Alviss Mountain,
Hyades City, Exterior Ward
Spring Court, Hidden World
Terra, Tellus Solar system
Milky Way Galaxy,
Neutral Free Zone
March 27th 2019
Back to earlier...
Emily regarded both groups before her, but her attention lingered on Rosalinda Chavez—the Mystic human from weeks ago who had been, without question, an ordinary mystic. Rosa had gone missing after failing to guard Cedar Lake during the Abominations' attack. Emily had written her off as dead until Lance revealed she was alive in some Fallen Star facility. Yet seeing her now, alive and Awakened, threw Emily off balance. There was no denying it—Rosa had changed in so many ways.
"Emily, am I glad to see you," Leon said, his voice bright as he pulled her into a crushing hug.
Emily gave a faint smile, briefly returning the gesture before Leon let go and turned his attention toward the ship. There, standing at the ramp, was Henry Goldsman, flanked by two groups of recruits. Leon's brows furrowed, briefly questioning Phoebe's reasoning for sending such recruits. Then his gaze shifted back to Rosa, and something clicked. This wasn't just a coincidence. Rosa wasn't the only one from that Awakening Temple.
Henry had been there, too. So had two of the recruits standing beside him—Callum Oyedepo and Trinir Fairborn. Leon exhaled quietly, his mind piecing together the familiar faces. Whatever Phoebe was planning, it wasn't random. Rosa's transformation, Henry's presence, and the recruits—this was all part of something bigger, though its purpose remained unclear. Still, the odds were grim. There was a far greater chance of them dying than even reaching the opportunity to awaken.
"I see you brought the cavalry," Leon quipped sarcastically, his tone as dry as the barren landscape around them.
Emily rolled her eyes and smacked his arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" Leon exclaimed, feigning hurt as he rubbed the spot.
"That's for running out on me and leaving me to deal with all this alone," Emily shot back, her frustration tempered by the faintest hint of a smile.
Her gaze shifted to Rex, who stood a short distance away. Despite everything, she still couldn't help but wonder why he was here—and more importantly, what he was doing here.
"If you're wondering why this big oaf is here, don't bother," Leon said as if reading her thoughts. "He's here on Starlight business. Apparently, Starlight isn't above working with terrorists these days."
Before Emily could respond, a calm yet commanding voice echoed out of the shadows cast by the jagged terrain.
"We both know the Fallen Star is more than just a terrorist group."
The group turned sharply as a figure emerged from the shadows. She moved with effortless grace, her silver outfit gleaming faintly in the dim light and clinging to her slender frame like liquid metal. Her pointed ears, shaped like a half-elf's, tapered elegantly, giving her an otherworldly grace. Her silver hair shimmered under the faint light, streaked with a subtle golden tint that seemed to ripple like sunlight caught on water.
It framed her face in soft waves, accentuating her sharp features. Her pale skin carried an almost ethereal quality—a coldness that felt distinctly Fae, yet not entirely removed from humanity. But it was her face that truly commanded attention. Symmetry so perfect it seemed unnatural, with high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes that glowed faintly with the color of Indigo. Her beauty was disarming, magnetic—striking in a way that made it impossible to look away.
Yet beneath that allure was a subtle undertone of menace, as though she could shift from enchantress to executioner in the blink of an eye. Leon's gaze hardened as he took her in, his grip tightening slightly on Solus. He wasn't one to be swayed by beauty, and her presence only set his instincts on edge. This wasn't just someone to admire; this was someone to watch carefully, someone dangerous.
"And you are?" He asked. The woman's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
"I'm here to guide you to where the Accursed King is located," the woman said, her voice calm and steady. Her indigo eyes swept across the group, lingering briefly on Emily before settling on Leon. Emily noticed the flicker of attention but chose to remain silent, her expression unreadable.
Leon, however, stored the moment away in his mind, connecting it to the memory of the strange will embedded within the blade that had impaled Emily back at the research base. It was subtle, but it was enough. He knew exactly who she was.
