Chapter 39: The Chocobo Space

High up in the sky, Lucas rode Onion freely through the clouds, trying every aerial maneuver he could think of. There was no fear of being flung off by inertia—thanks to the special energy field surrounding them, his body stayed firmly attached to Onion’s back.

“Onion, straight up! Let’s see how high we can go!”

Lucas patted the Chocobo’s neck excitedly.

“Wark~~”

Onion chirped, flapping its wings and shooting upward in a straight climb. Its speed didn’t falter even once until they finally broke into the stratosphere—only then did Onion stop ascending.

“This… this is your limit?”

Lucas was stunned. He hadn’t expected they could actually reach the stratosphere—and the fact that Onion wasn’t affected by the lack of oxygen or freezing temperatures was even more incredible. Clearly, that invisible energy field was doing its work.

“Wark~~ Wark-wark~~”

Onion flapped its wings and called out twice.

Because of their mental link, Lucas could understand it perfectly: It could go a bit higher, but it couldn’t leave the planet’s atmosphere—it couldn’t enter space.

“That’s already plenty! Let’s test how fast you can fly next!”

Onion nodded, and then—like an arrow released from the bow—it shot forward. The air around them warped into concentric rings of white vapor.

“Holy—! You just broke the sound barrier!!”

Lucas didn’t know the exact speed, but the sonic boom was clear as day. And Onion was still accelerating—this wasn’t even its top speed.

He had no idea what their maximum velocity was; all he knew was that it was insanely fast.

After more than two hours of high-speed flight, Lucas finally returned to the DevilMayCry office, exhilarated but satisfied.

“A-System, how do I plant the Gysahl Greens? Can I actually go into the Chocobo Space?”

[Ding~ The Host may freely enter and exit the Chocobo Space.]

Receiving the confirmation, Lucas didn’t hesitate. He and Onion entered together—the method was simple: blow the Chocobo Whistle twice.

“A-System~~ this is what you call the Chocobo Space? This is practically a home! What the hell!”

Lucas was dumbfounded. He had thought it would just be a simple pocket dimension—but inside, spring was in full bloom. There was even a two-story villa nestled among trees!

A gentle stream circled the house. On the left side stretched a neatly tilled patch of farmland; on the right stood a row of Chocobo stables. At the far end of the yard was even an open-air hot spring pool. This wasn’t just a pocket space—it was a miniature world!

[Ding~ The Chocobo Space contains a two-story villa with complete living amenities, a Chocobo stable, and a small field for cultivation. Time flow within the space matches the outside world—please take note, Host.]

“You mean… I can actually live here?” Lucas asked in disbelief.

[Ding~ Yes, Host. You may reside in the Chocobo Space. It is also bound to DevilMayCry—meaning all registered members of the agency may enter as well.]

Lucas was speechless. The reward was simply too good—it felt surreal, like he was floating in a dream.

Then, five palm-sized light-blue crystals suddenly appeared in his inventory, labeled Chocobo Space Crystals.

“So… these crystals are for other people? And why do they get crystals while I get a whistle?”

[Ding~ Correct. The crystals may be given to DevilMayCry staff only; they will not function for outsiders. Your Chocobo Whistle already carries this function, so no separate crystal is issued to you.]

“Got it~~”

Lucas nodded. Perfect—he could give the crystals to Gwen and the others.

Onion obediently trotted into its stable, its silver armor magically removing itself and placing neatly to the side.

Lucas scattered the Gysahl Green seeds gifted by the system into the field. The moment they touched the soil, they burrowed in and began sprouting right before his eyes.

“A-System, do I need to water the crops?”

[Ding~ No need. The Gysahl Greens will grow automatically.]

“Oh~ So considerate~~~”

Satisfied, Lucas headed into the villa.

The exterior had a European design—white walls, blue roof tiles—just like the buildings in a fantasy RPG.

Inside, the first floor featured a spacious living room with a huge fireplace and cozy sofas, while the other side held a kitchen and dining area.

There was even a basement—currently empty—but Lucas immediately decided he’d turn it into a gaming room. He’d move all his collectible figurines and consoles here, maybe even install a giant projector. Gaming paradise, incoming.

“A-System, does this place have power and internet?”

That was the key—without those, his game room dream was doomed.

[Ding~ Affirmative. Power and network access are provided by the Hydaelyn Crystal, the core energy source sustaining the Chocobo Space.]

“Whoa—Hydaelyn Crystal? That’s seriously next-level!!”

Lucas was amazed. The Hydaelyn Crystal was the mother crystal that powered the entire Final Fantasy world—a source of endless energy.

Checking the basement again, he noticed all the light fixtures in the villa were crafted from glowing crystal lamps.

Climbing up the wooden stairs, Lucas explored the second floor. There were six rooms, all identical in layout and furniture.

He entered one—the air was fresh and carried a faint lemon scent.

Opening the glass balcony doors, he was greeted by a breathtaking view: mountains, rivers, and a tranquil lake surrounded by forest—a scene straight out of a painting.

He took a deep breath and instantly felt his body relax, his mind clear.

“Ahhh~ nothing beats nature!”

He sighed contentedly, gazing at the distant mountains.

“A-System, does this place have seasons or weather changes?”

[Ding~ Yes. The Chocobo Space cycles between summer and winter only.]

Lucas nodded. That was perfect—different scenery for different times of year. It was currently summer, lush and green everywhere. Winter would probably be a snow-covered wonderland.

Decision made—he’d stay the night here.

After soaking in the pristine, natural hot spring, he picked the room at the far end of the second floor and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, the air filled with the gentle fragrance of nature.

He slept so soundly that even his phone alarm couldn’t wake him.

When he finally got up and washed, he stepped outside—and was stunned.

The Gysahl Greens he’d planted yesterday were already budding.

“So fast! At this rate, they’ll be fully grown in about a week.”

After checking the crops, he headed to the Chocobo stable. The moment Onion saw him, it chirped excitedly, rubbing its big feathery head against Lucas’s chest. Gone was the restless bird from before—now it was pure affection.

They played for a while, but Onion’s energy was endless. To Lucas’s dismay, the Chocobo had somehow learned to play ball—and was ridiculously good at it, almost like Messi. Lucas nearly got run ragged trying to keep up.

“Wait—who’s playing with who here? You’re gonna kill me, Onion~~~”

Lucas collapsed onto the rocking chair by the door, panting heavily, while Onion happily trotted over to the stream to drink, completely at ease.