A young Walteran girl pushes open the door to her cottage, the echoes of an exhausting and eventful day still fresh in her mind. Eager to share her experiences with her beloved grandmother, her excitement blinds her to the darkness of the room. She realizes too late when she stumbles over a wooden stool.

Margaret "Why is it so dark? Now where is the light—

Gala "There's no need, my dear."

A lamp flickers to life, illuminating the cozy room. The soft glow reveals her grandmother lying in bed, surrounded by a pile of books.

Margaret "What's all this?"

Gala "Storytime, of course."

Margaret "But it's too early."

Gala "... Fine, you caught me. I have an early meeting with some friends tomorrow, and I might be gone for the whole day."

Margaret "Wait... Does this mean I get to look after the cottage?!"

Gala "You're more mature and responsible than any other young whippersnappers, that's for sure. Now, hop in."

Margaret drops her backpack at the foot of the bed and leaps, landing face-first beside Gala.

Gala "You'll break your sweet little nose if you do that too much."

Margaret "I know. Before we start, can I tell you about all the stuff that happened today?"

Gala "My dear. You know you tend to drag on with those. How about this... Once before each act, and keep it brief."

Margaret "Okay, I guess I can start with Jaco."

Gala "Who's Jaco?"

Margaret "A boy in my class. He doesn't talk much and doesn't have any friends. Today, he asked me to go see a secret spot in school with him. I felt bad for him since he looked desperate, so I went along."

Gala "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Margaret "Ha! Nah, Jaco is harmless. He showed me a secret tunnel in the janitor's closet that leads to an underground mine. It was so cool! There were gemstones everywhere. He says he chills there to keep his mind off loneliness. We talked a lot, and he's... pretty cool, though a bit of a nerd who's into roleplaying like wanting a knight who slays monsters. We became friends."

Gala "Hoho. I think I know why the young boy invited you specially."

Margaret "What, granny?"

Gala "He has an obvious crush on you."

Margaret "What?! No! That is not the reason... maybe. Why me, though? There are a lot of other cute girls in the class."

Gala "You are approachable, enthusiastic, and kind. At least, that's what the neighbors, teachers, and other kids around here say."

Margaret "Hmm, but grandma... I'm not ready for the whole romance thing but I also don't want to reject my new friend."

Gala "Of course, that's a natural reaction. You are only 12 after all. The best thing to do is go for second best. Be best friends with him unless he doesn't have a lot in common with you."

Margaret "Oh no, he's also enthusiastic like me, but he doesn't show it. I'll think about it."

Gala "I wish you the best of luck. Now, let's get into act three...

A human man wakes up in his bed, feeling well-rested and pleasantly surprised that he wasn't ambushed during the night. With a snap of his fingers, his pajamas transform into a fresh and newly selected attire as he strides down the stairs. Charles greets him warmly and invites Kanji to a desk laden with green seapan-cakes and an array of unfamiliar syrups. Despite the enticing spread, Kanji's mind wanders, pondering the time of the arranged meetup from yesterday. Yet, the irresistible aroma of the freshly cooked goods draws him to sit opposite of Charles.

Charles "How was your sleep, Master Kimura?"

Kanji "It was quite comfy. I find it surprising that food can smell this good despite being underwater."

Charles "We Ordans learned to adapt and innovate, which is why our food industry is flourishing."

Kanji "I did a bit of light reading before bed last night and discovered that some other nations have large air bubbles surrounding their continents."

Charles "That's all thanks to King Omnistar. He passed a law, claiming it would make things more 'challenging' for would-be usurpers. Personally, I think he did it out of personal preference."

Kanji "Interesting. By the way, these seapan-cakes remind me of an Earth breakfast dish, though there's a leafy aftertaste."

Charles "Yep, the proud product of my company! Made from 100 percent organic strung wheat and featherfish eggs."

Kanji "This particular syrup is quite tasty."

Charles "Ah, that was made from the sugar bubbles of the Mostra trees."

Kanji "Yeah, I saw the forest right outside the walls. I even picked a few out."

Charles "What?! You plucked them out by hand?! Those things stick to their trunks like abyssal barnacles to leviathans. Normally, we use high-powered saws or chemicals."

Kanji "Interesting. You mentioned Leviathans. What are they?"

Charles "They are 33 humongous beasts the size of continents, lying dormant at the bottom of the sea. They only rise upon specific triggers, and no sane Walteran would risk activating those triggers. The highest authorities of each nation have put a large amount of effort into hiding the triggers so no one can set them off on purpose."

Kanji "What if they were awoken by accident?"

