Arc I.5: “The Cosmic Guard”
Chapter III: “Crisis”
Episode II: “Devastation”
Ember searched through the entire ship until he found the arsenal.
“Ah, here we are.”
He searched through all the gear and equipment until he found his clothes and his artifact.
I’d be doomed without this… he said as he placed his artifact— his gauntlet around his wrist.
There’s no replacing a gadget forged by Crius…
The silver metal coiled and unfolded like a serpent, each segment locking into place until it pulsed with faint red lines—as if veins had fused with flesh, perfectly melding with his body.
“That’s better. Now, let’s blow this joint, shall we?”
His lips curled.
Suddenly, the entire ship exploded, Ember flying out of the destruction.
No mask, no helmet, yet he was able to survive in the vacuum of space. He rotated around, searching for the solar system he had passed by.
There!
His eyes locked onto it.
Looks like there’s a tasty feast waiting for me!
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He flew at high speeds, heading straight for the collection of small stars and planets.
[Meanwhile]
Riella and Akira were in the Chamber (the ship's bridge) with the primary captain of the ship.
Akira was wearing a new gi, yellow robes with more black highlights. His arms were strapped in gauntlets, gear from the cosmic guard.
The captain’s gaze was like steel— scarred from decades of patrolling. Even Riella stood a little straighter in his presence.
“How long until we reach the gate?” Riella asked.
“Another thirty minutes,” A guard said.
“Then it’ll be a few hours in the Aetherstream until we reach the next gate. According to their last known location, ship number 3563 was about thirty lumes from the nearest gate.”
“Lume?” Akira asked.
Riella turned to whisper to him, “It’s a cosmic unit of measurement. Compared to Earth units, it’s probably around a kilometer.”
“And what are those gates they mentioned?” Akira whispered back.
Riella sighed, rolling her eyes.
“This is what you get for not going to any of the Novice Guard lectures. The ‘gates’ they brought up are the Luminarch Gates. They connect us to the Aetherstream, which is like a cosmic highway of energy. Our ships are equipped with Aetherstream Drives, allowing them to harness the energy of the currents and travel at high speeds. Since these gates are so valuable, we have guards posted at every single one.”
“Woah…”
“Ahem,” the captain coughed.
“I’ll tell you more later,” Riella whispered, “you’re gonna make Captain Garren upset!”
Akira and Riella straightened up.
“So,” Garren continued, “what star systems are in the area? Based on the criminal they were transporting, it’s most likely that he’ll try it again.”
Akira raised his hand.
“Who exactly is it that we’re tracking?”
“Ember… a notorious villain who is wanted throughout the entire Universe. He uses an ancient artifact to steal the power of stars… strengthening his own yield. We were lucky to have captured him the last time… one of the Vice-Commanders had to lead the mission. I’m not sure if our squad will be capable—”
“Just leave it to me!” Akira boasted.
“Hmph… I suppose we have no choice. You and Riella are our secret weapons after all.”
“You hear that?” Akira nudged Riella, his grin spanning from end to end of his face.
“Yeah, yeah,” she rolled her eyes.
[Deep in space – Ember’s location]
After a couple of hours, Ember reached the system. He flew just a few hundred lumes away from one of the stars.
He lifted his right hand to block the light.
This heat… yeah, this will be a good one.
With his left hand raised to the star, his gauntlet activated— a whirring sound trekking through space.
The star convulsed, its surface writhing as ribbons of plasma bent unnaturally toward Ember’s gauntlet.
In moments, the radiant sphere shrank, funneled into a single point until the void was left barren and cold. The gauntlet absorbed the star until there was nothing left, the energy overflowing within Ember.
“This power! HAHAHA!”
Thanks to the Forge of Crius!
He flaunted his bright red aura, his aether surging uncontrollably.
“Let’s take it for a spin,” he said, licking his lips.
He turned towards the small planets in the system, deciding to pay each one a visit.
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “Encounter”
[Yield Levels]:
Ember: 120m
- Small Star Absorbed: ~1t
Akira: 2b
Riella: ???
Garren: 105m