As the gargantuan Cephalostar navigates the infinite cosmic ocean, it leaves behind a wake of destruction, an unstoppable force amidst the stars. Amidst this interstellar odyssey, two distinct rooms materialize within, contrasting their essence. One exudes an aura of uproar and festivity, while the other resonates with a serene silence.

In the tranquil room, two young ladies find themselves amid a scene of artistic chaos. The room, a pristine canvas splattered with vibrant hues along the floor, houses scattered buckets brimming with an artist's palette of colors, and an array of paintbrushes congregates in one corner.

A bucket tumbles and leads to a startled yelp as spilled paint tarnishes one of the girls' feet.

Claire "Oh god damn it! I guess I have a green foot now! Ha! Get it!"

Gwen "I gather the attempt at a green thumb joke, but the paint barely graced your foot, and it's quite unrelated to plants."

Claire "Wow. Someone's a bit touchy."

Gwen "..."

Claire "... Okay, this is really like really awkward. We usually have a lot to talk about on the program."

Gwen "It might be attributed to social anxiety. Your childhood didn't involve much interaction if memory serves me right."

Claire "Yep, just me and my... aunt."

Gwen "My sincere apologies. If it helps lighten the mood, I didn't have anyone to speak to either."

Claire "You know what... Screw this depressing shit! Let's talk about something exciting! Something cool! I know that I'm not into the whole bio-science stuff and you aren't all that into art. I mean look at what you drew yesterday."

Gwen "What? I drew meticulously an accurate one-to-one image of Kaney."

Claire "That's the thing! Art is about the imagination! Drawing your fantasy! You're too hung up on real life, Gwen!"

Gwen "Ah... I guess you're right. Let's experiment."

With determined strokes, Gwen revises her prior artwork, eliciting a curious raise of Claire's eyebrows from seeing her face glowing red.

Claire "Ummm, what are you draw- Oh. Oh my god."

Their hands tremble as they clutch the paper. Kanji's image now boasts a chiseled jawline, a stylish dark blue comb cover, and an exposed upper torso exhibiting refined abs. The girls look down to see that his pants hang suggestingly unzipped. Thankfully, Claire swiftly tears the drawing to shreds before further blood pours from their noses.

Claire "WHY IN THE WORLD YOU DRAW THAT?!"

Gwen: "I-I... I'm not sure. It was an unsettling, hidden fantasy that slipped out. Please, let's keep this between us."

Claire "I would be too embarrassed to even tell anyone. Fuck, let's talk about something else. Oh! I know! There's that one thing we both loved to talk a lot about!"

Gwen "Oh?... You mean 'that', am I correct?"

Claire "Yes. On a count to 3. 1..."

Gwen "2..."

Gwen/ Claire "3! Palace of Infinity! Heck, yeah!"

The two best friends exchange a warm hug before retrieving notebooks from their pockets.

Claire "Oh, nice! You did collect stickers!"

Gwen "You thought I would lie? Of course, I would collect them but I'm more surprised with the amount you possess."

Claire "Yeah, I might be addicted but I don't care! What should we talk about first in person?!"

Gwen "I don't have the faintest idea. As I recall correctly, 90% of our online conversation revolved around that amazing series so I'm struggling to ascertain a particular starting point."

Claire "Don't worry, bestie! You have me! Oh! Let's start with a summary. You go first."

Gwen "Alright. Eons ago, there was a noble whose madness for conquest knows no bounds. His obsession led to a 40,000-year-long conquest of effective domination, laying waste to countless civilizations across the Universe. For it was not quality he desired but the quantity and so he took those who showed loyalty under his tyrannical wings while showing resistance to endless torment. And so, he conquered the Universe and built a palace large enough to encapsulate its entirety so he may monitor his people. His reign was a symbol of misery for generations to come. The Quantity he so desired has been achieved..."

Claire "... but Most of his people can see clear as day the flaw in his ideals, the crack with his system. Within that crack, a beautiful flower blooms with thorns along its stem powerful enough to threaten The King's rule. Though its pretty petals are alluring like a key to a door to absolute conquest. That flower's name was Elane and with the power to control freedom, she led the people of this dark age into the light. Whew, that was a mouthful but so worth the chills."

Gwen "Agreed. Just reminiscing about them brings waves of nostalgia."

Claire "Yeah, can't you believe that the series kick-started all the way back in 1980? Crazy, right? Not only that! It has like 5000 anime episodes and 20000 chapters. It legit took me my entire childhood to catch up."

Gwen "20000? Wow, I need to resume reading and watching then. I have put the series on halt since last year and only made it to chapter 5000. I haven't even delved into the anime."

Claire "What why not?! It is so good!"

Gwen "Don't call me dumb but I didn't know there was anime."

Claire "Really? I mean seeing how you were busy all the time. I can see where you're coming from. But fuck! Then I can't talk much about the later chapters! It will be like spoilers! Hey, let's just talk about the main character and the story instead."

Gwen "Elane is a sweet character but I adore that she is somewhat realistic. Her character has shown time and time again that she too is human, knowing when to grieve and when to have hope. I also appreciate that she evolves more and more like a leader over time rather than a naive young girl. As for the story, I love it for the countless metaphors and lessons cleverly woven into it."

