Damaged Goods

The next screen shown was every Spirit Node of Lucas's. This would show them how far into his cultivation he was. It would give them a better idea how to start training him. Would he already have good or bad habits of cultivation or would they be able to optimize his training from the start?!

Although when they looked over the screen, Agent Astronova was shocked in horror. 80% of his Spirit Nodes were torn and unable to be filled with mana! His growth was stunned. He would require surgery to have his Spirit Nodes replaced if he wanted to cultivate. And even then he would only be able to get enough Spirit Nodes back to be able to reach the Core Formation Realm! Things were not looking good for Lucas. 

"I've never seen anything like this" Sohia exclaimed! "He shouldn't even be able to utilize his techniques with how broken he is!"

Agent Astronova shook her head. "Sohia, he's a different type of cultivator then you are used to dealing him. I can't go into detail, but he can still use his techniques if need be." She paused for a moment as she collected her thoughts. "The real issue is his Spirit Node. What in the universe had he done to ruin them?!"

She turned her head towards Lucas as he stepped out of the machine. "Lucas, you must be honest with me. How did you shred your Spirit Nodes?" As soon as her words left her mouth another energy field encircled him and her. Lucas could tell this was similar to the [Sound Bubble] technique she used earlier, but something about it was different. Like his body was being poked with millions of needles, just at the edges of his skin not piecing him. 

"Sohia won't be able to listen. And I'll also know if you are lying or not, so tell me the truth. This is a serious matter. How. Did. You. Tear your Spirit Nodes!" Even though the [Sound Bubble] was active Sohia could tell that Agent Astronova wasn't happy. Or at least the expression on the agents face showed she was truly concerned for Lucas. 

He wasn't sure how to respond, but seeing the agents reaction he figured he would tell her the truth. "For part of my training I was tasked to slay a Vampire. During the fight I didn't realize that I had pushed myself too far and went past my limits. I killed the Vampire, but ended up with a broken body like this."

Agent Astronova had to process what Lucas had said. She could already tell some parts of his story were a lie, but the part about killing a Vampire and pushing himself past his limit was the truth. So she decided to ignore that and focus on the important part, which was the Vampire! They are dark beings that are naturally in the Liquifying Realm. For a Foundation Realm cultivator to slay one is an amazing feat! It was just extremely disappointing Lucas would never be able to progress his realm.

"I see" she spoke softly. "Well I assume your master had informed you of the issue regarding your Spirit Nodes. Damaged Spirit Nodes are a great taboo for cultivating. We do have a few ways to repair them, but they cost many Merits, more than just a simple tutor lesson with a Runemaster. Though the remedies we have wont bring you back to peak level. You maximum will be stunted to the Core Formation realm."

She spoke as though she was speaking at a eulogy. She was very remorseful giving Lucas the heart breaking news. No cultivator wanted to hear that. Though Agent Astronova was worried about Lucas. To her he was just a kid. He had a bright future before him, but his ripped Spirit Nodes stopped him. He was damaged goods and it was all his masters fault. If he wasn't tasked to slay a Vampire of all things he would become a powerhouse in the future. Fate had other ideas. 

Lucas on the other hand had bit down his on his thumb nervously. Agent Astronova had thought he was feeling anxious because of the bad news she gave him. She was wrong, yet had no idea why. Lucas was nervous, but for another reason. He was hoping the CIA had another way to repair his Spirit Nodes before the end of the 6 months he would be here. He wanted that [Neutral Spirit Stone] as a back up for anything to happen in the future. Seems that wouldn't be the case.

"Given the light of the new information that is all for your Cosmos Infinity Academy Registration. I will have Sohia show you to your new accommodations. I must return to my duties" Agent Astronova spoke quickly. "Sohia you know the procedures and the communicator you must give him correct?"

"Yes Ma'am. We always have spare Disciple Communicators for just such an occasion."

"Very good. Now I must take my leave. Mr. Kromwell, please do take care. I'm sure High Command will test your skills soon" she then bowed and left the room. Lucas was left in the care of Sohia who smiled at him wearily. She had seen the sorry state of his body and felt sorry for him. He was a handsome man yet his growth was stunned at best. 

