"Heehee, isn't Lord Aha supposed to be omnipotent? If you can't even glimpse the script I, Sparkle, have written, then you'd best slink away from my side with your tail between your legs~"
Once again, Sparkle snapped the Aha mask apart as easily as breaking a brittle biscuit, then skipped lightly toward the grandest dream hotel on the planet—large enough to house tens of millions.
The crisp clack of her wooden clogs echoed along the streets.
On towering skyscrapers, holographic projections broadcast the news of the Interastral Peace Corporation, watched by citizens with terror in their eyes.
Across the skyline, massive cosmic ships could be seen landing ceaselessly, their piercing sirens blaring.
Behind her, the chaos of robbery, thievery, and panicked cries rang out again and again.
In this slightly chaotic atmosphere, some holograms instead displayed a famous singer of the Harmony family—a renowned celebrity of the Halovian stars, one of the most celebrated voices across the entire universe.
Despite Sparkle's striking aura as she hopped along, she was ignored completely, as if she were but a cheerful little ghost unseen by all.
Her humming created a stark contrast to the chaos around her.
Meanwhile, within the dream hotel, the five great family branches who ruled Penacony presided. After speaking with the representatives of the many forces who had fled here, they temporarily housed all envoys within the hotel.
Among them was Diamond, Minister of Strategic Investment for the Interastral Peace Corporation, as well as the remaining Stoneheart Ten.
Other IPC executives were scattered—some stationed in other star systems, others having set up temporary command centers across Penacony Galaxy's sector.
Within the hotel's private chamber, Sunday, head of the Oak family, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly reviewing the surveillance of all Penacony.
"More and more factions are fleeing to Penacony. Soon enough, it will be saturated."
"When that time comes, for the sake of resources, they will surely slaughter one another before the black beast tide even arrives."
"Even the IPC and the Family, exerting their utmost, will not be able to restrain it."
"Even now, with so many overlapping forces tangled together, chaos already brews beyond control."
"Were it not for the power of Order restraining all, Penacony would have already perished before the tide arrived."
Sunday's eyes glimmered with a touch of fanaticism as he gazed upon the small sun radiating faint light across the entire galaxy.
Though no larger than a fist, this little sun laid down absolute law for an entire system.
This was Order—great Order. Only Order could redeem all.
Even as a member of the Family, he saw now how powerless they truly were in the face of such calamity.
But what was regrettable—
Order's power had descended, yet none had been chosen. Were one acknowledged, they could become its Emanator.
Thus it was certain—the Aeon of Order had not been wholly devoured by Harmony. It still existed.
For once an Aeon fell completely, it could no longer appoint an Emanator.
And still, no one had been able to earn its favor.
Not even the Dreammaster Gopher Wood, who first initiated the plan of Aeon resurrection.
Gopher Wood had even attempted to seize the little sun by force—yet in an instant his consciousness was shattered, and he perished.
As Dreammaster, Gopher Woodhad long abandoned his body, existing only as an awareness within dreams. When his mind was destroyed, so too did he die.
Now, aside from Gopher Wood, Sunday himself was the most favored of Order—for he was among the rare few who had walked the Path of Order.
Sunday turned to look at his younger sister, Robin.
She bore verdant emerald eyes, with lake-green depths now filled with worry. Dressed in a gown of gray-white and violet hues, short in front and long in back, her skirt was adorned with pearls and star-gems.
As a Halovian, wings sprouted at Robin's back and ears, though her back wings usually folded neatly at her waist. Her long hair was a pale lavender cascade of curls, with a metallic halo floating above her head. At her neck, jewelry concealed the scar of an old gunshot wound…
Her crystal high heels shifted slightly against the floor, betraying unease.
By appearance and bearing alike, she perfectly embodied the standard of a galactic superstar.
Robin pressed her lips together. "Has it come to this already? Brother, is there anything we can do?"
Having grown up in the Family and trained directly by its patriarchs, her political ability was naturally strong. Managing an entire planet would have posed no problem to her.
Sunday gazed at his sister. In his eyes, Robin shared a mysterious connection with the little sun of Order. Yet the influence of Harmony blocked this link.
This meant his sister might very well be able to directly inherit the power of Order's Emanator.
But that would be tantamount to betraying the Family.
Unlike him, his innocent sister would never stomach such betrayal. Forcing her down that path would only brand her as ungrateful.
As her elder brother, he would never compel her to make a choice against her will.
"There is a way. If someone can inherit the power of Order's Emanator, then that power could forcibly quell the chaos of all these factions gathered in Penacony."
Robin looked up at the small sun of Order hovering in Penacony's skies.
Though this place was suffused with Harmony, it was undeniably Order's power that now shielded everyone.
Just then, a playful voice chimed in.
"Yoyoyo~ what a coincidence I happened to arrive now~ Chicken-wing boy, and our universe's beloved superstar, Miss Robin."
Sparkle appeared nearby, stepping lightly as she strolled over, the former Aha mask now floating beside her like an ordinary mask.
"Oooh~ finishing up some boring office politics, are we? Brother and sister whispering secrets behind closed doors? How about letting me listen too?"
Sunday's expression immediately chilled. Robin blinked and frowned slightly, though she betrayed no displeasure.
With cold detachment, Sunday replied, "Masked Fool… no, Emanator of Elation. Trespassing into private quarters violates the rules of the dream hotel."
"Even if you were my guest, I would not hesitate to add you to Penacony's list of the untrustworthy."
Sunday felt a pounding headache just looking at Sparkle.