Before anyone could react, Leon's blade, Solus, was in his hand. The movement was so fast it seemed almost instantaneous, the gleam of steel flashing in the air. Only Rex and Emily managed to track the motion, their instincts honed enough to follow the blur of Leon's strike.
The woman, however, moved with equal precision. A shimmering blade of blue light materialized in her hand, intercepting Solus with a resounding clang. Sparks erupted from the clash, illuminating the tension in the air as the two weapons locked together. Emily's breath caught as she stepped back instinctively, her gaze darting between the two.
Rex stood motionless, his eyes narrowing as he studied the woman with measured intensity, his hand resting on the hilt of his own weapon but not yet drawing it. He recognized the woman as one of the Sector Zero agents that he had fought when he first came to Terra.
The woman didn't flinch. Her grip on the glowing blade was steady, her expression calm as though the attack had been anticipated.
"You're as quick as ever, Haravok," she said with a faint smile, her tone betraying no hostility. Leon pressed forward, the edge of Solus grinding against her radiant blade.
"Who are you really?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. The woman's eyes flickered with amusement as she pushed back against him, holding her ground effortlessly.
"I suggest you save your strength, Leon," she replied. "You'll need it where we're going."
Emily finally found her voice, her tone sharp with alarm. "Leon! Stand down—what are you doing?"
Leon didn't answer immediately, his grip tightening on Solus as his mind worked to piece together the connection. The woman's presence, the glance at Emily, the will within that blade—it all pointed to her being the one who had stabbed Emily with the electric blade.
Even this blade she had constructed with her mana bore a resemblance to the blade he had drawn from Emily's gut. But after a while with thoughts of Sam, the woman's calm demeanor and measured words seemed to douse the fire in his movements. He took a half-step back, lowering Solus but keeping it ready.
"This isn't over," Leon said coldly, his eyes still locked on hers. The woman smiled faintly, lowering her glowing blade in kind.
"It never is," she murmured, her tone enigmatic. Emily understood why Leon had reacted so swiftly. She, too, had realized who this woman was. She was the masked figure behind the Pocket Space at the Federation research base—the one who had fought and ultimately defeated her.
The memory was sharp in Emily's mind, as was the sensation of the mana blade that had pierced her gut. Even then, she had recognized the unique will embedded within the weapon. But it wasn't just the blade that lingered with her—she had used her Odic force to trap and hold her assailant's blood. That connection, faint but unmistakable, had allowed her to detect the same Bloodforce emanating from the woman now. There was no doubt about it. This was the same person.
Freya Lughter had known the risks of confronting Emily Legens without the Shadow Cloak. Yet she had done so, obedient to the will of her teacher, the Matron. Even so, being in such proximity to Emily unsettled her. It was the same discomfort she had felt during their fight—a strange, gnawing sensation she couldn't quite understand.
All Freya knew was that she hated being in the presence of this Pleiadian. Reaching into her dimensional band, she retrieved a crystal orb, its surface gleaming faintly with an inner light. Without a word, she began moving toward Emily, deliberately ignoring the sharp, questioning look Rex shot her way.
Emily watched the hybrid girl—a blend of Fae and Pleiadian—approach with measured steps. Her eyes narrowed, her stance cautious. Whatever Freya intended, Emily could feel the weight of her unease radiating in the air between them.
"This is a Memory Orb," Freya said, her voice steady as she held up the crystal sphere.
Emily's eyes widened in wonder as she took in the ancient, enchanted artifact. Memory Orbs were relics of a bygone era, used to store information long before the invention of Zodiak tech—an advanced electronic system that had revolutionized data storage. Unlike the sleek, modern Zodiak devices, Memory Orbs were imbued with powerful enchantments, capable of preserving locations, visions, or even fragments of a person's memories.
They were rare and revered, artifacts of a time when magic and ingenuity were intertwined. Zodiak tech, while far more versatile and accessible, had one glaring vulnerability: it could be hacked through network systems. A Memory Orb, on the other hand, was immune to such interference, operating outside the reach of technological manipulation. It was a perfect vessel for secrets that needed safeguarding, untouched by the flaws of modern innovation. Emily reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing the cool, smooth surface of the orb. The faint glow from within seemed almost alive, pulsing gently as though responding to her presence.
