First True Step Into Space!

"What is my lovely wife doing here alone when she can be there with the others? Hm? Are you having a moment of sadness now that I'm leaving?" Heian Ciemnosc walked to stand behind Elena, who kept looking ahead on his path instead of back at him. It was as if, already, she was looking at him go, at his back, and saw him course his path. His arms hugged her from behind as Elena kept her back straight but leaned slightly backwards.

“Hm,” Elena hummed before slowly turning around. Her hands rested on his shoulders, and she looked up his darkest eyes. Her brown melted into softness as she lightly muttered, “I cannot fathom you leaving already. It seems so soon…”

“I’ve left potential powerhouses to help you. Use them well. Try to nurture them to the point where the Academy also depends on them. Don’t give them enough resources. That’s how you’ll draw them to work harder. With time, they’ll overcome themselves and grow. You won’t have to use precious resources on them later on because of that. The younger generation of Craftspeople is growing well, too. Don’t neglect any part of the Academy,” Heian Ciemnosc gently said.

“Heh, you say it as if I’m already ruling here. This is no Blauw Empire. The Headmaster and other upper echelons decide everything, and I’m even below higher-ups in status.” Elena grinned and responded, punching his collarbone with her chin. Heian Ciemnosc shook his head slightly and confidently said, “If the Headmaster was planning to let you wait, would he have given Uncle Puru growing status besides the boost in cultivation efficiency like any others?”

“Your foster father is also no longer just an upper echelon, no? If I recall correctly, won’t one of the Military Departments soon experience a relay? I wonder what will happen if one of the Academy’s history’s greatest warriors becomes a Dean. Oh, and he has a daughter, too. Oh, that is married to the black monster, known throughout the whole Existence of the–” Heian Ciemnosc said, increasing in sassiness as he went on until Elena covered his mouth with her right palm and pinched his side with her left-handed fingers.

“Alright, alright, alright!” Elena said as she slowly released her captive. “I get it. I’m not stupid, either. You’re stupid. Your silly words are stupid… Well, maybe I’m stupid, too. Who told me to get in love with a stupid who knew nothing else but kept fighting me to the same level whenever I limited my cultivation base? And then, who started beating me nonstop instead?”

“Mn, oh.” Heian Ciemnosc assertively nodded since it was the truth. Elena’s brown eyes narrowed, and her blonde hair whooshed a little, but she knew that unless she overly surpassed Heian Ciemnosc, she couldn’t overthrow him right now and make him stay… Heian Ciemnosc bonked her forehead with his, making Elena pout cutely but hidden from the spectators, and said with a big smile. “Yes, indeed. Who told you to fall for me? I don’t blame you. I had a good upbringing and am just too perfect. Hey. When I return, do you want to make stupid kids?”

“...” Elena’s face was surprised, confused, and then embarrassed. Her mature, charming brown eyes looked left and right craftily before nodding like a stupid child and muttering something only the two of them could hear. Then, Elena and Heian Ciemnosc looked into each other’s eyes for a long before they hugged each other’s waist, and Elena smelled his natural scent and felt his body’s peculiarities one last time before he departed.

… Heian Ciemnosc did enough before walking away from them. He talked, exchanged a few words, and even ordered his people for their future development. He didn’t have anything else to say or do. The world of cultivation was never-ending, and each path was too long, except that, sometimes, it ended earlier and immaturely. The next time they met, it was most likely the Wrath Nihility Academy would have successfully transitioned to the Third Step.

‘Haah, it feels like I’m on a runway.’ Heian Ciemnosc thought as he walked through the more than 6 km long corridor. It was more like a street and a merchant district as many stores, traveler accommodation industries, and establishments for cultivating were installed and built everywhere on the sides of the road at the center. The road itself wasn’t just big. It had several floors, with some belonging to flying vehicles only, and were for hundreds of vehicles to move abreast of each other at the same time for each floor.

He didn’t like the feeling of being observed, even after going through so many things, especially shameful events, as he made his way onwards. His Spirit Sense went ahead and quickly caught sight of the second batch of people he’d be bidding farewell to. He suddenly stopped, and with a turn of his upper body and head backwards to look at the crowd he had walked past a kilometer, his pale face was indifferent as the left corners of his lips twisted.

Bowwbooumb!

