Julian instantly heard a loud hum and then, he heard a sound similar to the rustling of leaves and then—
A pang hit him in the chest, his vision now blurry.
It seemed like he was transcending, but then, he wasn't.
He felt a sudden wave of intensity, like his bones were being rearranged. Like he was being kissed upon by some robotic goddess.
The voice from the system: "[Julian!]"
His ability to comprehend lagged, his vision now white!
All he could see was the color white! (Well, a shade of silver also.)
Vivid, striking, lens-removing.
[Galactic Knight found]
[Galactic Knight transforming]
Julian shouted in pain; his body felt like it was revamping, like he was being given a new body entirely.
The force shot him towards the sky and placed him at the middle, a gust of unusual wind slapping his face with an insane amount of force.
Julian screamed again: "ARGHHHHH!"
His body burned, not with flames but with pure energy, one that ravaged through his veins and felt like it would kill him and then—
Now in the sky, at the center of the already dead planet, Julian heard a loud sibilant sound and with that, a gust of light drove from his right and entered right through him.
Julian screamed loudly, his voice muffled by the light.
[Galactic Armour initiating!]
Helmets swirled around him, gauntlets shot into existence, shoulder plates materialized with glowing sigils, a breastplate forged from a flickering energy wrapped around his torso, greaves encased his legs, and a long flowing cape made of crackling stardust spread out behind him.
Each piece stuck into place with a sound like thunder cracking in the vacuum of space, like the sun kissing the moon.
The armor forged itself onto his body like it had always belonged there.
And then—
CRACK!
A very bright light struck from the left and then from all angles.
Julian screamed very loudly now:
"ARGHHHHH!"
The system's voice thundered:
[Galactic Knight transformed!]
Julian felt like some raw energy was dabbling in his system.
He opened his eyes and just then, a force slapped him to the ground.
THUD!
He landed.
Surrounding him now was a fog, thick and seemingly suffocating.
It looked like a cloud of brown smoke, mixed with white, filling his side.
At the moment, he was unseen, it felt like he was invincible. It felt like he wasn't even there.
The fog soon drifted away, from where he was, and then, standing tall was Julian.
Julian!
A really cool helmet covered his face, his hands cloaked with ash-colored metallic gloves.
The pain was suddenly gone and he felt like he had just been born again, like he was a new entity altogether.
The helmet he was wearing made his eyes pure white, carrying a necrotic gaze with it.
[JULIAN]
He looked around, trying to see who was calling his name, but alas, it was the system.
[YOU ARE THE NEW GALACTIC KNIGHT!]
Julian knew about systems. One way or another, he had been taught when he was young about people getting one. But he had thought it to be literally impossible.
And now?
"What is this?" he asked, his voice suddenly bold and carrying authority, like he was a new person altogether.
He looked at his hands and saw that he was still holding the device — the very source of the voice.
The device felt different now. It was no longer light and sleek like before. It felt heavier, denser, almost as if it carried the weight of a star within it.
Its surface had turned rougher too, like old, ancient metal that had seen countless wars.
Holding it made Julian feel like he was carrying something alive, something dangerous, something that demanded respect , and submission.
[The whole galaxy is facing a threat,] the voice began. [The Imperium of Archos is a very powerful empire, and now they are keen on taking over the entire collection of planets. It might sound exaggerating or impossible, but they are very powerful and large in size, having over a million well-trained fighters for their world domination plan. Right now, they are on the phase of sending different soldiers to different planets — a commander each, leading the mission.]
Julian frowned, although no one could see it, thanks to the helmet.
But then, his mind was hardened and he didn't give a fuck about whatever the galaxy was facing.
He had just lost the love of his life , a girl he had grown up with, someone that played the role of his mother, his sister, and then his lover.
He was still in grief, but for some reason, he couldn't express it. He felt emotionless. He just couldn't bring himself to cry or to be shocked.
It seemed the transformation had given him a new heart.
But even in the midst of it all, his heart still ached... and it did so because of Luiin.
"I don't want to be a hero!" he bluntly said. "I don't give a fuck anymore. I don't care."
The system seemed to sigh.
"[You are not necessarily being a hero here.]"
"And I said I don't give a fuck! Fuck all the planets, they deserve it! How can I save another planet when mine was brutally destroyed and Luiin was taken away? At this point, I honestly don't care, so leave me alone!"
Julian didn't wait for the device to say another word before he flung it to the ground.
At this point, he was emotionless, detached.
Saving the world?
Pfffft!
Why would he? Why would he be saving the galaxy?
Planets?
To him, it was hell nah!
He sauntered away, liking his new appearance, walking like he didn't have anything to bother about anymore.
He had given up on Luiin; he thought she would probably be dead by now.
To him, they would have probably used her for some twisted experiment and then brutally murdered her.
But then...
He couldn't forget about her just like that.
In his mind brewed revenge.
He was already thinking of how to kill all of them.
[She's not dead!]
He heard.
It was coming from the device.
He paused and turned to look at it, suddenly intrigued.
"How would you know?" he asked.
[Luiin is certainly too pretty for them to kill. If they had wanted to kill her, they would have done so here.]
Julian suddenly turned back and walked over to the device.
"So what are you up to?"
The device seemed to sigh and said:
[I have been in existence even before some planets were created. And what am I here for? I possess a system — a system so powerful that anyone who has it becomes very strong.]
[You are lucky to be having it, and you don't want to miss the opportunity. Walking away isn't the best option. Are you just going to walk away while the ones who destroyed your people and your kingdom still live?]
Julian just stared at the device. Quite frankly, it had a point.
[Letting them go is just cowardice. And now, don't get me wrong — I'm not telling you to be a good guy. Nah, not at all. Possessing these powers doesn't mean you have to be a good guy. I'm asking you to save the planets, not because you'll be a hero, but...]
It paused, and then a dim light shimmered on its surface.
It continued:
[The galaxy is large and vast, and some of these planets are being ruled by smart and strong beings — ones with great battleships and weapons. You saving them will make them see you as a sort of messiah, and they'll listen to you. You can use that to your advantage and make them join you in battle.]
[Now, I don't care how many planets you explode. I don't care how many people you kill. I just want you to stop the Imperium of Archos and save Luiin. Do it for her.]
Julian paused and stared at the device for quite a long time, cogitating.
It was wise, alright, using emotional pull to reel him in.
Well, he decided — he would be the hero.
Or rather, the anti-hero.
Because his real intention wasn't to save anything.
It was to destroy.
And so, Julian walked to the device and said, his voice low:
"What do I do now?"
[You have to activate the system,] the voice said. [The Exion System.]
Julian furrowed an eyebrow (which again, no one could see) and asked:
"How?"
[Just snap your fingers]