"And that would be 29,758,000 credits" she announced with a polite smile.
Simon glanced at the total price, then instinctively pulled up his account balance on his phone display.
Balance:3,780,000 credits.
His expression remained neutral, but internally, he sighed. It looked like a lot, but in the world of Astral Lords, it was barely enough to afford top-tier gear. And the Ignis Fangs and Ember Cleaver together? 30 million credits.
Even if he drained every last credit, he'd still be short by a large margin.
Receptionist must've noticed his hesitation because she smirked. "Good thing you've got that A+ Contract, hub?"
Simon looked up. "Loan option?"
She nodded. "Yes, as an A+ rank recruit, you're eligible for company-backed financing. Standard policy -monthly deduction from your earnings, no interest if paid within the first year."
Simon chuckled. Perk of being valuable. "Alright, sign me up."
A confirmation screen appeared in front of him, and with a quick scan of his ID, the transaction was complete.
The glass case unlocked with a soft click, and Simon reached inside, taking the weapons into his hands. The weight of them felt good -solid, real.
Simon put away Ignis Fangs and Ember Cleaver to his Space belt, a rush of excitement ran through him. He was now properly armed for close combat.
Simon walked out of the Armory with his head held high—and 30 million credits in debt.
Still, he held no regrets.
Power and safety came at a price, and he was more than willing to pay it.
He planned to enter the wilderness by the end of week. For that he needed to buy supplies, gear and a solid plan.
Wasting no time, he headed straight to the company's support department, purchasing everything he needed for the hunt.
Simon returned home.
After he had dinner with his family he entered his room, locking it on his way in, not wanting to be disturbed.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Simon used the new Astral technique -Solar enter.
The moment he did, he felt the difference Immediately. His Astral energy intake surged to an entirely new level.
"If I had this back when I started training… I'd already be a 3-Star Astral Lord by now," he thought, a hint of frustration mixed with excitement.
Still, there was no point dwelling on the past.
Now, it was time to push forward.
Sitting cross-legged in his room, his breathing slow and steady. Around him, the faint golden glow of Astral energy shimmered in the air, drawn toward him like an invisible tide.
In the depth of his being, in the Muladhara, Astral core pulsed faintly, radiating warmth.
It was small, no larger than a cricket ball yet it was the foundation of his power -the mark of a 1-Star Astral Lord.
This was the foundation of an Astral Lord's growth- absorbing, refining, and solidifying, transforming the chaotic gas into denser, more stable liquid form to eventually form a solid core.
And now it was time to rise.
His attention shifted to Svadhisthana, right above Muladhara.
The process creating another star was calm and peaceful but needed your whole attention, even slightest disturbance in your focus will ruin all the hard work, and force you to start over.
Creating a star was not just accumulation of energy but complete transformation of your body's structure.
Endurance, reflexes and skills—everything would be reforged and reborn stronger.
Closing his eyes, Simon activated Solar Enter. His breathing deepening as he pulled in vast amounts of Astral Energy from the atmosphere. The golden energy flowed into him, circulating through his body before converging at his Svadhisthana.
Raw Astral energy condensed in his Svadhisthana, slowly the gas turned into liquid, then liquid condensed into solid.
Slowly and steadily a beautiful star formed in his Svadhisthana, and when the star completely formed, Simon felt a surge of energy flow through his veins from the star.
This energy repaired, reforged and gave life to his body, like a calm breeze it washed over his body and mind giving him a feeling of enlightenment and rebirth.
Then his sense sharpened, his energy surged to new heights and for the first time—
He felt the power of a true 2-Star Astral Lord.
He clenched his fists, staring at them, feeling the raw strength humming beneath his skin. His control was sharper, his endurance higher, and his connection to Astral energy deeper.
And yet, this was only the beginning.
Each new chakra filled will give him another rebirth.
And Simon?
He was not gone stop until he reached the top.
As Star the size of cricket ball was create at his Svadhisthana.
Slowly the morning light hit his face as the sun rise welcoming a new day.
"Growing stronger always feels good."
Weekend arrived faster than expected.
Simon stood in his room, making his final preparations.
He was dressed in a simple-looking black shirt, black pants and matching black shoes -a completely ordinary outfit at first glance. But in reality, these cloths were anything but normal.
Made from high-density woven Astral fibres, they provided defence far beyond what their appearance suggested.
Lightweight, flexible and resistant to slashes, blunt force and even minor attacks from monster, this set had cost him nearly 750,000 credits.
A small price to pay for survival.
The rented off-roader rumbled beneath him, its reinforced tires kicking up dust as Simon sped through the rugged terrain.
The vehicle was built for harsh environments, perfect for navigating the unpredictable landscape of the wilderness.
The city disappeared in his rearview mirror, replaced by endless stretches of untamed land.
Towering tree loomed in the distance, their twisted branches forming an eerie skyline.
The deeper he went, the more the roads faded, replaced by raw, unmarked terrain
He was truly alone.
His heart pounded, not from fear, but from excitement.
"This… is the wilderness," Simon muttered to himself, a grin creeping onto his face.