"I haven't seen one of these outside of a museum," she murmured, her tone laced with awe.
Freya remained silent, her indigo eyes watching Emily carefully, as though measuring her reaction.
"You've changed," Freya said, her tone carrying a faint trace of surprise, though she masked it well. Emily blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected statement. The weight of Freya's observation lingered in the air, unspoken but palpable. Without waiting for a response, Freya stepped closer and placed the Memory Orb into Emily's hand, her fingers brushing briefly against Emily's before she cleared her throat.
"In the Memory Orb are the coordinates to Sirius, the Beast King's location," Freya explained, her tone crisp and businesslike. "He's the one responsible for the Blackearth Virus mess. Use this to track him down."
She straightened, her indigo eyes briefly scanning the group. "We need to move. We don't have all day."
Leon nodded silently, though his expression darkened at the mention of Sirius. The name rang familiar—both Emani and Phoebe had spoken of him before, hinting at his connection to the attack on Cedar Lake. If their suspicions were correct, then Freya's information only confirmed the gravity of the situation. As the group boarded the ship, Rex pulled Leon aside, his tone low but firm.
"What was that all about?" he asked, gesturing vaguely behind them, referencing Leon's earlier display with his blade. Leon hesitated for a moment before recounting the events of the research base—the confrontation, Emily's near-death experience, and the strange presence of Freya during it all. His voice remained steady, but there was a weight to his words as he described Emily's narrow brush with mortality.
Rex listened intently, his brows furrowing deeper with each detail. He had already crossed blades with this woman before, back when she wore a mask, protecting some facility in Nova york. Back then, he had no idea who his enemy's identity was, but now he did.
So she's part of the Fallen star, Rex thought, his jaw tightening as his gaze flickered toward the ship's interior, where Freya was now.
****
Northbook Court Mall,
Northbook, Lakefront Metropolis
Terra, Tellus, Solar system,
Neutral Free zone,
March 27th 2019
Lakefront Metropolis had fallen into a silence that felt unnatural—thick, suffocating, as though sound itself had been stripped from the world.
What remained was a ghost state.
Entire districts stood abandoned, frozen in the moment of their collapse. Rusted vehicles lay scattered across streets, some still angled mid-turn as if their drivers had simply… vanished. Doors hung open. Windows gaped like hollow eyes. Personal belongings—bags, shoes, shattered glass—littered the ground, remnants of lives interrupted without warning.
Even the wind seemed reluctant to move.
It drifted in faint, uneven currents, brushing past skeletal trees that stood rigid and unmoving—silent witnesses to a catastrophe they could neither escape nor forget.
The land itself bore the scars.
The earth stretched outward in fractured patterns, blackened and split like shattered glass beneath an unseen force. Beneath that ruined surface, something pulsed—visible through thin cracks in reality itself.
Leylines.
Veins of World Energy.
They glowed faintly beneath the ground, weaving through the landscape in intricate, web-like formations. Their light rose and fell in an unnatural rhythm, converging at distant points where the energy thickened into something almost tangible.
Beautiful.
And deeply wrong.
The Celestial Realignment had not simply passed through Lakefront.
It had rewritten it.
Familiar landmarks now stood as distorted monuments to that truth.
The skyline—once vibrant, alive—had been reduced to a jagged silhouette against a burnt-orange sky. Skyscrapers loomed like hollowed husks, their interiors exposed, their structures weakened. The Willis Tower leaned at an unnatural angle, its surface marred by deep scorch marks—the unmistakable path where the Pillar of Light had pierced through it.
Beyond the city, fields that once stretched golden with life now glowed faintly with residual energy. The soil itself had changed—barren, foreign, as though it no longer belonged to the same world.
The Pillar of Light had carved through Lakefront with absolute force.
Its brilliance had done more than destroy—it had taken.
Every soul.
Drawn into the Echo Fields, leaving behind an empty shell of a world that still remembered them.
