C1 Star Seizer

In the Hunter Era, the year 6020, the Primarch Astral Sector of the Dragonstar Federation was situated within the Great Qin Astral Sector. A large sky shuttle glided from south to north above the 'Sky Arrow,' cruising at low speed. Inside the cabin, the students of Class 23018 from Zramshire High were exuberantly trying to catch a glimpse of nature's wonders. From high above, the 'Sky Arrow' extended over a hundred kilometers, resembling a line, an arrow, a dam, a bridge, and it split the vast ocean in two, linking the north and south.

To the north lay a frozen ocean, ice fields, and snow-covered plains, all shrouded in a silvery white. To the south, the gray-brown terrain of the Eastern Continent stretched out, leading to verdant grasslands and, further still, to the dense forests at their edge. The azure sea lay between them. The color distribution was strikingly clear and layered, reminiscent of a grand artist's painting, leaving onlookers in awe.

The sky shuttle completed a loop around the northern tip of the 'Sky Arrow' before heading back south. It descended gently onto the southern continent. As the cabin doors opened, the students of Class 23018 donned their heavy winter gear and poured out excitedly.

This outing marked the final collective recreational activity for the senior students of Zramshire High's Class 23018 before they would dedicate themselves to preparing for college entrance exams next term.

The 'Sky Arrow' is a seasonal natural marvel of the Primarch, most spectacular during the summer months of the northern hemisphere. At this time, the ice layer that separates the continent from the Arctic ice fields, spanning over a hundred kilometers in width, thaws, revealing the blue sea once more. In winter, the landscape is transformed into an expanse of ice and snow. A naturally formed rocky 'dike' rises several meters above sea level, cleaving the ocean into eastern and western sections.

The dike's broadest point is no more than two kilometers across, with its narrowest stretch being at least one kilometer. It runs from south to north, as if drawn by an invisible hand, and extends for over a hundred kilometers. The northernmost terrain is slightly elevated, resulting in a larger area of melted ice.

From above, the scene, with its southern arc-shaped landmass, resembles a colossal bow and arrow. The 'dike' serves as the arrow shaft, with its slightly elevated northern part resembling the arrowhead, and the southern continent forming the bow.

To truly appreciate the 'Heavenly Arrow,' the optimal viewpoint is from high above, which is why the plane had previously circled over the dam. Once on the ground, the limitations of human perspective made it impossible to grasp the full majesty of the 'Heavenly Arrow.'

Though the grandeur was elusive, the scenery remained breathtaking. The air was crystal clear, the sky cloudless. The sea and sky melded into a single hue, shimmering like jade. Solar winds caressed the edge of Primarch Star, occasionally painting the horizon with stunning green auroras.

Many students were captivated by the magnificent natural landscape, excitedly rushing to the pristine white sands to wade, collect seashells, or brave a 'winter swim'—showcasing their youthful energy and physique. Others eagerly activated their Sky Vision cameras, intent on capturing the beauty to cherish forever.

A winter swim in summer? Indeed, no mistake there. Given the proximity to the Arctic, even the summer waters hover near freezing temperatures.

After several hours of uninhibited fun, the students of Class 318 gradually made their way back to the plane, drawn by the call of mealtime.

They were aboard a chartered business airbus. The front half of the cabin housed a hundred comfortable recliners, each capable of converting into a single bed. The seating was arranged in a two-to-one ratio, forming two separate cabins, with the larger one designated for the female students. Beyond the seating area lay a communal bathroom, followed by the kitchen.

After a quick rinse and change of clothes, the students collected their drinks and fast food from the service robots. None chose to dine aboard the bus; instead, they all disembarked, finding spots to sit or squat on the ground, eating while occasionally glancing skyward. They were eagerly anticipating the meteor shower.

Heavenly Arrow, a renowned attraction on Primarch Star, was familiar to most students. However, Class 318's excursion to this location was not for the scenery but to witness the impending meteor shower, as forecasted with precision by the Primarch Astronomical Weather Department weeks in advance. The class had chosen this site for its proximity to the celestial event.

The meteor shower was predicted to mostly grace the Arctic ice fields, with a possibility of some meteors reaching the northern end of Heavenly Arrow. The commercial plane's lodging was situated tens of kilometers from the anticipated landing site of the meteors, the closest safe viewing distance. As long as the students refrained from venturing onto Heavenly Arrow, they were assured a safe and spectacular experience.

Bai Chengcheng collected his drink and meal set, returning to his spot to dump the contents of his backpack onto the recliner. With his bag now empty, he stepped off the plane, box meal and beverage in hand, and squatted on the ground to eat and wait for the meteor shower, just like everyone else.

Bai Chengcheng was quite the looker. If not for his academic indifference, and if the hint of mischief on his face were replaced by an air of integrity, he would have been a top contender for the title of school heartthrob.

After the students chattered away and finished their meals, they returned their lunch boxes and empty drink cups to the waste-collecting robots and scattered in small groups in front of the bus. Roughly two hours later, the meteor shower graced the sky as expected.

Watching the meteor shower up close was not ideal, as the Arctic was experiencing the Midnight Sun. Even at night, the light was akin to dusk in Zramshire, rendering the meteor's passage across the atmosphere less dazzling than it would be against the backdrop of a dark night.

