The burgundy sleek angular exterior of Universal Raider, adorned with mysterious symbols, glistens as it travels through the star system. Rows of thrusters and boosters line the underside of the ship, their edges glowing sapphire and leaving streaks of light in their wake.
The teardrop shaped front appears to be made of obsidian material. A series of windows run along the sides, providing a view of the interior; a circular podium housing a navigation system table in the center, board chairs surrounding it, and on the surface is a digital map of the Elysian Cosmos realms.
Universal Raider engines roar, reducing speed as it nears the sphere of Uranus. The planet is tilted dramatically and shimmers frost blue. The ethereal rings encircling it pulse orange and white. The magic spell around the sphere is a misty stardust barrier that releases ice shards as the spacecraft nears.
Uranus is the sole realm without a divine door that leads straight there, so Voyager Seekers travel the basic way there. The trip takes a week, arriving two days before the predicted descent.
Leaving his office, Ishaan makes quick work to the main hall, pulling out a traveler's license. To journey to another realm, one needs a traveler's license that can only be attained if one is in a renowned league.
Everyone is sported in their league fits; dark blue blazer with gold embroidered trim, breeches slightly baggy, with a belt tightened around the edge, their upper parts donning a shortened jacket with many pockets on the sides, and thick leather boots.
The spacecraft passes through the misty stardust barrier as it enters Uranus's exosphere; stiff clouds adrift in the golden sky part beneath its descent. Waiting below is a musky landscape. Universal Raider thrusters' flares in measure bursts before the vessel lands on an iron platform.
A hush of awe floods through the league members. Through the windows, the crew of Voyager Seekers, consisting of a total of four hundred, can spot dark smoky emerald skyscrapers towering the clouds; their massive architecture crafted with bright neon stone that glows, and wide long streets rumble as giants dominate the city.
Uranus, a planet inhabited by giants, with machinery as the primary principle of their culture. Despite being a godless realm, Uranus is the most successful civilization out of the 10 Coordinates of the star system.
After ascending into divinity, Mother of Angels' human essence faded into the planet and turned it into a forest of metal that gradually transformed into skyscrapers, which became homes to the stranded giants who lost their nation in heaven after the war.
The giants viewed this as a blessing and began worshiping Her, yet Mother of Angels did not want to rule over them or their devotion, declaring them beneath that privilege.
'Human beast is what they are,' She would say. 'I love my angels.'
However, despite the contempt, when one of Her eldest daughters asked for Uranus, She gifted the planet as if it belonged to Her. Not out of love, of course, but because Mother of Angels couldn't stand the sight of the hybrid, who was half angel and half giant.
For a thousand years, Thylane, the hybrid queen of Uranus, oversaw the planet as the pope of Mother of Angels. She was benevolent and tender to the giants in spite of her mother's beliefs. Thylane taught the giants of her angelic nature, along with astronomy secrets, helping them advance technology and civilization, leading them astray from the Heavenly Father's will.
Ten years ago, she went to an annual feast in heaven and never returned, leaving Uranus godless.
Four of them—Iskra, Czar, Akira, and Ishaan—embark onto Uranus. Hot air, not nearly as repulsively hot as the western continent's humidity, envelops them in a rush of warmth. Massive steps curve downward onto the streets and as they proceed to the first step, the rest morph into an escalator fitted for humans.
A hum resounds with a deep vibration, and they can smell fuel, exhaustion, smoke, and spices from street vendors as the escalator heads towards the towering sanctuary, with giants glancing at them with innocent curiosity. The grand and opulent building is empty compared to the roaming giants in the streets.
At the winged shape gate, the current pope of Uranus, Orpheus, son of Queen Thylane, welcomes them. He possesses strangely handsome features; blazed shaped eyebrows, pointed ears, sparse pale blonde hair that flowed to his thick nape, dark skin, and draped in an orange-white robe.
"Hail confidante," he greets, his rough voice reaching the outsiders in a blooming noise that their animation threads instantly soften and translates the language to their native one. The escalator turns back into the iron platform, lifting them to Orpheus height.
The giant dark gray eyes gleam a lighter shade in delight as he speaks: "It's been a while, Ishaan."
"Unfortunately," Enigmatic Poet replies, the only evident sign of joy in the twitch of his mouth.
Orpheus sweeps a gaze at the three figures behind Ishaan, familiar with only Iskra out of them. "Lunar Goddess." He bows respectfully. "I haven't seen you in quite some time, too. The last time you were here, you and your parallel partner helped us a great deal with that artificial ocean. My heart goes out to your broken one."
Iskra nods, ignoring his last sentence, her expression empty. "How are you? Is the ocean living up to our effort?"
"Yes." He smiles. "It is perfect in every way. I can't find a flaw even if I tried, which I didn't. Holy gods help us if I did." His tone is warm and soothing as he jokes. "I'm doing alright and I pray for your well-being."
