Chapter 1: Life After
In a run-down slum in Colony Z, Jacob can be seen staring at the wall reminiscing about the dream he just had "That dream again... Why can't I just forget and move on" he says as he puts his head between his legs in sorrow. Jacob's door opens and a handsome middle age man with blonde hair and stern green eyes and a tall slim figure of about 180 cm walks in "Sir I've prepared the bath" he says without a change on his handsome stern face.
"I'll be there in a second One," Jacob says without removing his face from his knees. One nods and walks out without a word. Jacob then stands up to look at himself in the mirror and sees a very handsome 21-year-old young man with dark brown hair and a vibrant pair of hazel eyes on his cold face. His body is lean and tall about 193 cm making him imposing and his hands are full of callouses from years of training, there are visible scars all over his body. Wounds from his past when the terror attack on colony X stole his family.
After looking at himself in contempt Jacob makes his way to the bathroom and cleans the sweat and soothes the fatigue of yesterday's training. One then walks in as Jacob is beginning to clothe himself "Sir you have to register as an ethereal cultivator today" he says in a softer tone reminiscing on the last 11 years when he trained this young man "I wish I could have one relaxing birthday for once" Jacob states in annoyance.
Although Jacob seems annoyed he is inwardly eager to register because once you register as a cultivator you can learn the cultivation technique and gather the Ethereal energy present in space which is the only energy that can kill humanities greatest enemy the Entity, a hive mind that has driven humanity into the vast asteroid belt. It's also the object of worship of the terror organization that attacked colony X.
"I'll get dressed and make my way to register," Jacob says as he throws on a brown tee and torn jeans along with an old pair of shoes "Make sure to get top marks so you can get into Black Star academy" One states making Jacob stop and hesitate before continuing out the door picking up a one-strap backpack on his way out.
...
"He should know I won't be able to last a day in a preppy and rich academy like Black Star" Jacob laments walking down the street to the registration building. As he walks Jacob notices a few people in a back alley a few blocks away from the registration building and hears muffled screams. Although he couldn't care less about their well-being, Jacob puts his hands in his pockets and takes out his headphones to listen to music as he walks down the alley "It'll be a good warm-up for the registration test" he sighs loudly enough for everyone in the alley to hear getting the attention of 4 men surrounding a beautiful lavender-haired girl with breathtaking golden eyes with torn clothes and tears running down her perfect heart-shaped face "h-h-help m-me" she said stuttering in fear as she stared at the abnormally handsome man.
Jacob only glances at the beauty in front of him not hearing her words with his headphones on "let's get this over with" rubbing the back of his head Jacob vanishes from his spot appearing behind the furthest one and knocking him out with a heel kick to the head and he didn't stop there. Immediately rushing behind the next man and knocking him out with a single chop to the nape. The last two thugs finally turn around and get into a stance "nice surprise attack pathetic coward" thug 1 growls "you won't be able to defeat us now that you no longer have the element of surprise boy" thug 2 says as if backing up thug 1.
"I can't hear a thing you're saying" Jacob states as he bolts towards the closest one throwing a few basic attacks before dodging an attack from behind thrown by thug 2 who couldn't stop his attack inadvertently hitting thug 1 in the crotch "YOU FUCKING IDIOTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!" Thug 1 screams as he holds his jewels with bulging bloodshot eyes when he notices that thug 2 had already been taken out. He spins around and sees Jacob standing above him like a tiger looking down on its prey "night night" he says as he performs an axe kick straight on the thug's horrified face. *CRACK* a loud crack could be heard as the kick landed knocking out the thug. "Weak ass early stage Centaurus, not even a good warm-up".
Jacob then turns to look at the girl and throws her his spare shirt from his bag "call the cops" is all he says as he walks off leaving the beautiful girl by herself next to 4 unconscious thugs "He didn't even ask for my name or anything" the girl pouts as she is usually fawned over like a princess by both women and men "I'm perfect how could he not even ask for my number. Is my hair covering my face?" She asks herself thinking Jacob didn't get to look at her perfect face "No he just ignored me completely, how dare he?!" She angrily exclaimed, this was the first time she had ever been ignored by anyone including men, women, and even children.
"He even gave me this old brown t-shirt. Who does he think I am?! My pride would never let me wear something so hideous especially not this ugly brown color!" She further complained and continued to complain as she took out her phone and called someone.
Meanwhile, Jacob just entered a large skyscraper building that he identified as the registration building and walked up to the receptionist who looked at him and smiled until she saw his worn clothes and put on a neutral face that screamed 'I don't care'. Jacob noticed her change in expression and immediately thought 'here we go' he sighed as he reached the receptionist's desk "how can I help you" the receptionist said in a slightly sarcastic tone. "I just turned 21 today and came to register as a cultivator," Jacob says nonchalantly putting a bewildered look on the receptionist's face "You don't look like one of those kids from a wealthy family or a disciple of a clan, do you think you could pay for the test?" She says barely holding a snicker.
Jacob just releases another long sigh and drops a stack of cash and walks to the test door leaving the receptionist in shock "I wonder if he'll ask for the change because this is thousands of dollars more than needed". Jacob made his way through the door to the testing hall where he could see about 200 other people which is considered impressive considering most cultivators are from wealthy families and secluded clans which are few and far between. "This is gonna be fun. I can only wish that there were no arrogant young masters but I can already see 20 at least" another sigh escaped Jacob's mouth when he spotted a familiar figure "Is that the girl from earlier? What happened to call the cops?" as he muttered those words the girl abruptly turned feeling someone's gaze on the back of her head and noticed the same boy from earlier staring at her with confusion in his eyes.
He saw her turn around and spot him with anger visible in her eyes "Why does she look angry? Did I offend her somehow?" the girl starts to stomp over to Jacob ready to thrash him for not paying attention to her "Penelope!!" Penelope hears a voice and turns around to see a tall blonde woman about 176 cm with deep blue ocean eyes and a similar face to Penelope "Charlotte!!" she immediately forgets her anger and jumps to hug Charlotte who Jacob guesses is her sister because of the similarities.
Jacob just turned away from the duo not caring about the angry Penelope because he could flatten her the instant she became hostile. Right when he turned he noticed someone walking on stage ready to announce the start of the testing.
...