“Wait until you comfortably settled into grade 2 before worrying about combat training. I know it’s not intuitive, but compared to production tech supers, the military is far from lacking super-level manpower able to go on raids against the rogue Canopy branches,” Commander said as he crossed a whole quarter of the big whiteboard behind him.

“If you can transform your potential into ability, then believe me when I say that we can take all the heat from you without any repercussions. And even if the situation drastically changes, which is clearly a possibility according to what I know of the current global situation, by becoming grade 2, your natural survivability will also explosively increase,” he added as this time he made a big red warning sign overlay on a bubble named “emergency”.

Shuffling the paper document they had given him before making him sit down, Aven wrote some notes next to what had just been addressed before moving on to the next page.

“After you sent us your list of quests and your experience doing them 2 days ago, we went over it and concluded that investing now is the best time,” from the side, a serious-looking Rival detailed, “So just prepare yourself for more than a week of continuous boosted cultivation.”

“And you’ll not go the traditional fighter way anyway,” Commander called for his attention again as he started creating a new bubble on the already congested board, “You’ll have to think about it some more on your own, but I advise you to check out the assault officer career path. That doesn’t change the fact that you need to reach grade 2 first though!”

“An officer career path as a tech super?” Aven doubted what he had just heard as it wasn’t included in the document under his eyes, so he asked for confirmation, “Like, a commanding position?”

“Why do you think I named myself Commander? I started as an assault officer and gradually made my way up by proving myself, but that’s not the subject!” Cutting his stroke of curiosity before it began, Commander indicated at Rival to continue.

“Concerning where you’ll be questing after you reach grade 2 in a bit more than 10 days if you follow an optimal cycling schedule, I won’t seal the deal immediately,” Rival took over the moment he was called, and flipped the board to its other side as Aven also turned to the next page.

“The constraints of your quests are unique enough in that they involve the whole military, and while I have no proof yet, I think there are also some local and global difference factors we need to take into account,” not going the simple way, Rival had clearly gone deep into the hypothesis path.

“That’s why,” he highlighted the big ammunition industry circle with a green question mark, “Until I finish compiling a statistical report on which tech-supported industry has the best supply-demand ratio both locally, regionally, and globally, you’ll stick to cultivating while I prepare the field for you.”

“We’ve also had some animated discussion regarding your future and the most notably the interdisciplinary fields,” taking the torch once again, Commander waited for Aven to finish jotting down the intriguing idea of the local, regional, and global scale factors being taken into account.

“For example, due to an obviously limited time, there are nearly no tech supers who focus deeply on fields like biology, having nothing to do with what the tech energy system is capable of interacting with. The martial supers are already doing a marvelous job with using such fields by producing the best cultivation resources, so why should we care about them?” Giving a very impacting example, the old man firmly believed in what he was saying and that was easy to tell for Aven.

“Their biological scientific advancements are different, that’s true, but from my point of view, they are totally equal to our more orthodox materialistic technologies. Considering it's a totally different field where most tech supers don’t know the express purpose of what they are making, there’s always been a latent demand that only asks to be answered and filled,” concluding his aside, he nodded at Rival to signal him that he was finished.

“Finally, we’ve already initiated a special appeal that will allow you to climb the military ranks as fast as your capabilities are climbing,” not relying on the board anymore, Rival just straight up told him what they were up to that wasn’t concretized yet.

“The details aren’t yet filled in, but if the military is already somewhat aware of your potential, it should smoothly and discreetly be passed, and you’ll have a clear path to an honorific General rank. It’ll just have to remain secret if you really achieve it as… Well, you can probably guess, right?” Not completing his sentence, RIval just let Aven’s imagination fill in the rest.

It didn’t help nonetheless that his imagination was a type that easily translated to being spoken aloud, “I guess if I really achieve the honorific General rank as an engineer, I’ll be like 3 or 4 ranks above you or something like that?”

His question was left unanswered as Rival ignored it and forwarded to the next thing he wanted to say, “Besides all these points we’ve already talked about, there’s a great chance that Drayce, one of the 5 production tech supers located at Blackdale IMC, will meet you once you start showing your potential.”

“And why would he do that?” Having nothing to note anymore, Aven freely let his curiosity drive him.

“Because he’s a genius with an innate ability allowing him to know certain things faster than the others,” obscuring his answer, Rival forcefully stopped him from asking further and took a magnetic key from his pocket which he put on the table.

“Hu~ Yeah?” Taking it by reflex, he inquisitively observed it while waiting for one of the two old men to explain to him what it was.

And it was Rival that answered his unasked query, “It’s a key to my house, or my quarters considering it's inside the super-restricted area. That’s where you’ll be cultivating until you reach grade 2 under our supervision.”

