In the vacuum of space, where silence and emptiness stretched without end, a small point began to tremble.
A ripple tore through the fabric of space, like a rock breaking the surface of still water.
Then, with a vibration, a rift split open.
A black vessel slipped through, and the tear sealed shut behind it.
Its hull absorbed light, cloaked in dark energy. Golden letters glowed along its side: Void Slasher.
The airship blended fantasy and science. One look made it clear—it was built for speed and agility.
He stood alone at the helm; eyes locked on the giant planet ahead.
Even from this distance—over a million kiloters—it dominated the view.
A swirl of greens, blues, and brown moved slowly across its surface.
"So, this is one of the planets under the Truth Seekers…" His voice ca out low as he leaned on the window.
He wasn't speaking to anyone. Just trying to grasp the scale.
That planet was at least a thousand tis larger than his ho world.
Its orange rings pulsed faintly, lit like glowing veins.
(Brat, that's Planet Agath,) Pantheon explained. (It's a neutral world—well-known for free trade. Anyone can do business there.)
Asher nodded, rembering what Pantheon brief him before embarking in this journey.
There were four types of planets: Ancient-Controlled, Truth Seeker-Controlled, Neutral, and specks—worlds seen as worthless by the powerful.
His ho planet was a Speck. That was probably why the Titans chose it as a food source. Because no one would seek revenge for a place that backward.
Unfortunately, they forgot to factor in the existence of Asher, and the APC weapon.
(It's a neutral planet for trade and business, but...)
"Let guess," he cut in, folding his arms. "But I still have to register?"
(Yeah, they're strict about that. Most who co here are either powerful beings or have tech capable of wiping out small planets with enough ti and preparation. That's why they double down on security.)
"Are all the citizens of that planet powerful?"
(Not at all, but the average citizen there would at least be D- Rank.)
The universal ranking system, used by everyone, was sothing Asher was finally allowed to know.
Pantheon also briefed him on the ranks, which ranged from F- to SSS .
It wasn't to be mistaken with the awakening ranking. To compare, a D Rank here would already be equivalent to an S rank back ho.
According to the ancient dragon, Asher could already be considered (S ) Rank, especially when factoring in all his magic items.
Surprisingly, even Pantheon was only at (SSS-) Rank at his peak, showing just how vast the universe was.
Asher couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of being could reach the pinnacle of (SSS .)
He exhaled through his nose. "Sa ga, bigger stick."
(Forget everything you know. This isn't just so unknown planet. It's a place where powerhouses flocks, so always assu you're talking to soone who could beat you.)
"Got it."
The space station lood in the distance, a massive, spherical structure that resembled a dark moon.
Ring of enormous turrets encircled the station, bristling with weapons designed to strike fear into any who dared approach.
A pulse of light cut through the space, and within seconds, ten ships materialized.
Black steel, blue thrusters. Their formation was tight, and they block his ship.
Asher's hands moved across the crystal console, slowing the ship.
"Guess they saw us,"
Green beams scanned the Void Slasher. A tone rang through the space.
Next, a robotic voice spoke in the Universal Tongue.
"Unidentified vessel. You are entering Agath's orbit. State na, origin, and purpose."
Asher let the silence stretch before leaning in.
"This is Captain Asher of the Void Slasher. Origin: Planet 0007- Sector code 13DAB. Purpose: Trade and Registration."
All that information were a lie.
His ho planet was unregistered—nothing more than a forgotten speck in the universe.
It was only through Pantheon's treasure trove of information that he'd managed to mask his origins so convincingly.
The pause that followed wasn't long.
A second voice replaced the first. Still calm, but with weight behind it.
"Registration is mandatory. You will be escorted to Dock 17-Alpha. Do not leave the path. Attempt teleportation or cloaking, and you will be fired and exterminated."
He smirked. 'Friendly bunch.'
(They have to be,) Pantheon said. (You're not the biggest threat here. That planet holds beings that could snap you in half without blinking.) A pause. (And that's if they're feeling nice.)
'Why do I feel like you don't trust my strength?' he rolled his eyes.
