Stargazer city. 7:00 AM.

At a 1-star domain diver training center, Flynt Rayce walked in with a confident stride. His short platinum blonde hair waved in the morning breeze while his pale yellow eyes sparkled with barely concealed joy.

'I finally paid for the [Jolt] skill. I hope I can practice for a bit before our next mission.'

The automatic doors opened after a facial scan. Within the establishment, Flynt could see various people moving around. Most of them looked to be in their early 20s with a few middle aged people here and there. They moved around in an orderly manner, with a some having distant gazes as if they could see something no one else could.

Their bodies were adorned with sleek body armor of various colors. Some carried various melee weapons, while others carried rifles and pistols, but the vast majority moved around unarmed. Taking a closer look at the armors and weapons, you could see very small inscriptions on their surfaces.

The interior of the place was designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind. Apart from a painting here and there, holographic signs giving out directions to various training room and skill application hubs, there was not much else to see.

Flynt made his way to the receptionist's counter with swift steps. After waiting for the three people in front of him to finish their business, it was finally his turn.

"I have an appointment for the [Jolt] application hub. Here is my permit."

Flynt said to the pretty brunette receptionist as he rummaged for something in his chest pocket. The young woman just nodded before her eyes glowed white as she scanned Flynt's face. She frowned slightly as her scan failed.

Flynt pulled out a small sphere from his chest pocket with a sheepish smile. It floated on his palm for a few moments before producing a holographic Rune. The woman scanned the Rune for a few moments before the light in her eyes glowed green and vanished.

Flynt's smile became more natural at the sight. As he pocketed his device and was about to leave, the woman called out to him.

"Why don't you link with your Synap properly? That would have made the process much easier for both of us."

Already used to such a question, Flynt gave a casual answer as he walked away.

"It's too much of a crutch. If I want to reach the heights I aim for, it will be very detrimental to me."

Not waiting for her response, Flynt strolled towards a vacant Skill application center to get his money's worth.

In less than two minutes, he had made his way to the room. It was well lit and relatively small being about 5*5*5 m^3 in its dimensions. Keeping with the facility's minimalist design, its walls and ceilings a uniform white making the room look sterile and clean. The only noteworthy object in the room being the black pod resting in its center.

It was slanted with a height of about three meters. Its exterior was sleek and seamless with a transparent oval across its surface.

Flynt walked over feeling a little nervous. After all, it was not unheard of to be unable to learn a skill even if you had the Essence to match it. As he felt his thoughts go a little out of control, he stopped, took a deep breath and muttered.

"Status."

——-

[STATUS]

Name: Flynt Rayce

Species: Prismari

Tier: 0

Level: 4

Essence: Lightning

Achievements: [Notable Swordsman], [Child of lightning]

Attributes:

•Physique: 2

•Spirit: 3

•Mind: 2

Skills:

•Electrokinesis [Level 3]

•Zap [Level 3]

Attribute points: 0

——-

A glimpse at his status calmed him down. He could do this. He had the Essence of lightning. If he couldn't use this skill, then that meant no one could.

With that, Flynt stepped toward the machine. When he got within five meters of the pod, a life-like hologram of a woman appeared in front of Flynt. She was quite beautiful and dressed in a simple yet elegant gown. She looked at Flynt and began explaining how to use the pod with a pleasant smile.

{Please present your Synap, Sir.}

It said with a soft voice. Flynt obliged and fished his Synap out of his pocket. The floating sphere instantly flew out of his hand and melded with the pod. The pod then opened up for Flynt in the quiet room.

{Now, you can lay in the pod. After thirty minutes, the procedure should be done. Hopefully you will be satisfied with the results.}

The hologram disappeared after it said that, leaving Flynt alone once more. Without any hesitation, he made his way over to the pod. It's transparent door gave way as he stepped into its ergonomic interior.

Lying down inside, he couldn't see outside of the pod. The interior provided him with a gentle glow and surprising room to maneuver. When Flynt began wondering when the process would start, a holographic panel appeared in front of his gaze.

{Initiate procedure? [Yes] [No]}

'These 10000 credits better not be wasted.'

He trained his eyes on [Yes] and immediately passed out. Large amounts of information began to enter his mind and he read through all of it in a dreamlike state.

This information was on how to gain the [Jolt] skill, or more precisely, how to manually use electrical energy to enhance his reaction time, reflexes, and even more.

As you might guess, mapping out all your nerves and the signals they produce wasn't something a normal person could do. But with this device, the mind breaking information was crammed into the user's brain while making sure they understood it and didn't lose their minds in the process. The machine wasn't infallible however, hence Flynt's earlier worry.

Flynt slept in the pod, his breathing steady as he focused on the information flowing into his mind. They came in bursts, abstract concepts interwoven with raw data. It wasn't like reading through a manual, it was more like being yelled at from within your own mind. You would understand, even if you didn't want to.

