As the sun dips behind the horizon, a distant western shore harbors the forms of six warriors, sprawled in the embrace of the sandy dunes.

Suddenly —

A pair of eyes flicker open.

?? "For fuck sake! Where the bloody hell?! Is this... sand?"

With golden tendrils of hair haloing her face, the girl battles gravity, her arms pressing firmly into the cool grains. Turning, her gaze sweeps over her comrades. Their stillness gnaws at her courage, stirring unease within her.

Restless, she begins to pace, her fingers quivering like aspen leaves in the wind.

?? "Are they... No, it can't be!"

One of them awakens.

Amelia "AAAAAAAH!! Oh for fuck sake, Dave!"

Dave "Ah... dude, my head. Amby, is that you?"

His eyes snap open, locking onto hers. An... odd sensation clings to the air.

A chill slithers up his spine, a serpentine whisper of nervousness.

Dave "U-Ummm... Amby. Did something... happen to you, bro?"

Amelia "Huh? What the fuck do you mean, Dave? You're being silly! Of course, something happened! We passed the bloody trial."

Dave "Did you just... did you just...er... never mind! Forget what I said, dude! Let's just wake up the others."

Amelia "Come on. You can tell me what's on your fucking mind."

Dave "OK, what the fuck?! Did a ghost possess you or something, man?"

A hand finds its way to his shoulder.

Dave "Huh?"

Kanji "Calm down, Dave. This might just be a product of completing her trial."

Dave tilts his head.

Kanji "Oh, dammit, Dave. You didn't pay attention at all during your trial. Did you? Or something much worse... your doubleganger didn't want you to change. Did he?"

Dave "You hit the nail on the head, bro."

Then, something grazes against his hip.

Dave "D-Don't sneak up on me, dude!"

Amelia "Dave, why are you like this? It was just a hug. Is my change really that much of a bloody surprise?"

Diana "This fucking hilarious!!! HAHAHAAAHA!"

Dave "Shut up! Honestly, dude! Is this so weird?! When I was with Amelia, I feel fucking safe and calm. When I was with Amber, I feel intimidated but excited. But now, she is like... like there's a knife on my back like there's-Wait... Amby. Amber, is she... is she gone? Like "Gone" gone."

Her eyes lift to meet his, a solitary tear escaping from beneath her ribbon.

Dave "Oh... I see. That's too bad, dude."

Amelia "Dave, I'm... I'm so sorry."

Dave "It's ok... that is something she would have wanted. Ha. It's funny... I always thought that she would pass away drunk in a pub somewhere. Anyway, I bet she smiled and laughed. Didn't she?"

Amelia "Yep... heck... she even told me to insult her the best I could."

Dave "How did it go?"

Amelia "It was great. I... I still can't... I don't know how to feel right now. For so long, I wanted to be like her but now she's bloody gone."

Dave "Amby... no, she isn't. She's right here, right in front of me. You are the new Amber."

A shared embrace opens a dam of tears, cascading from them both.

Kanji signals, guiding the others to follow his lead.

Kanji ["Come on. Let's give them space to sort out their feelings."]

The assembly shifts, journeying slightly inland.

Diana "Hey, boss. Where are we anyway?"

Kanji "We are...... apparently in Greenland. I guess whatever swallowed us, traveled here. Here's a better question, where are the other four?"

Sarah "Yeah! Were we separated? Wait, I mean... I'm pretty sure we were separated."

Kanji "It seems likely. But, we can always put our trust in Gwen. For now, we wait. This might be a little... personal... but what did each of you learn?"

Sarah "I'm pretty sure that ruins the overall point of the trial."

Diana "Yeah, she's right. Boss, everyone will know over time."

Kanji "True, sorry for pressing on my curiosity. Wait, where's Azan?!"

Their eyes roam, settling on only a trinity of footprints imprinted in the sand.

Sarah "Oh, what the hell?!"

Kanji "Fuck, everyone let's go back!"

Swiftly they return to the shore, snatching up Azan.

Sarah "Wow, good thing those two didn't notice him!"

Diana "Yeah. Azan, what are you-

His form remains unresponsive, his eyes vacant, lost in an unseen void.

Diana "Yo, boss. I think he's possessed."

