The dawn carried a chill that crept up on you, slow and insistent. Even this windless wilderness seemed to stir faintly for once.

Before the assembled soldiers stood Commander Puleman, spine rigid as steel.

His posture wasn’t much different from usual—but his expression held the awe of someone who’d just been cast into the starry sea and witnessed its vastness.

He was serious now.

Every word. Every action. Not a single joke from this moment on.

Puleman: Everyone…

Puleman: I am Puleman. Supreme Commander of the Pioneer Team. Your comrade-in-arms.

Puleman: I’m only eighteen. Some of you warriors have lived twice my years.

Puleman: Though my appointment was decided long ago, I’ve only recently shouldered this duty.

Puleman: You all know what a change in leadership for the "Honesty Kingdom Pioneering Squad" truly means.

Puleman: It carries only two purposes.

Puleman: The passing of honor… or the washing away of shame.

Puleman: Roughly half of you may have heard—or lived through—how a commander my age taking charge is never about honor…

Puleman: I swear on the Wish Power flowing in my blood: every word I speak now is worthy of your trust.

Li Weishe: …………

The formation stood as still as a pine forest, listening.

Puleman: Ten years ago, our Pioneer Team suffered needless losses due to our former commander’s recklessness.

Puleman: An entire scout squad was wiped out. In the confusion, he kept sending elite units toward the disaster zone.

Puleman: The result? Many bore wounds that would never heal. We couldn’t even recover the bodies or belongings of our fallen pioneers.

Puleman: After the expedition halted, some citizens lost faith in us. They attacked our troops, seeking vengeance for the innocent dead.

Half Moon Outflow: …………

Puleman: The Supreme Commander was sentenced to death by the courts. He’ll remain imprisoned until his successor takes office… and executes him publicly.

Puleman: …When I accepted this Pioneer Team, my hands held not a trace of honor. Only disgraceful blood.

Puleman: Blood sharing the same lineage as my own…

Puleman: We pioneers live with the unknown wilderness. We understand it. Explore it. Take from it. And guard against its wrath.

Puleman: Sacrifice on our path is inevitable—but meaningless, foolish deaths? Unforgivable.

Puleman: This shame stains not just the commander. It stains us all…

Puleman: —Tell me, everyone here: if a chance to wash away that shame stood before us today… would we shrink back?

Day High: …………

Scout Veteran: To wash away our shame.

Scout Veteran: To wash away our shame—

Scout Veteran: TO WASH AWAY OUR SHAME————!!!

Nearly every soldier roared the cry in unison—only a few fresh recruits held back. The sound surged beyond the camp like a declaration of war against the unknown.

As the echoes faded, Puleman’s guards brought forward a massive bulletin board. A large map unfurled across it, pinned tight for all to see.

Puleman: Each of you was personally chosen by me and my deputy for this mission—to cleanse our disgrace.

Puleman: In the coming operation, I will pour my all alongside you to secure this vital victory.

Puleman pointed to the map behind him. It marked camp sites and connecting routes—clearly their current location. In the top-right corner, a purple zone sprawled like giant, crooked fingers.

Puleman: This purple area is called the "Fall of the Stars." Our vanguard sacrificed dozens of trained dogs and birds just to map its borders.

Puleman: This "Fall of the Stars" is our Pioneer Team’s "Land of Shame."

Puleman: According to reports from ten years ago, almost every living thing entering this zone loses its Wish Points and Wish Power.

Puleman: Those with remaining Wish Points would see the stars in their personal star-sea plummet and vanish one by one—hence the name.

Seventh Ju: !?!?

Puleman: Before they can escape, the "environment" kills them in countless ways. No bodies remain.

Puleman: For us, believers of Divine Sivi, this is an unholy land that spits on our faith.

Puleman: Sadly, the Divine Temple refused aid. They claimed this zone lies beyond normal human activity—and assisting would indirectly interfere with Sincere Kingdom politics.

Puleman: We fight alone. But that doesn’t mean we can’t conquer the "Fall of the Stars."

Puleman: No… We don’t seek conquest. We seek redemption. To fulfill the wishes of those who died unjustly.

Puleman: I won’t order you to risk your lives recklessly. But we must understand this place. Gather intelligence by any safe means imaginable.

Puleman: All known dangers occur on the ground.

Puleman: Upon contact with the surface beyond a certain threshold, Wish Power and Points vanish in seconds.

Puleman: So… today’s mission is aerial reconnaissance.

Puleman: Forward outposts nearer to the "Fall of the Stars" have prepared observation balloons. They’ll let our elites survey the entire zone from above.

Puleman: If possible, descend low for a closer look. Even retrieving a scrap of earth or a living specimen would help…

Puleman: Judge your own limits. I trust your judgment—you won’t push yourselves foolishly.

Puleman: —Remember: avoid casualties above all else.

Puleman: This is only Step One of Operation "Redemption." Do not fail me.

…………

…………

A hundred-odd scouts split into ten squads, advancing along paths cleared by the vanguard toward the edge of the "Fall of the Stars."

