The convoy ship came to a halt at a station. The biggest docking station of any planet ever. It was 12 circular shaped docking stations, in which the main path connected to the famous Eria Tower. Here you could take ships, hyperloops and even the fastest taxis in the world to wherever you wanted to go.
Welcome to Tristate City. A blooming megalopolis home to at least 25 million people in a wide 1,838 square km2 ground. Despite its large population however, it is a snowy place with temperatures always below zero.
However, Tristate City has an artificial weather system where temperatures can exceed 20 degrees Celsius.
This is a great place for Weapon-Type Soul-Wielders to practice their Soul. As Testharia is the only planet with a Weapon-Type majority population.
The city was bustling, booming with top-notch infrastructure, amazing roads and amazingly clean pathways. Since Tristate City is one of the galaxy’s safest cities, everything was kept clean and pristine.
It gave off an atmosphere like being in Heaven.
“I sure do stand out quite a bit...” She assumed her eye and hair colour isn’t common on this planet. Which was a funny thought, since there is more that’s different about her than just colours.
She indeed got some weird looks from Testharians. While being typically tall, thin and pale as snow, she was far from that. She stood at a decent 5’6-5’8 height and was average weighted.
As a result, nobody dared to approach her.
She could notice that the pathway was left empty for her since Testharians distanced themselves from them. It felt like she was hated by everyone else. It really gave off that kind of a feeling, but it was a far-fetched thought.
She was just different, and Testharians had the policy to welcome any foreigners and respect everything about them. Personal space, respect. Who knows what will happen if they get on foreigners’ bad sides.
“... Ahem.” She cleared her throat and began walking around to admire the details of Tristate City. She looked to her left, then to her right. There were so many things to admire. Too much that she couldn’t count.
“I heard so many stories about Testharia... and its beautiful cities. But I never thought that it would be this amazing...” Her jaw dropped upon seeing the famous Eria Tower.
Tristate City has about 9,300 skyscrapers in total, with a poverty rate of almost 0.0001%. Nobody is poor, and nobody was rich. There is almost no crime in Tristate City due to a large deployment of patrol guards to crack down criminals any seconds.
However, the chance of that happening was extremely slim, since Testharians are peaceful people.
Some skyscrapers were holographic, with tints of orange and blue to represent the flag colours of Testharia. Orange represented Glory. Blue represented Peace. And white represented Prosperity.
They merely acted as decoration.
“This place is certainly much better than Earth...”
The Eria Tower was the tallest tower in Testharia. Standing at an impossible length of a full kilometer, it was the homeplace for the Eria Family. It acted as a hotel, office, accommodations and the top floor, was there the Eria Family lived.
She would walk towards it, gazing by how beautiful it looks.
The big entrance doors were fully gold, but it was always open for people to see inside. She pointed out the unnecessary security infringement.
“Why are the doors open? Wouldn’t they get in trouble if something bad happened?”
She made her way towards the entrance, casually entering. In the future, etiquette didn’t come to mind for her. She didn’t even think that she was infringing any rules. What are rules? Rules didn’t exist in her time.
Upon entry, she was met with a ginormous, rich looking lobby with perfectly mosaic glass floor with a hologram table that showed the entire map of Tristate City.
On her right stood the elevators which lead to certain floors. To be allowed to ride the ‘advanced’ elevators, she had to get a permit by registering herself in the lobby.
“...Urgh... a permit?” She looked at the elevators. With a small frown, she walked towards the front desk.
There was a receptionist working. They were busy taking a phone call, so they didn’t see Jumkou at first glance. The call took a good 30 seconds before they readied themself to talk to the girl needing help.
“Hello... euh...” The receptionist stared Jumkou up and down for a solid 10 seconds. It felt awkward. Too awkward. But even if the receptionist helping foreigners wasn’t a rarity anymore, they still felt overwhelmed by their presence.
“How... umm... how can I help you?” The receptionist had a hard time regaining their composure.
“Yes uhh- I uhh... I need to... acquire a permit? It says so on the elevators... I think...” She responded in an awkward tone.
“Permits... ah, yes! Permits. Just a second, please.” The receptionist suddenly vanished under the table, rummaging in the small rows under the desk. Then she reappeared again.
