"Where'd Big Bro go again?"
Stelle looked left and right, her gaze finally landing on the Scepter. Fu Zhu had just touched it before vanishing into thin air.
She immediately spun around to glare at Lygus, asking fiercely, "This isn't your doing, is it?"
Lygus shook his head. "I have no reason to do such a thing."
Stelle frowned, not quite believing him.
It was at that moment that everyone suddenly felt a tremor and realized something must be happening in the outside world.
Jing Yuan was the first to leave the space where the Scepter was hidden. When he emerged, he witnessed a sight that left him astonished.
A planetary core was rapidly forming before his very eyes, appearing out of thin air!
It was immediately followed by the crust and the mantle… In the blink of an eye, the outline of a planet had appeared. Countless tons of soil and rock spread out, reaching his feet. Then, from the soil, sprouts emerged, growing into a lush, green pasture.
The others came out just in time to witness this same, miracle-like spectacle!
Lygus, who was the last to exit, squatted down and plucked a few blades of grass. He ground them between his fingers, then incredulously scooped up a handful of soil.
"It's real… This isn't something constructed from data; this is real matter. Unbelievable."
But an even more astonishing scene was yet to come.
Trees and mountains began to appear, as if an invisible divine hand were arranging blocks, planting forests and piling up mountain ranges upon the verdant land.
Suddenly, the chirping of birds echoed from the forest. Countless beasts and birds darted out from among the trees, soaring freely in the sky and bounding across the land.
A small deer trotted up to the group, seemingly unafraid of people as it approached Stelle.
Stelle cautiously reached out and scratched its chin. The deer let out a comfortable purr before prancing away again.
Stelle looked at the hand she had just used to scratch the deer, somewhat surprised. "The texture felt so real…"
In the next second, the surrounding scenery began to change rapidly. Sunsets and moonrises, time flowed swiftly.
Everyone watched as life evolved at a dizzying pace. In just a few breaths, apes appeared, who then gradually evolved into humans, establishing civilizations and city-states.
They watched with their own eyes as these newly evolved humans rapidly transitioned from the Stone Age to a level approaching modern civilization. Then, civilizations began to fracture, and the city-states warred amongst themselves until, finally, a stable peace was achieved.
The city-states the Express crew were familiar with—Castrum Kremnos, Okhema, and others—began to appear. The people they knew also began to emerge one after another.
This time, Tribios was not split into a thousand fragments. She lived happily with her mother, free from persecution.
Phainon spent a joyous childhood with his friends in Aedes Elysiae before going to study at the Grove of Epiphany. There, he met Mydei, who was the same age. The two became great rivals and the closest of friends, competing in the various tournaments held by the Grove.
Cerydra, Hyacine, and Hysilens met and formed a girl band, which at one point took the entire world of Amphoreus by storm.
Cipher lived a happy life with her adoptive mother. After growing up, she partnered with Aglaea to run a clothing store.
March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng watched as their former companions lived such happy and fulfilling lives in this new world, and they felt a heartfelt joy for them.
Gradually, the flow of time on Amphoreus began to slow, eventually synchronizing with the outside universe.
Just as everyone was wondering what would happen next, Hysilens, Phainon, Aglaea, and the others appeared before Stelle and her friends as if by prior agreement.
"Hysilens? And all of you, you're here!?"
Stelle was pleasantly surprised to see them, but also worried that they might not remember them, since they had been deleted for a time.
The next second, a smile bloomed on the faces of all the Chrysos Heirs. That single smile completely shattered the worry in Stelle's heart.
"Long time no see," they said in unison.
Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng immediately reacted, breaking into smiles and stepping forward to embrace them all.
After a simple hug, Stelle released Cerydra, asking with pleasant surprise, "Cerydra, how do you still remember us?"
Cerydra smiled faintly and said, "Naturally, it's thanks to a certain someone's handiwork. But speaking of Fu Zhu…"
Her face suddenly clouded over with resentment. She complained with a dark expression, "As my vassal, how could he not know to make me a little taller during the creation… even just two centimeters would have been nice!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh at Cerydra's grumbling.
Stelle giggled and nudged Cerydra's waist with her elbow. "Why don't you try some shoe lifts, Your Majesty?"
Cerydra's face flushed red in an instant. She raised a hand and gave Stelle a sharp rap on the head.
"What shoe lifts! Do I look like someone who needs shoe lifts?!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere was instantly filled with joy.
Stelle pouted, rubbing the spot where she'd been hit.
"Careful, or I'll tell my big bro on you and have him shrink you by a few centimeters!"
Cerydra's face darkened. Suddenly, she stared at Stelle and a smile crept onto her face. "Stelle, haven't you always wanted me to grant you a noble title? I've thought of the perfect one for you."
Stelle's eyes immediately lit up. "What title?"
"The Duke of Decapitation! I command you, a one-woman army, to advance on five fronts against the Black Tide!"
"What?!"
The crowd's laughter grew even louder.
"Oh, is everyone here? Why is everyone laughing so happily?"
Fu Zhu's voice suddenly came from behind the group. Hearing his voice, everyone spun around to see him appear behind them, holding Cyrene's hand.
"Fu Zhu!" they all cried out.
The Chrysos Heirs immediately swarmed him, and Hysilens walked right up to his other side and took his hand.
"Long time no see."
"Is it? It doesn't feel that long to me."
March 7th squinted as she looked at the two women holding Fu Zhu's hands, one on each side. Finally, with a seemingly helpless sigh, a smile returned to her face.
In a grand reunion like this, it's best to keep the happy atmosphere going!
After catching up for a while, Himeko walked over with a smile and said to the crowd, "To celebrate this moment, why don't you all come aboard the Astral Express for a victory feast?"
"Agreed!" everyone cheered.
Phainon smiled and said to Himeko, "Madam Himeko, we actually have an impertinent request. We heard from our brother Dan Heng earlier that the Astral Express welcomes all who wish to embark on a journey. We were wondering if the Express could take us along for a ride? We're all very curious about the world outside!"
Himeko naturally smiled and nodded in agreement, though she did scan the crowd of Chrysos Heirs.
"In that case, the Express will need some renovations."
Author's PS: Sorry, I've had writer's block.