A couple of hours later...
After the girls spent time with their families, they gathered in Levi’s room for their departure... Levi had told them to keep their exit low-key to avoid creating any sort of complications.
At that moment, Dominic was the only one who knew the truth.
"Remember to respect the Boundless Rules and always keep your guard up," Dominic advised them sternly while leaning against the door. "The Boundless Expanse is a privacy haven, but it doesn’t mean that you are untouchable... the Noble Houses, Duskbound Order, and many other hidden organizations have their own ways to get what they want in that realm."
After receiving many requests to meet Levi and Jasmine from these Noble Houses, Dominic understood that these two had poked multiple hornet nests. He tried his best to avoid giving them a confirmation or a rejection, understanding that their planet couldn’t afford to get on the bad side of these houses.
That’s why he wanted to get these two away as fast as possible, so he wouldn’t need to lie while still keeping them safe.
"We know... Levi already emphasized keeping our true identities hidden," Arthur replied while picking at his ear annoyedly.
His big brother told him that the moment they stepped into the Boundless Expanse, their real identities were dead... they had to take on new identities and maintain them to avoid being located by The Unmaskers.
They were a bunch of jobless assholes whose survival in the Boundless Expanse depended on collecting information about listed targets... they weren’t assassins, nor did they have the right to capture their targets. But they could sell information and details to interested parties, giving the real professionals a chance to do their job.
The worst part? They could be anywhere, always listening and always watching, akin to a Window-Watcher.
"You don’t have to worry... I will keep them straight." Levi nodded at Dominic.
Dominic went quiet for a moment and then returned the nod, relaxing his shoulders at last.
"Good. I trust you."
He wasn’t a fan of having Earth’s most talented Daywalkers roam the Boundless Expanse unsupervised... he had even thought of sending a Solarbound Daywalker as a bodyguard. Yet, Levi rejected the offer and told him that he had it under control.
Dominic didn’t press for details; he had long since learned that trusting Levi was usually the smartest play.
The boy possessed a shrewdness that far outstripped his years... a calculating maturity that ensured he never courted trouble unless he held all the winning cards.
"Alright, get out of here before I lose my handle on these big shots," Dominic said, shooing them toward the gate with a weary yet fond smile. "I can only keep the truth buried for so long."
"Until next time, Sir Dominic."
With a final nod of gratitude, Levi led the group into the swirling darkness of the dimensional gate... he knew that Dominic wasn’t going to have a pleasant time clearing up their mess. But he trusted him to handle it just like Dominic trusted Levi to keep his squad safe.
Without looking back, they felt the air tremble as the World Tree faded behind them. It was instantly replaced by the stabilizing pull of the transit, bridging the gap to Jasmine’s territory in the blink of an eye.
Before they could realize it, their feet landed on top of a soft, blue grass field while the cold spring air chilled their skin.
"Dear god almighty..."
"Did the gate malfunction?"
Arthur and the girls took a deep breath in disbelief, not expecting Jasmine’s territory to be this massive... It stretched for thousands of kilometers, a giant landscape that seemed to go on forever.
In the distance, pink mountains rose against the colorful sky, their slopes covered in trees that looked like cherry blossoms... every time the wind blew, a cloud of soft petals drifted down the hills like pink snow.
Then there were the rivers... they were everywhere.
Some were the normal blue color you’d see on Earth, flowing peacefully through the valleys... But others were strange, thick, glowing liquids in shades of silver and green that snaked across the land.
Even the fields between the rivers were a patchwork of colors... purple grass, golden bushes, and strange blue flowers covered the ground.
Even if most of these plants weren’t rare magical treasures, their appearance created a mystical atmosphere.
"Whoa... am I in someone’s dream?" Jojo mumbled in a daze, feeling like she had stepped into paradise... a piece cut out of heaven and dropped right here.
And the craziest part? Jasmine owned every single inch of it!
’Do you like it?’
Jasmine tilted her head a little as she watched her friends gawk at her home... she had spent a lot of time here and had already gotten used to the view.
’Like it?’ Arthur laughed loudly while running across the blue grass fields like a horse let loose in the wild. ’You’ve been holding out on us, Jasmine! This place is incredible!!’
’This is truly insane...’
Nurah’s pupils remained thinned each time her eyes darted in a different direction... when Jasmine told them she owned a territory, she expected it to be as small as an island, like the one her family owned.
After all, to even earn such a territory was an incredible achievement for lineages on Earth, and they were treated with grave respect.
Now... she was standing on an empire-sized territory in an actual Province, something that only powerful empires were rich enough to own... not a teen from Earth.
Shia’s reaction was similar since they came from the same upbringing.
When Levi noticed their reaction, he wasn’t too surprised.
"I know you have questions, but not now," Levi said with a faint smile. "Let’s build a camp first."
