Chen Sui remembered that after she had neutralized the energy entity, the surrounding energy field suddenly became unstable. A surge of powerful energy had poured into her body—it must have been then that she was struck by the energy shock.
After using up the last of her medication, Chen Sui no longer felt any discomfort. She stepped out of the medical pod, preparing to follow the doctor's advice and pick up her medical records from the consultation room.
She could have used a neural scan to access them through a personal AI interface, but Chen Sui had not yet purchased a neural core, so she had to make the trip herself to retrieve a paper copy.
Outside the ward, the hallway was packed with people.
Medical robots transported one injured patient after another into the emergency rooms. As they passed by, glimpses of bodies ravaged by energy corrosion could be seen—twisted beyond recognition, some even torn apart by energy entities. Blood was splattered across the floors of the hospital.
Wails of agony and cries of despair echoed non-stop.
Soldiers in deep black uniforms, bearing the emblem of the Alliance, moved back and forth throughout the corridors.
Chen Sui paused at the scene, her heart heavy. She pressed her lips together, turned her gaze away, and slipped through the crowd, continuing down the long hallway.
Around the next corner, several young students were surrounding a tall, brawny man. Chen Sui recognized him as Mr. Pysen. The students around him looked vaguely familiar, but she chose not to approach and instead walked around them.
However, Mr. Pysen noticed her and raised a hand to greet her.
"Sir, this energy crystal—we from the Three-Ring Six-Institute Alliance want to buy it. Name your price," one student said.
Mr. Pysen helplessly repeated for what must have been the third time, "This energy crystal truly isn't mine. I have no authority to sell it."
"Didn't you kill the energy entity? The border troops said whoever took it down gets the crystal. Or are you just afraid we can't afford it?" the student retorted, irritation seeping into his voice.
His name was Tong Zhou, and his patience was already running thin. Negotiating with someone from the Outer Ring made him even more frustrated. If the energy crystal did not perfectly align with his team's output attributes, he would not have bothered wasting his time.
Mr. Pysen himself was not sure how the crystal had ended up in his possession. Perhaps it had rolled next to him after Chen Sui had collapsed, or maybe it was mistakenly attributed to him because his mech had inflicted damage on the entity. The border troops must have assumed he was the one who defeated it.
As a result, people began to think he had single-handedly taken down an S-class energy entity.
God, as if that was even possible!
It was clearly that mechanic girl—the one piloting a basic-class mech.
Mr. Pysen felt deeply uneasy.
He was being held up by these military academy students and had missed his chance to catch up with Chen Sui. Anxious, he tried explaining once again:
"Please, listen. All of you. This crystal is not mine—it belongs to the soldier who fought beside me. She's the one who defeated the energy entity. You should be negotiating with her, not wasting time here with me."
Tong Zhou paused, involuntarily recalling the cold, predatory look in that girl's eyes two days ago.
The murderous intent was so palpable it felt like she could tear out a throat in the next second. A shiver ran down his spine.
But the moment quickly passed. After all, she was just a grunt from the Outer Ring.
"Bullshit," Tong Zhou scoffed. "That energy entity? She defeated it? Come on, do you think we're fools? She was only using a basic mech."
Mr. Pysen shook his head, knowing he could not reason with him. "I have explained it clearly. If you continue to block my way, I will not hold back."
As he spoke, Mr. Pysen clenched his fists. His arm muscles bulged into a menacing curve.
Tong Zhou took a step back, embarrassed.
A nearby patrol of border troops passed by, eyeing the confrontation with cold indifference. Once they were out of earshot, one of them commented to his partner, "Again? These privileged brats just don't quit."
"Yeah, typical Inner Ring elites. If Officer Song were still here, they'd all be sent to Zone 11 for some proper training."
The sarcasm in their tone made Tong Zhou's face burn with shame.
He knew leaving his rescue post just to bargain for a crystal did not look good, but the Three-Ring Six-Institute Alliance had not come to help out of charity. They were here for those energy crystals.
Tong Zhou grudgingly stepped back, and Mr. Pysen took the opportunity to slip away in the direction Chen Sui had gone.
The rest of the Three-Ring team looked to their leader.
"Commander, should we...?"
Tong Zhou's face darkened. Watching Pysen's retreating figure, he said coldly, "Taro Star isn't the only place with energy crystals. If we can't get this one, we'll find another."
The others exchanged glances, all a bit helpless.
A girl on the team suggested, "Why don't we talk to that soldier directly? Pysen did say she's the one who defeated the energy entity."
"You actually believe that?" Tong Zhou raised an eyebrow. "A grunt from the Outer Ring piloting a basic mech defeated an S-class energy entity? Do you even hear yourself?"
The girl had tolerated his arrogance long enough. She snapped, "Stop looking down on the Outer Ring. Zones Nine and Ten used to be under Sector 11's command. Their single-soldier combat abilities are on par with the Core Stars."
"Yeah, well, that was when Commander Song Baining was still alive. She's been dead for ten years. The Outer Ring's been drained dry by the Core ever since. You really think a genius could come from there now?" Tong Zhou said dismissively. "Whatever. Pysen clearly doesn't want to sell it. It's just one S-class energy crystal. I'll get you another one at the auction."
The girl glared at him. It was impossible to reason with this kind of idiot.
Meanwhile, Chen Sui pushed open the door to the consultation room. Inside, there was only one doctor on duty—everyone else was out handling the energy field crisis.
