“You’re useless to me like this. Boldo, I want him young and strong.”

  “Acknowledged, Miss. Infiltrating 5% of the atomic fleet into his circulatory system now,” Boldo reported with his habitual coldness.

  Cielo watched as the red priest suddenly went mute. His body began to tremble violently.

  “Process data,” she commanded.

  “Yes, Miss. I have localized the homologs for epigenetic reprogramming factors in his DNA. My units are acting as molecular micro-tweezers, stripping away the methyl groups that block access to the youth genes. Essentially, I am resetting his cellular clock to the functional state of his first life cycle.”

  Through her optical receptors, Cielo saw the lizard’s red scales—previously dull and brittle with age—begin to slough off in large patches, revealing new skin: vibrant and far more elastic.

  “Phase two: telomere extension,” Boldo continued. “The tips of his chromosomes were degraded by 85%, the critical limit for cell death. My robots are assembling new nitrogenous bases in real-time to restore genomic integrity.”

  A hissing sound began to emanate from the priest’s body. A dense white vapor poured from between his scales, mixing with the low-oxygen air.

  “Warning: the accelerated metabolism is generating a massive exothermic reaction. The specimen’s internal temperature has risen to 48 degrees Celsius. If the heat is not dissipated, his proteins will denature before the process is complete.”

  Cielo didn't flinch. She watched the lizard’s musculature swell, regaining a density it hadn’t possessed in decades. The priest’s eyes, once clouded by cataracts, were now two crystalline spheres filled with pure animal terror. His body was no longer that of a wise old man, but that of a warrior in his physical prime—yet trapped by a force he could not comprehend.

  “Process 98% complete. I have cleared the lipofuscin and glycation residues from his neurons. He is now biologically 70% younger, and his cognitive capacity has increased. He can no longer die from simple stress-induced heart failure. We may proceed.”

  “Well, Lucil. How do you feel?”

  “This... how can this be? Is it time magic again, my Lady?”

  “Yes, something like that... Now you won’t die of old age, and you’ll be able to keep up with me. I still have many questions.”

  Lucil knelt with force. “Yes, my Lady! I live to serve!”

  “How many cities are in this plane?”

  “Cities, my Lady... very few. Most are villages and small communities scattered throughout the jungle.”

  A staff rose from the ground of the floating island.

  “What is this, and how does it allow you to transmute elements?”

  “Transmute, my Lady? What do you mean?”

  “Mmm... your attack. What you did. How you were able to.”

  “My attack? Do you mean... 'Magic,' my Lady?”

  “So, 'Magic'... This is starting out just like Trial 12,377. Pull all the data from that trial, Boldo, and let’s use it as a baseline.”

  “Proceeding, Miss.”

  “Tell me more about this Magic, Lucil.”

  “But... why, my Lady? I don’t understand... your Magic is so far superior to anything...” Confusion was evident on his face.

  “Enough questions. Just answer mine, Lucil.”

  “A-at your command, my Lady! Magic is the gift of the gods. We can channel it through our bodies and manifest it through tools. The more powerful the tool, the more magic it requires, and the more powerful the effects we create.”

  A wooden staff with a yellow stone at its tip floated slowly toward them.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “So, you can fire lightning with this?”

  “The Staff of Thunder! But how?”

  “It was the lizard before you, the one who blew himself up.”

  “Right, you mentioned that... Yes, Lady, I could generate powerful lightning with that staff, but my magic channeling power is very low; I would be lucky to manage a single attack. It was given to the Chief Priest because he was a prodigy.”

  “I see. Use fire, then,” Cielo ordered. “Boldo, how long until my fleet is restored?”

  “One week, Miss. That is the soonest I can reconstruct it.”

  “I can’t waste a week, but I can’t risk fighting at half-strength either. Lucil, take me to the largest known city on this plane. I need soldiers, and you are going to get them for me.”

  “I-I? How could I, Lady? I have influence in the city where I am a priest, but in the Great City, I have no power at all.”

  “I’ll take care of that. You just lead the way.”

  With that order, Lucil led the way at maximum speed. Their velocity shattered the sound barrier, terrifying every village they soared over. After a while, a massive floating city appeared on the horizon.

