A quadrant of renegade cultists, now more like former cultists, huddles together, their eyes fixed on a pair of holographic screens. A gripping tension hangs in the air. One screen displays Earth gradually receding into the distance, a stark reminder of their discarded past. On the other screen, a sonar system sends out pulsating waves, detecting a legion of foreign objects rapidly closing in on their spaceship. Anxiety gnaws at them as they scramble to devise a desperate plan— blending their vessel within Saturn's rings.

?? "I don't think this will be enough. Where is the camouflage button?!"

?? "It's over here Selina! At least, I think it is. It is hard to tell with all the tiny images."

Selina "Well, what are you waiting for?! Just hit them all, Jeff!"

Jeff "Okie dookie, my lady."

With swift and practiced fingers, Jeff triggers the buttons like a skilled pianist.

A cascade of tremors rocks the ship, sending its four occupants sliding along the floor, struggling to maintain their balance. Just as suddenly, the turbulence ceases, and they return to the center of the control deck. It appears that Jeff's action has temporarily disabled the panels. Selina steps forward, opening the two screens and revealing an additional one displaying the ship itself.

The screen showcases a 3D rendering of their vessel.

?? "In all my years aboard these ships, no one has ever dared to press all the camouflage options. Although I've encountered a few soldiers who were to want what would happen."

?? "Ummm... Err, Goral. I think this is cool and stuff, but... we might have a minor issue."

Goral "What is it, young Picis?"

Picis "Well... the-

Jeff "What cry baby here was about to say is that the power is out!"

Selina "Hey! Lay off, Jeff! But yes, it seems we're very stranded in space. On the bright side, the camouflage worked, and the Lord's fleet has passed us. We could really use a break."

Jeff "Yeah, we haven't had a break since yesterday! And speaking of that, we almost fucking died!"

Goral "Young man, quit exaggerating! We were fine, thanks to my keen observation."

Selina "Yeah, leaving when Zeta was eliminated was a wise move. That man had eyes like a hawk, always ready to scan any visitor – that creep!"

Picis "Umm, you guys mentioned we were headed to... uh, Wal'Tera, right? Have any of you been there before?"

Jeff "Nope! But I've heard there's a nice spot for us to lay low for a while."

Selina "Which one, though? I know there are six equally deranged nations."

Jeff "It will be a surprise. Trust me."

Goral "Everyone sure is positive. I just hope that they'll accept humans as citizens."

Jeff "With our modifications, they might mistake us for Castatrians! Ha!"

Selina "This isn't a joke, you know! We need a back plan in case things go south!"

Picis "That sounds great! I'll get started! And, are there any rooms here?"

Jeff "There are cubicles around, you can turn one into your otaku den. Hehe."

Picis "Ah, that's perfect! Thanks, Jeff!"

Jeff "I was trying to... ah, never mind. Anyway, I'm going to explore the ship. If you need me, come find me. See ya!"

Selina "That guy... so what are going to do, Goral?"

Goral "I would like to sleep but that would make me look like a weak old man so I'm gonna follow Jeff. What about you, young lady?"

Selina "That guy... So, what are you going to do, Goral?"

Goral "I'd love to rest, but that would make me look like a frail old man. So, I'm going to follow Jeff. What about you, young lady?"

Selina "I'll keep watch. You never know when they might return."

Goral gives her a kind nod before exiting the room.

Alone in the control deck, an unfamiliar feeling begins to creep over Selina. She reflects on her life, both its real and fake aspects, and can't help but feel a twinge of fear as she contemplates the uncertainty of her future. But amidst it all, she finds solace in the family she's gained, and so their vessel drifts along Saturn's rings as time slowly ticks into a new chapter...

___________________________________________________________________________

Beneath the Rijksmuseum, a group of warriors lies in repose, exhaustion etched on their faces after vanquishing a challenging foe. Amidst the slumbering figures, one remains awake, her eye gleaming with anticipation as she gazes at her skill window. Bursting with excitement, Claire can't contain her discovery and hops along the room, passing the lifeless body of a cult leader. She gently taps her companions' shoulders as if initiating a minigame, and their still forms stir to life.

Kanji "That was a good rest, Claire. I can tell by that look that you've found something interesting."

Claire "Kaney! Everyone! Check this out!"

She flips her skill window around for all to see.

Kroma "Uh... What's going on? I don't see anything."

Sarah "Don't worry, Kroma. You're not a wielder, so you'll understand when you're older."

