The break of dawn came with a deceitful calm. Its soft, warm, golden tendrils stretched beyond the clear skies, and with them came the descent of the moon and the ascent of the sun.
While conflicts were being resolved at one part of the Federation, another was led by the wheel of time.
On a clean asphalt road, surrounded by an endless stream of lush, tall, green vegetation, were powerful constructs of locomotion.
They were large, compact vehicles.
With monster wheels and reinforced steel that seemed to absorb light, not reflect it.
Painted in silver in distinctive corners.
They assumed the shape of present-day Cyber trucks, but with a grander, more stoic form – almost the size of a truck.
These monsters of present-day transportation were known as Cyberbullies.
The air hummed with an electric resonance as fifteen cyberbullies roamed the streets.
Above it, the electromagnetic tuning from five flying subvehicles– MagneticChoppers, followed closely.
At the rear of the massive land vehicle, Luca sat along one side of the leather-cushioned seats, accompanied by fifteen others, arranged on either side.
A pale green neon light blinked softly from the roof, as his gaze lingered at the window behind him.
With dawn almost arriving, the Agents had finished their rounds. Most of the Egoists here were all affiliated with the Federation now.
Pawns that will be used as they see fit.
As for the other Cyberbullies, Luca did not doubt that, perhaps, other than two more, the rest were owned by private sectors like the Guild and even Noble families.
Though he didn't like it, he had decided there was nothing much he could do about it.
He could try out a trusted Guild in the end, but life at the moment had just begun.
'Hah, Ardent is already in sight.'
He thought with a plain expression as his gaze landed on a thin line of structurally tall buildings that came into view, slowly.
Ardent– the Military State was finally here.
'So this is where I'll be spending the next year.'
He whistled softly before turning away, and out of habit, calling for his interface. Or more specifically, his titles, traits and talents.
Titles; First True Egoist[Divine]. Seven Sins[Celestial].
Traits; Mercuryborne[Transcendent], Doggedness[D– Mastery(5%)]
Talents; Identification Talent[D– Mastery (20%)], Sword Talent[D– Mastery (5%)], Core Talent[D– Mastery (0%)], Bond Talent[D– Mastery (0%)], Fist Talent[D– Mastery (0%)], Focus Talent[D– Mastery (0%)], Shift Talent[D– Mastery (0%)], Stealth Talent[D– Mastery (0%)].
In summary, Luca had come to the realisation of how his strongest suit was in fact his traits and not just his titles.
Their descriptions, after all, were one of the reasons his confidence in obtaining power had soured greatly.
Mercuryborne[Transcendent],
Description: Born from the Abyss, you have been granted a soul hungry to be forged by your hands.
Effects: Actions performed will be liquid mercury. Forged into its most perfect form. Adaptability and processing have increased a thousandfold.
Doggedness[Dormant-Mastery(5%)]
Description: In all tribulations, you don't just refuse to back down; you refuse the laws that bind you. You create your own laws to which you abide.
Effects: Granted absolute affinity to Control form.
Though he found the first trait, a named trait as he called it, to be filled with uncertainty, he had immediately understood his other trait, or what was called an Aspect trait.
Traits were one of the major defining factors of an Egoist– it was broken down to Named traits, traits designed specifically for a single person and Aspect traits– traits that embody the human characteristic and attach to it, a form.
Forms were everything. Whether you could control fire, water, earth or even the uncanny darkness, it all depended on your form.
'Even the Emperor has a rare Non-elemental form called the Moon form. Basically allows him to use moonlight and sometimes aspects of the Moon when fighting.'
And when Luca saw his affinity and form, he had been more than just happy, he had been elated!
'Affinities are hard to raise and most Egoists are granted between small, average and a select few, superior.'
No one knew how, or why it had been so, but Scientists from the Cognisphere Commonwealth had come up with the theory that the Abyss screened the heart of their true affinities.
'I was thinking I may have to find a trait core and learn a new one… but with this, there wouldn't be a need for another for a long time– at least for now.'
Then there was his form. The Control form wasn't unheard of, but the highest recorded affinity was a small affinity.
Luca would be the first to possess an Absolute, and from his trials and errors at the Hospital, he was yet to see the limit of his control.
'It's similar to telekinesis, but I have a feeling it's more than that.'
Mercuryborne, while its evidently confusing name had confirmed at least one theory.