Claire "Hmmm, what about the villain?"

Gwen "Sa'mon? At first, I thought he was one-dimensional but as the story progressed I found his reason quite intriguing. He is-

The door flung open with Dave being the first to storm in.

Dave "Yo yo, my two bros! Good fucking news! The solar thingy died faster than we thought and AN sent that gizmo or whatever up to the old solar system."

Diana "Icarus! It's rude to just barge in! But yeah Earth is still there. Thank god."

Azan "I would like to apologise for my previous outburst. Please, relay this to Kanji."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Mina "GUYS! THE COOKIES ARE BURNING! HELP!"

Claire "Wait? You guys are still making cookies?"

Sarah "Muffins, actually. At least, I am. You saw how horrible the muffin I made yesterday. I'm not giving up! Speaking of that... NOAH! ARE THE MUFFINS OKAY?!"

Noah "Yes, I have them on a tray! They look great but we really need some help with this fire! Part of it caught Adrian's apron."

Diana "Oh shit gotta go!"

Dave "Hold on my dick-shaped cookie! Dave is to the rescue!"

Amelia "They looked more like fine mustaches. Apologies for the intrusion, lasses."

The door slams shut, causing the pair to stare into each other before sharing a small chuckle.

Gwen "Want to discuss each chapter one by one?"

Claire "Fuck yeah!"

Gwen and Claire spend the rest of the day chatting about Palace of Infinity. The rest of the group continued trialing until they had a perfect grasp on cookie baking. While, Kanji lay seated in a quad terrain, now fractured from the result of his training. Nevertheless, The Aspect of Energy walks back and forth in frustration while reviewing a couple of theories in his head... Another day passes by.

__________________________________________________________________________

Amidst the war-torn landscape of Caverrin, the aftermath of a fierce battle marks the border of Nobilis, strewn with the remains of Castastrians. The casualties on both sides are evident, each bearing the weight of the conflict. However, for the rebels, the term "casualty" takes on a meaningless resonance. As two key figures traverse the rooftops of opulent noble homes, a tense air surrounds them.

The younger of the pair drags a battered Castastrian adorned in a torn golden suit. Her imposing figure, standing over ten feet tall, is encased in a formidable power suit, a fusion of red metallic segments and dark grey interstices, heavily armored and robust. A deep scar mars her right eye, partially exposing a small section of right her mouth, while her unique kerahair consists of two lengthy strands cascading to the ground, the rest flowing halfway down her back.

?? "Unhand me your barbarians! Do you comprehend the ramifications of this-

SUSANA "How about you shut the fuck up before you lose more than just your hair?!"

TIO "Remain composed, my dear. Hmmm. Fulgrim Moltar. Castastrian enslaver. Trafficker. Cannibal. You'll get that savage's attention."

Susuna swiftly rips off the noble's head before the duo survey the scene below.

SUSANA "Looks like the target is here. That creepy battle-crazy bastard."

TIO "Still being spiteful after the last injury, huh? I thought I taught you better than that. Control your emotions. Proceed with the plan."

SUSANA "Alright... Hey! Dumbass!"

Her booming voice echoes, barely ruffling the euphoric moment he is experiencing. The second general grins, relishing the thrill of battle, realizing the relentless onslaught of enemy hordes like a buffet. Adrenaline courses through him as each mighty blow he delivers decimates the surging clones' faces. Despite their overwhelming numbers, not a single strike lands.

TIO "I know you yearn for a rematch but be honest with yourself. Can you truly beat him?"

SUSANA "No... he also has those horrendous things on his back."

TIO "Another excuse. Though a good one. The two calamity weapons. We must stop him from using either of them. Well... unless it could backfire on the stupid fool."

SUSUNA "You said it!"

Hurling the severed head before the general, Susuna forces the clones into retreat.

GENERAL 2 "Come back here, ya darn cowards. Huh? Wait... isn't this shit?- Oh... It's ya! Bitch face! Why did ya send them away?! I was having a lot of fun!" "What's her game plan? I saw four clones running in a straight line with those darn sparks of hers in their feet. Should I just jump up there and kill them?"

TIO "Looks like he saw your planning, careless girl. No matter, I'll keep him in check."

As the second general is about to jump, he suddenly loses all motion of his body.

GENERAL 2 "Fuck! I can't even talk! Who the yapping hell is that granny?!"

SUSANA "Your power is kinda unfair, Granny Tio."

TIO "Stop dilly dally! Proceed with the plan before I blink!"

SUSANA "Fine. Activate! SPARK MANIPULATION EXCAVATE ONE MILE!"

From their vantage point, a massive square encompasses the general, clones stationed just beyond the perimeter, awaiting orders. The ground trembles, sliding inward, dragging the target into a darkened abyss. Granny Tio signals rows of clones to hurl countless Molotov cocktails, allowing her sight to the general, ensnaring the general, and stifling his movements once more. They sense his simmering hostility as Tio readies to signal the next move—

A bullet whizzes and she blinks, giving the general enough time to grab his scythe.