Kanji "Inciting false hope isn't a good idea, Sarah. Anyway, this is great news. Universal Storage where we can all extract items from the same pool. Can be useful for our healing supplies as I can see that planned ahead."

Claire "Exactly! All healing supplies will be stored here from now on. No more spreading them out. Thank god!"

Gwen "Convenient. Almost suspiciously so. Nonetheless, Universal Storage is perfect for keeping miscellaneous items we don't require at the moment."

Noah "What do you mean by that? How is that a problem?"

Gwen "As our journey progresses, we will most likely accumulate various items that can clutter our personal inventories. Having a clean and streamlined inventory can be a significant advantage in combat."

Sarah "Ah, I see. We can also swap things out between combat."

Adrian "Or, if injured, we could retreat and access the storage for the right tools."

Diana "I think I get it. I'm just happy we get to share a bunch of junk. I'll put my pickaxe and night-vision goggles. I don't think I'll be needing that pickaxe when I have these huge guns."

She flexes her muscles, and Dave responds with a playful gag.

Dave "Ugh! Gross! Put those away, Gorilla. Though I gonna give ya credit for putting dem goggles in that shit. It would be a super fire on the fly. I'm putting mine in and my AK."

Amelia "Why the Ak, my dear?"

Dave "It's like out of bullets and I don't want to bother Kanbro to make a fucking factory for that shit. Also, fighting with a bat makes me feel like a badass."

Amelia "Well... alright. It wouldn't be so bloody bad since you have those handy pebbles. Now, what should I store?... Oh. Goly. I barely have a sliver of any items. Only my essentials."

Claire "You didn't ask for much, silly. I'm putting this little fellow in there."

Mina "Awwww, where did you find that frog?! I've never seen this species!"

Claire "Well, this little frog used to be a part of a transformed cultist. So far, it's been following my commands like a puppy."

Mina "We should give it a name!"

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Claire "Really? Okay, Mina. How about "Sir. Bech"?"

Kanji "Wasn't that the name of your first pet in Final Fiction 14? The one you bought with real money, if I recall."

Claire "Shhh, Kaney! You promised not to tell anyone!"

Kanji "Just kidding, Claire. Everyone, let's ignore that. Now, what should I store? I'll put away my notes and pencil since my memory is pretty sharp. I'll ditch the night goggles and the blue headphones – I know it was a gift but they're just for leisure. I think that's it for me."

Claire "Oh, and I discovered that my creation slot is actually 20, not 10, which explains the amount of healing items we have. But why did it display as 10?"

Azan "Yeah, I've noticed some strange glitches in the system too. Maybe the explosion on AN's side did more than we think."

Mina "Maybe it could be a glitch like in a video game but a really good one that upgraded your slots."

Mina "Maybe it's like a good glitch, like in a video game, one that boosts your slots."

Claire "That would be awesome if that's the case. So, what are you two putting in there?"

Azan "Umm.. this miniature fan and the boxing gloves."

Mina "What?! Why the gloves?! What was the training even for then?"

Azan "I thought about it, and they might not be that useful in a real scenario. Sorry for wasting your time. On the bright side, it was a great bonding experience."

Mina "... Azzy. Fine! I'll put mine in as well so you won't feel bad!"

Kanji "Alright, who hasn't contributed?"

Sarah "Me, but I aight throwing anything away. Especially, my beautiful shovel!"

Noah "Me either. I sorta need all of my shit."

Adrian "There won't be a need to deposit my inventory since well my stuff is broken. I mean my shield is broken... again."

Claire "Hmmm... maybe you need something stronger. Hold on! Let's try something!"

She picks up a piece of metal debris from the floor and inspects it.

Claire "They said it was tinodium alloy, right?"

Kanji "Yes, incredibly sturdy stuff, about three times stronger than tungsten, and it seems to conduct electricity. My electrical charge got absorbed into it and stored in a massive battery, I think."

Claire "I might be able to do something with this."

Adrian "Here. I declare that this shield is no longer mine!"

Claire's focus remains unwavering as she spins the broken shield in her hand, her thoughts delving deeper...

The onlookers are struck with awe as the object's form disintegrates into smaller blocks, only to reassemble into a pristine tower shield crafted from a gleaming light-gray metal. Adrian lifts it, his anticipation is now evident as he shifts into a defensive stance. To his surprise, the shield feels surprisingly lightweight, despite its impressive durability, the leather handle secures his grip with comfort.

Adrian "It's simple, but I like it. Let's hope it holds up longer than my previous shield."