Originally, he had invited a Masked Fool only to fulfill the great plan of Order's descent.
And the Masked Fool he had invited had not even been this Sparkle, but another. Yet, as always, the Masked Fools acted as they pleased, swapping out the one he called upon.
At first, he had not minded—after all, so long as it was a Masked Fool, the identity did not matter.
But now, his carefully arranged plan had become a dead move, binding his hands.
Order had already descended, rendering his scheme useless—and worse, a burden.
This particular Masked Fool was especially vexing.
As an Emanator, she could not be expelled by force. The Family lacked that kind of strength.
Moreover, with Penacony now shrouded in Order, even prayer to Harmony would go unanswered. Harmony could not respond.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Sparkle giggled, clapping lightly, her eyes curved into crescents, her playful smile brimming with self-amusement.
"Hehehe~ chicken-wing boy, your words just now were truly delightful."
"You so clearly want to drive me away, yet because you cannot, you force yourself to maintain the dignity of a patriarch—twisting yourself into a clown, speaking bravely while completely lacking confidence."
"Heeheehee, chicken-wing boy, you're such an easy source of fun~"
Sunday's face remained cold, stripped of his usual genteel composure.
"Emanator of Elation, what exactly do you want? Speak your purpose directly. No matter how silver-tongued you are, it cannot hide the ridiculous motives you Masked Fools skulk in the shadows pursuing."
"If all you seek is amusement from me, then I must disappoint you. I am nothing more than a tiresome politician."
Hearing this, Sparkle let out a sudden snort of laughter, nearly collapsing into hysterics.
"Hahahaha… you really are walking comedy, chicken-wing boy. Twisted, foolish, and utterly oblivious."
"In Penacony alone, you've given me at least ten percent of my fun~"
Sunday said nothing, only watching her coldly, as though no matter what she said next, he would refuse to reply.
The best way to deal with a Masked Fool was not to engage with one.
Robin, seeing her brother and Sparkle about to come to blows, hurriedly stepped in to ease the tension.
"Miss Sparkle, while Penacony welcomes all who come, we do ask that you respect those of us who work tirelessly to maintain it. If you have any dissatisfaction, please let me know. I will do everything in my power to resolve it, and ensure you leave Penacony with pleasant memories."
Sparkle stepped closer, examining Robin. Robin offered a warm, fan-like smile, as though addressing her countless admirers.
"As expected of a galactic superstar. Your words are far more interesting than those of your office-politics brother."
"No wonder you were chosen~."
Robin blinked in surprise. "Chosen?"
Sunday frowned, his voice cold. "Emanator, what do you mean? And keep your distance from my sister."
Hands behind her back, Sparkle tiptoed playfully, the golden bells at her ankles chiming crisply.
"My, my, how nervous you are, chicken-wing boy."
"But you should be nervous. After all, the entire universe faces doom—or rather, everyone except a select few individuals with… special traits."
"It won't be long before all of Penacony falls, without exception."
"Even now, though Penacony has gathered what seems to be frightening power, they're nothing more than refugees fleeing disaster."
"Hehehehehe…"
Her mischievous laughter rang out.
"A grand, unprecedented play is about to begin."
"A survival game of the unknown. You, me, everyone—we are all actors on this stage. All others? Merely nameless extras, cannon fodder."
"And if you wish to survive this drama—"
"…You'll have no choice but to step onto the stage, stand beneath the spotlight, and watch as everything dances around you."
After finishing, Sparkle leaned close to Robin's ear, speaking with pointed implication.
"Of course, not every actor steps up willingly. Some are pushed forward by everyone else, forced to perform the play that all expect of them."
"And the one forced on stage… will, in the end, tear apart everyone's expectations with their own hands."
"Tell me, my dear—who do you think will be pushed onto that stage?"
Whoosh—
With a sound of air being split, Sparkle lightly hopped back as a gentleman's cane whizzed past her nose.
"Enough, Masked Fool. Your nonsense has gone far enough. You are not welcome here. Leave at once!"
But Sparkle only smiled, as always.
"My, my, chicken-wing boy, it seems you've already caught on to a tiny bit of the story I'm telling. Not bad, not bad—you are clever indeed. But only a little clever."
"I know you're impatient, chicken-wing boy, but don't be. I'll leave after I finish. Who knows—you might even discover the little secret Sparkle has tucked inside, the one that solves your problem~"
Sunday's face grew colder, his fists slowly tightening. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Sparkle clapped her hands. "Oh, it's very simple. Just a little reminder."
"Surely Lady Herta's broadcast from the Genius Society to the entire universe has been received everywhere, including Penacony?"
"And yet—you didn't dare make it public. Isn't that especially amusing?"
"Heeheehee… only intelligent beings aligned with kindness are spared from the black beast tide's predation."
"To verify this, certain IPC members who could not be attacked already returned to Pier Point to investigate."
"Though more than ninety percent of the population was lost, and over half of all civilization's facilities destroyed with contact to the outside world severed…"
"They still lived. The monsters coexisted peacefully with them."
"And the countless refugees who've fled to Penacony? They already know this."
"Because this place has that thing." Sparkle pointed toward the little sun. "Even here, the monsters are suppressed to some degree."
"So then—what will this mass of villains do in order to survive?"
"Will they not stop at nothing to choose a savior of villains?"
"And as the yearning for Order grows stronger, certain bonds will no longer remain hidden. Which means, chicken-wing boy~"
"This drama, whether you wish to join or not—you will join. Whether you accept it or not—you are part of it."
"And that means… your situation is very dangerous~."
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