Morning arrived. Apparently, the only reason they could tell the difference between day and night is the floating artificial sun above Luke that reveals sunrise and switched off when night arrived.
Phaenora stood near the window, rolling her shoulders and stretching her arms overhead. This was routine for her whenever she was ready to start her day. As an Omniscient, having a physical body was strange, even to her. In fact, the only reason she has one is because of Vastarael's Body and Soul Reconstruction. Using that, she can make a physical body of her own.
Vastarael was standing a few steps away with his back to her, adjusting something at the edge of the room. He was half naked, bare from the waist up and for a split second Phaenora forgot how breathing worked.
His back was flawless and muscular. The prosthetic arms were there of course, but calling them prosthetics felt like a lie. There was no seam and no break in continuity. Even Soul Vision revealed nothing artificial. The arms appeared as natural as the rest of his body.
She stared hard. Vastarael didn't even turn around.
"You know, I'm aware that I'm hot. You don't have to drool."
"I am not—" Phaenora snapped back immediately, then paused, wiped the corner of her mouth, and scowled. "Okay, rude."
He smirked as he turned slightly, just enough for her to see the edge of his profile.
"We didn't even do anything last night and you're already imagining it."
"First of all, you don't get to comment on what my imagination does. Second, if we're being honest, you absolutely did things. Just… not physically."
"Tragic. I remain innocent, dear Phae. You must be really delusional if you think I did anything to you last night."
"You liar! You implanted your memories in my mind of you... enough about that. Are you ready?"
"Almost. By the way, do you have a sports bra? Like Elyonari's. The combat-grade one."
Phaenora didn't hesitate. She reached into her inventory space and pulled one out, tossing it to him. Only after it left her hand did she freeze.
"Wait. How do you know what kind of bra Elyonari uses?"
"The better question is why you have the exact type Elyonari uses."
Phaenora looked away.
"Next topic."
He sighed, but there was no real annoyance in it.
"Phae. I get it. You're bisexual. That's fine. But don't do that to my beloveds."
She flinched for just a little.
"I can transform for you any time but you don't get to fall for my women."
"I'm not! I don't like them like that! Not romantically, anyway. I only like you as both genders."
That… seemed to satisfy him.
"Good."
He began to change.
The transformation wasn't violent. It never was. Shoulders narrowed, his waist didn't change (for a man with a beautiful muscular build, he had a thin waist) and his hips enlarged. Muscle was redistributed without losing strength. In seconds, Vastarael was gone.
The woman who replaced him was breathtaking. The prosthetic arms had morphed flawlessly. They were slimmer but no less powerful.
She slipped on the sports bra, adjusted it and then summoned her combat outfit. Nanorunes rippled across her skin, assembling into a flexible bodysuit that hugged every curve without restricting movement.
Phaenora was speechless. Every single time she saw female Veneri, she didn't know what to say. She also didn't know why he didn't stay like this. As a woman, he was more beautiful than he was as a man. Vastarael flexed slightly, testing the fit, then spoke. Her voice was feminine now.
"Elyonari's sports bra is actually really helpful. Especially considering I apparently gave myself big breasts."
"You know you can make them smaller, right?"
Vastarael tilted her head, confused. "Why would I? I look better this way."
Phaenora laughed under her breath, shaking her head.
"You really do change when you transform."
"Of course I do."
°°°°°°
Vastarael and Phaenora stepped onto the plains with the others. They all had that tense energy of the final day but beneath it was the strange warmth of camaraderie that only those who had survived near-impossible odds could share. Miranda was amazed to see his feminine form.
"Well, I'll be… you really did transform into a beautiful woman, darlin'," she said. Her gaze drifted over Vastarael's frame and the flexible combat suit.
Shimmer and Runner exchanged glances, rolling their eyes.
"We've seen this before but calling her Dad now… it feels weird. Mom would be more fitting, actually."
Runner nodded emphatically, twirling her Crystal Lotus absentmindedly. "Yeah, no shit. Even after all this time, it's tough. She's still Dad… but Mom?"
Asenane let out a soft sigh. Her dragon wings fluttered slightly behind her.
"For once, I actually agree with them. Guess I'm the only one here who doesn't indulge in this nonsense."
"Asenane, if you love me, why do you seem to dislike my feminine form? You don't actually hate it, do you?"
Asenane's cheeks flushed faintly as her words kept tripping over themselves.
"I—it's not that I hate it I just… don't swing that way, that's all..."
"I understand. I suppose I wanted to give you a proper goodbye kiss before we leave the Crushing Void, but since I'm… not a guy, I guess that will have to wait. Anyway. This is the last day in the Crushing Void and I mean it. No one is allowed to die. I don't want anyone getting hurt unnecessarily… except maybe Miranda."
"I'm not that evil, though," Miranda said defensively.
Vastarael ignored her and continued.
"This fight will be fun. When I'm alone like this, my Bane doesn't interfere. It's perfect for a final showdown. On Earth, we have a way of cheering ourselves on before a big challenge, and I think we should do the same."
Reynolds and Miranda exchanged a quick glance before stepping forward, rolling their shoulders.
"Alright, what's the motto?" Reynolds asked, the familiar camaraderie of Earth rising in his tone.
Phaenora smirked, bouncing lightly on her toes.
"We need something catchy, something motivational. Oh, and something that screams, 'we're ridiculously overpowered but still humble.'"
Shimmer raised her zweihander slightly.
"How about… 'We punch, we slash, we conquer, and we nap in style!'"
Runner snorted, twirling a petal of her Crystal Lotus. "Too casual. Add some intimidation."
"Fine. 'We slash, we shine, we crush the Voidborn, and we nap in style!'"
"I can work with that… but let's make it more personal. Something that includes all of us. You know, our 'family motto.'"
Asenane crossed her arms, trying not to smile.
"Alright. what about: 'Fists of fury, wings of freedom, blades of justice, and absolutely zero mercy. Except naps.'"
Phaenora clapped her hands. "I love it. That's perfect. Definitely something we can shout while obliterating enemies."
Vastarael raised her fist forward as he tried not to laugh.
"Alright, everyone! On three! One, two, three—"
"FISTS OF FURY! WINGS OF FREEDOM! BLADES OF JUSTICE! AND ABSOLUTELY ZERO MERCY. EXCEPT NAPS!"
The sound of their voices echoed over Luke's massive shell, bouncing off the void and the distant silhouettes of approaching Voidborn.
"Let's show them what family, training and sheer ridiculousness can do!"