2025 November 12, 7:52

  Deep Cavern, Avarita

  The ground rumbled. Cracks formed in the earth. A massive robotic hand made of obsidian burst out of the ground, followed by an enormous obsidian drill, both attached to golden arms. A golden head popped through, shaped like a goat’s, but with an extra eye in the center. The machine rose from the cracks in the ground, towering above them, its size barely fitting inside the cavern.

  The machine reached down and picked up Julius. Julius pointed down at Mr. Moon. “Behold the fruits of my labor—the Administrator!”

  A hatch opened in the machine’s chest. The Administrator dropped Julius inside and closed the hatch. The machine stood over them, its presence making the group appear insignificant. Several miners evacuated the cavern, dropping ores and abandoning machines.

  Mr. Moon dashed forward. “Watch yourselves!”

  The Administrator swung down at Moon with its massive fist. Mr. Moon stepped to the side. The massive hand crashed down, shattering the ground beneath it, missing Moon by an inch. Mr. Moon struck his umbrella at the hand. His blade bounced off, discharging red sparks.

  Briar raised his two revolvers. He shot several times at the Administrator. The bullets did nothing against the machine.

  Euri rushed forward. The Administrator lifted up its hand and slammed it down. Euri leaped up several meters into the air. The hand slammed down beneath her. She landed on top of its fist and sprinted forward, running up the right arm. The Administrator swung its right arm. The force flung Euri off it.

  Euri fell through the air. She clanked her boots against each other. Their soles shined purple. Her rate of descent rapidly decreased as she reached the ground, landing softly.

  Julius’s voice pulsated from the Administrator’s eye. “Crush these insignificant insects!”

  The Administrator raised its foot. It slammed down toward Euri and Briar. Briar quickly turned to run, but before he could even move, Euri grabbed his arm. She ran, pulling him behind herself. The massive boot stomped, spreading dust around the cavern.

  “Just proving my point earlier, don’t mind me,” Euri teased before running off.

  Briar sighed before raising his gun and continuing to fire at the Administrator. Euri dashed to its leg. She wound up her hand before striking the foot. Her punch only managed to leave a small dent in its boot. Euri continued to strike, punch after punch into the Administrator’s leg.

  The Administrator reached down toward her. Euri was too distracted from attacking the machine.

  Mr. Moon yelled, “Euri! Move!”

  Euri looked up toward the hand, but it was too late. The Administrator grabbed and picked her up. It opened its mouth, revealing a set of jagged, silver teeth. It moved Euri toward its mouth.

  Mr. Moon raised his hand and waved. “Julia, strike!”

  The sound of a train horn blared. The train to the subspace highway phased through the wall, immediately crashing into the head of the Administrator. The Administrator stumbled, its hand opening and releasing Euri. Julius gasped as it hit him.

  The subspace highway train turned, soaring through the air. It flew underneath Euri, catching her on its roof. The Administrator regained its balance and struck its massive drill at the train. The train dived down, avoiding the drill. Euri grabbed onto the train’s roof. The train landed on the ground, and Euri hopped off. It immediately flew upward, bolting toward the Administrator.

  The machine reached out its hand. it grabs the front of the train causing the entire machine to slide back. The Administrator grips the train before slamming it to the ground. The ground shook and the metal around the train’s front bent. The train horn roared upon impact sounding like dying scream. The machine lowered its drill while holding the train in place. The drill started spinning before digging into the train’s roof, clashing against the train’s surface, sending red-hot sparks off of it and piercing into the train.

  “Retreat! You’ve helped more than enough!” Mr. Moon commanded. “Return to the highway!”

  The train horn blared. It phased through the machine’s grip and zoomed up into the roof of the building, phasing through the cavern’s ceiling.

  Julius grumbled. “Enough of this! You are all nothing to me, just worthless bugs who mess with the farm! I'll end you. Administrator—leave no trace!”

  The Administrator opened its mouth as wide as possible. A purple glow began to emanate from its mouth, growing brighter and more vibrant. A purple vortex began to build up in its throat.

  Julius yelled, “THAT’S RIGHT! I WIN!”

  Briar looked at the Administrator’s open mouth. “Mr. Moon, I don’t think that’s a good sign.”

  “Working on it.” Mr. Moon pulled out a blue cube similar to the ones he used on Aira. It glowed and pulsated in his hand. He dropped it on the ground, and it expanded, surrounding them.

