chapter 5 The path to the federation

Shane sat inside his room, staring at the holographic interface before him. The soft glow of Nyx Eternum’s systems illuminated his face, but his mind was elsewhere.

"Why… why did you choose me?"

It made no sense. Warships were the key to power, the foundation of cultivation itself. Every major force across the universe would go to war over a ship like Nyx Eternum, yet it had been left in the Awakening Palace, waiting for him.

Not a high-ranking genius.

Not a prodigy of a great family.

Just… him.

And why was it so advanced?

The Space-Time modules, the unclassified design, the sheer presence it exuded—everything about it screamed that it did not belong in this era.

Yet it chose him.

Frustrated, he placed a hand on the ship’s interface and muttered,

"What are you?"

For the first time, his warship answered.

A deep, mechanical yet almost sentient voice echoed in his mind.

"Your future."

Shane’s breath hitched.

That was it? No explanations, no details? Just that?

His fingers curled into a fist, but he let out a slow breath. No matter how much he questioned, the answers wouldn’t come so easily. For now, there was something more pressing—tomorrow, he had to register his ship with the Federation.

And from there… his journey would truly begin.

---

The Registration Journey

The next morning, Shane stood alongside the other newly Awakened. Over a hundred young men and women had gathered in an open clearing, their expressions filled with excitement and nervousness.

A low hum echoed through the sky.

Then, a massive warship descended, its sleek silver body gleaming under the sun.

Pegasus.

Its presence alone exuded power. Standing atop it was a tall man, clad in a dark military uniform. His aura was sharp, like a blade honed over decades of war.

A Third Order warrior.

He looked down at them and smirked.

"Welcome, new Awakened. I am Captain Alden, your escort to the Federation."

The warship’s hatch opened, and everyone stepped inside.

Shane followed the crowd, but the moment he entered Pegasus, his face froze.

Compared to Nyx Eternum, Pegasus felt… archaic.

The walls were rugged metal, the control panels outdated, and the energy flow inefficient. Even though this was a powerful warship, one owned by a Third Order warrior, it was nothing in comparison to what he had seen inside his own.

"Just what kind of ship did I bond with?"

As everyone settled in, Captain Alden clasped his hands behind his back.

"Listen up. We’re heading to the Federation to register your warships. Once that’s done, you’ll have a choice."

His smirk widened.

"You can attempt the entrance trial for an Academy."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

The Significance of an Academy

An Academy was the ultimate stepping stone to power. Unlike self-taught warriors, those who studied at an Academy had access to elite training, advanced warship modifications, and powerful mentors.

More than that, Academies offered distinct career paths:

Fleet Commanders – Those who controlled entire fleets, leading battles across the stars.

Warship Engineers – The architects of war, responsible for modifying and enhancing ships.

Psionic Strategists – Experts in Psionic Energy who devised tactics to counter even the strongest foes.

Explorers – Individuals who ventured into the unknown regions of the universe, seeking lost civilizations and forbidden technologies.

Only those who passed the entrance trial could join. And the benefits? Limitless resources, connections to powerful organizations, and access to warships beyond normal means.

Shane clenched his fists. If he wanted to understand Nyx Eternum, the Academy was the best place to start.

But before they could think about that… they had to survive the journey.

---

An Unexpected Ambush

An hour into their flight, alarms blared.

[WARNING: UNIDENTIFIED SHIPS DETECTED]

Captain Alden’s expression darkened. He pulled up a holographic display, revealing five enemy warships approaching at high speed.

"Tch. Pirates."

A woman in uniform rushed to his side.

"Captain, they’re demanding we surrender the Awakened."

The entire room went silent.

Everyone knew what that meant. Some pirate factions captured Awakened individuals to sell them to dark forces, while others used them as bargaining chips.

Alden scoffed.

"Like hell we’re surrendering."

He turned to the recruits.

"Brace yourselves, kids. This is your first taste of the real world."

The ship shook violently as the enemy warships opened fire.

Boom!

Sparks flew as explosions rocked the corridors. Some Awakened screamed, while others clung to whatever they could for balance.

Shane steadied himself.

He had Nyx Eternum, but revealing it now would expose him.

"Damn it. I can't summon my ship here… not yet."

Alden barked out orders.

"Prepare the defenses! We’ll break through their blockade!"

The enemy warships closed in. From the windows, Shane saw them—black, jagged vessels, equipped with outdated but deadly weapons.

Pegasus fired back, but Shane could already tell.

Pegasus was strong, but it was old.

If this continued… they might not make it.

Shane gritted his teeth. His hand twitched, itching to summon his warship.

Would he risk exposing Nyx Eternum?

The battle had begun.

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