A violent vibration tore through the silence of space.
DUDDUDDUDDUDD—
The sound echoed endlessly.
Aqualis’ hand trembled as he drifted forward, his body wrapped inside a fragile sphere of shimmering water.
His Water Bubble Shield.
It was the only thing keeping him alive.
He forced a weak smile.
“…At this rate… if I don’t reach that planet within ten minutes…”
His voice cracked.
“…this space will become my grave.”
The translucent sphere around him flickered.
This shield was not ordinary water.
It carried oxygen drawn from Earth itself, allowing him to breathe. It protected his body from the crushing cold, the vacuum, the radiation.
It was his lifeline.
And it was shrinking.
Getting thinner.
Weaker.
He looked ahead.
A distant planet slowly grew larger.
Hope.
Just a little more…
Just a little—
Suddenly—
The Harvesting Machine ahead of him accelerated violently.
It crashed into the planet’s surface like a falling star.
BOOM.
The shockwave reached him instantly.
His Water Bubble Shield shattered.
Aqualis’ body slammed into the ground, rolling across the hard surface.
Pain exploded through his body.
He coughed.
But he was alive.
He forced himself to stand.
His eyes locked onto the Harvesting Machine.
“That’s it…”
He clenched his fist.
“I just need to take back the mana… and return to Earth…”
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But when he lifted his head—
He froze.
At first, he thought the sky was red.
But it wasn’t the sky.
It was demons.
An ocean of demons.
Endless.
Countless.
Covering the land like a living sea.
And at the center—
He saw it.
A massive sphere of glowing energy.
It wasn’t Earth’s mana.
It was energy stolen from another planet.
They were processing it.
Refining it.
Preparing it.
Rage surged inside him.
He stepped forward.
Every demon turned toward him.
Their eyes locked onto him.
Aqualis’ heart pounded.
“…Can I… defeat all of them?”
He raised his hand.
“Water Slash.”
A blade of water exploded outward.
Dozens of demons were torn apart instantly.
Their bodies fell.
For a moment—
It felt easy.
Too easy.
Then he realized the truth.
Only the demons in front had fallen.
Behind them—
More.
Endless.
Filling the horizon.
Like throwing a stone into the ocean.
No matter how many he killed—
More would come.
His mana was draining.
Fast.
He looked at the glowing sphere of Earth’s mana. An idea formed. “…I’ll just take a little…” He reached out. The moment he touched it— Power flooded into him. Overwhelming. Violent. Corrupting. It felt intoxicating. Addictive. He could take it all. Every last drop. His hand trembled. No. His eyes widened. “…If I take this…” He pulled his hand back instantly. “…I’ll become like them.” This power was wrong. It wasn’t meant to be stolen. He stepped back.
He stepped back.
He needed another way.
Immediately, water surged around him.
A sphere formed.
A Water Prison Shield.
He trapped himself inside and launched forward.
The shield crushed demons as it moved.
He didn’t stop.
He couldn’t stop.
He had to escape.
Recover.
Then return.
He pushed more mana into it.
Faster.
Faster.
The shield broke the sound barrier.
Demons exploded on impact.
But his mana was running out.
Finally—
He stopped.
The shield collapsed.
He fell to his knees.
Breathing heavily.
Then—
He noticed something.
A village.
He frowned.
Demons walked freely.
But they weren’t alone.
Other species.
Creatures from different planets.
Working.
Living.
Among demons.
Slaves.
Rage ignited inside him.
He stepped forward.
He broke into a nearby house.
He grabbed a demon by the collar and lifted it violently.
“Don’t move.”
His voice was cold.
“What is your name?”
The demon trembled.
“…Reth.”
“What is this planet called?”
“…Demiomorph…”
“Who is your Supreme Leader?”
Fear filled the demon’s eyes.
“…Jiroven…”
“Who are you people?”
Silence.
Aqualis’ grip tightened.
“Answer me!”
Before the demon could speak—
Aqualis froze.
He noticed the slave beside him.
They weren’t afraid of each other.
They were sitting together.
Like friends.
Not master and slave.
His grip slowly loosened.
Confusion filled his mind.
He released him.
“…Sorry.”
Both of them stared at him in shock.
“My name is Aqualis.”
“I came from Earth.”
“Our planet is under attack.”
“A monster is stealing our planet’s energy.”
“I chased the stolen energy.”
“And that chase led me here.”
His voice hardened.
“If what you’re saying is true…”
“Help me save my planet.”
Silence.
The demon looked at him.
Something changed in his eyes.
Then—
He spoke.
“…Because not everything is as you think.”
“Jiroven believes our planet deserves to survive at any cost.”
“He steals energy from other worlds.”
“He enslaves their people.”
“Many worship him as a god.”
His voice darkened.
“But not all of us.”
He looked at the slave beside him.
“He is my friend.”
“We grew up together.”
Aqualis’ eyes widened.
“We opposed Jiroven.”
“We called it wrong.”
“We protested.”
His hands trembled.
“They killed many of us.”
“They made fear into law.”
“If we speak again…”
He swallowed.
“Our families will die.”
Silence filled the room.
Aqualis finally understood.
This planet…
Was broken.
Not evil.
Broken.
Then—
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
A loud sound echoed through the house.
A voice followed.
“Open the door.”
Aqualis froze.
“A foreign intruder has been reported.”
Cold sweat ran down the demon’s face.
Fear filled his eyes.
If they were discovered—
They would all die.
Aqualis clenched his teeth.
His mana was empty.
His body was exhausted.
He couldn’t fight.
Not now.
The knocking grew louder.
“Aqualis.”
The demon whispered.
“…What have you brought upon us?”
Aqualis said nothing.
He simply stared at the door.
And waited.
