Professional

No one knew just how vast the Dark Void created by the great collision of light and darkness truly was. But for the Titans embarking on their long journey to find their kin, this boundless universe undoubtedly made their travels lengthy and dull.

Although the presence of Vanidak, a Titan full of surprises, often filled their journey with screams, roars, and... beatings, after an excessively long voyage through the stars, even this temperamental, troublemaking Titan gradually fell silent.

The first to notice Vanidak's silence was Aman'Thul, the most mature and steady member of the group. As the first Titan to be born, he seemed a natural leader. Out of concern for Vanidak's still-unextinguished conscience and his own naturally generous nature, Aman'Thul asked him, "My brother, Vani—" This nickname came from Eonar's furious shouts during countless journeys. Over time, it became Vanidak's abbreviation. Though the Titan had repeatedly declared that the name was lame as hell, no one ever paid attention to his protests, did they?

"Over these past tens of thousands of years, you seem to have become less... energetic than before. Did something happen?"

Hearing Aman'Thul's question, Vanidak, wearing the expression of a sage sleepwalking through a dream, turned to look at him. With those gleaming Titan eyes somehow arranged into a dead-fish stare, he said, "First of all, I need to say this again: don't call me Vani." Vani turned to look at the dark Astral Realm ahead. "I've merely become profound because I've matured. It's the mark of a mature Titan. Don't you agree, profound Norgannon?"

Ignoring the familiar sarcasm in his companion's final words, Norgannon rolled his already glowing white eyes and replied, "If you have time to 'act' profound, why not come help me pinpoint the Spatial Beacon for teleportation? That was supposed to be your job."

"But you always refused to let me handle the teleportation before." Hearing Norgannon's words, Vani shouted indignantly, "When it comes to teleportation, I'm a professional! How dare you question a professional!"

"Yes, yes, a professional. Then how do you explain the previous destinations? The World Flame Core, spatial rifts, nests of strange and dangerous creatures..." Hearing Vani's words, even the normally steady Norgannon seemed to lose his temper. He roared at this professional, "How many times has it been? Once, my beard almost got left behind inside a world core!"

"That was just a mistake, a tiny accident!" The so-called professional shouted with a posture of utmost pride and confidence, though there was a trace of embarrassment in his voice.

"Oh? Just a mistake? But..." Norgannon seemed to regain his usual calm, wise demeanor. From somewhere, he pulled out a spellbook formed from Arcane energy and read aloud, "One planet covered in Void Terrors, thirty-four World Flame Cores, sixty-seven massive spatial rifts..." He flipped forward several pages and continued, "Oh, and once there was a particularly combative world. But according to Eonar, it seemed that wasn't the first time you were beaten up by creatures from that world?"

Seeing Norgannon's teasing gaze, the defenses of a certain unreliable professional finally seemed to crumble. That confident expression vanished, and he merely tried to defend himself in a low voice. "Those were just tiny mistakes. Can a professional's mistakes even be called mistakes? Besides, do you know the four forms of a portal? I am..."

"Enough, no need to explain. We all understand your level of professionalism very well." Having won the daily verbal battle, Norgannon delivered one final steady stab at Vani before turning to Aman'Thul. "My brother, are you certain you sensed the call of our kin? I haven't detected anything within the dark nebula ahead."

"Yes, my brother, I am certain," Aman'Thul replied confidently. "Perhaps this unusual star region is blocking the call of the World Soul." He glanced at Vani, who had suffered a devastating blow, and continued, "I have encountered such circumstances before."

"Then what should we do next? Enter it, or... pass through it?" Norgannon drew several mysterious magic circles and continued, "According to magical detection, there don't seem to be any celestial bodies inside. This is likely just a nebula formed from cosmic dust."

"Exactly, my brother. Your wisdom is always so admirable and trustworthy." Aman'Thul affirmed Norgannon's words. "The call I sensed lies beyond this nebula. We will likely need to... leap over it."

"So it is once again time for the great Titan, master of space, professional of teleportation, to step in?" Vani, who seemed fully revived, suddenly joined the conversation.

Aman'Thul was about to say something when Eonar quietly nudged his elbow and whispered, "My brother, I don't think letting Vani open a spatial passage is a good idea. He is always so... Anyway, I have a bad feeling about this."

"Rest assured, my dear Eonar. When it comes to space, Vani's abilities are beyond doubt." Aman'Thul looked at Vani. "Besides, he has never acted recklessly when searching for our kin."

Watching Vani start another argument with Norgannon, Aman'Thul stepped forward and interrupted them. "Enough, my brother. Your command of space makes you worthy of our trust. This task is perfectly suited to a... professional like you."

"So you agree?" Hearing Aman'Thul's words, Vani cast Norgannon a disdainful glance, folded his arms, and said proudly, "At last, someone who knows what they're talking about. I am a pro-fes-sion-al!"

Ignoring Norgannon's glare and tightly clenched fists, the Titan who knew when to quit before getting beaten raised his right index finger toward the dark nebula ahead and shouted, "Perhaps you still doubt my professional ability. Then let me explain this to you from a professional's perspective!"

