Ch-1 In Unknown Space

In the depths of unknown space, amidst an endless field of asteroids, a massive spaceship lay dormant.

Its sleek hull shimmered faintly under the dim light of distant stars, unblemished and pristine as though it had just rolled off the assembly line. Within its vast interiors, countless humans remained suspended in an eerie slumber, motionless as if frozen in time.

The ship itself was a marvel of engineering, its structure flawless and untouched by the wear of travel or the scars of battle. It radiated an aura of untouched perfection, an enigma drifting silently in the void.

In the command center—a grand chamber lined with glimmering monitors and sophisticated control panels—a sudden disturbance broke the stillness.

A young man, clad in a uniform reminiscent of sharp military attire yet exuding an air of nobility, stirred to life. The pristine white fabric was adorned with intricate golden designs, perfectly fitted to his now muscular physique and in immaculate condition.

My eyelids fluttered open, only to squint against the faint glow of the surrounding consoles, which seemed to hum faintly as if in recognition of my awakening.

I gasped as the chill hit me, my breath condensing into small clouds in the frigid air. The cold was biting, a stark contrast to the warmth I last remembered—or at least the warmth I was used to.

"Before I could fully orient myself in this unusual yet strangely familiar space, a searing bolt of pain shot through my skull. I clutched my head, gritting my teeth against the agony.

'Ahh… what the hell is happening?' I muttered through clenched teeth, struggling to endure the pain.

Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the pain vanished.

'What the…?' I whispered, bewildered.

Disoriented, I looked around, half-expecting this to be a vivid dream or a hallucination. But when my fingers brushed against the metallic console beside me, and my gaze fell upon the command center's viewport revealing the ship's untouched hull and the vast asteroid field beyond, A wave of realization and familiarity washed over me.

"This… this can't be real," I murmured, his voice unsteady.

The ship was immaculate, its systems dormant but perfectly intact. I recognized the layout, the design—this was no ordinary spacecraft.

My heart raced as memories surfaced: late nights spent playing a space war game called Galactic Conquest. This ship, with its unblemished condition and impeccable design, was identical to my flagship in the game.

Confusion warred with disbelief as I tried to piece together how I'd come to be here.

I vaguely remembered the final moments before everything went black. I had been playing deep into the night—until 2 AM—completely immersed in the game, losing all sense of time as the battles grew intense. When I finally resurfaced hours later, I realized how late it was, but exhaustion had already overtaken me.

My eyelids were heavy, and my vision blurred from lack of sleep—though something else, something unknown, weighed on me as well. I had played these late countless times before, and in fact, I usually stayed awake this late without issue.

So it was indeed unusual. But since I couldn't quite think of any reason for it—I wasn't suffering from any kind of medical condition—I let it be before shutting down my computer.

I recalled the last words I had muttered: "Well, that... got out of hand." Then, I shut down my computer and stood up. But in the dimly lit room, my weary body betrayed me—I tripped. And then… nothing. As soon as I fell, darkness consumed me.

Now, I was awake, surrounded by a ship too perfect to be real—yet it was

Before I could delve further into my spiraling thoughts, a sharp ding echoed through the chamber. That caused me to freeze, the sudden sound jarring against the silence.

"Hello, Mister Kallus."

The voice was cold and mechanical, its precision cutting through my confusion. A holographic panel materialized before me, glowing blue and casting an ethereal light over my astonished face. my breath hitched as I stared at the projection, my thoughts racing.

'Who… who are you?' I managed to stammer, glancing around, my voice trembling.

The voice responded, calm and deliberate. "Master, you need not fear me. I am but a fragment of creation and this ships AI. You may call me Red Empress."

My mind reeled as I processed the name. The pristine ship, the AI's authoritative tone, the surreal perfection of my surroundings, the ship, the room—it all felt impossibly familiar, yet undeniably real. My confusion began to give way to tentative excitement as the pieces started to fall into place.

I steadied myself, barely suppressing the rush of emotions coursing through me. Though excitement bubbled beneath the surface, I forced myself to remain calm. Clearing my throat with a cough, as I addressed the mysterious voice or rather red empress.

"'Red Empress,' I began cautiously, my voice carrying a calmness that betrayed the turmoil within me, 'can you tell me where I am? I remember… just moments ago, I was playing a game in my room, before…ugh.'"

A sudden wave of pain crashed through my head, sharper and more intense than before. I groaned, gripping my temples with trembling hands. The same headache had been lingering since I woke up, but this time, it felt stronger. "Was it because I tried to remember what had happened?"

Having no answer, I ignored the thought while clenching my fists tightly, enduring the pain, wishing it would soon fade. And though only moments had passed, it felt like years—at least, that's how it seemed to me. This feeling, this pain, was something I never wanted to experience again.

Vaguely, I remembered seeing myself and those around me in countless different ways—ways I couldn't quite pinpoint, yet all were painful... except for one. I didn't know what it was, but I was determined to find it.

But before I could even ask the voice about it... the glowing blue screen before me shifted.

It expanded and morphed, transforming into the holographic figure of a Beautiful young girl. She had flowing crimson hair, eyes that burned like molten fire, and a face so breathtakingly beautiful that I found myself momentarily entranced. Her beauty was otherworldly—far beyond anything I had ever seen, as though the stars themselves could barely account for one percent of her radiance.

Yet it wasn't just her appearance that held my spellbound and entranced by her beautiful appears. She exuded an undeniable aura of authority, an empress's regal presence that compelled respect and awe. She smiled warmly, a gesture that carried both reassurance and power, and spoke in a voice as smooth as silk yet firm as steel.

"Master Kallus," she began, "I understand your confusion, and the situation warrants it. But you need not worry. I have been integrated with you and will assist you as we navigate this new universe together."

I blinked, my mind racing to process her words. "A… new universe?" I repeated her words, my voice of a mixture of shock and curiosity.

Red Empress nodded gracefully. "Yes. Though this universe differs from the one you knew, it is still somewhat similar in some aspects, but far different and unique. You are in the same galaxy well attest its name is similar, and in fact, not far away from the same solar system where you once resided. However, this reality is far more advanced than the sol system, and as for reason why? well, we will have to find out".

"As for your sudden appearance here," she paused, tilting her head slightly, "I cannot provide clarity on that for I have no idea about that. What I do know is that a Supreme Being brought you here, integrating me with your soul and gifting you this spaceship. So only he could answer you about it! "

My breath caught. "The… Supreme Being?" I muttered.

In the silence, my voice echoed trembling throughout the command room.

The Red Empress's crimson eyes softened, though her presence remained imposing yet measured. I could tell she was truly treating me as her master.

Ignoring that, I focused on her, still confused.

She said "Yes. This Supreme Being said it would watch what you do next. I do not know what his motives are, but he has given you an unparalleled gift and chosen you for reasons beyond my understanding."

I was so stunned that I couldn't move, frozen and overwhelmed by the implications.

The mention of a Supreme Being capable of doing all this—bringing me into an entirely new plane of existence and creating something so intricate and advanced—left me awestruck… and terrified. From what I could see, it was definitely different.

What kind of power could do such a thing? And, more importantly, why me?

My thoughts spiraled as I questioned what made me so interesting or significant that a being of such immense power would take notice of me. For several minutes, I grappled with his emotions—shock, fear, excitement—before I forced myself to calm down.

Taking a deep breath, I clenched my fists and focused my thoughts. The situation was beyond my comprehension, but trying to understand the mind of a Supreme Being was futile. I would never know his intentions or what he wants from me. What mattered now was that I had been given an incredible opportunity.