The teleportation was punctuated by solar gasses, and colors, and cots, and shimring stars And when it was over, nothing changed.
Jack and Brock stepped out of the teleporter and looked around.
There was no sky. As one looked up, their gaze t a sight that looked like a dream. Instead of the darkness of space, purple and orange gasses filled the distance, glittering with stars. These gasses were present in all directions, surrounding the planet from an incalculable distance away.
It was like being wrapped in a gassy, colorful bubble.
Jack looked down. They were standing on a large rocka cot, maybe? A moon? A do stretched around them, transparent if not for the shimring of air, creating a habitable environnt only a mile in diater. Inside it was the teleporter, before which they currently stood, as well as what resembled a small town made of slick, modern houses.
Three planets were also visible. They surrounded this place equidistantly, slowly revolving around it like it was their sun, and they werent too distantmaybe as far away as the moon was from Earth. Two of them were covered by lush greenery and dark blue seasJack could even see starships flying to and from each planet, swarming them like bees to honey. As for the third planet, it was devoid of starships and surrounded by clouds, which prevented Jack from inspecting it properly.
What is this place? he wondered, looking around with mouth agape.
Welco to Field Nebula, a womans voice ca from behind them. She wore long yellow robes bearing an image of an exploding sun, her skin was tanned, her hair dark and long, and her eyes piercing in their brownness.
Human (Earth-44), Level 130
Faction: Exploding Sun (B-Grade)
Field Nebula, Jack repeated the na, tasting it. His eyes flashed. Wait! Do you an were inside an actual nebula?
The woman smiled with amusent. Indeed. Surrounding us is the Bow Nebula, the birthplace of stars. And the place under your feet is the Center Moon, part of the capital of the Exploding Sun faction.
You guys live inside a nebula!?
We do.
Jack knew what nebulas wereor, at least, the basics. If he rembered correctly, when stars died, they ford titanic gas clouds. These clouds gravitated towards each other and ford even larger gas clouds called nebulas. Inside these nebulas, the most condensed of gas clouds combined due to gravity, eventually forming large gas spheres that, due to nuclear fusion reactions, began to burn and unleash trendous amounts of energy.
These spheres were called stars. Therefore, nebulas were the birthplace of stars, ford and maintained by the death of older stars, like a phoenix rising from its ashes.
Jack knew those from Earth science classes. However, he had never heard of planets existing inside nebulas, let alone inhabitable environnts.
Sorry, he said to excuse his surprise, I just didnt expect this at all.
Why not? the woman replied, laughing. Nebulas are made of gasses, but they also contain all sorts of space rocks. So of them are planets, forrly belonging to a solar system long gone. If such a planet is stable, terraforming it is not too difficult.
So there are more places like this?
No. Her face shone with pride. Field Nebula is the only widely-inhabited, intra-nebulaic space in the galaxy. Its history is quite intriguingbut, if you dont mind, perhaps it could wait until after we settle the details of your arrival?
Jack coughed in his hand. In his excitent, hed completely forgotten that hed just teleported to the capital of a B-Grade faction. Obviously, there was a procedure to be followed.
My apologies. I am Jack Rust, here to visit my master, Shol. He is a deacon of the Exploding Sun.
I am Brock, said Brock.
I also have this, Jack added. Reaching inside his pocket, he removed the plaque that Lady Priya had given him back in Trial Planetit was a bronze disk with the Exploding Sun insignia carved on it, and it was supposed to act as a guarantee of his identity here.
The womans eyes widened as she saw the disk. May I? she asked. Jack handed it over, and she stared at it for a second, ascertaining its authenticity. Its an honor to assist you, sir, she said, her attitude instantly turning deferential. She handed him back the plaque. I will contact Deacon Shol imdiately. Would you mind waiting in our guest lounge for now?
Of course, Jack replied. It would be our pleasure.
The woman led them to a building next to the teleporter. Inside, they found a luxurious garden complete with a refreshing fountain, short trees, birds, and even a small river with a wooden bridge on top. There were comfy chairs placed throughout the carefully trimd garden paths, so any guest could sit wherever they preferred to enjoy this place.
Ill be with you shortly, sirs, the woman said. Please wait inside the garden.
Of course.
She then took off, leaving Jack and Brock alone. Shed called this a guest lounge, but there was nobody else heremaybe it was only for important guests?
Did we just fly business class, Brock? Jack asked.
Brock didnt get the joke, obviously, but he was too busy admiring the garden anyway. So was Jack. This place reminded him of sothing he would only find in a five-star hotel on Earth.
Gardens like this, terraford planets inside a nebula, and D-Grades as attendants He sighed. Why do I get the feeling we just dove in the deep, Brock?
Yes.
Yes, indeed.
Ti passed. Jack spent his ti watching the skyor rather, the space above. Starships and immortals were constantly flying overhead, shooting from one planet to the other, while the nebula shone in the background. Even though there was no sun illuminating this place, the nebulas brightness created a similar effect.
