STARS IN THE MAKING

Inside the healing chambers of the station, doctors work tirelessly to save Boa's life. His body is riddled with wounds, his hand mangled, and his stomach wound deep.

In a separate room, Crank, Hank, Yunbam, and Jen wait in tense silence. The air is heavy with anticipation, each second feeling longer than the last. Then, the door finally opens, and a doctor steps out.

"Boa is going to survive," the doctor announces. "But he'll need at least a week to recover."

A wave of relief washes over them. They exhale the breath they didn't even realize they were holding. Without another word, they exit the station and are immediately met with a large crowd—officers and prisoners alike, all waiting anxiously for the news.

Hank steps forward, his voice carrying through the station. "He's alive."

The crowd erupts in relief. Some cheer, some simply nod, reassured that Boa has made it through. They don't celebrate for long, though—there's still work to be done. The moment of relief quickly transitions back into movement as everyone returns to their respective tasks.

As they watch the prisoners and officers get back to work, Yunbam turns to the others. "Now what are we supposed to do?"

Jen relaxes on a bench. "We'll wait until Boa is better."

Crank exhales sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "After all that work, we're back at square one again."

They turn their attention to the blocked pathway in the distance, where many prisoners are already digging through the debris.

Hank suddenly presses a button, and a faint beep echoes through the air as all of their collars deactivate.

Hank looks at Crank. "Crank, you're a free man. You don't have to work here anymore."

Crank grips a pickaxe, his gaze lingering on the others before he smirks. "Then consider me a guest. I've got work to do. The rest of the brothers here deserve to have it easier."

Without another word, Crank strides toward the long pathway, joining the other prisoners in digging through the rubble.

On the fifth day, Boa awakens. His body still aches, the wounds still fresh, but his resolve burns hotter than ever. He doesn't wait for clearance from the doctors. Instead, he slips away before anyone can notice.

It isn't long before Yunbam and Jen hear from the doctors that Boa is missing from his room. Without hesitation, they begin their search, following every lead until they finally arrive at the warden's office—and find Boa in a heated argument with the warden.

Boa's voice is sharp with frustration.

"You weren't there. I was. And we're no match for that black mask guy. If we keep pushing, he'll kill everyone just to protect whatever secrets he's hiding."

The warden's expression hardens.

"We are owned by the nobles, Boa. We have to follow orders. They don't care how many prisoners or officers die in here. If I disobey, they'll come after me—and I have a family to support. I can't risk that. Besides, they'll just replace me and continue digging these mines."

Boa takes a deep breath. "For fuck's sake, the nobles are doing whatever they want! What happens when all of your officers or prisoners dies because of that man? What then?!"

The warden scoffs. "The nobles will always find a way. The slummers are always committing crimes, so this system won't end any time soon."

Boa steps closer, his presence almost overpowering.

"Then do whatever that is in your power to slow down the process. These people may be criminals, but they deserve a better death than being ripped apart by data creatures! You do your part, and I'll do mine."

The warden narrows his eyes. "And what exactly is your part, Boa?"

Boa takes a breath, then declares:

"I'll win the Star Games and become a god. Then I'll come back and fix everything. I know it sounds unbelievable, but you'll have to trust me. I'll win."

Without waiting for a response, Boa turns and leaves the station. 

He finds Crank still digging tirelessly at the debris, his determination unwavering. Boa steps beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It's time to go, Crank."

Crank pauses, his grip tightening on his pickaxe. "You sure about this?"

Boa nods, his gaze unwavering. "Once I win the Star Games, I'll change everything for the better."

A hush falls over the prisoners around them. Slowly, one by one, they bow—not out of fear, but out of belief.

Boa's voice carries across the crowd.

"Don't lose hope. I may have lost honor that day, but I will redeem myself. And once I become a god, I will create the perfect world for you all—one where crimes don't need to be committed anymore."

Meanwhile in the floating city, Oasis, within the towering city building, the air hums with the sound of clashing swords and distorted digital echoes.

Ortis moves like a phantom, cutting down digital knights with precise, effortless strikes. Each enemy vanishes into glowing fragments the moment his blade meets them. The simulation finally ends, leaving Ortis standing among a field of dissipating light. His breathing is steady—not a single wasted movement.

As the simulation fades, a butler steps forward from the entrance of the chamber, his hands neatly folded behind his back.

"Sir Ortis, your pawn team has been established."

Ortis turns around, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"That's good." He pauses, then continues, "There's a change in the course of my plan."

Intrigued, the butler ask. "Why the change of mind, sir?"

