Following a grueling trek across the desolate barrens and rugged paths of a depleted Earth, the four travelers finally set foot inside the regional Interstellar Transit Station.
What materialized before their eyes was a colossal, domed superstructure forged from premium alloys and reflective tempered glass, looming against the horizon like a mechanical behemoth from the future.
The facility was already teeming with a dense, chaotic influx of travelers.
Loona walked briskly toward a massive electronic directory near the welcome gates, her fingers rapidly swiping across the screen before she called out to the group:
— “Hey, everyone, come look at this layout!
This entire transit hub spans a whopping two kilometers.
This is absolutely insane!”
Shin craned his neck to stare up at the soaring, polished vaulted ceiling, where small commercial shuttles were continuously ascending and descending.
He couldn’t help but let out a stunned curse:
— “Holy crap, this place is massive!
It actually integrates its own private spaceport, a five-star luxury resort, and an endless strip of shopping and entertainment zones?
This level of luxury is completely mind-blowing.”
Standing adjacent to him with his hands casually tucked into his pockets, Kento scanned the extravagant yet noticeably sparse rows of native citizens traversing the corridors:
— “Earth only has a little over 1.5 billion people left, and the vast majority have already migrated off-world.
Because this facility is so immense but lacks a stable, permanent population, they likely integrated these luxury services to attract and retain passing travelers from the deeper cosmos.”
Shin turned his gaze toward Ling Mo, who had been standing as motionless as a stone statue:
— “What do you think, Mo?”
Ling Mo merely arched a single eyebrow, let out a soft snort, and crossed his arms:
— “…”
Knowing his childhood companion’s innate laziness when it came to opening his mouth, Shin simply flashed a dry smile.
Given the overwhelming scale of the sector, the group decided to spend a few Sophion Coins to purchase a highly detailed digital navigation map from a terminal clerk, subsequently renting a self-driving electric transit vehicle to head straight for the core zone: The Dimensional Warp Station.
The Galactic Melting Pot
The main waiting hall of the warp station confronted them with an atmosphere that was raucous, chaotic, and suffocating to the absolute extreme.
Every conceivable tier of galactic society and interstellar faction seemed to converge within this single space, ranging from ordinary, destitute refugees to dangerous entities radiating dense, turbulent waves of Sophion energy.
To their left stood native syndicate factions sporting intricate tattoos climbing up their necks; to their right were mercenary bounty hunters armed to the teeth with high-caliber laser rifles and heavy power-armor; while the darker, recessed corners of the hall housed meticulously dressed individuals cloaked in hooded black vests, exuding the distinct, metallic reek of professional assassins.
The moment the four teenagers from the backwater town stepped into the concourse, a barrage of calculating, hostile glints instantly locked onto them.
Over in the shadow-drenched corner of the underworld executioners, one operative took a measured sip of a poisoned vintage, murmuring coldly into his comm-link:
— “Look at the newcomers.
Dressed like absolute hicks.
But don’t look down on them…
The brat walking in the center (Kento) has eyes like frozen glass.
He’s no pushover.
Watch your head.”
Meanwhile, amidst the boisterous gathering of crude bounty hunters, a chorus of mocking laughter erupted:
— “Hahaha!
Look at that bunch of greenhorns fresh out of whatever pigsty planet they crawled from.
Look at those soft, baby faces.
They definitely aren’t anyone of repute worth worrying about.”
Another hunter alongside him licked his lips, his predatory gaze anchoring onto Loona’s maturing, elegant figure:
— “Weak as hell…
but that girl traveling with them isn’t half bad.
Quite a juicy catch!”
In another sector, the leader of a localized cybernetic street gang tapped a metallic finger rhythmically against a steel table, growling beneath his breath:
— “Look at the brat spearheading the group (Shin).
That arrogant look on his face is practically begging for a beating.
They’re already being targeted by the bounty hunters.”
His subordinate, who had been analyzing the group through a Sophion energy-scanner visor, suddenly broke out into a cold sweat, leaning in to whisper urgently:
— “Boss…
my scanner indicates they possess something profoundly formidable.
Let’s not be foolish enough to cross them right now.”
A Taste of Home
Completely unfazed by the oppressive waves of killing intent and predatory stares rippling through the crowd, the four siblings strolled casually through the terminal.
