Indian Ocean.
Silhouettes of energy crossed the sky in both directions, illuminating the coast. The smell of salt filled the air, while the sound of projectiles and magical weapons echoed across the horizon.
The Kartnod main fleet, commanded by Kaisel Kartnod himself, had attempted to circle Africa in order to reach the Atlantic. Nearly fifty ships advanced in attack formation, their black hulls reflecting the orange glow of the sunset.
But someone was waiting for them.
—Impact confirmed on the left flank!
We've lost three ships!
Kaisel stared at the tactical screen with a frown. The readings showed multiple signals launching and heading directly toward them.
—What is happening? —Valerius asked—. We're under attack! What does all of this mean? Did you set us up?
—No, we had no knowledge of any base or fleet in that sector. I want someone to tell me what is happening! —Valerius shouted at the top of his lungs.
Suddenly, multiple signals began appearing across the ship's monitors.
—Portals —said the navigation officer.
—My lord, you need to see this!
—Those are portals —Kaisel said in disbelief.
Then, directly ahead of them, multiple ships emerged to confront them.
They were not conventional human vessels. They were massive structures covered in golden and blue seals, armed with weapons that rotated with deadly precision.
The emblem on their hulls was unmistakable: a shield with two overlapping hexagrams, a wolf, and a bear.
—The ÓBroin —Kaisel muttered with disdain.
—That old fox Ciara! —Valerius shouted furiously—. Damn her... so she had been hiding her best cards.
The ÓBroin ships had remained hidden for generations within sealed ports beneath the family's secondary base.
Even after the fall of the main mansion, much of their military power had remained concealed, waiting for the right moment to enter the war.
On the command bridge of the Aurora Borealis, the flagship of the ÓBroin fleet, Maeve observed the enemy deployment coldly. Beside her, Daniel and Orla reviewed the reports they had received from the Kruger family base.
—They lost ten ships from the missile strike —Daniel reported with a smile.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the bridge.
—Targets confirmed. Weapons ready. Fire —Maeve ordered.
Twenty of the main ships fired simultaneously, striking directly into the enemy formation.
—Our long-range weapons are superior —Daniel said.
—Don't get overconfident —Maeve replied—. The Kartnod learn quickly. They'll adjust their shields during the next wave.
Orla expanded the tactical map.
—Mother, I'm detecting an energy concentration in the center of their fleet. It's probably coming from their flagship.
—Then that will be our target.
Maeve activated the general channel.
—All fleets: concentrate fire on the enemy flagship. Make those bastards tremble.
The response was immediate.
The ÓBroin battleships, inherited from generations of guardians, unleashed their offensive systems at maximum capacity. Magical energy cannons and electromagnetic pulse missiles activated in unison.
A storm of luminous projectiles crossed the sky toward the Kartnod fleet.
Kaisel watched as his own ships attempted to intercept the attack. The vanguard shields resisted the first impacts, but the second wave struck even harder.
Two more ships exploded.
Another lost propulsion and slowly began sinking into the ocean below.
—Admiral, our shields cannot withstand this attack frequency!
They were severely weakened after the bombardment we received from the ground! —an officer reported—. They're using weaponry specifically adapted against our technology!
Kaisel clenched his fists.
—Those bastards...
—Orders?
—Maintain formation. Damaged ships will fall behind the heavier vessels. Activate the gravitational pulse cannons.
The Kartnod heavy cannons began charging. Violet flashes appeared along the bows of the larger ships.
Inside the Aurora, Maeve recognized the pattern immediately.
—Everyone, evasive maneuvers! —she shouted—. They're firing gravitational pulses! If those hit, the magical generators will lose power!
The ÓBroin fleet scattered just as violet beams tore through the space where they had been seconds earlier.
Two slower ships were struck.
One lost all power.
The other split in half.
—Casualties! —Orla reported tensely—. The Falcon and the Sentinel are down.
—Damn it —Daniel muttered—. Those cannons are more powerful than the old records indicated.
Maeve gave her next order.
—Then we use our advantage. Orla, activate the distortion seals. Daniel, prepare the interception squadrons.
—Distortion? —Orla asked—. We're launching a surprise attack?
—The Kartnod rely too much on their technological superiority —Maeve replied—. But we inherited magical technology created specifically to fight them.
The seals aboard the ÓBroin ships began glowing with silver light. The images of the battleships duplicated and multiplied, creating illusions that confused enemy sensors.
Inside Kaisel's ship, the monitors flooded with false signals.
—What the hell is this? —he growled.
—Illusion magic, sir —an officer replied—. The systems can't distinguish real targets. We need time to recalibrate the sensors.
Kaisel cursed under his breath.