  The Administrator leaned forward. A bright beam of purple lightning shot out of its mouth. It collided with the cube, causing a visible shockwave that knocked over machinery and broke lights, leaving the area completely in darkness. The ground shook and cracked, and stalactites fell from the top of the cavern as if the whole area was about to collapse. White glowing cracks began forming inside the cube from the massive surge of energy.

  Mr. Moon looked back toward the exit, then at the breaking cube. “We need to go. This place won’t last much longer nor will this sheild”

  “Really? We barely beat this guy,” Euri complained.

  The cube cracked again, making a sharp snapping noise. Euri jumped at the sound. “On second thought… great idea, Moon.”

  “What about the Skuttle Bugs?” Briar pointed at the Administrator. “Isn’t that why we're fighting?”

  “We have to leave! This cave can’t handle this.” Mr. Moon opened up a small doorway through the back of the cube. “We can only hope that he hasn’t caused too much damage!”

  The three rushed out the doorway and toward the cavern’s exit. The cube shattered behind them. The beam hit the ground, sending rocks and dust flying at bullet speed.

  They ran up the stairs as rocks and gemstones fell from the ceiling. The exit of the cave was in sight. Behind them, they heard Julius yelling, “How dare you! How dare you!”

  The three ran out of the cave into the vast fields. They looked back at the mountain behind them. The mountain cracked and rumbled. The massive mound of land shattered into pieces, toppling over.

  For a moment, there was silence.

  Briar sighed in relief. “Phobos was right. You really are a death bait, Mr. Moon.”

  Euri looked at the destroyed mountain. “No way he survived. Shame. I really wanted to crush that machine.”

  “I can second that,” Mr. Moon added. “That greedy madman makes me sick.”

  “Yeah, I get revenge and all, but we couldn’t even damage him,” Briar objected, catching his breath. “We’re lucky, aren’t we?”

  The ground rumbled—then shook violently. Briar’s eyes moved toward the mountain. The rubble began to tremble. Suddenly, a drill burst out of the destroyed mountain. Laughter echoed through the air.

  “You really think you’re done? That is adorable!”

  All at once, the Administrator burst out of the rubble, sending debris flying far away. It stood tall, its head scraping the sky. It loomed above them.

  The Administrator pointed at Mr. Moon. “Congratulations! You pissed me off! Your prize? Dying by my hand!”

  Briar fretted. “Why… how is he still alive?”

  Euri clasped her fists together. “Alright! That’s what I was hoping for!”

  Mr. Moon didn’t react. He brandished his umbrella and stared at the Administrator. Mr. Moon stepped in front of Euri and Briar.

  “Wisp, find a flaw. A weak point, a pattern, anything. We’ll distract it.”

  “Why me?! I barely understand this world!” Briar complained.

  Euri punched him on the shoulder. “Good luck, dude. Counting on you, Briar.”

  Briar looked up at the Administrator as Euri and Mr. Moon ran toward the machine. Briar watched as the two dodged attacks from the Administrator and fought back with attacks that did small, if not irrelevant, damage. The Administrator looked perfect to Briar, there was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. Briar bit his thumb. “Come on, think, Briar!”

  Euri tried to flank the Administrator from the left. The Administrator turned to face her before attacking. It suddenly clicked together. “That’s it! We haven’t seen the back of it!”

  If it wasn’t noticeable before, but the Administrator focused on ensuring they were all in front of him, Briar ran to the backside of the Administrator, watching it from afar. Underneath the back of its neck was a glowing purple crystal. Briar yelled to Mr. Moon, “I think I found a weak spot!”

  The Administrator suddenly turned to him. It ran towards him, each step big and impounding. Euri ran past the Administrator, reaching Briar first and grabbing him by the hand and pulling him away. She ran towards Mr. Moon, the Administrator behind them. Euri let go of Briar’s arm. Mr. Moon looked towards Briar. “What was it you found?”

  “There’s a purple crystal on its back,” Briar explained. “It keeps hiding it from us.”

  “Back, underneath his neck. I got it!” Euri darted towards the Administrator. The machine swung its hand down. Euri ran between its legs, avoiding the punch. She looked behind her and spotted the crystal. She smirked before clacking her feet together. She leaped an insane distance from the ground and reached for the crystal. Her jump failed to get high enough, she grunted and a frustrated expression hit her face. she descended back to the ground. The Administrator turned around and slammed down its drill. Euri leapt back, avoiding it as it drilled into the ground. She called out, “I can’t reach it. Any other ideas?”

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  Mr. Moon instructed, “Wisp, its back is turned!”

  “Heard you!” Briar responded. The two ran towards the Administrator. Before they could reach it, it turned around. Julius laughed. “Not a chance!”