(Brat, it's not that you're weak. This place is just full of strong individuals. I need to remind you because you're ignorant about how things work on the bigger stage.)
"Thanks for the reminder," he muttered, not sure whether to be thankful or be insulted.
To think there would co a day when he'd feel like a side character.
The Void Slasher locked onto the path broadcast by the lead ship.
As the Void Slasher neared, its sleek fra dwarfed by the dock's imposing presence and size.
He slowed down and carefully park his airship.
Long arms stretched out to catch it. Sparks flickered from energy tethers. Drones zipped around, scanning hulls, directing traffic.
Everything moved efficiently.
He eyed the dock's crest: a red eye wrapped in alien script. It wasn't just a station. It was a warning.
A transmission confird their port.
The Void Slasher rotated and slid into place. Magnetic clamps locked it down.
Inside, Asher leaned on the console. "Should we just store the ship in your pocket space?"
(Don't be stupid. Storing a ship this big in a personal pocket space? That's SSS level feat. Do it here, and everyone will talk about you.)
"Fine," he sighed and walk away after securing the ship. The last thing he needed right now was unwanted attention.
The ramp extended with a low hum, touching the walkway. A shimr of artificial atmosphere spread around them.
He stepped out. The air slled sterile, with a hint of ozone.
Creatures of all shapes moved through the dock—tall insectoids with translator collars, reptilian traders unloading crates, glowing spheres and many more.
He didn't find it too shocking because he was used to seeing all kinds of creatures in the demon world.
But he had to admit, even the blue-collar workers here were a different breed.
Ordinary in appearance, perhaps, but strong enough to demolish a building with a single punch.
And here they were, just going about their job like they were nothing special.
No one looked at Asher either. To them, he was also nothing special.
They had seen people much more impressive.
"Let's see. Where do I go next?" he muttered, looking around.
The dock stretched high above them. Platforms stacked into layers.
Small ships docked at the top, while rchants worked the middle tiers. The ground floor belonged to new arrivals.
Suddenly, a flying round drone whizzed past, its anti-gravity engines humming quietly.
It hovered in the air for a mont before projecting a ssage, the words glowing in the space in front of him.
"Welco to Agath""Register within One Hour"
"No Weapons Unsealed"
"No Teleportation Allowed"
"No Killing"
"No Mind Control"
When the ssage was done, the drone hovered for a mont longer, then zipped away, leaving a faint trail of light behind. It hinted for him to follow.
He hesitated for only a mont before he set off, weaving through the crowd.
The drone led him down a winding path, drawing closer to their destination
'Is this the place?'
The Registration building stood ahead—well guarded. Soldiers in sleek, black armor stood at attention, their eyes scanning the crowd.
One of the guards stepped forward. Visor down.
"State your intent. Any anomalies or illegal rchandise must be disclosed."
(Use that thing, brat. The one I gave you.)
He pulled out a card made of so kind of black glass.
The guard scanned it, then nodded after validating its authenticity.
"Step onto the pad. Bioscan required."
Asher nodded and stepped forward. Warm static crawled over his skin. It tugged at his aura. Checked for hidden weapons or banned objects.
"Clear," the guard said. "Registrars are in Window Nine. Stay within marked zones until approval is complete. "
He followed the entire procedure. When it was done, he walked away with a new identity card.
"Well, that was easy and fast,"
(You're in luck. It seems this place is more lenient now compared to before.)
"I see, so what's next?" Asher asked, looking around as his eyes landed on a platform displaying a detailed map of the station.
(You'll need currency. Nothing's free here. Look there's a trading house just a few ters from here.)
He changed direction without a word until he reached a large two-story building.
Inside, the shop greeted him with an open, minimalist design.
There were no physical items on display.
Instead, super-thin monitors lined the walls, each one showcasing a different product.
Custors could swipe their hands through the air, zooming the items in and out for more detailed information.
The absence of physical inventory made the place feel almost futuristic, as if every product could be summoned with just a gesture, tailored exactly to the custor's specifications.
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