Inside Black Paradise, within the meeting room, no one speaks.
Digital universal trees rise endlessly around them, their branches stretching into glowing infinity. Coiled among them, the Universal Serpent circles the room, its massive body sliding through space itself.
Susan steps forward.
"Then… it began."
The serpent releases a thunderous roar.
At the center of the room, a figure appears.
Adamas.
His dead celestial body floats in silence before slowly rising into the air. Divine energy erupts around him, spiraling into a violent storm that floods the room with blinding light.
The storm tightens, smaller, and denser.
Then it bursts into motion, dashing across the room like a living comet.
It slams onto the crown of a universal tree near Yunbam.
He looks up to see the storm explosion.
As it then reveals The Golden Kingdom of God.
Gasps echo through the room.
Basil steps forward, eyes wide.
"So you're saying the body of the God of Gods of our Garden… was used to create the Star Games?"
Susan nods.
The Universal Serpent roars again.
From its mouth, torrents of purple light pour forth, striking every universal tree in the room. One by one, they ignite with violet energy, all except the single tree bearing God's Kingdom.
"With its divine plan set in motion," Susan says calmly, "this universal tree became the only one with purpose. So… it devoured all the others."
Ezzy reaches out and touches a dying tree.
It flickers for a bit and then fades away into purple particles.
Across the room, universal trees begin to collapse one after another, dissolving into glowing purple particles. The energy streams upward, flowing directly into the serpent's body.
Turning the room much more darker.
Suddenly, near Wade and Hank, a digital spaceship materializes in midair.
Susan turns toward it.
"That's when we came along," she says. "The only survivors of Everest Garden."
Everyone watches as the ship accelerates and flies straight into the remaining universal tree.
Basil becomes curious.
"Wait, how did you even survive the destruction of Everest Garden?"
Susan exhales slowly.
"There's still so much more to say," she says. "But time is all we have left. And this part… is some what important."
Her gaze sharpens.
"So you all can fully understand the true meaning of Project Universe."
Suddenly, the Garden around them dissolves.
The universal trees vanish, replaced by towering structures of glass and light. Neon pathways stretch endlessly as they find themselves standing inside a digital city of impossibly advanced technology.
Susan's voice echoes through the space.
"This is before the destruction of my home planet," she says. "This is where the real Susan was born."
Floating limousines glide through the sky, their sleek frames cutting between skyscrapers. Dozens of other hovering vehicles swarm behind them, escorting the lead car like a royal procession.
The limousine slows and stops before a massive building.
The doors open as the real Susan steps out.
Instantly, thousands of people surge forward, cameras flashing, drones hovering, voices shouting her name. She smiles and waves, calm and radiant.
A digital screen materializes in front of everyone in the meeting room, zooming in on the event.
Up close, Susan's face is flawless as she is beloved.
She enters the building as cheers echo through the city.
"The real Susan," Susan continues softly, "was the most important person in the world. She achieved mostly everything for humanity."
The scene shifts.
Susan now stands on a massive stage before a roaring crowd. Cameras surround her from every angle, broadcasting the event across the planet.
"But there was still one thing missing," Susan says. "No matter how great she became… there was still loneliness in her heart."
A cheerful host steps forward, arms raised.
"Welcome, everyone!" he announces. "This is the show where you may finally find your true love!"
The crowd erupts in applause.
An old witch walks onto the stage, robes dragging across the floor. She raises her staff, and a glowing crystal ball forms before her. She sits across from Susan, eyes sharp and knowing.
The host gestures proudly.
"Our lovely witch here, can reveal anyone's soulmate within this crystal ball!"
The witch extends her hand, her long, needle-like index fingernail gleaming.
Susan mirrors the gesture.
Their fingers meet.
The nail pierces Susan's skin.
Blood spills into the air, suspended as glowing droplets before being pulled into the crystal ball.
The witch then begins chanting causing the crystal ball to shake.
Rising into the air, spinning faster and faster until it explodes into thick mist.
The fog reshapes itself into a floating magical screen.
The witch stares into it.
"This," she says slowly, voice trembling, "is your… true soulmate."
The screen shows darkness then distant explosions, fire blooming in the void.
Suddenly, a face emerges.
A face of demon.
Its eyes burn as it stares directly outward.
The audience screams.
Panic erupts across the stage.
The magic spirals out of control.
The witch doesn't even have time to cry out as she explodes in a violent burst of energy.