"Now that she is gone I shall properly introduce myself. I am Sohia, a non cultivator, but part of the Cosmos Infinity Academy. I am part of the logistical side of things." She reached under her desk, pulled out a silver wrist band and handed it to Lucas. "This is your Disciple Communicator. It links you directly to General Clofos. He can track your whereabouts and give you orders instantly."

"You can also make new connections with people like this" she tapped her bronze wrist band against the silver one. A faint chime range out and small light lit up on the silver wrist band. A holo-graphic projection shown in the air just above the wrist band.

{New Connection made: Sohia Evie}

"Now if you have any questions you can ask me at any time." She stepped behind her counter asked Lucas to follow her out of the building. Lucas followed her in silence as Sohia explained which buildings were which. Some rooms he had guessed correctly when being lead over by Agent Astronova. While a few others he had no idea. There was one building that had an image of a portal floating above the door.

"This is our sub-space training room" Sohia explained. "There are many sub-spaces in the universe. Some are made while others are naturally forming. This is simulates a planet with increased gravity with different environments and different forms of Xeomorphs to test your combat skills."

"That's good to know. Could be fun to try new tactics."

"Very smart. We have teams that claim timeslots to train in the sub-space." She continued to lead him past the building to another structure. This structure stood alone with no other building within 60ft of it. It was a 4 story building with windows on either side. "This is the room for all Disciples. This will be your new home till the Campaign on Rosthas is over. Do you have any other questions" she turned and asked. 

Lucas looked over the dull building and shook his head. "No I don't think so."

"Great" she said with a smile. "Well If you ever have any more questions you are more than welcome to give me a ring. It's my job to support the Disciples." She gave a small bow and returned to her job. Lucas stood there unsure what to do next. He wasn't given any more information or any tasks. Seeing as he had nothing else he knocked on the door to the building.

As he walked over to knock on the door he could hear a few people talking and laughing. Once he knocked on the door they all stopped talking as feint whispers could be heard.

"Who is that" one voice spoke softly?

"No idea. I didn't get any messages. Did one of you?" Another voice spoke.

"I know I didn't."

"Fine then. I will go answer it" the first voice spoke. 

The door was yanked open revealing an Elf looking woman. "Who the hell are you?" She spoke in a gruff tone. Not something you'd assume to hear from an elf. She had dark skin, red eyes and beautiful short silver hair. She had a very toned physique. Lucas thought she was a stereotypical tomboy. 

"Um. Hi. I'm Lucas Kromwell. A new Disciple under General Clofos. I was told this is where I'll be living, but I wasn't given any other orders."

The Elf woman looked him up and down trying to gauge his skills. Lucas could feel a type of energy surrounding his body. Very similar to what Agent Astronova did. "A Foundation Realm cultivator huh? Well you must be skilled to be a Disciple of General Clofos. Come on in" she said as she turned her back to him. "Looks like we got another one boy's" she called out to the two in the room.

Before Lucas was two more aliens sitting on a couch and on the coffee table was filled with exotic looking foods scattered about. But what really caught his attention was the two aliens sitting on the couches on either side of the table. Both were humanoid, but clearly alien. The one on the right side looked like an insect. It had a mantis head, a beetle body, but had two arms and legs. He wore no clothes, yet his body glistened like oil. 

The other alien was humanoid as well, but it was just a Slime! A large blue Slime person who was 6ft tall, only a foot taller over the Mantis looking alien. Though the Slime person had no facial expressions. The Slime had a transparent body, Lucas could see some food in it's stomach being dissolved by it. Lucas relaxed his face when he noticed he had it scrunched looking at the food in the Slime. He hoped they didn't think he was rude. 

The Elf woman sat down next to the Slime and began to eat. The insect person stood up while shaking their head at the two as they continued to eat. "Since Zyra won't be doing the introductions I guess I will." His mandibles clicked together as he spoke. 

"I am Kaelon a Mantin. And based off of your expression you've never seen a Slimoid before. His name is Xylon. Don't worry about it" he said as his mandibles clacked together quickly. Was this a way for him to chuckle Lucas thought. "Xylon gets those looks all the time while he eats. But he is our roommate so you'll need to get used to it. And last but not least is Zyra. She is the Dark Elf. Don't get on her bad side. She will beat you to a pulp."