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My eyes opened, and the first thing that struck me was her face. A woman of flawless, pale skin, hair like deep crimson silk cascading over her shoulders, eyes that held storms and fire at once. My chest tightened, memories of a distant world clawing at my mind.
"Ela."
I whispered, my voice barely audible.
My body had returned to its usual form, yet the echoes of Kalidor lingered, vivid and unrelenting. It felt like a dream… no, a memory too real to dismiss.
(His mind blurring what happened to prevent any unwanted distractions.)
Without warning, she pulled me into her arms, holding me with a desperation that made my own heartbeat stutter. I could feel the tremor in her, a life's worth of unspoken fears and relief pressed into a single embrace.
"Was I asleep?"
I asked, needing confirmation more than I realised.
From the corner of the room, Zhou observed in his usual posture, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed, the very embodiment of calm.
"You don't remember anything?"
He asked, his icy tone slicing through the fragile warmth of the reunion.
"Just… asking for confirmation."
I said, my gaze still fixed on Ela.
"What were you thinking, going to Kalidor?"
Zhou's voice was sharp, deliberate, demanding accountability.
"What do you expect from a curious dwarf?"
I countered, the corner of my mouth twitching into a smirk.
"Tell us what happened."
He pressed, his stance unyielding.
Ela, still holding the empty space where I had been, softened slightly.
"He just woke up, Ton. Let him rest."
"I'm fine."
I said, using Aether Move to shift to the other side of the bed, leaving her embrace empty yet warm.
"That thing… are you still using it?"
She asked, my fingers unconsciously tracing the faint outlines of power still lingering in the room.
"Yeah. And you want the story? It's not a short one. Prepare yourselves."
I replied, eyes gleaming with the gravity of what was to come.
I began narrating my entire journey in Kalidor from Veyra to Dualith. I was as detailed as possible and didn't leave anything, including my encounter with those foreign entities.
"...and I found myself here."
They were speechless, surprised, and most of all proud.
"Not all Stars can do what you just did. Even Hypergods."
Ton commented.
"I can see why you chose to forfeit training."
"But you know the risk."
"I'll never use it even in dire times. I know the risks."
I replied to the protective Elara.
"Where's the Egg?"
She asked. I raised my palm, darkness teleporting it from where I kept it. Sensei's eyes blinked open, azure eyes locked onto the substance.
"Are you going to take it back?"
I asked a question meant for Lady Elara.
"No. I'm curious to see the future you'll bring."
"Curious Omni."
I smirked, renaming myself.
"Where's Errai and Eltanin?"
The two who'll definitely be punished for letting me leave.
"I released them after bringing you here."
'Who knows what torment Lady Elara put them through. I can't even imagine what it will be like.'
"You said King Arcab knew his Constellation was destined to fall. Was another of them present during the O-Class?"
I asked, my voice steady.
"They wouldn't be foolish enough to keep their past form." Elara replied.
"The Supreme Star was certain all the Scorpios were extinguished during the Rebellion."
"So the Traitor was with his Constellation when they were killed."
I muttered, piecing it together.
"He must've done it to avoid suspicion. But taking such a risk… it means they're confident they'll survive a combo of void and death."
"Not just any void and death."
Zhou interjected, his tone icy and precise.
"Forces from Dark Stars, like the Void Emperor and Death Knight. Void and death are absolute. To kill, separate, erase… nullify from existence. No trace remains."
"That makes rebirth impossible. There's no way they survived."
I replied, the weight of the logic pressing down.
"Surely."
Elara continued, shaking her head before a faint, knowing smile tugged at her lips.
"Those two wiped out the Scorpios, defeated us, and killed the Star Dragon. Being first to be executed… survival isn't an option."
Her eyes flicked to me, sharp and decisive
"So… he's the one."
All eyes turned to her.
"You know who it was?"
I asked, the words barely leaving my lips.
"I did."
She said, calm but precise.
"They left The Book, but something slipped back into Existence. Among the Scorpios, there was one greedy Star. A Star who always exhaled in rebirth. She was always outside, fulfilling their hunger for power. They execute with precision, taking time to get exactly what they want. Confident that rebirth will save them… never in a hurry."
'A skill to survive void collapse and existential death… that's…'
My mind reeled.
"I can't believe it's him."
She whispered.
"The Edict called him Xa…di…ru or something. I couldn't quite catch it."
I said.
"The first and last Binary Star, Xamidimaru."
She confirmed, voice dropping like a hammer.
My heart leapt, a chill running down my spine. Recognition, fear, and a strange sense of inevitability swirled within me.
'The Traitor who gave his Constellation away for power. He must've joined the Void Dragons, tasted darkness… perhaps even the void itself.'
Each thought pushed my pulse faster. The pieces had aligned, and the name echoed in my mind, heavy and unavoidable.
'The way they carried themselves, if those guys were Void Dragons, they might have been the Phantoms. This means that Xamidimaru is one of the Phantoms. I'll keep that as a possible 'what if' scenario.'
"Anta chan."
Lady Elara snapped me out.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about it."
"Will the Dragons come find him?"
Zhou asked.
"We can't go to Kalidor, but they can come to the Pond, Elyvra precisely."
"You're right. The Monarchs descending isn't a threat to the Pond but finding Antares with the Egg."
'I can find my way out, but I need to leave the Pond. I need more.'
"Yeah. I think the person who chased me down is a Monarch."
"That's Mystralis, inheritor of the Fragment Astraelle. Knowing him, he can, no, he knows you're here. There must be a reason why he hasn't descended."
'Even if he comes, he'll never find me. Thank to the True Void Singularity, of course.'
"Where should he go?"
'I don't know anything outside the Star Realm but the Grand Lord's multiverse. That's a good option, too.'
"The Grand Lord's multiverse."