My squad included old friends from the labor crew—and several unfamiliar veterans. They explained they’d only brief us on the plan, assess safety, and guard us en route. They wouldn’t join the actual reconnaissance.

That meant the mission fell entirely on me, Ink River, Day High, Li Weishe, and Half Moon Outflow.

*Why did Puleman assign it this way?* I thought. *Does he really trust just us five? Is he overestimating us?*

The idea of losing Wish Points and Power—such a game-breaking condition—still made my skin crawl. If I accidentally strayed into the "Fall of the Stars," I’d be dead for sure.

*Why didn’t I think of this last night?* The operation had already begun. Would wishing in front of everyone now hurt morale? Cause panic?

After wrestling with it, I decided to wait and see how things unfolded.

Guard Veteran A: We’re here.

We’d reached the forwardmost temporary outpost before I’d even settled my thoughts.

A crude camp—just a few large logs hammered into a rough enclosure. Only dozens of meters separated it from the "Fall of the Stars" border. Ahead, the jungle’s edge was already visible.

Inside the outpost stood a tent big enough for seven or eight people, supply crates of food and water, and a woven bamboo basket about a meter square.

The basket overflowed with tangled, unidentifiable fabrics—like a month’s worth of dirty laundry stuffed violently into a washing machine.

This was obviously the reconnaissance balloon.

The veterans efficiently unpacked and smoothed out the balloon from the basket. It felt surprisingly supple. They erected the basket’s upper frame in minutes.

At first glance, it looked like a hot-air balloon—but a flimsy, terrifyingly basic one.

Day High: The basket… precisely 1.5 meters square. Impeccable craftsmanship.

Day High: The balloon’s outer circumference… wait, it’ll expand when inflated. No point measuring now.

While the veterans worked, Day High measured the frame with a ruler marked in indecipherable units, fascinated.

*Right,* I recalled. *This "master strategist" includes actual math in his calculations.*

Guard Veteran B: Hand me that case.

Seventh Ju: Oh—

The veteran opened the case and pulled out a device, mounting it at the center of the basket’s frame.

Guard Veteran A: This controls the balloon. It steers, receives signal markers, and calculates ground distance within two hundred meters.

Guard Veteran A: Military secret. Worth more than you’ll earn in a lifetime if sold overseas.

Guard Veteran A: Don’t lose it. Don’t break it.

Seventh Ju: …………

Day High: No problem! I read the manual yesterday.

Everyone but Day High eyed the device warily. The veteran’s warning was clear: no funny business.

Guard Veteran B: Day High, you were personally selected by the Commander. You’ll pilot the balloon.

Day High: Hmph. Naturally. No one else is qualified.

Li Weishe: We were personally selected too, you know.

Seventh Ju: Seriously? Must we argue over this…

Guard Veteran B: The balloon holds two. One observes and records. The rest stay grounded for communication and monitoring.

Guard Veteran B: Who’s going up?

Seventh Ju: …………

*I don’t want to ride that rickety thing…* But saying it would make me look cowardly.

*I’m a soldier now!*

Ink River: My weight probably disqualifies me.

Half Moon Outflow: …I have severe acrophobia. Physical reactions.

Li Weishe: Once that balloon inflates, I might not resist the urge to shoot it with an arrow.

Seventh Ju: …………

Seventh Ju: —Perfect. Then we’ll confiscate Li Weishe’s bow and make *him* go up!

Day High: No running away, Xiao Ju. Up you go.

Seventh Ju: ………………

…………

A low hum rose from the device in the basket. Invisible energy seemed to pour from its core, swelling the balloon steadily.

Day High adjusted the controls, finalizing the ascent prep.

I resignedly tested my equipment: a brick-like communicator in one hand, a monocular telescope in the other.

Seventh Ju: Hey? Can you hear me?

Half Moon Outflow: Yes. Loud and clear. Proceed.

Half Moon Outflow’s voice crackled perfectly through the communicator from ten meters away.

*What kind of black tech is this? A walkie-talkie? This country’s tech isn’t that advanced…*

—*Wait.* I’d learned early that this world’s civilization was uneven. Some technologies were artificially boosted by Wish Power.

*This thing might be someone’s Wish Power effect.*

*Yeah. Definitely.*

…*Huh. I still slip into exam-mode thinking under stress. Old habits from pre-college days die hard.*

Day High: Oh... Little Ju, have you ever ridden this kind of balloon before?

Day High crouched in the basket, fiddling with the instruments. It was tough controlling the balloon in that position.

Seventh Ju: Nope. How could I have ridden this thing?

Day High: But you’re acting so mature.

Seventh Ju: Huh?

Day High: Current altitude... one hundred meters above ground.

Seventh Ju: ...!? !?

Seventh Ju: I—I just zoned out for a second, and we’re already this high—!

Day High: Might be late to ask now, but you’re not scared of heights like Half Moon Outflow, are you?

Seventh Ju: No, I fear heights...

Seventh Ju: ...But I fear falling!

Day High: ...

Day High: Is there a difference?

Seventh Ju: Of—course—there—is!

Looking ahead, the sparse wilderness suddenly grew dense.

The terrain shift felt like flying over someone’s hairline.

