Mateo’s blue eyes are drawn to the massive creature overshadowing the entire island. Scaled obsidian layers over its form creating a dermis that resembles the crust of a planet. Pulsing crystals cover its body emitting small bursts of mana almost as if it’s breathing in mana like oxygen and expelling it in some altered state.

  “Mania fills the outer world space, Cosmic Whales breathe it in expelling it into mana, it also allows them to create their own biodomes within their bodies known as a cosmic oasis, we will enter this whale and travel to Daedalus,” Okami states.

  The massive creature stops at a dock-like structure opening its gigantic maw and extending a crystalline tongue. The air vibrates audibly for a moment.

  “What the hell was that?” Mateo asks brushing the vibrating noise off his forearms.

  “Cosmic whales communicate using audible vibration, it is also how they fornicate,” Okami pauses seeing the group is not interested in further explanation of the copulation of Cosmic whales, “anyway, audible vibration shouldn’t be too incomprehensible if you understand that sound travels in waves, audible vibrations are much the same, but instead of hearing them you feel them physically, it’s actually very fascinating.”

  Za’Rexkla steps onto the crystalline tongue and stares up at the massive creature. He leans down pressing his palm to the shimmering crystals and turns his gaze toward a cluster of spherical gems that resemble eyes. His maw opens wide and the air vibrates around him. The creature gives off another vibratory pulse and Mateo moves himself to Za’Rexkla’s side.

  “What did you say?” Mateo asks.

  “I asked for its name,” he replies.

  “And?”

  “Doug,” Rex says with an unbefitting chuckle.

  “Doug?” Mateo questions.

  “I am known as Dougwrenthious Gethadriah Almundrest the thousandth, but my friends call me Doug,” Rex answers with a grin.

  “Doug it is.”

  You have entered a new area. Oasis of Doug has been added to Anastasia’s core knowledge. Feel free to explore the area as Anastasia uses ‘soulnar’ to map it. A complete map will be available in 300 seconds.

  Mateo steps up to the entrance to the Oasis of Doug and Stitches joins him. She pulls back her hood exposing her catlike ears. Terror also joins them Jade resting on his shoulder kicking her feet playfully as she scribbles in her notebook. Terror slowly waves his hand across the air dramatically.

  “Terror, in, space,” he says.

  The Harmony Casters ignore the sentiment boarding the Oasis of Doug as Mateo continues to stare in awe. Za’Rexkla stands at his side as his ronin enter the cosmic whale.

  “If you think outside of the vessel is amazing, just wait until you see the inside,” Rex states.

  “You’ve been in a cosmic whale before?” Mateo questions.

  “Absolutely not, I know nothing of what is to come, but I’m an optimist, so it better be good,” Rex says entering the whale.

  Mateo’s entire expedition enters the Oasis of Doug before he places his first foot forward on the crystal tongue leading to another world. Natalia appears before him in her large form her raven wings fluttering behind her.

  “Are you afraid?” She asks.

  “Terrified,” he replies.

  “Me too,” she says holding out her hand, “but we have each other, it might not seem like a lot, but it’s enough.”

  “You’re right it doesn’t seem like a lot,” Mateo says stepping past her.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “You moldy leather asshat! That was an inspiring speech now get back here and take my hand!” Natalia yells.

  “No thanks, see you inside the whale,” Mateo responds waving her off.

  Natalia turns to her small form kicking her feet in the air angrily as she throws a fit. Doug lets off an audible vibration and his tongue slowly begins to retract.

  “Hold up now you stupid space whale!” Natalia yells hurrying inside.

  You have entered a Cosmic Oasis. You are sheltered from the vacuum of the outer world.

  The creature does not have rows of teeth lining its gums but flat ended mana dense crystals. They clamp shut as Mateo and his expedition arrive at what resembles a toll booth. The creature running it bears resemblance to a small green skinned slug and is adorned in a train conductor’s hat. He has a stamp that he’s using to fill paperwork as people hand in their tokens.

  Natalia floats up to Mateo as he approaches the booth changing to her large form but still throwing a fit. The stall slug boy peers at him unamused.

  “Tokens and papers,” he states plainly.

  Mateo places a few tokens on the counter with a pleasant smile.

  “Ah, tokens from Dios, who’s the harpy?” He asks.

  “Harpy, I am not a harpy you fuc-,” Mateo places his hand over her mouth.

