A month of travel in Dante's ship passed like a slow breath.

We were spread out in the central hall now—me, Primus and his daughter Lara, North, and Steve. My summons had already returned to the core, leaving the ship quiet for the first time in a long while. The only constant sounds were the soft hum of the engines and the gentle vibration of the long-range travel systems shifting through folds of space.

All of us wore the same black robes Dante had designed. A small gear-shaped emblem rested on the left of our chests. Simple, clean, and easy to move in.

North stood near the main window, arms folded, watching the river of stars rushing past. She glanced toward Primus.

"Primus, are you sure we're going to the right place?" she asked.

Primus looked offended that she even asked the question. He sat with one leg over the other, tapping the armrest of his chair with a bored expression.

"Of course we are," he replied. "This is the best way forward. Also, Shenzhou is a perfect first stop for your introduction to galactic civilization."

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. "It still feels strange. One month of travel and we haven't seen a single living being outside this ship."

"You'll see plenty soon enough," Primus said with a small smile. "And trust me, you won't forget the sight."

Steve adjusted his hair. "You're talking like it's some kind of grand event."

"It is," Primus replied. "Shenzhou isn't just any planet. It's a trade hub, a transit world, a neutral point. Merchants, criminals, soldiers, smugglers and what not, everyone passes through Shenzhou at some point. Money flows there like rivers. Laws too. The whole place has its own order… one that outsiders must follow."

I leaned back in my seat. "We're lucky Dante had the coordinates stored. Otherwise, we would've taken twice the time to reach it."

Primus nodded. "Your friend traveled far more than I ever expected. That ship's memory banks have routes to places even I haven't visited."

North turned toward me. "He really went all over the galaxy, didn't he?"

I nodded. "Yeah. It's not surprising he knew Shenzhou too."

Primus clapped his hands together once. "Anyway. Before we arrive, all of you need to prepare yourselves. You will see many races there, and none of them will be human. Some will look strange to you. Some will look dangerous. Don't stare too much. Don't react. Just walk normally and follow me."

Lara, sitting quietly beside her father, hugged her cloak a little tighter.

"Will there be… hostile people?" she asked softly.

Primus gave her a reassuring smile. "Not openly. Shenzhou is neutral ground. Causing trouble there means making enemies with powerful groups. People behave. Mostly."

North exhaled long. "This is really going to be our first step into the larger universe…"

"It is," Primus agreed. "And you must remember, power works differently out there. And Transcendents don't walk around casually like they're shopping. If a rumor spreads that a human Transcendent arrived out of nowhere…" He looked at me. "It won't remain quiet."

"Understood," I said.

"So," Primus continued, pointing toward the black cloaks neatly folded and kept on the console, "everyone needs to wear the cloaks we discussed. Especially you, Billion. Hide yourself properly. Keep your head covered, and don't show any part of your aura."

Steve raised an eyebrow. "This serious?"

"Yes," Primus replied. "Especially on Shenzhou. Even a rumor can bring attention from groups you don't want near you."

We all put on the long black cloaks. They were thick, hooded, and concealed our bodies completely, especially with the robes underneath. Once the hood fell, even our silhouettes were hard to identify.

North ran a hand over the fabric. "Feels strange hiding like this."

"Better safe than sorry," Primus said.

A soft chiming noise filled the room, the ship announcing the end of the long-range jump.

We moved to the front view panel at the same time.

The darkness outside rippled once… then unfolded.

And Shenzhou appeared.

A huge planet filled our view, easily twice the size of Vaythos. From space, it looked like a glowing sphere of dark blue and silver. Wide stretches of metallic cities covered its continents, their lights forming steady lines like veins across its surface.

A single giant ring circled the planet in a smooth loop, rotating slowly. It wasn't just a structure, it was a full station, with rows of docking arms, platforms, and glowing windows stretching around its entire circumference.

Streams of Essence drifted toward the planet, drawn in from the surrounding space. They wrapped around the world like gentle mist, disappearing into the urban glow below.

And everywhere around us, ships moved.

Small triangular fliers zipped between lanes. Larger ones glided slowly, engines humming with bright cores. Patrol crafts patrolled the outer orbit, their lights blinking in steady rhythm.

Steve let out a breath. "Whoa."

North stared in open surprise. "This… this is magnificent."

Primus smiled with folded arms. "Welcome to Shenzhou."

The ship drifted closer, following the automated travel lane. Within minutes, a squad of four patrol drones appeared, sleek, silver, disk-shaped machines glowing with blue light.

"They'll scan us first," Primus said casually.

A beam washed over Dante's ship. The main panel blinked and displayed:

[SCANNING COMPLETE]

[NO THREATS DETECTED]

[PASSAGE PERMITTED]

The drones rotated away and vanished into the traffic.

Primus smirked. "Good thing we didn't bring the Feran ship. That thing has a giant signature of a Transcendent battle unit. We would've been flagged as a walking bomb."

Steve chuckled. "Yeah… probably for the best."

The ship angled downward toward one of the docking stations. From outside, the docking ring looked like a vast metallic crown floating above the planet. Hundreds of platforms extended outward like petals, each holding transport ships of all sizes.

We descended slowly, merging into an empty slot marked by blue guiding lines. The floor sealed beneath us as the hull connected to the station.

A soft thud echoed through the ship.

"We're here," Primus announced, standing and adjusting his hood. "Everyone stay close. Don't talk unless needed. Once we exit the ship, follow me and don't get separated."

Steve pulled his hood forward. "Finally… we're really here."

North exhaled slowly, her eyes forward, steady but full of quiet excitement.

And I pulled my hood up as well.

The ship locked into one of the docking bays with a soft clang. Blue lights swept over the hull, scanning it, and a small machine floated toward us. It looked like a metal cube with wings. A thin screen extended from its side.

"Docking complete," it chirped. "Parking Duration: 48 hours."

A small hexagonal token slid out.

Primus grabbed it. "Parking ticket," he said. "Don't lose it."

We stepped out of the ship, cloaks drawn. The walkway ahead led toward a wide hall filled with moving crowds. The place was massive, metal floors, tall transparent walls showing the curve of the ring, and dozens of floating machines guiding arriving travelers.

Primus pointed ahead. "There. Lift pods to the surface."

A huge round platform waited, with a giant cylinder standing in the center. When its doors opened, waves of people stepped out then another flow stepped in.

We joined the line.

Inside the pod, the space was enormous. Tiered floors, railings, and clear glass walls gave a full view of space. At least five hundred beings were crammed inside.

And the races…Demons with curved horns. Aqua folk with shimmering scales. Insectoid with glowing shells. Ferans in their hybrid forms. Tall nagas wrapped in layered armor. Many wore hooded cloaks like us.

Voices murmured around us, languages mixing and overlapping.

The pod sealed with a deep hum.

"Brace," Primus said.

Light flashed and then the entire pod shot downward, leaving the ring behind. Dozens of pods could be seen speeding up and down along shining rails, forming bright lines between the ring and the planet.

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