Daybit's eyes turned toward Kirschtaria. "Team leader… except for you. You won't participate immediately. You'll use your astrology-based magecraft to do what I instruct."
Kirschtaria frowned, raising one hand. "First off, I need to remind you—outside my Lostbelt, I can't deploy the full range of Anima Animusphere. And my magic circuits… they're damaged. I have a limited number of usable pathways. How do you expect me to—?"
He didn't finish.
Jin-Woo stepped forward. Without a word, he raised one hand, and a pulse of invisible energy radiated from his palm. The Force flowed—clean, radiant, yet commanding—and pressed gently against Kirschtaria's chest. A deep, unfamiliar warmth surged through his body, threading itself through every burned-out channel, every broken line of his magical system.
Kirschtaria gasped slightly—eyes widening as the numbness in his soul began to lift..
A flash of childhood. A moment before the betrayal. Before his father crippled him out of jealousy.
His voice came low, stunned. "Is this… what I felt like when I was a child… before it all changed?"
Standing near him, the Dioscuri twins—his loyal Saber-class Servants—reacted instantly.
Castor glanced at his sister, eyes narrowing. "This healing… it's like the restoration rituals from the Age of Gods."
Pollux nodded softly, her golden accessories chiming faintly. "Master… your circuits… they've returned."
Daybit then stepped forward calmly and said, "Now that your limited number has been restored, just prepare your magecraft for the designated time. A slipspace tunnel between your Atlantic Lostbelt and the sky of Coruscant is already stabilized. That zone is critical for the whole operation."
"I know the more I explain this step-by-step, the more it sounds like a headache—but this is our only route. It's the one-way path to Tython."
Then his eyes shifted directly toward Jin-Woo. "…And now I need to speak with you. Privately."
Jin-Woo didn't look surprised. "Your ORT—Kukulcan—looks like she wants to eavesdrop on every conversation."
Daybit sighed. "Of course she does."
From outside, Kukulcan's voice gleefully echoed through the air: "YAYYYYY!"
Jin-Woo raised his hand and snapped.
A dome of swirling, shadowy darkness closed instantly over them, isolating the conversation from everyone and everything—sound, light, space. Even Kukulcan's cheer cut off mid-echo, like it had never existed.
Inside, only Daybit and Jin-Woo stood.
Daybit's voice dropped low, serious. "You've read the last line too, haven't you? From that ancient book we found beneath Coruscant. That same shifting structure. The line that matters most."
He took a slow step forward, eyes narrowing.
'But all others—who stumble without fate, without worth—
Shall open the sky, and call forth the screaming star.
The Mother waits.'
"…So how screwed are we if this fails?" Daybit asked, voice edged with something rare—uncertainty.
"Do you think that entity—The Mother—will come crashing down on our heads? Or will she wait until after you've sent us back to our Lostbelts?"
He glanced at Jin-Woo, quiet, serious. "Or maybe just on yours?"
Jin-Woo didn't hesitate. "First off," he said flatly, "a horrifying planet—Abeloth's planet—will fall straight on top of Coruscant."
Then he snapped his fingers.
In an instant, Kukulcan dropped directly into the middle of the shadowy cocoon, landing in a low crouch with a wide, feral grin—her fist raised in mid-air as if she'd been ready to punch through the barrier itself.
Daybit sighed, but didn't even flinch. "Kukulcan… could you not break into highly classified discussions for once?"
Kukulcan stood upright, unbothered. "In exchange, don't leave me out of any more information," she said cheerfully. "I'm a god too, y'know. Can't leave me behind."
Jin-Woo gave Kukulcan one last glance, then turned to Daybit, eyes hard.
"Fine. We'll get to the main point—but don't leak this."
He took a step forward, the shadows curling faintly at his boots as he spoke.
"If your team fails… Abeloth's planet will descend. Not metaphorically. Literally. Her prison world—the domain of a dark side Force god—will drop out of the sky, straight onto Coruscant."
Daybit's face remained still, but his voice dropped lower. "So that's what 'The Mother' really is… Abeloth."
He looked back toward the flickering edge of the dome, where Zeta Halo's light filtered in like pale veins of starlight. His tone hardened.
