LOWKEY INTERSTELLER CAPTAIN

Cheno Bo stood aboard the sleek, cutting-edge training frigate designated for the Academy’s elite field exercises. The vast emptiness of space stretched before him, but his focus was locked onto the console before him. This mission wasn’t just training. It was the next step toward reclaiming his destiny.

The Dark Void Expedition

The Dark Void was an infamous stretch of space known for its erratic gravitational fluctuations, asteroid clusters, and frequent pirate activity. Even experienced captains hesitated to travel through it without an escort fleet. Yet here he was, standing on the bridge of a vessel hurtling toward the unknown.

A group of cadets stood around him, each assigned a role in the simulation-based command exercise. The goal was to navigate through the Dark Void, engage in simulated combat, and retrieve a decoy payload representing a downed escape pod.

But Cheno knew better.

[Void Sovereign Fragment Detected—Unknown Coordinates.]

The system’s words still echoed in his mind. The supposed “decoy payload” wasn’t random. Something connected to the Void Sovereign lay in this region, waiting for him to claim it. And he would.

Xian Ren’s Hidden Hand

Far from the command deck, another conversation was taking place.

Xian Ren lounged in his private suite aboard a separate observation ship, his fingers lazily tapping against the control panel as he watched Cheno Bo on the training vessel’s surveillance feed.

His father’s influence had secured him privileged access to Academy missions, giving him the power to manipulate outcomes unseen. This time, he had ensured that Cheno Bo would face more than just a standard training exercise.

“Deploy the mercenaries,” Xian Ren ordered coldly. “Make it look like a random pirate raid. He needs to learn his place.”

A dark grin spread across his lips. This time, Cheno wouldn’t be leaving the Dark Void unscathed.

The Ambush

As Cheno monitored the ship’s systems, an alert blared through the bridge.

[Unidentified vessels detected. Multiple energy signatures inbound.]

“Sir, we have multiple fast-approaching contacts!” one of the cadets called out, panic in their voice.

Cheno’s eyes narrowed. Pirates? No, this was too well-coordinated.

The display lit up with red markers as five enemy ships emerged from the asteroid field, moving with precision far beyond common raiders. Hired guns.

“Raise shields! Evasive maneuvers!” Cheno barked.

The cadets hesitated, unsure. This was supposed to be a controlled training exercise, not an actual battle.

“Now!” he snapped, pushing the ship’s controls himself. The vessel lurched as it banked hard, narrowly avoiding the first barrage of energy blasts.

The ship’s tactical officer, a cadet named Rylas, finally snapped into action. “Returning fire! Engaging countermeasures!”

Lasers streaked across space, but the mercenaries weren’t amateurs. Their fighters danced between the shots, closing in rapidly.

A Glimpse of Power

[System Notification: Tactical Assistance Engaged.]

A sudden rush of data surged into Cheno’s mind. His awareness expanded as the Void Sovereign’s latent combat algorithms began synchronizing with his mind.

Binding Percentage: 12%.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

His hands moved instinctively over the controls, issuing precise commands that maximized the ship’s defensive capabilities. Under his direction, the vessel maneuvered like a seasoned warship, dodging plasma fire while retaliating with pinpoint accuracy.

One enemy ship took a direct hit to its propulsion system, spiraling into an asteroid. Another suffered a ruptured shield array and was forced to retreat.

Cheno gritted his teeth. Still three left.

His fingers hovered over the command interface. He needed more firepower.

Then, a final system alert flashed before his eyes.

[Void Sovereign Prototype Weapon Activation Available.] [Do you wish to override Academy vessel restrictions?]

His pulse pounded.

This was his chance.

“Override,” he said, voice calm and firm.

The ship’s energy readings spiked as a hidden power core—one no Academy official knew existed—unlocked within the vessel. A deep hum resonated through the hull as energy concentrated into the forward cannons.

[Prototype Weapon: Void Reaper Cannons Activated.]

A blast of violet energy erupted from the ship, tearing through the battlefield like a predator unleashed. The remaining enemy ships barely had time to react before they were consumed in the onslaught.

Silence followed.

The mercenary fleet had been annihilated in an instant.

The cadets stared at Cheno in shock. They had just witnessed something beyond Academy technology.

But Cheno didn’t celebrate.

His eyes locked onto the coordinates of the Void Sovereign Fragment just ahead.

The real mission had only just begun.