CHAPTER 36: ARRIVAL

Twenty years ago, on the first day of the millennium, an event happened that surprised many.

******

A man in his thirties with dark skin stood in a gym at the top of Heroes Tower.

Music blared from portals in every corner of the gym as the man lifted dumbbells with each hand whose weight exceeded a ton.

These dumbbells were designed especially for superheroes and the man lifted it with relative ease.

“The first day of the millennium and the Blue City is partying! And security at the highest point!”

The man watched the television and then looked at the time, noting that it was already past midnight entering a new year... The year 1000.

A thousand years after, the abilities were revealed to the world and people used it freely and during these thousand years many events happened.

Wars, fallen continents, kingdoms of gods and disasters, but humanity kept on standing, even if every day it was more complicated and difficult to keep up.

“Safety if high,” Nathaniel Arsenault muttered, watching the television broadcasting from the local channel.

Superheroes were flying through the streets guarding the city, while civilians were celebrating the new year by enjoying the city’s festivities and events, oblivious to what was going on elsewhere.

“At this moment, the White City, capital of the Federation, is suffering the second invasion. However, the forces have repelled it and the ghosts have retreated.”

Nathaniel frowned as he watched as a ghostly creature was flying through the city, not voluntarily, but after being struck by a female figure.

A female figure surrounded by lightning flew in an instant and arrived before the ghost hit a building and struck it again, throwing it into the sky, only to launch thousands of lightning bolts.

The woman stood in the sky waiting for the ghost to come down as her cloak floated next to her gray hair and what stood out the most from her whole imposing appearance were the golden eyes that stared into the camera.

The woman was annoyed that someone was recording, but the wails of souls erupted from the city and the woman flew up with a roar that terrified the ghosts themselves.

“Crazy,” Nathaniel muttered without hiding his surprise.

He could face ghosts? Spiritual beings that were unmanifested in reality and could not be physically harmed?

Such a question left him thinking about the illogicality of that woman managing to hit something that could not be hit.

However, his thoughts couldn’t go too far because someone opened the door to the gym and a woman with short blue hair entered the gym with hurried steps.

“Get dressed, boy. We have a problem on shore,” said the woman, tossing him the set of clothes.

Nathaniel frowned as he received his suit and looked at the waiting woman as she set down the dumbbells.

“Master, this year I will be 35 years old. I’m not a boy anymore,” Nathaniel replied, but despite his complaint, he emanated heat to burn off the sweat and put on his superhero costume.

The woman continued to watch him with a smile.

Yuliana, known as the First Dragoness, was one of the greatest superheroines on this planet and, to Nathaniel’s bad luck, she was his master when he was younger.

Every time the woman had the opportunity, she would come to bother him and force him to work. Just like now, she practically forced him to work without caring if he accepted or not.

The worst thing was the smile the woman gave... It was a smile full of superiority and confidence that she openly showed.

However, Nathaniel could never say no to her, at least not when the silver-colored lizard eyes were watching him resolutely.

How could he say no to an extremely powerful Dragoness?

“Can you at least tell me where we’re going? Today was going to be my day off,” Nathaniel muttered, wearing his superhero outfit.

The clothing fit his body and was designed with highly heat resistant material and couldn’t be burned by him when he used his powers.

In a way, Nathaniel didn’t need that much clothing when he was always on fire, but he didn’t want to end up naked after using his powers, so he asked the superiors of the society to make him this outfit.

“You’ve grown up and look more handsome since the last time I saw you,” said the woman with a flirtatious smile.

The eyes looked at him as if they wanted to devour him in a lascivious way and the playful smile was more dangerous than charming.

The woman was pretty and charming, but if anyone was fooled by that playful side she was appearing, they would probably be in trouble.

“Would you like me to accompany you or not, master?” Nathaniel questioned with a frown.

“Yes, yes, I want company. They say it’s the end of the world, so I might need a hand,” Yuliana replied and seeing him frowning, she pointed out. “You know, the girl who has prophecies. She had one a few hours ago, and she mentioned was going to happen the end of the world off the coast of this city.”

The way the woman shrugged her shoulders, as if giving notice of a minor task, made Nathaniel frown.

“Master, prophecies are not to be taken in jest. Even if a girl is the one giving the prophecy,” Nathaniel said seriously.

How old was the prophetess? Six or seven? All the same, her prophecies were important and helped the city avoid dangers they could not otherwise avoid.

However, it was obvious from the look on Yuliana’s face that she did not have the same idea.