Gwen "That's your reaction to such a plain transformation? Honestly, it should be better. Anyway, here are a few items I'm willing to part with for now."

She pushes her codex and terrarium into the Universal Storage.

Dave "Yo, Gwa'bro. What about the stuff in your hand? Wait a minute. That's the look of a crazy scientist. What are you planning, bro?"

Gwen "I think Adrian's new shield might benefit from some offensive upgrades, and there's a theory I want to test."

Kanji "... You're testing whether adding thorns will challenge his pacifism. Keep in mind that Claire might need to transform another shield if all things fail."

Gwen "It's a risk I'm willing to take. I'll even let her modify my terrarium."

Adrian "Guys, it's alright. I have a good feeling about this."

Kroma "Can Tom and I watch?"

Gwen "Are you sure? It can be traumatizing for a child."

Kroma "Hey! I can take it! Am I right, Tom?... Tom?"

She turns to the corner of the room, where the sound of sobbing can be heard.

Kanji "I think a little consolation is in order."

Kroma "Oh... okay. I'll go cheer him up."

Diana "Hey, kid. You're not alone. I'll go with you."

Sarah "Oh, darn it! You guys are making me feel guilty. As the leader of the cult, it is my duty to join you. Noah, you coming?"

Noah "I'll use Kanji's notes to absorb all the gory and awesome details."

Sarah "Noah! Omg! You're the best!"

She gives him a warm hug, causing them both to blush.

Noah "Y-Yeah... no prob."

Gwen "Now that the mourning crew is out of the picture, shall we proceed with the procedure?"

With a silent agreement from the group, Adrian and Gwen gather in the center. Gwen gestures with her finger, summoning Izzybot, which extends a long branch adorned with thousands of roots. She inserts the branch into the maw of a bolt eel, which quivers with fear, its eye darting between the humans, seeking mercy. Claire and Mina turn away, disturbed, as Izzy drives the limb deeper, causing the creature's eye to roll back, and a brownish hue gradually engulfs its entire body. Gwen then places the lifeless creature onto the shield...

The eel's body flattens and expands, forming a front cover for the shield.

Adrian "Is it done? Whoa-

The entire body of the eel morphs into rows of massive scales, emitting sparks of lightning.

Gwen "I learned that its scales are responsible for its ability to project lightning bolts, as absurd as that may sound. But before I answer your questions, I need to complete the process."

Izzy removes her modified limb and stabs it into the eye of an ice whale. The group watches, wincing as Izzy struggles, attempting to expand the limb into the object. Seeing her difficulties, Gwen steps forward and places her hand on the eye. A frosty attack assaults her palms, but she perseveres, sapping the moisture from the eye. Izzy smiles as she pushes deeper, and the object turns completely green. It then solidifies into a square structure, reverting back to its neo-blue hue. Izzy withdraws her limb and cautiously begins to encase the shield's scales in a rectangular layer of a substance akin in appearance to resin.

Gwen "I present to you The Tinodium Shield of Frost Resin and Thunder Scales."

Dave "Yo, that is some epic loot! No more legendary loot from a famous MMO! Lucky you, Adbro."

Adrian "As cool as this is, I hope that I can still use it without blacking out."

Kanji "I'll be your test dummy but we can do that at a different time. First, I need my curiosity satisfied. Well... Gwen. What was all of that?"

Gwen "It's just a bit of bio-modification. It took me some time to study the cellular structures of each specimen. Once I succeeded, with some help from Izzy, we could manipulate their biomass to our liking. However, the process is rather slow, as you've witnessed, making it unsuitable for combat."

Azan "Yeah, that would be rather terrifying and super useful. Looks like everyone has a limit."

Gwen "Hey, don't push me, Abara! Just give me a few more months, and anything is possible!"

Azan "Whoa, looks like I hit a nerve. You didn't strike as someone who would get mad like this."

Gwen "You... ugh, sorry for losing my composure. My work means the world to me."

Azan "I respect your dedication. Let's just go check on Tom."

The group falls silent, their collective gaze turning toward the corner. As they approach, they see Tom holding his daughter's lifeless body, tears streaming down his carapace. Sarah and the others remain a respectful distance away, unable to approach him.

Sarah "Man... this fucking sucks. It's kinda like my fault. Many of my people died today."

Tom "No... don't blame yourself, young lady. It was me... I was consumed by vengeance, and it cost me my shining light."

Kroma "Tom, we'll get through this. We'll find a way."

