Maximus headed toward the nearby sky train station, which was only a short walk from his residence. He wanted to catch a train there to the city's largest marketplace, a lively hub where he could stock up on food and other daily necessities.
Of course, the trip wasn't actually necessary. This world had Atlasnet, the local version of the internet, and his PCT was connected to the sprawling network. With just a few taps, he could order groceries, schedule laundry pickups, or handle practically anything else. Online shopping was easily convenient, always just a moment away.
But Maximus had decided otherwise. This outing was more than just a grocery run; it was his chance to step outside, breathe fresh air, and take in the city's atmosphere. After all, staying cooped up at home day after day wasn't doing him any good. Since regaining memories of his past life, Maximus hadn't set foot outside—not even once. This was his first time venturing out as the person he was now, and the mix of eagerness and curiosity raging inside him was hard to ignore.
The neighborhood where Maximus lived wasn't exactly upscale, but it wasn't a poverty-stricken slum either. It was an average residential area, filled with plain apartment blocks affordable enough for those scraping by on modest incomes. Life here didn't try too hard—there was no grandeur, no desperation. It was just a place where people lived, made do, and blended into the background, much like the buildings that lined the streets.
As an orphan reliant on a meager welfare subsidy, the former Maximus could only afford a living space in a place like this, renting it on a monthly basis. But the place wasn't bad—not by a long shot. Neither the former nor the current Maximus minded it much. Whether before or after the resurgence of his past life's memories, he had never been one to chase after comfort or luxury for the sake of it.
As long as the place was clean and livable at a bare minimum, Maximus was content—and his current apartment was already more than adequate.
Unfortunately, now that Maximus had technically graduated from compulsory education and turned fifteen—the legal age of consent in this country—he was officially considered an adult. And that meant his subsidy would soon be cut off; this month's allowance would be the final one he'd receive. With it gone, his living expenses would fall squarely on his shoulders, a challenge he'd have to face on his own.
However, Maximus hadn't allowed himself to dwell much on that concern. His attention was mostly occupied with the upcoming awakening event. Besides, if he could awaken his innate gift and become a full ranker, the issue of living expenses would not be an issue anymore. After all, becoming a ranker would open up plenty of opportunities—perhaps even the chance to afford a better place to live.
And if he failed? Well, there were always mundane jobs to fall back on—nothing to lose sleep over. The problem wasn't as big as it seemed.
It didn't take long for Maximus to reach the station. After scanning his PCT at the automated gates, the fare was paid, and he climbed the stairs to the platform. There, he joined the throng of commuters, all standing in quiet anticipation, waiting for the next train to carry them into the heart of the city.
The crowd around him was made up entirely of common folk—people living ordinary lives, bound by the limits of their natural bodies. No rankers were in sight, and that wasn't surprising. When rankers did appear in public, they easily stood out, even in the largest crowds. An invisible pressure always radiated from them, a palpable force that commanded either respect or fear.
The strength of a ranker was nothing short of terrifying. Even a newly awakened ranker, still raw in their abilities, could overpower multiple skilled ordinary fighters with sheer physical strength alone. The gap between them was vast, like night and day, and this disparity had given rise to strict laws. Rankers were forbidden from unleashing their aura in public spaces unless absolutely necessary. Breaking this law without reasonable justification would instantly draw the attention of security forces, as their unrestrained presence could easily disturb public order.
The absence of rankers here was perfectly normal. Though a sky train station was always a busy spot infested with activity, it wasn't a place for the likes of them. Rankers had little reason to mingle with the common masses. Their wealth and status granted them expensive private vehicles or exclusive transport options that ordinary people could only dream of. For them, public transportation was a tiresome inconvenience, far beneath their station.
Additionally, in the Etrussia Republic, rankers tended to cluster in the capital, Decoris—a city bursting with prosperity and energy, far outshining Nova Regium. Decoris was a haven for power and privilege, a vibrant epicenter that attracted rankers like moths to a flame. Considering this, it was no surprise that none of them were present at this station.
As it turned out, the wait was brief—just a few minutes before the train arrived, its sleek frame sliding into view. The doors hissed open with a soft whisper of machinery, and Maximus boarded in. The train then glided forward, smooth and seamless, as though it were floating on air. Spotting an empty seat, he settled into it with a light exhale, feeling the gentle sway of the carriage as it accelerated.