The woman looked in her thirties, but the look she gave at times filled with that contempt and superiority, as if she was looking at him like a foolish child, made Nathaniel feel she was hundreds of years old, if not older.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to discover the true age, though someone of her kind had probably lived a very long life.

“Aha. The last end of the world is out there on the loose,” Yuliana replied boredly and pointing to the television to where several ghosts could be seen being burned as a figure stepped into the other side of the portal, she stated. “Look at her. She’ll probably destroy the other world where the invaders are coming from.”

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Nathaniel didn’t know how to respond.

The first prophecy the girl had had was of two aliens coming to this world and it was prophesied that they would destroy it... It didn’t happen.

It was more, the alien woman was protecting this world, as she had done several times before, both from local dangers and from space or other worlds.

“Still...”

“Yes, yes, it is dangerous and etcetera,” interrupted the woman hurriedly and giving him a nod, she asked. “Are we going or what?”

She had just said ‘etcetera’ as if whatever concern he was trying to convey was known to her.

The woman was still as troubled as ever, but Nathaniel could only sigh before following her to the balcony and flying with her through the night sky.

Just as he had seen on television, the city was partying and the streets were full of people as music blared from the center, where there seemed to be a concert.

The tall buildings were also celebrating those of the city’s most prestigious and powerful, while they could see the flying vehicles of the authorities hovering between the buildings.

Even though it was late at night, the party was still going on at the highest point and it was obvious that the citizens would continue the party until late.

They went to the harbor and after seeing that nothing was happening and that the ships were fine, Nathaniel frowned.

“Master, I’ll really be upset if you brought me for nothing,” Nathaniel said in a serious tone.

“What? Don’t tell me that training during the new year is more important than spending time with your old master?” Yuliana questioned with an offended tone and turning to him as she hovered, asked playfully. “Or were you about to go to the spa to take care of your skin?”

“Excuse me? I don’t do those treatments...”

Just as Nathaniel was about to reply that his soft skin was natural, he could sense a strange sensation coming from the north of the harbor.

They both looked at each other and flew back out of the harbor and into the warehouse area, and after advancing a couple of kilometers, they noticed that the sea was churning and in the middle of the darkness a colossal ‘mountain’ could be seen.

Nathaniel activated his powers and was surrounded by fire so intense that it illuminated the sea and the surrounding area, leaving that ‘mountain’ in sight.

It was not a mountain or an object; it was a grotesque humanoid sea creature whose skin was scales and whose arms were fins and the creature drooled, revealing fangs.

Seventy meters tall, with a large, fat body as if it had devoured thousands of creatures and, to Nathaniel’s surprise, the creature was motionless and lifeless.

Even though it was dead, the creature still emanated a powerful presence that shook the sea and revealed it to be a Code Black.

“No visible physical damage. It died on the spot. Its mind smashed and shattered to pieces. Whoever did it didn’t even have to exert themselves,” Yuliana murmured earnestly as she emanated her own presence.

Short blue hair grew to her ankles, and the surroundings were tinged with a blue color... If Nathaniel was the sun that illuminated the coast, she was the open sky that swallowed the world and between the sun and the sky, there was another presence.

“This being... It had thoughts of destroying the city.”

A voice came from everywhere and Nathaniel strengthened the fire, illuminating with greater intensity to the point that it burned the space and also a purple energy that was present in the surroundings.

“That’s enough,” Yuliana ordered earnestly and Nathaniel obeyed by reducing his presence.

The night covered them both and from in front of the dead sea monster, a light blue figure manifested.

It was a humanoid figure with two arms and legs, but it had no face or details on its body... It was completely a light blue figure.

Nathaniel went on the defensive, but that figure raised her hand.

“I seek no harm to anyone,” said the figure in a high, clear, feminine voice that rang in his ears.

“I doubt it,” Nathaniel replied, watching the dead creature in the sea.

The light blue figure looked at the creature and then at him, then fell silent, as if it didn’t know how to respond.

“You’re making it uncomfortable, Nathaniel. No wonder you don’t have a mate,” Yuliana said and flying to the front of the figure, she walked over and shook hands. “You can call me Yuliana and don’t worry. It’s not the first time I’ve faced a sea monster like that, though it didn’t take it out as easily as you did.”

The way her master was shaking hands was with all her guard down and the light blue figure smiled and shook hands in a calm greeting.

“Thank you. I really didn’t mean to harm him, but his thoughts were chaotic and his desire to destroy the city was disturbing. I had to stop him,” replied the light blue figure and with a glowing tone, announced. “And I am the brightest transcendental of all!”

