CHAPTER 49: SSS-RANKED?

The group stopped in front of a large building.

"This is our retainment container," Jacob spoke up as he stopped in front of the building.

The retainment container looked like a massive vault bolted into the edge of the station’s lower ring.

Reinforced with dark alloy plating and layered energy seals, it wasn’t just built to hold the cruiser—it was built to protect it from anything the void could throw.

"This is where the Blue Fang space cruiser is kept," he explained as he led the group inside.

Inside, the chamber was vast and dimly lit.

Several people dressed in lab coats went in and came out of the space cruiser from time to time.

They were either carrying out materials or taking in tool kits to work.

Gravity anchors lined the floor, holding the ship suspended a few feet off the ground like it was frozen mid-flight.

The cruiser’s sleek hull shimmered beneath containment fields, surrounded by modular service arms folded neatly into the walls, ready to extend for repairs or refueling.

Above, translucent panels showed blinking readouts—fuel levels, shield status, engine cores, and system diagnostics.

Cold mist curled along the floor vents as atmospheric controls maintained perfect conditions.

It wasn’t just storage, like Jacob said. It was also preservation.

Standing in front of the system panel was a man in a lab coat, issuing commands with practiced ease.

"Make sure the engines are set!" he called out to one of the engineers boarding the space cruiser.

"Yes, sir!" the engineer replied, hurrying into the ship.

They were already behind schedule. Every second counted now—they had to move fast to prep the cruiser for launch.

Jacob walked forward, heading toward the man.

"Sir Trevor, is the ship ready?" Jacob asked, approaching the man.

Trevor turned at the sound of his voice, clearly surprised.

"Oh—Captain Jacob. You’re back already?" He straightened. "Well, the ship’s almost ready. I’m just finishing up a few security checks. Just want to make sure nothing goes wrong once we’re out there," Trevor replied, his gaze darting toward the small crowd of children who stared at the ship, wide-eyed.

The amazement and anticipation were visible in their eyes.

"Ahhh, probably their first time seeing a space cruiser up close. Well, it always looks so cool the first time... the recruits, right?" Trevor asked, observing the kids.

"Yes, these are the ones who stayed behind."

Trevor looked at Jacob, pushing his lens up the bridge of his nose.

"You still haven’t grown tired of your little trick, eh? Hahaha, those kids will probably be left in regret all their lives," Trevor said with a light laugh.

He had witnessed Jacob use the trick over and over again, and it worked each time.

"Well, they’ll probably have more regrets if they decide to come unprepared... We all know how cruel the realms can be," Jacob replied indifferently.

Trevor released a long sigh.

"You’re right... It was probably the best option for them. This set looks promising though," Trevor said, observing the little crew.

"Yes, they’re indeed very promising," Jacob replied as he glanced at Kieran from the side of his eyes.

"I heard you got an SSS-ranked talent holder this year. Isn’t he joining the recruit training?" Trevor asked, raising a brow as he scanned the group for the said person.

None of them seemed to stand out from the rest—or at least none carried the usual arrogance any SSS-ranked newly awakened would carry.

So Trevor was left confused, looking at the crowd.

"You can’t spot him?" Jacob asked with a knowing smile.

Trevor was left slightly confused as he scanned the group again.

If he didn’t know of Natasha or Henry already, perhaps he would’ve assumed it to be either of the two.

"Are you sure he’s here?" Trevor asked after a long time.

"Well, of course he is... Let’s just say he’s a lot more different than your typical SSS-ranked awakened," Jacob said with a prideful smile, like a teacher who got the opportunity to show off his student.

He had only had a little interaction with Kieran, and he had already grown to like the young man.

He turned, pointing toward Kieran.

"Kieran Marcoth is our SSS-ranked talent holder."

A ghostly silence descended.

First came shock. Then bewilderment. And then realization.

All the kids who had been mocking him from the start paled instantly.

Their hearts were racing faster.

"Wait, he is the rumored SSS-ranked awakened that the Blue Fang faction got this year?... Shit, I’m toast!" a boy muttered to himself, his skin color turning sickly pale.

It wasn’t just him. Soon, all the other kids who had been looking down on him also felt a knot tie in their stomachs.

Natasha wasn’t left out; she immediately felt cold sweat over her body.

’He’s the SSS-ranked talent holder?’ she thought to herself, her heart racing.

Each thump sounded like a loud drum in her chest.

Her memories flashed back to the Ra’Gul incident, and her heart beat even faster.

’I wanted to attack him...’

Attacking an SSS-ranked talent holder?!

With such potential, he could easily become a Captain in a few years.

If she raised a hand against him—let alone the AFO—even her family wouldn’t dare stand up for her.

Even if he didn’t act there, being on his bad side was no different from tipping at the edge of a dangerously sharp blade.

Natasha stiffened, turning her glance toward Kieran from the side of her eyes.

He stood calmly, his hands crossed over his chest, eyes closed.

As if oblivious to all the eyes that were currently fixed on him.

The only person who wasn’t shocked by the new information was Henry, who stood right behind Kieran.

However, a bead of cold sweat rolled down his face.

’That explains the energy I’m seeing around him...’ Henry thought, his fear for Kieran deepening all the more.

The aura around him—it moved as if it were alive.

Like a dragon waiting to devour everything that stood in its path.

It was wild. Dangerous. Yet somehow, controlled.

Like a predator waiting gently for its prey.

’Even if I’m to touch him, with the amount of energy he has, I’m not even sure it’ll affect him in any way... Just how powerful will he be?’

The very thought scared him to the core.

There was only one person registered in his memory who had an aura—calm, yet so dangerous like that of Kieran.

It was his elder brother!

’If only I was just as lucky as him to unlock an SSS-ranked talent, then maybe... just maybe,’ his father’s words echoed at the back of his mind.

A constant reminder that he had awakened a failure, to his family.

His talent too weak to be considered for joining the family’s main faction.

Kieran could sense all their gazes on him.

But he chose to ignore them.

’So ironic, isn’t it? On one side, I was despised and looked down on for having a talent with an unknown condition needed to unlock it. And on the other side, I’m being revered for having unlocked the talent... But no one was there when I was...’ Kieran thought silently to himself.

Reminding himself that their praises didn’t matter.

"These humans are disgusting," Alexa commented, feeling disgusted by the sudden shift in the air.

Not too long ago, she could hear different side comments pertaining to Kieran’s odd look.

She was a divine, mythical beast—so powerful that even while bound to her host’s body, she could still hear the faintest sound, like the tiny legs of ants tapping against the ground, if she chose to listen.

Talk more of a few whispers in the background.

She had heard everything—and so did Kieran.

But since he chose to ignore them, she did as well.

Seeing their sudden shift to that of reverence disgusted her.

’I would love to deny that, but I’ve grown to learn that as well,’ Kieran supported, letting out a tired sigh.

Jacob noticed the change in the air but didn’t want to talk much on it.

He simply turned back to Trevor, who was just as shocked as the other kids.

"Well, that’s new," he said simply, returning his gaze to Jacob, a small smile gracing his face.

"At least one smart kid once in a decade is refreshing..." he said, looking at Kieran again with admiration.

"Most SSS-ranked usually go on the bad side of everyone in their early years, forgetting that they could be killed off even before they attain the height of their power..."

A beep sound dragged his attention back to the system panel that showed everything on the space cruiser.

All the markers were green—a sign that everything was set and ready to go.

"Well, let’s not keep you all for much longer," he turned to the small crowd, now addressing them.

"As a welcome gift from the Blue Fang, I’m sure you all would love to get yourselves some good battle suits for this."

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