Chapter No.20: - Loan

"And that would be 29,758,000 credits" she announced with a polite smile.

Simon glanced at the total price, then instinctively pulled up his account balance on his phone display.

Balance:3,780,000 credits.

His expression remained neutral, but internally, he sighed. It looked like a lot, but in the world of Astral Lords, it was barely enough to afford top-tier gear. And the Ignis Fangs and Ember Cleaver together? 30 million credits.

Even if he drained every last credit, he'd still be short by a large margin.

The receptionist must've noticed his hesitation because she smirked. "Good thing you've got that A+ Contract, hub?"

Simon looked up. "Loan option?"

She nodded. "Yes, as an A+ rank recruit, you're eligible for company-backed financing. Standard policy -monthly deduction from your earnings, no interest if paid within the first year."

Simon chuckled. Perk of being valuable. "Alright, sign me up."

A confirmation screen appeared in front of him, and with a quick scan of his ID, the transaction was complete. The glass case unlocked with a soft click, and Simon reached inside, taking the weapons into his hands. The weight of them felt good -solid, real.

Simon put Ignis Fangs and Ember Cleaver to his Space belt, a rush of excitement ran through him. He was now properly armed for close combat.

Simon walked out of the Armory with his head held high -and 30 million credits in debt.

Still, he had no regrets.

Power came at a price, and he was more than willing to pay it.

He planned to enter the wilderness by the end of week. For that he needed to buy supplies, gear and a solid plan.

Wasting no time, he headed straight to the company's support department, purchasing everything he needed for the hunt.

Simon returned home.

He had dinner with his family before entering his room, locking it not wanting to be disturbed.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Simon new Astral technique -Solar enter. The moment he did, he felt the difference Immediately. His Astral energy intake surged to an entirely new level.

"If I had this back when I started training… I'd already be a 3-Star Astral Lord by now," he thought, a hint of frustration mixed with excitement.

Still, there was no point dwelling on the past.

Now, it was time to push forward.

Sitting cross-legged in his room, his breathing slow and steady. Around him, the faint golden glow of Astral energy shimmered in the air, drawn toward him like an invisible tide.

In the depths of his being, a single Astral Core pulsed faintly, radiating warmth. It was small, no larger than a marble, yet it was the foundation of his power -the mark of a 1-Star Astral Lord.

This was the foundation of an Astral Lord's growth- absorbing, refining, and solidifying, transforming the chaotic gas into denser, more stable liquid form to eventually form a solid core.

One core wasn't enough.

To rise to 2-Star, he needed another.

The process was brutal, demanding, and filled with risk. Each new Astral core wasn't just an accumulation of energy but a complete transformation of his body's structure. His endurance, reflexes, and abilities -everything would be reforged in the process.

Closing his eyes, Simon activated Solar Enter. His breathing deepening as he pulled in vast amounts of Astral Energy from the atmosphere. The golden energy flowed into him, circulating through his meridians before converging in his core.

The first step was always saturation -filling his body to its absolute limit with raw Astral energy. which was already 90% filled because of his continues training and absorbing Astral energy every night.

His vein burned as the power surged through him, every fibre of his being swelling under pressure.

Then came the condensation -forcing the rampant energy into a single point, crushing it into a dense, crystalline form.

His muscles trembled. His bones ached. His skin felt it like it was about to crack apart.

More.

The energy compressed, folding into itself over and over. His vision blurred; his mind teetered on the edge of exhaustion. Then-

BOOM!

A shockwave burst inside him as a second Astral core ignited in his body, locking into place beside the first. The two cores pulsed in unison, like twin suns radiating untamed power.

Simon gasped, his body shaking from the impact of the breakthrough. His senses sharpened, his energy surged to new heights, and for the first time-

He felt the power of a true 2-Star Astral Lord.

He unclenched his fists, staring at them, feeling the raw strength humming beneath his skin. His control was sharper, his endurance higher, and his connection to Astral energy deeper.

And yet, this was only the beginning.

Each new Star meant another core, another evolution.

And Simon?

He wouldn't stop until he reached the peak.

The weekend arrived faster than expected.

Simon stood in his room, making his final preparations. He was dressed in a simple-looking black shirt, black pants and matching black shoes -a completely ordinary outfit at first glance. But in reality, these cloths were anything but normal.

Made from high-density woven Astral fibers, they provided defense far beyond what their appearance suggested. Lightweight, flexible and resistant to slashes, blunt force and even minor attacks from monster, this set had cost him nearly 750,000 credits.

A small price to pay for survival.

The rented off-roader rumbled beneath him, its reinforced tires kicking up dust as Simon sped through the rugged terrain. The vehicle was built for harsh environments, perfect for navigating the unpredictable landscape of the wilderness.

The city disappeared in his rearview mirror, replaced by endless stretches of untamed land. Towering tree loomed in the distance, their twisted branches forming an eerie skyline. The deeper he went, the more the roads faded, replaced by raw, unmarked terrain.

He was truly alone.

His heart pounded, not from fear, but from excitement.

"This… is the wilderness," Simon muttered to himself, a grin creeping onto his face.