Kanji "Everyone stands back. I've seen this before. It's similar to the feeling of shell shock. His mind is psychologically fractured."

Diana "What do we do, boss?! Should I try shaking him?"

Kanji "No! Mina would be the best person to deal with this problem. So, we have to contact her ASAP. AN, are you there?!"

There's no response.

Kanji "AN, are you there?!"

AN "....... Finally! I got through!"

Kanji "Woah! What happened?!"

AN "Sorry, guys! I didn't have a choice in the matter. My connection was out, again!"

Kanji "Did another problem appear on your end?"

AN "Yes, unfortunately. I can explain it if you want."

Kanji "You can tell us later. Right now, we're in a different kind of crisis. Can you contact Mina and the others?"

AN "There's no need to. They're heading your way right now! Look back to the ocean!"

They tread back to the shore, dragging Azan's puppet-like form along the sands.

Dave "Oh, sup guys. Mister and Misses tears have stopped crying now. Wait, what the hell is wrong with Azanbro?!"

Kanji's finger juts towards the horizon. Their eyes follow, locking onto the rapidly advancing silhouette of wings.

Mina "INCOMING!!"

Mina springs into action, colliding with Azan. They spiral, losing themselves in the coastal shrubbery.

Azan "M-M-Mina!"

Mina "Azzy, are you ok?! Are you hurt?! Tell me what's wrong?!"

Azan "I err...ok."

Mina "Azzy. I know when something is wrong. Don't lie!"

Azan "O..Ok, I'll be honest. Facing the trial of Reality. I realize how much of a dipshit I am. I chose to go on this adventure because of my dad. I constantly talked about my dad. It's like an obsession! I fear that one day, my obsession would overpower my friendship. GOD! I'm just a child! Still clinging to him even if he isn't here-

Her grip tightens around him. As their cheeks brush, a flush of crimson invades his face.

Mina "There. There. Everything's alright. You're not like that. Knowing that you still care about us is enough for me. If there comes time for you to decide, I'm sure you'll make the right choice."

His hands instinctively encircle her back, drawing them closer.

Azan "Thank you, Mina."

Claire "Awwww! That's so cute! Can't believe they aren't dating?!"

Gwen "Claire, the subject of one's personal matter isn't for us to judge. On to the real topic, what happened to you guys?"

Kanji "Ok, fair. In summary, we were dragged into separate rooms to face a clone of ourselves which represents a distorted version of our desires. The goal was to change something about ourselves."

Gwen "Yeah, I can tell. Amelia, you seem different. Much more confident."

Amelia "Thanks. About you guys. What end happened on your bloody rope?"

Gwen "I suppose I must elaborate. First, Izzy please detach from the others."

|Oh, Sowwy|

Adrian "Whew. I can breathe now."

Gwen "Thanks to Izzy here. We were able to escape the glass whale."

Kanji "A glass whale?... you say. What happened after we were devoured?"

Gwen "It's hard to say really. It submerged immediately according to Izzy. By the time we woke up, the creature was nowhere in sight. According to Izzy, the creature was transparent and had 12 giant cubes within its body."

Kanji "Those must be the rooms. Are we all meant to participate or is this a play on fate? Whatever it is, I'm glad everyone's ok."

Mina "Now that everyone's here, what should we do?"

Kanji "I think we should... hold on! If we did finish the trial then Amelia, where's your vortex battery?!"

Amelia "Oh, that. Don't worry, lad. In my skill menu, it said that I could start the transformation at any bloody time."

Kanji "Can you activate it? Please. I'm a bit curious about the effects on your abilities."

Amelia "Alright, here I fucking go!"

Behind her, a grey battery materializes out of the ether, enveloped by cylindrical rods oscillating between stark white and pitch black.

The rods spiral and inject resulting in a burst of unseen energy.

Amelia "Wow, that wasn't as bloody painful as I thought. Wait, what is that?!"

Her comrades glance over their shoulders, met with nothing.

Dave "Yo, Amber. You ok?"

Amelia "Oh my bloody god! This is so bloody weird! Do you fellas know the health bar in video games?"

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Kanji "Yes, we're all gamers. Don't tell me that you have a UI?! Hold on... why do I have one too!"

