From Another World:Occupations

Chapter 7: Shadows on the Trade Road

The dirt road curved through the wild grasslands south of the Vaelrin Expanse, lined with scattered trees and whispering brush. The sun shone high, but the caravan moved cautiously. Three merchant wagons, flanked by guards in patchwork armor, rolled steadily toward the trade city of Arkess. And among them walked six figures—each touched by something not of this world.

Robert, Sana, Ivan, Meloy, Steven, and Arlo had accepted the escort quest as both travel and training. In the few weeks since arriving in Anniekes, their systems had begun to evolve. Leveling slowly. Unlocking abilities. They were no longer green initiates. And reaching Arkess meant one thing: a chance to enroll in Astralis Academy, the legendary institution where gods once walked and the system was first born.

But the road would not let them pass without challenge.

An hour past midday, the attack came.

From the hills, cloaked figures surged—bandits, wild-eyed and desperate. With jagged swords and smoke-belching potions, they struck hard at the supply wagons.

Robert felt the system flare in warning:

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[HOSTILE ENTITIES DETECTED]

Racial Category: Low-Tier Beastfolk (Wolf-Kin), Corrupted Humans (Bloodbound), Outcast Demi-Orcs

Rank: F- to F+

Threat Level: Manageable

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His body didn't tense. His breath stayed calm. No fear. No hesitation. The system had tuned his combat instincts—dampening panic, enhancing reaction.

"Flank left!" Robert called.

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[Gravitational Pulse: Localized Reduction - 3m radius]

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He surged forward, his blade a silver blur, cleaving into a bloodbound bandit. One cut, one kill.

Sana spun through the fight, dual daggers glowing with void-light.

Steven's kitchen cleaver erupted with elemental fire as he dueled a demi-orc.

Ivan vanished, only to reappear behind an enemy with a flash of his wind dagger. Meloy slammed a tremor into the earth, toppling attackers. Arlo charged with raw fury, his warhammer breaking shields like twigs.

It ended in seven minutes.

Thirteen bandits lay still. Two fled, wounded and terrified.

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[System Note: No Trauma Response Detected]

Explanation: System-aligned individuals receive emotional resistance protocols based on class affinity, divine alignment, and racial disposition. Combat against hostile threats will not generate trauma unless overridden by traits such as [Mercy], [Empathy], or [Innocence].

Racial Insight: Moon-Bound Primordial Humans adapt instinctively to lethal force due to cosmic resonance with the 'Observer Path.'

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The caravan master—a portly man named Mellik—approached, awe and disbelief in his eyes.

"You're… not ordinary adventurers."

Robert sheathed his blade. "No. Not exactly."

That evening, under the stars, the group camped with the merchants. Fire crackled. A breeze rustled the tall grass. Mellik's daughter, Leyra, sat near them—young, sharp-eyed, and observant.

"You're heading to Astralis Academy, right?" she asked, her gaze fixed on Robert.

"That's the goal," he replied. "We're still learning how to get in."

Leyra offered a knowing smile. "I tried once. Didn't make it. Most don't. Especially not humans."

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[System Prompt: Query Detected — Astralis Academy Entry Requirements]

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Astralis Academy Entry Requirements:

– Minimum Combat Rank: F

– Verified System Class or Unique Skill Path

– Divine Alignment Detected (Minimum: 1 Deity Resonance)

– Recommendation Letter (from Guild, Noble House, or Divine Source)

– Optional: [Divine Observation Letter] (Rare Artifact)

– Racial Modifier: Active

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Current Candidates' Racial Profiles:

Robert – Moon-Bound Primordial Human — Rank: F — Alignment: Virell, Ysera — Accepted

Sana – Shadow Werelycan (Elder) — Rank: F — Alignment: Elryn, Nael — Accepted

Ivan – Half Eternal Vampire (Elder) — Rank: F — Alignment: Virell, Elryn — Accepted

Meloy – Verdant Green Dragon (Elder) — Rank: F — Alignment: Ysera, Elryn — Accepted

Arlo – Stormborn Human Hybrid (High) — Rank: F — Alignment: Nael, Khorus — Accepted

Steven – Flavor-Bound Human (Low-High, Unique) — Rank: F — Alignment: Ysera, Khorus — Accepted

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System Alert: Divine Observation Detected from Astralis Academy Faculty

High-tier races have noted unusual racial combinations among incoming candidates.