  “This is the largest city on the plane, my Lady. Its name is—”

  “It’s not important; I won’t be in this plane for long,” Cielo interrupted. “First, I want you to gather the most powerful warriors in this city. It doesn't matter how old they are, as you’ve already seen. Based on the current intel, I’ve gathered that your race has money, power, influence, and most importantly, ambition. Offer them unparalleled riches, glory, and power.”

  “I live to serve! But... what about you, Lady? What will you do?”

  “Stop with the damn questions!” Lucil felt his heart stop. He felt death itself, though he couldn't tell if it was terror or this being's magic.

  “Y-yes... y-yes, Lady... forgive me...”

  “Tell me where the entrance to the lower planes is.”

  “I can bring you a map, my Lady. They sell them in the city.”

  “Do it, and make it quick. I have no time to lose.”

  Lucil hurried to obey, but he couldn't stop thinking: Why is time so important to this new goddess? Can't she control time itself? Why is she in such a hurry? He returned quickly, in less than five minutes.

  “Here, my Lady,” he said, pointing to the map. “We are in this city; the way down is in this direction. The way up is over here. On this other map,” he added, pulling out two more pieces of parchment, “is the lower plane. From what we know, there is no intelligent life in any of the lower planes.”

  Boldo wasted no time scanning the maps, creating a 3D model of the data and sending it to Cielo's neural chip.

  “Fulfill the order, Lucil. I need soldiers—the best. I also want you to acquire every possible text explaining how your 'magic' works.”

  “At your command, Lady!”

  In less than a blink, Cielo vanished, flying in the new direction. It was time for some sightseeing.

  Luck’s impact was similar to Cielo’s. His quantity of atomic robots was half that of his companions; therefore, the impact was only half as powerful. However, it was a thousand times more calamitous. It didn’t take long for him to hear grunts and screams.

  “Manzanilla, status!”

  “Don’t scream at me, you moron. As always, your luck is ruining everything for a change.”

  “My luck? What do you mean?”

  “See for yourself, you animal.”

  The dust from the fall soon cleared, and the view was...

  “A bad start... damn it.”

  “Exactly, genius. You landed in a city. I'm seeing a lot of flesh slurry and destroyed buildings. Do you want me to give you the exact death toll you just caused?”

  “No... that's not necessary...”

  Horns blew and arrows fell; of course, they were vaporized before even touching the shield.

  “The data reveals horrifying creatures—though, granted, not as horrifying as you. Beings with bodies resembling mythological demons, giants and small ones alike. They're all hideous, and you’ve made them very angry.”

  “Deploy the fleet for intel gathering.”

  “Listening to you makes me sick. The robots won’t be available for eighteen hours; I’m currently stripping a mark from their subatomic components. I’ve only kept 1% of the fleet for defense.”

  “Just what I needed... and does the Coffin have any issues?”

  “What kind of idiotic question is that? If anything were capable of affecting it, we’d be dead already.”

  “Couldn't you be a bit more feminine... like Petunia? Is that too much to ask?”

  “It’s enough of a burden just accompanying a worm like you. Ask that again and I’ll make you more feminine.”

  “I didn't say anything... leave me be...”

  A massive quantity of demon-like beings came in hordes toward him.

  “What data do you have?”

  “You landed in a city with a 120-kilometer perimeter. Structures of unknown stone—everything is black or red. Ambient temperature is 60 degrees. Air composition is similar to Earth but with an unknown compound. The sky is red as blood. The living beings are humanoid with demonic features: hooves, claws, fangs, and horns. Biology is similar to humans but with two different circulatory systems.”

  “Uh... can you simplify that a bit?”

  “More? I explained it in a way even a beast like you could understand.”

  “If you say so...” he replied, embarrassed.

  The horde soon arrived. Each humanoid carried a different weapon, and when they were close enough to Luck, they lunged like savage beasts. But their momentum didn't last; they exploded violently five meters out, leaving nothing but blood splattered across the area. Arrows continued to fall, vaporized before even getting close to Luck. Explosions of flesh and blood occurred by the dozens in front of him.

  “Manzanilla, can’t you just evaporate them? You know, seeing blood and flesh explode isn't pleasant...”

  “Of course I could, worm,” she replied, but nothing changed.

  “Agh...” Luck could only float helplessly in the middle of the slaughter. “I’m tired of the arrows. Can you evaporate all the weapons in the city? Maybe then they’ll stop coming to their deaths.”

  In a heartbeat, every weapon in the city evaporated into thin air. Fear was visible on the demons' faces, and the attack halted for a moment.