Crossing Dimensions (Volume I) Chapter I: The Crimson Justiciars

In a certain universe, there is a dwarf planet that can be perceived as an ordinary natural satellite, like those that accompany many planets. Here resides a species of humans who possess very advanced technologies, as evidenced by cities developed and built both on the surface of this natural satellite and beneath it. This place is irradiated by the sunlight of a red giant star; for this reason, the entire moon is protected by a dome‑type energy shield that prevents such radiation from fully impacting the cities.

This human civilization is built on conquest, and they are known and feared by many species across many corners of the universes. Their reputation is founded on a mode of expansion called “heroic colonization.”

A heroic colonization is a kind of payment or tribute that some species render to these humans when they are hired by a civilization to fight a local or external threat. When these humans succeed in destroying the target, the territories of the contracting world are ceded and occupied, and the humans forge alliances and pacts with the civilization that hired them.

In this way, they acquire advanced knowledge of the culture that contracted them and expand their map of influence across various parts of the universe.

“Red Justiciars” or “Crimson Knights”: this is how those who compose the ranks of this colonizing human army are generally called. They wear technological crimson armor; some carry firearms, and others carry melee weapons of the same red hue.

Right now, within the underground cities of this specific moon, an important meeting is being held. A considerable number of crimson soldiers has been summoned inside what appears to be a coliseum with technological walls.

“Welcome, Heroes! Today we have issued an emergency call! We have crucial information from a world we know well! Intelligence from that world itself tells us they are requesting reinforcements, since they apparently have located the Cronos Regidor there!” the speaker said, his face radiant with excitement as he addressed everyone via a massive holographic screen behind him. This man does not wear crimson armor but rather red robes similar to those a priest might wear. All those present in what looks like a coliseum erupted in excitement upon hearing the information.

“The world I mentioned is Glacis Alba! We know it well for its icy hostility. However, before you all immediately travel there, you should know that it is said this object has fallen into the hands of a being…” the orator said, a little worried, and the multitudes in the stands were too. Everyone showed indignation and terror at hearing this.

“That is why we are prepared to send all possible reinforcements to fight that being! Go and recover that relic we have searched for so long!” he spoke with great intensity as many soldiers retrieved strange technological devices from their gear—dimensional transporters that allow travel across extremes of the universe using dimensional routes.

Amid the crowd rushing to travel to that world via their dimensional transporters, one person walked calmly toward the speaker, a crimson soldier who was still wearing his helmet. He removed his helmet in front of the orator; this man had fair skin, blond hair, and naturally colored orange eyes—not special, just an opaque orange. The orator recognized him instantly when he saw him.

“Nhêon Ordinem! You more than anyone must go and seek that relic!” the man expressed, placing hope in this person.
“I assure you we will bring that relic. What is strange is why such an object would be in a place like Glacis Alba…” the young soldier replied, seeming incredulous.
“Perhaps that relic was carried there by the being that is thought to hold it… But let us not theorize—get that object by any means necessary!” the man exclaimed nervously.
Nhêon put on his helmet and took his dimensional transporter.

“I hope this is not a trap...” he said, worried, before departing. This dimensional transporter uses a travel method capable of connecting points within the territories controlled by the crimson army—and Glacis Alba happens to be one of those points.

Through a dimensional route, Nhêon arrived at his destination. Once he passed through the portal, he found himself on a planet with an extremely cold climate and chilling blizzards. Immediately, his technological suit adjusted internal temperature to counter the thermal assault. The young soldier walked with difficulty, for the snow reached to his knees. In minutes, he reached a metropolis in that world where humanoids of blue and gray skin lived; their cities were built inside giant ice blocks that protect inhabitants from the hostile climate, acting as massive icy walls that blunt the fierce winds.

Nhêon joined a group of crimson soldiers communicating with another group elsewhere on Glacis Alba.
“We need information about the relic and the being who possesses it!” one soldier from Nhêon’s team exclaimed.
“According to locals, they have seen anomalies northwest of this city, Kryo. Go investigate and inform us—so far these are only rumors,” a soldier from the other side replied.
Fifteen crimson soldiers went to the designated point, including the young man named Nhêon.

The sunlight in that solar system, where Glacis Alba lies, cannot reach the surface because of the thick storms constantly ravaging the world. Still, when the group arrived, they discovered an anomaly: sunlight was radiating in that location, and the sky appeared as if at sunset. The storm clouds formed a perfect circle, opening to let sunlight through—an unusual sight in this world. Local flora began to emerge across the surface to receive that solar irradiation.

After investigating the area further, the soldiers saw a mountain landscape with a circular crater-like depression in the ground, as if a meteorite had struck, causing an explosive impact radiating outward. Within this crater, they observed a yellow light emanating from its very center. Next to that light was a figure of a man in white robes and a hood.

