Avalor asteroid belt colony
Avalon Solar System
Alba galaxy, Beta Sector
Divine Federation
A certain party was losing its morale as grim news from the scout confirmed the worst. The situation was far more dire than the Star Tower base had initially informed them. They had dispatched a party of seven seasoned Paladins to a colony under attack in the Avalon solar system. The intel had claimed that Abominations from the Infernal realm had besieged the colony of Avalor, prompting an urgent plea for aid. It was supposed to be a routine mission: seven skilled Paladins to eliminate a horde of Gallas demons. Quick. Efficient. Standard procedure. Yet, here stood Arexander Pendragon, a Star Knight—a rank far above what this task required. Dealing with Infernal demons was beneath him by rank and skill, a task best left to Paladins. His presence puzzled his companions, who assumed some noble sense of duty must have brought him here. Perhaps, they thought, he had come out of moral obligation or an innate desire to protect the vulnerable. Or maybe it was to bolster the colony's morale with his mere presence. While it was true that his arrival had lifted the spirits of Avalor's embattled inhabitants, Rex himself was indifferent to their plight. He wasn't here for them. Over the years he had learned to ignore the looks and whispers people would always give him due to his family's heritage. When Rex and the party's ship touched down on Avalor's landing pad, the Mayor was among the first to greet them. A tall, green-skinned Fae with long, pointed ears and cascading silver hair, the Mayor exuded an air of exhaustion tempered by resolute hope. He confessed that their message to the Star Tower base had been a gamble, given their ongoing communication failures. Relief washed over him at the sight of the Holy warriors of Starlight."We've held them at bay," the Mayor explained. "Our fighters managed to push the horde outside the interior and seal the colony's entrance. The Abominations now prowl the wastelands beyond the gates. All we need is for you to dispose of them."The task, as it turned out, was as straightforward as promised. The seven Paladins, battle-hardened and well-coordinated, made short work of the Gallas demons. For Rex, it was almost disappointingly easy. He expended minimal effort, watching his companions methodically cut through the horde with disciplined precision. He had no intention of wasting energy on something so trivial. Rex's purpose here lay beyond the immediate threat. He observed, calculated, and waited. His senses, honed to detect the faintest disturbance within the Odyllic—the metaphysical currents that tethered all living and non-living beings together—remained attuned to the colony's surroundings. Whatever he sought, it would reveal itself soon. His patience, though unspoken, was deliberate. Rex wasn't merely biding his time; he was preserving his strength for what was to come.The tide of battle reached its climax. The final Galla demon fell, its grotesque body disintegrating into the ash-stained soil leaving behind shards of their essence. The party exhaled collective relief, their weapons lowered. But Rex stood unmoved, his piercing gaze fixed beyond the horizon. The air shifted—a subtle, almost imperceptible ripple through the Odyllic. The scout, perceptive and sensitive to such disturbances, froze.
"Sir Pendragon," she whispered, her voice taut with unease. "Something… something's changed." It was then that Rex knew his moment had arrived. Whatever had drawn him to this desolate colony, beyond duty and rank, was now at hand. The Abominations, as terrible as they were, had merely been the prelude. The real danger—or opportunity—lay ahead, hidden in the shadows of the Odyllic's mysterious shift. The others in the party exchanged puzzled glances, oblivious to the weight of what was unfolding. Rex, however, understood. And as the colony's battered gates stood secure, and the acrid scent of demon blood lingered in the air, he prepared to act. Not as a savior of Avalor, but as a Star Knight chasing the unseen threads of his enigmatic mission.
