The glowing spatial rift snapped shut, leaving the heroes standing amidst the vast, recovering ruins of Stellara Prime. The air here was heavy with dust, but the sounds of reconstruction echoed across the devastated landscape as thousands of volunteers from neighboring planets worked tirelessly to rebuild the capital of the "Seventh" Universe.
The group took a moment to catch their breath, the solid ground a welcome relief after their harrowing escape from the Eclipse Sovereignty’s dark plane.
But suddenly, Kiera Voss stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes widened in horror as a chilling realization struck her.
"Where is Captain Doran?”
The group turned to look at her, confusion washing over their faces. Kiera’s breathing quickened, calling herself crazy for taking this long to realize it.
"I distinctly remember the War at Fort Vigilance," Kiera explained urgently, her voice trembling slightly as she pieced the chaotic memories together. "Before I was completely sealed away, I know Queen Nia used her Celestial Judgement to shatter the Spectral Rune Cages holding Doran, Captain Daichi, and Zeraxis Prime. She teleported them to her side using her Celestial Water Gate."
She looked around at the faces of her comrades, her panic rising. "But immediately after they were freed, Captain Daichi noticed I was missing. Vesper lied to the group... he claimed that I was dead. When Doran heard that, he became so enraged that he blindly charged at Vesper. But Vesper easily sidestepped the attack and countered with the Rune of Binding Shadows."
Kiera’s fists clenched at her sides. "The shadows consumed him entirely, freezing him in place and capturing him all over again. If that was the case, Doran should have been trapped in that dark plane with us. He should be standing right here with everyone right now!"
A heavy, unsettling silence fell over the group.
Xavian let out a harsh sigh, resting the barrel of The Omega Reaver on his shoulder. "As if things couldn't get any more twisted," the sniper muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the ruined horizon.
Captain Arcturus Valen adjusted his posture, his brilliant strategic mind immediately processing this new variable. "If Captain Doran was indeed captured by Vesper, he absolutely should have been suspended in those cages with the rest of us," Valen deduced, his voice cold and analytical. "Unless... there was another reason he was separated from the group. The Sovereignty may have isolated him for a specific, dangerous purpose."
Before they could dwell further on the grim implications of Doran's absence, a group of civilian volunteers and local mages who had been clearing rubble nearby noticed their arrival. They dropped their tools and ran up the hill, their tired faces breaking into expressions of relief and joy as they welcomed the heroes to Stellara Prime.
Xavian watched the heartwarming scene for a brief moment before turning back to the group. His demeanor was all business.
"I’m going to go ahead and head over to the Azure Universe," Xavian announced, pulling his sentient sniper rifle from his shoulder. "King Kael is probably already over there trying to finish what he started against Arion and the Sentients. You all rest up. Head over once you are fully ready and recovered."
Without waiting for their protests, Xavian aimed The Omega Reaver directly at the ground. He pulled the trigger, firing a concentrated round of spatial energy that tore through the fabric of reality. A glowing portal swirled open, and with a final nod to his sister, Xavian stepped through the rift, leaving the recovering heroes behind on Stellara Prime.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyITP7q5Va
The spatial portal deposited Xavian onto a grassy, wind-swept hill on a completely random planet within the Azure Universe. The sky above was a muted, unusual shade, and the landscape was quiet and unfamiliar.
Xavian stood up, brushing off his coat as the portal snapped shut behind him. He looked around, entirely unsure of where he had just landed.
Alright, Xavian thought to himself, his mind replaying the conversation he had with King Kael back on Stellara Prime. Where exactly did Kael say he was heading in the Azure Universe?
He tapped his chin in thought. Oh, right. It was called Planet X.
Xavian frowned, looking up at the sky. Knowing the name of the planet was one thing, but locating it within the vastness of the Azure Universe was entirely different. He had absolutely no idea where Planet X was located from his current coordinates.
"Well, sitting here won't find it," Xavian muttered.
He unslung The Omega Reaver and brought the scope to his eye. Utilizing the weapon's advanced, cosmic-level optics, he scoped out the entire surrounding region, peering past mountains and valleys until his crosshairs finally landed on something useful.
Several miles away, nestled in a valley, sat a small, bustling city.
"Perfect," Xavian whispered, lowering the rifle. He decided he would head down to the city, blend in, and find someone who could point him in the direction of Planet X.
With his objective set, the deadly sniper slung his rifle over his shoulder and began his descent down the hill, stepping deeper into enemy territory.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06xNSL5t3o
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