"When I was flying the starship, you told me not to go near the Maw. Offensive Bias said it had too many black holes—gravitational anomalies beyond normal readings. I thought it was just stellar turbulence…"
Jin-Woo's answer. "But it's a prison. A hell built for one entity."
"And those structures that keep shifting beneath Coruscant? That's her exit. They're the mechanism. Her ticket out. Three gates exist—one to Korriban, which I won't touch. One to Tython, our true objective."
"And the third gate—if we fail—is to her. Her planet comes through. Game over."
Daybit's voice wavered just slightly. "I don't even want to know who's stronger—you or her—but I do know what's at stake. This… this is beyond my pay grade."
Jin-Woo didn't blink. "That's why I told you the difficulty spiked. Your move—bringing your world system into my galaxy—was high risk. But also high reward. You didn't hesitate. I respect that."
Daybit looked away for a second, then back.
"I knew it was dangerous," he admitted. "But I didn't expect this. That if I fail… I'd doom an entire galaxy."
Jin-Woo stepped forward until he was face to face with him, voice calm—final.
"If I'm not here… this galaxy is already doomed. In this era, there's no one powerful enough to balance her. Not the Jedi. Not the Sith. Not even the gods from your lostbelt can ."
Kukulcan leaned forward, eyes wide with eager mischief. "What does she look like? Sorry—but I'm really curious. One alien to another."
Daybit crossed his arms, his voice thoughtful but edged. "I only saw her for a very, very split moment. When the structure shifted into something like a mirror. Her face was… teeth. Way too many. That's what stuck with me."
Jin-Woo stepped in, tone casual but cold.
"I saw her more clearly. I walked onto that rusted floor. The structure stopped—just for me. Turned into a mirror gate."
"She and I looked straight at each other. Couldn't cross through. Couldn't touch. She just watched me. Her eyes… black sclera, small whites. Her mouth—too many teeth, unnaturally wide. And her hair…" He paused, head tilting slightly. "Couldn't tell if it was white hair or writhing tentacles. Maybe both."
Then, a faint smirk crept onto his face.
"I flipped her off. Right to her face. Gave her the middle finger. And told her she needed toothpaste."
Kukulcan lost it. She burst out laughing, slapping her thigh so hard it echoed across the chamber.
"Shitttt Fuck! You're more of a cowboy than a shadow king, Jin-Woo!"
She kept laughing, bouncing slightly on her feet like a child with too much sugar and adrenaline.
"Dead gods, you taunted a Force god. You're crazy—I like that."
Jin-Woo snapped his fingers once—clean, final. The dome of shadow dissipated instantly like mist devoured by light. The three figures within were now back in view, standing before the gathered army of Crypters, Lostbelt Kings, and Servants, all under the fractured skies of Zeta Halo.
Kirschtaria stepped forward, tone composed but sharp. "Everything all right, Daybit?"
Daybit didn't pause. "Team leader, don't fuck this up."
His voice was harsh. Unforgiving. He swept his gaze across the entire circle of assembled warriors. "You fuck this up… I will not forgive you."
"And that applies to all of you."
Peperoncino blinked, caught off guard by the rare intensity. "Daybit… you rarely swear. Is it really that dangerous if we fail?"
Daybit didn't hesitate. "I don't mind sacrificing a planet. But a galaxy? That's another matter entirely."
He looked around, eyes steady. "So I'll say it once. Don't fail. That's all."
Jin-Woo stood at the center, arms folded, his gaze hard.
"Offensive Bias will open slipspace when the time comes," he said flatly. "Each of you will be positioned close to Jedi targets. Just like a Master needs proximity to a Servant, you'll be nearby. Bias can manage your placements precisely while your Servants and Lostbelt Kings engage."
He paused, voice steady. "Now. Last questions."
Kadoc raised his hand slightly, hesitant. "What about civilians? Are they going to be involved? I need to know. Especially with Coruscant—Offensive Bias's hologram mapped the entire planet in detail."
Jin-Woo didn't blink. "Civilians die every day."
His tone didn't shift. It was matter-of-fact. "In fact… most of your Lostbelts might be better . My galaxy's full of undetected crime. Corruption. Bloodshed. The Jedi? They sit in their towers. Meditate. Observe."
