Later, the choice of this location for resettlement remained a mystery to most of the Galaxy's inhabitants. A group of brilliant scientists, whose intellect was still highly regarded, concocted the idea that they could halt the radiation using a special shield.

The former Emperor of the Empire supported this concept, so they spent decades working on its development, requiring enormous budgets to create the dome that now encompassed a portion of the planet.

Initially, they enclosed a massive area on the planet's surface, serving as the ground. Then, they replaced the uppermost layer of the atmosphere with a second layer, preventing the penetration of external rays. These two were finally connected, forming a vast space that shielded against danger from all sides. For added security, a third protective shield was established in case the outer shield had to be opened for an incoming ship. In the end, all of this was covered by a fourth magnetic shield. After it all functioned successfully, the team of scientists moved to the planet to set up a new habitat.

As they could no longer see the sun, complete darkness prevailed. They created artificial light sources for the plants, and these sources successfully produced breathable air without protective gear. When they had lived there for a few years and proven that the radiation was no longer dangerous, people from various walks of life started to flock to the planet. They built several enormous cities with a unique and dark ambiance, which made them some of the most popular attractions in the Galaxy. Countless beings flocked to this place and fell in love with the planet. This is where the biggest entertainment centers and the darkest groups could be found.

Because of all these developments, Darella became one of the first among the saved planets. Nowadays, its leaders meticulously managed and monitored the potential threats. They watched the radiation levels and were prepared to evacuate the population if any issues arose, although the shields worked much better than expected. The only remaining dream for the scientists was to somehow permanently halt the radiation and restore the planet to a naturally habitable state, but they had not yet found a solution for that.

The other thing that arose because of this planet and brought tremendous success was shape-shifting implantation. They experimented for a long time on how they might be able to endure the harsh radiation, which led to the development of shape-shifting. Although the experiment failed because it was impossible to confer special properties onto other species, the rumor that scientists could change one's appearance piqued people's interest. Since nobody was ever satisfied with themselves in general, many were eager for the opportunity to alter themselves. Eventually, experiments continued in this direction. This unexpected success brought massive profits to the scientists. In the Galaxy, everyone had heard of the possibility of shape-shifting and wanted to try it. With a few exceptions of species for whom the implantation simply didn't work, almost everyone was capable of molding themselves as they wished. It had become quite rare for someone not to have these implantations. Even though most people went for the most common and safest implantations that they could afford, many tried to acquire cheaper copies, which often had deadly consequences. Nevertheless, those who could afford it could change their gender, their appearance, skin color and type, height, width, the number of their limbs, and practically anything they felt like. These implantations could transform one type of being into another, but only in appearance since they never gained the exact qualities of that species. However, this didn't stop anyone from using them. Trends often emerged, lasting more or less for some time. In the last forty years, there was suddenly a craze for humanoid shapes.

Serion contemplated this while keeping an eye on his companion, who nervously stroked his blue hair.

Due to the winding lines, they had to wait for a long time on the spaceship before they could land in the capital. During that time, they had a chance to observe the dreadful condition of the planet. Its surface was black and cracked, with yellowish gases escaping from some areas. It was completely lifeless, and it looked as if the whole place had been blown up and carelessly patched back together. This terrifying sight was quite different from the silvery shield that covered about a quarter of the planet. At both ends, huge machines were working to generate the magnetic shield around it.

Once they were finally allowed through the shields, they could see how it all looked from the inside. They were thousands of meters high, yet they only saw the wall through which they had entered. The rest of it extended far into the distance.

Above the surface, enormous black-coated spheres floated, emitting the light that sustained the plants. The ground was also made of metal, and the inhabitants built upon it. As they got closer, they observed more and more details. The architectural style was hard to define. Beings from all corners of the galaxy had gathered here, resulting in an amalgamation of countless cultures, sometimes in incredibly bizarre combinations.

There were small and enormous buildings, round and angular, colorful and black structures side by side. Forest-themed patterns on walls could be found next to the most cutting-edge styles, alongside a neon-pink skyscraper that almost hurt Serion's eyes.

Multi-level streets wound through the city, making it nearly impossible to navigate. The layout was chaotic, and it was challenging to discern the purpose of each building. Plants were scattered everywhere, attached to walls in some places, while others covered entire streets on the ground level.

Lights flashed everywhere, with signs advertising products, events, and messages running on giant screens. Countless machines flew above and between the buildings. In the midst of it all, an array of different beings wandered the streets.

