《Inertia: Beneath the starlit veil [Cultivation/Revenge]》 Chapter 1 (Cyrus Pov) As I sit on the edge of this cliff, staring down at the people walking around in the city center, I''m reminded of why I never liked people growing up. I especially despise the ones who walk around this continent like everything is fine¡ªthe ones who act as though they had no part in the demise of my clan. It infuriates me to watch them live the life I want from the mountains'' outskirts. I don''t trust them. I hate them. I don''t understand why my father still insists on having faith in these people. He says that, in time, the wrongs will be righted and they''ll realize their mistakes. How can he be so calm about it all? We''ve been living in hiding for years, hunted by the same people who destroyed our clan¡ªthe ones who killed my mother. My father doesn''t want revenge, but I do. Today, that begins to change. Today is the day I awaken my power. Today is the day I begin to right their wrongs. "Cyrus, it''s time," my father''s call snaps me out of my thoughts. I rise from the edge of the cliff, turning my back on the city as I prepare for what''s to come. "Is the perimeter secure?" my father asks, shrugging off his coat to reveal his brown skin under a tank top. "Yes, just like it always is," I reply. "Good. It''s time to begin. We only have a finite window; otherwise, we''ll have to wait several years to try again. I need you to steel your mind and focus, Cyrus." I nod and take my seat in the camp. Today is a solar eclipse. For most, it''s just a celestial event, but for my clan, it''s sacred. This is the only time we can undertake the Starbirth Trial¡ªa trial that allows us to enter the astral realm and connect with our destined Fate Constellation. "I''m proud of you, son," my father says, placing one large hand gently on my shoulder. "You''ve developed your celestial core faster than most. In fact, you developed it several years earlier than I did. But this next part of your journey, I can''t help you with. It''s something you must face alone. Are you ready to awaken the Solaris Fate Constellation?" "I''m ready," I say firmly. "You may begin." As my father speaks, his dark brown eyes glow a yellow-orange hue, and his left hand radiates with energy from his celestial tattoo¡ªhis mark of the Solaris Fate Constellation. He casts a barrier around me, ensuring I won''t be disturbed as I begin the trial. With the barrier in place, I can''t help but feel the weight of expectation. It isn''t the pressure of my father''s energy¡ªit''s the burden of being the last heir of the Solaris Clan. The last to inherit the power of the strongest Fate Constellation. The last to uphold the clan''s sacred duty to maintain the world''s peace, order, and balance, a duty bestowed by the ancient Celestial Pantheon. I push those thoughts aside and begin my breathing exercises. Closing my eyes, I slow my breath, matching the ebb and flow of an ocean''s tide. The deeper I breathe, the more alive my celestial core feels. The rush of cosmic energy brimming in my core is euphoric¡ªone of the few joys I''ve experienced in these years of hiding. It''s also why my core has developed faster than expected. With my core now filled, I expand my consciousness, searching for the astral rift where the barrier between the physical and astral realms is thin. Suddenly, I understand why my father prefers the mountains¡ªthe rift is easier to sense here. It feels both ominous and inviting, calling me to it. I don''t resist the pull. Following my father''s teachings, I let the rift absorb me. The transition is gentle at first, but then I feel a jolt, like being yanked forward by an invisible force. Stars and faint streams of light flash around me, like a scene from a sci-fi movie when a spaceship enters hyperdrive. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Before I knew it, I''m tumbling out of a wormhole, disoriented. When my vision clears, I''m awestruck. The stories I was told about the astral realm don''t compare to its grandeur. An endless ocean of stars and cosmic bodies stretches out before me. Stars of every color, shape, and size illuminate the vast darkness. "I made it... I finally made it," I whisper, overwhelmed by the astral realm''s beauty. I want to stay forever, but time is limited. My father''s teachings echo in my mind. "This trial is all about resonance," I remind myself, stepping carefully across the cosmic floor. "I need to find the cluster of stars emitting the same frequency as my core." Easier said than done. Millions, maybe billions, of stars surround me. Deciding to use the same technique I used to locate the astral rift; I release an impulse of energy. The pulse ripples outward, bouncing off celestial bodies. Some pulses fade, while others return to me¡ªalmost like echolocation. Repeating the process, I slowly navigate the realm. Hours seem to pass before I notice the echoes are now returning from a single direction. My grin spreads from ear to ear as I realize I''m getting closer. Overcome with excitement, I sprint toward the source of resonance, forgetting everything else. The astral mist thickens as I run, obscuring the stars and my energy pulses. Before long, I can''t see anything¡ªnot the stars, the celestial bodies, or my path. I slow to a stop, disoriented. A sinking realization sets in. I''m lost in the astral realm. ________________ (Ezra''s POV) Watching my son steel himself within the barrier stirred emotions I hadn''t felt in years. During our time in hiding, my sole focus has been keeping him safe and preparing him for this moment. I may have forgotten, at times, that he is more than just a pupil of mine. But until we escape this cursed continent, that''s how it must be¡ªfor his survival. Now that he''s situated in the barrier, I can shift my focus to the real threat: the astral behemoths drawing near. Setting up camp in the mountains is a double-edged sword. The weakened barrier between realms here makes accessing the astral plane easier, but it also attracts these creatures. Earlier, I sensed a few of them in the area. Now, however, I feel an entire horde approaching. Rustling in the bushes near the camp pulls my attention. I tie my braids behind my head, activate my Fate Constellation, and summon a sword forged of solar energy. Five Void Serpents, each over two meters long, burst from the undergrowth. I sidestep the first serpent, slashing downward to sever its head. Though these Void-born creatures are far from the most powerful I''ve faced, their venom can decay a celestial core¡ªa threat I can''t afford to ignore. The second serpent spits venom at me. I manifest a radiant shield in my left hand to block the attack while dodging the third serpent snapping at my ankles. Normally, I''d use a solar wave to wipe out pests like these in an instant. But doing so risks drawing attention to our location¡ªsomething I can''t allow, especially with Cyrus in the middle of his trial. As I evade another strike, I let my shield dissolve, summoning a second sword instead. With a burst of energy, I charge at the serpents. My twin blades arc through the air, leaving glowing solar crescents in their wake. Two more serpents fall, their heads cleaved cleanly off. Sensing movement behind me, I focus cosmic energy into my legs and leap straight up, narrowly avoiding the fourth serpent lunging for my back. Mid-air, I reform one of my swords into a dagger and hurl it at the serpent. The weapon pierces its head, the radiant energy igniting it in a flash of light. I land softly, turning to face the final serpent. With a sharp exhale, I reshape my remaining blade into a war hammer. Planting my rear foot firmly, I launch forward with explosive force, closing the distance in an instant. The serpent has no time to react as I swing the hammer in a devastating arc, crushing its side. Blood splatters across the ground, and the Void Serpent crumples, lifeless. I shake the remnants of blood off the hammer, letting it fade away as I glance toward Cyrus. He remains motionless in the barrier, deep in his trance, oblivious to the chaos outside. The protective dome is unbroken¡ªso far, the trial continues undisturbed. Just as I begin to relax, a powerful cosmic presence floods my senses. The ground trembles beneath me as dull thuds grow louder, each one heavier than the last. My fists tighten as I recognize the sheer density of the energy approaching. "Can the universe give me just one break?" I mutter under my breath, already preparing for another fight. The trees ahead part as an enormous figure steps into view: a Stellar Fiend Chimera. Towering at six meters tall, the beast''s gleaming fangs drip with venom, and its serpent-like tail writhes menacingly behind it. Massive wings unfurl from its back, stirring the air as if readying to strike. I summon another solar blade, its golden light cutting through the dim forest. My heart pounds as I lock eyes with the beast. This fight will be anything but easy¡ªand I''ll need to finish it without compromising Cyrus'' trial. Chapter 2 (Cyrus Pov) After realizing that I was lost in the fog of the astral realm, a slight panic rose in my chest, and my heart rate began to elevate. I knew I didn''t have much time to complete the trial because the solar eclipse would only last for a short period. After calming myself and replaying the recent events in my mind, I realized something crucial. The fog hadn''t always been present during my time in the astral realm. It only appeared when I allowed myself to get too excited about being close to finding my Fate Constellation. "Now I get it. This is why Dad is always so strict about meditation training," I muttered to myself as I prepared to release my cosmic energy into the ocean of stars once again. This time, as I released my cosmic energy, I kept my mind steady. The fog began to dissipate as my thoughts became more balanced and neutral. I could see the energy I had sent out cascading back to me. I had found my path again. But this time, I didn''t rush toward my destination. Instead, I walked with a clear mind, observing everything around me. The trial was testing my patience and my ability to control my emotions. This theory became a fact the further I traversed the labyrinth of stars. I no longer needed the energy impulses to guide me; the responding source began to flash like a homing beacon, and my celestial core felt its pull. With every step, I felt my core yearning to meet the source, sensing its immense power and pressure. When I finally reached it, I realized something astonishing¡ªthe source wasn''t a single entity. It was a cluster of stars, forming a strange yet familiar pattern. It dawned on me that the pattern matched the tattoo on my father''s hand. It was then I understood what I had discovered in the astral realm. My excitement was difficult to contain, but I centered my mind, focusing one last time. Reaching out to the humming source of power, I began to connect an astral tether to the celestial body. This was the final, and seemingly easiest, step to passing the trial. The moment the tether connected my core to the source, a sudden surge of power washed over me. The energy overwhelmed me, passing through every nerve ending, rewriting everything that had existed before while filling spaces I hadn''t known were vacant. The process was long and arduous, the pain searing as though it would never end. Then, suddenly, everything went dark. I thought the trial was over, but my consciousness was flung to another place. This time, it didn''t resemble the astral realm. Instead, I found myself in a temple that reminded me of those near the city where I grew up. The surroundings, however, were vastly different¡ªno advanced machinery, no bustling city centers. Instead, there were only dull, desolate huts and tents. I was transported inside the temple without control of my astral body. A ceremony was taking place. A tall man with brown skin and braided hair, clad in an ivory tunic, knelt before a being unlike anything I had ever seen. The being had a humanoid form but bore features of an astral behemoth. Its spiked talons replaced fingers, and its face resembled that of an astral leviathan. The creature extended its hand and pressed it against the man''s chest. Its hand glowed, eerily similar to the way my father''s does when he activates his Fate Constellation. The man''s body convulsed, then collapsed, motionless, as though life had left him. Moments later, he gasped for air and sprang back to life. Regaining composure, he resumed his kneeling position, raising his fist to reveal a mark on his hand. The creature nodded in approval before vanishing. "I think the constellation is showing me how the first of my people gained their power," I murmured, straining to see the man''s hand again. Then I was transported to another time. The setting was similar, but the ceremony felt different¡ªdarker. This time, several people participated. One by one, they failed. Their bodies convulsed violently before succumbing to death, blood pouring from their noses, pooling on their chests where gaping holes had formed as if from a cannon blast. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "It seems their celestial cores were not fortified enough to hold the power of the Solaris Constellation," said one person cleaning up the bodies. "We tried to warn them, but they were too eager to gain its power," another replied, dragging a body away. Their words hit me hard. My father''s insistence on fortification training suddenly made sense. Until now, I hadn''t known that death was a possibility during the Starbirth Trial or that a core could be overloaded to the point of explosion. "It must be because the Solaris Constellation is inherently stronger than most Fate Constellations," I whispered, pondering this revelation. Glancing at the lifeless bodies being dragged away, I caught sight of the creature again. It stood about five meters tall, its iridescent skin glowing beneath its white tunic. Terrifying yet regal, the being exuded power beyond comprehension. Breaking my trance, the creature turned its head toward me, tilting it like a curious canine. I looked around but saw no one else nearby. Could it be looking at me? The creature raised a hand and pointed directly at me. "So, you''ve passed the trial," a voice echoed in my mind. "I... did?" I responded aloud, unsure. "You would not be observing the history of your ancestors if you hadn''t, my child," the creature replied. "I sense something different within you. You are the first to witness this event¡ªa sign that you are highly regarded by the constellation I left behind." "What do you mean, ''left behind?''" "My child, this is my constellation. I am Solaris. I created the power you now wield." Shock rooted me in place. The creator of my clan''s power stood before me. "A million questions flooded my mind, but I forced myself to focus on just one. ''How am I the only one who has seen this event?'' ''As I said, the constellation holds you in high regard. You are the youngest person to have ever developed a core strong enough to contain my power.'' ''Seriously? I''m the youngest? That can''t be true,'' I said, doubting the claim. ''It was your father originally,'' Solaris said, his voice calm yet firm, ''but the constellation didn''t deem him worthy enough to meet me.'' I paused, letting those words sink in. My father had always been my benchmark, his power a standard I never believed I could surpass. Yet here I was, deemed more worthy. Taking a deep breath, I steadied my thoughts and met Solaris''s gaze with resolve. ''What was the purpose of showing me this event?'' I asked. ''The purpose, my child, was to show you that there is a flaw in the power of the Solaris Constellation. Many who wield its strength rarely die in battle. Instead, they succumb to cosmic energy overloads. They passively absorb solar energy, converting and refining it into cosmic energy. Those who fail to fortify their celestial cores eventually overload them. Their cores implode, ending their lives. ''That is why so few are permitted to take the trial, let alone pass it. But you, my child, possess a natural affinity for fortifying and refining a celestial core. Your bloodline also carries my essence. Fortification comes so naturally to you that the process is nearly passive. The training you undertook merely accelerated what was already inherent within you.'' His words explained so much¡ªwhy the process had felt less grueling for me than for others, why my father had pushed me so relentlessly. But Solaris''s tone shifted, a weight settling over his next words. ''Your natural talent, however, will be wasted if bound solely to my constellation. You remind me of myself, in many ways. And so, I will grant you a gift¡ªsomething far greater than what this constellation can provide through mere accession.'' ''Wait,'' I interrupted, ''I thought the Solaris Constellation was the strongest in the world!'' Before I could finish my protest, Solaris extended his hand toward me. His talons gleamed, and in one swift motion, he tore my celestial core from my chest. Agonizing pain tore through me. My body was paralyzed, my spirit clawing desperately for the energy that had been ripped away. It felt as though my very essence was unraveling. Just as I thought I would succumb to death, Solaris created a black orb in his hand, its surface swirling with incomprehensible power. Without hesitation, he thrust it into the gaping void where my core had once been. ''We in the Pantheon like to keep our secrets,'' Solaris said, his voice reverberating through me. ''You mortals know only a fraction of the power that exists. This gift will better suit your needs and desires. And remember, even in death, a star is dangerous.'' The overwhelming pain subsided, replaced by a strange, pulsing energy radiating from within me. This new core felt alien yet harmonious, as if it were rewriting the rules of my existence. I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air as the world around me began to blur. Chapter 3 (Cyrus Pov) The last thing I remembered before passing out was Solaris ripping out my core and replacing it with something else. "A gift, you say? Nearly sending me to an early grave doesn''t sound like much of a gift at all," I thought as my eyes began to adjust to my surroundings. I was no longer in the temples of the past; I had returned to the astral realm, lying in the same spot as before. But this time, the Solaris constellation was gone. In its place was a dark celestial body, a void that swallowed the light around it. I felt an invisible force pulling me toward it, an irresistible force that brought me face-to-face with the ominous entity. The celestial body loomed before me, its presence immense and oppressive. Its surface seemed like a bottomless pit of darkness, unyielding and uncaring. It destroyed and consumed without thought or purpose¡ªchaos and power incarnate. Yet, as terrifying as it was, I found myself resonating with it. It embodied everything I had ever desired: raw, uncontrollable strength. I placed my hand on the celestial body, forging a tether to its mysterious source of power. As soon as the connection was made, a surge of cosmic energy coursed through me, flowing into my new core and spreading throughout my body. Unlike before, the sensation wasn''t painful¡ªit was comforting. I felt my very essence rewriting itself. My bones grew denser, my muscles surged with explosive strength, and I felt reborn in every sense of the word. When the connection was complete, the dark celestial body shifted. Its form dissolved and reassembled into a pattern of concentric circles, each made of smaller celestial bodies. The structure glowed with a purplish-pink hue and projected itself toward me, stopping at my chest. Then, it shrank and shot directly into my core. A burning sensation flared from my chest, accompanied by the same glowing hue. I tore off my shirt to reveal an astral tattoo that had formed on my skin. It was intricate, its patterns embedded with runes. As I gazed at it, the phrase "Even in death, a star is dangerous" echoed in my mind. It hit me then: this was no ordinary constellation. This was a fate constellation composed entirely of dead stars. Excitement surged within me¡ªI had obtained an extraordinary new power. But the excitement was tempered by frustration. Years of grueling training had prepared me to inherit the power of Solaris, and now I was starting over. "This is going to be tedious," I muttered. After my revelation, I studied the runes embedded in the astral tattoo. My father had taught me that the paths of insight typically unlock runes after each astral trial. But the rune on my tattoo was unlike anything I''d seen before. Though I couldn''t read it, I instinctively understood its meaning: gravity. "So, this is tied to my new constellation," I said aloud, though frustration colored my voice. "But how am I supposed to use this? It''s not like it came with an instruction manual." Then, an idea struck. Recalling how my father wielded his abilities, I channeled cosmic energy into the astral tattoo. The inner circle lit up with a purplish-pink hue. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but then I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. Nearby celestial bodies in the astral realm were slowly being drawn toward me. The closer they were, the stronger the pull. "Oh, I can have some fun with this," I said with a grin. "But I should probably head back and fill Father in on what happened." I settled into a meditative position, focusing on the tether that would guide me back to my physical body. (Ezra''s POV) The Stellar fiend chimera that appeared in our camp was a surprising case of events. These creatures are drawn by strong cosmic energy signatures. Which would be the case if i activated ten percent of my power, but i only activated maybe 5 percent of what i was capable of. I also did not sense any other strong enough signatures to warrant its presence. "I wonder if it was drawn by Cyrus''s energy," i thought to myself. When I took another glance at Cyrus in the barrier I noticed he position was lower than before. There was little crater where he was sitting. "I have never seen that before when someone goes through the first trial with the Solaris constellation," I said out loud. I notice the Stellarfiend shift its attention from me to Cyrus as well. The behemoth flapped its wings and propelled itself toward Cyrus eager to drain my son of his cosmic energy. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Oh no you don''t," I yelled as I transformed my sword into a javelin and hurled it towards the flying beast. I clipped one of the wings of the chimera instantly stopping the momentum of its propulsion making it crash into the ground. The behemoth picked itself off the ground and shifted its focus back to me once again, "now what type of creature attacks a defensless boy." The creature let out deep growl as it shook off some of the debris from its crash. "See I was going to let you go with a warning, because I know you really don''t know any better." I said to the monster as I slowly walked towards the towering creature. "But you see that boy you were so desperately trying to get to, is my son," I said to the chimera as I was now standing in front of it. "What would you do if something tried to kill your offspring," I said as I formed a solar long sword in my hand. The creature tried side swiping me with one of its claws, but I blocked the attack with my forearm easily. Immediately I unleashed a counter with a descending slash of my long sword cutting clean through its massive paw. The monster wailed in pain and in a rage it blasted fireball at me in retaliation. I let the fire ball hit me because I immune to any heat-based attack and just stepped through it as if it were a light breeze. Next I concentrated the energy into my feet and let solar energy propel me to the main head of the chimera. "Me personally I would crush anything that ever tried into oblivion like the little ants they are," I said to the behemoth as I grasped the hair around its central head. The monster snarled and tried to fire one more fire ball, but it was too slow because I sliced through its neck before it finished its charge. I gently floated down to the ground after severing the main head. I watched the two other heads analyze the decapitated part of themselves and contemplate its next options. This wasn''t something out of the norm for Stellarfiend astral behemoths. Generally, behemoths of the third rank had a great deal of intelligence compared to its lower counterparts, but this behemoth does not seem to be smart all. The chimera emitted more pressure than it did before; by releasing more of its cosmic energy due to the fact it was going through a transformation. This is an ability they obtain once they reach the Stellarfiernd rank. The chimera transformation resulted in the split of the monster''s heads each forming its own body similar to the one it had before. Now i was faced with the task of keeping the both of them away from Cyrus without drawing to much attention to the area. One of the beasts sent several fire balls my while the other vanished. I Ignored the fire balls and let them hit me while was trying to sense the cosmic energy of the other beast so i can intercept its attack. The beast reappeared behind me and took a slash at my back, but I perceived the attack a second before it was going to land and side stepped it. The beast that shot the fire ball dashed towards me and tried to sweep my legs with its tail. I dodged the attack by jumping and used both legs to throw kicks at the beasts as if I was performing the splits midair. Both of the behemoths both slid multiple meters away from me. When I landed on the ground, I noticed the behemoths both shared a glance at each other. They both sent a barrage of fire balls at me, and both vanished from their positions. "When are you guys going to learn that these don''t work on me," I yelled out to the behemoths. I patiently waited for the fire balls to dissipate after colliding against my body. I threw up my guard in anticipation of them trying to attack me again in my blind spots. But the attacks never came. I remembered too late what their true goal was from the beginning when they were one. They wanted Cyrus. I dashed to where Cyrus was sitting in the barrier. One of the beasts had thrown multiple strikes at the barrier creating several cracks then the second beast winded up to throw its tail at the barrier with all its momentum. "Fuck I''m not going to be fast enough if I don''t use more of my power," I thought to myself. I charged and condensed cosmic energy imbued with solar energy into my palm. I released a wave of energy to destroy these monsters now that they broke through the barrier and Cyrus was left defenseless. The monsters for some reason stopped in their tracks and no longer tried to attack Cyrus. When my wave of energy got to the area it seemed to have been redirected from the zone and slipped by the monsters and Cyrus, as if it was sling shotted from orbit. The closer I got to the area the more I could feel this weird resistance getting stronger and stronger suppressing my movements. I noticed the behemoths were struggling to stand and they started to fall to the ground because of the immense pressure. "This pressure is what was causing the mini crater underneath Cyrus earlier," I thought to myself. When I looked closer at Cyrus, I saw his free form dreads flowing in the area as if the pressure was not affecting him the same. Then his eyes opened but his dark brown eyes were not present anymore. They were replaced by a purplish pink hue of light. Cyrus stood up off the ground and walked towards the struggling Stellar fiends. He kneeled next to them and placed both hands on them. "Begone you pathetic creatures," I heard Cyrus say in an unbothered tone. The pressure increased even further around the area. The Behemoths started to fold and crumble on each other, and then they exploded sending blood flying everywhere. With the astral behemoths defeated, Cyrus''s eyes faded back to their normal color and then he collapsed to the ground. Chapter 4 (Cyrus'' POV) I do not remember much after coming back from the astral realm. I only recall waking up in my body, surrounded by astral behemoths preparing to rip me apart. All I could do was send all my cosmic energy into my astral tattoo and hope for the best. Then, everything went black. Now that I''ve regained consciousness, I can see the carnage left at our campsite. Scattered all around are remnants of the astral behemoths that appeared while I was taking my trial. I see that My father is packing up our tents and sleeping bags, the foundations of our living quarters for years. "Father, why are you packing up camp?" I asked. "This place is now compromised. You and I both expended way too much cosmic energy today. It''s only a matter of time before they track our signatures. There''s food next to your bag¡ªeat up, and let''s get going." I did as my father told me. I ate the cooked rabbit we hunted earlier in the week and gathered my things. Before we left, I watched my father gather the corpses of the slain astral behemoths into one spot. In his palm, I saw cosmic energy swirling and merging with solar energy. He stood over the pile and gently released the energy, consuming everything. Only ashes remained. "It''s time to leave," he said. We walked for some time, traveling through the mountain ranges of the southern continent. We always traveled at night. My father took every precaution to ensure our safety, insisting we never use light sources to avoid drawing attention. I learned to travel in the dark by following the faint emission of his cosmic energy, while he activated his infrared vision to guide the way. "How are you holding up, Cyrus?" my father asked as he dodged a branch from a nearby tree. "You had me worried when you passed out." "I''m feeling better now that I''ve recovered a little from the cosmic energy depletion." "What happened to you during the trial?" "A lot, honestly." "Go on. We have all night." "Well, I passed the trial and found the Solaris constellation. But when I connected to it... things didn''t quite go as planned." "Such as?" "Well, I met Solaris, the creator of our clan''s fate constellation." My father stopped in his tracks and turned to me slowly, analyzing my words. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "That can''t be possible. No one from our clan has seen him since ancient times, thousands of years ago¡ªbefore the pantheon was forced to leave our realm." "I understand, Dad, but I met him. The constellation''s power sent me back to those times. I saw how our people were granted their powers before the constellations existed. I also learned about the flaw in our constellation," I said, trying to convince him. My father remained silent for a long time, as if he knew there was some truth to my words. "What else happened during your trial?" he finally asked. "Solaris told me I was chosen to meet him because of my innate ability to refine and fortify my core. This led to something else." "Does it have something to do with that astral tattoo on your chest?" he asked. "Yes. Solaris said the clan''s constellation didn''t suit me, so he rewarded me for my talent. He tore out my celestial core, which had already formed a connection to the constellation, and replaced it with something else. That''s when I formed a connection with a completely different celestial body." After I explained, my father''s eyes widened in shock. He was one of the strongest Starbound in the world, and when it came to the nuances of fate constellations and their trials, nothing surprised him. Until now. "What did your new core resonate with, then?" "The formation was structured like a normal constellation, like the ones you taught me about. But this one was created from the culmination of stars that have died." "So... your formation is made up of black holes, Cyrus?" "Potentially... I''m sorry, Dad." "Why are you apologizing?" "Because I couldn''t continue our clan''s heritage. I know how much it means to you and our family." "Don''t worry, my son. Fate has something different planned for you, and I think it''s time we changed our plans too. It''s time we finally meet up with Grandpa." "Wait... does that mean we can finally leave this continent? Because I''m tired of searching for old astral relics that don''t seem to exist." "Yes. Whatever formation you''ve connected with, I''ve never heard of anything like it. And with the power you displayed after returning from the trial... You do know you defeated two Stellar Fiend astral behemoths, right? That''s unheard of for someone who just completed the Star birth trial¡ªespecially with a celestial core at the embryonic stage." "I did?" "Yes, but it took all of your cosmic energy. Your power is a mystery, Cyrus. I''m not sure I know how to guide you properly anymore. The only person who might have knowledge on rare and unknown fate constellations is Grandpa Zaire. For now, we''ll go back to basics, since everything we''ve done up until now was designed to align you with the Solaris constellation." "Do we really have to go back over the basics, you have ingrained them into my mind for the past several years. I really think that I am passed all the beginner training now." "Yes, we do, your new constellation is unknown. We do not know how your body will react to its power, so we have to test it out first." I hated that my dad always had the perfect response to any retort I gave him. "Alright whatever, you''re the boss." After our talk, we continued through the thick brush that plagues the mountaintops of the southern continent. We traveled several miles before finding a clearing suitable for camp. We carried limited supplies, so setting up didn''t take long. I was tasked with checking the perimeter for lurking astral beasts, as usual. While doing my task, I couldn''t help but look up at the sky. The farther into the mountains we went, the brighter the stars became. Now that I''ve traveled to the astral realm, it feels like they''re calling me to return. Chapter 5 (Cyrus''s POV) Waking up in the middle of the woods is something I''ve grown used to over the years. My routine typically involves checking my surroundings and foraging for food, water, and anything else that might be useful at our campsite. But this morning was different. My dad had already taken care of most of those tasks. By the time I got up, he was cooking some animal he''d found in the forest over a makeshift fire he created using his powers. "Hurry up and eat¡ªthere''s a lot to do today," my dad said, his tone hurried. I quickly put on my clothes and walked over to the firepit, grabbing the venison he had prepared. "Today, we''re going to try and figure out what your new power is," he added. "Let me guess," I interjected. "Through sparring?" "You know me so well," my father replied with a grin. My dad thrived on consistency and hard work, so training and lectures were a daily occurrence. Truthfully, I didn''t mind¡ªI relished this time with him. Growing up, he wasn''t around much due to his role as the leader of Clan Solaris. His responsibilities often took him away for long periods, managing relations between nations or quelling disputes, which weren''t always peaceful. After finishing my meal, I noticed a large circle¡ªeight to ten meters in diameter¡ªdrawn in the dirt at the center of our campsite. "Come on, step into the arena," my dad called out. "Don''t be scared." "This hardly qualifies as an arena," I quipped. "It''ll be whatever I say it is, you pompous brat," he retorted with mock irritation. As I stepped into the circle, his playful demeanor faded into a serious expression. "Now, before we begin, I want you to focus on infusing cosmic energy into your muscles and saturating them," he instructed. I followed his guidance, feeling the flow of energy leak explosively from my core. It didn''t feel the same as before. "It feels different, doesn''t it?" he asked. "Yes," I admitted. "The flow feels more aggressive than before I connected to my celestial formation." "That''s because your celestial core used to act as a cap," he explained. "It was primarily a containment unit, with only a small trickle of energy¡ªjust enough to project you into the Astral Realm. But now that you''ve connected to your Fate Constellation, the core has become an energy source, awakening its full potential." His words made sense. When I connected to the Solaris Constellation, I''d felt a profound transformation in my body. "So, this is what allows you to display superhuman abilities?" I asked. "Correct. This is called cosmic augmentation. Over time, as your core evolves, it will become second nature¡ªalmost automatic." Acknowledging his words, I took a few steps back and assumed a fighting stance. My father mirrored my movements. "I hope you''re ready," he said, his tone sharp. "This will be much different from our earlier sessions." "Bring it on, old man," I taunted. He took one step and vanished, reappearing behind me. His palm struck my back, sending me tumbling forward. "I thought you said you were ready," he teased. I scrambled to my feet, but before I could fully react, he was already in front of me, aiming a kick at my head. I instinctively raised my arms, imbuing them with cosmic energy to soften the blow. But the kick was a feint¡ªhe transitioned seamlessly into a sweep, knocking me off my feet again. "Come on, Cyrus," he chided. "Are you going to fight back, or just play punching bag?" I''d seen my father fight astral behemoths before and knew what his power was capable of, but experiencing it firsthand was entirely different. This was the first time he''d sparred with me while using cosmic energy, and I could tell he wasn''t even close to using his full strength. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Steeling my resolve, I forced cosmic energy into my legs and launched myself toward him. "Oh, so the little prince has some fight left in him? Good," he said, smirking. Unaccustomed to my newfound speed, I could only stop myself by throwing a roundhouse kick aimed at his abdomen. He blocked it with ease, but I wasn''t done. Channeling energy into my core and hips, I rotated midair and aimed another kick at his knee. This time, I landed the blow, causing his leg to buckle just enough for his guard to drop. Seeing my opportunity, I swung a left hook at his chin. My fist connected, but it felt like hitting solid steel. He didn''t flinch. Instead, he turned his head and gave me a wry smile. "Finally got a hit in, huh?" he remarked before delivering a swift uppercut to my stomach, leaving me doubled over and gasping for air. "I think that''s enough for this session," he said, patting my back. "Rest up. You did well." It didn''t take long for me to recover from the strike to my gut, but I was still amazed by how much power my father could generate so effortlessly. Our sparring sessions had never been this intense before. "He really wasn''t kidding," I muttered to myself while drinking water from the spring near our camp. As if on cue, my father walked over and plopped down in front of me. "Now that you''ve had a moment to recover, it''s time to focus on the first ability you gained from the trial," he said. "Show me your Astral Tattoo." I removed my shirt, exposing the intricate pattern on my chest. "Interesting," he murmured, examining it closely. "I''ve never seen anything like this before. I''ve studied hundreds of Astral Tattoos, but this pattern is completely unique." For the first time, I saw something unusual in my father''s demeanor¡ªuncertainty. It was unsettling to see him so stumped. "What does the first rune on your tattoo translate to?" he asked. "From what I can make out, it seems to translate to gravity. But I''m not sure what that means or how to use it," I replied. "Interesting," he mused. "I think you unconsciously activated it when you returned from the Astral Realm. Do you remember what happened with the chimeras?" "Not really. Did I slow them down so you could kill them?" "No," he said, shaking his head. "You destroyed them. The attack I sent didn''t even reach the chimeras¡ªit was deflected. You created a field of orbit around you, and my attack was sling-shotted away. Then, you crushed the behemoths within that field before passing out." I stared at him, stunned. For most of our time in hiding, I''d been the one watching as he defended us against astral behemoths. To think I now had the power to destroy them myself felt surreal. "Generally, the first rune a Starbound gains represents the element or concept their constellation primarily manipulates," he explained. "For the Solaris Constellation, it''s solar energy manipulation." "So does that mean I can manipulate gravity?" I asked. "It seems so. But to what degree, only you will discover. The first rune is the weakest you''ll unlock, but it''s also the most important." "Why is that?" I asked, confused. "Wouldn''t the runes you unlock later be stronger and more significant?" "They are stronger, yes, but they build upon the foundation of your first rune. If you don''t master your base rune, you won''t fully understand how to channel the ones you unlock later. Now, let''s test it. Channel your cosmic energy into your first rune," he instructed, stepping several meters away. I took a deep breath, allowing the energy to flow from my core into my tattoo. I felt a surge of power as the rune activated. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but then my father threw a solar dagger at me. The weapon flew toward me at incredible speed, only to slow dramatically about a meter from my face. It struggled to move closer, as though pushing through quicksand. "Are you trying to kill me?!" I yelled as the dagger dissolved into nothing. "That wasn''t going to kill you," he said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "It might have stung¡­ Well, I''m not entirely sure, to be honest. I was testing a theory." "And?" "It seems I was right. Your manipulation of gravity acts as a sphere of influence. Anything entering that sphere experiences gravity at a level far greater than Earth''s." "But I don''t feel the effects of high gravity," I pointed out. "I feel normal." "That''s because objects generating gravitational fields don''t experience their own force¡ªthey only feel the effects of something with a stronger gravitational pull. You''re essentially a celestial body walking around on Earth." We spent the rest of the day sparring and experimenting with my new power. I quickly realized that the fighting techniques I had grown up learning didn''t synergize well with my Fate Constellation. My usual aggressive approach worked perfectly with Solaris''s offensive and versatile style, but gravity manipulation felt far more defensive and localized. This realization frustrated me more than it did my father. It surprised me how quickly he adjusted to the fact that I wouldn''t be inheriting our clan''s power. In fact, he seemed almost too enthusiastic as he tested the limits of my ability and proposed new theories. By the end of our final bout, I was utterly exhausted, while my father was still brimming with energy. Throughout our sparring, he''d only used the basics of his power¡ªforming solar weapons and using simple cosmic augmentation. Even so, I struggled to keep up. My lack of finesse in controlling cosmic energy was glaring. I often overused energy for evasive maneuvers or attacks, which left me depleted early in our bouts. My gravity ability wasn''t efficient either. Activating it consumed about half of my reserves, and I could only maintain it for about five seconds before becoming too drained. "Hey, don''t beat yourself up," my father said, clapping me on the back. "For your first day using a new ability, you did exceptionally well. You''ve already mastered hand-to-hand combat, which is no small feat." "I know," I sighed. "It''s just¡­ I don''t have anyone to compare myself to except you." "Cyrus, most seasoned warriors couldn''t keep up with me, and your technique is already better than theirs. Give yourself some credit." "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Just know it''s only a matter of time before I catch up and give you a taste of your own medicine," I said with a smirk. "I look forward to the day," he replied, smiling warmly. Chapter 6 (Ezra''s POV) After our training, I told Cyrus to rest and relax at camp while I tended to other matters. I took a sip of water from the stream and grabbed a hoodie, scarf, and gloves from my bag. Wrapping the scarf around my mouth, I tucked my braids into the hood and slid my hands into the gloves. "You''re going into town, aren''t you?" Cyrus asked. "Yes. I need to send a message to Grandpa Zaire to let him know we''re stopping our search for the relics and finally meeting up with him." "Okay, be careful down there," he said. "I will. Don''t worry." "Oh, one thing before you leave," Cyrus said, hesitating. "I don''t have a weapon to protect myself in case more astral behemoths decide to intrude into our space." "We took out the big horde in this part of the range during your Starbirth Trial. You should be fine. But if anything strange happens, release three pulses of cosmic energy in rapid succession, and I''ll be there in an instant." "Sounds good." "Please hand me the bag of celestial cores we collected from the astral behemoths. I need them to obtain credits." After Cyrus handed me the bag, I made my way down the mountain. Normally, the trip to the city center would take several hours, but since I was traveling alone and didn''t need to match Cyrus''s pace, enhanced by my cosmic augmentation, it took a fraction of the time. By the time I reached the city center, dusk had fallen. Even at this hour, the streets were bustling. Merchants still crowded the roads, calling out to passersby and showcasing their wares. This city wasn''t as advanced as the one we once called home, but it thrived thanks to the kickbacks it received for aiding in the destruction of my clan. I moved through the crowded streets, careful not to draw attention to myself, until I reached the Hunter''s Guild. The guild was packed with adventurers seeking work hunting astral behemoths¡ªa lucrative but perilous profession. Passing groups huddled around bulletin boards debating their next missions, I made my way to the front desk. "How may I help you, sir?" a fair-skinned woman with curly hair asked. "I want to sell these celestial cores," I said, placing the bag on the counter. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. She dumped the cores into a glowing container, which scanned them to determine their value. "10,000 credits," she said, handing me a card with the payment. "Not many people bring in stellarfiend-ranked cores. Did you defeat these all by yourself?" Her question drew attention from the nearby adventurers. "Oh, I just stumbled upon them as I was coming in," I replied, trying to deflect suspicion. "I didn''t fight them¡ªlooked like they were already injured, probably by another astral behemoth." "Lucky you," she said, handing back the empty bag. "Have a good day, sir." I gave her a faint wave and left the guild. If she knew who I really was, I doubted she''d treat me so casually. A wanted man like me would fetch a hefty bounty. I shook off the thought and merged back into the bustling crowd. Walking through the city, I couldn''t help but notice the innocence in the people around me. They were preoccupied with making an honest living and spending time with loved ones. They believed their actions in the past were for the continent''s betterment, unaware they were pawns in a much larger game. That''s why I didn''t resent them¡ªthey weren''t the true problem. It was a lesson I hoped Cyrus would come to understand. After wandering through the merchant district and picking up a few small items to bring back to camp, I finally reached the postal office. I went straight to one of the secured terminals used for private messages, paying the 2,500-credit fee. Entering the password for the encrypted server my father and I had set up, I double-checked my surroundings to ensure no one was watching me. "Cyrus and I are leaving the continent and heading your way. Cyrus''s Starbirth Trial didn''t go as planned. His predicament is beyond my expertise, and I need your help. The search for the relic is suspended for now. We''ll arrive in about three months." After reviewing the message, I sent it and logged out. As I left the terminal, I noticed a few wary glances but no one approached me. "I really need to come up with a better disguise for traveling in this area," I muttered to myself. Blending back into the crowd, I took my time wandering the city one last time. It would be a long while before I entered another. I missed the energy, the sense of connection, the love of a community. Now, all I had was Cyrus, and I sometimes worried I was overbearing. That''s probably what his mother would say if she were still here. I missed her most of all. On my way out of the city, just as I entered the outskirts, I felt a shift in the cosmic energy around me. Malicious intent prickled at my senses. "Ezra Solaris, you''ve done a good job of hiding all these years," a man with pale skin and dark green eyes said, stepping out from the brush. He was clad in a black cloak, flanked by a squad of men. "I''m sorry, sir, I think you have the wrong guy," I replied calmly. "Oh, do we now?" he sneered. "This town is full of embryonic-phase Starbound, with only a handful at the adept-phase. It would take an entire legion of them to defeat a Stellar fiend-ranked behemoth." "I told the clerk¡ªI just stumbled upon the cores," I said, keeping my tone even. "Interesting," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "We also tracked a significant cosmic disturbance in the mountains during the solar eclipse. Care to explain that?" I tensed. There was no talking my way out of this. "The mountains, infested with astral behemoths, aren''t a safe place for a boy," the man said, a sinister smile creeping across his face. "I think the afterlife sounds like a better home for him." As his words hung in the air, I felt three rapid pulses of cosmic energy¡ªa signal from Cyrus. Chapter 7 Ezra POV "Surround him," the leader of the group commanded. The men dispersed from behind him, forming a circle around me and preparing for a fight. I needed to get out of this situation fast. Cyrus was most likely surrounded by multiple experienced Star Seekers. While he might hold his own against one or two, an entire squad was far more than he could handle. I formed a solar staff in my hand and swung it in a wide arc, creating a brilliant wave of light that crashed into the two opponents to my left. However, their gear absorbed the energy I sent their way. "You see, we''ve done our research. How do you think we wiped out your clan? Of course, we figured out how to bridge the gap," the pale man said, chuckling confidently. "Well, this just makes things a little easier for me," I retorted, vanishing from my spot. I reappeared behind the two men who had absorbed my energy. Channeling my cosmic energy into my arms, I delivered palm strikes to both of them, shattering their armor and breaking their ribs. "Ah, I guess they''re still fragile, huh?" I mocked their leader. The remaining squad members activated their various Fate Constellations, releasing bursts of cosmic energy. One man''s fists transformed into red ethereal claws, and he dashed toward me, slashing the air with energy waves. While I dodged the slashes, his comrades attacked my flanks¡ªone launched an ice spear, and the other hurled a javelin made of wind. I conjured two solar shields mid-air to deflect the projectiles, redirecting them toward their senders before landing back on the ground. "Has the Emperor of the Sun lost a step since his war days?" the leader taunted as he threw off his cloak, revealing his armor and broadsword. "Oh no, I''m just not about to kill misguided fools like you. Besides, you''re not even worth me going all out," I replied. "Big talk for someone who couldn''t save his clan," the man sneered as he lunged at me, swinging his sword in a vertical strike. I easily blocked the blow by reinforcing my forearm, then struck his sternum with a powerful palm thrust, sending him flying back. I immediately pursued, catching him mid-air and delivering an uppercut that launched him even higher. Deciding to send a message, I flew up to meet him again, rotating my body to deliver a devastating kick to his abdomen. His limp body plummeted to the ground, creating a crater upon impact. "We''re done here, and you better hope nothing has happened to my son," I warned the two remaining men, who still stood on guard. "If you truly did your research, you''d know I''m far out of your league. You should have sent an army instead." "That may be true for you, Ezra," one of them said, "but what about your son? He might not have been so lucky. We sent another squad into the mountains as well." Hearing this, I wasted no time. Ignoring his words, I dashed forward and knocked both of them unconscious with quick chops to their necks. Then I sprinted like a madman toward our campsite. The fact that Cyrus had been able to send a second alert was promising¡ªit meant he had at least survived the first wave. As I ran, I didn''t bother with my surroundings. Trees and brush stood no chance as I barreled through them. The closer I got, the heavier the air became, thick with a bloodlust that dropped the temperature. "Hold on, Cyrus. I''m almost there," I thought desperately. When I finally reached the campsite, it looked like a war zone. Dismembered bodies lay scattered across the ground. One corpse had a gaping hole in its chest, while others were missing limbs. Three attackers still stood, surrounding my son. Cyrus was breathing heavily, his clothes tattered and his body covered in lacerations. He was almost completely drained of cosmic energy, but the rage in his eyes remained. He didn''t look like my teenage son anymore. The expression on his face, coupled with the volatile energy radiating from him, revealed something else entirely¡ªa glimpse of his untamed potential. I saw the embodiment of destruction. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. I didn''t give the attackers a chance to make another move. With one explosive step, I was behind them. Cyrus and I locked eyes for a brief moment before I swept the attackers'' legs, sending them crashing to the ground. I followed with three decisive strikes to their stomachs. Two of them passed out instantly, but one remained conscious. Even after neutralizing the threats, the bloodlust lingered in the air. I turned just in time to see Cyrus preparing to deliver a killing blow to an already incapacitated man who was missing a leg. I dashed over, pulling him away and tossing him aside. "Why did you stop me? He needed to die like the others!" "Cyrus, the fight is over. There''s no need to go further." "Why are you protecting him? These are the people who killed our clan! The ones who killed Mom! You weren''t there when it happened. You didn''t see the horrors they unleashed on our people! You didn''t watch the life leave our loved ones'' eyes. I did. I saw it all. The streets of our town were painted red with their blood. Every night, I relive that nightmare!" "Cyrus, there is another way." "Dad, you and I both know there isn''t. People like them only understand one thing¡ªbloodshed," he said, his voice cracking as tears began to stream down his face. I could see and feel the pain in his heart. I walked over, pulled him into a tight embrace, and let him release it all. His body gave out, collapsing into my arms. "I''m sorry I wasn''t there, Cyrus. I''m sorry I couldn¡¯t protect everyone or save your mother. That¡¯s a mistake I¡¯ll never make again," I whispered as I held him. Leaving Cyrus to regain his composure, I approached the man who was still conscious. Grabbing him by his collar, I stared into his eyes. "Who do you work for? Why did you attack my son and me?" "We¡¯re exactly what your son said¡ªwe¡¯re the ones who killed your clan. We are the Lux Tenebris," the man rasped. "As for who we serve? Us low-rank Starbound don¡¯t know. We follow orders from the generals. What they want now is the complete destruction of the Solaris Clan and anyone who bears its Fate Constellation." His words sent a chill down my spine. This wasn¡¯t just a coup while I was away. This was a calculated effort by a shadowy organization, operating undetected for who knows how long. The precision of their attack raised more troubling questions. There was no way to infiltrate our main city without intimate, precise knowledge. Someone within our clan¡ªor someone high up in the government¡ªhad betrayed us, working with this organization. I threw the man to the ground and returned to check on Cyrus. "Are you doing better?" I asked. He didn¡¯t answer, his eyes fixed on the bodies strewn across the mountain floor. "We need to leave this city. These mountains are no longer safe. Gather what¡¯s left of our belongings." "What are we going to do with them?" he asked, finally breaking his silence, nodding toward the unconscious attackers. "They won¡¯t be moving anytime soon." "You might get away today, Ezra," the man on the ground said, laughing weakly. "But we¡¯re everywhere. You won¡¯t be able to hide much longer. Especially now, after showing yourself in this region. And it seems we have one less person to worry about, too. Must sting to know your big gamble didn¡¯t pay off, huh? Must hurt to know your son didn¡¯t inherit the same power," he added with a taunting sneer. Before I could respond, Cyrus spoke, his voice cold and steady. "Look who¡¯s still standing. A group of first-stage Starbound couldn¡¯t defeat a thirteen-year-old boy who just awakened his power." Blood trickled from Cyrus¡¯s mouth as he spat to the side. Watching him, I felt a mix of pride and fear. He might be a prodigy, but his willingness to kill and his loss of control frightened me. I took one last glance around at the carnage, wishing things were different but accepting that this was the beginning of our new path. "Let¡¯s go, Cy." Cyrus grimaced as he stood, each step a painful effort. I took the belongings he had gathered to lighten his burden. "Thanks, Dad," he muttered. "Of course. You¡¯re in no shape to carry anything right now." "No, I mean¡­ thanks for earlier. I lost control. I snapped when I saw their uniforms." "I''m just glad you''re safe now," I replied, trying to reassure him. I knew this wasn¡¯t the time to lecture him on his actions. This moment was one of the few times we had ever talked about that day. Both of us carried the weight of the massacre. We never spoke about it, almost as though ignoring it would make it less real. Deep down, though, I knew the truth. I had failed my people, my clan, my wife, and my son. If I could go back, I would have stayed. I wouldn¡¯t have left to chase that relic with my father. It took hours to descend the mountain. When we reached the base, I noticed that the men I had defeated were still out cold. No reinforcements had come, confirming my suspicion that they were the only ones in this region. Even so, I wasn¡¯t willing to risk entering the city and being seen. Our boat by the river had not been discovered and destroyed. "Cyrus, you ready to go fishing?" I asked. He looked at me as though I¡¯d lost my mind, then saw me uncovering the hidden brush concealing another boat. "I have a feeling we¡¯re not going to be touching grass for a while," he said, grimacing. "It¡¯s the safest option. You need time to recover, and there are things I need to teach you before we reach the next city." "Did you happen to grab any spices while scouting?" Cyrus joked. "Out of everything that¡¯s happened, this is what you¡¯re focused on?" "I¡¯m just saying¡­ the Lux whatever destroyed our spice jar," he replied with a smirk. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as I helped him into the boat. "Good thing these fish are a little salty," I said, paddling us downstream. Chapter 8 (Theron''s POV) "How far is the target, Lieutenant?" I asked. "Sir, it is approximately 200 meters away." "Perfect," I said calmly. I grabbed my bow and notched my arrow. The target was running frantically through the brush, desperately trying to escape its demise. Imbuing cosmic energy into the bow, I steadily pulled the string, creating as much tension as possible. "You might want to start heading that way to pick the target up, Lieutenant," I said as the arrow released. A reverberating boom echoed as it pierced through the sky. "On it, sir." "I''ll let the rest of the men know we''re having bison tonight," I said, dropping the bow on the roof before proceeding toward the elevator to head back to my quarters. Once I was back in my quarters, I decided to wash up before beginning my nightly meditation. Afterward, I found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror. Seeing my own reflection was something I loathed. It reminded me of the family I despised so deeply. Every time I looked at the mirror, I saw what they saw: a failure and a weakling. I saw the disrespect I didn''t deserve, the life I wanted but couldn''t have. Despite my hatred for my reflection, it was what had kept me motivated all these years. It fueled my focus. Now that I was a general, I could write my own path and claim everything I desired. After drying my face and putting on my leisure clothes, I finally sat down on my large meditation pillow. Closing my eyes, I slowed my breathing. With each cycle of inhaling and exhaling, I felt my nerves calm and my mind center itself. Without this nightly practice, I was certain I would have killed a few subordinates over their idiocy. It could have been thirty minutes, maybe an hour, before my meditation was interrupted by my communicator. "Damn, I forgot to silence that thing," I muttered under my breath, instantly reaching for the device to silence its annoying ring. When I picked it up, I noticed the call was from one of our smaller divisions in the southern region of the continent. I quickly answered. "This is General Theron. Go ahead." "Hey, General. This is Captain Mica," the man said softly. "I''m calling to report that we''ve finally located Ezra Solaris." Hearing that name made me clench the device so hard I nearly snapped it in half. "Good job, Captain. I''ll be on the first craft headed that way tonight. Where did you find him?" "We found him in the upper region of the mountains, sir. We intercepted him late at night as he was leaving the city center." "Wait. You engaged with Ezra?" "Yes, sir." "How many men did you confront him with, Captain?" "We confronted Ezra with five men and sent several others to the mountain to eliminate the kid." "You should have brought an army or waited for backup from myself or another general. You''re lucky to be alive, Captain. He is three stages higher than you¡ªa damn Astral Knight! Did you not do your research?" "Sir, we thought we could use the child as a hostage. We ambushed him because he appeared to be very low on cosmic energy." "And how did that work out for you?" This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "We suffered one death¡­" "Only one? You''re lucky¡ªvery lucky¡ªthat he didn''t feel the need to dispose of all of you." "You''re correct, sir. We understand now. But¡­ he wasn''t the one who killed one of my men. It was the boy." "So, that young boy passed the Starbirth Trial of the Solaris Constellation?" I asked frantically. "He passed some sort of trial, but it doesn''t appear to be that of the Solaris Constellation, sir." "What do you mean?" "When my men approached the child, they could tell his core was undoubtedly in the first stage of a Celestial Core. But he didn''t use any abilities typical of a first-stage Solaris Starbound." "What did he use then?" "Sir, we don''t know at all. The men who fought the boy described feeling immense pressure while fighting him. It became difficult to move normally." Hearing this, I paused. My mind reeled at the thought of a Starbound at the embryonic stage emitting enough cosmic energy to immobilize a squad of equal rank. He should have been easily overpowered. For him to do this only a few days after awakening his power was terrifying. After pondering, I finally responded to the patiently waiting captain. "Captain, thank you for this information. But you''re not off the hook. I''ll give you and your team a chance at redemption. Locate Ezra Solaris and his child. When you do, for the love of god, do not engage with him. Contact me immediately." "Yes, sir. We won''t let you down this time." "A demotion will be the least of your worries if you fail, Captain," I said before hanging up, not giving him a chance to respond. After the call, I couldn''t go back to meditating. After years of searching, we had finally found that bastard. To think the only reason we did was because he had prepared his son to take on the Starbirth Trial. I mulled over the information repeatedly. Goosebumps crawled over my skin as I thought of fighting Ezra again. But this time, it would be different. "I hope you''re ready, Ezra. When I''m done with you, the tales of the legendary Emperor of the Sun will be no more." ______________ (Cyrus¡¯s POV) Being stuck on a boat for several days while recovering from injuries was one of the most uncomfortable things I had ever experienced. This surprised me, considering we had spent the last few years sleeping on cold, hard ground. My father, of course, was unfazed. He even seemed to enjoy it. I suspected it was because our only real concern was catching food. The river was teeming with fish, making them easy to catch. This allowed me to focus on my recovery. Now that my once-empty core had reached the embryonic stage, my body healed faster than before. However, the process drained my cosmic energy at a noticeable pace. Adding to the challenge was the fact that we were far from an astral rift leaking energy, making it harder to replenish my reserves. These conditions made me realize how much work lay ahead of me to improve my control over cosmic energy. They also gave me a greater appreciation for how elite my father truly was. ¡°What are you thinking about, Cy?¡± my father asked, pulling a solar spear from the water with a flailing fish impaled on its end. ¡°I¡¯m just ready to get off this boat and get back to training,¡± I said, pulling my gaze away from my reflection in the river. ¡°How are your injuries? And how much cosmic energy do you currently have in your reserves?¡± ¡°My lacerations are almost fully healed. I can move without much pain. As for my reserves, I¡¯m at about half capacity.¡± ¡°Oh, perfect. Then we can start your next lesson,¡± he said, taking a bite out of a charred fish he had just caught. I straightened up, excited and eager to learn what he had planned. ¡°Today, you¡¯ll learn something crucial for gaining insight into your Fate Constellation,¡± he began. ¡°You¡¯re going to learn how to enter your Celestial Nexus.¡± ¡°A nexus?¡± ¡°The Celestial Nexus is the next stage in your meditation training. First, you learned to meditate to absorb cosmic energy from astral rifts to form your core. Then, you learned how to project your consciousness through meditation, entering a rift. Now, instead of projecting your consciousness outward, you¡¯ll enter your astral tattoo.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but look at him as though he¡¯d lost his mind. ¡°You want me to enter my tattoo?¡± ¡°Correct. Since you didn¡¯t inherit the Solaris Constellation, it¡¯s harder for me to guide you directly in understanding your constellation¡¯s abilities. The Nexus will deepen your connection with your constellation, eventually giving you insight. Think of it as a training ground for your abilities.¡± ¡°So¡­ I get to train without physical training?¡± ¡°Yes, but this meditation technique consumes a significant amount of cosmic energy,¡± he explained. ¡°Especially for someone in the embryonic stage, who lacks precise control over their reserves. You¡¯ll need to plan carefully when to enter the Nexus.¡± ¡°Understood. Can we start now?¡± I asked, repositioning myself in the boat. ¡°I swear, your eagerness is going to be the death of me one day. Can I at least finish my meal first?¡± my father said, stuffing several more pieces of fish into his mouth. ¡°But¡­ I suppose I can eat later.¡± Chapter 9 (Cyrus''s POV) Sitting in the boat, I focused all my concentration on not getting distracted by the back-and-forth swaying of the current. It took some time, but I finally managed to calm my mind by concentrating on my breath. As I exhaled, I felt my core brim with energy, synchronizing with my thoughts. "I think I''m ready, Father," I said, my voice steady as I tried to maintain both my focus and the circulation of cosmic energy. "Alright. This is where things might get tricky," my father replied, his tone calm but serious. "You''re going to attempt two things at once." I nodded but stayed silent, focusing on his instructions. "I want you to imbue cosmic energy into your tattoo," he continued, "but don''t activate your ability fully. Just channel enough to get it humming. Does that make sense?" Listening intently, I visualized the cosmic energy leaving my core, traveling through my astral veins, and dispersing into the rest of my body. Gradually, I directed the flow toward my tattoo. I slowed my breathing and concentrated until I felt a faint hum. "Good. Your tattoo is glowing, but I don''t sense the resistance of your ability. That''s perfect," my father said with approval. "Now, I want you to expand your consciousness and project your astral body. Once you''re in your astral body, connect with the energy emanating from your tattoo instead of an astral rift." I followed his instructions again, focusing my mind. Just as I prepared to send my astral body toward the tattoo, something unexpected occurred. Above the tattoo, a distortion began to form. It resembled an astral rift but spiraled in a way that reminded me of a galaxy. "You see it now, don''t you?" my father asked, his voice breaking through my focus. I couldn''t respond¡ªmy physical form remained silent as my astral body hovered closer. Without hesitation, I directed myself toward the distortion and entered. When I crossed the threshold, I found myself in a vast, floating expanse of shifting starfields. Stardust islands hovered in the void, each pulsing faintly with cosmic energy. The air was thick with vibrations that resonated through me. Two of the islands stood out immediately. One had a large glowing sphere floating above it, while the other displayed an intricate construct resembling diverging pathways made of crystallized energy. Beneath me, a shimmering pool of stardust caught my attention. "How am I supposed to gain insight here?" I wondered, taking in the breathtaking landscape. As my astral body drifted closer to the glowing orb, I felt an almost magnetic pull. Resisting it seemed impossible. Standing before the orb, I noticed it pulsated like a beating heart, and its presence felt alive¡ªsentient. "So, we meet again," the orb said, its voice resonating within my mind. "You can talk?" I asked, startled. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "I can do much more than talk, human." "Well, excuse me. It''s not every day a glowing orb starts a conversation. So¡­ what exactly are you?" "I am the constellation you are bonded with," it replied. "What should I call you? Do you have a name?" "I have no name. I am the manifestation of the Pardoxon Fate Constellation within your Nexus." "So, my constellation''s name is Pardoxon? Good to know," I said. "My father told me this space is where I gain insight into my power. How do I do that?" "By increasing your resonance with me." "Alright. And how do I do that? You''re not exactly giving me much to work with, big guy." The orb pulsed with what I assumed was amusement. "Within your Nexus, there is an island that contains your Stellar Pathway. To increase your resonance, you must complete a Resonance Trial." "How do I start this trial?" "Follow me." The orb floated toward the island with the intricate pathways, and I followed. Up close, the structure was far larger than it had appeared. At its base was a single glowing node, dim but distinct, from which all the diverging pathways branched. "Place your hand on the node," the orb instructed. I hesitated but sensed no malice from it. Tentatively, I touched the node, allowing a stream of cosmic energy to flow from my core. What happened next stunned me. The node expanded, its light spreading like a slow, controlled explosion. When the glow subsided, a familiar symbol appeared within the node: the rune for gravity, the first mark in my astral tattoo. Smaller nodes branched out from this central symbol like a nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons. "These must represent the different ways I can manipulate gravity," I thought. The smaller nodes were dim, except for one that faintly glimmered. "Do you see the faint white glow of the central symbol?" the orb asked. "Yes. What about it?" "It signifies that you have not mastered this concept. When the symbol turns magenta, you will know it is mastered. Now, place your hand on the smaller node that has a faint glow and imbue it with cosmic energy." I hesitated again, unsure of the orb''s intentions, but its calm reassurance settled my nerves. "This is your space. I am here to guide you." "What''s the worst that could happen?" I muttered before touching the smaller node. As I imbued it with energy, my surroundings shifted. I was transported to the shimmering pool of stardust I had noticed earlier. "What just happened?" I asked, bewildered. "You have been sent to the Pool of Reflection," the orb explained. "This is where your Resonance Trials take place. Prepare yourself¡ªyour first trial will begin shortly." Before I could ask more, the stardust within the pool began to rise, glowing brighter as it ascended. The particles coalesced into cosmic entities, each forming humanoid shapes. They arranged themselves in a line, the first about five meters from me, with each subsequent figure spaced another ten meters apart. "To pass this trial, you must expand the range of your gravity field to the farthest target," the orb instructed. I frowned. My current maximum range was only about one meter. Worse, I had just enough cosmic energy left for a single attempt. I didn''t want to find out what would happen if I ran out of cosmic energy in here. "I don''t think I can complete this trial right now," I admitted. "Understood. We will resume later," the orb said. "Do you have any other questions about the Nexus?" "Yes. Why are all the other islands empty?" "You will discover their purpose after completing additional trials and advancing your core to the next stage." Hearing this, I couldn''t help but wonder what my father''s Nexus looked like. If mine was this awe-inspiring at the embryonic stage, his must be beyond comprehension. "Alright. I''ll figure it out when I get to that point, I guess. But before I leave, I''m giving you a name. It feels too awkward talking to something nameless. From now on, you''re Dox." "Thank you," Dox replied, its tone carrying a note of amusement. "No problem. I''ll see you later. I''m almost out of energy," I said, drifting back toward the distortion. Taking one last look at the breathtaking expanse of my Nexus, I exited and returned to the physical realm. Chapter 10 Cyrus POV Coming back from the Nexus to the physical world felt like leaving a sanctuary crafted solely for you, only to return to rot away in purgatory. In the Nexus, I was weightless, free from everything. Now, in my physical body, I could feel the weight of the world and all its unnecessary burdens pressing down on me. I didn''t want this. I missed my old life. Once I regained consciousness, I saw my father lying back in the boat, patiently waiting for my return. His face showed no worry whatsoever as he stared into the blue sky, dusk beginning to settle. "What are you staring at, Dad?" I asked. For a moment, he didn''t move or respond. Then, slowly, he turned his focus to me. "I zoned out... thinking about that day." Hearing those words, I knew exactly what my father was referring to. I could feel his sadness radiating. I wasn''t the only one who had lost everything. I could only imagine what he must have been going through. "You know, I almost didn''t go that day. Your mother asked me to stay home. She wanted us to go to the market together. I remember her saying we hadn''t had a family outing in quite some time. She had everything planned." His voice softened, heavy with regret. "But I didn''t know how to ignore my duties as the leader of our country and put you two first. I was so close to reaching my goal¡ªor at least I thought I was." Seeing my father so emotional was unsettling. He''d always been the strong, stoic figure who shouldered the burdens of others. Until now, I didn''t think he felt pain or sadness like the rest of us. But that image was a lie. He had to put on a front for everyone else. As our leader¡ªour hero¡ªhe wasn''t allowed to show weakness. "It''s okay, Dad. It''s not your fault," I said, trying to console him. "It is, though," he replied. "If I hadn''t gone searching for that stupid relic, I would''ve been there to stop the attack. I could''ve saved everyone, and we would still be a family. I''m sorry, Cyrus¡­ As your father, I wasn''t there when you needed me most. I left you to face and witness something no person¡ªlet alone a child¡ªshould ever endure." His voice cracked, and tears began falling from his eyes. "You don''t know how broken I was when I returned. Not only was the search for the relic a failure, but I came back to find everyone I cared about gone. Mutilated. I could only hope that, at the very least, your mother and you had escaped. But the universe wasn''t so kind. I found you trying everything you could to bring her back, pleading with her to wake up¡­ And I just stood there, frozen. There was nothing I could do. I failed." If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. We sat in silence after that, letting each other process in our own way. My father needed to get this off his chest, and truthfully, I had never blamed him. I understood his duties to our country. Everything he did was for the greater good¡ªboth for us and the world. The next morning, my father seemed in better spirits, back to his usual self. Over breakfast, I told him about my experience in the Nexus. I explained what I had seen, my interaction with Dox, and the name of my constellation. "Pardoxon Constellation?" he said, giving me a skeptical look. "Cyrus, that''s not a recognized constellation. I''ve studied them all." "Well, that''s what the orb said. I don''t think Dox would lie, especially since it''s a manifestation of my constellation." "You have a point," he admitted. "It''s just... your situation doesn''t align with what I know to be the norm." "Maybe I''m the first to discover this constellation and connect with it," I offered. "The universe is vast. It''s not like we''ve uncovered everything out there." "I can''t deny that," he said, nodding thoughtfully. "I just wish your grandfather Zaire were here. He might''ve been able to shed some light on this." As we continued fishing, I changed the subject to lighten the mood. "Hey, Dad, what relic were you and Grandpa Zaire trying to find? Why was it so important?" "It was an ancient relic capable of providing sustainable, clean energy for our country," he said, his voice tinged with passion. "According to ancient texts, it could convert cosmic energy imbued with solar energy into usable electricity." "Like a solar panel?" I asked. "Yes, but on a much more advanced scale. My team and I had been working on this concept for years. If we''d found the relic, we could''ve made our country completely independent of other energy sources." "Sometimes I forget you were a scientist when you were younger," I teased. "Maybe it''s because of all the trauma I''ve endured during our training sessions." "Shut it," he said, smirking. As he finished speaking, his gaze shifted to something beyond me. I turned to see what had caught his attention. We were nearing the end of the stream. After days of cramped conditions and salty fish, I was eager to get off the boat. "Looks like you finally get to touch some grass!" my father said, paddling faster toward the shore. When we arrived, he destroyed the boat, saying we wouldn''t need it anymore. The landscape before us was a marshland¡ªwet, unstable, and the complete opposite of the rocky mountain region we had just left. "Dad, please tell me we''re not making camp here," I said, eyeing the ground. "Relax. We''re heading to the nearest town to use their transponder station. We need to contact Grandpa Zaire before continuing to the western border." After trudging through the marsh, we found a wide road with large delivery trucks heading west. From what I remember this region was known for having poor infrastructure, so the trucks must use the delivery trucks as a source of imports. Staying close to the woods, we followed the road for an hour or so until we reached a town. As we stepped onto the road, screams echoed in the distance, followed by bone-chilling roars. I turned to my father, and his grim expression confirmed my suspicion. An astral rift had opened nearby. The people were in danger. Chapter 11 Cyrus POV My father and I dropped our belongings and broke into a blistering sprint toward the town. As we entered, the scene was all too familiar¡ªa haunting mirror of what our village had looked like the day we were attacked. Innocent bodies lay dismembered, blood smeared the walls of old, rustic brick buildings, and chimneys crumbled under the weight of astral behemoths leaping from structure to structure, stalking new prey. The town was in chaos, its people engulfed in mass hysteria. Only a handful of Starbound seemed to reside here, and they were desperately holding their ground in the city center, fending off the swarm of astral behemoths while trying to shepherd citizens into a bunker. "Cyrus, help the Starbound on the ground in the city center. I''ll handle the astral behemoths in the air," my father commanded. Before I could respond, he propelled himself into the sky using solar energy in his arms and legs. "You know, you could''ve at least given me a weapon!" I shouted after him. There was no time to dwell on it, though. Imbuing cosmic energy into my legs, I bolted toward the Starbound. This was uncharted territory for me¡ªI''d only ever fought humans and other Starbound. Astral behemoths were something else entirely. In the past, I couldn''t even hope to face them, but my father seemed confident I was ready now. I needed to prove him right. In the town''s center, I saw four Starbound holding a half-circle formation around the bunker entrance while a fifth darted back and forth, ferrying citizens inside. The Starbound were surrounded by dozens of spear beetles¡ªperhaps more. Before engaging, I used my astral sense to gauge the strength of both the behemoths and the Starbound. The spear beetles were starspawns¡ªthe lowest rank of astral behemoths. As for the Starbound, they were all at the same stage as me, except for one: the tank, who had reached the Adept Stage. "Okay, this is manageable," I muttered, especially with Dad handling the flying behemoths. I launched myself at the back of the horde, aiming to catch them off guard. Forcing cosmic energy into my hands, I flattened them like blades and sliced through the beetles'' hard exoskeletons, exposing their intestines. Greenish fluid splattered all over me, filling the air with a foul stench. "The old man better give me a weapon soon," I grumbled, "because this is disgusting." After cutting down several more beetles, some of them finally noticed me. In a moment, it went from none of the creatures paying attention to me to about a third of the horde making me their focus. While the situation sucked, I knew it was necessary¡ªthe other Starbound needed breathing room to finish evacuating the citizens. As I weighed my options, one of the beetles lunged at me, aiming to impale me with its massive horn. I sidestepped the attack and severed the horn with a swift chop. Without hesitation, I focused cosmic energy into my leg and kicked the beetle in its underbelly, puncturing its shell and killing it instantly. The rest of the horde became enraged, charging all at once. Seeing nearly a dozen spear beetles barreling toward me, my instincts screamed one thing: run. There was no way I could take them all at once. I wanted to use my ability to stop them in their tracks but couldn''t risk a civilian accidentally stumbling into my gravity field and being crushed. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. I sprinted away from the other Starbound at the bunker, and a third of the beetles followed in relentless pursuit. I made my way back to the outskirts of the town, so that I had enough space to enact my plan. When I glanced up, I saw my father maneuvering through the air with practiced grace, switching seamlessly between solar weapons to cut down the flying behemoths. He was making it look easy. My attention snapped back as the beetles closed the gap. I readied myself, waiting for the perfect moment to spring my trap. Starspawns were primitive; all they wanted was to hunt. They didn''t coordinate their attacks and charged headlong, horns first, in a race to claim the kill. "Perfect," I muttered. Pouring cosmic energy into my astral tattoo, I activated my ability. A gravitational field instantly anchored the beetles to the ground. I had four seconds to finish this. Reinforcing my body with cosmic energy, I launched my assault, showing no mercy as I tore through the creatures, severing exoskeletons with each strike, loosing myself in the acts of carnage. For the first time, I felt in control¡ªlike I finally had the upper hand. When the last beetle fell, I stood amidst the carnage: a crater filled with the corpses of astral behemoths and the stench of spilled innards. Shaking the green fluid from my hands, I sprinted back toward the bunker. I had to be careful now. The last maneuver had drained half my reserves, and I couldn''t afford to use my ability again without leaving myself defenseless. When I reached the bunker, the situation had improved. Most citizens were safely inside, and the Starbound had repositioned. Then I noticed something: the trucks we''d seen earlier had pulled up to the entrance. The Starbound encircled them protectively. "We have to guard the trucks! If we lose them, everything we''ve fought for will be in vain!" the Adept Stage Starbound shouted. I understood that the imports that a low-level town like this receives was important, but I didn''t think it was important enough to lose your life over. ¡°There has to be somethings else in those trucks,¡± I thought to myself. Curious, I watched as the drivers unloaded clear containers holding massive glowing cubes. The cubes radiated an overwhelming amount of cosmic energy, enough to send the remaining astral behemoths into a frenzy. Understanding the stakes, I launched myself toward the horde. Their movements had grown erratic, making them harder to predict. I couldn''t take them down in one fell swoop as before. Instead, I had to dart in and out, attacking and retreating to avoid their horns. Progress was slow, but it was better than nothing. I wanted to use my ability and end this whole situation. I decided against it because I wouldn''t have enough time to kill all of them since this horde was bigger than the one, I lured away. Then I saw it. One of the drivers carrying a container tripped, causing the cube to roll out. Its energy output spiked, sending the horde into a bloodlust starting to launch themselves at the driver like a kamikaze pilot. The Starbound''s formation broke as one of them rushed to help the driver, but he was unaware of what was coming his way. "No one else sees this," I realized. Everyone else was too preoccupied with survival. "Well, here goes nothing," I muttered. Pouring the last of my cosmic energy into my tattoo, I visualized expanding my gravitational field to encompass the driver and the Starbound. I could feel that my field expanding to around two meters, encapsulating everything with the area. Everything within my sphere of influence crashed to the ground instantly¡ªbut I was too late. A few beetles were just out of the range of my field. The driver and the Starbound were impaled by the beetles'' horns. Chapter 12 Cyrus''s POV Looking at the starbound and the driver lying lifeless, impaled by the horns of the beetle, I felt a wave of devastation that I didn''t fully understand. I had never met these people before, yet I felt this pain in my chest. I couldn''t fathom how my father did this on a consistent basis when I was younger. He has this innate drive to help and save people, no matter the situation, and somehow he carries the burden of it so effortlessly. I had only helped these people because my father insisted. At this stage in my life, I don''t have the capacity to care for many people. Yet, seeing these individuals fighting for their lives reminded me of my clan. The pain I felt watching those people get impaled was the same pain I felt back then¡ªthe pain of not being strong enough to protect what I held dear. Several astral behemoths crashed to the ground around me, their impact reverberating as they exploded into pieces. The shock snapped me out of my daze, and I saw my father moving at speeds I couldn''t fathom, cutting through wave after wave of the flying beetles with brutal efficiency. Then my attention was drawn back to what lay in front of me. The two beetles that had escaped earlier had started to bite and consume the cube filled with cosmic energy. I knew astral behemoths were attracted to strong cosmic energy signatures, but I had never understood why¡ªuntil now. As they consumed the cube, their bodies began to transform. Both beetles grew another meter in height, going from two meters tall to three. Their horns elongated and sprouted spikes, resembling barbed wire. I focused what little energy I had left to examine their cores and saw they had evolved. They had advanced from the starspawn stage to the second stage: voidborn. I had no idea how I was going to handle this situation, especially as the rest of the horde recovered from the effects of my gravity field. Desperately scanning the area for a way out, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. The starbound caught in my gravity field were beginning to get up, but they were unaware of the danger behind them. "MOVE NOW!" I yelled, hoping they would understand the urgency. Three of them reacted instantly, not hesitating to obey the warning. The starbound who had been transporting civilians, however, was not fast enough. One of the transformed beetles impaled him from behind, tearing his torso from his legs. "JOHN, NO!" a female starbound screamed, collapsing to her knees in despair. "Get up, Mira. We can''t stay here," the tank from their group said, his voice firm. "We''re low on cosmic energy, and the enemy is too strong for us to handle in our current state." "What about the bunker door? Will it hold? Especially now that two of those beetles consumed the battery," one of the others asked. "It should hold for a couple of days¡ªenough for us to regroup and come up with a plan," the tank replied. "Besides, whoever''s up there in the sky seems to have their hands full with the rest of the horde." With that, the starbound began retreating. "Where are you going? Don''t tell me you''re just going to leave!" I shouted. "There are still people who need help!" They stopped and turned to face me. "You''d better find shelter, boy," the tank said coldly. "Otherwise, you''ll get yourself killed out here. This is no place for a child. Now, hurry along." "If it weren''t for me, you''d all be dead! I''m not just some kid!" I retorted. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The tank ignored me, motioning to the others to follow. "Let''s go. We don''t get paid enough for this." Without another word, they disappeared into the distance, leaving me alone with the remaining horde. In my current state, I knew there was little I could do. I had barely enough cosmic energy to escape, let alone finish off the horde, now led by voidborn beetles. Glancing up at my father as he tore through another wave of astral behemoths, I made the difficult decision to retreat to the outskirts to replenish my energy. Sitting on the edge of town, I calmed my mind and focused. Closing my eyes, I visualized cosmic energy flowing into my celestial core. The rift nearby made the process faster than usual, but I noticed something different. My new core seemed to passively draw energy from the atmosphere, unlike before when I had to forcibly extract it. This passive pull sped things up, but it still wasn''t fast enough to fully replenish my reserves. "Looks like I''ll have to make do with half," I muttered. With my energy partially restored, I hurried back to the city center. The beetles were still trying to break through the bunker door, which, for now, seemed to be holding. Evaluating the situation, I realized a sneak attack wouldn''t work this time. I needed someone to act as bait¡ªand I knew exactly who that would be. Looking to the sky, I spotted my father. His ability to create multiple solar weapons and rain them down like hellfire was the perfect solution. I just needed to get his attention. Scaling a nearby building, I reached the roof and released three bursts of cosmic energy. Sure enough, he noticed, glancing down to see me waving frantically. Moments later, he sliced through the last wave of airborne beetles with a solar arc and rocketed down to meet me. "Cyrus, are you okay?" he asked. "I''m fine for now, but I don''t have enough energy to deal with the horde at the bunker." "What happened to the starbound who were defending it?" "Two of them died, and the others fled. I did my best, but I don''t have the strength to finish the job. I need your help to end this quickly¡ª two of beetles evolved to the Void born rank and they are too much for me." "You''ve done enough, son. I''ll finish this. Rest now." "No! I need to finish this for myself. I just need you to deliver the finishing blow." Seeing the determination in my eyes, he nodded. "What do you need from me?" "Attack from the sky when I give the signal. I''ll gather them up." Without another word, my father ascended. I climbed down from the building and sprinted toward the horde, knowing this was a challenge I had to face head-on. Reaching the edge of the horde, I infused my body with cosmic energy and leapt straight into the fray. My hands infused with cosmic energy cut through several beetles as I made my way toward the two voidborn clawing at the bunker door. One of the lesser beetles lunged at me, attempting to impale me with its horn, but I dodged the attack and used the horn as a launching pad letting its momentum to propel myself closer to my targets. As I soared through the air, I sent out three pulses of cosmic energy¡ªthe signal for my father. Then, I pushed all the remaining energy in my core into the tattoo etched on my chest, activating my ability. A crushing force radiated outward, pinning the entire horde to the ground. Even the voidborn beetles struggled against the immense gravitational pressure. I landed directly in front of the two evolved creatures, grabbing their barbed horns and yanking their heads upward so they were forced to look at me. I grinned, my voice laced with mockery. ¡°Oh, you might want to check behind you.¡± A barrage of solar javelins rained down from the sky, piercing every single beetle, including the voidborn. The light was blinding, and the ground shook with the impact of my father¡¯s attack. The life drained from the beetles¡¯ eyes as they fell lifeless. I released their horns, letting their massive bodies collapse to the side. Standing amidst the wreckage, I took a moment to catch my breath. My energy was completely drained, and my legs felt like they might give out. I looked up to see my father descending, his expression a mixture of pride and concern. ¡°Cyrus,¡± he began, landing beside me. ¡°That was reckless. You didn¡¯t need to push yourself so far.¡± ¡°I did,¡± I replied firmly, looking him in the eyes. ¡°I couldn¡¯t stand by and let someone else handle it. Not again. If I¡¯m going to be strong enough to protect what I care about, I need to face challenges like this.¡± He sighed but didn¡¯t argue, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve grown, my son. Just remember, strength isn¡¯t just about taking on every burden yourself. It¡¯s also knowing when to rely on others.¡± I nodded, appreciating his words but knowing in my heart that this was something I had to do. We stood there for a moment, the battlefield silent except for the faint hum of cosmic energy dissipating into the air. ¡°Come,¡± my father said, gesturing toward the bunker. ¡°We need to check on the survivors.¡± Chapter 13 (Cyrus POV) Before we headed to assist the civilians in the bunker, we stopped to examine the beetles that had consumed the cubes of cosmic energy. "So these are the beetles that evolved during the battle?" my father asked. "Yes," I replied. "Generally, for a star-spawn astral behemoth to evolve to the next stage, it would have to consume around a hundred celestial cores, either from humans or other astral behemoths of equal rank. For that to happen in the middle of a battle is practically impossible." "Well, I think I have an explanation," I said, pointing to a cluster of trucks. "Do you see those trucks?" "Yeah, they look like the exact ones that drove past us while we were walking on the road." "During the battle, those trucks pulled up to the bunker door. They were transporting containers that seemed to hold raw cosmic energy in the shape of cubes into the bunker. The astral behemoths went into a frenzy down here because of it. These two managed to get a hold of one, and the rest is self-explanatory, I think." My father took a moment to process what I said. His expression darkened, signaling his displeasure. "We need to get to this bunker and find the leader of this village," he finally said. "Why? We''ve already wasted enough time helping them. From what I''ve seen, it doesn''t look like this place has a transponder station either." "Cyrus, if that cube is what I think it is, we could be in serious trouble." "But the cube seemed harmless. It just emitted a lot of cosmic energy, that''s all." "It is not harmless. In its current state, those cubes are bombs just waiting to explode." "How do you know? You didn''t even see it." "I created it, Cyrus. That was the initial phase of my design for a clean energy source. During testing, the cube was always unstable. That''s why I was searching for the ancient relic¡ªto stabilize the energy. It seems someone broke into my lab back in Arthenos." I could see the agitation growing on my father''s face as he spoke. There was no persuading him now. The idea of someone using his invention to endanger lives was something the former ruler of our country could not ignore. My father walked to the bunker door, prying it open with his immense strength. The creaking of the metal echoed, and we were met by a sea of people waiting anxiously inside. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Is it safe to come out now?" a group of them asked as we stepped inside. "All the astral behemoths have been dealt with. You may leave the shelter," my father reassured them. "But before you go, I need to know who is in charge of this town." A wave of uneasy glances passed through the crowd until a man with a medium build, ivory skin, and brown curly hair stepped forward. "I am the leader of this town," he said. "My name is Adam. How may I help you?" "Adam, may we speak in private? I have something urgent to discuss," my father requested. "Sure. But who are you, and what authority do you have?" Adam questioned skeptically. My father hesitated briefly before responding. "I will explain in private. Please, grant me this courtesy¡ªmy son and I just helped save your people." Adam pondered for a moment before nodding. "Yes, of course. Excuse my misgivings. Follow me." Something about him didn''t sit right with me. How could he not recognize my father? My father ruled this country for years. A town leader should have at least some political awareness. As we followed Adam to his office, I pulled my father aside. "Father, I think this guy knows more than he''s letting on. And how does he not recognize you? You''re not even trying to hide your identity." "I''m sure he does in some way," my father replied, patting my head. "But I need information about those cubes. Don''t worry, Cy¡ªI''ve handled far worse." Once inside Adam''s office, a modest room with hardwood floors and walls adorned with landscape photos of different regions across the world of Valonara, he gestured for us to sit. "Don''t worry," Adam assured us. "This area is secure. No one will hear us during this conversation¡­ Ezra." Hearing my father''s name from Adam sent a knot of dread into my stomach. Was this a trap? "Thank you, Adam. It''s been a while, hasn''t it?" my father replied with a calm smile, surprising me. He seemed far too friendly with this man. "I think it''s been eight or ten years. Wasn''t it around this little guy''s birthday?" Adam said, laughing. "So¡­ you know each other?" I asked, confused. "Yes, Cy," my father replied. "Adam and I attended the academy in Arthenos together. We had the school''s best squad, didn''t we, Adam?" "Best squad?" Adam chuckled. "I was just the support role. You and your brother handled all the heavy lifting during the war games, by the way how is your brother." My father''s expression shifted, a flicker of pain crossing his face. "We don''t know what happened to my brother," he said somberly. "On the day of the massacre, he sent a message warning us of the attack on our clan. I''m sure he fought valiantly to protect them. No one from the Solaris clan, especially at the Empyrean stage, would fall easily." Adam nodded solemnly. "I couldn''t agree more once you guys made it to the third stage it was hard for me to keep up. Your family was extraordinary." "But, Ezra," Adam continued after a pause, "I have to ask¡ªwere you really creating a bomb to destroy the rest of the countries in the Zarathia continent? There are stories saying you wanted complete control of the entire continent, and you wanted Arthenos to rule over it" My father took a deep breath. "No, Adam. I was framed. My research was meant to create renewable energy for my country that is all. I hate useless bloodshed you should know that Adam." Adam sighed in relief. "I knew you wouldn''t do something so reckless." "But, Adam," my father said firmly, "those cubes you''ve been receiving are from my incomplete design. They are unstable. You need to remove them immediately." Adam hesitated. "That''s impossible. These cubes are our town''s main energy source. We need them for our daily lives." "Adam, they''re ticking time bombs made of pure cosmic energy in their current state." Chapter 14 (Cyrus POV) "What are you talking about, Ezra? How could these cosmic batteries ever be bombs?" Adam pleaded to my father. I could tell my father was slightly annoyed by Adam''s response. "You and I both know that cosmic energy is erratic by nature. Its volatile nature doesn''t bode well when confined. That''s why we have to absorb and refine it in our cores so we can control it to a degree. If we must refine it to use it safely, do you really think it''s wise to use in its purest form for technology?" my father lectured. "Ezra, I hear your concerns, and as your longtime friend, I respect you greatly. But you haven''t been living here for the past decade. You were born into a prominent family with all the resources you could ever want or need. I wasn''t so lucky. All the money we made during those missions was sent back to this place. You know Valador was set back several decades because of the wars in this region. These cubes allow us to mine more effectively. We can stay in the caves longer without needing to refill our machines. This is Valador''s main source of income, Ezra," Adam explained. "So you haven''t noticed any malfunctions or witnessed any accidents with the cosmic cubes?" my father asked. "Not one bit. The only thing we have to worry about is the astral behemoths creating rifts because they can sense the strong energy signature." Adam''s reply didn''t seem sincere at all to me. The shakiness in his voice screamed that he was hiding something. I think my father noticed as well but continued without letting it be known. "That''s why we hire hunters to aid in the delivery and transport of the cosmic batteries." I glanced back at my father and could see he was deep in thought. "I''m sorry for doubting you, Adam. Maybe whoever stole my design improved it somehow while I was hiding." Adam seemed pleased to hear those words from my father, and I could see tension leave his body. "Ezra, that''s not the only thing. With these cubes, we''ve been able to fashion our equipment to mine celestium." My father''s eyes widened as Adam finished explaining. "Adam¡­ Does that mean you have an astral gate nearby?" "We sure do. I can take you to it later, if you want." If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Can we go now? It''s been years since I''ve been to the astral realm." Seeing my father''s excitement, Adam couldn''t help but give in. "You never change, do you, Ezra? To this day, your energy is infectious. Come, I''ll take you." We left Adam''s office and headed to the astral gate, which was located on the western side of the settlement, concealed by the dense forest. Several trucks and excavators sat lifeless outside the gate. "Would you like to do the honors, Ezra?" Adam asked, gesturing toward the button to activate the gate. My father didn''t hesitate and pressed it. A small white speck appeared inside the gate and, within seconds, expanded quietly, like a miniature big bang. This was the first time I had seen an astral gate up close. The spiraling void in front of me looked like a kaleidoscope of galaxies. I glanced at my father, who had the biggest smile on his face¡ªsomething I hadn''t seen often during our time on the run. "It''s beautiful, isn''t it, Cyrus?" he said, still gazing at the gate. "I mean, yes, it is. But what exactly is it, and why are you so excited to see it?" "Cyrus, there''s more than one way to enter the astral realm. The way you know is the original, ancient method. It takes much longer to master but requires little cosmic energy to maintain your astral form once you cross over. The downside is that you''re left defenseless. With an astral gate, you can cross with your physical body. This consumes cosmic energy at three times the rate, and astral gates can only be found in large metropolitan cities." "Wait, really? That''s cool. So does that mean we can enter the astral realm together now?" I asked. "I honestly thought you were joking earlier about not going into the astral realm for several years," Adam said. "I was completely serious. Cyrus was too young and not advanced enough to watch over my body in areas with astral rifts. He only recently connected to his fate constellation." "That makes sense. I get it now¡­ Wait, Cyrus, you''re already a Starbound? How old are you?" Adam asked me. "Thirteen. Why?" "Ezra, you got him to connect to the Solaris constellation this early?" I noticed my father shoot me a quick glance, silently asking me to go along with it. He wanted to keep my real fate constellation a secret. "Yeah, it surprised me too," my father said, laughing. "He beat my record as the youngest in the clan." "Your clan really is filled with prodigies. No wonder you were all so powerful. But are you ready to cross?" Adam asked. My father nodded and walked toward the gate. Before stepping through, he turned to me. "Cyrus, be prepared. The astral realm is going to look a lot different compared to the last time you were there during your trial," he said before stepping through. "What do you mean it''s going to look different?" I asked, but my words fell on deaf ears. He was already on the other side. I looked to Adam for some kind of answer, but he offered none. "Some things can''t be explained, Cyrus. This is something you''ll have to experience for yourself¡­ Now go on." Sighing at Adam''s vague response, I steeled my mind and stepped through the astral gate. Chapter 15 Cyrus POV The sensation of crossing the astral gate into the astral realm was completely different from the ancient method my father had taught me. With the ancient way, it felt like I was a magnet being pulled toward the source. Crossing over through the gate, however, felt as if I were being atomized and reassembled on the other side. When I finally emerged, the astral realm looked entirely different from when I had taken my starbirth trial. No longer was it an ever-expanding dark void riddled with a sea of stars and cosmic entities. The astral realm now mimicked elements of the physical world, blending them with celestial aesthetics. I saw plains of starry grass and mountains made of translucent crystal. Instead of the ice-cold water filling rivers, ponds, and lakes, there were streams of shimmering astral light that changed colors depending on the angle from which it was viewed. Turning to my right, I saw Adam and my father both staring at me. "I remember my first time seeing the astral realm," Adam said, patting my father on the back. "What about you, Ezra?" "My father brought both my brother and me into the realm right after we passed our starbirth trials," my father replied. "He took us to the Altar of Solaris and explained what it meant to be a wielder of our clan''s fate constellation." "I bet it was a beautiful and powerful moment," Adam said with a wry smile. "It was," my father agreed, watching the star showers unfold in the astral realm''s sky. "My old man somehow made even the most daunting tasks seem like the best adventures in the world." "I have a question," I interjected, hoping one of them would answer. "Go on," my father said with a nod. "Why does the astral realm look so different now compared to before I connected with my constellation?" "Well, Cyrus," my father began, "the astral realm only reveals its true form to starbound individuals. The starbirth trial is essentially a test to determine worthiness. In the realm''s eyes, connecting with a constellation signifies that worthiness." My father''s explanation started to make sense. I recalled hearing Grandpa Zaire and my uncle talking about the tasks they had completed in the astral realm. "How about I show you something even cooler that I''ve been working on here?" Adam said, gesturing for us to follow him as he started walking down the hill. I glanced at my father, who nodded for me to proceed. Every step in the astral realm felt like walking on clouds, and it seemed as though pressing harder might cause me to sink through. My awkward attempts to adjust elicited a chuckle from my father as he watched me struggle. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. By the time we reached the base of the hill, the landscape had shifted from starry plains to a more mountainous region, which was easier to navigate. Light refracting off the translucent crystal structures was almost blinding, forcing me to strain my eyes. Adam walked toward what appeared to be a cave entrance and gestured for us to follow. Inside the cave, there was a litany of excavating tools, each equipped with specialized fixtures. "This is where we mine celestium," Adam explained, picking up a piece of shimmering metallic ore. It gleamed with veins of glowing starlight etched deep into its structure. "This little section of ore right here helped bring my town out of poverty." "So this is celestium," I said, inspecting the ore. "But why is it so important that you''d risk the town and everyone in it to mine it?" "Cyrus, I don''t know if your father has told you this, but celestium is one of the most critical resources a starbound needs on their journey of ascension," Adam replied. "This ore is essential for creating soul weapons and armor in an astral forge." "What do you mean? What''s an astral forge?" I asked, turning to my father. "I haven''t gone over that yet," my father admitted. "I was waiting until you became more proficient with your current abilities." Then he elaborated, "The astral forge, Cyrus, is a feature of your nexus that unlocks after your next trial. It allows you to combine celestium with cores from astral behemoths to forge your soul weapon. These weapons are unique to each starbound, tailored to their fate constellation and abilities unlocked along their stellar pathway." "So that''s why you never gave me a weapon, no matter how much I asked?