The world did not recover after the sky was torn open.
It reorganized.
In the weeks that followed the arrival of the Universal Alliance, every nation on Earth collapsed into emergency authority. Old borders vanished. Flags were lowered. In their place, a single symbol appeared across every city on every screen — a silver spiral wrapped around a star.
THE HUMAN FEDERATION
Kali Lin stood with his family inside their small apartment in Ironreach Block, watching the broadcast flicker across the cracked wall-screen. Military drones streaked through the narrow sky outside, their engines vibrating through the building's bones.
The voice on the screen was calm, mechanical, absolute.
"Earth has entered Level-One Civilization Evolution Phase."
Kali felt something cold settle in his chest.
"All citizens between the ages of twelve and twenty are required to undergo Genetic Awakening Assessment.
Those with sufficient aptitude will be integrated into the Federation's cultivation and defense programs."
Lin Xiu's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
"Those who fail the assessment will be reassigned to labor, industrial, and frontier divisions."
Lin Tian looked up from her cot, fear shining in her eyes.
"What does that mean?"
Kali forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"It means… we take a test."
But they all understood the truth.
This wasn't a test.
It was selection.
The Rankings
Three days later, the results were released.
Kali stood in the outer plaza of Vanguard Institute among hundreds of other youths, all staring up at the massive holographic projection floating above the courtyard.
Names and numbers streamed in endless columns.
At the top were the monsters.
Advanced Contracts.
Guaranteed Academy Seats.
Priority Resource Allocation.
Then came everyone else.
Kali's name appeared.
Name: Kali
Genetic Compatibility: Low-Mid Tier
Cultivation Stage: Planetary — Rank 5
The number burned in his vision.
Before the arrival, Rank 5 at seventeen would have been considered exceptional.
Now it was barely enough to remain alive in the new world.
An instructor's voice thundered across the plaza.
"Listen carefully. Under Federation regulations, only those who reach Planetary Rank 7 within ninety days will remain on the ascension track."
Shock rippled through the crowd.
"Those who fail will be permanently removed from cultivation programs and reassigned."
Removed.
The word cut deeper than any blade.
No training resources.
No advancement.
No future beyond survival wages and labor quotas.
The strong would rise into the stars.
The rest would be crushed beneath them.
Cracks at Home
That night, Lin Wei returned late.
Blood stained the cuff of his work uniform.
Kali caught him at the door.
"What happened?"
"Factory disturbance," Lin Wei said quietly. "Some workers refused reassignment."
Kali cleaned the wound in silence.
Lin Wei stared at the wall.
"The system doesn't care what's fair. It only measures what you're worth."
Across the room, Lin Tian sat cross-legged on her cot, faint threads of cosmic energy drifting around her hands again.
The room felt too small for all the futures pressing in.
Kali looked at his sister.
Looked at his parents.
Looked at the credit meter blinking red.
And finally understood the truth.
If he failed this climb, he wouldn't just lose himself.
He would drag them all down with him.
Ninety Days
The countdown began the next morning.
FEDERATION EXAM CYCLE — 89 DAYS REMAINING
Kali stood alone outside the western sector of Vanguard Institute, staring at the massive black structure beyond the outer fence.
Gravity Hall.
No contracts.
No safety nets.
Only broken bodies and desperate hope.
Behind him, Chen Rui swallowed.
"Kali… people die in there."
Kali clenched his fists.
"So do people who stay weak."
He took one step forward.
Then another.
The gates of Gravity Hall slid open.
And Kali Lin walked into the future where ordinary people go to burn their lives…
or forge them.