In the heart of Mars, upon its surface covered with red dust and dormant volcanoes, lies Sirumi, the legendary city that hides the planet's secrets within its folds. Carved into the depths of Mars, this city shines with colors of gold and crimson, where the lights of rare, radiant crystals decorating the surroundings reflect, as if pulsating with the very spirit of the planet.
The giant walls tell ancient stories through their engravings—cosmic battles and immortalized historical events—making anyone who sees them feel the awe of the past and the greatness of the present.
Within this Martian city lies the meeting hall, known as the Red Still Center. It was given this name because of the faint red halo emitted by a giant crystal in its ceiling, bestowing an atmosphere of majesty and sobriety. The marble floor, engraved with lines resembling star charts, looked like a map of the entire cosmos, reflecting the unity of the place with its cosmic message. The majestic silence enveloping the hall is not devoid of a hidden sense of reverence and sanctity, as if the place is aware of the importance of the decisions made within it.
But why Sirumi specifically hosts the meeting of the Guardians of the Universe?
Firstly, because it is the land that witnessed the first cosmic battle—an event whose echoes still resonate throughout the galaxy.
Secondly, thanks to the abilities of its leader, it is the only place where the leaders can gather away from the effects of high heat, extreme cold, and fierce winds.
And finally... because Sirumi is not just a place; it is a symbol of the memories that bind them.
Near the Red Center, all the leaders gathered, far from worries and problems. Here, only faint laughter reflecting their deep friendship could be heard, reviving memories of battles past and unforgettable reunions.
In those moments, the Fourteen Brothers, as they called themselves, formed a single shield to protect their Sun. They were a symbol of unity despite the distances separating them, battling loneliness together, and sharing the promise to protect the universe at any cost.
"Hah, man! We've fought many battles in this cosmic year. What would you have done if I wasn't around?" Mercury said boastfully.
Haumea, or perhaps it was Eris, retorted sharply:
"Excuse me? What exactly did you do in these battles? You don't stick to the plans we make, and we always have to save you!"
Power... or maybe Ceres laughed loudly, saying:
"Hahaha, take it easy. We all know Mercury and his impulsiveness—no need to shout. Also, since I'm the best here, you're all under my protection."
"Huh??" everyone responded in astonishment, while Uranus added disapprovingly:
"What are you talking about? Since when are you the best among us?"
Earth intervened, cutting off the discussion loudly:
"Everyone here knows I'm the best leader, and my planet is the most beauti—"
[ He's right ]
Before he could finish, Jupiter interrupted him, his wide smile vanishing:
"Hold on, hold on. The title of strongest and best belongs to the largest planet in the solar system."
Saturn whispered, trying to respond:
"I... I... am..." but his voice faded under the pressure of the discussion.
Suddenly, an angry voice from the owner of the red attire, Mars, and the sharp-tongued Venus interrupted them, shouting:
"Hey! Who gave you the right to judge these matters?!"
Amidst the clamor of talk and bickering, a firm voice shouted:
"Enough!"
It was Neptune's voice. He looked at them all with a gaze determined to solve problems and said firmly:
"Let's have a contest then."
[ Wait, does he really want to solve problems?! ]
Silence fell, and everyone was surprised by the suggestion, seeming to reject it... until they all shouted in unison:
"Yeees!"
Supporting this madman's idea.
The latter smiled and continued:
"A contest to determine the best in all aspects: who is the most beautiful, who is the smartest, whose planet is the most beautiful, and of course... who is the strongest. We will hold it one cosmic year from now, meaning after a hundred Kai, we will be ready for the greatest event in the universe."
Everyone nodded in agreement. The silence was broken by a faint voice—it was Saturn who said hesitantly:
"But... I don't want this contest to divide us. Why."
Everyone looked at him, then exchanged smiles.
Jupiter said calmly, placing his hand on the shoulder of his friend sitting beside him:
"Let's make a pact then. Whatever happens, we will stay together. This universe cannot bear our foolishness or our separation."
Silence fell before the leaders' eyes met—filled with determination and mutual respect.
Earth added firmly:
"Let it be a covenant between us. Whatever we face, we will never part. We will remain the guardians of the universe, and our dignity is tied to protecting this solar system forever."
Voices of support rose from everyone, and the covenant was made amidst an atmosphere full of hope, determined to face whatever fate awaited them.
———⟡ ☽ ⟡———
In the deep darkness of the room, barely penetrated by light, Pluto sat on his worn-out chair. The air was heavy, and the atmosphere saturated with a calm that hid an internal storm. He ran his hand nervously through his tangled hair, his eyes gleaming with suppressed anger.