Ortis steps forward, walking past the butler as if already lost in thought. "Because I know I am not capable of winning the Star Games."

The butler raises an eyebrow, surprised by his master's admission.

"Only Lady Gaia can do it," Ortis continues, his voice sharp with conviction. "But she has heavy competition. Lars and Gilga are both higher-ranked nobles, and they have far more resources than most. If anyone deserves to win, it's her."

Moments later, the cyber road hums beneath Ortis's high-tech car, neon lights reflecting off its sleek metallic frame. As he pulls up to the towering city building, a massive holographic sign glows above the entrance:

"Frostsilver"

Ortis steps out, his coat catching the glow of nearby holo-billboards. With smooth, calculated steps, he enters the building and approaches the front desk—an elegant, humanoid robot with glowing blue eyes.

"I'm here to visit Lady Gaia," Ortis states.

The robot adjusts the lens in it's eyes, processing the request. "Are you here for the party too?"

Ortis blinks, caught slightly off guard. A party? He wasn't informed of one. "...Yes, I am," he replies smoothly. "A late celebration, since we were in the same server during the noble trial."

The robot's eyes flash for a moment as it scans Ortis. "I've notified Lady Gaia, and she has approved your arrival. Please proceed to elevator 14 and press the Gaia button to reach her floor."

Ortis nods, making his way to elevator 14. As he steps inside, his gaze scans the panel of buttons. Among them, one stands out—a button with Gaia's face imprinted on it.

He smirks slightly, pressing it.

A moment of silence passes before a faint melody drifts through the elevator, growing clearer as the doors slide open.

Music.

As Ortis steps into the hallway, the sound becomes more vibrant—a smooth, enchanting voice carrying through the air. He walks down the long corridor, guided by the song, until he reaches an enormous set of doors.

The doors open automatically, revealing a stunning scene:

Gaia, standing on a digital stage, bathed in a radiant blue and gold lights.

She sings with effortless grace, her voice weaving through the room like a soft but powerful current. Around the stage, countless expression emojis float in the air—hearts, stars, smiling faces—reacting to her performance in real-time.

Ortis steps further in, his sharp gaze scanning the area until he notices a familiar figure seated to the side—Rose Diamondfuel.

She lounges in a chair, elegantly sipping tea from a glass cup embedded with glowing circuits. Catching sight of Ortis, she gives him a small wave.

Ortis walks over and takes a seat beside her, eyes still locked on the stage.

Rose smirks, placing her cup down gently. "Enjoying the show?"

Ortis leans back slightly, a small smile forming. "Looks like I walked into something interesting."

Rose swirls her tea cup slowly, watching Gaia sing. "Yeah, she's been doing this ever since the end of the noble trials."

Ortis furrows his brows. "What? Shouldn't she be focusing on training her mind and body before the Star Games?"

Rose leans back into her seat, exhaling in amusement. "Yeah, I asked her that too. But she told me that a long, good break is also important for the brain. Since she's one of those people that can ultra-think at lightning speed, she doesn't see it as slacking off."

Ortis crosses his arms, still not fully convinced. "Hm… I guess if I had ultra-thinking like Lady Gaia, maybe I'd understand it more." He then shifts his gaze toward Rose. "But besides that, why are you here?"

Rose smirks, placing her tea down. "Same reason as you. You're here to join Lady Gaia's team, aren't you?"

Ortis's eyes widen slightly before he lets out a small chuckle. "Hmph, you guessed correctly." He tilts his head in curiosity. "Well, my reason is obvious, but yours? It's a little different. Why join Lady Gaia when you're already ranked number four?"

Rose shrugs casually. "Because there's a massive gap between the 4th rank and the top three. And after analyzing all of them, I realized that joining Lady Gaia would be more… entertaining." She grins. "Lars and Gilga's teams are just too big—too structured. It'd be way too boring."

Ortis nods slowly, taking in her reasoning. "So, you'd rather have fun than just brute-force your way to the top."

Rose smirks. "Exactly, because during my time in the noble trial, being all serious and at top of your game can be tiresome and I barely made it out of the trial. So Lady Gaia can do all of the hard thinking work while I'll support her the whole way through with whatever she's lacking."

Gaia finishes her performance with a breathtaking high note, sending chills down the spines of Ortis and Rose. The stage erupts with digital effects—glowing emojis and virtual applause filling the air.

Gaia steps forward, her voice carrying over the music. "We have guests tonight! Welcome my loyal noble friend, who I worked with during the noble trials—Ortis Goldenbell!"