Meanwhile, Daniel's interception squadrons launched from the ÓBroin battleships. They were small, fast attack craft piloted by the family's finest warriors.
They charged directly into the Kartnod formation, targeting weak points in the enemy shields.
—Direct hit on the right wing ship! —a pilot shouted.
—Good! —Daniel responded—. Keep the pressure on!
The battle intensified.
Disoriented by the illusions, the Kartnod ships began wasting energy firing at false targets. The ÓBroin fleet exploited every mistake with surgical precision.
One hour later, the situation had become devastating for the Kartnod.
Of the original fifty ships, only twenty-eight remained operational.
Twelve had been completely destroyed.
Ten were heavily damaged.
Kaisel stared at the numbers in fury.
—How is it possible they surpassed us? —he muttered to himself.
—Sir! —Ferdinan shouted—. Those ships belong to the Novas. I remember them perfectly. I fought against them.
—Are you certain? —Kaisel asked.
—Yes —Ferdinan answered—. They were designed using our technology.
—Those bastards have been waiting for us all this time. We are only beginning to recover our true power.
Kaisel remained silent.
He knew Ferdinan was right, but his wounded pride would not allow him to admit it.
—What do we do, Admiral? —another officer asked.
Kaisel was about to answer when a red light began flashing on his personal console. It was a priority communication channel reserved exclusively for him.
—Who is transmitting?
—Code from the southern fleet, sir —the operator replied—. The fleet we sent to investigate the signals.
Kaisel activated the transmission.
An officer appeared on-screen, his eyes shining with excitement.
—Admiral! We found it!
—The dimensional anchor point. It's located on an island. The natives call it Easter Island.
Kaisel felt his blood race.
—Are you certain?
—Yes, sir. We detected a massive concentration of energy beneath the surface. There is a structure sealed with runes identical to those recorded in the archives.
—Is it a dimensional dock? —Kaisel asked, holding his breath.
—More than that, sir. It's an Anchor. The broken seal allowed the partial return of our forces, but this structure could stabilize a permanent corridor between dimensions. If we activate it...
—We could bring the rest of the fleet without depending on new dimensional ruptures —Kaisel completed slowly—. And awaken those still sleeping beneath the ice.
—Exactly, sir.
Kaisel observed the images. The ÓBroin fleet continued advancing, and their ships were beginning to surround them.
He knew he could not win this battle.
At least not yet.
—Issue a displacement order.
—Sir? —Ferdinan asked in surprise.
—We've lost too much here. But it no longer matters.
He turned toward Ferdinan with an expression that mixed fury and euphoria.
—We found the entrance. That is worth more than any victory.
—Let them believe they won. Once we activate the Anchor, this battle will mean nothing.
The order spread through the fleet within seconds.
The Kartnod ships activated magical devices, covering one another while the ÓBroin cannons continued firing.
Three more ships fell.
Orla stared at the monitors as a massive blue mark began forming.
—Something is building. It looks like an energy discharge.
Maeve immediately ordered every ship to pull back.
Then, suddenly, the fleet vanished.
Inside the Aurora, Maeve stared at the empty battlefield where only lightning remained moments after the fighting had ended.
—I don't understand —Daniel said—. We had them cornered. Where did they go?
Maeve said nothing.
Her eyes remained fixed ahead in disbelief.
Orla expanded the tactical display and traced the enemy trajectory.
—Mother, I'm detecting something.
Maeve felt a chill run down her spine.
—They're heading toward the South Pacific...
—What's there? —Daniel asked.
Maeve took several seconds before answering.
—Impossible... how did they discover it?
Slowly, she raised her gaze.
—Easter Island.
Silence filled the bridge.
Because everyone who knew the ancient stories understood what existed there.
—It can't be... —Orla whispered.
Maeve activated ancient files within the central console. Sealed diagrams appeared across the screens.
—The Supreme Beings did not only seal the Mirror Dimension. They also created stabilization points to keep both realities separated.
Daniel studied the symbols.
—And Easter Island is one of those points?
Maeve slowly nodded.
—The primary one.
Her voice grew heavier.
—If the Kartnod activate it, they will be able to open a stable route between dimensions. And only they will be able to move freely through it.
—What do you mean? —Orla asked.
Maeve stared at the ancient symbols on the screen.
—They'll establish a hidden base where they can repair and restore their ships.
The bridge fell silent.
At that moment, an urgent transmission appeared on the main console. It came from the Atlas base in Germany.
Maeve answered the message.
—Confirmed: Kartnod fleet changing course toward the South Pacific. Probable target: Easter Island. Immediate mobilization of all available forces requested.
Maeve closed her eyes for a moment.
—Change course. We're going after them.
Daniel nodded immediately.
He looked once more at the enemy route projected across the map.
Straight toward the South Pacific.