Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God-Chapter 43: Ch : Climb the Rank- Part 1

Night fell quietly over the Galactic Navel base, the artificial lights dimming to a cool bluish hue as the outer perimeter went into reduced power mode.

Inside his assigned quarters, Nova sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes half-closed, his fingers lightly tapping the comm-device built into the back of his wrist.

A faint glow appeared on his palm as he connected to Nyx’s signal.

"Nyx. Scan the signal environment. Tell me if it’s secure to talk."

He whispered.

There was no response for a full minute. Then two.

Nova waited in silence, feeling the rhythm of the energy flow around his room—nothing unnatural yet, just the soft thrum of aether-powered circuits.

Then, her voice came through, cool and clear.

[Give me thirty seconds.]

He nodded. Another half-minute passed. A quiet pulse flickered over his communicator, then—

[All clear. I’ve overridden the signal lines around your quarters. You’ve got a thirty-minute window. No one’s listening.]

Nyx said.

"Good. Send me Anna’s exact location. And the latest base map."

Nova leaned back, letting his posture relax just a little.

[Done. I’ve uploaded the blueprint of the southern half of the command complex and flagged Anna’s ID tag. She’s been stationed in the engineering wing.]

Nyx replied.

He looked over the glowing display on his wrist as data streamed in, including updated patrol routes, maintenance schedules, and structural weak points.

[I recommend launching your mission within seven days.]

Nyx continued.

[General Urn and her entire fleet will be returning then for inspection. Before they arrive, base security protocols will be lighter. Once she’s back, infiltration becomes suicide.]

Nova’s gaze sharpened.

"Then we’ll strike before she returns."

[Smart. We’re not ready to face her. Our power is not complete and she has too many resources. If you try to confront Urn directly now, I doubt even your new aether core will be enough.]

Nyx said.

"I know. That’s why I won’t."

Nova muttered.

[I’ll keep monitoring from here. Just don’t die before I come to get you.]

Nova allowed himself a faint smirk.

"You say that like you’d miss me."

[I’d be annoyed. Now get some rest. Clock’s ticking.]

Nyx replied coolly.

The signal faded out with a soft chime. Nova closed his hand over the comm and leaned his head back against the wall.

Seven days.

The next morning, the base was alive with chatter, clanking trays, and the low hum of announcements echoing over the intercom.

The breakfast bar was crowded, mostly young soldiers and recruits fighting for their share of rehydrated rations and nutrient-paste coffee.

Nova entered the room quietly, drawing a few curious glances as he picked up a tray and moved to the end of the line.

He was halfway through scanning the tables when someone called out behind him.

"Hey, Anna! There he is!"

Nova turned slightly.

Anna was standing at the entrance, her hair pulled into a rushed braid and shadows under her eyes.

She looked like she hadn’t slept properly in days. The moment she spotted Nova, her entire face lit up.

Around her, two soldiers snickered and elbowed each other.

"Is that him? She’s been asking about some tall guy all week."

One whispered.

Anna turned red.

"Shut it. You two are pathetic."

She snapped, voice quick.

The soldiers laughed harder, but Anna ignored them and walked briskly toward Nova, her huffing breath barely hiding her embarrassment.

"You could’ve said hi sooner."

She muttered once she reached him.

"I just got here."

Nova replied simply, watching her expression.

Anna rolled her eyes but smiled.

"Well, it’s good to see you. You didn’t look like you died, so I assume you passed."

"I did."

Nova stepped aside to make space for her at the food counter.

Nova leaned back in his chair, his fingers wrapped around the lukewarm metal of his coffee mug as he watched Anna pick at her breakfast.

She looked half-asleep, but still managed to flash him a crooked grin.

"How was your assessment?"

He asked, voice low enough to avoid drawing attention from the soldiers around them.

Anna groaned, dropping her fork with a clatter.

"I passed. Somehow. But I swear I had no idea what I was doing half the time. I just... copied whatever the person next to me was doing."

Nova raised an eyebrow.

"You passed just by copying?"

"Apparently. I think the guy beside me actually knew what he was doing. I just tweaked a few things to make it look different."

She said, lifting her tray with one hand and stifling a yawn with the other.

Nova sipped his drink, amused. She wasn’t a trained engineer, not really. But she was quick on her feet. That kind of adaptability could be just as valuable as raw skill.

"That’s one way to pass," he said.

Anna smirked.

"Fake it ’til you make it, right?"

Their meal didn’t last long. Barely ten minutes after they finished eating, an alert buzzed across their comms, directing all newly placed units to their respective divisions for orientation and light training.

Nova’s division was located deeper in the west wing, where most of the seasoned combat squads were stationed.

Nova made his way across the training grounds, the buzz of early drills echoing all around. The soldiers there looked older and far more disciplined.

Their armor was heavier, movement sharper, and most of them carried themselves like they’d seen real battles.

It was a different energy from the ragtag bunch he had been grouped with during the trials.

At the front of the sparring ring stood Commander Zero, arms folded, his expression unreadable as he scanned the incoming group.

"There he is. Everyone, attention."

Zero muttered when he saw Nova, then raised his voice.

The soldiers quickly snapped into line.

"I want you all to meet someone special today. This is Nova. He’ll be joining us as an upper officer. Skipped two ranks after his little performance yesterday."

The commander said. He waved Nova forward.

A few soldiers whispered among themselves. Others barely held back their scowls.

Nova kept his expression neutral. He could feel the hostility rise like a thick fog.

Most of the squad had likely fought and bled for years to climb the ranks. To see an unknown humanoid suddenly leapfrog above them left a bitter taste.

Zero smirked, fully aware of the tension.

"I can see your faces. You’re wondering why a humanoid’s here. Why someone you’ve never seen gets to skip ahead."

He stepped closer to Nova and clapped him on the back.

"Because he took down a chimera with his bare hands. And I like results. Don’t like it? You’re free to leave."

Zero said.

No one moved. No one dared to.

Zero turned back to Nova.

"You’ll shadow my second for today’s session. Tomorrow, you’ll lead the morning drills."

Nova nodded.

"Understood."

As he stepped back, the glares followed him like shadows. A few muttered curses reached his ears. He ignored them.

He’d dealt with worse.

Nova stood beside the second-in-command, silently observing the drills.

Soldiers launched into formations, their moves practiced and sharp, but Nova could tell many were still watching him from the corner of their eyes.

After the drills ended, Zero called for a break. Nova remained still, arms crossed as he memorized every face that had sneered at him.

He wasn’t here to make friends. He was here to finish the mission—no matter what it took.

___

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