The Breakthrough felt like the Beginning of a new dawn. It felt similar to a fresh shower after an intense workout.
The intense feeling of Strength coursing through the body felt like adrenaline. The urge to punch something was surging in his body. So without further brooding, he got up and used a hologram to choose the second option to test his strength.
The familiar machine popped with numbers, and of course, the "Punch me" right below.
He leans back a bit, one hand tucked to the side, and his main hand ready to punch. He took a deep breath and punched hard. This time, his movement was sharper, faster--
BOOOOM!
The impact reverberated, screen flashing: 15 tons. Enough to shatter a car into fragments.
Speed plus strength. A 5 percent increase in overall strength. When he was just a first-level inheritor. It was a good thing. This was a good beginning. By the way, he is an F-rank inheritor now. When he hits level 10, he will be promoted to E-rank inheritor. Official names are different from unofficial ones.
Now, he just needs to work hard to climb even higher. But first, he was starving a lot. This intense hunger came right after the breakthrough.
He took his communicator from the console and walked to the Cafeteria. Emil was right by his side. Seemingly thinking about something, Caden asks Emil.
"Emil, we should be approaching the Marquise Territory soon, right?"
"Yes, it would take a week and a day to arrive at the territory," says Emil, not surprised by the question.
"Hmm, we should be docking there, right?" Caden followed with another question.
"Young Master, by all means, you are not allowed to disembark without permission at the Hollow stage space station," Emil says, perfectly guessing Caden's thought.
But Caden was thinking of something else; he wanted access to the network. disembarking.... what is that? he didn't even entertain such thoughts.
And just like that, they visited the cafeteria. Thankfully, it was not filled with people. Sometimes silence is appreciated. The cafeteria was big with a hologram in the middle for entertainment, and right above the counter display dishes available for today.
Caden took Master's recommendation and ate with Emil. Perhaps his appetite has increased; he consumes twice the servings today.
By the time he returned to his Room, he was tired. He took a shower and soon was in bed sleeping.
This was routine for the week that followed. Waking up at 08:00, having a launch in the cafeteria, and practicing and cultivating the whole day without rest. Well, he got to level 3 in the week. That was good.
----
Today, at sharp 15:00, the captain's voice echoed throughout the ship.
The ship moved with purpose. Orders rang down the corridors, boots striking in unison as crew hurried to their stations. Somewhere above, the captain's voice carried through the intercom, crisp and steady.
"Reduce speed. Adjust shields and synchronize with port control. Five minutes to arrival."
Caden was practicing. But hearing the voice, he rose slowly, flexing his fingers. There was strength now, faint but undeniable, coiled in his muscles and thrumming beneath his skin.
He exhaled. So this is what growth feels like.
The door hissed open at his touch. The corridors bustled with activity; officers and attendants barely spared him a glance, though a few offered nods more respectful than before. His presence, though quiet, had changed. Even the ordinary could sense it.
The System's voice stirred at the edge of his thoughts, calm as ever.
[Vitalforce density in the environment is increasing. Mana concentration as well. You are approaching a hub of considerable resources. Your growth will accelerate—if properly nourished.]
Caden's lips curved in a faint smirk. Of course. Always hungry.
The central observation deck loomed ahead, its panoramic glass walls revealing a sweep of the void. Caden stepped forward, and the sight stole his breath.
This was Marquise's territory. If you want to enter the territory, the Space Station we are currently seeing is a must to register our entry.
It is an insult to call this a space station. This was a transit fortress, a behemoth. It stretch as far you can see.
[It covers roughly 200,000 meters]
"Two hundred thousand meters!" Caden Exclaimed Loudly. That's f*cking massive.
Even more astonishing was the docking process—or lack thereof. He'd expected the ship to latch onto a port. Instead, before them hung a colossal hollow ring, its transparent surface flickering as ships passed through.
The fortress rose like a crown of stars forged in steel, its vast rings gleaming with a brilliance that outshone the void. Every tier pulsed with light and motion, a monument not merely built but proclaimed—a testament to the Empire's dominion written across the Space.
The circle spanned nearly 50 to 60 kilometers in diameter, easily wide enough to swallow a dozen warships at once.
And for Caden, it was the first glimpse of a much larger world. For the First time, he was excited in this life like this. This site itself was enough for him to truly wake him up. To this amazing world.