In the Ruin Lands, Boa rushes to Jen, who is bleeding heavily on the ground. His eyes scan the battlefield—most of his teammates lie lifeless around him. Nearby, Crank is sprawled out, his body covered in wounds.
Crank groans and mutters, "Why did they stop attacking us?"
Boa turns and sees the natives, all still bowing before him. Then, a witch native steps forward, speaking in her native tongue. But this time, Boa understands her words clearly.
"You are our Chosen One. You are the new leader of the Wakeen Tribe. You are the one we saw in the visions, the one who will save us all from doom."
Boa takes in her words, realization washing over him. The spirit of the native leader that slain still lingers inside him—as if he is carrying on his will.
The witch bows deeply before continuing, "I am the Grand Witch of the Wakeen Tribe, Prekayda. We are in your service. What are your first orders, Chosen One?"
Boa recalls the village he saw in the leader's memories. Without hesitation, he commands, "Save my friends and let us return home."
The natives immediately move, lifting Jen, who is unconscious. As they reach for Crank, he instinctively struggles, but Boa steps in, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"What is going on?" Crank demands. "You understand what they're saying?"
Boa nods. "Yeah. It's like I'm connected to their slain leader… and now I'm their new leader. But we need to reach their village before Jen bleeds out. And you need treatment too—your wounds could be fatal."
The natives lift them both, carrying them toward the east side of the Ruin Lands. As they move, more and more natives gather—over 200 of them now surrounding the group.
When they reach the shore, Prekayda steps forward, gripping her staff. Her eyes glow with magic as she chants, sending sound waves rippling toward the ocean.
Suddenly, the water stirs. Massive forms emerge—over twenty giant whales, their bodies glowing with intricate markings.
The whales open their massive mouths, allowing many natives to enter. A larger whale moves in front of Boa, its jaws slowly parting as he and his companions are carried inside.
Inside, the glowing markings pulse along the whale's interior, casting an ethereal light around them. Boa is gently settled down before Prekayda approaches him.
"Its name is Melon," she says. "Call to it with your spirit. It will listen, it will serve you—once you are connected to it."
Boa closes his eyes as the glowing markings intensify. He feels a pull from within—a piece of his soul drifting out of his chest. The whale's spirit emerges from the markings, its luminous form radiating an ancient presence.
Their pieces of their spirits meet. Boa finds himself transported into a mystical plane, surrounded by countless whale spirits gliding through the air like celestial beings.
He calls out, "Melon."
The largest whale spirit moves toward him, sensing the energy of the Chosen One—and recognizing the lingering presence of their former leader deep within Boa's soul.
Suddenly, a yellow aura erupts from Boa's chest, coursing through his entire being. He reaches out, placing a hand against Melon's ethereal skin. The whale spirit releases a powerful, resonating cry.
A brilliant light floods the magical plane. Boa blinks—and finds himself back in his body. He exhales sharply as yellow markings appear all over his skin, glowing in sync with the whale's energy. He feels the connection of their bond.
He looks forward and commands, "Melon, take everyone home."
Melon releases a deep, reverberating sound, sending sound waves through the air. The waves reach the other whales, and in unison, they respond with proud cries.
Melon and the other whales dive beneath the waves, carrying them quickly through the ocean.
Meanwhile, in the eastern forest lands of the planet, Tomi gathers with about twenty other Stars—his teammates from his home planet. They sit around a campfire, eating cooked meat, the warm glow flickering across their faces.
One of the teammates sighs in relief. "What would we do without you, Tomi? We would've died in that land of chaos. Thank god your quick raft-building skills saved us. You really are a previous Star player."
Tomi takes a bite of his food before responding, "We have to keep an eye out for Kayle. Only then will our survival rate increase. But for now, we stick together, survive, and earn as many points as we can. I know that Kayle won't fall so easily. She'll find a way to meet up with us."
Suddenly, a noise rustles through the bushes. Tomi stiffens, immediately getting to his feet. The others follow his lead, standing on guard and scanning the area.
A figure emerges from the darkness. Another Star player. As he steps into the firelight, more Stars appear behind him—around two hundred in total.
The leading Star player steps forward and smirks. "My name is Taeo Silva, from Planet Silva. I'm the son of the previous winner of the 109th Star Games, and I plan to follow in my father's footsteps!"
