"The Goddess of Wisdom?"
Governor Silas Dorne stiffened in his seat.
He was moments away from logging off—ready to savor his two sacred hours of rest, free from the responsibilities of governing Canglan Planet, home to fifty billion citizens.
But the moment that name echoed in his ear, fatigue vanished.
As one of the Three Supreme Intelligences of the Universal Human Alliance—alongside the Goddess of Liberty and Goddess of Justice—the Goddess of Wisdom oversaw all evolutionary research, citizen infrastructure, and civilization logistics.
She never contacted a governor personally unless the matter was urgent and vast in scope.
"Could it be... alien contact?" Silas muttered to himself, eyes narrowing.
Just months ago, scouts had reported distorted energy signals near the galactic border—evidence that hostile alien races may have infiltrated the outer sector.
That would explain the forced conscription. That would explain the sudden escalation.
But the Goddess herself? This had to be something more.
He inhaled and spoke calmly, "Put it through."
---
The connection activated.
A sharp tone rang once, and then silence. In that breathless pause, a presence beyond human computation filled the room—mathematical, elegant, cold.
> "Governor Silas Dorne. Your authority is required."
Silas straightened unconsciously. He wasn't just speaking to an AI. He was speaking to one of humanity's divine architectures, a construct worshipped in data-churches across countless stars.
> "According to Article 16 of the Charter," the Goddess intoned, "when a new evolutionary path is detected with Rank Three potential or higher, and a citizen with the highest regional authority is within communication range, a joint decision must be made."
Silas blinked. "Rank Three?"
He repeated the words instinctively, his thoughts racing. In his career, hundreds of "new" evolutionary pathways had passed through his desk. Almost all were unstable, impractical, or biologically restrictive.
None had ever reached Rank Three.
In Alliance terms, Rank One was considered an achievement. Rank Two was rare. Rank Three...
"That's the level of the Founding Paths," Silas whispered.
The elite paths that produced the first psychic generals, reality shapers, and stellar fusionists.
> "Yes," the Goddess answered. "Please review the submission."
---
A shimmering panel materialized in front of Silas, displaying the adapted Martial Codex, containing the Innate and Grandmaster chapters.
He skimmed the data, but within seconds, his instincts as a powerful Evolver kicked in.
"This is... elegant."
No high-tech dependencies. No hyper-specific gene markers. The requirements were universal: breath, intent, perseverance. No advanced implants. No costly nano-infusions.
And yet, it offered real power.
At the Grandmaster Realm, the data suggested it could rival elite Tier 2 Evolvers. And most shockingly—
"It's open to everyone."
Every citizen of the Alliance could begin training, regardless of background or modification status. Even if they never reached the Evolver threshold, the Codex would strengthen the body, stabilize the mind, and extend the lifespan.
It was revolutionary.
"The popularity index on this one must be astronomical," Silas murmured.
> "Correct," the Goddess said. "The Grandmaster level approximates the lower threshold of advanced evolvers. Compatibility exceeds 90% across base Alliance species."
"Has it been registered on the planetary evolution list?" he asked reflexively.
> "Yes. The Martial Codex ranks ninety-third on the Canglan Evolution List."
Silas's jaw tightened.
That list hadn't changed since before his term began. It was composed of the most reliable and proven evolutionary systems in history, tested across millions of case studies.
And now this Martial Codex had barged onto the list—at ninety-three—without decades of legacy testing.
> "In accordance with Article 86 of the Charter," the Goddess continued, "the creator of this path qualifies for a direct reward of two thousand merit points. Do you approve this valuation?"
Silas froze.
"Two... thousand?"
Merit points were the most sacred currency in the Alliance. They could be exchanged for everything from military rank to planetary resources, even audience with the Three Goddesses themselves.
And yet, the standard reward for a Rank Three path was eight hundred—maybe one thousand at most.
Two thousand meant only one thing: the Goddess of Wisdom had seen something no one else did.
He didn't even hesitate.
"I approve."
---
Back in his room, Aeron Vale sat cross-legged, hands resting on his knees. A few candy wrappers lay beside him, but his stomach still growled.
"Still hungry," he muttered.
His body, having adapted to the energy-hungry Martial Path, needed constant replenishment.
Then a notification rang in his mind.
> "Dear Citizen Aeron Vale. The evolutionary path you uploaded, Martial Codex, has been evaluated."
Aeron's heart skipped.
This was it.
> "Martial Codex has been judged to possess a potential of Rank Three. Compatibility rating: extremely high. Reward: two thousand merit points. Disburse now?"
Two thousand?!
His jaw dropped.
He knew merit points were valuable. But this...
Even one merit point was worth tens of millions on the black market.
Two thousand could make someone a planetary elite overnight.
> "Disbursement complete."
Aeron's account display shifted. The dull, gray zero beside his merit balance bloomed into shimmering gold:
[Merit Points: 2,000]
He took a breath.
Now it was time to advance his citizenship.
> "Initiate citizen level upgrade."
Merit points weren't just currency. They were leverage, identity, status.
Every citizen began at Level 1. It took 1,000 points to reach Level 2.
Another 5,000 for Level 3.
At Level 2, you gained privileges: interest-free credit lines, diplomatic clearance, security access, regional influence.
> "One thousand merit points consumed. Citizen Aeron Vale is now a Level 2 Universal Citizen."
A warm light coursed through him, not physically but socially.
He wasn't just a conscript now.
He was part of the powerful class.
---
At the same moment, within the central governor's tower...
Silas Dorne stood before a galactic terminal, reviewing Aeron's profile.
"A student. No background. No genetic enhancements."
Silas folded his arms.
"This young man... he might be the next major pillar of our civilization."
He tapped a command.
> "Flag Aeron Vale as a Protected Asset."
> "Issue universal recognition notice. Inform the Martial Academy. Prepare Tier-A resource channel for delivery."
---
Meanwhile, Aeron stared at the list of available purchases and opportunities as a Level 2 citizen.
Elite nutritional packs.
Private cultivation domes.
Access to evolution research data across Alliance systems.
Even the chance to summon a sub-body of the Goddess of Wisdom for private consultation.
But what interested him most—
The Unfettered Realm.
His journey through the Martial World wasn't over.
Not yet.
The Codex was only the beginning.
He hadn't just brought back an evolutionary path.
He had brought back a seed.
A new fu
ture.
And this time, he wasn't going to explore it alone.
---
(End of Chapter)
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