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The academy grounds sprawled beneath a vast dome that shimmered faintly under the artificial light of the distant star clusters. Though located on Astoria-9, a remote moon in a galaxy far from the Milky Way— it still buzzed with life. Advancements in technology had long made intergalactic travel a casual feat, and humanity had long since left Earth behind. With the invention of sonic-limit-breaking spacecraft, even the most isolated moons like Astoria-9 were accessible.
Despite being a desolate rock on the surface, Astoria-9 was home to bustling cities, residential districts, and, of course, the academy. The dome encapsulating the school regulated all essential physical properties, like gravitational force, oxygen levels, temperature, and pressure, making the moon as livable as any advanced planet.
Beyond the dome, the landscape was harsh and unwelcoming—a reminder of the moon's true nature. Students were strictly prohibited from stepping outside the dome's boundaries. The academy had made this nearly impossible by constructing "space lines"—pressurized, tunnel-like networks connecting the school to the cities beyond. These tunnels were equipped with the same environmental protections as the dome and primarily served to transport resources, but they had inadvertently created a loophole: students could sneak out if they were clever enough.
The administration had long declared venturing beyond the dome an unforgivable crime, punishable by severe consequences. However, as history often demonstrated, not even the most advanced superpowered adult soldiers could rein in youthful exuberance.
Leo, Liam, and Kane knew this well. The last student who had dared to sneak out had been caught and sentenced to an unimaginably dreadful punishment: being put under the care of Sergeant Martial. Martial, a towering beast of a man with a permanent scowl, had a reputation for breaking even the strongest wills. His voice could make battle-hardened soldiers weep, and his punishments were the stuff of legend. One unfortunate soul had reportedly been forced to clean the academy's training grounds with nothing but a toothbrush while Martial screamed at him about "character-building."
"He's not even human, I swear," Liam muttered as they slipped through a narrow maintenance corridor leading to one of the lesser-used space line entrances. "No real person gets that mad about improperly folded bedsheets."
Leo snickered. "I heard he once banned dessert for an entire month because someone dared to sneeze during roll call."
Kane, who had been quiet until now, smirked. "You're not helping, you know. We're already risking Martial's wrath if we get caught. Are you trying to scare us into staying?"
"Absolutely not," Liam said, grinning mischievously. "This is what makes it fun."
Despite the banter, Kane could feel his nerves gnawing at him. He knew the risk was monumental, but something about stepping outside the academy, even for a little while, felt necessary. Besides, sneaking into the bustling markets of Astoria-9's main city promised a welcome break from the relentless drills and suffocating rules.
The boys finally reached the space line entrance. The translucent tunnel stretched endlessly into the distance, a sleek shuttle humming softly on the tracks. It was technically reserved for resource transport, but the boys had learned to exploit the system. With a few well-timed distractions and Liam's knack for bypassing basic security systems, they'd managed to slip aboard unnoticed before.
"This is going to work," Liam assured them as he crouched by the panel, fingers flying across the interface. "Just give me a minute."
Leo leaned against the wall, feigning nonchalance. "You sure? Because last time, we almost got fried by the system's auto-lock mechanism."
"That was one time!" Liam shot back. "And we didn't even get caught. Besides, I've upgraded my hacks since then. Relax."
Kane rolled his eyes but said nothing. He could already hear Sergeant Martial's voice in his head, barking out absurd punishments should they fail. But as the lock clicked open and the shuttle door slid aside, his nerves gave way to a surge of adrenaline.
They climbed aboard, securing themselves in the back compartment where cargo was normally loaded. The shuttle's engines purred as it began moving, carrying them along the tunnel and out of the academy dome.
For a moment, all three of them fell silent, the weight of their actions sinking in. The city loomed ahead, its neon lights shimmering through the translucent tunnel walls.
Leo broke the silence first, his voice dripping with mock solemnity. "Well, gentlemen, if this is how we die, at least it'll be with style."
Liam laughed. "You're right. No regrets, boys. No regrets."
Kane shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. He leaned back, letting the hum of the shuttle calm his nerves. For now, they were in the clear. And as the lights of the city grew closer, his excitement began to eclipse his fear.