Amelia "Wait, really! This feels familiar. Kanji, tell me. Does your bar fill up when you focus on something?"

Kanji "No, not at all. Do yours?"

Amelia "Yes. Every time my sight is focused on something, it fills up. Maybe, it bloody does something to my skills."

Kanji "Care to test it? Use your blurring mirage."

Amelia gives a nod, setting |3. Blurring Mirage| into motion.

Amelia "It's still a small area. Now let me focus..."

Roughly twenty heartbeats later, she triggers the ability once more.

A haze of distortion consumes the shoreline, reality-bending in its wake.

Dave "Aaaah, I can't see! I can't see, bro! Aaah... Oh, I can see now."

Amelia "Yeah, I activated my connect ability. Should I always leave it on? Oh, shoot! I forgot about the third-person thing. Don't worry, I'll disconnect you guys."

Kanji "Wait! Third-person isn't taking effect. I think your level-up caused a change in that too."

Amelia "So, my powers won't be affecting you guys. Whew! That's a relief!"

Kanji "Now that we confirm what Amelia got out of awakening, we shall move to another topic. AN, you can tell us what happened on Caverrin."

AN "Alright, do everyone remember when I mention The Ascender? Yeah about that. Things didn't really work out. But first, I need to tell you what an ascender is. And for that, I need to tell more about my species' biology. Hell! Let's tell you all more about my planet. I feel a bit guilty for knowing a lot of yours."

Kanji "Hey, you don't need to-

Gwen "Yes! Now, this is exactly what I wanted to hear! Hey, Adrian. Do you still have the pen and paper I gave you?"

Adrian "Sure, here you go."

Gwen "Excellent. Now, please proceed. Don't leave out any juicy information."

AN "Got it. Now, I should begin with my planet. You all know its name is Caverrin. But did you know that the planet is a shade of red from outer space? This is because most of Caverrin's skies are covered with clouds that look like red nebulas. These clouds are made of materium iron gas."

Kanji "Materium?"

AN "Yes, materium. It's the second resource that is commonly found on Caverrin apart from tinodium and iron. This element only exists in a liquid state. It looks like liquid silver but is semi-transparent. Its insides hold a pattern that looks like stardust."

Kanji "Very interesting. Does the pattern form through the structure of the material's molecules or is it an intangible force unfamiliar to science?"

AN "It's just how the element is structured. Looking under a microscope, our scientists concluded that some areas of the element have more compressed atoms. Thus, forming the stardust pattern. Strangely, if you move your hand around in the substance, those specific molecules will move but then revert back in place."

Kanji "Great, this material already broke Newton's first law. What effects does this materium have?"

AN "There are a LOT of things you can do with it. It's because when mixed with liquid metal and after a long period has passed, the metal will be suspended indefinitely in its current state of matter. This means it stays a liquid forever no matter what force acts upon it."

Kanji "So, you're telling me that at one point in your planet's history, liquid iron and materium mixed and became permanent clouds after a certain period."

AN "Yup! It was exactly the same time when Suntarus fought near our planet. The heat from his burning body scorched the land and melted the large silver deposits on our planet's crust, forming all the silver mountains that we have today. It also melted all the iron and caused them to merge with all the pools of surface materium. During the climax of the fight when Suntarus bit our planet, a wave of heat evaporates all the materium iron in an instant and created the nebula clouds."

Sarah "Wow, that is sick!"

Amelia "They must be bloody gorgeous, aren't they?"

AN "They are beautiful! Many Castastrians find comfort just by looking at them during the night sky."

Kanji "Hold on. There's one thing that doesn't add up. If your planet is completely covered with these clouds then... shouldn't you all be frozen since there would be no sunlight?"

AN "Oh right! Materium-infused substances allow light and thermal energy to pass through them. The reason for this is still unknown; scientists just say that it is part of the element's feature."

Gwen "Good. Good. More geological information, please?"

Dave "Lmao, you acting like a kid asking for more food in a cafeteria."

Gwen "Can't a scientist express her curiosity, Dave?"

AN "Ok, calm down. Oh! Speaking of sunlight, did you know that we have two suns?"

Gwen "What, really?! Like Kepler-16b! Does that mean you have two shadows? And how hot is your planet?"

