The planet behind them slowly faded into the distance.
What once felt like a prison of trials… had now become a place of transformation. A place where weakness had been broken, reshaped, and reforged into something far greater.
And now—
their journey had begun.
The sky stretched endlessly before them, layered with streams of glowing energy that flowed like rivers across the cosmos. Floating landmasses drifted silently, and distant stars pulsed like living hearts.
Somewhere far beyond all of that—
was their destination.
Universe 157.
The place where Soverek… waited.
Or perhaps—
where he was imprisoned.
Vicky walked at the front.
Silent.
Focused.
His presence alone seemed to stabilize the space around them.
Behind him—
the others followed.
Each one different.
Each one changed.
Kael walked with his flail resting on his shoulder, swinging it lazily as if it were weightless. His golden strands shimmered faintly under the cosmic light.
"…So let me get this straight," he said, glancing around. "We trained like hell, almost died a hundred times, got new powers… and now we're going to save a dragon who calls you father?"
Luka smirked slightly.
"When you say it like that… it sounds normal."
Kael snorted.
"…Yeah. Totally normal."
Eren walked quietly beside them, his bow resting across his back. His eyes moved constantly, scanning their surroundings—not out of fear, but habit.
He had changed.
Not just stronger—
but sharper.
Arelia walked calmly, her white hair flowing softly behind her. A faint glow surrounded her, subtle but undeniable. Occasionally, her clones flickered into existence for a moment… then disappeared again, as if she was testing the boundaries of her new power.
And then—
there was Arna.
She walked slightly closer to Vicky than the others.
Not too close.
But not far either.
Her mirrors floated gently around her, reflecting fragments of the universe in soft, shifting patterns.
"…Master."
She called softly.
Vicky didn't stop walking.
"…What?"
She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile forming.
"…You didn't even say anything after my transformation."
Vicky glanced at her.
"…You're stronger."
Arna pouted slightly.
"…That's it?"
Kael leaned toward Luka and whispered—
"…She's fishing for compliments."
Luka nodded.
"…Dangerous situation."
Vicky looked forward again.
"…What do you want me to say?"
Arna stepped a little closer.
"…That I look beautiful?"
Silence.
Kael covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
Vicky remained expressionless.
"…You always did."
Everyone froze.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…WAIT—"
Arna blinked.
Just once.
Then—
she smiled.
A real one.
Soft.
Warm.
"…You're getting better at this."
She walked ahead slightly, clearly satisfied.
Luka whispered—
"…That was smooth."
Aerito chuckled.
"…Unexpected."
Vicky said nothing.
But for a brief moment—
his gaze softened.
Their journey continued.
Through shifting skies.
Through warped space.
Through silent stretches of the universe where even light seemed to hesitate.
Everything felt… calm.
Too calm.
Eren stopped suddenly.
"…Something's coming."
Vicky halted.
The others followed.
The space above them—
shifted.
A distortion.
Then—
fire.
"…Meteorites."
Arelia said quietly.
Not one.
Not ten.
Hundreds.
Massive chunks of burning cosmic rock tore through the sky, descending rapidly toward them.
Kael cracked his neck.
"…Finally. Something fun."
Eren already had his bow in hand.
"Don't let anything hit the ground."
Vicky said calmly.
"…Got it."
The first meteor came crashing down—
Kael moved.
His flail spun—
BOOM.
The meteor shattered instantly.
"…That's satisfying."
Another came.
Then another.
Eren pulled his bow.
An arrow of pure energy formed.
He released.
It shot forward—
faster than light—
piercing through three meteorites in a straight line.
None of them missed.
"…Told you."
Eren said calmly.
Kael grinned.
"…Not bad."
More meteors rained down.
Faster.
Heavier.
Stronger.
Kael jumped into the air, spinning his flail with full force.
Each strike—
destroyed everything it touched.
Fragments disintegrated mid-air.
Eren continued firing.
Perfect accuracy.
Every shot calculated.
Every shot absolute.
A massive meteor—
ten times larger than the rest—
descended directly toward them.
"…I'll take that one."
Kael said.
Eren shook his head.
"…No."
He drew his bow again.
This time—
the energy intensified.
The arrow formed—
denser.
Brighter.
"…Watch."
He released.
The arrow pierced through the massive meteor—
And didn't stop.
It kept going.
The meteor cracked—
then exploded into nothing.
Silence returned.
Kael whistled.
"…Okay… that was insane."
Eren lowered his bow.
"…Told you. It doesn't miss."
Arelia raised her hand slightly—
a small distortion of time slowed the remaining fragments, letting them fade harmlessly before they could even reach the ground.
"…Done."
The sky cleared.
As if nothing had happened.
Moving Forward
They continued walking.
But something had changed.
They weren't just traveling anymore.
They were…
synchronizing.
Kael's attacks.
Eren's precision.
Arelia's control.
Arna's awareness.
Aerito's power.
Luka's balance.
And Vicky—
at the center of it all.
Arna walked beside him again.
This time—
a little closer.
"…Master."
"…What now?"
She smiled slightly.
"…When we find Soverek…"
Her eyes met his.
"…will he recognize you?"
Vicky didn't answer immediately.
"…I don't know."
Arna's expression softened.
"…I think he will."
She stepped slightly ahead—
then turned back.
"…After all…"
A faint, playful smile appeared.
"…who could forget someone like you?"
Kael groaned in the background.
"…She's doing it again…"
Luka laughed quietly.
"…Let her."
The journey continued.
Far ahead—
beyond space…
beyond dimensions…
Their destination awaited.
And with every step—
they moved closer.
To Soverek.
To the truth.
To be continued...