The journey passed in quiet monotony, punctuated only by the soft screech of brakes at each stop. Commuters flowed in and out, their faces fleeting and unremarkable—strangers Maximus would never remember. They moved with the steady rhythm of the train, a pattern he observed but didn't belong to.
Maximus leaned back, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes half-closed as his mind drifted. Thoughts came and went like fragments of dreams—disjointed but oddly calming. The view outside—a blur of trees, fleeting shadows, and the occasional silhouette of distant buildings—offered no anchor. He was elsewhere, adrift in the quiet hum of his own thoughts.
Time blurred in that haze until the train began to slow, its brakes releasing a soft whine. Maximus blinked, his focus snapping back as the familiar prerecorded female voice echoed through the carriage. "Next stop…" she announced, her tone calm and almost maternal, blending seamlessly with the rhythmic clatter of the train. Maximus straightened in his seat, a subtle shift in his gut signaling the anticipation of arrival. It was almost time.
Once the train came to a full stop, the sliding doors parted with their familiar hiss. Maximus stepped onto the platform, into the heart of the station. The air vibrated with the sounds of lively chatter, hurried footsteps echoing off tiled floors, and the distant hum of announcements. He wove through the crowd, making his way toward the main exit, the pulse of the station raged all around him.
Stepping out of the station, Maximus was immediately greeted by the vibrant chaos of Solarium Plaza, Nova Regium's largest marketplace and his ultimate destination. The sprawling plaza was alive with motion, even in the soft glow of the early morning. Stalls and stands lined the cobblestone ground, spilling over with goods, while a sea of people moved through the space in a symphony of color and sound. It was a scene of energy and disorder, vivid and unrelenting.
Without hesitation, Maximus moved closer, eager to immerse himself in the lively scene. A broad road separated the station from the plaza, but crossing it was effortless, the flow of traffic parting just enough to let him slip through without delay. Swiftly, he blended into the throng, moving casually through the market like a fish in water, relishing the energy around him. There was no rush to gather supplies just yet; he wanted to first savor the marvels of this place.
Every corner seemed to reveal something new, something rare. The hum of casual conversations and animated chatter swirled around him, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the lively shouts of bargaining. But what amazed Maximus even more was how seamlessly magic was woven into everyday life here. It was everywhere, as natural and unremarkable as the breeze.
In truth, the scenery wasn't overtly magical, not like the grand spectacles seen in fantasy movies or the exaggerated scenes from books. Still, there were enough fantastic details scattered throughout that everything felt very much novel and extraordinary to him.
Holographic 3D advertisements floated around in the air, with no wires or support in sight. Various goods and wares shimmered with ethereal lights, marking their mystical properties. Floating baskets drifted beside some shoppers, obediently following their owners as they selected items, bobbing up and down like living creatures.
Everywhere Maximus looked, there was something incredible.
One sight, in particular, left him utterly speechless: a woman, effortlessly storing the goods she had just bought into a tiny ring on her finger. Yes! It was truly crazy. She simply rubbed the ring, and in an instant, the pile of items before her transformed into glittering lights and vanished into the jewelry, sparking astonished murmurs from the nearby onlookers.
Maximus let out a sigh in response, his mind remarking, 'This world is really different... simply amazing.'
Shaking off his amazement, Maximus pushed forward, but with so many unbelievable things around him, it was nearly impossible to calm the excitement bubbling in his heart. He ventured further into the plaza, finding more and more marvels. The deeper he went, the more his senses were overwhelmed by the extraordinary sights, each new discovery more fascinating than the last.
But then, all of a sudden, something made Maximus freeze in his tracks.
'Ranker!' The word rang in his mind like a clap of thunder.
Just a little over ten meters ahead, a tall man draped in a khaki jacket stood before a stall, casually inspecting the displayed goods while the shopkeeper chatted energetically. To an untrained eye, he might have seemed like just another face in the crowd, blending in with the masses. Yet there was something special about him—a unique presence that set him apart, drawing Maximus' attention like a magnet.
A sharp pressure radiated from the man, subtle yet undeniable. It wasn't visible, but Maximus could feel its weight, as if the air around the man was bending under some invisible force. The pressure was restrained, but it still managed to send an involuntary shiver down his spine.
