As The Seraphine's Echo approached the shattered sun, gravity itself began to bend. Shards of molten crystal drifted past like floating islands, glowing with veins of golden energy. Kael could feel the pulse of the Fractured Star inside his chest, echoing like a second heartbeat.
Elyra guided the ship through the debris field with precise movements. "The readings are unstable. Every shard has its own gravitational pull. If we hit the wrong current, we'll be crushed before we reach the core."
Kael's eyes glowed faintly as he gripped his staff. "Then we'll trust the light to lead us."
The Marauder stood behind them, its shadowy tendrils anchored to the ship's hull. "The remnant's energy is everywhere. It's twisting the star from within—feeding on its collapse. We must move quickly."
Elyra frowned. "How do we even get to the core?"
Kael turned toward her, his voice steady. "We won't fly there. We'll descend."
He placed his hand over the central rune on the control console. Blue light erupted across the ship as ancient symbols rearranged themselves. The vessel responded like it was alive, reshaping its energy field into a shimmering cocoon. "This will take us through the layers directly."
The Marauder tilted its head. "That spell—it's forbidden. You could burn your soul trying to control it."
Kael looked back with a faint smile. "Then I'll burn bright enough to guide us through."
Before either could argue, he chanted a single word in the old celestial tongue. The ship lurched forward, diving straight into the fractured sun.
They were instantly engulfed in light. Every color imaginable burst around them, forming tunnels of raw creation energy. Kael's vision blurred, and his mind filled with whispers—echoes of the star's memories. He saw the birth of galaxies, the death of worlds, and a figure—his figure—standing amid the fire.
Elyra's voice crackled through the roar. "Kael! The core—it's coming into view!"
The light faded, revealing a colossal chamber of swirling plasma. At its center hovered a sphere of dark crystal, wrapped in tendrils of shadow and lightning. The air (or whatever passed for it) trembled with its pulse.
The Marauder spoke in a low, resonant tone. "That's it. The remnant of the mastermind."
Kael could barely breathe. The sphere seemed to stare back at him. Inside its surface, shifting images formed—faces, storms, and eyes full of power.
Elyra whispered, "It's calling to you."
Kael stepped forward, his staff blazing brighter. "Then let's answer."
The sphere cracked open, spilling out streams of black and gold energy that wrapped around the chamber like vines. The temperature spiked.
The Marauder extended its limbs, shielding Elyra. "It knows we're here. It's waking up fully."
Kael's heart raced. "Good." He lifted his staff high as the storm gathered around him. "Then it's time to end this."