Charles "There's not a single record in our history suggesting a leviathan rose by accident. There were always motives at play, Master Kimura."

Kanji "Before, I take my leave. Are you familiar with a bit of cosmology or astronomy?"

Charles "Not my realm of expertise. Are you perhaps keen to learn, Master Kimura? I can fetch you a couple of books that might aid your pursuit of knowledge."

Kanji "Thanks, that would be very helpful, Charles."

Charles "See you, and I hope you have a safe trip, Master Kimura."

Kanji steps out onto the streets of the First Wall, finding it odd that the citizens accept the region's simple name without question. The area is a maze of clean roads, organized traffic, pristine shops, and happy citizens. The very sight contradicts the supposed tyrannical rule of King Omnistar— or perhaps Wall One is an exception. As he continues to walk, Kanji realizes he has forgotten to ask Charles for instructions. Luckily, he spots an electronic signboard displaying the map of the region and commits it to memory.

Kanji "It's ridiculous that Ordan is constructed like a fan and built along the edge. A very odd choice, but that's not my place to judge. Each wall region is like the layers of an onion."

He takes a 360-degree turn, scanning his surroundings.

Kanji "Yep, Charles built his business right next to the heart of this region. Or maybe I should call it a city instead."

Relying on his near-perfect memory, Kanji travels north to the upper corners of the city. The citizens give him only short glances before returning to their business. He concludes that extraterrestrial foreigners must be common here, as he spots several Castatrian families enjoying their time in leisure. He is relieved that none appear to belong to the imperial army, but a sense of unease washes over him like a feeling is being followed.

Kanji navigates through the crowds, then takes a sharp turn into an alley and he immediately brandishes his chain, charging it with electricity.

Kanji "Come out!"

The five figures reveal themselves as a gang of crooks. Their ragged clothing makes them look like beggars, but something is off. Unlike the other residents, they aren't smiling and instead are giving him a blank stare. Sensing danger, Kanji swings his chain without hesitation. The group grabs onto his weapon but is pushed back. Suddenly, nine additional pairs of arms sprout from each thug's back. A brief glitch reveals their true forms as robotic Castastrian soldiers. Feeling a powerful tug on his chain, Kanji quickly retracts the weapon into his inventory and reequips it. Knowing they are machines, he sprints and leaps over the group, landing without a noise before placing his hand on one of the robot's back.

His body transmutes into electricity and enters the attacker, spreading through its mechanical frame to destroy the circuits. However, he feels an agonizing pain surrounding his malleable form, forcing him to launch out of the machine and crash into the side of a building. Then— A barrage of strange fleshy blades thrusts forward, and he quickly strafes to dodge. The Usurper jumps back, noticing one of the five opponents lying motionless on the floor. Whatever they did is causing his vision to blur, but he focuses just enough to dodge more of the strange swords. One of them nicks his right arm, causing the spot to bloat and explode the entire limb.

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Enduring the pain, he delivers a powerful kick to the closest robot's torso, sending it flying and knocking into the others. This gives him enough time to jump and grab onto an electrical line with his left hand, transmuting once more and he escapes.

His form bolts in a zig-zag pattern, reaching far beyond the attackers' sight.

Feeling he has reached a safe distance, he releases his electric form and quickly stabs a syringe into his severed arm before landing in another alleyway. With a heavy breath, he reflects on the information he gathered from the enemy, trying to decipher what caused his blurry vision and that pain. Checking the tech he installed in his eyes, he detects a strange wave resembling a radio wave, but its behavior is unlike anything he has encountered before. Upon closer inspection, he finds that this wave morphs into hexagonal patterns when it interacts with electricity, subsequently reducing the energy's charge. He barely recalls an unusual device each of the robots had, which might be responsible for this interference.

Kanji "I think it looked like a small satellite, with something rotating inside the center—

He ducks, narrowly avoiding a horizontal swing of a sword.

Turning around, Kanji spots another group of five soldiers. Before they can react, his arms glow with fiery and icy energy, projecting a wave of polarizing elements. The first wave scorches three robots in front, melting their arms and several devices, leaving three strange swords on the floor that scream as if they are living creatures. The second wave follows in a flash, freezing the weapons and the robots, silencing the screams.

Kanji then unleashes a barrage of strong swings, shattering the three robots into pieces and creating a cloud of steam. As the steam clears, he anticipates the movements of the remaining two robots. They stand a few meters back, unharmed but cautious, eyeing him as if calculating their next move. Suddenly, six smooth grey crystal shields with the symbol of a thorny crown, another mini satellite, and another one of those swords manifest in their hands.

