Beneath the dark skies of Luminaria, Hyperion stood deep in thought within his sanctuary. After Kronos had fallen to Merslin, the cosmic order was in turmoil. Hyperion could not simply accept his brother's defeat as a personal tragedy. Now, the time had come to restore the dignity of the Titans and eliminate the threat that was Merslin. But he knew he could not win this war alone. If he could not win alone, he would seek an alliance.
Channeling the energy of light, Hyperion reached out across the universe to a powerful race—The Etherions. Their leader, Akan, had long preserved universal order through advanced hyper-scientific means. Hyperion had resolved to join forces with him to eliminate Merslin once and for all.
Hyperion:
Akan, great leader of the Etherions. I am Hyperion, of the Titans. The balance of the cosmos is in danger. A being named Merslin has defeated Kronos and now threatens not only Titan order, but yours as well. I need your help to eliminate this threat.
The waves of light rippled across the stars until they reached Nemesis. Akan, sensing the signal, frowned in silent contemplation. The fact that a mere human had brought down Kronos and now posed a threat to their order was alarming.
Akan:
Hyperion, I've heard your words. That a human could defeat Kronos is... unexpected. But we must assess whether this truly warrants our intervention. Is the threat truly universal?
Hyperion:
Merslin is no mere human. He seeks to forge a new order—one that disregards Titan law, and may eventually consume Etherion law as well. His free will could spiral the universe into chaos.
Akan paused. Merslin's strength exceeded expectations. With Kronos defeated, the time for observation had passed.
Akan:
If he has truly felled Kronos, then yes, he is a threat. We must devise a plan to eliminate him. A dual strike—targeting both Luminaria and his home world, Earth—would be most effective.
Hyperion nodded in agreement. Yet they both knew the logistical issue: the distance. Even Etherion technology could not instantly bridge such a cosmic gap. But Hyperion had prepared for this.
Hyperion:
I anticipated this. Your tech alone can't cross that distance fast enough. But I can help. I will fold space itself, allowing us to arrive at both targets swiftly. Together, we can end this.
Akan accepted the proposal, resolute.
Akan:
Very well. The Etherions will begin preparations immediately. Hyperion, we shall join forces to restore cosmic order.
At Nemesis, Akan convened the Etherion high council. A massive holographic map of the cosmos displayed both Luminaria and Earth. The council began strategizing the elimination of Merslin.
Akan:
Following our discussions with Hyperion, we have decided on a simultaneous strike. But the distance remains our primary challenge. Without external aid, it will take too long.
Councilor 1:
Then we must rely on Hyperion. He possesses the ability to fold space. With his help, our fleets can reach the targets in time.
Councilor 2:
An alliance with the Titans is strategically sound. If we join forces to eliminate Merslin, we can safeguard both Etherion and Titan order.
Akan reached back out to Hyperion with a final command.
Akan:
Hyperion, we are ready. Use your power to lead us to the target. Together, we will remove Merslin and preserve our shared order.
With that, Hyperion unleashed his radiant power. Waves of light rippled through the void, creating massive distortions in space. The Etherion fleets plunged into the rift, warping toward Luminaria and Earth. Their objective was clear: eliminate Merslin and restore the balance of the universe.
Hyperion:
It begins now. Merslin will no longer threaten us. He will be erased.
The alliance of Hyperion and the Etherions would soon ignite a war that would shake the stars themselves. A great shadow began to fall over Luminaria and Earth, as the first strike of their invasion loomed.
***
episode: The Link Between Merslin and Kim Young-min
As the darkness deepened over Luminaria, a growing unease began to weigh on Merslin's heart. Though it hadn't been long since he defeated Kronos, Merslin instinctively sensed that the threat had not yet vanished. This time, however, the danger was not his alone. He felt it encroaching upon another version of himself—Kim Young-min, who remained on Earth.
Ever since the dimensional rift incident, Merslin and Kim Young-min had been faintly connected—like two threads barely brushing across the cosmos. The link was fragile, like a silken strand, but it was enough for them to sense each other's presence. Through this tenuous bond, Merslin tried to send a warning.
