– CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE –

  SPYDER

  Americ-Ana opened her eyes slowly. Her vision was fogged, and a faint dizziness mingled with the confusion still hanging in her mind. It was as though she had awakened from a deep, heavy sleep that had dragged on for endless days. Little by little, the pieces began to lock into place: she was in her gigantic bed, wrapped in soft sheets, in the equally vast bedroom, inside the castle that would be hers for the next seven years.

  She yawned at length and stretched, feeling the lazy lengthening of her muscles. Something rested on her chest. She lowered her gaze and recognized the book of indecipherable codes that Poppandacorn had found among the daisies, inside the Cryptakashic. The memory of the little plush panda-unicorn robot came to her like a sudden warmth.

  "Poppa?" she called, her voice sounding more like a hesitant question, while her hands searched through the layers of white sheets.

  The door opened and closed quickly. Poppandacorn had come in.

  "Poppa? Where were you?"

  "Mommy!!!" the plush robot exclaimed, running toward the bed. He latched onto the sheets and began to climb, scaling them like a mountaineer facing an immense mountain.

  "Poppa was patrolling the corridors of SAMKHYA CELL to make sure my Mommy is perfectly safe." Reaching the top, he scampered across the fluffy mattress, bouncing until he nestled into her arms.

  Americ-Ana hugged him tightly, breathing in the sweet, almost ethereal fragrance that rose from his synthetic skin, a scent that recalled cotton candy.

  "Thank you, Poppa. I feel safer with you nearby."

  "Mommy needs to eat to be strong. Today will be a great day!" he said, opening the compartment in his belly and revealing a small selection of Poopghene-branded foods.

  The memory struck her mind: that very day, she would have to appear at the SOLOMON COLISEUM bunker before all the citizens of THE-IMPERIUM. But before that, she needed to be in Crown Eden.

  "Indeed, Poppa, today will be a great day."

  She chose a bear-head-shaped waffle, still wrapped, along with a small tube of chocolate syrup. To drink, she opted for an iced cappuccino in a 300 ml bottle.

  Sitting on the bed, she tasted each bite slowly, while scattered thoughts prowled the edges of her mind.

  What would the SOLOMON COLISEUM be like? Perhaps as grand as the Colosseum in Rome, a stage for bloody combats, brutal hunts, and public executions. The image tightened in her chest, and she pushed the darker thoughts away, focusing on the meal. The waffle, soft and speckled with drops of chocolate, melted gently on her tongue. The cappuccino, cold and aromatic, completed the moment with precision.

  Some time later, Americ-Ana was ready, standing at the bedroom door, when she felt a light tug at the hem of her Dior dress.

  "Mommy! Don’t forget! It’s important!"

  Poppandacorn was holding Americ-Ana’s KING MatNat sphere, softly gleaming under the light. It was Helena Blavatsky’s inheritance, along with all her belongings, including the wardrobe.

  "Thank you, Poppa!" she said, accepting the sphere attached to the platinum chain of the Organ The Messenger. She placed it around her neck, letting it rest against her chest like a necklace.

  One memory pulled another in its wake. She returned quickly to the bed, picked up the book of indecipherable codes, and handed it to Poppandacorn.

  "Keep it for me."

  The small robot opened the compartment in his belly and stored the book with care.

  In the entrance hall, Astyam stood near the banister of the grand staircase, holding the little black fox, Antichrist.

  Wwwyye joined them, yawning and rubbing her eyes, the pink top hat drooping crookedly on her head.

  "Wow… it feels like I slept for centuries. Even after feeling like I’d slept for an eternity, I woke up still tired and sleepy."

  "I woke up with that same feeling," Americ-Ana remarked.

  "Let’s go, before we’re late," Astyam said. But then his gaze caught on something unexpected. "Do you remember if, when we arrived yesterday, the Moss Humans had those marks all over their bodies?"

  The five Moss Humans remained motionless in a straight line in the hall, the golden markings standing out against their porcelain skin.

