KamiKowa: That Time I Got Transmigrated With A Broken Goddess Chapter 10: [10] Welcome To The Crown

Xavier plumted through the void. Colors streaked past him—electric blue, molten gold, crimson, violet—stretching into infinite ribbons that wrapped around his falling form. Information flooded his consciousness, downloading directly into his brain.

Mother: Elaine Valentine. 42. Nurse at rcy General, Los Angeles mainland. Divorced when you were 2. Father unknown.

Ho: Apartnt 1103, Midtown Heights, Island Two.

Background: Awakened at 16 during a mugging. D-rank assessnt. Scholarship to Catalyst contingent on maintaining minimum performance trics.

Current funds: $4,820 dollars.

Xavier's mind struggled to process the data dump while his body continued falling. mories that weren't his blended with his own. He rembered growing up in a small apartnt. His mother working double shifts. The sll of disinfectant that clung to her scrubs. The way she'd stroke his hair when he had nightmares.

Not real. Not real. Not real.

But it felt real. The manufactured mories carried emotional weight—birthday cakes with precisely one candle for each year, howork spread across a kitchen table, argunts about curfew.

His descent accelerated. The void below opened into a brilliant white light. Xavier closed his eyes as he plunged through.

"—attention passengers, we are beginning our final approach to Nexus Point."

Xavier's eyes snapped open. He sat in a plush leather seat, safety harness secured across his chest. Around him, other passengers chatted or stared out panoramic windows. Beyond the glass, open ocean stretched for miles, broken only by three massive islands rising from the depths.

What the fuck?

He glanced down at himself. He wore dark jeans, a fitted gray t-shirt, and a black jacket with subtle electric blue piping along the seams. His fingers bore no rings—just bare, unscarred skin.

"First ti to The Crown?"

Xavier turned. A businessman in his fifties occupied the seat beside him, tablet displaying stock market figures in one hand, cocktail in the other.

"That obvious?" Xavier asked.

"Catalyst student?"

"How'd you guess?"

The man nodded toward Xavier's wrist, where a sleek black band displayed his student ID in glowing blue: CAT-2055-D-1447.

"Ah." Xavier tapped the band with his finger. "Dead giveaway."

"D-rank, huh?" The businessman took a sip of his drink. "My daughter's C-rank. Second year."

Xavier leaned back, assessing the man with new eyes. Parent of an Awakened. Probably rich enough to support her without scholarship. Traveling business class to visit.

"Congratulations," Xavier said. "C-rank's impressive."

The man's chest puffed slightly. "She worked hard for it. Enhancent type, physical reinforcent. Nothing flashy, but reliable."

A holographic display activated above each seat, showing a sleek female hunter with flowing black hair. She wore a skintight red bodysuit covered in corporate logos as she sliced through a gelatinous blue monster.

"Miyuki Tanaka, A-rank emission specialist, relies on KIRIN ENERGY CRYSTALS for peak performance during extended gate operations," announced a smooth voice. "Kirin—when failure isn't an option."

The businessman chuckled. "The endorsent deals are where the real money is. You planning to go pro after graduation?"

Xavier watched the hunter in the ad execute a perfect flip, energy blasts erupting from her fingertips. "Sothing like that."

"Well, good luck." The man returned to his tablet. "The world could always use more hunters."

Xavier turned to the window, studying the approaching islands. The campus of Catalyst Academy dominated the first island.

The second island sprawled with skyscrapers, their glass surfaces reflecting sunlight in rainbow patterns. Magnetic trains curved between them on elevated tracks, while smaller air vehicles navigated designated lanes.

The third island appeared more industrial, with massive processing facilities and research complexes.

A vibration in his pocket pulled Xavier's attention from the view. He reached in and pulled out a sleek smartphone.

Mom❤️: Just checking if you landed yet. Text when you're settled. Love you!

Xavier stared at the ssage. The contact image showed a woman in her early forties with laugh lines around her eyes and short white hair. Her smile looked tired but genuine.

His thumb hovered over the reply button. According to his implanted mories, Elaine Valentine had worked back-to-back shifts for three years to afford his apartnt off-campus. She'd sold their car, moved to a smaller place, picked up weekend shifts—all so he could chase his dream of becoming a hunter.

A dream he'd never actually had, in a life he'd never actually lived.

Xavier switched off the phone and slipped it back into his pocket. He'd call later. Definitely.

"Ladies and gentlen, we are making our final approach to Nexus Point," the captain announced. "Please secure any loose items and remain seated until we've fully docked. Current local ti is 14:32. Weather conditions are optimal with crystal resonance levels at standard baseline. Thank you for flying Pacific Skyways."

The airship banked gently, providing a sweeping view of Island Two—the tro Core. Xavier pressed his hand against the window, taking in the city below. Crystal-powered billboards displayed hunter rankings, corporate advertisents, and gate status reports. One massive display showed a live feed of a gate clearing operation, where a team of C-rank hunters battled what looked like a giant mantis.

