J stood frozen.
His body refused to move.
A massive eye stared directly at him—
unblinking.
Watching.
His breath grew uneven.
His voice came out strained.
"…Guys…"
"I think we just found something… insanely special."
Inside the spacecraft—
the timer began to slow.
Tick…
…tick…
...…
Until it stopped.
Completely.
Silence.
One by one—
they turned.
And saw it.
The eye.
Watching them.
Not moving.
Not blinking.
Not leaving.
Only three of them remained composed—
Loy.
Bee.
Ray.
Before anyone could react—
the eye moved.
Slowly.
Not closer—
but back.
As if…
it understood distance.
As if…
it didn't want to scare them too much.
Then—
it spoke.
Its voice was calm.
Friendly.
Too friendly.
"Hey… relax, little ones."
"Why are you so scared?"
A pause.
Not long—
but enough.
"I was just… curious."
"About what you are."
"That's all."
The silence returned—
heavier this time.
"Ah… I see."
"You're afraid."
A soft chuckle.
"Then I suppose I should introduce myself."
"If I remember correctly…"
"Beings like you would call me—"
"The Guide."
The eye shifted slightly.
Its presence didn't fade—
it only became… clearer.
"My kind resembles something you know."
"Snakes."
"Call it whatever you like."
"But 'Guide' will do."
Then—
something changed.
From nothing—
a massive arm manifested.
Dragon-like.
Covered in scales that reflected starlight.
It moved slowly—
deliberately—
as if it wanted to be seen.
"I am… somewhat superior compared to others of my kind."
A slight pause.
Not arrogance—
just a statement.
"Now then…"
"What are your names?"
"And why are you so small?"
"Is this your natural form?"
J and K were the first to break.
Fear—
turned into excitement.
"Are you seeing this?! That thing is HUGE!"
"Look at its body—it's full of stars! That's insane!"
Bee stepped forward.
Curiosity replaced hesitation.
"That's so cool… something that big… what do you even eat?"
Loy exhaled quietly.
No immediate danger.
That was enough.
He allowed himself a faint smile—
before turning back to the ship's systems.
Ray said nothing.
Not a word.
She simply took out her notebook—
and began sketching.
Carefully.
Every detail.
As if she didn't want to forget…
what she was seeing.
After introductions were exchanged—
the Guide moved again.
Its mouth opened—
slightly.
And from within—
it pulled something out.
A map.
But not a normal one.
It shifted.
Changed.
Reformed itself constantly—
as if space itself couldn't stay still.
"Alright."
"That's as far as my help goes."
"Take it."
"It will appear inside your ship."
A pause.
"And don't ask how."
Another small chuckle.
"You wouldn't understand anyway."
Then—
without warning—
it disappeared.
No light.
No sound.
No trace.
As if it had never existed.
The map appeared instantly—
on the ship's screen.
No delay.
No transition.
Just…
there.
The five of them looked at each other.
No one spoke.
But they all understood.
They had crossed something.
A line.
And there was no going back.
Their decision was made.
They would head toward—
the nearest planet.
To survive.
To explore.
To understand—
what was truly waiting for them…
out there.