“What permit do you exactly need to acquire? There’s a permit for bottle deposits, a permit for the lobby on Floor 48, a permit for office rooms on Floors 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 18, and 20. There's one for the hangar on Floor 55, the library on Floor 50, and the emergency stairwell on Floor 13. You’ll need a permit for the rooftop garden on Floor 52, the cafeteria coffee machine on Floor 10, and the vending machines on every odd-numbered floor. Oh, don’t forget the permit for the maintenance closet on Floor 23, the copier in Room 207, and the restroom on Floor 15. For meeting rooms, there’s a permit for the executive conference room on Floor 21, the shared workspaces on Floor 6, and the ‘relaxation pods’ on Floor 11. There’s also one for the printer access on Floor 2, and even a permit for using the parking garage on Tuesdays. Then there’s the permit for the virtual reality training suite on Floor 26, the restricted access archives on Floor 33, and the observation deck on Floor 53, 108 and 127. If you’re using the elevators for deliveries, that’s a different permit too. The server room on Floor 3 has its own permit, as does the gym on Floor 7, and the soundproofed meeting room on Floor 22. Finally, there’s even a permit for using the break room microwave on Floor 17 and another for the key card activation process. A euthanization center on Floor 99 and lastly, a permit for Floor 128 for any kind of important meetings with the Great Kamisword or any of his family members... So, altogether, that’s...29 different permits. Which one did you need again?"
That sounded like a mouthful. Too much, in fact. She completely lost her on the permit for office rooms. At some point, she got annoyed by her unnecessary rambling about all the permits available.
Why would there be so many permits for so many things, anyway? A permit to use the vending machine? A permit for bottle deposits? Hell, a permit for a break room microwave?
“What...” The only word that came out of Jumkou’s mouth was just that. She was lost. “A permit for... the break room microwave? Why would there be a pe- I’m getting sidetracked... I need a permit for the top floor!”
She got annoyed and pouted, looking at the receptionist with strong eye contact.
“A-ah... yes, okay. I will have to confirm your name to see if it matches with Great Kamisword Eria’s meeting schedules... Are you Kali Gane?”
“No...”
“Veri Supana?”
“Mm mm...” She shook her head.
“Aria Fujimara?”
“Nope...”
“Jumkou Katatoria?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
Finally, the receptionist got it right. They smiled, reaching under the desk to get a permit ticket out. They write Jumkou’s name on it in Testharian alphabet before handing it to her.
“Here, Miss. There is a sensor next to the elevator which will immediately bring you to the top floor using your ticket.”
“Alright, thank you.” She took the ticket and made her way towards the elevator. She put the ticket against the senser of the elevator. While she did so, the door opened almost immediately. She walked in.
-
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The elevator reached Floor 128, the top floor. It opened its doors and revealed the red haired, red eyed woman in intricate, elegant clothing stepping out of it. In her point of view, she was presented with a floor of red carpet and windows that were so clean and transparent, that you wouldn’t think that there were any windows at all.
However, it looked like another huge lobby as there stood a long table with two seats.
“Wow...” She was astounded by how the room looked. Pristine looking chairs, tables that were made of gold. Art on walls that looked like oil paintings. A wine room. This was royalty, at least that’s what she was thinking.
“Wow... and this is just... a tiny amount of their wealth?” She looked around. She walked over to the table where she and the Great Kamisword would be talking. Nobody was here, just her. She decided to just wait, thinking that the Great Kamisword had serious business to attend to.
She waited for a good 10 minutes, before she heard a familiar voice to her right.
“Sorry, I was preoccupied with some serious business. The Garnitula Company wouldn’t let us off the hook so easily. He walked over to his seat.
“Sachi- I mean, Great Kamisword.” She bowed, stationing herself nervously.
“Drop the formality, we’re acquaintances. Come, take a seat.” He pointed to the other seat.
“Right.” She said, her eyes gleaming with joy. She would take the seat where Sachiel pointed at. They were going to commence their ‘meeting’, or it was just a session of small talk. Sachiel’s true purpose was to know who she was. And Jumkou’s purpose of this meeting was to know the year, the major events.
.:. Sachiel might help me understand. Such a person holding such a huge position wouldn’t know nothing about the world, right? I have to get some answers. .:.
She thought, staring Sachiel in the eye, while she was deep in thought.
“How do you like Tristate City so far? I apologise if the lack of sky frightens you. We do have a lot of high-rises after all.” He laid back on his seat’s backrest, chuckling.
