The next morning, in the Imperial sleeping chambers—
"What... what in the world is this?"
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows of her private dining room, Selene blinked in disbelief. Though this wasn't the highest point of the palace, it still offered a commanding view of the Imperial Capital below. Yet now—why did it feel like she was standing above the clouds?
Something about the height felt off.
And what was with those precisely arranged plains, mountains, rivers, and lakes beyond the palace walls? The entire outer palace city seemed to have vanished, leaving only elevated bridges leading to the four Imperial Guard garrisons. The city walls—and all the surrounding residential districts—were nowhere to be seen.
"Sebas really outdid himself this time..." Selene muttered, her eye twitching slightly. "You all—do you have any idea what happened yesterday?"
The chief maid bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, after Your Majesty returned to rest yesterday afternoon, Lord Sebas instructed us to close all the sound curtains around the palace to ensure you would not be disturbed during your rest."
Though she too was utterly shocked by the Capital's transformation, the maid's tone remained calm and composed. "I believe... all of this must be the handiwork of Lord Sebas."
"Summon Sebas to me," Selene said lightly, gesturing for the maids to set down the breakfast tray. Reclining into the sofa, she added with a faint smile, "And bring the tea."
As she waited for breakfast, Selene sank comfortably into the plush cushions, her delicate feet resting on smooth, polished marble tiles covered by a luxurious woolen carpet.
Sebas really went all out this time... but fine, let him be. The dream of a great architect was not one she intended to suppress—especially since all of these palaces still belonged to her anyway.
Besides, she could understand his excitement.
Constructing a single palace could be dull—but after she entrusted Sebas with the complete reconstruction and expansion of the Capital, the man must have resolved to do something monumental.
To build a grand, awe-inspiring palace, the most crucial and challenging step was always finding solid ground and a suitable foundation.
And now, with the Complete Book of the World in his hands, Sebas could reshape the land at will. With so many ideas swirling in his mind, it was only natural he wanted to let them all bloom at once.
The reason the Central Imperial City now towered so high above the ground was no mystery—it was Sebas's doing, expanding the foundations through sheer divine authority.
As for the neatly arranged plains, mountains, rivers, and lakes below—they were likely all part of Sebas's preparations for his massive palace complex. Each one had been deliberately shaped as the foundation for future architectural marvels.
Just as Selene was mulling over the extent of Sebas's grand designs—
"Your Majesty."
She turned to see Sebas enter, beaming with rare delight. Seeing his cheerful expression, Selene couldn't help but feel amused.
"Come, Sebas—sit," she said, gesturing toward the seat across from her at the breakfast table.
As the maids finished arranging the dishes, Selene asked, "Sebas, regarding the Palace City, the upper, middle, and lower districts—how much did you move? Were any structures or citizens affected? And how have the people responded?"
"Your Majesty, my plan was as follows..."
At her inquiry, Sebas's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. He sprang to his feet—before even fully sitting down—and opened the Complete Book of the World as he stood beside her, eager to explain his grand design.
In his plan—
First, Sebas had elevated the Palace City, which already stood over a hundred meters above the Imperial Capital, by an additional five hundred meters. Using the Complete Book of the World, he reinforced its foundations and extended its base into vast, gently sloping terraces.
Next, to make space for the construction of the Grand Palace Complex, he had relocated all other districts of the Capital outward by more than ten kilometers.
Inevitably, this operation divided and displaced multiple layers of the city's defensive walls. It was clear that the administrative divisions of the Capital would undergo massive changes in the future.
And as for the great gaps left in the four outer walls—Sebas had no intention of leaving them incomplete. They would all be rebuilt, expanded, and fortified in time.
The reason? Nothing more than his relentless perfectionism.
As for the people's reaction, Sebas explained that everything had been handled smoothly—official notices were issued, the Imperial Guard maintained order, and widespread reverence for Selene as the divine, world-blessed Empress ensured the transition was met with awe rather than resistance.
With triple layers of assurance—and since no citizens suffered any property loss—the people, rather than feeling fear at such a world-altering miracle, only grew more devoutly loyal to Selene. Their reverence for her soared.
After all, under the previous emperor, the Empire had been plagued by endless disasters and rebellions. Yet the moment Selene ascended the throne—miracles began. The weather turned favorable, uprisings were crushed effortlessly, and now even divine blessings had descended upon the world.
