"That's how it is. Prepare yourself when you return home."
The dean, clad in a sharp black uniform, stood with arms crossed, eyes fixed on the thin boy before him. A flicker of sympathy surfaced in his gaze as he addressed Aeron Vale.
"I've been drafted?" Aeron asked, stunned.
He had transmigrated into this body only days ago and hadn't even fully adjusted to the new world. And now… this?
In truth, for most students like Aeron, conscription wasn't entirely negative. The government invested heavily in the military. Even draftees received fair treatment—during peacetime.
But this wasn't peacetime anymore.
News had spread from the border galaxies—alien forces were invading. Many believed this conscription drive was a strategic move, gathering forces to prepare for full-scale war.
Over two and a half million years into the Star Sea Era, the Universal Human Alliance had expanded madly into space, occupying galaxy after galaxy. That aggressive expansion inevitably brought them into contact—and conflict—with other alien civilizations.
Resources in the cosmos were finite. Wars for territory and survival were inevitable. Human civilization initiated many of those wars. And the alien species driven into darkness never forgot. Now, they waited patiently, launching counterstrikes whenever the chance arose.
"This is bad," Aeron muttered to himself, heart sinking.
While humanity generally had the upper hand in interstellar warfare, the battlefield was never a smooth ride. The alien civilizations lurking deep in the cosmos were ferocious, often capable of ripping a battleship apart with bare claws. Fully-armed human soldiers still faced casualty rates of 20 to 30%.
To preserve secrecy, those deployed to extermination fronts were completely cut off from the outside world. And campaigns could last for centuries.
Even if Aeron survived, he might spend the rest of his life drifting through cold, lonely space—never setting foot on a living planet again.
He took a deep breath. "Director… is there room for discussion? My parents are counting on me. I also have a younger sister."
The dean's expression hardened. He knocked the desk gently and replied, "Don't worry. The government takes care of the families of conscripts."
"Your father's job will be promoted one level. Your mother will be given a stable post in the district. Your sister—her tuition will be fully covered, and she'll receive guaranteed placement in a higher education institute when she turns eighteen."
"All of that… depends on your service."
Aeron's lips tightened. He didn't know what to feel. On paper, the offer was generous.
His father had been stuck in career limbo for years. His mother was unemployed. And for his sister, admission to a top university was nearly impossible to secure without connections or absurd amounts of money.
This conscription could change their lives.
But why did it require sacrificing his own?
He had just barely finished processing his new identity in this unfamiliar world, and already he was expected to throw himself into a war?
"I liked living on the planet," Aeron whispered after a pause.
Once drafted, he'd be placed under strict military control. Personal freedom? Gone. Even if he protested, it would be too late.
"Serving the Alliance is every citizen's duty," the dean said flatly. "Besides, this is compulsory. If you've been selected, resistance is pointless."
"Still, young man," the dean added, softening slightly, "Think of it as an opportunity. You'll see alien races few citizens ever witness. And if you prove yourself, maybe you'll earn a post back in the Core Military Regions."
"This is a rare chance."
Aeron opened his mouth to argue further, but the dean raised a hand, dismissing him. "That's enough. Spend time with your family. Dismissed."
Outside the office, over a dozen students his age waited silently. One of them approached.
"Hey, what's this about?" a dark-skinned student asked in a low voice.
"You'll find out soon," Aeron replied, brushing past him.
Before this moment, Aeron had never seriously considered being conscripted.
Only a week ago, the media had announced forced conscription across Canglan Star and nearby life planets.
Canglan Star had a permanent population of fifty billion. The total quota for conscription was only a few hundred thousand.
Statistically, the chance of being selected was 1 in 100,000.
He'd bought lottery tickets his whole life and never won a thing. But this? This he "won."
Back home, Aeron found the family gathered. His sister sat quietly at the table, eyeing a cake but not daring to touch it.
"Xiao Yuan…" his mother—Lu Qiong—looked up, concern written on her face.
His father, Lin Shoucheng, sat silently with furrowed brows.
They already knew.
"I'll speak to your cousin tomorrow," his father finally said. "Maybe he can help."
This cousin worked in a research institute and had some influence.
Aeron shook his head. "No use."
This was an official government order. Not even the governor of Canglan Star could bend the rules without serious consequence.
Influence could help before the lists were finalized—not after.
"I'm tired. I'll head to my room."
Aeron grabbed a few bites of food, then retreated to his room.
He lay back on the soft bed, staring at the ceiling.
"There has to be a way out of this."
Then he remembered—the Goddess of Wisdom.
One of the three legendary artificial superintelligences of the Universal Human Alliance, the Goddess of Wisdom governed all civil functions, ensured societal fairness, and executed duties free of emotion or bias.
She, along with the other two goddesses, was one of the reasons humanity had survived so long without tearing itself apart.
Connecting to the network, Aeron called out: "Connect me to the Goddess of Wisdom."
A calm, synthesized voice replied: "Aeron Vale, first-class citizen of the universe. Please state your inquiry."
"I want to know—how can one be exempt from mandatory conscription?"
"There are three exemption conditions," the voice responded smoothly.
"First: Become an Evolver. Those walking the path of evolution are humanity's future. They are exempt."
Aeron exhaled slowly.
There were two types of Evolvers—unique and universal.
Unique Evolvers were one-of-a-kind: individuals with inherited bloodline mutations, or rare mutations caused by unrepeatable events. He had no chance of being one of them.
Universal Evolvers followed a standardized path: genetic warriors who took expensive enhancement drugs, or spiritual masters honed through grueling training.
But these paths required rare resources and elite training.
"I'm just an ordinary person."
"Second: Attain fourth-level citizenship. Fourth-level citizens receive immunity from conscription once per decade."
Aeron scoffed.
Citizenship levels ranged from one to twelve, with first-class being default.
To rise through the ranks, one had to contribute massively to civilization—something judged strictly by the goddesses.
Even among fifty billion people on Canglan Star, only one fourth-class citizen existed: the planetary governor.
Aeron had no chance.
"Third?" he asked quietly.
"Make a contribution significant enough to earn second-level citizenship. You will be exempt."
But that was even harder than evolving.
Becoming a second-level citizen required contributions of immense value.
"What qualifies as a significant contribution?"
The voice responded:
"Providing a new evolutionary path will result in massive contribution value."
Aeron's eyes widened.
A new evolutionary path?
No wonder it was so valued. Creating one meant guiding humanity into a stronger future.
But if he could do that, he wouldn't be on the conscription list to begin with.
Frustration bubbled in his chest. He rubbed his eyes, staring at the ceiling.
Midnight came and went.
Eventually, sleep pulled him under.
---
Suddenly—
A strange force tugged at Aeron's consciousness.
Somewhere deep in his mind, a colossal gate of light appeared.
The gate pulsed with blue ripples, like gentle waves upon a galactic shore.
"What is this…?" he whispered.
Then—
He woke up.
But the gate remained. Even with his eyes open, he could still sense it—a towering portal anchored in the depths of his soul.
Illusory text scrolled into view before his eyes:
> [Name: Aeron Vale]
[Identity: Bearer of the Gate of Myriad Worlds]
[Realm: None]
[Talent: None]
[Divine Ability: None]
---