Apparently, Milan's husband was an *sshole—an alcoholic and a troublemaker who was rarely home, spending most of his time either partying or cheating on her. This had driven her to leave her home and stay with her father.
Kael understood women like her. Frustration must have taken its toll, and the stress of dealing with such a husband would wear anyone down. Having another man so close to her—especially a naked one—was likely one of the reasons she had offered him whatever he wanted.
A good deal. A very good deal indeed. Of course, Kael wouldn't dare pass it up. Milan, too, seemed fully aware of what she was doing.
Now, Kael sat inside a public transport vehicle that resembled a bus, albeit more advanced and futuristic. Fortunately, Milan had handed him some money before he left her place, which helped him avoid any awkward situations.
As the vehicle moved, he took out the black bracelet from his pocket. Tiny electrical lines flowed through it, almost invisible unless one looked closely.
After slipping it onto his left wrist, the band automatically adjusted itself as though it had been custom-made for him.
Kael waited patiently, and soon, the bracelet emitted a dim light. The light then expanded into a translucent screen hovering above his wrist. The contents were visible only to him; even if someone else looked directly at the screen, they wouldn't see anything unless he wanted them to.
Words began to appear on the screen, with "Progress Scanner" displayed prominently at the top.
His gaze dropped to the words below:
"New User Detected…
Overwriting Data…
Data Overwrite Completed…
Enter Username…"
Kael only had to think his name, and the interface changed. The screen flashed before displaying more text:
**
"Progress Scanner:
[Name]: Kael Draven
[Race]: Human
[Rank]: Unranked (10 is the requirement to wear Aegis Prime)
Core Attributes:
Health: 100/100
Endurance: 100/100
Energy Reserves: 0
Physical Stats:
Strength: 9
Agility: 8
Vitality: 10
Reflex: 7
Skills:
None."
**
"Who would have thought I'd end up using one of these," Kael muttered, letting out a sigh.
Back in his prime, as one of the first users of the Aegis Prime, he'd never needed this device. His strength had come from a lab—a thought that still sickened him. Besides, the Status Band had been created years after the Exo Primeval made their debut.
He had essentially cheated his way to power, reaching the strength to level a two- or three-story building with a single punch and that's without him using the suit. But that hadn't been his choice. It had been forced upon him.
Now, staring at his below-average stats, Kael realized just how far he'd fallen. His Physical Stats were painfully mediocre, with only his Vitality nearing the standard—just one point short.
The Status Band, now secured on his wrist, was primarily intended for those who didn't yet possess an Aegis Prime. Wearers had to train and reach a certain rank to qualify as official Primers.
Fully-fledged Primes had their own advanced Status Bands, so sophisticated that they could analyze cellular and DNA statuses in real time. The sleek bracelet Kael wore was merely a simplified version for those aspiring to the path of the suit.
Technically, this was Kael's version of training wheels. Not that he minded—his current body would crumble under the excessive energy output of even a standard Aegis Prime. Attempting to use his old suit in his current state would be outright suicidal. For now, the Status Band was a necessity.
After spending some time exploring and experimenting with the interface, the translucent screen finally disappeared.
Kael leaned back into the soft chair, his gaze drifting outside. The image of his battle against that b*tch surfaced in his mind. A hundred years… he was still adjusting to everything, but he wasn't the type to wait idly for tomorrow. He'd rather die today than wither away tomorrow.
"Don't wait for tomorrow to come, live now and die now," He muttered as someone's voice ring in his memories.
Shaking his head, he let his focus wander to the buildings flashing past the window. Although this planet shared a modern aesthetic with his home world, it had its own unique architectural charm, just like every other human colony he'd visited.
His attention was drawn to a figure clad in a metallic suit. "Aegis?" Kael muttered, but on closer inspection, it was only a basic exoskeleton suit. As his gaze shifted, he noticed more people wearing similar knockoffs, all heading in the same direction.
"Fissures really are popular," Kael sighed. From what he remembered, Fissures had existed even before the Anthi-Org War began. A plague that hunted planets—but to some, a blessing. Through them, people gained unprecedented power, and many species had even achieved interstellar travel thanks to the resources and anomalies Fissures brought.
The creation of the Status Band had only fueled the frenzy, attracting countless people to the Fissures like moths to a flame. And to be fair, the opportunities they provided could indeed be considered treasure.
The vehicle rolled through the city streets, and within minutes, Kael reached his destination. The area featured a long highway, worn and deeply scarred, flanked on both sides by industrial towers and advanced machinery. Conveyor belts and cranes worked tirelessly, transporting rare materials and metals to the city.
Although Milan hadn't known the exact location of the mine her father worked in, her uncle's inquiry revealed that the Fissure had appeared in the northwestern outskirts of the city.
Stepping off the vehicle, Kael's attention was immediately drawn to a massive black aircraft carrier descending onto a reinforced landing pad. Two or three similar carriers were already parked. With a loud burst of plasma propulsion, the craft settled down, its doors hissing open as vapor-like smoke vented from the sides.
