Xavier plummeted through the void. Colors streaked past him—electric blue, molten gold, crimson, violet—stretching into infinite ribbons that wrapped around his falling form. Information flooded his consciousness, downloading directly into his brain.
Mother: Elaine Valentine. 42. Nurse at Mercy General, Los Angeles mainland. Divorced when you were 2. Father unknown.
Home: Apartment 1103, Midtown Heights.
Background: Awakened at 16 during a mugging. D-rank assessment. Scholarship to Catalyst contingent on maintaining minimum performance metrics.
Current funds: 4,820 credits.
Xavier's mind struggled to process the data dump while his body continued falling. Memories that weren't his blended with his own. He remembered growing up in a small apartment. His mother working double shifts. The smell of disinfectant that clung to her scrubs. The way she'd stroke his hair when he had nightmares.
Not real. Not real. Not real.
But it felt real. The manufactured memories carried emotional weight—birthday cakes with precisely one candle for each year, homework spread across a kitchen table, arguments about curfew.
His descent accelerated. The void below opened into a brilliant white light. Xavier closed his eyes as he plunged through.
"—attention passengers, we are beginning our final approach to Nexus Point."
Xavier's eyes snapped open. He sat in a plush leather seat, safety harness secured across his chest. Around him, other passengers chatted or stared out panoramic windows. Beyond the glass, open ocean stretched for miles, broken only by three massive islands rising from the depths.
What the fuck?
He glanced down at himself. He wore dark jeans, a fitted gray t-shirt, and a black jacket with subtle electric blue piping along the seams. His fingers bore no rings—just bare, unscarred skin.
"First time to The Crown?"
Xavier turned. A businessman in his fifties occupied the seat beside him, tablet displaying stock market figures in one hand, cocktail in the other.
"That obvious?" Xavier asked.
"Catalyst student?"
"How'd you guess?"
The man nodded toward Xavier's wrist, where a sleek black band displayed his student ID in glowing blue: CAT-2055-D-1447.
"Ah." Xavier tapped the band with his finger. "Dead giveaway."
"D-rank, huh?" The businessman took a sip of his drink. "My daughter's C-rank. Second year."
Xavier leaned back, assessing the man with new eyes. Parent of an Awakened. Probably rich enough to support her without scholarship. Traveling business class to visit.
"Congratulations," Xavier said. "C-rank's impressive."
The man's chest puffed slightly. "She worked hard for it. Enhancement type, physical reinforcement. Nothing flashy, but reliable."
A holographic display activated above each seat, showing a sleek female hunter with flowing black hair. She wore a skintight red bodysuit covered in corporate logos as she sliced through a gelatinous blue monster.
"Miyuki Tanaka, A-rank emission specialist, relies on KIRIN ENERGY CRYSTALS for peak performance during extended gate operations," announced a smooth voice. "Kirin—when failure isn't an option."
The businessman chuckled. "The endorsement deals are where the real money is. You planning to go pro after graduation?"
Xavier watched the hunter in the ad execute a perfect flip, energy blasts erupting from her fingertips. "Something like that."
"Well, good luck." The man returned to his tablet. "The world could always use more hunters."
Xavier turned to the window, studying the approaching islands. The campus of Catalyst Academy dominated the first island.
The second island sprawled with skyscrapers, their glass surfaces reflecting sunlight in rainbow patterns. Magnetic trains curved between them on elevated tracks, while smaller air vehicles navigated designated lanes.
The third island appeared more industrial, with massive processing facilities and research complexes.
A vibration in his pocket pulled Xavier's attention from the view. He reached in and pulled out a sleek smartphone.
Mom❤️: Just checking if you landed yet. Text me when you're settled. Love you!
Xavier stared at the message. The contact image showed a woman in her early forties with laugh lines around her eyes and short white hair. Her smile looked tired but genuine.
His thumb hovered over the reply button. According to his implanted memories, Elaine Valentine had worked back-to-back shifts for three years to afford his apartment off-campus. She'd sold their car, moved to a smaller place, picked up weekend shifts—all so he could chase his dream of becoming a hunter.
A dream he'd never actually had, in a life he'd never actually lived.
Xavier switched off the phone and slipped it back into his pocket. He'd call later. Definitely.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are making our final approach to Nexus Point," the captain announced. "Please secure any loose items and remain seated until we've fully docked. Current local time is 14:32. Weather conditions are optimal with crystal resonance levels at standard baseline. Thank you for flying Pacific Skyways."
The airship banked gently, providing a sweeping view of Island Two—the Metro Core. Xavier pressed his hand against the window, taking in the city below. Crystal-powered billboards displayed hunter rankings, corporate advertisements, and gate status reports. One massive display showed a live feed of a gate clearing operation, where a team of C-rank hunters battled what looked like a giant mantis.
"Gate activity increased twelve percent this quarter," the businessman remarked, noticing Xavier's interest. "Good time to be a hunter."
