Eventually, the spaceship slowed.
They had arrived at Earth B.
As the massive doors of the ship opened, a rush of cool, clean air flowed inside. The sky above them was a soft silver-blue, far brighter and clearer than the ruined red skies they had grown used to. For a brief moment, none of them spoke.
The view before them was breathtaking.
It was a futuristic world filled with flying vehicles moving at incredible speeds through designated air lanes. The lanes themselves were enclosed in enormous transparent cylinders made of glass-like material, stretching endlessly through the sky like glowing tunnels. The vehicles inside them zipped past in organized streams of light. Below, towering skyscrapers pierced through the clouds, their surfaces reflecting sunlight in shimmering patterns. Digital screens covered entire buildings, displaying advertisements and announcements in glowing holographic text.
The streets were spotless. The sidewalks seemed to move on their own like slow conveyor belts, helping pedestrians travel with ease. Small floating drones drifted calmly through the air, scanning and maintaining the city.
For a moment, it felt like they had stepped into a completely different universe.
Someone approached them with a polite smile. He looked entirely human—perfectly normal in appearance.
"Greetings. Welcome to Earth B. Where have you come from, and how can we help you?" the man said, giving a respectful bow.
Adrian hesitated for half a second.
"We are from... Earth. We have come here to live here."
The man's expression shifted instantly. His eyes sharpened. The polite warmth disappeared.
"Earth?"
He took a step back and summoned a sleek, futuristic spear into his hand. Its blade hummed faintly with energy.
"Leave. Now."
The sudden hostility stunned them.
Cosmic quickly remembered Ren's words about being connected to their king.
"Ren sent us here."
The reaction was immediate.
The spear vanished. The man's posture straightened, then he bowed deeply—far deeper than before. His face now carried a mixture of fear and respect.
"My deepest apologies. You are most welcome here."
The group exchanged confused glances. The name Ren clearly held enormous weight here.
"Please follow me. I will lead you to our king," the man said, turning and gesturing for them to follow.
They walked through the city behind him, taking in more of the surroundings. Massive holographic billboards floated in midair. Artificial waterfalls flowed down the sides of skyscrapers. Even the trees planted along the walkways seemed slightly mechanical, their leaves glowing faintly.
After a few minutes, the man spoke again.
"By the way… is Mr. Ren not accompanying you? And may I ask why you have chosen to live here?"
Cosmic answered carefully. "Ren is quite busy. He will arrive later. And Earth is… completely ruined due to certain circumstances."
"I see," the man replied calmly, asking no further questions.
Eventually, they arrived at a colossal structure at the center of the city. It resembled a palace built from polished silver metal and reinforced glass. Guards stood at attention along the entrance, their armor sleek and advanced.
Inside, they were brought before the king.
He was a massive man—nearly seven feet tall—with broad shoulders and thick arms. His beard was long and well-kept, and his presence alone commanded authority.
"I have heard that Ren has sent you," the king said, his voice deep and steady. "My name is Barrett Johnson. It is a pleasure to meet you."
His expression was unreadable.
"However," he continued, "I request that you do not mention that you are from Earth. We are enemies with that planet. Should you accidentally reveal it, mention Ren's name immediately."
All of them knelt.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cosmic responded respectfully.
"There are rooms prepared for you. Blake will guide you."
Soon after, the same man from earlier appeared and gestured for them to follow once more.
The hallways were pristine and lined with glowing panels embedded into the walls. The doors opened automatically as they approached. Their rooms were unlike anything they had seen before. The beds were soft beyond comparison, adjusting automatically to body weight. The windows displayed the skyline of the city in full panoramic view. Lights turned on and off with voice commands. Even the temperature adjusted itself perfectly.
For some reason, Adrian and Riley were assigned the same room, while Cosmic and Anthony each received separate ones.
Adrian blinked. "Are there no other rooms?"
Blake shook his head. "His Majesty specifically ordered that arrangement."
He bowed slightly and left without another word.
Elsewhere in the palace, the king leaned back in his seat with a subtle grin.
He had observed the way Adrian and Riley looked at one another.
"You're welcome, boy," he thought to himself, quietly chuckling.
Meanwhile…
Ren had already exited the spaceship earlier, making sure no one noticed. He found a mask among the ship's supplies and wore it to conceal his identity. The last thing he wanted was unnecessary attention.
The city fascinated him.
He walked through busy streets casually, blending into the crowd. He stopped at a nearby food shop and ordered a meal. The food was far more refined than anything he had eaten recently. He ate quietly, observing the people around him.
Afterward, he checked into a hotel and rented a small but clean room. It was simple compared to the palace but still highly advanced. The bed adjusted automatically as he sat down.
He removed his mask and lay back, staring at the ceiling.
What should he do?
Should he enjoy this peaceful life?
Should he hunt down the group for the humiliation they caused him?
Or perhaps something in between?
His thoughts drifted lazily.
"Whatever," Ren muttered. "I should just enjoy my life in peace."
He closed his eyes.
For now, he would rest.