In the end, Fang Zheng chose Package A.
It’s not that he was reluctant to spend money, but because none of the options provided by Stifal were safe enough, he ultimately decided to handle it himself.
Isn’t it safe enough? We’ll send the person back ourselves; you just need to hand over the compass!
Of course, Fang Zheng understood that Stifal wasn’t intentionally talking nonsense. Although he had never been there, he had read records about the Star Realm in the Mage Tower’s archives. It truly is a bizarre and eerie place where no one can be completely sure they can leave alive, not even deities; they might even end up as corpses wandering within.
Sending Touma back through the Star Realm on her own was impossible, so Fang Zheng decided to assemble a team to escort her back... and maybe find something burnable along the way.
If Fang Zheng remembered correctly, the Star Realm is also a large dump, with many good things inside. If he were lucky enough to find some Divine Corpses to burn, it would be some form of compensation.
"I’m really sorry, Haruno."
Standing next to Fang Zheng, Touma seemed somewhat uneasy.
"Actually..."
"It’s nothing, this is also my fault, not yours."
Seeing the uneasy look on Touma’s face, Fang Zheng shook his head and patted her shoulder to comfort her. Then he turned around and glanced at the Void Gate not far away and everyone preparing for departure.
This time, heading to the Star Realm, Fang Zheng didn’t plan to bring too many people. He only brought the First Fleet of the Azure Fleet, along with Tilia, Neflen, and Katori, as well as Illya, Little Hei, and Atalanta...
However...
"Wait, Fang Zheng, why can’t I go?"
Asuka sprinted over and complained unhappily. She had heard that Fang Zheng was going to another world and was looking forward to going with him, only for Fang Zheng to tell her she couldn’t go this time?
"Because the Star Realm is completely different from ordinary worlds."
Looking at the pouting Asuka, Fang Zheng calmly explained to her.
"To put it simply, although the Star Realm looks like space, it’s more like a Psychic World where developed muscles and brute strength are meaningless. Mental energy and spiritual will are the source of power, and entities without intelligence or self-awareness can’t move an inch there. So, even if you went, it would be pointless because your VF can’t even start in the Star Realm."
"Is there really such a world?"
Upon hearing this, Asuka was stunned, while Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.
"That’s how it is. You’ll find that different worlds have different rules. Some worlds have such bizarre rules that you’re left speechless, but... you’ll get used to it."
"Ugh... fine."
Despite being somewhat reluctant, Asuka eventually nodded in response to Fang Zheng’s explanation. After all, as Fang Zheng said, without the VF being useful, going to that world would mean she’d just stand around and do nothing.
In fact, precisely for this reason, Fang Zheng only brought those with strong Soul Power. It’s needless to say about the Heroic Spirits; they are the best at exerting their power in the Star Realm. The Fleet Girls are the same; their warships are extensions of their bodies, and they themselves have souls, enabling them to unleash great power in the Star Realm.
Katori and Neflen are similar. As Golden Fairies created from "Star God" Soul Fragments, their Soul Power is also strong.
In contrast, the Cursed Children aren’t so fortunate. Of course, for those like Natsuse who are skilled in Psionic, it’s better, but for those like Nobiru who rely on physical strength, they’ll be halved in the Star Realm. The Swarm faces the same issue. In the Star Realm, the size or number of your body isn’t the point; what matters is the strength of your soul and mental will.
Frankly, if you sent ten thousand Swarms there, they’d all get wiped out with one slap from someone proficient in soul annihilation.
If only Fang Zheng had Star Spirits under his command, it would be better; Swarm Soul Power... leaves a question mark.
However, Asuka was not the only one who wanted to go.
"Brother, I want to go too."
"Why do you want to tag along?"
Looking at Sora in front of him, Fang Zheng was a bit overwhelmed.
"Because that’s my world too, and I count as a friend of Touma. Having companions on a journey isn’t it nice?"
Sora argued reasonably, and Fang Zheng couldn’t say she was wrong...
"Alright, get ready. We’ll be setting off soon."
Ultimately, Fang Zheng agreed to Sora’s request. Returning to that world, he had already decided to turn it into a Free World. On one hand, being the God of Games, he indeed needed new territory. On the other hand... since that world already had the Multiverse Card, it surely wouldn’t be only Touma who possessed one.