“Oh~ Looks like we’re all really into it~” Impressed by such a move, Aven unhesitantly put the key in one of his pockets, “That’s the first step to becoming a puppet, and I like it!”

“Hahaha!” Commander laughed frankly at that joke, “How many grade 1 supers do you think would want to be in your place?”

“All of them! Thank you for allowing me to become your puppet, dear seniors!” Standing up explosively and giving an instant deep bow, Aven then assumed it was the end of their 1-hour long indoctrination, “So… Do I start now?”

“You are,” Rival confirmed, “I’m taking you with me, no need to bother with necessities, just come as you are and we’ll manage the rest. We’re not doing it just for you, we’re also doing it for us.”

“It still remains that I’m the main profiter of this venture,” Aven acknowledged what was happening for what it really was: A nearly one-sided investment, “Even the help I’ll eventually give you will not be-”

“Yeah, yeah. Good for you, now follow me,” cutting him off rather abruptly, the black-haired old man started walking away without letting him finish what he wanted to say.

Even Commander seemed wholly uninterested in his opinion as he started cleaning the board of all the drawings they had used to explain to him the plan they had designed.

“Well~ Okay. Bye Commander!” Obediently following behind Rival after fetching his backpack and box containing his remaining energy cultivation trinities following 2 days of intensive use and waving at Commander, he ended up a minute later inside a weird-looking car which took him to a similarly weird-looking house in a few minutes.

“Are your car and house weaponized?” Making an assumption based on the platings and multiple closed shutter-like openings, Aven looked interested in what brought about the necessity of doing something like that.

“Not officially,” giving a short answer, Rival arrived at his door and unlocked it, “And mine is nothing compared to Commander, he’s the greatest paranoid I know when it comes to ensuring his own safety.”

“How did he become like that? Was he always like that?” Attempting to make small talk, he once again hurled himself at a steel wall as the only person capable of answering him didn’t follow up and just entered his house.

Entering too, Aven saw that, unlike the exterior appearance, the inside appeared to be completely normal, it was an organized entrance hallway, followed by a neat living room decorated with lots of random machine bits. All in all, it was perfectly suited for his taste.

After removing his shoes at the entrance, he felt just right at home, which he didn’t hesitate to express straightforwardly, “That’s a very comfy home, I feel like I’ve been there before so don’t mind if I look too at ease!”

“Go to the third suite,” same as before, Rival ignored him and only focused on what needed to be done as he started explaining his imminent schedule, “I’ve already prepared it up for you, so start cycling your energy once you settle in. Come here to eat, the fridge is always filled with pre-made meals so eat your fill.”

Not lingering in the strangely familiar living room for long, Aven knew that every minute he wasted was a minute wasted for nothing, so he quickly found the third suite he would live in for the foreseeable future and started preparing.

‘Well, that’s it.’

Before starting to cycle his energy again, he brought up his status.

Aven Amias

Faction: Nation of Eland Military

Energy Grade: 1

Energy Cultivation: 41/100

Energy Affinity: Tech

Physical Talents: None

Energy Talents: Basic Tech Energy Affinity, Basic Energy Sense

Spiritual Talents: Inquisitive Spirit, Basic Knowledge Integration

Universal Talents: Unawakened Fairy Ancestry

Smiling at how his last 2 days of intense perpetual energy cycling had turned out, he opened the holy box and took out the remaining 14 trinity packages.

‘I didn’t do the math… But with a consumption of 3 packages per day…’

“Anyway!” Aven stopped his internal musing with a shout to bring his focus back and took a package box with him as he sat on the couch.

A few dozen seconds later, he ingested both the energy cultivation base increase serum and the energy cultivation cycle boosting, and played a documentary about the ammunition industry.

He hadn’t had enough of this subject yet, and it was much more interesting than he had thought too.

…

It took 3 weeks.

3 weeks where Aven slept for only 6 hours each day and cycled his energy continuously for the rest of it.

In total, he had consumed 63 grade 1 cultivation trinities, with a third of it having the energy cultivation base increase serum left behind as it lost its use towards the end due to its inability to increase the total energy beyond the confinement of grade 1.

But finally, after these 3 weeks of idyllic cultivation with 2 mentors controlling every aspect of his life 1 week in due to them having found what he would do after reaching grade 2, Aven felt his cloud-like energy reach its final threshold.

‘Finally.’

Silently, he stopped cycling his energy as what would happen next was out of his control.

True to how Commander had explained it would happen, his energy cloud that was spread all over his body started entering a stage of turmoil.

The passive cycle was little by little broken, until at the center of his body, around his solar plexus, a disturbance appeared.

This disturbance appeared to his basic energy sense as a seed of light, and he knew that it was the unborn form of his imminently created energy spark, the telling sign of having purely and simply reached grade 2.

