FIVE MONTHS AGO
Earth - Thornhaven City - One Day After Main Body's Departure
Draeth Mansion - Morning
The shadow clone opened his eyes as morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The mansion was quiet—his family still asleep after yesterday's exhausting move from their old home.
Through the consciousness link, he could sense the main body beginning cultivation near the black hole. Time dilation was already taking effect—the main body had subjectively experienced several hours while only minutes passed here.
He's started absorbing the first galaxy core, the clone noted. This is going to be a long wait for him. For me, it'll be days or weeks at most.
The clone rose and moved through his new bedroom—spacious, well-furnished, still mostly empty of personal belongings. He'd need to actually live here to make it feel like home.
But that's what I'm here for. Maintain normal life. Keep up appearances. Handle everything on Earth while the main body grinds.
He dressed casually in comfortable training clothes and descended the grand staircase. The mansion was impressive but felt too large, too empty. It would take time for his family to adjust.
In the kitchen, he found evidence that Aunt Mira had already been exploring—notes about kitchen equipment, meal plans, grocery lists. She was adapting quickly, excited about the professional-grade facilities.
The clone prepared a simple breakfast and ate in comfortable silence, thinking about his schedule.
No academy yet—that's still two months away. The Martial Aptitude Examination isn't until then. For now...
I need training facilities. Somewhere I can push myself without worrying about destroying property or attracting unwanted attention.
He'd been using the gravity chamber at Crimsonpeak Martial Hall over the past week—a small, struggling facility run by a woman named Kieran Ashford(I cant remember if it was Ashford or Ashwood, am too lazy to check, just know its ash-something.). The place was modest, but the equipment was solid and Kieran hadn't asked uncomfortable questions about his capabilities. (For those of you who forgot.)
I should head there today. Continue training. Build the routine that will carry me through the next few months.
Crimsonpeak Martial Hall - Late Morning
The clone arrived at the martial hall around 11 AM, carrying a simple training bag. The facility was located in a converted warehouse in the commercial district—nothing fancy, but functional.
Kieran was at the reception desk when he entered, organizing paperwork. She looked up with a welcoming smile.
"Vaelor! Back again today?"
"Consistency is important," the clone replied. "Is the gravity chamber available?"
"For you? Always." Kieran stood, grabbing keys from a hook. "Though I have to warn you—I checked the structural integrity this morning. The walls are showing stress fractures from yesterday's session."
The clone frowned. "I can pay for repairs—"
"Already included in your membership fee," Kieran interrupted. "Besides, having someone actually use the advanced equipment is good for the hall's reputation. Even if that someone is trying to break said equipment through sheer force."
She led him toward the back of the facility. "How's your family settling into the new place?" (Some of you might be asking how she knew, i dont know, i dont care. Maybe they made small talk over phone.)
"Still adjusting. It's a big change from our old home."
"I can imagine. Celestial Heights mansion—that's prime real estate. Your family must have been saving for years."
More like I got absurdly lucky in a Rift dive, the clone thought but didn't say. And by 'lucky' I mean 'the clone body and Kaelith accidentally destroyed a hundred-kilometer radius and killed thousands of spawn.'
"We've been fortunate," he said diplomatically.
They reached the gravity chamber—a reinforced room with sophisticated arrays carved into every surface. Kieran unlocked it and stepped aside.
"Same settings as yesterday?"
"I'll start at 100x and increase gradually," the clone confirmed.
"Try not to completely destroy my facility," Kieran said with mock severity. "I'm rather attached to it."
The clone smiled slightly. "I'll do my best."
He entered the chamber and activated the arrays. Immediately, crushing gravitational force pressed down from all directions. His energy-based physique—currently only about 2% transformed—responded by compressing, adapting, strengthening.
The main body trains in black hole gravity fields, the clone reflected. This is gentle exercise by comparison. But it's what I have available.
He began moving through martial forms—refining techniques, testing Intent applications, practicing the combat methods he'd developed. Even with only 60% of the main body's power, the clone's capabilities far exceeded normal Tier 9 warriors.
An hour passed. The clone increased gravity to 150x, then 200x—the chamber's maximum capacity.