From inside, people emerged, their bodies encased in sleek Aegis Prime suits.
"Aegis Prime," Kael muttered, watching as five suited individuals disappeared into a nearby tent. Their suits were simple but elegant, hiding the technological marvels within.
Around him, the metallic clinking of gears echoed as others wearing cheap, knockoff exoskeletons—Prime dreamers—marched toward the Fissure's location.
Joining the flow of the crowd, Kael soon found himself standing at the edge of a massive underground cave that stretched at least a hundred meters wide. Light poured out from within, illuminating personnel in white blazers who moved about the area.
One by one, the knockoff Prime wearers jumped into the cave, their suits absorbing the impact of their landings with resounding thuds.
Kael stepped back, glancing down into the depths before jogging toward the edge. Just as he was about to leap, he changed course, heading instead for a set of makeshift stairs carved into the side.
He still valued his life, and he had no intention of dying before exacting his revenge.
Descending the stairs, Kael quickly felt the strain. Sweat dripped from his face, and his chest heaved heavily as he walked down the steep stairs.
"Ah, that's exhausting," he muttered, wiping his forehead.
A century ago, Kael had been the strongest human alive. But after being sealed in ice by that b*tch, he'd lost everything—his power, his status—reducing him to the level of a normal human. It was like going from piloting a fighter jet for years to struggling with a bicycle, with a training wheels.
He sighed deeply and finally took a look around.
The mine was cluttered with excavation equipment scattered across the ground. A conveyor belt ran deep into a wall at the far end, tirelessly carrying materials upward. Around him, he counted at least ten tunnels branching off in different directions, each leading to a separate section of the mine.
Kael's eyes locked onto one of the openings. Two men stood guard on either side, clad in black mechanical suits that only covered their chests and joints. They wielded pulse rifles, the weapons humming faintly as blue energy pulsed intermittently through their cores.
As Kael observed the entrance—where he surmised the Fissure was located—someone bumped into him, nearly causing him to lose his balance.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Kael snapped, his voice cutting through the air as he turned to glare at the offenders.
Four men wearing aerodynamic exoskeleton suits strolled past him. Their gear had a rough, barbaric edge, with heavy artillery weapons mounted on their shoulders, sides, and backs.
"Oh?" One of them turned toward the sound of Kael's voice. The group stopped, their eyes scanning the thin man in casual clothes. Almost instantly, they burst into laughter.
"Come on, ignore him," one of them said, shaking his head in mock pity.
"He's probably one of those lunatics who think they can enter a Fissure just because they've got a Status Band," another chimed in.
"Let him be. He'll be dead soon enough."
"Hey, guys, don't be so harsh!" the last one said, feigning concern. "At least let us offer our condolences in advance."
Their laughter echoed as they walked away.
Kael stared coldly at their retreating backs, a flood of thoughts racing through his mind about how he might exact his revenge.
"They're *ssholes," a voice said from beside him.
Kael turned and saw a man two heads shorter than him.
The newcomer had brown hair and black eyes set in an unremarkable face. Unlike Kael, who wore only the clothes Milan had given him, this man was dressed for the occasion. He sported a spotless white jacket, black joggers, and matching boots in a steampunk style. A brown backpack rested on his shoulders, emitting a faint metallic clinking with every movement.
What caught Kael's attention, though, were the gloves. Black and white, mechanical, and seamless, they looked both functional and finely crafted.
"I'm Trey," the man said, extending a hand.
"Kael."
Kael shook Trey's hand, noting the cold touch of the gloves. The craftsmanship was impeccable, far superior to the mechanical styles of the knockoff exosuits he'd seen so far. These gloves, at least, were easy on the eyes.
"Don't mind them," Trey said with a friendly smile. "There are plenty of Primers like them who think they're better just because they've got their own suits."
"Primers" was a term that had gained popularity a few years after knockoff versions of the Aegis Prime hit the public market. To Kael, it was strange to see people using imitation Aegis suits. However, calling them knockoffs wasn't entirely fair anymore, as they now operated on a completely different mechanical system from the original Exo Primevals.
"I've dealt with plenty like them before," Kael said coolly. "They didn't have good endings when they crossed me."
"Haha, sure," Trey chuckled, clearly skeptical. "First time in a place like this?"
"Sort of."
"I'm not going to ask where you got your Status Band, but are you seriously planning to enter without any equipment?" Trey asked as they began walking toward a line of people queuing in front of a table.
"I'll just let nature take its course," Kael replied with a faint smile.
"That's suicide," Trey muttered, frowning. He gave Kael a once-over, taking in his thin frame and casual attire, before letting out a resigned sigh. "Here, take this."
Trey reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek white object that resembled the hilt of a sword. Cylindrical and slightly longer than a standard grip, it had a futuristic design.
"It's a simple retractable sword that uses ultrasonic frequencies. Better to have something than to go in barehanded," Trey explained. "As a fellow 'lunatic,' as they like to call us, this is the least I can do."
Kael studied the hilt for a moment before taking it.