After about fifteen minutes later, the process was still going strong. In his hazy state, the ideas began organizing them in his mind. The first idea struck him like a bolt of lightning.

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'So, my nerves are like highways… signals traveling down them. This Skill… it's meant to speed them up?'

His Spirit began to churn inside him, his Essence responding instinctively. He felt something like a pulse deep in his body, as if every nerve in him were subtly vibrating.

'No… not just speed. It's like opening new routes. Or… skipping the roads entirely.'

The insights continued to pour in as he broke down the process of how his nerves worked. He realized [Jolt] wasn't simply about faster signals, it was about reshaping how they traveled, and the effects they had on what they traveled through. By applying Spirit energy, he could bypass some of the body's natural limitations. But how?

Flynt's thoughts began racing. He visualized his body in fragments: tendons flexing, muscles contracting, his heart pounding. The pod was forcing him to feel every inch of himself in a way he never had before. It wasn't just about Physique.

'It's Spirit. That's why I'm feeling this… Spirit bridges the gap. I'm not just making my body faster. I have to use my Spirit to guide the signals, like rerouting a circuit through raw energy.'

He subconsciously followed this train of thought and was met with agony. He saw flashes of imagery in his mind, arcs of blue lightning coursing through translucent nerves, bypassing obstacles, connecting directly to his brain. His limbs twitched involuntarily as they clenched and relaxed involuntarily. His heart rate spiked dramatically and he hastily stopped.

'If I push my body too much, I'll burn out. My muscles can't handle it. But without enough Spirit, the signals collapse before they even do anything substantial.'

He felt like he was walking a tightrope between control and certain death. His Spirit churned harder now, responding to the mental exercise. He realized something critical.

'It's not enough to just send the signal using my Spirit. I have to shape it. Guide it with my Will.'

The mental image shifted. He pictured himself as a conductor of a storm, controlling where each bolt of lightning struck. Too much energy in one place, and the system would overload. Too little, and it wouldn't be enough to make a difference.

'Balance is the key.'

The pod filled his mind with the specifics: how to amplify his Spirit to extend his reaction pathways, how to use the raw power of Physique to handle the enhanced strain, and how the two needed to synchronize perfectly.

It was almost poetic in its complexity, but the deeper he dove, the more he realized it wasn't just theory. His Spirit and Physique were enabling each other to accomplish something they couldn't do individually. Without Spirit, the Skill was impossible. Without Physique, it was almost meaningless.

As the process neared its end, Flynt felt his mind teetering on the edge of understanding and total overload. His Spirit surged within him, not just in his core but through his entire being. It wasn't just raw energy, it was a force of his intent, guiding every signal, every spark.

'This… this isn't just a skill. It's a foundation. If I can master [Jolt], it'll be more than just faster reflexes. I'll be able control myself… my Essence. My future.'

When the final packet of data hit, it felt like a circuit closing. Everything aligned in his mind, and a single sentence appeared in his vision.

{[Jolt] learned.}

That very simple message made him feel at ease and let his Mind rest, falling into true sleep. Flynt woke up three hours later, the moment he opened his eyes a very faint radiant white Rune could be seen in his eyes before it faded.

Flynt didn't feel any different so he anxiously opened his skill menu in search of [Jolt]

Skills:

•Electrokinesis [Level 3]

•Zap [Level 3]

•Jolt [Level 1]

With a relieved sigh, Flynt stepped out of the now open pod. He felt refreshed and relaxed from his pleasant sleep. As he was about to head out, the holographic woman appeared once more.

{I hope you were satisfied with the procedure, Sir.}

"I was, thank you for instructing me. It was the most expensive sleep I have ever gotten, hahaha."

{Hahaha. No, thank you for using our services. Good luck on your future missions.}

She said with a smile as she vanished. Flynt also stepped out planning to use the training facilities when his Synap buzzed. He pulled it out and it conjured a holographic head of a young red haired woman. Her eyes were a rich green and her smile infectious.

"What's got you in a good mood this morning, Ana?"

Flynt asked as he walked, a small smile playing on his lips.

"There's a new 1-star mission available. Guess the reward?"

As he looked at her smile, Flynt's got wider as he said casually.

"A hundred thousand credits?"

"Haha, no. It's actually five hundred thousand!"

"What??"

Flynt almost crashed into a passerby when he heard that figure. After giving his apologies, he turned back to Ana.

"No way. Have you notified everyone else?"

"Yep, we're all waiting for you at the café. So drop whatever you're doing and meet us here. If we waste any more time, this mission might get snatched up."

Flynt nodded and said.

"Yeah I understand, I will be there in five."

Ana nodded and dropped the call. Flynt changed directions and headed outside. They could not miss out on a mission like this. He knew the only reason it hadn't been taken yet was probably because there was a catch but he had confidence in his team. More importantly, he had confidence in himself.

So he stepped outside into the city. The sun was just peeking above the horizon to illuminate the city. Numerous holograms floated over various buildings, running advertisements for businesses and services.

