After a few minutes of flying in space, they finally reached the upper layers of the planet's atmosphere. The ship absorbed the impact seamlessly, its occupants not feeling a thing as they descended. The transition from the cold vacuum of space to the warmth of the planet below was smooth, silent, and peaceful.

The planet is truly massive and beautiful in its own way, Rina remarked, gazing out of the ships window. Despite having seen it in VR, experiencing it in reality evoked a different sensation. The abundance of mana was a major factor in this feeling; both she and Aron were exhilarated, their bodies responding to the mana in a way that Earths mana was yet to match.

This amount of mana feels like a dream, Aron added, extending his hand forward and then closing it into a fist. The manas influence was particularly profound on him, as his golden blood contained a high percentage of mana.

As a result, at the moment, he was feeling constantly invigorated and in peak condition, a sensation he could previously only experience within mana-dense artificial environments back on Earth, like in his now decommissioned first ever quantum server.

As they discussed their experience with the mana, the ship continued its steady course, and soon, the palace became visible in the distance, unveiling its grandeur.

Looks like they really went all out for the meeting, Aron remarked, taking in the sight.

Its incredible, Rina said, observing the palace's design. The level of control they have over their roots is astonishing. Despite everything looking like a traditional palace with various colors and contrasts, its all created from a single root.

Is it alright if I ask them about how theyre doing it? Rina turned to Ayaka, seeking guidance on whether it was appropriate to inquire about their techniques. She wanted to be respectful of their unique characteristics and differences, knowing that the tree folk couldnt be judged by human standards. Ayaka, being one of the few knowledgeable about the tree folk, was the perfect person to ask.

You can ask them anything without worrying about offending them, Ayaka promptly answered. The only issue is whether they consider the question worth answering. From our previous meetings, weve learned that they might choose to answer or not, without explaining why.

Looks like Ill need to gauge their mood before deciding what to ask, Thanks, Rina said, appreciating the advice.

The ship descended steadily, drawing nearer to the designated landing zone. With a smooth touch, it landed gently on the surface, marking their arrival.

Please prepare yourselves for the increased gravity when we leave the ship. Its 17% heavier than on Earth, so if you have any difficulty, Lee will assist you without the need for spacesuits, Ayaka reminded everyone. This was to ensure they wouldnt repeat OC Parkers blunderhe had famously stumbled during his first landing, a mistake the current team wanted to avoid, especially given their high-profile status and the fact that their disembarking location was one of the key sites for the still ongoing star system-wide live broadcast.

Immediately, the disembarking process began. Ayaka and Lee were the first to step out, followed by the rest of their escorts, and finally, Aron and Rina.

Looks like they practiced in the simulation, Ayaka thought to herself as she observed Aron and Rina. They moved effortlessly, as though the heavier gravity was no challenge at all, maintaining the same ease they had in the ship with gravity drivers active.

They began walking towards the palace, which had been meticulously prepared by the Proximians. The moment the palace construction was completed, several Proximians, sent by Rayyan, had been stationed to manage crucial sectors such as cleaning, food services, security, and other essential operations.

The massive palace doors were wide open, revealing Rayyan along with the five tree folkBirch, Oak, Crabapple, Mangrove, and Cypresswaiting on the other side to welcome them.

As Aron, Rina, Ayaka and Lee, exchanged greetings with Rayyan and the tree folk, the massive palace doors closed behind them with the rest of the group securing the perimeter.

As for the live stream feed, it was already in a frenzy of activity and noise as millions expressed themselves on it.

@Maali91: [Wow!!!!!!!! Wheres the person who claimed this was all a simulation and that the emperor was using it as a cover-up for the exploration fleets disappearance?]

@Curtis1122: [I doubt hell show up now. I checked his account, and it looks like he was bullied so much that he ended up deleting it to escape the harassment.]

@ahmed_94: [LOL!! Did anyone else notice the emperors expression when he shook hands with the giant tree folk? It was only for a short span, but something seemed a bit strange!]

@Eldwood_Kaumehei: [@ahmed_94, What do you mean by that? I saw nothing about what you are talking about at all. Are you also one of those conspiracy theorists?]

@ahmed_94: [@Eldwood_Kaumehei, I saw it because I had my stream zoomed and focused on his face, and it happened for a few milliseconds. It is one of the you blink, and you miss it type of action, but it happened.]

@Nerdrage001: [@ahmed_94, Are you one of those perverts who simps for the emperor?]

@ahmed_94: [Stop slandering me. I can and will sue you for that. If you dont believe me, go and take a look for yourself]

@Fkuffy_Dog_Hugger: [@ahmed_94, Based on your reaction, it looks like it is true.]

@ahmed_94: [Meet me in VR, and let our bodies do the talk like men. I sent you an invite and location. It is a fight to the death, and If you dont come, you are a Pu**y ]

@Ertenal_Crusader: [@ahmed_94, Make the link public. I want to watch people kill each other for honor]

@Thawk7678: [@Fkuffy_Dog_Hugger, You better accept it, or you wont live past it.]

@Demonic_entity: [This is why I like the VR. Thank you, emperor, for the tech.]

@Lenrad: [Hey @Nerdrage001, I found the man you were looking for here]

Such discussions were rampant throughout the livestream. Even though the emperor and the empress had already entered the palace and were no longer visible on the stream, people continued watching it, eagerly awaiting for the results of the meeting.

A few viewers briefly left the stream to catch a fight of honor, but they, too, were quick to return after a few minutes, eager to see what would unfold next.