"This dark nebula before us—do you truly think it is merely a nebula made of cosmic dust?" Brushing back the long hair atop his head, Vani continued, "Wrong. Very wrong. Completely wrong. Ordinary stardust would never possess such immense dark energy. Then what created the situation before us?"

Vani turned, placing one hand at his collar as though holding something while pointing at the starry sky with the other. "There is only one truth! This place is filled with Void rifts!"

Though he did not understand what the first half of his routinely crazed kinsman's declaration meant, Aman'Thul still turned to Norgannon, the group's authority on magic and wisdom, out of caution. Seeing Norgannon give him a slight nod, he said, "That is indeed the case. I failed to notice it before as well. Such immense dark energy could not gather on its own. It now appears that Void rifts do exist here. Though I hate to admit it, Vani is indeed extremely perceptive in this regard."

Hearing the answer of a genuine professional, Aman'Thul was reassured and loudly played along with his kinsman. "Then what should we do?"

"Excellent question." Seemingly delighted that his elder brother was cooperating so well, Vani turned and gave Aman'Thul a thumbs-up, continuing his 'professional' explanation. "To use teleportation to cross the rift-filled region before us is difficult, difficult, difficult." He said difficult three times in a row, wearing a deeply troubled expression. The Titans, already familiar with his temperament, realized he was acting up again and darkened their faces.

At last, Vani's physical nemesis within the group—Eonar—could no longer endure his nonsense. It should be mentioned that his mental nemesis was naturally—Norgannon. She silently summoned her staff and held it before her, then stared at the Titan still immersed in his own performance.

Perhaps he sensed his nemesis's stare, or perhaps he inadvertently saw that long rod that had left him with unforgettable memories. Yes, that was how Vani referred to Eonar's staff, which brimmed with the powers of life and nature. The professional performer finally stopped his artistic display and continued his explanation seriously.

"Therefore, we need a stable energy source to envelop us, then use a sharp blade to carve open the space ahead at the fastest speed possible. We must advance at a speed the rifts cannot catch. That is the most efficient and stable method of passage." Then he struck a strange pose, raised his head toward nowhere in particular, and said in a low voice, "To carve out a bright future for my companions, what does it matter if I alone must make the sacrifice?"

Ignoring Eonar, who finally could not hold back and seized her staff to unleash Titan's Eighteen Paths of Mad Demon Staff Technique, Aman'Thul once again asked Norgannon to confirm whether this method was feasible. The normally composed Norgannon stroked his newly grown long beard and pondered carefully before saying to Aman'Thul, "At least with my current wisdom, I can find no problem with this plan. Vani seems to have finally been reliable for once. We can give it a try."

After pulling Eonar off Vani, whom she was already straddling and pummeling with her fists, Aman'Thul said to the expert lying on the ground, "So, my brother, you are still so reliable at critical moments. We agree to use your method. What should we do next?"

"First, use your magical power to envelop yourselves." Rising and patting nonexistent dust from his body, Vani continued, "Then connect with me through your power over time. That will ensure you do not lose your bearing relative to me during spatial travel."

Having finished dusting himself off, the Titan continued, "Naturally, the task of opening space will be carried out by me, the professional."

After a series of magic circles were constructed and powers gathered around them, a massive, brilliant dark-purple sphere appeared in the starry sky, connected at its front to a flickering golden radiance.

Standing at the front as the navigator, Vani adjusted himself and called back, "Testing, testing. This is the professional navigator. Are you ready?"

After receiving an angry curse from Eonar and confirmation from Aman'Thul, the professional navigator ahead shouted, "No more nonsense! Charge!" A flash of silver light appeared. In the next instant, the portal ahead opened wide, and the four Titans rushed into the star region at an indescribable speed, leaping through space from time to time.

Feeling the spatial passages passing around them at intervals, Norgannon could not help but sigh to Aman'Thul, "Though Vani's mad ramblings are troublesome, when it comes to his innate power, he truly is a professional."

Just as Aman'Thul nodded in agreement and was about to praise his unreliable brother as well, a startled cry suddenly came from ahead.

"Ah! We're off course!"

The very next second, a massive spatial rift radiating an ominous aura appeared before them. Before the three Titans behind could react, the lead navigator, unable to stop in time, dragged them headfirst into it.

Natural spatial rifts were filled with turbulent currents of time and space. Believe me, passing through one would not harm the powerful Titans, but the experience itself was truly indescribable.

The three Titans caught in the spatial turbulence were now experiencing that feeling firsthand. Even Norgannon, always calm and steady, could no longer maintain his dignity as he roared at Vani, "Vani! What kind of professional navigation is this? You can even run off course!"

The navigator being scolded by his companion was being tossed around as well. Hearing the accusation, he struggled to argue back. "How is that my fault? If Eonar hadn't kept punching me in the face, would my eyes have swollen up? And if my eyes hadn't swollen up, would I have gone off course?"

"And stop calling me Vani! It always makes me think of some master barber!"

"And why has everyone been calling me Vani this entire chapter?!"