To confirm the true nature of the situation, Rex had dispatched two scouts to survey the surroundings of Avalor. The asteroid belt of Avalor, an expanse of ice and rock orbiting the Avalon solar system, was both a marvel and a mystery. At its heart lay the main colony, constructed within the largest asteroid using the nearly indestructible Seriphium steel. For centuries, this structure had been a sanctuary for its inhabitants, shielding them from the cold vacuum of space. The colony had been founded by the Royal family of Albion, the major planet in the Avalon system, with a singular purpose: to study the peculiar clusters of green stars unique to this region. These stars, emitting an otherworldly luminescence, had captivated the curiosity of researchers. Over time, the settlement evolved, expanding to accommodate not only the original researchers but also their descendants. Now, the colony's reach extended to neighboring asteroids, connected by rings of Xeta beam energy—a feat of engineering as extraordinary as the stars themselves.The party's temporary command center was set up just inside the entrance to the main colony. A compact tent housed their operations, where their Controller had arranged an array of portable Zodiak devices. These advanced instruments received and analyzed data transmitted by the scouts before relaying the critical information to Rex, the party's leader. Tactical plans hinged on this flow of intelligence. And what Rex had received thus far painted a grim picture. Around the table, the rest of the party muttered among themselves, their discontent evident. The greenhorn Paladins—fresh recruits from the Camelot Star Tower base—were unaccustomed to the harsh realities of field operations. This sector of the known universe rarely witnessed Abomination attacks, let alone the cataclysmic event of an interdimensional breach. Such peace was a testament to the might of the Federation's long history. Their vigilance had kept all the regions in their territory secure for centuries. An attack on Avalor was not only unexpected; it was unprecedented.
How, then, had a horde of Gallas demons materialized here in the icy void of space? The scouts were tasked with uncovering the answer, but Rex already had his suspicions. Protocol demanded he keep his foreknowledge to himself, a precaution he adhered to despite the growing tension. He listened as the scouts' latest report came through the Zodiaks, their findings more troubling than he had anticipated. There was more than just a mindless horde of Gallas demons stalking the outer rocks of Avalor. Among them, the scouts had identified Infernal devils. These devils, unlike the base demons, were armed and armored, their movements coordinated and deliberate. They weren't merely scavenging; they were leading.
It was one thing to face demons. Their low intelligence and insatiable hunger rendered them predictable and easy to dispatch. But devils? Even lower-ranking ones posed a significantly greater threat. Their presence hinted at something far more sinister. The situation was rapidly escalating beyond the scope of what this party of Paladins had been prepared for.
Rex's expression remained impassive, but his mind raced. This wasn't a random incursion. The involvement of devils suggested intent, strategy, and perhaps an even greater force lurking in the shadows. He was grateful, at least, that these creatures weren't from the Accursed Realm. Facing such entities would demand every ounce of his strength, a level of power he wasn't keen on unleashing in this precarious environment. As the scouts' report concluded, Rex glanced at his companions. Their unease was palpable, but they were still oblivious to the full extent of the danger. That was just as well. For now, Rex would focus on the task at hand while keeping his true purpose—and the unsettling foreknowledge that guided him.
"Did they spot any Category HM?" Rex asked, his tone sharp and deliberate as he addressed the Controller. She turned to him, her eyes widening at the implication of his deduction."The intel suggests something like that," she replied, her voice steady but laced with tension. "There's a large signature, but they're not certain. The scouts have proceeded to get a closer look at the target." Rex absorbed her words, his arms crossed tightly across his chest, the fingers of his right hand tapping rhythmically against his left arm. His mind raced through the possibilities. The scouts he'd sent were not just adept in reconnaissance; they were also highly skilled Strikers, capable of engaging enemies head-on. They should be fine under normal circumstances. But this wasn't normal. If lower-rank Devils were involved, it wasn't a stretch to think his true target might also be lurking nearby. Before he could form his next command, a sudden ripple of energy tore through the Odyllic field, a palpable wave of shock that resonated in Rex's very core. The ground beneath them shuddered violently, and the Zodiak monitors blinked out, their screens going dark before flickering back to life in jagged bursts of static.
"Come in, Scout Alock. Scout Zeloks," Controller Zuse called out, her voice taut with urgency.
"What is it?" Rex demanded, his gaze fixed on her.