Still too easy, he noted. I've outgrown this equipment already. But it's better than nothing.
After two hours of intensive training, the clone emerged, barely sweating despite the exertion.
Kieran waited outside with water and a towel. "You're a monster, you know that? I've seen Tier 4 warriors struggle at 100x gravity. You're casually training at maximum capacity like it's a light workout."
"Efficiency is its own reward," the clone replied, accepting the water gratefully.
"Right." Kieran's expression became more serious. "Speaking of which... I need to tell you something. We might have a problem."
The clone's attention sharpened. "What kind of problem?"
"You know Wang Thornbeak? Director of Thunder Martial Hall?"
"The one who came by some days ago to cause trouble, but I sent them flying."
"That's the one." Kieran's jaw tightened. "Remember he came with three of his warriors. Said his father loaned my father money twenty years ago and now he's demanding payment—two hundred million points, or I forfeit the hall and my family's Heaven-Splitting Spear technique."
The clone's golden eyes hardened. "Yh I remember."
"The debt doesn't exist. But Wang has forged documents and enough influence that regular legal channels won't help." Her hands clenched. "He gave me until tomorrow to 'reconsider.' Said if I don't have a warrior to defend the hall's honor, I forfeit by default according to martial tradition."
"Tomorrow," the clone repeated. "He's coming back tomorrow."
"Yes. With warriors specifically chosen to humiliate me into surrender." Kieran's expression showed frustration. "I can't fight them myself—it has to be disciples and Wang brings Tier 2 disciples at minimum. It would be a massacre."
The clone considered the situation analytically. Wang Thornbeak was a known problem in the local martial community—he'd already absorbed three smaller halls through similar tactics. Normally, the clone would avoid complications.
But Kieran had been helpful. And more pragmatically, demonstrating overwhelming force here would establish reputation and discourage future problems.
"What time tomorrow?" the clone asked.
Kieran's eyes widened with hope. "You'll—"
"I'll be here," the clone confirmed. "If Wang wants a challenge, he'll get one."
Relief flooded Kieran's features. "Vaelor, I can't thank you enough. If you can just scare them off—"
"I'll do more than scare them," the clone said quietly. "When I'm finished, Wang Thornbeak won't trouble you again. That's a guarantee."
That Afternoon - Draeth Mansion
The clone returned home to find his family exploring their new residence with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Lyanna had claimed the sunniest bedroom and was already planning decoration. Uncle Torven was examining one of the ground-floor rooms with clear intent to convert it into a workshop. Aunt Mira was in the professional kitchen, practically glowing with joy as she explored equipment she'd only dreamed of owning.
Father was in the training hall, moving through sword forms with precise discipline. The clone watched from the doorway for several minutes before Thorne noticed his presence.
"Vaelor." Thorne lowered his practice sword. "How was training?"
"Productive. The gravity chamber is adequate for now, though I'm already exceeding its design limits."
Thorne studied his son with mixture of pride and concern. "You've grown tremendously in just the past few weeks. Sometimes I barely recognize the boy who awakened his talents less than a month ago."
Because that boy is currently cultivating near a black hole singularity, the clone thought. And I'm the convenient copy maintaining his life here.
"People change when circumstances demand it," the clone said instead.
"True enough." Thorne set the sword down carefully. "Your mother would be proud. Wherever she is."
The clone's expression softened. "You really believe she's alive, don't you?"
"I have to," Thorne said simply. "The alternative... the alternative is too painful to accept without proof."
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment before the clone spoke again. "Tomorrow I'm helping someone. There might be a confrontation. Nothing I can't handle, but I wanted you to know."
Thorne's warrior instincts immediately focused. "What kind of confrontation?"
"Local martial hall politics. A corrupt director trying to extort a friend through false debts and intimidation tactics."
"And you're intervening because...?"
"Because she helped me when I needed training facilities. And because letting bullies operate unchallenged creates bad precedents."
Thorne's expression showed approval mixed with paternal worry. "Be careful. Corrupt officials often have connections that protect them from consequences."
"I'll handle it," the clone assured him. "The confrontation will be... educational. For everyone involved."