It was an ordinary day on countless planets "throughout human-occupied space."
Yet on one particular planet, a world governed by the Dragon Spirit Clan, something extraordinary was unfolding.
"An event that occurs only once a year, for seven consecutive years."
Organized by one of the Big Seven Clans, the gathering's purpose was clear: to identify individuals of latent potential from the lower strata of society and cultivate them within the academies controlled by the clans in their respective sectors.
This arrangement was not born of goodwill.
It was a pact—one enforced by a single name that carried absolute authority across human space.
Caelum Rex.
The King of Kings.
In the past, the Big Seven had ruled humanity as an unchecked oligarchy, disguising tyranny as governance. Their reign was ruthless, their laws unjust, their power absolute.
Until he appeared.
Caelum Rex rose like a calamity, a force of will and strength unmatched in human history. Alone, he shattered the dominance of the Big Seven, crushing their rule and stripping them of unchecked authority.
Yet he did not destroy them.
Instead, he restructured them.
The old system of governance was reinstated—but transformed. "Where once the Big Seven Clans' rule was absolute, now their power was no longer so." It was divided, monitored, and bound by law.
And in return for retaining their influence, the clans were given a mandate:
To nurture talent.
To elevate humanity.
To ensure that no potential—no matter how humble its origin—would be wasted again.
The event taking place on the Dragon Spirit Clan's planet was one such fulfillment of that mandate.
A trial.
A selection.
And for some…
the first step toward a fate far greater than they could imagine.
Sundra Planet—the temporary headquarters for the Dragon Spirit Clan's Trial.
The trial was held on a planet where heat ruled all seasons and was vastly populated with strong beasts . Originally, the Dragon Spirit Clan had planned to host the trial on a far milder planet. But the sudden movements of the Devas shattered those plans. With time running out and risks mounting, the clan was forced to escalate—choosing a planet far harsher than originally intended.
There was no time to build properly.
Instead, massive spaceships were deployed and anchored in orbit and across the planet's surface, forming a floating network of temporary offices, living quarters, and command centers. These ships became everything at once—accommodation for candidates, operational hubs for staff, and fortified positions for security forces.
The solution was effective.
Food production, housing, medical support—all were efficiently handled within the ships' self-contained systems, allowing the clan to support hundreds of thousands of people without relying on the planet's hostile environment.
But efficiency came at a cost.
With candidates, personnel, and security teams scattered across multiple vessels and landing zones, maintaining order became far more difficult. Surveillance was stretched thin. Response times grew longer. And on a planet like Sundra—where danger lurked beyond heat alone—any lapse could prove fatal.
Wei Quan sat behind his desk, fingers moving steadily as he coordinated with colleagues from various departments. The Trial would begin tomorrow. Two hours remained before the hangar sealed, barring any further arrivals.
Outside his office viewport, the massive hangar bustled with controlled chaos. Spaceships lined the docks in tight formation, nearly filling every berth. Only a handful remained en route, their arrival windows ticking away.
Almost all candidates had already arrived, placing immense strain on the Trial Center. Each one needed to be briefed on schedules, assigned accommodations, and registered for provisions. Many had not come alone—friends, relatives, even entire families accompanied them. Though the number of candidates stood at roughly sixty thousand, the total population within the trial zone had already surpassed one hundred thousand.
Under ordinary circumstances, such numbers would have been manageable.
But these were not ordinary circumstances.
Because of the Devas, the Dragon Spirit Clan had redirected a significant portion of its resources into security. Beyond the three thousand staff members and examiners assigned to the Trial, five clan elders had been dispatched as well. Their presence alone sent a clear message—this was no mere recruitment event.
Wei Quan understood exactly what that meant.
As the representative of the Sixth Elder's faction from the younger generation, he had been entrusted with a critical role in this Trial. It was an opportunity—one that could elevate him permanently within the clan hierarchy. It was also a test. Every decision he made here would be observed, recorded, and remembered.
Failure was not an option.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound was soft, precise.
"Come in," Wei Quan said, not lifting his eyes from the screen before him.
The door opened, and a young woman stepped inside. She appeared to be in her early twenties—tall, striking, with distinctly Japanese features. The kind of beauty that drew attention effortlessly. Yet her presence was cold, restrained, like a frozen river beneath calm moonlight.
"Chief Commander," she said evenly. "The Phantom Team from the Phantom Unit has arrived and is awaiting your instructions."