‘It’s just so fascinating… I simply grew my own energy, and now it’s transforming on its own in a natural and universal way…’

The bright seed, once it stabilized its own existence through means probably only the pure energy system understood somewhat, started drawing in all the cloud-like energy that had stopped revolving.

On his side, Aven would have felt nothing if not for his energy sense allowing him to be a spectator. Neither his sense of touch nor any physical signs told of what mess was taking place inside of him.

After the seed had drawn in all his energy, leaving behind nothing but an energy-less wasteland, it had become so bright that his basic energy sense was finding there was a new intensity for energy it had never been calibrated for observing before.

It was like a baby opening its eyes for the first time, the world prior had been a world filtered by his eyelids, but now that he was exposed to such a new source of intense energy, eyelids or not, it didn’t matter.

As his energy sense was adapting to this new intensity, however, the seed itself began its last transformation stage by condensing.

By the time Aven became able to see this seed more clearly, it had already reduced its volume by more than 2 times.

It seemed that it was close to completing its transformation as in its center, a yet brighter spot of energy started forming.

A few more minutes passed before ultimately, whatever needed to be done had been done, and the whole seed collapsed in, giving birth to a lively spark of energy.

And when this step was done, Aven felt a surge of knowledge pass through his spirit, spontaneously leaving behind an understanding of what his innate ability had gained after he became grade 2.

‘It’s… Possible?’

Understanding but not at the same time, the young man doubted what his grade 2 innate ability now allowed him to do.

‘But the price… Has to be… Right?’

Wanting to confirm if he really now owned the ability to make the impossible possible, he brought up his faction contribution shop.

Faction Contribution Shop: Nation of Eland Military

Faction Authority: Second Lieutenant

Faction Contribution Points: 0

Knowledge: Basic Energy Specializations (5 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Basic Inscribing (5 800 FCP)

Knowledge: Basic Psy Energy System (6 100 FCP)

Knowledge: Basic Elemental Energy System (6 100 FCP)

Knowledge: Basic Tattooing (6 200 FCP)

Knowledge: Basic Martial Energy System (6 400 FCP)

Knowledge: Basic Tech Energy System (6 400 FCP)

Knowledge: Basic Pure Energy System (6 500 FCP)

…

Knowledge: Intermediate Swimming (15 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Fast-Roping (15 700 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Free-Fall (15 900 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Singing (16 200 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Fishing (16 200 FCP)

…

Knowledge: Intermediate Long-Range Rifle Shooting (85 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Explosive Breaching (85 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Emergency First Aid (85 700 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Sniper Rifle Shooting (85 800 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Counterintelligence (85 800 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Guerrilla Tactics (85 800 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Aircraft Piloting (85 900 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Jet Piloting (86 100 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Helicopters Piloting (86 100 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Psychological Operations (86 200 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Hacking (86 200 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Short-Range Rifle Shooting (86 300 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Energy Applications (86 300 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Nanomaterials (86 400 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate War Planning (86 400 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Handgun Shooting (86 500 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate History (86 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Alloys (86 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Cooking (86 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Super Biology (86 700 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Energy Cultivation (86 800 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Innovative Designs (86 900 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Artillery Handling (87 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Oceanography (87 200 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate High-Speed Driving (87 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Filming (87 600 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Audio Engineering (87 800 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Triangulation (88 100 FCP)

Knowledge: Intermediate Criminology (88 200 FCP)

…

Knowledge: Advanced Military Procedures (134 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Water Engineering (135 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Air Engineering (139 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Firearm Shooting Skills (141 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Vehicle Driving (142 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Politics (156 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Logistics (175 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Communication (176 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Administration (189 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Economy (207 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Ammunition Engineering (216 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Inspection (221 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Human Resources (224 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Management (228 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Infiltration (235 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Teamwork (237 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Diplomacy (240 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Chemical Engineering (243 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Special Operations (247 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Weapon Systems (249 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Vehicle Designing (250 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Cyber Warfare (251 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Combat Engineering (252 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Programming (254 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Aeronautical Engineering (258 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Demolition (258 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Close Quarters Combat (260 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Industry Skills (263 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced High-Pressure Mentality (264 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Aircraft Piloting (265 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Materials Engineering (267 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Electrical Engineering (269 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Psychology (270 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Aerospace Engineering (272 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Biology (273 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Physics (275 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Military Tactics (276 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Biomedical Engineering (281 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Mathematics (282 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Surgery (284 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Armament Engineering (300 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Mechanical Engineering (301 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Leadership (312 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Problem-Solving (356 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Industrial Engineering (367 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Weapon Engineering (370 000 FCP)

Knowledge: Advanced Developmental Engineering (452 000 FCP)

…

After-Training Body Revitalization Pill (5 500 FCP): A military-grade medicine used to supply the body with all the elements it needs to recover from deep physical exhaustion.