  Wwwyye hurried down the stairs to take a closer look.

  "Cool! I didn’t notice these marks yesterday. It looks like they were pasted on with gold." She ran her fingertips over the gilding, feeling its cold, smooth texture.

  "They look like tattoos. Maybe they were already there. We just didn’t notice because we were distracted, getting to know the castle," Americ-Ana said, coming down the stairs to examine them more carefully.

  "Mommy! Come on! Today is a very important day!" Poppandacorn called, his high voice echoing through the hall and yanking everyone’s attention back.

  Americ-Ana took his tiny hand and, together with Wwwyye, Astyam, and Antichrist, crossed the entrance hall’s doorway, leaving behind the golden shine still glittering on the Moss Humans’ skin.

  Outside, the bunker’s artificial sun was beginning to climb, throwing its first golden rays over the upper section of SAMKHYA CELL. A light, refreshing breeze slipped through the air. Americ-Ana drew a deep breath, feeling the current enter and leave her lungs, slow and deliberate.

  Suddenly, Wwwyye’s voice cut through the silence, heavy with indignation:

  "What the fuck is this?"

  She stood with her back to them, unmoving, staring at the castle’s entrance.

  By instinct, Americ-Ana pulled Poppandacorn in close, pressing him tight against her body. At her side, Astyam did the same with Antichrist, gathering him into his arms.

  Painted in gigantic orange spray-painted letters, a blaring act of vandalism screamed across the facade. The entire front of the castle had been tagged, the message crude and invasive, stamping the surface with visual violence:

  GET OUT, SCHOLARSHIP GIRL!

  ZD *

  XDXA *

  XDXH *

  XDXA *

  XHXF *

  XA *

  ZA *

  XDXH *

  XA *

  ZIXD *

  XA *

  ZGXF *

  XAXKXIXG *

  XFXE *

  ZIXG

  Americ-Ana felt a shiver climb her spine, as though a current of ice had suddenly taken hold of her body. The air seemed to grow heavier, and for an instant she forgot to breathe.

  "I can’t believe this... How could this happen inside one of the pyramids? And in a place as well-protected as the ENIGMA GEMINI bunker... and right here, in the Prince Equal One Zero pyramid."

  Americ-Ana’s gaze met Astyam’s, and neither of them knew what to say.

  "What do you mean? What are you saying? I don’t understand," Astyam asked, stepping closer.

  "I also think I’m missing something. I don’t understand," Americ-Ana added, knitting her brow.

  Wwwyye seemed not to hear them. Her eyes traveled over every inch of the graffiti, fixed, as if she were deciphering an enigma. She approached the wall in slow steps, touched the paint with the tips of her fingers, and the friction left an orange smear on her skin.

  "The paint is still fresh," she said, her tone almost grave. "That means whoever did this must still be around here."

  Americ-Ana and Astyam exchanged a second glance, this time with a denser unease.

  "What does that mean, Wwwyye? Please, say it already. You’re scaring us," Astyam pleaded.

  "Okay, I’ll say it." She drew a deep breath before going on. "Graffiti, by itself, is already a crime in THE-IMPERIUM. But these symbols... they weren’t made by just anyone. They were made by terrorists."

  "How do you know that?" Astyam narrowed his eyes.

  "Look. These symbols aren’t common. They’re encrypted codes terrorists use to communicate. Anyone caught with codes like these here in THE-IMPERIUM is considered an enemy of the entire bunker."

  Poppandacorn wriggled free from Americ-Ana’s arms. His eyes, now vibrating with alarm, blinked rapidly, and his voice came out two octaves higher than usual, his little arms flailing in a desperate gesture.

  "Mommy! Look! We need to go to the police! These are the codes that you..."

  He didn’t finish. Americ-Ana, on quick reflex, grabbed his arm and covered his mouth. The motion was firm, almost rough. Wwwyye and Astyam stared at her, surprised, trying to understand the reason for that reaction.