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Leyra looked at them, astonishment settling on her face. "You're all… rare. Even for Astralis."

"You've been there?" Arlo asked.

"My father sells supplies to the outer training wards," she said. "I've seen the student lists. Skyborn. Star-Eaters. Celestial Blood Elves. There's maybe one human every few years—if that."

Meloy tilted his head. "What kind of races are common in the academy?"

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[System Archive: Astralis Academy Racial Distribution - Last Five Years]

1. Skyborn Elves (High Race) — 22%

2. Thunderborn Giants (High Race) — 14%

3. Eclipse Lycans / Shadowkin (Elder Race) — 13%

4. Verdant Dragons / Minor Wyrms (Elder Race) — 11%

5. Djinnkin / Voidborn (Primordial Races) — 9%

6. Celestial Vampires (Elder Race) — 7%

7. Flame-Scales / Half-Phoenixes (High Race) — 6%

8. Dwarves, Beastfolk, and Hybrids (Mid Race) — 13%

9. Humans and Human Variants (Low/Unique) — <1.5%

Note: Certain racial entries classified. Divine Progeny excluded.

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Leyra poked at the fire. "Most humans that do get in aren't… fully human anymore. Too many wars. Too many failed experiments. The Arcanic Purge wiped out the mage cities. And then came the plague…"

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[World Archive Accessed — Human Decline]

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Event 1: The Arcanic Purge

— Year: 900 Before Present

— Catalyst: Human attempts to extract god-force from elemental gates

— Consequence: 70% of human strongholds destroyed by dragonkind and divine strikes

Event 2: The Gene-Tithe Plague

— Year: 400 Before Present

— Catalyst: Rogue alchemical warfare targeting human fertility

— Effect: 80% drop in successful human reproduction across three generations

— Outcome: Mutations, hybridization, extinction of multiple human bloodlines

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Current Status: Baseline Humans comprise <4% of Anniekes' population. Most humanoids are now hybrids, evolved races, or altered bloodlines.

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"No one knows who released the plague," Leyra said softly. "Some think it was the Skyborn. Others think it was a failed godseed project."

Steven grunted. "Whatever it was… it worked."

The system pinged again.

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[New Feature Unlocked — Inter-Species Racial Observation]

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Racial Tier List (Anniekes Unified Standard):

1. Primordial Races — Ancient beings born from divine essence or cosmic sources

  Examples: Moon-Bound Primordials, Djinnkin, Star-Walkers

2. Elder Races — Descendants of dragons, lycans, vampires, or other ancient lines

  Examples: Verdant Dragons, Eclipse Lycans, Eternal Vampires

3. High Races — Mighty humanoid factions with divine favor or ancestral gifts

  Examples: Skyborn Elves, Thunderborn Giants, Flame-Scales

4. Mid Races — Common sentient peoples with moderate system affinity

  Examples: Dwarves, Beastfolk, Half-Giants

5. Low Races — Least modified, least magical, or formerly dominant species

  Examples: Baseline Humans, Goblins, Gremlins

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Warning:

Viewing a race more than one tier above your own may trigger System Echo, Divine Scrutiny, or Memory Bleed. Caution advised.

Note: The Inter-Species Pact, signed by nine divine patrons, forbids targeted genocide and ensures tournament representation of all races.

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Robert exhaled slowly. The stars above seemed brighter, colder.

They weren't just special. They were anomalies. And the world was watching.

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Far Beyond…

On a ruined moon, orbiting a forgotten shard of time, a lone figure knelt beside a crumbling spire. Amnesh, the Lost God of Chaos and Outsiders, stared into the void.

"They walk again. Not mine... but marked."

He traced a glowing line in the dust—one that pulsed with Robert's name.

"The system remembers what even the stars forgot…"

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[Divine Marker Placed — Hidden Questline: "Inheritance of the Lost"]

Trigger: Unknown

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In the silence of that void, something ancient stirred.

And back on the grasslands, as the fire crackled low, Robert opened his system one last time:

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Quest: Interworld Tournament Preparation

Timeline: 4.98 Years

Progress: 0.8%

Class Trial: [Pending: Trial of Resonance]

Divine Alignment: Virell, Ysera

Race Classification: Primordial (Observed)

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They were heading toward Astralis Academy.

But the true battlefield lay far beyond books and spells.

The gods had returned their gaze.

And time, once again, was beginning to move.