  The Administrator slammed both its arms down at the ground towards Mr. Moon and Briar. Mr. Moon dashed away to the side. As the machine hit the ground, it sent Briar soaring into the sky. He rose up into the sky at an alarming rate. He suddenly started to descend, yelling as he fell, “Mr. Moon, Euri!”

  Briar closed his eyes and braced for impact against the ground. He landed, but not against the ground. Briar opened his eyes. He was in Euri’s arms. She sprinted, circling the Administrator. Euri smiled at him. “I told you I could lift you, light as a feather.”

  Briar looked into Euri’s eyes. Her smile was infectious. Briar froze as a red blush hit his cheeks. Euri flicked Briar in the forehead, holding him in one arm, bringing him back to his senses. “Could use some support fire.”

  “Oh yeah! Sorry, I was distracted!” Briar aimed his revolver at the Administrator. He quickly fired as many bullets at it as he could. Euri ran faster, circling the machine faster than it could turn. Euri spotted the crystal again. She giggled before calling out, “Hey, Moon, mind if I risk Briar’s life?”

  “Why are you asking him?!” Briar shouted. Mr. Moon answered, “Go for it!”

  Euri lifted Briar above her head with both hands. Briar wriggled and shook in her hands. “Hey, hey, hey! What are you planning?”

  “Don’t worry, you won’t even die that painfully,” Euri teased. “And if you live, it’d be awesome!”

  Euri threw Briar at the Administrator. Briar flew through the air, yelling as he darted towards the crystal like a bullet. He crashed against the back of the Administrator. Briar quickly clung onto the top of the crystal. The Administrator shook and scratched at it back. Julius yelled, “Get off of my machine, worm!”

  “Woo! Kick his ass, Briar!” Euri cheered. Briar looked at the surface of the crystal. It projected a purple energy. He raised his fist and slammed it into it. It formed a small crack. Electricity sparked out of the crack in the crystal.

  Julius roared, “Get off, get off, DON’T TOUCH ME!”

  The Administrator looked at the ground. Its mouth charged up another beam. Briar punched the crystal again and again. The crack got bigger with each and every punch. The vortex crackled in the machine’s mouth. Briar raised his hand and struck one last time. The crystal shattered, and he fell backward.

  Julius lashed out, “You freaks of nature! My machine!”

  The energy in the Administrator faded, and the machine began to fall over. Briar fell from the Administrator. A smile grew on his face as he saw it fall with him. There was only one difference.

  “I have someone to catch me.”

  Euri catches Briar. She places him on the ground. The two watch as the giant behemoth slowly crashes against the ground, making the colossal shockwave. Briar looked at the fallen machine. Euri suddenly hugged Briar. She yelped, “You did it! I'm so proud I could kiss you!”

  Euri tightly hugged Briar, barely allowing him to breathe. Briar’s entire face went a vibrant red. Mr. Moon walked up to them. “Good job, Wisp. I was smart to trust you.”

  Euri suddenly shoved Briar. “Moon, do we get to kill that guy now?”

  Mr. Moon nodded. He looked towards the machine. “Sure, if that fall didn’t kill him.”

  A hatch suddenly opened from the machine’s back. A golden egg-shaped pod shot up into the air. They heard Julius’s voice as it rose. “Enjoy your caves. I will not let this stand. I will have your heads, vermin!”

  Euri yelled, waving her fist in the air, “You coward! Come back and face us!”

  Mr. Moon nods, he looks towards the the machine “sure, if that fall didn’t kill him”

  A hatch suddenly opened from the machines back, a golden egg-shaped pod shot up into the air, they heard Julius voice as it rose “enjoy your caves, I will not let this stand. I will have your heads vermin! You have no idea the enemy you’ve made!”

  Euri yelled, waving his fist in the air “you coward! come back and face us!” Mr. Moon looked up at the pod as it became smaller in the sky. He sighed, dropping his umbrella to the ground. “I hope he learned his lesson, but I doubt it.”

  “I hope he doesn’t, that robot was cool,” Euri exclaimed. Briar looked back at the destroyed mountain and the gaping hole the Administrator left behind. “He destroyed the cave.”

  Mr. Moon looked back towards Briar. “It’s alright, the remaining Skuttle Bugs should be able to repair the damage dealt.”