  "Poppandacorn is very agitated. Maybe it’s nothing serious. Maybe it’s just someone trying to scare me," she said, keeping her voice under control. "Look, it says ‘GET OUT, SCHOLARSHIP GIRL!’ before the code. That means the message was meant for me. It was probably nothing. Just some kind of provocation."

  "No. No. No. Here in THE-IMPERIUM no one would ever do this. Even if they hate you, or don’t want you anywhere near them, a citizen of the bunker would never use this code to communicate. This is terrorism. And if there’s one thing the government of THE-IMPERIUM and its citizens don’t do, it’s toy with terrorism," Wwwyye said, her voice firm, almost cutting.

  "I’ve never seen anything written like this before. Does this code have a name?" Astyam asked, frowning.

  "You’ve never seen it, and you never will see this code anywhere else. Every means of communication in the THE-IMPERIUM bunker has a filter, something used to protect the citizens. This code never circulates on social networks, private or public," Wwwyye replied, with the certainty of someone who knew the subject well.

  "If it isn’t allowed anywhere inside the bunker, how do you know about it?" Astyam pressed, stepping closer.

  "Well... my father is the richest man in the entire bunker. He takes part in many meetings with the biggest businesspeople in THE-IMPERIUM. Let’s just say that, between one meeting and the next, I ‘overheard by accident’ what they talk about," Wwwyye said, lifting her fingers into quotation marks as she repeated “overheard by accident.”

  Poppandacorn slipped free from Americ-Ana’s hands and, in a rapid motion, activated RED ALERT MODE! DANGER! The lights in his eyes pulsed with intensity.

  "Mommy! We need to contact the authorities now! Seeing danger and not reacting to prevent it goes against all my factory guidelines!"

  "Easy, Poppa. Please. Let’s think calmly," Americ-Ana said, turning to Wwwyye and Astyam. "I’ve received plenty of provocations in my life, especially in the last few days. I know when they’re trying to intimidate me. I know when they’re trying to make me give up. I’ll admit that, most of the time, I think about dropping everything and vanishing from existence completely. This... I mean, these codes are just that, just codes. Look, it’s only paint, still fresh, like Wwwyye said."

  She touched the graffiti with the tip of her finger. A streak of orange paint clung to her skin, branding her.

  "I propose the following, if you agree. Before I say anything else, I’m not asking us to ignore this. I just want us to stay alert. Think about it... today is our first day at the SOLOMON COLISEUM bunker as Equal One Zero academics. Everything is already scheduled. No one here is hurt. We’re all fine. It’s just graffiti. If the authorities are called, this could compromise our day. And I don’t want to ruin my day because of some idiotic graffiti made by some idiot. Let’s stay sharp and be more careful, but for now, as far as this isolated incident goes, we won’t let it get in our way. We move forward."

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Wwwyye took off the pink top hat and began to spin it on her finger, as if turning the gears of her own thoughts.

  Astyam set Antichrist down on the floor and fixed his gaze on the graffiti, as if he wanted to carve every detail of it into memory.

  "Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s nothing more than a provocation. I’ve been, and still am, provoked over and over again myself. I can spot a bully from far away."

  Wwwyye put the top hat back on, adjusting it with care.

  "This is a terrorist code. But who knows... there are all kinds of lunatics these days, capable of anything. Still, before we move on, for our safety, and especially for yours, Americ-Ana, I think it’s best that Poppandacorn document and take note of all of this. Keep it as a file, in case something happens later."

  Poppandacorn, his eyes still blazing in the intense RED ALERT MODE! DANGER!, took a firm step forward. A mechanical click echoed as the compartment in his belly opened.

  "I can’t ignore my factory guidelines. For now, I will collect all evidence from this crime scene and keep an exclusive file for everything captured here. Including: this entire conversation is being recorded for my Mommy’s safety."

  From inside the compartment, Poppandacorn pulled out a small kit that resembled miniature forensic equipment. He slipped on tiny gloves that fit perfectly over his little hands and set a mask over his mouth. He approached the castle wall, where the vivid orange graffiti seemed to pulse beneath the artificial lighting.