Shin and Ling Mo proactively split off, heading toward the processing counters to queue for warp tickets, leaving Kento and Loona tasked with guarding their tactical luggage in the outer concourse.
Hearing a soft, weary sigh slip from his younger sister, Kento turned around:
— “Are you hungry, Loona?
There are some food stalls situated over in that corner.
Why don’t we grab something to fill our stomachs?”
I guess I’m only a tiny bit hungry…” Loona murmured softly, attempting to maintain her proper maidenly composure.
RUMBLE…
GROWL…
A violent, rumbling protest erupted from the young girl’s empty stomach, completely betraying her lie.
Kento burst out laughing, playfully flicking her forehead:
— “Your ‘tiny bit’ seems to be facing some exceptionally fierce opposition from your stomach.
Let’s go.”
The two siblings walked hand-in-hand toward a recessed alcove of the dining sector.
To their profound astonishment, situated right in the middle of this hyper-modern space station was a vibrant neon sign flashing in distinct Vietnamese script: “Phở Hà Nội – Hương Vị Truyền Thống” (Hanoi Pho – Traditional Flavor).
The rich, intoxicating aroma of broth infused with cinnamon, star anise, and slow-simmered beef bones wafted heavily through the air, instantly overpowering their senses.
Kento stepped inside, selecting an unoccupied table before addressing the proprietor:
— “Excuse me, boss, could we get two bowls of beef pho, please?”
— “Coming right up, young man!
Give me five minutes!” the middle-aged shop owner responded warmly.
Kento turned to Loona, asking considerately:
— “Do you want rare beef pho?
Do I need to tell the owner to skip the green onions or adjust any of the seasonings for you?”
— “I can eat it any way it comes, no need to omit anything,” Loona replied, inhaling the fragrant steam as her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
While they waited for their food to arrive, Kento idly scanned the interior of the restaurant.
The establishment was reasonably packed with travelers from all walks of life.
Not far from their table sat a couple dining together, exuding a demeanor that was completely detached from the overarching chaos of the outer terminal.
The man possessed a stylish, bohemian haircut, clad in an exceptionally breezy outfit adorned with tropical coconut tree patterns as though he were relaxing on a beach resort.
Seated opposite him was a young woman possessing a stunning head of ash-platinum hair, elegantly utilizing her chopsticks to lift strands of pho with aristocratic grace.
The sheer eccentricity of this duo briefly caught Kento’s attention, but he quickly retracted his gaze as two steaming, aromatic bowls of pho were set down before them.
The Departure Queue
The siblings rapidly cleaned their bowls, savoring the profound warmth of home spreading through their bodies.
After settling the bill, they returned to the central waiting concourse, only to find Shin and Ling Mo standing by with highly amused, wry expressions.
Kento stepped up, asking:
— “Are you guys hungry?
You should seriously head over there and grab a bowl of Hanoi pho, it’s absolutely phenomenal.”
Shin waved his hand dismissively, holding up four digital transit cards before his younger siblings:
— “No need, I’m not that hungry yet.
Our tickets have been successfully purchased, but look at this…
our sequence numbers are all the way at 2731, 2732, 2733, and 2734.”
Loona gasped in pure shock, clutching her head with both hands:
— “Huh?!
What do you mean number 2731?
Is this station seriously that congested?
How long are we going to be stuck waiting here?”
Shin laughed, patting Loona’s head reassuringly as he explained:
— “Ling Mo was curious about that as well, so I thoroughly questioned the ticket clerk.
With every single warp cycle, the dimensional chamber can accommodate and process up to 100 travelers simultaneously.
So don’t worry, we only need to wait a little while before our turn arrives.”
Loona executed a rapid mental calculation in her head, letting out a prolonged, dramatic sigh:
— “So we still have to wait through twenty-seven entire warp cycles…
Oh my goodness, my poor legs!”
Kento scrutinized the completely blank data fields displayed on his digital ticket, his brow furrowing as he questioned:
— “By the way, Brother Shin, where exactly is our destination?
Why isn’t there a single planetary coordinate stamped onto these tickets?”
— “The staff mentioned that we have to enter the terminal chamber first before selecting our destination.
This current zone is merely for raw transit ticketing and baseline security screening.
We have to wait for our sequence number to be called before entering the coordinate designation sector,” Shin clarified.
The group waited patiently.
