Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 352: Realm Eternity

Chapter 352: Realm Eternity

Nestled between the Alliance and the Empire was a mysterious star domain known as Realm Eternity.

This remarkable place had been founded a decade ago by the legendary hero Lyra and her devoted followers.

"Is Realm Eternity really as incredible as they say?" Mason Grill, a rookie in a ten-person squad, asked eagerly as their spaceship departed from the planet Elden Prime.

Their destination was the border, where they would use a teleportation array to reach the fabled Realm Eternity.

One of the team’s veteran members chuckled at Mason’s enthusiasm. "If you’re into gaming, you’ll absolutely love it there."

Another teammate chimed in, "There’s no government or military across all seven planets. Merchants travel and trade freely, and most families don’t even bother locking their doors at night."

"And get this," the first veteran added, "even the beasts live peacefully alongside humans."

Mason’s eyes widened in amazement, his fists clenching with excitement. "Is their leader really that incredible?"

Ten years ago, during the Stellar Devourer crisis, Mason had been a child, confined to an air-raid shelter, unable to witness the events that unfolded.

Their squad leader, one of the lucky few who had seen the final battle firsthand, nodded solemnly. "She’s more than incredible. She’s practically a god now. No one dares cause trouble there. Every inch of Realm Eternity—the air, the land, even the hearts of its people—is said to be under her watchful gaze."

When they arrived at the teleportation array, Mason was awestruck by the enormous pale green platform, sprawling like a plaza.

People stepped onto it casually, while others first collected crystal cards from nearby machines before proceeding.

As they entered the array, ripples spread from their feet, and they vanished in an instant.

"This is just like a resurrection point in a game!" Mason exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

His companions chuckled. "Just wait. There’s plenty more to see."

Mason was guided to a self-service machine, where he scanned his face and received an identification crystal card.

"This is your key to the assistant system in Realm Eternity," his friend explained. "Money, social connections, jobs—it’s all linked to this card."

Eagerly, Mason tapped the crystal card. A holographic screen appeared, displaying a navigational map of the entire Realm Eternity.

Intrigued, Mason began exploring its interface. On the job board, he noticed postings from various planets: a school on Planet Elpha seeking teachers, a tavern hiring a bartender, and even an ad looking for male companions.

The social section was bustling with communities and channels, while the banking system appeared efficient but somewhat mysterious.

"Wait," Mason asked, confused. "If there’s no government, who runs the banks?"

"Simple," his friend replied. "The Assisbot handles everything. It manages exchange rates, issues and recalls currency, sets prices, and governs trade rules. Even the exchange halls fall under its control."

Another teammate added, "Word is, the Assisbot’s main terminal is the robot that works alongside HER."

After binding their caravan guild to their crystal cards, Mason’s surprise grew. "There are guilds here too?"

"Of course," his friend replied. "There are guilds for doctors, nurses, merchants, even hunters. But don’t forget, hunting beasts is strictly forbidden in Realm Eternity. The beasts have crystal cards too."

Mason’s eyebrows shot up. "Even the beasts?"

His friend nodded. "Most beasts here are extremely intelligent. Sometimes, they’re even better at trade than humans."

"But what if a beast attacks a human?" Mason asked.

The veteran smiled knowingly. "Beasts with crystal cards don’t harm humans. As for any outsiders, they wouldn’t even get the chance to try."

Though still grappling with so much new information, Mason couldn’t suppress his growing excitement about what awaited him.

Compared to Mason’s uncontainable excitement, Tyler, another member of the squad, remained unusually quiet.

Ever since their arrival at the teleportation array, his furrowed brow hinted at something weighing heavily on his mind.

"Tyler, isn’t this your first time visiting Realm Eternity? Aren’t you excited?" Mason asked curiously.

Tyler hesitated, shaking his head before nodding awkwardly. "I... I’m not... really sure."

It was hard to tell if he was thrilled or indifferent—perhaps even Tyler himself didn’t know.

Mason quickly lost interest in pressing further. He had heard that Tyler had been rescued by one of their teammates during a migration across the Alliance.

At the time, Tyler had been found in an almost powerless escape pod, his brain severely injured.

Despite his amnesia, Tyler displayed an extraordinary talent for repairing machinery and a deep understanding of artificial intelligence.

After recovering, he stayed with the squad, taking care of their transport vehicles and levitating tools. Though he rarely ventured out due to his impaired speech, this time, he had insisted on joining their trip to Realm Eternity.

Now, Tyler’s intense gaze was locked onto the teleportation array. The advanced technology fascinated him, and his mind echoed with a cold, mechanical voice he had heard once before: Come to Realm Eternity. Initial Town.

...

The group entered their destination into their crystal cards and queued for the teleportation array.

"This time, we’re heading to the first planet," the squad leader explained. "We need to deliver medicinal herbs to Sister Marvel Memorial Hospital in Initial Town."

As they stepped onto the array, the world around them fragmented into shifting patterns of light and color.

Moments later, their surroundings reassembled into a serene landscape of blue skies and rolling green fields.

Mason blinked in surprise. "They just leave teleportation arrays out in the open like this?"

"I told you, no one steals or robs here. You can put these things anywhere."

Unlike the sprawling teleportation hub they had departed from, this local array was small—barely two meters in diameter—and felt cramped with twenty people standing on it at once.

Following a guide familiar with the area, the squad began their journey toward Initial Town.

As they walked, Mason had a realization. "Wait—Initial Town is where SHE lives, right?"

The squad leader grinned, pointing toward a white house on a hill just beyond the town. "See that? That’s HER home."

The house was a modest three-story villa, surrounded by a wooden fence covered in climbing white roses.

Encircling the property was an enormous dragon, its massive body coiled protectively around the perimeter. A regal queen bee hovered gracefully near the dragon, their presence both commanding and serene.

The sight was far from the mysterious, imposing image Mason had envisioned. Instead, it exuded warmth and tranquility.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" A cheerful, short-haired woman jogged over, dressed casually in a T-shirt and radiating an easygoing smile. "I’m Serena, director of Sister Marvel Memorial Hospital. Thanks for bringing the supplies—come with me!"

Serena led the squad to the hospital’s storage warehouse, swiftly checked the delivery, and paid them on the spot.

"I’ve got to head to the orphanage to treat some kids with Father Shedd, so I can’t stick around. Thanks again!" With a quick wave, she dashed off just as quickly as she’d appeared.

Her whirlwind departure didn’t faze Mason, who seemed used to such personalities. After securing the payment on their crystal cards, he announced, "Alright, let’s hit the tavern for a drink like always."

...

Initial Town was nothing like the technologically advanced cities of the Alliance. Aside from a few concentrated development zones, the settlement avoided overly complex designs.

Most buildings were simple, made from natural stone, and maintained with a clean, orderly charm.

The streets featured frequent drinking fountains surrounded by flower beds and benches.

Occasionally, beasts descended from the sky, drank from the fountains, exchanged plants for human-made pastries, and then flew off again.

"This feels just like a village in a simulation game," Mason said, marveling at the peaceful scenery.

The squad leader chuckled. "Don’t worry, there’s something even more game-like here."

Before Mason could ask what he meant, Tyler spoke up, his voice halting but deliberate. "Ar... arena."

The squad leader shot Tyler a mock glare. "Way to ruin the surprise, Tyler."

Smirking, Tyler held up his crystal card, where the rules were displayed.

In Realm Eternity, the arena was the only place where disputes could be resolved through combat.