People begins to flee. Cameras shatter. Chaos consumes the studio.
But Susan doesn't move.
She stands frozen, eyes locked onto the magical screen, not in fear but in fascination.
Meanwhile, inside the Black Room of the Star Games.
Corvex leans forward, breathing heavily as laughter escapes her lips.
A shadow suddenly looms over her.
She reacts instantly, rolling aside as a massive stomp crashes down where she sat as it was Crank who attacked her.
He rushes her, fists flying in a relentless barrage. Corvex blocks most of the strikes with her forearms, but the impact rattles her body.
A sharp cough of blood escapes her mouth.
She slams into the wall and collapses to her knees.
"His strength…" she mutters, wiping blood from her lips. "It's not human-like."
Crank steps forward, towering over her.
"That's for attacking me earlier," he says coldly. "Even if it was for a greater purpose, I still have honor to uphold."
Corvex lifts her head and smiles through the pain.
"I like strong men like you," she says. "But your mind isn't as great as his."
Before Crank can respond, Boa steps between them.
"That's enough, Crank," Boa says firmly. "Your honor has been reclaimed. Rest now, until the next puzzle room begins."
Crank exhales and turns away.
Corvex watches them as she then says
"No one is as great as Nox, he is the only one that I'll ever love, so come on, I need to focus on surviving so I can get back to him."
Meanwhile, inside the White Room
Ignis lifts Tobias into his arms, steadying him as his strength slowly returns.
Hans steps forward and bows deeply.
"You're amazing, Sir Tobias," he says earnestly. "I never would've figured it out. The way you think is almost as brilliant as our party leader, Nox!"
Voytek follows, placing a hand over his chest as he bows.
"You're a clever one," he says. "Because of you, my grandson and I are still alive, Thank you so so much."
Tobias draws in a shaky breath with his eyes widen.
He doesn't quite understand what he's feeling but something warm blooms in his chest.
Happiness.
Ignis smiles.
"Doesn't it feel great?" he asks. "Hearing the words of those you saved. It makes you want to do better, for their sake."
He looks down, voice softening.
"That's exactly how I felt when I teamed up with Boas."
Tears well in Tobias's eyes.
He steps forward and wraps Ignis in a tight hug.
"I've always pushed people away back home," Tobias admits, voice trembling. "Even when I helped others, I was so afraid of criticism that I never wanted to hear feedback, good or bad. I never took that risk because my feelings always came first."
He tightens his grip.
"But hearing the good parts for the first time… it's not so bad."
Ignis returns the hug.
"Never doubt yourself, Tobias," he says. "You're the reason why I'm still alive. You're great. Don't let the bad parts define you, everyone has flaws."
He pulls back slightly, smiling with his hand on Tobias's shoulder.
"All we can do is keep bettering ourselves."
Suddenly, the Puzzle Boss Monster materializes before the Stars.
Its massive form hovers above the ground as its voice echoes around the room.
"Prepare yourselves for your final match. In this trial, you will no longer fight alone. You will face another Star Team."
The Boss snaps its fingers.
The puzzle pieces embedded in its head rotate, glowing with arcane light. Reality twists and the environment shatters.
In an instant, the setting transforms into a sunlit treasure island. White sand stretches beneath blue skies, palm trees sway in the wind, and ruins dot the coastline.
"This match will be called Treasure Hunting," the Boss declares.
Treasures shimmer into existence across the island.
"Hidden throughout this island are treasure chests. Each chest grants its finder rewards and points. At the end of two hours of the match, the team with the most points will be declared the winner."
Its eyes glow brighter.
"There are additional ways to earn points:
Hitting an enemy grants one point.
Killing an enemy grants ten points.
Lastly, each team begins with a special treasure."
The Puzzle Boss raises a hand.
A glowing orb of energy forms in the air.
"Before the match begins, each team will have ten minutes to hide their special treasure anywhere on this island and declare a location as their starting location. If a Star touches the other Team's special treasure, their team will automatically win the match."
A pause.
"For the losing team, only ten percent of the final rewards will be granted to them."
The Boss then tosses the orb towards the team.
"Your hiding period will begin shortly."
The Boss vanishes in a flash of magic.
A massive timer appears in the sky, ready to count down from ten minutes.
Both teams spring into motion.
Ignis steps toward his team's special treasure, resting on the sand. Across the island, another Star Team stands ready.
Corvex and her group.