Darella itself was the epitome of chaos, and everyone in the Galaxy adored it beyond measure.

Serion leaned forward in his seat and shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He was drenched in sweat from his nightmare, but when he glanced around, he noticed the pilot giving him a peculiar look. That's when he realized he had dozed off during the wait.

"Did you have a bad dream?" Angron asked.

"Yes... It's nothing. It's been happening lately," Serion replied.

Angron shrugged and gazed out of the window. "We're almost there, so it's good you woke up."

Once they successfully landed their ship on one of the upper-level landing strips, they stepped out into the atmosphere. It was stifling and had an unpleasant odor at first, but after a few minutes, they acclimated to it.

Angron's first action was to pull a cigarette from his pocket and lean against the railing to light it, observing the lights below. He only looked up when Serion joined him.

"Where's the girl we're looking for?" Angron asked.

"I don't know."

"I thought you received proper instructions for the mission."

"The admiral only mentioned that we need to retrieve something from a girl named Solar."

"That's not much information."

"Allegedly, she's associated with the local gangsters."

"Great. I think we'll find her more easily if we split up."

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

Angron looked at him and grinned. "Are you afraid to be alone?"

"No, but if one of us runs into trouble..."

"That's what the device on your wrist is for, so we can communicate. State-of-the-art technology. Just saying. Come on, let's get going! We can split up later."

The city was cloaked in perpetual twilight. Wherever they ventured in the surrounding streets, illuminated buildings stretched out beside them, their lights casting a lengthy glow. Numerous names in different colors blinked in and out of existence, composed of rapidly changing beams of light. Many of them actually moved to further disorient anyone who looked at them.

There were hardly any traditional patterns of the planet's former inhabitants. Various shops, casinos, bars, and anything a tourist might need lined up side by side. Each catered to a different species, so everyone could find a place that suited their taste.

Countless vehicles zoomed above their heads, including passenger shuttles and privately owned craft. They were designed specifically for flight since the streets were so congested that they couldn't fit on the ground. Some people used these vehicles for illegal racing, which was theoretically banned but practically overlooked by authorities since it didn't disrupt the traffic. Those who engaged in these dangerous races had the sense to take them into the skies above the city, weaving through the tallest buildings. It was common to look up and see one of these craft speeding by. If there were accidents, and a craft exploded or crashed, the participants always managed to eliminate any evidence quickly. They kept quiet for a day or two until the panic died down.

Not only did they have the freedom to act, but the laws forbidding many things didn't actually stop much. While the planet was part of the Empire, there were no checks and controls in place, so people could drink and take drugs as they pleased in entertainment places. Since the planet was only a passing-through stop for many, where they rested for a day or two and then hurried on, it was impossible to enforce strict regulations. This was why Darella became a favorite hub for smugglers, illegal traders, and bounty hunters.

Angron had visited here several times before, so he knew exactly where to go, but he was still amazed at how unique Darella was. Various creatures from all corners of the Galaxy frequented the place, and for that reason, nobody paid any attention. Nobody bothered with him, and he was quite happy about that. They had occasionally criticized him for having humanoid forms despite being an aquatic being, but he felt that it was nobody's business how many implantations he needed for it.

He parted ways with Serion when they reached one of the streets in the entertainment district. Angron knew that the gang members often hung out here and thought they might have some information. The bar they entered was almost empty at that time. Only a few people were inside. The walls had a dim greenish glow thanks to the lamps illuminating them. Apart from those, there wasn't much else providing light in the room. There was no particular decoration, but nobody seemed to miss it.

The woman Angron was looking for stood behind the bar, serving drinks. She wore a short yellow dress, and a small pendant hung around her neck. Her face looked tired under the blond hair that hung over her pink eyes. She had probably been on shift for quite a few hours, yet she engaged in short conversations with everyone and then hurried to the next customer. Robots weren't employed in this bar, even though it would have been beneficial for the woman, as it was visible she could use some help.

Angron went straight to the bar and took a seat on one of the stools. A few people glanced at him, but he just tapped the green glass countertop lightly, so they soon lost interest in him.

The woman appeared a few minutes later and poured him a drink of some sparkling greenish liquid, which was a favorite of his species. Angron didn't feel that a little alcohol would disrupt his work, so he drank it without a word. He found it ridiculous that they had sent him on such a short mission. He could have done this with his eyes closed or even in his sleep. Sephra had obviously went insane during her time on the tiny starship.

A moment later, he struck up a conversation with the woman, who took his empty glass and from whom he had previously obtained information in exchange for some money.