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yes and no," my father said with a smirk. "Yes, because I wanted you to create a weapon that suits your fighting style. Even within our Solaris clan, preferences differ. I excel at close-range combat, while Grandpa Zaire and your uncle are experts in long-range weaponry. And no, because I couldn''t find an ordinary weapon strong enough to withstand the force of your cosmic energy-enhanced strength." "Got it now," I said, grinning. "But you''re still cleaning my clothes and getting the beetle juice stains out. That was disgusting." "And here I thought living in the woods might have knocked some of the bougieness out of you," my father teased, shaking his head. "I can''t help it," I shot back. "I was raised in luxury. I have a taste for the finer things in life." Adam chuckled at our exchange before interjecting. "Since every starbound needs celestium, it sells for a fortune in the markets. But the issue is, celestium only exists in certain regions of the astral realm, most of which are controlled by the twelve great clans of Valonara. I just happened to discover this little cave, and it''s been a blessing." "You''ve always had the best luck out of all of us, Adam," my father said. "I truly wish I had your gift." Adam smiled but added with a sigh, "The downside is that we can''t go all out with the mining operation. Too few people here can cross the astral gate because of the rift. And if word gets out about this cave, it''ll be taken over by one of the clans with greater resources." Then he turned to my father. "How about we strike a deal? You and Cyrus can stay here for a while, get your bearings, and help us close the rift. In return, I''ll throw in some celestium for your troubles. What do you think?" I looked at my father, hoping he could read my thoughts. I wanted to keep moving west, but something told me he had other plans. "I think we can spare some time to help an old friend," my father said. "Besides, Cyrus could use some much-needed rest¡ªand an actual bed to sleep on for the first time in years." Chapter 16 Theron POV It''s been about a week since I was notified that Ezra and his son had been spotted in the Valador region. Ever since, it''s been hard for me to think straight. I think my master has noticed as well during our private meetings, and today, I''ll have to face him again with no new information regarding Ezra''s whereabouts. Dreading the moment, I noticed my communicator blinking with a bright light. A message displayed across the screen: Generals Assemble. It was time to enter the astral realm and see what our master had planned. I stood, locked the door to my quarters, and informed my lieutenant that I was heading into a meeting with the other generals and shouldn''t be disturbed. After sending the message, I sat in the meditation area of my quarters and began searching for the nearby rift. Finding it wasn''t difficult¡ªevery general''s base is strategically placed near one. I expanded my consciousness, sending my astral body into the rift. When I appeared on the other side, I was greeted by the usual sight: a swarm of astral behemoths roaming their natural habitat. They didn''t bother me; astral behemoths respond to power and respect, and I didn''t feel the need to suppress my cosmic energy. I let my intent do the talking. Besides, I had other things on my mind. I needed to hurry to the meeting spot, which wasn''t far from where I''d entered the rift. Letting the flow of cosmic energy saturate my astral body, I darted toward the location. Soon, I arrived at a crystalline dome structure on the outskirts of the astral realm. I approached the massive obsidian door, but before I could open it, someone else did. It was Kael Arvath, a fellow general of the Lux Tenebris. Someone I was not fond of. "It''s been a while, Theron. How are things in Arthenos?" the hulking man asked, holding the door open for me. "Things are moving as scheduled, Kael. Let''s go before we''re late." Kael nodded, falling in step behind me. No matter how many times I encountered him, I never got used to his appearance. Standing nearly eight feet tall, his dark gray skin was streaked with molten red veins across his arms and neck. His bald head and sharp crimson eyes added to his imposing presence, as did the heavy, jagged black armor he wore, which pulsed faintly with heat, resembling cooled volcanic rock. Kael had earned every bit of his moniker: the Obsidian Titan. It didn''t take long for us to reach the end of the corridor where the meeting would take place. We were the last to arrive; the other generals were already seated around the large, round table¡ªtwelve in total. I was the newest general, but I wasn''t the weakest¡ªnot by a long shot. Some of the others hated me, accusing our master of favoritism. I think they''re just jealous of my progress. The twelve generals are tasked with destroying the 12 great clans. Unlike them, I''ve made substantial strides toward completing the task assigned to me: the destruction of the Solaris Clan. I only have three targets that remain. As I took my seat, I could feel the tension in the room. This meeting had been called a month earlier than expected, and we were all curious and anxious to know why. The room suddenly grew heavy with pressure. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. "He''s here," I whispered as our master materialized at the head of the table, cloaked in a black tunic that obscured his face. "Thank you all for gathering on such short notice," he began, his voice resonating. "It has come to my attention that Ezra has finally come out of hiding." I felt his gaze on me, and the other generals turned to look as well, a few of them snickering. "That is correct, Master," I said, meeting his gaze. "I was informed he was seen in Valador. He escaped one of our squads but is being tracked as we speak. He can''t have gone far; he''s traveling with his injured son." "Oh, so they''re in my jurisdiction? Why don''t I handle this for you, Theron? After all, you were too scared to deal with him years ago and waited for him to leave before making your move," Kael said, chuckling. A few others joined in his laughter, but I remained calm. "My goal was to isolate the clan from its leaders and eliminate the clan quickly while Ezra and Zaire were gone. Separating Ezra and Zaire was a strategic necessity¡ªchallenging them together alongside their clan would have been suicide. The second part of my plan was to separate Ezra from his father, so I can eliminate them one at a time. But I keep forgetting that what you lack in brains, you make up for in brawn, don''t you, big guy?" I smirked. "Silence, both of you," our master commanded, his voice sharp. "Why now? Why would Ezra, known for his calculated moves, suddenly make a mistake after years on the run?" "His son recently completed the starbirth trial and became a starbound," Kael offered. "What do you know of this, Theron?" our master asked, turning to me. Kael''s frustration was evident, but I answered, "The information aligns with my reports, Master. Furthermore, the child is highly adept for his age. At thirteen, he defeated a squad of embryonic-stage starbound." Our master''s expression shifted subtly, revealing surprise¡ªa rare occurrence. "He managed this without using abilities tied to the Solaris constellation. His sheer pressure subdued them," I added, noting my master''s deepening interest. "What is your plan moving forward?" he asked. "I intend to have another general accompany me¡ªeither Darius or Lioren¡ªwhose constellations counter the Solaris abilities." "Why involve generals from other continents when Ezra is in my region?" Kael interjected, angered. "Because they''re better suited to the task, and frankly, I doubt you''d last long against him," I replied, my tone unwavering. ¡°Why because he is an Astral Knight, I have killed numerous Astral Knights, what is one more.¡± Kael retorted. ¡°He is not like your normal astral knight Kael. I have seen him wipe entire armies with just a wave of a hand, he wasn''t even blood lusted during that moment either. I have the most experience against him and what he can do. Do you want to die a quick and fast death, or do you want to see the fruits of our labor once our plan is complete.¡± Kael fumed but said nothing further. "It''s settled," our master declared. "Theron, I trust you''ll see this task through. The rest of you must show progress in the coming months. Eclipse Vanguard, you''re dismissed¡ªexcept for you, Theron. Stay behind." The other generals filed out, Kael brushing past me with a surge of cosmic energy, his anger palpable. Once we were alone, our master turned to me. "How is your core, Theron?" "It''s stabilizing, Master. The integration is taking some getting adjusted to, but I''m managing it." "Good. Controlling two fate constellations is no small feat. I was wary when you said you wanted to go through the process, few survive the process. Are you certain you can defeat Ezra?" "Master, the integration is at ninety percent. I''ll be ready. My only concern is Kael; I doubt he''ll stay out of it." "Let him interfere. I believe I may have found a replacement anyway." Chapter 17 Cyrus POV It has been several days since Adam took my father and me to see the celestium caves in the astral realm. The townspeople have welcomed us as if we were their own. We were given a roof over our heads and comfortable beds to sleep in. It took a while for my body to fully relax and rest instead of being on guard all the time, wondering what threat I would have to face next. I used this time to meditate and work on fortifying my new core. Every time I visualized myself absorbing cosmic energy, the process became easier, as I had noticed during our encounter with the beetles. The fortification process, on the other hand, was much harder, to be frank. With my old core, I could feel the different layers of cosmic energy wrapping around each other, creating an ever-expanding protective container to hold my constellation''s power. Now my core feels like it doesn''t even have structure, making it harder to find its edges to strengthen and expand it. "So much for this innate ability. I wonder if Dox has any insight as to why it feels so different," I muttered to myself. My father had mentioned that I needed to carefully plan my trips into the nexus, and I felt he wanted to stay in this town a little longer to give me time to do just that. Ensuring the door was locked to avoid interruptions, I closed my eyes and visualized the same steps my father had taught me on the boat. Once in my astral body, I recognized the swirling portal that resembled a galaxy and dove straight in. When I appeared in the nexus, the sight of shifting starfields and islands of stardust brought a level of calmness I hadn''t felt in a long time. I let my astral body float freely in the expanse, enjoying the respite from external forces. Some time passed before I found myself floating next to Dox, who appeared to brim with life. "So, are you ever going to get to work, Cyrus?" Dox asked, shaking me out of my daze. "Yeah, of course. I just got a little sidetracked. But I do have a question." "Go on," Dox said, humming with cosmic energy. "I''ve been having trouble fortifying this core. The same steps I used to create and strengthen my old core don''t seem to apply here. Do you know why?" "That is to be expected. Your core acts and functions on a different level compared to the normal celestial core of a starbound. I take it you''ve figured out what the Pardoxen constellation represents at its simplest form?" "Yeah, it''s a dead star, correct?" This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. "Yes. Right now, you possess a black hole celestial core. To fortify and strengthen it, you must absorb other cosmic or celestial bodies to increase its mass. Creating a stronger outer shell won''t work because the gravitational force it generates would destroy it." "So I essentially have to build it from the inside?" I asked, seeking clarification. "Correct, Cyrus. Otherwise, your core will shrink due to the cosmic energy it leaks. If you ever deplete your energy reserves entirely, your core will start feeding on itself until there''s nothing left. So, you need to increase the mass of the black hole so that your capacity of cosmic energy will be larger, thus slowing down the effect of the leak" "So, it''s basically the opposite of the Solaris constellation," I concluded. "Correct," Dox confirmed. "That explains why I feel like I have poor control over my cosmic energy. It''s not the control¡ªit''s that my reservoir isn''t large enough," I said, coming to a realization. With this understanding, I decided to head to my stellar pathway. The crystalline pathway appeared unchanged from the last time. I placed my hand on the bottom node, activating it to reveal the rune once again. The faint glowing rune emitted a cold, desolate feeling, almost begging me to improve my proficiency. I planned to do exactly that. Imbuing cosmic energy into the small, faintly glowing node attached to the rune, I prepared to attempt the resonance trial again. Before I knew it, I was transported back to the Pool of Reflection. Shortly after, Dox appeared beside me. The stardust in the pool began to rise, glowing brighter as it ascended¡ªjust like before. "Your trial will begin shortly," Dox announced as the stardust transformed into humanoid shapes. The figures arranged themselves in a line, as they had before. The first stood five meters away, the second around fifteen meters, and the third at thirty meters. Previously, the farthest I could project was one meter in a single attempt, using half of my cosmic energy. I was curious to see how much further I could go using my full reserves. Besides, I had nothing to lose since we were in a safe environment for now. Standing in the Pool of Reflection, I emptied almost all my reserves into my astral tattoo, keeping a small amount to return to my physical body. Activating the tattoo, I visualized my sphere of influence expanding toward the first humanoid stardust figure. Expanding my field of control further required immense focus, as it demanded a substantial output and control of cosmic energy. The strain on my mind and astral body was exhausting. Despite using nearly all my energy, I couldn''t even reach the first target. My field expanded to about three and a half meters with my current energy. To pass this resonance trial, I needed a much larger capacity. Fortunately, I had an idea. "It''s probably time to handle that rift Adam mentioned," I thought. "I need fresh cores to absorb since the beetle cores are surely depleted by now." I allowed my astral body to rest while formulating a plan to close the rift and defeat the astral behemoths inside. First, I had to locate the rift and gather information about the type and number of creatures within it. With this in mind, I knew I needed to find my father and Adam to get a better understanding of the area. Once I recovered from the strain of the resonance trial, I bid farewell to Dox and floated toward the portal to leave my nexus. Chapter 18 (Cyrus Pov) During our time here in Adam''s town, my father has been unusually quiet and reserved. He often oversees the mining operations, and I suspect it''s because he remains skeptical of the cosmic batteries. I could tell during the initial conversation with Adam that my father didn''t fully believe him when he claimed there had been no issues with the batteries. I know my father¡ªhe doesn''t take things at face value, especially when they hold significant meaning to him. It didn''t take long to reach the western side of the town, where the astral gate was stationed. I saw several workers sitting outside, taking a break and refilling their celestial cores to re-enter the astral realm. Some noticed me and waved, while others were too engrossed in their lunch. I asked one of the miners if my father and Adam were currently in the astral realm. After being pointed in the right direction, I headed in. I needed to make my trip quick since I couldn''t remain in the astral realm for long using this method. When I finally crossed over, I sprinted to the cave and saw my father standing as still as a statue, his gaze intensely focused. Adam, on the other hand, was his usual easygoing self. "Hey, Cyrus! How are you doing, bud?" Adam greeted me, tapping my father on the shoulder to let him know I''d arrived. "I''m doing well, Uncle Adam. Actually, I came to talk to you," I replied. "Oh? About what?" Adam asked. "A couple of days ago, you mentioned wanting us to deal with the rift near town. I was hoping you could give me more information¡ªits location, grade, and the types of astral behemoths inside," I said. "Oh, right. I was just waiting for you and your father to heal and recover. The rift is a Grade Two rift located in the southern region of the woods near town. As for the astral behemoths, we''ve mostly seen spear beetles and aurora moths coming out of it," Adam explained. "Well, that''s just perfect," I said with a sigh. "What''s wrong?" Adam asked. "I was planning to take it out myself... I need the experience," I admitted, causing my father to break his focus and turn toward me. "Cyrus, you''re not ready to handle rifts alone, let alone a Grade Two rift," my father said firmly. "You''re still in the embryonic stage of your core and don''t have enough power to defeat it. Besides, you''re not well-suited for combating astral behemoths in the air." I knew my father had a point, but I didn''t care. I needed more cores to progress with my resonance to the Paradoxen constellation. "I wasn''t planning to do it all at once," I countered. "I thought we could break it into steps. And I assumed you could accompany me since we have the astral gate." "I can''t," my father said. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "Why not?" I questioned. "First, rifts operate as their own space-time dimensions until they are closed. I can''t simply enter the same spot as you using the astral gate. Second, we can''t both enter the rift because someone needs to watch over our physical bodies while we''re fighting astral behemoths inside." "Adam could watch our bodies," I suggested, cutting him off. "Adam is busy overseeing the miners," my father replied sharply. "Cyrus, you haven''t even mastered your first rune yet. You''re rushing into things, and your impatience will get the better of you. These aren''t challenges to be taken lightly." "What do you think I''m trying to do?" I shot back. "How else am I supposed to master my rune if I don''t practice? I have nothing else to test myself against. Yes, I''m impatient, but I have every reason to be. We''re being hunted. I can''t sit back and let you handle everything. I''ve already faced threats stronger than me with no backup, and that''s not going to stop anytime soon. Whether you like it or not, I''m taking this into my own hands," I said, storming out of the astral realm. Before leaving, I released three quick bursts of cosmic energy, hoping my father would understand the hint. I couldn''t tell him my full intentions in front of Adam¡ªmy father was keeping my unique fate constellation a secret for a reason, and I wasn''t about to jeopardize that. I trusted he had his reasons. After exiting the astral gate, I returned to our living quarters to wait for my father and focused on refilling my cosmic energy reserves. _____________________ (Ezra''s POV) "Is he alright?" Adam asked, his voice tinged with concern. "He''ll be fine. He just has that fire in him¡ªhe''s a lot like his mother in that way. Once he sets his mind to something, there''s no stopping him." "I can already tell he''s going to be special," Adam said. "The fact that he wants to tackle a Grade Two rift after only a week as a Starbound is insane. But he has a point, Ezra. His growth needs to be accelerated. You''re a wanted man, and that puts both of you in constant danger. Powerful enemies are after you, and they won''t stop until they get what they want." "I''m very aware, Adam. I didn''t ask for this," I replied, sensing the cosmic energy signal Cyrus had emitted. "If you''ll excuse me, I need to have a talk with him." "Of course. I''ll see you later," Adam said. I immediately headed back to our living quarters and found Cyrus sitting on the floor, meditating. When I entered, he smirked slightly, asking if his act had been convincing. "Yes¡ªa little too convincing, honestly," I said. "Some of that was true, wasn''t it?" "Maybe," Cyrus admitted. "But I needed to get you to come back. I figured you didn''t want Adam to hear what I had to say. But, Dad, why don''t you trust Adam with this information? Aren''t you close friends?" "We were, back then. But time changes people. I''m not sure how that time has changed Adam. Also, I''m wary of how Adam came into possession of those batteries. I never told him I was working on them, yet whoever distributed them knows about my work. Only a handful of people knew, and I destroyed every prototype I created." "So you''re just playing nice with Adam to see if he slips up?" Cyrus asked. "Correct. Now, what is it you wanted to tell me? Does it involve your constellation?" "Yes," Cyrus said before launching into a detailed explanation of his findings in the nexus. I couldn''t help but feel a pang of sorrow. The same power that made my son extraordinary could also be his undoing. It seemed like no matter what gifts our clan was given, they always came with a double-edged sword. I mulled over everything he said, taking my time to respond. "Alright, you''ll get your wish. I hope you''ve been watching me when I hunt," I said, breaking the silence. "Of course," Cyrus replied. "But... is there any chance you could make me a weapon or tool using the celestium around here? You and I both know my powers aren''t exactly suited for attacking." "I bet you''d like that," I said with a chuckle. "But no. This is part of your next step in training. You''ll need to figure out your own fighting style." Cyrus frowned but didn''t argue further. I couldn''t help but laugh at his disgruntled expression. Chapter 19 (Ezra POV) The following day, the first thing Cyrus and I did was head straight for the southern region where the rift was located. We walked in silence. I could tell he wanted to take this training seriously. As we got closer to the area, we both sensed a shift in the atmosphere around us. The concentration of cosmic energy in the air was noticeably higher. "We''re here, aren''t we?" Cyrus said, surveying his hunting grounds. "You can feel it too?" "Ever since I got this new core, I''ve been more sensitive to cosmic energy and its fluctuations. But it doesn''t seem like there are any astral behemoths in the area at all. Don''t tell me they''re all gone." "Trust me, they''re not. When you sense the flow of cosmic energy, focus on the irregularities in the atmosphere. Astral behemoths can''t control cosmic energy as precisely as Starbound can. Their flow is erratic, and the stronger the astral behemoth, the more chaotic the energy feels. As you progress, you''ll rely less on your normal senses and more on this awareness." "Oh, so that''s what I was feeling. I thought it was just because the rift was nearby¡­ but we''re actually surrounded, huh?" Cyrus replied. "Exactly. They''re just waiting for the perfect time to strike. I highly recommend you avoid going deeper into the brush. Aurora moths are territorial and seem to be guarding the rift entrance. Be careful," I said as I leapt into a tree behind him. "Also, if you haven''t noticed yet, they have a cloaking ability that refracts light, allowing them to blend with their surroundings." Cyrus turned toward me with an irritated expression. "So you''re really not going to help at all?" "When did I ever say I would? I''m just here to make sure you don''t do anything reckless and get yourself killed." "Reckless. Yeah, okay. Whatever," he said, dismissing my comment as he walked further into the brush. "These Aurora moths don''t seem that strong anyway." With my infrared vision active, I could see the swarm of moths, each about a meter long with two-meter wingspans, flying closer to him. There were ten in total. I noticed Cyrus start to emit his cosmic energy, turning himself into a beacon for any being sensitive to it. This provoked the moths causing them to become irate, stripping them of their stealth advantage. The forest came alive with the loud buzzing and the flapping of their wings. Cyrus rotated slightly so I could see his sly smile. He pointed to his ear, signaling that he already had a plan. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Cocky much? Let''s see how you pull this off," I muttered to myself. I sat back and watched as the moths barreled toward him from all directions. Cyrus appeared unfazed. He closed his eyes and waited until the last possible second to act. Just as they were about to strike, a magenta glow emanated from his chest. Every single one of the moths crashed to the ground around him, disoriented by the sudden shift in gravity. Their cloaking abilities vanished, revealing their forms to the naked eye. My son didn''t hesitate. Within seconds, he plunged his fists through each exoskeleton, splattering bodily fluids in every direction. The expression of his face was cold and ruthless. Something I started to see more often in his demeanor over the years. Something I wish I could change. When the slaughter was over, he dropped to his knees and began opening the carcasses of the astral behemoths, searching for their cores. I jumped down from the tree and approached him. "What did you think of that, Dad? Efficient, right?" Cyrus asked as he pulled out the fifth core. "It was reckless. You''re lucky these moths were only first-stage, but good job." "I took your advice about using my other senses." "Yeah, I noticed, you little show-off," I said, watching him dig out the seventh core. "But let''s come up with a strategy that doesn''t use you as bait¡ª" Before I could finish, an arrow flew through the air, striking the last moth Cyrus was working on. "I suggest you drop those cores and leave them right there, little boy," a towering man said as he stepped out of the brush with a man and a woman. "We were paid to handle any astral behemoths from this rift and were promised exclusive access to the cores and relics." I saw anger flare in Cyrus''s eyes as he clenched his fists, preparing to attack. "Cyrus, don''t!" I yelled. Sensing their cores, I added, "One of them is at the second stage. Do not engage!" I sprinted to his side. "I know," Cyrus gritted out. "These are the same people who helped the town when the beetles attacked. But they''re scum¡ªthey abandoned everyone when things got hard." "Oh, now that I think about it, you do look familiar, kid. Surprised you survived. You must''ve taken our advice and ran, huh?" "No. We finished the job, in case you were wondering," I said, stepping beside Cyrus. "And who are you?" the hulking man asked. "I''m his father. If you shoot another arrow at my son, cores will be the least of your concerns. You seem capable¡ªwhy not find other astral behemoths instead of poaching cores from a child?" "Big talk from a man with a core lower than mine," the man retorted. Cyrus glanced at me, concerned. I was concealing my cosmic energy at the embryonic stage level to avoid interfering with his hunt. I gave him a reassuring nod and continued. "This is your last warning. Leave now, and I''ll forgive you for endangering my son." "You''re outnumbered and outclassed. This is my turf," the man said. "Boss, I think that might be the guy who fought the beetles in the air, " his companion murmured. "If that''s the case, I''ll end this quickly, so we can hurry and claim our prize" the large man said, his arm glowing with a dark red light. Runes etched on his tattoo began to manifest, and a familiar sight appeared. A portal formed near his hand. From it, he drew a massive black shield lined with jagged blades and slammed it into the ground, shaking the entire forest. Chapter 20 Cyrus POV "Dad, what is that?" "That is this man''s soul weapon. Be careful and just stay behind me," my father said. The man before us looked poised to engage in battle. I saw the tattoo on my father''s hand start to glow. The colors of a burning sun began to saturate the landscape. My father''s cosmic energy rose, and I felt a dominating intent exude from him. The tank chuckled and raised his serrated shield. "Well, I guess it''s your funeral, then. Don''t worry, I''ll make your son''s death quick and painless after I''m finished with you." He hurled his soul weapon at us with immense speed. I was so focused on the shield coming for us that I didn''t realize the man had vanished the moment he threw it. My dad wasn''t bothered by the weapon at all. He effortlessly grabbed the soul weapon out of the air and sidestepped the man''s sneak attack from the right. "Give up. You''re outmatched," my father said, tossing the shield back at him. The tank''s face twisted in displeasure as he watched his weapon fall to the ground. His eyes made it clear he wasn''t going to give up. Bloodlust now fueled his actions. Without a word, his arm began glowing that same dark red color, and his tan skin took on an iron-like sheen. With his new reinforced skin, he took on the offensive. With an explosive step he came barreling forward towards my father in a maddening rage. My father raised an eyebrow. "So, you''re a wielder of the Iron Warden Fate constellation, huh? Let''s see how good that defense is," he said, dashing forward with an open palm. The man couldn''t match my father''s speed, so he braced himself, prepared to take the brunt of the attack. My father''s palm slammed into the man''s forearms, sending him sliding backward. But my father didn''t stop there. He immediately transitioned into a spin kick, breaking the Iron Warden wielder''s guard. "I''m going to melt that armor of yours," my dad said. I felt the temperature rise, and my father''s eyes began glowing golden orange. An orb started forming in his outstretched hand¡ªa fusion of cosmic and solar energy, like the birth of a new sun. With fluid precision, my father swept the man''s feet out from under him, leaving him suspended in the air for a brief moment. The wielder''s eyes widened in panic, knowing he was defenseless. As my father thrust the miniature sun toward him, the man turned his gaze to me, stretching his hand out in my direction. He mouthed something, but I couldn''t make it out. Then my father''s attack connected with devastating force. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the black, bladed shield twitch. It levitated off the ground. "Dad, watch out! He''s trying to hit you with a sneak attack!" I yelled. My father turned, his eyes widening. "Cyrus, move now!" he shouted. The shield wasn''t aimed at my father¡ªit was coming straight for me. A soul weapon connected to a starbound a full stage higher than me was a dangerous thing, I didn''t need a lecture to understand that. I knew my cosmic augmentation wouldn''t absorb the blow. I had two options: dodge and hope it stopped following me or activate my ability and risk depleting all my cosmic energy. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. I funneled my cosmic energy into my legs and dashed backward as far as I could, but the shield redirected itself and hurtled toward me again. I watched the blades on the shield change shape helping it navigate the environment. We played a deadly game of cat and mouse, and each evasion drained my cosmic energy further. "Does his soul weapon have a mind of its own or is this a part of the man''s fate constellation ability." I thought to myself. When we were protecting the city, I didn''t see the man use any such abilities. He didn''t even use his iron skin which was also weird. Lost in thought I felt something trickle down the side of my arm, I had been cut. The deep red color of my blood falling from my shoulder started to bring this situation into reality. This soul weapon was going to kill me if I don''t figure something out fast. I tried using the trees as much as I could to slow down the momentum of the iron warden user''s shield, but the weapon was just too strong, and it just destroyed them like a bull in a tea shop. At this point I only had one option left. It was something I didn''t want to use at the moment. I had to use my ability. It was either I die right here with nowhere else to hide from the soul weapon, or I will have to deal with my core eating itself until I can refill my reserves. I steeled my resolve and started to pour the little remaining cosmic energy I had left to into the first rune of my astral tattoo. I just prayed I had enough to activate the ability to hopefully stop the weapon in its tracks. "Fuck," I shouted when I realized my ability wouldn''t activate. "So, this is how it ends huh?" I said trying to hurriedly revert the remaining cosmic energy into my legs. Luckily, just as I prepared to dodge again, my father appeared and caught the shield. "You okay?" he asked, his eyes still glowing and heat radiating from him. "Yeah, better now that a flying guillotine isn''t chasing me anymore." "Good," he said, melting the shield in his hands until it turned into a dark black liquid and dripped to the ground. He approached the scorched starbound and his team. Giving them a stern look, he told them to take their defeated teammate for medical attention. Then, in no uncertain terms, he warned them: "If you ever pull another stunt like that again, cores will be the least of your concerns." The remaining man and woman wasted no time. They gathered their leader and vanished from sight. My father turned to me with a smile. "Now that we''ve dealt with that, how about you go ahead and absorb the cores that everyone seems to want?" The fact that he could smile after all that baffled me. What felt like life or death to me was mere child''s play to him. I gathered the ten aurora moth cores I had killed earlier. When I had them all, I realized something. "Dad, Dox never explained how to absorb the cores, and I don''t think you''ve ever taught me either." My father chuckled. "Honestly, for how talented you are, I just assumed you knew. Place your hand over the cores." I did as instructed. "Now visualize your core reaching out to them, like when you pull cosmic energy from the atmosphere. It''s harder because these are concentrated sources, but the process is the same." The cores began disappearing one by one. I looked to my dad for confirmation, and he nodded. "By doing this, you''re forcing the cores to submit to your own, breaking their will and absorbing their energy." As each core merged with mine, I felt my core attack the foreign entities and essential rip them apart destroying the container that held the cosmic energy. I felt my core grow significantly. It doubled in size. "It worked!" I said, grinning. "Good. Now let''s head back to town. I''m starving," my father said, patting my shoulder. "Same time tomorrow?" I asked, laughing. He turned slightly. "Yeah. Let''s hope we don''t get any extracurriculars again. I''ll be having a talk with Adam about that." We walked in silence for a while before I finally asked, "Hey, Dad, why didn''t you use your soul weapon during that fight? You do have one, right?" "I didn''t want to destroy this forest by pulling it out of my astral forge. It would''ve been overkill." Chapter 21 (Cyrus POV) After my father and I got back to our quarters and ate, he immediately left, heading back to the astral gate to talk to Adam. Left alone, I decided to do what I''ve always done with my downtime: train. Rested, with my mind and body brought back to equilibrium, I focused on refilling my celestial core. Now that it had almost doubled in size, the process of filling it took longer than before. With a larger pool of cosmic energy to draw from, the effect of the cosmic energy leak started to feel a little less debilitating. I could hear my father''s voice in the back of my mind: "You can''t be reckless with your power." It''s hard to follow those directions sometimes. He mistakes my recklessness for drive and determination to get stronger. He knows why I push myself so hard; he knows what my goal is¡ªand honestly, it should be his goal too. I don''t know why he doesn''t see things the way I do... I took a deep breath and pushed those thoughts away. I don''t need resentment for my father clouding my mind right now. We''re just trying to survive and escape this hellhole of a continent. Once my core was filled to its new peak level, I decided to head into my nexus. Slowing my breath and centering my mind, I astral-projected back into my private oasis. Upon arriving in my nexus, I didn''t waste time floating around like last time¡ªI wasn''t trying to have Dox lecture me again. For just being a glowing orb in my personal dimension, he has quite the personality. As the manifestation of the Pardoxen constellation, he''s not one to mince words. "I wonder if there''s a similar manifestation of Solaris in Dad''s and Grandpa''s nexuses," I thought as I drifted toward Dox and the stellar pathway. Dox activated, brimming with life once more."I take it you''re ready to challenge the resonance trial again?" he asked. "What gave it away?" I replied sarcastically. "Your core has grown in size, and you want to test it out." "So you''ve been spying on me, huh, Dox?" "I sense everything that involves you. We are forever connected by that tattoo of yours." "Alright, since you put it that way, I guess it''s not spying. But yes, I''ve come to take the trial again," I said, activating the runes on my stellar pathway. I was transported to the Pool of Reflections, where the humanoid shapes made of stardust awaited me once more. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "You may begin," Dox informed me. Immediately, I poured all but a small bit of my cosmic energy into my astral tattoo. The explosive rush of energy was like being hit by a roaring tidal wave. It was much harder to control compared to the last time I dumped my cosmic energy into the first rune. Using my breathwork to guide myself, I visualized the expansion of my gravitational field. With each exhale, I felt my field push farther and farther. Managing so many elements at once felt like an eternity, though in reality, only a few seconds had passed. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw that the humanoid stardust structure had changed colors, glowing with a radiant magenta light. "Congratulations. You''ve reached the first target. Your current max output is seven and a half meters," Dox stated. Excitement surged through me, but I knew I still had a lot of work ahead. I had to continue growing my core to pass this test and unlock the other abilities tied to the first rune. "Dox, how much does my core need to grow to pass this test?" I asked, plopping my astral body into the Pool of Reflections to catch my breath. "You would need to reach the upper limit that your embryonic stage core can obtain. For someone like you, with a black hole celestial core, that means growing it to the peak mass of a primordial black hole," Dox replied. "How big is that, exactly?" "The equivalent of a mountain." "What?!" "Yes. The mass you must absorb would be equivalent to a mountain. The difference in mass between a stage one core and a stage two core is twentyfold." "So, it looks like I''ve got a lot of hunting to do," I said, thinking aloud. "This is going to be a pain¡ªI''m not strong enough to take out a stage two astral behemoth on my own." "It appears so," Dox said, its orb flickering. That''s when I noticed Dox had grown¡ªroughly twice the size it was last time. "He must reflect the evolution of my core," I thought, analyzing him further. After sitting in the Pool of Reflections for a while, an idea struck me."Hey, Dox, have you sensed the cosmic batteries in this town?" "Yes. They are strong concentrations of cosmic energy." "Would you consider them cosmic bodies that I could absorb?" "Yes, but they are raw and unrefined compared to a core from a human or an astral behemoth. There is only a small chance it would work." "But it could work?" "Correct." "Alright, that''s all I needed to hear. I''ll see you later, Dox." Leaving my nexus, I was eager to see if Adam would let me use the batteries. Returning to my physical body, I realized there might be a slight wrench in my plan¡ªmy father. He was already opposed to Adam using the batteries for mining. "Let''s just hope he has a change of heart," I thought. Chapter 22 Ezra POV I tried to hide my rage as much as possible while eating with Cyrus, but all I could think about was the altercation in the woods. If I hadn''t been there with him, I don''t think I would have ever seen my son alive again. It drove home the reality of the danger we''re facing. This downtime was nice, but we couldn''t afford to let our guard down anymore¡ªespecially with that organization aware we''re in this region. I had a feeling word would get out after that little scuffle. I needed to find out where Adam hired those men from and where he purchased the batteries. By midday, I arrived at the astral gate. There was no one guarding the entrance, but it didn''t matter¡ªI had full access anyway. Once inside the astral realm, I didn''t pay attention to anything else and made a beeline straight for the caves. When I arrived, something felt off. The energy among the workers wasn''t as lively as usual. A few men kept their heads down and avoided making eye contact. At first, I thought maybe it was my unsettled emotions unintentionally emitting aggressive intent through fluctuations of my cosmic energy. I quickly centered myself and realized that wasn''t the issue. When I asked several workers if they''d seen Adam today, they all gave me the same answer: no. None of the miners had seen him all day, which was strange. From what I know, Adam is usually a very hands-on boss. I decided to go deeper into the celestium caves in search of answers. The further I went, the more troubling the signs became¡ªthough not directly related to Adam. Many of the miners showed clear signs of distress¡ªnot from physical exertion, but internal illness. The whites of their eyes had turned yellow, their skin discolored and bruised. Some were coughing up blood, and their cosmic energy signatures were faint and unstable. It looked as though they''d been poisoned. I replayed the past few days in my head, wondering how I hadn''t noticed this earlier. I knew for a fact that the miners hadn''t shown these symptoms until now. Frantically, I began questioning them about their condition. "There''s never been a report of starbound being poisoned from mining celestium," I thought. "This has to be something else." One of the miners explained that this kind of thing happens from time to time while working the mines. Adam had told them it was due to prolonged exposure to the astral realm through the astral gate and overexertion. This was a lie. Why would Adam lie about something so serious? Another miner added, "Whenever this happens, Adam heals us with his constellation powers and tells us to rest before going back to work. We''ve got deadlines to meet, so we don''t mind enduring it if it gets us back into the mines faster. But this time feels a lot worse than the others." The older man''s words confirmed my suspicions: they were suffering from some kind of deteriorating poison. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "Can you all think back and try to remember when this first started?" I pleaded. "If I''m not mistaken, it was shortly after we got the new equipment and batteries to mine the celestium," one of them said. The words struck me like a thunderbolt. A memory I''d long buried surfaced¡ªwild animals near my testing facility showing harsh, abnormal side effects. At the time, I hadn''t connected the dots, but now it was clear. The prototype cosmic batteries I created emitted radiation poison due to raw cosmic energy decay. "I need to find Adam now," I muttered under my breath. "Is everything okay, sir?" one miner asked. "No, it''s not. Everyone needs to leave this mine and get back to the physical world immediately!" I commanded, my cosmic intent unintentionally leaking. The miners didn''t hesitate, even as they struggled to move quickly. Unable to wait, I dashed to the last place I thought Adam might be¡ªhis office. When I arrived, I brushed past his secretary, ignoring her protests. I didn''t care that Adam was in a meeting; this couldn''t wait. I burst into the room, shaking her off as she tried to stop me. "Ezra, what''s the matter?" Adam asked calmly. "This isn''t like you. What could possibly have you this upset?" "You''ve been lying to my face, Adam." "Lying about what? I have nothing to hide," he replied, his tone cool. "But while you''re here, care to explain why the guild I hired to handle the rift called to say one of their men was burned by an unknown assailant?" "That man attacked Cyrus and tried to kill him! What would you have done, Adam? He was a full stage above Cyrus. If I hadn''t intervened, I''d have another dead family member''s blood on my hands. So yes, I scorched him. But I didn''t kill him." Adam grimaced. "I understand your situation, but your actions have jeopardized my operation. Those men were from the Twilight Obsidian Guild¡ªthe strongest guild in Valador. They''ve been on the rise these past few years." "What are you trying to say, Adam?" "They''re our biggest customers, Ezra. We sell most of our celestium to them, and in return, they keep our discovery of the new bedrock secret while offering us discounts on hunters. You''ve put everyone at risk by seeking justice for your son." "Then you should choose better allies," I snapped. "And I fear their influence has rubbed off on you. When I went to the mines today, I saw your workers dying of radiation poisoning from the decay of raw cosmic energy batteries. You knew this was happening and lied to them. Did you think healing their physical injuries with your fate constellation would solve the issue? Or were you just trying to mask the problem? The radiation decay doesn''t just affect the body, it affects one''s celestial core as well. Their celestial cores are being corrupted, and there are only two ways this will end." Adam''s expression shifted from anger to despair. "When I reached out to the guild in Arthenos that sold the batteries, I expressed my concern about the symptoms I saw. They reassured me that there would be nothing to worry about and that it would pass. But the symptoms kept coming back and they got worse each time. I couldn''t stop production; our town needed the money, and the workers understood what was at hand. So, I pushed it to the side, what will happen to them?" "Their cores will either crack, causing their energy to spill into their bodies and kill them, or the corruption will transform them into astral behemoths." "Is there a way to stop it?" "Yes, but no one will like it," I said grimly. Adam slumped in his chair. "Then it has to be done. Their blood is on my hands. I''ll inform them myself." I watched in silence as he left, tears streaming down his face, heading toward the astral gate. Chapter 23 (Cyrus POV) When I reached the entrance of the astral gate, I noticed that many miners were exiting the astral realm. That''s odd; it''s a little early for the miners to be finishing their day already, I thought to myself. The miners appeared to be in bad shape. Their very essence seemed off. They no longer looked like the cheerful people who greeted me with warm smiles. Instead, they wore defeated expressions, as if they had lost everything that mattered to them. I didn''t cause a scene and stayed back, waiting to see if my father and Adam would come out of the gate next so I could ask for one of the cosmic batteries. As I waited, everyone except my father and Adam emerged from the gate. Didn''t he say he''d be at the mines? I questioned myself, wondering if I had misheard him while eating. Tired of waiting, I entered the astral realm through the gate. Since I had increased my cosmic energy capacity, I could remain in the realm using this method for a bit longer. However, I still had to monitor the drain it caused to my core, in addition to the side effects of my black hole core. I sprinted across the soft, cloud-like surface toward the mines. Upon reaching the crystalline mountain structures, I realized I had used about a quarter of my reserves. The mine entrance felt like a desolate, abandoned town. The absence of people in the area was unsettling. All I could sense was a chaotic flow of cosmic energy emanating from the cave where people usually worked. Part of me knew I shouldn''t venture deeper into the cave, but I felt drawn to the flow. Remembering my father''s earlier warning, I suspected this erratic energy came from an astral behemoth. But the miners didn''t look like they''d been in a battle¡ªthere were no injuries that suggested an encounter with an astral behemoth. Yet they still seemed in bad shape, I muttered, my words echoing through the cave. As I ventured deeper, two things became apparent: my father and Adam were nowhere to be found, and my cosmic energy reserves were nearly half depleted. My mind and intuition were at odds. I knew I should turn back to avoid compromising my core, but the pull of the erratic cosmic energy was stronger. After walking another 100 meters through the winding cavern, I reached the source. Mining equipment lay scattered as if the miners had abandoned it without a second thought. Oddly, all the tools still contained their cosmic batteries, which was uncharacteristic of the diligent miners. Why would everyone leave so hastily, abandoning their most important resource? I wondered. I guess this means I get a free chance to absorb one, I said, pulling a cosmic battery from a drill. As soon as I removed the core, a surge of energy erupted from the battery, wild and chaotic, as though it were a trapped animal fighting for freedom. The sensation overloaded my senses. Is this the erratic flow I was sensing? No, it couldn''t be, I said, tossing the battery to the ground. That cube radiates as much energy as twenty embryonic-stage astral behemoths, I muttered, my voice echoing off the cave walls. I now understood why Dox said the success rate would be low. The energy was too immense to control or absorb at once. My core couldn''t properly assimilate it. But could I absorb just a portion? Would that work? I asked myself, knowing it was a greedy thought. I need to get stronger. I can''t keep dragging my dad down with worries about my safety. Determined, I lifted the glowing cosmic battery, bracing myself for the chaotic energy. It made sense why astral behemoths craved these things¡ªit was like them: powerful, volatile, and dominating. As I began the absorption process, I treated it as a battle of wills. Through the metaphysical extension of my core, I asserted my will. The battery resisted fiercely, almost as if it had a consciousness fighting for its right to live. With every ounce of focus and intent, I managed to draw a small percentage of energy from the battery. It became clear that I couldn''t process or refine a larger amount of raw cosmic energy without overwhelming my core. The energy I absorbed was insufficient to expand my celestial core, merely replenishing my reserves above the fifty percent mark. I realized that to increase my core''s volume, it had to be full, forcing its boundaries to expand when another cosmic body was absorbed. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. That explains why my core only doubled in size from the aurora moths¡ªthey didn''t have substantial cosmic energy. Most of it replenished my reserves, with only a small amount left to push my core''s growth, I thought. Doing this here is a waste of time. I''m losing cosmic energy faster than I can absorb it. Maybe I could sneak one of these batteries out. With a plan in mind, I searched for the containers used to transport batteries. These concealed their energy signatures, making them perfect for smuggling. It didn''t take long to find one amidst the scattered equipment. I placed the battery into a tattered bag I found and hurried to make my way out the cave. As I exited the cave, I began hearing noises that hadn''t been there when I first entered. Not wanting to be seen, I climbed a nearby opaque crystalline structure connected above the cave and waited to see who or what had broken the silence. Moments later, I spotted the miners along with my father and Adam descending the hill toward the cave. My father wore a stern yet weary expression¡ªthe look he had when making tough decisions as a leader of our country. Adam, on the other hand, appeared unnervingly calm. As I adjusted my position for a better view, my foot dislodged some debris, sending it tumbling to the ground. My father''s head tilted slightly toward the noise, and he activated his infrared vision. Though I couldn''t see him clearly, I knew he had spotted me with golden-orange light emanating from his eyes pointed in my direction. Realizing I was caught, I began to move from behind the structure. My father gave off a small burst of cosmic energy in a familiar three-burst pattern¡ªa signal only he and I understood. He subtly made a gesture with his hand for me to stay hidden before turning his attention back to the miners. "Everyone gather" Adam began, while my father''s gaze shifted downward signaling whatever was about to come wasn''t positive. "Ezra and I have gathered you to share important news." "What is it, Adam?" one of the miners asked. "Our production of celestium will have to halt until we address your illnesses," Adam replied. " If you haven''t figured it out yet, the batteries are the reason you''re falling ill." "Adam, stop sugarcoating it," my father interjected. "Be honest for once." Adam hesitated before continuing. "Fine. The batteries are killing you. They emit radiation that gradually destroys your cores. The symptoms worsen the longer you''re exposed." "But Adam, you can heal us, right? So, it really doesn''t matter?" another miner asked. "My healing only works on physical injuries, not cores," Adam said, his tone somber. "How long have you known this, Adam?" One of the older miners asked. "I just found out today," Adam replied, but my father grimaced, knowing it was a lie. "Adam, stop. Do the right thing for once," my father urged. "Alright, fine," Adam snapped. "I''ve known all along. If I told you, you''d have refused to work in the mines, and we''d still be in poverty. I''ve changed our lives! Be grateful that your hard work will benefit your families for generations to come!" "Adam heal the injuries of these people and let them live out whatever they have left of their lives." My father pleaded with his hysterical friend. I saw a smirk pop up on Adam''s face before he responded. Sensing something was off I clenched the bag in my hands, praying for a peaceful resolution. I was wrong though; next Adam took something out his pocket. It was a small dark obsidian ball. In one fast swift motion Adam pressed a button that flattened the sphere. Adam threw it behind my father, with my father noticing just a second later. ¡°Don''t even try Ezra,¡± Adam said as the flat ball started to glow and unfold circling my father generating a force field. ¡°You thought I didn''t have precautions for you. I know you are out of my league. You are two full stages ahead of me, I''m not stupid.¡± ¡°What did you do¡± my father shouted. ¡°Oh, this little thing, it''s something I picked up from the twilight obsidian guild. Nothing can escape this force field, and any use of cosmic energy to break it will just be repelled back at you. Have fun sitting in there watching me kill these people. I don''t intend on my secret getting out." Adam said as his back started to glow an emerald, green color. ¡°You remember my fate constellation the tree of life right, well I hid the other aspect of it from you in school." Adam said as roots and vines started to grow in the area capturing every miner. ¡°This power can also kill,¡± he said as blood and loud frantic shrieks started to fill the astral realm. ¡°I''m going to blame this on you Ezra and destroy the astral gate with no one to say otherwise.