  With slow, precise movements, he scraped away a fragment of the fresh paint and placed it carefully into a secure container inside his compartment. Then he lifted his head, and his eyes began to emit a rapid sequence of flashes, recording every visible and invisible detail: from the paint’s uneven texture to the microparticles suspended in the air. The entire scene was taken in and arranged into a mosaic of data inside his electronic mind.

  Without interrupting the process, Poppandacorn shifted to the base of the wall, where he continued to examine the ground and the grass around it. With the same care, he collected samples of soil and vegetation, sealing each fragment into his internal file.

  Only then did Americ-Ana break the silence.

  "Let’s not waste time. Let’s leave as soon as possible. But first, I think we should ask the Moss Humans to clean up all this mess."

  A short while later, the five Moss Humans appeared, carrying ladders, buckets, cleaning products, brushes, and sponges. They worked in synchrony, climbing and descending the surfaces as they scrubbed the walls and the ground, until no trace of the attack remained.

  The five Moss Humans, working side by side in perfect synchrony, finished the cleaning far faster than would have been possible if only one of them had been doing the job alone. Their agile, coordinated movements removed every last vestige of the graffiti with absolute efficiency.

  Along the side of the castle, Poppandacorn worked in silence, his eyes set to “microscope mode.” He examined the ground with meticulous attention, capturing every irregularity, photographing and collecting possible footprints.

  Then a low, guttural sound split the quiet.

  The small black fox, Antichrist, was growling.

  Astyam, startled by the reaction, rushed to scoop him up. The little fox writhed with tension, sharp white teeth bared, his gaze locked on the top of the castle, exactly above the entrance where the graffiti had been sprayed.

  Americ-Ana and Wwwyye, alerted by the aggressive edge of the growl, drew closer with cautious steps. Now they were all staring at the same point, following the line of the little fox’s gaze. The fur along his back was bristling, vibrating as if it were detecting something invisible to human eyes.

  Then it happened.

  From the rooftop, a gigantic metal spider emerged. Long mechanical arms extended outward. Multiple articulated legs drove into the surface with dry, sharp clicks, and its face was covered in dozens of tiny red eyes, all blinking irregularly, as if observing in unison.

  The impact was immediate. Screams echoed across the courtyard.

  Antichrist suddenly sprang to the ground, positioning himself between the trio and the creature. His body, small as a chihuahua’s, seemed to swell with tension, and the growl sharpened into a cutting sound of defiance.

  On the other side, Poppandacorn, who had been crouched down examining the soil’s pH, jerked upright at the sound of the screams. His eyes flared to maximum intensity. "RED ALERT! DANGER!" He ran toward the group, stopping in front of Americ-Ana. His little arms extended in a firm gesture, forming a protective barrier.

  The mutant metal spider advanced, its legs clinking against the surface of SAMKHYA CELL, each step ringing out like blades scraping steel.

  Antichrist growled louder, his entire body coiled in an attack stance, fur bristling like black needles poised to pierce the air.

  Poppandacorn emitted a warning signal, his voice distorted and steady:

  "Attention, unidentified object or creature, this is an ultimatum. If you insist on approaching, you will suffer the consequences. Step back!"

  The creature ignored the warning, drawing nearer with mechanical, abnormal movements.

  Wwwyye, seized by a reflex of pure instinct, pulled Americ-Ana and Astyam close to her. The three of them clung together, eyes wide, waiting for the inevitable.

  Poppandacorn repeated the alert, his voice louder and sharper, but the distance between them and the spider was shrinking fast.

  Then something changed. The little arms of the panda-unicorn began to deform, the internal structure reorganizing into a lethal mechanism. In place of the rounded little hands and fingers the size of mini carrots, metal gun barrels emerged. A dry snap echoed, followed by a sequence of clicks and locks that sounded like a ritual of preparation to kill.