GENERAL 2 "AHA! HERE I COME, YA BITCHES!"

With a mighty leap, he swiftly emerges from the depths, his scythe aglow with untamed power. Yet, midway, a clone hurls itself downward, crashing its head against the scythe's blades. The resulting colossal explosion hurls the general back into the depths, triggering a seismic tremor along the walls and raining rumble entombing him as he lands. Though he struggles, he barely breaks free, but it's too late. The second phase of the plan has been activated, and hundreds of clones descend, imbibing from a strange canister. The general grins, readying his scythe, but the bodies of the clones morph into a jelly-like substance on impact before solidifying into a hardened, flesh-like material.

GENERAL 2 "THIS IS FLESH STEEL! HOW DID YA GET IT?! THIS IS THE DOCTOR'S-

A clone hardens and clones his mouth before countless more rain down, slowing filling up the hole.

SUSANA "This seems a bit overkill."

TIO "You wouldn't say that if you knew what that devil-like bastard is capable of. This will stall for some time. Now, we prepare to fight that snake-like bastard."

On the opposite side of the colossal planet, Karnat has trekked across numerous what were assumed to be "activated volcanoes," only to be baffled by Granny Tio's truthful claims. These formations, purportedly volcanoes, resemble more the grandeur of silver-draped mountains than the expected fiery spouts. Oddly, the atmosphere in this vicinity tends more toward a chilly embrace than an expected searing heat. His expedition thus far has been devoid of danger, except for a herd of Brom flies that initially seemed hostile but astonishingly proved to be docile, affording him the chance to pet some of the larvae. Now, in the present moment, he traverses yet another peak, and as he passes it, his jaw descends in awe at the spectacle that unfolds before him.

KARNAT "No fucking way. This can't be real."

Spread out in front of him lies an entire forest... No, dubbing it as a mere forest would be an insult. This place burgeons with greenery, extending ceaselessly to the horizon. A pang pierces his heart as he confronts the deception of his empire, yet the former general strides resolutely into this uncharted realm. Immediately, he discerns that the arboreal giants surrounding him belong to a strain of Acar, a more untamed variation believed to have faded into extinction. The symphony of rushing water beckons to him, prompting an unwitting march toward its origins— a river, concealed amidst the verdant foliage. He cautiously wends his way through the underbrush, drawing nearer.

KARNAT "I wonder what kind of wildlife will I see first-

A colossal footfall startles the former general, compelling him to press flat against the earth in fear.

Beside him looms an immense reptilian-like foot, adorned with jet-blue crescent-shaped scales tracing its length. Gazing upward, Karnat's heart plummets, a feeling of impending doom settling upon him. He holds his breath while surveying more of the creature. To the human eye, it resembles a tyrannosaurus, albeit with three heads and tentacles in place of arms.

KARNAT "Fuck that! That's way too many tentacles! Wait, is it fishing? Great! Time to get out of here!"

Karnat stealthily frees himself from the foliage, bolting away under the assumption that the creature remains unaware of his presence. However, one of its heads catches a glimpse, signaling its compatriots. The trio trembles in fear before darting in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, Karnat gathers mud and leaves, fashioning a makeshift camouflage suit, and plunges deeper into this sylvan continent. He happens upon another river and dares to take a sip, calming himself from the feeling of danger coursing through his veins.

Karnat "It's quite clean and- Hold on. Is that a cave?!"

With a sigh of relief, he vaults over the river and ventures inside.

Karnat "Are these a symbol? What the fuck?! This is English!"

Etched upon the cave wall are two pairs of symbols. The initial pair consists of the letter "M" followed by an emoji akin to ">:)," while the subsequent pair comprises the letter "V" trailed by an emoji resembling ">:(". Karnat retrieves his journal, flipping through its pages to find any reference to the beast he encountered. He discovers that the creature is known as an "Acrescentia Cerberasaurus," the apex predator of this section of the realm. Granny Tio's counsel advises against engaging with them due to their remarkable intelligence, capacity for bearing grudges, and recall complex memories. Their vulnerability lies in their reliance on myriad rapid tentacles rather than biting or stomping their adversaries. The journal even depicts Tio atop a bound Cerberasaurus, illustrating a potential exploitation of this weakness.

Karnat "Good thing I decided to avoid that guy. But what about these symbols?"

Page after Page, he couldn't find any details about the symbols so he suspects a couple of scenarios. The first theory is that Granny Tio simply missed this cave and didn't know about it. The second theory is other Castastrians knew of the Empire's lie and managed to find their way here where they died or built a home somewhere or maybe...

Page after page, he peruses his journal, finding no mention of the symbols, leading him to speculate on several scenarios. The first hypothesis posits that Granny Tio may have overlooked this cave, its significance dodging her exploration. The second theory suggests that other Castastrians might have learned the empire's deceit and found their way here, either perishing or establishing a residence elsewhere or perhaps...

Karnat "... This is their home. I'll wait and see."

He waits until the stroke of midnight, yet no one appears, prompting him to infer that they may have established a home elsewhere. A sense of tranquility fills Karnat's heart as he reclines, surrendering himself to sleep, and allowing the night to envelop him. Another day passes by without incident.