The next three days passed in relentless work.
Inside the secluded valley where the battered ship had landed, Krish and R.C. labored day and night. Sparks lit up the darkness as damaged circuits were rewired. Metallic panels were reforged with Krish's elemental control, welding steel together using fire and ice in perfect balance. R.C., linked through his wrist device, guided the process with precision calculations, managing what little energy remained from the ship's core reactor.
At last, on the dawn of the fourth day, the ship stood tall once again. Its silver hull gleamed, scarred but unbroken.
"Master," R.C. announced, "the Silver Dragon is ninety percent operational. Full recovery requires parts unavailable in this realm. However, mobility and defense systems are restored."
Krish placed his hand against the ship's side, his blue eyes softening. "Silver Dragon… you've carried me across galaxies for more than a millennium. And you'll carry me still."
---
But before he could breathe relief, a deep, guttural roar shook the valley.
The ground trembled. Trees bent under an invisible pressure. Birds scattered in panic as a massive shadow descended from the skies.
"Master!" R.C.'s alarm blared. "Incoming hostile! Energy levels… immense!"
Krish looked up, his gaze hardening.
From the sky dove a spirit beast unlike any he had seen before. Its body was covered in obsidian scales, wings stretched wider than the Silver Dragon itself, and eyes glowing with primal hatred. Its presence alone made the very air heavy, crushing weaker life around it.
R.C. analyzed rapidly. "Spirit Beast classification: Stage unknown. Estimated power—equivalent to several hundred cultivators combined."
Krish smirked, his silver hair whipping in the wind as spiritual essence surged around him. "Perfect. A test drive for this new world."
---
The beast roared, unleashing a wave of spiritual pressure that cracked the earth. Trees split apart, rocks shattered, and the valley shook as though the heavens themselves had fallen.
Krish raised his right hand. A blue glow erupted as water condensed out of thin air, freezing instantly into countless spears of ice. With a sharp wave, he launched them skyward.
The beast bellowed in pain as several spears pierced its wings, but it retaliated with a blast of fire from its maw, scorching the land and melting stone.
"Master, activating Silver Dragon's auxiliary shields!" R.C. warned. A barrier of shimmering energy expanded from the ship, intercepting the flames. Sparks rained down as the defense barely held.
Krish's eyes gleamed with battle hunger. "So even beasts here wield elements… interesting."
---
The fight had only begun, but in Krish's heart burned excitement. For the first time in centuries, he felt alive.
Here, in this strange new world, even the monsters were worthy of him.
And this was only the beginning.
---