¡± Instantly my father let out three cosmic bursts of energy, pretending to break out of the trap. Wasting no time, I imbued all the cosmic energy I had into my legs and sprinted out of the astral realm. Chapter 24 Theron POV Walking in the great expanse of the astral realm, I couldn''t help but ponder the new implications of our hunt on the remaining members of the Solaris Clan, along with the task of mastering my new fate constellation. Mastering one fate constellation is hard enough, but mastering two and ensuring they remain balanced is far more difficult than I anticipated. My original fate constellation wasn''t something I chose; it was an honorable birthright in my father''s eyes. But all I saw were puppets doing the bidding of others. The Lux Tenebris is my new clan now, and I''m destined to be its heir. I''m the only one Master has allowed to connect with his fate constellation, the devastating Eclipse Serpent. It''s a constellation unknown to many, one that feels on par with the Solaris constellation in terms of raw power¡ªsomething I believe could turn the tide in a fight against Ezra. Even though he''s a full stage ahead of me, I have the means and the ability to even the score. I just need more practice before embarking on the battle. Since the rift near my base has been cleared, astral behemoths sightings have become few and far between in the physical world in my jurisdiction. Lately, I''ve had to dive deeper into their territory in the astral realm to find worthy opponents to test my new powers. After walking the equivalent of several kilometers, I finally found a den worthy of my practice¡ªa group of fifty moonhowler wolves feasting on several carcasses they appeared to have just caught. Extending my hand outward, I activated the second rune of my new fate constellation. A dark crimson glow began to brim with life as my astral tattoo grew on my left arm and a portal to the Astral Forge appeared. I reached through the portal and grabbed my soul weapon, pulling out a long black bow with crimson markings that matched the design of the Eclipse Serpent constellation. With the bow in my right hand, I activated the first rune of my new constellation and formed five arrows made of a fusion of decaying and cosmic energy. With all five arrows notched in my soul weapon, I pulled the string back as far as I could, with my thumb''s knuckle firmly pressed against my cheek and aimed the bow into the sky. With a deep exhale, I released the tension in the string, firing the arrows causing a loud sonic boom to reverberate through the astral realm''s sky. The arrows fell like hellfire, cracking the surface beneath the moonhowler wolves. Only a few wolves were hit, but that was the plan. My decaying energy would spread from the slaughtered wolves, affecting the environment around them. Moonhowler wolves are intelligent astral behemoths, capable of assessing threats and reacting quickly. They moved with great speed, dodging the spread of my decaying ability. It wasn''t long before they noticed my presence in the distance. A few barked at each other, rallying the entire pack to charge straight at me. "Perfect. Yes, face me¡ªall of you. Let''s see who the true apex predator is," I yelled. I let my soul weapon dissolve back into the portal of my Astral Forge as I gauged the celestial cores of the oncoming astral behemoths. They were all second-rank Voidborn astral behemoths. "Nothing special," I thought, disappointed, until I noticed the leader in the background. A hulking moonhowler towering several meters above the rest, standing about five meters tall on all fours. Its silvery fur glowed under the starlight, enhancing its ferocity. "So, you''re the Alpha," I thought. Peering into its core, I determined it was at the Stellar Fiend stage, equal to me in celestial core rank¡ªbut I am an exception to the rule. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Activating my first rune, I manifested five constructs in the shape of snakes. The cosmic energy snakes, imbued with the same decaying essence as my arrows, shined brightly as they lunged forward toward the oncoming pack. "That should be enough for them," I thought as I circulated cosmic energy into my legs, propelling myself past the wolves and heading straight for the Alpha. The pack was no match for my constructs. My cosmic energy was too domineering for beings of a rank lower than mine. Unphased by the shrieks and squeals of the wolves being decimated by my snakes, I focused solely on the Alpha. The massive moonhowler accepted my challenge, leaping inches from my face with its fangs bared. With barely enough time to dodge, I manifested a dagger infused with decaying essence and plunged it into the beast''s shoulder, using the momentum to evade its bite. I already had one scar on my face; I didn''t need another. The Alpha let out an agonizing wail. "Step one done. Let''s see how you manage the second phase." Looking back, I saw the snakes nearly finishing off the rest of the wolves. I didn''t want their help to finish this fight. I needed to prove I could handle this alone, so I let them phase away after finishing up. My first fate constellation would have made this easy. The Eclipse Serpent, though equally powerful, relies on prolonged battles of attrition. But I''m not patient. Summoning my soul weapon again, I notched several cosmic arrows laced with decaying essence and unleashed a volley straight at the astral behemoth. Its fur glowed brighter as it fired a cannon of energy from its mouth, destroying my arrows in one go. It followed with a roar, unleashing a sonic wave that obliterated everything in its path as it advanced toward me. "Damn, so you can fight at range too," I muttered, notching more arrows while dodging the oncoming sonic waves. I noticed the behemoth wasn''t advancing as quickly as before. Then I saw why¡ªthe left shoulder I stabbed had become discolored, showing signs of decay. A wide smirk spread across my face. The moment of knowing a battle is won has always been one I relished. It confirms my power, my ability, and my will¡ªthe very things that keep me sane on this path. Now that my prey''s mobility was compromised, I savored the moment a bit longer before unleashing my final volley. In rapid succession, I fired ten arrows straight at the beast, dashing to fire the same amount from all angles. Trapped, the moonhowler leaped upward¡ªbut I was already there. Fifty meters above the behemoth, I prepared my final strike as I descended. I infused half my cosmic energy into a single five-meter-long arrow laced with decaying essence. With its release, the battle was over. The Stellar Fiend astral behemoth was bisected, leaving behind a crater the size of a man-made lake. Softly landing, I surveyed the carnage. I wasn''t satisfied with my performance. I needed to end battles like this much faster if I wanted to kill Ezra. Ignoring the astral behemoth cores, which I no longer needed, I returned to the rift and my physical body. When I emerged, my communicator buzzed with several messages. One caught my attention¡ªa report from a subordinate who had hacked the transmission terminal Ezra and his son were using. They were planning to escape to the western side of the continent to meet with Zaire Solaris. A grin spread across my face. "They''ll never see what''s coming." Chapter 25 Adam''s POV Finally, I got one over on Ezra. I hate that I had to do what I did, but I''m not going back to the poor way of living I suffered through growing up in this town. As for the miners whose lives I took¡ªit was a necessary action. They were going to cause a scene, and I don''t know the full extent of how the corruption would have affected them and others nearby. "Thank you, Ezra, for that information. Rest easy in there," I thought to myself. My next course of action, now that I''ve destroyed the astral gate, is to inform all the townspeople about the vile things Ezra Solaris has committed. But before that, I have to find that kid. Even though he eased up on me, I could still tell he was wary. He knows his father best, and I doubt he''d believe Ezra would kill those people in cold blood. "But I wonder if he knows everything his father did during the wars in the past. He couldn''t possibly. I can still make him doubt everything... or I could kill him," I thought as I walked toward my office. Cyrus is a child of great promise, born into the Solaris clan and quite strong for his age and celestial core stage. It shouldn''t matter, though¡ªI''m still a full stage higher, with over a decade of fighting experience. A teenager shouldn''t pose much trouble for me. When I walked into my office, my secretary gave me a glance laced with concern. "Where''s Ezra? Has he calmed down? He seemed fairly upset earlier," she asked. "He''ll need quite a bit of time to calm down now," I responded, but her expression betrayed her confusion. "I''m sorry, sir. What do you mean by that?" "Karen, please round up all the townspeople. I''ll explain everything at the town hall meeting we''re holding later today." "Yes, sir." "Thank you. Can you give me some privacy? I have to make a call." "Of course." I waited until the door closed and pressed a button beneath my desk to activate the soundproof barrier. I couldn''t be too careful about who might overhear this call. Opening one of the drawers, I grabbed my second phone, reserved for contacting the Twilight Obsidian Guild. They insisted on secure lines to keep our trade services secret from potential threats or hackers searching for information about celestium. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I made the call to the guild leader. Several dial tones passed before someone picked up. "Adam, I assume you''ve found the culprit," Kael said. "Yes, Kael. The person who scorched one of your members is in captivity." "Perfect. I''ll come to finish the job in a few days." "You won''t be able to reach him, though." "And why is that, Adam?" "The assailant is locked in a barrier inside the astral realm. But the gate to the astral realm is destroyed." "Who destroyed it, and why?" "I couldn''t risk the townspeople discovering the massacre or the barrier failing. I needed extra precautions." "Who is this prisoner you''re so cautious about?" "It''s Ezra Solaris. He found out about the cosmic batteries and realized they were killing the miners. He confronted me in front of them. I had no choice but to trap him and kill the miners to keep the truth from spreading." "Leave him there. He''s an Astral Knight¡ªhis cosmic energy reserves should last about a week or two. I''ll come to deliver the finishing blow when he''s weak enough." "Understood. No one can enter the astral realm anyway; we still haven''t cleared that rift in the forest." "Good. Oh, Adam... what of his child? Do you have him captive, or is he dead already?" "The child wasn''t present during the incident, so I presume he''s somewhere in the town or resting at his quarters." "Hmm. No matter. He''s likely only at the embryonic stage¡ªhe shouldn''t cause any trouble. I''ll inform you when I''m on my way. Keep your town in check until then." Kael didn''t wait for my response before hanging up. People like him annoy me. They think they can call all the shots just because of their celestial core stage. He treats me like a subordinate, even though we''re technically business partners. It''s something I have to tolerate for now¡ªuntil my wealth pushes me past the restrictions of my core. I found it odd that Kael knew about Ezra''s son traveling with him. "How much does he know about my town? How much does he know about Ezra?" I muttered. After putting my secret phone away, I deactivated the soundproof barrier and left my office. I instructed Karen to gather everyone for the town hall meeting and headed to tend to one last thing. I made my way to the quarters where Ezra and his son were staying. Knocking several times, I received no response. Curious, I imbued cosmic energy into my hand and broke the lock while ensuring no one was watching. Stepping inside, I was surprised to find the quarters completely empty. Everything I remembered being there before was gone. "Where is this boy? How could he just disappear?" I left and questioned nearby townspeople. Most said they hadn''t seen him since he and Ezra returned from the forest earlier today. I knew I shouldn''t worry too much, but something about the situation nagged at me. I couldn''t tell if it was guilt over what I''d done or the mystery of the child''s disappearance. "He''s weaker than me, yet I can''t shake this unease." I thought to myself as I left the living quarters and headed to the town square. I pushed this feeling away, because I had to deal with something much more troubling. The fall back of revealing the deaths of their loved ones will be hard to manage. I will be lucky just to keep mass hysteria to a minimum. Chapter 26 Cyrus POV Sitting by the river my father and I originally came from, I stared at my reflection in the rippling waves. I don''t know why I ever thought these people would be any different from what I''ve observed over the past few years. I couldn''t believe that someone who claimed to be my father''s friend would turn on him for greed and monetary gain. And yet, here I am, grappling with the truth: Adam killed innocent people just to keep his ambitions alive. Now, I was alone, unable to fully process the events of the past few hours. But I knew I couldn''t just sit here and wallow in my despair. My father had taught me better than that. He was strong¡ªat the fourth stage of his core¡ªand I knew he could endure much longer in the astral realm with the form fused form. But even he had a limit. I had to find a way to free him. The biggest obstacle, however, was access. I needed a rift to enter the astral realm, and the only rift nearby was the Category Two rift where I had previously fought the aurora moths. "Would I be strong enough now that my core has grown a bit?" I wondered aloud. Determined to test my limits, I decided this remote spot would suffice. No one could interfere, and no one would find me. Over the next hour, I pushed myself, experimenting with my abilities. With the increased size of my core, I found I could activate my field of influence up to four times if I limited its range to one meter in every direction. Expanding the field''s radius significantly reduced the number of uses, though. Disappointingly, the duration of the field''s activation hadn''t improved either. This meant I could handle a horde of starspawn-level astral behemoths without much trouble, especially if I absorbed their cores afterward. However, facing anything stronger for an extended period would be risky. I needed more time to grow. I was certain that if I could master the first rune of my fate constellation, I''d be able to challenge opponents a full stage stronger than me. But how could I compensate for the lack of time? Rummaging through the belongings my father and I had brought with us, I searched for anything that might help¡ªa secret weapon, an artifact, something. I found nothing. That left me with only one option: I needed to hunt. Growing my core was my only path forward, especially since the battery was practically useless to me without control over it. When night fell, I slipped into the shadows and made my way to the rift. I couldn''t risk being seen. Adam didn''t know I had witnessed his atrocities, but if I stayed, he''d watch me like a hawk. Disappearing was the only choice. When I reached the aurora moths'' nest, I didn''t need to search for them. Their glowing exoskeletons shimmered like a living light show, perfectly suited for their name. The nocturnal creatures fluttered around, seemingly unaware of my presence as they carried bits and pieces of carcasses to a structure near the rift. Staying quiet, I watched from the outskirts, inching closer with every step. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. What I saw surprised me. The aurora moths were dropping flesh into an opening at the top of what looked like a massive cocoon. From inside came disturbing sounds¡ªbones being crushed, flesh being devoured, and blood splattering. The noise was followed by guttural, satisfied moans that sent shivers down my spine. As one of the moths flew past the cocoon, I caught a glimpse of a silhouette. Something inside was evolving. "Why didn''t I notice this earlier? Were they protecting this all along, or was this a recent development?" I wondered. Whatever it was, I knew this would be a valuable core to claim¡ªif I could deal with the fifty or so aurora moths guarding it. "Let''s get this over with," I muttered, stepping out of the brush and sprinting toward the cocoon. Imbuing cosmic energy into my hand, I shaped my hand as if it were a blade, preparing to pierce the cocoon and strike whatever lay inside. But as my hand cut into the structure, I was met with a thick, mucus-like substance that absorbed my attack. Pulling my hand free, I watched as the fluid began to flow out. In a heart beats time, the moths surrounded me, while others worked to patch up the cocoon and refill it with mucus from their mouths. Just like before, they began dive-bombing toward me in frenzied waves. My chest glowed with radiant magenta hues as I activated my field of influence, forcing a dozen of the starspawn astral behemoths to fall from the sky. "This shouldn''t be too difficult," I sneered, cutting them down one by one. With the first wave dealt with, I returned my focus to the cocoon. This time, I changed my approach. Instead of piercing it, I made multiple shallow cuts, forcing the moths to divide their attention between me and their precious cocoon. They couldn''t keep up with the pace I was setting. As soon as they patched one cut, I made another. This dance continued, each iteration wearing down their numbers. I could have used my ability several more times to finish them off faster, but I needed to conserve my energy. Without my father here, I didn''t have a backup plan. Eventually, the moths did exactly what I wanted¡ªthey abandoned their defensive strategy and launched an all-out assault. Smiling, I flipped away from the cocoon and prepared for my final move. Pouring cosmic energy into both arms and my astral tattoo, I waited until the last of the colony had entered my kill zone. Then, in the blink of an eye, they all collapsed, struggling to move. No mercy was shown. I clipped every wing and punctured every exoskeleton. In this world, it was kill or be killed, and I had no intentions of dying now. With the hard part finished, I approached the cocoon to claim my prize. But as I wiped the moth fluids from my hands, the ground began to tremble. Cautious I did not proceed forward. The cocoon shook violently, and I felt a surge of chaotic cosmic energy emanating from it. A deep growl echoed through the forest. Suddenly, massive pincers shot out desperately trying grab for something to get ahold of, tearing the cocoon apart. Mucus poured to the ground, revealing the towering figure of what could only be the colony''s queen. And she was furious. Chapter 27 (Cyrus Pov) Standing face to face with what looked like the queen moth, my stomach sank. Sensing the core of the astral behemoth, I could tell it was much stronger than its fallen kin. It was still at the starspawn level, but it seemed dangerously close to crossing the threshold into the voidborn rank. The moth queen quickly rose into the air, using its ability to manipulate light around it¡ªand vanished. A sudden force struck me from the side, sending me hurtling into a nearby tree. My ears rang, and my vision blurred. I hadn''t expected the moth to be this much faster than the others, especially considering it was triple their size. Even though I couldn''t see it clearly, I could hear its massive wings flapping as it darted through the air. Focusing on the sound and the erratic fluctuations of cosmic energy in the area, I tried to predict the queen''s next move. "I''m glad I held back on using my ability earlier," I muttered. "I''d already be dead if I hadn''t." Bracing myself, I reinforced my body with cosmic energy. As my vision began to clear, I noticed a glint of light in my peripheral vision¡ªsomething shining faintly against the night sky, like moonlight peeking through the trees. The light grew rapidly, and before I could react, it was less than half a meter from my face. With no time to dodge, I threw up my arms to brace for impact, hoping the layer of cosmic energy surrounding me would absorb most of the blow. The collision knocked the wind out of me, and I gasped for air as I was flung backward into a boulder. Pain exploded in my chest as I felt one of my ribs crack. The skin on my arms burned, peeling away from the heat of the attack. "Did it penetrate my cosmic barrier?" I thought, coughing up blood. "Does the queen have a higher-quality cosmic energy than me, even though we''re in the same stage? How is that possible?" "I need to find a way to clip its wings," I murmured, grimacing as each breath sent sharp stabs of pain through my chest. Before I could process another thought, another beam of aurora light barreled toward me. This time, I managed to dodge, but twisting my torso to evade the attack sent waves of agony through my body. "Focus, Cy," I whispered to myself, biting back a groan. Dodging several more attacks, I began to notice a pattern. The queen became stationary whenever it charged its beam, taking a few seconds to gather energy before firing. After each attack, there was an eight-second window before it could fire again. "So that''s why you cloak yourself," I muttered. "It gives you the time you need to prepare your attacks. I see why you are the queen of this colony. Clever¡­ for a starspawn." If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. A plan began to take shape in my mind. "Dad wouldn''t like this," I said with a dry chuckle, steeling myself for what was about to come. I took a deep breath and waited for the queen''s next attack. The eight seconds had passed, and then the beam hurtled toward me once again. Timing it perfectly, I imbued cosmic energy into my legs and leaped into the air. Using a nearby tree as a launching pad, I propelled myself horizontally toward the source of the attack. Sensing the queen''s presence through the flow of cosmic energy I could tell she was still in the area. Heading toward the aurora moth I augmented my body with a layer of cosmic energy preparing myself for what was coming next. In the blink of an eye, my momentum was abruptly halted. Pain erupted in my abdomen, sharp and searing. I glanced down to see the queen''s pincers piercing through me, my feet dangling helplessly in the air as blood dripped onto the ground below. Gritting my teeth, I channeled cosmic energy into my astral tattoo and activated my ability, disrupting the queen''s cloaking field. Desperation drove me as I grabbed hold of her wings and began tearing them apart, ignoring the agony that tore through my body. We plummeted toward the ground, and I twisted my body mid-fall so that the queen would take the brunt of the impact. The landing rattled me, but the queen suffered far more, though her pincers were driven deeper into my flesh. Screaming in pain, I wrenched them free from my stomach just as the queen began to stir. I activated my ability once more, pouring all my remaining strength into it. Imposing an increased force on the queen, I unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes, shattering her exoskeleton piece by piece. When my ability faded, the queen''s body was in ruin. A gaping chasm had replaced her once-imposing underbelly. Her head twitched weakly, the last vestiges of life draining from her. Not wanting to look at her any longer, I severed her head with what little cosmic energy I had left. "I really hate bugs," I muttered, sighing as I ripped out the queen''s celestial core and collapsed onto the ground beside her lifeless body. I didn''t stay down for long. I couldn''t afford to. I had to get back to my camp. I absorbed half the cores from the aurora moths, replenishing my own energy reserves. With my core restored, the healing process began, mending my wounds slowly but surely. It took several trips to transport all the cores back to my hiding spot, but I managed it. As I finally allowed myself a moment of rest. Wrapping myself up in my sleeping bag I sat by the river and watched the water flow calmly downstream, unbound and unyielding. It moved with a will of its own, never stopping, no matter what. "I need to be the same," I thought. No matter how slow or fast I progress, I must keep moving forward. That''s what my father would do, and I know he''s counting on me to step up now. Chapter 28 (Cyrus POV) It took me two full days to recover from the wounds I received from the queen of the aurora moths. During those days, all I could do was meditate and force cosmic energy to accelerate my healing. I created a makeshift shelter where I could rest while entering my nexus. After absorbing the remaining cores, including the one from the queen, I was able to increase the size of my core once again. When I went inside my nexus, I managed to push the maximum distance of my ability to fifteen meters, allowing me to reach the second spot on the resonance trial. This meant my new limit allowed me to activate my ability up to eight times. However, I was still relatively far from completing the resonance trial. The next target was thirty meters away, meaning I would need to double the size of my core once again. That meant I needed to continue hunting. Having a deeper pool of cosmic energy now made the task of hunting astral behemoths less daunting, but after taking out that colony, the number of astral behemoths roaming the forest was few and far between. Hunting in the wild was no longer a viable option. I either had to find another rift that had recently opened or enter the grade-two rift and hope I could kill whatever I came across. It didn''t take much pondering; I knew there wasn''t another rift nearby. I had to enter the rift in the forest. "It''s really just my luck, I swear. Nothing has been going my way at all," I muttered to myself. "If only I could fully absorb this battery, I''d feel better about this situation. I guess I''m just gonna have to make do with what I got," I continued, grabbing a spear fashioned from the wood of a nearby tree. Starving because I hadn''t eaten in the past few days, I scoured the river in search of fish before starting my next task. After an hour, I managed to find several large fish in the area. The hard part was figuring out how to cook them. I normally relied on my father for that, for obvious reasons. It nearly took me longer to find the correct materials in the forest to make a fire than it did to catch the fish. But I was resourceful, and finally able to satisfy my hunger. With my belly and celestial core full, there was nothing else for me to do. I knew time was of the essence. I had to defeat that rift in order to save my father. I didn''t know what to expect¡ªI had never entered a rift that wasn''t already cleared. Honestly, I had only entered a rift a few times before this moment. Fear and anxiety boiled up inside me as I realized this might be something I wouldn''t come back from. "Get it together, Cy," I said, slapping my face with both hands, trying to get rid of the nerves. Forcing myself to take several deep breaths to calm my heart rate, my father''s words resurfaced in my head: *You are capable of much more than your fears say.* He often said that while training me over the past several years on the run. The image of his golden eyes engraved in my memory encouraging me through all my hardships, led me to finally steel my fortitude and take this challenge head-on. With my body, mind, and spirit finally aligned I entered a state of deep meditation and began my astral projection. Now in my astral form, I could see my body as it sat in a ditch-like shelter covered with moss, branches, and leaves¡ªsomething resembling what a beaver or woodchuck would make. I had to take extra precautions since no one was around to watch over my body. Taking one last glance, I made my way to the astral rift. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Now in my astral form, I could see the rift more clearly as I got closer to the cosmic phenomenon. The rift resembled the portal to the nexus, except its spiraling energy was more like a raging whirlpool in the ocean rather than a calm rotation. The vortex''s turbulent flow of cosmic energy felt similar to that of an astral behemoth, exuding a pressure akin to something of the voidborn rank. Without hesitation, I placed my hand on the rift and let my astral body get pulled in. The sensation was very similar to my first experience taking the starbirth trial. As soon as I was pulled in, my body accelerated through a deep and vast void until I was spit out into a terrain unlike anything I had ever seen before. This wasn''t the beautiful astral realm I had recently become familiar with. This was a barren wasteland, with a sky that looked as if it had been scorched by the very sun itself. The ground beneath me felt like it was one earthquake away from complete destruction, with fissures running across the landscape like veins. Even in my astral form, the very atmosphere felt like it would burn my throat with every breath. With no sense of direction, I began moving forward, toward the grand mountain range ahead. I hoped that by doing this I could get a better lay of the land and a better understanding of where this rift had taken me. The more I walked through the wasteland, the more details I noticed. Large skeletons of various astral behemoths lay lifeless and undisturbed. Jets of hot pressurized gas shot from fissures in the ground, resembling geysers from the physical world. A few times, I nearly got sent flying into the air just by walking too close. Yet still there was no sign of life. Walking past another behemoth skeleton, I found myself at the foot of the mountain. With nowhere to go but up. I began climbing, imbuing my astral body with cosmic energy. I needed to pierce the large structure, creating divots in the mountainside for my hands and feet. Realizing I could simply launch myself upward, I started propelling myself higher, sinking my hands into the mountain''s surface before my next jump. With no concept of time in this dimension, I had no idea how long it took me to reach the top. But judging by my efforts, it could have been anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour. In total, it took about fifty jumps to reach the summit¡ªa mountain larger than most skyscrapers back in Arthenos. Now sitting at the peak, I could see that the open expanse stretched infinitely in all directions. As I scanned the landscape, something caught my eye at the base of the mountain. I saw large masses of figures walking toward an entrance¡ªa door standing alone in the middle of the wasteland. "So, the prodigal prince finally shows up," a voice whispered in my ear. I abruptly tried to dash away. Hovering in the direction I had been standing, I saw a ghostly white, translucent figure taking the shape of a young adolescent. Their eyes were golden-yellow, like my father''s, and they wore the traditional braids that many in our clan donned. "Who¡­ and what are you?" I asked, my voice shaken. "Oh, you don''t remember me, Cy? We used to play together at school before we all died. Huh, so I guess it''s true¡ªtraitors really do suffer from memory loss." ____________________ Join the discord https://discord.gg/NhzJrJAW52 Chapter 29 (Cyrus Pov) "Traitor? What do you mean, traitor? I never betrayed anyone! And seriously, who are you?" I yelled at the floating entity facing me. "You sat and watched our family get slaughtered, and now you''re trying to save the person who made it all happen. If that''s not a traitor, I don''t know what is," the floating child said to me. I knew the words weren''t true, but they still stung deep in my heart. "What was I supposed to do back then? I had no power!" I lashed out at the child. "Fight. You could have fought, even if it meant risking your life. That''s what we all did. I was younger than you, and I still fought. But then again, I wasn''t a pampered brat like you. You probably didn''t even know what that looked like or felt like." Hearing the words of this kid I didn''t even know really started to bother me. I wanted to lunge out and strike him, but I knew it would be futile. I also needed to get more information about where I was. Unclenching my fists and taking a deep breath, I ignored the verbal assault from the floating child and stayed on task. "Where are we?" I asked. "Where else? The rift," the kid responded in a demeaning tone. "Not only are you weak, but you''re also not very observant or smart, huh?" Gritting my teeth and holding back my anger, I responded, "I know that, but what exactly is this place?" "So your useless father never told you how this works, huh? What a shame. As for this place, I haven''t experienced this setting before. The environment of a rift changes depending on the Starbound that enters. The terrain shifts based on your emotional stability and your astral resonance." "So¡­ I''m causing this?" I questioned, peering into the horizon. "Then what exactly are you?" I asked, shifting my gaze back to the floating child. "The people down there and I are what you call phantom echoes. We are the apparitions of those who failed to survive and conquer the rift." "But all the people from my clan never lived in the Valador region. Why would there be so many of my people lost in this rift?" "Do you not remember what I said earlier? The rift changes depending on which Starbound enters. In this separate space-time that exists outside of the astral realm, everything is influenced by you¡ªyour mind, your emotions, your constellation, and even your lineage. The phantom echoes are subject to those very effects as well." "So you''re saying you''re essentially my imagination?" The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Yes, and depending on how far gone some of the echoes are, their aggression will increase, and they will transform into your worst fears. I am not that far gone¡ªI''ve only been here a year or so, which is why I took the form of a kid from your past. Others have been here for decades." "Why are you telling me this?" "I want you to succeed in beating this rift. If the rift is cleared, our astral forms will be put to rest, and we can finally become one with our constellation. Is that too much to ask?" "No, it''s not. I need to do it anyway. So that entrance down there is where I need to go, huh?" "Yes, but the rest of the phantom echoes won''t let you through so easily. They are jealous and defiant versions of their old selves. Be prepared." "Alright, I guess I''m on my way¡­ Oh, by the way, what is your name?" "It''s not important. Go on, you foolish little weakling," the phantom said as his childish form gave me a wry wink. Wasting no time, I climbed down the side of the mountain, letting gravity do most of the work while trying to conserve my cosmic energy. When I finally reached the bottom, I saw just how many phantom echoes were present, guarding the door. Several hundred stood like zombies, showing no signs of consciousness. I walked a couple hundred more meters until I was within arm''s reach of one. "It''s the failure of the Solaris clan," one of the echoes said as it slightly turned its body to face me. "Shut up. I''m not a failure," I quickly responded as I walked past the aberration. "There''s no hiding it, boy," several more echoes said, taking on the forms of people I used to see at the market with my mother. "We can see it all. That tattoo on your chest gives it all away." "You don''t know what you''re talking about," I said, releasing some of my malicious intent. "Is the little prince getting upset? I guess no one taught you manners, huh?" An echo that took on the form of our battle instructor at school smirked before sweeping my feet from under me. The attack caught me off guard¡ªI didn''t think they would be able to touch me. "Don''t you dare disrespect me again. If you know what''s good for you." The echo demanded. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself off the ground and charged at the phantom, only to phase right through and get whacked on the back of my head. "Fuck you," I muttered under my breath. "Oh, now we''re using foul language as well? That won''t do," said the phantom of my old instructor. He made a quick gesture to the echoes around us. I noticed quickly and imbued cosmic energy into my astral legs, evading the oncoming echoes. I thought I was safe, but sadly, I was wrong. Without a single moment to catch my breath and analyze the situation, I found myself surrounded by several phantom echoes taking on the forms of people I once knew, all poised to attack me. "You think you can escape us with that phony fate constellation? Are you even a part of the Solaris clan? You''re the only one from the main family who didn''t receive the most powerful constellation. You were meant to be a failure from the very start," the aberration of my old instructor said, floating closer. "SHUT UP! YOU KNOW NOTHING!" I yelled, activating my ability. To my shock, not a single echo was affected. "Look at you. Pathetic. I told you¡ªyou mean nothing to this clan. A waste of a life. A waste of a bloodline. No wonder your mother died." Those words pierced my resolve, causing me to lose the will to fight back. My body slumped, and I fell to my knees. The images of that day flooded my mind, no matter how much I tried to shake them away. The terrain around me began to change. The sun-scorched sky faded, replaced by a gray overcast. The geysers stopped erupting, and the ground beneath me started to crumble and collapse. I didn''t care. The only thing that felt real and true were the words of my people. The people I failed. Chapter 30 (Cyrus Pov) "Ezra and Zaire must have been disappointed when you came out of the womb. I wonder if he fostered more children after this failure," an echo said, taking on the form of the lady who sold fruit at the market. I didn''t even bother to look up or defend myself against her statement. Every word spoken was something I had thought deep down. I did feel like a failure compared to the things my father, uncle, and grandfather were known for. Everyone was counting on me to awaken that power, and I failed. I failed my clan, and I failed to keep Mom safe when Dad was gone. "I expected more of a fight from the bratty prince," the instructor said as he slapped me across the face. The hit stung, yet I still felt numb afterward. The ground crumbled further around me, creating chasms in every direction. "Fight back, you piece of shit," another echo said before punching me in the stomach, forcing me to keel over. Trying to push myself up, I was knocked right back down. Multiple punches and kicks landed all over my body. The echoes didn''t stop; they continued to berate me, both physically and emotionally. Each statement cut deeper than the last. I wanted to fight back, but it felt like this was my punishment for all my shortcomings. Rain began to fall from the sky, the water filling the chasms and craters in the dismantled ground. Lying face down as the beating continued, the water began to submerge my body. It wasn''t long before I was fully consumed, mirroring the overwhelming guilt and doubt that threatened to drown me from within. The beating stopped, and I heard the echoes drift away as my astral form sank deeper into the water, swallowed by my emotions. "Let him rot down there. One less pathetic soul to worry about," one of the echoes muttered. I was crazy to think I could avenge my clan and my family. What was my father thinking when he let me escape? There was no way he believed I could save him. Sinking further into the abyss, all I saw was the darkness of the void. I didn''t know how much time had passed, but it felt like forever. Then, suddenly, the sinking sensation stopped, and my body lurched upward. "Cyrus, honey, it''s not your fault." A voice echoed through the void, slowly breaking me out of my negative feedback loop. Snapping out of my daze, I frantically searched for the familiar voice. "You are not a failure. Never doubt yourself, my sweet, precious boy." The voice soothed me, easing my senses. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Mom? Is that you? How am I hearing you? Are you just another echo playing games with my head?" I asked, desperate for an answer. "Yes, it''s me, but I am not an echo." "But that can''t be. I watched you die." "Yes, you did, and I''m so sorry you had to experience that, honey. There was so much I didn''t get to show or teach you about my clan and where I came from. But I don''t have much time to explain. I''m only able to do this because the rift exists outside of normal space-time. You need to understand that echoes feed off of negative emotions, much like how the rift shifts based on your emotional state and resonance." "I understand, but in that moment, it all felt so real and true." "I know, Cy. You were forced to face the guilt and doubt you harbor toward yourself, even though the things you felt and thought were not the truth." "They weren''t?" "Of course not. The devastation of a clan is not the fault of a young child." "But what about my constellation? I failed with that too. I ended up connecting with something completely different than what was intended. I''ve doomed our clan. It will never be restored." "That wasn''t a mistake either, Cyrus. In the celestial tapestry, there are no mistakes. You will understand this in due time. But for now, you need to clear this rift so you can save your father." "You know about that?" "Yes. You need to remember all of your training, Cyrus. Your father was preparing you for this. Calm your mind and trust what you know is real. If you can do that, you will pass this test and move forward." "Alright," I said, acknowledging the voice in my head. I began pulling myself upward through the water, infusing cosmic energy into my astral body. It wasn''t long before I reached the surface. Sitting on a small floating island¡ªall that remained of the ground before I was submerged¡ªI saw the phantom echoes lingering near the exit. I put into action the meditation techniques I had learned over the years and began calming my spirit. "Good, Cyrus. That''s the boy I know," my mother''s voice rang in my head. "I believe in you, and I know your father does too. You can do this. I''m proud of you, and I will always be proud of you. I know things are hard now, and they will probably continue to grow more difficult and dangerous. But please, try to keep a positive outlook on life, okay, son? I just want you and your father to be happy. Just do that for me, okay?" I didn''t respond right away, because deep down, I knew my intentions were different from what she wanted for me. She wanted peace, my father wanted peace¡ªbut I wanted revenge. "I''ll do my best to fulfill your wishes, Mom," I finally said with a slight smirk. "Thank you, sweetie." "Do you have to leave now?" "Yes, I do. I''m running out of time." "I''ve missed you so much, Mom. Please stay. Is there any way I can see you again? Do I have to enter another rift? Just tell me what to do, and I''ll do it. I need you here with me¡ªI''m alone right now." "I''ve already exhausted what I''m allowed to do. But we will meet again." "When?" I asked. "We will meet again when the very stars you gaze upon lie at your feet." Before I could interject, something shimmered before me. A figure appeared¡ªit was my mother. She had the same long, flowing curly hair. The same caramel skin. The same dark brown eyes and freckles that speckled across her face. She emitted a radiant yellow aura, flames dancing around her as she floated toward me. Gently, she cupped my face in her hands. "I love you, Cyrus. I will be waiting for you. Now go save your father. The cosmos only knows what trouble he would get himself into if left alone." She leaned in, pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, and dissolved away. Chapter 31 (Cyrus POV) I really thought I would never see her again. I can''t believe it. How is this even possible? I watched the life disappear from her eyes as I tried to resuscitate her. I never even thought to ask about her past or where she came from while growing up. Everyone was focused on raising me as the next heir, and it seems that may have gotten pushed to the side. "How much was kept from me growing up?" I thought to myself. Shaking off my daze, I refocused on what I was brought here to do. I needed to clear this rift. I started making my way toward the exit that the phantom echoes were guarding. The words of my mother resurfaced in my head: the celestial tapestry does not make mistakes. There was a greater purpose for everything I had experienced up until now. Who I had become was the path I was meant to take. It was reassuring to hear those words from her. Knowing that she didn''t blame me for what happened eased my mind and helped release the burden I had carried. I felt lighter replaying that brief conversation as I walked into the field of echoes. With each step I took, I felt guilt and doubt melt away from my conscience. "Oh, look, the little prince dragged himself back here for another beating," the echo that had taken on the form of my instructor proclaimed. I didn''t even acknowledge his words. I kept moving forward slowly but surely. "So you''re just going to act like you don''t hear me?" the echo yelled. "Everyone, surround him! He''s not getting to this door." Controlling my breath and calming my mind, I focused only on moving forward. Every time a negative thought or emotion entered my mind, I replaced it with all the encouragement I had ever received growing up. The loving support from my mother, the sense of pride from my father, the cheerful excitement from my grandfather, and the wise, helpful teachings from my uncle all gave me the strength to stand tall as I walked through the crowd. The negative statements barely scratched me, and the force behind the attacks was hollow. I understood how this rift worked now. The more I gave in to its antics, the stronger the echoes became. No wonder the phantoms'' attacks hit so hard before, while my own attacks just phased through them. Now, I finally felt in control of the situation. The environment around us began to change as well. The rain started to lighten, and sunlight peeked through the dark gray clouds. The chasms filled with water began to recede. As the evaporation thickened the dry atmosphere, the air became more humid than before. The echoes were frantically trying everything they could to find a chink in my newfound mental armor. Each attempt failed miserably. Standing about a hundred meters from the door, a cluster of phantom echoes that had taken the forms of people from my past began to gather, while the rest behind me started to fade back into their original forms. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "The failed prince seems to have found resolve. You''re fighting hard, but you are far from complete, boy," the echo of my instructor said as it started to merge with the others around it. The merging echoes took shape, forming a new body. The figure that emerged was a male, just under two meters in height. He wore black pants and boots, with a black cloak that had its sleeves cut off. One arm was bare, the same skin tone as mine, while the other was wrapped in white bandages. The form completed its transformation as the head took shape. A black mask covered its face, etched with red markings resembling a serpent coiling around one eye. The figure looked oddly familiar, but I couldn''t place where I had seen it before. "Are you ready to face the same fate as your mother?" the figure said in a deep, reverberating tone. The words startled me, jogging my memory of who it was. It was the man who had delivered the final blow to my mother the day of the massacre. A member of the Lux Tenebris. The memory resurfacing sent chills down my spine. I understood that this was the echoes'' last-ditch effort to drag me back into despair. It took all my focus not to let this act ignite the rage pent up inside me. Attacking these aberrations wouldn''t get me closer to clearing this rift. Staring down my mother''s killer, I maintained my course toward the door. The echo tried to block my way, almost begging me to attack it, but I didn''t. I gave no attention to the member of the Lux Tenebris, calming my mind and reinforcing my mother''s words. It tried several times¡ªeven attacking me, throwing several strikes¡ªbut the effects were minimal compared to before. I was taking away all of its power without even raising a hand in protest. "So, you don''t care about avenging your mother? Does she mean nothing to you?" the masked man shouted. "She means everything to me. But you are not real. You are not worth my true wrath. I will find that man one day, and I''ll get the justice I seek," I said as I walked past the echo once more. "Liar! You''re just too weak to take me on. You''ll never amount to my strength, little prince." "As of now, you are right. I am not strong enough to face him. I saw him slaughter people far stronger and more adept than me. But I am stronger than a little ghost who died trying to clear this rift. Your jealousy is unbecoming of your soul," I calmly shot back at the echo. The ghost lost its ability to maintain form and split back into several echoes. Then, in one last attempt, all of the echoes sprang at me. I didn''t move. I let their feeble attack come at me. The remaining echoes phased right through me. "Give up. There is no more hope in stalling me now. You have lost your loose grip on my emotions, and I hold the power now." Quivering, the echoes began to fade, admitting their defeat. I turned my focus back to the door, now just a couple of meters away. When I grabbed the handle, it didn''t open at first. Imbuing cosmic energy into my hand, I tried again, and this time, it started to budge. Before I fully opened the door to continue through the rift, a voice whispered in my ear. "Thank you, little prince. Thanks to you, we will finally be able to rest." When I looked over my shoulder to see who had spoken, I found it was the very first echo from the top of the mountain¡ªthe echo of the kid from my school. As it waved goodbye, its form shifted. It was now a young adult, appearing as if he had once been an adventurer. He had a grand smile stretching from ear to ear. "Go ahead now. I think you have more pressing things to tend to. Thank you once again." The echo shooed me away, and I walked through the door, entering a dark void. Chapter 32 (Cyrus Pov) Walking through the door, I noticed that the environment was completely different from the last area I was in. Wherever I was, it was pitch black¡ªalmost as if I were in a void of nothingness. Blind and with no sense of direction, I proceeded to take steps forward. After walking a couple of hundred steps or so, I started to see faint glimmers of light ahead of me, as if they were the Northern Star leading me to sanctuary. The closer I got to the glimmer of light, the more I realized it was some kind of carving infused with faint traces of cosmic energy. Analyzing the glowing etchings in the wall-like structure, I noticed it wasn''t a language anyone in the physical world would speak or write. "Of course, my only hope for guidance would be some ancient celestial runes. I probably should have paid closer attention when Grandpa was trying to teach me." Knowing I couldn''t read the runes, I had an idea. Since there was a faint hum of cosmic energy embedded within the carving, I decided to test a theory. Placing my hand on the structure, I imbued a small amount of cosmic energy into it. Nothing happened at first, but then lines resembling veins began to form, and light blue streaks of cosmic energy shot down the wall-like structure, illuminating a path for me to take. "I knew it. I may not have paid attention to the runes when I was younger, but I do know one thing¡ªrunes respond to cosmic energy," I muttered. With the cosmic veins lighting the way down the dim path, I noticed the floor beginning to curve, deviating from its previously straight course. When I reached the end, three more faintly glowing runes stood before me. "Damn, so I gotta choose now. Fuck." Realizing I had to make a choice on which path to take next, I now understood why previous Starbound had failed to clear this rift. There was no way to tell which path was the correct one. Each rune emitted the same cosmic energy flow and vibrational hum. My gut told me to pick the one in the middle, so I reached out and activated it the same way I had the other carving. Just like before, the light blue veins started to glow and pulse outward from the center. This time, the dark wall-like structure began to open, forming a pathway as if it were a door to a secret passage. Sensing into the newly opened space, I tried to detect anything emitting malicious intent, but I found no such presence. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the passageway. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. This new path was even darker than the last, and I walked for what felt like several hundred meters without seeing a single faintly glowing rune. "Maybe this path just happens to be longer," I thought to myself, trying to stay calm. I decided to keep going but was abruptly stopped in my tracks. My face collided with a cold, stone-like structure. "Don''t tell me this is a dead end. Just my luck, huh?" Without hesitation, I turned around and started walking back toward the passage''s opening, annoyed that I had come all this way for nothing. As I made my way back through the pitch-black cavern-like passageway, I started to hear faint snickers. "Chill out, Cy. You''re just hearing things. This place is empty," I said, trying to convince myself. But the farther I walked, the louder and more frequent the snickering became. "Okay, now I''m either going insane from being in this rift, or something is stalking me." Before taking another step, I reinforced my astral form with a protective layer of cosmic energy. Taking a few more cautious steps, I finally saw the faint glow of cosmic energy lining the walls and let out a sigh of relief. Eager to escape this eerie passageway, I took one more step, preparing to sprint out¡ªbut my progress was halted when I felt something grab hold of my left ankle. "You''ve got to be kidding me." Before I could react, I was dragged to the ground. The snickering I had heard earlier turned into deep growls as I was pulled backward into the dark depths of the passageway. Imbuing cosmic energy into my hands, I tried to dig into the floor to stop myself from being dragged further. Whatever was pulling me wasn''t physically stronger than me once I anchored myself, but its grip was firm. Channeling cosmic energy into my leg, I raised it and performed an axe kick, attempting to shake off whatever had hold of me. When my foot crashed into the floor, I heard a whimper, and the grip around my ankle loosened. Immediately, I sent a burst of energy into my legs and exploded out of the dead-end passageway. I didn''t look back to see what it was¡ªall I cared about was escaping and surviving. As soon as I reached the exit, I wasted no time channeling cosmic energy into the rune to seal the passage. "So, I guess that was the wrong way, huh?" I muttered, catching my breath. When the door to the passageway closed, I heard an eerie noise. It wasn''t the same sound I had heard in the dead-end tunnel. This sound was more mechanical, almost as if gears and plates were shifting behind the runes. "You''ve got to be kidding me. As if creatures lurking in the shadows weren''t enough, this damn place is a shifting maze too. Dad really might have been right¡ªa grade two rift was something I was not prepared for." Chapter 33 (Cyrus Pov) After my failed attempt to progress through this labyrinth, I gathered the courage to choose another passageway. This time, there were no immediate threats as I walked down the pitch-black corridor. Reaching the end, I was once again presented with an assortment of choices, staring at the faintly glowing runes before me. Each decision made me feel increasingly blind in this situation. Even my perception of cosmic energy flow was useless¡ªit felt erratic, making it impossible to determine where it was emanating from. I felt surrounded, watched by some unseen force. "You just gotta make a choice and deal with it, Cy," I muttered to myself. Taking a deep breath, I placed my hand on the rune to the right and pushed cosmic energy into it. Like all the previous doors, it groaned open with a grating sound. Enveloping myself in cosmic energy, I proceeded into the dark passage once again. Like before, I remained wary of a potential encounter with whatever had attacked me in the dead-end tunnel. I tried my hardest to detect even the slightest fluctuation in cosmic energy, hoping to sense any lurking behemoths. Yet again, I had no such luck. Whatever inhabited these corridors possessed remarkable abilities¡ªit was incorporeal and capable of completely masking its cosmic energy signature. Most astral behemoths of the Stellar Fiend rank or lower lacked such abilities. "I really hope there''s not a Nebulord or a Cosmophage lurking in this rift," I muttered, shaking off my unease as I pressed forward. When I reached the end, I found no runes¡ªanother dead end. My heart pounded in my chest, and I involuntarily became hyperaware of my surroundings. My eyes darted through the darkness, searching for even the subtlest movements in what felt like an inescapable tomb. I didn''t want to move, but I knew I couldn''t stay here. Channeling cosmic energy into my legs, I sprinted back toward the entrance. As soon as I activated my energy, noises erupted from all directions. Whatever had attacked me before was not alone this time. As I ran, the growls and barks intensified, surrounding me. The closer I got to the entrance, the louder they became. With the faint glow of the runes in sight, I caught something in my peripheral vision. Shadows twisted along the walls, taking the shape of hounds running alongside me. It was as if they were tethered to my own shadow. "That explains why I couldn''t sense them," I muttered, pushing myself to run faster. But before I could reach the entrance, multiple shadow hounds leaped from the walls, blocking my exit. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Standing face-to-face with the creatures, I knew there was no way out but through them. While scanning their cores, I heard movement behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I spotted three more hounds, their razor-sharp fangs bared. "It''s never just a one-on-one, huh?" I muttered, trying to formulate an escape plan. I had a feeling that physical attacks would be useless. "The Solaris Constellation would be really handy right now," I thought, channeling cosmic energy into my legs. I launched myself past the hounds in a burst of speed, but I wasn¡¯t fast enough. One of them slashed my back as I tried to rush past, stopping me in my tracks. The attack wasn¡¯t particularly strong, but it threw off my balance, causing me to crash into the wall. Before I could recover, the pack swarmed me. Like true predators, they clawed, bit, and tore at my flesh. I was their prey, and they weren¡¯t going to let their kill escape so easily. In the midst of their onslaught, I activated my ability to try and repel them¡ªbut my gravitational field had no effect. "Fuck," I screamed in my head. Panic surged through me as I channeled cosmic energy into my arms and legs, kicking and striking in desperation. Each time my limbs phased through them, my hope dwindled. "Is this how I die? Mauled by hounds I can''t even touch? How honorable." Desperation clawed at my mind. "If physical attacks don¡¯t work, then how did I get one off me earlier?" With my vision darkening and my senses fading, I attempted one last thing. I released several pulses of cosmic energy in waves. The hounds were sent flying, crashing into one another. Wasting no time, I launched my battered body toward the entrance. Barely making it out, I quickly sealed the passageway just as the shadow hounds lunged at me in fury. "No dog food for you," I wheezed, gasping for breath. My body collapsed to the ground, wracked with pain. "I can¡¯t make too many more mistakes like that¡­ or I¡¯m finished." Taking a moment to rest, I allowed my worst injuries to heal before moving again. As I watched the gashes on my arms slowly close, I mulled over my encounter with the shadow hounds. They were just as fast as me and could attach themselves to my shadow, making sprinting useless. My martial skills were rendered ineffective, as I couldn¡¯t physically harm them. The only thing that worked was the cosmic energy pulse I had released in desperation. That meant their incorporeal forms were affected by cosmic energy. With that realization, I understood how to handle them going forward. I just couldn''t afford to waste too much of my reserves. With my core constantly leaking cosmic energy and my astral form active, I had to be mindful of my expenditure. I had already used more than a quarter of my energy. My next moves had to count. Chapter 34 Cyrus POV With the door closed on the right-hand side and my wounds relatively healed, it was time for me to make a choice. I heard the noise of something shifting again behind the passages, making me question my next decision once more. My gut was telling me to just go ahead and pick the middle rune. In times like this, I had nothing else to trust, so I placed my hand on it and expelled cosmic energy into it. The door slid open like every other time. This time, something felt off. I could sense a bloodthirsty intent coming from the depths of this passage. There was no hiding it. ¡°I must¡¯ve pissed those shadow hounds off,¡± I thought to myself. Before stepping into the pitch-black pathway, I enveloped my body with cosmic energy. Even though they were weak individually, they were dangerous in a group. I couldn¡¯t afford to get caught off guard again. My pace was slow as I walked down the pathway. I had to take this approach¡ªI wasn¡¯t skilled enough in cosmic energy control to maintain a protective layer while also boosting my speed. With every step, the growls became deeper, making my body tense up. It was only a matter of time before they finally lashed out. I tried to read the cosmic energy fluctuations as I continued my descent, but like before, everything felt erratic, bombarding my senses with too much information. ¡°Why are they just stalking me?¡± I thought as I heard the increased noise of the pack. I started replaying past events in my head and noticed a pattern. The hounds only attacked once I realized I had made the wrong choice and started to backtrack. ¡°So does this labyrinth have a set condition for them?¡± I murmured to myself. It wasn¡¯t long before I reached the end of the path, and just like last time, there was no rune. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me,¡± I sighed in disappointment. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up and get this over with.¡± I turned back toward the entrance. I could feel the bloodlust of the hounds intensifying with every step. It was clear¡ªthey wanted me dead. I had escaped them one too many times, and now, they were pissed. But this time, I wasn¡¯t going to be caught off guard. I understood their game, and I knew their weakness. When the hounds jumped from the walls, I didn¡¯t falter. I stood my ground and let them attack. Two of the hounds bit at my ankles, trying to immobilize me like before. Their bite wasn¡¯t strong enough to pierce my layer of cosmic energy. ¡°Just like I thought¡ªyou guys are nothing,¡± I said to the shadow behemoths. ¡°It only took a little trial and error. Now get the hell off me!¡± I yelled, releasing a pulse of cosmic energy. The impulse sent the hounds flying, crashing into a few others lurking nearby. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. I let out a chuckle because all I could hear in my head was my dad¡¯s voice telling me, I told you so. I was always known to be a little too impatient and reckless¡ªoften getting in my own way because I wanted things quickly and without delay. My father, on the other hand, was always the slow and methodical one. ¡°Look at me¡­ I guess it took getting trapped in a shadow labyrinth to finally understand his reasoning.¡± Walking slowly down the path, I periodically released small impulses to ensure I wouldn¡¯t be attacked. Each time I repelled them, their pursuit became increasingly frantic. I felt like I was playing keep-away with a toddler. Now that I had a full grasp of the situation, my attention shifted to more pressing matters. One glaring thought kept reappearing in my mind: why weren¡¯t there any shadow hounds in the pathways that had runes at the end of them? If the hounds were meant to be some type of guardians or protectors of the next exit, shouldn¡¯t they be in the pathways that actually led somewhere other than the entrance? This really bothered me. It made me question the real purpose of this labyrinth. ¡°Is there something I¡¯m missing in these dead ends? No¡­ there couldn¡¯t be. I just picked the wrong path, that¡¯s all,¡± I told myself as I finally reached the entrance. But then I remembered something¡ªthis rift was based on my own thoughts, emotions, and preconceived notions. ¡°So does that mean I might have misread the situation? Are the hounds a warning of some sort?¡± I pondered. With this new epiphany, I didn¡¯t close the door when I made it out of the pathway. I had a hunch, and I needed to test my theory. I walked right back down the pitch-black path. Like every other time, the hounds just watched me, almost begging me to retreat. Pushing forward, I increased my speed, forgoing my barrier. It wasn¡¯t long before I reached the dead end of the passage once more. I expanded my senses along the shadowy wall of the dead end, hoping to notice something I had missed before. Nothing felt different¡ªI still sensed the overwhelming, erratic flow of the numerous shadow hounds. ¡°Is this the real test?¡± I wondered. With all my previous ideas falling short, I decided to release cosmic energy into the dead-end wall. At first, I thought my attempt had failed. But then, just like the other paths, the wall lit up, and a rune appeared, faintly glowing with the same light-blue hue. ¡°What is it with this rift and mind games? Honestly, things would be a heck of a lot easier if this were just a gauntlet of astral behemoths instead,¡± I muttered. I pushed more cosmic energy into the rune, and before the door opened, my surroundings suddenly changed. The shadows that had enveloped the passageway began to disperse, forcing my eyes to adjust to the newfound light. I heard the whimpers and wails of the shadow hounds as their existence was erased along with the source of their element. The walls, which had been their dwelling place, were now revealed to be large slabs of what appeared to be chunks of asteroids. ¡°Nothing in this rift makes sense, but it seems I passed the test. Looks like I really needed to just trust myself¡ªnot hesitate or backtrack. Leave it to a spacetime phenomenon to teach me life lessons,¡± I said as the door finally opened, revealing my next destination. Chapter 35 (Theron POV) Lately, things have been quiet at our base in Arthernos. The production and sale of our cosmic batteries have been going off without a hitch. The rise of our guild''s power and influence within the city and continent has been largely due to our growing economic impact. They always said the best way to destroy something is from within. Soon, this entire region will be under my control¡ªand the continent, if Kael can handle his share. Since our last meeting, I haven''t heard or seen many reports from the Valador region. I hope to God that Kael hasn''t done anything stupid to mess things up. But he''s a hardheaded fool¡ªit can''t be helped. If he chooses to seek out Ezra, he will suffer the same fate as many before him. His lust to be acknowledged as one of the most fearsome warriors of our time will be his downfall. "Only a fool would seek out such an accolade," I murmured to myself. I wanted to shake this thought away, but the mere fact of Kael''s silence bothered me. The loudmouth titan never goes this long without communicating. Breaking out of my meditation, I decided to call one of my contacts in the Valador region¡ªsomeone who could give me a solid lay of the land. It was part of our mutual agreement. My guild gave him a discounted price on cosmic batteries, and in return, he provided me with information on the Twilight Obsidian Guild, along with updates regarding Kael himself. I clicked on Adam''s name, and the call rang longer than usual. Did something happen in his town, or is he still mining? A few more moments passed before the call was finally picked up. "Lord Enzo, to what do I owe the pleasure of speaking with the leader of the Eclipsing Dawn Guild?" Adam said, his tone frantic and uneasy. The name Enzo still caught me off guard at times. Only members of Lux Tenebris know my true name, the rest of society know me as Enzo the leader of the Eclipsing Dawn. "It''s been a while. I haven''t gotten my regular check-in from you. Is everything all right?" "Yeah, I''ve been meaning to call and fill you in on everything that''s been happening. Things have gotten hectic over here in our small town," Adam responded. "What do you mean by hectic? Was there another large astral behemoth attack?" "Yes, but that''s not really what I meant. That''s something I''d consider normal for this town. But to say the least, we''ve had some interesting visitors recently." "Such as?" I asked, gripping my phone tighter in anticipation. "The fugitive Ezra Solaris and his son happened to stumble upon our town while we were under attack by astral behemoths¡ªright when we were receiving our shipment of cosmic batteries." This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "Adam, is he still there now?" I asked. "Yes, Lord Enzo. I have him trapped in the Astral Realm." "You did?" "Yes. You see, I don''t know if you''re aware, sir, but Ezra and I were old comrades¡ªboth in school and in the last war. I led him to believe he could find sanctuary here, but the man became too curious about my operation with mining Celestium. He discovered the flaw in the batteries and threatened my entire operation. I never would have thought that the very batteries we use were his own creation. Just my luck, I suppose. But I had no choice¡ªI killed the miners who learned the truth and trapped Ezra along with their corpses. In doing so, I destroyed the gate so no one could ever find the evidence. So here we are." "I see. You did well. I can send some men down there to help with the situation, along with the authorities in Arthernos. They owe me a favor anyway." "Thank you for the offer, sir, but Kael said he would take care of it. He said he had a debt to settle since Ezra brutally injured someone from the Twilight Obsidian Guild. He wants justice, and I''m not in a position to object. As you may know, he''s much stronger than me." "I understand, Adam. And what about his son? Do you have him trapped as well?" "No, he''s currently at large¡ªmissing from the town. We''re searching for him." "Find him for me. The people of Arthernos would be delighted to know their prince is alive and well. If you can do this, you''ll receive a constant shipment of cosmic batteries from me¡ªfor free." "Wait, are you serious, Lord Enzo?" "Yes. It''s the least I can do." "All right, I''ll be on it and fill you in soon." "Good. Goodbye, Adam." I knew Kael was up to something. He hadn''t informed anyone about this situation, but it wasn''t my problem to worry about. I was surprised our master was so unfazed by the potential loss of a general and didn''t force him to stay put or put an actual plan together. But his words from that day rang in my head. ''I have a replacement in mind already.'' Who could he be talking about? Shaking the thought away, I immediately called our master. He had to know what was about to unfold. He picked up immediately. "What is the matter, Theron?" my master answered calmly. "Sir, it''s about Kael. He has cornered Ezra in Valador. I found out he''s going to engage in battle¡ªwith no backup." "Oh, is that all? Let him do as he pleases. I no longer have a need for him." "Are you sure, master? If he fails, who will take over the operation in Valador?" "You will. The person I intend to take his spot is not ready or strong enough to be a general. It will be some time before he''s prepared. What about the child?" "He is currently missing, master. I have my contact searching for him. I believe if we bring him back here as the rightful heir to Arthernos, we will have deeper control over the land." "I fear you spend too much time with me. I was going to suggest the same thing. That boy will be a crucial part of our mission. We need to secure him." "I''ll get it done. If my contact can''t capture him, I already have fail-safes in place." "Good. Thank you, Theron. I will see you at the next meeting." After our phone call ended, my theory was coming together. During the last meeting, I noticed something different in my master''s expression when the boy''s feats were brought up. They were impressive, yes¡ªeven for a member of the Solaris clan. But the boy had only just become a Starbound. Why would master have such an interest in him? Is that who he plans on replacing Kael with? Chapter 36 (Cyrus'' POV) When I emerged on the other side of the door, the entire area morphed into something completely different once again. A walkway extended toward an arena suspended in a swirling void. I tread cautiously, knowing that the slightest misstep could send me tumbling into the dark abyss below. Like before, the cosmic energy here was erratic. Having learned my lesson, I kept my guard up, cloaking myself in a layer of cosmic energy. When I reached the end of the walkway, I didn''t hesitate to step onto the vast arena. Almost instantly, the ground trembled, and a loud cracking sound erupted from behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I watched as the arena severe itself from the walkway. "Of course, it breaks off," I muttered as the platform drifted further into the void. As the arena floated, countless cosmic bodies began appearing out of thin air. "What is going on?" I said aloud, shielding my eyes while they adjusted to the sudden influx of light. Once my vision cleared, the scene resembled the same celestial expanse where my Starbirth trial had taken place. But this time, something felt off. It wasn''t as inviting¡ªI couldn''t quite pinpoint why. Then, out of nowhere, an immense pressure weighed down on me, forcing me to one knee. "What the hell was that?" I thought, frantically scanning the area for the source of the force. My senses stretched through the void, but all I saw were thousands of cosmic entities floating aimlessly. Struggling to move, I ran through every possible explanation in my mind, yet each one led to a dead end. Seeing the muscles of my astral form bulging just to keep me upright was not reassuring. "If I were attacked by any type of astral behemoth right now, I''d be a goner," I thought grimly. I channeled cosmic energy into my body, hoping it would help me move. It worked, but only slightly¡ªand I couldn''t afford to waste my energy like this. With nothing to fight and no immediate danger, I decided to stop resisting the pressure. "There has to be something I''m missing," I muttered, lying on my back and mentally reviewing every fact and variable I''d encountered so far. A faint hiss echoed through the void, growing louder by the second. It felt like it was coming from one of the celestial bodies floating behind me. Slowly, I fought against the crushing pressure, careful not to waste too much energy. But as I focused, I realized¡ªthe noise wasn''t coming from the floating celestial body. It was coming from below me. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Peering over the edge of the platform, I saw a massive sphere materializing as if it had only just decided to reveal itself. A dark, piercing red glow emerged from an opening in the sphere. An overwhelming, malicious intent seeped from within. Then, slithering out of the core-like mass, a long, black creature emerged. The beast was at least fifty meters in length, gliding through the void like it was swimming through water. My gaze traced every inch of its terrifying form¡ªserrated spikes jutted from its obsidian scales, forming a nearly impenetrable defense. It had a massive skull that was adorned with two curved horns spiraling backwards like a twisted crown that radiated an eerie aura. Along with its piercing red eyes, it also housed a mouth large enough to snap a truck in half. But the most terrifying part? Its fangs. Pitch black. Not solid, but as if it were formed from the very void itself. I had heard stories about creatures like this before. My uncle had told me of the battles he fought against astral behemoths in his youth and this behemoth fit the description of one his stories. "A Voidfang Basilisk," I muttered under my breath. From what I remembered, these creatures rarely appeared in the physical world. "Maybe it has something to do with this place being its natural habitat," I speculated. As I observed the basilisk, another sound caught my attention¡ªa faint sizzling from my right. Straining to turn my head, I noticed movement inside a nearby cosmic entity. I hadn''t seen it before, but then again, I had been too focused on figuring out how to move. Suddenly, claws burst through what looked like a crystalline cocoon. A prismatic, glass-like head emerged. "What the fuck is that?" I whispered, trying to stay unnoticed. The creature pulled itself free and let out a deafening roar¡ªdirectly at the approaching basilisk. Now that it had fully emerged, I could see its entire form. It looked like a dragon. Its body was semi-ethereal, shifting between solid and gaseous states as if it had just been born from a nebula. The edges of its form blurred into swirling cosmic dust, giving the illusion that it was constantly dissolving into the void. Unlike a traditional dragon, it had no wings, yet it moved like a serpent, undulating gracefully toward the basilisk. The two great astral behemoths were on a collision course, both radiating an overwhelming amount of cosmic energy. Sensing their cores, I knew immediately¡ªI was nowhere near their level. Both of them had already reached the second stage of evolution and were on the verge of something higher. The best thing I could do was stay out of the way and figure out how to escape this part of the rift. As I peered over the edge, watching the inevitable clash unfold, I noticed something else¡ªthe crushing pressure on my body had weakened. The farther the prismatic drake moved away, the easier it became to move. "Was that thing causing the pressure? Even while in hibernation?" I thought. But the more I considered it, the more I realized¡ªno, it wasn''t just the drake''s cosmic energy. The pressure was coming from the drake itself. The pressure was a completely different source of power and domination. It was hard to pinpoint exactly. It was almost as if it had its own... gravity. Realization struck like a lightning bolt. "Why didn''t I figure that out earlier? That''s basic science. Every celestial entity has its own gravitational force and field. I just never encountered creatures with this much mass before, especially in an environment that does not have the same effect on my body as the physical realms gravity does." Chapter 37 (Cyrus'' POV) A deafening boom reverberated through the void as the two massive creatures collided. The shockwave sent the platform I was on hurtling away from them. I now felt weightless, unaffected by any gravitational force, since there was no celestial body nearby to anchor me. But now, I was struggling in a completely different way. My arms and legs moved freely as I pleased, yet I remained stationary in the void, unable to change my trajectory. I was trapped, and all I could do was watch the epic battle between these two behemoths. I was in awe of their sheer power and ferocity, each blow sending shockwaves rippling through the void. Yet, despite their destructive might, there was an eerie elegance to their battle¡ªa cosmic dance as they lunged and evaded each other''s attacks with precision. "What is the purpose of me being in this part of the rift? Am I truly supposed to take on both of them?" Floating aimlessly in the void, I had nothing to do but ponder this question. Every test or obstacle I had faced so far had not been solely about combat. There was always an underlying message¡ªsomething I needed to realize within myself. When I encountered the phantom echoes, I had to suppress my negative thoughts and emotions so they wouldn''t hold me back. In the labyrinth, I had to trust my instincts and be confident in my choices. But here, in this void, I still didn''t understand what I was supposed to figure out. The words of the phantom echo from the beginning of the trial echoed in my mind: This rift responds and reacts to everything that makes up who you are. "Everything, huh?" I muttered, recalling that he had mentioned my constellation and lineage played a role as well. I had faced almost everything except my constellation. "Is that what this part of the rift is about?" I thought, just as another shockwave sent me flying further into the void. The large platform I had originally stood on was shattered, its fragments scattering like asteroids in space. I feared how far I would drift, knowing there was nothing to stop my momentum. I truly felt lost in space, with only the two battling behemoths as my companions in this vast emptiness. Hurtling through the void, I soon approached another celestial body that resembled a star. Its distant, faint glow gradually intensified as I drew closer. A layer of warmth enveloped me, a stark contrast to the cold emptiness I had experienced so far. My momentum began to slow, as if I had entered its gravitational influence¡ªmuch like how my own ability functioned. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Crossing into this invisible threshold, I became acutely aware of the pull and pressure exerted on my body. This celestial body was smaller than the last, which I could tell by the difference in its gravitational force. I was able to withstand it far better than before. "Is this what others feel when I use my ability on them?" I wondered as I was slowly drawn closer. In this moment of uncertainty, I did the only thing I could¡ªI centered my mind and spirit and began to meditate, hoping to gain insight beyond what my natural senses could perceive. Closing my eyes, I let the rhythmic pace of my breathing steady me. I focused on how every part of my body interacted with the space around me. The deeper I sank into meditation, the more I felt the increasing pressure as I drifted closer to the celestial body. The pressure felt like there was a metaphysical presence reaching out and pulling me in and enacting its will upon me. The force pulling me toward it didn''t feel alive like cosmic energy, yet it felt just as potent. I knew I was still missing something¡ªsome deeper understanding of gravity. Sinking even further into my meditation, I began channeling cosmic energy outward, almost as if I were preparing to astral project. This was a technique my father had taught me when I first learned how to locate rifts a year ago. It allowed me to expand my senses, creating a mental web of cosmic energy that let me perceive my surroundings more acutely. I had only ever been capable of this when I was in a deep meditative state, and I rarely had the time to perfect it. With my heightened senses, I could now tell when objects moved closer or farther away by how they interacted with my extended reach of cosmic energy. But something strange happened¡ªevery object that passed through my field seemed to pull my energy toward it, no matter its size. The objects felt like they had their own influences over space similar to me and the celestial body I was near. "Does everything have its own gravitational field? I really just that it only pertained to celestial bodies and entities" I pondered, keeping my breath steady and calm. "Why didn''t I notice this before?" I thought as a jagged and broken piece of debris brushed against my cosmic energy mental web. "I wonder if it''s the same reason I never felt the increased G-force I exerted¡ªbecause I was the one creating the force, making it feel normal to me." You are essentially a walking celestial body. The words from my sparring session with my father resurfaced in my mind. "I think I get it now. I needed to be subjected to a gravitational force greater than mine and what I experienced in the physical realm in order to be aware of the different gravitational forces around me. Its''s essentially like breaking the seal. " I thought to myself starting to understand the scope of this new development. Maintaining my meditation, I shifted my focus to the celestial body near me. Now that I had a better understanding, I treated myself as if I were the debris floating nearby, and the celestial body''s gravity was the web of cosmic energy. I could feel the tension between my core''s gravitational push and pull and the celestial body''s own force. And in this struggle, my gravitational field was losing. Chapter 38 (Cyrus Pov) During this process, I was finally able to feel what my own gravitational field truly felt like. Whenever I moved a limb, I could sense the distortions in the opposing celestial body''s field of influence. Even though my movements were minuscule compared to the immense celestial body and its gravitational output, I could still perceive that space was being warped to a degree. I had no way of knowing how much time had passed in this void. It was nearly impossible to make an accurate guess, as the rift resided in a different space-time than what I was used to. But in this moment, I didn''t care. I was losing myself in the meditation I had subjected myself to¡ªit was as if I had finally found the key to this power, slowly unlocking more of its secrets as time went on. From a young age, I had understood that every Fate Constellation granted Starbound certain innate abilities that could be developed through rigorous training. For the Solaris Constellation, it was the ability to see in different spectrums of light, such as infrared¡ªsomething my father frequently used. Until now, I had never truly grasped what that innate ability could be for me. The concept of gravity was complex, filled with countless moving parts that made it difficult to break down into its simplest form. Being on a planet, where I was constantly subjected to gravity, didn''t help either. My body handled it instinctively, much like breathing. But here, in the void, I could finally put everything into proper perspective. I could now feel the different fields of influence surrounding every object. I understood that anything with mass had its own gravity, and I realized that, generally, the greater the mass, the stronger its gravitational pull. But there was still one lingering question in my mind. I knew my core was unique¡ªby nature, it was a miniature black hole, a dense mass that required the absorption of other celestial bodies to maintain its existence. Celestial cores from astral behemoths fit this requirement, which made me wonder: could I sense the movements of astral behemoths or even other Starbound through the gravitational fields their cores produced? Unfortunately, I had few opportunities to test this theory¡ªand the only available subjects happened to be slithering incarnations of destruction. Knowing I had no other options, I decided I had learned all I could from meditating within this celestial body''s gravitational field. It was time to put my knowledge into practice. My core was nearing half-empty, and I needed to act. I made the decision to break my deep meditation and search for a way to get closer to the clashing astral behemoths. As my eyes adjusted to the faint light sources of the void, I was reminded of just how daunting this task truly was. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The Voidfang Basilisk and the Nebula Drake moved at speeds that were difficult for me to track with my eyes alone. These creatures were beyond my comprehension¡ªI couldn''t even get an accurate read on their cores. But I knew one thing for certain: I was outclassed. During the lulls in their battle, I could tell one was beginning to gain the upper hand. The pitch-black serpent looked poised and ready to strike again, while the prismatic dragon''s breath had grown labored, its form flickering in and out of sight as its scales struggled to maintain their radiance. Something wasn''t right. The Nebula Drake was currently radiating more cosmic energy than the Voidfang, yet it was losing despite its overwhelming cosmic presence. "Why? This doesn''t make any sense," I thought to myself. As if responding to my thoughts, the Voidfang coiled its massive body and launched itself forward with explosive speed, striking its opponent once again. This time, the Nebula Drake wasn''t fast enough to dodge. The Voidfang clamped its fangs onto the dragon''s midsection, causing another shockwave to ripple through the void as it attempted to pierce the cosmic barrier shielding the prismatic behemoth. The shockwave was exactly what I needed. Pieces of the shattered platform were now within reach. Something deep within me urged me to get closer to the battling behemoths¡ªanother instinct told me I needed to help the one that was losing. Summoning cosmic energy to counteract the gravitational pull of the celestial body nearby, I coiled my body just as the basilisk had done and propelled myself off the nearest piece of debris that was behind me. As I hurtled through the void, I felt the pull of the celestial body weaken with each passing second. It wasn''t long before I reached the next piece. Moving in a zigzagging pattern, I bounded from fragment to fragment, steadily closing the distance until I was within earshot of the titanic battle. Now that I was closer, I could see things more clearly than before. I noticed a pattern¡ªeach time the Nebula Drake unleashed a cosmic energy-based attack, the Voidfang nullified it. The attacks were simply absorbed by the void-infused horns of the basilisk. "This makes sense now," I realized. "The Nebula Drake is expending more energy because it''s desperately trying to find a weak point in the basilisk. But the Voidfang is its natural counter¡ªit makes the drake''s strongest attacks almost meaningless." At this rate, the fight wouldn''t last much longer. If the battle continued this way, the Voidfang would emerge victorious. "But how can I help?" I thought, scanning the basilisk for any vulnerabilities. Anything I attempted would be a gamble¡ªif I failed, I''d be stranded in the void with no means of escape. As I searched for an opening, something caught my attention. Every time the basilisk absorbed an attack from the dragon, an orb of void energy forming behind the serpent grew larger. With each absorption, the serpent''s body expanded, and its flow of cosmic energy became increasingly dominant. This wasn''t just a battle of endurance¡ªthe Voidfang was stockpiling power. If this continued, the Nebula Drake wouldn''t just lose¡ªit would be annihilated, and I would be next on its hit list. Chapter 39 Cyrus POV Staring down at the orb growing behind the Void Fang Basilisk, I knew that was the key to its ever-growing power. "But how am I going to get close enough to even affect it, let alone destroy it?" I thought to myself as the prismatic dragon sent out a beam of light at its opponent. The drake didn''t stop there either, quickly phasing out of sight to attack the massive serpent from behind, creating a large shockwave below me. "It looks like it''s learning as the fight goes on, but the serpent is getting too large for these attacks to really matter," I muttered, watching the dark horns of the basilisk hum with energy as it absorbed another cosmic blast. "We have to get rid of those horns. That''s the key." I watched the astral behemoths clash a few more times. I think the Nebula Drake realized it too, but targeting the horns would leave it vulnerable to a devastating counterattack. It needed help, and I felt like I was sent here for that exact reason. I positioned myself as if preparing for the start of a swim meet, channeling cosmic energy into my legs in anticipation of the launch of a lifetime. I felt every muscle fiber become saturated with energy, as though I had just been supercharged by a battery. "I only got one shot at this, Cy. You gotta make this count," I whispered. A second later, I was hurtling toward the astral behemoths like a missile. There was nothing in my way to stop my momentum. I knew this was reckless, but what else could deliver the damage I needed? Right before I entered my strike zone, something unexpected happened. The Nebula Drake noticed me and locked eyes with me. It gave me a subtle nod¡ªalmost like a grin¡ªbefore I crash-landed onto one of the basilisk''s horns. The expression it gave me nearly made me lose my train of thought, but I quickly surrounded my body with cosmic augmentation, hoping it would reduce the damage from my kamikaze attack. The impact was like getting hit by a semi-truck several times over. With my eyes clenched shut, I had no idea if my attempt had succeeded¡ªonly that my shoulder cracked, sending searing pain through my right arm. "Yeah¡­ you really did it this time, Cy," I muttered as my body was sent hurtling deeper beneath the battling astral behemoths. Slowly opening my eyes, I could barely make out the shape of the creatures fighting above me. The basilisk still floated through the void, seemingly unharmed. "Damn¡­ it didn''t do anything," I thought, feeling dejected despite my all-out attempt to help the drake. Pain radiated through my body, my vision blurring as I started to lose sight of the basilisk. Every time I managed to focus, the Void Fang serpent was closer. "Is it coming to finish me off? Did it already defeat the Nebula Drake?" I braced myself for one final stand, preparing to envelop my body in cosmic energy. But before I could, something struck me, knocking the air from my lungs. Looking up, I realized the drake had whisked me away from certain death. Without hesitation, it left the battlefield, using its scales to camouflage itself among the other cosmic entities in the void. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Once we had lost the basilisk, the astral behemoth stopped, letting me float freely in the void. It didn''t attack me¡ªinstead, I could feel it analyzing me for what felt like an eternity. Just as I was about to speak, a voice reverberated in my head, similar to how Solaris had spoken to me during my Starbirth Trial. "I was wondering when someone would finally enter this part of the rift," the drake said, its tone surprisingly soothing. Caught off guard, I was stunned to be communicating with a dragon. I couldn''t help but wonder if other astral behemoths were capable of this as well. I pushed the shock aside and asked the question I had been dying to know: "So, um¡­ what exactly is going on here? And how are you able to talk to me?" I asked wincing after each word. "You really don''t know much about rifts, do you?" the drake responded. "I''m sorry, I don''t. I didn''t have much of a choice¡ªI had to enter it to save someone." "No need to explain. I already know, little one. But answer me this¡ªdo you know how rifts are formed?" "No¡­ my father didn''t get to that part of our lessons." "All right then. Rifts form when extreme astral energy disturbances occur in the Astral Realm. Generally, these disturbances happen when a star dies in the universe. The energy released from the explosion¡ªwhat you know as a supernova¡ªcreates stress in the barrier between your physical world and the Astral Realm." "Wait¡­ really? That''s what causes them? Do stars die that often?" "Yes, little one. And that serpent in this void was born from the residual negative energy of the supernova¡ªjust like all the other creatures you call astral behemoths. This particular one is guarding access to the rift''s core." The drake''s words pieced together the puzzle in my mind, affirming the conclusions I had drawn about rifts. I knew they were something that couldn''t be stopped from being formed, but I never imagined they were caused by something as chaotic and natural as a star''s death. "You called that Void Fang over there an astral behemoth¡­ doesn''t that make you one as well?" I asked, desperate for clarification. "I am what you call a rift merger. I was created by the Pantheon to mend situations like these. We help turn rifts into pathways to the Astral Realm." "Okay¡­ but if the Pantheon already created a failsafe, why do we need to defeat the rift?" "That''s because we are formed from the positive energy of supernovas, meaning we cannot destroy the rift''s core, which is made entirely of negative energy. We are opposing forces and the closer we get to the rifts core the more we get repelled. Starbound, on the other hand, do not fall victim to such limitations. You are beings blessed with the Pantheon''s blood running through your veins." The drake''s voice carried a sense of pride as it spoke. But before I could respond, a deafening screech tore through the void. My heart pounded as I turned my gaze to see the Void Fang barreling toward us, crashing through celestial bodies like a force of nature. Chapter 40 Cyrus POV "So, how are we going to defeat that thing?" I asked the drake beside me. "We need to take out its weak points. You had the right idea going for its horns¡ªthat''s its primary weakness. If we can break those off, I''ll finally be able to do real damage to the basilisk," the beast assured me. "What about the dark orb floating behind it? Do we have to worry about that at all?" "No. Void Fang Basilisks are built a little differently from other astral behemoths you may have encountered. Their cores don''t reside within their bodies. These creatures can change their form whenever they shed their old skin. To facilitate this, they evolved over eons to create a special tether for their core, allowing it to exist outside their body. Early on, this isn''t much of a weakness, but as they grow stronger by absorbing cosmic energy, it becomes their greatest vulnerability." "So why don''t I just go for that and cut it off from its power source?" "Little one, your cosmic potency isn''t strong enough to damage it. You are merely at the embryonic stage. I''ll handle that," the celestial being said as it grabbed me and darted away from our previous position in the void. As we evaded the behemoth, I felt the immense pressure of the drake''s growing cosmic intent. The energy was suffocating¡ªnothing like anything I had ever experienced before. I wondered who would be stronger¡ªmy father or this being. Would Dad have even needed this being''s help in the first place? I thought to myself as we made another sharp turn around a celestial body, causing the basilisk to crash, slowing its momentum. "Little one, how much have you recovered? Are you ready for another attempt?" the drake asked while weaving through the debris of the shattered platform. "I''ll manage. What do you have in mind?" "I will create an opening, and I need you to latch onto the basilisk and finish taking out its other horn." "What do you mean, ''other''?" But before I could finish my sentence, the basilisk came into focus, its massive head looming before me. One of its horns was already half its original size, leaking dark essence. Seeing that my initial attempt actually succeeded, my confidence grew reassuring me of my ability to complete the task at hand. "I''ll be ready," I affirmed, but the curious and greedy part of me wanted to at least try putting to use the insight I had just learned. I tucked that desire away hoping I would get another opportunity. The current situation was just too dire risk something like that now with another being''s life on the line. The technique needed much more time than what I would be allowed. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The drake didn''t respond¡ªit simply executed another maneuver, sending the basilisk crashing into more debris. With the astral behemoth disoriented, we rose above it, gaining the high ground. "You ready?" my ally asked telepathically. "Yes." I said steeling my resolve. Immediately, the drake launched me toward the basilisk. I layered cosmic energy around my body, hoping to soften the impact, but the behemoth recovered too quickly. It lunged at me, its maw opening wide, revealing jagged void-black fangs. Staring down its gaping maw, I knew I had only one chance to change my trajectory and evade the attack. Releasing the cosmic energy surrounding my body, I hurriedly channeled it into the first rune of my tattoo. In a matter of seconds, my chest glowed magenta, generating a force that warped the space around us. The basilisk''s momentum didn''t stop completely, but it slowed just enough for me to flip forward, push off its nose, and propel myself toward the unbroken horn. The massive serpent snapped its jaws shut as I barely managed to grab hold of the remaining horn. Immediately, the nebula drake appeared beneath the basilisk, headbutting it and sending us surging upward through the void. I channeled cosmic energy into my hands, reinforcing my grip so I wouldn''t be shaken off during the assault. "Hurry, little one! I''m keeping it occupied, but I can''t hold out much longer in a physical fight. It has grown significantly after absorbing my cosmic energy," the drake''s voice echoed in my head. Steeling my mind, I took a deep breath to calm myself despite hanging on for dear life. I activated my rune once again, slowing the serpent''s head just enough to land several clean strikes on the horn. After my barrage, I saw fractures forming along its surface. But as my ability wore off, I lost my grip and was flung backward. Desperately, I thrust my hands deep into the serpent''s scales, barely stopping myself from being tossed into the endless void. "Little one, are you okay?" the drake asked as it dodged a vicious bite from the serpent. "I''m alright! Just hold on a little longer¡ªI think I can break it with one more try." I projected my thoughts back to the drake. As we twisted through the void, I carefully climbed my way back toward the horn. "I''m here¡ªget ready," I signaled. Clutching the cracking horn with all my strength, I activated my ability once more. Each punch I landed carried everything I had left. Pain exploded in my right arm as the bones cracked under the pressure. Still, I refused to stop. I don''t care what it takes¡ªyou need to die already! I roared, unleashing one final punch. With the final devastating blow, my arm shattered completely¡ªbut so did the horn. The moment it snapped off, my body became weightless, floating away into the void. "You did well, little one," the drake''s voice rang in my head. Above the serpent, a blinding sphere of cosmic energy materialized. "This battle is finished. Now, perish, you wretched beast!" the prismatic drake''s voice boomed through the void. In an instant, a cataclysmic force descended upon the basilisk, erasing it from existence in one fell swoop. As darkness overtook my vision, I finally succumbed to the pain and passed out. Chapter 41 (Adam POV) It had been over a week and a half since the mining incident, and the townspeople were still up in arms about the situation, no matter how many times I had expressed my condolences. I really can''t blame them, though, I thought to myself as I walked through the city center, looking for a place to get lunch. Memories of the war from Ezra''s and my younger days flooded my mind. I knew what it was like to lose people to a seemingly evil threat. They''ll get over it in time, just like I did. But now, I couldn''t spend time making sure every single person was okay¡ªI had larger matters that truly needed my attention. If I could find this boy and hand him over to Lord Enzo, our town would be set up for generations to come. Our little town would become one of the greatest places to live on the continent, and I would be the one to lift it from its lowly standing. "But where could this little boy be?" I thought to myself. He couldn''t have gone far with all their belongings. And how did he know to leave the town in the first place? Did Ezra plan this before he came to me? Did he know I was hiding something this whole time? I pondered as I sipped the tea I had purchased. All of this just seems off. After eating, I decided to backtrack a bit. One of the townspeople had seen them returning from the forest, and I recalled that they had recently trained out there, away from everyone, near the rift. With that in mind, I made the choice to pay the area a visit and see if I could find clues about his whereabouts. The boy was used to being in the woods, having been on the run for the past couple of years. There was a good chance he had created some type of hideout¡ªsomething his father had been great at during our days in the army. I do feel bad for the boy in that regard. Everything he''s gone through isn''t his fault, yet he has to endure it all. "Our futures are generally impacted by those who came before us," I muttered, recalling an old phrase my grandfather used to say when I was growing up here. As I walked through the forest, I noticed how eerily quiet it was for a place that was usually brimming with astral behemoths. The flow of cosmic energy felt calm for the first time in decades. Our town never had a Starbound or a group strong enough to defeat the rift. Being in this area and not sensing any malicious intent was a shock to me. The only cosmic energy I could really feel was the energy coming from the rift itself. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Did Ezra clear this out?" I wondered as I finally reached the nest of the Aurora Moths. "It had to be him. A kid who just became a Starbound not long ago couldn''t have done this," I murmured, taking in the scene of slain behemoths. As I analyzed the site, I noticed something peculiar¡ªthere weren''t any burn or scorch marks on the moths. That was strange because I knew how Ezra operated. He wouldn''t waste time with low-stage astral behemoths; he would just scorch them and move on. I also noticed brutal puncture wounds in all the moths, along with their severed wings scattered across the ground. It was eerily similar to how the Spear Beetles had looked after the attack that those two helped with. Did the boy do this? I asked myself as I approached what looked like the corpse of the queen. Looking down at the massive creature, I saw the same type of damage, but the hole in its exoskeleton was enormous. I sensed no cosmic energy from the behemoth either. A chill ran down my spine as I acted on impulse and peered inside the exposed exoskeleton. I expected to see a celestial core, but it was nowhere to be found. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed splatters of red blood lining the battlefield. Human blood. That was the answer to my questions. The boy had caused this. Ezra was too strong to be wounded by starspawns, and he had no need for cosmic energy from low-level cores anyway. Ezra, what did you create? I thought grimly, inspecting the rest of the behemoths and realizing all their cores were missing as well. I knew the kid was potentially a prodigy¡ªan heir to a great clan¡ªbut he still shouldn''t have been able to wipe out this entire nest by himself. Let alone with just his bare hands and no sign of his fate constellation being used. I finally understood why I had felt uneasy earlier. He''s not normal, he''s anomaly, a paradox. Growing up with his father, I thought I would be used to things like this. Even Ezra hadn''t been capable of such feats this early on, based on what he had told me when we got put into the same group for the war games in school. Does the child have a different constellation from the rest of his family and clan? I muttered. I knew he wasn''t a pure-blooded Solaris member¡ªhis mother was from some random clan that resided in another continent. I just couldn''t wrap my mind around it. The carnage I had witnessed told me one thing: I needed to be extremely careful when I found him¡ªespecially after his little outburst the other day and also because I haven''t been in a true battle for years. After mulling over my findings, I decided to call it a day and head back to town to make sure Karen wasn''t being trampled by requests. As I made my way back, my phone started to buzz. Reaching for it, I glanced at the screen, and a grin spread across my face. I answered the call. "Hello?" "Adam, this is Kael. I''ll be over that way in about two days, I''ll be bringing another astral gate and finishing off the fugitive." Chapter 42 Kael''s POV Ever since Adam called and informed me that he had Ezra Solaris trapped in the astral realm with no way to escape, I knew this was the moment I had been waiting for¡ªthe moment I could cement myself as one of the strongest generals in the Lux Tenebris. If I could take out someone regarded as one of the strongest in our world, it would bring me the glory I had yearned for. I knew the task wouldn''t be easy, but that was what got my blood pumping. No accomplishment would be worth it if it was easy. Even though I was eager to defeat him, I knew I needed to prepare for a battle that could very well end my life. I searched through all of the records and read up on all of his exploits¡ªhis feats throughout past wars and during his rule over the Arthenos region. I needed to understand him inside and out. I hardly slept, neglecting my duties in my current assignment of taking out the main family in the Valador region. I couldn''t care less¡ªthat clan was going to implode sooner or later with all the infighting that had been going on lately. The deeper I dove into my research, the more I realized that Theron was correct. The Solaris constellation countered the Pyroclasm constellation. Ezra was immune to the heat-based attacks my constellation could perform. But he must not have remembered that I also had resistance to heat. More importantly, at the core of my constellation was the ability to control tectonic forces, and I had several ways of using them. This battle would be a battle of wills, and I was going to push Ezra to the brink since he would be low on cosmic energy by the time I arrived. "Theron, you really are one greedy bastard," I muttered as I continued scanning through the documents on Ezra. Before long, dusk had settled, and it was time for me to leave the guild and head home. Over the past week, I hadn''t spent as much time as I would have liked with my family. I knew my wife and daughter missed me a great deal. They were accustomed to it by now, though, since the guild often consumed much of my focus. Being the leader of a guild came with more responsibility than I had ever bargained for. It wasn''t my calling, but I had to adjust when I was thrust into a position of leadership after conquering the most rifts in the Valador region. Yet, part of me felt guilty this time. My family didn''t know about Lux Tenebris or the things I had done for the sake of the organization¡ªthough, in truth, most people didn''t. They didn''t realize that part of the reason our guild had grown was largely due to the organization''s backing and the Master''s guidance. They didn''t know that, in secret, I was working to fulfill our dream. We were ridding the world of the oppressors who had plagued it for generations. Each of the twelve great clans played a role in the current world order, whether they realized it or not. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The Syltharion clan was one of the worst. Growing up in the Valador region, I had seen firsthand how they controlled most of the crops and other essential resources, making daily survival a struggle for the common people. I watched many family members and friends die from starvation because of the ever-increasing prices they imposed. My wife had lost her entire family because of them. She didn''t know it, but the day I saw her burying the last of her kin, tears streaming down her face, I vowed to exact revenge in their honor. With the rise of the guild, I had slacked a little on my assignment to destroy their clan. I had trouble finding where the main family resided. The Syltharion clan''s special fate constellation, Eldertree Sage, granted them full control of their surroundings, and periodically, they used it to relocate their estate at will. They only revealed themselves when conducting business or attending the meetings of the Great Twelve. But dwelling on this now wouldn''t help me prepare for my battle against the Emperor of the Sun. I pushed those thoughts into a separate part of my mind as I approached my home. Gently opening the door to avoid making any noise, I was immediately greeted by a tight hug from my daughter. "Dad! You''re finally home! What took you so long? You said you''d be home earlier for dinner," my daughter asked. "I''m sorry, Mira. I just got a little sidetracked with a recent development involving one of our trade partners," I replied, her large doe-like eyes breaking through the hardened exterior I wore for the rest of the world. "Alright, well, come on then! I helped Mom cook¡ªtell me what you think!" she said, excitedly dragging me toward the kitchen. As my daughter brought me my food, my wife greeted me with a kiss on the cheek. "How are you, dear?" she asked. "I''m doing much better now," I said, savoring the moment. Realizing that I might not get to experience this again after my upcoming battle, I let the warmth of home wash over me. "Dad, guess what?" Mira said, beaming with excitement. "What is it, sweetie?" "I got this letter in the mail today¡ªit says I got accepted to Xhatal Astral Academy in the western continent!" she exclaimed, jumping for joy at her achievement. Hearing the news, I knew then and there¡ªI had to make it back. I needed to see my daughter flourish in the world that the Lux Tenebris would create. Chapter 43 (Cyrus POV) Awakening in the void, I saw the aftermath of our battle against the Voidfang Basilisks. All that remained were remnants of the creature, one of which was a massive horn that had taken my entire strength to break. Even now, as just a fraction of what it once was, the horn was enormous. I let it continue its aimless drift through the void until it gently rested in my battered and beaten hands. I was lucky to be weightless here¡ªif I had been in the physical realm, I doubted I would have had the strength to carry it in my current state. Holding this horn provided a sense of accomplishment that I desperately needed at this moment in my life. Even though I hadn''t dealt the final blow or inflicted significant damage on the behemoth, I took satisfaction in knowing that I had overcome an insurmountable hurdle through sheer willpower and determination. I would need that same resolve if I was going to stand side by side with my father once I freed him from his imprisonment. "I see that you are finally awake, little one," a soothing voice interrupted my introspection. Searching for the source, I spotted the drake undulating above me as it drifted closer. "Yeah¡­ Sorry for passing out. My astral body took quite the beating in this rift for who knows how long," I replied. "It''s fine, little one. You deserve the rest. If it weren''t for you, I don''t think I would have defeated the Voidfang anyway. It is the direct counter to what I embody." "If your role is to help create a pathway into the astral realm by mending the damage caused by the supernova, I would assume you''ve fought them before. How did you defeat them in the past?" I asked, curious about this mysterious creature. "This was my first time, little one. To my knowledge, my kind has never encountered a Starbound, let alone fought astral behemoths in the rifts. I was only supposed to emerge from my cocoon once the Rift Guardian was defeated. We were never meant to meet, and yet, for some reason, I was awakened early¡ªbecause of you. What are you, exactly, little one?" "What do you mean? I''m a Starbound, just like any other who might have entered this rift before me," I responded, a tinge of nervousness creeping into my voice. "No, you are something far different from the other Starbound I have sensed in this part of the rift. I couldn''t quite place it before, but when you activated that rune of yours, it radiated an essence unlike anything I have ever encountered. Even your core¡­ Is that a black hole, little one?" The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "You can see my core? And¡­ yes, it is a black hole. But it didn''t start that way. My old core was ripped out by Solaris during my Starbirth Trial, and he replaced it with this," I admitted. "Lord Solaris did this? He hasn''t been involved with any of his attachments since before the Great Ascension. Why now? Whatever his reasons, there must be a purpose behind them. He rarely acts without one. It seems my judgment was correct¡ªyou are special. Perhaps fate forced me out of my cocoon to help you. Perhaps you are destined for something great." "Maybe¡­" I muttered, though my mind echoed those words more deeply than I wanted to admit. "I believe in you, little one. Here, let me offer you a token of my gratitude," the drake said, placing its claw on me. A surge of cosmic energy poured into my body, refilling my nearly empty reserves and healing my wounds. "You will need to be at full strength if you are to face the Rift Guardian." "Thank you so much," I said, feeling my vitality return. "Oh, um¡­ do Celestial Mergers have names?" "My name is Rava, little one." "Thank you, Rava. I won''t forget you." "No, thank you, little one. Because of you, I got to experience something beyond what I was created for." With that, Rava gently clasped me in her massive claws, offering an embrace unlike anything I had felt in a long time. Then, she gestured toward the broken horn still in my grasp. "Oh, let me see that, little one." Taking the chunk of the horn from my hands, she infused it with cosmic energy, her claws molding the dark material into a curved sword. "A true warrior needs a weapon, don''t you think?" she said with a wry smile. "There you go, little one. Now you''re ready for the final stage. But I don''t know how useful it will be once you leave the rift¡ªyou lack an Astral Forge to store it." "It''s okay, Rava. This is more than enough," I said, showing my gratitude. She nodded her large, prismatic head before lifting me toward the space where everything in the void began to meld together, forming a portal to the last section of the rift. "I guess this is my stop. Here goes nothing," I said sarcastically, glancing back at the beautiful creature one last time before stepping forward. "And so it is," she replied, giving me a small push, just enough momentum to send me drifting into the portal. "Goodbye, little prince¡­ I''m sure we''ll meet again someday," Rava said softly as she floated away, her form gradually becoming encased in another cocoon. Part of me was sad to leave Rava, there was something about her essence that was quite warming and nurturing. I almost forgot what that feeling was like. I had to press that need and yearning for that affection deep down and lock it away, because I couldn''t afford to be soft and still act like a kid with our current situation. I turned and took one last glance at my new ally as her encasing was almost finished and let an out loud farewell. "Bye Rava I hope to see you again one day. Maybe next time I''ll be strong enough to break you away from your job." Chapter 44 (Cyrus POV) Drifting through the portal, I felt a sense of unease as my new and final environment within this rift came into focus. The first thing I noticed was a swirling nexus of light and shadow with an enormous orb at its center. This phenomenon resembled some type of solar eclipse, with each element seemingly fighting for control over the other. When I landed on the surface, I found nothing particularly special¡ªjust a vast expanse of grassy plains with a few large mountain ranges and valleys. As I scanned my surroundings, trying to absorb as much information as possible, a deep rumble intruded upon my sense of hearing. I knew exactly where it came from. The massive floating orb trembled, and slowly, one claw at a time, a colossal figure began to emerge. When the creature''s full body finally stepped out of the orb, I knew I had my work cut out for me. The being had three enormous heads, each moving independently as if each possessed its own will. Its massive frame was supported by four powerful limbs, covered in scales that shifted colors depending on which force¡ªthe light or the shadow¡ªheld dominance over the orb. Whenever light prevailed, its scales turned an ivory white; when the shadow took control, they darkened into a deep charcoal gray. "Well, Cy, looks like you got your wish¡ªno puzzles, just another good old-fashioned fight to the death," I muttered to myself as the Hydra roared, acknowledging my presence. The beast stood poised for battle, exuding the presence of a seasoned warrior. Sensing for its core, I knew I had to be more careful than I was in any previous battle with an astral behemoth. It was a stage ahead of me, and I could feel the sheer potency of its cosmic energy radiating outward, like an unstable bomb ready to explode. Examining the creature, I came to several conclusions. In terms of raw destructive power, the hydra was superior. But I had the advantage of maneuverability within the wide expanse of the grassy plains, giving me potential opportunities to evade lethal blows. With my core at near full capacity, I had eight chances to use my ability to land decisive strikes¡ªI just needed to find its weak points. As I formulated a strategy, the Hydra began to trot toward me, as if irritated by the fact that I didn''t initially come to challenge it right off the bat. "Impatient little lizard, aren''t you?" I said aloud. The ten-meter-tall astral behemoth suddenly charged, barreling toward me with unrestrained fury. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "I accept your challenge," I shouted, dragging the weapon Rava had forged for me. Channeling cosmic energy into my legs, I took an explosive step forward, launching into a full-speed sprint toward the Hydra. It wasn''t long before we were face to face. As soon as I saw its three heads preparing to bite down on me, I activated my ability. The beast''s body trembled within my field of influence, its movements drastically slowing. Taking advantage of the opening, I slid beneath its overextended heads and leaped toward its underbelly, slashing with all my might. My attack did more damage than expected¡ªit pierced through its cosmic defenses, leaving a deep gash that immediately began to bleed. As my five-second window came to an end my gravity field weakened, the Hydra regained movement, forcing me to dodge its massive tail and create some distance. "This might not be as difficult as I thought," I murmured, glancing at the weapon made from the horns of the Void Serpent. The effectiveness of my strike made sense¡ªafter all, that basilisk was also of the Voidborn stage. But as I looked back at the Hydra, I saw something that instantly changed my mind regarding the difficulty of the battle. This sight truly caused my confidence to waver. Steam began to rise from beneath its body, right at the spot where I had slashed it. It was healing, and its narrowed eyes glowed signifying its intensifying rage that was starting to boil over. "Maybe I spoke too soon," I muttered as the Hydra''s cosmic energy signature started to surge. Its three mouths all opened wide, dark energy coalescing within them as the shadow element took dominance over the orb. The sky darkened, mimicking the event of when a solar eclipse would take place. A second later, three massive beams of shadow energy erupted toward me, their destructive force meant to erase me in an instant. Channeling cosmic energy into my legs, I dashed to my right, barely escaping the blast. "Damn, now it has the advantage of keeping me at bay with ranged attacks. My attack must have hurt it more than I thought if it''s already changing its approach." As the dust settled, I noticed something¡ªthe orb at the center of the sky had shrunk slightly. "Oh, so you have limits too, huh?" I thought to myself as I was coming to an understanding that the rift''s core could potentially be giving the hydra a supply of cosmic energy. Realizing this, I immediately launched another assault on the Hydra. As I closed the distance at breakneck speed, I noticed the behemoth took a few steps back. "Is the little lizard scared of me?" I taunted, the rush of battle overtaking me. But as I got closer, the astral behemoth fired another shadow blast at point-blank range. I raised my weapon to deflect it, but the sheer force sent me flying backward. Crashing into the grassy plains, I immediately rolled to my feet. However, before I could fully raise my head, the hydra was directly hovering over me. I felt the potency of the beast''s cosmic energy and its dominating intent as it loomed over me like I was its little prey. Looking up, I found myself staring into the three open maws of the Hydra, each one charged with the dark shadow energy, ready to unleash devastation upon me. This terrifying sight truly gave me proper perspective as to why this was astral behemoth was the guardian of the rifts core. Chapter 45 Cyrus Pov The only thing I could do in this moment was activate my ability to slow the release of the attack just enough to escape a fatal blast. Once its effect wore off, the attack was unleashed in its full fury. The plains were decimated by three massive columns of shadow energy, creating a deep crater several meters wide. ¡°If I get hit by one of those head-on, it¡¯s really going to be the end of me,¡± I muttered as I dashed away, trying to create more space between myself and the Rift Guardian. As I distanced myself, I glanced at the orb and noticed it was shrinking again. At this rate, I knew I would run out of energy before this beast did. ¡°How am I going to defeat it? It can heal from injuries, and one hit from its three-headed attack could wipe my astral form from existence. Think, Cyrus, think,¡± I yelled to myself. I had about six more uses of my ability based on my current reserves, and I needed every single one. I couldn¡¯t afford to waste them on evasion¡ªI needed to use them for a clean, critical blow to the Hydra. ¡°But this damn thing is fast for something that big. What is it with these creatures moving faster than they should be able to?¡± I thought as the Hydra finally spotted me again after the debris settled. Locking eyes with the hydra, I instantly tried to create more distance, hoping to buy myself some time to figure out my next move. But the Hydra was relentless. I could tell it lived for the hunt, defending its territory with unwavering ferocity. It was acting as if this opportunity were its last chance to fulfill its starving desires. With a meteoric impact, the behemoth exploded forward, closing the gap between us in just two bounds while I was running at full speed. ¡°Damn it, you really want me dead,¡± I muttered, glancing over my shoulder to see the Hydra preparing to unleash another blast at point-blank range. Without hesitation, I channeled cosmic energy into my first rune and launched myself backward into the air. With only a second left of my ability still being active, I quickly infused my arms with cosmic energy and with all my might, I unleashed a downward slash with my new weapon onto one of the Hydra¡¯s heads. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The horn fragment of the Void Serpent did exactly what I had hoped¡ªit cleaved straight through the Hydra¡¯s head. As my ability faded, the beast let out a deafening wail of pain, thrashing wildly as it lost one of its limbs. The violent reaction caused me to lose balance and tumble off the behemoth, with the momentum sending me rolling across the ground of the grassy plains. As I steadied myself, I noticed a shift in the orb floating in the center of the Rift¡¯s environment. This time, the light within the orb began to take control, forcing the dark shadows to recede. With the light now dominant, the sky radiated with a blinding glow. But that wasn¡¯t the only change. The Hydra¡¯s scales fully transitioned into the shimmering ivory white color, no longer flickering back and forth between the dark charcoal color from when I first appeared. As my eyes adjusted to the intense brightness, I refocused on the Hydra¡ªonly to witness something that made my heart sink. The head I had just severed was growing back. And this time, two new heads replaced it. Now, four pairs of glowing eyes bore down on me, each filled with an even greater resolve to finish what it had started. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I expected anything else. Of course, it grew its freaking head back,¡± I sighed, bracing myself for the next bout. As I channeled a layer of cosmic energy once again over my body, I took another glance at the orb. It had shrunken to nearly half its original size. ¡°So healing takes up way more energy than firing those blasts, huh?¡± I thought. But before I could turn my head back onto the hydra, an immense force slammed into my ribs, cracking them and sending me hurtling through the air. The onslaught didn¡¯t stop there. Before I could regain control of my body and react, a massive claw struck me with a crushing force. I could feel the intent from the beast, and I knew that it was exacting vengeance from the blow I dealt earlier. The impact sent me crashing into the ground, causing blood to spill out from my mouth upon the impact. ¡°Were you upset I wasn¡¯t paying attention to you, little lizard? I¡¯m sorry for that,¡± I muttered as I slowly started pushing myself up to one knee and spitting out more blood. ¡°So you were holding back some speed, huh? Well, that¡¯s just great,¡± I chuckled bitterly. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time I stopped holding back, too,¡± I yelled out, knowing all too well there wasn¡¯t much more I could give. The creature simply snorted in response, unimpressed by my declaration. ¡°Is this Hydra actually being honorable? Why is it letting me stand up?¡± I wondered. ¡°Did its personality change when the light side of the orb took control? These Rifts are crazy,¡± I muttered as I walked over to retrieve my weapon. After that brutal assault, I knew I couldn¡¯t take much more of this beating. I was vastly outmatched in both raw strength and speed. I only had five more uses of my ability left, and my body was battered and broken¡ªyet the fight looked as though it had only just begun. ¡°Well, I guess I have no choice but to try the technique now, since I never got the chance to during my time in the Void.¡± Chapter 46 Cyrus Pov With my breathing labored and forced, and the raw intent of the Hydra spilling out as it stared me down, I let myself become consumed by my deep inhales and exhales. Each cycle gradually reduced the frantic anxiety that had taken control of every facet of my thoughts. Like I had done in the Void, I expelled cosmic energy from my core, weaving it outward like a web. Staying focused on expanding my senses, I closed my eyes, knowing this might be a misstep given the nature of my opponent. Deep in this meditative state, I once again felt the gravitational fields of everything around me. I sensed the subtle pull of the blades of grass, the way they altered the space around them. I detected the weight of the boulders as my outreaching cosmic energy was slowly drawn toward them. But two entities stood out among the rest¡ªthe first was the Hydra, and the second was the Rift''s core, from which the beast was actively drawing power. In this heightened state, I could feel it¡ªhow the astral behemoth was forcibly siphoning cosmic energy from the core. The interaction between the cosmic energy and the gravitational distortions in the environment made it clear. "So, if I cut you off from that, you''re finished," I thought, sifting through the flood of information my senses were receiving. Processing everything put an immense strain on my mind, but it was worth it¡ªespecially if it meant getting out of here alive. I was willing to endure anything. After a few moments, as I adjusted to the mental burden, I allowed my mind and soul to meld deeper into one, losing myself in the depths of my meditation. With my eyes closed and my breathing steady, my body moved instinctively toward the Hydra. I heard the beast snort, acknowledging my intent to continue the battle. Within my cosmic web, I sensed the shifts and distortions in the creature''s gravitational field as it redistributed its mass, preparing to lunge. Though my eyes remained shut, I didn''t need to see¡ªI could feel it. The moment the behemoth initiated its maneuver, I predicted the attack and evaded with minimal use of my cosmic energy. I heard the beast''s frustration as the wind rushed past me, the force of its failed strike stirring the air. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. I understood the breakthrough I had just made. With this ability, I could negate the behemoth''s speed advantage, but it all depended on how well I could maintain this deep meditative state despite the constant depletion of my core. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Suppressing my cocky thoughts, I sank further into my meditation. I sensed the gravitational distortions once more¡ªsignals that the behemoth was preparing another explosive leap. Hearing the thunderous impact as it launched itself, I estimated that I had roughly a second to react. As I sidestepped to the left, I detected another distortion originating from where its heads would be. This one was greater. It felt like the buildup of coiled muscles¡ªa massive store of potential energy¡ªbut it was more than that. In the fleeting moment I had, I felt the gravity warping around four distinct objects, each radiating increasing heat. "Damn, it''s going to fire another blast," I realized. Instantly, I pushed cosmic energy into my astral tattoo. With my field of influence active, I felt my presence diminish the Hydra''s gravitational field. Taking advantage of the moment, I forced my battered body to move, gripping my horn fragment sword tightly as I slashed through all four of the creature''s legs, severing them cleanly. At this point, it didn''t matter that my ability had worn off¡ªthe behemoth was now immobilized, unable to move until it regenerated its limbs. I didn''t waste time. Ignoring its agonized wails, I leapt onto its fallen form, making a direct path for its heads. I knew this was my moment. I was nearing my mental limit, struggling to actively process the gravitational fields around me. I had to make every second count. As I reached the Hydra''s heads, I activated my ability once more, slowing their frantic movements just enough to land clean strikes on all four. I knew they would regenerate. But that was exactly what I needed to happen. As I delivered the final slash to the fourth head, I felt a massive shift in the atmosphere. The Rift''s core was releasing a surge of cosmic energy, funneling it toward the Hydra. With such a large amount of energy leaving the core, I could feel the gravitational fields around it weakening drastically¡ªits mass had decreased significantly. Beneath me, I sensed a deep rumbling¡ªthe Hydra was regaining consciousness. That was my cue. I had reached my mental limit, and as my cosmic web dissipated, along with my deep meditative state. With my advantage gone, I knew I had only one course of action left. I had to destroy the core. That was the only way to end this nightmare. With three uses of my ability remaining, I decided to do one last petty thing. Activating my ability once again, I sliced off all of the Hydra''s legs a second time¡ªthen immediately broke into a full sprint toward the core. This served two purposes. One, it gave me a head start against a much faster opponent. Two, it made the core even smaller, making it easier to deal a decisive blow. Chapter 47 Cyrus Pov The core hovered several hundred meters in the air, floating near one of the mountain ranges. I needed to climb the mountain just to reach the orb and deliver the final blow. Even with my head start on the hydra, this was still a daunting task. I could feel the astral behemoth gaining on me with every step I took as I concentrated most of my cosmic energy into my legs, propelling myself forward at breakneck speed. The malicious and dominating intent from the astral behemoth felt like it was creeping up my shoulder with every passing second. I knew for a fact it wasn''t leaving anything to chance now, as its five heads roared in desperation to stop me. The closer it got, the more the ground beneath my feet shuddered, forcing me to focus even harder just to maintain my balance. With only a few hundred meters left before reaching the basin of the mountain, I stole a quick glance back at my enemy. I saw the ravenous beast, salivating like a feral creature hunting its prey after a long bout of starvation. Don''t look back, Cy. Looking back will slow you down, I reminded myself, forcing more cosmic energy into my legs, hoping to eke out even just a little bit more speed. Now just a meter away from the basin, I didn''t hesitate. Taking a few more steps, I mustered all my strength and launched myself into the sky. Midair, I stopped funneling my cosmic energy into my legs and redirected it to my free hand¡ªthe one not holding the horn fragment. With enough momentum to stop a shipping container in its tracks, I crash-landed into the mountain. Clinging to the rock for dear life with one hand, I peeked downward and saw the hydra preparing to do the same. "Goddamn," I muttered, vaulting myself upward as fast as I could. "I hate that I need this weapon right now. It''s slowing me down." A slight chuckle escaped me as I thought about how, if my dad were here, he''d definitely have a few choice words for me¡ªespecially after all my complaining about not having a weapon in the past. Wait¡­ I''m so stupid, I realized suddenly. The horn fragment was able to absorb cosmic energy from Rava. With that in mind, I imbued cosmic energy into the fragment and used it as a pick to help me scale the mountain faster. The horn fragment sank much deeper into the rock than my bare hands could. With my efficiency greatly improved, I put more distance between myself and the hydra, which wasn''t well-suited for climbing¡ªslipping between bounds as it struggled to gain traction. With my accelerated pace, it wasn''t long before I could see the peak. Just a few more vaults, and I had finally made it to the top. Looking over the edge, I saw the struggling hydra, its rage evident as it failed to grasp the mountainside without proper thumbs. Locking eyes, I could see it still refused to concede, preparing to launch blasts from all five of its heads. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "You''re a sore loser, you know that, right?" I yelled at the beast as it fired its cannons of blinding light into the sky, hoping to catch me in the crossfire. Stepping back from the cliff''s edge, I watched the light dissipate into the sky. "Looks like we''ve got one less thing to worry about, Cy," I muttered, turning my attention to the orb¡ªthe core maintaining this projection of the rift. "You''re the thing that''s been giving me such a hard time in here, huh?" I mused, gazing at the core, not expecting an answer from the steadily shrinking ball of energy. Before I could revel in my success, a deep rumbling came from beneath me. My eyes darted to look down at the bottom of the cliff, scanning for the hydra, but it was nowhere to be seen. "Did it run away? Did it give up because it couldn''t climb the mountain?" I wondered, double-checking the basin to ensure fatigue wasn''t clouding my perception. No¡­ it wouldn''t give up that easily, I thought, looking back at the orb. It was shrinking even faster now, and the rumbling beneath me grew more intense. Then I saw it¡ªa bulge forming on the mountain''s surface. "It really dug through the damn mountain," I cursed, channeling cosmic energy into my legs. As I sprinted to prepare my final jump toward the rift''s core, the hydra burst through the surface of mountain in a blazing fury, blasting blindly in all directions. "Damn it! I should''ve just destroyed the core instead of catching my breath," I growled. With the mountain crumbling beneath my feet, I had only one meter left before I had to make my final leap. Looking at the orb, I could tell there wasn''t enough energy left for the hydra to fire another blast. If it wanted to kill me, it would have to sink its fangs into me¡ªand there was no way in the universe I was letting that happen. Not when I was this close to defeating this damned rift. Forcing cosmic energy into my last foothold on the crumbling mountain, I launched myself toward the core with an explosive leap. As I soared through the air, a massive shadow loomed over me. Looking up, I saw the hydra making one last desperate attempt to catch me, falling faster than I was moving horizontally. Its fangs were bared, ready to tear into me. Instinctively, I activated my ability, slowing its movement as our gravitational forces clashed. Facing all five of its heads, I channeled cosmic energy into the horn fragment and spun my body as fast as I could. With every ounce of momentum I could generate without a solid surface to push off of, I unleashed a devastating slash, cutting through all five heads in one motion. But I wasn''t done. With my ability fading, I channeled the last remnants of my energy into my legs and used the hydra''s massive body as a springboard, propelling myself even closer to the core. With the rift''s core finally within reach and my own core eating away at itself, I delivered the final strike. As my horn fragment bisected the core, an eruption of energy engulfed everything in blinding white light¡ªoverwhelming my senses as I faded into unconsciousness. Chapter 48 (Cyrus POV) After falling unconscious after dealing the final blow to the core, I didn''t know what would happen after that shockwave of energy exploded. All I knew was that my astral form was not destroyed, and somehow, I was unscathed despite being that close to the explosion. Regaining my bearings, I noticed that I was once again in a new environment. It was evident that I wasn''t in the physical realm or the astral realm. Essentially, I was in a clear and iridescent tube that seemed to be transporting me to another location. Looking through the tube, I noticed that I was gazing out into a dark expanse littered with faint glowing lights. "Where am I?" I asked myself as I slowly turned my body around, trying to grasp what I was experiencing. After nearly completing a full rotation in this cylindrical pathway, I saw something familiar. It wasn''t something I had seen in person before, but I had seen it in textbooks, pictures, and occasionally on TV. It was Earth. "So, does that mean I''m in space?" I thought, trying to control my shock. This must be the pathway Rava mentioned¡ªthe one her species creates once the rift is defeated. "So, this is what I was rocketed through when I took my Starbirth trial, huh? It honestly makes complete sense now, and explains why I saw all those faint streams of light as I zipped by," I said to myself. After this realization, I came to another conclusion as well. I had thought the astral realm was something equal in size to Earth in some shape or form. But seeing as I was literally being transported through space¡ªwhich is practically infinite and ever-expanding¡ªthere was no way the astral realm wasn''t something even greater. I could only assume that I had seen just a speck of what truly existed within it. I sat in the tube for a while, gazing at the vast amount of stars, wondering if I would be able to find a constellation I recognized as I was slowly transported toward what looked like a new portal. With time to kill, I decided to try out the technique I had stumbled upon while in the rift. Entering a deep state of meditation, I expanded my senses as far as I could. The process was far easier now that I wasn''t distracted by behemoths and rift mergers fighting to the death. Deep in my meditation, I felt all the different gravitational fields around me and how each entity interacted with the others. "I truly must be my father''s son because I feel my urge to dissect and analyze every little nuance while in this state," I thought to myself. If I could master this Gravisense, it would be extremely beneficial during our trek to the western border of the continent. I knew that just being associated with my father and traveling with him would draw enemies far greater than those in the embryonic stage. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Letting myself sink deeper into meditation, it wasn''t long before I sensed a strange disturbance in the gravitational fields around me. The object was moving like a comet¡ªfast and heading straight for me. Sensing this, I immediately pulled myself out of meditation to put my eyes on the approaching object. When I finally spotted it, I noticed that it wasn''t large whatsoever. As it reached me, it came to an abrupt halt and simply floated, seemingly waiting to be grabbed. The object resembled a scale, likely from some type of lizard. It shimmered with deep emerald and gold celestial hues. When I reached out to grab it, I felt a strange pulsating sensation, almost as if the scale had a subtle heartbeat. "Is this thing alive?" I thought, flipping the scale over multiple times, hoping to find some answers. Upon turning it over, I saw celestial runes inscribed on the backside. Deciding to pour cosmic energy into the scale, I watched as the runes lit up, my essence flooding into it. Now that my essence and cosmic energy were inside the object, I felt a connection form between it and myself. The runes began to change, translating themselves to me. The first inscription revealed that this was an astral relic called the Scale of the Eternal Hydra. "Wait, did I just get an astral relic? Is this the reward for defeating the rift?" I thought to myself as I continued reading the translated runes. Looking over the next several inscriptions, I learned that this relic granted me several traits once activated with my cosmic energy. The first ability was called Hydra Rebirth¡ªit provided rapid healing, allowing my wounds to close almost instantly. My bones would mend in seconds, and even lost limbs could regenerate over time. The second passive ability was Vital Resilience, making me immune to poisons and adaptable to extreme conditions. However, these abilities came at a cost: the greater the wound, the more cosmic energy it would require to heal¡ªjust like the hydra. Then there was the last ability it granted. If the wielder of the relic suffered a fatal wound, Lernaean Requiem would activate, using all my cosmic energy reserves to reverse the effect. I was in shock at what I had just been granted¡ªit was essentially a supercharger for what cosmic energy could do over an extended period. But the cost was substantial, especially since my core already leaked a great deal of cosmic energy. "I''m going to have to use this sparingly; otherwise, I could end up in a situation where my core is at risk of eating itself." Suddenly I realized that my core wasn''t empty either, and it only had shrunk just a tad bit. "Did I absorb the remaining energy of the rift unconsciously?" I thought to myself for a brief moment. After rereading the runes one last time, I stopped channeling cosmic energy into the scale. Shortly after, the relic attached itself to my right arm and embedded itself within my skin. As it fused, a bright light caught my attention from the corner of my eye. The light was getting closer and closer. Turning toward it and shielding my eyes, I realized it was the end of the pathway¡ªI was about to be ejected back into the astral realm once again. Chapter 49 Ezra POV I don''t know the exact amount of time that has passed since I was imprisoned within this barrier, but based on the rotting of the corpses slain by Adam and the depletion of my cosmic energy, I would say it has been around a couple of weeks. During this time, I had a lot of opportunities to mull over the events that led to this situation. With very few people left to trust on this continent, I wanted to have faith in someone I held as a friend. After all, the only person I spent more time with during my years in the academy and military was my brother. I didn''t want to believe that the time we spent together and the bond we built would be cast aside so easily. But I knew the signs were there. I guess he just never truly had the chance to show his real intentions and desires while being overshadowed by my older brother and me. My brother always said I was too trusting and that one day it would be my downfall when I least expected it. If he were here, I''m sure I would have gotten some type of I told you so comment, coupled with some way to mock me. I hoped he was still alive and had found a way to escape that day. Other than our father, he was the person I looked up to the most. He had characteristics I wished I had and strived to develop them when I was younger. He was a brash leader¡ªsomeone who didn''t hesitate to take action, someone who always had a firm grasp of the situation. He was the first to act when we found out that our mother had been kidnapped while visiting her family. He disregarded everyone''s advice on the matter. He went in alone, wiped out the entire squad, and retrieved her. That was something I wished I had the resolve to do back then. I often overthought things in my head, too focused on doing everything the right way, the perfect way. It made me slow to react and hesitant to make decisions in moments that demanded urgency¡ªjust like now. "I guess I still have a ways to go, brother." With my mind wandering back and forth over past mistakes, I realized how I might have pushed those same ideals onto Cyrus. How I tried to make him similar to me when, in reality, he had traits I wished I possessed at his age. He was much like my brother in many ways, and I had begun to see the influence of his uncle shaping him in recent years. I was afraid that the same characteristics he shared with my brother would consume him entirely if it went unchecked. I needed him to have balance. I needed him to develop discernment. With how things are now, he may never rule Arthenos as he was bred to, but he can still fulfill the purpose our clan was placed on this earth for. He can still be a beacon of peace and balance in this world. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "So, how long is it going to take for you to notice I''m here, old man?" A familiar voice snapped me out of my deep trance, the state I had kept myself in to conserve as much cosmic energy as possible. I searched all around me but couldn''t find the source of the voice. I was also handicapped, unable to expand my cosmic energy to sense anything without it being reflected back at me. Then, my eyes finally settled on a figure emerging over the horizon of the small valley nearby. I saw unruly curls forming into freeform dreads. I saw skin that resembled mine. I saw the tattered clothes of the boy''s astral form. I saw the weapon he dragged through the soft exterior of the astral realm. What I saw was my son. He had done something I didn''t think he was capable of. When I sent out that burst for him to escape, I had no intention of him coming back to save me. I just wanted him to flee and try to reach the western border. I thought I was going to rot here until Adam deemed enough time had passed for my core to run out of cosmic energy. "Hey, Dad, I hope you know you owe me big time for this. I can''t even tell you how many times I nearly died." My son''s sarcastic tone pulled me further from my daze as he approached the barrier I was trapped in. "How did you do it? Who helped you? It was a category two rift, Cyrus." I asked, almost pleading¡ªalmost unable to believe my own eyes. "Yeah, it''s a long story, but just know your son is special. When we get out of this damned town, I''ll explain it all." He spoke in an exasperated tone as he prepared to swing his new weapon at the barrier. I watched as he poured cosmic energy into the blade, his pure focus and resolve unwavering. Then, in one fell swoop, he completely shattered the barrier. The moment it broke, I didn''t hesitate. I rushed forward, lifting my son up and pulling him into the biggest hug I could muster. "Thank you so much, Cyrus. I am extremely proud of you, and I am happy to be your father." "I appreciate it, Dad, but you''re crushing me, you know that, right?" "I don''t care. You can handle it," I replied, wiping a tear from my eye. After I finally set him down, I took a moment to examine him. I immediately noticed how different he seemed. He had grown¡ªnot just in power but in maturity and resolve. I could tell a lot had happened in the two weeks I had been trapped. His core had doubled again, and something was different about his right arm as well. "Hey, Cy¡­ you didn''t have scales growing on you two weeks ago, did you?" I asked, hoping I was just seeing things. "Yeah, I actually just got this. It''s an astral relic I obtained after defeating the rift guardian." His response was calm and collected, but before he could finish, a loud hum of cosmic energy erupted from the same space where the astral gate had originally been. I turned to Cyrus, my expression shifting immediately. "Leave. Get back to your normal body¡ªnow." The energy signature entering the astral realm was far too large for him to handle. And I wasn''t at full strength to protect him if things went south. Chapter 50 Ezra POV After assuring Cyrus that I would be okay, I told him to go, hurry, and wait for me outside the new astral gate. He didn''t push back much but asked me to hold onto his new weapon, telling me it was a keepsake he wanted to keep. I did as he asked, absorbing the weapon into my astral forge by activating my second rune. I watched him step into the new rift entrance, and once I felt his cosmic signature dissipate from the astral realm, I turned my focus back to the oncoming threat making its way toward the Celestium mines. I didn''t feel the need to hide or conceal myself because I knew that if I could sense their signatures, they could sense mine as well. Sitting patiently, I waited for them to arrive. One of the figures, I knew all too well¡ªmy treacherous friend Adam. But the person beside him was a stranger to me. However, judging by the fluctuations in his cosmic energy, he was undoubtedly the dominant force I had sensed when the astral gate opened. His hulking frame stood close to eight feet tall, his dark gray skin laced with molten red veins that ran from his arms to his neck. His bald head and sharp crimson eyes made him look even more imposing. I could see why Adam no longer carried the same confidence he had several weeks ago. As the two approached, I noticed that Adam''s companion wore attire unsuited for mundane activity. He was clad in heavy, jagged black armor that pulsed with heat. Is he coming for a battle? I wondered as they laid eyes on me. "You never cease to amaze me, Ezra. How did you break out of that barrier?" Adam asked, shaking his head in annoyance. "It appears you weren''t as diligent in your planning as you thought. You didn''t account for one variable," I shot back. "We sensed two signatures here earlier when we first entered. Where did the other one go? Did one of these miners survive and free you?" Adam asked, seeming genuinely stumped. "Nope. Don''t worry¡ªyou made sure not one survived." "Adam, I sensed a rift opening. I thought you said it wasn''t cleared," the hulking man said, his crimson eyes locked solely on me. "It wasn''t. I''ve been keeping tabs on it for the past week. It must have just happened recently. But there isn''t anyone in our village capable enough to clear it and survive." If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Hearing Adam ramble about the rift filled me with a deep sense of pride, and I couldn''t help but chuckle. "What are you laughing at, Ezra? If I were you, I wouldn''t be laughing right now," Adam said, irritation creeping into his voice. "Adam, it''s just so funny. You can''t even come to the one conclusion staring you in the face. And why shouldn''t I be laughing? A thirteen-year-old boy cleared a stage-two rift by himself¡ªa feat this town hasn''t accomplished in decades." Adam''s face twisted into a frown, which only made me chuckle more. I could sense his agitation boiling over. I knew he wanted to strike me, but even with my depleted cosmic energy, he wasn''t foolish enough to attack. "Enough of this banter. Adam, you may leave now. Thank you for bringing me here," the hulking man said. "And just who might you be?" I asked. "He''s Kael Arvath, leader of the Twilight Obsidian Guild¡ªthe leader of the man you scorched in the woods," Adam said as he began walking away. "Oh, and Ezra, I hope your son is good at playing hide-and-seek. Someone is offering a high price for that boy." "Something tells me you won''t have to go far to find him, Adam. I just hope that price is worth it." "I hope you have fun in the afterlife, Ezra," Adam sneered before vanishing from the astral realm. With Adam gone, only Kael and I remained. His expression didn''t change one bit. "Kael, right? Sorry about what happened earlier with one of your guild members. Do you have kids, by chance?" I asked, trying to dissuade him from a fight. "Yes," he said coldly, his demeanor unreadable. "Then you understand the lengths someone will go to protect their child. Your subordinates tried to kill my son and steal the core of an astral behemoth from him. I wasn''t going to let that slide." "Ezra, I understand. But the real reason I''m here isn''t for retaliation. I''m here to take your head, put it on a silver platter, and present it to my master." "I thought you were the founder and leader of your guild," I said, trying to de-escalate the situation. "Yes, but I''m part of something much bigger than my meager guild. I''m sure you ran into one of our squads not long ago." A grin formed on the side of his cheek. "The Lux Tenebris, right?" I replied. "Correct. We''re ridding the world of the twelve great clans'' clutches, and your clan was the first to fall. With you gone, everything else should be smooth sailing," Kael said, his grin widening as his cosmic energy began to rise. "We were the only clan actually trying to do some good. That was what all my work was about. But I assume you knew that and still framed me anyway." "Your clan was the biggest culprit. You had all the power in the world, yet you remained complicit. You could have wiped out the clans that did wrong, but instead, you gave them mere slaps on the wrist. What good is all that power if you don''t use it for something meaningful? That''s why your clan had to go. We don''t care if that duty was bestowed upon you by the Pantheon." Kael''s cosmic energy erupted. "Now, come, Ezra. Show me why they call you the Emperor of the Sun. I can''t wait to be the one to finally snuff out that legendary light of yours." Chapter 51 Ezra POV Sensing the flow of cosmic energy, I predicted that the attack was coming from behind me. Reinforcing my body with cosmic energy, I pivoted and caught the raging fist with my forearms. The strike sent me sliding backward. "Your reflexes are as good as the legends say, even with you drained of cosmic energy. But I fear that alone will not save you in this battle," Kael said with a smirk. It had been a while since I had fought against someone of his caliber. The potency of an opponent at the Empyrean stage was nothing to scoff at. Knowing I didn''t have much cosmic energy left, I had to use it sparingly¡ªand I was sure my opponent knew that as well. That was why he seemed so confident in challenging me, despite being a stage lower. "Everything alright there, Ezra? You seemed a little worried just now," the hulking man taunted as he took a large, explosive step toward me. Following the flow of his cosmic energy, I prepared a counterattack, but the punch I thought was coming toward me was a feint. Instead of aiming for my midsection, Kael drove his fist straight into the ground, sending debris from the astral realm flying and obscuring my vision. Damn, this man might be smarter than I thought. I dodged the large chunks of rock hurled in my direction, but just as I evaded the last boulder, a powerful force struck me from behind, sending me flying and crashing into the crystalline mountain structure. "Come on, Ezra, you''re starting to let me down. I haven''t even used my ability yet. Don''t tell me you''ve lost a step after all these years of hiding," Kael said as he slowly approached me. He was right¡ªI was being too passive. I didn''t want to waste any cosmic energy without knowing what he was truly capable of. I formed a mace made of solar energy as I pulled myself out of the rubble. "Don''t bite off more than you can chew, big guy," I said before vanishing from my position. When I reappeared at his side, Kael didn''t seem bothered at all. Still, I pressed forward and went for a sweep of his legs. My kick caused a slight buckle in his stance, but not enough for the effect I wanted. Immediately, I dashed upward and swung my solar mace with immense force toward his left shoulder, hoping to render that arm useless. But my attack did no such thing. The only sign of my strike was a small dent in his armor. Shocked, I immediately retreated to create distance. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "Wondering why that didn''t do much damage despite you being a stage stronger than me?" Kael asked, tilting his head as if speaking to a child. "You''re not the first Astral Knight I''ve faced, Ezra, and you won''t be the last I kill. Have you ever heard of the Constellation of the Great Pyroclasm?" "Not familiar," I responded. As soon as I spoke, a rune on his arm began to glow, molten energy seeming to seep through his skin. Then, in one swift motion, Kael thrusted his fist into the ground. The impact generated several explosive aftershocks, sending ripples toward me. The attack resembled a miniature earthquake, and I swiftly dodged to the left¡ªonly to be met with a barrage of earth waves rushing my way. With no other choice, I channeled solar energy into my legs and flew into the air to evade the attack. "You see, Ezra, the Great Pyroclasm constellation is known for creating warriors of immense valor and power. Only Starbound who possess an undying will¡ªstrong enough to withstand the eruption of a volcano¡ªcan obtain the right to connect with it. In return, they are granted the power to become a living, breathing calamity." With a smirk, Kael slowly raised his left arm, and another rune began to glow in tandem. Before I could react, a massive eruption of molten lava shot toward me. The lava didn''t harm or faze me much, but it completely obstructed my vision. Drenched in the geyser of molten rock, I transformed my mace into a fan and blew the lava away. But as soon as my vision cleared, I realized Kael was no longer in sight. How can a man that''s eight feet tall disappear so fast? I thought as I tried to locate his cosmic energy signature. "Looking for me?" His voice came from beneath. Before I could react, he grabbed my ankle and yanked me downward, sending me hurtling toward the devastated landscape. Did the lava conceal his signature? This might be troublesome. I immediately rolled to my feet, narrowly dodging his oncoming knee drop as he leaped down from the geyser. Wasting no time, I took an explosive step forward and summoned my solar mace once again. Infusing more cosmic energy into my attack, I swung with all my might, striking Kael in the abdomen with enough force to rupture a mountain. Kael wasn''t fast enough to dodge the attack, but as my strike landed, I realized¡ªhe might not have needed to. His body slid several feet back, but he simply chuckled as he got up. That should have put a hole through his armor¡ªand his chest. What is this man made of? "It''s clicking now, isn''t it, Ezra?" Kael smirked. "I''m not your average Empyrean-stage Starbound. The reason I''ve defeated several Astral Knights in the past is because of my soul armor." He said as he pounded his chest. "This heavy black jagged armor isn''t just for show. I forged it in the belly of a volcano. I reinforced celestium with molten magma to create a new obsidian metal that''s highly resistant to physical damage and extreme temperatures. When infused with my cosmic energy, it''s practically indestructible. Needless to say, you''re gonna have to generate a hell of a lot more force to get through this bad boy." "So this is what a general of Lux Tenebris is capable of," I thought to myself, shaking my head in annoyance. "You know, I see it now, I see the resemblance now." Kael suddenly said, laughing uncontrollably. "See what?" I shot back, preparing to launch another assault. "Your brother had the same expression on his face when he learned this exact fact about my armor when I faced him as well." Chapter 52 Adam''s POV I really couldn''t believe that little brat somehow figured out how to defeat the rift, but his luck will run out once I find him and ship him off to Lord Enzo. At this point, I''m so close to my goal¡ªI''m not going to let anyone or anything get in my way. Not Ezra, and not his stupid little son. Walking out of the astral gate, I was met by several people eager to see what all the commotion was about. I knew they wanted to know why Kael was in the city, and a lot of them immediately began to ask questions and berate me as I walked out. "Adam, is the fugitive still alive in there?" "Ezra Solaris is currently hanging on for dear life, and Kael has come to get revenge for his fellow guild member¡ªas well as your loved ones. This will be the retribution you all seek. With this, I hope we can band together, move on from these tragic times, and live the fulfilling lives they wished for us to have," I responded, easing the tension of the civilians. Afterward, there was no more discourse from the townspeople. They seemed relieved and at ease, knowing their loved ones would finally get the justice they deserved. Shortly after, I proceeded out of the city to find the boy before he could return to his physical body. Swiftly moving through town, I made my way past the outskirts, where the forest met the city''s borders. "Do those people know the truth?" A voice calmly asked from within the brush. "Come on out, boy," I responded, evading his question. "You know, I saw it all go down. I saw you betray your people and imprison my father," the voice said, growing increasingly firm. "I really started to have a glimmer of hope that not everyone on this continent was bad. I was beginning to believe there were people like you who knew my father wasn''t an evil man¡ªthat what happened to my family and clan was unjust. But no¡­I was wrong. I was naive. You are a clear reminder that this world is evil and that everyone on this continent is a lost cause. "So, Adam, I''ll give you one last chance to make up for what you did. We will go back to town, and you will tell them exactly what you did and why you did it." The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "And what if I refuse, boy?" I chuckled. "Then I will kill you," the boy said with deep resolve backing his intentions. "I''d like to see you try. You''re a stage below me. You know you''re no match for me." "I couldn''t care less what stage you''re at. You heard what I said. You won''t be able to talk or trick your way out of this like you did with my father. I hope you enjoyed your last breaths on this earth." Activating my Fate Constellation, I commanded the roots deep in the ground to reach out and grab the boy. "Your clan has always been a little too cocky for my liking. I''m glad you''ve been knocked down a peg," I said as roots burst from the ground, surging toward the brush where the boy was hiding. With my senses extended through the roots, I felt I had reached my target. I commanded them to bring the boy to me. "You know, the entire earth is my domain. Hiding is futile at a time like this, young Cyrus," I lectured as he hung upside down before me. "You''re lucky I need you alive. Otherwise, I would have killed you. Though I do have one question¡ªhow did you kill that horde of Aurora Moths? It''s been bugging me for quite some time now." The boy didn''t reply. Instead, a smirk spread across his face. The next thing I knew, an immense pressure forced me to my knees. I lost control of the roots and dropped the boy as I struggled to move. I watched as he landed effortlessly on his feet and walked toward me. "What am I feeling? Why isn''t he affected by this force?" I thought as he crouched and stared me dead in the eyes. "This forest may be your domain, but why is it that you''re groveling at my feet?" the boy said, not blinking once. After what felt like an eternity, the pressure finally began to fade. But before it could fully dissipate, I felt the force of a devastating kick to my face. "Oh, Adam, you have no idea what you''re up against. For someone at the Adept Stage, your core isn''t impressive at all. No wonder you retired early¡ªyou just couldn''t keep up anymore, huh?" the child mocked. Enraged, I activated my constellation, summoning dozens of roots from all directions. They lunged at Cyrus, attacking from every angle, but as they neared him, they simply crumbled to the ground. A second later, I was keeled over, gasping for air after taking an uppercut to the stomach. "You know, I let those pathetic branches catch me the first time because I wanted to see your face when you realized your constellation is useless against me." "You little brat! Who do you think you are?!" I spat. "I told you, Adam¡ªI''m the one who''s going to kill you, I''m the one who will get the revenge for those innocent people." The boy took a few steps back. "Now get up and at least put up a fight. I want to enjoy this a little more. And I suggest you try something different than those slow roots." As I got to my feet, I knew I would have to stop holding back. I didn''t want to kill the boy¡ªLord Enzo needed him alive. Releasing more of my cosmic energy, I activated my second rune. A portal to my Astral Forge appeared, and from it emerged my soul weapon. "Thornsoul¡­it''s been a while," I muttered. "Guess it''s time for me to teach this cocky little brat a lesson." Chapter 53 (Ezra''s POV) "What do you mean you fought my brother?" I lashed out at Kael. "Just as I said, my dear old emperor. You both had the same look on your faces once you realized that there was something in this world that could stand up against your attacks. Honestly, it''s too funny. I can definitely tell you grew up privileged. That''s how all privileged people look when things don''t go their way." "Where is he? Is he alive?" I demanded. "Oh, dear Ezra, do you really think I''m just going to hand over that information? You''re going to have to force it out of me. But judging by the state of your cosmic energy signature, I''m not entirely sure you even have what it takes to finish that task." Furious, I precisely channeled cosmic energy into my legs and dashed toward Kael. Standing before him in an instant, I swung my solar mace at his head, forcing him to block one of the few places on his body unprotected by his incredible armor. He caught my downward strike with his forearms, absorbing the blow but sinking slightly into the soft terrain of the astral realm. Without hesitation, I charged a ball of solar energy in my free hand and thrust it into his chest. The impact sent Kael sliding backward, but his armor only bore a slight dent. "Oh, are we upping the ante? Nice attempt. But like I said earlier, you''re going to need a lot more than that to defeat me. If you keep holding back that power of yours, you''ll never learn your brother''s fate. And you may very well lose your son after this battle. Unless, of course, you''d prefer we finish the job we started a couple of years ago," Kael taunted, trying to provoke me further. The most frustrating part of this fight was my restraint¡ªI was trying to preserve the area. I didn''t want the bodies of the miners to be harmed. Their families deserved the chance to bury them. If I activated my second or third rune, they would be destroyed instantly. Focusing solar energy into my feet, I launched into the air, flying away from the battlefield. "Is the great Ezra Solaris a coward now? Running with his tail between his legs like the fawn he is?" Kael shouted, blasting geysers of lava from the ground in an attempt to knock me off course. The eruptions were slow enough for me to dodge, but I knew this wasn''t just a basic attack. He was using the excess lava to mask his presence as well. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. What is it about this lava that makes him seem like he disappears off the face of the earth? I can''t even track him with my infrared sight¡ªhe just blends in, I thought as I approached a safer space to continue the battle. As soon as I landed, far from the corpses of the slain miners, a deep rumble shook the ground. Suddenly, molten rock burst upward as the hulking man emerged, lunging for my throat. I barely managed to dodge, channeling cosmic energy into my legs for a quick burst of speed. With Kael now fully surfaced, I noticed something different¡ªhis hands were no longer bare. Massive obsidian gauntlets had manifested, inscribed with glowing volcanic runes. As I observed them more closely, I noticed another peculiarity¡ªthe gauntlets shifted between solid rock and molten metal. "You know, Ezra, very few have seen these and lived to tell the story. You should feel honored that you''ve pushed me this far, forcing me to reveal my soul weapon," Kael declared, releasing more of his cosmic energy into the gauntlets. In a swift motion, he shot several jabs in my direction. At first, I was confused¡ªwhy was he throwing punches from such a distance? Then, before I could react, I was struck by several localized volcanic eruptions in my midsection. The heat wasn''t the problem¡ªit was the sheer force. My current cosmic energy reserves weren''t enough to keep a constant layer of defense around myself, and as a result, I felt several ribs crack, one of them puncturing a lung. Forcing my breathing to become labored. The worst part? Kael had incredible stamina, so he threw jabs relentlessly. By tracking the cosmic energy flowing into his gauntlets, I managed to time some of the explosions, but for every five punches he threw, two still connected. As I frantically dodged the barrage of eruptions, my vision became increasingly blurred from the debris and impact of the explosions. Yet even amid the chaos, I couldn''t help but think about Cyrus. Even though he cleared the category two rift, fighting a seasoned Starbound a stage above him is an entirely different challenge. But if I know my son, he won''t let that deter him. He''s proven time and time again that he will surpass my expectations. Suddenly, an incredible force crashed into my clavicle, sending me flying across the battlefield. Quickly regaining my bearings, I scanned for the source of the attack, but¡ªjust like before¡ªI couldn''t sense or see the massive titan. Immediately, I channeled solar energy into my feet, attempting to launch myself into the sky. But I was too slow. A massive gauntlet shot from the ground, seizing my ankle and slamming me back into the earth. Before I could react, the other gauntlet wrapped around my neck, lifting me into the air. "You''re not getting out of my grasp, Ezra," Kael said as I desperately pried at his hands. "These gauntlets have two primary functions. You''ve already experienced the first¡ªlocalized volcanic eruption fists. But the second function allows me to create seismic anchors, letting me crush anything with the force of tectonic plates. Any last words, Ezra? I figure that''s the least I can offer after such a lovely battle," he mocked. "Yeah, I do, actually," I gasped, letting my hands drift away from the gauntlets. With what little cosmic energy I had left, I channeled it into my second rune. A portal to my astral forge opened, and I called forth the weapon that had once struck terror into my enemies during the war. "Come, Dawnbringer." Chapter 54 (Adam''s POV) It had been some time since I had last called out Thornsoul. Gazing upon the weapon, I was reminded of the times I spent on the battlefield with Ezra and his brother¡ªall the moments I used my power to support the two juggernauts of the Solaris clan, and all the times I had arrived just in the nick of time to save comrades from death with my healing abilities. But this time, I was going to have to use Thornsoul for a completely different reason. As I took hold of the long, elegant staff¡ªmade of interwoven, glowing vines adorned with astral leaves and buds ready to sprout¡ªI saw Ezra''s son tighten his gaze, his cold-blooded killing intent beginning to rise. Channeling cosmic energy into my staff, I activated one of my soul weapon''s abilities, allowing me to heal the fractured bones in my jaw and ribs. While he was letting me heal myself, I couldn''t tell if he was stronger than the average embryonic-stage Starbound or if my body had simply weakened after excusing myself from combat long ago. "It doesn''t matter, Adam. He''s still just a kid," I muttered to myself, shaking off the intrusive thoughts. Channeling cosmic energy into my legs, I dashed toward the boy to close the distance. Using my extended reach, I performed several swipes and swings in rapid succession to catch him off guard. But from the way the child evaded my strikes, I could tell he was an experienced practitioner of martial arts. His counters were smooth yet forceful, executed at the perfect moments. But sadly for him, his attempts to counter failed due to his lack of reach. Because of this, it was much easier for me to transition right back into the offensive, forcing the issue and continuing to pressure him, biding my time until he made a mistake. "Not so talkative now, are you, Cyrus?" I mocked as I continued my onslaught. The boy didn''t respond at all, due to frantically evading and deflecting my attacks. The more I pressed the issue, the more something in the back of my mind felt off. I realized the child had yet to show any signs of using a Fate Constellation. He was only fighting me with martial arts and cosmic augmentation. "Is he mocking me by holding back? That cocky little bastard," I thought as I let rage slowly take control. Suddenly, I noticed an opening in his midsection¡ªhis hands were raised from blocking a feint I had thrown at his head. Immediately, I rotated my body and swung a spinning attack with my staff. The attack landed cleanly, and I could hear and feel the cracking of his ribs, causing him to wince in pain. The kid gritted his teeth and immediately took hold of my staff. "Oh, I wouldn''t do that if I were you," I laughed as I poured cosmic energy into Thornsoul. As the energy ran through the staff, I activated its morphing ability. Instantly, the staff transformed into a flexible, vine-like weapon with glowing thorns that extended outward, crackling with cosmic energy. The whip form of my soul weapon constricted itself around the boy''s arm, sinking its thorns deep into his skin while releasing the pollen from the buds along its surface. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "You see, my soul weapon has a couple of functions. The vine whip form saps your strength through my special cosmic poison, which targets your muscles and nervous system. Funny enough, the only thing that can stop it is my staff form, which provides healing energy," I said, chuckling as I watched the boy struggle to maintain his strength. "You see, Cyrus, this is the end of the fight. You put up a great effort for an embryonic stage." "Are you finished?" the boy asked as he regained his composure, no longer struggling from the pain of his fractured ribs. "You know, that strike really hurt, and this pollen reeks, to be honest. But if that''s all you have to offer, I''m afraid this will be the end of you, Adam." Cyrus cracked his neck as if he were warming up for a bout. "Shut up, you stupid brat!" I yelled, channeling cosmic energy into my vine whip, creating enough pressure and force to sever the boy''s arm. A long, loud wail escaped him. As he bent over, seizing from the pain of his lost limb, I called my whip back to me. Slowly, I walked toward him and squatted down in front of him. "Do you understand now the difference between you and me, boy?" I said, grabbing him by his hair to show him his severed arm. Looking into his eyes, I saw the rage begin to boil. From all the countless battles I had fought, I could tell this was nearly over. There was no way he was going to come back from this. Watching the blood leak from where his arm used to be, I shook my head in pity. "You know, if it weren''t for your father, you would have had a bright future¡ªno doubt about it. But because you are his son, you will face the same fate he will soon come to meet. He should have just shipped you off somewhere. This is no life for a kid." After I finished speaking, I heard him mumbling. "What did you say, you little brat?" I asked. "I said, shut up, you evil bastard," Cyrus snapped, regaining the composure he had lost. "Don''t you dare talk down about someone who only ever thought of others before himself. I don''t think that''s something you can possibly understand after what I witnessed you do, Adam." Cyrus said as he brought himself to one knee. "Oh, but I do. My entire time in the service, that''s all I did. I sacrificed glory, honor, and all the riches that came with it to be the soldier that our squad and military needed to thrive. So don''t tell me what I don''t understand, boy," I responded, my anger beginning to rise. "Funny. And you''re going to die without ever obtaining those things, too," Cyrus said, now standing tall, looking me dead in the eyes with newfound resolve. He quickly swatted away the hand that had been holding his hair. Then, all of a sudden, I felt a surge of cosmic energy erupt from him. An immense pressure fell upon me out of nowhere, causing me to buckle and lose my balance. Looking up, I saw Cyrus take a few short steps toward me. As he approached, I witnessed something I had only seen a few Astral Behemoths perform. The arm I had severed off began to rapidly regenerate. "What are you? These aren''t the powers of the Solaris Constellation!" I stammered, struggling to form words under the immense pressure. "I told you, Adam, I''m the one who will rid the universe of your pathetic existence," the boy responded as I saw him make his right hand flat, imbuing it with cosmic energy. This was one of the few times I had truly felt fear¡ªone of the few times I was uncertain whether these would be my final moments as I watched my reaper come for me. Chapter 55 Kael POV As I watched Ezra summon his soul weapon, I understood that the battle was truly beginning. Looking at the sword, it appeared exactly as the records had described. The weapon was a sleek and radiant katana, its blade forged from crystallized solar essence, giving it a shifting hue of gold, crimson, and pure white light depending on Ezra''s energy output. The hilt was wrapped in dark crimson fabric, resistant to the extreme heat the blade generated. The guard was shaped like a rising sun, with golden flares extending outward like solar prominences. The blade was truly a sight to behold, and its power was evident. Before I could even react, I noticed that Ezra was slowly falling to the ground. How could I be losing my grip while using the tectonic forces to anchor myself? I thought, wondering why my power was failing. Then, suddenly, blood sprayed everywhere¡ªI realized the reason was my severed forearm. "I told you, don''t bite off more than you can chew, Kael," Ezra said, catching his breath after being strangled. "Finally, you''ve come to play," I responded, commanding the lava around me to cauterize my severed arm. "You know, Ezra, you are the first to wound me to this degree. But let me show you my true power¡ªthen I will end this battle." Channeling an immense amount of cosmic energy into the third rune of my astral tattoo, I unleashed my celestial domain upon the landscape of the astral realm. The formation of my fate constellation appeared between Ezra and me. Then, in a flash, it expanded with explosive speed, creating a massive dome that encased us both. Inside this dome, the battlefield transformed into a volcanic wasteland. Large rivers of lava surged beneath my feet, and the air became thick with ash and embers. Every step I took within my domain created seismic tremors, causing the rivers of lava to leap between the ground and the sky. Every time I activated my domain, I felt invincible. With the surge of power flowing into me from the excess volcanic energy, I felt as if I could split the world in half. "Welcome to your final resting place, Ezra!" I shouted, taking one step before launching myself toward my enemy. With my one remaining hand, I threw a punch in the air, creating an explosion aimed at the kneeling Ezra. Just in time, Ezra deflected the explosion with his soul weapon. But I pressed forward with my assault. Using the force from the impact of each step as I sprinted toward him, I manipulated the seismic tremors to launch lava into the air, obscuring his vision. With the atmosphere constantly filled with my cosmic lava, I was free to move as I pleased within my domain without my cosmic signature being recognized. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. I sent a few more explosions Ezra''s way, attacking him head-on while flanking him from behind. As he deflected the last explosion, I landed a clean blow to his spine, channeling the full force of the tectonic plates into my strike. The impact sent him flying across my domain. I knew better than to let up against an adversary of his caliber. Using the lava, I enveloped myself and slingshotted myself in the direction I had sent him. Before I knew it, I was already hovering above him, my remaining hand cocked back, ready to deliver another devastating attack. Ezra barely managed to rotate his body in time, using his katana to absorb most of the force. But the momentum still sent him hurtling toward the ground. I commanded the lava once more to propel me toward him, determined to maintain my relentless pace and force him into making a mistake. I didn''t want to give him time to think¡ªif he did, I knew he was smart enough to find a way to counter me. To my surprise, my foe still found a way to recover quickly enough to dodge my next attack. At this point, I had enough. With Ezra standing a few meters away, I created another series of tremors within my domain, causing the lava to rise into the atmosphere once more. As it ascended, I commanded it to take the shape of colossal hands, fitting for a giant, and restrain him. Trapped in midair, with no way to move his arms or legs, Ezra struggled as I approached at blinding speed. Each step I took absorbed the immense energy from the lava and tectonic forces, feeding into my next attack. "This is your end, Ezra. Only a few were honored to die by my Worldsplitter technique!" As my fist struck his abdomen, an immense burst of energy erupted, shattering my domain as the explosion from my attack echoed throughout the battlefield. When the debris cleared, I expected to see blood gushing from Ezra''s abdomen. But to my dismay, I was completely wrong. Instead, I saw Ezra brimming with light¡ªhis body unscathed. "How can this be? That attack should have killed you!" I shouted. "It definitely would have," Ezra admitted. "But thanks to my soul weapon, it barely felt like a scratch. You see, one of the passive abilities of Dawnbringer is to absorb heat and convert it into solar energy. And everyone knows that those who wield the Solaris Fate Constellation passively absorb solar energy and convert it into cosmic energy. So when Dawnbringer had finally gathered enough solar energy, I was able to release and absorb it all at once. I enveloped my body in a protective layer of cosmic energy just before your attack landed. This is a technique I created long ago for situations where I didn''t have access to solar energy from the physical realm." "So you were just biding your time against me this whole time?" I growled. "Yeah," Ezra replied. "And you know what''s even funnier now? By the looks of your cosmic energy reserves, I don''t think you even have what it takes to finish the job anymore. And that explosion? It generated so much heat that my reserves are back to about half full¡ªwhich is more than enough to defeat you." Ezra took a step forward, his eyes locked onto mine. "So, Kael, I''m going to ask you one more time¡ª" His voice was steady, filled with unwavering resolve. "Is my brother alive? And where are you keeping him?" Chapter 56 (Cyrus POV) Walking up to Adam with my hand imbued with cosmic energy, I prepared to end this battle. I only had a few uses left of my ability due to the Eternal Hydra Scale being needed more than I had anticipated. Adam''s strikes from his soul weapon were essentially breaking my bones every time I deflected a blow, and I couldn''t tell exactly how many I had already deflected. The biggest drain on my cosmic energy, however, was regrowing my arm. Luckily, it was enough to strike fear into Adam, and I still had the advantage because he didn''t truly know the extent of my powers. With my ability active for a few more seconds, I kicked Adam''s soul weapon away and lifted him with my newly regrown arm. "An arm for an arm," I said as I severed one of his. Hearing him wail in pain as my ability began to fade, I decided to cut off the other one as well. "How does it feel, Adam? Painful, isn''t it? But I don''t think it compares to the agony those families felt when you killed their loved ones in cold blood. I want you to suffer as they did," I said, walking over to his prone body. Then, I began severing each of his legs. "Your fate constellation is the Tree of Life, right?" "Yes," he replied, barely able to speak. "And now you''re lying here like a little stump of a tree that used to be." I grabbed his hair, dragging his barely alive body. "Come on, let''s go show the people of the town exactly what you are and have you confess your sins." It didn''t take long to get back to the city. When we arrived, gasps of horror and looks of terror spread through the crowd as I dragged Adam''s limbless body through the town center. Upon reaching the square, I saw Adam''s assistant standing in utter shock. We exchanged a long glance before she turned her head away. The entire time my father and I had been in this town, I couldn''t tell whether she and Adam were romantically involved or not, but now, I could care less about that matter. Stepping onto the stage of the town square, I propped Adam upright so that everyone could see him before I proclaimed the truth. "What have you done?" one of the townspeople shouted at me. I took a deep breath, gathering myself before responding. "I have gotten revenge for your loved ones. That''s what I did," I declared. "My father was not the one who killed your friends and family in the mines¡ªhe was trying to save them. Whatever Adam told you was a lie to keep you all in the dark." "Lies!" a group of people yelled. "Adam would never do such a thing! He has been the sole pillar of our town and has done nothing but good for us¡ªsomething your terrorist of a father could never claim." This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Anger built in my chest as I activated my ability on the crowd. "Silence now!" I shouted in frustration, watching them all collapse to the ground. "I was there! I saw it with my own eyes! Adam has been lying to you all about the cosmic batteries, about their true effects. He chose to keep your loved ones in the dark, letting them mine while knowing they were being poisoned by the decay of cosmic energy batteries. Why? Because he needed them to keep working so he could make money. "My father was the one who discovered the truth and confronted him, but Adam saw that as a threat¡ªhe knew it would be the end of his financial empire. That''s why he trapped my father in the Astral Realm and made him watch as he slaughtered every single one of those miners." "What makes your word better than Adam''s?" an older townsman said. "The way I see it, the true culprit and murderer is you, boy." "Just think for once in your life. Why did Adam rush to find me in the woods? He was trying to tie up loose ends. Why do you think I ran out of the Astral Gate that day and disappeared for weeks? I was escaping from him." I turned to Adam. "Now it''s time for you to speak. Repent for what you did." Struggling to move his limbless body, Adam slowly lifted his head, meeting the eyes of the crowd. "He is right," he admitted, his voice weak. "Everything he said I did¡­ I did. "At first, I didn''t realize what was happening to them. But by the time I figured it out, we were making so much money from the Celestium that I couldn''t stop. It was the first time our town had seen prosperity, and I didn''t want to let that go. I wanted to build us into one of the biggest powers on this continent so we wouldn''t have to rely on that filthy Great Clan in our region. "I knew I was doing wrong¡­ but at least it was for a good cause. I know I don''t deserve your respect, but just know¡ªI tried, in the end." After hearing his words, I could tell the townspeople were conflicted. They wanted to be angry, yet I saw the way they hesitated, the way they understood the twisted sincerity behind his confession. It disgusted me. They should have been furious. They should have been trampling over each other to deliver the final blow and get revenge for their loved ones. That''s what I would have done. Situations like these weren''t gray to me¡ªthey were black and white. Adam was a man who manipulated everyone to get what he wanted, and even in his final moments, they were still under his spell. "These people are hopeless. If this is their reaction, they honestly deserve what happened to them for not seeing through the deception¡ªeven when it was firmly presented before them." I thought to myself. "If you won''t deal judgment on him, then I will. Any last words, Adam?" A smirk formed on his bloodied lips. "It looks like even in the end, I still won," he said weakly. "The people still hold me in high regard. And I took away the satisfaction you would have gotten from this little conquest of yours. "But I''ll leave you with one question, little prince¡ªwhen will the job of the reaper ever be finished?" I stared at him for a moment before answering. "When my enemies cease to exist in this world." Without hesitation, I pierced his chest with my hand. When I pulled it back, I held my consolation prize¡ªhis core, still humming with cosmic energy, coated in trickles of blood. His body slumped over and fell to the side. I turned to the townspeople. "You are free now. No longer manipulated for the benefit of someone else''s desires. Live just and honorable lives¡ªdo your best to uphold the memory of those who unwillingly sacrificed themselves for your prosperity." With those final words, I walked away, heading toward the Astral Gate to wait for my father. Chapter 57 Ezra POV Staring at Kael, I saw a flicker of fear enter his eyes. He now understood that his aspirations and dreams were likely to end here, one way or another. But like a cornered animal, he lashed out, attacking with all his might. With his remaining arm, he unleashed a barrage of explosive punches using his infernal gauntlet. Now that my cosmic energy reserves were back to around half capacity, I had more than enough power to create a dense layer around my body, absorbing the oncoming onslaught. I didn''t even bother to evade or deflect the attacks¡ªI wanted him to feel demoralized as he watched his efforts yield no results. Every explosion he unleashed only fed me more power. With the intense heat his attacks generated, Dawnbringer had an endless supply of thermal energy to convert into solar energy, rapidly restoring my reserves to near full. Bored, I took slow, deliberate steps toward my enemy. With each step I advanced, I noticed Kael taking several steps back, trying to maintain distance. "You know I can reach you in an instant, right? You can feel my reserves growing by the second. Just give up now, and I''ll forgive you¡ªI''ll even spare your life. You have a family and children to return to, don''t you?" I said calmly, taking a smooth, effortless step that launched me forward in an instant. In a flash, I was in front of Kael, my hand resting on his towering shoulder. Our eyes met, and I saw the fear in his gaze harden into resolve. "Just tell me about my brother¡ªthat''s all I ask." A smirk crossed Kael''s face as the lava around us began to swirl. Before I could react, he submerged into the ground once more, his cosmic signature vanishing from my senses. Then, all of a sudden, the entire surface of the astral realm rumbled and shook. "What is this man doing now?" I thought, staying alert, trying to anticipate his next move. But the longer I waited, the clearer it became¡ªhe wasn''t planning to strike in the same way as before. Instead, the tremors and violent shifts in the landscape around me intensified, signaling something far more dangerous. "I never thought I would have to use my last resort to finish you off, Ezra. I believed my plan was foolproof. I should have known you''d have contingency plans for situations like this." Kael''s voice echoed through the fissures in the crumbling terrain. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Had I been too eager for this duel? Too reckless in feeding my own ego? Maybe I had been selfish. But why would I abandon the very thing that made me who I am? At my core, I am a warrior¡ªa man who seeks out the strongest foes and puts his life on the line for the glory of battle. That is something I could never shake, no matter the responsibilities I bore or the bonds I had formed. "So here and now, Ezra, I will put everything on the line to seek the glory that will forever change the landscape of this world," Kael proclaimed. "I will be known as the one who has slain the Sun." The surface beneath me began to bulge and crack under immense pressure. Then, suddenly, enormous molten hands erupted from all angles. Some shot up from the ground, locking around my ankles. Others seized my arms, binding me in place. Trapped by Kael''s molten shackles, I watched as the ground beneath me crumbled away, leaving me suspended in the air. "Now, with all the combined power of the astral magma in this realm and my remaining cosmic energy, I will unleash my most devastating attack¡ªone I was saving for the destruction of the Syltharion Clan. But you, Ezra... you will be its very first victim. Now vanish¡ªbefore my Pyroclasm Cannon!" Kael roared as he unleashed his ultimate attack. The sheer volume of cosmic energy infused within the blast was enough to decimate the world as we knew it. Realizing the magnitude of what I faced, I surged with cosmic energy, shattering my molten restraints and launching myself into the sky. "I really wish you had just taken the deal," I thought to myself. "In another life, we might have been great rivals¡ªmaybe even friends. Your ideals aren''t so different from mine. We both want to help the people of this world thrive and prosper. We just have different methods of achieving that goal, and I refuse to massacre entire clans and innocent people to do it." Channeling solar energy throughout my body to feet, I pushed my speed beyond its limits, soaring hundreds of meters above the oncoming blast. With no time to waste, I funneled my cosmic energy into Dawnbringer, igniting my blade with the flames of the sun. The fire roared to life, growing in intensity, mirroring my determination to end this battle. The solar flames now stretched as large as one of the skyscrapers back in Arthenos. "This should be enough," I thought, preparing my final strike. Taking a long, deep breath, I recited the oath passed down through generations of the Solaris Clan: "From the first light to the final dusk, we rise unbowed."We are the flames that banish the void, the dawn that shatters the night.""With the fire of a thousand suns, we forge our path, unyielding and eternal.""Our might is radiant, our will unbreakable, our duty sacred.""By the burning heavens and the Astral Throne, we swear¡ª""So long as our stars blaze, the Solaris shall never fall." With the final word spoken, I unleashed my Solar Flare Slash, reducing Kael''s Pyroclasm Cannon to dust. Chapter 58 (Ezra POV) With Kael''s attack wiped away, there was nothing left to stand between us. Watching him claw himself out of the fissure he created, I noticed that his breathing was labored, and his body could barely stand. He had expended all of his cosmic energy. There was nothing left in the tank for him, even if his will still commanded him to move forward. I softly hovered down to the ground to meet him at his level. "Give up, Kael. The battle is finished," I commanded firmly. The man didn''t respond. Instead, he charged at me. Devoid of cosmic energy, his speed was sluggish¡ªsomething you would expect from a man of his size. The punch he threw was easy to perceive, and I caught it effortlessly in my palm. Quickly, I twisted his arm, causing him to wail in pain as I brought him to his knees. Placing a finger on his abdomen, I released a small beam of solar energy, piercing through his armor and flesh. "Where is my brother, Kael? Is he alive?" "You know, the last time I saw him, he was alive. He''s somewhere in Arthenos. He''s a strong man, I''ll give you that¡ªsomeone worthy of the Solaris name. If you ever come across a man named Lord Enzo, he may have the answers you seek," Kael responded, taking a deep, heaving breath in an attempt to steady himself. "Thank you, Kael," I said, looking down at my defeated opponent. I could tell he was suffering from cosmic energy backlash and needed to be removed from the astral realm immediately. I placed Dawnbringer back into my astral forge, then bent down to pick Kael up and hoist him over my shoulder. "What are you doing? Leave me here to die." "No. You were honorable warrior to the very end, and I intend to keep my word. I told you I would let you live¡ªyou will not die by my hands today." Levitating into the air, I spotted the portal to the astral gate. Without wasting time, I funneled solar energy into my feet and took off at immense speed, flying toward the exit. When we reached the portal, I set Kael down, allowing him to walk through first. On the other side, the first face I saw was my son''s. He seemed relatively unscathed¡ªaside from one of his sleeves being ripped off. Looking at him, I could tell he was deep in thought, his expression cold and distant. He didn''t even acknowledge my presence. I walked over and placed both hands on his shoulders, shaking him slightly to pull him from whatever had consumed his mind. "My son, are you alright?" I asked. He looked up at me, and I saw a single tear slip down his cheek. "Why does everyone hate us? Why is it that, at every chance they get, they won''t hesitate to try and tear us down? Why is that, Dad? Will we ever get rest or reprieve in this world? Or will this be our fate forever?" Hearing his words brought back memories of my own childhood¡ªwhen I, too, struggled to understand the cruel nature of the universe. "Sadly, son, it''s just a facet of human nature. People understand power. They see it as a means to get ahead in life, and they recognize the lack of power as a shackle. So what do they do?" Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "They seek to break their shackles." "Correct." "But don''t they know that the Solaris Clan is here to bring peace and help those in need? We''ve never abused our power." "They do know. But their very nature blinds them, allowing fear to take hold. That''s why we have to be patient with them, Cyrus. Where is Adam, by the way?" I asked, wrapping an arm around my son while gesturing for the townspeople to take Kael to a medic. Cyrus didn''t answer. Instead, I noticed his posture sink in response to my question. "Cyrus¡­ where is he? I sense his presence close by, but I don''t see him. We need to have one final conversation before we leave." As I spoke, I noticed he was clutching something under his arm. At that moment, my question was answered. I didn''t say anything. I simply squeezed his shoulder as we walked away from the astral gate. As we entered the city center, I did my best to ignore the murmurs of "murderer" from the crowd¡ªuntil I realized those words weren''t directed at me. Then, I saw it. A maimed corpse on the town square stage. Arms and legs severed clean off. A gaping chasm where his chest once was. Adam. It was hard to see someone I once called a friend left in that state. "I''m sorry, son. You shouldn''t have to go through this at all," I said, shifting my position to shield him from the townspeople''s chants and shouts. "Don''t be, Dad. He was never your friend to begin with. Everything he did was a farce¡ªa grand lie to get where he wanted. He was happy about our clan''s demise. He was happy that you might meet your end. You should have seen how he manipulated his very own people to the bitter end. He was no friend. He was an enemy¡ªa monster, in all honesty." "Cyrus¡­" "I know, Dad. But if I''ve learned anything from the stories you, Uncle, and Grandpa told me, it''s that we shouldn''t hesitate to kill monsters while on a mission. Hesitation can cost us dearly. So I killed the monster." I knew my son was right, but I didn''t want to acknowledge it. I didn''t want to push him deeper into this descent. I needed to get him off this continent. He needed to live a normal life¡ªto see what life could truly be. I sent him off to our camp to gather our belongings while I stayed behind to finish things here. With Cyrus gone, I approached Adam''s corpse and placed a hand on his body. "I''m sorry things had to end like this, old friend. I''m sorry I didn''t do enough to deter you from this path. I''m sorry I wasn''t as available and present as I should have been. Rest now," I murmured before cremating his body and collecting his ashes into a nearby box. With the box in hand, I made my way to his office. His secretary was there, sobbing. "Karen," I called softly, careful not to startle her. "Yes?" she responded, her eyes swollen from tears as she lifted her head. "You really cared for him, didn''t you? I noticed it when we first came into the office¡ªhow you gazed at him from time to time. And I noticed how he did the same." "Yes. I loved him. I wanted to start a family with him. But it was hard watching him go down the path he chose. I knew there was kindness in him somewhere, but I think it got lost in the shuffle of his dreams and desires. He proposed to me not long ago. He said that once he made enough, he would take us away from here¡ªto start over and live as a king and queen." She wiped away more tears. "But I turned him down. I wanted him to stop exploiting the miners. I didn''t want any skeletons in our closet. I wanted to build something new¡ªthe right way." "I know this won''t take away the pain you''re feeling, but I brought his ashes to you. I wanted you to be the one to put him to rest," I said, pushing the box toward her. "Thank you, Ezra. And please¡­ take care of that boy of yours. He has the qualities to be an excellent man one day. I hold no anger or animosity toward him for what he did. He did what needed to be done. But please¡­ get him away from here. I would hate to see him tainted by what this continent has become." I gave a slight nod, acknowledging her words. "I will, Karen. That is my sole mission. But first¡­ do you have a transponder? There''s someone I need to contact before we move on." Chapter 59 (Zaire POV) It has been some time since Ezra, Cyrus, and I parted ways in Arthenos. Ezra wanted time to train Cyrus and protect him while they searched for the whereabouts of the ancient relic of the Solaris Clan. I was tasked with negotiating with countries on other continents for a chance to escape Zarathia and find some form of sanctuary. Over the years, I have traveled far and wide, pleading Ezra''s case and defending what remains of our family''s honor against the allegations set against him. Whoever orchestrated this farce has gone to extreme lengths to ensure that no one would aid him. Some countries were bought off, while others simply did not want to be involved in an affair that led to the destruction of the strongest clan in our world. I understood their reservations, but I had hoped for better, especially after receiving a message from Ezra stating that my grandson had completed his Starbirth Trial¡ªthough something had gone wrong. I needed to resolve this matter quickly. Ezra, a seasoned and hardened warrior, could handle any adversity, but I worried about how time spent on the run might change Cyrus''s outlook on life at such a young age. That was not something I wanted for my dear grandchild. Now, sitting in the waiting room of the Prime Minister of Xhatal, I hoped to return to Ezra with good news. I needed this meeting to go well¡ªXhatal was one of the last countries left to approach, and it had maintained strong relations with Arthenos during both my rule and Ezra''s. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door swung open, and a cool breeze from the force gently swept across my face. "Zaire! Long time no see. Come, come, my old friend," the minister greeted me with a broad smile. As we made our way into his office, I could not help but admire the ornaments and trophies of dead astral behemoths displayed in dignified glory. I had almost forgotten that the minister had been a great warrior and hunter in his prime before his wife forced him to retire from battle. He came from a prominent family, one that had surprisingly allowed him to live freely rather than keeping their heir safe. That was something I admired about him and his lineage¡ªdespite their power and influence, they understood that it was not the sole purpose of life. "So, what can I do for you, my dear old friend?" the minister asked as he gently seated himself. "Well, I am sure you have heard the news by now, but I have come to plead for your country to grant my son and grandson sanctuary from the false charges placed upon them." "Yes, I am aware of the situation. I must say, I found the accusations quite shocking. I have known Lord Ezra since he was a baby¡ªwatched him grow into an upstanding citizen of the world and a just leader. The claims forced upon him do not align with his character whatsoever. But for my own records and peace of mind, I must ask¡ªwhat exactly was Ezra trying to accomplish?" "Ezra was working to create a sustainable source of energy for our continent. He wanted to level the playing field for all and sought a way to harness cosmic energy in a manner similar to solar panels." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. "I see¡­ That sounds like the Ezra I know. I want to help, Zaire, and I believe in what Ezra is trying to do. I have also been hearing quite a bit of noise in my back channels regarding the state of Arthenos. Things have changed significantly since that fateful day, and the rise of a new and very prosperous guild has led the charge. I suspect foul play was involved in creating this situation." "I believe that to be the case. What is the name of this guild that has risen so suddenly?" "The guild is called Eclipsing Dawn, and their leader goes by the name Lord Enzo. Not much is known about him¡ªhe seemingly appeared out of nowhere. However, when he emerged, he introduced a cosmic battery, which he began selling." The minister slid a picture of the product toward me. "Does this look familiar to you, Zaire?" As I examined the image, my heart sank. "This¡­ This was one of Ezra''s prototypes. He created this but scrapped the idea due to its severe drawbacks." "Does this confirm your suspicions?" "It does. This was an inside job. We need to uncover more about this Lord Enzo¡ªwhere he obtained these schematics and how he gained knowledge of these batteries. This technology was top secret, classified, and known only to a handful of people¡ªall of whom are either dead or presumed dead. But that is a matter we must attend to later. For now, I must ensure the safety of my family. Something has gone wrong with my grandson''s Starbirth Trial." "What has happened to the young prince?" "I am not sure. Ezra was vague in his message, which leads me to believe the situation is urgent. He is currently making his way to Gavelon, the seaport city of Zarathia, and requested help before I even confirmed anything." "Well, I suggest you make your way there immediately. I can arrange passage for you on one of my export ships. You will not be disturbed during your travels. However, I do have one request in return." "Of course, anything. You have already helped me more than you can imagine." "I would like to unite our families. I have a granddaughter the same age as Cyrus. You will need help rebuilding your clan, and our families have always been close. Please, allow Cyrus to attend Xhatal Academy so they can get familiar with each other." Nearly choking on my water, I coughed before regaining composure. "You are a funny man, you know that? But it is the least I can do. I will speak to Ezra regarding the matter." "Thank you. Now, let''s get you on your way," the minister said as he helped me out of the office. Just as we were about to part ways, my communicator buzzed with an alert. It was a message from Ezra. Father, since my last message, we have encountered significant trouble. We have identified those responsible for framing us and orchestrating our clan''s downfall. Their name is Lux Tenebris, and they are deeply connected worldwide. They hide in plain sight, and their generals are formidable. We are currently in Adam''s old hometown in the Valadar region, where we have access to an astral gate. I intend to continue our journey to Gavelon through the astral realm. We have acquired a map guiding us to the astral gate in the port city. Because of this, I will not be able to contact you for the next two months until we meet in person. I understand this may be dangerous due to the immense cosmic energy consumption required to maintain fused astral forms, but it is the safest course of action. I fear there is no one left to trust on this continent¡ªsomething we have learned the hard way recently. "Is everything alright, Zaire?" the minister asked, noticing my sudden silence. "When does the ship depart?" Chapter 60 Cyrus'' POV Before gathering all of our remaining belongings from the campsite I had made, I decided to use the cosmic battery I still had lying around to replenish the cosmic energy I lost fighting Adam. I wanted to expand my core before we left, and I wanted to use Adam''s core because it was already refined and easier to absorb. The last time I tried absorbing energy from the battery, I could only do it in small amounts. I didn''t know if it was because it was too much for me to control at the time or if my will wasn''t strong enough to make the raw and unrefined energy obey me. This time was different. The energy didn''t feel as difficult to control as I siphoned it from the battery. I felt it quickly become subjugated to my core''s will as it broke it down, refining it to fill my reserves. It wasn''t long before I had drained all of the energy from the battery, my core now full once again. "I did it. Oh, I can''t wait to rub this in Dox''s face¡ªor whatever he has. Low percentage my ass." I chuckled to myself as I grabbed Adam''s core, preparing to expand my core once more. "So this is why you''re taking so long gathering our things," my father''s voice said as he appeared from the bushes. "Yeah, I felt this was the best time before we ended up doing God knows what." My father didn''t say anything right away as he analyzed the surroundings. I followed his gaze until it landed on the empty container of the cosmic battery. "This is how you did it¡­ how you grew your core to the size it is now. And the reason you were in the Astral Realm that day in the first place." My father''s eyes slowly turned back to me. "Yes and no," I replied, tilting my head in response to his assumption. "I originally went into the Astral Realm in search of you and Adam, hoping to use one of these to accelerate my growth. I even tried in the cave. But the drain from my fused form was too much compared to what I could absorb at the time, so I stopped and left. That''s when I happened to witness what occurred between Adam and the miners." "I see." "But I didn''t grow my core with batteries. I couldn''t control it at the time, so I destroyed the entire nest of Aurora Moths and their queen. It nearly killed me, but I did it. I had no other choice. At that point, I knew I couldn''t defeat Adam yet, and I needed a way to free you. So, to kill two birds with one stone, I entered the rift. But when I got there, the things I faced didn''t necessarily give me the spoils I desired¡ªat least not until the very end when I found this relic." "I understand now. I''m sorry I jumped to conclusions. It''s just that those batteries have caused nothing but trouble since I created them. And honestly, I was scared of the fact that you used them because of the side effects the miners experienced. I didn''t want you shortening your lifespan. You''re the only thing I have left, Cy." "I know. But I just used it to refill my core before I absorbed Adam''s. During the time I was alone I found out I needed my core to be full before I tried expanding it, to get the most out of this pursuit. And besides, there doesn''t seem to be any side effects from absorbing it. In all honesty, Dox''s calculations might have been off." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Dox? Oh, right, I remember now," my father responded. "And about Adam''s core¡­ I don''t know if you should do it. Let''s find you something else to help expand your core instead." "Why? I earned this. I deserve the right to use it after everything I just did." "Absorbing cosmic energy from a humans core is a lot different than absorbing it from Astral Behemoths. You don''t just get their cosmic energy¡ªyou get an influx of their emotions, intentions, and, in some cases, parts of their memories. The mental toll it puts on one''s mind can be devastating, even to some Starbound who are equipped to handle it. Are you sure you want to do this?" "Yes, I''m sure. Nothing will be harder mentally than what I experienced in that damn rift," I said, gripping Adam''s core firmly in my hands. "I don''t have time to lollygag. I need to keep pushing forward¡ªbesides, who''s gonna watch over you and make sure you don''t get trapped again?" Seeing my father''s disposition change as he sighed, I proceeded to start the process of absorbing Adam''s core. As I drew in the energy, I could feel the difference between the essence of an Astral Behemoth and a Starbound. The energy from a Behemoth felt erratic and without purpose, but the essence of a Starbound core felt calm and controlled, like a domesticated animal. The more cosmic energy I took in, the more I could feel the borders of my core expand. The process wasn''t comfortable at all, especially since this core''s potency was higher than mine. Enduring this process showed me that even though I had defeated Adam, I was still vastly outclassed. If I didn''t have the Eternal Scale of the Hydra, he would have definitely beaten me, even if his core was smaller than what was normal at that stage. I was truly lucky for that. And I finally understood just how much danger I had been in when that man with the Iron Warden Constellation attacked me. Pressing forward with the extraction, the pain started to increase as I doubled the volume of cosmic energy I was absorbing. It was something I had to endure because I needed to be quick to offset my core''s energy leak. Now, with the increased flow, I felt the borders of my core expand to the point where cracks began forming and mending themselves in rapid succession, causing me to wail in pain. "Cyrus, are you okay? Do you need to stop and take a break?" "I''m fine, Dad. I''m almost done. Just a little further now," I gritted my teeth, increasing the absorption volume one last time to make the final push. Then, like a flash, a raging torrent of cosmic energy came flooding into my core as if a dam had just broken, forcing my core to expand faster than it could mend itself. It felt like my core was about to shatter and lose the shape it once had. Then, almost as if it had a mind of its own, I felt the power of my relic activate. It increased the power and efficiency with which my core could mend itself. And before I knew it, my core''s inner shell had formed anew. With the absorption complete, I could feel the drastic difference in the size of my core. The amount of cosmic energy I currently had would have been at peak capacity with my old core size. Now, it only amounted to about half. "You had me worried for a second. How are you feeling?" my father asked, placing his hands on me to help calm me down as I caught my breath after the struggle and pain I had just endured. "I could really use a nap. I just realized¡ªI''ve been up for about two weeks," I said, my legs buckling as I slumped to the ground. "But I need to see Dox." "Why?" "Because now, I believe I have enough cosmic energy to finish my first Resonance Trial." "No, it can wait. I''ll let you rest for a while, because for the next few months, I don''t think you''ll be able to." "Why? Can''t we just take one of these trucks and travel that way? I would have more than enough time to rest" "No. We''re traveling through the Astral Realm." Chapter 61 Cyrus POV Being forced to rest and get some sleep didn''t go quite how I would have liked. One of the side effects of absorbing Adam''s core had a delayed reaction during my attempted slumber. My dream was suddenly flooded with bits and pieces of his memories. Some of them I couldn''t quite make sense of, but others I couldn''t deny. I saw the times he spent with my father in school and some of the perilous adventures and battles they went through together. In some of those memories, I saw a different side of Adam¡ªone that helped me understand why he believed in the things he did and why he acted on those beliefs. I saw the love his townspeople had for him and the love of his partner. Seeing all those moments made a pit form in my stomach, making me start to regret, even if just a little, what I had done. "But Cy, it doesn''t change the fact that he did what he did, and he tried to do the same to you," I muttered to myself. Trying not to let these memories get to me, as I forced myself to go back to sleep. But that didn''t last long at all. I was hit hard with one memory that reaffirmed my position regarding Adam. There was a man he met with in person¡ªthe same person the phantom echoes had turned into in an attempt to stop me from leaving that first stage in the rift. It was the same man who had been there when my clan was slaughtered, the one who dealt the finishing blow to my mother. Adam had numerous conversations with him and had essentially planned to sell me off to him. "Lord Enzo is his name," I said to myself as I awoke once more. Unable to sleep any longer, I got out of bed and left our lodging. Walking through the town at night was a stark contrast to what it had been recently. With everything so quiet, it felt as if my footsteps and thoughts were being announced over a loudspeaker. Letting the moonlight bounce off my skin and the cool breeze brush past me, I made my way to the outskirts of town once again. I observed the place where I had battled Adam. I revisited the spot where I had nearly lost my life against the queen of the aurora moths. Lastly, I gazed upon the rift, understanding just how far I had come¡ªhow much I had pushed myself just to be standing here at this moment. But it still wasn''t enough. Not even close. Not if I wanted to defeat that man one day. Lost in thought as I stared at the rift, I completely lost track of time until I heard gentle footsteps approaching from behind. "Couldn''t sleep?" my father''s soft, smooth voice asked as he neared. "No. The memories of Adam started flooding in. It was a lot all at once, and they zipped past me too fast." "What did you see?" "Everything. I understand now why the people of this town felt the way they did. I understand why you were more than patient with him. But my opinion of him and what he did recently hasn''t changed. Especially after finding out that he worked with the man who killed everyone that day." "What do you mean? He worked with them? There''s no way he would have done that. After fighting Kael, there was an implication that Adam was unaware of what was going on behind the scenes." "Yeah, but the man he was buying the batteries from is the same man who was there that day. I couldn''t forget his appearance even if I wanted to, and now I know his name as well. He was going to trade me to him as part of some business deal." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "What''s his name?" "He goes by Lord Enzo." "That''s the same name Kael told me during our fight. Apparently, he knows where your uncle is." "So what do you want to do, Dad? We know where he is. Why not take back what''s rightfully ours?" "Our first priority is to get you out of here safely, regroup, and gather more information. If this man is part of the Lux Tenebris, there''s a good chance he''s of the Empyrean stage or higher. I''m not putting you in a situation like that, and there''s a high chance he isn''t alone. The situation with Adam was already too much for you to endure. You haven''t even been a Stabound for that long yet. Besides, you''re the last of us. We can''t let you rush into something you can''t handle yet." Hearing my father''s response angered me¡ªnot because I felt like I was being suppressed or coddled, but because I knew he was right. I knew I was nowhere near the level of my enemy. I knew the best course of action was to leave and seek safety. But it hurt to know exactly who the target of my rage should be, exactly where he was, and still not be allowed to act on it. "We will fix all that has been done to us, I promise. But we have to be patient," my father said, wrapping an arm around me in an embrace. "I know," I responded. After a long pause, I asked, "So when do we leave tomorrow?" "First thing in the morning. Make sure you''re prepared." "Okay." "Don''t stay up too late. I''ll see you later¡ªI have a few things I need to get ready before we embark," he said as he began heading back toward town. I sat by the rift for a while, collecting my thoughts and working on absorbing cosmic energy from the atmosphere to refill my core. Once it was finally full, I felt stronger and more capable than before. Even though my core was still in its embryonic stage, its capacity now surpassed Adam''s and was comparable to that of the man who bore the Iron Warden constellation. With this, I knew for sure that I could pass the last part of the resonance trial and unlock the other aspects of my first rune. Wasting no time, I rushed back to our quarters and locked the doors. I didn''t want to be disturbed or exposed. Entering deep meditation, I astral projected out of my body and into my nexus. The moment I entered the vast expanse, I was instantly greeted by a familiar presence. "Hey, Dox. Long time no see." "Indeed, it has been some time. I see a lot has changed since we last met." "Yeah, I guess you could say that. But hey, I just wanted to let you know I was able to handle the batteries fine." "I know. Thanks to the astral relic you obtained, the probability of success drastically increased due to its passive abilities. But I assume you are here to finish the trial." "Yes," I responded. Then, in the blink of an eye, Dox and I were at the stellar pathway. "Since when could you just blink me over like that?" "I''ve always been able to. I just allowed you to float before since it was your first few times in the nexus. Now, would you do the honors?" Dox gestured toward the node beneath my first rune. Just like before, I imbued cosmic energy into the rune, causing it to expand. With the rune''s expansion, the nodes beneath became visible. Placing my hand on the faintly glowing one, I channeled cosmic energy again, sending me into the pool of reflection once more. "Are you ready?" Dox asked. "Yes. I''m ready to move on, finally." Dox activated the trial, and the stardust beneath my feet began to take shape, forming my targets once again. As the first target solidified, I saw it glow bright magenta, signaling my progress. "Let''s get this over with," I muttered, channeling cosmic energy into my rune. I visualized my gravity field expanding as I poured energy into my tattoo. The process was much easier now that I had developed the ability to sense for gravitational forces during my time in the rift. Opening my eyes for a quick glance, I saw that I had already surpassed the second target and was approaching the third. Immediately, I refocused, making one final push to expand my field to the last target, expending a great deal of cosmic energy. Then, all of a sudden, Dox''s voice rang in my ear. "You have completed the trial, and your resonance has increased." Chapter 62 Cyrus POV Immediately, I opened my eyes once more and saw that the entirety of the Pool of Reflection was now painted in the color of magenta. With barely any time to take in the accomplishment, a rush of insight came flooding into my mind. Then, without a moment''s rest, I was teleported back to the Stellar Pathway. Looking down at the node that had once faintly glowed, I now saw it had turned magenta as well, with another node beside it beginning to glow faintly. "You are now able to access another extension of your first rune," Dox informed me. "Since you finally have an awareness of the gravitational fields around you from your time spent in the rift, I think this next node is perfect for you." I focused on the new node, staring down at it as the images and knowledge that had flooded my mind earlier started to make sense. The first node under my rune was actually called Gravity Well¡ªit increased the gravity around me based on the mass of my core. This new node was called Gravity Well Minor, which essentially allowed me to decrease gravity in an area. "This might just come in handy, especially against behemoths who are bigger and stronger than my increased gravity field," I thought to myself. "What good will all their strength and speed do if they''re floating in the air?" I released my hand from the Stellar Pathway, causing it to deactivate. "Say, Dox, I''ve got a question." "Go on." "So, every time I complete a resonance trial, I''m granted another piece of insight." "Correct." "Is there a certain percentage of resonance I have to reach in order to advance to the next stage?" "For most Starbound, they would need to reach roughly sixteen percent resonance with their constellation before being allowed to take the next Astral Trial. However, every constellation''s Stellar Pathway is different. Some have more nodes to master, and some have fewer. Generally, if there are fewer to master, it means the concept of their constellation isn''t as straightforward as that of someone whose constellation might be related to an element." "So what about mine? It seems I only have three nodes under my first rune." "The Paradoxon constellation is a combination of both. Gravity is a multifaceted pillar of the universe. It can be as simple as an element like fire or water, but it can also be as complex as the concept of time." Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "Okay, thanks, Dox. This kind of makes sense now. I''m gonna head out¡ªI''m starting to get a little tired, and my cosmic energy is running low." "Farewell," Dox replied in a monotone voice. "Alright, I''ll be back after I recover and get a chance to work through things with this new insight," I said, using the last bit of energy I had left to float toward the exit. Back in my body, the only thing I could do was relax and refill my reserves until I fell asleep. __________ With the morning upon us, it was time to head into the Astral Realm using the gate. My father was already wide awake and ready to go¡ªhe had packed everything we needed for our journey in a neat and organized fashion. Before leaving, he told me he needed to pick up one last thing and instructed me to meet him at the gate shortly. It didn''t take me long to get ready, and I arrived at the gate in no time. When I got there, he was leaning against the Astral Gate. "I''m actually surprised you weren''t late," my father said, chuckling as he reached into his bag. "I mean, you stressed the importance of leaving as early as possible, and I''m more than ready to leave this place anyway." "Fair. But here, I had something made for you," he said, handing me what looked like a sheath of some sort. "I struck a deal with one of the merchants in town who sells various weapons. I figured you''d need a way to carry this efficiently since you don''t have access to your forge yet," he added, sticking his hand into the portal that appeared next to his outstretched palm. He pulled out the horn fragment made by Rava, examined it one more time, then handed it back to me. "Did you get two relics from defeating that rift?" "Only one. This was something entirely different¡ªit''s a memento from my first battle with a Voidborn," I responded as I sheathed the blade into its holder and wrapped it around my torso. "Yeah, I need all the details of this rift and everything that happened," my father said, nearly beaming with excitement. It was a familiar sight¡ªI recognized this expression from whenever he talked about his science experiments. It was also something I had seen in Adam''s memories when they were younger, during their conversations about rifts and their adventures. I couldn''t help but smile and chuckle at my father as he unintentionally broke through the barriers I had put up to stay focused. "Yeah, don''t worry, I''ll tell you everything. But before we go¡­ what did you end up doing with that large man you fought?" "Oh, you mean Kael Arvath? I let him live." I couldn''t hold back my expression. "Why? Isn''t he one of the generals of Lux Tenebris? He''s part of the faction that killed everyone." "He is. But during our battle, I learned a lot about him and his desires. He''s not that much different from me¡ªwe want very similar things but have different ways of trying to achieve them. I have a feeling our battle might have changed him, and I believe there''s room for him to grow. At least, I hope that''s the case." My father paused before continuing. "Besides, he has a family. I didn''t want to take a husband and father away from them, Cyrus. It''s not my place to play god over someone''s life. And with the extensive injuries he suffered, I don''t think he''ll be causing problems for anyone anytime soon," he said as he gestured for us to enter the portal. Chapter 63 Cyrus'' POV After entering the Astral Realm in my fused-form body, I could instantly feel the difference¡ªthe drain on my core was much faster than when I was in just my astral form. Luckily, my core had grown several times larger since the last time I entered the Astral Realm in this form. As we traversed the realm and finally found the route we needed to take, I informed my father about what had happened in the rift and everything I had experienced. I explained the phantom echoes, the situation with the Voidfang Basilisks, my encounter with a rift merger named Rava, and, of course, my battle with the Hydra. My father was particularly interested in hearing about Rava and how it was a Starborn Entity¡ªsomething he had only read about in ancient texts as a child. Back then, it had been nothing more than a theory, a conclusion scholars had drawn from fragments of lost knowledge. He couldn''t believe that one had revealed itself to me¡ªlet alone taken a liking to me. I didn''t have the guts to tell him about the situation regarding my mother, though. I was still trying to process it myself. I couldn''t tell if it had been a moment of pure delusion or if it was actually her. She looked like her, and her presence felt exactly as I remembered¡ªbut the rift made everything feel unreal. I couldn''t be sure. As we continued our trek, I began to take in the scenery. The landscape had started to change. The soft, cloud-like terrain gradually transitioned into an environment resembling a rainforest. Looking up at my father, whose face was buried in the map he had acquired from the merchant, I asked, "Yo, Dad¡­ where are we? And why did the environment change so suddenly?" Folding up the map and placing it back into his bag, my father responded, "We are entering the region of the Astral Realm that the Syltharion Clan rules over." "The Syltharion Clan? Wait¡­ isn''t that one of the Twelve Great Clans? And how can a clan rule territory in the Astral Realm? How is that even possible?" "Yep, that''s them," he confirmed. "Back in ancient times, when the first of their clan came into contact with Y''Vathun¡ªthe Pantheon that created their constellation¡ªthey dedicated a monument in the astral to it as a sign of gratitude for sharing its power with them. After the Pantheon was forced to leave the physical realm, that monument became blessed with its essence, creating a territory and home for all those who follow the Eldertree Sage Constellation. They were one of the first to establish something like this, and as a result, they''ve claimed a significant portion of this region. As long as that monument stands, they have control over this land, and their powers are doubled." "Oh¡­ so this is a big deal. Are we technically trespassing, then?" "Kind of," my father admitted. "Under normal circumstances, we''d be fine, but the thing is, our clans haven''t been on good terms for centuries. And in the war before you were born, I had to fight against them when they tried to take over neighboring cities and towns to expand their control of the continent. We have to be careful while traveling through the outskirts of their territory. If we''re noticed, they have every right to attack us¡ªat least until we reach the Astral Plaza within their borders." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Plaza? What, like a strip mall?" "In the Astral Realm, plazas are neutral zones where cultivators can gather. Fighting and violence of any kind are strictly forbidden." He suddenly tensed, his voice lowering. "Now keep quiet¡ªI sense something coming." His eyes began to glow as he scanned the terrain around us. I immediately sealed my lips and tried to sense whatever he had detected. But I couldn''t. My sensitivity to cosmic energy fluctuations wasn''t as refined as an Astral Knight''s. However, I had something else. Calming my mind and breath, I expanded my senses using cosmic energy, searching for any distortions in the gravitational fields around us. Within moments, I noticed several large masses moving swiftly through the rainforest in our direction. Based on the distortions their movements caused, I estimated they were several meters tall and weighed several hundred pounds each. "Dad, I think it''s some kind of Astral Behemoth or another roaming creature, that''s all," I whispered, careful not to give away our position. My father gave me a curious glance before responding, "I think you''re right. The pack doesn''t seem that strong¡­ But how did you know that? I can see them with my infrared vision, but how were you able to make them out so precisely?" "You weren''t paying attention, were you? When I was explaining my battle against the Hydra." "I was¡­ I was just still shocked about the rift merger, in all honesty." He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Yeah, well, I can sense gravitational fields. I can''t maintain it for long¡ªit puts a great strain on my mind. But we should move; whatever they are, they''re coming fast." "Let them come. You''ll need to recharge later anyway," my father said, setting his bag down. "I''ll take the two on the right, and you handle the one on the left." With that, he darted forward at blinding speed. "You know, after everything I just went through, I really should be relaxing right now," I muttered to myself as I shrugged off my bag and unsheathed my blade. Dragging my blade through the dirt behind me, I sprinted toward my target. In just a few bounds, I was within striking range¡ªonly to realize that this creature was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was composed of interwoven vines and branches, its form humanoid yet alien. Cosmic energy shimmered across its leaves, pulsating in an ethereal glow. From its energy signature, it didn''t seem to be any higher than the Starspawn Rank. But when I tried to check its core to confirm, I noticed something strange. It didn''t have one. Then, without warning, the creature raised its arm-like structure, sending a flurry of cosmic-infused vines whipping toward me. I reacted at the last second, raising my blade to deflect the attack. With a swift counter, I slashed through the vines with a decisive downward strike. Wasting no time, I imbued my legs with cosmic energy and launched myself toward the creature. In the blink of an eye, I was less than a foot away. I transitioned smoothly into a sweeping attack aimed at its legs, forcing it to lose balance. Channeling more energy into my blade, I unleashed a series of precise strikes, bisecting the creature in an instant. As the remains of the humanoid tree-like entity collapsed to the ground, I heard the faint crunch of leaves behind me. "So¡­ when did you get good with a blade? I don''t remember ever teaching you those moves." I turned to see my father standing there with a curious expression. "Uncle taught me whenever he stopped by to check on me while you were away on diplomatic trips. I told you I was good with a blade, but nooo¡­ you said I needed to ''learn to fight properly'' first." "Of course he would teach you," my father sighed deeply. "So¡­ did you get its core?" "Funny thing about that¡­ this one didn''t seem to have a core." A thoughtful look crossed his face. "Interesting¡­ So the rumors are true. The Syltharion Clan still holds the position of Guardians of the Celestial Grove." Chapter 64 Cyrus POV Staring at the remains of the creature I had just defeated, I watched as the branches of the once-humanoid figure crumbled and seeped back into the ground. I couldn''t help but feel uneasy about these creatures. "What do you mean by rumors, Dad?" I asked as I sheathed my blade and picked up my bag. "According to ancient texts, there are entities said to be spirits born from the cosmic vines of the Eldertree. Apparently, they only awaken when the Eldertree senses danger," my father explained as he handed me the cores of the creatures he had defeated. "Does that mean we''re the danger?" "We very well could be¡ªunless there''s something or someone else out here that warrants this response. But I''m curious as to why it only sent out these weak guardians if it was reacting to our presence. I wonder where the big guy is," he muttered as he continued pressing forward through the astral rainforest. I didn''t bother following up with the question. If I needed to know, he would have told me. Instead, I hurried to catch up, placing the core he had handed me into my bag. Traveling through the astral rainforest of Syltharion territory was far more challenging than navigating the outskirts of the physical realm. Not only were the weather conditions more intense¡ªamplified by cosmic energy¡ªbut maintaining constant vigilance was an even greater struggle. Everything caught my eye, mesmerizing me with the sheer beauty of this place. As I trekked through the region, I wondered if the physical realm had ever looked like this. What would the world be like if machines and technological advancement hadn''t taken over? Being on the run these past few years had given me a deeper appreciation for nature¡ªboth its beauty and its horrors. "Hey, Cyrus, where are your reserves at?" My dad suddenly halted, turning back to check on me. I had honestly lost track, distracted by analyzing everything new I saw. "Uh, I have roughly about a third left," I answered, stumbling over my words as I snapped out of my daze. But I quickly realized he already knew what my reserves were at. "Alright, let''s take a rest here and give you some time to absorb these cores. Remember, we''re losing cosmic energy at three times the normal rate compared to our usual astral forms, so we need to be diligent about monitoring it." "Yeah, you''re right," I said, taking out the two star spawn cores and beginning the absorption process. "But you did well gauging that creature''s strength and not using too much of your energy in the fight. That level of discernment is going to be critical as we continue traveling through the astral realm," my father added while rummaging through his bag. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "How much farther until we reach the Plaza of the Grove?" I asked as I finished absorbing the last core. "We have about five more miles, give or take. At our current pace, we should reach the plaza by the time the third moon rises," he stated matter-of-factly. His response threw me off. I had been so focused on my surroundings that I hadn''t even considered looking up. When I did, I realized I had been completely unaware of what the sky above actually held. It appeared as if a translucent barrier protected the astral realm, separating it from what we called space. Planets, stars, and celestial objects were visible with perfect clarity¡ªalmost as if I were staring through the world''s largest telescope. "Come on, let''s get moving, Cy. I sense another pack of weak astral behemoths up ahead¡ªabout a dozen of them. If we play our cards right, we can sell a few of their cores for equipment and supplies." Gathering my things, I nodded and took off. "Whoever kills the least has to pay for dinner." _________ Theron POV Several days had passed since I last spoke with Adam, and something felt off. Trusting my instincts, I quickly flew down to the town where he resided. Before stepping out of my aircraft, I grabbed my mask, pulled my hood over my head, and made my way toward the town entrance. As I approached, I noticed an eerie absence of astral behemoth signatures. The rift had been cleared. The only cosmic energy signature I could detect was a familiar one¡ªyet something about it felt weaker than before. The town''s atmosphere was cold and lifeless. Few people acknowledged my presence as I followed the energy signature to a small infirmary. I didn''t bother asking for permission as I walked past the nurses tending to their patients. "Lord Enzo, may I ask who you are here to see?" one of the nurses asked. I ignored her, turning the corner to find a familiar face lying on a gurney. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. "So, you survived," I said, removing my mask. "Yeah, I did¡ªbut not without consequences," Kael responded, lifting his severed arm. "I understand what you meant about him now. He''s a different beast entirely. If it weren''t for that damn soul weapon of his, I think I might''ve been able to win." "Don''t delude yourself, Kael. He was playing with you." "And you think you''re so much better, huh?" "I am," I replied bluntly. "But let''s get you out of here and back to your family so you can rest." "Yeah, I''m ready to leave. I don''t want to be reminded of my failure¡ªor the fact that my opponent showed me mercy." As we walked through the city, we received numerous bows and words of thanks. Most were directed at Kael for the work his guild had done in the area. But I couldn''t shake the feeling that something was missing. I couldn''t sense Adam''s signature anywhere. "He''s no longer alive, if that''s what you''re wondering," Kael said, his voice grim. "I can tell you were looking for him. Even though I can''t see your face under that mask, I can still feel your intent." "What happened to him? Did Ezra turn on him?" "No. From what I gathered, it was the kid who did it." I narrowed my eyes. "Cyrus?" "I didn''t see the fight, but when I arrived out of the astral realm, Adam''s mutilated body was lying there, and the kid was holding his core in his hand," Kael explained. "That kid looked terrifying. The fact that he''s only at the first stage and was capable of that¡­ honestly, it makes me concerned about what he''ll become in the future. He could turn out to be truly formidable. You''d do well to be wary of him." "I agree." "If he weren''t so closely tied to his father and his cause, I''d say he''d be the perfect candidate to join our ranks. Someone with that potential¡­ in a few years, he could be the ideal running mate." A small smirk tugged at my lips under the mask. "It''s funny you say that, Kael," I murmured, placing a hand on his back as we stepped beyond the town''s borders and toward my aircraft. Chapter 65 Theron POV Imbuing cosmic energy into the first rune of the Eclipse Serpent constellation, I released a burst of decay energy into Kael''s soul armor. Sensing my intent, he immediately darted away from me. "What are you doing, Theron?" "You really thought you could disobey Master''s orders and live? I told you at our last meeting that you should have just stayed put. Now, you''re merely a fraction of what you used to be. A pity, really. Your family is about to lose their husband and father, and a guild is about to lose its leader. Don''t worry¡ªI''ll take good care of them." "Theron, like hell I''ll ever let that happen. Ezra might have been too much for me, but you? I do not fear you at all. Even with one arm, I can take you." "Is that so?" I said, slowly walking toward him. "I don''t think I''ll even need to use fifty percent of my power to take you out¡ªespecially in the sorry state you''re in." I said as I cast several constructs in the shape of serpents, each one pulsing with decay energy. "What are those? Since when could you do that? That''s not the same constellation you had before." "You really might be dense. So, you didn''t notice last time at the meeting of generals? My power has grown significantly. I''m not your average Starbound at the Empyrean stage anymore." I released more of my cosmic energy, commanding my constructs to lash out at Kael. He immediately altered the topography of our battlefield to disrupt the serpents'' path, giving himself enough time to summon his soul weapon. But I had fought him before¡ªI knew exactly what was coming next. I conjured several more serpents, about a dozen or so, sending them at him from all angles as a diversion. With Kael focused on my constructs, I summoned my soul weapon and launched myself into the air, drawing back several arrows made of decay energy. With a snap of my fingers, the arrows tore through the sky with a reverberating bang, hurtling toward my enemy. Reacting like the seasoned warrior he was, he immediately struck the air with his fist, countering my attack with an explosion that gave him a moment of cover. Landing atop one of the trees nearby, I now had a bird''s-eye view of everything. I knew how Kael operated. I knew how the hulking titan ambushed his opponents with his constellation. But in his current state, he had only about ten percent of his reserves left. He couldn''t waste energy tunneling underground. And with the nearby town, he wouldn''t risk using lava sprouts either. The advantage was all mine. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "How long do you want to keep this up, Kael? You''re barely clinging to life. I think this is it for you," I called down, conjuring a massive arrow, its size rivaling a missile. As the smoke cleared, I saw the once-fearsome titan hunched over, struggling to catch his breath. "Until I can no longer breathe... until my body can no longer stand... that''s how long I will persevere through this little conflict." "How admirable," I replied coldly, casting my arrow downward like a harbinger of death itself. "You choose, Kael¡ªthese people or your life. You can''t have both." Seeing his resolve harden, I felt him muster what little energy he had left to counter my attack. With a single gallant thrust, he ignited the atmosphere around him, sending a fiery explosion upward to meet my descending arrow. "Release," I commanded, just before impact. My large arrow splintered into countless smaller projectiles, raining down on Kael like hellfire. The ground was soon drenched in decay energy, trapping him as my arrows plunged into the earth. "Transform." At my command, the arrows shifted into serpents that lunged at the general, their fangs sinking into his soul armor. Descending from the tree, I watched as my decay energy slowly took hold, consuming his defenses. "It really is a shame. You were the perfect person to take on the Syltharion clan. You just couldn''t stay put. Don''t worry¡ªI''ll be taking over that role myself anyway. And I''ll make sure to prepare little Mira to be a fearsome warrior, just like you once were. Hopefully, she takes more after her mother in terms of intelligence." "You bastard." "Do you really want those to be your last words, Kael? And you, of all people, should know¡ªI am not a bastard." "You were cast away from your clan as if you were one." Kael scoffed as the last remnants of his armor crumbled beneath my serpents'' relentless assault. "True, in a way. But in return, I achieved something so rare that the average Starbound couldn''t hope to comprehend." "You really have no honor, no loyalty, do you, Theron? You threw everything away... for a childish ideal." "Who said I threw everything away?" I smirked as I took off my mask, pouring cosmic energy into the astral tattoo hidden beneath my bandages of my right arm. Kael''s eyes slowly drifted toward the golden-orange light radiating from beneath the wrappings, and I chuckled. "Now you see, I have two constellations. You¡ªor anyone else¡ªwill never be in my league. You were right to feel jealous of me. I understood it. I would have felt the same way if I were in your position." "Farewell, Kael, the earth that once trembled beneath your feet in awe now whispers as dusk settles and the fearsome titan is reduced to ash." I conjured a small orb of energy, shifting its color from the dark red of decay to the brilliant orange of the sun. With no cosmic energy left to protect himself, I watched as my former comrade¡ªonce a proud general¡ªwilted into lifeless ash. "You end just as you began." Chapter 66 (Cyrus POV) Dusk was just settling over the astral realm as we finally approached the entrance of the Celestial Grove, the heart of Slytharion territory. From the outside looking in, it was unlike anything I had ever seen or even imagined. A massive fortified wall, woven from vibrant green bark, branches, and vines, shimmered with cosmic energy and stardust. Before we reached the entrance, my father handed me a cloak from his bag and instructed me to put it on. "Even though we''re entering a neutrality zone, we must be careful. We don''t know who might be in league with the Lux Tenebris or who could potentially be watching us. Let''s try our best to be discreet and get in and out ," he said, raising his hood to cover his head. I followed his lead, pulling my hood over my head. As we arrived at the entrance, my father seemed momentarily thrown off, almost as if he had been expecting something to be there that wasn''t. Then, his eyes lit up, shifting from dark brown to a brilliant yellow as he swept his gaze from right to left, scanning the area before returning to his normal state. "Everything alright, Dad?" I whispered, trying to maintain the discretion he had advised. "Yeah, so far so good. I just assumed there''d be guards at the entrance. That''s how it was the last time I was here, years ago. Oh well, looks like luck is on our side today¡ªwe just caught a little break. Come on, let''s head in and see if we can sell off some of these cores and lighten our load," my father said as he pulled open one of the vine-woven gates, gesturing for me to enter first. Inside the Celestial Grove, I finally understood how it earned its name. The entire territory resembled a massive terrarium, teeming with flora and fauna that ran through the ground and buildings alike. The structures themselves seemed to be formed entirely from the earth, unlike anything I had encountered before. "It''s amazing, isn''t it?" my father said as he gestured for me to follow. "There are plants and astral species that exist only here. It''s a shame our two clans were at odds for so long. Our constellations are truly complementary." "Why were we at odds for so long?" "What do you think the reason is?" he replied, avoiding a direct answer as we wove through a crowd emerging from one of the channels leading toward the Grove''s center. "Power and greed, I guess," I muttered as someone brushed past me. "Correct. At least, that was the case when I was growing up. The Slytharion clan sought to expand their borders into Zarathia and halt the Age of Technology from overtaking the nature they swore to protect. In doing so, they attacked and destroyed smaller, lesser-known towns and cities, eventually encroaching upon regions allied with Arthernos." This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "So that''s why the Valador region isn''t as developed as the others I''ve been to." "Yes. Now, follow me¡ªI think I''ve spotted a guild hall that buys cores," my father said, locking eyes with me to ensure I stayed close before pushing forward through the crowd. After weaving through the hordes in the Grove''s merchant center, we finally arrived at the guild hall. The experience was overwhelming. Spending years on the run had kept me isolated from society. I wasn''t used to being around this many people, let alone so many Starbound radiating their cosmic energy signatures. I had no idea how my father handled it, especially at his stage, where he was even more sensitive to cosmic energy. Inside the guild hall, adventurers of all shapes and sizes gathered, some conversing with friends and relaxing, others forming parties and searching for jobs in the astral realm. The sheer volume of cosmic energy condensed in this space made the astral hairs on my body stand on end. I was on high alert, still wary from recent events. "I can sense your unease, Cyrus. It''s okay¡ªI''m here. Just take a deep breath," my father reassured me, glancing back over his shoulder before stepping into the line to exchange celestial cores for credits. He was right. I needed to calm down. Inside the Grove''s gates, violence was strictly prohibited. Steadying my mind, I regulated my cosmic energy and stood beside my father. We waited patiently, watching as the Starbound ahead of us exchanged cores from astral behemoths for payment. I was surprised that no one paid us any mind¡ªeveryone seemed focused on their own business. I supposed it made sense; the life of an adventuring Starbound forced one to be independent. At least, that''s what Uncle always told me about his quests. As we reached the front counter and handed over half of our celestial cores, a nearby conversation caught my attention. A party of adventurers was discussing some disturbances happening in Slytharion territory. "Do you think it has something to do with the Hollow Branch Cult?" one of them asked. "It very well could be. I''ve heard rumors of strange sightings¡ªtwisted, disfigured creatures appearing near the outskirts of the Grove," another responded. "That might explain why the Grove''s guards have been absent lately. I heard Lady Myra commanded them to handle the situation," a woman at their table interjected. I found myself drawn into their conversation until a gentle hand on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts. "Come on, Cy. Let''s find lodging for the night," my father said, gesturing for me to follow him out of the guild hall. "Dad, did you hear what those people were talking about?" I whispered as we exited the building. "Yes, I did¡ªbut it looks like you really don''t know how to be discreet, huh?" "What do you mean?" "Well, next time, let''s try not to blatantly stare at the people we''re eavesdropping on," he said as I replayed the moment in my head. "I guess you''re right." "You''re lucky they were drunk and didn''t notice. But yes, that conversation was interesting. It explains why things aren''t as well-guarded as I expected. This might just be the cover we need to get in and out of this territory with minimal conflict." Just as he finished speaking, massive flowers sprouted from the walls of the surrounding buildings, each shaped like a megaphone. A soft, melodic voice rang through the plant-made speaker system. "Residents and visitors of the Grove, we are placing the plaza on lockdown. We are experiencing disturbances on the outskirts, and to prevent the situation from spreading into the neutral zone, we are restricting access until further notice. "We require reinforcements to assist the Guards of the Grove. If you are willing to lend your services, there will be a reward." My father sighed. "Looks like you spoke too soon, Dad." Chapter 67 Cyrus Pov After finding lodging for the night, my father and I decided it would be best to help the guards. Doing so would grant us access to leave the grove¡ªor at least allow us to pretend to help until we found a way to escape discreetly. But before we met with the other parties and volunteers, my father wanted to pick up supplies. He said this was the perfect place to find a relic or artifact to help us store things more efficiently. With the limited supplies we had left, it was becoming increasingly difficult to carry all the astral behemoth cores in the bag slung over our shoulders. During our last skirmish against the pack of starspawn, it had been a hassle to drop our bags and belongings before engaging in battle. As we entered the merchant area once again, the people of the grove seemed restless, their anxiety manifesting in the erratic behaviors of caged animals. While we browsed an artificer''s shop in search of specific supplies, I tried to implement what my father had told me about eavesdropping. I pretended to inspect the various trinkets and wares while focusing on the conversations around me, hoping to pick up any new information regarding the disturbances. It took a few tries of positioning myself in different areas of the shop before I finally overheard something that caught my interest. One of the customers had brought up the Hollow Branch cult. At that, my body moved instinctively, inching closer to the conversation. "Apparently, there''s been a resurgence in their numbers," one of the women muttered as she examined a potion-filled vial. "Yeah, I heard they''ve been gathering in the northern ruins¡ªthe ones left from the last civil war," her taller friend replied, placing an item back down on the counter. "I just hope it''s taken care of quickly. That damn cult is nothing but trouble. Just when you think the weed has been uprooted, they find a way to sink their roots into this place again." "I don''t understand why Lady Myra and the rest of her clan didn''t just get rid of Malakar''s old texts. If they had, the philosophy would''ve died out on its own by now," the first woman grumbled. "You haven''t heard?" the shorter brunette asked, turning to her friend. "They did¡ªbut somehow, the texts keep resurfacing. It''s like they''re rising from the earth itself." She sighed and shifted her attention to a hanging shawl. "At least, that''s what my husband said the last time he spoke to one of the guards." Hearing their conversation made me even more curious. What exactly was going on in the outskirts? What kind of internal turmoil was brewing within the Celestial Grove? Our goal was to sneak out, but part of me wanted to understand the cause of all this unrest. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I continued listening, hoping to glean more useful information, but the discussion soon devolved into petty gossip. It reminded me of the conversations I used to overhear when my mother''s friends visited our home. Losing interest, I stopped pretending to browse and made my way toward my father, who was finishing up his purchases. "Did you hear anything worthwhile this time, Cy?" he asked as we stepped out of the shop. "Yeah. I overheard some women talking about the Hollow Branch again and some guy named Malakar. Do you know anything about him?" My father''s expression darkened slightly. "From what I know, he''s a figure from ancient times¡ªa myth, at least among the Syltharion clan. Supposedly, there was a cataclysmic event that nearly severed the Eldertree from the cosmos, causing what they call the Sundering of the Verdant Star. During that time, the clan was divided on how to move forward, and from that division, a faction known as the Hollow Branch emerged, led by a man called Malakar the Withered. According to legend, he believed that true balance required destruction as much as creation." "So, he was the one who started the civil war?" "Yeah, that''s what I was taught. He was an immensely powerful starbound even thousands of years ago, and it''s insane to think he still has this much influence over people to this day," my father replied as we approached the northern gates where the other parties and guards were gathered. "Oh, here, Cyrus. This should help you," he said, stopping in his tracks to hand me a small, rectangular object. "What is this?" I asked, unfamiliar with the item. "It''s a dimensional storage space. These are specifically made for carrying celestial cores. I''ve been searching for one of these for years, but none of the places in the Valador outskirts ever had them in stock." "How does it work?" "You just imbue it with your cosmic energy and bring a core near it¡ªthe container does the rest. When you want to retrieve something, do the same and visualize the item appearing before you. You can clip it to your sheath strap so you''re not slowed down by carrying a bag full of cores. We''ll need to move quickly when the time comes," my father explained with a slight chuckle. As we neared the gathering of starbound near the gates, I noticed there weren''t as many parties present as I expected. I wondered why. The situation couldn''t be that bad, could it? If the creatures were anything like the ones we encountered earlier, they shouldn''t be much of a threat¡ªunless, of course, there was something more to it. "Thank you all for lending your aid in this matter," a guard clad in chainmail and a deep emerald helmet addressed the group. His helmet covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes and mouth visible. "With your help, we should be able to resolve this situation quickly." "So, what exactly is the situation?" one of the nearby starbound asked. "We will inform you once we leave the plaza," the guard responded. "Lady Arya has commanded that details of the matter not be discussed within these walls." The gathered starbound seemed compliant with the request, but when I glanced up at my father, I noticed his expression harden beneath his hood. Gently tugging on his arm, I whispered, "Dad, is everything alright?" "Not really," he muttered. "Arya is one of Lady Myra''s daughters¡ª who just happens to be the leader of the Syltharion clan." Chapter 68 (Cyrus POV) Understanding the situation we were placed in, it was evident that we were between a rock and a hard place. We could run now, but with so few parties deciding to help, our desertion would be obvious, and we had no idea what the repercussions would be. We also didn''t want to push our luck. This was a region where Starbound connected to the Eldertree Sage were granted a boost in power. I was sure that if push came to shove, we could fight our way out and escape, but that wouldn''t have been the smartest course of action. So, we decided to stick with the group for now and lay low in the background. I noticed my father pull up a face mask and suppress his cosmic energy signature even further than he already had before we reached the campgrounds where Lady Arya and the grove''s guards were waiting. For some reason, my father seemed tense¡ªvery unusual for someone like him. "Dad, does this Lady Arya frighten you or make you uneasy or something? Because you''re not acting like yourself." He slowly turned his head toward me. "Yes, she does. Not for the reason you think, though." "That doesn''t help me at all, Dad." But before he could answer, I sensed a strong energy signature approaching us. Turning, I saw a tall, slender woman awaiting our arrival. She had bronze skin, with orange hair braided back behind her head. Her dazzling emerald-green eyes carried a fierce intensity, deeply embedded within them. She was adorned in an emerald-and-white battle dress, with a brass-colored belt lining her waist. "Welcome back, Commander. I see you''ve brought reinforcements," she said, scanning the small group. "I was expecting more than this, but I suppose this will have to do. Come now, we have much to do." She gestured for the other guards to show us where we would be setting up camp. My father and I didn''t have much to set up since we traveled light anyway, so we simply waited until we were called for the briefing. About an hour later, we gathered in a small amphitheater constructed from the vines and bark of the surrounding astral rainforest. Lady Arya stepped onto the stage and addressed the gathered guards and Starbound parties¡ªabout four dozen of us in total. "Volunteers, I''m sure you''re wondering why we have called for extra help near the old ruins. The rumors are true. The Hollow Branch''s numbers have been steadily increasing over the past few months, and they have been causing trouble in the outskirts of the Syltharion territory within the astral realm." "So what exactly do you want us to do, then?" a burly man from one of the parties asked. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "Our reconnaissance has confirmed that they have multiple bases in the outskirts. These need to be destroyed." "What about the cult members? What do we do with them?" another volunteer asked. "They are terrorists. Treat them as such. I want them all wiped out by any means necessary." "Lady Arya, but what exactly are they doing out here in the outskirts? I haven''t heard of any killings or attacks on Starbound traveling to and from the Celestial Grove," someone else questioned. "They are trying to break the seal that contains the great Malakar the Withered," Arya responded sternly. "I thought that was just a myth," the burly Starbound interjected. "A legend told in the grove to scare people into being good citizens." "No, it is very much the truth. As time went on, the Syltharion clan never felt the need to confirm or deny it, because we never believed it would get to the point of the seal potentially breaking. But it seems we were wrong in our judgment," Arya admitted. "I''m sure you all have noticed the mutated creatures roaming around lately. That''s because of Malakar. With his seal slowly deteriorating, his essence is beginning to seep into the flora and fauna around the area. Malakar wielded a special variant of the Eldertree Sage constellation, according to my sources. Not only was he capable of everything an Eldertree Sage could do, but he also possessed abilities tied to decay and corruption." I leaned toward my father and whispered, "Variant? What does she mean by that?" "Some constellations have branch families and clans connected less constellations of the parent one," my father whispered back. "Adam belonged to a branch family of the Syltharions, but a much less prosperous one, only possessing certain aspects of the Eldertree Sage constellation." Nodding, I turned my attention back to Lady Arya as she continued explaining her plan for striking the cult''s different bases and reclaiming the area where Malakar was sealed. The guards and Starbound parties appeared satisfied with the strategy, with no objections raised. It seemed pretty straightforward. After the meeting, the volunteers dispersed, returning to their respective quarters. My father and I kept to ourselves, setting up our fake quarters far from the others. We waited until dusk, watching as the guards and parties finished their meals, played their games, and eventually drifted off to sleep. "You ready, Cy?" my father whispered as he lightly tapped my shoulder. "Yeah, let''s get out of here," I whispered back. Quietly, we gathered our few belongings and slipped away, heading west. The guards and volunteers at the camp remained undisturbed as we moved several miles away, without anything obstructing our path. Then, suddenly, something grabbed hold of my ankle. PTSD from the shadow hounds in the Rift kicked in, and I immediately channeled cosmic energy into my hand and sliced clean through whatever had ensnared me. "Impressive reflexes for someone so young, and at an embryonic stage at that," a smooth, elegant voice spoke from the darkness. "But then again, you are his son. I suppose it''s to be expected." The voice grew closer. "Come out. Now." My father''s voice was firm. "I don''t want to use force." A soft chuckle. "Ezra, hon, I don''t think you would ever put a hand on me, would you?" From the shadows, a figure emerged out the tree to my left. Almost as if it was once merged with it. The moment I saw those dazzling emerald eyes and fiery orange hair, I recognized her immediately. Lady Arya. "In all honesty, I should be the one using force after what you did all those years ago¡ªleaving me for that wife of yours." She leaned against the tree she had stepped out from, her expression unreadable. Chapter 69 Cyrus POV "Um, Dad, care to explain this? What does she mean by you left her for Mom?" "Well, you see, Cy¡­ before I met your mother, Lady Arya was one of my classmates at the academy. We got along well and were really good friends back then," my father said, stumbling over his words. "Don''t downplay it, Ezra. I was your girlfriend. At one point, we were actually set to be betrothed. The clans saw how two heirs of opposing families got along and how fond they were of each other, so they tried to unite the clans and make the continent whole again." "Yeah¡­ so much for that," my father muttered. "I''m sorry for that, Ezra. I had no control over the situation. I was young and had no say," Lady Arya apologized. "Can you two stop being so vague and just say it already?" I interjected, raising my voice. "Remember the war I told you about? The one that took place before you were born? The one I fought in against the Slytharion clan?" "Yes, I do." "Well¡­ that war was started by Arya''s uncle. He was the one who attacked neighboring cities and towns, trying to expand their control over the physical realm. The whole betrothal was a setup¡ªto get us to lower our guard and defenses. Ever since that day, I felt like I could never trust Arya or her family again. It was hard to walk away from that." I saw Lady Arya''s face grimace at my father''s words. The truth he spoke hit hard, digging into a place only she knew existed. "I know it''s been years¡­ a decade, even, since we last spoke. But I want you to know that everything we had was real. Even to this day, you were someone I could never stop thinking about. I took no husband and bore no children¡ªI knew the one who was meant for me. But fate has a cruel way of treating us, doesn''t it, Ezra?" Arya said as tears welled up in her emerald eyes. "When I heard the news of what happened in Arthenos to you and your family, I rushed over there as soon as I got word. But when I arrived, my worst fears were confirmed. When I saw the wreckage¡­ I thought you were dead." A long silence followed after Lady Arya poured her heart out to my father. I could see the struggle on both of their faces as they searched for the right words to say to each other. "Well, maybe when we leave this place and get off this continent, you two can catch up," I said, breaking the silence. "It was nice to meet you, Lady Arya." This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "I''m sorry, Cyrus, but I can''t let you leave just yet. The threat is too great for these guards and volunteers to handle alone. I was hoping for stronger Starbound to volunteer back in the plaza, but¡­ Ezra, with your help, we can end this quickly and keep casualties to a minimum. Plus, I need someone capable to guard me while I tend to Malakar''s seal." Without waiting for my father to respond¡ªwho was still standing in stunned silence¡ªI interjected, "Yeah, so¡­ we''re still going to leave. We have a schedule to stick to. We already had one major detour recently, and we don''t have time for another. You seem strong, Lady Arya¡ªI''m sure you can manage." "Ezra, please, I''m begging you. Yggvalk has been corrupted and is guarding the seal," Arya pleaded. My father''s eyes widened as that name hung in the air between us. "Who is Yggvalk?" I asked. "It''s the most powerful guardian of the Celestial Grove. It is believed to be immortal¡­ and unable to be destroyed." "Oh¡­ I understand the situation now," I muttered. "If you help me with this one thing, I have something to offer you in return." "Like what?" my father asked. "I found the coordinates of an ancient Astral relic that belonged to the Solaris clan. I discovered it in my uncle''s safe years ago. I wanted to bring it to you back then, but it didn''t feel right, knowing you had a family. But think of it as a way for our clans to rebuild a fractured relationship." "Fine. How much time do you need to restore the seal, Arya?" my father finally responded. "Dad, seriously? We don''t have time. And if her people have wronged us in the past, you really want to take that chance again? Didn''t Adam teach us enough?" I argued. "Wait¡ªyou saw Adam? What happened? What did he do?" Arya asked. "I''d rather not talk about it right now. It''s a sore spot for us," my father answered. "He betrayed us and killed a lot of people," I said sharply. "So, excuse me if I''m not very trusting of strangers, Lady Arya. These past couple of years haven''t exactly put the people of this continent in the best light." "Hopefully, I can be the one to start changing that for you, Prince Cyrus." Arya sighed. "Why don''t you come back to the camp? It''s late. I have more information regarding the operation that I withheld earlier, and I''d rather not discuss it out here in the open." She turned and started walking back toward the camp. "Why didn''t you tell the others about Yggvalk being corrupted? Don''t you think they should know?" my father asked as he gestured for me to follow. Begrudgingly, I complied. "I had no intention of letting them face the immortal guardian. I was always going to ask you," Arya admitted. "Ezra, we spent a long time together¡ªdid you really think I wouldn''t recognize your signature, no matter how much you tried to conceal it?" She turned slightly, offering a faint smile. "How do you think you got into the plaza without any pushback? I ordered the guards to leave the gate once I sensed you enter our territory. Plus, I needed a way to confirm it was really you¡­ without blowing your cover. I figured if you went to such lengths to stay hidden, there was a reason for it." I saw my father let out a faint smile at her response. "You really are an interesting woman¡­ forcing my hand to help you deal with a cult and an ancient Starbound just so you could see me." "I mean, we used to do things like this all the time once we graduated from the academy¡ªso why not?" Arya chuckled as she led us back to camp. Chapter 70 Cyrus'' POV The next morning, everyone was given their tasks regarding the raid we were going to perform to help Lady Arya. As I waited patiently for the other groups to leave, my father approached me. From the way he avoided direct eye contact, I could tell that something was on his mind. "Is it time for us to go now too?" I asked as I got up from my spot and grabbed the sword Rava had made for me. "Yeah, about that¡­ I think you should tail the volunteers and the guards and back them up." "Why? I can help. I have more reserves now, and my constellation''s powers would be perfect for holding something off." "They are, but the potency of your cosmic energy is not enough to harm or even make a dent in Yggvalk''s exterior. I have a plan for it, but I can''t have you near me when I enact it." "What exactly is this plan that I can''t be near when it happens? I can handle myself, Dad. You know I can handle a Category Two Rift by myself." "I''m going to use my Celestial Domain. When I activate it, you won''t be able to withstand the heat and cosmic energy it will generate. I don''t want you to become collateral damage, Cyrus. After this, I promise¡ªno more splitting up." My father looked me in the eyes as he placed both hands on my shoulders. The intense sincerity in his gaze slowly eased the frustration that had started to build up inside me. If this thing was going to force my father to use more of his power, I couldn''t be upset that he didn''t want to risk me getting caught in the crossfire. "Alright, but this is the last time. And if I find out you just wanted some alone time with your ex, I''ll be pissed." "Okay, good. And I promise you that''s not the case," my father chuckled, the tension in his shoulders finally relaxing. "Besides, with your help and your abilities, I''m sure you can speed things up. From the intel Arya provided, most of the people in the Hollow Branch Cult are at the Embryonic Stage, with maybe a few Adept Stage Starbound. That should be fine since a third of the guards are also at the Adept Stage. So don''t go in there all guns blazing¡ªjust hang back and provide support when needed." If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Yeah, yeah, I got it," I said, strapping on my sheath and pulling my hood over my head. "Can I go now? I''m ready to get out of here." "Yes, you can," my father said, patting me on the head. "Please be careful and mindful of your reserves." He opened his dimensional storage and handed me a dozen celestial cores. "These are from Arya. I explained that we''d need more supplies since we''re in our fused astral forms." Giving my dad a smirk as I placed the cores in my storage, I turned to leave. "Don''t go getting married just yet, alright?" I quipped before heading out toward the guards and volunteers. The group wasn''t far ahead, so I caught up relatively quickly. I found the commander of the four dozen militia and informed him of my orders. He seemed off-put by what I said. I wasn''t sure if it was because I was young and heading into battle with them or if he felt insulted that a mere kid had been sent to back them up. Honestly, I didn''t care much about his cold and indifferent response. I didn''t want to be here anyway. So, I just faded into the group and kept to myself. As I listened to the chatter of the guards and volunteers, I could tell they were confident in their plan and its execution. Their energy and morale made it seem like they were certain of their victory. This was one of the first few times I had been in a situation without my father backing me, where I felt like nothing could go wrong. So, I decided to use the time to refine my Gravisense and provide additional support. Letting myself fall into a deep meditative state, I expanded my senses with cosmic energy, absorbing every bit of information my brain could process. I felt the gravitational distortions caused by the militia members, the sway of astral flora in the rainforest-like terrain, and even the tiny creatures native to the Celestial Grove bouncing between trees. My understanding of this innate sense grew sharper with each step I took. As I drifted toward the back of the militia to avoid getting in anyone''s way, I prepared to release myself from the trance¡ªuntil I sensed a disturbance. A large group of people was approaching us from all angles. "Why aren''t the guards and volunteers reacting? Do they not sense them coming?" I thought to myself. Immediately, I tapped one of the guards in front of me and asked if he had noticed anything unusual. His confused expression told me everything I needed to know. I quickly withdrew from my meditative state and tried to sense the incoming threats'' cosmic energy¡ªbut I couldn''t. "Damn it. They''re concealing their cosmic energy," I muttered. With barely any time to react, I shouted, "We''re getting ambushed! Prepare yourselves now!" The next thing I knew, massive vines shot out from the brush of the astral rainforest, impaling several volunteers through the chest.