"Gate activity increased twelve percent this quarter," the businessman remarked, noticing Xavier's interest. "Good ti to be a hunter."

"Or a bad ti to be everyone else," Xavier muttered.

The man laughed. "That's why we pay you the big bucks."

A new advertisent replaced Miyuki Tanaka. This one featured a male hunter with a shaved head and arms like tree trunks. He stood atop a mountain of monster corpses, biceps bulging as he chugged a glowing blue beverage.

"MAXIMUM STRIKE PROTEIN SUPPLENT—FORMULATED FOR ENHANCENT TYPES. CRUSH YOUR LIMITS."

The ads continued cycling through products—specialized clothing lines, crystal-infused costics, energy drinks, training equipnt, all endorsed by hunters with perfect bodies and dazzling abilities.

Xavier's attention shifted to the people below. From this height, he could see the city's stratification. The Heights district featured sprawling penthouses with private landing pads, while Midtown—where his apartnt waited—consisted of mid-range high-rises packed tightly together. Further out, the Boroughs housed the non-Awakened support staff in utilitarian blocks.

The airship descended toward a massive docking station atop a gleaming tower. chanical arms extended to secure the vessel as it settled into place with barely a shudder.

"Welco to Nexus Point," announced the captain. "The Crown Jewel of the Pacific. Passengers may now disembark. Please ensure you have all personal belongings. For visitors, please proceed to security screening. For residents and returning citizens, standard identity verification is required at all exits. Thank you for choosing Pacific Skyways."

The businessman stood, collecting his tablet. "Word of advice, kid."

Xavier looked up. "Yeah?"

"Don't let the rankings define you. My daughter obsessed over them her first year. Nearly burned out. Rember why you're doing this."

Xavier nodded, though he had no idea why he was doing this.

The businessman extended his hand. "Hank Wilson."

Xavier shook it. "Xavier Valentine."

"Good luck at Catalyst, Xavier. Maybe I'll see your face on one of these ads soday."

As Hank walked away, Xavier remained seated, watching other passengers gather their belongings. A family with two small children who stared wide-eyed at a hunter passing through first class. A group of business executives discussing crystal futures markets. A couple wearing matching "I ♥ NEXUS" tourist shirts.

A world utterly foreign yet intimately familiar thanks to the mories implanted in his mind.

Xavier finally stood, retrieving a sleek black duffel bag from the overhead compartnt—packed with clothes he'd never bought and personal items he'd never owned. He joined the line of disembarking passengers, student ID band glowing on his wrist.

The exit ramp led to a spacious terminal with soaring ceilings and crystal chandeliers that shifted colors in response to passenger density. Holographic signs directed different categories of arrivals—RESIDENTS, VISITORS, RETURNING HUNTERS, NEW STUDENTS.

Xavier followed the NEW STUDENTS path, which led to a desk staffed by a woman.

"ID please," she said without looking up from her screen.

Xavier held out his wrist. She scanned his band with a handheld device.

"Xavier Valentine, first year." She tapped sothing on her screen. "Your accommodations in Midtown Heights have been verified. Basic orientation materials have been uploaded to your student portal. Classes begin in three days. Orientation is tomorrow at 1200. Transportation passes have been loaded to your account."

She finally looked up, her entirely blue eyes—no whites, no pupils—giving him a cursory once-over.

"Welco to Nexus Point, Mr. Valentine. The shuttle to Midtown departs from Platform C in twenty minutes."

Xavier nodded. "Thanks."

As he walked away, his phone vibrated again. Another ssage from "Mom." He ignored it, focusing instead on the massive wall of screens displaying live hunter rankings, gate status reports, and breaking news.

The top headline scrolled across in bold letters: "S-RANK HUNTER 'STORMFRONT' SUCCESSFULLY CLEARS TIER-4 GATE IN RECORD TI. PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 1800 HOURS."

Below it, smaller headlines competed for attention:

"CRYSTAL MARKET SURGES AFTER NEW VEIN DISCOVERED IN TIER-3 GATE"

"CONTROVERSY AS C-RANK HUNTER ACCUSED OF USING ILLEGAL ENHANCENTS"

"CATALYST ACADEMY WELCOS NEW CLASS—DIRECTOR ANGELO PREDICTS 'EXCEPTIONAL TALENT'"

Xavier adjusted his bag on his shoulder and stepped onto the escalator leading down to the shuttle platforms. The mories in his head told him this was a dream co true—his chance to beco soone important in this world of monsters and magic.

His actual mories told him it was just another ga of survival. Learn the rules, master the system, find the advantages.

He'd done it before. He'd do it again.

The shuttle waited at Platform C, doors open to receive passengers. As Xavier stepped aboard, he glanced at his reflection in the polished surface beside the door—white hair, purple eyes, face unmarked by the scars and hardships of his previous life.

The doors hissed closed behind him as the shuttle prepared to depart.

Welco to The Crown.