AN "Yes, we do have two shadows. Our suns are a lot smaller than Earth's, The First Sun is orange while The Second Sun is blue when viewed in space. They are quite a distance from Caverrin, resulting in a temperature of 108 degrees Fahrenheit on average. To us, that is very warm. "

Gwen "Wow, that's hot! And fascinating! Tell me more!"

AN "Alright, I should tell you about the plants on my planet. Sadly, there used to be a lot until that fucking tyrant ruined it all! 10 years ago, she ordered the complete annihilation of all forests on the planet because she wanted more land. It makes me so mad! She could've just colonized the nearby planets but she didn't!"

Diana "That fucking bitch! Why does she want all that land anyway?!"

AN "I don't know but that doesn't change the fact that what she did was horrible. I should... I should stop ranting. Anyway, back to the plants. Unlike the ones on Earth, ours are blue and convert oxygen to carbon dioxide which my species use. Unfortunately, the only plant we have left is The Bluesky Grass which spans countless plains across the planet. And there are also a few Acar trees left, a type of tree that has no leaves and its branches form crowns. In the past, Acar wood was a stable material used in building the floors, walls, and ceilings of structures."

Gwen "Then how do get your daily supply of CO2."

AN "My planet has a fair share of active volcanoes. Luckily those are on the other side of the planet where no civilization exists. Ok, finally we are onto the rivers and ocean. The ocean is normal just like Earth but much deeper and hosts a lot of creatures. The rivers however have none because they are utterly dominated by a type of rapidly spreading transparent algae. They cause the rivers to look emerald green. However, we can drink this water just fine and there are even benefits."

Gwen "Alright, that satisfied my needs. You can move on about The Ascenders."

AN "Ok. Let's begin with the four variants of Castastrians that you can fall under when you are born. The first variants are born with no abilities and have the same strength as a human. They are considered the lowest of the hierarchy and everyone used to call them "Drones". However, now everyone calls them "Workers" because of The Empress. Their purpose is to act as citizens and they do jobs like human citizens. They all live in small to medium anthill-shaped houses entirely made of concrete."

Dave "Question, are there politics?"

AN "Nope. There's no democracy, no communism, just absolute dictatorship. Because, unlike humans, they can't rebel against a higher-up. Not because of position but because of power. This leads to the next tier, "Attack Drones". Also now known as "Soldiers", I'm sure you are all familiar with them. They are born with bodies that are better in every way than the Workers. They live in larger anthill homes with their exterior made of concrete and their interior made of Acar wood. When you are born like this, you have no choice but to be part of the army."

Dave "Bro, instantly drafted? That's kinda fucked."

AN "True, but that's how things go. Now to the "Holders" which are now called "Generals". They are very rare. These guys are not only stronger than the soldiers but also born with a single ability. It can vary from telekinesis to absurd levels like shooting nukes out of your hands. You can tell what ability a Castastrian has by looking at the birthmark on the back of their right hand. A vague symbol that illustrates the effects of their ability. Furthermore, each year, The Empress chooses 4 candidates to go on extreme missions. The one who succeeds the most will become the next general while the others become his or her sub-generals. Oh, and they live in giant anthill houses made of gold and an exotic form of Acar wood."

Kanji "That confirms that bastard is a general. We all saw there was a symbol on his right hand. Did anyone have a clear look at it?"

In unison, their heads turn around.

Kanji "That's too bad. But one thing is off, nothing unusual happened when we fought him."

AN "Oh about that. My comrades have done a bit of digging about this guy. Apparently, he used his "Desire For Victor" to hide his information. No one except the generals, the royal guard, and the Empress knows about him."

Amelia "Pardon me, but what's a "Desire For Victor"?"

AN "It's something a new general received after he or she was selected. It's basically a wish. Everyone including the Empress must be implied by this wish as per tradition. I find this odd since she hated tradition but I guess she thinks this one is ok."

Kanji 'Perhaps, it's for power. Since the general is already serving her. Granting them a wish will only make them more loyal and make her feel safer and stronger."