Brilliant waves of blue luminescence from the warp apparatus flashed periodically, systematically swallowing groups of 100 travelers at a time.
After roughly an hour of waiting, the automated PA system chimed into life:
— “That’s us, let’s move!” Shin cheered enthusiastically.
The four of them passed through a massive, heavy hydraulic pressure door, stepping into an immense laboratory chamber that spanned the width of a sports stadium.
Standing vertically inside the facility were exactly 100 pod-shaped warp cabins, emitting low, powerful mechanical hums.
A technician clad in a high-tech protective uniform approached them, utilizing a digital control pad to scan their tickets before inquiring:
— “You four are traveling together as a unified party, correct?”
— “Yes, that’s correct!” Shin answered as the representative.
— “Very well.
Where does your party wish to establish your destination warp coordinates?” the technician asked while inputting data commands.
Shin scratched the back of his head, stammering slightly because they were fundamentally blind regarding any concrete intelligence about the wider cosmos:
— “Well…
the truth is, we haven’t decided on an exact location yet.
Do you happen to know of any sector that is highly prosperous, ‘hot’, and bustling?
You know…
a place teeming with people and boundless opportunities!”
Shin concluded his request with a tinge of anxiety, wondering if the technician would even comprehend such a vague, abstract definition.
The technician looked up at the four teenagers, bursting into a booming laugh:
— “Hahaha, you’re quite a character, kid.
Where in the cosmos doesn’t have a massive population?
But if you want a destination that perfectly fulfills your criteria of being ‘the most prosperous and hottest,’ there is only one undisputed sector sitting at the absolute pinnacle.
It is the largest population center in the galaxy, holding a definitive Top 1 ranking in terms of economy, sovereign authority, and overall influence within this Gen-Syndicate Era.
Shall I lock that in for you?
It is exceptionally ideal for personal advancement, forming factions, or carving out empires.”
Shin’s eyes flared with intense brilliance the moment he heard the words “factions” and “empires.” He clapped his hands in instant agreement:
— “Yes, absolutely!
Send us right there!”
— “Alright, your group of four may proceed into cabin pods number 72 through 75.
Remember to stand perfectly still and do not press anything inside randomly,” the technician instructed, gesturing toward a row of pods glowing with deep blue light.
En Route to the Core
The four siblings swiftly stepped inside four separate yet adjacent cabin pods.
The moment the hydraulic glass panels slid shut, a holographic display flickered into life directly before their eyes, vividly presenting a bright red line of text indicating their finalized destination coordinates:
[ DESTINATION COORDINATES ]
System: THE APEX HEGEMONY
Location: Interstellar Federation Capital City Center — Shin-Jinrui Chūsū (新人類中枢 – New Humanity Core)
The mechanical audio synthesis began its countdown, echoing clearly within the pods:
”Sophion dimensional warp drive online…
Sequence initializing…
3…
2…
1…
ENGAGE!”
BOOM!!!
A blinding flash of pure white light instantly obliterated their vision.
They experienced a sudden sensation of their physical forms being dissolved into millions of discrete molecular particles across space, yet it was completely devoid of any physical pain.
Less than four seconds later…
HISS…
The doors of the cabin pods popped open in perfect unison, allowing a rush of crisp, cool air heavily saturated with the distinct scent of monumental wealth, cutting-edge technology, and raw capital to flood into their lungs.
They stepped outward, staggering slightly for a brief second before re-establishing their balance.
What materialized before them was a colossal arrival concourse that was a hundred times more expansive than the transit station back on Earth, paved entirely with shimmering, luminescent quartz.
From the premium audio arrays hovering suspended in mid-air, a fluid, artificial intelligence voice resonated, welcoming the new generation of conquerors:
”WELCOME TO THE APEX HEGEMONY!”
”And welcome to the heart of the interstellar federation capital city: Shin-Jinrui Chūsū!”
Shin, Kento, Loona, and Ling Mo cast their gazes outward through the floor-to-ceiling glass panes of the grand hall.
Spread before them was an unimaginable cyberpunk megacity, defined by towering skyscrapers thousands of stories high piercing straight through the cloud layers, and intricate webs of Sophion light rails cutting through the sky like spiderwebs for flying vehicles.
The era of Zero Horizon was officially initiated here!
END OF CHAPTER 19