Combine that with her legendary feats, and to the people, there could be only one conclusion—she was the incarnation of Heaven itself.
Why rebel when one could kneel and praise the divine ruler instead?
...
As Selene listened quietly, Sebas continued his animated explanation, gesturing excitedly with the Complete Book of the World in hand. "Your Majesty, look here—this design is based on the grandest palaces across the world! It shall be..."
Indeed, the reconstruction and expansion of the Imperial Central Palace—along with the vast empty lands he had prepared—was Sebas's ultimate gift to Selene.
It was a labor of love and genius, blending his architectural mastery with the wisdom of civilizations across worlds. His magnum opus.
The name of this magnificent project—The Grand Palace of Selene.
And from this day forward, the Imperial Capital itself would be known as—The City of Ten Thousand Palaces!
In truth, Sebas had proposed this to Selene many times before.
As the new ruler of the Empire, it was only fitting for her to have her own palace. Continuing to reside in the halls still bearing the legacy of the First Emperor simply wouldn't do.
As Selene's lifelong butler, Sebas had long been dissatisfied that his mistress—the supreme ruler of the Empire—did not possess a palace worthy of her majesty and glory.
Though he had previously constructed Schönbrunn Palace for her in the northern territories, it was far too modest—suitable perhaps as a summer retreat, but hardly befitting an Empress.
To Sebas, a true Imperial Palace should be vast, resplendent, and awe-inspiring—a structure that embodied both divine majesty and imperial power.
It wasn't just to fulfill his own architectural desires—it was to reflect Selene's honor, stature, and supremacy.
And now, at last, with Selene's authorization, he could bring that vision to life.
Naturally, the Grand Palace of Selene would be second to none.
In Sebas's conception, it would be an immense architectural complex—a fusion of East and West, drawing upon the finest designs from across worlds.
It would combine the grandeur of Schönbrunn Palace, Louvre Museum, Tuileries Palace, Buckingham Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Élysée Palace, and Palace of Versailles—woven together into one seamless masterpiece.
A true jewel of civilization.
"Hmm... do as you wish," Selene said thoughtfully, tapping her finger lightly against the table. "Though... the main audience hall—the central front pavilion—change its design. European architecture, while dazzling and ornate, lacks the weight and majesty I seek."
Tap, tap, tap—
She rested her chin upon her hand, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly in contemplation. "Sebas, here's a suggestion—you might consider referencing the layouts of ancient Eastern palaces. Think of Epang Palace, Daming Palace, Heian Palace, or Kyoto Imperial Palace ..."
Her reasoning wasn't random. Beyond fragments of her past memories, there was logic behind it—the Empire itself already bore a harmonious blend of East and West. Ancient timbered halls coexisted naturally with soaring spires and stained glass.
"...Of course," she added with a faint smile, "I'll leave the final design to your judgment."
"As you command, Milady," Sebas replied, bowing deeply.
There was no doubt that once completed, the Grand Palace of Selene would leave every noble of the age awestruck—secretly envious even as they cursed her extravagance.
Closing the Complete Book of the World, Sebas straightened and said, "Your Majesty, this old servant requests permission to summon the finest craftsmen from across the Empire to assist in the palace's construction."
"Granted," Selene replied, signaling to a nearby attendant for brush and ink. Without hesitation, she began to sign the formal decree.
After all, even with the Complete Book of the World, some matters still required human hands. The book could prepare the foundations and materials—but the artistry, the detailing—that was for master builders to achieve.
Accepting the signed decree from Selene, Sebas hesitated briefly before adding, "Your Majesty, regarding construction—the Honkai Beast Legion, and even your specialized Honkai Construct units, could also be deployed to assist..."
"True enough... I'll consider it," Selene replied, resting one hand against the table.
"Then, this old servant shall take his leave." Sebas bowed deeply, then turned and exited the hall.
Watching his retreating figure, Selene thought quietly to herself. Indeed, now that they were within the Honkai Dimension, there was no longer any need to keep her creations hidden. The Honkai Beasts, and even those humanoid soldiers she'd once made in boredom, could now be openly utilized.