  Poppandacorn raised the newly formed weapons and aimed directly at the creature’s head. His eyes narrowed and projected a long-range sight, the red light fixing itself on the target with surgical precision.

  In his sound system, a countdown began to pulse, cold and without emotion:

  "FIVE"

  "FOUR"

  "THREE"

  "TWO"

  The metallic sound of the creature’s legs mingled with the mechanical echo of the countdown. The air seemed to compress around them, poised to burst into violence.

  And then, before Poppandacorn could reach “ONE” and fire, a scream cut through the air, piercing everything.

  "NOOOOOOOOO!!!"

  The scream came from behind the group.

  Just as the unexpected shock of the mutant robotic spider had thrown Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam into a state of panic and despair, that sudden sound echoing at their backs was just as terrifying.

  Poppandacorn halted the countdown and kept his weapons raised, his aim still fixed on the creature. Antichrist, moments ago ready to attack the spider, snapped around toward the direction the scream had come from. Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam turned as well, hearts racing, expecting to find something as frightening as what stood before them.

  But they didn’t.

  What they saw, in fact, bordered on the comic.

  There stood Nioh Nemmesis, only a little taller than Poppandacorn, holding a small bottle of syrup as if it were a precious artifact.

  "Please, don’t destroy the Spyder! She’s my greatest creation! My masterpiece!"

  It took Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam a few seconds to process what they were hearing.

  "Are you saying that monster is yours?" Wwwyye asked, her voice thick with disbelief.

  "Masterpiece? I don’t understand," Astyam said, bewildered.

  "Poppa, lower the weapons. I don’t think it’s necessary," Americ-Ana pleaded, turning to the plush robot, who still had his aim drilled into the creature’s head.

  Suddenly, Nioh Nemmesis snapped his fingers and raised his left arm, his palm open and facing upward.

  The gigantic mutant spider, which moments before had seemed like a living nightmare, leapt from the castle wall. In midair, it passed over the group and began to change. Its legs retracted, its body contracted, and the metallic structure reorganized itself until it shrank drastically. What seconds ago had been colossal and threatening was now no larger than a golf ball: a small robotic spider, polished and precise.

  The creature landed lightly in Nioh Nemmesis’s palm, and he received it as if he were holding a helpless hatchling. He leaned in and placed a quick kiss on the metal shell, an unexpected gesture of affection for something that, moments earlier, had inspired pure terror.

  Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam, who had flinched at the leap and the sudden transformation, regained their senses little by little. The shock gave way to a mix of relief and bewilderment, while their eyes shone with unanswered questions.

  "Sorry for the scare, friends," Nioh Nemmesis said, coughing lightly before he spoke. The small robotic spider now rested on his shoulder, motionless and watchful, like a pirate’s parrot guarding its captain. "This is Spyder, my creation. I was heading to Crown Eden. My Cell is nearby, in the same direction as yours. When I passed along the road, I noticed some movement this way and figured you were still here, that you hadn’t left for Crown Eden. I decided to stop so we could go together. But it looks like you ended up getting frightened by Spyder."

  The trio remained motionless for a few moments, still trying to process everything that had happened seconds earlier.

  Americ-Ana took a step forward.

  "Don’t worry, Nioh. We were already on alert before you and your... little creature... appeared. But I’m glad you stopped. In fact, we’re going to Crown Eden. It’ll be good to have your company."

  "You didn’t choose ‘Share a Cell?’ Where is the other half of your duality?" Wwwyye asked, narrowing her eyes.

  Nioh coughed again, cleared his throat, took a sip of the syrup he was holding, and replied:

  "Well... I pressed the ‘Share a Cell’ button in the elevator, but unfortunately the other half of my duality couldn’t pass the test of the ‘Laws of the 33 Steps.’ So I ended up alone."

  "That’s why your duality joined ours during the selection for the Four Organs," Astyam remarked. "But that creature is yours? What exactly is she?"