“!!” - “MY… GOD!” - “What just happened?!” - “Th-that… that had to be the Supreme Art the Academy had recently developed. The black monster is the only one who has successfully mastered it, right?” - “Damn! That was… phew. But who knows, maybe he is just the only one to show it in public?” - “That was amazing! No wonder Heian Ciemnosc, the black monster, is this pervertedly strong!” - “You mean handsome?” - “Huh?” - “I mean…” - “Darling?” - “Hehe.”

Suddenly, Heian Ciemnosc made this space station’s corridor bloat under his Myriad Darkness Materialization. His dome expanded like an infinite bubble that simply wouldn’t pop out. The people around were, at best, in the Second Step's lower realms, while Heian Ciemnosc was already nearing the last realms of the middle realms in the Second Step. He also limited its range to a couple kilometers so as to not affect those near the end of the corridor and burden himself.

When the bubble disappeared as if it had never been there, Heian Ciemnosc was nowhere to be seen by the spectators in the first 2 km of the long corridor. However, they didn’t notice that as they were engrossed in the previous sensation, not knowing they were the only multitude of people to not die when experiencing it or be chased to death after it ended. They were ignorantly happy and were the first in Heian Ciemnosc’s records.

Tap, tap. “... Ah!” When Heian Ciemnosc reappeared in the space station, the people who were waiting for him near the end of the corridor only saw a dark bubble appear from nowhere and then dissipate when they least expected it. Heian Ciemnosc’s body suddenly dropped before them, landing on the floor. Right then, Sharina’s surprised exclamation sounded, and the small chatter happening as they studied Heian Ciemnosc’s ‘Supreme’ Art was silenced.

“You troublesome thing!” Sharina’s arms suddenly choked Heian Ciemnosc, although they didn’t really affect him since she used no Neutral Energy to hold him in place. Yet, the fact Heian Ciemnosc didn’t struggle away brought a more content feeling to Sharina’s smile as she finished the hug, grabbed his shoulders, and looked at the fine young man she watched grow. “Sigh, why are you leaving us? Especially after messing around in another Region for so long? We barely had you for ourselves! Argh!”

“Auntie, I need to spread my wings and experience the world. All those stuff,” Heian Ciemnosc said while looking at his Aunt’s face, which was a little more enchanting, and her horns had become slightly stronger even though they became slimmer. Then, he hugged her again and rubbed her back as if she was in high emotional pain. Sharina kept smiling at his earlier dumb words before easing up. She ended the hug again and grabbed his shoulders to drag him to the rest. The first person Heian Ciemnosc was dragged to was his Uncle Puru.

“... Sigh,” Uncle Puru and Heian Ciemnosc sighed at the same time. Heian Ciemnosc’s right arm was taken hostage by his Aunt, while Puru looked at him with reminiscing eyes and said. “To think just giving you a job one day would lead me to a day like this. Really, I cannot fathom what I would feel and be like if it was anyone else but me here or there.”

Heian Ciemnosc shook his head, slowly blinked, and spoke each word at a regular pace. “Don’t think about those things, much less like that, Uncle. It’s too corny and will make my Aunt elope with me. Besides, no matter how different the person I would’ve met instead of you, Uncle Puru. I think, sooner or later, I would’ve found my way to get to know you. I’m pretty sure of it.”

“Mhm, you better, ah.” Uncle Puru watched the Aunt-Nephew duo and felt at ease but also unwilling to see the boy leave. Heian Ciemnosc blinked and nodded, not needing any more to share his thoughts with the Uncle. Sharina narrowed her eyes, understanding stupid men's language, and brought Heian Ciemnosc to greet the few Deans, Vice deans, Supervisors, and Teachers present before dragging him to where his adoptive father was.

“... Heian Ciemnosc,” Teacher Conde, soon to be a goddamn Dean, heavily spoke as he was aware this was practically a goodbye. Vice headmaster Sonora stood beside him and looked at Heian Ciemnosc with an adorkable smile that would’ve hinted at what was finally happening between the couple if his innate nature reading didn’t tell him how much they talked about life lately. Thus, Heian Ciemnosc smiled knowingly and also in gratitude for the time they spent in these past few weeks. It was comfortable.

