LOWKEY INTERSTELLER CAPTAIN

The Imperial Academy stood as a beacon of progress, yet within its walls lurked the shadows of political machines and hidden agendas. Cheno Bo, now more aware than ever of the forces conspiring against him, understood that every step forward was a battle in itself.

The System’s Progress

[Binding Progress: 34%.]

Each recovered fragment brought the Void Sovereign closer to awakening, but it was still in concealment, undetectable to even the Empire’s most advanced scanners. The ship was healing, but key functions remained locked until enough resources were gathered.

[Warning: Core functions locked. Weaponry, hyperdrive, and defensive systems require further integration.]

Cheno Bo exhaled sharply. The Void Sovereign was not just any battleship, it was a supreme vessel of destruction, a relic of an ancient race wiped out by a supernova. A warship capable of annihilating entire fleets in an instant. And he was the only one who could awaken it.

Xian Ren’s Next Move

In the high offices of the Academy, Xian Ren sat in a private meeting room, his face twisted with frustration.

“He’s still standing,” he muttered under his breath.

Across from him, his father, Grand Admiral Xian Wu, gazed at a holoscreen displaying Cheno Bo’s recent successes. His tactical performance in simulations had stunned instructors, and despite sabotage, he continued to rise through the ranks.

“This is unacceptable,” Xian Ren spat. “He should have been crushed by now.”

Xian Wu was calm, calculating. “Then crush him properly.”

Xian Ren scowled. “I’ve ensured he won’t qualify for captaincy. He’ll be a free soldier—alone, powerless.”

His father nodded approvingly. “Yet, you must be wary. A man with nothing to lose is the most dangerous of all.”

Xian Ren clenched his fists. He would make sure Cheno Bo had no future.

The Betrayal Runs Deep

Cheno Bo walked into the Academy’s main hall, where groups of students gathered in hushed conversation. Eyes flickered toward him, whispers of past nobility and a fallen family trailing his steps like ghosts.

Then he saw her—Aeliana.

She was standing beside Xian Ren, their hands entwined. A calculated display.

“Cheno,” Aeliana spoke with a honeyed voice, tilting her head slightly. “I heard you’ve been struggling lately.”

Aeliana had once been his partner, whispering sweet promises of forever. But it had all been a lie.

“You’ve made your choice,” Cheno said, voice steady but cold.

Aeliana’s smirk didn’t waver. “I simply chose a future worth having. Xian Ren offers me security, power. Something you can never give me.”

Xian Ren chuckled beside her. “You should thank me, Cheno Bo. At least she didn’t leave you out of pity.”

Cheno’s fingers twitched, but he held himself back. Not yet. The real fight was still ahead.

The Upcoming Trial

The Academy’s final trials before graduation loomed ahead. Among them was the infamous Fleet Command Exam—a large-scale simulation designed to assess leadership, strategy, and combat prowess.

Only the best students qualified for command training. Cheno Bo had to prove himself here.

But he knew Xian Ren wouldn’t play fair.

A Battle Rigged to Fail

The trial placed students in command of a fleet against overwhelming enemy forces. Victory was nearly impossible—but it was a test of leadership, not brute strength.

The moment Cheno Bo took control of his simulated fleet, he felt the familiar sting of sabotage. His ship’s response time was lagging, energy reserves were depleted, and half his fleet had defective targeting systems.

Xian Ren had struck again.

[System Override Engaged.]

The interface flashed as the System took control, bypassing the Academy’s corrupted parameters. Instantly, his fleet responded like a well-oiled machine.

Cheno Bo moved swiftly, adapting strategies mid-battle, outmaneuvering the enemy forces with precision. Where others would panic, he thrived.

Within minutes, the battlefield was his.

The Academy Watches

From the observation deck, the Academy’s instructors and officials murmured in surprise. Cheno Bo was displaying command abilities far beyond his rank.

Even High Chancellor Varos, one of the Empire’s ruling elites, raised an eyebrow. “Impressive. But where did he learn such tactics?”

Grand Admiral Xian Wu remained silent, his eyes narrowing.

The outcome was clear. Cheno Bo had dominated the exam.

Xian Ren’s Fury

Back in the cadet hall, Xian Ren’s teeth ground together. “This isn’t possible.”

Aeliana, standing beside him, folded her arms. “He adapts too quickly. He’s dangerous.”

Xian Ren clenched his fists. No matter what it took, Cheno Bo would not walk out of the Academy with a future.

A Hidden Threat

Later that night, as Cheno Bo returned to his quarters, his System gave an alert.

[Warning: Hostile activity detected.]

His senses sharpened. Something was coming.

He wasn’t just fighting Xian Ren anymore—the entire Empire had set its sights on him.

The storm was only beginning.