Wei Quan paused his work and finally looked up. A faint smile curved his lips.
"Hikari," he said warmly. "You're finally here."
He stood and gestured toward the seating area, guiding her with a light touch toward the sofa. "Please, sit."
Hikari complied, sitting with perfect posture, legs crossed. Her expression remained impassive.
"How many Mirage Team members did you bring?" Wei Quan asked casually.
"Thirty-seven," she replied. "They are standing by."
Wei Quan nodded, fingers tapping lightly against his sleeve. "Good. The Command Room will assign tasks to them shortly. As for you—why not stay here for a while? Help me process some of these reports."
The suggestion sounded considerate. Reasonable.
Hikari did not miss the intent beneath it.
"As the leader of the Third Phantom Unit," she replied coolly, "my responsibility is to command my team directly and ensure mission objectives are achieved with maximum efficiency. I request assignment to the frontlines."
Wei Quan sighed softly, as though disappointed rather than annoyed.
"Always so serious," he said, voice gentle. "Must you reject every kindness I offer?"
Hikari frowned slightly. "We are colleagues. I hope the Chief Commander will maintain appropriate boundaries."
For a brief moment, something dark flickered behind Wei Quan's eyes.
Then it was gone.
His smile returned, unblemished.
"Very well," he said. "You may accompany your team—but not to the frontlines. I'll have you attached to the misdirection unit instead. They could benefit from your… precision."
Hikari rose immediately. "Understood. I'll report at once."
She turned and left without a backward glance.
The door closed with a sharp bang.
Wei Quan remained still.
How interesting, he thought.
He straightened his cuffs slowly, the corners of his lips lifting just slightly. There was no anger on his face—only quiet contemplation.
So proud of your position, he mused. So confident in your lineage.
He walked toward the mirror, adjusting his attire with meticulous care.
Enjoy it while you can.
When he smiled at his reflection, it was flawless—charming, dependable, unthreatening. The kind of face elders trusted. The kind subordinates followed.
Returning to his desk, he picked up the ringing communicator.
"Everything proceeding smoothly on your end?" he asked, voice calm and reassuring.
A strained voice responded, "Brother Wei, I haven't been this stressed in years. My mind feels like it's burning. I could really use more manpower—maybe someone suited for misdirection and strategic pressure."
Wei Quan's smile deepened imperceptibly.
"I've already taken care of it," he said. "She'll be reporting to your command room shortly. Focus on defense. Leave the rest to her."
A pause. Then relief.
"…Much appreciated, Brother Wei."
"I've been meaning to ask," Wei Quan said casually, his voice low and unhurried, as though the question held no real weight. "Have you discovered who it is that the Matriarch intends to push through the Trial? Whoever it is seems important enough to have stirred quite a storm within the clan."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before the voice replied, quieter now.
"Brother Wei… let this stay strictly between us. I heard it from one of the Matriarch's personal handmaidens. She intends to recruit someone directly into the clan—someone with no remarkable background—despite her quota already being filled."
Wei Quan's fingers slowly stilled atop the desk.
"The elders opposed it," the voice continued. "They insisted the person must prove himself first."
"I see," Wei Quan murmured, the faint curve of a smile touching his lips.
"That's why the five elders were dispatched as security," the voice added. "On the surface, it's to guard against the Devas. But in truth, it's also a warning—punishment for dissent, and protection for her chosen candidate."
Wei Quan leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded.
"So that's how it is…"
His tone was calm, almost approving, but beneath it stirred quiet calculations.
Pieces were moving exactly where they needed to be.
---------------
The final arrival window chimed across the hangar.
A lone shuttle slipped through the shielded gates, far less pristine than some of the vessels surrounding it.
The hatch hissed open.
Derick stepped out.
He wore no clan insignia, no ornate armor just dressed in a blue T-shirt and a matching blue jeans,"slung over his shoulder were his luggages"
Around him, candidates paused.
Some glanced at him once and looked away, dismissing him instantly. Others frowned, sensing something they couldn't quite place.
Derick didn't look around.
He adjusted the strap on his shoulder and walked forward at an unhurried pace, boots echoing softly against the hangar floor as registration lights activated ahead of him.
High above, unseen behind layers of surveillance screens, a pair of eyes lingered on his image longer than necessary.
"So," a quiet voice murmured to itself, almost amused,
"is he the one?"
Derick crossed the threshold into the trial zone—
"—and the Dragon Spirit Clan's Trial was set into motion."