A narrow path stretched and wound beneath the starry sky. The sound of trickling water came from the center of the island. A clear stream meandered through the land, its surface shimmering with a silvery light from the moon.
Ian was flying.
"This place is huge," He muttered as he passed through a forest of glowing flowers. A faint floral fragrance lingered in the air, mingling with the damp, earthy scent of the soil.
When the view suddenly opened up, Ian's breath caught.
On the far side of the island, a massive stone house stood atop a cliff, surrounded by waterfalls. Water flowed down through special grooves in the roof and split into streams that formed seven miniature rainbows in the sunlight. The stone house's walls were pieced together from irregular polygonal blocks.
The walls were covered in cracks left behind by the passage of time, yet the structure as a whole remained incomparably sturdy. The domed roof was inlaid with translucent, crystalline gems.
Under the starlight, the gems refracted brilliant, multicolored light.
Ian knew it.
The confusing sights he was witnessing...
Not far away,
The answers were likely hidden there.
Ian could see this because he had the extraordinary vision of a legendary wizard, and it was so absurdly sharp that it was downright insane and he saw that every joint between the stones was inlaid with glowing Titan runes.
Three interlocking rings... the exclusive emblem of high-ranking Titans.
He had seen similar patterns before in the Sky City. Seeing them again in this place was clearly proof that this location had been built by Titans.
As for whether this island floating in the starry sky was a former Titan homeland, Ian couldn't say for certain, though it wasn't impossible.
They say children love to imitate their parents.
No matter what,
Zeus and his group could be considered the "children" of the Titans. If they had known of or come to this place before, then the existence of the Sky City would obviously not be a coincidence, they must have found their inspiration here.
Of course.
Floating in the sky
Could never compare to floating in the starry void.
Earth floated quietly in the universe like a sleeping dream. This island was like a fragment that had fallen from that dream and was wrapped in a transparent bubble.
It drifted among the stars.
Gazing distantly at Earth.
The island really did resemble a palace held aloft by the true "gods." Yet, for some unknown reason, the Titans had abandoned this place to live on Earth.
Ian couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.
"Titans… what exactly are they?"
As he walked toward the stone house, he continued to observe the island. Above, the surface of the bubble emitted a faint glow, like ripples reflecting starlight.
In the darkness, it outlined soft, gentle arcs.
It looked like a shield and a shell. Because of this, Ian dared to make a bold guess: perhaps the so-called "Titans" were not life forms native to Earth. Maybe they came from the depths of the cosmos, highly advanced visitors from beyond the stars.
The idea that aliens created humanity… perhaps it wasn't impossible to give that theory a magic version after all.
"This entire floating island might actually be their spaceship."
"Or rather, a colony… a laboratory. Who says aliens must use metal spacecraft? Maybe to them, living organisms themselves are part of technology."
It had to be said that Ian's wild speculation did have a certain logic to it. Of course, it was still just that: speculation. The real truth would only be known once he found the last surviving Titan and asked him directly.
It was mainly because Ian had killed too quickly before... so quickly that, before he could truly understand the Titans, their race had become almost destined for extinction.
But what if they still had relatives on other planets?
Then perhaps Ian hadn't committed a great sin after all.
"There are traces of habitation."
While flying, Ian passed over a stretch of beach.
He descended to the ground and saw what appeared to be deliberately piled sandcastles and various sand sculptures. His feet sank into the soft, silver sand.
Each step left behind a glowing footprint that slowly faded and disappeared after a few seconds.
"So this was also something that Titan made. Childish at heart? That makes sense... otherwise, they wouldn't have come up with so many bizarre tricks that leave me speechless."
Ian did not destroy those "artworks."
He took to the sky once more.
The entire island, floating in the starry sky, was enveloped in a massive, transparent bubble. Countless smaller bubbles continuously drifted through the air like invisible hands blowing translucent trails.
Passing over the beach.
Next came a jungle, its distribution was clearly unscientific, but since the place had been artificially planned and designed, the way these regions connected was still reasonably coherent.
The dense forest stretched out from the edge of the beach.
The tree trunks were semi-translucent, with mercury-like liquids flowing within them. The canopies were filled with fist-sized blossoms, and each petal resembled the finest silk with tiny points of light along its edges.
These flowers opened and closed as if breathing to an unseen rhythm, releasing pale violet pollen tinged with a refreshing mint fragrance.
Everything looked exquisitely beautiful, as if copied directly from a painted masterpiece. Even the waterfalls and lakes defied gravity, flowing outward in all directions.
It was magnificent.
"What's that?"
At that moment...
Shadows streaked past Ian's vision.