A member of the group attempted to contact the other team as planned, but failed. There is an anomaly in that location disrupting the artifact’s systems.
“We must go for that relic before it’s too late!” one soldier urgently said.
“How can we be sure it’s the Cronos Regidor?” asked another crimson hero, anxious.
“Our transporters are not functioning; this is not normal—nor is the spatial anomaly in this landscape! It must be that bright object!” another member declared.
“Well then, let’s go for it!” one more demanded.
All descended down the crater edges, leaping through rocky debris across prominent jumps. Once they touched the surface, they raced toward that light and the figure beside it.

When they arrived, they surrounded the person, pointing firearms, technological swords, and spears at them.
The mysterious being wore white robes concealing the face and was seated on a rock beside the relic, as if in casual repose.
“Who are you? Is that the Cronos Regidor?!” demanded an angry soldier.
“This is an extract of the Cronos Regidor…” the person responded calmly.
“How have you obtained it?!” demanded another soldier.
Immediately, monsters formed from the surface as if manipulated by terrestrial elemental power and attacked the crimson soldiers surrounding the figure.

In Nhêon Ordinem’s case, he wields a tall, broad sword with a red blade, which he uses aggressively to slash the stone figures that manifested in seconds. After fighting the rock creatures, something strange emerges about these terrestrial enemies: the more they defeat and shred them, more of them emerge, forming from the very rubble that falls from their foes.

Nhêon notices this and for a moment lets his guard down while pondering how to stop the replication. Because of this, he is struck forcefully in the head by stone. The impact is partly absorbed by his armor’s helmet, but it is jerked off violently and falls distant from him. The soldier appears stunned, but his anger flares, and he retaliates with even greater force, forcing a path through the figures toward the mysterious person. With sword in hand, Nhêon aims to seize the relic by force, passing through those annoying stone enemies.

It is then that the mysterious person meets his gaze—and Nhêon notices something odd about that man’s left eye. It is an orange Blessing Eye, which seems to recognize his gaze directly.

Nhêon recoils in confusion for a few seconds, then regains composure and attacks the mysterious man, who is finally forced to rise. He elegantly dodges each of Nhêon’s blows with acrobatics. The sword assault continues, and only Nhêon wages the fight—with great effort—against the man in white robes, but he cannot land a single blow; many thrusts are blocked by strong kicks that repel the knight’s sword.

“What a strange way of fighting!” Nhêon thinks, frustrated by how his enemy slips between attacks through jumps, dodges, and kicks.

The opponent maintains good distance with powerful leg strikes. Just when Nhêon attempts to up his tempo to overwhelm the adversary, another giant stone figure emerges from the surface, and through one of its massive hands, it seizes the hooded man and lifts him aloft, removing him from the knight’s reach.

Nhêon, frustrated, watches as his target escapes. He abandons the chase and redirects his focus to the extract of Cronos Regidor, rushing toward that objective with all speed.

“At least I’ve dragged him away from the relic…” Nhêon thinks as he sprints forward.

Immediately more rock figures block his path. He tears through them brutally, not stopping, continuing his advance, brandishing his sword against each menacing shape. He fights as if facing the goal he has chased his entire life—racing against time to seize what he has long pursued.

His foes are not strong, but they are numerous, which fuels his frustration. He fights and fights, cuts and cuts, yet he cannot reach what lies ahead.

He truly cannot.

Nhêon delivers a brutal slash at a rock figure, and after destroying it, is hit unexpectedly by another figure wielding a rocky hammer, striking his torso and knocking him to the ground, damaging part of his armor in the process.

Frustrated, Nhêon rises again.
“I need support!” he gasps, but for some reason his call is unanswered.
He searches for his comrades and sees none standing. He also realizes his sword and hands are heavily stained with blood—something he cannot explain, as he was only fighting inert rock figures.

Where does the blood come from?

In that moment, he feels confusion, clutching his head with his left hand, unable to understand what has just occurred.

“Your murderous instinct is very aggressive, my friend,” says the mysterious man, wearing a gentle expression.
“What the hell are you talking about?!” the knight demands.

It is at that moment that he notices the reason none responded to his calls: Nhêon himself has been eliminating his own comrades—and the man in white remains standing beside the Cronos Regidor extract, just as before.

“In the end, you helped me. Ironic, isn’t it?” speaks the mysterious man with a warm tone, offering a gentle smile.
Nhêon collapses to his knees in utter confusion. How did he kill fourteen of his companions?

“You’re probably wondering why an extract of the Cronos Regidor is here. I don’t even know. I’ve approached it, but I can’t touch it—yet I will find a way…” says the man, still smiling gently at Nhêon.

The armored crimson youth remains stunned. Suddenly, he feels his body being absorbed as if into a dimensional transporter, although he never activated one. It seems he is being sent to another dimension by the mysterious man—and all the while, Nhêon watches as the individual recedes into the distance while he descends into that mysterious abyss.

The crimson hero has now been sent to an unknown dimension.
“It’s convenient to leave him alive; then they’ll pursue him alone, and I can study this at my leisure,” the man says while seated, surrounded by the fourteen crimson soldiers slain by Nhêon Ordinem.

Where has the young justiciar been sent?