Iskra forces out a soft smile. "Thank you, and I'm glad you're doing well."
Turning his attention to the blindfolded young man, the pope asks in confusion: "You all are a bit early, aren't you? I was expecting your arrival tomorrow."
"Yeah," Ishaan says calmly. "It wasn't planned, but with an extra day we can polish our plan."
Orpheus nods, agreeing. "Sounds fine. You can introduce me to your other companions." He folds his large arms, gesturing with his fingers for them to follow along the iron platform that breaks off into a bridge interconnected to a restaurant.
"The others are interested in forming bonds outside each other. It was our Goddess's dream that we giants forge a future with every soul capable of love." He regards Ishaan with a hopeful spark in his eyes. "I believe you will help further Her dream, Lord Ishaan."
****
The Pope of Uranus and Enigmatic Poet became acquaintances at the annual feast held in heaven, where the Eight Phthartic invites certain individuals from the ten realms to dine with them. Ishaan was invited to the Bells of Macrocosm last year after crafting his third relic and ended up becoming a benefactor to Uranus.
After the disappearance of the queen, Uranus suffered great poverty. Thylane used to have trade networks with various realms that provided provisions such as food, water, clothing, and other daily necessities that the giants could not easily supply.
They were big people who needed countless food and ordinary essentials for one family, so with a population of thousands, even their massive products of supplies won't last long for them. The rivers on Uranus are filled with oil, and they must manage their water with care. With her gone, those networks deem Uranus not worthy of trade and abandon them, stopping all shipping of provisions.
Upon hearing this, Ishaan wasn't surprised. People with a high rank only bother with people like them. Anyone they see as beneath them will get treated as less without any hesitance. A person, human, monster, or mythical being. Race, gender, religion—it didn't matter to them what you are or who. If you're strong, you can remain above the water. If not, you will drown.
Strength is life and weakness is death in this treacherous universe.
Ishaan feels sick with the reality of their universe the more he explores, yet he is helpless to make a significant change. He is strong, but he is no god, and to make a difference, you must change your own environment first. At the moment, that seems impossible.
'For now, anyways….' He thinks.
To Ishaan, the giants are no weaklings. The only reason they're regarded as weak is because they lack divine powers, possessing only incredible physical strength. They can smash planets with a punch, making billions crumble in their palms, yet they cannot wander or travel outside their realm.
Ishaan makes a bold guess in his calm, calculated mind. 'The Eight Phthartic fear the giants.'
He isn't only positive about this speculation, but sure of it. What he doesn't understand though is why none of them rule over the giants. He didn't want to be an asshole, but it would be so easy. The giants are desperate for guidance, a hand to hold them through the chaotic waves of existence.
'I mean, they quickly kneeled to Thylane because she offered them the joy of life when all they've been doing is surviving.'
Eating and devouring their own people for the sake of salvation of their hunger and drinking another's blood to quench their thirst, while stealing the deceased supplies for their own family.
Ishaan knew he couldn't appear too eager, so when he and Orpheus hit it off, he simply offered the man aid should they need it. That need came faster than Ishaan thought it would. A week later, Helios, his sun messenger, delivered a letter from Orpheus.
The giant requested a trustworthy trade network route, willing to give ice orbs for essential goods. Ice orbs are a plant that can only be grown on Uranus and are extremely expensive. People use it to craft enchantments, potions, powering machines, weapons, and technology.
In Ishaan's cautiousness, he had forgotten genuine nature. His father taught him to sink his claws into someone of worthiness delicately so it can last longer. He didn't realize until today that his carefully laid out plans to bait Uranus into submission are no longer needed.
He can see it in Orpheus' eyes, the trust swimming in the pupils, and the genuine happiness of his arrival.
Trust and loyalty don't always need to be manipulated. Ishaan notes to himself that he's still having a hard time accepting that.
From what he's gathered, the people of Uranus are genuine in everything they do. They never betrayed anyone unless it was absolutely necessary.
Ishaan can't blame them for turning on each other for survival; he simply must make sure they never turn on him. That they will die for him rather than kill him for life.
In the beginning, he planned to be generous and authentic, yet he had to do it slowly. Like a snake hunting a prey, watching and waiting to strike. He wanted them not to even think of his true intentions and just depend on him like mindless puppets.
After a year of getting to know each other, Ishaan decided he could lower his guard and be upfront, however not about everything.
'They can be allies instead of puppets. Once we've completed this mission and our true goal, I'll give them full control of the trade route instead of being the messenger of the two, which will develop more trust and because it's Lysander in charge, he won't back out from talking with Orpheus. He'll also keep silent.' He experiences a spark of satisfaction, anticipating the beautiful layout of his goals unraveling and then wrapping together as destined soulmates.