AN "That's an excellent theory! I simply thought she just didn't mind it. Ok... we got a bit off track. Going back there are two other positions in the palace. They are "The Royal Guard" and "The Bioforgers." The bioforgers t-they.... let's just say that I hate them with all my heart. Castastrians with the ability "Biological Construction Efficiency", fall into this position. As for the royal guard, only those with exceptionally rare, and powerful abilities can be a royal guard. They can be extinguished by their abnormal body compared to regular ability users. There's currently only one royal guard. These two positions live in the palace, a place made of igneous rock on the outside, and the inside is plastered with gold walls and gemstones throughout all the halls."

Azan "Wait, so are these like new variants or just the same type as the generals?"

AN "They fall under the same variant as the generals but are given different positions due to their difference in power and purpose."

Azan "Ok, got it. You can go on."

AN "Now for the last variant, the rarest Castastrian type that can only be born once in a thousand years. They are called "Ascenders" and today are still known as so. These Castastrians are recognizable by the Omega symbol on their right hand which glows brightly. They are born absurdly strong being able to move and carry mountains. They have extreme regenerative abilities and age immortality. They can move one-tenth the speed of light at their fastest and can breathe and navigate through space with ease. Lastly, with a single jump from Caverrin's surface, they leap onto any of the two suns. This gave them their title as "Ascenders"."

Dave "Holy shit! Damn, they sound op as fuck."

AN "And I'm not done yet. On top of all that, they each have god-like powers and cannot be restrained by the Empress's will. A lot of Castastrians fear them and are glad that so far nothing major happened."

Kanji "Why's that?"

AN "You see... there are ten of them. Five live on The First Sun and five live on The Second Sun. Long ago, they all do whatever they want, living on The First Sun. One day, they had an argument because five of the ascenders wanted to mess with the people of Caverrin. Eventually, they split off and those who wanted to harm the people went to the second Sun. To this day, The Ascenders of The First Sun have been defending Caverrin from those guys."

Kanji "That's good! But why did one of them fall?"

AN "Apparently, he was hit with a powerful blow and was left injured near one of our camps. We were really excited because it was our chance to make a good impression. Hoping that he may join the rebellion."

Gwen "How did that go?"

AN "Do you want the entire transcript or just a basic summary?"

Kanji "A basic summary would do fine."

AN "Gotcha! Our first in command nursed him back to health herself. The two chatted and sort of became friends. His name is Oswalt. Not long after, an enemy ascender was about to fire a psychic wave over the planet. To counter the attack, Oswalt released a burst of his own power. However, it caused a lot of trouble because his power disable all forms of communication within a distance of 20,000 miles. Leading to why I couldn't contact you guys. In the transcript, it says in the end he couldn't join us because his duty is to protect Caverrin and his power will only bring more bad than good."

Kanji "Don't worry. Maybe in the future, he will change his mind. Besides, I'm pretty sure his physical strength is enough to turn the tides of war. Other than this, I'm satisfied. What about you, Gwen?"

Gwen "I would like to know more about the actual creatures existing in Caverrin. Though, I'll withdraw my curiosity for today. So, where do we go next, Kanji?"

Kanji "Ayers Rock. We're going back to Australia."

Mina "Oh. I.... are you sure we have to.... no, never mind!"

Kanji "Ok... that was weird. Raise your hand if you are ready."

With collective resolve, they decide to set forth.

AN "Alright, Nothern Australia. Here we come!"

For the first time in several sunsets, the wielders morph into their crystalline chrysalises, embarking on their next journey.

________________________________________________________________________________________

A mature Castastrian stands, dwarfed by an architectural titan, his gaze lost in its grandeur.

KARNAT "GOD DAMMIT. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE I WAS IN THIS SHITHOLE."

His assumptions are simply wrong... the estate is simply breathtaking. Through the windows, the shimmering gold walls reveal themselves. Doors, floors, and ceilings, all cloaked in the rare cyan hues of Acar wood.

With tentative steps, Karnat ventures in. Each corner of this anthill is a visual feast, adorned with keepsakes, artworks, and videogames from his former hive mound.

KARNAT "WHY DID WE DECIDE TO KEEP ALL THIS USELESS STUFF?"

?? "USELESS?!"