  Euri interjected. “But how are we going to get that, uhm, uhm—”

  “The Nova,” Briar finished off Euri’s sentence. Euri nodded in response. Mr. Moon walked towards the fallen Administrator. He climbed up its leg and walked across it. Euri and Briar quickly followed him from behind. Mr. Moon walked towards the machine’s open hatch. Inside, there were several monitors as well as a chair in the shape of a throne. The room was covered in jewels and gemstones. The entire room was flipped on its side due to the Administrator falling, and many gemstones had crashed into the monitors, shattering their screens. Mr. Moon hopped inside. Euri peeked her head into the room. “Hey Moon! You didn’t answer my question.”

  Mr. Moon sorted through the several gemstones, tossing them behind him. Eventually, he gasped before turning back to Euri. In his hand was a cyan and transparent crystal. It had sharp edges and was in the shape of a triangle. Mr. Moon tossed it up to Euri. Euri caught it in one hand, looking at the gem with curiosity. Mr. Moon climbed out of the room. “There it is, a Nova crystal.”

  “Woah, this thing is beautiful!” Euri gasped. “And you’re going to waste it on what?”

  “I wouldn’t say waste. We need the information to find the Areneena,” Mr. Moon explained, taking the gem out of Euri’s hand. Briar caught up, peeking at the gem in Mr. Moon's hand. “Is that it? The Nova?”

  “No, it’s just a shiny gem he likes,” Euri responded sarcastically.

  Briar groaned. “I actually hate you, you know that?”

  “Love you too,” Euri teased. “Also Moon, you kind of just left your umbrella on the ground.”

  “Pardon?” Mr. Moon looked toward where he had dropped his umbrella. It was still there, lying on the ground. A surprised expression hit Mr. Moon’s face. He nervously smiled. “Julia should have taken it by now... Julia, I’m done with my umbrella.”

  The umbrella stayed on the grass. Mr. Moon waved his hand. The sound of a blaring train horn echoed through the sky. The Subspace Highway train soared down from the sky, landing next to the fallen machine. The front of the train was severely damaged. Mr. Moon quickly ran towards the train, holding his hand against its surface. “I see, you’re in no condition to teleport matter. I'll have to repair you.”

  Euri whispered to Briar. “So is the train like, alive, or...?”

  “How am I supposed to know?” Briar responded. “But he has a strong connection with it as far as I can tell.”

  The train’s horn screeched, making a noise like nails on a chalkboard. Mr. Moon looked back towards Briar and Euri. “We’ll be staying here a while longer. Julia... isn’t well. We can camp out inside of her until I'm done with the repairs.”

  “It is getting late,” Euri pointed out. “Guess we’re having a sleepover!”

  Briar huffed. “We have to sleep on a train? This is a new low for me.”

  “My apologies to you both but traveling would be too risky to use her to travel into the Subspace Highway,” Mr. Moon said.

  2025 November 12, 10:12

  Deep Cavern, Avarita

  Euri and Briar lay on the floor of the train, each covered by a thick white blanket. The two could hear the sounds of welding from Mr. Moon’s repairs to the train. Euri turned her body to face Briar. “Hey Briar, hey Briar, hey Briar!”

  “Yeah, Euri? How can I help you?” Briar said, staring blankly at the train’s ceiling.

  Euri chuckled. “Are all humans so droopy, or is it just you?”

  “Excuse me?” Briar responded, turning his head to look at Euri.

  Euri poked him in the forehead. “Loosen up a little. You’re on a magical quest, with a magical man, sleeping on a space train next to an alien girl on an alien planet... but you seem so closed off? You get me?”

  “I guess so,” Briar agreed. “To be honest, I still find it weird talking to you, Euri. You’re completely different. I know nothing about Plasmoids... I guess going from understanding everything to nothing threw me off.”

  “Then ask! Ask away as much as your stupid little head allows,” Euri smirked. “Then you’ll know everything.”

  Briar returned his gaze to the ceiling. “But what if the questioning upsets people? What if I piss people off?”

  “I'll never get mad at your questions,” Euri proclaimed. “And if anyone does, I'll beat them till they explain everything to you! That’s a promise!”

  “Thank you, Euri... Out of everyone I've met on this journey so far, you’re the one that makes me feel the most... at home.”

  “Aww, that means so much to me,” Euri chirped. “Now ask away, I’m bored!”

  Briar hesitated as many questions came to mind. Eventually, he asked, “Do you guys have organs?”

  “Just one.” Euri quickly grabbed one of Briar’s hands and placed it on her upper chest. Briar felt a warmth envelop his hand. Euri let go, allowing Briar to retract his hand. “It’s called a flavice, but I just call it a heart. It heats up our body, and we can control its temperature. If we make it hot enough, we turn into goo. It’s also vital for digestion and respiration.”

