<< After Chronos Fell Asleep >>
[ Astral Institute of Technology ]
Grandmama Tai Sui portaled Sister Athena and Sophia straight to little Chronos's Lineage Chamber Laboratory after tucking him in.
Stepping out of the portal, the sisters couldn't help but feel that familiar sense of unease that always accompanied teleportation.
Despite their confidence in Grandmama's abilities, the feeling of helplessness lingered. Sophia was well-versed in the disciplines of Time and Space, but her spatial expertise leaned more towards gravitational control.
Athena, on the other hand, specialized in the Path of Teleportation, but was still unable to traverse long distances, not to mention bring people along with her.
Grandmama's abilities have always been a mystery...
All anyone had ever seen her reveal so far was her Spacial Portal and Spacial Manipulation when she sporadically froze Athena or levitated objects.
What was even more befuddling was her head of whitish-silver...
While many attribute that to her old age, Sophia knew that it was the same as hers.
If Grandmama's main talents were in the study of Time and she had already surpassed them by so much in the Principle of Space.
What kind of existence is really beneath her façade of a fragile quirky Grandma?
The Lineage Laboratory appeared before them in a flash as Grandmama's portal dissipated.
Cleaning robots scurried around the room, sweeping up the debris left from Chronos's awakening.
These sleek, metallic machines moved with almost otherworldly precision and grace, their red, glowing eyes scanning the room as they worked.
"I almost jumped out of my skin~!"
Dr. Aerial exclaimed as she fumbled quickly to greet the royal trio.
Placing her 8 fingers atop of each other with her thumbs tucked in, she stretched both arms straight while bowing forty-five degrees and gave an Astralian Salute,
"Empress Dowager, Princess Athena, Princess Sophia"
Sophia nodded in response before proceeding to brief Grandmama and Athena on the events that had transpired.
"Dr. Steel, a Technian operative, attempted to inject some sort of virus or explosive into Chronos's capsule just 20 minutes before his awakening. Fortunately, my foresight warned me just in time."
Grandmama's expression darkened with concern, while Athena's fury was palpable.
Aerial's face fell as she continued,
"What's most concerning is that Dr. Steel has been a respected researcher with us for over 15 years. His record has always been exemplary until yesterday."
Athena's face contorted with anger as she heard this.
An aura of spine-chilling killing intent radiated from her. She took a deep breath before saying,
"Grandmama, I'd like to excuse myself for the rest of the day."
Without waiting for a response, Athena turned around and vanished in a purple flash.
"Grandmama, aren't you going to stop Athena?"
Sophia asked, concern etched on her face.
Grandmama shot her a menacing look veiled in her usual loving smile,
"If it weren't against the rules, I'd be one leading the charge." she replied.
Sophia heard a crackle emanating from her Grandmama's clenched fist.
There was a faint but ominous force emanating from within her palm.
Just as Grandmama loosened her clench, Sophia caught a glimpse of a fading black hole.
'Did Grandmama crush the fabric of space within her palm?'
Sophia thought in awe.
The quirky Empress Dowager met her granddaughter's shocked stare with a mischievous grin and said,
" Have a detailed report of little Chrono's awakening ready, I'll go make sure that reckless girl doesn't get herself killed."
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[ The Astral Knights Headquarter ]
Athena's teleportations were a blur of purple flashes as she traveled toward the Astral Knight Headquarters.
Each time she reappeared, there was a burst of energy that crackled around her body, leaving a trail of sparks in her wake.
As she moved with lightning speed, her body language conveyed the intense anger and determination burning inside her.
Her jaw was set in a tight line, her eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, and her muscles were tense and ready to strike.
With each successive teleportation, the ground beneath her shook, and the air around her crackled with energy.
The trees and buildings nearby shook and swayed as if in fear of her wrath.
As she neared the Astral Knight Headquarters, the fury within her intensified, and her teleportations became more rapid and violent.
Her movements were no longer controlled, but wild and erratic, as if she was about to unleash all her pent-up rage on the first person she saw.
Athena's arrival at the Astral Headquarters command post was like a thunderclap in the room.
The air crackled with a charged energy that seemed to radiate from the very core of her being.
Athena's fingers clenched tightly around the handle of her spear, her knuckles turning bone-white with the intensity of her rage as she pulled it from its resting place.
Her eyes narrowed with determination as she extended the sleek weapon, the energy humming loudly as it sliced through the air.
With a fierce motion, she slammed the base of her spear onto the metallic floor, sending a powerful shockwave rippling through the entire headquarters.
The sound echoed off the walls, a deafening roar that left everyone in the room reeling.
The strong stumbled back, struggling to keep their balance, while the weak fell to their knees in submission.
Athena stood tall, her chest heaving with each labored breath as she surveyed the empty room with a scorching gaze.
Athena could feel her blood boiling…
"The insolence of the Technians to even dare consider assassinating my baby brother!"
She seethed.
Her chest swelled with anger, a fiery rage that threatened to consume her.
She sat atop the command post, her back straight and her gaze ominous.
The intensity of her stare alone was enough to convey her commanding presence, and she held herself with the poise of a true leader… or tyrant.
"Astral Guardians, ASSEMBLE!"
She bellowed, her voice bursting through the entire Headquarters with an otherworldly force.
As Athena spoke, a maroon battle armor materialized around her, its cold alloy forcing her anger into an unusual tranquility.
This was where she felt most comfortable, as the calm before the storm
-Her spear, a thunderous guillotine.
Twenty Astral guardians, the strongest cultivators in the entire Astral Empire, fell into line as Athena commanded. Each bowing on one knee, their heads held low in deference to the fierce warrior princess.
Athena's eyes flashed with fury as she pricked her index finger with a sharp nail, letting a droplet of blood fall onto the orb embedded into the armrest of the command chair.
As the blood touched the orb, the entire command post began to vibrate and hum into life.
Athena could feel the energy pulsing around her, rising to a fever pitch.