"I'm not getting any response from the scouts," Zuse replied, her normally composed demeanor cracking under the weight of the moment. She was an average-height woman with turquoise hair and piercing silver eyes, a hallmark of the House of Aquarius. Her hands trembled slightly as she worked the controls, the jitters of anxiety radiating from her body and infecting the remaining Paladins behind Rex. He could feel their unease like a storm building in the room. Seriously, what the hell had Starlight's forces become?
"Are they dead?" Cleric Vogel asked bluntly, her voice cutting through the tension. She was the party's healer and the only member trained in the use of Holy magic, her role vital but her demeanor often disconcertingly direct.
"It's too early to jump to conclusions," Rex said, though the truth gnawed at the edges of his mind. They were probably dead. His gut, his intel, and his instincts all pointed to the same grim possibility: a Category HM was in the vicinity. That would explain everything—the horde of Gallas demons, the presence of lower-rank Devils, and the colony's desperate plea for aid. A Category HM meant a Greater Devil was nearby. His true target. The scouts were formidable, but even their skills had limits. Against demons or lesser Devils, they would hold their own. But a Greater Devil? That was an entirely different beast—a creature whose power edged dangerously close to that of a full-breed Celestial. Rex wouldn't bet on their survival against such an adversary. Still, there was a sliver of hope. A slight chance they might still be alive. Rex clung to that possibility, not out of optimism but because his mission demanded it. The odds were slim, but until he had confirmation of their fate, he couldn't afford to lose focus. Not now. Not when the real battle was only just beginning.
"I've tried requesting backup from Camelot base… but something's interfering with the signal," Zuse said, her frustration evident as she tapped at the Zodiak controls. The interference could only mean one thing: the presence of a Category HM. A Greater Devil. The realization sent a ripple of tension through the tent. Rex's hand instinctively dropped to the hilt of his longsword at his side. If a Greater Devil truly was here, it fell to him to eliminate the threat. He couldn't rely on his greenhorn Paladins for this. This situation demanded more than just courage—it required power. And power was something Rex now possessed in abundance.It had been months since Rex had emerged from seclusion, a period he'd spent entirely focused on ascending beyond the Master Realm into the legendary Immortal Phase of cultivation. Breaking through to this stage required immense focus, unyielding discipline, and an almost inhuman tolerance for pain and isolation. He had endured it all, pushing past his limits and forging his body and spirit into something far beyond mortal comprehension. Now, even at the lower level of the Immortal Phase, his strength dwarfed anything he had known before. But this power was still untested, and a part of him burned to see just how far he could go. This confrontation could provide that opportunity.
"Cleric Vogel, you're with me," Rex said, his voice cutting through the tension in the room. "The rest of you set up a perimeter around the tent and defend it."
"Captain, you're not planning on going out there," Jessie Vodel protested, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. Jessie's broad frame and auburn hair marked him as a member of the same noble house as Rex, making him an ideal Defender. Despite his build and title, Rex could sense the unease in his tone.
"Yes, I am," Rex replied, his tone unyielding. "And Vogel is coming with me because there's still a chance that Scouts Alock and Zeloks might be alive." His decision wasn't entirely selfless. The families of Alock and Zeloks were influential nobles from Albion—staunch allies of Rex's own family. Allowing them to fall would bring grief and destabilize critical alliances, something neither Albion nor the wider universe could afford. But beyond the political stakes, there was a personal element: Rex had seen enough grief in his life and had no desire to add to it. Rex adjusted the straps of his black combat suit, its design both utilitarian and elegant. The suit's lightweight yet durable armor padded his chest, shoulders, elbows, and legs, providing ample protection without sacrificing mobility. As he stepped out of the tent, the barren expanse of space greeted him, vast and indifferent. The vacuum pressed against him, but the coat of mana surrounding his body created a seamless barrier, shielding him from the cold and providing oxygen.
He glanced back to check on Cleric Vogel. Her mana skin shimmered faintly, not as strong or refined as his own, but sufficient. She followed closely behind, her face resolute despite the weight of the mission ahead. The cold void of space wrapped around them, silent and oppressive, but Rex's focus was unshaken. This was the moment he had prepared for during his years of seclusion. This was his test. And he would ensure it ended with victory.
