Bastards Ascension: A Playground of Gods
Chapter 48: New friend

Chapter 48: New friend

Jacob stood before the crowd of anxious, wide-eyed Awakened.

His expression was stoic—calm, unreadable.

The hardened face of someone who had seen war and didn’t flinch.

It was a striking contrast to the shaken commander Caleb had witnessed back at the academy, who had looked one breath away from snapping.

Beside him stood Anita.

Her complexion had returned to normal since the incident, but the nervous energy clung to her like perfume.

She stayed half a step behind Jacob, clutching a tablet to her chest as if it were a shield.

Jacob’s voice cut through the silence, firm and without emotion.

"Today, we’re heading to the primary recruit training realm: The Demiurge."

The recruits didn’t look surprised—this wasn’t new information. They had all been briefed long before now. This was just protocol, a formality.

Jacob’s voice rang out again, calm but commanding. "I trust most of you already know what this training entails. But for those who don’t—this program is designed to get you familiar with the various beasts and monsters scattered across the different realms within the Nebulas."

He spoke with his hands clasped firmly behind his back, like a soldier addressing troops before a campaign.

Kieran already knew this part. He had prepared extensively—researching the realms, the species, and the dangers.

Late-night talks with Jane often drifted into those topics, their curiosity feeding off each other.

The Demiurge was one of the first realms discovered by humans during their early explorations. When it was first found, it was strange—completely devoid of any races or living beings. The only thing that stood on that barren realm was the Tower.

A tower that linked countless realms together.

Each floor served as a gateway to another world, teeming with different races and beasts of varying strengths.

"The Demiurge Tower connects to several realms," Jacob explained, "but these realms aren’t true worlds—they’re fractured timelines trapped in a repetitive cycle. Each floor, each realm within the Tower, has a single purpose: to sharpen your control and sense of mana."

He paused, letting his words sink in before delivering the next blow.

"Make no mistake—the monsters and beasts you’ll face are just as deadly as their real counterparts. The Tower may accelerate healing, but you can die within these walls." His voice struck like a sledgehammer, and the weight of his warning settled over the group.

A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. Some of the youngsters paled, while those already aware of the risks remained unmoved.

This was no joke. Their lives were truly on the line.

Jacob was about to continue when Anita leaned in, whispering something urgent.

Straightening, he cleared his throat, and the whispers died instantly—all eyes snapping back to him.

"We’re out of time. Other factions have already begun arriving in the Demiurge. You’ll board our cruiser and depart immediately. If you’re not ready, step back now." His gaze hardened.

"But know this—if you refuse, your band will be returned to the AFO, and you’ll never be permitted to join any faction or cross the boundaries of this realm again."

The choice was brutal, especially for youths their age. He could see the fear flickering in their eyes, the hesitation as they weighed their futures.

Please, don’t let this be another batch of cowards... Jacob thought, disappointment creeping into his expression.

Then—movement.

Three figures stepped forward in near-perfect unison.

The first two were instantly recognizable.

Natasha Garmine—the shining star of the Garmine family, an S-ranked talent. Her golden hair flowed behind her as she strode ahead, confidence radiating from her every step.

Beside her was Henry Digmun, the disgraced youngest son of Ravenheart Academy’s dean. Though he’d only awakened a B-rank talent—earning his father’s scorn and exclusion from the main family faction—his eyes burned with something fiercer than shame.

Determination. The kind that came from a man with everything to prove.

And then there was the third.

An outlier.

A boy in a dirt-streaked hoodie and ragged jeans, his appearance drawing sneers from the wealthier youths.

"Who does he think he is?" someone muttered. "Does he really believe he belongs next to the Garmine heir?"

"Probably some delusional fool who still thinks this is a game. He’ll be the first to die in there."

Natasha didn’t voice her thoughts, but they echoed the same sentiment.

Confidence or naivety?

She didn’t dwell on it. Her own strength was undeniable—but Kieran? He looked anything but formidable.

We’ll see how long he lasts.

Then she caught it—the faint smile tugging at Jacob’s lips as his eyes landed on Kieran.

Strange.

