The massive crystal doors groaned as they swung open, revealing a hallway made of shimmering Starlight. Dua tried to stand, but her legs felt heavy. "I used too much.... " she whispered, her voice trembling.
Zian caught her, arm strong around her shoulder. "You saved us, Dua. Now, let the palace protect you."
As they stepped inside, the temperature changed. It wasn't the freezing cold of the deep sea anymore; it felt like a warm summer evening. Floating in the center of the grand hall were three golden scrolls, glowing with a soft, pulsing light.
"The Star–Maps, " Zian breathed, his eyes wide with awe. "The legends were true. These maps don't just show the way to other kingdoms; they show the way to other worlds"
Dua walked toward the scrolls, her long robes trailing behind her. She reached out a hand, and as her fingers touched the golden surface, the palace walls began to change. Images of a busy city with tall glass building, bright lights, and people speaking a strange language appeared all around them.
"Is that.... hom?" Dua asked, her heart racing.
"It's a reflection of where you belong, " a deep, echoing voice said. From the shadows, a tall figure in white and silver armor emerged. It was the Guardian of the Palace. He looked at Dua, measuring her height and the power radiating from her. "The Star-Slayer's daughter has finally returned."
Dua stood tall, meeting the Guardian's gaze. "I am not just a daughter. I am the one who will stop the Shadow General."
The Guardian nodded slowly. "Then you must take the first map. But be warned, it will lead you to the Jade Kingdom in the East. There, you will find the strength to reclaim your world, but you must never lose your modesty and your heart."
Dua took the first map. The moment it touched her palm, a new energy flowed through her–stronger and calmer than before. She looked at Zian and nodded. "To the East, then.
The golden map in Dua's hand began to vibrate, emitting a low hum that she felt deep in her chest. The images on the palace walls grew brighter, swirling untill the two worlds seemed to merge into a tunnel of light.
" It's opening, " Zian said, his voice tense. He drew his sword, but not to attack—he was ready to guard her. "The portal to the Jade kingdom is unstable. You must enter now, or wait another hundred years."
Dua looked at the swirling vortex. On one side, she could smell the scent of ancient pine trees and incense from the Jade kingdom. On the other side, she heard the distant, strange honking of cars and the hum of electricity from the Mortal world.
"I can't go back to being the girl in the tea shop, " Dua whispered to herself. She tightened her grip on her modest traveling cloak, ensuring she was covered and ready for the unknown. Her 6–foot status made her feel like a pillar of strength in the face of the storm.
With a final look at Zian, she stepped into the light.
For a moment, there was no gravity. Dua felt like she was floating through a sea of stars. She saw flashes of different lives—people in suits walking with phones, and warriors in silk practicing with spears. Then, with a sudden jolt, her feet hit solid ground.
The air was different here. If was thinking and sweet. Dua opened her eyes and realized she was standing on a high mountain cliff. Below her lay the Jade Kingdom. Emerald green forests stretched for miles, and white marble palaces with curved roofs sat atop floating islands in the sky.
But something was wrong. In the distance, she saw a thin black smoke rising—the same shadow energy she had fought in the Abyss.
"The Shadow General is already here," Dua realized, her heart sinking.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of flapping wings. She looked up to see a group of soldiers riding giant white cranes, heading straight for her. They wore silver armor and carried glowing Jade spears.
"Halt! "the lead rider shouted, circling above her. " No one enters the Jade Kingdom without an invitation. Who are you, giantess? "
Dua stood her ground, her star—slayer ring beginning to glow. "I am Dua, the daughter of the Star–Slayer. And I am not here for an invitation. I am here to save this world—and the one connected to it."
The lead rider descended, his giant crane landing gracefully on the cliff. He was a tall man, but even on his bird, he looked up at Dua with suspicion. "The Star–Slayer's blood? That line was broken centuries ago, " he sneered, his jade spear pointing at her throat.
Dua didn't flinch. She felt the wind of the Jade kingdom pulling at her hair, but her mind was suddenly flooded with images of the other world–the modern city. She saw a gril who looked exactly like her, standing in front of a camera in a bright studio, surrounded by lights and fashion.
"One soul, two bodies, " the Guardian's voice whispered in her mind.
Dua realized that her strength in this magical world was directly linked to her confidence in the modern world. If she failed here, her" other self" Would fail there too.
She raised her hand, and instead of a weapon, she let the star–slayer energy form a shield of pure light. The Jade spear hit the shield and shattered into a thousand green sparks.
The soldiers gasped. "The Star–Shield! It is her! "
The lead rider quickly jumped off his crane and bowed low. "Forgive me, Princess. We have waited too long for your return. The Shadow General has already poisoned the Emperor's mind. The Jade kingdom is falling, and the portal to the Mortal World is leaking darkness."
Dua looked at the horizon where the black smoke was thinking. "Then we have no time to lose. Take me to the Emperor".
As she climbed into a spare crane, she felt a strange vibration in her pocket. She reached in and pulled out a small, sleek device that should't exist in this world—a smartphone. On its screen, a message was glowing:
"CASTING CALL: THE STAR–WARRIOR PROJECT. BEIJING, 10:00 AM."
Dua's breath caught in her throat. The two worlds were not just connected; they were overlapping. Her journey in the Jade kingdom was her audition for the Mortal World.
"I will save both, " She vowed, as the giant crane took flight, soaring into the clouds of the East.