Chapter 14

Alto and Lily spar in the distance — flashes of stellar and light magic dancing like comets. Berwick meditates in a blood-drenched chamber, Enketsu floating before him. Eris manipulates gravitational fields, and Asche balances several elemental sigils in mid-air. Astera, shirt off, sprints through a maze of moving platforms.

In the center of the chamber, Shizuku hurls a water-dark-lightning hybrid spear through a dozen enchanted barriers before catching it with a single flick of his finger.

Astera (panting, approaching Shizuku):
Damn, you still move like you’re fresh off the academy floor.

Shizuku (chuckles, brushing a few sweat-damp bangs aside):
Captain’s got to stay sharp. Especially when our next pit stop involves a primordial in a dragon skull helmet.

Astera (stretching, then suddenly):
Hey, Shizuku… random question. How much Meere do you actually spend on the Universal Guard each year?

The chamber quiets a bit, attention shifting subtly toward Shizuku as he casually tilts his head.

Shizuku (without hesitation):
About 12 trillion meere.

Astera (freezing mid-stretch):
…Wait. What.

Lily (blinking):
That’s... over 120 billion USD in comparative value…

Berwick (raising an eyebrow):
That explains the titanium-plated training rooms and celestial-grade coffee machines.

Alto (chuckling, leaning on his blade):
You do know we don’t need a new wardrobe set every two months, right?

Shizuku (shrugging):
You’re the universe’s strongest force. You fight off threats from divine parasites to existential rifts. I’ll invest accordingly.

Eris (grinning, arms crossed):
It’s not wasteful if it keeps the universe intact. Still, I wouldn't mind a detailed breakdown of that budget...

Asche (smirking):
Imagine what kind of chaos we'd be in if someone else was Emperor.

Astera (laughing):
Okay, okay. Fair point. Still… twelve trillion?

Shizuku (smiling calmly):
That’s just the operating cost. Wait until you see the emergency defense budget.