The jungle canopy layered thickly, with only rare gaps revealing glimpses of underbrush below.

This scene reminded me of the Great Gorge’s depths.

Glancing sideways, I spotted similar balloons rising hundreds of meters away. Other outposts’ scouts must have started their recon too.

Our team’s efficiency was pretty high.

Beep—beep—beep—

Seventh Ju: Ah—!?

The balloon’s control unit beeped suddenly, startling me. I whipped around to stare at Day High.

Seventh Ju: Is it exploding??

Day High: No, no. It’s resonance with ground signal markers. We’ve crossed the “Fall of the Stars” boundary.

Day High: The vanguard team risked their lives placing those. We’ll hear it again on the return trip.

Seventh Ju: Okay... don’t scare me.

Day High: Per protocol, contact ground now.

Seventh Ju: Got it.

After calming down, I brought the comms device to my ear and mouth.

Seventh Ju: Ground control, we’ve crossed the “Fall of the Stars” boundary. Continuing steady flight at 100 meters.

Half Moon Outflow: Copy. Keep increasing frequency. Signal fades with distance.

Seventh Ju: Roger.

Half Moon Outflow: Report or return immediately if anything unexpected occurs. Over.

Seventh Ju: Copy. Over.

Boosting frequency ensured constant signal exchange, signaling our safety to ground.

Day High: Hey Little Ju, from up here, does the jungle edge look like a five-finger shape?

Seventh Ju: ...No.

Day High: Huh? Is there five-finger terrain? I’m controlling the balloon—can’t see outside.

Seventh Ju: Just a regular, continuous jungle boundary.

Day High: Isn’t the “Fall of the Stars” boundary five-finger shaped? Unrelated to terrain?

Day High: ...

Seventh Ju: Not sure. Seems unrelated for now.

Day High: Okay... I’ll descend to let you see up close.

Seventh Ju: Fine. Go slow. Don’t touch ground.

Seventh Ju: —Ground control, descending to observe ground closely.

Half Moon Outflow: Copy. Proceed cautiously. Prepare for emergency ascent if needed. Over.

Seventh Ju: Understood. Over.

Day High: Altitude... thirty meters above ground, hovering. Little Ju, look straight down.

Seventh Ju: Okay.

I set down the comms device, gripped the basket edge tightly, and leaned out with the scope.

Seventh Ju: We’re ten meters above canopy. Trees are twenty meters tall—lush growth.

Seventh Ju: Under the gaps... pitch black. Can’t see anything.

Day High: Pitch-black gaps... must have seen some years, huh?

Seventh Ju: Save dirty jokes for after we land!

Day High: Descend a bit more?

Seventh Ju: Hmm...

Seventh Ju: Can this balloon emergency-ascend?

Day High: Easily. Precision control’s within my specialty and Wish Power!

Seventh Ju: Good. Descend one meter at a time.

Day High: Twenty-nine meters. Twenty-eight, twenty-seven...

Seventh Ju: ...

Day High: Twenty-five, twenty-four...

Seventh Ju: —Stop.

Day High: Twenty-three meters above ground. What do you see?

Seventh Ju: ...

Seventh Ju: The ground... seems to wriggle.

Day High: What? An earthquake?

Seventh Ju: No. Wriggling like a caterpillar...

Seventh Ju: Tree trunks are wrapped in vines—those vines wriggle too...

Day High: Hiss... tentacles?

Seventh Ju: I said save dirty jokes for later—

Suddenly, something in the scope’s lens dimmed faintly and vanished.

An inconspicuous shadow-thing disappeared right before my eyes.

Seventh Ju: —Huh?

I blinked, thinking I’d imagined it.

Just as I raised the scope again—

A tremendous force clamped my right hand like a vise, yanking me down hard!!

Seventh Ju: —!!

Instinct made me yank my arm back. My grip slipped—the scope tumbled down with a whoosh.

Normal vision returned. I focused: a smooth, dark green vine coiled tightly around my right arm!

Seventh Ju: What the hell is this thing!!

How could vines reach this high above ground!?

Day High: What’s happening?? The balloon’s tilting!

I felt the balance shift. The vine pulled with crushing downward force, trying to drag me earthward.

If my free hand hadn’t gripped the basket edge, I’d have been ripped away already!

Seventh Ju: Ascend! Now!!

Day High: Can’t! Unstable—emergency ascent is impossible!

Seventh Ju: Damn it...

Seventh Ju: —You junk think you can drag me to hell??

I twisted my arm, grabbed the vine, and squeezed hard with all five fingers—

—Crack! It snapped like dry branches, splitting in two.

The coiled part whipped back like a released rubber band, smacking the basket edge with a snap before vanishing into the canopy.

Seventh Ju: I’m free!!

Day High: Balance restored! Emergency ascent initiated!

The sudden lift threw me off-balance, slamming me to the basket floor. I crawled down, pressing my mouth to the comms device.

Seventh Ju: Ground control! Incident occurred. Scope lost. Returning to outpost!

Seventh Ju: Alert all recon teams immediately: keep balloons away from the canopy!!!