Nestled deep within the North-Eastern Twilight Mountains, the enclave of the Astral Prime Clan sprawled like a living fortress of ancient wonder—a Galactic-ranked stronghold that had endured three world eras, controlling the heart of Astralis as their sovereign world.
The enclave was a self-sustained metropolis of white jade spires and floating crystal gardens, spanning ten million kilometers in a perfect dome of mythic-ranked barrier crystal that shimmered with unbreakable light.
Inside, SSS-ranked maids in flowing silver robes tended to opulent halls, while workers of the same rank, maintained rune-etched mechanisms that powered the enclave's eternal defenses.
First Calamity warriors patrolled the perimeters in thousands, their auras like steady flames guarding the bulk of the clan's strength: Third and Fourth Calamity cultivators who formed the core legions, Elders at Fifth Calamity overseeing strategies, and the Patriarch, Matriarch, and secluded ancestors at Sixth Calamity, their presences felt as distant thunder.
The clan's strongest, a Seventh Calamity guardian, secluded in their private realm, ready to awaken if the barrier faltered. Among the younger generation, the male heir—Elias Astral, a sharp-eyed Fourth Calamity youth with a talent for spatial seals—trained relentlessly, his presence a beacon of future hope.
Outside the barrier, chaos reigned as hordes of invaders hammered relentlessly against the crystal dome, their attacks rebounding in explosions of light and sound that lit the mountain peaks like false dawns.
Demi-human clans from Ironfang and Stormclaw hurled Calamity-grade lightning claws and crystal spears, each strike cracking the air but barely scratching the mythic surface. Abyssal Foxes unleashed voids of silent darkness that swallowed light, only for the barrier to reflect it back as harmless shadows.
Solar Foxes bombarded with golden solar flames, scorching the surrounding forests to ash, yet the dome held firm, absorbing and dispersing the heat like a living star. Nocturne and Noctis vampires combined blood-Laws into crimson lances that pierced the sky, but the crystal rippled and healed instantly.
Even two Eighth Calamity elders (one a grizzled Noctis lord with a blood-sword the size of a mountain, the other a Noctis matriarch wielding shadow-veils that eclipsed the suns) joined the assault, their combined strike—a vortex of blood-shadow that warped space—boomed against the barrier with galaxy-shaking force, sending cracks racing across its surface… only for the runes to flare and mend it in seconds, leaving the attackers drained and frustrated.
Inside the enclave's central command hall—a vast chamber of glowing jade walls etched with three eras of ancestral runes—the clan's key figures gathered around a massive projection crystal that displayed the outer assault in vivid detail.
The Patriarch, a stern Sixth Calamity elder with flowing white robes and eyes like ancient stars, paced slowly, his voice booming amid the murmurs.
"After two eras trapped in this forsaken pocket, the seals have finally weakened—we can return to Astralis properly!"
The Matriarch, his counterpart in elegant silver armor, nodded with a fierce smile, but her gaze flickered to the projection.
"Relief at last… our children can breathe true air, not this recycled essence," she said, voice trembling with emotion as cheers erupted from the gathered Elders.
The Fifth Calamity Elders shouted in joyous disarray—"Freedom!" one cried, while another laughed wildly, "The stars will tremble at our return!"—papers and artifacts scattering in the excitement.
Young Elias, the Fourth Calamity heir, clenched his fists amid the chaos, eyes wide with awe and impatience. "But look—these outsiders.... they may break the barrier before we can leave!"
The Patriarch's face darkened as the projection zoomed on the Eighth Calamity attackers. "Those two Vampires… their strikes are too close. If that Eighth-rank pair breaks through before we escape…"
An Elder slammed the table. "We've waited eras—let them come! Our Seventh Ancestor will awaken if they breach!"
Chaos erupted anew—arguments flying, maps unrolling, some laughing in defiance, others shouting plans—pure, heartfelt pandemonium born of trapped souls finally tasting freedom.
Then the projection shifted, zooming to the background where a new group appeared: a bronze-skinned man with black wings and white hair, flanked by three vampire women and two men.
The hall fell into a stunned hush amid the lingering excitement, all eyes locking on the newcomer whose presence seemed to warp the feed slightly.
"Who… is that?" Elias whispered, the chaos pausing for a breath as the Patriarch leaned closer, brow furrowed.
-----
Ash and the rest appeared at the back of the scattered cultivators attempting to breach the barrier. There were far fewer here than in the valley.... perhaps a few thousand at most, clustered in wary groups, their attacks sporadic and cautious. The mythic-ranked barrier shimmered like a wall of living crystal under the pure blue sky, runes pulsing with quiet, ancient power.
Connor couldn't help the sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Why don't you just break the barrier again?"
Seth facepalmed so hard the sound echoed. 'Seriously… can't you see this guy is a monster?' he thought, glancing at Connor with pity.
He understood the jealousy... Summer had chosen Ash, plain as day, but he was pushing it.
Raven's gaze swept the pristine structures visible beyond the barrier the white jade spires gleaming, floating gardens blooming with light, no sign of ruin or abandonment.
"I don't think breaking the barrier will be the smartest idea…" she said quietly.
"Right," Katherine added, blonde hair catching the sunlight. "This place doesn't look dilapidated at all… and I think I even see people on the other side."
Ash only stood with a smirk on his face. He knew well enough this was the home of Astralis's original humans—the Prime Humans. But what intrigued him was how an entire clan could be locked away on their own world.
'Hmm, I won't attract too much attention… for now at least.'
He reached out, grabbing Raven and Summer by the waist, Katherine slipping in close on her own. Then, Law of Paradox and Law of Space activated in perfect unison.
Reality warped with the barrier's mythic runes flickering once, confused, as paradox turned "inside" and "outside" into meaningless concepts.
They vanished.
Seth and Connor were left standing like fools, mouths open mid-sentence.
Ash and the three women reappeared on the spotless streets of the enclave, smooth white jade beneath their feet, the air rich with the fragrance of blooming light-flowers, and distant figures in elegant robes turning to stare in surprise.
Summer's black eyes were glued to Ash. "…You're telling me you could just bypass mythic-ranked barriers?"
He nodded casually. "Well… I used the Law of Paradox. Mythic barriers aren't enough to keep me out."
He let his mana sense drift outward, the enclave's layout unfolding in his mind—countless Third and Fourth Calamity warriors, venerable Fifth Calamity elders, the imposing Sixth Calamity patriarch and matriarch, the dormant Seventh Calamity guardian, and the watchful young Fourth Calamity heir observing it all.
Raven's hand tightened on his arm. "What's next?"
Ash's smirk softened into something almost polite.
"Let's go meet our new friends… It would be rude to intrude without speaking."
The three women exchanged glances (equal parts excitement and caution).
They followed him deeper into the enclave, footsteps echoing softly on jade streets that had not known outsiders in two eras.