  Nioh set the small spider on his palm, puffed out his chest, and, with a gleam of pride in his eyes, began the explanation like someone showing off a prize:

  "This is Spyder. A biomechatronic system built with shape memory alloys, capable of expanding and contracting her entire body to alter her dimensions. She has piezoelectric actuators in her joints, allowing silent locomotion and magnetic adhesion on any surface. Her vision combines hyperspectral cameras and LiDAR sensors for high precision 3D mapping, while her processing core uses quantum neural networks to learn and react in real time. To me, Spyder is not merely a creation, she is an extension of my own perception of the world."

  Poppandacorn began to clap after Nioh’s explanation, and the boy answered with an exaggerated bow in response to the lone applause.

  "So you’re a nerd, and that’s your little toy," Wwwyye said, a mocking half-smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

  Nioh brought Spyder close to his lips, as if whispering to her:

  "Don’t mind her. You know you’re not a toy."

  "I found it interesting. Very creative," Americ-Ana remarked, now watching the tiny spider from a different angle.

  "Did you build her yourself, from scratch?" Astyam asked, genuinely interested.

  "Yes. From absolute zero. I did everything alone." Nioh lifted Spyder like a symbol of pride.

  At that moment, Poppandacorn tugged at the hem of Americ-Ana’s Dior dress.

  "Mommy, we need to go. Today will be a very important day."

  As if the phrase had echoed in everyone’s mind, the group’s attention snapped back to the present.

  "Yes! We need to go now!" Americ-Ana replied.

  "Let’s hurry. I don’t want to be penalized on the very first day," Wwwyye said.

  "God forbid penalties. Come on, come on!" Astyam agreed, scooping Antichrist into his arms.

  Then, before each of them could drift off toward their private vehicles, Nioh cleared his throat, coughed discreetly, and took a sip of the syrup before speaking:

  "Attention, friends. Before we go our separate ways, I’d like to propose something... if you agree, of course."

  He lowered his head, blushing faintly, as if the idea itself were too audacious to say out loud.

  "What do you think of all of us going together with me on Spyder? Consider it an apology for the scare she and I ended up causing."

  The silence that followed was almost uncomfortable. The expression on all three faces was the perfect embodiment of ERROR 404. None of them seemed to have found enough logic to process the invitation.

  "I swear I’m trying to imagine how this thing... I mean... this toy... no, sorry... this ‘spider?’ could take all of us to Crown Eden," Wwwyye said, thinking out loud.

  Americ-Ana and Astyam said nothing, but the perplexed look on both their faces confirmed, in unison, the same disbelief.

  Nioh, however, showed not a trace of doubt. He raised his hand, inviting the tiny Spyder to walk to the center of the SAMKHYA CELL entrance. The spider-robot obeyed with subtle metallic steps.

  "I’ll show you..." Nioh said, his voice heavy with pride. "I’ll show you exactly how Spyder can take all of us to Crown Eden."

  The small Spyder, obeying Nioh’s command, stopped at the center of the courtyard. Her red eyes pulsed in sync, as if a secret code were being processed.

  For an instant, nothing happened. The trio simply watched, incredulous.

  But before anyone could complete the thought, the spider’s metallic frame shuddered like a gear in frenzy. The compact body began to expand, metal plates sliding and multiplying, as if they were emerging from some hidden space between its joints.

  The sound was a rhythmic clatter of iron warping, gears locking into place, and concealed motors waking. In seconds, what had been the size of a golf ball was already taking on the dimensions of a motorcycle.

  Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam stepped back on instinct, eyes wide. Antichrist, still in Astyam’s arms, growled low, suspicious.

  Nioh smiled and said:

  "Wait... this is only the beginning."

  The transformation continued. The spider’s legs rearranged into long, robust structures, forming columns that supported the body. Metal plates unfolded into panels, revealing internal compartments that shaped themselves into seats, handrails, and access platforms.

  In less than a minute, before their stunned eyes, the creature was no longer a spider. It was a complete biomechanical vehicle, a fusion of living machine and engineering, capable of comfortably accommodating passengers and even luggage.