"Let's go," Rex said, his voice calm but commanding. Vogel nodded, steeling herself as they pushed off from the rock. The absence of gravity pulled them momentarily before the coats of mana surrounding their bodies activated, allowing them to leap fluidly from one asteroid to the next. Their movements were swift and calculated, precise even in the vast and weightless expanse. They landed on a colossal block of ice, as large as an island. Perched atop the icy expanse was a pack of Gallas demons—hyena-like creatures with twisted, skeletal bodies and black flames cresting their heads. The flames flickered menacingly even in the vacuum of space, casting eerie shadows over their ash-gray forms.
Without hesitation, Rex unsheathed his sword, its blade glinting faintly with an ominous crimson hue. In one fluid motion, he charged forward, a blur of lethal precision. With a single sweeping style, he tore through the pack as though they were nothing more than paper. Black ichor spilled into the void, floating momentarily before the decapitated bodies disintegrated into ash. What remained were glimmering shards of essence stones, hovering silently in the weightlessness of space—a grim reminder of their fallen forms. Rex barely paused, his senses locked onto the faint vibrations of more demons further down the asteroid belt. Yet beyond them, closer to the belt's edge, something larger loomed—a faint, trembling pulse within the Odyllic, sending ripples through the metaphysical plane.
"If we find Alock and Zelok alive, focus on healing them and retreating," Rex said, his voice cutting through the silence.
"But, Captain, you can't—" Vogel started, concern evident in her tone.
"Do not worry about me," Rex interrupted, his tone sharp but not unkind. It was enough to silence her. She understood the weight of his words. His rank and cultivation far outclassed everyone else in the area. If someone like Rex fell here, their chances of survival were nonexistent. What she didn't fully realize, however, was that Rex had intentionally suppressed his cultivation back to its former level, masking the immense power of his newly attained Immortal Phase. He wanted to test his strength without revealing too much, even to his allies. They pressed onward, leaping from one block of ice to another. As they advanced, the icy terrain began to thin, replaced by massive, jagged rocks scattered like broken shards of a celestial battlefield. Perched on these rocks were swarms of Devils—more dangerous than the mindless Gallas demons.
The Devils were humanoid in shape, their upper torsos cloaked in gray, leathery skin that rippled with unnatural strength. Their lower torsos, however, were wreathed in shifting shadows, making it difficult to gauge their full forms. Some had bat-like wings, their spindly frames folding and unfolding as they prepared to strike. Others wielded long, serrated tails that lashed out like whips. The Devils launched their assault, but Rex moved like a tempest. He dashed forward, sword blazing with crimson fire, cutting through the attackers with brutal efficiency. His strikes were so swift and deliberate that it seemed as though the Devils were falling before they even had a chance to defend themselves. Vogel watched in awe as Rex skewered one Devil through the chest, the creature's body crumbling into ash as his blade unleashed a burst of red flames. He didn't rely heavily on his mana—these creatures weren't worth the expenditure. His speed and raw strength were more than enough to deal with them. As they neared the belt's edge, the tension grew. The trembling pulse within the Odyllic was stronger now, almost suffocating in its presence
"Captain, over there," Vogel said, her voice trembling slightly. She pointed toward a crescent-shaped rock at the edge of the belt, its jagged surface shedding small chunks that drifted off into space, destined to become meteorites. Rex's sharp eyes immediately locked onto the scene: two shapes fleeing desperately, pursued by a swarm of armored Devils wielding crude but deadly weapons. The swarm moved with the coordination of a small army, their formation tightening as they closed in on their prey. Rex and Vogel landed in front of the fleeing figures. As they got closer, Rex's suspicions were confirmed—it was Zelok and Alock.