Brock spent his ti admiring so fish in the river.
It was only an hour later that the door to the garden opened again. Jack glanced over, expecting to see the D-Grade attendant.
Instead, he saw a bald man in monk robes and a yellow cape. His eyes were glittering like the nebula above, while his smile stretched from ear to ear. Jack! he exclaid.
Jacks face mirrored that wide smilehis first genuine one in a while. Master Shol!
***
Old Man Spirit had teleported Jack all the way from Trial Planet to the fringes of the Animal Kingdom constellation, from where hed made his way to Field Nebula.
Others, however, had it easier.
Swoosh.
With a warp of space, Nauja appeared on a rock. The very first thing she did was look up, and her face bead with excitent.
Im here! she shouted. Im out of Trial Planet! I can see space! The stars, the sun! Look, Salin, its Salin?
She looked around. She stood alone on a rock, in a small bubble of air on the ruined surface of Trial Planet. Her excitent was doused. She struggled to form words. But
With another warp of space, Salin appeared at her side. Hey, he said.
Salin! What happened?
Sorry, I got lost.
Wh In the teleportation?
Yeah. She looked him dead in the eye. He grinned. Happens to the best of us.
You know that doesnt make sense, right? We touched the pedestal at the sa ti. We should have teleported together. And you cant get lost mid-teleportation.
Sheesh. And here I was looking forward to your first ti in space.
Oh! Her eyes widened. Right! Im in space, Salin, look! Theres the stars! And the twin satellites! And that over there is a sun! Oh, Salin, this is so beautiful! So large, too! She made a circle around herself, admiring the endless expanse of space. How can anything be so big!?
He opened his mouth to make a joke again, but at the last mont, he held it in. His gaze llowed. It really is your first ti outside
Of course it is. Why, did you think I was lying?
No. Its just He shook his head. Nevermind. Im glad you like it.
Like it? I love it!
Nauja felt like a child. She was so full of wonder, and excitent, and yearning to see the world. She could adventure now. She could grow strong, and et new people, new civilizations, witness all sorts of magnificent sights. Shed heard stories of spinning stars and holes darker than black, of white planets and space monsters patrolling the depths of space.
She would see it all. Her chest was already tingling. Thinking to that point, she looked down. Im not dressed weirdly, am I? she asked. This fur clothing was fine in her ring, but maybe the people of the galaxy dressed otherwise?
I think youre lovely, Salin replied, bringing back her smile.
Great! I think so too. Oh, whats that? That star which looks like its flying our way?
It is flying our way, but it isnt a star. Its a starship.
Her mouth widened. The needle-shaped tal contraption grew in her sight until, only seconds later, landing right before her. It was soundless.
Salin pulled her arm and leaned close to her ear. Theyre from the Hand of God, he whispered as the starship doors slid open. Rember; after waiting for a month, we saw no sign of Jack and decided to leave. Brock is still in Garden Ring. Okay?
Hmph. I rember, of course, she replied.
Good, Salin said, straightening his hair. His sharp canines glittered in the light, slightly longer than a humans would be. Then, its ti to turn traitor.
Really?
I told you, didnt I? Im a free man now. Fuck the Animal Kingdom. Lets go to the Exploding Sun, where that knight said Jack would et us.
Right.
Theyd been planning to visit Earth, too, but it could wait. Not only was it dangerous, but Nauja technically couldnt go, as she was not a local.
Two won descended from the starship. Each had white hair and skin pale as a sheet, but they were both immortals. Nauja simply accepted that fact, while Salin raised a brow.
Nas and affiliations, please, they ordered. And display your ring conqueror titles, if you would.
They did, both showing off their Seventh Ring Conqueror achievent.
Nauja, said Nauja. Unaffiliated.
Gan Salin. Also unaffiliated.
They raised a brow at Salin. Your System inspection says you are part of the Animal Kingdom?
Oh, whoops. I knew Id forgotten sothing. He laughed. System, get out of the Animal Kingdom faction, please. A mont later, he added, Yes, Im sure.
Nauja scanned him again.
Canine (Earth-387), Level 79
Faction: -
Title: Seventh Ring Conqueror
The two won raised their brows at Salin but did not comnt. So did Nauja.
There was great significance in leaving ones faction. Salin had already betrayed the Animal Kingdom multiple tis, but they wouldnt really care about that, as long as he was strong enough. Now that he left the faction, however Rejoining would be a major issue.
I know what youre thinking, he said with a smile, making her look away, but it will be fine. I will never go back.
If you say so Im glad to hear that.
They smiled at each other. One of the two won coughed in her hand, then asked, We will now transfer you to the satellite, where you will be deep-scanned and questioned in accordance with Hand of God policy. After that, you will be free to use our major teleporters to reach any constellation of your liking. Could you please inform us of your next teleportation destination?
Salin nodded. Field Nebula. We have an appointnt.
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