"Sigh, your life sounds like a movie, you know," Veronica said with a soft smile curving her lips. They had been talking about Anthony the entire evening, gossiping endlessly about him as though he were some mythical character in a romance tale rather than a man of flesh and blood.

"What can I say? I'm too blessed," Vega replied, her tone light, her own smile effortlessly radiant.

"Who would have thought that Anthony was as powerful as a Supreme Monarch this entire time?" Veronica mused, her tone a blend of awe and disbelief. "He sure knows how to hide." Her white hair flowed gently behind her, shimmering faintly under the soft starlight, while her luminous white eyes remained fixed on the silver moon hanging high above. The glimmering starlight poured down over the entire military base, bathing it in an ethereal glow that felt almost otherworldly.

She and Vega sat together on the balcony of her quarters, the cool night breeze caressing their faces as they continued their quiet conversation about Vega's love life.

"Yeah, I was surprised too…" Vega replied softly, her gaze drifting toward the distant horizon.

Veronica had already watched Anthony's battle online, every strike, every explosion of power, and although she was thrilled to witness it even through a screen, a part of her felt an ache of disappointment that she hadn't seen it live with her own eyes.

"I'm sure Damian will be thrilled to meet Anthony even more when he finds out that the soon-to-be Supreme Monarch they've been searching for is actually your boyfriend," Veronica said with a teasing smile. Her boyfriend, Damian, had recently mentioned the rumors of a prodigious individual rising through the ranks, someone on the verge of becoming the new Supreme Monarch.

Vega simply smiled, saying nothing in response, but her expression carried a quiet amusement.

Damian, Veronica's boyfriend, was one of the few people Vega truly respected. He was different, composed, grounded, and respectful. He had never once looked at her with lust or hidden desire, something that Vega, with her acute perception, could easily detect. Many others had tried to get close to Veronica simply to use her as a bridge to meet Vega, even pretending to love her for that very reason. But Damian was genuine; he spoke to Vega only when necessary and always with sincerity. He neither smiled more than needed nor lingered longer than politeness required.

"We should fix a double date already," Veronica said suddenly, her tone bright and enthusiastic. She was already thinking ahead, eager to connect her boyfriend with Vega's. After all, if she had the opportunity, why wouldn't she help her man? Damian had helped her countless times before; introducing him to someone like Anthony would only strengthen that bond.

"We'll go on the date in a few days," Vega replied with a small smile, her gaze drifting again to the moon above. "Since we've got nothing urgent to do, it'll be perfect timing."

"Looking forward to it then. I'll tell Damian," Veronica said, beaming like a lovestruck fool.

Vega chuckled quietly, amused by her best friend's expression.

"Do you want to see something?" Vega asked suddenly, a playful smirk spreading across her face. Her voice carried a teasing lilt as her glowing purple eyes shifted from the moon to fix upon Veronica.

"What is it? Out with it already," Veronica said calmly, though curiosity lingering behind her words.

Vega's smirk widened into a full-blown smile. She rose gracefully from her seat, her long hair swaying in the night breeze. "Why tell you," she said softly, "when I can show you?"

Veronica arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Sure then, show me," she replied, standing as well.

The air trembled as the two of them floated effortlessly off the balcony, and then, like twin streaks of light, they shot upward into the sky. The wind exploded around them, echoing with thunderous booms as they shattered both the sound and wind barriers in an instant. The night itself seemed to ripple in their wake.

Their beautiful hair and flowing clothes billowed wildly as they soared higher and higher, with Veronica doing her best to keep up. She followed Vega as fast as she could, the two of them tearing through the clouds, leaving behind trails of crackling energy that danced like lightning across the night.

Within mere minutes, they arrived at the Planetary Barrier, the massive, invisible dome of energy that shielded the planet from the crushing pressure and void energy of the outer galaxy. The stars beyond shimmered faintly, their beauty magnified by the barrier's translucent sheen.

"What are we doing here?" Veronica asked calmly, though her tone carried a trace of unease as she floated beside Vega.

Vega didn't respond immediately. Instead, she raised her hand, and in that instant, the world around them trembled. A surge of mana thundered out from her core, dense, powerful, and pure. It radiated outward in drowning waves, drenching the night sky in a breathtaking brilliance of deep blue.

Space itself seemed to answer her call. The air twisted, reality folded, and a shimmering tear opened before them, a massive portal that pulsed with energy. Almost instantly, another portal appeared beyond the Planetary Barrier, connecting directly to the outer galaxy.

Veronica's brows furrowed deeply as she stared at the portal. Her instincts screamed at her. She didn't understand why Vega was opening a path into the galaxy. Beyond the barrier was the pure void, and even the strongest beings in the military couldn't survive there unaided. The pressure alone could crush a mountain, and the weight of cosmic energy could obliterate flesh and bone in milliseconds.

Her white eyes turned from the swirling portal to Vega, who merely smiled back at her, calm and unbothered.

"Don't you trust me, Veronica?" Vega asked softly, her tone teasing but gentle. She floated just before the portal, her hand extended toward her best friend in silent invitation.

Veronica sighed deeply, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. "If I die because of you," she muttered, "make sure to tell your parents to resurrect me. I'm only nineteen, Vega. I haven't even enjoyed life well enough to depart from it."

Vega chuckled lightly as Veronica reached out, their hands meeting. The moment their fingers intertwined, the portal pulsed with light, and together, they stepped forward, leaving the military base completely behind as they crossed into the vast expanse of the galaxy.

Veronica shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself. She fully expected the crushing pressure of the void to hit her, to feel her body being ground into nothingness.

But… nothing happened.

A few seconds passed, and still, nothing.

Cautiously, she opened her eyes. What she saw made her breath catch in her throat.

Her expression shifted from apprehension to sheer awe. All around her stretched the infinite beauty of the galaxy, swirling nebulae painted in colors she had never imagined, stars burning in distant constellations, the slow rotation of planets and the shimmering dance of asteroids drifting through the cosmic sea. It was overwhelming, breathtaking, divine.

She had never seen anything so beautiful.

Although Veronica was a soldier, her life had been confined to the base. As a Private-ranked officer, her missions were limited to local engagements, fighting demons, training, and serving. She had never even boarded an outer military spacecraft, let alone seen the galaxy up close.

Her mind went blank, completely forgetting about how she was able to survive the destructive power of the void. All she could do was marvel at the view before her, her white eyes wide and glistening with wonder.

For the first time in her life, Veronica felt truly small, not in weakness, but in reverence. She was standing amidst the stars themselves, witnessing the grandeur of creation side by side with her best friend.

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