Across the Net, whispers sparked like wildfire.
Adrian Blackwood, Unknown origin, Stellar Stage, Annihilates the Emerald Serpent Clan's heir and fleet.
Everyone mistakenly identified Adrian as a stellar stage.
In the Galactic Net Control Hall of the Lexaria Empire, rows of terminals flickered with live feeds. Holographic displays cast blue light across hundreds of monitoring stations where analysts tracked galactic events.
One young registrar gasped and called out, "Minister Veyth, you need to see this!"
The old man turned slowly from his elevated platform. The same elder who had once spoken of the Astral Omen to the Empress herself. Since that day, he had been tasked with monitoring every new anomaly entering the Net.
"Another clan squabble?" Veyth's voice carried the weariness of decades spent watching civilizations rise and fall.
The feed played before him on the main display. Adrian stood in the plaza of that primitive world, his body a silhouette of white-grey energy. A single word fell from his lips.
Erase.
Hundreds of SSS-ranks dissolved into nothing. Fleets collapsed to ash. The son of the Emerald Serpent Clan's patriarch, butchered like prey.
The registrar's hands trembled over his console. "Minister, the power readings... they're off the charts. Stellar at minimum."
Veyth stroked his beard, studying the replay. The way Adrian's essence moved, the absolute nature of his command over reality.
"Could this... could this be the anomaly? The one the Omen foretold?"
Veyth's wrinkled face did not change. "No. This is impressive, yes. But not impossible."
He gestured to archived footage on adjacent screens. "I've seen Stellar warriors erase armies within their Domains many times. Within a domain, lesser beings' essences always submit."
"This Adrian's power readings are at stellar stage, but the anomaly we seek?" Veyth shook his head. "That being only stepped into the void months ago. At most, they should be SSS-rank."
The old minister's eyes narrowed as he studied the data streams. "No one ascends to Stellar so quickly. The cultivation required, the understanding of galactic concepts... it takes centuries, even for prodigies."
"But Minister," the youth protested, pulling up Adrian's registration data, "this Adrian only registered on the Net a few months ago. The timing matches perfectly. What if—"
Veyth lifted a hand, silencing him. His fingers drummed against the railing as he considered.
"Keep a record of him. Flag his activities for review. But don't focus too much." The minister turned back to his primary displays, where dozens of other anomalies flickered across star charts.
"The clans will deal with this upstart. Our task is greater, to watch for the true harbinger of the Omen."
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And so, the Lexarian Empire set the matter aside.
Across the galaxy, other empires barely glanced at the news. In the Aethelian throne halls, advisors dismissed it with waves of their hands.
"Another ambitious Stellar warrior making noise," one commented. "The Emerald Serpents were always weak anyway."
Clans rose and fell every year. To them, it was nothing unusual. Clan business was clan business.
In the deepest vaults of the Demon Empire, some eyes watched the footage with interest, but even they saw only another powerful warrior, not the anomaly that had shaken the stars themselves.
...
Meanwhile, Luna and her people stared at the empty plaza. Scorch marks painted the ground where warriors had stood moments before. Their goddess had not come. Instead, a stranger who fought like the son of gods had.
When Adrian vanished in a flicker of light, many dropped to their knees. Whispered prayers to the stars escaped their lips. Luna's mother clutched her daughter close, tears streaming down weathered cheeks.
"Who was he?" Luna whispered, her small voice carrying across the silent square.
Her mother had no answer. Only gratitude that burned in her chest like a flame.
Back aboard Aurelia's ship, the chamber hummed as Adrian materialized. His parents rushed forward, checking him for wounds. Kael stood rigid, his expression unreadable.
Aurelia spoke first. Her eyes fixed on Adrian, "Adrian… do you realise what you just did?"
Adrian's jaw tightened. "I saved them."
"You saved them for now," Aurelia snapped. Her hands clenched at her sides.
"But you also condemned them. Darius was the son of the Emerald Serpent Clan's Patriarch, a Stellar Stage. You didn't just kill a boy drunk on power. You struck at a clan that commands many star systems."
Adrian's brows furrowed.
Aurelia said coldly, "When his father comes, he will not only kill you. He will burn that world to ash. And you will not even have time to draw your weapon."
Her words sank into him. Adrian's jaw clenched, but he said nothing. Thomas placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his own face grim with understanding.
She continued, quieter. "Your image, your fight, it's already across the Net. Every clan, every empire can identify you now. And that means Earth is in danger too. You can't afford reckless heroics. Not when your weakness endangers not only strangers, but your home."
Elara stepped forward, her voice strained. "Aurelia's right, Adrian. We're not strong enough yet."
Aurelia gestured toward the command console. "We should resume our travel now."
Adrian clenched his fists, "…Then what of them? If we leave, what about this planet?"
Aurelia sighed, the first crack in her voice betraying pity. She pulled up a holographic display showing galactic deployment charts.
"I checked some details, the Patriarch went to the front lines a week ago. For now, he is bound to the frontlines next few months. Every clan leader must serve a portion of the year. He cannot abandon his post. That gives us time."
"And the rest of his clan?" Adrian pressed.
"They won't move," Aurelia replied. Red markers blinked across the star map, showing Emerald Serpent territories.
"You killed their SSS-ranks. They think you are a Stellar Stage. No lesser being will dare interfere in a Stellar's war. Until his father returns, this planet is safe."
Adrian's eyes hardened. Safe… for a few months. Then nothing. His reflection caught in the viewport glass, distorted and pale.
Aurelia leaned closer, "Listen to me. If you truly want to protect them, then become strong enough to face a Stellar Stage. Until then, I forbid you from returning here. One reckless choice, and you doom not only yourself, but Earth as well."
Her words stung because they were true. Adrian felt caught in a web, Earth on one side, this nameless planet on the other. Both waiting for him. Both too heavy for his shoulders.
Kael's voice cut through the tension. "Adrian, she's right. We all want to help, but—"
"I know." Adrian's voice came out hollow. No matter how strong he grew, helplessness always found him.
Aurelia's voice cut through his thoughts, softer now. "I know what you're thinking. Don't dream too big, boy. Even with your talent, Stellar Stage isn't reached in months. We've tried for thousands of years."
She turned, commanding her ship's AI. "Prepare warp. Resume course."
The runes of the ship flared, light stretching into rivers again. Reality bent around them as the vessel leapt back into the void. The stars became streaks of silver fire.
Adrian stood in silence, his reflection caught in the viewport glass. His eyes burned with quiet resolve, the Source Seed pulsing faintly inside him.
He would not abandon them, not Earth, not this world, not anyone.
If Stellar Stage was what it took, then he would reach it. No matter the cost.