Tom "Way? What way?! There is no bringing her back! There is only mourning and... it is getting tiring. The only choice left to cope with my grief is further vengeance. I'll stop at nothing until that cult is wiped clean from the Earth. I have nothing left to lose. Feel free to follow or stop me. I'm leaving now."

Kroma "Tom! Wait! Shit!"

With a burst of his ant legs, Tom rushes through one of the holes.

Sarah "Kroma, don't follow him. He'll be fine. Let him blow off some steam. Your task is to call more of our members, collect the bodies, give them a proper burial, and notify their parents. You can tell them... errr... it was a tragic plane crash."

Kroma "It's a bit morbid, but as you command. I just hope Tom doesn't get himself killed but I get to him."

Diana "Tom's one tough bug. He'll be fine."

Kanji "It seems we've dealt with the aftermath. Now, let's focus on the main event— the signal. It's through that enormous tunnel where that spaceship flew from."

Dave "Then what are we waiting for, bro?! Let's get this shit!"

Noah "I hope it's like some upgrade and not another trial."

They enter the colossal tunnel and begin their journey. The echoes of their footsteps reverberate through the passage, signaling that there's a closed space on the other end. Reaching their destination, they stumble upon a room covered in wallpaper adorned with the symbol of a crown of thorns. The group immediately recognizes the symbol, as it closely resembles what the Castrastrian soldiers bore.

Gwen "Is that a massive asteroid or is it a ship? Wait... are these the ships those Castrastrians use?! Fascinating! Makes you wonder if any passing meteors are actually ships all this time?"

Kanji "Don't get your hopes up. It appears the ship is the signal. You may not have a chance to inspect it."

Gwen "That's unfortunate. Has the system responded to it?"

Kanji "Yes, it says, 'Suitable vessel detected! Proceed?' There isn't even an option to say no, so..."

Kanji taps the screen, and a prismatic cloud envelops the spaceship.

Gradually, the vessel begins to transform, its shape shifting into a more architectural form. It resembles a colossal disc with intricate glowing lines across its surface, resembling a labyrinth. The massive ship hovers for a moment before gently descending and making contact with the floor, allowing the wielders to better grasp its immense size, roughly equivalent to a three-story building. The vessel beckons them to approach, and they do, each extending their hands at the same time.

Simultaneously, their instincts are triggered, and they utter the word "Enter."

Dave "Whoa... what's this place, dudes?!"

They find themselves in enclosed rooms arranged in a circular layout, constructed from a mysterious cosmic-hued metal. Along the walls, 12 square structures hug the circumference, all made from the same otherworldly material. The group's attention is drawn to the center of the room, where 12 cosmic thrones, each marked with their respective aspect symbols, surround an altar. Curious, they take their respective seats, and the symbols on the thrones light up, sending beams of energy into the altar. It projects a high-definition holographic screen, offering them a third-person view of the structure.

A series of messages appear:

[Congratulations, wielders! You have reached a milestone and acquired a suitable vessel for your journey to the stars! Your next adventure awaits, but there's a minor issue. Due to the damage sustained, an error occurred during the conversion process, and your RV is gone.]

Dave "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! MY CRIP-

Amelia "Calm down, honey! Take a proper look at the rest of the messages!"

[As an apology, this vessel will have a new feature called (Car Transformation). It allows the entire ship to morph into a small car, which you can drive or use to return to this pocket dimension by making contact and saying "Enter." You can also exit this space by saying "Exit."]

[This space is a pocket dimension that moves with the physical spaceship. This design is for safety, allowing it to withstand the shock of immense speeds.]

[Your belongings have been transferred to those squares in this space. For today only, you can conjure and decorate your rooms as much as you like.]

Claire "Wow, that's super cool! I wonder if I can copy my bedroom."

[Another note! Since this is the first time wielders have reached this far, it may take a day for the vessel to install all its features. For now, please check what is currently available and be patient for tomorrow. Enjoy your stay in THE CEPHALOSTAR MK 1.]

Sarah "Okay, that is a sick name!"

Noah "Agree!"

Kanji "Hold on, this vessel travels at about 0.014 light-years per second! That's... inconceivable amount of speed! But, how far is Caverrin or Wal'tera or Granolith Prime?"

Gwen "I honestly don't know. I wish we had talked to AN more about it. What should we do now since we're stuck here?"

Mina "I want to decorate my room!"

The group nods in agreement.

Kanji "Looks like everyone's on the same page. Go wild and have fun!"