Suddenly, a flurry of movement catches Karnat's eye. A Castastrian female, donned in steampunk regalia, descends the staircase with a swiftness that is captivating. Her attire echoes that of a bygone-era train conductor, painted in the same industrial hues of her eyewear. Shiny bronze armor shields her shoulder pads and boots, adding a touch of rugged elegance.

Her light pink eyes — an enchanting deviation from his harsh crimson gaze. Her hair, pulled back into a ponytail, carries a mesmerizing peach hue. As she strides towards Karnat, her eccentric gait adds a layer of quirkiness. She halts, leaning in, her face a breath away from his.

?? "I'll have you know that these are great! I'll prove to you Karni."

KARNAT "Shut it... Cogarath."

?? "No, you say my name. Is this how you greet your hive mate after being away from home ever since you became a general."

KARNAT "Fine... Cogarath Amaraz. Just to let you know that I only came because of my duty and there's an incident with all the communications. Nothing else. The palace is currently in a mess."

AMARAZ "Haha, same old Karni. And yes, I did hear about "that incident"... but not to worry. I already sent a fix to her majesty."

Karnat's gaze lands on her unique birthmark, a striking symbol of a floating, shattered metal shackle.

Amaraz Cogarath is a paradox in the Empire's structure. Never before had a Castastrian been blessed with dual abilities. Her birth sent ripples through the hierarchical order, and her exceptional power added fuel to the fire.

This power, termed "Free Will", shattered the chains of control, endowing her with the capacity to experience and express emotions, a stark contrast to her kin.

Karnat is repulsed and finds her peculiarity unsettling. Every moment spent in her company is a test of patience. Yet, he doesn't despise her. Quite the contrary, he admires her, for she chose to bow to the system, serving The Empress with unwavering loyalty.

The Empress herself shares a unique bond with Amaraz, often favoring her above others. Sometimes, she even parades Amaraz as an exemplar for all citizens.

Living alongside Karnat and two other Castastrians, they all vied for the title of General. Karnat emerged victorious, with the trio being appointed as his sub-generals. Amaraz's qualification was met, given her second ability — "Telekinesis".

KARNAT "Hey, where are the other two bastards?"

AMARAZ "Oh, they... out. Apparently, they were bored and shit and were like-

KARNAT "Hold, it! I don't have time for your long-ass stories. I need YOU to find ME a couple of humans."

AMARAZ "Aye aye general boss man. First I need gonna need a sample."

KARNAT "Here. It's the hair of one glass-wearing asshole."

Amaraz seizes the strand of hair, trapping it within a glass container.

AMARAZ "Alright sample secured. We are ready to go."

KARNAT "Go where?"

A mischievous grin dances on her lips.

AMARAZ "The source of our teleportation system."

KARNAT "WHAT?! Isn't that a top-class secret?! Not even I know that! How did you-

AMARAZ "Hahahaha... ah, I should stop keeping secrets. Let's just say I'm more involved than you think I am."

KARNAT "Wait... so you helped with making it."

AMARAZ "No, I "help" with maintaining it. Come on, I'll take you there!"

As she reaches for his right hand, Karnat recoils, swiftly tucking it out of sight within his pocket.

AMARAZ "Karni... you... you're still like that, huh? I'm sorry... hand out your left."

After a moment's hesitation, Karnat reluctantly extends his hand.

AMARAZ "Oh, you went full mechanical. You got to tell me what happened."

KARNAT "GOD! CAN WE JUST GO!"

AMARAZ "Ow, loud. Fine!"

Leading him outdoors, she presses a button disguised as an unassuming rock.

A small meteorite-shaped vehicle emerges from the subterranean depths.

KARNAT "What's this?! I have never seen a spaceship of this model! Why is it so small?!"

AMARAZ "I was experimenting and designing a private spacecraft for independent travel. Also, the smaller it is, the more it will endure the effects of Quantum Leaping."

KARNAT "What's that?"

AMARAZ "It'll be hard to explain. I'll tell you during the trip. Just to know that it can cause this baby to fly across the universe within a single second."

KARNAT "What?! That's impossible! Also, we would be fucking dead!"

AMARAZ "True, but I won't set it to go that fast. The drawback is that the trip will take a while. So hope in!"

Karnat heaves a ~sigh~, stepping into the vehicle.

With a mighty roar, they catapult into the infinite expanse of the cosmos.