He began talking to himself, in a low voice but filled with rage:
"How dare he betray me?! After everything I did for him, this is my reward?! What a scoundrel... No, what scoundrels! I won't let them get away with their heinous act. I'll make them pay the price... Every single one of them will regret it, bitterly."
From the corner of the room, a calm voice broke the silence—a familiar voice, but full of hesitation. It was the voice of Charon, his first moon:
"Alright, Leader... I know how wrong they were to you, and I know how much their decision hurts you, but..."
Pluto ignored him as if the words hadn't reached his ears. He suddenly stood up and began pacing the room with heavy steps. He raised his hands to his head and screamed with even greater anger, as if the silence was suffocating him:
"This will not pass unnoticed! I'll show them who I really am. They won't find peace; they'll wish they were never created! I'll take revenge on them... I'll take the most terrible revenge on them."
Charon watched silently, before saying in a tone he tried to keep steady:
"Okay... I understand how you feel, but let's take this seriously now. The idea of freezing the Sun? Are you sure?"
Pluto returned to his chair as if his energy had been drained by anger. He put his head in his hands and took a deep breath before whispering, as if talking to himself:
"I was the friend to them that I wished for myself... but they were the friend to me that I wouldn't wish upon my enemy."
Then he looked at his moon, asking:
"Charon, am I... am I really weak?"
Charon froze in place, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Then his expression changed, and anger was evident in his voice as he replied forcefully:
"Weak?! I've known you for over thirty million cosmic years. Every Kai of those, I saw you as a great leader, a true role model. You were more than just a leader... you were my friend."
Pluto raised his eyes, surprised by the words:
"Your role model?"
"Yes, do you know why? Because you are the only one who, no matter how life turned its back on you, you stood up and showed it your resolve. You handled matters with firmness. But now... what do I see? Someone doubting himself because of a group of hypocrites? This is not the Pluto I know."
Pluto fell silent, then lowered his head. His eyes were lost as if delving into the depths of his memories.
"You are wonderful... You truly are my role model. Okay, none of that matters as long as I'm with you... My name will be like yours then."
"L... Lord Pluto, can you hear me?" Charon said with a worried tone.
Pluto suddenly snapped out of his reverie upon hearing this, as if remembering something important. No, rather, memories of the distant past took control. This exact situation always repeated in Pluto's mind.
Before his eyes could gleam with a hint of hope, he looked at Charon and said with a small smile:
"You are wonderful, Charon... You have always been my support."
Charon replied with a smile on his face, covered in scars telling tales of unforgettable battles:
"I am always by your side, but we must focus now. We need a solid plan. And I promise you, the results will not be disappointing."
Pluto stood up, this time with firmness and calm, as if the spark of his revenge had turned into a cold fire—not burning, but threatening to explode:
"Fate did not make you my first moon for nothing. None of them will escape. I will be their merciless nightmare."
Charon smiled confidently and replied to his leader:
"And I am the first to support you. But... can we do it with just us and the other moons? Don't we need allies to increase the success rate of our plans?"
Pluto smiled slyly, changed his sitting position, leaning back before answering with a challenging tone:
"I thought of that before you, Charon. We cannot face those scoundrels alone. And for that reason... I invited someone who will help us... Oh, he has already arrived..."
Charon looked surprised but turned when he heard approaching footsteps. Nix, Pluto's second moon, appeared at the door and said calmly:
"He has arrived... Please enter."
Charon whispered in surprise, as if seeing a familiar face:
"You?"
The atmosphere froze, and a heavy silence fell—broken only by steady, confident footsteps, their echo reverberating through the room like the pulse of approaching danger.
They were not just steps, but a silent announcement of the arrival of a person who should not be underestimated.
The eyes followed towards the entrance with muffled anxiety, as if there were a hand subtle pushes them to look, as if the approaching shadow from beyond forced their attention… and now, he finally appeared…
A mysterious smile adorned his features, but it did not bring reassurance… rather, a disturbing sense of unease. His gaze pierced through the silence like a dagger through fragile fabric… He wasn't looking at everyone—he was searching for one person only..
His eyes met Pluto's for the first time; nothing else existed in the world anymore. There was no sound, no motion. Even time itself bowed between them.
Then, in a deep and steady voice, laced with a murmur of confidence and mystery, he said:
"Greetings, everyone. I hope our alliance marks the beginning of something… greater."
And the one who said that… was Unknown.
So what is the truth behind this unknown?
— End of Chapter —