Building Interstellar Empire With Universal Synthesis

The interstellar ship, Ghost, finally reached the vicinity of Grey City. Through the reinforced glass shield, Neo glanced at the bustling city below. None of the inhabitants had any idea that a Titan-class ship was looming over their heads, capable of wiping out the entire slime metropolis in an instant.

​"Sir, should we land?" Ghost asked.

​"No," Neo replied. "I need to meet her alone and in secret."

​"Then let us come with you, Neo," Elena said from beside him.

​Dr. Clark agreed with the idea. "You are our ruler; we should not leave you unprotected."

​Neo raised no objection. After all, Elena’s presence was a requirement for this meeting.

​After a short while, a smaller vessel carried them to the city below. They landed in a secluded alleyway where no lights were visible.

Neo glanced at his watch, muttering: "Now, where is she?"

​The location tracker indicated she was just 100 meters away toward the central square.

However, just then, a toddler emerged from the darkness, wearing a confident smirk.

​"Are you Master Neo?" the toddler asked, his voice sounding creepy and adult-like, taking them by surprise.

​"Yes, it’s him. Who sent you here, little creep?" Elena and Clark asked simultaneously, already drawing their weapons.

​"Ooh, chill out! You’re all so feisty," the toddler cooed. "Lady Myria Oceris Onthera Noctivale sent me here to fetch you, and I swear I have no ulterior motives."

​"Who is Myria? We are here to meet Lady Moon. Oh, wait—" Elena paused in realization.

​The little toddler smirked, "Haha, that’s right. They are one and the same: MOON."

​"Lead the way," Neo said, stepping forward. Elena and Clark followed closely behind.

​During the hundred-meter walk, the boy revealed his name was Trox, a devoted follower of Moon who had undergone a code-replacement with human biology. He mentioned that he yearned to be fully human someday, driven by the immense potential that humans possessed.

Neo said nothing. Every life had the right to dream. Although it was simply unfortunate that his enemies will not share that luxury.

​Eventually, they reached a tower where, at the peak, Moon’s white hair flowed like liquid moonlight.

Neo felt his heart race, despite his efforts to remain stoic. He had wondered for days why he felt such a powerful attraction toward her, yet he still couldn’t understand it. Perhaps today he would learn the reason.

​"Stay here!" he commanded Elena and Clark.

He exhaled a heavy sigh and stepped inside.

​Elena and Clark glanced at each other and then at Trox, who smiled back at them. "Should we play chess in the meantime, my machine friends?"

​"No," they replied in unison, their utmost priority being Neo’s safety.

​"Aww, you’re no fun," Trox sulked.

Neo climbed the spiral staircase, the air growing colder and thinner as he ascended, smelling night-blooming jasmine. When he reached the summit, there were no walls, only a wide circular balcony open to the stars.

​Moon stood at the edge, her silhouette framed by the glowing curve of the planet.

Her white hair seemed to drift in an invisible current, catching the distant light of the Ghost still hovering in the exosphere.

​As Neo stepped onto the stone floor, she turned. Her eyes, pale and luminous, locked onto his, and that strange, magnetic pull slammed into his chest with the force of a physical blow.

It couldn’t be just attraction. It was more like a resonance, as if two discordant notes had finally found their harmony.

​"You came, and you brought a Titan with you. You’ve grown faster than even the stars predicted, Neo Godson."

​Neo stopped a few feet away, his [Heat-Signature Perception] screaming.

Usually, he saw people as fading embers of thermal energy, but Moon was different. She was a cold beautiful space where energy didn’t just exist, they gathered.

Eyes locked, Neo took another step, drawn in by a gravity he couldn’t fight. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

​"I didn’t come here to talk about my ship. Why is it that every time I’m near you, my heart feels like it’s trying to beat its way out of my chest? Is this some kind of skill? A mental interference?"

​Moon smiled, a beautiful curve appearing on her sweet, pink lips.

​"I am so happy to know how you feel about me, even though we have been apart for years, Husband," she said in a sultry voice that struck straight at his heart.

​His heart trembled.

"Husband? Why are you calling me husband? Why are you speaking as if we have known each other for years?" he asked, deeply confused.

​At his words, her eyes, which had just been bright, began shimmering with hot tears.

"Oh, how I missed this voice, Husband." she cried.

​"Explain it to me, Moon. Why are you crying? Who hurt you?" Neo said, feeling his heart being squeezed by an invisible hand.

​While crying, she reached out with her cold hands, touching his face with a warmth that belied her frigid nature.

"You don’t know how long I have been suffering, love. The day you left us was the day I stopped smiling. Until now, I lived in the shadows, begging to meet you. And when I finally got the chance, I had to act cold, even though my heart yearned to touch you, kiss you, and hug you so much. I am sorry for being cold to you in those moments. I swear, that wasn’t me."

​Neo became even more bewildered. He wanted more than a vague response; he wanted a full explanation.

But, just as he was about to ask, her expression shifted violently.

​She suddenly looked frigid, and her voice sounded sharp with annoyance.

"Stop with all this bullshit drama, you witch. Say what you have to say, quickly. I am seriously getting disgusted by all of this."

​It looked as though she was talking to herself. Her eyes were frosty with loathing when they landed on Neo with freezing intensity.

​"Your heart is so black. All I can see is darkness consuming your being. I can’t believe that stupid witch chose to fall in love with you, and is now trying to save her timeline with these pitiful acts."

​"Who are you talking to?" Neo asked, his confusion suddenly turning into anger.

​She snickered with contempt, "Hmph, you still don’t understand? I was speaking to myself. No, to my broken future self, to be exact."