The Watcher''s consciousness expanded across the battlefield, his incorporeal essence dispersed among countless hidden drones. Though he had no physical form, his awareness absorbed every fragment of data, every signal, every quantum fluctuation. He had calculated countless probabilities, yet none had predicted this outcome.


    Phosphoros'' presence remained within the mental realm they shared it was a constant intrusion in the Watcher''s consciousness. The presence was being maintained to ensure the Watcher couldn''t intervene. Not directly, anyway.


    The Watcher’s thoughts were racing. The recycling factory,One of Mars'' greatest secrets.


    Both energy entities knew the truth, that the facility had been built over an ancient artifact, a forgotten relic buried beneath layers of deception and disguised as a prototype fusion reactor. The artifact''s true nature had been deliberately obscured, its alien origins scrubbed away by centuries of careful obfuscation.


    It was this artifact that had powered Mars'' war machine, silently fueling its rise to power.


    And now the Martian military has unknowingly used it to test Null and Infinity, the Watcher''s thoughts pulsed with concern.


    An unpredictable choice. Why risk such a valuable installation? Surely they suspected Null could have destroyed it. But even more improbable was the timing. That Phosphoros and the Elves would have activated the ancient portal network at precisely this moment. The odds were astronomically low. Yet here they were.


    The Watcher''s consciousness accelerated. He perceived the loophole. Normally, a right of reply would be subtle. Normally limited to a natural disaster or a small attack. The Council''s laws allowed higher races to punish lower races, but proportionally. This, however, was different.


    The Organic Faction was making its move. The Elves had a right of reply under the Council''s laws, but they couldn''t attack directly. Instead, they had manipulated the system, using a lower-tier race—one beneath humanity in standing to do their dirty work.


    And by merely activating ancient gates already hidden within each home system, they had adhered to the letter of the law, if not its spirit.


    The Watcher''s energy signature flared with quiet fury as he directed his thoughts toward Phosphoros. "Why did you allow this?"


    Phosphoros'' essence shifted and swirled, forming what would have been a knowing smile had he possessed physical form. "You misunderstand, my friend. I didn''t ''allow'' anything. I only nudged the river along its natural course."


    "Aren''t they your children, your attempt to rebuild our former glory? Why would you allow them to be used for war?"


    Phosphoros'' consciousness pulsed in contemplation. "Progress is made through struggle." His golden energy brightened. "You know this. You have always known this. Why do you falter now?"


    The Watcher remained silent, his awareness still processing the battlefield data as the Martian military regained control. But his primary focus remained here, on the entity before him—the trickster, the game master, the one who always had plans upon plans. This true goals always being difficult to discern.


    Phosphoros'' energy rippled in amusement and regret. "I had hoped that victory would temper them, sharpen them into something greater. But even I didn''t foresee your child being so unique."


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    The words sent a disruptive wave through the Watcher''s consciousness. He shifted sharply. They knew what was coming, the secret was out and there was no fixing that.


    Phosphoros'' essence contracted slightly, the equivalent of leaning closer. "Did you know he could use Alterran magic?"


    Silence filled the mental realm.


    Phosphoros'' energy brightened. "Ah. You did."


    The Watcher''s thoughts accelerated. He had known. He had known from the moment Null and Infinity began manipulating the fields without Zallium, without pre-programmed containment matrices. But he had convinced themself that it was okay to hide it to protect them.


    Phosphoros'' energy signature turned uncharacteristically severe. "Then you also know what comes next."


    The Watcher processed a thousand possibilities in a fraction of a second, and none of them ended well.


    "The Council will not allow an Alterran magic user to live," Phosphoros continued, his golden energy intensifying. "You know the law. All field manipulation must be channeled through Zallium. The moment they discover a being capable of using it directly—"


    The Watcher''s consciousness flared with warning signals.


    His drones detected Council field detectors coming online.


    The breach had already been noticed. The Council knew.


    Phosphoros'' energy pulsed with dark humor. "Tick-tock, my friend."


    The Watcher understood exactly what was coming.


    The Council would move quickly and try and obtain Null and Infinite. The Council feared nothing more than those who wielded the fields naturally that much was known but the reason why were unknown.


    That fear would dictate their next moves. Observation. Interrogation. Containment.


    And, if necessary... elimination.


    He had to act before they did.


    Even as he communicated with Phosphoros, his consciousness extended across the vast network of machines under his control, issuing commands through quantum entanglement. Lisa had already been teleported back to the Voidecho. He had calculated that Null and Infinity''s actions would draw too much attention, and Lisa and his team mates, whether they realised it or not they had become a target. The Council would question Them, dissect their memories.


    The Watcher had made his choice, even if it would cost him. He would protect them.


    His hidden drones aboard the Voidecho were already preparing. Advanced medical pods were being calibrated, emergency supplies stocked, extraction routes calculated. His avatar unit that was already stationed within the ship had received a direct transmission through their quantum link.


    "Prioritize extraction of Null and his teammates. Prepare for evasive maneuvers. Full discretion required. Do not engage Council forces."


    The Watcher''s consciousness dimmed slightly as he redirected his focus back to Phosphoros, whose energy signature still pulsed with that insufferable, knowing amusement.


    Prosphoros seemed to detect his actions. “Interesting, there is hope for you yet. Yes, us Angel needs to struggle against our chains”


    Just as Null and Infy materialised aboard the Voidecho, the Council made their move.


    The Valturi enforcers, the pinnacle of the Machine faction, appeared from the depths of space, their ships filling the void above the location of the ancient portal. The Valturi were a sight to behold: unfeeling, and merciless. Made of sentient nanite-based AIs, they had no need for traditional physical forms. Their very ships were alive, constantly shifting, constantly evolving. These machines could detect everything even the slightest fluctuations in energy, the faintest anomaly in space-time. They were the perfect race to act as enforcers.


    The Watcher knew that nothing could escape the Valturi''s sensors. They would be able to detect the Voidecho as it moved, detect the faintest wisp of energy, and from there, they would begin their search. And once they found the Voidecho, they would stop at nothing to capture, dissect, and analyse Null and Infinity. Space itself would tremble under their scrutiny.


    The Watcher’s mind raced. He had always known this day might come. He knew that the Council would not accept Null and Infinity, and the Valturi were the Council''s eyes and ears in the galaxy. They were the enforcers of the Council''s will, and they wouldn''t hesitate to neutralize any threat they perceived, no matter the cost.


    Null and Infy were a threat.


    But they were also his children.


    They could not, would not, let them fall into the hands of the Valturi.


    He reached out to his drones, adjusting their course, preparing for a rapid exit. The Voidecho had the capabilities to slip past conventional detection—but the Valturi weren''t conventional.


    He had to think fast. They couldn''t afford to wait for the Valturi to hone in on their position. He needed to hide.


    And if the Voidecho could not hide, then he would have to find a way to make it untraceable.