Nova had already read three-quarters of the book, and currently, he was in the years 2501 to 2650.
"The year 2501: Mankind has finally come into contact with an alien species! This was another revolutionary point for humanity!
These species were called Shuras! They looked exactly like humans, except for the fact that they possessed horns on their heads. A male Shura had two horns, while a female had one.
They possessed tremendous strength and could perform feats that were beyond human capabilities. To a normal human, their abilities seemed almost magical.
"These Shuras could control the energy of the world! The elements! Fire, water, earth, lightning, and many more complex elements! On top of that, they had extraordinary strength!"
"The Shuras were extremely arrogant, considering themselves part of a group called the major species and deeming other species as minor ones," Nova continued. "Slowly, humankind started to learn about these topics."
"The universe also had 22 higher species, 100,000 major species, 100,000,000 minor species, while the rest were considered and called the ''weaker ones''," Nova explained.
"Hehe, when the Shuras came to know that humans are now part of the higher species, then they must have cried until no tears came out," - Comment by William Oslov
"The year 2507: Humans discovered more alien species, and within the span of two years, they started to develop themselves even further with the help of alien resources. In 2507, they successfully established themselves as a minor species," Nova shared with excitement.
As Nova continued reading further, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride and wonder at the remarkable progress of humanity over the years.
Nova continued reading further on his own, coming to the final year in the history book.
"The year 2700: Humankind has finally established itself as a major species. This is extremely shocking to other races! How could a species that wasn''t even categorized as a minor species establish themselves as a major one within the span of 200 years?" Nova read with a sense of awe.
"This was the year in which humankind became part of an alliance between seven races. And this was the year a cold war between races started.
This cold war was going to serve as a foundation for the future galactic war," Nova murmured, his voice filled with intrigue.
As he read about the momentous events that had shaped the course of human history, Nova couldn''t help but feel a mix of emotions.
The progress of humanity from being a minor species to a major one, along with the complexities of intergalactic relations, filled him with wonder and excitement.
Nova finally completed reading volume one. He wanted to read the next volume, but he checked the time and realized it was already 8:00 in the evening. With the curfew at 10:00, he knew he needed to have dinner before it was too late.
Reluctantly closing the holographic book, Nova felt a sense of eagerness to continue reading but understood the importance of following the academy''s rules and maintaining a proper schedule.
"You think you can bump into me like that and just say sorry? That''s it?!" Suddenly, Nova froze in his tracks. He was on his way to the cafeteria, looking forward to a meal.
At the academy, students were entitled to free meals up to 50 dollars each day to ensure they didn''t go hungry. However, an unexpected confrontation halted him in his steps.
A harsh voice pierced the air, causing Nova''s body to tense up. Turning his head slightly, he saw a group of boys, all seemingly around ten years old. One of them was pinning another boy with brown hair and brown eyes against the wall, while the others stood around them menacingly.
''Bully''—this one word echoed in Nova''s mind. He had encountered bullies in his previous school, but his intelligence and wit had allowed him to avoid their torment for the most part.
Despite the year being 4990, a time of advanced technology and progress, bullying still persisted. In this fiercely competitive world, the authorities wouldn''t interfere unless the bullying reached extreme levels or resulted in severe consequences.
Nova grappled with conflicting emotions. He wanted to help the victim but knew that intervening directly could make him a target too. Fear gnawed at him, as he weighed the risks and consequences of getting involved.
In a quick decision, Nova activated the recording function on his wristwatch, discreetly capturing the scene as evidence. It was the best he could do for now without drawing too much attention.
His heart pounding, Nova searched for someone with more authority. Spotting a senior student who had interacted with academy staff before, Nova approached him quietly and showed him the recorded footage on his wristwatch.
The senior student''s expression changed as he watched the video, understanding the gravity of the situation. Nova whispered, "Bullying is happening near the cafeteria. I don''t want to intervene directly, but I thought you should know."Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
The senior nodded, recognizing Nova''s concern. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I''ll handle it discreetly."
Feeling a mix of relief and worry, Nova returned to the cafeteria line, trying to focus on getting his meal. Though he couldn''t directly intervene, he hoped that his actions would help bring justice to the victim and put an end to the bullying.
After finishing his dinner, Nova stood up, ready to head back to his dorm. The curfew time was 11:00, and it was currently 09:30, giving him plenty of time to get settled for the night.
However, just as he was walking toward his dorm, he was stopped by the senior student he had informed about the bullying incident earlier.
"What''s the matter?" questioned Nova, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice. The senior, who appeared to be around 15 years old, smiled, but there was something off about it that sent shivers down Nova''s spine. "Don''t worry," the senior replied, his voice sounding strangely calm.
Nova''s heart started racing as he sensed danger lurking in the air. Instinctively, he took a step back, intending to sprint away, but before he could react, the senior grabbed his wrist firmly, preventing him from escaping.
Nova''s heart pounded in his chest, fear gripping him as he tried to pull away, but the senior''s grip was surprisingly strong.
Without saying a word, the senior dragged Nova towards a secluded corner, his hand covering Nova''s mouth to stifle any sound.
In that split second, Nova''s eyes darted around the corner and landed on a chilling scene. There, a ten-year-old boy with striking green hair and eyes sat arrogantly in a chair.