Kanji jumps and reaches for another powerline, but the robots fire a blast from their mini-satellites, neutralizing his escape route. Gritting his teeth, he uses his momentum to propel himself onto the roof. He then fires a couple of alternating blasts of hot and cold energy, but his attacks are completely absorbed by their shields. With a single jump, the robots follow him onto the roof and charge forward.

Kanji releases a wave of electricity, but they quickly repel it with their satellites. Realizing his energy abilities are ineffective in this fight, Kanji unequips his chain and charges forward with tightly clenched fists. Suddenly—

A barrage of spears appears from the edge of the opposite ledge of the building, landing with precision and destroying each of the robots' heads.

Kanji "What was that?!"

He walks slowly toward the ledge and peers down, discovering a bizarre sight. A group consisting of a couple of kids, an old lady, a guard, and three shopkeepers are carrying spears and dragging what he presumes are the mechanical remains of the earlier robots. The old lady smiles and waves, inviting him to come down. Kanji jumps off and lands beside them, his expression filled with confusion.

Kanji "I'm a little confused. Why did you help me?"

The Old Lady "It's common sense to help those in need and punish the wicked. We've been watching you for a while, new friend."

Kanji "That was dangerous! You folks seem like normal civillians."

The Old Lady "HoHo. You'll find out in due time. You were looking for 47 Coral Street, Wall One, weren't you?"

Kanji "How did you know that?"

The Old Lady "As I said all will be explained in due course. Follow me."

Kanji surveys the group, noting their sincerity. He lowers his fists and follows them.

He arrives at the upper right corner of Wall One, where a lone door is built into the City's Wall. The group bids him farewell, and Kanji swings the door open with confidence. The sudden movement startles the figure seated across a table. With a soft cough, the figure regains his composure and presents himself more clearly.

The figure is a short, chubby Rulen with blue skin and other characteristics typical of his kind. However, there is something distinctive about him. He is bald but wears a cone-shaped green hat with a star at the tip, either to cover his baldness or to complement his lime-colored eyes. The noble figure is dressed in a silky brown coat, a white buttoned shirt, stilt-skinned pants, and black boots.

??? "Oh, I was expecting you, Mister Kimura. Come in, come in. Take a seat on the other end."

Kanji complies and takes a seat, his eyes catching a glimpse of someone hiding in the closet in the corner.

Kanji "There is a—

??? "Hold it. Before we get into Introductions...

With a snap of his fingers, the room momentarily distorts into static, causing Kanji's vision to double for a brief moment. As the effects clear, the Rulen previously hidden in the closet emerges, and Kanji immediately recognizes his silhouette.

The newcomer has luscious gold fins that fold over his scalp in a shape reminiscent of long top hairstyles. His skin is as clear as the sky, complementing the dark blue hue of his eyes. He wears an elegant sleeveless Paisley black vest adorned with yellow coral patterns, a tie matching the same design, a white inner shirt, black pants, and glossy black leather shoes that seem to gleam with every step he takes toward the table.

Kanji "You're Micheal. Aren't you?"

Micheal "Bingo, Kanji. Am I right?"

Kanji "Yeah. Okay, so an explanation right now would go a long way for this conversation."

??? "I suppose I should start with what happened earlier. My name is Otium Tide, and as you know, I am the Lord of Wall One. My responsibility is to ensure my citizens are safe and eliminate any wrongdoers post haste."

Kanji "Using regular civilians for your work isn't exactly gracious of you, Lord Otium."

Otium "Ha! Newcomers always hit me with that one. I shall defend my methods, but first, I need you to agree that whatever is discussed here shall never leave this room."

Kanji "What is this? Some kind of secret meeting to overthrow the King?"

The duo gives him a quick nod.

Kanji "Well, I'll be damned. Fine, lay it on me."

Otium "Excellent. I can start with the explanation."

Kanji "Really? I thought I was going to sign some kind of contract before we start."

Micheal "Oh, the contract was in effect the moment you stepped foot in here."

Kanji "Is that what I felt earlier?"

Otium "You are half right. You see, I have a very special rule related to my powers. It revolves around a 'base' that I can change every month. Inside this base, I can do all sorts of things like create hidden contracts and, more importantly, distort any form of surveillance."

Micheal "You see... Good old dad up there has eyes everywhere. Even in places you wouldn't expect, so no secrets can be kept from him. Unless there's a disguise over that secret."

Otium "This room alters our words, our actions, and even our appearance to outside eavesdroppers."

Micheal "Which is good for me since everyone except Otium and Calin hates me. A single hint of my connection to anyone would get them executed without mercy."

Kanji "You said it only changes when you're inside. So... how did you get here? Surely, they would have caught you."