Ashwatthama grinned, relief blooming in his eyes—no guilt. The galaxy was already broken. He'd be doing it a favor.
Skadi, however, looked away, her expression distant. The quiet sadness in her eyes didn't need to be spoken.
Ophelia placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Skadi-sama… sacrifices have to be made."
Skadi closed her eyes. "Yes. I know. It's just…"
"I hoped that somewhere, in some world… kindness still ruled."
Jin-Woo looked at her and answered. "Unfortunately not. Sorry."
He turned to address the rest, voice even. "For now, you all have a three-hour break. Rest. Prepare for the event. Or just… enjoy the scenery of Zeta Halo—"
Before he could finish, Qin Shi Huang suddenly levitated upward, hovering beside the colossal form of Offensive Bias's behemoth chassis. His cloaks flared with artificial grace as he pointed dramatically.
"What mechanism do you use, machine god? No magecraft? No spiritual core? This is like my main body back in my empire!"
Jin-Woo didn't bother to acknowledge him. He simply continued speaking without turning.
"Or enjoy the food. Drink. Try something from my galaxy."
In that moment, a new slipspace portal shimmered open beside them. A table the size of a military platform unfolded with a boom of grav-locks, revealing steaming trays of exotic galactic cuisine.
Foods:
– Shaak Roast
– Porg Filet
– Giju Sausage
– Rothana Flame-Cooked Rancor Ribs
– Meiloorun Fruit Tart
– Sorgan Fried Tentacle
– Sweetcake of Alderaan
Drinks:
– Spotchka
– Toniray Wine
– Whyren's Reserve
– Blue Milk Risotto
Ivan the Terrible approached one of the platters, nodding as he carved into the meat with his clawed hand.
"Similar to the food in my Russia domain," he muttered. "Savage. I approve."
Skadi walked quietly toward a tray of sweetcake, her cold eyes curiously scanning the unfamiliar color and texture. She picked up one piece, bit into it—
Her eyes widened.
"It tastes like that… bunch of sweet snow that fell on my head earlier," she mumbled, mouth full. "What's it called again?"
Ophelia, seated nearby, offered a gentle smile. "Ice cream, Skadi-sama. That was ice cream."
All around, the crypters, Servants, and Lostbelt Kings began sampling the galaxy's delicacies—food, laughter, drink, and curious stares all blending into the scene like a brief ceasefire before war.
Pepe held up a glass of Toniray, swirling it with theatrical grace.
"Jin-Woo, darling, you're the host of all this," he called out, grinning. "Shouldn't you join in the celebration?"
Jin-Woo said nothing. He stood a short distance away, arms crossed, with Morgan beside him. His eyes watched the distant skyline of Zeta Halo—silent, thoughtful.
He simply shook his head. A quiet gesture. No.
Morgan noticed the tension in his jaw. The quiet shift in his breath. She recognized it. Something was wrong.
Inside his mind—ten seconds earlier—Offensive Bias had spoken.
"Supreme Executor," the AI's voice echoed with grim clarity. "A situation has emerged at the Iaco Stark asteroid base—our controlled Flood cultivation facility."
"Primary cluster remains at 70% Gravemind development. Containment is stable. However…"
"A second growth cluster has deviated. Unexpected progression. Current reading: 98% Gravemind maturation. Full sentience nearing critical point."
Jin-Woo didn't react outwardly. He simply inhaled deeply, the breath steady, silent.
Then came the whisper. Cold and certain. "Detach the 98% section. Launch it into space. Now."
"I'll deal with it later myself," he added, still watching the sky. "But surround it. Double the Sentinels. I want orbital kill-zones ready to vaporize every cell. No further growth allowed."
"I'm preparing it. As a bullet. For Abeloth. In case she ever gets through."
Morgan froze. Her heart skipped as realization struck her like a blade across the spine. A Gravemind.
Not just the Flood—but the mind behind it. Nearly complete. A creature that could enslave galaxies. Now floating in space… because he might need it. As a weapon. Against Abeloth .
She didn't speak. Instead, Morgan just gulped, eyes forward, hands curling tightly by her sides. She knew better than to escalate it. To question it.
The others behind them were laughing. Eating. Smiling.
But Morgan… She stood in silence, next to the one man who had just armed himself with extinction— —and called it insurance.