Boa and Crank stare at their own special treasure, silent and focused.
The Puzzle Boss's voice echoes simultaneously at both starting points.
"Your time to hide your treasure begins, now!"
The timer starts ticking.
Corvex turns toward Boa and Crank, her expression sharp and decisive.
"We'll keep this simple," she says. "You two find a well-defended location and protect our special treasure with your lives. Me and the others will set out and hunt for points."
Boa nods.
"Don't kill them," he says firmly. "Keep them alive and farm as many points as possible."
Corvex smirks.
On the opposite side of the island, Ignis lifts his team's special treasure and looks around.
"Where should we hide this?"
Tobias steps forward, thinking quickly.
"The obvious choice would be a heavily defended location. Some of us stay behind to protect it, while the others go earn points."
Hans suddenly steps up, eyes gleaming.
"Can we not be so obvious?" he says. "I'm sure the other team is also thinking the same… we should do something different, to catch them off guard."
Everyone turns toward him.
As Hans smiles, hopping in place.
"I've got a great plan!"
The island breeze carries the ticking sound of the timer as everyone wonders what kind of great plan does Hans has in store.
Moments later, Stars from both teams spread across the island, scouting the island for treasures that are easily spotted before the match officially begins.
Boa and Crank carry their special treasure into a ruined castle. Broken towers loom overhead, ivy crawling along cracked stone walls.
Boa places his hand against the wall.
"This will be our starting point."
The castle pulses briefly with magic, its structure reinforcing itself as if acknowledging his claim.
On the opposite side of the island, Hans leads his team into a small, shadowed cave hidden beneath jagged rock formations.
He presses his palm to the cave wall.
"This place will work as our starting location."
The stone hums softly.
Voytek shakes his head, unease written across his face.
Tobias strokes his chin, studying Hans carefully.
"You're quite clever for someone your age."
Hans turns back to them, confidence flashing in his eyes.
"Alright, everyone! let's stick to the plan and win this together!"
Cheers echo through the cave.
Suddenly, the Puzzle Boss Monster appears high above the island.
It snaps its fingers.
In an instant, every Star across the island is warped back to their respective starting locations, bodies reappearing in flashes of light.
The Boss's voice booms across the sky.
"May the treasure hunting begin!"
Corvex and her team explode into motion, dashing out of the ruined castle and scattering into the dense forest, disappearing between towering trees, while Boa and Crank remain behind in the castle.
On the other side of the island, Hans clutches his stomach and exhales with confidence.
"Come on, everyone! let's go!"
He and his team sprint into the forest, vanishing into the greenery.
Leaving Tobias stays behind, standing quietly at the cave entrance.
Suddenly, a massive magic score board screen materializes in the sky.
Numbers begin to climb rapidly from both teams.
Team White (Hans's Team): 34 points
Team Black (Corvex's Team): 38 points
Across the island, Stars from both teams crack open treasure chests they had marked earlier.
Weapons emerge. Relics glow. Points flash into the air as scores climb rapidly.
Deep within the forest, Hans, Voytek, and several Stars rush into the towering interior of a massive World Tree. Its hollow trunk stretches upward like a cathedral, glowing veins of energy pulsing through the bark.
Hans spots a golden chest gleaming at the base of a root.
He opens it as points burst into the air and a strange fruit floats upward, a Star Fruit.
A glowing description appears before everyone's eyes:
"Consuming this fruit grants half of the eater's powers."
Voytek regroups with Hans.
"Hans, this way!" he shouts.
The team gathers and pushes deeper into the World Tree, weaving through glowing roots until they reach a vast opening.
At its center sits an enormous diamond treasure chest, radiating with power.
They step toward it in awe and freezes to see from the opposite side of the opening, Corvex and several Stars emerge from another entrance.
Both teams stop and lock eyes.
Shock flashes across their faces as they are surprised that they team they're facing are each other!
One by one each of them starts to sprint forward, expressions shifting from surprise to battle-hardened focus.
Voytek and Corvex leap into the air at the same time.
Corvex bites into a Star Fruit she takes out from her pocket, power surging through her body.
Hans hurls his Star Fruit toward Voytek.
Voytek catches it midair with his mouth and bites down, energy erupts.
Weapons form simultaneously in both of their hand, Corvex summons her blade, Voytek manifests his wind-forged sword.
Their weapons crash together in a thunderous clash, right atop the massive diamond treasure chest.