"It is, there will be living quarters you are free to use and fix to your basic necessities. Additional amenities may be found in worlds you happen to visit and may be added as you please," Darkness added as he motioned to the stairs, "This section simply serves as the entry to our home and means to observe the vast emptiness outside."

"As for the situation in your world - it was corrected by an alien presence from another world," Darkness put it as simply as possible, "They somehow acquired means to alter the fundamentals of other worlds, changing an important event in a manner that favors them."

"By some fortune people like you still retain awareness of how your world is supposed to be and can tell apart the abrupt change," the mysterious man continued as he lead the way down the tower and to a spacious chamber that lead to different paths. From here Virulina could see just how expansive the place was - corridors and pathways leading to other chambers as far as the eye can see.

"To restore your world, you need someone from another world to find the core of your world, also known as the World Crystal," Darkness then looked to Virulina making sure she still followed the explanation, "And then you have to get in contact with the World Crystal in order to restore the world to its original state."

Following along on the tour, Virulina liked the mention of additional amenities.  Also the idea of acquiring 'loot' from adventures in other worlds was something she wouldn't discount.  But there was one thing she just had to ask.

"If these people weren't trying to kill me, this alternative version of Prysmos 'could' be considered better than the original.  I take it there is some sort of catch in not reversing these changes?  Irresponsible magic, dire consequences, grumpy wizard stuff."

That last sentence she pronounced in a mockery of Merklynn's crotchety tone.

The Darkling Lord could have sworn that the robed man had held back a chuckle on her impersonation of the wizard, a smile on his lips the only hint that her inquiry was amusing to him.

"While it may be perceived as better, the fact remains that causes a distortion on your world," Darkness replied as he brought forth an image to represent his explanation, "Too much difference from the course of what should happen in your world will cause your world to break apart and leave you with no world to hail back from."

"Of course, there are less invasive means to come to the conclusion you would rather have," the ancient one added with a pause as he turned to look to Virulina's way (as much as he could look with his eyes covered), seemingly having an idea come to mind, "But we can make arrangements for that once matters are less pressing than it is now."

She knew that if Darkstorm was present, he'd ignore the warnings.  Fortunately, a more intelligent mind was at work.  Hers.

"So if I'm going to fix my world, then I need to visit another to find someone 'aware' like me... do you have anyone in mind?  These Phantoms are quite the challenge, so I wouldn't mind an enchanted blade either."

"Actually..." Darkness said as he reached under his armored robes to produce a dangerous-looking dagger, handing it handle first to Virulina, "A colleague of mine encountered an avatar of destruction who offered her help in the matter, handing this item before vanishing."

"It can only be used once," the ancient one then said with a serious tone this time in explaining to the Darkling Lord how it was used, "She requested it to be stabbed into one of the foes behind the trouble, allowing her to manifest and possess its body as her own. She will then become an ally that will assist in your quest of restoration."

Virulina 'carefully' inspected the blade and nodded in satisfaction at its quality.

"Any foe?  Or should I save this only for foes that seem unbeatable?  At any rate, I'm glad to have asked the question."

She would have to get a sheath for the new blade, once 'business' was over and done with.

"Tell me about these World Crystals... please.  I want to know what they look like, what dangers they present, and how I can track them."

"The avatar did mention preferring intelligent foes," Darkness replied with a nod as the Darkling Lord appraised the dangerous-looking dagger, "That way, she can somehow glean on the information they possess."

"To say what a World Crystal is would be tricky since no two crystal will bear the same form," the ancient one explained when the question went to the topic of what World Crystals were and what to expect from them, "I suppose the description most wanderers not native to the world that found a crystal would describe is a repelling sensation. The closer you are to a World Crystal, the stronger this sensation is."

"The World Crystal itself isn't dangerous - rather it's the world it serves as a core that would matter more," Darkness continued to explain to Virulina, "Inhabitants would have this unnatural feeling of being irritated towards things that don't belong to their world. It is something difficult to overcome unless you prove that you don't mean any harm to them. That or have a means of concealing the fact that you're otherworlders."