'I would be able to adapt and process?' At first, he took it for face value, but after his attempted usage, he realised just how mistaken he had been.
'Still, practical usage comes first. I can theorise all I want but the real thing is better.'
Luca sighed at that conclusion.
There were two other things he wished to go through again. Specifically, his titles, but the sudden chatter that spread through the vehicle halted his thoughts.
Turning to the window, his eyes flared open.
The Ardent Gate came into view next to the Vehicles as they came to a halt for protocol identification.
But it didn't take long, the new set of Egoists were now fully surrounded by the true State– the Military State and all its glory.
"Wow." Luca couldn't help but mutter as he observed with keen interest.
The architecture didn't just reach for the sky; it defied it. Every massive spire was armoured in reinforced plating, designed less for aesthetics and more to withstand a direct nuclear strike.
While the Capital was a graceful hybrid of the future, this state was a high-tier modern battle camp on a planetary scale. Clean, sterile roads cut through the landscape like blade marks, and the very air felt heavy—thick with the scent of ozone from passing hover-engines and the crushing weight of absolute discipline.
As the third-largest territory in the Federation, the sheer scale of the mobilisation was staggering. On every corner, the population moved with a rhythmic, practised gait.
Half the crowd was a sea of crimson-red uniforms; the other half were the families that kept them in the air, each civilian tied by blood to the iron will of the military.
'Wow is an understatement, this is truly to its name.'
Luca couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the lines that blurred together as they drove past the city.
Their destination was evident from the cacophony of vehicles stacked together.
Other drivers made way for the cohort, giving them the freeway to move at haste.
The Institution was nearly at the corner of the State, taking a small portion of the entirety of their land.
It was a place of learning after all– and for Egoists, a place of opportunity and vast resources.
Luca gulped at the thought.
With time, the group moved through the streets and after about thirty minutes, they arrived at their location.
"ALL DISEMBARK!"
As the Cuberbulies rolled to a stop, the large back doors hummed open, revealing the new Egoists as they disembarked from the vehicles.
Luca was one of those egoists as he jumped down, landing on the plain, dirt-filled asphalt road.
"Interesting." He turned around as others followed.
The streets were plain with no signs of civilization for the next thousand kilometres.
'Is this their way of taking care of strays?'
It wasn't common, but they were defectors who wished to escape the system.
Though Luca applauded them, he found it foolish to attempt such a thing in a state filled with the highest number of Egoist combatants.
'I wouldn't try it, that's for sure.'
As he observed with a calm expression, he heard a loud stifled yelp.
Luca turned to find a chubby red-haired boy cursing, seated on the floor.
He arched his brow in confusion when he looked up to find a group of red-haired people laughing out as they approached the massive gate of the Institution.
'Red hair… red eyes… So these are the people, huh…' A glint of intrigue sparked in his eyes as he approached the stubby fellow who seemed adamant on remaining on the ground.
'The Ardenthals.'
As he approached, the boy, feeling a shadow over his body, quickly looked up to find an arm stretched towards him.
He glanced at it, and then at the person.
"Wh– Who are you?"
Luca tilted his head. "Why should that matter?"
The stubby fellow choked on his words.
"I– I don't want to cause trouble for anyone." He looked away shyly as he stammered.
Luca knitted his brow at this. 'Just take the hand, damn it!' But of course, his expression remained neutral.
In fact, he smiled a little.
"I'm just helping a fellow cadet in need."
The young fellow's body jolted as if in shock. He glanced at the arm with hesitation. Then back at Luca, his weariness was evident.
Finally, he took it and lifted himself with Luca's help.
"Tha– thanks, I'm Taren Van Ardenthal. I'll repay this favour a hundredfold
Luca observed him for a moment.
[EGOIST– 1ST STAGE EXPLORER]
He smirked.
"I'm Lucamir Elaric, perhaps grow a bit stronger before making proclamations like that?" he said teasingly.
Taren widened his eyes. "He– Hey! Don't you know it's rude to identify people!"
Luca laughed at his antics as they headed towards the gates while a group of snorty-looking red hairs watched with rapt attention.
"That him?" one asked with a bit of whimsical intrigue.
"Yes." The one in the middle replied as they turned around. They joined the rest of the tide, walking unhurriedly towards a gate where two Instructors awaited.
"Why do you suppose the council of Formal Heads decided to watch him?"
The one in the middle had his expression suddenly darken under the ambient rays of the sun.
"I bet we'll find out soon."