SAU Handgun (5 600 FCP): A simple and useful handgun with a solid frame and internals, perfect for long-term and intensive use in the right hand.

Mark 12 Rainbow Fairy Grade 1 Energy Cultivation Base Increase Serum (5 800 FCP): Artificially increases the amount of energy being cycled during grade 1 energy cultivation by 330%. Artificial increase cannot go beyond grade 1 maximum threshold.

Mark 4 Rainbow Fairy Grade 1 Energy Cultivation Cycle Sustaining Serum (6 100 FCP): Postpone a grade 1 energy cultivation downtime period by revitalizing all the spent energy artificially.

Mark 9 Rainbow Fairy Grade 1 Energy Cultivation Cycle Boosting Serum (6 300 FCP): Increases the energy cycling speed of grade 1 energy cultivation by 410%.

CAP 7.2 Advanced Tactical Assault Rifle (6 400 FCP): An advanced rifle designed to be used on fast mixed operations. It can accommodate all sorts of additions and environments without showing defects, but needs regular maintenance after prolonged use.

…

Bio-Innovative Grade 2 Energy Cultivation Cycle Downtime Canceling Serum (14 400 FCP): Cancel a grade 2 energy cultivation downtime period

Mark 3 Rainbow Fairy Grade 2 Energy Cultivation Base Increase Serum (15 000 FCP): An elixir artificially increasing the amount of energy being cycled during grade 2 energy cultivation by 250%. Artificial increase cannot go beyond grade 2 maximum threshold.

Fifth Harmony Grade 2 Energy Cultivation Base Increase Serum (15 200 FCP): An elixir artificially increasing the amount of energy being cycled during grade 2 energy cultivation by 270%. Artificial increase cannot go beyond grade 2 maximum threshold.

Greater Vow Grade 2 Energy Cultivation Base Increase Serum (16 200 FCP): A serum artificially increasing the amount of energy being cycled during grade 2 energy cultivation by 370%. Artificial increase cannot go beyond grade 2 maximum threshold.

Written Vow Grade 2 Energy Cultivation Cycle Sustaining Serum (17 400 FCP): Postpone a grade 2 energy cultivation downtime period by revitalizing all the spent energy artificially.

Third Harmony Grade 2 Energy Cultivation Cycle Boosting Serum (17 600 FCP): Increases the energy cycling speed of grade 2 energy cultivation by 320%.

…

Rainbow Bio Grade 3 Psy-System Energy Cultivation Cycle Boosting Serum (31 700 FCP): Increases the energy cycling speed of psy energy system grade 3 energy cultivation by 260%.

Rainbow Bio Grade 3 Tech-System Energy Cultivation Cycle Boosting Serum (31 900 FCP): Increases the energy cycling speed of tech energy system grade 3 energy cultivation by 280%.

Rainbow Bio Grade 3 Martial-System Energy Cultivation Cycle Boosting Serum (32 600 FCP): Increases the energy cycling speed of psy energy system grade 3 energy cultivation by 310%.

…

Perfected Evolution Elixir (670 000 FCP): An elixir refined with the topmost human and super biology knowledge available. Gives the drinker a deep and forceful DNA wash, allowing previously hidden physical talents to emerge. Only works one time and is not guaranteed to make a talent manifest itself.

Energy Growth Wonder Flower (780 000 FCP): A flower only found in nature in extremely luxuriant environments with growth conditions not yet understood. Awaken any life that eats it while also giving it the natural energy growth energy talent.

Tireless Apple (810 000 FCP): An apple that grows every decade from a tireless tree in good condition. Gives the eater the tireless spirit spiritual talent, a talent that can grow the more it is used.

…

Self Revolving Energy Mutation Elixir (1 460 000 FCP): An elixir created through an ancient rainbow fairy formula with most of its ingredients being extremely difficult to gather. Gives the self revolving energy energy talent to anyone consuming it.

Inexhaustible Body Mutation Serum (1 630 000 FCP): A serum made from both rare beasts and humans who had this physical talent before dying. Gives the consumer the inexhaustible body physical talent.

Energy Furnace Constitution Mutation Elixir (1 850 000 FCP): An elixir made through an extremely difficult process that cannot be fully controlled due to the need to add mixed-origin blood and organs from life already having such a constitution. Gives the consumer the energy furnace cells physical talent.

Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of items had been added to his faction contribution shop.

And they weren’t knowledge.

They were real physical items existing in the real world that could be touched and interacted with.

And now, Aven had gained the ability to manifest them for 24 hours in the real world through his innate ability.