[Ascendance: The Journey to Type 7. Ch_027]
In the vastness of open space, the Astral Vanguard hovered a safe distance from the Eternal Prison, its engines humming as it drifted.
Gathering the remaining crew floating in vast open space One by One.
Inside the ship, the crew gathered around the comm station, each one tense, eyes fixed on the flickering screen that monitored Kael's vitals. Astrid's fingers flew over the controls, her face set with worry as she tried to raise Kael on the comm.
Astrid (via comm): "Captain! Do you read me? The crew's on board, and Rax is safe. You're the only one left out there. We're standing by, ready to extract you. Just say the word."
There was a crackle over the comm before Kael's voice came through, calm but strained.
Kael: "Don't worry, Astrid. I'll be there… in time." [A faint grunt follows, followed by labored breathing] "Just hold steady."
The crew exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the strain in Kael's voice, but no one dared question his resolve.
Outside, in the dark expanse between the stars, Kael's figure hovered as he squared off against Thors. The two men drifted in the vastness of space, facing each other in the silence.
Kael's breathing was heavy, his body battered, but he stood with defiance in his gaze. Thors, on the other hand, appeared nearly unfazed, his arms crossed, an almost bored expression on his face.
Kael (thinking): "He's going easy on me. But why?"
Thors observed Kael, the smirk on his face replaced with a more serious expression. His eyes narrowed as he straightened, reaching forward with one arm, and a powerful, ominous aura began to gather around him, flickering orange and red like flames.
Thors: "Enough games, Kael." He raised his voice, a deadly glint in his eye. "Brace yourself!"
[The energy pulsed and grew until Thors released it in a fearsome attack, his voice ringing through the silence of space.]
Thors: "INCINERATING STORM!"
[The wave of orange and red energy tore through space like a tidal wave, massive and unrelenting. The blast was so powerful that Kael felt himself trembling under its weight. His knees buckled, and he dropped, paralyzed by the intimidating force, unable to summon enough strength to dodge in time.]
[BOOM!]
The impact echoed in the silence of space as Incinerating Storm struck Kael directly. The blast ripped through the vacuum, causing a shockwave that threw Kael backward, spinning into open space.
Smoke drifted around him, the remnants of the powerful attack scattering in all directions. Kael's body ached, pain surging through his every nerve as he struggled to regain his posture, his breath coming in labored gasps.
Inside the Astral Vanguard, Astrid's screen flashed red as Kael's vitals spiked.
Astrid: [Eyes widening in horror] "Captain! Respond! Are you alright?"
[Silence, then a faint, crackling response as Kael's weak voice came through.]
Kael (weakly): "I… I'm fine… Just give me… a moment."
In space, Kael gritted his teeth, trying to steady himself. Blood seeped from a cut on his forehead, floating in small, crimson droplets around him. He clutched his side where Thors' blast had hit, feeling the throb of pain radiating through his body.
But Thors wasn't finished. He drifted closer, his eyes narrowed as he observed Kael with a strange mix of disappointment and pity.
Thors: "Is that all you've got, Captain?" He tilted his head, almost mocking. "I expected more from the man who dared to breach the Eternal Prison."
Kael raised his head, defiant even in pain, and managed a smirk.
Kael: "You talk too much… maybe try harder if you want me dead."
Thors chuckled, shaking his head, almost amused.
Thors: "You're reckless. You charge in without understanding the forces you're up against. But here's a lesson for you, Kael… power requires control. Something you lack."
With that, he launched himself toward Kael, moving faster than Kael could track, and sent another energy-charged punch in his direction. Kael barely managed to block with his arm, feeling the raw force of the blow ripple through him.
[CRACK!]
Kael's arm took the brunt of the impact, and he gritted his teeth, feeling the sharp pain shoot through his bones. He countered quickly, summoning the last of his strength to unleash his own attack.
System Message: [Activating Skill: ETERNAL FIST]
Kael's fist lit up with the familiar blue aura as he struck out at Thors, a roaring dragon forming around his arm as it surged forward. Thors met it head-on, summoning another aura shield that clashed with the dragon's energy.
[WHOOSH!] [CRASH!]
The two forces collided, creating a blinding explosion of energy that pushed them both back. Kael floated backward, his body barely holding together as the pain and exhaustion weighed on him.
Back on the Astral Vanguard, Astrid's voice came through the comms again, desperate.
Astrid (via comm): "Captain! We can't hold position here forever. You have to get out now!"
Kael's vision blurred for a moment, but he clenched his fists, willing himself to stay focused. He looked at Thors, who floated before him, unfazed and watching him closely.