Still, the fiery trails were visible, and the students cheered and leaped with excitement. Whether it was truly beautiful was subjective, and no one was too concerned—they were there for the novelty.

Unlike his peers, Bai Chengcheng didn't fix his gaze on the sky. He focused on the low altitude near the sky arrow, watching for any meteors that might fall there.

As the meteor shower unfolded, Bai Chengcheng stealthily moved to the very edge of the student group.

Before long, a towering figure over two meters tall and a sleazy-looking skinny man of about one meter seventy joined Bai Chengcheng, squatting beside him to engage in hushed conversation. These were his two closest friends since childhood, Lu Youzhi and Fan Gongming.

An hour passed, and after a sparse scattering of meteors had fallen, the sky was devoid of any further celestial activity. Bai Chengcheng sprang to his feet, ready to dash towards the sky arrow, remembering that two meteors had landed close to its right side. Regrettably, the rest had either plummeted into the Arctic ice cap or the ocean.

He was barely upright when someone firmly pushed him back down. On the verge of an outburst, he turned to see it was the team's supervising teacher, Faang Xinghang, which made him shrink back and obediently stay put, inwardly groaning. At school, Bai Chengcheng feared no one—except for Faang Xinghang, before whom he was as timid as a mouse before a cat.

Faang Xinghang was not the head teacher of Class 318; rather, he was the vice principal who had been transferred to Zramshire High three years prior. His academic credentials, professional title, and level of skill remained a mystery, as he never taught classes and solely managed discipline. Rumor had it that even the school's most skilled Martial Master, Coleveila, who oversaw the martial arts curriculum, couldn't withstand more than three rounds against Faang Xinghang. Consequently, despite being an outsider and relatively young, he swiftly established his authority at the school. Bai Chengcheng, a student known for his rebellious streak, had been disciplined by Faang Xinghang on numerous occasions.

On this occasion, with the head teacher of Class 18 out due to a sudden illness, Faang Xinghang volunteered to lead the class on their excursion.

It's important to note that the term Martial Master here does not refer to a martial arts instructor but to a specific level of martial arts cultivation.

To achieve faster-than-light travel, incredibly high acceleration is required. Such acceleration demands a robust physique, as the human body must be able to endure the intense forces involved. Driven by a longing for the cosmos, humanity has resurrected various ancient body refining techniques from the annals of history, sparking a widespread frenzy for training in both ancient martial arts and modern technology.

To categorize martial practitioners, humans have established a hierarchy based on combat prowess, ranging from Martial Disciple to Martial Master, Martial Grandmaster, Martial King, and Martial Venerable, each with nine sub-levels.

Combat strength is an aggregate metric that encompasses strength, speed, agility, psychokinesis, and other abilities. It serves as a relative standard and does not absolutely determine a martial practitioner's capabilities.

Focusing solely on strength, individuals with a maximum force of less than 100 kilograms don't qualify as Martial Disciples. Those with strength between 100 and 200 kilograms are classified as level one Martial Disciples; between 200 and 300 kilograms, as level two Martial Disciples, and so on, up to those between 900 and 1,000 kilograms, who are considered level nine Martial Disciples.

The Martial Master category begins at 1,000 kilograms, or one ton, and goes up to ten tons. The strength range for a Martial Grandmaster spans from ten tons to one hundred tons. Anyone whose strength exceeds one hundred tons and possesses internal energy is generally regarded as a Martial Grandmaster. Progressing exponentially, the pinnacle of Martial King strength can reach an astonishing tens of thousands of tons.

Coleveia was a level eight Martial Master, her greatest strength nearing an impressive 90 tons. Yet, this formidable power couldn't withstand even three rounds against Faang Xinghang, a testament to his superior cultivation.

While observing the sky through his high-powered telescope, Faang Xinghang offhandedly remarked to Bai Chengcheng, "Everyone else is gazing at the meteors, but you're fixated on the sky arrow as if there's a beauty up there waiting for you. Tempted to join her?"

"I was just thinking... Oh, no, nothing. I'm just looking," Bai Chengcheng stammered. Fortunately, he had the habit of glancing at Fan Gongming while speaking. Catching Fan Gongming's eye, he quickly retracted his words about 'picking up a meteor.'

Faang Xinghang smirked, "Thinking of bringing back a meteorite? That's a bit presumptuous, isn't it?" In the Earth era, meteorites held significant research value. But in this star-faring age, they were practically worthless.

Bai Chengcheng defensively replied, "Why call it picking up a meteorite? It's star picking. Meteors are stars, after all." A change in terminology could drastically alter the perception of an act. Picking up a meteorite sounded so mundane, while star picking seemed utterly romantic.

Faang Xinghang had no interest in engaging in such a childish debate with Bai Chengcheng and simply ignored him.

After ensuring the sky was clear of any further meteorites for over ten minutes, Faang Xinghang finally released the eager Bai Chengcheng, cautioning him, "Don't stray too far, keep it within fifty kilometers."

Bai Chengcheng's excitement was palpable. "Brother Fang, you're letting me go up to the sky arrow? I'm so grateful! Thank you! Thank you! Off I go. Time for some star picking!" With a bounce in his step, he dashed off.