He looked up and saw several flying Pokémon, including Charizard, Dragonite, and Zapdos, circling in the sky. Their forms were exceptionally agile under the starlight. Beside them were several Digimon... WarGreymon, Angewomon, and Airdramon, competing alongside the Pokémon.
Of course.
They weren't fighting.
They soared through the heavens at incredible speeds, seemingly without hostility toward one another. It looked more like some kind of game. The scene on the ground below was even more absurd.
What was happening there also explained why this place seemed to lack a food chain. In a nearby coconut grove, a group of Pokémon and Digimon were fighting over coconuts. On the beach, a group of Pikachu and Gabumon were rolling around with sparks and bubbles flying everywhere. Not far away, a group of Squirtle were ramming into a group of Patamon with their shells.
Every scuffle revolved around the coconuts scattered about.
'What exactly was so attractive about these coconuts?'
Ian found out very quickly.
He watched as a Bulbasaur wrapped its vines around a coconut and pulled it toward itself. Meanwhile, a Garurumon swung its sharp claws in a fierce slash, splitting a coconut clean in half and revealing the steaming food inside.
It was curry rice and roast chicken.
"Hell, what's so special about these coconuts?" Ian couldn't believe his eyes. He dropped lower and, just in time, saw another coconut smashed open.
Inside, there was no coconut water or flesh, but a steaming bowl of twice-cooked pork over rice!
"Th-This… what the hell is going on?"
Ian's eyes widened.
He almost suspected he had wandered into some kind of interdimensional comedy set.
The aroma instantly spread through the air, triggering fiercer competition. Calling it a fight would be generous. At most, it was a case of you grab a bite and I snatch a bite, basically no different from a pack of dogs fighting over food.
Every single Pokémon and Digimon looked like a hardcore foodie.
Mm.
And to be fair, it really did smell insanely good.
"Did this Titan even splice in Doraemon?" Ian remembered this kind of thing existed in Doraemon. He couldn't imagine what sort of being the expeller of the Titan actually was.
This place was stitched together from fragments of countless worlds, and it contained creatures that should never have met and physical laws that violated all common sense, all of it pointed to one berserk possibility:
'The Titans were crossover travelers, too!'
"This is making me want to start stealing food myself."
Ian descended into the coconut grove. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of rice and caramelized meat.
He couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Yeah, he was getting hungry.
"Smells pretty good, honestly."
His gaze locked onto several golden-yellow coconuts. They were scattered among the silvery-white sand, their shells gleaming with an odd luster as if they had been soaked in magic. Just as he bent down to pick one up, the surrounding bushes rustled.
"Pika, chu!"
A bolt of yellow lightning shot out from the shrubs. Pikachu's cheek pouches crackled with electricity as its tiny claws lunged straight for the coconut. At the same time, a Gabumon charged out from the other side, baring its teeth in a fierce glare.
"Hey, hey... first come, first served!" Ian clicked his tongue and quickly raised his wand. A flash of blue light burst from the tip of his wand, and an invisible magical barrier spread out in front of him.
Pikachu's Thunderbolt slammed into the barrier. Electricity scattered in all directions, blasting sand from the beach into the air. Not to be outdone, Gabumon opened its mouth and spat out a stream of bubbles.
They popped upon hitting the barrier.
They burst into fine points of light.
"I don't have time to fight you two," Ian sighed. With a gentle twist of his wand, several waves of mud surged up from the ground and rolled toward the two little guys like living creatures.
Pikachu and Gabumon were flipped over by the mud waves and rolled several times before scrambling back to their feet. They were dizzy and wary as they stared at Ian.
They were both now completely filthy from head to toe.
Ian didn't give them time to react. With a flick of his finger, several magical light orbs appeared in midair and fluttered around them.
Pikachu's ears immediately shot upright, and Gabumon took two steps back. Though the orbs were harmless, their flickering glow clearly reminded the two of some unpleasant past experiences.
"Leave now, or I'll make them explode," Ian lowered his voice and put on a fierce expression as he spoke.
Pikachu and Gabumon glanced at each other, then finally chose to retreat. One flicked its tail and dived into the bushes while the other bolted away, baring its teeth at him as it looked back.
But it wasn't just those two.
There were, of course, other little ones who wanted to snatch food from Ian's mouth.
A Gomamon rushed out from another direction, opening its mouth to bite the coconut. At the same time, a Gatomon stood coolly on a tree branch, its gaze locked on the coconut in Ian's hand as if ready to strike at any moment. Ian swept his palm through the air abruptly, and magic exploded into a dazzling burst of sparks.
A brilliant arc tore through the night sky, accompanied by a low, rumbling boom.
"Bang!"
Light and shockwaves spread instantly, frightening the little creatures, who froze mid-action and cried out as they stumbled back several steps.
