The Blue Planet...
A jewel amidst nowhere. Surrounded by a vast blanket of velvet blanket filled with silvery sparkles.
What makes this place unique is the fact that it has its own sun and moon that revolve around it. Compared to Earth, it is definitely many times bigger.
This world used to be a marvel when seen from Outer Space. A mixture of green, blue, and white used to be the most prominent colors it had.
The Blue Planet used to look like a piece of art.
That is until they came...
Now, the Blue Planet was divided into two main colors; Black and Gold, taking half of the planet's face for themselves.
There are certain parts where these colors clashed, signifying the two camps of invaders going at each other's throats. Because of this, it was incredibly difficult to determine if there were truly other creatures living on this planet aside from those who painted this world with these colors.
Also, back then, the Blue Planet only has a sun and moon. Now, it has additional things hovering at its poles.
One looked like a golden beacon of light while the other looked like a pool of dark mass that wriggles as if it were alive.
Both are just as sinister as the other in reality, for they wanted nothing more than to completely paint this planet with their color and annex it under their rule.
From an outside perspective, it would seem that nothing was stopping them from landing on the planet and performing their mission, but in reality, there is a great wall that prevents them from doing so.
This wall was invisible, it could not be seen by the invaders at all, but for any humans who were born on the Blue Planet, it is visible.
It takes on the form of a bark, a shell that completely encapsulated the entire planet within. Protecting it from any further harm.
Unfortunately, this barrier isn't flawless.
The most it could do is to prevent those who had enough power to deal some serious damage to the planet. Those who don't meet that requirement, are given free access to land to be dealt with by the planet's citizens.
This is how the Twisted Heavenly Tree works. And even though there's much to be desired out of it, the fact that it's still serving its purpose makes it still important.
Because of what it does, the invaders hated it a lot.
To them, this was the main thing that was stopping them from doing their mission. The one preventing them from deciding on whom this world truly belongs to, completely disregards the existence of the locals.
Still, just because they hated it, that doesn't mean that they're unable to do something about it.
The Celestials and the Hypogeans are races that are even older than this world itself. They've been at each other's odds longer than Humanity's existential history.
Their developments are far more advanced compared to Humanity. Not to mention, they are inherently stronger compared to Humans. These are the main reason why they can completely disregard Humanity as a whole. They will never believe that Humanity will be able to amount to anything, especially not to them.
That's why, at best, these races consider Humans are food. A rare delicacy that is only found in this world.
At least, that's how it was supposed to be...
"...how peculiar." A voice murmured to itself.
"When was the last time something like this happened?" It continued, "My, it's been so long that I can't remember it anymore for the life of me."
The shadow peered below him. Its pale golden pupils which appeared like slits reflected the scene it was seeing.
A small lump of earth, shining with a colorful aurora. Like a dazzling pearl amidst the endless sea of sand, competing against the brilliance of the sun.
There's something marvelous about it. Giving off an impression of beauty, aloofness, and uniqueness. The sight was alluring, eye-catching, and praise-worthy.
Something that irks the shadow a lot. Triggering its twisted heart, making it want to crush it to smithereens until it's reduced to nothing but mere sparkles.
"Mnh..." the creature moaned in arousal.
The sadistic thought definitely fed its desire even more. Yet despite this, the creature's eyes remained intelligent.
It might be feeling a twisted desire for destruction but it is patient and smart enough to undstand that nothing could be done for now.
"My, how vexing..." the creature muses. "I could distinctly remember not liking the aftermath of something like this happened in the past. But for the life of me, I could not remember what exactly happened back then."
The creature then sighed mournfully and said: "this is one of the downsides of being an immortal I guess."
It then peeled its gaze away from that lump of earth and turned its head to the side. It lifted one of its limbs and wrapped it around a silver bell. The creature shook it, causing the bell to make a sound, before putting it back to where it was before.
Shortly after, a hulking figure appeared behind where the creature sat. A pair of bright crimson eyes emerged from the shadows. It knelt down in reverence and said:
"My Liege..."
"My Dear Labolas..." the Creature stated, "How have you been? I haven't seen you for a while."
"I am well, thanks to your grace, My Liege."
A limb crept up to the hulking figure. The latter took initiative to take the limb and pressed a chaste kiss on it, filled with reverence and fealty.
"Mnh...I've almost forgotten what you feel like, my dear. Thank you for reminding me."
"Use me however you like, My Liege." The Hulking Figure said with a hurried breath.
A tense silence erupted within the room, the limb of the Creature then started doing inexplicable things to the Hulking Figure called Labolas.
"Oh, my dear Labolas..." the Creature called out in a sultry manner, "I know I could count on you. It's for that reason that I decided to keep you by my side. Shall I share my burdens with you?"
"It would be an honor for one such as I to be of use to you, My Liege." Labolas replied.
"Very well..." the Creature said, withdrawing the limb wrapped around Labolas. "Seek warmth in my embrace, my faithful soldier."
Labolas wasted no time and dove into the embrace of the creature. Sinking into a vast well of an abyss that swallowed the hulking figure whole.
Strings of indecent sounds echoed across the room, the Creature writhed unspeakably on its throne. This lasted for a good while before it spat Labolas out, covered in sticky goo and limping as if it was injured.
Despite this, Labolas obediently knelt in front of the creature and waited for further orders.
"..."
"..."
"...the locals of this world are up to something." The Creature stated after catching its breath. "The movement of the stars shifted greatly that I couldn't accurately decipher it anymore."
Labolas remained silent.
"This happened before, I know it. And I also remember not liking what happened next, so before history repeats itself, I want you to figure out a way to land in this world and stop whatever it is that its locals were planning. Can I trust you to do this, My dear Labolas?"
"Your wish is my command, My Liege." Labolas replied.
The Creature removed its gaze from Labolas and peered at the glowing lump of dirt once more.
"The protective barrier of this world might pose a challenge to your mission. For that, I am allowing you to use the Eclipse Drill."
"My Liege, using the Eclipse Drill might alert our enemies."
"Let it be then..." the Creature stated, "Besides, I'm not the only one who had discovered this, anyway. If anything, I'm pretty sure that the opposing camp was already planning something like this, so it's no use worrying about it."
"Understood."
"Also, I heard that the locals of this world had a peculiar taste. It has been the rave of the minions and I've got to say that I'm certainly interested to find out whether that's true."
"..."
"So if you could, try to capture some for me, yeah? Who knows? Maybe it will allow me to feel alive again."
"Rest assured, My Liege. I will only bring you nothing but the best." Labolas replied.
"Mn, I'm looking forward to it, My Dear Labolas. Go on, I await your glorious return."
Labolas nodded and withdrew from the room as a shadow.
Silence pervaded the room once Labolas was gone. The creature's gaze remained stuck in that lump of mud that was emitting a wonderful array of colors, sticking out like a sore thumb.
The creature licked its mouth subconsciously in anticipation. Saying:
"I have no idea how you pests are doing this."
"But the luck of your world belongs to me and only me. It doesn't matter how hard you try, at the end of the day, you will fall as many did in the past."
"But I suppose...a little bit of a delay wouldn't hurt. I do love watching hope drain from you. Until then, I shall be here, patiently waiting."
The creature then blended into the darkness until it completely disappeared.
