Chapter 394: Surpass The Past
The moment the essence fully settled into my body, another ding echoed in my head.
[Runic Ascent: Level 3 → Level 4]
I stared at the message for a few seconds, letting it sink in. The internal pressure had already stabilized, and yet, the resonance of that runic skill still hummed across my bones like a quiet engine ready to push further.
[Runic Ascent Level 4]:
[Node 1 Activation]
All stats increased by 4.5%.
Activation cost: negligible Essence drain and physical strain.
[Node 2 Activation]
All stats increased by 9%.
Activation cost: moderate Essence consumption and mild muscle strain. Can be sustained for several minutes before strain accumulates.
[Node 3 Activation]
All stats increased by 18%.
Activation cost: extreme Essence consumption and severe physical strain.
Activation time limited to minutes before risking injury and Essence backlash.
I stood up, skin still faintly steaming from the earlier restructuring. My shirt clung to me, soaked through with sweat and essence residue. With all the work done for today, I figured I might as well clean up before heading out.
I headed into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower. As the water ran down my body, I could feel every new ridge, every slight shift in how my muscles moved, how my bones settled. The restructuring hadn’t just made me stronger, it made me efficient.
Once I dried off, I walked to the mirror and took a long look at myself. My eyes glowed faintly with residual essence, and the military uniform I’d laid out earlier almost looked too plain for what I now carried.
I pulled it on anyway.
Dark fabric, well-fitted. The insignia of my unit stitched on the shoulder. For now, it would do.
Steve and North were already waiting near the exit, both dressed neatly. Steve gave me a lopsided grin the moment he saw me.
"Well the main character for the show today is finally ready.," he said.
"You know me," I said. "I like to make an entrance."
North just nodded with a smile. "Ready?"
"Yeah. Just one thing left."
We made our way to June, who stood near the central hub, arms crossed, her sharp eyes softer than usual. She noticed the uniform and gave me a small nod.
"You look like a real Commander now," she said.
"I feel like one."
"You’ll be heading to the capital, then?"
I nodded. "Time to collect on the Emperor’s promise."
June stepped forward and held out her hand. I took it, but she pulled me into a quick, firm hug instead.
"Take care of them. And yourself."
"I will."
We shared a small, quiet moment before I stepped back. Steve and North saluted her on instinct, and she returned it with a crisp motion. Then we turned toward the teleportation hub.
I keyed in the location. The coordinates shimmered and locked. With one final glance back at the place I’d trained, fought, and grown, I stepped through.
A pulse of sensation washed over me, and the next instant, we were in the capital.
The hub’s arrival platform was bustling, but the moment we stepped out, several guards took notice. Their eyes widened slightly as they recognized the three of us, and more than one saluted without hesitation.
A familiar voice met us near the exit of the hub.
"You look prepared."
I turned and saw Arkas leaning against a pillar, arms folded, one eyebrow raised.
"Barely," I said.
He gave a half-smile. "Its good to be disciplined."
"I had a good teacher."
"Hah. You’ll make me blush."
We shared a nod, then fell in step as he led us through the wide walkways of the military sector.
Massive banners of the Empire fluttered overhead, and officers walked past in formal lines, many of them pausing to offer salutes. No one questioned my presence. No one questioned my rank.
The Military HQ came into view. Arkas walked us through the grand gate without a word, and we were guided to the ceremonial hall, where rows of seats stretched out facing a raised platform.
We took our places toward the front. Dozens of other figures filled the seats, Commanders, Masters, a few high-ranking Grandmasters. All of them turned when I walked past. All of them saluted.
I returned it calmly.
Once seated, Steve leaned closer and muttered, "So... after this, what next?"
"Probably get separated again," North said. Her voice was soft, but steady.
"Yeah," I agreed. "I need to go for the quest. But we will meet again in a week."
They nodded.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed slightly, and the hall went silent.
The Emperor entered.
He wore his standard attire with a crown of energy humming lightly above his head. But what stood out most was his presence. Even seated figures straightened instinctively. All conversation stopped.
He raised a hand and began to speak.
"Greetings to all. And... my apologies for calling you at such an early hour. I know many of you have just returned from the frontlines—bruised, tired, and deserving of rest."
He paused, offering a small nod of respect.
"But I asked you here not to celebrate what we’ve already done, but to remind you what we must still become."
A breath passed through the room. He stepped forward.
"Each of you has lived through fire. You’ve endured losses, taken impossible orders, made brutal decisions—yet here you stand. Not just alive... but stronger.
And yet... strength is not our end goal."
It is a stepping stone. The Empire is vast, but so is the unknown. Our enemies grow bolder by the day. Corruption spreads in places our maps haven’t yet named.
If we are to survive... if we are to thrive... we must outgrow our inheritance. Not just protect what our ancestors built but surpass it. Replace every legend with new ones. Forge an Empire that future generations will struggle to match."
His hand clenched into a fist.
"We cannot afford small dreams anymore. We cannot aim to match the past. We must aim to break it. And remake it better.
So I ask you—no, I command you, not to be content with your survival. Not to be satisfied with your rank or your power or your fame. Because the weight we bear is not only the survival of this Empire. It is its evolution."
Then he turned to the side slightly, motioning toward the recipients soon to be honored.
"And today, you will see examples of that evolution. Soldiers who did not wait for permission. Who did not follow maps already drawn. Who carved their way forward, alone if needed, bloody, but unbent."
He glanced at the gathered crowd once more.
"You are not here to be honored. You are here to be reminded: this is the new standard. This is the beginning of the next era. Aim higher than your commanders. Outshine your predecessors. Don’t inherit glory, create it."
Then, calmly, he returned to his original place.
"And now," he said, eyes scanning the crowd, "I call forth the first recipient of honor."
My name echoed through the hall.
"Billion Ironhart."
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