Leveling up the World

Chapter 999: Changing Destiny

Artemis mission control was in panic, yet none of them as much as Dallion. His fingers frantically moved along the aether-looms in an attempt to find a solution to the problem. Yet, it seemed no solution could be found.

The magic of the cockpit somehow attracted part of the engine’s thrust, making it impossible for the rocket to reach orbit. Dallion remembered some random article he’d once read about energy being matter and vice versa, yet didn’t remember anything other than the headline. Even if he had, it wouldn’t be useful. The only way to stop the effect was to turn the engines off, which defeated the entire purpose.

“Rocket, can you increase the thrust?” Dallion asked.

Not a chance! The rocket replied in a geeky voice. And if I could, the forces would tear me apart. My structure needs to be at least twenty-seven percent stronger in order to withstand the pressure exerted on—

“Damn it, Astreza!”

Dallion considered entering a realm until he could figure out a plan of action. While it would give him time, it would hardly solve the issue. The only possible solution was to take one more gamble. And for it, he had to hedge his bets.

“Aqui, zap me!” he ordered.

I’m not fully ready, the dragon complained. I don’t want to waste everything and have to start from scratch.

“Do it or there won’t be a next start!”

Disapproval emanated from Dallion’s realm. He could feel that Aquilequia was against it. Her rebellious streak had chosen the worst possible time to manifest.

Fine! she said in spite of herself.

Pain pierced Dallion’s neck and back, like red-hot needles. It was a lot stronger than before—possibly the dragon overcompensating.

That’s my girl, Dallion thought, then entered the realm of the rocket.

SPHERE ITEM AWAKENING

The cockpit extended, transforming into a world of steel, fire, and cables. Here and there clusters of electronic equipment rose up, like science fiction nests, thousands of lights upon them blinking non-stop. In different circumstances, Dallion would have been impressed, possibly even taken Eury on vacation here. At the moment, only one thing mattered.

You are in the land of ROCKET.

The land’s destiny has been fulfilled.

Defeat the guardian to improve the realm.

A blue rectangle emerged.

“I want to change the land’s destiny,” Dallion said, glaring at the rectangle as if it were a living person.

Normally, that would be it. Yet, for some reason, the rectangle flickered.

“That’s right,” Dallion continued. “I’m an Architect. I have the power to change things.” He moved closer.

The flickering increased, making it resemble a television image from the eighties. A hidden battle of wills was underway as the rectangle fought to resist the change imposed on it.

You are in the land of ROCKET.

Defeat the guardian to change the land’s destiny.

The text changed.

“Thanks,” Dallion allowed himself to relax.

He didn’t know whether it was the distance from Earth that allowed him to achieve this feat; him having all twelve skills, or whether he had the power all along. The truth was, he didn’t care in the least.

“Rocket,” he said loudly. “Do you want to go through the motions?”

Segments of three electronics “nests” rose up into the air. They were joined by large pieces of metal as they merged into the epitome of a massive science fiction robot, complete with flames shooting out of its feet.

The image was suspiciously close to the living armors Dallion had fought in the other world. He knew from experience that they were difficult to defeat, even more so now that his abilities had been reduced. Regardless, he was confident he could win. He had gone through a lot to reach this point, and he wasn’t going to let a guardian stop him.

“No way I’m fighting you!” the guardian quickly said in a voice that didn’t suit it in the least. “The outcome is guaranteed, either way.”

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The ROCKET Guardian has admitted defeat.

Do you accept his surrender?

It had been a while since Dallion had seen that option. It made him think of the sandstorm dragon he had fought with Gloria all that time ago.

“Thanks.” He smiled, tapping on the thumbs up rectangle underneath. “Darude.”

Bright yellow light covered the entire guardian, quickly spreading to the rest of the realm.

Dallion shielded his eyes instinctively. A moment later, he was back in the cabin—a very different cabin. The metal wasn’t the standard alloy the rocket had launched with. Instead, every single ounce of it was of sky silver.

A sky silver rocket, Dallion thought.

“We did it, Aqui,” he said. The only response he got was faint snoring. No doubt Aquilequia would later deny it, but that final zap had exhausted her to the point of collapse. “You did good, girl,” Dallion added, then split into instances to check the new set of data on the aether-loom.

The percentage was pretty much the same as before. One was tempted to say that Dallion’s improvement had done nothing. That was only if they ignored the fact that the overall thrust strength had doubled. And, what was really important, the rocket had the ability to withstand the new forces without the risk of getting torn up.

“I made it,” Dallion said.

He would have liked for the rest of his group to hear, but he knew that they couldn’t. By now, they had forgotten him. Likely, the entire world had forgotten that the flight ever took place. Everyone involved would remember it as a wet rehearsal or, if Astreza had a mean streak, as a catastrophic failure that had caused the ULA’s test flight to explode before reaching orbit. Alien would no doubt be upset. Hopefully, there would be other times.

“Rocket,” Dallion leaned back. “Can you reach the moon on your own?”