Suddenly, Ortis's chair moves on its own, sliding him onto the stage with a spotlight shining directly onto him. He adjusts his coat and waves with a smirk as more animated emojis flutter around the scene.

Gaia continues, "And another guest—the number four ranked noble, Rose Diamondfuel!"

Rose's chair follows, gliding onto the stage in sync. She chuckles as she elegantly waves, receiving just as much digital applause.

Gaia grins mischievously. "Now, to send you all off… we'll dance for you!"

A massive disco ball materializes above them, casting colorful lights across the stage. Ortis and Rose suddenly feel themselves being lifted from their seats by the stage's gravity manipulators. Gaia starts moving to the rhythm, dancing between them. Ortis, caught off guard for only a moment, quickly joins in, showing off sharp, practiced moves. Rose laughs, deciding to do the silliest dance she can think of, twirling in exaggerated circles.

The three dance and enjoy the moment as the camera drones capture every second of the performance. Then, with a final twirl, the camera in front of them powers down.

Gaia claps her hands. "The party has just started!"

The music continues, drinks are poured, and for the next few hours, they revel in the carefree atmosphere.

Later that night…

The three stand by the massive glass window of Gaia's penthouse, gazing at the towering holographic countdown displayed on a nearby skyscraper. The Star Games timer flickers brightly—182 days remaining.

A moment of silence lingers before Gaia speaks. "You two are joining my team, knowing there can only be one Star winner… Are you sure this is the path you guys want to take?"

Ortis doesn't hesitate. He leans against the glass, his reflection staring back at him. "I don't care if I die, as long as you win, I'll be happy about it. Consider me as another pawn of yours—but better." He winks playfully, earning a side-eye from Gaia.

Rose, sipping on her drink, takes a different approach. "Well, for me, I do want to win. But it'd be easier if we work together as equals until the final stage. Then we can have our fair fight against each other."

Gaia laughs, eyes shining with excitement. "That actually sounds fun. If we work together, Lars and Gilga are in for it. Plus, with someone as smart as you on the team, Rose, that's less brainpower I have to use!"

Rose smiles, and they exchange an enthusiastic high-five.

Meanwhile, Ortis watches from the side, feeling momentarily left out. He chuckles to himself before downing another drink. 

Meanwhile, deep within Black Paradise, a high-tech healing pod hisses open, releasing a cool mist into the dimly lit chamber. Nox steps forward, his body fully restored, his movements fluid and effortless. He raises a hand, summoning digital clothing that materializes around him—a flowing black coat with glowing neon circuitry woven through its fibers.

Before him, Susan, a radiant digital entity, appears in the air, her holographic body flickering with shifting data streams. 

"King Nox, that battle should have been 120% easier if you had fought more seriously," she states in a precise, calculated tone.

Nox stretches his fingers, flexing them like he's getting used to his body again. "Susan, you wouldn't understand. Being human means wanting to have fun—feeling the blood rush, the thrill of pain, and giving the underdogs a chance. That's what makes it exciting."

Susan's glowing eyes narrow slightly. "I see. But such emotions should not interfere in the Star Games. If you prioritize entertainment over efficiency, Project Universe's success rate will drop by 43%."

Nox sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah, bad habits. I get it. I'll be sharper when it really matters." His lips curl into a smirk. "Now… have you assembled my team? The one with the highest probability of winning?"

Susan waves her hand, summoning a vast digital screen in the air. Planets flicker into view, each one marked with a series of data points. Their surfaces shift, revealing portraits of potential Star competitors.

Nox steps forward, analyzing the selection. His fingers hover over two planets before pressing down. Planet Silva and Planet Isha glow brighter, their images enlarging.

"These two hold the most potential Stars that can win the Star Games," he murmurs, studying the candidates.

His eyes scan Planet Silva, noting the varied warriors and elites. Then, he turns his attention to Planet Isha, where only six figures appear on the screen:

Boa – The fierce underdog leader with an unbreakable will and honor.

Kayle – A masked enigma, hiding more than just her face, who is very skilled and is the top student of the Star university.

Tomi – An ex-Star player from the previous game who made it to the final stage.

Gaia – A master strategist, her mind working at inhuman speeds.

Lars – A high-ranked noble with seemingly unlimited resources and has high combat power.

Gilga – A powerhouse, Skilled in all aspects, feared by many and underestimated by none, most likely to win the Star games.

Nox leans in, a spark of intrigue in his eyes. He slowly grins.

"I wonder who will be the chosen one."

The screen pulses, data shifting as fate begins to take shape. The countdown to the Star Games continues.