Roads cracked and buckled, slowly being reclaimed by wild growth. Rivers shimmered with unnatural reflections, their surfaces bending light in ways that defied understanding.
And yet—
For all its desolation, the land did not feel dead.
It felt… waiting.
The leylines pulsed steadily beneath the surface, rising and falling like a heartbeat that refused to fade. Something lingered within that rhythm—an unspoken tension, as though the Realignment was not an ending, but an interruption.
Something unfinished.
High above, the airship moved in silence.
Its sleek hull cut cleanly through the still atmosphere, undisturbed by wind that barely existed. Below, the ruined expanse stretched endlessly—a patchwork of cracked terrain and glowing veins, each pulse of energy reflecting faintly against the underside of the vessel.
As it descended, a new shape emerged from the devastation.
Northbook.
A suburb once tucked quietly along the northern edge of Lakefront, within Cook Town.
Now—
A hollow echo of what it had been.
Rows of suburban homes stood intact, yet lifeless. Their structure remained, but their purpose had been stripped away. Windows were dark. Doors remained open. No movement. No sound.
Only absence.
Nature had begun its quiet reclamation. Vines crept across rooftops, roots splitting through driveways, grass overtaking the roads that once defined order. Rusted cars dotted the streets, their surfaces eaten away by time and neglect.
The airship lowered further.
Its engines hummed softly—too soft for a place like this.
Below, the glow of the leylines intensified, threading beneath Northbook like veins of fire just beneath the skin of the world. Here, the energy felt denser. Heavier.
As if something had settled into the land.
Northbook had become more than abandoned.
It had become a point of convergence.
And in the distance, beyond it all—
The ruined silhouette of Lakefront City loomed against the ashen horizon, its broken skyline etched into the sky like a memory the world could not erase.
The ship continued its descent.
And the silence below… waited.
Sam stood at the airship's observation window, her gaze fixed on the desolate expanse of Lakefront below. The remnants of the Celestial Realignment sprawled out beneath her—scorched earth, glowing ley lines, and the eerie stillness of a land devoid of life. Her thoughts churned in endless circles as she tried to reconcile the vastness of what she was seeing with what she had experienced.
The memory was as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. Waking up in that alien place, surrounded by towering, grotesque creatures that moved with predatory intent, had been an experience she could never forget. She had fought, together with her comrades, and she had survived. Not just survived—awakened. The experience had unlocked something inside her, a power she hadn't fully understood or appreciated at the time. Yet, for all the strength and clarity awakening had brought, one question still gnawed at the edges of her mind: what was the Celestial Realignment?
Sam had never truly stopped to consider the scale of it, the why behind it all. It was a force so immense and unfathomable that it had pulled an entire superstate—no, an entire population—into some otherworldly place, leaving behind only desolation and unanswered questions.
Why had it happened? What purpose did it serve? The weight of it pressed heavily on her chest. She turned her gaze to the horizon, where the ruins of Lakefront loomed faintly against the darkened sky, and found herself wondering if anyone truly understood the nature of the universe they were now forced to confront.
If the Celestial Realignment had opened her eyes to the truths of her existence, it had also left her grappling with an ocean of uncertainty. The airship descended, its engines humming softly as it touched down not far from what had once been Northbook Mall. Now, the mall stood as a desolate, crumbling ruin, its skeletal remains emanating a sickly aura of Infernal energy.
The sight was grotesque—a festering wound amidst the already devastated landscape of Northbook. The mall's presence was an affront to the senses, a perversion even within the wreckage of what the town had become. Shadows writhed unnaturally across its broken walls, the faint glow of Infernal energy seeping through cracks in the structure like venomous blood. The air around it felt heavy, oppressive, and laced with a sulfurous stench that burned the back of the throat.
Much like Cedar Lake, this was evidence of the Infernal Realm's encroachment upon the Physical Realm. But unlike Cedar Lake, which had been completely consumed, Northbook had been spared that fate—for now. The Infernal corruption was confined to the mall, a twisted bastion of darkness that had cut the space within its boundaries off from the Odyllic flow of the world. The distinction offered little comfort. The presence of the Infernal energy here felt deliberate, as if something or someone had ensured the contamination remained localized.
