Prologue: The Preamble of the Journey & Act 1: Arrival at the Nebula

Prologue - The Preamble of the Journey

In the vast and boundless universe, countless lives quietly grow, reproduce, and perish. To most humans, this starry sky symbolizes loneliness and emptiness, but in reality, it holds countless untold stories.

He yearned to explore those forgotten or undiscovered lives and listen to their stories. He believed that every life has its own song, and every journey is worth recording.

This time, his gaze focused on the Pillars of Creation, which is seven thousand light-years away from Earth. According to the data observed by humans so far, it is a vast structure composed of gas and dust, the cradle of countless stars. However, he sensed the presence of an intelligent life form deep within that nebula.

“Seven thousand light-years away in the nebula, it seems there are stories that have never been witnessed,” he murmured softly. His tone was calm, but it was tinged with an irrepressible curiosity. His dazzling golden eyes sparkled with a desire to explore. He did not carry any mission; he simply longed to uncover, record, and witness those unique and brilliant stories.

“The unknown truths and untouched lives within this nebula shall be explored by me,” he whispered to himself, and then set off. A brand-new journey thus began.

Act 1 - Arrival at the Nebula

He traversed countless nebulae and crossed endless galaxies. Along the way, he discovered remnants that resembled spacecraft, likely left behind by those who had attempted to explore the Pillars of Creation but were stopped for various reasons. Finally, he successfully arrived at this unknown region.

He paused at the edge of the nebula, feeling the gradually brightening radiance around him. In the distance, a newborn star slowly emerged from the dense fog of the nebula, emitting a dazzling light. The surrounding gases gathered under the influence of gravity, gradually converging towards the center. The internal temperature rose, and nuclear fusion began. The brilliant light and intense heat burst forth in an instant. He watched quietly from the side as the light illuminated the surrounding nebula. The edges of the nebula formed a subtle spectrum of colors, from light blue to purple, gradually darkening into a deep black. The beauty was indescribable. At this moment, he was savoring the tranquility and vastness that the nebula brought.

He sensed the energy fluctuations around him. The gases and dust in the nebula underwent subtle changes during the birth of the star. The radiance made these materials brighter, as if in a magnificent performance. The birth of each star was a miracle in the universe's drama, the beginning of a story.

After a while, the star's radiance gradually stabilized, shifting from a dazzling white to a warm yellow. The soft light exuded vitality. He knew that the star had completed its birth and had become a mature star, beginning to illuminate the surrounding space. His gaze shifted from the star to a more distant place, where the spectacle known to humans as the "Pillars of Creation" stood. He sensed that the celestial body stood quietly in the void, as if it had been waiting for his arrival all along. The Pillars of Creation were the core of this nebula, the source of all stories. It was also the main target of this journey.

The closer he got to the Pillars of Creation, the stronger the energy fluctuations he sensed. This power was different from the star's radiance and unlike any celestial body he had ever seen. It did not shine like an ordinary star but was a profound and complex force, as if it were the source of the universe, carrying an ineffable mystery.

He stopped at the edge of the Pillars of Creation. The colossal celestial body, like a pillar piercing the void, was shrouded in mystery. Its outline flickered faintly under the nebula's radiance, emitting a weak glow. Its surface was composed of an intricate structure of gases and dust, as if it did not belong to the known material world. The power of the Pillars of Creation was the source of stellar birth and the origin of life in the star field. Standing at a distance, he gazed calmly, sensing every fluctuation from the Pillars of Creation. The energy emanating from it seemed to silently converse with the universe, driving the evolution of the nebula and nurturing new life.

He decided to get closer to the Pillars of Creation and began to slowly fly towards the interior of the massive celestial body. With each step, he felt a deeper force emanating from the core of the Pillars of Creation, as if there was an infinite gravitational pull, drawing everything into it. When he finally reached the surface of the Pillars of Creation, he discovered that its "terrain" was not as solid as that of a planet. The surface of the Pillars of Creation seemed to be composed of unstable materials, slightly flowing. At this moment, he felt as if he were standing on a thin film that could break at any time. But he did not feel uncomfortable, thanks to his ability to move freely in any environment.

"Is this... the uniqueness of the Pillars of Creation?" he murmured softly, standing on this mysterious "terrain" and sensing the surroundings. Suddenly, he detected a faint life signal, seemingly coming from a distance. He turned towards the source of the fluctuation and saw a translucent humanoid life form standing still, out of place in this vast emptiness. He stopped and observed the figure. As he drew closer, he could clearly sense the life force. The life form had eyes as brilliant as the Milky Way, white hair like a nebula, and a calm gaze.

He watched silently. As he prepared to approach, the figure sensed his presence and turned to look at him. A clear voice emerged in his perception, calm but tinged with a hint of wariness. "Who are you?" the inquisitive voice gently asked.

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"Worldview"

Pillars of Creation

This is a special "structure". It does not have the "substance" that people perceive, but is composed of gas and dust, so it cannot be called a planet. It is about 7000 light-years away from the solar system we are familiar with. Here, many stars are produced every moment to light up the universe.

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