"Or a bad time to be everyone else," Xavier muttered.
The man laughed. "That's why we pay you the big bucks."
A new advertisement replaced Miyuki Tanaka. This one featured a male hunter with a shaved head and arms like tree trunks. He stood atop a mountain of monster corpses, biceps bulging as he chugged a glowing blue beverage.
"MAXIMUM STRIKE PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT—FORMULATED FOR ENHANCEMENT TYPES. CRUSH YOUR LIMITS."
The ads continued cycling through products—specialized clothing lines, crystal-infused cosmetics, energy drinks, training equipment, all endorsed by hunters with perfect bodies and dazzling abilities.
Xavier's attention shifted to the people below. From this height, he could see the city's stratification. The Heights district featured sprawling penthouses with private landing pads, while Midtown—where his apartment waited—consisted of mid-range high-rises packed tightly together. Further out, the Boroughs housed the non-Awakened support staff in utilitarian blocks.
The airship descended toward a massive docking station atop a gleaming tower. Mechanical arms extended to secure the vessel as it settled into place with barely a shudder.
"Welcome to Nexus Point," announced the captain. "The Crown Jewel of the Pacific. Passengers may now disembark. Please ensure you have all personal belongings. For visitors, please proceed to security screening. For residents and returning citizens, standard identity verification is required at all exits. Thank you for choosing Pacific Skyways."
The businessman stood, collecting his tablet. "Word of advice, kid."
Xavier looked up. "Yeah?"
"Don't let the rankings define you. My daughter obsessed over them her first year. Nearly burned out. Remember why you're doing this."
Xavier nodded, though he had no idea why he was doing this.
The businessman extended his hand. "Hank Wilson."
Xavier shook it. "Xavier Valentine."
"Good luck at Catalyst, Xavier. Maybe I'll see your face on one of these ads someday."
As Hank walked away, Xavier remained seated, watching other passengers gather their belongings. A family with two small children who stared wide-eyed at a hunter passing through first class. A group of business executives discussing crystal futures markets. A couple wearing matching "I ♥ NEXUS" tourist shirts.
A world utterly foreign yet intimately familiar thanks to the memories implanted in his mind.
Xavier finally stood, retrieving a sleek black duffel bag from the overhead compartment—packed with clothes he'd never bought and personal items he'd never owned. He joined the line of disembarking passengers, student ID band glowing on his wrist.
The exit ramp led to a spacious terminal with soaring ceilings and crystal chandeliers that shifted colors in response to passenger density. Holographic signs directed different categories of arrivals—RESIDENTS, VISITORS, RETURNING HUNTERS, NEW STUDENTS.
Xavier followed the NEW STUDENTS path, which led to a desk staffed by a woman with blue-tinted skin—some kind of minor Awakened trait.
"ID please," she said without looking up from her screen.
Xavier held out his wrist. She scanned his band with a handheld device.
"Xavier Valentine, D-rank, first year." She tapped something on her screen. "Your accommodations in Midtown Heights have been verified. Basic orientation materials have been uploaded to your student portal. Classes begin in three days. Orientation is tomorrow at 0900. Transportation passes have been loaded to your account."
She finally looked up, her entirely blue eyes—no whites, no pupils—giving him a cursory once-over.
"Welcome to Nexus Point, Mr. Valentine. The shuttle to Midtown departs from Platform C in twenty minutes."
Xavier nodded. "Thanks."
As he walked away, his phone vibrated again. Another message from "Mom." He ignored it, focusing instead on the massive wall of screens displaying live hunter rankings, gate status reports, and breaking news.
The top headline scrolled across in bold letters: "S-RANK HUNTER 'STORMFRONT' SUCCESSFULLY CLEARS TIER-4 GATE IN RECORD TIME. PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 1800 HOURS."
Below it, smaller headlines competed for attention:
"CRYSTAL MARKET SURGES AFTER NEW VEIN DISCOVERED IN TIER-3 GATE"
"CONTROVERSY AS C-RANK HUNTER ACCUSED OF USING ILLEGAL ENHANCEMENTS"
"CATALYST ACADEMY WELCOMES NEW CLASS—DIRECTOR CHEN PREDICTS 'EXCEPTIONAL TALENT'"
Xavier adjusted his bag on his shoulder and stepped onto the escalator leading down to the shuttle platforms. The memories in his head told him this was a dream come true—his chance to become someone important in this world of monsters and magic.
His actual memories told him it was just another game of survival. Learn the rules, master the system, find the advantages.
He'd done it before. He'd do it again.
The shuttle waited at Platform C, doors open to receive passengers. As Xavier stepped aboard, he glanced at his reflection in the polished surface beside the door—white hair, purple eyes, face unmarked by the scars and hardships of his previous life.
The doors hissed closed behind him as the shuttle prepared to depart.
Welcome to The Crown.