Amber Era 2105
Longing for eternal life, the emperor of an ancient nation built nine enormous ships to seek it out. Their passengers were known as the "Seekers of Medicine," and the nine ships were called the Xianzhou.
The Xianzhou sailed away from the ancient nation's star system, heading toward the unknown sea of stars. From a place no one knew of, Ayinai watched the nine ships.
Xianzhou that existed to seek the elixir of immortality? The elixir of immortality...
Ayinai knew perfectly well who was connected to the elixir of immortality. Come to think of it, that person had some connection to her too, though Ayinai had never paid it any mind.
But now, she had to admit that the Xianzhou had piqued her interest. An Aeon's actions needed no reason in the first place, and Ayinai didn't know why she was interested either. If she had to give a reason, was it because of the nine ships?
Ayinai watched the Xianzhou gradually sail away, then concealed herself and followed behind them. As the Aeon of [Existence], she wasn't actually as busy as the other Aeons.
After all, [Existence] itself was an obscure and difficult concept, so few things could draw Ayinai's interest or gaze. The Xianzhou happened to qualify, though, because their target was Yaoshi of [Abundance].
They existed to pursue an Aeon. Wasn't that interesting?
Amber Era 2110
Over the course of several hundred years, the Xianzhou began to draw the attention of the major factions, though in their eyes, the Xianzhou were still insignificant.
Since Ayinai's ascension to godhood, Pathstriders had sprung up like mushrooms after rain, but there had been no news of an Emanator of [Existence].
Those Pathstriders of Existence gathered together and founded what was now the largest faction of Existence in the universe, a faction called the "Garden of Existence."
Ayinai knew of the Garden of Existence. Although she didn't care about it, she had approved of its existence. To her, no matter who you were or what you existed for, as long as you had a reason and a goal for existing, you could gain Ayinai's approval. After all, Ayinai wouldn't allow a faction she disapproved of to grow.
But compared to the Garden of Existence, which clearly belonged to the Aeon of Existence's forces, Ayinai was evidently more interested in other factions, such as the Xianzhou, which had just set sail.
Amber Era 2113
The Xianzhou Daiyu
Daiyu's Sky-Faring Commission
This was the heart of the Xianzhou Daiyu, its command center and the seat of its highest authority.
Qingzhu, Helmsman of the Sky-Faring Commission, was studying an interstellar navigation chart she had purchased from the Interastral Peace Corporation. She looked at the Xianzhou Daiyu's position, then at the positions of the other Xianzhou, and frowned slightly.
"Helmsman, what's wrong?"
Standing beside her, Qingxin noticed her reaction. Why had she suddenly frowned?
Qingzhu pointed to Daiyu's position on the chart, then to the other Xianzhou. "We're a little too far from the other ships. Over the years, they've consumed energy much faster than we have. Building up the Xianzhou is important, of course, but expanding them now, when we can't even determine our next stop, is a disadvantage instead."
The galaxy was vast, and with no idea when they would reach their next stop, the Xianzhou's current condition simply wouldn't allow them to make it to their next destination. Although the Xianzhou had energy conversion devices aboard, they couldn't withstand sudden renovations either.
Qingzhu held her forehead, a helpless look on her face. There was no helping it. The population aboard the Xianzhou kept growing, and if they found Yaoshi of [Abundance], they would have to expand anyway. Since they had to expand one way or another, why not do it now?
So while the other Xianzhou were being expanded, the Xianzhou Daiyu took on the responsibility of scouting ahead. The Helmsmen of the other ships had tried to persuade her otherwise, but she had politely declined.
The immediate priority was to find a planet where the Xianzhou could stop for a brief rest, so the other ships could get through this period of refitting.
"Reporting to the Helmsman, we've found a planet ahead. Its size meets the requirements for the Xianzhou to dock."
Qingzhu's eyes lit up at the report. It was just what she needed, right when she needed it. She had been worrying about how to find a planet where the Xianzhou could dock.
Qingzhu promptly informed the other Xianzhou. Their Helmsmen all agreed, so Daiyu headed toward the planet first as the vanguard.
When Daiyu approached the planet, everyone aboard was stunned by what they saw. The planet was enormous, with extensive vegetation, and land accounted for seventy percent of its visible surface.
"This... what a beautiful planet."
Qingxin marveled at it. Surely even the ancient nation hadn't had such extensive vegetation. After all, vegetation was indispensable if the Xianzhou were to meet the needs of the Xianzhou natives, and much of the vegetation in the Xianzhou's realm had been transplanted from the ancient nation.
"It looks like no civilization to speak of has emerged here yet. Hmm... at least, it's still some way behind a steam civilization."
Qingzhu didn't know whether a civilization existed there, but judging by the planet's vegetation coverage, even if there was one, it was probably only a tribal civilization.
Qingzhu ordered Daiyu to approach the planet. The next moment, however, a piercing alarm sounded.
"What's going on?"
"Helmsman! Unidentified objects are attacking the Xianzhou's outer hull! Parts of it have already been breached!"
Qingzhu acted decisively, immediately dispatching troops to the affected areas. But the news that came back once the soldiers arrived filled her with anger.
Bugs! Bugs of the same nature as the Denizens of Abundance that had invaded the ancient nation!
"Damn creations of Abundance!"
Qingzhu slammed a fist on the table. Although she wasn't the Xianzhou Daiyu's first Helmsman, she had taken over the ship from the old Helmsman.
It had been ten years since she took command of Daiyu. She had watched it develop more and more successfully, only for the Denizens of Abundance to invade at a time like this!
She had been born aboard the Xianzhou Daiyu and had no deep attachment to the ancient nation. She was born on the Xianzhou Daiyu and lived on the Xianzhou Daiyu. She took command of the Xianzhou Daiyu at seventeen, made Daiyu the most prosperous of the nine Xianzhou at twenty, and became the youngest Helmsman at twenty-five. Now, she had just turned twenty-seven.
Fury burned in Qingzhu's eyes. Since they dared to come, she would make sure none of them left!
"Pass down my orders: all soldiers, engage the enemy! Since they dared to come, they'll stay on Daiyu forever!"
As the order was passed down, the piercing alarm rang through every corner of the Xianzhou Daiyu.
Swift and orderly action: that was what she had demanded of the army over the years. The army was always the first line of defense protecting the people.
Although the Xianzhou Daiyu's army and leadership acted swiftly, too many places along its outer hull had been breached, leaving many areas struggling to fend for themselves.
"Helmsman! Those bugs have invaded the engine room! They're gnawing on the thrusters!"
"Report! The forest realm has been completely invaded by bugs! More than half the realm has fallen!"
"Report! Starskiff Haven, Exalting Sanctum, Cloudford, and other areas have fallen!"
As reports came in over the communications system, Qingzhu's expression visibly grew desperate.
Ayinai watched them from the shadows and slowly shook her head. Have they given up hope of survival? It seems there's nothing worth watching on this Xianzhou.
With that thought, Ayinai turned to leave, but the next moment, a sudden development aboard the Xianzhou caught her interest again.
Qingzhu cut off the incoming communications from the other Xianzhou and looked through the glass in their direction.
If our deaths can be exchanged for the survival of the other Xianzhou, then our deaths will have meaning.
She turned to look at the tentacles reaching out from within the Xianzhou in the distance, snatching and devouring Xianzhou natives, and picked up the spear she had left on the weapon rack. It had been a long time since she had touched it, ever since she became Helmsman.