"Damn it—it's the Doomsday Beast! All weapons systems—full activation! Open fire!!"
The shouted command echoed faintly in Robin's mind, cutting through the haze of pain and pulling a deep frown to her face. Her head throbbed like a bell hit too hard.
[Quantum shielding engaged. Gamma ray charge complete. Magnetic-crush missiles launching. Astral-magnetic railguns online...]
These were the specialized weapons loaded for her security detail.
She never thought they'd actually need to be used.
But the outcome was all too clear: the quantum shield shredded like paper under the beast's antimatter claws.
Gamma radiation failed to destabilize its body. The missiles may as well have been fireworks. The railguns left no marks at all.
That was the Doomsday Beast—one of the Antimatter Legion's elite monsters.
"How… are we even supposed to fight that?"
Despair crept through the bridge like frost.
The guards—watching their weapons fail one by one—began to falter.
Robin looked at them, then raised her voice in song.
A melody of courage. Of light.
Their resolve rekindled, the guards fired back with everything they had.
But it wasn't enough.
The beast tore through their defenses like a knife through silk. Its antimatter engine flared, pulling torrents of dark energy from imaginary space and raining destruction down on the ship.
Engines down. Weapons fried. In the face of overwhelming force, even the most advanced tech was helpless.
In the end, Robin was forcibly shoved into an escape pod.
"Protecting the client is our mission. The escape pod is the ship's safest compartment."
"If you survive, your family can retrieve you later. Just leave the rest to us."
That was the last thing she heard. The pod sealed with a hiss, and her world shrank to the cold, coffin-like chamber.
Then came the crash.
Her head slammed into the wall—and darkness swallowed her whole.
"…Where am I?"
Robin opened her eyes.
The surroundings didn't look like the inside of the escape pod. Everything was worn, battered—more like a ruin than a ship.
Was I… rescued?
That was her first thought.
There was no way the pod could have landed this far outside its own chamber. Someone must have pulled her out.
And judging by the bandage on her forehead, someone had treated her wounds.
Who was it?
Curious, she stepped outside.
What she saw was Hoshigaki Sora—sitting cross-legged, happily taste-testing the "rations" he'd found.
Despite their grotesque names, some of the food items actually didn't taste that bad. Once he got past the psychological hurdle, Sora had begun munching with gusto.
Robin blinked in surprise.
Her green eyes went wide at the sight.
Sora noticed and smiled—instinctively, almost smugly.
Wait... does my charm really work on intergalactic songstresses now?
Should I forget about joining the IPC and just become a celebrity with her?
I could be the next galactic idol—marry a rich beauty—and ride that stardom all the way to the top!
The daydream was going strong when Robin spoke.
"Excuse me… sir?"
Her expression was oddly serious as she looked him over. "Why are you eating… pet food?"
...
...
......
Time froze.
Sora, mid-bite, went completely rigid.
If not for the sand still drifting on the wind, the entire scene might've looked like a paused video.
Pet food?!
It took a long, painful moment for his brain to reboot.
He stared down at the half-eaten can in his hands, expression slowly twisting in horror.
No wonder the names were so weird… It was all for pets?!
Earthworms. Moss. Wild herbs. IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW.
What the hell is wrong with this planet?! Why make pet food taste THIS GOOD?!
Internally, he was screaming.
Outwardly—he smoothed his face into something resembling composure.
No way was he losing face over this.
Robin, still watching, tilted her head. "Sir?"
She was starting to worry about him now.
"Ahem. N-no problem," Sora coughed. "I'm eating this because…"
He turned to her and said with perfect solemnity:
"…because this is the best food available in this area."
Locally sourced. Top shelf. Village delicacy.
He looked every bit like a sage sharing profound wisdom.
In reality, he was just trying to bury the fact that he'd mistaken cat chow for cuisine.
Robin blinked, then nodded thoughtfully.
Actually, that… kind of made sense?
Many pets were rare and valuable species—of course they'd have high-end dietary needs.
She'd even heard that Topaz—one of the Ten Stonehearts of the IPC—was a massive consumer of pet food.
Her monthly pet-care budget was more than what most people earned in a year.
"I see. I misunderstood, then." Robin offered an apologetic smile.
Sora exhaled discreetly. Crisis averted.
He quickly moved to change the subject. "Anyway, allow me to introduce myself. Hoshigaki Sora."
Robin returned the gesture with a gentle nod. "My name is…"
"I know," he cut in with a grin. "Songstress of the cosmos. Spokeswoman of The Family—Robin."
She blushed lightly at that, a little embarrassed to be recognized so easily.
Sora gestured for her to sit. Robin gracefully accepted, not at all concerned about the dust, her flowing dress pooling behind her on the ground.
"Your name is similar to something from the Xianzhou Alliance," she said. "Are you from there?"
Sora shook his head. "No. I'm just a wanderer. Ended up here due to… circumstances. What about you? What brought you to this starforsaken planet?"
Robin briefly explained her mission—her hope to discover survivors on this devastated world, only to encounter the Doomsday Beast en route.
Sora nodded in understanding.
Then Robin hesitated, as if unsure whether to ask.
"Um, Mr. Sora?"
"Hm?"
"Would it… be alright if I had some of your food too?"
Sora turned and saw her giving him a slightly awkward, sheepish smile.
"My body's starting to feel weak, and I'd like to replenish my strength. If you have any extra, I'd be grateful…"
Ah.
He looked down at the can in his hand.
Mist Swamp Zesty Moss.
An innocent Robin had truly believed his bluff.
This sweet, trusting Robin… could totally be tricked by some creepy old uncle.
And right now, there just so happened to be one such creepy old man nearby—
Wait no—hell no. I'm not an uncle!
I'm just… an eighteen-year-old teen boy with sixty bonus months, that's all.