"Look, everyone, this is the most outstanding product of our 'Starfall Project' to date."
In the VIP room of the underground base, a high-ranking member of the Embers Organization, codenamed "Doctor" and wearing a silver mask, spread his arms wide.
Behind him, a massive holographic projection, brimming with cutting-edge technological flair, slowly unfolded.
On the screen, Cseper moved through the training ground at astonishing speed, every action precise as if calculated by a computer.
The Doctor watched Cseper's exaggerated displays with pride, introducing his profile to the unfamiliar VIPs.
"Starfall Child Sequence 001, Cseper William, overall potential rated S-tier. Just six months after his Star Core surgery, he possessed the remarkable strength to single-handedly defeat an elite tactical squad."
The video shifted to a combat record.
In the footage, a young Cseper, wearing his signature sunglasses, strolled casually through a dense web of gunfire.
Bullets grazed past his clothing but couldn't touch a single hair.
Each dodge was perfectly timed, as if he could foresee the future.
In no time, he breached the elite tactical squad's intense firepower network.
"That's impossible!"
A noblewoman wearing a canary mask gasped, her champagne glass tilting slightly, the liquid nearly spilling onto her luxurious gown.
The Doctor chuckled lightly, his fingers gliding over the control panel in front of him.
In an instant, the holographic projection froze on a stunning moment: Cseper executing a flawless spinning kick, knocking out the last special forces soldier.
"No Star Source, and he can achieve this?"
"Doctor, are you certain this footage hasn't been tampered with?"
Facing the skepticism, the Doctor responded elegantly, "I stake my life on it—these two videos have not been altered in any way."
As he spoke, he tapped the virtual keyboard before him, pulling up a complex dataset.
"What's even more astonishing is that this battle took place on the 183rd day after Cseper's Star Core surgery. In other words, he wasn't even eleven years old at the time."
At this revelation, gasps echoed through the VIP room as the attendees processed the staggering impact of the videos.
These usually lofty figures leaned forward, their eyes behind their masks glinting with greed.
After all, if Cseper were replaced with a Level 1 Starborne with a non-combat Star Source,
that elite tactical squad could easily overpower them.
In other words, a single Star Core surgery had transformed Cseper William, a mere ten-year-old, into a powerhouse comparable to a Level 1 Starborne.
If what the Doctor said was true,
then the so-called Starfall Project was indeed an epoch-making endeavor.
Noting the hushed whispers among the crowd, the Doctor's lips curled slightly under his mask.
He manipulated the control panel, switching to Cseper's data analysis chart.
Cseper's three-dimensional model was broken down layer by layer, ultimately zooming in on a crystal in the center of his chest, glowing with a faint blue light.
The Doctor's fingertip touched the crystal in the projection, and it instantly flared with dazzling brilliance.
"The Celestial Eye Beast Star Core, a rare variant said to glimpse the future."
"And Cseper William's compatibility with it is…"
A blood-red number flashed on the holographic screen: 100%.
The icy, blood-red number plunged the room into a deathly silence.
But the Doctor's words didn't stop there. His voice lowered, carrying a seductive, almost bewitching charm.
"Did you know, before the Star Core surgery, we conducted a Stellar Energy evaluation on this child…"
He paused deliberately, tapping the screen.
Moments later, a detailed evaluation report unfurled before the audience.
Upon seeing a critical piece of data, the room erupted in gasps.
[Innate Stellar Energy Level: S]
"Whoa—"
The data sent the VIP room into an uproar.
The canary-masked noblewoman shot to her feet, her red lips trembling beneath her mask. "This… this can't be… a naturally awakened S-tier?"
Faced with Cseper's data, the room fell into another brief silence.
They knew all too well what an S-tier Innate Stellar Energy level signified.
Normally, a Starborne's strength depended not only on their "Star Source type" but also on their "Innate Stellar Energy level."