Zelok was staggering under the weight of Alock's lifeless body. His combat gear was shredded, revealing deep gashes and missing chunks of flesh, blood seeping out with every strained step. Yet he pushed on, his determination to escape overriding the agony etched on his face. Alock's body lay draped over his back, heavy and lifeless. The massive hole in Alock's chest had long since stopped bleeding, the dark, dried blood a stark contrast against the pale pallor of death. As soon as Zelok spotted them, hope flickered across his face, but his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed onto the rock, his coat of mana flickering dangerously as his consciousness began to fade. Before the vacuum of space could claim both bodies, Vogel raised her staff and chanted a spell. A shimmering white barrier formed around them, stabilizing their forms and preventing them from drifting into the void.
"What's Zelok's condition?" Rex asked, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.
Vogel knelt beside the fallen Paladin, her hands glowing faintly as she assessed his injuries. "He's lost a lot of blood, and most of his rib cage is shattered," she said grimly. "But the real problem is the poison. I can stabilize him with first aid, but we need to get him to a Healing Center immediately. Infernal poison—"
"—can't be healed with self-regeneration," Rex finished. He knew all too well the potency of such a toxin. Lower Devils and Demons had poisons that were troublesome but manageable for someone like him. However, the venom of Greater Devils was another matter entirely, even for someone at his level. It required a skilled healer and specialized treatment. The army of Devils was closing in fast, their guttural growls and shrieks growing louder as they moved over the jagged rocks.
"Begin immediate treatment," Rex ordered his voice firm. "Once you've stabilized him, return to base with Zelok."
Vogel hesitated. "I can't carry both bodies back, Captain," she said. "Even with the barrier, it's too much for me to manage on my own."
"I never said anything about the dead body," Rex replied, his tone clipped as he turned his gaze toward Alock's lifeless form.
"But, Captain—"
"What?" Rex snapped, turning his intense glare toward her.
Vogel faltered but stood her ground. "Zelok sacrificed his life to bring Alock's body back. We… we have to honor his efforts. To bring Alock's body back for his loved ones, Captain. It's what he would have wanted." Her voice cracked as the swarm of Devils loomed closer, the sound of their weapons scraping against the rocks echoing in the void. Rex clenched his jaw, frustration simmering beneath the surface. She was right. It was the honorable thing to do, and he felt the weight of that honor pressing down on him. He knew Alock's family—they were nobles who had supported his cousin's Kingdom. They deserved closure. But reality was cruel, and the battlefield offered no room for sentimentality. Vogel was not strong enough to carry two bodies with her mana barrier through the vacuum of space back to the tent. And Rex couldn't afford to divert his focus from the army of Devils bearing down on them—not with the Greater Devil waiting somewhere beyond this swarm. He turned toward the lifeless body encased in the glowing barrier. For a moment, he hesitated, his hand hovering over the hilt of his sword. Then, with a heavy heart, he made his decision.
"Let it go," Rex said, his voice cold and unwavering.
"Captain…" Vogel's voice trembled, torn between duty and honor.
"I said, let go of it," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Vogel hesitated for a moment longer before the shimmering barrier around Alock's body faded. Freed from its confinement, the lifeless form floated up, drifting away from the rock as the vacuum of space began its work. The frost crept across Alock's face and armor, a chilling reminder of the unforgiving void. Before the body could drift too far, Rex raised his hand. A surge of flame burst forth, engulfing the corpse in a searing blaze. In seconds, it was reduced to ash, scattered into the emptiness of space. Vogel clutched the cross around her neck, pressing it to her lips.
"May the Divine Emperor watch over you," she whispered, her voice filled with solemn reverence. She didn't wait for Rex's next command. Turning back to Zelok, she strengthened the mana barrier around his battered form and leaped off the rock, heading back toward the safety of the tent. A shadow loomed above her as she left—a Devil, claws poised to strike. But Rex was faster. He moved like a blur, cutting a blazing arc through the vacuum. The Devil's head separated cleanly from its body, disintegrating into ash before it could reach Vogel. Hovering above the remaining swarm of Devils, Rex held his blade high. The red flames around it flared, their intensity growing as his spiritual pressure bore down on the infernal army. Their movements faltered, drawn helplessly toward the overwhelming presence of the Star Knight.