The survival instincts inherited from his previous life kicked in, sharp and alert. A primal sense of danger rippled through Maximus, whispering that the stranger before him was not one to be trifled with.
The identity of that man was unmistakable—he was a ranker, and not just any ranker. He was definitely a seasoned one, someone who had long awakened his innate gift and honed his strength, not a novice still fumbling through the early stages of power.
As if sensing Maximus's gaze, the ranker turned his attention toward him. In that instant, their eyes locked, and the world around them seemed to still for a moment.
Maximus's heart skipped a beat. Panic surged through him, his mind scrambling for a reaction. He felt like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure whether the ranker would regard him with disdain or, worse, challenge him for his boldness. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to look away, to shrink back, but he stood frozen, trapped within the ongoing tension.
Never before had Maximus felt such fear, not even in the most harrowing battles of his past life. This feeling was akin to being locked in the gaze of a ferocious beast, its eyes burning with a predatory calm, as it approached slowly, every step exuding quiet, lethal power.
Fortunately, the man offered nothing but a mere nod, his demeanor relaxed and unbothered, as if the brief moment of tension had been nothing more than a passing thought. Without a word, his attention returned to the goods on the stall, and the encounter seemed to vanish, as insignificant as the rustle of the wind in the plaza.
Maximus, still shaken, exhaled quietly, realizing that the ranker had dismissed him. The weight of his gaze had evaporated as quickly as it had come. Relief washed over him in a wave, the tension in his chest gradually easing. But not wanting to tempt fate any further, Maximus swiftly turned on his heels, back to the bustle of people, his presence swallowed by the throng.
It had been rather rude of him to gawk at a stranger, and Maximus couldn't help but feel a pang of embarrassment. He was fortunate the ranker had taken no offense. It was a close call—one that he'd learn from.
While a small flicker of fear still lingered, another wave of excitement surged out. Despite the awkwardness of that brief encounter, Maximus couldn't help but feel a thrill at having seen a ranker up close.
The ranker's mere presence, even while standing still and doing nothing, exuded a sharp intimidation that left a powerful impression. It wasn't just the quiet force in his stance, but the unspoken weight of his power that seemed to seep into the very air. Maximus couldn't shake the feeling that, with a single motion, the ranker could shatter the calm around him and assert control over everything within reach.
Because of this, he now felt his ambition flare even brighter. The desire to awaken his own innate gift and ascend to that level of power burned fiercely within him, stoking a bigger fire deep in his chest.
Maximus refused to remain a bystander in this world of marvels, especially not after being face-to-face with a ranker and feeling like nothing more than a weakling. No, he couldn't allow that to happen again. He wouldn't be a simple spectator in this new life. The world was filled with wonders, with powers he could barely begin to comprehend, but he would not be left behind. He would grow strong, rise above his limitations, and carve his own path forward. This was his creed…
'It won't be long, Max. Only three days left. That's when things will change for us,' he reminded himself, the words ringing with a quiet promise.
With that thought fueling him, Maximus threw himself back into the plaza's liveliness, his eyes scanning everything with renewed curiosity.
He encountered a few more rankers during his stroll, but Maximus, having learned his lesson, kept his profile as low as he could. He only took quick, discreet glances from a distance, before continuing on his way, determined to enjoy his exploration without drawing any unwanted attention or causing trouble.
After wandering for a while, Maximus was finally satisfied with his exploration. It was time to focus on his original errand—purchasing daily necessities. He then went to several shops, carefully selecting various items he needed at each stop. By the time he was done, he was carrying two large bags, one in each hand. The weight of the bags tugged at his arms, but a sense of accomplishment settled over him as he prepared to head home.
Opting to take the sky train back, Maximus made his way to the station. The weight of the bags in his hands slowed his pace, but he didn't mind. The outing had been productive—one that had opened his eyes even further to the grandeur of this world. And what he had seen so far was only a small glimpse. There were still countless wonders left for him to discover, waiting just beyond the horizon.
The trip back home proved as uneventful as the earlier journey. Maximus boarded the sky train once more, his thoughts wandering as the city passed by in a blur. Before long, he arrived at the station near his address and quickly hauled himself to the apartment complex.
The familiar sights of the neighborhood brought a sense of quiet comfort, marking the end of an exciting foray.