After exploring every corner of the Abode of the Sky—wandering through floating gardens where essence flowers bloomed in impossible colors, walking along marble corridors that shifted gently to guide their steps, and marveling at halls lined with living star maps—the family finally arrived at the control chamber, a vast circular room at the fortress's heart.
Sanya stepped inside first and immediately tilted her head in curiosity, eyes wide as she took in the smooth, seamless panels, glowing holographic displays that hovered without wires or screens, and the central crystalline orb pulsing softly with inner light.
"Brother, what is this place?" she asked, voice full of wonder. "It looks exactly like the control room of a spaceship from the movies, but there are no wires, no buttons, nothing mechanical at all."
Kamal and Neelam nodded in agreement, both scanning the room with the same mix of fascination and confusion, wondering what purpose such an advanced-looking chamber served in their new floating home.
The Heart Clone stepped forward, his warm aura steady as always, and spoke slowly so they could absorb every word.
"It really is a control chamber, just like in the movies—but instead of controlling a spaceship, it controls the entire fortress."
He paused to let the idea settle, then continued with calm clarity.
"Through this chamber, we can move the fortress slowly, drifting like clouds across the sky, or we can perform spatial jumps to reach distant destinations instantly. We can even ascend into outer space for exploration—exactly like a spaceship, but far more powerful and flexible."
The words struck the family like a gentle thunderclap.
Their mouths fell open in unison.
They had imagined the fortress could shift position a little—perhaps hover higher or drift to a new valley—but the idea that it could travel freely through space, visit the moon, the stars, or anywhere in the universe, left them speechless with awe.
Sanya recovered first, her excitement bubbling over as she bounced on her toes.
"Brother! Let's go to the moon first! Please, I want to see it up close!"
Kamal and Neelam exchanged stunned glances, their own childhood dreams of space exploration suddenly feeling within reach.
Rudra, who had read Many books about planets and stars despite being only three years old, jumped up and down with unrestrained joy, shouting, "Let's go! Let's go to space!"
But the Heart Clone raised a gentle hand, his voice still calm and patient.
"Not now. You haven't seen the main thing yet."
The family's faces fell with disappointment—they had tasted the promise of universe adventure only to be told to wait—but that disappointment quickly turned into burning curiosity.
What could possibly be more important than exploring space? Whatever it was, if Heart thought it worth delaying their first space journey, it had to be truly extraordinary.
Without another word, the Heart Clone led them deeper into the fortress, through hidden corridors that opened only at his approach, until they reached a quiet, empty hall dominated by a single massive gate at its center—simple, unadorned, yet radiating a faint hum of power.
Aside from the gate, the room held nothing else.
The family exchanged puzzled looks, wondering where this mysterious door would take them.
Rudra, as always the boldest, ran forward and pushed the gate open with both hands, followed closely by Sanya, then Kamal and Neelam, and finally Astra lumbering behind.
The Heart Clone did not stop them—he simply followed, a faint smile hidden.
When the gate swung wide, a dense, vibrant forest greeted them on the other side—ancient trees towering high, sunlight filtering through emerald leaves, the air thick with rich essence and the distant sound of flowing water.
The family stepped through cautiously, surprised to find an entire wilderness.
Rudra dashed ahead eagerly, Sanya scooping him up into her arms and activating her Void Step shoes, the special artifacts that let her walk on air as though it were solid ground.
Kamal and Neelam followed suit, activating their own shoes and rising upward to gain a better view of the vast expanse.
Astra needed no help—since reaching Stage 2 of the Primal Harmony Ascendancy, she could fly naturally, her body lifted into the air with graceful ease, following the family upward.
When they all reached a high vantage point above the treetops, the true scale of the place unfolded before them: an enormous landmass stretching as far as the eye could see, filled with rolling forests, sparkling lakes and rivers, towering mountains capped with white snow, and rolling plains dotted with crystal-clear waterfalls.
Then Astra suddenly let out a surprised exclamation, her voice echoing across the sky.
"Ha? That beast is powerful… Ah, there's that one too… and more… I fought this beast before…"