I brought my opinion.
"That's too far, and the journey is dangerous."
"If that's all you're worried about, then you shouldn't. I can take care of myself."
"Alone for a thousand years in a restricted area. I don't think it'll be any problem."
Zhou backs me up.
"He just got back. I'm not done keeping him for myself."
She moved, trying to cuddle me, but I'm no longer a child. I dodged easily, staying suspended in the air.
"I'm too old for that, Lady Elara."
"You're not fast enough for me."
She replied by catching me off guard, pulling me midair into an inescapable cuddle. She held me tight, my lungs screaming for help.
"I don't want you to go."
She said.
"I must. The little bird has to leave his nest, remember?"
I replied.
"I'll leave immediately after visiting my friends."
I withdrew the egg, changing my dress.
"Too early? You're exhausted, you don't even know..."
"I didn't fall from heaven Ela. I came back here willingly. As for stamina, let's say that's I have crazy reserve. I'll be back before leaving."
With that, I teleported to the city, Phoros, but I couldn't find Errai's signature.
"Well, I hope Eltanin is home."
I teleported to Norvethis right where it all started. The portal broke after my usage. I walked over, my hand resting on the Gate.
"So much happened there."
I said not to myself but the person who appeared within disturbing the wind.
"I knew you'd come back, but you took your time."
I turned and there he was, Eltanin.
He is wrapped head to toe in white bandages, his flesh entirely concealed, yet his royal attire and hair remained untouched, a stark contrast to the mummified figure before me.
"What happened?"
I asked, unable to mask the tension in my voice.
"Hmm."
He murmured, a chuckle slipping through the wrappings. "It's best not to talk about it."
"Oh...okay. And Errai?"
"The Slothful Bastard is still in recovery."
He replied smoothly. His disdain for Cepheus seemed to stretch beyond mere mortal grudges.
"I'm sorry for putting you all into trouble."
I said quietly. It's the least I could say for.
He raised a hand, dismissive.
"It's alright. I'm not sorry for letting you use the portal. If it can't be used by just anyone, someone worthy like you deserves it. So… how's home?"
"The last three Realms were a living hell."
I said.
"The atmosphere alone… it's enough to bring anyone to their knees."
He laughed, low and knowing, at my description.
"Home sweet home."
He said.
"I won't be inquisitive, so I'll jump straight to conclusions. Why are you here?"
"I'm leaving the Star Realm. I came to say goodbye to my friends."
"Don't be a mortal."
He chuckled, voice sharp but warm.
"Where's your destination?"
I shrugged, letting the silence hang.
"The Cardinal World, Grand Lord's multiverse."
"That's a wise choice. You'll be safe over there. And let me guess, you're going to go explore?"
"Nah, I'm going to seek refuge. The Monarchs might come look for me. I should be safe there."
It wasn't truly a lie, but it's not the truth either.
"Knowledge, adventure, who knows what I'll find over there."
"Yeah. Safe journey, I just came home. I have to attend Norvethis. Sorry for keeping everything so short."
"Nah, it's alright. I understand."
"I'll tell that fool you stopped by."
He waved, and I nodded before teleporting back to Elyvra.
"Lady Elara, I'd like to be on my way as soon as possible."
I said, my voice echoing around the hall.
"Over here."
I tracked the voice, teleporting to the source. She was sitting on her throne, Zhou leaning on a pillar in front of them was a chaotic portal radiating wild energy.
"Here's the coordinates."
She sends it telepathically.
"You'll be travelling in the Sub Space. The coordinates might get mixed, or even vanish sometimes, but don't change your destination."
Sensei told me.
"Ok."
"Here."
A rose and a rose with a crystal blade blooming between the petals.
"Use this for communication. Regardless of where you are, just pull it out and talk to it. I'll respond."
The flower is inserting itself into my pocket.
"This is Rose Fang. I personally made this for you. It's nothing magical, but the durability and endurance are off the charts. You can cloak it with your void, and nothing will happen. Give it a try."
She's acting weird. She's not being Ela. She's acting as the Goddess of Life.
"Ok."
Void flames ignited on my palm, and I channelled them around the crystal blade.
<
I noted, practising a few swings.
"Flexible, my size. I love it."
I absorbed the flames, pushing Rose Fang into my dimensional storage.
"Is that all?"
"Why are you in a hurry?"
Sensei asked.
"I have a lot to learn. I'm itching to see the Cardinal World."
He gently shook his head.
"No matter where you are, never forget who you are. In a fight, never forget the first rule."
"Never underestimate your enemies and never overestimate yourself. I know. As for who I am, I'll never lose sight of that. I'm a Star, Antares, the Last King of Scorpios."
"Good. No goodbyes. We're not mortals."
He said dismissively, teleporting away, leaving me with the Goddess.
"I'll be leaving, my Lady."
Her lips curve into a faint smile.
"You've grown so much. I'm proud of you, Antares."
Our first formal conversation.
"If it wasn't for you, I'd never be like this."
I lowered my head slightly.
"Thank you."
She nodded onec, accepting my gratitude. I rose and turned, heading towards the portal.
'It went smoothly, just as I expected. To them, I'm leaving to seek refuge, a humble retreat from the Star Realm. On the outside, I'm eager to explore the world, make friends, and embrace the joys it offers. But that is all a mask. Every smile, every step, every laugh is carefully painted over my true intentions.
My real goal… is experimentation. To watch, measure and push my limits. I think someone just opened a door I never once reached for, a door leading straight to my hidden persona, the Mad Scientist.'
An evil grin spread across my lips as jingle bells chimed faintly in my Mind and black-and-white cards shuffled into place, each one whispering possibilities.
I didn't hesitate. With a single fluid motion, I leapt into the portal, letting the world outside consume me.
...
..
.
To be continued...