Chapter 5: Memory

Just as David's hand touched the translucent shoulder of the shadow, a strange energy surged from his palm into his body. It felt as if he were immersed in warm water; his entire being relaxed, and, lingering with traces of fright, he slowly drifted into sleep.

David slept on the floor by the front door of the living room. Fortunately, the only inhabitant of the house besides himself was Emma, the smart housekeeper, who never interfered with her master's actions.

David dreamed. In the dream, he grew up with his mother, from elementary school to middle school to high school. He was somewhat withdrawn, with few friends besides his mother. His father's presence was rare until one day, his parents separated, and not long after, his mother arranged everything and took her own life.

In the dream, there were memories of happier times and the sorrow of loss; he laughed and he wept. It was a complete life, from birth to seventeen, every experience and feeling presented before him.

He awoke from hunger. Opening his eyes, he immediately sensed the difference in his surroundings. All colors seemed vivid, as though he had once viewed the world through a standard television and now saw it in 4K resolution. He did not know why, but he was certain it was the energy transferred to him by the translucent shadow.

He glanced at his identity bracelet, which looked much like a wristwatch. It was already nine o’clock in the evening; he had slept the entire day on the floor.

Recalling everything from the dream and comparing it to the memories he had already regained, he knew he had recovered all the memories of his predecessor. The previous owner of this body was also named David, leaving him to wonder if this was a choice of fate or mere coincidence.

David Kerr, seventeen years old, a senior in high school, currently on winter break. He lived alone in this building, but he was not an orphan. His biological father had formed another family, and David inherited his mother Kathy’s estate, living independently.

He could not describe his feelings towards his father, transmitted through these memories—a complex knot of respect, resentment, and resistance.

His father’s name was Hans Kerr, a hero in this city, and not only here; his title of "National Warrior" bestowed upon him a special status.

"National Warrior" is the highest rank among all combat heroes, the source of David’s respect for Hans. Hans paid dearly for this title—separating from David’s mother, her suicide from depression, the loss of his left arm and leg, relying on prosthetics for movement, his body weakened despite gene therapy, and, above all, his son’s unforgiveness.

David’s predecessor was always bitter about his mother’s death. Hans remarried and had another son; these were the reasons David lived apart from him. Legally, Hans remained his guardian.

He now knew that this planet was called Rock Planet, two small star systems away from the battlefield star where the insect race was fought. Though within the insect race’s sphere of influence, it was the least affected war zone planet.

Even so, Rock Planet was not safe. Uncontrolled insect larvae were scattered everywhere; at any moment, one might mature into a Level One Insect, and sometimes, concealed larvae might even become Level Two.

Larvae could be dealt with using ordinary firearms, but once they became Level One, ordinary people stood no chance.

To face a Level One Insect, one had to wear exoskeleton armor and wield weapons forged from Level One insect teeth and claws, combined with several metals to create Level One alloy—only then could their defenses be breached.

This was only the general case. Given the insect race’s agility and combat prowess, it usually took several warriors equipped with exoskeletons and Level One weapons to defeat one.

To wear an exoskeleton, one must first be a certified Armored Warrior.

Throughout the millennium-long struggle against the insect race, the Interstellar Federation relied on advanced war machines and also used the insect race to enhance their own combat power.

The corpses of the insect race were the most valuable resource; as mentioned, their teeth and claws, the sharpest bones, were used to forge stronger weapons.

Most insect corpses had two slender muscles on their backs, known as "enhancement meat," the foundation of the Federation’s powerful warriors.

David now understood why his predecessor resorted to sacrifice—it was because he wished to enter Naan University, but lacked the qualifications, so sought a shortcut.

Naan University, located in Naan City, was the largest city on Rock Planet, the center of its economy and culture, protected by a powerful military. The hundred-kilometer radius around Naan City was a zone where humans could live freely.

For someone like David’s predecessor, living in Peran City, this was a coveted dream. In Peran, stepping outside the city brought danger, and even within the city, insects sometimes appeared.

Although the chances of encountering insects inside the city were small, they left David’s predecessor with no sense of security.

Naan City was ideal, but residence there was not easily granted—it required the appropriate permissions.

Within the Interstellar Federation, one could not freely travel to other cities without reaching a certain clearance level.

David’s predecessor was a minor and, of course, had no clearance. His guardian, Hans, could take him anywhere on any planet, given his status as a National Warrior.

But David’s predecessor resisted Hans, unwilling to ask him for help, wishing only to leave Peran City and Hans’s side as soon as possible. Peran was filled with memories of sorrow.

The only way he could think of to escape Hans was to be admitted to a university. He was unwilling to settle for an ordinary university, not wanting to spend his life as a common office worker in this city, needing to apply and wait for approval even to travel. Only Naan University was the school he truly yearned for.

Graduates of Naan University were sought after by all organizations. Admission meant a stable, high-paying job, significant social clearance, and inevitably, citizenship in Naan City.

Naan City warmly welcomed graduates of the university; applications for residence were almost always approved.

David’s predecessor was an average student, with grades slightly above average at Rock High School. With such results, not to mention Naan University, even second-tier schools were out of reach.

So he had no hope of entering Naan University based on academic merit; he could only consider applying through combat talent.

Naan University not only trained numerous administrative professionals but was also the best Armored Warrior school on Rock Planet.

With his moderately well-off lifestyle, David’s predecessor had daily enhancement meat from insect larvae, making him physically stronger than most students, but the competition for entry to Naan University was fierce—every eligible student on Rock Planet applied, many with far better qualifications.

In fact, with his current strength of six hundred kilograms, he ranked only among the top thirty students in his grade at Peran High School.