointed many, and as a result, no senior advisor or division head took him as a personal disciple. After two years of foundational training, he was apprenticed to an ordinary Senior Enforcer, learning only a few standard combat protocols—including the Plasma Thunderblade Protocol, a mid-tier technique widely practiced within the Conglomerate.
Up to this point, Ryder's story was more of an anti-climax than a legend. But shortly after, he defied all expectations with this unremarkable Plasma Thunderblade Protocol. In the next year's junior apprentice tournament, he stunned everyone by advancing to the top sixteen—the only new recruit to rank so highly. Once again, he became the center of attention within the Conglomerate.
In every subsequent competition, Ryder fought with unparalleled courage and momentum, consistently securing top rankings and bringing great honor to the newer apprentices. In last year's tournament, he even claimed third place. What made this achievement even more impressive was that the top two finishers were apprentices who had been with the Conglomerate for over a decade. Though still classified as "junior," they were already in their late twenties, with far deeper bio-energy reserves than Ryder. Many apprentices believed that if Ryder had matched their bio-energy levels, the first place would have been his for the taking.
Thanks to these feats, Ryder once again drew the attention of the Conglomerate's leadership. He was specially selected for numerous important off-peak missions. While other new apprentices remained confined to Aurora Peak, honing their skills, Ryder was already earning meritorious service for the Seven Luminaries, earning the fearsome reputation "Ryder the Thunder" across the frontier. Rumor had it that he was soon to be granted a special exception to join the Apex Combat Division, where he would gain access to the Conglomerate's most advanced combat protocols.
Kael couldn't help but be moved by the story. If even half of it was true, Ryder was truly extraordinary. To rise from a lowly probationary apprentice to such heights through sheer effort, he deserved genuine admiration.
On Zhang Changgui's side, after hours of hesitation and bickering, one apprentice finally stepped forward, his expression tense as if forcing himself into a daunting task.
The apprentice clearly possessed considerable skill. He drew a sleek, shimmering synthetic energy rapier from his waist—only as thick as a thumb, flexible yet deadly, a weapon that only seasoned operatives could wield effectively.
Ryder sensed someone approaching. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp with concentrated bio-energy.
Suddenly, he let out a thunderous roar—like a clap of lightning splitting the sky. The sound reverberated through the clearing, leaving everyone's ears ringing. His opponent trembled involuntarily, panic flashing across his face.
As the roar faded, Ryder's plasma blade whirled into motion. A streak of violet energy danced from the blade, weaving through a series of rapid strikes that blurred into more than a dozen overlapping shadows, trapping his opponent in a deadly web of energy.
The apprentice was quick-witted, though. Despite his momentary panic, he wielded his rapier with elusive, venomous precision, defending himself flawlessly against the onslaught.
"Who is that?" Kael couldn't help but ask.
"That's Zhao Ziling, a disciple of the Fifth Elder," the Bean Counter replied. "His Willow Weave Sword Technique is notoriously tricky to counter."
"How does he compare to Senior Brother Ryder?"
"No match at all," the Bean Counter said proudly.
"Then why doesn't Zhang Changgui send out someone stronger?"
"Heh! Zhao Ziling is their strongest," the Bean Counter chuckled, a hint of schadenfreude in his voice. "Besides, which of us new apprentices can stand against Senior Brother Ryder? Sending anyone else would be a waste of time."
Sure enough, while Zhao Ziling's swordsmanship hadn't yet collapsed, his momentum was completely crushed by Ryder's plasma blade. It was obvious to anyone watching that his defeat was only a matter of time.
After watching for a while, a doubt crept into Kael's mind.
"I find something strange," he said bluntly. "Why aren't there any older senior apprentices here? Even if they're not allowed to compete, you'd think some would come to watch. But look around—everyone here, inside and outside the clearing, is a teenager, a new apprentice. Not a single older senior is present. What's going on?"
At Kael's question, the Bean Counter's expression shifted. He stared at Kael with a peculiar look, leaving Kael feeling puzzled. Had he stumbled upon some forbidden topic?
I've removed the unintended Chinese character and ensured the entire chapter is in English while preserving the sci-fi setting, character dynamics, and narrative flow. If you need further adjustments—such as refining the sci-fi elements, tweaking dialogue rhythm, or extending the scene—feel free to let me know!