Hearing this, the girls broke out of their daze and nodded in understanding... they could tell that Jasmine was still withholding some secrets related to her origin, but they had no intention of pressuring her.
For now, they were just thrilled to have a fortress and a paradise all in one... for the first time in a long time, they felt like they could actually stop looking over their shoulders.
After all, no one had more authority in Jasmine’s territory than Nocturn himself.
’Please give me a description of how you want your rooms to look,’ Jasmine requested with a soft smile while holding a brush and a few scrolls. ’My Omnipotence level is still low, and I don’t have much creative freedom, but I will do my best.’
’We appreciate the thought, but I don’t think it’s necessary,’ Levi shook his head. ’Just keep it simple... your Omnipotence level is too restrictive.’
Levi knew that Omnipotence level one barely allowed one to create a decent house... that’s why he built simple huts when he trained in his territory. If Arthur and the girls kept requesting too many things, it would be too bothersome for Jasmine.
Sharing the same sentiment, Arthur and the girls gave Jasmine full freedom in housing them.
’As you wish.’
Without hesitation, Jasmine summoned a dimensional screen and started fiddling with the territory’s management interface. A few minutes later, she pressed apply.
Rumble! Rumble!
The ground shook slightly beneath their feet... slowly, six small wooden structures began to push their way up through the colorful soil.
Levi and the rest expected normal houses, but Jasmine still put her own touch... each one was a compact, square room built from dark, polished wood that looked like it had been carved straight from a giant tree.
Instead of standard shingles, the roofs were covered in layers of thick, vibrant purple leaves. Long, flexible branches wrapped around the outer walls like natural vines, acting as both decoration and structural support.
Tiny glowing flowers sprouted from the window sills, and the doorframes were made of knotted roots that looked like they had grown into that shape over hundreds of years.
The houses matched the atmosphere around them... cozy, magical, and perfectly blended with the landscape.
This wasn’t all, as Jasmine connected all the houses with paths that merged in the center, where a large circular stone pit sat waiting.
With a snap of her fingers, a gentle fire flickered to life in the middle of the pit, casting a faint glow over the wooden walls of their new homes.
"It’s so cute!"
Nurah squealed in delight after opening her house’s door to find the interior just as cozy and refreshing as the outside... although there weren’t any appliances, there was a small kitchen, a bed, and a toilet connected to an underground river.
"I can see myself staying here for a while," Arthur grinned. "I just need a gym, and I am good."
"I wish that were true," Jojo mocked while walking past him to reach her house.
"Tsk, couldn’t you have picked a spot further away? I know I saved your life and all during the event, but this much worship is getting a bit creepy..." Arthur clicked his tongue in annoyance after noticing that Jojo was his neighbor.
Unbothered, Jojo went inside, opened the window, and extended a middle finger, leaving Arthur’s lids twitching.
Then, she closed it shut and returned to Jasmine, giving her a short hug.
’I love it.’
’I am glad you liked it.’
Jasmine smiled softly, happy to see that her friends were satisfied with her work.
...
Sometime later, everyone settled in and unpacked some of their stuff... then, they sat around the bonfire under the scenic, colorful void.
They talked about Jasmine’s territory, and she told them the truth as short as it was... she inherited the territory from an unknown source.
Of course, she hadn’t mentioned her relations to the Inkrith ancient race, as it was still knowledge exclusive to Levi and Arthur.
However, as Levi and Jasmine sat with their friends, laughing, teasing, and recalling their epic moments, it did dawn on their minds that it might be best to share the truth with them.
After all, Nurah, Jojo, and Shia all willingly risked their lives for each other in the last game without an ounce of hesitation... to sacrifice your life for another was the highest form of love and trust.
If Jasmine and Levi kept hiding the truth from them, the circle of trust was broken... after all, the entire reason they were hiding in Jasmine’s territory was due to their powers being desired. Yet, Nurah, Shia, and Jojo didn’t hesitate to follow them.
Jasmine even glanced in Levi’s direction, giving him a knowing look... yet, Levi remained silent.
He was still hesitant to pull them fully into his mess of a universe. He knew that once he brought them into the fold, there would be no turning back for any of them.
Three Origin Seeds, the secret of the Celestial, a Tier 8 Bishop hunting him, and the servants of both Radians and Oblivars.
Now, he was even being targeted by Noble Houses and massive organizations just for summoning the Soulleech Maw.
Looking at the list, Levi realized his life was a disaster. If he could, he would have run away from himself, too... There was nothing delightful about the future awaiting him.
He knew it was wishful thinking, but he truly hoped they could stay in the light for just a little longer before his darkness swallowed them whole.
’Not now... maybe after the Great Campaign,’ Levi sent a telepathic message. ’I have yet to see if they have what it takes to weather our storms...’