He strikes a confident pose. Tomi's eyes widen—this young man truly resembles Theo.
Taeo turns to address the gathered Stars. "Listen up! We're lucky to have met the famous Tomi—my father's former rival. Don't underestimate the Stars from Planet Isha. They're just as capable as those from Planet Silva."
Tomi narrows his eyes. "What do you want?"
Taeo grins. "Come on, Tomi. With that big brain of yours, you should already know what I want—what we all want. More points! To reach the top 100 rankings in the first stage, we'll need to put on a performance that earns us tons of points. And the best way to do that is by working together!"
Tomi crosses his arms, thinking for a moment before nodding. "You want us to help you invade the capital city of this planet?"
A smirk plays on his lips as he continues, "That would definitely earn us enough points for extra bonuses in the next game stages. I can see it now—you have the same fire burning inside you as your father did. So be it. Let's join forces and see what that City has to offer. If we're lucky, we'll find valuable resources that will help us survive the next waves of doom."
Taeo grins as they clasp hands, sealing the alliance.
With determination in their eyes, the two leaders set forth, leading their teams toward the direction of Juvia City.
Deep underground, where darkness stretches endlessly, only a single ray of light pierces through, casting a faint glow. Kayle lies motionless beneath it, blood pooling around her as a gaping wound in her stomach weakens her with every passing second. Her half-lidded eyes barely register the light shining upon her face.
She coughs, blood trickling from her lips, as tears slip down her cheeks. Flashbacks flood her mind—her battle with Lars and their fight during her exile. No matter how much she tries to escape, the past always finds her.
She whispers, her voice trembling, "Why… why do I keep seeing this? Why does it always affect me? I should have been glad to move on, but the blood that courses through in my veins… it reacts with disappointment and failure. I can never truly be a normal mortal…"
Her fingers curl weakly against the cold stone floor.
"Curse it all…" she chokes out. "Why would I ever make myself a monster like them… just to be God? But… they were right. These emotions… they're the cause of my downfall..."
Her eyelids grow heavy. She accepts it—her awaiting death is near.
But then—footsteps.
The sound echoes through the darkness, steady and unhurried.
A voice rises from the abyss, calm yet filled with conviction. "The day has finally come… the doom of our planet, Unnatefortun. Years ago, when God appeared, it proved that the prophecies of old were true. Only the Seven Stars can save this planet."
Kayle stirs slightly, her breath shaky as the voice continues.
"I have waited for centuries. I have dreamed of this moment every night. And now, here you lie, just as I foresaw—a worthy fallen chosen. The one who shall rise from the dead… and thrive through the waves of doom."
From the shadows, a swirling green light emerges. Magic. It coils around Kayle's body, weaving through the air like living energy before plunging into the gaping hole in her stomach. Her flesh begins to mend and regenerate.
She gasps as her eyes snap open, glowing with an eerie green light.
The darkness around her is banished, illuminated by the brilliant magic surging within her. She staggers to her feet, her breath steadying, and turns toward the figure standing nearby—a native shaman. His body is adorned with glowing green markings, his wooden staff pulsing with the same mystical energy that now flows through her.
He extends his hand toward her, his voice unwavering.
"Take my hand and see the truth. Do what must be done, and you shall be offered great power—the power to save this world."
Just as Kayle's fingers graze the shaman's hand, her mind is instantly pulled into a vision.
She is no longer in the dark abyss but standing in an underground village bathed in an eerie green glow. The villagers, adorned with the same green markings as the shaman, move about their lives, unaware of the fate that awaits them. They are the keepers of a powerful magic item, their sacred duty to protect it and passed down the prophecy through generations.
Her gaze shifts to a younger version of the shaman, standing before a massive wall of ancient paintings. Each brushstroke depicts the doom of their planet, the inevitable prophecy that consumes his every thought. He chants tirelessly, his voice a constant whisper in the temple halls.
Nearby, his son watches in silence, his expression dark with resentment. He clenches his fists, anger radiating from him. His father's obsession with prophecy has stolen him away—his belief in fate has left no room for family.
Determined to prove his father wrong, to prove that destiny is nothing but a fabricated illusion, the son sneaks into the sacred temple. The air thickens with ancient magic as he approaches the legendary artifact. Without hesitation, he reaches out.
