A sleek hover car glided to a stop in front of a towering, imposing building. The doors slid open, and a strikingly handsome man stepped out—Volkov Thane, the Flame Saint. His sharp eyes lingered on the massive sign that read AURORA WHITE HOUSE in bold letters. With a weary sigh, he exhaled.
Several hours ago, he had called for an emergency meeting, and every representative had agreed to attend. Now, they were all inside, waiting.
With his assistant in tow, Volkov entered the building and quickly registered his arrival. He stepped into the elevator, selected the highest floor, and leaned against the wall.
Ding.
After a few minutes, the elevator came to a halt. As the doors slid open, the entrance to the meeting room stood before him. The moment he stepped inside, several powerful auras locked onto him—not in hostility, but as acknowledgment.
"Well, if it isn't the Flame Saint," a playful voice broke the silence. "How's the association treating you?"
"Better than your sorry ass will ever be treated in a lifetime, Dulcan," Volkov shot back without missing a beat.
Dulcan's smirk twisted into a scowl. "Who the hell do—"
"Enough," a domineering voice cut in, silencing their argument. "We have more important matters to discuss."
"Tch. Fine," Volkov muttered.
"Only because he said so," Dulcan added with a huff.
The room housed five S-rank powerhouses and a single SS-rank, some of the strongest in the city.
Dulcan Shadowheart – Ice Saint (S-rank)
Volkov Thane – Flame Saint (S-rank)
Eleanor Lionheart – Martial Empress (S-rank)
Francis Reed – Merchant of the Gods (S-rank)
Lena Pierce – Storm Bringer (S-rank)
Kane Gale – Paladin of Light (SS-rank)
A heavy silence settled over them as Volkov rose from his seat.
"I assume you've all seen the intel I sent earlier. We need to take this matter seriously—an extraterrestrial invasion is a real possibility. The data contained a name, age, and rank but no race. The name is Xandros Darkhaven, and the strangest part? He's just 16 years old, yet he holds Tier 3 Citizenship—a status that takes even powerhouses decades to achieve. That alone is suspicious. But what worries me the most is his race. He looks human, but no human could possess that level of talent. Not even dragons or celestials."
Dulcan scoffed. "If he was an extraterrestrial, Gaia would have flagged him. Since she hasn't, your theory doesn't hold. Either the humans found themselves an extraordinary talent, or—he's a demon."
Eleanor crossed her arms. "I hate to admit it, but Dulcan has a point."
"No, it's entirely possible," Volkov countered. "We're talking about a Divine Kingdom here. That alone proves they have technology superior to ours. What if they found a loophole and hacked Gaia's system without us realizing it? That's a terrifying thought."
"Tch. You're just being paranoid," Dulcan muttered.
"I think Volkov has a point," Kane, the SS-rank, finally spoke. "We're already stretched thin dealing with the demon invasion—we can't afford another."
Lena, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "So, what do you suggest, Volkov?"
"We arrange a formal investigation under the guise of a meeting. Three of us should handle it personally—if he has high-ranking protectors, we need to be cautious."
Kane's voice rang with authority. "Do we all agree?"
"Agreed." x4
"Good. Meeting adjourned."
..........**.............
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over Xandros. His eyes twitched slightly before snapping open. Something soft rested on him. Looking down, he found Elyria sleeping soundly against his chest.
A gentle smile spread across his lips as he carefully moved her to the side, making sure not to wake her. As he got up, a familiar voice greeted him.
"Good morning, Master."
Turning, he saw Layla standing by the doorway.
"Morning, Layla. How are you?" he asked with a small smile.
"I'm well, Master. Thank you for asking." She paused, then continued, "You received an email from the Awakener Association. They humbly request your presence and would like to know when you'll be available. They also mentioned that you could either visit their headquarters or have them come here for your convenience."
Xandros chuckled, amused. "Looks like they already suspect me. Not that I care. Reply and tell them the meeting will be held here, tomorrow at noon."
"Already done, Master."
"Good. Now, pull up today's quests—I need to get ready."
[Ding!]
[Loading Daily Quests…]
[First Quest]
Cultivate your Awakener Core for 2 hours using a breathing technique
Reward: 10% Sword Intent, 5 Supreme Fruits
[Second Quest]
Clear 10 floors of the Supreme Tower
Reward: 10% Battle Intent, Omni-Eye
[Third Quest]
10,000 push-ups
10,000 sit-ups
100 km run
5,000 squats
Reward: 10% Elemental Intent, SS-Level Super Flight Talent]
"Yo, these rewards are insane." Xandros grinned. "But that third quest… sheesh. I better not go bald—this is more than some One Pun-"
"Master, copyright," Layla interrupted, smirking.
"Fine, fine." Xandros rolled his eyes.
"Also, Master, you haven't checked in today. I have a feeling you're in for a surprise." Layla's smile turned mysterious.
Xandros narrowed his eyes. "You know something, don't you?"
"Nope~," she giggled, avoiding his gaze.
"Tch. Aren't you supposed to be an omni-being?" He clicked his tongue. "Fine, I'll find out myself. Check-in."
[Ding!]
[Checking in…]
[Congratulations, Master! You have received:]
Ranger Morph Watch – S-rank
Ranger Battle Suit – EX-rank
Xandros' eyes widened. "Wait a minute… Is this what I think it is?"
He immediately opened the description.
[Ranger Morph Watch] – An intergalactic device that grants access to the latent power of the Ranger Grid, enabling transformation into battle suits and summoning advanced mechanical constructs known as Zords.
[Ranger Battle Suit] – A highly advanced suit that enhances the user's strength to EX-rank. It can be powered by any energy source, with its design and color adapting to the energy type. The stronger the energy, the more powerful the suit.
"Holy sh—this is my childhood dream! I can actually become a Ranger?! Hell yeah!" Xandros practically jumped for joy.
Layla smiled warmly. It had been so long since she'd seen him this happy.
"Yes, Master. The check-in system exists not just to make you stronger, but to bring you happiness—to help you enjoy the journey."
Xandros exhaled deeply, still grinning. "Yeah… You're right. I haven't felt this excited since my first life."
"Alright, time to tackle today's quests. Layla, which breathing technique should I use?"
"I'll upload a special one made just for you."
[Ding!]
[Uploading Supreme Breathing Technique – Omni-rank…]
[1%... 4%... 55%... 100%]
[Technique successfully ingrained.]
A flood of knowledge filled Xandros' mind. The technique had 13 levels, though he could currently only use the first. Despite its simplicity, its power was staggering.
He took a deep breath and sat in a meditative position.
"Alright. Let's do this."
...........**...........
Hey guys. Do you like the Ranger power system?
Yes
No