Epic Of Caterpillar

Since liberating the Nyx Galaxy Core from the tyranny of the Cosmic Dragons and Eternal Vampires, Chaos had ventured outward, freeing other galaxies and vanquishing those who pursued him.

By fateʼs design, he once briefly encountered the source of his Soul—Kireina—when he rescued Frank, a Cosmic Traveler born of a mortal human and a powerful Overseer.

He saved their lives from pursuing Overseers, who branded Frankʼs existence a Sin, just as the ruling Families had done to him.

Since then, neither Kireina nor Frank had seen him again.

”Are we there yet, Papa, Mama?”

A beautiful azure cosmic dragon asked, his long black tentacle-like hair flowing, starlight eyes gleaming with red and golden hues.

”Not yet, son. Weʼre close. Itʼs been a long journey, even with Movement Techniques...”

”Hm, I feel it. The fluctuations of Chaos are shifting. Taking down those Overseers was brutal, but we managed.”

”Hm...?”

Suddenly, Chaos halted his flight through the void. His wife and child stopped as well, glancing back at him.

He sensed something. Then, they felt it too.

”Something has changed,” Chaos said quietly. ”Definitely changed.”

”What is this feeling? As if something... has opened,” Abyss murmured, her large yellow eyes scanning the surroundings. In her humanoid Shoggoth form, she had pale purple skin, long black slime-like hair, and wore a flowing dress woven from cosmic dust.

”Hmm...” Kosmos peered around, then pointed. ”Dad! Mom! Look!”

RUMBLE!

A ripple tore through space thousands of kilometers above the family. From it, something began to emerge.

Though sudden, it carried no hostility—only a profound sense of loss.

”Where... am I?”

It was a young woman with a slender, graceful body, pale white skin, flowing purple hair, long black horns, and vast butterfly wings shimmering in red, purple, and black.

A brilliant purple jewel glowed on her forehead, a red one pulsing in her chest.

The sight was staggering, as if she had coalesced from the surrounding cosmic dust and chaos particles.

”K-Kireina...?!” Chaos stared in utter disbelief.

”Huh?” Kireinaʼs eyes widened. ”I am...!”

A torrent of knowledge flooded her mind. In an instant, she understood everything around her, her eyes gleaming with reality-altering power.

”Defiance.”

Chaos, Abyss, and Kosmos exchanged bewildered glances, unable to comprehend what was unfolding.

What did she mean by Defiance?

”How did you get here? I thought you were in that world with Frank... Have you ascended?” Chaos asked. ”No, teleporting this far is impossible...”

”I... simply chose to go where my other self was. Weʼre connected, I believe,” Kireina explained. ”And that would be you, Chaos. Hello... Itʼs a bit awkward. What youʼre seeing isnʼt my true body, but an Avatar born from my Heart Essence.”

”...?!”

”...!”

”What? Whatʼs Heart Essence?”

Kosmos tilted his head, puzzled by the mysterious woman, though he couldnʼt help thinking she should find some clothes.

”Heart Essence... So youʼve become one of the rare Heart Cultivators,” Chaos murmured. ”I attempted that Path for thousands of years but never grasped it. I suppose Iʼm not suited to delving so deeply into emotions...”

”Yeah, itʼs not something most can achieve...” Abyss nodded. ”S-So youʼre Kireina? This is so sudden! We only saw you briefly back then... Weʼve been worried ever since.”

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