"Stab someone 'important'... it shan't be a issue."

The World Crystal description helped, but it still seemed 'visually' hard to grasp.  She would have to find out for herself.  At least a repellant feeling could be used to hone on on a location.  Virulina fussed with her hair and looked around, half expecting other people to show up.

"Ordinarily I would undertake this quest alone, but considering the might of the phantoms... I 'could' use some allies.  Given that I can't call on my old comrades... I am prepared to accept strangers."

Despite her haughty words, it was a disguised request for help.  Virulina's pride would not allow her to 'beg', but she could certainly offer 'suggestions'.

"Worry not, it is a quest that will definitely require allies - even if some of them are temporary," Darkness assured the Darkling Lord as he seemed to be looking to somewhere else, "I believe some of my colleagues have already found such allies... They are probably somewhere around here or on their way back as we speak."

"It is also possible to find new allies along the way when you travel across distorted worlds," the ancient one added as if in afterthought, "There is one particular location I want you and the others to seek out first and foremost before attempting to restore your respective worlds."

With Harlock at the ship's wheel, the Arcadia followed the course Altair had somehow provided by some unknown means into the ship's navigational computer. The Space galleon flew past the portals and came upon a world of unusual sight, sensors showing it to be at the center of the many portals that they were leaving behind as they approached their destination.

With Altair's further guidance, the Arcadia approached and docked.

"Power down to station keeping and begin repairing damage we suffered by the Illumidas before we arrived into this...Void for lack of a better term. Tochiro, stay with the ship while I go with Altair and see to how to get back to our reality."

"I'll get started right away, Captain", Tochiro said and opened internal comms. "Attention all hands, this is Tochiro - begin assessing our battle damage and send all reports to me once complete - Captain's orders."

Harlock nodded to Tochiro, confident he would have the Arcadia's damage fully repaired and turned his attention and gestured to Altair to lead the way.

"And what makes this location special?"

Virulina sensed an importance about the world.  While she was a naturally suspicious lady, these strangers had yet to display any signs of avarice.  In fact they seem to be motivated by pure virtues.

"Feel free to let your crew come down when they have nothing to do," Altair said to Captain Harlock as he floated ahead and lead the way, "I believe you'll need supplies and a place to rest properly before setting off."

The youthful ancient one soon lead the captain to the bottom of the tower, meeting a robed man who had a similar atmosphere as Altair around him and a woman garbed in a stylized armor similar to those worn by knights of old.

"It's an artificial world, and very recent," Darkness answered as he paused, facing towards Altair and the pirate captain by his side to acknowledge their presence, "Whoever created it holds a lot of power, and hopefully may be able to aid your cause and ours."

"Well, its a lead... I've often worked with cryptic clues in the past.  Very well, let us journey to this world and investigate.  When we are ready."

Virulina paused in her conversation with Darkness and turned to the new arrivals.  Altair seemed familiar with this place so she classed him as one of Darkness's peers or servants.  That just left the man with the eye patch.  Virulina noted his personal weapons and his clothing.

A commander of some sort?  Since I recognize nothing about him... this must be one of the 'allies' from these other imperiled worlds.  I do like his cloak...

Standing a bit straighter, the Darkling Lord gave a curt nod.  Virulina wasn't one to shake hands.  But since she needed helped with this momentous quest, Virulina offered a small smile.  Despite the Shark hologram on her armor's chest plate, she didn't seem to be bearing much in the way of technology.  No guns, no electronics... just a strangely shaped melee weapon.

"Another warrior by the looks of it... good.  I am Virulina, Darkling Lord of Prysmos... and I have clashed with many phantoms just to be here.  What is your name and title?"

Harlock follows Altair to the bottom of the tower and noted another robed individual and a woman, violet haired & with a face both beautiful but one that shows cunning. Harlock's thoughts drift to this armored woman's resemblance to Queen Baraluda of the Arfressian Militia.

When the woman curtly nodded and stated who she was and her victories, Harlock responded by crossing his arms and gave her a slow nod before speaking.

