Chapter 23

The interior of the Universal Ark roared softly—its long corridors glowing with soft blue mana-strips as the vessel sliced through the void between domains. The stars

outside shimmered like distant embers. Inside? It smelled like deep-fried dragon steak and Alto-styled ice cream.

Alto (blinking):
Wait… Is that Gastran food?

Lily (eyes wide, holding a tray):
Shizu Burger. Two of them. With Candy Star soda!

Berwick (inspecting his Berwitto):
You had this pre-ordered?

Shizuku (leaning back on one of the arc’s reinforced couches):
Of course. I placed the order before we left for Kifo’s domain. Overnight warp delivery from Gastran’s Interstellar Gourmet Circuit. I’m not about to let my captains starve on a return trip.

Astera (already halfway through his Astera-style eggs):
This… this is why you’re the Emperor.

Asche (sipping Spirit Wine):
That, and the twelve trillion meere you spend on us.

Shizuku (smirking):
That’s per cycle, mind you.

The ark glided silently. Outside the reinforced windows, the stretch between the Outskirts and Central District felt timeless. A long, safe corridor in the vast ballet of galaxies.

Eris (tugging Alto’s sleeve):
You know, this makes me wonder what the next fragment will ask of us.

Alto (quietly):
Same here. We're past halfway now.

Lily (poking open the gift box Kifo gave her):
…It’s not a skull.

Astera (muffled by fries):
Then what is it?

She didn’t answer immediately—just stared inside with a look of quiet puzzlement.

Shizuku (noticing):
Lily?

Lily (softly):
It’s… a flower. Made of metal. But it's growing.

Everyone paused, momentarily silenced by her words.

Berwick (adjusting his glasses):
A paradox of nature. A symbol, perhaps. One forged by darkness to bloom in light.

Asche (with a glance to Shizuku):
Or it’s Kifo being cryptic again.

Shizuku (smiling faintly):
Either way. We rest tonight. We'll be back at HQ in fourteen hours. Eat, decompress, recover. The Sigil Chamber awaits.

They continued their journey through star-laced silence, the ark aglow with camaraderie, warm food, and quiet starlight. The battle had passed. The next would soon come. But for now…

The night belonged to peace.