Chapter 1: Return

"The results came back positive, sir. Congratulations, you are now a Lord."

​Cassian stood in the official’s office as she handed him his results. Like countless others his age, he had just undergone the awakening procedure, and the piece of paper in his hands officially declared him a Lord.

​Yet, his mind wasn’t focused on the test results. It was fixated on the reality of his situation.

​"I’m Back?"

​"Excuse me, sir?" the official asked, tilting her head.

​"Oh, it’s nothing," Cassian replied quickly. "I’m just happy the procedure was a success."

​The official offered a warm, professional smile. "I completely understand, sir. Becoming a Lord is a dream very few ever achieve."

​Cassian gave a subtle nod, allowing her to continue.

​"Due to your successful awakening as a Lord, you are hereby recognized as a registered Lord of the Astral Dominion," she stated, her tone turning formal. "In accordance with national policy, you are entitled to a standard awakening package containing the vital resources necessary to establish and develop your territory."

​She pointed to the files tucked beneath his test results.

​"Please present those documents at the front desk to claim your package. Once they verify your proof of status, they will process your data and hand over your starter supplies. If you have any further questions, the counter staff will be happy to assist you."

​"Thank you."

​"You’re very welcome, Lord Cassian."

​Leaving the office, Cassian didn’t head straight to the front desk. Instead, he asked a passing staff member for directions and made a beeline for the building’s restroom.

​He stepped inside, slid the lock into place, and approached the sink.

​Stepping up to the mirror, he stared at his reflection. Short, dusty blond hair. Clear, sky-blue eyes. But more than anything, the face staring back at him was remarkably younger.

​There were no battle scars etched into his skin, no lingering wounds from past wars, and no eye patch covering a missing eye. He was completely whole.

​At that exact moment, the violent, chaotic memories of Cassian’s past life came rushing back into his mind.

....

Cassian recalled the horrifying sight of the entity, a presence visible from every colonial world in the Astral Dominion. Its form blazed like a colossal dwarf star, its power equivalent to a divine god.

​The entity had appeared one day without warning or announcement, offering only a cold, absolute declaration: the Astral Dominion and all neighboring interplanetary nations were to be destroyed.

​The reason was as ruthless as it was trivial, a higher civilization required the territory to construct an intergalactic transit corridor. There was no room for negotiation and the mission was set.

​Faced with extinction, the targeted civilizations had only two choices: flee to become slaves in foreign realms, or stand and fight. While some chose to flee, others fought desperately for their home worlds.

​The outcome was total annihilation.

​The Astral Dominion was merely a Tier V realm, with its strongest Lord, the Overseer, capped at Tier V. Against a Tier VII Lord, every defensive effort was meaningless.

​Fleets were obliterated, summons were wiped out, and entire planets disintegrated into space dust.

​Cassian remembered watching his own home burn to ash. His family, the very people he had promised to protect, yet had neglected while pouring everything into becoming a Lord, perished in the chaos due to his inadequacy.

​In the end, he had died a meaningless death, vaporized by a stray laser beam.

​Cassian relived the entirety of that nightmare in a single heartbeat. Closing his eyes to swallow the bitter memory, he opened them once more to stare at his young reflection in the mirror.

​’Never again.’

​That horrifying future was now in the past, and Cassian was resolved to ensure history would not repeat itself.

​’Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. But I won’t. I won’t let that tragic fate claim them again. I will use every shred of knowledge I possess to defy fate.’

​At that moment, a stall door creaked open behind him. A man stepped out, making his way toward the adjacent sink.

​"..."

​Cassian watched through the mirror as the stranger washed his hands. The man cast a perplexed glance toward Cassian, who was still staring intently at his own reflection with tears of resolve in his eyes.

​Moving toward the exit, the man grabbed the handle, only to realize the door was locked. He turned back, casting an even stranger look at Cassian before silently unlocking the door and slipping out.

​Cassian simply watched him leave, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck as the tension dissolved.

​Suddenly, a sharp ding echoed inside his mind.

​’What was that?’

[Congratulations. You have been identified as the 999,999,999,999,999th Lord to perish within the Cosmos.]

​[In commemoration of this milestone, the Lord’s Domain has bestowed upon you three unique blessings.]

​[These blessings have not yet been awakened.]

​[Requirement: Enter the Lord’s Domain to complete the awakening process. Failure to awaken the blessings will result in their remaining dormant.]

​[Please enter the Lord’s Domain at your earliest convenience.]

​[The Lord’s Domain thanks you for your contribution to the endless cycle of growth, conquest, and death.]

​Cassian stared at the glowing notifications floating before him, his expression completely flabbergasted.

​’Nine hundred and ninety-nine trillionth death? Three blessings? Is this the reason I was sent back?’

​He tightly clenched his fists, a surge of impulse driving him to enter the Lord’s Domain immediately to awaken them.

​However, he quickly forced himself to take a deep breath and calm down.

​’Not yet. I need to prepare properly first.’

​At that moment, a sudden vibration in his pocket caught him off guard.

​’Oh, my commlink.’

​He pulled out the device. Glancing at the holographic screen, his heart practically did a somersault inside a spinning jet when he saw the caller ID. He froze, battling the overwhelming wave of emotion before forcing himself to press answer.

​For a few agonizing seconds, silence hung on the line. Then, a young, innocent voice broke the quiet.

​"Dad? How did the procedure go?"

​Hearing that familiar voice, every drop of composure Cassian had struggled to maintain evaporated into dust. Tears threatened to spill, and his throat tightened.

​"Dad? Are you still there?"

​Clearing his throat, Cassian managed to regain his composure. He spoke in a soft, reassuring tone, putting every ounce of warmth into his voice.

​"Don’t worry, sweetheart. Your dad is still here... and I made it. I’m now a Lord."