The Crusade was a dimension where every race in the universe met. Some of these races had reached technological advancements that seemed impossible.

Some possessed powers that could swallow a star or create one from nothing. Then there were races like humans.

They were intelligent but mediocre, struggling to find their footing in a reality that dwarfed their history.

If not for the Nexus system overseeing the Crusade, the strongest races would have already devoured the weak ones.

The system acted as a cosmic judge, dividing the inhabitants into six tiers. It allocated them into different sectors of the Crusade depending on these tiers. Humans belonged to Tier 6, the weakest tier in the entire hierarchy.

The resources a race received from the system depended on their tiers. If a race could collectively improve their strength, by having more spires or powerful Crusaders, they could improve their tiers too.

But in the history of the Crusade, there was no race that had achieved this.

When they stepped through the gate, the sapphire light of the portal dissolved into the warm, artificial glow of Solgrace.

This was a Tier 6 city, one of the massive metropolises built to house the bottom tier of races. Inside the city, the rules were absolute and governed by the Nexus itself.

No one was allowed to fight. This city served as a safe zone for the various Tier 6 races before they ventured out into the untamed lands of the Crusade.

Ayla and Kenji stumbled as they stabilized their footing on a floor made of smooth, iridescent metal. The air felt thick with a strange energy that made Ayla’s skin tingle.

Before they could even look around, a transparent screen flickered into existence in front of them. The screen took the shape of a cartoonish, glowing goat.

It bounced up and down with a mechanical cheerfulness. This was a Lightling, a special life form constructed by the system to maintain law and order within Solgrace.

They might appear cute and friendly to the eyes, but one of them was enough to slap a Platinum Crusader to death.

"Welcome, humans!" the goat greeted enthusiastically. Its voice sounded like a mixture of a chime and a child’s laughter. "The Nexus greets you! Please provide your identification for registration."

Kenji reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, silver chip. He held it out toward the goat. The creature opened its mouth wide and swallowed the chip in one gulp.

A second later, it let out a digital burp and spat out two small, jade tokens.

"Take them! Take them!" the goat chirped.

As soon as Ayla and Kenji touched the tokens, the jade melted into their skin like liquid heat. The green light swirled around their forearms for a moment before settling into a permanent, intricate tattoo.

"Your Jade Link is now active," the goat announced. "This device contains your personal data, access to the NexusNet, and the inter-race market."

The screen vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. Before they could process the words, a woman approached them from the crowd.

She wore a sleek, dark military uniform that bore the crest of the Hayashi house. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her eyes were sharp, scanning them for any immediate signs of weakness.

"Kenji. Ayla," she said, her voice crisp. "I am Jennie. I have been assigned to facilitate your transition into Solgrace. How was the trip through the veil?"

"Disorienting," Kenji replied, his voice regaining its usual cold composure.

Ayla just nodded, her eyes wandering to the massive structures rising above them. Jennie didn’t wait for further pleasantries. She turned on her heel and gestured for them to follow.

"Come. The city is vast, and we have little time. I need to get you to the human sector before the cycle shifts," Jennie explained.

She led them toward a docking station where a sleek, needle-shaped craft waited. It hovered a few inches off the ground, silent and intimidating. As they boarded, Jennie began to speak about the geography of the city.

"Solgrace is divided among six dominant Tier 6 races," Jennie said as the craft’s doors slid shut. "Besides humans, we share this space with the Ghouls of the Pale, the Iron-bound Dwarves, the Void-kin, the Scaled Reavers, and the Hive-Mind Silks. Each race has its own territory."

The craft lurched forward. Suddenly, the world outside became a blur. This was a Chronos-Sled, a vehicle designed to move at speeds that approached the velocity of light.

It functioned by folding space in small increments, allowing it to traverse a city the size of a planet in mere minutes.

"The rules forbid killing," Jennie continued, her eyes fixed on the blurring horizon. "But that does not stop the other races from being aggressive. They use their overwhelming strength and superior technology to strategically push humanity toward the outskirts. We are tolerated, not welcomed."

After several minutes of breathtaking speed, the sled began to decelerate. The blur resolved into a landscape that looked hauntingly familiar.

There were skyscrapers, paved roads, and sprawling residential zones that mimicked the architecture of Earth’s greatest cities.

"Humans call this sector Earth," Jennie said, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "The area is larger than the entire Asian continent on the old planet. It is the only place in the Crusade where you can sleep without one eye open, but don’t let the safety make you soft."

The craft descended toward a massive complex surrounded by high walls and automated turrets. This was the Government Army Barracks, the heart of human military power in the Crusade. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Every new arrival must register as a soldier first," Jennie explained as they disembarked. "Since you guys are directly entering the Spire.." Jennie paused, "well, I don’t know what the higher ups are thinking. Sending inexperienced folks to the Spire." She shook her head.

Ayla looked at the massive gates of the barracks. She felt the hunger in her core grow.

"Let’s go, Ayla," Kenji said, his hand resting on her shoulder. His grip was still firm.

They walked through the gates of the barracks. Soldiers in powered armor marched in perfect synchronization, and the sound of drills echoed from the training yards.

Ayla felt a thrill of excitement. This wasn’t the quiet manor in Old York. This was the start of the hunt.

Jennie led them into a sterile, white room filled with scanning equipment. A group of military officers stood waiting with digital tablets in hand.

"Name and rank," one of the officers barked without looking up.

"Kenji Hayashi. Ayla Hayashi. New recruits," Jennie answered for them.

The officer looked up, his eyes lingering on Ayla for a moment too long. He had heard the rumors, just like everyone else.

He tapped a command on his screen, and a large metal pod opened in the center of the room.

"Step inside for the soul-sync," the officer commanded. "We need to verify your Jade Link data before we clear you for the Spire. If the system detects any irregularities, you stay in the barracks for ’re-education’."

Ayla stepped toward the pod. A mechanical sound chimed as her data appeared on the screen. She watched in mild interest as the officer’s face changed upon reading her details.

"Almost Bronze!" he murmured.