"Waaahhh…!"
"Uwaa!"
Several Digimon even turned tail and ran outright, while the remaining Pokémon stared wide-eyed at Ian, clearly not daring to act recklessly anymore.
"Seriously, is it really worth all this over a coconut?"
Ian shook his head and bent down to pick up three coconuts. They were much heavier than ordinary ones, and their shells were engraved with fine runes, like some sort of preservation magic.
With so many little creatures around, Ian retreated to a relatively safe stretch of beach.
When he opened the first coconut, a rich, savory aroma rushed out… teriyaki chicken leg rice. The chicken skin was glossy and crispy, the sauce thick and fragrant, the rice grains distinct and steaming hot, as if it had just come off the stove.
The second was braised chicken with rice. The broth was still bubbling gently, the chicken tender, the potatoes soft and fluffy, the sauce soaking deep into the rice.
The third coconut was the most outrageous of all. When opened, it revealed a full barbecue platter, complete with grilled vegetables and garlic bread on the side. The sizzling meat was even sprinkled with fresh rosemary.
"A three-item combo meal? Is this Titan running a takeaway shop or something?"
Ian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Eating combo meals before crossing over was one thing, but still eating combo meals after crossing over? He couldn't tell whether this was luck or coincidence.
Of course.
There was one thing he could be sure of.
That Titan definitely had problems.
Using the coconut shell as a bowl, Ian grabbed a piece of teriyaki chicken leg with his hand. The moment he bit into it, his eyes widened slightly,
Wok hei!
The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender inside, the sauce perfectly balanced between sweet and savory. The rice had absorbed the essence of the meat juices, every bite carrying the warmth of something freshly cooked. The braised chicken's gravy was rich and fragrant, the barbecue cooked to absolute perfection, he could even hear the faint crackle of fat bursting in his mouth.
This was far better than anything Ian had ever eaten before.
"G-God… this taste, there's almost no difference from what I remember!" Unable to help himself, Ian started wolfing it down, exclaiming as he ate. "How on earth did a Titan, an ancient god, manage to make this stuff? Even the aroma and texture are reproduced with such precision! And the seasonings are things that only exist in later eras!"
"Don't tell me there really is a fellow crossover traveler?"
Ian ate everything clean.
Before leaving, he cast one last glance at the Pokémon and Digimon still fighting over coconuts. They seemed to have already forgotten their earlier scuffle and were now drooling around an especially large coconut.
"What a bizarre and absurd creator."
Ian shook his head.
Then he cast a flying spell and shot toward the stone house. No matter what "composition" that Titan was made of, the answers were definitely inside that rune-carved stone mansion.
"My curiosity's been hooked hard."
The glowing coconut grove beneath his feet shimmered with a soft halo under the starlight.
Ian glanced back once more at the little creatures, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. Then he spread his arms and, aided by his magical cloak, lightly flew toward the enormous stone house standing at the center of the island.
As he drew closer, the building's full outline became clearer, its surface covered in cracks left behind by time and the elements, yet still as solid as ever. The roof was domed.
Most striking of all was the massive relief above the main entrance, depicting a colossal beast with wings spread wide, none other than the phoenix Ian had once seen on the horizon.
He landed and approached, only to find that there were no defensive measures at all. No barriers, no guards, not even a locked door.
The stone house's door stood slightly ajar, as if waiting for his arrival.
"So careless?" Ian frowned and reached out to push the door. The heavy stone door slid open silently, revealing a vast interior space.
What lay inside was completely beyond his expectations, no ancient altar, no mountains of magical books and records, not even the grand sculptures typical of the Titan race.
Instead, it was… a shut-in girl's room?
The walls were plastered with all kinds of anime posters. Video games and manga were piled up in the corners. A huge beanbag sofa dominated the center of the room, and sitting on it,
Was a three-meter-tall female Titan.
Her silver-white hair cascaded down to her waist, the tips glowing faintly blue. Her skin was pale as moonlight, and she wore nothing but an oversized T-shirt printed with an anime character Ian didn't recognize. She sat cross-legged, holding an enormous video game console that had clearly been modified with magic.
On the screen, pixelated characters were locked in fierce combat.
Ian stood frozen on the spot.
This was nothing like the Titans he had imagined, no majesty, no oppressive presence, and even… kind of cute? At least, relative to Titan standards.
This Titan…
Might even be a loli?
Just as Ian's expression grew increasingly complicated, the female Titan spoke without even lifting her head, her fingers still flying over the controls as she played.
"Good morning, Professor Ravenclaw." She spoke softly.
Her voice was clear.
As if she had known all along that he would come.
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 110 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395