She sat down at the isolation window.
The doctor glanced at her while working the console. "What's your hospital ID?"
Chen Sui quickly provided her information.
Moments later, the doctor handed her a printed medical record through a transfer hatch. As he glanced at her file, he seemed surprised. "Huh? You're only eighteen?"
Chen Sui nodded.
The doctor studied her—thin, undernourished. Taro Star might be in the Outer Ring, but it was still rare to see someone so frail. The test results confirmed mild malnutrition.
He looked a bit concerned and pulled up her scan results. "You're showing early signs of awakening. You might undergo a mental awakening soon. Oh, and based on your age, you're probably heading to a military academy, right?"
Chen Sui nodded again. She was planning to apply through the Interstellar Nomad Channel.
"Well, that's good. Your signs of awakening aren't very strong, and you're not within the optimal awakening window. There's a chance of failure, and you might experience some energy overflow symptoms. Once you're at school, go to a hospital with a full awakening assessment program."
Chen Sui was no stranger to the idea of awakening. It was the most coveted status in the galaxy.
Mental awakening unlocked the mind's energy threshold and the formation of a "core crystal," allowing one to summon a spiritual entity for battle—key in resisting energy entities and surviving in chaotic energy fields.
The recognized optimal age for awakening was 13–16. The earlier within that range, the better. Those who awakened after 16 were called "late awakeners" and typically had lower energy capacity and slower core crystal formation.
Eighteen-year-old awakeners like her were exceedingly rare, hence the doctor's concern.
Yet as Chen Sui stared at the results in her hands, her face filled with astonishment.
She had come from a completely different world—both body and soul—from a post-apocalyptic realm. How could she possess the potential of a galactic citizen?
"All done. Due to energy field disaster subsidies, this treatment is covered. Here is your record and belongings. You're free to go," the doctor said, offering a few final words of advice.
Chen Sui thanked him and left, flipping through her medical file. The last line, "Pending Awakening," felt surreal.
In that moment, for the first time, Chen Sui felt a strange connection to this new world—like she belonged.
The rare emotion rising in her chest was swiftly interrupted by a voice behind her.
"Engineer Chen! Wait!"
Mr. Pysen had finally caught up after winding through several corridors. He hurried to her, holding out the energy crystal.
Still panting, he said, "Engineer Chen, the border troops said there were too many energy entities this time. Whoever defeats one gets the corresponding crystal. This one is yours."
Chen Sui glanced at the pale, ash-colored crystal. Her slender fingers pinched it—barely the size of her fingernail. Who would have thought something so small could spawn such destructive power?
She thought of her old world, of parasitic creatures like ants that could control human minds. The power of biology was terrifying.
"Thank you, Mr. Pysen," she said, pocketing the crystal with polite gratitude.
He scratched his head, looking sheepish. "No need to thank me. If not for you, I doubt I would have survived."
After a few more words of courtesy, Chen Sui was eager to leave.
She needed to ask Mr. Peter if her salary would still be issued. If it was, she could finally afford a neural core and apply to a military school. Otherwise, her Nomad Channel deadline would pass.
The unexpected energy field eruption had disrupted her plans—but not entirely.
Peter's repair shop had been destroyed, but luckily, he had not been inside at the time. He had been working in the mines of Taro Star when Chen Sui contacted him. When he got her message, the old man let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Xiao Sui, you scared me half to death. When I saw the news, I feared the worst."
Chen Sui used a borrowed public communicator to contact him and assured him of her safety before asking about her wages.
"Of course you're getting paid," Peter said, though a bit mournful. "It's a shame, though. My son just got promoted at the Star Committee and wants me to move to the Core Star. I was going to leave the repair shop to you. Who could've known this would happen? Damn those energy entities."
His words made Chen Sui's heart tighten. She was full of regret—and her hatred toward energy entities grew stronger.
You had no idea how much trouble your wretched arrival caused me. You truly deserve to die.
She forced a calm reply: "Thank you for your trust. It's just a pity."
Peter sighed. "Still, it might be for the best. You're only eighteen—perfect time to study and join the military. That's a real future, much better than guarding a tiny repair shop."
Chen Sui cried a little inside. No, I just wanted to guard that tiny repair shop.
Peter continued, "Right—your pay has been transferred to your starcard. Make sure you finish your ID processing, Xiao Sui. If I can get everything wrapped up here, I'll come see you off. Who knows when we'll meet again."
His tone was bittersweet, mixed with genuine joy for her. It made Chen Sui's chest ache.
"I will. Don't worry—those documents take time anyway."
And indeed, it took her three more days to finish her ID application.
Taro Star had set up transition shelters for those who lost their homes. That was where Chen Sui now lived.
She had just bought a neural core and was searching the StarNet for military schools under the Interstellar Nomad Program when she received a message from old Peter.
Her favorite planet was Wisteria Star.
Located in the Second Ring, it was one of the Alliance's most famous scenic planets.
Wisteria Star boasted the galaxy's most Earth-like natural environment—unlike other artificial ecologies, it had formed naturally, known for its breathtaking beauty.
The planet housed ten prestigious military academies, all with extremely high tuition fees.
When Chen Sui was three years old, her home planet experienced an ecological catastrophe. Radiation and pollution transformed the biosphere, mutating countless lifeforms into alien species.