“No no no, it’s amazing! It’s incredible! I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He smiled, snapping his fingers, a clean and small signal for his butler to serve some drinks for him and Jumkou. “I’m glad to hear that a foreigner likes what we’ve created. Is there a specific drink that you like?”
“Uh...” She trailed off, looking away. “Apple juice...” She said in an embarrassed manner. How dare she ruin dignity in front of this fine established king? She should’ve chosen wine, something alcoholic.
But she couldn’t handle it, at all.
“One apple juice and one Shukrann Wine, please.” He said to his butler. “I must say, that is an interesting preference.”
“Where I’m from, it’s considered rare by any means... That’s why I like it.”
“Ah! A fan of the rarest quality, are you? I must say, I’m not familiar with that kind of style of preference. We Testharians do love apple juice, though we do not drink it daily.” He chuckled.
“You could say that apple juice too, is a rarity here.”
She chuckled too. “I used to have it a lot as a kid until it made me sick to my stomach. To put it more frankly... It’s all I had.”
“I see... Ah- May I know where you are from? It would be nice to get to now you.” He sipped his Shukrann Wine, his cheeks reddening up by the quick effect of alcohol washing over him.
Shukrann Wine was a type of wine created in the winery town of Shukrann, which was closer to the Assitrea Outpost than to the capital city.
It’s known to have one of the best aftertastes in any wine ever. That’s why it’s expensive. And it would be normal for a king or a lord to drink such an extremity.
Jumkou looked up at Sachiel and answered in respect. “Oh yeah! I’m from the fu-“ She choked on her own words, realizing what she would say would turn her secret to a public announcement.
“Ah... Earth! I grew up on Earth! I’m from Earth!” She said it three times, a little panicky. She then drank her apple juice to hide it.
“Ooh... Earth. The home planet of all humans in the galaxy. I’ve heard that Earth has been in turmoil these past few years.”
Hearing that last segment instilled bad thoughts into her. These past few years, she hasn’t lived all of those. She’s from the future. “It certainly has...” She had to lie to keep her ‘grounded in the past’ persona going.
“Hey, Sachiel... Are you by any chance a... Soul-Wielder?”
“Why, yes I am.” He finished his Shukrann Wine, placing the glass on the table.
That was the moment when she completely knew that-
“I am in the right time...” She said quietly to herself.
So, she was in the right time. There were Soul-Wielders. Soul-Wielders that she didn’t know. This could only mean one thing. There are more like him. Way too many, right? This isn’t just another time where she dropped too late, right?
“How many Soul-Wielders are out there?” She asked desperately.
“If I had to take a random guess. I would say that there are about 50 mill-“
“FIFTY MILLION!?!?” She shouted from the top of her lungs, jumping up from her seat.
Sachiel Eria was taken aback by her sudden loudness. Everything about her screamed tense body language.
It wasn’t hostile, nor did he hate or dislike her sudden rash behaviour. In fact, he was completely content. Everybody would be shocked at that number. Even if it was a rough guess. 50 million Soul-Wielders.
The chance of becoming a Soul-Wielder was so low, but practicing enough to utilize Soul Energy was high. However, to be using the best of abilities a Soul has to offer, you would have to be born with it.
That was a high bar set up by the Rim of the Universe Gods. It’s an intricate gift from time. It gives life to an individual, fills them with sentience. But it also powers them.
“I guess that large of a number would fascinate even the smartest humans.” He spoke.
“I must know-“ She trailed off, looking around to see if this question was okay to ask. After all, she didn’t know anything about this specific time. She came from the future, and in her future, almost nothing existed from her usual confusion and unknowingness of events. But she heard stories of those things existing before. Before she was born.
“Is Soul-Core and Dark Intrinium still at war?”
“If I said that I knew if they were at war, I would be lying...”
The first question was an unsatisfactory one. She didn’t get the answer she was looking for. It was to be expected. Like Sachiel said when she was brought to the outpost, they didn’t know of any interplanetary events happening in the galaxy. They only knew themselves, and only cared about themselves.
“If I recall correctly... It’s... Lord Veyron that leads Dark Intrinium, right?”
“You may be most correct about that, as I did hear of an heir taking the throne of Veyronia.”