One attack was all he needed.
"[Flame Creation: Dragon's Claw]."
Rex raised his left arm, and the fiery red inferno expanded, morphing into the shape of a colossal claw. With a commanding motion, he brought it down upon the Devils. The massive construct tore through them, engulfing the swarm in an unstoppable blaze. Their shrieks echoed faintly through the Odyllic as their forms were incinerated, leaving only fragments of charred ash floating in the void. The force of the attack cratered the rock beneath him, but Rex had been careful. Precision was key—he couldn't risk destroying the entire rock mass and creating debris that might harm the colony. His mission wasn't just to eliminate the threat but also to protect the innocents under his charge. He landed gracefully at the edge of the smoldering crater, his boots crunching against the scorched surface. The trembling within the Odyllic grew stronger as he moved forward, every step bringing him closer to the source. The flow of ambient Od around him became erratic, swirling and twisting unnaturally, a telltale sign of something deeply wrong.
Finally, Rex arrived at the origin of the disturbance—a gaping black void carved into the rock. The Abyss. The hole pulsed with malevolence, its darkness seemingly infinite. Hot, toxic air gushed out, carrying the foul stench of the Infernal Realm. The miasma leaking from the Abyss clung to the atmosphere like a living entity, corrosive and vile. Were it not for the protective Mana Skin enveloping his body, Rex knew the heat alone would have scorched him alive. His expression darkened as he realized the true danger of the situation. If the miasma spread beyond the belt, it could corrupt the Novabeasts inhabiting nearby stars. Once turned into Abominations, these colossal entities could wreak havoc across the galaxy, leaving devastation in their wake.
"This is worse than I thought," Rex muttered. Abysses like this didn't form on their own. A gateway of this size required powerful Dimensional magic, the kind only a Greater Devil—or something even worse—could wield. His thoughts were interrupted as the ground beneath him trembled violently. Something stirred within the black void. Then it came—a massive, gnarled fist shot out of the Abyss, slamming into the ground where Rex had just been standing. The impact sent cracks spidering across the rock's surface, debris scattering in all directions. Rex hovered above the chaos, his senses sharp as another arm emerged, this one just as grotesquely large. Each arm was half the size of the entire rock mass, its muscles rippling with raw infernal power. From the darkness, a head began to rise.
The Greater Devil's grotesque visage emerged, its six sets of eyes arranged unnervingly across its face. Each eye burned with a sinister red glow, their malevolent gaze fixed on Rex. Its mouth stretched into a jagged grin, revealing rows of serrated fangs. It let out a deafening howl, a roar laced with pure Willpower designed to paralyze and terrify anyone within range. Sound shouldn't have been possible in the vacuum of space, but for those sensitive to the Odyllic, the waves of sonic energy were all too real. The vibration of its roar reverberated through the ambient Od, like a ripple across water. But Rex stood unmoved. The infernal howl washed over him, but his will was far stronger. His expression remained calm, almost indifferent, as he tightened his grip on his blade.
"Let's see what you've got," he said under his breath.
"I AM BALIAL! HERALD OF THE GREAT DEMON KING ELIGOS OF THE INFERNAL WORLD, AND I—"
Rex didn't let him finish. He responded by unleashing a pulse of spiritual pressure, the force of it rippling through the void like a tidal wave. The titanic Devil froze, its six burning red eyes narrowing as they locked onto Rex. Hatred and disgust radiated from its gaze.
"Thank you for letting me know your name," Rex said coolly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "It would've been a shame if I got the wrong target. And in return, I'll give you mine…"
"DO NOT SPEAK YOUR NAME TO ME, FLEA—"
"This flea feels it's only proper to introduce himself," Rex interrupted, his voice steady as he sheathed his sword behind his back. "Arexander Pendragon of the House of Aries. You of all beings should understand what that means."