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“Foster father… Stepmom, hello to you too,” Heian Ciemnosc receded his smile and said, swagging his wrist a little as Sharina kept silent and remained an adornment attached to her nephew. Vice headmaster Sonora smiled again. She was here mainly because Heian Ciemnosc was like her family now that she and the doofus beside her were together, although not officially married, or by nature, for that matter.

“S-... son, haha,” Conde said in an attempt to return the greeting, but he and Heian Ciemnosc felt humorous after hearing it. It felt really weird! However, it wasn’t uncomfortable, thankfully. Heian Ciemnosc nodded a little in return, and Conde took this to boost his confidence and continue, “I will speak shortly. I know how badly you want to take this chance to venture into the world.”

Heian Ciemnosc nodded and waited with his Aunt-leech still glued to him. Conde spoke with some somberness but in mostly a light tone. “I know you would do anything to protect Elena and that your progress out there will be much better compared to what the Wrath Nihility Academy can truly grant you. However, promise me this. If I am to die, you will develop everything you have and possess to give Elena what she deserves. An organization that listens to her word and whim.”

“Although she isn’t a great leader now, with you as an example and achievements to surpass, and after learning with you for a long time, I trust you know where I’m going with this. Even if Little Elena doesn’t become a being or existence in this Change’s uprising, she will reach far for when the new rule is decided. But she nor the new Change’s law will be able to do anything alone. If you’re short of allies, don’t hesitate to ask us. We’ll be waiting and ready. Just don’t waste this opportunity or let it be ruined.”

“... Foster father, don’t make those words a reality. It is one thing to ask me to take care of your daughter, but another to give yourself a green pass towards dying. It isn’t fair.” Heian Ciemnosc said before looking at the beauty beside Teacher Conde and adding, “Hey, Stepmom, I will leave foster father to you. Don’t let him pick death too soon. Since he’s so overprotective of his daughter, let him die only after slaving for eternities.”

“Hahaha~, Lil Ciemnosc, you really dared talk like that to me, huh? And with this fool by my side… Heing! Alright. I promise you this fella won’t be dying any time soon. But hurry up and grow strong, alright? I don’t know for how long I will last holding him. Sometimes, the idea of dying next to your partner is too charming.” Sonora said with a delicate squint of her eyes. Heian Ciemnosc shook his head, suddenly understanding what kind of people the 10 year war veterans were and to whom he was asking not to die early.

“Good luck, kid.” Teacher Conde added at the end before Heian Ciemnosc was dragged away. Sonora held his left hand and put it between her palms before wishing him the best. “This is from the Headmaster. He figured you would need these when you wish to try forming a Relic with that little cube of yours. It would be too shameful to ask your sugar mommy for more things, no? Just take it as the Headmaster giving you a favor… And ignore all the previous favors.”

“... Thank you, I will remember everything.” Heian Ciemnosc remained speechless for a short while before taking the small sack in Stepmom Sonora’s hands. Sonora and Conde smiled, nodded, and stepped sideways to let him continue on his way. Heian Ciemnosc looked at the space they opened for him and noticed he was only 300 meters from the hangar’s entrance, and that piece of the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s Carrier was partly seen.

“Here is my limit,” Sharina’s light voice woke Heian Ciemnosc up. He didn’t know when his right arm was set free, but when he turned around, his darkest eyes uncontrollably trembled after widening. Sharina looked at the scaredy, kid-like, pale young man. She stepped forward again, picked his cheeks with her fingertips, and smiled at his face before bidding him farewell in everyone else’s name.

“Don’t look back now. Isn’t your path to leave others behind? If you’re just strong enough, you’ll come back and bring them with you. If not… what’s the point of trying?”

“!” Heian Ciemnosc’s pupils and irises shrank to a needlepoint. His breathing ceased for 3 seconds, and as those seconds passed, his torso deflated from its previous bloatedness. Heian Ciemnosc felt his dark blood and Neutral Energy flow at the impossible speeds it had always gone to, and more as his cultivation path continued to progress. He suddenly felt like the strange sensation he almost went through never happened and was just a trick of his mind. But wasn’t that how everyone who survived described it?

Step, step, step, step. Heian Ciemnosc turned around and stepped towards the last 300 meters to the hangar where the Crimsonbreaking Faction had been waiting for him. Time seemed to speed up as he quickly arrived there despite taking regular-paced steps onwards. When he came out of the corridor and was walking on a 400 meters wide leading to the various ports where the warships docked, he noticed only one person waiting for him where one of the Carrier’s individual hatches should’ve been attached to the space station but was floating a few meters away from it.