  “What’s your body made of for that to work?” Briar inquired.

  Euri pointed at her chest. “The flavice is made of water and resin, while our bodies are ninety percent water and ten percent gelatin. Wanna see a cool trick?”

  “Sure?” Briar reluctantly answered.

  Euri raised her other hand from the covers. “Poke my palm.”

  Briar raised his finger, reached forward, and touched her palm with his index finger. His finger sank into her palm, went straight through, and poked out the other side. Euri flashed a devilish smile before clenching her hand and bending Briar’s finger. Briar winced in pain before pulling his hand back. “What the hell?!”

  “Got you!” Euri gloated. “You really fell for that?”

  “Doesn’t that hurt?” Briar questioned.

  Euri poked Briar again. “Nope! We only feel pain when we’re fully solid. Becoming fully or semi-liquid causes our nervous system to stop working.”

  Briar opened his mouth to speak, but Euri stopped him. “My turn! Is it true that humans produce water when overheating?”

  “Did you just ask me if humans sweat?” Briar cringed. “That’s gross.”

  Euri punched Briar’s head. She yelled, “How dare you! I was trying to be nice! Never again! You idiot!”

  Euri continuously punched Briar, yelling random words and slurs.

  “I’m sorry! It’s just a weird question!” Briar begged. “Stop hitting me!”

  Mr. Moon stood outside of the train. The outside was pitch black, and he could barely see 10 feet in front of him. He heard Euri and Briar yelling from the inside. He chuckled to himself. “Those two... hopefully, they don’t kill each other. How are you, Julia?”

  Mr. Moon looked up at the train. Its horns blared softly, and it vibrated. Mr. Moon sighed. “That’s good news. We’ll leave in the morning.”

  Mr. Moon walked toward the entrance of the train. He tapped on the train’s walls. “Goodnight, sweet dreams.”

  2025, November 12, 10:10

  The Chordis, The Void of Space

  Several Arenenna crawled around the interior of the chordis. Its inside was vast and spacious. Its walls were made of black steel, and its floor was polished granite. A small portion of the Arenenna roamed around, twice the size of the original, with sharper teeth and an extra pair of sharp legs.

  A humanoid figure walked through the vast space of the chordis. They had sharp crimson skin and possessed a thin figure. They possessed four narrow, eclipse-shaped eyes that were pure white, and they had long, straight black hair that touched the ground. They donned a crimson puffy ballgown that touched the ground. Four spider legs stemmed out from her back and from beneath the dress.

  They walked toward a chair positioned in front of a massive, red-tinted window that showed the view from the Chordis’s eye. In the chair sat a humanoid similar to the first—crimson skin, four spider legs, and four pure white eyes. They had black scruffy hair. Their body was more built than the other and they wore a white long-sleeved shirt covered by a black mantle with ruffles, as well as long black suit pants.

  The Arenenna was barefoot, its legs crossed as it looked out the window. The Arenenna in the dress lifted their dress and bowed. Their voices were soft and gentle. “You called for me, Griffin. How may I assist you, my lord?”

  The Arenenna stood up. A menacing presence filled the room. They walked closer toward the window, placing their hands on the glass. He spoke diligently and with a sense of purpose. “What does it mean to survive, Anastasia?”

  “To live, I would assume,” the other responded, head still bowed.

  Griffin shook his head. “Incorrect. It is to thrive, to expand, to replicate. That is the purpose of life. Now, what do we do when our growth is being threatened?”

  “We adapt,” Anastasia answered. “Life finds a way.”

  “Nonsense! Nonsense!” Griffin chuckled, placing a hand on his face. “We eliminate the threat. The inquisitor informed me that we are being pursued by a man labeled ‘Mr. Moon.’ Do you know of him?”

  Anastasia shook her head. “I am afraid not, my lord.”

  Griffin scoffed. “I can’t trust that pest to do his job correctly, so you are to leave this ship and hunt him down. You are not to return until his blood coats your teeth. Do I make myself clear?”

  Anastasia raised her head. “But my lord, the younglings... I have to tend to them. Who will do the work while I’m away? I beg you to—”

  Griffin banged his fist against the glass. “Don’t question me! I am the one who makes the decisions here! Do as I say, not as I do! Now get out of my sight and don’t return until the problem is fixed!”

  Anastasia stood up and turned her back to Griffin. “I’ll do what I can, my lord. I will kill our predator.”

  “Don’t disappoint me,” Griffin said, returning to his seat. “I don’t take failures kindly.”