What do you take me for? The guardian asked in outrage. Of course I can! I didn’t spend years going through every test they threw at me for nothing!

“I’m sure you didn’t.”

Dallion looked at the industrial magnet. Thanks to its layers of illusion, it looked like a cube of electricity floating in the cockpit. Jeremy had given assurances that it was supposed to last for several weeks. Hopefully, he was right. That still didn’t prevent Dallion from being economical on oxygen usage. All he could do now was keep an eye on things and wait.

After a while, the first and second separations took place, leaving the final stage of the rocket to continue along its new trajectory. Dallion felt Earth’s gravity lose its grip. There was more, though; he could feel his own magic strengthen. The magic threads hidden within the frame of the capsule became revealed. After that, solid matter itself became transparent, allowing him to see into the void of space.

Dallion looked around, admiring the sun, stars, and planets. Each of them resonated with their own magic, far brighter than any telescope could show. In-between them all, the void lurked, cold and threatening, yet not in the least aggressive. It was convinced that eventually it would consume all, so didn’t bother trying to force the inevitable.

Out of curiosity, Dallion looked back. A thin purple aether bubble surrounded Earth, shielding humanity from the threats that existed between worlds. Were there human guardians dedicated to protecting it, no matter the cost? The aurora borealis existed as a phenomenon, so there was a possibility. It was also just as possible that Astreza did it all on his own. The Blue Moon had the strength, and thanks to the billions of people living and that had lived, he also had the imagination to achieve next to anything.

“See you in the other world.” Dallion closed his eyes.

Sleep came fast, bringing perfect calm for the first time since his original awakening. Now that all his fears and concerns had been swept away, Dallion could only enjoy tranquility. He didn’t miss the friends and family he had on Earth, he didn’t hate his former enemies, either. Their existence was acknowledged, cherished, and accepted, just as someone would accept their own past, but be aware that it was there to stay. Only the present could be shaped to forge a new future.

The first day ended in wonder. The sights made Dallion completely forget about thirst and hunger, as he watched space in admiration once he’d woken up. On the second day, his body made him know that it existed.

Space suits were constructed in a way to contain bodily fluids, though even so Dallion felt reluctant to let go. It was at the start of the third day that he finally did, to a bit of ridicule from the suit’s guardian. Apparently, Jeremy had taken the trouble of educating the guardian back on Earth by repeatedly explaining the organic process. He had also made sure to share a large number of jokes and comments on the matter.

Serves me for sleeping before the launch, Dallion grumbled to himself. It didn’t help that he’d also admitted being able to talk to guardians. Seems even without his memory, the emperor had managed to get the last laugh.

Almost there, the rocket said as the third day neared its end. Where exactly do you want to land?

“The dark side,” Dallion said. “On the east coast of the Ocean of Storms.”

East coast? That’s oddly specific.

“I know.”

I’ll need a bit more thrust to get the right trajectory.

Dallion’s fingers moved along the second aether-loom, transferring a jolt of energy from the industrial magnet to the respective course correction thrusters.

“Is that enough?”

This is a continuous process, the guardian grumbled. I’m aware that you’re not a genius, unlike me, but understand this. I need to make millions of minute adjustments every second.

“Just tell me when you need more and you’ll have it.”

Generations of artists and poets had spent their lives creating masterpieces dedicated to the moon. What they couldn’t know was that up close, it didn’t seem nearly as glamorous. Even from this distance, it looked like nothing more than one giant rock covered in craters and dust. There was no way that the world Dallion had roamed could be this, but it didn’t have to. Just because everyone considered that reality to be the “real world” didn’t mean they were right.

The greatest trick the Eighth Moon had pulled was to create that perfect illusion in everyone’s mind. In truth, only the Seven Moons had the power to place people there. That was why they could just as easily eject people that broke their vows; that was also why no time passed between the moment an awakened joined and when they left.

The rocket got closer and closer to the lunar surface, letting Dallion see the ludicrous amounts of magic it contained. There were more magic threads than Earth could ever have—enough to create its own universe.

A question came to mind: was the Earth really the planet that the moon had been orbiting, or had it been summoned later? Earth history claimed it to have been created after an object had collided with the planet, but Dallion was certain that the remaining six worlds had just as compelling explanations. The most mind boggling bit was that all of them were correct.

The landing won’t be pretty, the rocket said as they approached the designated landing site.

“Don’t worry about me,” Dallion started casting a new spell. His internal magic had grown to the point that he no longer needed to exclusively rely on the magnet. “Will you be alright?”

After my latest improvements, I can slam nose-first and will be fine. The guardian laughed. It’s the surface that has to worry about itself.

“Somehow, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Dallion readied himself mentally. He’d have a small window of opportunity to get out of the capsule and come into contact with the lunar surface. That meant he’d need to make a tear in his suit—a slightly unnerving thought.

“Try to come in smoothly,” he began. “I don’t—”

TRUE AWAKENING