What if Setsuna, Sekai, Word Leaf, Yukina, what if they also had one?
When Touma returned and said something about it, might they also try to reach this world through the cafe?
Those are acquaintances, but what if someone unknown came with a Multiverse Card?
Couldn’t really send people on such a remote trip every time.
Besides, Sora was right; it was her birthplace after all, and going back to have a look wasn’t bad at all.
Quickly, everyone prepared themselves, and then, at Fang Zheng’s command, they entered the Void Gate before them.
The next moment, they arrived in the Star Realm.
From the scenery, the Star Realm didn’t seem much different from cosmic space; a pitch-black background with shining stars adorned everything. However, upon entering the Star Realm, the group clearly noticed a difference. A faint Radiance began to appear within their bodies, as if an added special effect. Even the Warship that Fang Zheng and others rode was no exception; the originally metallic hull was shrouded in a faint glow, with white light points condensed into lines outlining every edge and corner of the Warship.
"Touma, you’re glowing!"
"You too..."
Looking at their own bodies, Touma and Sora were stunned, and the others were also quite surprised.
"No need to be so tense."
At this moment, something that looked like a Crystal Head floating beside Fang Zheng spoke up—this was the "compass" left to them by Stifal. Of course, Fang Zheng would say it resembled a self-regulating AI.
According to Stifal, this Crystal Head would guide them to the entrance of Touma’s world, then transform into a key to open the door, and everyone just needed to go in.
Simple and convenient.
Incidentally, Fang Zheng didn’t pay any money for this. Stifal somehow figured out his inventory and her ultimate request was a Gundam...
Fang Zheng naturally agreed without hesitation, directly fetching one from the Mech World for her. Anyway, the Gundam Stifal wanted was a scrap heap with a Little Mustache, at least in Fang Zheng’s view; it looked ugly and was useless, good for clearing out scrap. Since Stifal wanted it, Fang Zheng gave it to her.
"The Star Realm is a place of soul and will; your soul is more significant than your body, and the Radiance you emanate is proof of your soul—it will also become prey to other creatures in the Star Realm."
"You don’t need to worry about this."
Fang Zheng was unconcerned; he seemed like a blazing fiery figure now, everyone could even see a Sun burning within Fang Zheng.
"We have enough power to solve any problem that stands in our way."
"I hope so, but please be cautious."
The Crystal Head said this, then obediently shut its mouth.
"Alright, so now... where do we go?"
"Anywhere."
"........Huh?"
Hearing this, not only Fang Zheng but the others also showed surprised expressions.
"The Star Realm is a world of will and thought; countless fates converge here and spread from here. The infinite starry sky, the clues you seek are around you. As long as you move forward, before long you’ll make a discovery."
So we just walk anywhere and wait for a random event trigger?
This game design is really not user-friendly.
"We won’t waste too much time, will we."
Hearing this, Sora asked anxiously, while Fang Zheng shook his head.
"The Star Realm has no time; theoretically, as long as you stay in the Star Realm, you’re immortal."
"Really?"
Upon hearing this, Neflen and Katori curiously joined in.
"Of course, but there’s a condition: you don’t return to the real world, the immortality in the Star Realm is just an illusion. Once you return to other worlds, the time you escaped in the Star Realm will catch up with you."
Saying this, Fang Zheng pointed at Touma.
"Take Touma, for example; she can stay here for fifty years and remain unchanged. No need to eat or drink, no worries. But if she returns to her world, she’ll instantly become an old lady of eighty—then starve to death because she hasn’t eaten or drunk for fifty years."
"Uh..."
Hearing this, Touma’s face immediately changed.
"But don’t worry, I’ll maintain a normal Time Domain here, at least preventing you from being deceived by the Star Realm’s illusion."
As the Time Dragon, controlling time is Fang Zheng’s forte, maintaining a Time Domain is easier.
"We’d better find the exit quickly."
Even Sora couldn’t laugh anymore at this moment.
"I don’t want to go back and find others have all turned into eighty-year-old ladies!"
Then her plans would all be ruined!

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