It was a haunting reminder that even in partial encroachment, the Infernal Realm's touch was insidious, threatening to spread like a plague if left unchecked. As the crew disembarked from the airship, the oppressive atmosphere pressed down on them like an invisible weight. The faint hum of the leylines around the town seemed to falter, their natural rhythm disrupted by the Infernal taint. Northbook Mall was no longer a place of commerce or community—it was a dark mirror of what it once had been, a symbol of the fragile boundary between realms.
"So this Beast King, Sirius—he's the one who tainted the serum Fallen Star released in Nova York?" Leon asked, his tone sharp with restrained anger.
"Yes," Freya replied calmly.
"And is he also the one responsible for Vashin Priyham's transformation into a Fallen Beast?" Leon pressed further.
Freya hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yes... and no."
Emily frowned, crossing her arms. "What do you mean by that?"
Freya's gaze shifted slightly, her tone taking on a note of measured explanation. "The Beast King's Infernal energy was indeed responsible for the transformation that turned Vashin into an Abomination. But Sirius wasn't the one who directly transformed him."
"Then who?" Leon demanded.
"That would be the work of Mallus," Freya said, her voice steady yet heavy with meaning.
"Mallus..." Leon whispered, the name tugging at the edges of his memory. It felt familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
Freya turned her attention to Emily.
"Mallus is the man who was in charge of the base where I encountered you," she explained.
"You mean the Starlight base?" Emily asked, her brows furrowing.
Freya shook her head slightly, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "No. That base doesn't belong to Starlight. It's an off-book black ops facility, secretly operated by Sector Zero. They used it to run illegal experiments on humans—horrific experiments that pushed the boundaries of morality and science."
Emily's expression hardened, her jaw clenching as she absorbed the revelation.
"Vashin provided the human subjects for those experiments," Freya continued. "But Mallus saw Vashin as a liability, a potential leak. So, when Vashin tried to defect—perhaps to expose the horrors of the base or protect his secrets—Mallus activated the curse mark he had placed on him."
Leon's eyes narrowed. "The curse mark... to turn him into a Fallen Beast?"
Freya nodded grimly. "Precisely. Mallus didn't care about Vashin's survival. Either Vashin would be destroyed by people like you, or in his monstrous form, he would eliminate whoever was trying to steal the intel. Either way, Mallus ensured his secrets remained buried."
A tense silence hung between them, broken only by the low hum of the airship's engines. Leon's fists tightened at his sides.
"Mallus..." he repeated, the name now etched into his mind, a promise of reckoning. It was becoming clear that Mallus was the one pulling the strings behind Sector Zero, the shadowy organization that Rex had been hunting. Leon had long suspected that hidden forces operated within the Federation, controlling events from the shadows, but he'd never been able to put a name to them.
Now, with the pieces falling into place—from the intel Rex had shared about his time after the organization to Leon's own harrowing experiences in the Colony Regions—his true target was finally taking shape.
"What's the relationship between Mallus and Sirius?" Emily asked, her tone sharp, cutting through the heavy silence. "And how the hell did an Accursed being end up on Terra?"
Rex glanced back at her, his expression unreadable, though there was a flicker of something deeper—perhaps frustration, or urgency. "Mallus was the one who brought Sirius to this planet," he said. "It's part of a larger plan... one we don't have the time to unravel right now."
His words carried a weight that hung in the air, unanswered questions lingering like unspoken accusations. Emily's jaw tightened, but she nodded, understanding that now wasn't the moment for a deeper interrogation.
Rex stepped forward, taking point as the de facto leader of the group. As the strongest among them—aside from Freya, whose presence in the Harmonization realm rivaled Rex's—he naturally assumed the role. Leon didn't argue. He understood his limitations, recognizing that he neither held the authority nor the power to lead this mission.
