Location: NovaVerse Citadel – Lunar Branch, Black Gate Prison
Bai Chen stood inside the deepest vault of the Citadel, staring through triple-layered glass at the woman inside.
She sat calmly, hands folded in her lap. Pale skin. Hair like flowing silver. Eyes—one deep violet, one bright gold. Her body was wrapped in a sleek cloak woven from Eclipse fiber, yet her posture betrayed no malice.
The captured Eclipse Priestess had been broken during interrogation.
And she had given them a name.
"Her code is 'Unit Seraph-X5'," said Su Yiran, scanning the tablet beside Bai Chen. "But internally, she's registered as… Althea Veyron."
Bai Chen's eyes narrowed. "Veyron's daughter?"
"No," said Tang Xinyi from behind him. "His creation."
Scene: Althea Awakens
Inside the cell, Althea stirred as if sensing their presence.
She stood gracefully and walked to the glass. Her voice was soft, but clear.
"So. The trash boy who became a king finally meets his maker's mistake."
Yuwei bristled. "Try anything, and I'll send you back to your master's corpse chamber."
Althea chuckled. "Oh, I have no master. Not anymore."
Bai Chen folded his arms. "Then why are you here?"
"Because Veyron plans to unleash the Sleeper Kings," she said flatly. "And when the last one awakens, Earth won't have a sun to rise under."
She leaned closer, eyes locked on Bai Chen's.
"But I can help you stop them."
System Notification: Recruitment Path Triggered
📌 Target: Althea Veyron – Eclipse Prototype Class
🧬 Genetic Profile: 80% Eclipsian, 20% unknown anomaly
⚖️ Loyalty Level: Neutral (High Caution)
🎯 Recruitment Quest Unlocked:
– "The Fifth Star"
– Objective: Test Althea's motives through a joint mission
– Optional: Unlock hidden class: Celestial Architect
Scene: Citadel Council Room
The queens gathered as Bai Chen explained her intel.
"She claims to have blueprints for an ancient weapon—one that predates the Eclipse Empire. It's called The Starcore Engine."
"With it," Su Yiran said, scanning the data, "we could terraform moons, power entire fleets, or… vaporize entire dreadnoughts."
Ye Qingyue frowned. "And we just… trust her?"
Tang Xinyi stood silent for a moment, then spoke.
"She's Eclipse, yes. But… she's different. Her mind isn't loyal to Veyron. She was engineered to be perfect—but it's clear she developed beyond control."
Lin Yuwei grunted. "I still don't like her."
Bai Chen looked at all of them. "She's not replacing anyone. She's a tool we'll use. And if she betrays us…"
"I'll end her myself."
Scene: Trial Mission – The Broken Spire
To test Althea's intentions, Bai Chen assigned a mission to retrieve an ancient piece of the Starcore Engine from a derelict moonbase orbiting Neptune—known as the Broken Spire.
He led the mission himself, accompanied by Althea, under tight surveillance.
The Spire was dead—powered down, floating above a frozen moon. But the moment they stepped inside, something woke.
"You sure this was abandoned?" Bai Chen asked.
"Only by the living," Althea replied cryptically.
Shadow-phantoms crawled from the walls—remnants of Eclipse AI experiments, half-alive, bound to the moon's shell.
Althea moved with chilling grace—dancing through them with blades of black light.
"I was forged in shadows," she said. "But I learned to carve my own shape."
Bai Chen watched her, noting every move.
She could've killed him.
She didn't.
Scene: The Core Room
They reached the vault. Inside hovered a crystalline orb—pulsing with faint golden light. The Starcore Fragment.
"This… is the heart of the engine," Althea whispered. "Veyron wanted to enslave it. But if we tune it right…"
"It could become Earth's greatest shield," Bai Chen finished.
He placed a gloved hand on it. The system buzzed.
System Notification: Core Fragment Acquired
✅ Starcore Fragment Secured
⚙️ Blueprint Unlock: Celestial Railgun System
– Weapon Class: Orbital Supercannon
– Power Source: Fusion + Eclipse Core
💎 Trait Boosted: "Sovereign Architect" – Empire Tech Growth +300%
Scene: Return to Earth – Trust Earned
As they returned, Althea stood beside the ship window, staring at Earth from orbit.
"You fight differently than Veyron," she said quietly. "He conquers to destroy. You… protect."
Bai Chen replied, "Then help me protect what matters. Not just this planet—but the people on it."
She turned slowly, her voice softer.
"Then make me a promise, Bai Chen."
"If I ever fall like him… destroy me."
He met her gaze.
"I will."
System Update: Althea Recruited
✅ Loyalty: Conditional Trust
💘 Relationship Path Opened: Fifth Star – Celestial Architect
⚠️ Warning: Her presence may awaken the Final Sleeper King early
Final Scene: Eclipse Citadel – Throne of Chains
Veyron watched a hollow feed, eyes glowing crimson.
"She has chosen the child-king."
He clenched his fist.
"Then I will reclaim her… or burn the galaxy with her ashes."
Behind him, a seventh coffin began to crack open.
"Soon… the last King will awaken."