  “Please don’t upset the Starbreaker,” Mateo says.

  “Starbreaker? You mean, ‘the Starbreaker’?” he questions taking a long look at Natalia before stamping a few pieces of paper and sliding them across the counter, “just get that monster away from me.”

  Mateo takes the papers as Natalia bites his hand which is still covering her mouth. He shakes it before bonking her on the head and they step into the bustling streets of the Oasis of Doug.

  “Don’t bite me you little mongrel,” Mateo complains rubbing his hand.

  “Mongrel! Doesn’t anyone around here have any respect! Why are you being so mean to me!” Natalia protests throwing another fit.

  “You’re cute when you’re upset,” Mateo replies.

  “You really think I’m cute?” Natalia questions her eyes sparkling with glee.

  “Oh look, a city inside a whale,” Mateo replies to Natalia’s dismay.

  The Oasis of Doug is less the innards of a whale and more a small city. Glowing crystals line the streets giving off a neon aesthetic. A few signs hang above doors showing what structures are shops and what structures are for rest. Mateo hurries to a door with a hanging sign that reads, ‘Bath House’. He enters and is greeted by a young female figure. He gives her a nervous glance, and she immediately recognizes the flustered look of a realmwalker.

  “Welcome to Ulandra’s Fountain, I am Ulandra, keeper of the fountain,” she says with a bow.

  “Mateo Ryusane, not meaning to be rude, but what are you?” Mateo asks.

  The slug like female sighs using long tendrils of what seems like snot to rub her skull.

  “I am a Tartarian, just like my brother Olephant who runs the admissions booth,” she states.

  “Oh, that guy,” Mateo says rubbing his head.

  “Your brother sucks and he’s a piece of trash,” Natalia yells.

  Ulandra smiles at Natalia motioning them to enter. She leads them to a pleasant bath where Natalia changes to her humanoid size to enjoy the spoils of mortals. The bath is large like a hot tub and even has jets of water pouring into it. Mateo lays back to relax as Natalia latches onto his arm pressing her bare breasts against him.

  “Natalia, what are you doing, you’re supposed to have your own tub,” Mateo complains.

  “It’s just us,” she replies seeming distraught.

  Mateo pats her on the head gently.

  “You’re not a harpy, and I love you Natalia,” Mateo says.

  “Really?” she questions peering up at him with her cerulean eyes.

  “Beatrice is on her way, isn’t she?” Mateo sighs.

  “She is,” Natalia replies.

  The Cosmic whale departs from the Port of Weltraum heading out into the ever-expanding void of outer realm space. The door to the bath opens and Natalia disappears, likely entering Mateo’s void domain.

  “Is there room for two?” Beatrice asks as her clothes fall to the floor.

  Mateo moves to the side to make room in the tub as Beatrice steps up to it.

  “Not really, but we’re pretty close already so I don’t mind sharing a little personal space,” Mateo replies.

  Beatrice joins him in the tub taking up more than his personal space. She lays herself upon him in an intimate manner seeking to arouse his intrigue.

  “Let’s freshen up, then we can take this to whatever passes for a bedroom inside this whale,” Mateo says halting Beatrice’s intended intimacy.

  “Don’t soil the bath, I understand, you know, if the accommodations aren’t what you expect we can always do it in your void domain,” Beatrice offers seductively.

  “Let’s just enjoy the bath first,” Mateo replies.

  In the realm of the gods.

  “The forces of Avarice and Fate have retreated, the Cult of Drakvania and the Cult of the Immortal Father have no hold on this realm,” Drako states.

  “True, we have won, but at what cost,” Garren says peering over at Drako one of his eyes visibly damaged, “closed shut one of the eyes of foresight has been.”

  “I see, and what do you suggest we do about that godfriend Garren?” Drako asks.

  “We must render aid unto the realm walkers as we have done before, but this time, we must be prepared for them to surpass us rather than struggle to attain our standing,” Garren replies.

  “Surpass us, and where is my champion now?” Drako questions.

  “On a Cosmic whale to Daedalus.”

  Drako crosses his hands behind his back looking out into the stars as a faint light moves ever so slightly from Terramundus in the direction of Daedalus.

  “Ryukaze, you sly little minx, you think you can teach him to overthrow me, teach him to wield the power to kill the dragon god Dios,” Drako smiles, “I welcome the challenge.”