For now, it was best to follow Rex's lead. Freya, who had remained silent, walked just behind Rex. Her silver hair glimmered faintly in the dim light as her eyes swept their surroundings with an intensity that suggested she saw more than the others. Emily and Leon were followed closely by Sam, Rosa, Henry, Callum, and Trini, their expressions serious as they prepared for whatever lay ahead.
The ruins of Northbook stretched out before them, its haunting silence broken only by the faint hum of Infernal energy emanating from the desecrated mall. Whatever awaited them inside, Leon knew one thing for certain: Mallus and Sirius were part of a larger conspiracy that threatened not just Terra, but those Leon cared deeply about.
Sam had listened carefully to the discussion that had unfolded, piecing together the fragmented information. From what she had heard, it was clear that this Mallus figure was probably the one responsible for sending the Assassin siblings after her. She recalled Sophia's words, warning her that the Federation saw her very existence as a threat.
After we deal with this Accursed being, Sam thought, they'll probably turn their attention to Mallus. The air around them grew heavy as they drew closer to the ruined Northbook Mall. The oppressive aura of Infernal energy grew more palpable with each step, its presence twisting the atmosphere. Suddenly, Rex raised his arm, signaling for the group to halt. He turned to face them, his posture firm and commanding.
"As you all know, we're here for two reasons," Rex began, his voice steady but edged with urgency. "First, the elimination of the Accursed Beast—Sirius. Second, the rescue of Stella McCoy. Guardian McCoy's retrieval is of the utmost importance." Leon's eyes narrowed at the mention of McCoy's name, and Emily's expression grew serious.
"That's why the elimination of Sirius will serve as a diversion," Rex continued, his gaze sweeping over the group. "This will give Sam's team the window they need to infiltrate the area and get to Guardian McCoy." Sam felt the weight of his words settle around her. Her heart beat a little faster, but she held her focus. This mission, though fraught with peril, was one step closer to the answers she sought. Once Sirius was dealt with, Mallus would be next. She'd make sure of it. Rex's voice cut through the air, steady and commanding as he outlined their strategy. "Leon, Emily, and I will serve as the elimination team, with Freya guiding us. Rosa, since you have more experience as a Guardian, you'll lead the team to locate Guardian McCoy. While we deal with the Greater-rank Beasts and their King, your priority is to extract McCoy as quickly as possible. Don't wait for us—get in, get out. Understood?"
The group exchanged glances, the weight of the mission settling over them. Sam's gaze flickered to Rosa, who nodded with a determination that made her role clear. Freya remained silent, her eyes locked on Rex as if measuring his every word, though her posture remained relaxed.
"I understand," Rosa replied, her voice steady but urgent. "We won't let anything delay us."
Leon and Emily nodded in agreement.
"Good," Rex said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Then let's move." With that, the group split into their designated roles, each aware of the dangers ahead. The air felt charged with anticipation as they prepared to face what awaited them inside the mall. Freya, sensing that the group was ready, moved to the front. Her hands crackled with violet sparks, the energy swirling around her as she focused her will. Emily's eyes narrowed as she recognized the type of magic Freya was casting.
Dimensional magic, Emily thought, her gaze following the fluid motions of Freya's hands. This kind of magic dealt with the manipulation of space and time—an art that few could master.
Before them, a black dot appeared, small at first, but rapidly expanding. As the rift grew larger, a swirling gateway formed, its edges crackling with an eerie, otherworldly energy. The spell was nothing short of extraordinary. Emily felt the pull of the gateway, a sensation that tugged at the very fabric of reality itself. They were about to step into a space entirely isolated from the physical world—a space that would take them straight into the heart of the mall, bypassing any external barriers.
Sam's gaze shifted to Freya, realization dawning. This wasn't just any spell—it was a tier six spell, an impossible feat for those in the Awakening phase. Such a spell went beyond the limitations of their abilities, a demonstration of Freya's incredible power and position within the Immortal phase. No one in the Awakening phase could wield such a complex, dimensional manipulation. Freya's focused expression softened only slightly as the portal stabilized.
"Step through," she instructed, her voice calm and serene. The group exchanged looks of quiet awe and determination, knowing that once they stepped through, there would be no turning back.