A Lan could hear the heartbeats of those around him and use them to judge their strength.
Back when those young people were undergoing their trials, he had used this talent to pledge himself to a very low-key, down-and-out-looking man. In the end, that man eliminated all the other Trial Takers and became the champion. A Lan had naturally followed him into the starry sky.
But things hadn't gone as well as he'd expected. The man was supposedly from some Dark Phoenix Clan, and he hadn't thought much of A Lan. He'd dumped him here, on the border between the Endless Territory and the Technology Starfield.
The Technology Starfield attacked the Endless Territory from time to time, and the border had long since grown used to it. But A Lan knew a secret: someone had provoked this war between the Technology Starfield and the border. He even knew who it was. Though he didn't know why that person had launched a suicidal attack on the Technology Starfield, the war had been started by him.
He hated war because he could die at any moment. Fortunately, though, it hadn't lasted long.
A Lan leaned comfortably against the wall and gazed out at the dark starry sky. The distant star was probably about to collapse, too.
Suddenly, A Lan's expression changed dramatically. His pupils contracted, and he instinctively covered his ears. What had he heard? A heartbeat that shook the universe. He had never heard such a powerful heartbeat—not even from those supposedly mighty experts. Their heartbeats were nowhere near as strong. He couldn't say just how great the difference was, but his instincts told him it was enormous.
He looked up, but saw nothing. Still, he was certain that someone had passed by just now, and that person was so powerful