The moment his fingers make contact, green energy erupts around him. The artifact pulses violently, responding to his defiance. It shifts, reshaping itself in his grasp—a glowing magic bow forms in his hands.
But the power is too great.
The overwhelming energy seeps into his veins, twisting his thoughts, feeding on his rage. He wanted to prove fate didn't exist—but now, fate has consumed him.
Eyes burning with uncontrollable fury, he draws the bowstring. A luminous arrow forms, its energy unstable, vibrating with destruction. With one reckless release, the arrow pierces through the temple walls, the explosion tearing through the sacred halls.
Screams echo.
The village shudders under the force of the attack as the corrupted son emerges, his skin cracking under the sheer intensity of the magic surging within him. Natives from the village rushes to stop him, but with each draw of his bow, explosive arrows rain upon them.
One by one, they fall.
The village burns, its protectors reduced to nothing more than ashes and remnants of a once-thriving people.
Through the devastation, the shaman walks forward, his robes stained with the blood of his people. His weary eyes meet the twisted form of his son, now more magic than man.
Without a word, the shaman grips his wooden staff and begins to chant.
The son's face contorts with rage. He draws his bow and lets an arrow fly.
The shot pierces straight into his father's chest.
But the shaman does not falter. He continues chanting, even as blood spills from his wound. The magic around them surges, a cyclone of green energy erupting from the ground.
The son's body writhes in agony as the spell takes hold. His limbs fracture, his form splitting apart in a violent burst of light. The magic bow shatters, unleashing an uncontrollable storm of energy.
With the last of his strength, the shaman utters a final incantation. The raging storm condenses, shrinking, folding in on itself until it is nothing more than a small, glowing green orb.
The vision shifts.
The shaman, stands alone, his body riddled with the corruption he absorbed. His hands tremble as a magic vision forms before him, he sees Kayle, standing in the darkness, just as she is now.
The flashback ends.
Kayle gasps, her vision returning to the present. The shaman stands before her, his body slowly turning to dust, the weight of centuries finally lifting.
He smiles faintly. "Now you know my history. You must fulfill the prophecy I have carried for so long. I am glad… to have served a purpose. To know my life had meaning."
His form crumbles completely, his final word—"Purpose"—lingering in the air.
The weight of it presses against Kayle's mind. Purpose.
What was the purpose of her life? To live the life she always wanted? Or was it for revenge?
Her hands curl into fists and says
"The purpose of my life shall be both," she declares, her voice unwavering. "By winning the Star Games, it will satisfy myself and erase my failures. Also when I become God… I will build a universe just for me, a universe that will resolve around me only."
With newfound resolve, she steps forward, leaving the darkness behind and heading toward the ruins of the village.
She steps through the ruined village, gripping the shaman's wooden staff tightly. As she reaches the remains of the destroyed temple, her gaze locks onto a small, floating green orb hovering above. Taking a steady breath, she raises the staff and slams it onto the stone ground. Green magic surges out, swirling upward toward the orb.
The moment the magic touches it, the orb plummets to the ground. As it makes contact, it explodes into a violent storm of energy, sending a powerful gust that knocks Kayle back. She braces herself against the force and pushes forward, stepping deeper into the raging storm.
At the center, the magic begins to take shape—a bow forming before her eyes. Reaching out, she grasps it, but just as her fingers wrap around the weapon, a green hand materializes on the bow. Her eyes widen as the glowing energy of the shaman's son emerges before her, his form corrupted into a raging spirit.
The spirit lets out a monstrous roar and yanks the bow from Kayle's grip, instantly dispelling the magic storm. As its spectral body begins to tear apart from the chest, corrupted energy crackles wildly. With a twisted, instinctual fury, it fires a magic arrow directly at Kayle. She leaps aside just in time—the arrow strikes the ground behind her, erupting in an explosion that sends her crashing into the remains of a broken building.
Gritting her teeth, she uses the staff to push herself back up. Her eyes burn with determination as she glares at the spirit and declares, "Fate is real! You wanted it, and now it's here!"
The spirit's glowing eyes narrow with seething rage. Quickly it draws back another arrow, taking aim at Kayle once more.