The pod slowed as we pierced through the upper atmosphere, the glass fading to a darker tint to protect the passengers from the glare.
Beneath us, the surface of Shenzhou spread out —towering silver spires, floating bridges, rivers of glowing essence running like veins through the city.
Enormous aerial platforms drifted lazily between skyscrapers, carrying cargo the size of small mountains. Everywhere, crafts moved in perfect formation, guided by faintly glowing rails only visible through Essence perception.
"This place..." Steve whispered, eyes wide. "It’s like a mixture of fantasy and sci-fi had a baby."
Primus chuckled. "Get used to it. You’re going to see far stranger things."
The pod landed in a massive terminal like a spaceport fused with a marketplace. The doors opened, and we were hit by a wave of sound.
People shouting in different languages. Machines humming. Essence engines roaring.
The terminal itself was huge: tall arching ceilings, glowing runes used as lights, enormous screens displaying cargo routes and transit schedules. Races of every kind moved around us, from floating spirit-elementals to giant rock-skinned titans.
We stayed close, cloaks pulled forward.
"Where to now?" I asked, adjusting my hood.
"To meet an old friend," Primus replied, waving us ahead. "He owns a cargo transport company here. If anyone can get us safe passage and your documentation without asking too many questions, it’s him."
We followed him out of the terminal and into the open city.
And the sight hit us like a storm.
Skyscrapers curved toward the sky like polished blades. Floating platforms zipped between them. Transparent tubes carried pods at insane speeds. Ground streets were full of beasts and machines carrying goods, and Essence screens projected moving messages into the air.
Essence-powered drones buzzed overhead like glowing beetles, delivering packages.
North slowed down, her gaze sparkling. "It’s so... alive."
"And so expensive," Steve muttered as he saw several price displays.
Primus laughed. "Tourist prices. You learn to avoid them."
We followed him down a broad metal walkway that curved toward a large industrial zone. Here, the city shifted more cargo lifts, large machinery, long rows of hangars with ships moving in and out.
Eventually, we stopped in front of a huge warehouse carved with glowing red sigils.
Above the entrance, a sign read:
JARUL & SONS • INTERGALACTIC CARGO • FASTEST DELIVERY IN SHENZHOU
Steve whistled. "Sounds fancy."
Primus smirked. "He wrote that himself. And he’s still terrible at business slogans. Also, no way it’s the fastest."
The warehouse doors slid open with a hiss.
Inside, dozens of workers—demons, nagas, and armored beastfolk—moved crates around with floating platforms. Essence engines hummed as ships were loaded. A horned figure stood near the center, barking orders.
He was a demon: tall, broad, with red skin faded slightly from age. His long beard was streaked with gray. Two thick horns curled back from his head. His eyes glowed faint orange.
When he noticed Primus, his jaw dropped.
"Primus? Primus Blood Reaver? You’re alive?!"
Primus grinned. "Still breathing, old friend."
The old demon stomped forward and grabbed Primus in a crushing bear hug, lifting him off the ground.
"I thought you died in that mess on your homeworld! The entire communication channel said that you were dead or sold as a slave."
"It’s a long story," Primus said, patting his back. "But I’m here. And I brought company."
The demon released him and finally noticed us.
We removed the hoods from our heads and stepped forward.
His eyes widened.
"...Are those... are those humans? Three of them?"
His gaze flicked up and down.
"And why are they all so calm?! Have you kidnapped them? Primus, I swear—"
Primus rolled his eyes. "They’re not captives. They’re my friends."
The demon blinked. "Friends? Humans?"
Before he could speak again, his gaze fell on me, on the faint trace of power leaking despite my efforts.
He froze.
His nostrils flared. His eyes sharpened.
"...This one... this one is dangerous."
Primus smiled. "Go on. Say it."
The demon squinted at me, stepped closer, then suddenly stumbled two steps back, face pale.
"You—you—transcendent?! Are you insane bringing a transcendent into my warehouse?! What if someone sees?! What if someone scans?!"
Primus shrugged. "Relax. He’s very polite."
The demon stared at me in absolute disbelief. "A human transcendent. A human transcendent. Primus, I need to sit down."
He dropped onto a metal crate and stared at me like I had walked out of a myth.
"If word gets out," the demon muttered, "the entire sector will go crazy. Humans haven’t reached transcendent in... I can’t even remember. They don’t exist in our galaxy!"
Steve scratched his cheek. "Well... we’re not extinct."
North sighed. "We’re just from a very quiet corner."
The demon stared, mouth hanging open.
Primus clapped him on the shoulder. "Old friend, we need passage home. We need to reach my planet. We’d like to use your teleportation gate."
The demon blinked out of his shock. "Right. Yes. Yes, of course. Anything you need. But first—come inside my office. If someone spots you in the open, I’ll drown in paperwork and assassins."
He stood, straightened his robes, then gestured sharply.
"Everyone! Break! Ten minutes! If anyone asks, I’m not here!"
His workers dispersed instantly, clearly used to his habits.
He guided us toward a smaller building attached to the warehouse. Inside, the office was cluttered but warm, maps, ledger crystals, half-broken machines, and piles of snacks everywhere.
He slumped into his chair, still staring at me.
"Transcendent. A human transcendent. Primus, do you have any idea what kind of political storm that can cause?"
Primus sighed. "Yes. That’s why we’re wearing cloaks."
The demon rubbed his temples. "You should wear ten cloaks. Maybe a coffin."
North laughed softly. "He’s right. You’re a walking disaster magnet."
"Thank you," I replied dryly.
Steve elbowed me. "She meant it affectionately."
Primus cleared his throat. "We need your gate. And we need to pass quietly."
"Quietly?" the demon scoffed. "With a transcendent human? Sure, why not. Maybe next you’ll bring an Eternal in chains."
I didn’t respond.
He froze. "That was a joke. Right?"
Primus coughed loudly. "Focus, Jarul."
He shuddered. "Fine, fine. I’ll get the gate ready. But you stay hidden until then."
He pointed at me.
"And you....no glowing, no floating, no Essence storms, no destroying the floor, no ’accidentally’ releasing a domain! Understood?"
I nodded. "I’ll behave."
He looked unconvinced.
"By the abyss, I’m going to die," he muttered.
Primus chuckled. "You’ll be fine. Also, can you register them as well?"
"Register? You mean issue them identity cards?" he asked, lowering his voice slightly as he looked at our cloaked figures.
"Yes," Primus nodded. Jarull scratched his beard, thinking. "I can attest for them as a merchant, my occupation allows that, but the system decides final status, not me. If the system flags anything, my signature won’t save them."
I stepped forward. "Don’t worry about the system. It won’t be a problem."
He looked at Primus again.
"Fine. I can push the request through. But I’ll need homeworld details for the record. Where do I put them?"
"Blue Spiral Galaxy," Primus replied casually. "No home planet."
Jarull blinked. "No home planet? That’s... unusual."
Primus shrugged. "They’re travelers."
Jarull held his gaze for a moment, then let out a breath and nodded.
"Very well. I’ll submit it exactly like that. But once it’s in the system, any oddities are on you."
"Perfect," Primus grinned. "That’s all we need."