"The Honkai particles within the dimension will, under my regulation and conversion, continue to strengthen the people's bodies... It's time they grow accustomed to their presence. A civilization born within the Honkai Dimension should not be estranged from it," she murmured with a faint smile, pouring herself a cup of red tea.
"I just hope Budo doesn't faint when he returns to the Capital... Oh, and Dr. Stylish should accelerate production of the Astartes soldiers," Selene added with a chuckle.
From the information relayed through her imprints, the Holy Grail War that Mine participated in had already concluded. That meant it was time to send a message of her own—to reestablish contact with the Type-Moon world. Along the way, when Selene had dispatched Mine, she had also discovered several smaller worlds scattered through the void.
"Though it sounds ominous, 'The Great Crusade' really does fit... The formation of the Astartes Legions at the army-corps level is now inevitable. This will mark the true beginning of a new Imperial Era."
...
One year later.
The City of Ten Thousand Palaces — Imperial Capital.
"My gods! This—this is truly the dwelling place of divinity! If I'm not mistaken, this must all be the handiwork of Lord Sebas himself!"
"Ah, what an artist! A genius on par with myself! But—ahhhh! Why, Your Majesty, why must you torment me so?!"
Standing atop the hundred-meter-high outer city walls, Dr. Stylish—dressed in his trademark white coat—dramatically clutched his chest and wailed.
The Imperial Capital he now beheld was utterly transformed from the one he had left a year prior.
Following Selene's orders, Dr. Stylish had spent an entire year sequestered within his northern laboratory, mass-producing the Astartes soldiers. At last, an entire Astartes Legion had been completed.
Through countless operations and experiments, Dr. Stylish had found the optimal balance between success rate, efficiency, and cost—training many Astartes medics capable of performing the modification surgeries independently.
Meanwhile, under Selene's deliberate control, the Honkai energy within the dimension had been subtly strengthening the Empire's populace over time. The people's physical resilience improved steadily, increasing both the success rate and potential power of future Astartes transformations.
Though the process was slow by design, the overall limits—both upper and lower—were rising together.
By all rights, anyone making such a scene at the gates of the Capital would have been promptly arrested by the newly reorganized Imperial Guard. But in Dr. Stylish's case... well, he had powerful backing.
Standing beside the eccentric scientist was a towering figure—three meters tall, clad in black powered armor, a red-and-white cloak draped over his shoulders, and no helmet.
The citizens and guards who passed by averted their gazes immediately. No one dared provoke them.
This was an Astartes warrior, one of the Emperor's elite. And judging by his attire—an officer, no less.
How could they tell? Easy—he wasn't wearing a helmet.
By now, the Empire's citizens had grown thoroughly accustomed to supernatural beings. Honkai Beasts, humanoid constructs, and even golden-armored Imperial Guards—such marvels had become part of daily life.
"Dr. Stylish, please, try to compose yourself," said Alex, the towering Astartes beside him, his tone weary but calm.
Alex was the captain of the first batch of Astartes—and, after the Legion's expansion, had naturally become commander of the First Astartes Legion. While Kinshasa led the Imperial Guards, Alex stood as their martial counterpart.
"Compose myself? Alex, you can't possibly understand my pain!" cried Dr. Stylish, dramatically gesturing toward the heavens. "Lord Sebas still gets to indulge his art—architecture! But mine—my Team Stylish—Her Majesty had it erased! My heart bleeds!"
"Er... your art?" Alex muttered dryly.
He still remembered those abominations—Dr. Stylish's "fashionable soldiers" clad in black lace and leather. The memory alone made him want to salute the Empress for her divine judgment.
Truly, Her Majesty is wise beyond measure! Glory to the Empress!
It was said that Dr. Stylish had once attempted to use the Astartes transformation procedure to create his so-called "Team Stylish." Thankfully, Selene had shut down that idea immediately.
Had she not, Alex could only imagine the horror... their sacred honor as Astartes would've been utterly defiled.
If not for the fact that Dr. Stylish had personally operated on him during his transformation, Alex might have already taught the eccentric scientist the meaning of an Astartes fist.
"Enough, Dr. Stylish," Alex said firmly. "You can lament later. Her Majesty summons us. The Great Crusade is about to begin."
"Hmph! Other worlds await us! The Astartes were created for this very day!"
"I believe it too," Alex replied solemnly, raising a fist. "For the Empire—for Selene!"