Some of them showed footage and armored Prismari trekking through various terrain. Each of them equipped with a vast assortment of melee and long ranged weapons.

Flynt paid the holograms no mind. He just moved over to the closest bus stop and waited for less than a minute for a ride. Less than five minutes later, he stood in front of the Rustic Breakfast. The place his squad always met at to make important decisions.

The building—similar to its name—was simple and had just one floor. It looked like a shack put together by dozens of very skilled DIY guys, striking a contrast with the surrounding city.

Flynt stepped inside and spotted his four teammates sitting at a table. They seemed to be discussing something animatedly, at least the two men in the group were animated while the women interjected from time to time.

Walking closer, Flynt began to pick up on the conversation.

"What are you on about, Jaxsyn? Rynaldoe has nothing on Mezzyr! Mezzyr can dribble circles around her with his eyes closed."

A lanky man said. His almost pale white skin emphasized his rather unique sky blue hair. He wasn't the most handsome in the traditional sense but his sharp facial features were quite striking.

"Okay. I have just one question for you though, how many goals does Rynaldoe have? She's a legend for a reason. You're just denying facts."

A muscular man with long violet hair countered. His light brown skin made him somewhat distinct in the group. His purple pupils twinkled with playful defiance as he pushed some more.

"If Mezzyr is so great, what happened yesterday, huh? Bacalana lost 4-0. 4-0!"

Ana and the other woman just smiled at this. They all knew the lanky man was a very passionate zokker fan and a Mezzyr zealot. Before the young man could fly into a full blow tirade however, Flynt knocked the table twice, drawing their attention.

"Yes, yes, we all know Mezzyr has the [God of Zokker] Achievement, Dahn."

Flynt said to the lanky man with a slight smile as he sat. Dahn's outraged expression froze on his face. He finally unfroze when he heard the chuckles and booming laugh of his companions. Sheepishly taking his seat, he said.

"Good morning to you too, Flynt. You're finally here."

The others also greeted Flynt.

"Good morning guys. So Ana, can you explain the mission in full detail?"

The red-haired woman nodded and faint runes appeared in her eyes as he sent the mission page to everyone. As their eyes focused on an image Flynt couldn't see, he pulled out his Synap and opened the image. It read.

{Task Issuer: Confidential

Mission Type: Reconnaissance and Exploration

Threat Level: 1-Star (High Risk)

Compensation: 500,000 Prismari Credits

Additional Bonus: 500,000 Prismari Credits (upon locating and reporting the domain core)

Mission Overview:

You are tasked with conducting a preliminary survey of a recently developed domain, estimated to be between 59 to 500 years old. The domain's environment and potential threats remain unclassified, requiring cautious exploration.

While reaching the domain core is not mandatory, its discovery and subsequent reporting will significantly enhance the mission's reward. Be advised that the domain exhibits minor spatial and temporal instability, necessitating heightened situational awareness.

Recommended Team Composition:

- A 1-Star-rated five-member squad, or

- A 2-Star-rated solo operative

Proceed with caution and prioritize data collection and survival. Further instructions will be provided upon mission acceptance.}

Reading the message, Flynt's eyes shrunk slightly. Something told him there was more to this than meets the eye. But… that was the nature of the job, no? He turned to his squad to hear their opinions.

The first to speak was Vai, the woman who hadn't spoken up till now. Her long silver hair tied in a ponytail actuated her beauty. She turned her sapphire eyes to Flynt and began.

"I think we should go for it. It's easy money. If things start going south we just leave and still get paid right?"

Ana nodded at this, indicating she was on the same wavelength. Dahn stayed silent with his arms folded. Jaxsyn frowned slightly before he spoke.

"What if they know we won't be able to leave when we enter? That's probably why they are willing to pay such an outrageous price, right? And let's not forget, the Domain's laws are unstable. We all know how bad it can get if its Spirit energy abruptly rises."

Ana frowned at his words and couldn't help but say.

"Those are rare, Jaxsyn. How would the mission giver even know something like that will happen?"

Flynt subconsciously nodded, Jaxsyn had expressed what was bugging him the most. Flynt turned his pale yellow eyes to Dahn who just shrugged indicating he held no opinions.

'Seems it's up to me…'

Flynt looked at his team mates and fell into thought for a moment. Their gazes held trust as well as respect for whatever choice he made.

With a sharp exhale he said,

"We are taking the mission. To ensure our safety, we should buy Riftkeys each. Even though they're expensive, we should be able to make 90000 credits each if we succeed. If we locate the Domain core, we can even double that. What do you guys say?"

The two women immediately agreed, followed by Dahn, and eventually Jaxsyn as well. Flynt smiled and said.

"Don't worry, breakfast is on me today."

Jaxsyn's originally dim mood immediately brightened up as they all laughed and ordered their breakfast. None of them being aware just how monumental this one decision was.

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