Universe.
The cold glow of the warp had not yet fully dissipated around the Saintess Prayer when the entire fleet was enveloped by an invisible spatial force.
Ahead of the fleet stood a colossal cosmic gate.
It was composed of countless twisted metal rings, dark purple energy flowing across its surface and radiating a heart-palpitating light.
Guarding both sides of the stargate were two enormous entities vast enough to rival planets—War Gods.
The War God on the left was silver-white from head to toe, its surface covered in intricate Stigmata patterns. Twelve pairs of immense wings formed from particles of light extended behind it. In its hand it held a gigantic sword blazing with golden flames, exuding a sacred and majestic aura.
The War God on the right was a deep, abyssal black. Its armor was lined with bulging energy conduits resembling blood vessels. Its eyes were a pure crimson, and in its hands it carried a pair of massive chainsaw axes. Distorted dark matter coiled around its body, saturated with destruction and chaos.
At that moment, a vast voice resounded directly within the minds of all crew members. It did not come through the communicator, but through some kind of spiritual resonance that transcended physical laws.
The voice was solemn and cold, devoid of any human emotion.
"Halt, travelers."
The "Radiance" War God slowly raised the hand holding its greatsword, the tip of the blade pointing toward the Saintess Prayer as golden flames roared along its edge.
"This cosmic gate is restricted. Fleets without highest authorization are forbidden to approach."
The "Abyss" War God echoed it. Its voice was hoarser, like two massive stones grinding together. "Withdraw, or... be erased."
Standing beside Saintess Kallen, Wesk spoke into the communicator. "This is our authorization credential."
An encrypted imperial directive was transmitted through a stream of data. The colossal bodies of the War Gods shifted slightly, the energy patterns across their surfaces flickering between light and dark.
After a while, the "Radiance" War God finally spoke again, a trace of hesitation in its voice.
"Kallen... confirmed. Passage granted."
With authorization granted, the Fleet of Redemption immediately sped toward the cosmic gate.
On the bridge.
"Where does this gate lead?"
Saintess Kallen could not help asking.
"There is a sixty percent probability that it leads to a new universe outside our controlled range," the Red Queen manifested and replied. "Ever since those three went missing, we have been forbidden from entering new universes."
"You are not even completely certain, yet we are charging in like this. Is the risk not too great?"
Hua frowned.
The Red Queen had been dragging them across the Empire's various universes, already passing through fifteen imperial worlds. Their stay in each world had been short. They rarely remained for even a week before flying off to the next destination.
"Risk certainly exists. But that is not important."
"What matters is that we now have guidance and anchoring. We can safely wander and traverse other universes."
"What would happen without guidance and anchoring?"
Saintess Kallen asked curiously.
"We would become lost. It would be easy for something to go wrong."
The Red Queen continued explaining. "A multiverse can consist of infinite universes, and each universe can contain infinite smaller layers or sub-universes, endless without limit. Without guidance, a single round trip might send us somewhere unknown."
"Then there is reality anchoring. Without anchoring, our technology would become nothing more than scrap metal upon arriving in a world governed by completely different laws. Imagine a world made entirely of food, a world where everything is decided by playing cards, a world built around games, a world revolving around romance..."
"Additionally, due to differing laws between worlds, we might gain certain abilities. But we do not wish to gamble on that probability. It would be troublesome."
After hearing the Red Queen's explanation, Saintess Kallen and the others fell silent.
They had not even left the solar system before. What right did they have to be thinking about such things?
The process of passing through the cosmic gate was far gentler than expected. There was no anticipated sensation of space-time being torn apart, only a brief spell of weightlessness.
When the Saintess Prayer stabilized once more, the Red Queen's voice sounded.
"Spatial structure stable."
"Normal planetary gravitational source detected. Scanning environmental conditions of the planet..."
"Anomaly detected. No male lifeforms present on the planet."
However, at that very moment—
A sweet and unfamiliar female voice suddenly echoed within the bridge.
"Oh my, uninvited guests?"
With that voice, a graceful figure appeared within everyone's sight.
"You are—!!"
Kevin's brows drew together slightly.
"Isn't this Kevin and Su~? And you too, Fu Hua!" Elysia's eyes curved into crescents. She lightly tapped her lips with a finger and tilted her head in feigned cuteness, her pink eyes brimming with laughter. "What a wonderful encounter~"
A sweet smile hung on her face.
"Would this count as our first meeting, or a long time no see~?"
"..."
Kevin looked at her, complicated emotions rising in his heart.
"Why are you in this world?"
Su opened his eyes and carefully examined the pink elf before him. He could be certain this was not the Elysia from their own world.
"I am quite curious about that as well~ Why have you appeared here?"
Elysia gently brushed aside the strands of hair by her ear and looked at everyone with a bright smile.
"Why did you call me here?"
Mobius appeared on the bridge in a flash, in her half-human, half-serpent form.
"Look who they are."
Mobius followed Elysia's gaze and saw Kevin, Su, and Hua.
Counterparts?!
In this kind of situation, the probability was high that someone above had thrown them here.
She had experienced it once before.
The possibility of a chance encounter was infinitely close to zero.
"What did you do?"
"Oh my, I did absolutely nothing~" Elysia spread her hands innocently. "I merely took over this Empire under vassalage from a friend~"
"..."
An Empire under vassalage. Could it be that one?
Mobius checked, and it really was.
This woman truly dared to take over anything.
Certain types of worlds received special treatment within the Empire.
Hentai worlds were one of them.