Chapter 6: Discovery

In order to attend the prestigious Naan University, David’s predecessor enrolled in a prep course and trained his body relentlessly. However, Naan University’s basic admission requirements included a strength of eight hundred kilograms, along with certain speed criteria—standards he could not meet, let alone the other entrance exams. At a loss, he happened to see an original book from the Divine World—an ally of the Interstellar Federation in the war against the Zerg—displayed in the collection cabinet of Jeremy, his prep course trainer. Jeremy had mentioned it in passing to David’s predecessor, explaining that it was a sacrificial manual from the Divine World.

At that time, anxious about his lack of progress, David’s predecessor saw hope in this sacrificial manual. To the people of the Interstellar Federation, the Divine World was mysterious and mighty. When the Federation battled the Zerg on land, they relied on sheer numbers—an army of armored warriors in exoskeleton suits to fight first-grade Zerg; stronger Zerg required more advanced weaponry and numerous battleships. The Divine World was different. Their warriors possessed terrifying combat abilities, often able to face second- or even third-grade Zerg alone, with some powerful enough to challenge fourth-grade Zerg single-handedly.

To grasp what that meant: fourth-grade Zerg were so formidable that only coordinated attacks from several starships could keep them at bay; a single one could easily destroy a city. For this reason, all information regarding the Divine World was strictly censored by the Federation, but such a blockade could not be absolute—rumors and stories circulated through various channels.

A sacrificial manual from the Divine World might offer David’s predecessor a glimmer of hope. He spent fifty thousand credits to acquire the manual—the very book David later found in the basement upon arriving in this world. With the manual in hand, David’s predecessor began translating the Divine World script into the Federation’s language. To do so, he had to borrow certain reference books, which was only possible by using Hans’s “National Scholar” credentials.

Ordinary students like David’s predecessor could never access such restricted materials, but Hans, as a National Scholar, enjoyed immense privilege and status. Were it not for Hans’s own lack of ability, he could have secured a high political post on his title alone. Instead, Hans was merely the deputy director of legal affairs in Peran City—the kind of post reserved for those nearing retirement, with little real power.

After many days of translation, David’s predecessor grew ever more confident. The manual described a ritual through which one might summon a Shadow Attendant, a servant of the gods—a formidable ally in battle. The Shadow Attendant could transform into an impenetrable suit of armor to protect its master, or work alongside him to attack enemies—an unwavering companion. Moreover, the sacrificial process would also strengthen the body, which was exactly what David’s predecessor most desired.

The Shadow Attendant, though powerful, would be more useful as a future asset than for passing Naan University’s entrance exams. The physical enhancement promised by the ritual, however, was different—since it came from the Divine World, its effects would surely be extraordinary. Driven by this belief, David’s predecessor began frantically purchasing the required sacrificial materials.

Now, recalling how he found the sacrificial manual, David—endowed with memories from two lives—saw the situation as an outsider and began to recognize the hidden dangers. First was the fatal consequence of the ritual itself: David’s possession of this body was due to his predecessor’s untimely death. From the state of the basement gym, it was clear the cause was the failed sacrificial ritual, yet Jeremy had never mentioned the possibility of failure.

If the sacrificial manual was truly so effective, why would Jeremy keep such a powerful artifact as a mere collector’s item? The manner in which the manual surfaced was also suspicious. Jeremy had known of David’s predecessor’s desperation, and the manual appeared at his moment of greatest need—too much of a coincidence. In hindsight, it was obvious Jeremy had intentionally pushed the manual on him.

A high school senior like David’s predecessor could not have known the dangers of a Divine World sacrificial manual. But how could Jeremy not have known? The realization chilled David to the bone; it seemed increasingly likely that his predecessor’s death was no accident, but a calculated act.

Was it for money, or for his life? Of the nearly three hundred thousand credits spent, the majority had passed through Jeremy’s hands in procuring the necessary materials. Many of these items David’s predecessor had never even heard of, let alone known where to buy. The most suspicious item was the heart—the heart of a first-grade Zerg.

Although every part of a first-grade Zerg was valuable, this applied mainly to its shell, teeth, claws, and enhanced flesh. The rest was useless and rarely brought back from the battlefield. Sometimes even the relatively cheap shell would be abandoned—who, then, would bother bringing back a first-grade Zerg’s heart? Yet the heart was the critical component of the ritual, and the direct cause of his predecessor’s death.

The more David thought about it, the more afraid he became. Even with his own strength—six hundred kilograms—Jeremy’s abilities far surpassed his; David even wondered if Jeremy was a fully qualified armored warrior. In his memories, during training, Jeremy could block his full strength with ease.

“Call the police!” was David’s first instinct, a reflex from his previous life. But he quickly dismissed the idea. He had no evidence—what could he tell the authorities, that Jeremy had killed him with a book? In fact, David was very much alive, and could not explain matters at all. Moreover, the sacrificial method came straight from the Divine World’s manual; given the Federation’s strict ban, he himself might be punished before Jeremy ever was.

David steadied his nerves and assessed his current situation. Judging by the way Jeremy had orchestrated things, it was unlikely he would act against David directly. If he wanted to kill him outright, why resort to such covert means? The failed ritual had provided the perfect cover: a clueless youth dabbling in forbidden rites, dying by his own hand. David’s death would have erased all traces of the materials’ origin.

Given Jeremy’s methods, David concluded that as long as he gave the man no opportunity, he would be safe. His home was well protected, with a comprehensive security system; any unauthorized entry would be immediately reported by the intelligent butler, Emma. This was a wealthy neighborhood—police response time was under a minute. The house itself was a fortress, designed for external defense, and could withstand forced entry far longer than a minute.

With nearly a month left before school began, David only needed to remain vigilant, and his safety would be ensured. At this thought, he let out a long breath of relief.