OLD-WORLD EXTRA

The Aether core was a marvel of technology, designed to be implanted into the human body and cyborgs alike.

It was made of a special material that was able to absorb, process, and store Aether.

The device was also designed to interface with the human nervous system, allowing the user to control the flow of Aether into specific \'Paths\' in turn creating abilities and shaping specializations.

Only a few know of the Aether core\'s existence, and only the best were deemed worthy enough to possess it.

On Earth, at least.

Among them were the Big 8 corporations, the Big 3 underworld factions, the UEF, companies relating to the hunter world, and the hunters themselves who were fighting on the front lines in the north.

And now, the students at the UEF academy have been granted access to this privileged knowledge.

The hunters who were eligible to receive Aether cores were greatly sought after and held significant power in the north.

But despite the value placed on it, most people on Earth remained ignorant of its existence, mainly due to the UEF.

Which was not something that they wished for but a thing they had to do, simply due to them being in the CCA.

The Cosmic Civilization Alliance.

Now, one of the primary benefits of Aether was the enhanced physical abilities.

The once hunters, now Celestials, were able to move faster, jump higher, and endure more physical strain than they would be able to without Aether.

That was, of course, only for an Ascendant, those with higher levels of power that ranked higher in the Celestial Hierarchy were incomparable to an Ascendant.

Now regarding the common Ascendant rank.

Aether allowed them to be more effective in combat and traverse difficult terrain with ease.

It also granted those Celestials heightened senses.

They could see in the dark and detect movement from far away, making it easier to track their prey and avoid ambushes.

Another key advantage provided by Aether was the ability to use magic-like abilities.

The Celestials could tap into the mystical energy of the Aether to cast spells and runes, enchant their weapons, and much more. 

This allowed them to attack their enemies with devastating force and defend themselves against even the most powerful attacks.

The hunters who had access to Aether were some of the most skilled and formidable fighters in the north.

They are revered and feared by those who know of their abilities.

Their services are in high demand by the powerful corporations and government entities that control them.

All of them are, as no Celestial could be considered useless.

After all, within the realm of Aetheric abilities, a vast array of specializations exists, each offering unique and distinct powers.

These specializations span a spectrum of paths, ranging from the relatively straightforward classes that harness Aether with simplicity, requiring only a basic understanding of its aspects, to the more intricate and challenging classes that demand mastery over specific Aether aspects.

…

As she walked out of the classroom, Lily couldn\'t help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge she had just received.

She thought about Emir and wondered if he knew about it, considering his connection with the organization.

Deciding to think about this later, she made her way out of the building with her fellow classmates to attend their physical education class.

While on their way to PE class, they stumbled upon a group of students bullying one of the loners from their class.

Lily, not wanting to get involved with the Elite, pretended not to see anything, and kept walking.

She knew, as every other student did, that there was one unspoken rule in the academy.

"Never dare to involve yourself with the Elite if you wish to maintain a semblance of a normal school life, or worse yet if you value your very existence."

And Lily was no hero for not complying with that rule, as she was just a normal child who knew her limits.

But as she walked on, she couldn\'t help but be reminded of what her brother had said.

That they would all die in the academy.

And as that thought crossed her mind, her body began to shiver.

The idea of her own death was frightening, but the possibility of losing her brother and mother was even more terrifying.

Whether Emir was truly her brother or someone else from another life, was a matter that she had long since accepted.

Lily didn\'t put much weight on the idea, no matter how fantastical it may seem.

What mattered to her was how much Emir meant to her.

The love and care she had for him surpassed whatever his past may have been.

And after witnessing his deal with her mother, she felt compelled to find ways to help him too, knowing that he would never ask anything from her.

So the sight of the elites bullying the kid triggered a realization in Lily.

\'I can get some information by befriending some of the rich girls in the academy...\'

\'Everyone is scared of them, so squirming my way into one of their groups wouldn\'t be too hard.\' 

\'Yes! It won\'t be only Mom helping Emir, I\'ll help too!\'

After deciding that, she began thinking of ways to befriend them, and the first person that came to mind was the first daughter of Richard Alexander.

The world\'s leading scientist, responsible for Stellar Solutions Inc.

Olivia, one of the most popular elite students and the older sister of Sofia, a member of Arthur\'s future harem.

Lily had a plan in mind, but she knew it was best to discuss it with Emir first.

Despite not possessing the same level of intelligence or maturity as her brother, she was socially adept in her own right.

She constantly pushed herself to improve, using Emir as her benchmark.

And now, with the opportunity to help him, she felt an even stronger drive to succeed.

Then as she made her way to PE class, a cute and resolute Lily yearned for the day to end so she could return home.