Voice loud and proud, but also animated and full of energy.

Nathaniel let his guard down at the sight of the woman looking animated and then relaxed even more when he saw his master was also smiling as brightly as the voice showed.

“Let me guess, a being from another world,” Yuliana said in a voice full of excitement.

The friendly manner in which she was speaking and the way she spoke without being on guard made the situation relaxing for the light blue figure, who seemed nervous.

“Something like that. Actually, it’s not a world... It’s a Realm. The Astral Realm,” replied the woman and scratching her cheek, she added. “I was actually planning to visit another universe, but... I got here by accident.”

She was honest... Nathaniel didn’t know how he could have that feeling when the woman was expressionless, but the voice was strangely honest and deep, managing to make him feel all of her emotions.

She had come from what she called the Astral Realm by accident, and he could tell she wasn’t looking to cause trouble.

“Nathaniel, go warn the others so they can introduce themselves,” Yuliana said and looking at the light blue figure, she explained. “Don’t worry, this world has no need to fight against beings from other worlds. However, some rules of protocol must be followed.”

His master wasn’t lying about the rules about otherworldly beings and this wasn’t the first time one had appeared, though it was Nathaniel’s first time at this kind of work.

“Code White?” Nathaniel asked his master.

Outsiders to this world didn’t know about codes, and this was a way to make sure to call in reinforcements without causing trouble.

A Code White meant a being or entity that could be dangerous to the entire world, but had no malicious intent or did not seek the destruction of the world.

Whereas a Code Black was the opposite and thus would categorize any dangerous entity that sought to destroy the world or could destroy the world and was not friendly.

The difference in the two codes was not strength, but intent, and his master, upon hearing this, turned to look at him.

“Of course, a white code. Do you think she can cause any damage?” Yuliana said, as if his question was stupid.

Nathaniel simply watched the light blue figure raise her hand in slightly shy and awkward greeting and then his master before sighing and flying in the opposite direction.

It was likely that his master would come unannounced, so he needed to contact the control center and explain the situation before returning.

As he walked away and descended into a warehouse, Nathaniel felt a ripple and when he turned around, his entire vision became light blue.

The only thing he felt was that he fell to the ground, losing track of his senses as if his soul had left his body, and after an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes again.

However, what he saw was an enormous crater and pure destruction, along with a huge celestial vortex surrounding and tearing apart reality itself.

“Master!”

Nathaniel shouted, but the second wave covered him and this time he was back in a light blue world and when he reopened his eyes, he woke up in a medical bed.

“Sir.”

He ignored the nurse and as he came out, he saw the destruction of the entrance and noticed that the entire harbor of several tens of kilometers was gone, with no sign of his master.

******

-Moments earlier-

“Of course, a code white. Do you think she can cause any damage?” said the woman, as if the man’s question was stupid.

The voice of that woman named Yuliana rang out, and the young, dark-skinned man watched her.

As the brightest Transcendental of all, she did what any being of her stature would do when viewed with doubt, and that was to raise her hand in greeting and friendship.

At least such an idea she had learned in another world and the man, upon seeing her, sighed before flying to the warehouse area of this world.

The transcendental observed this world and the bright moon of this world as her eyes tried to grasp the Astral Plane of this planet and the universe.

A travel mistake led her to this universe... It was rare for her as the brightest transcendental to make a mistake, and she felt this was not a common mistake.

Reconnecting to the Astral Plane, she sought the entrance to the Astral Realm and felt the other side chaotic, and she couldn’t help but give a concerned look.

The Astral Realm felt chaotic in a mixture of uncontrolled and formless space waves... A world that was not supposed to be affected by space was being affected by space right now.

Such an idea made no sense.

“Miss Transcendental.”

The Yuliana woman’s voice brought her out of her concentration and the brighter transcendental turned to look at the woman, but when her eyes met hers, everything stopped.

Reality itself twisted mysteriously, and the woman watched her with silver-colored eyes that lost form.

The woman herself lost form, and her skin, face, body and then colors melted as reality blurred.

However, the woman’s smile remained on her face, full of confidence that she couldn’t help but look at it.

“Who am...”

“There’s no talking here!”

The brightest transcendental gave a command and her voice reshaped the woman’s body again, reshaping the eyes, restoring the skin and restoring the colors, but in the woman figure there was no mouth.

The eyes of the female figure that had once been so friendly widened in surprise and then filled with satisfaction, as if she had found a magnificent prize.

Sensing the danger the woman was about to release, the brighter transcendental released her entire presence, turning all of reality into a light blue color.