If the "Star Source" was akin to a Starborne's "engine,"
then the "Innate Stellar Energy" was the "fuel tank" for that engine.
The more exceptional the Innate Stellar Energy, the more efficiently a Starborne could absorb Stellar Energy, and the more they could wield at the same level.
Thus, a saying circulated in the Starborne world:
There are no useless Star Sources, only useless Starborne.
The same Star Source in the hands of people with different Innate Stellar Energy levels often produced vastly different results.
While some rare Star Sources could alter a Starborne's Innate Stellar Energy after the fact,
most Star Sources couldn't achieve this.
Thus, in the Starborne world, Innate Stellar Energy level was often considered a key indicator of a Starborne's potential.
In some places, it was the only indicator.
To the onlookers, Cseper, with his S-tier Innate Stellar Energy, was a natural-born powerhouse destined for greatness even without the Star Core surgery.
And now, this already limitless prodigy had gained a "Star Core," something ordinary Starborne never possessed.
This undoubtedly amplified Cseper's already extravagant potential even further.
The Doctor watched the crowd's reactions with satisfaction, as if savoring a meticulously crafted play.
He stepped slowly toward the projection, his hand brushing over Cseper's three-dimensional image with a gentleness akin to caressing a rare treasure.
"Perfect innate conditions, perfect Star Core compatibility, and… unparalleled combat talent."
The Doctor snapped his fingers, and the screen switched to a video of Cseper sparring with a "Level 1 Starborne."
In the footage, the young Cseper dodged every attack from the Level 1 Starborne with dizzying movements.
Though he was outmatched in strength, speed, and constitution,
Cseper's exceptional combat talent allowed every move to seem precisely calculated by a supercomputer, always evading fatal strikes with minimal effort.
"Pay attention here."
The Doctor paused the footage, pointing to Cseper's eyes, glowing blue behind his sunglasses.
"One of the Celestial Eye Beast's abilities: [Foresight]."
"Though Cseper currently can't fully tap into these eyes' potential, only able to predict an opponent's actions about half a second in advance, this is already enough for him to challenge veteran combat-type Level 1 Starborne without a Star Source."
His words concluded, the Doctor fell silent, letting the audience digest this earth-shattering information.
After an unknown amount of time, a man wearing a griffin mask spoke up.
"Doctor, name your price."
His voice was hoarse but carried an undeniable firmness.
However, his commanding tone couldn't quell the others' competitive fervor.
In an instant, the VIP room buzzed with overlapping bids, as if a floodgate had been opened.
The canary-masked noblewoman even yanked off a unique gemstone ring, slamming it on the table. "Is this Star of Eternal Night enough?"
Faced with the crowd's frenzy, the Doctor finally poured cold water on their enthusiasm.
He shook his head gracefully, the silver mask reflecting an icy glint. "I'm sorry, everyone, but Cseper William is not for sale."
"Though various reasons have caused divisions and rifts among us old-timers, on the matter of this child's future, we've reached a rare consensus."
"No matter the cost, we must keep this child with Embers."
"Because only he can carry our dreams, proving to those who betrayed us, abandoned us, and belittled us that the so-called Embers are not just ashes to be swept away after burning out."
"They can also nurture the spark of a new era, bursting forth in this new age with a brilliance that outshines all the stars."
With that, the Doctor stepped before the holographic screen, gazing at Cseper's three-dimensional image.
"We've invited you all here today not only to showcase the value of the Starfall Project."
"Another critical purpose is to introduce you to the successor chosen by Embers in advance."
"Because we sincerely believe that, under his leadership, Embers will soon end the so-called Star Source Era and usher in a brand-new era."
His words fell, and the Doctor turned to the crowd, his expression wild with fervor.
"Everyone, are you ready to embrace a new era?"
"An era… named Cseper."
On the holographic screen, Cseper seemed to sense something, suddenly turning to "look" toward the audience.
His sunglasses reflected a cold light, and a mysterious smile curved his lips…