System's POV
chapter-291

Artem was one of the moons of Solterra. But, within this moon lived a race of humans that were referred to as Moon People.

Ironically, the other moon, which went by the name Chandrea, also had Moon People in it.

But, these two races didn't get along.

Countless wars had been fought between them in the past, but after a great struggle, the people of Artem won, forcing the people of Chandrea to go into hiding.

But, the Royal Family of Chandrea didn't run and hide, which was part of the agreement they had with the Royal Family of Artem, so that their people would be spared.

And, a year after that war, a girl was born between the Princess of the Chandrea, and the King of Artem.

However, this child wasn't born out of love.

No.

She was born so that the King of Artem could absorb and refine her bloodline, allowing him to become a Celestial.

But, Callie's mother didn't want that to happen.

She wanted to save her baby, so she sent her to Solterra in secret.

As a drastic measure to prevent her husband from knowing where the baby was, she erased her memory, so that no matter how much she was interrogated or tortured, she would not divulge where she had sent her daughter.

Years passed, and the King of Artem still couldn't find the baby. He had tried many times to get his wife pregnant, but the Princess of the Moon was only allowed to give birth to one child.

As long as that child was alive, she wouldn't be able to give birth again.

The Moon of Chandrea had mystic powers, and whether it had a Deity that also wished to save the child or not, it ensured that she was well hidden from the eyes of the King of Artem.

However, during a Lunar Eclipse, when the Deity's power was weak, the King of Artem conducted a ritual, which would allow him to find his daughter's whereabouts.

That was when he found out that she was on Solterra, particularly the Arcadia Archipelago.

After finding where his daughter was, he made preparations to send his people to Solterra on the next Lunar Eclipse, so that they would retrieve his daughter.

But, to ensure that Callie wouldn't be able to escape him, he had sent two structures to the Arcadia Archipelago to prevent his daughter from escaping.

These were the two Pyramids that would allow them to erect a gate, which would allow them to teleport directly to the island.

At first, they were only able to send a few of their people because they didn't know if the connection was stable enough.

This was also why Callie, Uncle Boo, and Albion, managed to repel and kill the first invaders that came to the island.

But, after using the first transfer as an experiment, they understood that they could modify the pyramids, to allow them to transfer more of their people.

Uncle Boo and Albion had once tried to destroy the Pyramids. But, they were unable to do it.

They was made from an unknown metal that reflected their attacks back at them, leaving them seriously injured.

And now, as the day of the Lunar Eclipse neared, an army of over a thousand Artemians would be sent to Solterra, and create a foothold on the Arcadia Archipelago.

Ten years later, after he had fully absorbed Callie's power, and bloodline, he would become a Celestial, allowing his people to invade Solterra.

"Eremiel, once Callie has gained her new body, you will personally escort her back here to the Palace," a handsome man, who seemed to only be in his late twenties, said in a commanding tone. "You will also order your subordinates to build the foundation of our Empire in Arcadia.

"From there, we will spread far and wide to conquer the nearby lands, and make them bow to our will. Do this, and you will be rewarded. Fail, and you know what will happen to you, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Eremiel replied.

"You may go. I want to see how Callie breaks after seeing her two loyal companions die in front of her. Once she has served her purpose, I will dispose of her, and make sure that her mother will give birth to another child.

"The bloodline of the Royal Family of Chandrea is so mysterious. I feel like, after reaching the Celestial Rank, the other child would help me reach greater heights."

The handsome man couldn't help but chuckle as he envisioned a future where he would rule not only Artem and Chandrea, but Solterra as well.

For that to happen, he needed to become a Celestial first, allowing him to gain the power that would make him a force to reckon with.

The handsome man then walked towards the balcony of his palace, where he could see the beautiful world of Solterra in the distance.

"A new conquest awaits me," the King of Artem said with a smile. "Soon, another world will become mine."

A few days later, just before sunset, Thirteen gathered all the Wanderers together.

"All of you take one!" Thirteen said as he handed wristbands to the teenage boys and girls who had come to answer his call.

"Wristbands?" Kane arched an eyebrow. "Where did you get these, Brother Zion?"

"Trade secret," Thirteen replied. "Since you already have one, can you move away? There are others who still haven't gotten theirs."

Kane obeyed and walked away, and observed the wristband in his hand.

At first, he just thought that it was an ordinary wristband, but after taking a good look at it, he noticed that there were words written in it.

"Arcadia Survivor. Year 3024," Kane muttered as he looked at the wristband in surprise.

The other Wanderers also read what was written on the wristbands, and felt something warm rise up to their chest.

The words "Arcadia Survivor", meant that this accessory would serve as a memento of their first mission in Solterra.

Many of the Wanderers became emotional, and some even cried because they felt the message that the ten-year-old was trying to convey to them.

Survive, and treat this mission as the stepping stone to a better and brighter future.

They didn't know how many of them would be able to survive, but one thing was certain… they would do whatever it took to return to their families alive.

One by one, the Wanderers put on the wristbands, and looked at Thirteen with eyes that had no intention of dying.

"I want one, too," Uncle Boo, who had also lined up, asked for a wristband.

"Eh? This will break after you transform," Thirteen blinked. "But, sure. Here you go."

The boy handed the Beholder a wrist band, which made Uncle Boo smile from ear to ear.

"I will not wear this," Uncle Boo stated. "But, I'll keep it with me as a good luck charm."

"You believe in good luck charms?" Thirteen arched an eyebrow.

"Whether I believe in it or not doesn't matter," Uncle Boo replied. "Because, we will need all the luck we can get right now."

The Beholder said as he looked in the distance.

The tip of the Pyramids were shining, which meant that the Lunar Eclipse would begin soon.

"Everyone, we have been together for many weeks, and although the time we spent with each other wasn't that long, I believe that this memory I have with all of you will be with me for life," Thirteen stated. "I want all of you to remember this.

"Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things that you thought you couldn't do. We are Wanderers. Wherever we go, and no matter how long our journey is, there will come a time when our paths will cross each other.

"Not all those who wander are lost. Sometimes, it just means that we are meant to wander, so that we can bring others back home."

Thirteen then raised his right hand, whose wrist was also wearing a wristband, and closed it into a fist before pressing it over his chest.

"Our long journey has just begun. It is not our time to rest amongst the stars."

All the Wanderers clenched their fists as they stared at the boy, who was now acting as their leader with moist eyes.

When a Wanderer died, a shooting star would appear in the heavens of Pangea.

A sight, which was once beautiful, was now treated as an ill omen by those who lived in the world because they knew that somewhere, out there, a Wanderer had lost their life.

So, Thirteen's words hold great significance to them, making them believe that they would be able to see the sunrise when morning came.

As if waiting for that moment, the two pyramids shot a beam of light towards each other, which intersected above the second Island of the Arcadia Archipelago.

Slowly, but surely, a small gate was opening, which was the signal that after an hour, the people of Artem would descend upon the world.

"Battle Stations," Thirteen ordered, making all the Wanderers, and the Monsters who had agreed to cooperate with them, position themselves for a mad dash towards the Gate of the Moonlight.

Uncle Boo and Albion transformed into their true forms, with the intention to save the person whom they loved and cared for the most in their lives.

Thirteen stood in front of everyone with his arms crossed over his chest. He had a fearless look on his face, and didn't seem the least bit scared of the monsters that would come to slaughter them all.

He was the youngest, and smallest among the teenage boys and girls.

But, at this time, everyone who was looking at his back, felt that he was larger than life.