Secrets of the Carnival

Amon and Ying Yue followed the doctor through a maze of corridors, their steps echoing against the cold metallic floors. The facility felt larger and more complex the farther they went, its endless hallways lined with glowing panels and strange symbols. Finally, they stopped at a dimly lit chamber, where an elderly researcher sat surrounded by floating monitors and piles of odd, mechanical devices.

The man turned to them, his sharp, elongated features casting a shadow against the screens. His glowing eyes studied them with unsettling curiosity. "You must be the ones who appeared that day seems like you have woken up," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "I'm Dr. Kael."

Kael pulled a small metallic case from his pocket, retrieving what looked like a cigarette. Before either of them could say anything, he lit it, taking a long drag as the end glowed faintly green.

Amon frowned, his brow furrowed. "Are you seriously smoking right now?"

The doctor exhaled a puff of shimmering mist and smirked. "What? It's my medicine."

Ying Yue raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Amon, however, couldn't stop himself. "That looks nothing like medicine."

Kael waved dismissively. "Semantics. Now, I've heard about your… predicament. But before we get into the details, I need to know-what happened before you were teleported here? Every detail matters."

Amon hesitated, glancing at Ying Yue. Her expression was unreadable, but she gave him a small nod. Taking a deep breath, he began recounting the events. He told Kael everything from the strange dialogue from the so-called Apostle, the system messages, the battles everything that happened that day.

As Amon spoke, Kael's expression shifted. By the time he finished, the researcher was leaning back in his chair, the glowing cigarette dangling from his lips. He sighed, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Two Apostles of God, on a planet where mana force was so young? Hahaha, I can't believe it!" Kael chuckled, his laughter echoing through the room.

"What's so funny?" Amon asked, his voice sharp with irritation.

Kael wiped his eyes, his laughter fading. "It's rare, that's all. Apostles of God and the True Monarch crossing paths on a backwater world like yours? That's like finding diamonds in a pile of sand."

Amon's irritation grew. "Care to explain?"

Kael leaned forward, his glowing eyes narrowing. "There are two superforces in the universe," he began. "One side follows the and beleives in God. The other follows the True Monarch, who embodies chaos, ambition, and freedom from divine control. For eons, these two sides have been at war, vying for supremacy over all creation."

Ying Yue's hands tightened into fists. "And we got caught in the middle of that?"

Kael nodded. "It seems so. The Apostle of the True Monarch hijacked your friend's body-your planet was doomed the moment they set foot on it. If what you've told me is accurate, then…" He paused, his expression turning grim. "Your planet is most likely already dead."

Amon's chest tightened as he noticed Ying Yue's face fall. Her sadness was palpable, and for a moment, the room felt unbearably heavy. He wanted to comfort her, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he forced himself to focus.

"What about the Carnival?" Amon asked, his voice cutting through the tension.

Kael's lips curled into a faint smile. "Ah, so you've heard of it." He leaned back in his chair, exhaling another puff of glowing smoke. "The Carnival is a game, one that occurs every ten million years. It's a contest between the 10 strongest Emperors from God's side and the 10 from the True Monarch's side. The winner… well, no one knows exactly what they win. The prize is a mystery, even to me"

Ying Yue tilted her head. "Has anyone ever won?"

Kael chuckled darkly. "No. There have been two Carnivals so far as i've lived, and both ended in a draw. But each time, the destruction they brought was unimaginable."

"And why couldn't that Apostle kill me?" Amon asked. "If he was so powerful, why didn't he finish me off?"

Kael smirked. "That's the blessing of the Carnival. Candidates chosen to participate are marked by the divine-they're destined to become some of the strongest beings in the universe. That blessing prevents other Apostles from killing you directly before the carniva;."

"Directly?" Amon echoed, his brow furrowing.

Kael shrugged. "Oh, you can still die. Just not by their hand. Plenty of things out there can kill you-a stray monster, a falling star, bad luck. Don't get too comfortable."

Amon frowned, his mind spinning with this new information. "You seem to know a lot about this," he said suspiciously. "How? And how have you lived long enough to see two Carnivals?"

Kael grinned, taking another drag from his cigarette. "My species, the Sepricosapiens, are blessed with extraordinarily long lifespans. Billions of years, to be exact. And as for my knowledge…" He gestured to the room around him. "I'm a researcher. Secrets are my business."

Amon stared at him, his thoughts racing. The weight of everything he'd learned pressed down on him, but beneath the fear and confusion, a spark of determination began to burn.

If the universe was this vast and filled with forces this powerful, then he would have to rise to meet it. No more running. No more hiding. He would become stronger-strong enough to protect what little he had left and take back revenge.