They were going to the marketplace, no matter what.
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Got it! Here's the revised version:
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The boys had timed their escape perfectly. The shuttle, overseen by Lieutenant Rykov—a gruff but oddly inattentive officer—had docked briefly at the station before heading out toward the city. They had slipped out of the cargo hold the moment it slowed, darting behind a stack of crates as Rykov adjusted his visor and muttered complaints about the academy's budget cuts.
The lieutenant had no idea three students were missing from the shuttle's manifest, too busy arguing with the automated logs.
Breathless and exhilarated, the boys emerged onto the edge of the city.
Astoria-9's settlement stretched before them, a stunning blend of practicality and charm. It was even more beautiful than Veridan, their hometown back on Earth. The buildings were forged from materials alien to them—rough and sturdy, designed to withstand the moon's volatile climate.
"Bet it's because of the crazy rock showers they get," Kane said, running a hand over one of the walls.
"Yeah," Liam agreed, inspecting it closely. "Stuff looks like it could take a direct hit from an asteroid. Definitely sturdier than the prefab junk back home."
They moved through the city toward the outskirts, where the bustling market awaited. The market was chaotic yet inviting, filled with vibrant stalls and chattering merchants hawking everything from glowing fruits to strange, glinting tools. It was smaller than they'd imagined but full of life, a patchwork of cultures and colors.
The boys pushed through the crowd, dodging bustling shoppers until they reached a quieter corner.
Leo spoke first. "Alright, so… what are we actually here to buy?"
Kane's eyes lit up. "Weapons."
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Weapons?"
"Yeah," Kane said. "Master Hirata said we'd need to pick our own before training starts next week. Thought we might as well get a head start."
Liam smirked. "Right, because smuggling illegal weapons back into school definitely won't raise suspicion."
Leo laughed. "You'd probably pick the loudest one, too. Maybe something that shoots fireworks."
Rolling his eyes, Liam pulled up his holo-watch and tapped it. "Next shuttle leaves in three hours. Don't miss it, Leo."
Leo snorted. "Relax. I'll make it. Probably."
The three split up, each heading in different directions to explore the market.
As Kane wandered, his mind buzzed with thoughts of their abilities—the gifts they'd received from the prism. They hadn't had much chance to test them out, aside from basic drills, and Kane itched for more. He wanted to use his powers for something real, maybe even tackle some of the low-level crimes they kept hearing about in school rumors. We could be better than just students, he thought. We could be something more.
'Am I really thinking this way' kane almost laughed 'it felt so clichè and even surreal'
"Sometimes I think that I'm not even real, it's almost like I'm scripted" kane joked before looking up ahead with a smile.
But for now, he kept the idea to himself.
Kane eventually stumbled upon a small, dimly lit store tucked away in the market's corner. The merchant inside was wiry and sharp-eyed, his wares scattered haphazardly across the floor.
"Ah, a student," the man said, his voice smooth but unreadable. "Looking for something… special, I assume?"
Kane approached cautiously. "What've you got?"
The merchant gestured broadly at his collection. "Weapons. Strong ones. Durable ones. Everything you need."
Kane crouched to inspect the goods. At first glance, they didn't look impressive, but he trusted his instincts—and his abilities. He activated his skill.
[Appraisal skill activated.]
[Tier 1 weapon: Horned Dagger.]
[Durability: 92%.]
Kane's lips twitched into a grin. The merchant eyed him with mild suspicion. "Something funny, kid?"
Kane shook his head, smirking. "Nah, just admiring your stock. Tell me about this one," he said, pointing to a sleek dagger with faint, glowing etchings along the blade.
The merchant leaned closer, his grin widening as he launched into a lengthy spiel about the weapon's unparalleled craftsmanship and durability—claims Kane knew were exaggerated. But he let the man talk, quietly amused by the spectacle.
The man explained many of the weapons quite vividly although he lied in their durability, but Kane didn't care, that was what merchants did. As long as he didn't lie too much, Lane would let it slide.
When the man was finally done with his explanations, it was finally time for kane to make his pick.
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