The events of the Cosmic Mana Wave had already made it to the network of the empire, and the people of the Sol system were the most affected.
Although it had not impacted any of the inhabited planets in the system, the fact that it came so close had the people fear the worst.
However, the ones who truly suffered the most were the parents who learned of the death of their children who were on the spaceship bound for Mars.
They had received notice of their children's deaths once their smartwatches confirmed their last pulse of life. Those who did not receive any were at least hopeful that their children were not claimed.
Most tried calling their kids, but could not reach them. Some had even called their schools demanding an explanation.
The local government tried calming down the agitated parents, but could not do much as the parents vehemently demanded that they give them their children, even if it was just their bodies.
Although the government complied, another piece of news took the whole empire by storm, spreading like wildfire.
A student had survived the Cosmic Mana Wave! A miracle never once heard of.
Some people doubted the authenticity of the news, but those who had connections to workers on Mars' Orbital Rings had received confirmations that it was indeed the case.
This sparked hope for some parents, but they knew better than to be too hopeful. Regardless, it was a piece of news that had gotten the entire empire's attention.
Though the identity of the student was not revealed, the curiosity of the majority was sparked.
The question now was, 'Who was the mysterious student, and why was he the only one to have survived? What made him different?'
...…..
In a location a couple of thousand light years from the Milky Way galaxy, a group of hunters were battling a cluster of void creatures gathered around a flat continent floating in the void of interstellar space.
This flat continent possessed its own atmosphere and ecosystem. From the void, one could behold the beauty it offered.
The continent was encircled by waterfalls that cascaded off its edges, the water molecules dispersing into mist as they were exposed to outer space.
This continent was displaced to this location by a Cosmic Mana Wave, along with the void creatures, creatures that were eating away at it.
Continents such as these were a new creation as a result of the influx of magical energy in the universe. They were rich in mineral resources that could be utilised for various applications.
From buildings, spaceships, weapons, and suits for traversing outer space, the resources were indispensable. The plants found on these continents also had their uses.
They could be used in making serums that could instantly restore a person's torn limbs or even increase a hunter's cultivation level.
When the continent appeared on the empire's radar, a team was dispatched to secure it. Heading this team was Zol Knight, a hybrid human who leaned more towards the horned side of the spectrum.
Zol was a Class S hunter, also known as Mortal Gods or Hero Hunters by the people, tasked with guarding the Sol system and its surrounding areas.
Primarily based on Mars, Zol, along with a group of mostly Class B hunters, went to secure the continent, as it was closer to the star fields he was in charge of.
Fortunately for the team, the void creatures they encountered were mainly C-Tier creatures.
Zol Knight stood at a height of 2.5 metres, possessing dark hair with patches of white and dark eyes seemingly capable of reflecting light.
This S-Tier hunter stood in the void, clad in his techno armour, overseeing the hunters as they flew around, swiftly dispatching the void creatures. A few more minutes and they would be finished.
"Sir, there's something you should know." A voice came from the speaker embedded in his suit. He nodded and waited for the news before saying a word.
"A Cosmic Mana Wave displaced some students on a trip to the Hunters Academy from Earth. One student was reported to have survived the displacement."
As soon as Zol heard the news, his attention shifted to the position of the spaceship behind him. Though it was currently in stealth mode, he could still see it as clear as day.
"Are you sure of what you are saying?" he asked, still sceptical of what he heard.
"Yes, sir. The director in charge of the Orbital Rings' operations confirmed the authenticity of the news," the reply came.
Zol remained quiet for several seconds, mulling over the news and the possible scenarios that could have resulted in such an outcome.
Even he, as an S-Class hunter, could only stay alive for a few days before he succumbed to sleep forever, and he was one of the many ultimate powerhouses in the empire!
"Change of plans. Once we secure the continent, we make our way back." He instructed the ship crew and returned his attention to the fight happening below him.
'This should be interesting.' His thoughts trailed as he watched on.
...
The fortunate students who were not displaced gathered together in a shared common room, sharing their thoughts and discussing what they had just experienced.
Some were still shaken by the experience of losing their friends and classmates. Isolating them in individual rooms would have driven them mad, so it was reasoned that they were brought together to keep each other company.
Although the majority wanted to return home, getting on a spaceship now scared them, and new arrangements had to be made.
Ross Bongu was among the said students, and unlike the rest, he had a relieved look on his face. They had all heard about how one of the students, Alexander Gray, survived the Mana Wave.
While they couldn't reach out to their loved ones yet, the news gave them something to think about.
'Hahaha…. Alex, you lucky bastard. I knew there was no way you could have perished. You have such an unyielding spirit.'
Ross quietly thought to himself, a smile on his face. He had no idea how his friend survived, but he was glad.
Of course, that was not to say he didn't feel for his other classmates who perished, but there was nothing he could do about that.
This, however, rubbed some people the wrong way.
"Bold of you to be smiling when we lost a few of our friends." A voice Ross knew all too well resounded. Slowly, he turned to the person and replied,
"I'm sorry about that, Brad. But you of all people should know that I wasn't close to the lot of them, you guys included."
While the remark may seem cruel to some, it reflected his genuine feelings. He never hesitated to express his emotions at any moment.
"…"
Brad had no response to that; he couldn't. After all, Ross was right.