He was surrounded by three intimidating seniors who looked to be around fifteen to sixteen years old, their imposing figures creating a chilling atmosphere.
The sight that truly sent a jolt of shock through Nova was the figure lying on the cold ground. It was another boy, around the same age as Nova, with ashy black hair and deep black eyes.
The boy was alarmingly pale, his body covered in painful bruises and his clothing stained with his own blood. Blood leaked from the corner of his lips, a clear sign of the harsh treatment he had been subjected to.
The boy''s body trembled slightly, each shaky breath he took a painful reminder of the abuse he had endured. His eyes, however, burned with a fierce determination, a silent promise of defiance in the face of such adversity.
The green-haired boy seemed to take perverse pleasure in the black-haired boy''s pain. He kicked at the wounded boy, his cruel laughter echoing through the corner, each laugh a chilling testament to his complete disregard for the boy''s suffering.
''Shit!'' Nova cursed inwardly, his mind racing.
The green-haired boy shifted his attention to Nova, a malicious grin spreading across his face. "So you''re that punk who dared to snitch on me," he sneered. "Not that it would have amounted to anything, but I do admire your courage... especially when it comes from such a weakling."
Bam!
A deafening sound resonated through the space, and Nova felt a brutal punch land on his stomach. He staggered back from the impact, the taste of blood flooding his mouth. His vision blurred momentarily, the pain causing him to lose focus.
With a hand clutching his stomach, he steadied himself, refusing to buckle under the agonizing pain. Nova had been blindsided, caught off guard by the sudden assault.
In a sudden, cruel twist, the senior standing beside him delivered a vicious kick to his abdomen. Nova bit back a cry of pain, crumpling to his knees.
His frail body was ill-equipped to handle such a forceful blow, resulting in severe damage and, likely, internal injuries.
As he struggled to get back on his feet, a vice-like grip clamped around his neck. Without a moment''s hesitation, the senior hurled him two meters away like a rag doll. Nova collided with the ground harshly, every nerve in his body screaming in agony.
Nova''s eyes were bloodshot as he bit back a scream, the taste of copper filling his mouth. In an instinctual move to survive, he attempted to roll away, to put some distance between him and his tormentors.
But before he could get far, a boot slammed into his chest, the impact resounding like a clap of thunder in his ears. The force of it sent shockwaves of pain through his body, eliciting an agonized cry from his lips.
"Aaaaaaaaa!"
Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes, blurring his vision. Blood dribbled down his chin, staining the floor beneath him a stark red.
"Mom," he weakly whispered, the image of his mother, Isabell, emerging like a beacon of warmth in the darkness.
The desire to see her again, to be enveloped in her comforting embrace, fueled his determination to endure the pain.
His lips pressed together in a thin line, his fingers dug into his palms as he attempted to get up again. His body trembled, but he gritted his teeth, stubbornly refusing to remain on the ground. His efforts, however, were in vain as his knees buckled, sending him crashing back down.
"Hehe, I was getting bored with Samuel. Thankfully, another clown appeared to entertain me," the green-haired boy, Ryan Hall, sneered as he sauntered over to Nova. He squatted beside the fallen boy, his cold eyes glinting with malicious amusement.
Without any warning, he shoved a pill into Nova''s mouth. The healing pill was bitter but quickly melted away, sending a soothing wave through his body.
Though it wouldn''t heal his injuries instantly, Nova could tell it was a powerful restorative that would help him recover faster.
"Tomorrow, 3:00 PM, at the restaurant. If not, then..." Ryan''s threat hung in the air, the words unsaid yet loud in their implication. He stood up, dusting off his trousers, his gaze never leaving Nova''s face.
"My name''s Ryan Hall," he introduced himself with a cruel grin, etching his name into Nova''s memory.
With that, he and his cohorts left Nova lying on the ground, their laughter echoing off the walls, a chilling reminder of their encounter.
Nova remained sprawled on the cold floor, his body immobile as if frozen in place. The pain coursing through him was intense, the chill of the floor seeping into his bruised body. For more than ten agonizing minutes, he laid there, each second stretching into an eternity.
Suddenly, a timid voice broke the oppressive silence. "I... I am so-rry. It''s all my fault." The words stuttered out in a rush, thick with guilt and regret.
Slowly, painfully, Nova turned his head towards the source of the voice, his gaze landing on the ashy-haired ten-year-old boy from earlier.
"It''s not your fault," Nova reassured him with a pained smile. The smile, however, quickly twisted into a grimace as a spasm of pain wracked his body.
He had witnessed plenty of bullying in his previous school, but nothing like this. The severity of the situation scared him, but he tried to keep his fear from showing on his face.
His mind spun with questions and worries. ''What should I do?'' He asked himself. He knew he couldn''t afford to panic. He needed a plan, a strategy to protect himself and others from this bullying.
In the midst of his turmoil, the ashy-haired boy, Samuel, hesitantly reached out, offering Nova a helping hand to stand up. "I... am sorry. Please forgive me," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Nova slowly pushed himself up, grimacing as pain flared up in his battered body. "Don''t mention it. I''m Nova," he introduced himself, putting on a brave face despite the pain coursing through him.
The boy nodded in acknowledgment, a glimmer of relief visible in his eyes.
"Samuel,"