Kael: "This isn't over. I'm taking my crew and leaving."
Thors: [Smiling coldly] "You're free to try, but this is my domain, Captain. No one escapes unless I allow it."
Despite the defiance in his words, Kael knew he was running out of strength. He glanced back toward the Astral Vanguard in the distance, the escape route calling to him. But Thors' words echoed in his mind, unsettling him.
He had no choice but to retreat, but his pride held him back, his spirit unwilling to yield even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Kael (thinking): "I may be weakened now, but this isn't the end. We'll meet again, Thors… and next time, I'll be ready."
[With one final look, Kael activated his last remaining energy reserves, propelling himself toward the Astral Vanguard, leaving Thors alone in the expanse of space. The battle was over for now, but Kael knew this was only the beginning of a deeper, darker conflict to come.]
Inside the Eternal Prison, the repair team was hard at work, dressed in armored suits and equipped with industrial-grade welding tools. Sparks flew as they patched up the gaping hole that had connected the prison cells to the vacuum of open space.
Their movements were methodical, each one focused on sealing the breach before any further chaos could unfold. The eerie silence of space hung around them, interrupted only by the low hum of their tools and occasional murmur of voices over their comm links.
Lead Technician: [Speaking into the comm, voice stern and controlled] "Team, status report. How's the structural integrity holding up on the west wing?"
Technician 2: "Holding steady, sir. We've reinforced the outer layer, but we still need another five minutes to fully secure it."
Another burst of sparks crackled as a technician wielded a plasma welder along the jagged edges of the torn metal.
Technician 3: [Grunts while working] "This tear is brutal. Whatever hit this wall, it wasn't your average weapon."
The lead technician nodded grimly as he surveyed the damage.
Lead Technician: "You think this was 'average'? You're new here, aren't you? These kinds of breaches happen once in a blue moon—usually because someone's trying to break out."
One of the newer members of the team looked up, his face tense under his helmet.
Technician 4: "You mean this was… from the inside?"
Lead Technician: [Nods] "From the inside, or someone trying to make their way in from outside. Either way, we don't question it. We patch it up, report, and move on."
The technician adjusted his visor, nervously glancing at the thick metal that separated them from the prison cells on the other side.
Technician 2: "Let's just say, I don't want to be here if those prisoners get any ideas."
The lead technician smirked, though there was little humor in it.
Lead Technician: "Trust me, you won't have to worry about them. We've got enough security here to handle any of those scumbags."
The repair team continued their work in tense silence, each of them casting glances over their shoulders every now and then, as though expecting some threat to emerge from the shadows.
[CLANG! CLANG!]
They tightened the last bolts, sealing the final section. The glow of their welding torches faded as the breach was fully sealed, leaving the cells once again enclosed.
Once the patch was complete, the lead technician keyed in a security override on his comm, relaying directly to the prison's central command.
Lead Technician: "Repair team here. Breach in Section 4-B is secure. We're ready for a structural test."
There was a crackle as the central command responded.
Prison Command: "Acknowledged. Standby for test. We're engaging lockdown in three… two… one…"
[A loud, metallic grinding filled the area as massive steel panels shifted into place, reinforcing the newly patched section. The lights dimmed, then brightened, as the system ran a pressure check. The repair team held their breath, waiting for any signs of strain or further damage.]
Technician 3: [Sighs in relief] "Looks like we're all set."
Lead Technician: "Good work, everyone. Let's wrap this up and get back to base."
They deactivated their welding torches and turned to leave, casting a final glance at the now-sealed wall, feeling a sense of accomplishment mixed with unease. Whatever had caused the breach was out there, somewhere—and they couldn't help but feel that it wasn't the last they'd see of the chaos.
Meanwhile.
Thors' grip tightened on Kael's collar, his stern gaze a mix of frustration and something darker, as Kael hung, barely conscious. But as Kael's vision wavered, a flurry of messages began flooding his internal system, each word snapping him back to awareness.
Special Effect Activated: [Blessing of ******** ******]
[Regenerating Damaged Body Parts]
Kael felt warmth spreading through his body, healing bruises and wounds as he regained strength. His muscles trembled as his health regenerated rapidly.