Micheal "Oh, I got this access token which I received way before everyone hated me. Lord Otium here gave it to me, and it allows me to teleport anywhere he decides. Of course, I would be found missing, which did cause a couple of issues in the past, but we resolved it in one piece. Didn't we, Otium?"

Otium "Yes, Your Majesty. Your totally ingenious plan of a robot double has surely tricked the king."

Micheal "Okay, that's enough sarcasm out of you. Let's talk business. Otium, Calin, and I despise my father's tyrannical rule. We've been plotting for years, gathering any bit of information that can help us bring him down. So far, we've made small fractures with our tiny picks of info."

Otium "That's why we need a drill. Your display of power earlier was most impressive, Mister Kimura. Controlling electricity, fire, and ice without restriction is an ability to be envied."

Kanji "I get that you guys are rebels, and having a few helping hands would come in handy. But you haven't explained the whole 'using your own citizens' bit. How do I know you're not just another group of tyrants?"

Otium "I suppose a clearer explanation of my power is necessary. Whenever I'm in my base, I can call forward a physical copy of every Rulen under my rule and use them as soldiers. Ever wonder why my people are so happy and healthy? Because they know for a fact that they will not go to war or ever get harmed. The happier and more positive they are, the more efficient those copies become."

Micheal "Walterans even named this city the City of Perfection and Peace."

Kanji "That's a very clever ability. Did you choose it knowing you would become a duke? Also, please elaborate on the part where your citizens won't get harmed."

Otium "Well, I was heir to the previous duke, so I had to come up with something to secure my rule. And yes, my citizens are invincible while I'm in here. They are sent to another parallel dimension where they go about their lives while their doubles take their place in this reality. Oh! Did you know that my people practice combat as a hobby? That's why the copies are so skilled!"

Kanji "That's crazy... I have heard enough. I'll join you."

Micheal "But before we start, I want to know where you got that."

Kanji "It's from a lonely girl on the edge of this continent whose name is Ara. Do you want it?"

Micheal "Y-Yes."

Micheal grabs the pin and looks away as a tear falls from his eye before he disappears from the room.

Otium "He'll need some time to recover. A tragic story really, but you'll hear the truth one day. Now, onto the plan. You see, I can't help you directly since you haven't beaten me yet. According to the rules, challengers must fight rulers by themselves while rulers can use everything in their power to stop them. This is because of the king's obsession with the one-man army stereotype. However, he also hates the concept of scheming or sabotaging the challengers as they build up to the fight."

Kanji "That's good to know. Wait, can I sabotage them?"

Otium "Yes, but that’s like telling a ruler that you want to start the fight early. I wouldn't recommend it since a few fools in the past have died from that decision. The king also doesn't tolerate surrendering without a fight, whether it's the challenger or the ruler. He would personally come down to deal with them."

Kanji "If you're brave enough, you could challenge him using that fact."

Otium "That thought has crossed our minds many times, but we know we would die. Our power is not efficient enough. Anyway, I'm suggesting that we should fake our fight in a few days and make it so you beat me. Once I'm under your rule, I can help you with anything aside from providing you with an army. Ah, and Prince Micheal will help retrieve anything in the kingdom, whether it’s a physical object or information."

Kanji "Whoa, hold on! I thought everyone hates him. How does he get that stuff?"

Otium "Because His Majesty has broken the system... no, more like he challenged the very concept of the king's rule. I'll put it like this— 'You can't hurt him, and he can't hurt you.' This only applies to physical, spiritual, or supernatural damage."

Kanji "That's crazy. He must have one hell of a grudge. What about mental damage?"

Otium "He was prepared for that. He cut off every connection he had to anyone close to him and even abandoned his home. Some call him The Homeless Prince. I'll say It's funny to see him go into an establishment and take their belongings without resistance."

Kanji "I can see why even normal people hate him. Okay, I'm on board. Do you have a note about the plan or any written details—

Otium "Way ahead of ya. Here...

Otium hands him a long list of details for their fake fight, and Kanji smiles at its sublime structure.

Kanji "This is very impressive. I can remember this with ease."

Otium "Oh, before you leave, hand me your access token."

Kanji lays his access token on the table and Otium rubs his webbed hand on it.

Otium "There. I gave you access to teleport to this room."

Kanji "Thanks, Otium. I'll see you in two days."

They end their conversation with a wave, and Kanji steps out of the room. With a deep breath, he decides to take out his spyware device, which signals several sources of surveillance. Trusting the duke's words, he holds up his access token and returns home.

Kanji "Wow, that was something. I hope the others don't have too many issues."