The trio’s resolve spurred others forward. Soon, fifty stood ready, while the rest lingered in uncertainty.

"You have three seconds to decide!" Jacob barked. Time was up. He could already tell the stragglers would never commit.

"One!"

Silence.

"Two!"

A few shuffled nervously.

"Three!"

His head dropped in disappointment as he turned away from those who hesitated.

Facing the fifty who’d chosen to stay, he announced, "Iron-plated Awakened will guide you through the Demiurge and ensure your safety during training."

He made sure his voice carried to those who’d backed out.

A flicker of hope lit up their faces.

"Sir! If that’s the case, can we still—?"

Jacob’s glare cut the speaker off mid-plea. The boy flinched, a cold sweat drenching his clothes.

"If you lacked the courage to step forward when it mattered, you’re useless to our cause." Jacob’s voice was steel.

"If you won’t risk your life for humanity’s survival, you don’t deserve to call yourselves Awakened."

It was a test, just like I thought, Kieran mused, watching Jacob.

There’s no way they’d throw a bunch of kids into danger without a guide. He just wanted to see who was ready to die if it came to that... Not me, though.

His eyes narrowed.

I can’t die. Not until I kill them... and find her.

His fists clenched tightly in his pockets.

The anger bubbled again—memories of Frank and his thugs, of Jane, and everything that happened at the academy.

All of it made his blood boil.

But he kept it down. Buried it. For now.

Jacob turned back to address the rest of them.

"The rest of you," he said, voice firm, "we move to the training realm now. Stand tall. You’re no longer just kids—you’re respected Awakened."

With that, he led the group through the gates of the Blue Fang faction base.

Kieran glanced over his shoulder, back at the ones who stayed behind.

Their faces were hollow, like something had been torn out of them.

And maybe it had.

They’ll regret that choice, he thought.

This day will haunt them. It’s cruel, yeah—but maybe it’s the only way to show just how twisted the world really is. They just couldn’t take the risk.

His eyes lingered on them a moment longer, then turned back to Jacob, a spark of respect in his gaze.

He’s a good captain.

"I agree with you on that," Alexa chimed in his head. She’d sensed it from the start—the steadiness in Jacob’s presence.

Kieran turned his focus back to the base itself.

Now that he was inside, he finally saw what the Blue Fang really looked like.

From the outside, it was just another building tucked between glass towers and neon signs—quiet and unremarkable.

But inside, it felt alive.

Magic was stitched into the walls, humming softly beneath the glass floors.

Enchanted drones floated silently through the wide halls, and glowing runes lit the air like the place was breathing.

Training rooms shifted in an instant—one moment a forest, the next a war-torn ruin.

Perfect for survival. Perfect for growth.

Deeper in, the command center mixed glowing monitors with floating spell circles—technology and magic moving in harmony.

Every room they passed looked like it belonged in a different world. And somehow, it all worked.

Just then, someone stepped up beside Kieran.

"Hey, what’s up? I’m Henry," the boy said casually.

Heads turned. The other kids went quiet.

Kieran looked him over.

He was about the same height, maybe a little shorter.

His bright green eyes burned with determination—the kind Kieran used to have.

And he was smiling. That made Kieran flinch.

"What is it?" Kieran asked, cutting straight to the point.

After everything at the academy, he wasn’t in the mood for company.

"Let’s be friends," Henry said.

Kieran stared at him like he’d grown another head.

"Wait... Did Henry Digmun just approach that weird kid?" someone whispered.

"Why would he want to talk to him?"

The murmurs buzzed in the background, but Kieran didn’t take his eyes off Henry.

Not yet.

"So you walk up to someone you meet for the first time and then you suddenly want to be friends?" Kieran asked with a raised brow, as though looking at a clown.

Henry smiled wryly.

"Well, if that’s what you want. I don’t mind," Kieran shrugged, walking ahead.

Surprisingly, despite his rude remark, Henry didn’t give up as he increased his pace to catch up to him.

"If you’re okay with it, then at least tell me your name."

Kieran turned to him.

Stubborn? He might make a good friend, who knows.

"Kieran Marcoth... That’s my name."