[Skill Learned: Omni-Essence Link]
[Skill Description : Skill that allows user to connect to the system via. voice]
[Skill Learned : Super Brain]
[Skill Description : Skill that allows user to 100x More efficient at brain related task]
[Levelled Up: 4]
[Power: 46, Intelligence: 43, Stamina: 44, Durability: 49, Tactics: 47]
A sudden surge of energy coursed through him, reigniting his senses, and with it, a new message:
[Activating Skill: Omni-Essence Link]
[E*********n Has Placed A Power Restriction on You]
[O.E.L : "E*********n is trying to kill you, Using Thors"]
The last message hit Kael like a punch to the gut. E*********n, the enigmatic force behind Thors, was actively restraining him—trying to manipulate his fate through Thors' brutal strength.
He managed to look up at Thors, his face a mask of defiance despite the pain. Thors noticed the renewed fire in Kael's eyes and sneered. "Still got some fight in you, huh?" His grip tightened, and Kael felt his breath strain.
[O.E.L : "Activating the Skill Teleportation to Teleport to Astral Vanguard, so you can Survive!"]
[Skill Activating : Teleportation]
[O.E.L : "Nice!, That was close. You Shithead!"]
In a disorienting flash, Kael was teleported back to his own quarters aboard the Astral Vanguard. The cabin was quiet, devoid of anyone to witness his battered state. He staggered slightly, the familiar surroundings doing little to ease the throbbing pain from his recent battle.
Kael stumbled slightly as he appeared in his captain's cabin, the residual rush from the teleport leaving him dazed. He touched his healed side, almost unbelieving of the rapid recovery, and wondered aloud, "Was someone... talking to me?"
Omni-Essence Link: "Yes, it was me."
Kael straightened, blinking in surprise at the voice that seemed to echo inside his thoughts. "Who… who are you?"
Omni-Essence Link: "I am Omni-Essence Link, though you can call me 'Essence.' I'm here to assist you however you need, Kael. I can offer advice, share insights, and even activate any skill if the situation calls for it."
Kael's eyes widened with a mix of excitement and curiosity. "So, you're… like a part of my system but with, what, a mind of your own?"
Essence: "Precisely. I adapt to your needs and can activate skills, especially when you're in danger or unable to think clearly. Think of me as your strategic advisor—or a voice in your head with a lot of useful knowledge."
Kael paced, trying to process this. "I've heard of advanced skills, but you're something else, Essence. It's like having a personal partner in the middle of a battle."
Essence: "That's exactly what I am, Kael. I'll make sure you're never caught off guard."
Kael grinned, feeling his strength and confidence build. "Well then, Essence, I guess we have a lot to accomplish together."
Kael stood still for a moment, his thoughts racing. He had just learned about Omni-Essence Link, and now there was this new mystery—Super Brain. He couldn't hold back the question.
"What exactly is this skill… Super Brain? I've seen it pop up in my system, but you've never explained it." Kael's curiosity was clear, the weight of his unknown potential gnawing at him.
Essence: "Ah, the Super Brain. That's a skill for me, not for you, Kael."
Kael's brow furrowed as he absorbed the words. "Wait, it's a skill for you? But what does it do?" His voice was tinged with confusion and a growing sense of intrigue.
Essence: "It allows me to process and work on more than ten tasks simultaneously. It gives me the ability to manage complex systems, perform analyses at lightning speed, and even calculate various outcomes for different scenarios—without delay. It's how I can support you so effectively."
Kael stood motionless for a few seconds, staring at the console in front of him as the weight of the answer settled in. His mind raced—ten tasks at once? To him, that was an unimaginable power, a step beyond even the skills he had seen on the battlefield.
"Wait, you can process ten things at once? That's… insane. You're essentially thinking in multiple directions at once, evaluating every single possibility in real-time." Kael's voice was low, a mix of awe and amazement. "I guess that's why you're so good at giving me advice in the middle of a fight."
Essence: "Exactly. I can assess threats, plan strategies, and track variables in real-time—all while ensuring you stay one step ahead."
Kael let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "I don't know whether to be jealous or relieved that you're on my side. If I could handle ten things at once, I'd probably implode."
Essence: "That's why I'm here, Kael. You focus on what matters, and I'll take care of the rest."
A feeling of gratitude began to build inside Kael. He felt like he had an invisible ally in the most dangerous of situations, one that was capable of far more than he could imagine. And for the first time, Kael realized just how much he had to learn, but at least now, he wasn't facing it alone.
"Alright, Essence, let's keep this ship running smoothly, shall we?" Kael smiled, feeling a spark of confidence return.
Essence: "As you wish, Shithead. I'll be here when you need me."
Kael Annoyed, "Stop Calling Me Shithead!!"
Kael leaned back in his chair, eyes focused ahead as he prepared for whatever challenge would come next. With Essence by his side, he knew he'd be ready for whatever the future held.
TO BE CONTINUED.