Chapter 8 - Rayden
Asher's POV
District 1 felt like a different world.
Even the air carried weight — not pressure, but density. Mana here wasn't thin or scattered like in Greenwood. It flowed naturally, woven into the streets, the buildings, even the people walking past us. Cultivators didn't bother hiding their presence. They didn't need to.
This place was built for strength.
Darek noticed it too. He'd been unusually quiet since we arrived.
"Everything here looks like it could bankrupt my entire family," he muttered as we stopped in front of the restaurant. "Including the air."
"You're the one who agreed to the bet," I reminded him.
"Yeah, well, past-me was an idiot."
The restaurant interior was refined rather than flashy. Crystal lights hovered overhead, casting a soft glow, and faint mana formations stabilized the temperature and sound. Conversations filled the room, most of them revolving around awakenings, cultivation manuals, and academy rumors.
We'd just started eating when I felt it.
Not hostility.
Not killing intent.
Attention.
Someone was watching us — calmly, deliberately.
I looked up.
A boy stood a short distance from our table, silver hair neatly combed, posture straight, eyes sharp and observant. He wore the uniform of a Tier 2 academy, the insignia stitched with precision. He didn't hesitate or fidget. He simply stood there, assessing.
Before Darek could say anything, the boy spoke.
"You're Asher Valen."
Darek stiffened immediately. "Do we know you?"
"No," the boy replied evenly. "But I know of him."
I set my fork down and leaned back slightly. "That's vague. Either sit or explain."
The boy studied me for a brief moment, then nodded and took the empty chair across from us.
"My name is Rayden Cross," he said. "I awakened yesterday."
"Congratulations," I replied. "That's usually how it starts."
Rayden didn't react to the sarcasm. "I also awakened a Tier Eight talent."
Darek froze.
"…Say that again."
Rayden repeated it calmly.
The surrounding noise seemed to dim slightly in my awareness. Tier Eight wasn't unheard of — but context mattered.
"In a Tier 2 city," I said slowly, "that's rare, but believable."
Rayden met my gaze. "Exactly."
"And Greenwood," I continued, "is Tier 3."
"That's why I'm here," he said.
Darek crossed his arms. "You make it sound like we're from some backwater village."
Rayden looked at him briefly "Greenwood produces good cultivators. But it doesn't produce anomalies."
I smiled faintly. "Usually."
Rayden's eyes narrowed slightly, not in hostility, but in interest.
"I didn't come to challenge you," Rayden said. "Not yet."
"That's reassuring," Darek muttered.
"I came because Tier Eight awakenings don't happen randomly," Rayden continued. "Especially not where the highest talent rarely exceeds Tier Six."
"You think there's a reason?" I asked.
"I think there's always a reason," he replied.
I shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe I just got lucky."
Rayden watched me closely.
"You don't believe that."
"I believe worrying about it won't make me stronger," I said. "Training will."
That earned a pause.
Rayden didn't respond immediately, as if weighing my words rather than dismissing them.
"You're still Rank 0," he said eventually.
"Yes."
"And yet you're calm."
"Yes."
Darek snorted. "Trust me, he's annoyingly calm about everything."
Rayden ignored him. "Most people with high-tier talents rush. They assume strength is guaranteed."
"I don't," I replied.
That seemed to satisfy him — partially.
"I'm still observing," Rayden said.
"Fair," I replied. "So am I."
"I plan to participate in the national academy examination in two months," Rayden said. "before that I will reach Rank 1."
"Same," I replied.
That was the truth. No rush, no bravado. Rank 1 mattered.
"Which academy?" he asked.
"Valoria," I said simply.
That finally drew a visible reaction.
"…You're aiming high," Rayden said.
"Everyone should," I replied.
After a moment, he nodded. "Valoria is one of my options as well."
Darek groaned. "Great. So now we're collecting rivals."
Rayden glanced at him. "Rivals improve efficiency."
Darek blinked. "…I don't like how calm you say that."
I chuckled. "You get used to it."
We didn't talk much after that. There was nothing more to say — not yet.
Rayden stood after a while. "This was informative."
"That's one way to put it," I replied.
"I'll see you again," he said. "If you reach Rank 1."
I met his gaze. "Same to you."
He nodded once and walked away, blending back into the flow of cultivators outside.
Darek let out a long breath. "Okay. So that just happened."
"Yep."
"He's strong."
"Probably."
"And calm."
"Definitely."
Darek frowned. "I don't like him."
I smiled. "You don't have to. Just don't fall behind."
Rayden didn't stop walking until the restaurant was far behind him.
Tier Eight… in Greenwood.
Not impossible.
But improbable.
Asher Valen hadn't acted like someone relying on talent. No arrogance. No impatience. No desperation to prove himself.
That was dangerous.
Rayden summoned his interface.
[System Interface — Rayden Cross]
Name: Rayden Cross
Age: 16
Cultivation Rank: Rank 0 (Mortal Realm)
Talent Information
Talent:Battle Continuum
Grade:Transcendent Grade — Rank 1
Current Output Level:Tier 8 (Locked)
"So you're starting from the same line," Rayden murmured.
Not ahead.
Not behind.
Equal footing.
Two months remained before the academy examinations.
If Asher reached Rank 1 by then…Rayden's lips curved faintly.
"Good," he said quietly. "I hate boring climbs."
He dismissed the interface and continued forward.
This wasn't a rivalry yet.
But it would be.
End of Chapter 8 — "Rayden"