  Silence followed for a few seconds, broken only by Spyder’s low hum as she finished her metamorphosis.

  "Ladies and gentlemen," Nioh said, bowing, "allow me to present the most efficient means of transport to Crown Eden."

  Spyder’s robust carapace began to open like a biometallic cocoon. Each segment slid aside to reveal an interior lit by filaments of pulsing blue energy. The contrast between the exterior and the inner environment made the group hold their breath for a few seconds.

  Ergonomic seats emerged from the sides, shaping themselves automatically to each occupant. They adjusted to Americ-Ana’s, Astyam’s, Wwwyye’s, and even Poppandacorn’s height and weight with a precision so exact it bordered on discomfort, as if Spyder had read their measurements before even touching them. Antichrist, upon entering, growled low and wary, until the floor reconfigured into a soft surface that molded to the little fox’s small body.

  Nioh, seated in the pilot’s chair, adjustable to his height, snapped his fingers. Immediately, the cabin sealed. Spyder, no longer merely a mechanical spider but a hybrid creature somewhere between ship and animal, rose with firmness on metallic legs that clinked against the ground.

  Then they set off, bound for Crown Eden.

  "Look, Mommy! You can see practically the whole Route Cell from up here." Poppandacorn rose onto the tips of his feet to peer through the transparent glass, enchanted by the wide view unfolding around them.

  "Poppandacorn is correct about the location," Nioh replied from Spyder’s controls, adjusting them with a steady grip. "In a few minutes, we’ll be on Route Magnolia."

  "Honestly, Nioh, I think I underestimated you. This is truly incredible. I had no idea your family had that inventive streak," Wwwyye remarked, letting her admiration show as she took in Spyder’s interior.

  "There are many inventors in my family. We just don’t like to expose ourselves. We prefer to keep everything among ourselves, if you know what I mean." Nioh kept his eyes on the panel, but his voice carried a certain contained pride.

  "You and your family could be as big as Novaxtraai inside THE-IMPERIUM. Spyder is something truly revolutionary," Astyam said, impressed.

  "My family is extremely private. We don’t do business with third parties. Everything we create is for ourselves, only for those who carry our lineage, our blood," Nioh explained, without taking his eyes off the controls.

  "But why stay so reserved when you could so clearly stand out in THE-IMPERIUM’s market?" Wwwyye asked, knitting her brow.

  "Well... my family, or rather, our bloodline, isn’t in the habit of making agreements with strangers, not even the simplest ones. Whether it’s signing a business contract or even a marriage contract. Everything is done among us."

  "When you say ‘everything’... do you mean everything, truly?" Americ-Ana ventured, blushing immediately afterward, aware of the weight of her own words.

  Nioh did not hesitate. "Exactly. Our relatives marry one another. My parents, for example, are twin siblings. We do this to keep our assets and our fortune strictly within the family. And when I say family, I’m speaking primarily of genetics, not merely a surname. That is the value we preserve above all else."

  The silence that followed was absolute. Each of them, submerged in their own thoughts, turned their gaze toward the landscapes unfolding beyond Spyder’s glass. The view from above was breathtaking.

  Spyder’s colossal legs advanced with a firm, elegant rhythm, and within minutes the group reached Route Magnolia. Soon after, Poppandacorn rose onto the tips of his feet again, his eyes shining.

  "Look, Mommy! You can already see Crown Eden. We’re almost there!"

  A few minutes later, Spyder touched down softly on the grounds of Crown Eden. One by one, they all climbed out. Nioh stepped back a few paces, snapped his fingers, and Spyder went through the same metamorphosis again, only in reverse. In seconds, she had shrunk until she fit in the palm of his hand, returning to the form of a small metallic spider the size of a golf ball.

  The automaton walked up Nioh’s arm and vanished into the pocket of his suit jacket.

  Americ-Ana, with Poppandacorn in her arms, Wwwyye lightly twirling her top hat, Astyam carrying Antichrist, and Nioh holding his bottle of syrup, crossed the portals of Crown Eden together.