"Young-min... This battle isn't over. We must prepare once again," he whispered—yet the words echoed with desperate urgency.
Back on Earth, Kim Young-min was living an ordinary life when a sudden sense of dread made him freeze and glance around. Everything seemed normal, yet an inexplicable anxiety coiled within him. And then, the warning rang inside his mind, clutching his heart with invisible fingers.
Since the dimensional rift, Young-min had been conscripted by the Global Cosmic Defense Command, a high-level agency formed to prepare for threats beyond the Earth. That event had changed everything. It made clear to him that Earth would no longer be safe without proper preparation.
Suppressing the rising tension in his chest, Young-min replayed Merslin's distant warning over and over in his mind. Though Luminaria and Earth seemed worlds apart, he now understood that they were deeply connected. And that connection signaled an imminent danger threatening both realms.
"Something... something big is coming. I wish this feeling were wrong, but I must prepare," Young-min vowed, issuing new orders to his team at the command center. "We can't afford to be complacent. We have to prepare for every possibility. What happens in Luminaria will echo here. We are connected—whether we see it or not."
His voice carried a blend of conviction and fear. Though he kept his link to Merslin secret, he was beginning to grasp just how vital that connection might become. And with that realization, Young-min resolved to do everything he could to protect Earth.
Merslin and Kim Young-min—two beings in separate dimensions, yet standing against the same looming threat. Their connection would soon play a pivotal role in the great conflict to come. How they faced the coming storm—and the choices they made—could determine the fate of the entire universe.
***
Episode: One Year Remaining
Although the Eterion fleet, bolstered by Hyperion's powers, had begun its swift journey toward both Luminaria and Earth, even they could not overcome the vastness of space in an instant. It would take them at least one year to arrive. When this news reached both Luminaria and Earth, Merslin and Kim Young-min realized the truth—it was the final window fate had granted them.
Merslin resolved to use this year to its fullest. With his comrades in Luminaria, he initiated comprehensive preparations. He ordered his warriors to reinforce the planetary defense lines and tasked his scholars with developing countermeasures to Eterion's anticipated psychic assaults.
Merslin: "We have one year. During that time, we must pour everything we have into preparation. Before Eterion's invasion begins, we must be ready in every conceivable way."
Luminaria's sages responded swiftly, tapping into their ancient archives to devise new defensive tactics and advanced magic. They worked alongside Merslin to forge powerful wards capable of withstanding Eterion's might, drafting detailed strategies for the battles to come.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Kim Young-min convened an emergency council at the Global Cosmic Defense Command. He shared the intelligence: one year until the invasion. That year, he emphasized, would be the most precious resource humanity possessed.
Kim Young-min: "One year—that's all we've got. We need to mobilize every bit of our technology and every ounce of our resources to prepare for Eterion's onslaught. Every department must move at full speed."
Scientists and military experts began developing new weapon systems, reinforcing orbital defense satellites, and analyzing Eterion's advanced tech to formulate counterstrategies. Earth would not be caught off guard.
Kim Young-min also continued to receive fragmented updates through his psychic link with Merslin. The two worked closely despite the vast distance between their worlds, coordinating defensive plans and seeking ways for Earth and Luminaria to withstand the invasion together.
Kim Young-min: "Merslin, we have to make the most of this year. Not just to prepare defenses, but to discover any weaknesses in Eterion's power."
Merslin: "You're right, Young-min. We have to exhaust every option before they arrive. We must be ready—completely."
For the duration of that year, Merslin and Kim Young-min stood as sentinels in their respective worlds, united by a shared mission. They knew this was their final chance, and they wasted not a second.
They forged new technologies, built alliances, and strengthened their resolve. And as the clock ticked down, they faced the coming storm not as individuals, but as defenders of existence itself.
Now, time is nearly up. With everything in place, Merslin and Kim Young-min stand ready—prepared to protect their worlds when the invasion begins.