Whoosh...
The sound of an approaching air train grew louder and louder.
"It's about time..."
Seeing as the massive aircraft pulled into the station, I muttered rising from the bench and grabbing my bag.
Boarding the metal giant, I quickly found my seat and slumped into it with a sigh.
Soon the air train took off, catapulting me into the wide expanse of the night sky.
My eyes were drawn to the breathtaking view through the window. The twinkling lights of the city below seemed like scattered stars, blurred by the speed of the air train.
As the train slowly rose above the clouds, the noise from the engines decreased and I was enveloped in a serene silence.
'Much better...'
Leaning against the soft cushion of the seat, I closed my eyes and let the gentle hum of the air train lull me into a state of calm.
I allowed myself to relax for a moment as I knew that as soon as the air train reached its destination, I wouldn't be able to rest.
A few hours ago, while I was in Academy's apartment, I quickly wrote down all of the treasures and items I could potentially hoard with my current strength.
It was very hard to pinpoint which items I could and couldn't obtain, especially considering that my time until the Academy starts is limited.
In the end, I was left with only two options and both of them were in completely different directions meaning I could only get one of them.
The first item was 'Ashen Armor'. In the novel, this artifact was described as a powerful suit of armor that could be hidden under normal clothing.
Ashen Armor had two modes - passive and active.
When passive, the armor would serve as a protective layer that would absorb and redistribute incoming attacks, increasing the wearer's defense. It also provided slight fire and heat resistance.
The active mode, on the other hand, activated the armor's offensive capabilities. The layer of ash surrounding the body would grow small needles that would poke into its user's skin and draw blood to drastically increase the wearer's strength and speed.
The second item that also fit the criteria was 'Claws of Revenge'. Unlike Ashen Armor, which was thrown away by one of the Protagonists after a couple of uses, Claws of Revenge had a more significant role in the story. This item was used by one of the main characters till the very end of the book.
Claws of Revenge was a pair of white gloves with barely visible runes etched into the fabric.
Upon blocking an attack with these gloves, the wearer could absorb a portion of the attacker's strength and redirect it back at them. If I recall correctly it was around 50% of the absorbed strength that could be redirected.
Both artifacts were powerful in their own right and choosing one of them took me considerable time and deliberation.
In the end, after much consideration, I decided to prioritize obtaining the Ashen Armor.
Although returning the damage with the Claws of Revenge seemed tempting, the versatility and overall defensive and offensive capabilities offered by the Ashen Armor made it a more practical choice for me.
"It's a better fit for my current circumstances..."
Lazily opening my eyes, I once again glanced outside the window, only to be met with a bleak and overcast sky.
For a few seconds, I simply stared outside when suddenly a massive shadow caught my attention. Squinting my eyes, I pressed my face against the window, trying to get a closer look.
To my surprise, when the source of the shadow came into clearer view, I realized it was a colossal dragon soaring through the sky.
"Damn..."
The creature spanned over the length of several city blocks, its wingspan stretching wide as it effortlessly glided through the air.
Good thing these air trains were equipped with powerful shields and advanced defense systems. Otherwise, such creatures could easily attack and destroy them with just a flick of their colossal tails.
However, don't take dragons lightly, although humans found a way to block their attacks, it is only temporary. No matter how powerful our Mana shields or how advanced our technology may be, dragons are king of beasts and their destructive power cannot be underestimated.
From the size of this Dragon, gliding near the train it was clear that it was around B Rank, which meant that it had the potential to cause significant damage if provoked or engaged in combat.
Whoosh...
As soon as I thought that, the air train subtly changed its direction, veering away from the dragon's path.
It was always better to avoid a confrontation with a dragon whenever possible.
...
Hours went by as the train smoothly traveled through the sky, allowing me to nap and catch up on some much-needed rest. Surprisingly, for the first time in a long time, I slept peacefully, undisturbed by any nightmares or vivid dreams. When I finally woke up, there were also no hallucinations, which left a sweet taste in my mouth.
It was a good feeling.
[ Next stop, Starlach City ]
Bringing me out of my drowsy state was the automated announcement echoing through the air train.
I quickly grabbed my bag and stood up from my seat, getting ready to disembark at Starlach City.
Whoosh...
The massive aircraft soon began to smoothly descend towards the bustling city, its advanced landing mechanisms ensuring a safe touchdown.
Thud...
As soon as the air train touched down on the platform, I joined the stream of passengers exiting the train. Luckily, there weren't a lot of them since it was still very early in the morning.
Observing the very few people scattered on the platform, I also noticed that their outer appearance was... remarkably beautiful.
After the 'Shattering', the event that caused the destruction of our previous world as we knew it and after Mana became a common energy source, humans started to exhibit unique and aesthetic features.
They became stronger, more beautiful, and developed supernatural abilities.
However, even though I've read about this, I was still surprised. Most of the people I saw would be top-class models in my previous world. Their features were flawless, their eyes shimmering with vibrant colors, and their hair flowing like silk in an array of stunning shades.
'I shouldn't be focusing on useless stuff...'
In the end, I forcefully dragged my attention away from random passersby and swiftly went toward the station's exit.
I had an item to steal...