x
The air hung heavy with tension as Captain Doran looked at the fallen members of the Valiant Blades, their bodies battered and unconscious from the intense battle with Darius Kaine and Nyxara Tenebris. His brow furrowed in concern. “Aiden,” he called out, “what’s the status of your team?”
Commander Aiden immediately rushed over to check on his comrades, kneeling beside them. Drayke, Windrider, and Ashford lay still, their breathing shallow. “They need medical attention. Fast,” Aiden said, his voice tight with urgency. “We can’t stay here.”
Captain Doran, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness, shook his head. “You need to focus on yourself right now, Commander. You barely held them off. If the Kaipo Universe wasn’t as close to this location as it was, Kiera and I wouldn’t have made it in time.”
Aiden grimaced but remained defiant. “Even with that, I’m surprised you made it at all. It took us a whole week to get here, but you arrived in time to save us.” He paused, glancing between Doran and Kiera. “How did you get here so quickly?”
Captain Doran let out a laugh. “Captain Solari,” he said, tapping the side of his head as if giving credit where it was due. “She’s impressive. Science is her playground, and she can create anything she wants with it, including rapid transportation.”
Kiera Voss, ever focused, interjected. “That’s impressive, but who were those two? They resemble someone we just dealt with back in Vandros.”
Aiden’s face darkened. “That was Darius Kaine, 7th in the Eclipse Sovereignty, and Nyxara Tenebris, 6th.”
Kiera’s expression hardened. “Interesting… because we just dealt with Neraxis, Lord of the Abyss, 8th in the Sovereignty.” She exchanged a glance with Doran before looking back at Aiden. “What do you think their goal is?”
Aiden hesitated, thinking back to the cryptic demand Darius and Nyxara had made. “They’re after Queen Elara of the Areala Universe.”
Both Kiera and Doran were visibly surprised. “Queen Elara?” Doran asked, crossing his arms. “Why would they want her?”
“That’s the same question I’m asking,” Aiden admitted. “But whatever the reason, it can’t be good.”
Captain Doran’s face grew even more serious. “We need to make moves, Aiden. If the Eclipse Sovereignty has something planned for Elara, it’s bound to threaten the entire balance of peace. We can’t let that happen.”
Doran turned to Kiera. “I’ll call Captain Solari and have her bring a unit to establish a base right here where we stand. We need to keep control of this area.” He paused. “I’ll also contact Queen Nia to inform her of the danger to Elara. We need to let the rulers decide the next steps for her protection.”
He looked back at Aiden. “You head back to the Requiem Universe and brief King Kael on the situation. He needs to know what’s happening.”
Kiera, however, was already stepping forward. “I’ll go with Aiden.”
Aiden smiled, shaking his head. “Thanks, Kiera, but you don’t need to worry. I’ll be fine. I’ve already put you both through enough trouble.” He glanced at his fallen comrades, determination hardening his features. “I’ll make sure to get my team back in fighting shape.”
With a nod of understanding, Doran watched as Aiden activated his communicator, preparing to leave for the Requiem Universe. “Be careful, Aiden,” Doran warned. “We don’t know what other tricks the Eclipse Sovereignty might have up their sleeves.”
Aiden nodded in appreciation and, without another word, disappeared into the distance, heading back to his home universe.
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vr9hBF8xh
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQZWcJ5SvJ
Back in the Kaipo Universe, in the sprawling scientific city of Spectra, Captain Solari was already preparing. Her lab bustled with activity as her team worked tirelessly on a new invention. When she received Doran’s call, her eyes lit up with excitement.
On the call, Captain Doran’s voice came through clearly. “You need to establish a base where we are. This is an emergency.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoPCsplhYT
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xw2Skh2Em
“Finally!” Captain Solari exclaimed, her voice full of energy. “I’ve been waiting for the chance to explore the Land of Spade.”
Solari then raised an eyebrow. “Have you confirmed this with Queen Nia?”
Doran hesitated. “Not yet. But it doesn’t matter. This needs to happen.”
Solari smiled mischievously. “Very well, then.” She quickly turned to her team, hand-picking 10 of her top scientists and warriors to accompany her. “Let’s go! Time to make history!”
With a crackle of energy, Captain Solari and her team were off, heading toward Doran and Kiera’s location in the Land of Spade.
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdS216jlXR
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7imDzbKIUC
Afterwards, in the Kaipo Universe’s main planet, Queen Nia and Captain Arcturus Valen received Doran’s call. As Doran briefed them on the situation, explaining everything that had happened in the Land of Spade, Nia’s face grew grim.
“I knew we should’ve secured the Land of Spade a long time ago,” she said, her voice tight with frustration. “If we had acted sooner, groups like the Eclipse Sovereignty wouldn’t have been able to form in the shadows.”
Captain Arcturus, always calm and strategic, nodded thoughtfully. “The powers these three members have shown—Darius, Nyxara, and Neraxis—are extremely dangerous. These aren’t traditional magic users.”
He glanced at Queen Nia, on the telegraphic call, before continuing. “We need to focus on Queen Elara’s protection. If they’re targeting her, we have to act.”
Nia’s stern expression softened into a confident smile. “Elara is more than capable of defending herself, Arcturus. She was my brother Kaipo’s only student, after all. Still, we can’t take any chances.”
She paused for a moment. “I’ll contact Queen Sera and Elara after this call. We need to inform them of the Eclipse Sovereignty’s movements and ensure Elara’s safety. After all, the Valiant Blades went to the Land of Spade to help find a solution for Elder Aeliana.”
Captain Arcturus nodded. “And what about King Kael and Queen Lila?”
“Commander Aiden is already on his way back to brief King Kael,” Doran replied. “As for Queen Lila, she’s a new ruler. I don’t think we should rush to involve her just yet.”
Captain Arcturus seemed to reluctantly agree. “I suppose that makes sense. For now.”
With that, the call ended, and Queen Nia moved swiftly to contact her counterparts.
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ9MVusx0D
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMntCnrsGqU
In a distant, dark valley within the Land of Spade, the air was thick with the foul stench of corruption. The ground was littered with the bodies of demons—Malignis Demons crawled through the area, their crimson eyes gleaming in the shadows.
At the center of the valley, three dark figures stood, speaking in low, measured tones: Neraxis, Lord of the Abyss (8th), Darius Kaine (7th), and Nyxara Tenebris (6th). Their presence made the very air tremble with malice.
“The plan went as expected,” Neraxis said, his deep voice reverberating through the shadows.
Darius nodded. “We’ve planted the seeds. The Valiant Blades are strong, but we have what we came for.”
Nyxara remained silent, her piercing gaze fixed on the horizon. Her mind lingered on their failure to eliminate the Blades. “Our only mistake,” she said coldly, “was revealing ourselves too soon.”
Darius let out a low chuckle. “Perhaps. Our punishment for that slip-up might not be pleasant.”
As they spoke, the shadows around them deepened, and a new figure emerged from the darkness. The temperature seemed to drop as the figure approached, their presence commanding respect. Vesper Noctis, the 2nd in command of the Eclipse Sovereignty, stepped forward, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
He was not pleased.
“You three,” Vesper growled, his voice filled with contempt. “Even though the main objective was accomplished, you jeopardized everything by showing yourselves.”
Neraxis, Darius, and Nyxara lowered their heads in deference.
Vesper’s gaze pierced through them, cold and unrelenting. “Lord Malakar Umbros has a message for you.” His voice echoed through the valley like a death knell.
The chapter ended there, with the dark clouds of war gathering on the horizon and the Eclipse Sovereignty’s true purpose still shrouded in mystery.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk4S0BfqfR