It all made sense now. She was now deep in thought. She tried hard to tie up loose ends, set the pieces. Kytan Veyron of Veyronia was now Lord of Veyronia. Sachiel Eria was the Great Kamisword of Testharia. Then this must mean that the White Eye, the Soul-Core, the Nextellar, all those factions must exist.
Then all she could now is confirm the year she was in.
“Sachiel... can you tell me what year we’re in?” She said with wide open eyes. She was tensed up, knowing that the answer she would get would be a satisfactory one. She started sweating for the question to be answered. She thought of being in between the year 2188 – 2200.
“It’s... 2195.” He said, awkwardly.
“...”
“...”
“...”
“Holy shit.”
I succeeded. I succeeded. I succeeded. I succeeded. I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded!
I’m in the right time! I’m not too late! I can save things still! I need to find him! I need to know where he’s at! Right! This! Instant! I have no time to lose! If I still have time, he can save the world! I can save things now!
= = =
Tucked away at the base of a massif, a large Testharian military base stood in full operation. Surrounded by pine trees and hills – the lack of cities allowed for bright stars and Testharia being visible in the night. Around 5,000 mobilizers were on-sight – however roughly 300 were on patrol on the walls and base grounds.
Thick walls surrounded the main buildings – two towers at the main entrance and one in the center.
Ramiel stood in the control room of the military base, overlooking the grounds as spotlights begun to whirr to life with the coming night. Right now, there was no criminal activity going on. It never happens for the most part.
Dankasho was just as safe as Testharia, but the crime rate is always higher on a satellite planet.
Ramiel yawned, having gotten little sleep overnight. “The pay’ll be worth it...” He said to keep himself awake.
However, something appeared in the night sky of Dankasho. This something was approaching fast. Ramiel tilted his head as the bright night sky illuminated its silhouette. He tried to make out the shape since it could have been anything, even a Testharian Transport Ship.
Upon second glance, however, it was not a T.T.S. It was a bright beam of colourful lights ready to take it is harsh landing on the moon.
Ramiel sighed, yawning again before turning to his left to one of the control room staff. Did he really take this seriously? Yawning and sighing. That wasn’t professional. However, it was 2 AM in the morning, and he took watch duty.
“Activate Anti-Air defences. We have an unidentified object about to touchdown on the moon.” Ramiel sighed – assuming it was just an asteroid or an unfuelled satellite.
The officer behind Ramiel swivelled on his chair. “Yes, General.”
Turning back on their chair, the officer begun to type onto his monitor – opening up a map of the moon in a 1000 kilometer radius. It was in real-time and showed the object. A quick click of the mouse confirmed the heat seeking target before turning back around.
Three turrets would rise from the ground in the backline of the base, each with around five missiles to shoot down minor threats. In a blaze of orange and blue light, one missile from each pod shot into the air to intercept the beam of light.
However, any weapons that were fired by the command center were immediately disintegrated upon contact with the beam of light. Just what was that thing?
The officer would sweat before chuckling nervously. Nothing like this happened before. Really. What kind of object would disintegrate the retaliation missiles of the best anti-air defence in the entire galaxy? This is how Testharia remained untouched for years. Why did it fail now?
The officer turned to Ramiel on his chair. “Interception failed – the missiles just... disintegrated.” He spoke with emphasis and reluctancy on the last segment.
“Right...” The beam was moving closer and closer each second and Ramiel saw that. He stood up. “Order an evacuation to locals within a 500km radius and put the base on high alert. An asteroid doesn’t disintegrate Testharian steel.” He said as he turned back to the window, looking at the light.
Of course. Testharian Steel. It wasn’t anything like Tungsten, Vibro Steel, Ambrecian or Amarunyan Steel. But it was enough to completely obliterate asteroids, meteorites and even their own satellites should something like a deorbit happen.
The beam began to illuminate brighter than the sun in the solar system Testharia was orbiting, completely turning the night sky into day, waking everyone up.
Ramiel and the entire room covered their eyes, with Ramiel turning on a filter on his helmet to save his eyes from being burned by the intense nits and lumens of light shone down them.
The tinted windows of dormitories, schools, offices and accommodations couldn’t block out the light.
And then, the beam shot past the atmosphere and shortly flew over the base, rumbling the area.
Ramiel quickly turned to another officer in the room.
“I want a Recon Artist squad mobilized and sent to the crash-site when it hits, immediately!”
The beam then crashed down deep into the forest, forming a mini-explosion.