Balial's reaction was instantaneous. His massive form shuddered, his towering frame radiating rage as his deep voice bellowed, "YOU... ARE YOU HERE TO KILL ME? DIE, YOU INSOLENT FLEA!"
With a deafening roar, one of Balial's colossal arms surged toward Rex, the massive fist threatening to crush him. Rex leaped backward, forming a platform of mana beneath his feet to stabilize himself mid-air. The next moment, he launched himself directly toward the Devil, weaving through the monstrous arms with precise, fluid movements. His hand moved to the hilt of his longsword, his breath slowing as he focused his intent. He felt the surge of energy flow through him, his mana converging into the blade.
"[Dragon Art—Vertical Slash]."
In one swift motion, Rex drew the blade, now engulfed in roaring red flames, and struck. The attack was faster than Balial could react. A fiery line appeared on the Devil's massive form, starting from his grotesque head and cutting straight down to the waist that had emerged from the Abyss. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, black blood erupted from the gash, gushing like a torrent and raining down onto the rock. Balial's body trembled as the light in his eyes dimmed. His form began to crumble, disintegrating into ash that scattered into the void. Rex landed softly back on the rock, sheathing his blade with a practiced motion.
"Whew! That went better than I expected," he muttered to himself, though his expression remained serious. The truth was, the creature he had just slain was only an incorporeal projection of Balial—a form struggling to fully emerge through the Abyss. If the Devil had succeeded in fully materializing, it would have fed on the colony and nearby stars to gain the strength needed for a true physical body. Rex could've still dealt with it, but the fight would've been much longer, far riskier, and with collateral damage he couldn't afford.
Now, the real problem remained: the Abyss itself. Rex stood before the gaping black void, feeling the malevolence pouring out like a river of corruption. If left unchecked, it would only be a matter of time before more Infernals emerged—or worse, Balial returned after recovering. The colony wasn't safe yet. Normally, closing an Abyss of this magnitude required a Cleric with advanced sealing spells. Vogel wasn't here, and even if she were, she lacked the power to seal one of this size. But Rex wasn't without options. He knew a temporary measure that could hold the gate long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
"Purify that which has been depraved, through the path the Divine King has paved, and let the Holy flames be engraved—[Flame Creation: Shroud of Mars]." Six spheres of flame materialized around Rex, their heat radiating intensely even in the vacuum of space. With a flick of his hand, the orbs shot to the edges of the Abyss. As they connected, fiery lines formed between them, weaving together into a hexagonal barrier. The barrier flared brightly, sealing the Abyss with a protective wall of holy fire. Any Infernal attempt to cross the barrier would be reduced to ash.
Rex studied the shimmering construct for a moment, ensuring its integrity. It was far from a permanent solution, but it would hold for now. When he returned to base, he'd have to request a more experienced Cleric to properly seal the Abyss. The strain of the spell began to take its toll. Rex exhaled heavily, feeling the weight of the battle settle in his chest. He turned his gaze toward the distant colony, now safe from annihilation. They had no idea how close they had come to extinction.
"They should thank whatever gods they worship," Rex said quietly, a wry smile crossing his face. "Lucky for them, I picked this spot for my retreat." Before heading back, his eyes drifted to the green star that illuminated the area—a massive, luminous body of celestial energy. It was the source of Avalor's existence, the reason for its prosperity, and, ironically, its greatest vulnerability.
For two centuries, the star had been silent, its core dormant. Rex knew the truth. The star wasn't inactive—it was maturing, slowly gaining sentience. When the time came, it would awaken as a Celestial, a god-like entity of unimaginable power. And when that day came, someone like him would be called to eliminate it before it became a threat to the star system.
The miasma nearly corrupted it, Rex thought, his gaze narrowing. If the star had succumbed to the Infernal taint, it could have become a monstrous Abomination—a nightmare for the entire galaxy. For now, though, the star remained a beacon of opportunity for cultivators and a fragile hope for Avalor's future. Taking one last look at the green star, Rex turned away, his mind already planning his next steps.