Li Tian stepped into the briefing room, his feet dragging slightly as exhaustion still clung to him after the grueling Trial of Will. He glanced around at the diverse group assembled before him—humans, evolved beasts, and zombies, all gathered under the same banner. It felt surreal to be here, but his mind raced with possibilities. New recruits? New missions? It was a lot to process.
He took a seat at one of the tables, feeling the weight of their gazes fall on him. Some were sizing him up; others were lost in their own thoughts. Li Tian couldn't help but suppress a sigh. It was a good thing he had gotten used to being looked at like this. He had been an outsider all his life, even before the transmigration, and being in a room full of strangers didn't faze him anymore. But… that didn't mean he liked it.
He was about to zone out, when the scarred leader's voice boomed from above, bringing him back to the present.
"Welcome, new recruits," the leader said, his voice cold and commanding. "You have proven yourselves worthy by completing the trials. Now, you will take your place in the Galactic Human Empire."
Li Tian was distracted by the man's speech at first, his mind wandering. "Galactic Human Empire? That's a fancy title… Guess that means I'll be an official part of some big space empire now," he thought to himself with an internal groan. "Well, at least it's a step up from being an ordinary guy in a post-apocalyptic wasteland."
The leader's holographic form flickered, snapping Li Tian out of his thoughts. "Your next mission will involve recruiting capable beings from this planet to join our forces."
Li Tian raised an eyebrow. "Recruiting beings? Hah, that sounds like a job for someone else... But I guess I'll have to play my part. You know, all part of the plan to dominate the galaxy or whatever."
As the leader's voice continued, Li Tian's mind began to wander again, but this time, he snapped himself back to attention. "Focus, Li Tian. Don't screw this up."
It was then that the leader gestured for the recruits to introduce themselves. One by one, they stood and spoke, giving brief descriptions of who they were and what their abilities were.
Li Tian's turn came, and he almost groaned. It was time for him to speak up, and that always made him uncomfortable. He cleared his throat, standing up to face the group. "Uh, I'm Li Tian," he began, trying to sound confident, though internally, he was wondering why everyone was so damn serious. "Not much to say, really. I'm just here to… you know, not die and maybe take over the galaxy? Oh, and I'm pretty good with a weapon, so that's a thing." He gave a half-hearted smile, trying to make light of the situation.
For a brief moment, his eyes flicked to Lian Xiu, the silver-haired woman, whose gaze seemed to linger on him with a mix of curiosity and mild amusement. He swallowed. "I mean, I'm not exactly the most exciting guy here. Just another recruit trying to make it out alive."
Inside, Li Tian couldn't help but add, "Maybe I should've made it more dramatic. 'I am the chosen one, destined to conquer all that stands before me!'—Yeah, that probably would've sounded cooler. But, no, gotta keep it low-key. Can't let them know about the secret stuff."
The others didn't seem to react much to his introduction. Most of them were either focused on their own thoughts or quietly assessing one another. He let out a small sigh of relief. At least it was over.
Then the introductions continued. Jin Wei, the brooding soldier, was first, his strong, silent presence filling the room as he introduced himself in measured tones. Lian Xiu followed, with an almost regal air, her silver hair shimmering under the fluorescent lights. Keira, the wolf-like beast-woman, spoke next, her low, gravelly voice contrasting with her sharp, predatory features. The zombies, Zeke and Elena, introduced themselves with calm confidence, their hollow gazes and unsettling appearances only making them more intriguing.
Li Tian couldn't help but mentally assess each of them. Jin Wei looked like the type to charge into battle without hesitation—he'd make a good ally. Lian Xiu, on the other hand, had an air of mystery about her, as though she was playing some long game. Keira seemed like someone who would be better suited to handling physical combat, but she was no slouch in intelligence, either. As for Zeke and Elena—well, it seemed that the zombies still had a lot to prove.
The moment of reflection passed as the scarred leader's holographic form spoke again.
"You will be placed into specialized teams, each one with a unique mission. Some of you will be tasked with gathering more recruits from this planet, while others will go on covert operations to gather information. Your skills will be tested in ways you cannot yet imagine."
Li Tian perked up at the mention of new missions. "Alright, now we're talking! Covert operations? This sounds way more my speed. Sneak in, steal the goods, and get out without anyone noticing. Easy money."
The leader continued, "However, you are not just working as individuals. You are part of something larger now. You are the core of our new empire. And you will be expected to recruit others. Beasts, evolved creatures, zombies, and other humans—anyone who proves themselves worthy will join our forces."
Li Tian's eyes widened at the thought of recruiting more beings. "Okay, this is a bit much," he thought, scratching his head. "Beasts, evolved creatures... zombies? Guess this isn't just a human empire anymore."
With the briefing done, the group was left to digest the information. There was a quiet tension in the air as each recruit contemplated their next steps. Li Tian, for his part, was already mentally preparing himself for the missions ahead. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he was certain of one thing—he was in this for the long haul.
And, of course, he couldn't forget the most important thing: keeping his system a secret. That was non-negotiable.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, already mentally preparing for whatever was next. "Let's get this empire-building thing started."
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To be continued...