Step. Heian Ciemnosc stopped his steps and thought inside his mind with his darkest eyes closed before opening them to look at the obscure brown-skinned fellow eating a snack while waiting for him, not minding his sudden stop. ‘Then, I’ll come back and pick you up.’

“... Why is the Carrier a little farther away? Isn’t it already detached from the space station?” Heian Ciemnosc said as he looked up and noticed every other port holding onto the Carrier had also been detached, floating stagnant in space. At the same time, it was no longer covered with the protection from the Elemental poisoning in the universe that the space station provided to every warship and which Heian Ciemnosc and the snacking fella were under.

“Dunno. It’s just me, kiddo. Right, welcome back and so on, barely-qualified Auxiliary Soldier.” The fella said as he rapidly finished his dish, cleaning his fingertips by slapping his hands together, still not caring about Heian Ciemnosc’s delaying actions. Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head to the right and asked, “Why ‘barely qualified’?”

The fella looked up at Heian Ciemnosc. His eyes were big and had bags under them, but he was in the Third Step, and Heian Ciemnosc could only faintly discern his realm without knowing the stage this man was in. The Third Step was nothing he could see through now, nor in the near future. But, hopefully, he will be able to in the not-so-distant future. But preferably even sooner.

“Why? Heh,” the fella snorted from his nostrils before continuing, “Anyone who enters the Crimsonbreaking Faction and hasn’t become a Third Step cultivator in under 3 decades is not someone who should’ve belonged to the Faction in the first place. With the resources we gather, the Stones we distribute, and the battlefields we provide, it is nuts not to become a Non-Mortal after all that. Of course, one can always offend the wrong person and become Elemental particles.”

“Haha, talking about Elements, get in already. The Carrier won’t wait for you forever,” the fella threw the dish to the side, but it was stored in his Covert Space bag before it even went past a couple meters. He then turned to face the Carrier’s individual hatch before jumping towards it. When his body crossed through the space station’s protection from the Elemental poisoning, his skin made contact with it, like tiny sparkles like stars and bubbles popping off.

“So,” the man rapidly passed through space and grabbed a handle around the hatch, still closed, and turned around to add. “If a Third Step cultivator can become an Auxiliary Soldier only after they become a Non-Mortal, what are you if not even at the peak of the Second Step, which the Faction has barely made some exceptions in the thousands of years since it was founded?”

“Hmm, make sense,” Heian Ciemnosc hummed and nodded before lifting his arms to hold the sides of the port where the Carrier used to be attached to. The fella looked at Heian Ciemnosc with narrowed, disdainful, and calm eyes. Heian Ciemnosc lightly impulsed his body, entering space and exiting the space station’s protection. He didn’t pour his Spirit Sense without protection, or it would be erased immediately, and he would waste his mental fortitude.

Tshing, tshing, tshing, tshing, tshing, tshing, tshing… … … …tshing.

Heian Ciemnosc’s body, pale and tall, became overly contrasted between the universe and his skin. When the Elemental poisoning found another plate well served, they lunged at it, prickling Heian Ciemnosc’s clothes and skin. When the fella who was eating exposed his body to space, the Elemental poisoning only moved towards him and didn’t really enter his skin as he protected himself, and any Third Step cultivator could at least last for over 1,000 minutes in open space.

However, when Heian Ciemnosc was exposed to the Elemental poisoning, his pale skin glowed and shone wherever the Elemental poisoning moved. It didn’t just caress his body and dissipate because of the protection. It ‘stabbed’ his skin, expanding in a 1 cm diameter and glowing for a second before blasting away and finding nothing to adhere itself to any longer. The man was confused, but Heian Ciemnosc’s pervertedly handsome face looked satisfied as his body experimented these things.

Slide. The hatch opened just as he was 3 meters away from it, and the man beside the hatch bowed, bent his body, and lowered his head as much as possible. Meanwhile, Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest slowly, comfortably widened upon seeing the silhouette’s carmine red hair down to her enchanting, charming, and seductive hips.

…woop… slide!

She extended her right arm out, and Heian Ciemnosc’s body was sucked into the Carrier’s individual hatch, leaving the fella outside.

…

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This is the end of Volume 6 — A Step Into the World.