"I am Harlock, Captain of the Space Galleon Arcadia", he answered. "I am to guess you also have been pulled from your world and reality as I and my ship and crew?"

"A space Galleon?  Now that sounds interesting.  Well met, Captain."

Virulina's mind whirled with all the things she could use a space faring ship for.  However, that was something to revisit later on.  Right now, there were Phantoms to fight and worlds to liberate...

"I don't know about your experience, but my world changed overnight... and only a few of us remembered the original.  I left on my own accord to come here and seek answers.  Have you encountered any strange people who have subverted your world, Captain... maybe someone who dresses in white?"

"I was not on my world, Virulina", Harlock answered. "My world was invaded and conquered by the Illumidas Empire - for the past few years I and my crew have been fighting their occupation. We have been a thorn in their side but slowly we will become the saber that will deal the fatal blow to their empire and retake my homeworld of Earth and any world who yearns to be free of their tyrannical rule."

Harlock paused for a moment. "As to your question of seeing someone, I have not encountered anyone in white but during the battle that brought us here, I saw what I can only describe as an angelic winged woman in the airless vacuum of space before we were pulled into the reality where we find ourselves now."

He sounds like a 'good guy', but I can work with that.

Virulina listened to everything, taking certain pieces of the conversation apart for her own evaluation.  It was the similarities that mattered most to her.

"Well, I'd say that the winged woman is the person who has corrupted your... timeline?  I have only one world to worry about.  Finding one foe among many worlds sounds... difficult.  Forunately a lead has opened up, elsewhere.  Have you been briefed about World Crystals, Captain?"

She paused, looking to Darkness and Altair briefly.  They might want to explain the concept, but if they didn't... she would.

"Altair has mentioned what I must do to restore me and my crew back to my world & reality and this 'World Crystal' - truth be told I do not fully comprehend but if I must do this to return home, then so be it", Harlock said.

"Excellent.  I'm not sure how your ship and crew will fit into this questing, Captain.  What else do we need to know, Darkness?"

Virulina looked like she was ready for adventure.

"Normally we'd offer a short rest to prepare you on your quest," Darkness said as he motioned to the view of the inside of the moon-like structure, resembling a three-dimensional labyrinth where gravity worked as it pleased, "But if you are ready to set off then we can proceed to open the pathway to the world in question."

“I am ready to begin this quest.  We will do our best to bring this ally into the fold... or return with whatever help we can extract from them.”

She wasn’t sure what they would find on this artificial world or how well received they would be.  But if they could demonstrate a universe wide threat, that would surely get them an audience with whoever ruled it.

"If my vessel is not needed, I would like to communicate to my friend Tochiro for a brief moment to concentrate on my ship's repairs or be ready to set sail if the Arcadia is required."

Harlock pulls a communicator from his belt and waits for an answer.

"Your men are free to rest and make repairs on your vessel as you please," Darkness replied as he turned towards the Captain of the Arcadia, "It might attract unnecessary attention too soon before you could accomplish your objective."

"But fear not - we will make sure you remain in contact with your crew from here and can send the vessel to assist when necessary," the ancient one added as the location they were in seemed to have shifted to a different part of the massive construct the ancient one called home. A glowing portal stood on one end of the hallway, with faint shapes of a city visible on the other end of the path.

Harlock nodded to Darkness and activated his communicator. "Harlock to Tochiro."

After a few seconds, Tochiro responded. "Tochiro here, go ahead."

"How are repairs coming along?"

"Going well - We're fabricating components for our biggest repairs and we have enough supplies to cover all damage we sustained but we will need to resupply somewhere if we get into another major battle."

"Very well - continue getting the Arcadia spaceworthy - I am going somewhere to help us get home."

"Do you need company? I can send Tadashi or Yuki...Or me?"

"No, ill be fine. Have the ship repaired & ready by the time I return."

There was a long pause. "Aye, aye Captain", Tochiro said with a little annoyance in his voice.

Putting the communicator away with a slight grin, Harlock turned to Darkness & said simply, "Im ready."

"Onward then."

Virulina boldly stepped through the portal.