Few Minutes Earlier
Kael, the elder from the branch family, sat in his private chamber aboard the main spaceship, reviewing the reports that had just been transmitted. He was a tall, imposing figure with sharp features, piercing silver eyes that seemed to see through lies, and long, dark hair streaked with strands of gray, tied neatly at the nape of his neck. His attire was immaculate, a deep blue robe adorned with intricate silver embroidery, denoting his rank as an Elder and his cultivation at the advanced Yellow Stage. The collar of his robe bore three silver stars, a distinct marker of his status within the branch family hierarchy.
His sharp eyes scanned the details with a mix of annoyance and curiosity. The initial reports suggested unusual disturbances in the mines, a potential threat to their operations.
Kael despised disruptions, especially ones that hinted at negligence. Coming to this desolate mining planet was already an irritation, as Orlan's incompetence had been a thorn in his side for years. The patriarch's growing impatience with the lack of results only added to Kael's frustration, as he was now tasked with salvaging the situation before it escalated further.
"Orlan," he muttered under his breath, his tone dripping with disdain. "You were supposed to handle this." Kael had personally selected Orlan for this assignment years ago, believing that his experience and familiarity with mining operations would make him a reliable overseer. At the time, Orlan had seemed the perfect candidate ambitious enough to take initiative but not so bold as to challenge authority.
Yet, over the years, Orlan's performance had grown lackluster, his reports increasingly filled with excuses rather than results. Kael had overlooked these shortcomings for far too long, but now, with the patriarch breathing down his neck, his patience had worn thin. "Perhaps I was too lenient," Kael thought grimly, his expression hardening. "It seems even the most promising tools dull without proper oversight."
"Daren," Kael commanded, his voice a low growl, a single fingertip tapping a button on his console. The chamber door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing his assistant. Daren, a capable individual at the initial Orange Stage of cultivation, stood at attention. His sharp, angular features were etched with an unwavering discipline, his piercing green eyes scanning the chamber with an alert intensity that belied his youth. Two silver stars, marking his rank within the Aeloria branch, glinted on his collar, a stark contrast against the deep crimson of his uniform. The Aeloria insignia, a stylized crescent moon encircling a star, was emblazoned on his chest, a silent testament to his loyalty. Daren entered, his movements fluid and precise, his expression a mask of calm professionalism.
"At your command, Lord Kael. ETA to the planet's surface: 17 minutes." said Daren.
"I'll handle this myself," Kael said curtly. "Prepare Stellar Vortex. I'll take it down to the planet. You follow in the main ship and ensure the area is secured once I've assessed the situation."
Daren nodded without question, understanding Kael's penchant for direct involvement in matters he deemed critical. Within moments, Kael was aboard the sleek, high-speed craft. The Stellar Vortex was a marvel of engineering—compact yet powerful, designed for rapid deployment in emergencies. Its dark metallic frame shimmered faintly with a protective energy field, and its engines hummed with restrained power as it launched toward the planet.
---
The Stellar Vortex sliced through the atmosphere like a blade, reaching the mining site in record time. As Kael approached, the devastation came into view. Smoke rose from the collapsed shelter, and the terrain was littered with debris. His sharp eyes caught the unmistakable figure of the Obsidian Ravager, its massive corpse sprawled across the ruins. Standing near it was a boy, barely conscious and drenched in blood, his face a mix of defiance and despair.
Kael's lips thinned into a line. He extended his hand toward a console embedded in the ship's wall, activating a high-frequency Qi transmitter designed specifically to control beasts.
This advanced device emitted a resonant energy pulse, calibrated to interact with the Qi signatures of nearby creatures, overriding their instincts and compelling obedience. While the transmitter's primary function was to dominate beasts, it also enabled limited communication with humans by embedding commands directly into their consciousness. "Hold your position," Kael's voice resonated, its commanding tone cold and precise, leaving no room for disobedience.
The Ravager stirred faintly, its Qi flickering in a desperate attempt to rise. Kael wasted no time. Exiting the Stellar Vortex, he descended with practiced ease, his Qi-infused blade gleaming with a deadly light. With a single, precise strike, he severed the beast's head, ensuring its complete demise.
Kael turned his attention to the boy, who collapsed to his knees, his body trembling from exhaustion. Kael's gaze swept over him, noting the injuries and the faint energy signature emanating from the boy's pocket. Ignoring him for the moment, Kael moved to the remains of the shelter.
---
The shelter was a graveyard. Bodies lay crushed beneath beams and rubble, their lifeless forms a stark reminder of the Ravager's rampage. Kael's expression remained impassive as he surveyed the scene. To him, miners were expendable a necessary cog in the machine of progress. Their lives mattered only insofar as they contributed to the branch family's wealth and standing.
"Orlan," Kael muttered, spotting the foreman's body among the debris. He spat in disgust. "Incompetent fool."
Kael activated his communicator, contacting Daren aboard the main ship. "The shelter is a total loss. No survivors apart from a single boy. Prepare to retrieve him and scan the area for anomalies."
Daren acknowledged the order, and Kael turned his attention back to the boy. Aidan had collapsed completely by now, unconscious from the strain of his ordeal. Kael's gaze hardened as he reached into the boy's pocket, extracting a small shard of Lumanite. His eyes narrowed as he examined it.
---
The Lumanite stone was of extraordinary quality, far surpassing anything typically found in the mines especially at this planet. Such purity was usually associated with ancient ruins, places steeped in mystery and danger. Kael's mind raced with possibilities. If this boy had stumbled upon a hidden vein or ruin, it could be a game-changer for the branch family's standing.
Kael returned to the Stellar Vortex, where Daren and a team of guards had just arrived. He ordered a full scan of the area using the ship's advanced sensors. The results were perplexing - no unusual energy signatures, no traces of a dimensional rift or other disturbances, apart from the Lumanite shard.
Kael frowned. "This doesn't add up," he said to Daren. "A Ravager of this level doesn't appear without reason. And this Lumanite... it's too pure. Too rare."
Daren hesitated before speaking. "What should we do with the boy, Elder Kael?"
Kael's gaze shifted to Aidan's unconscious form. "He's coming with us. If he refuses to cooperate, we'll extract the information ourselves."
Daren nodded, understanding Kael's meaning. The branch family possessed advanced technology capable of probing minds, extracting memories and secrets with surgical precision. It was a brutal method, but Kael had no qualms about using it if the boy proved uncooperative.
---
Before departing, Kael made one final sweep of the area, ensuring nothing of value was left behind. He reported his findings to the branch family patriarch, detailing the high-quality Lumanite and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Ravager's attack.
The patriarch's response was swift. "Bring the boy to me. If he holds the key to a hidden ruin or vein, it could secure our position against the main family. Do not fail me, Kael."
The patriarch, a Green Stage cultivator known for his cunning and ambition, was the driving force behind the branch family's rise in influence. His sharp intellect and ruthless methods had earned him respect and fear in equal measure. Under his leadership, the branch family had expanded its reach, but the pressure to outperform the main family was relentless.
Kael's jaw tightened. "Understood, Patriarch."
---
As the Stellar Vortex ascended, carrying Kael, Aidan, and the precious shard of Lumanite, Kael's thoughts were already on the interrogation to come. He would uncover the truth, no matter the cost. To him, the boy was merely a means to an end, a tool to be used and discarded once his usefulness was exhausted.
Aidan, still unconscious, had no idea of the storm awaiting him. For now, he remained blissfully unaware, his dreams a chaotic mix of grief, rage, and faint glimmers of hope. The next chapter of his life was about to begin, and it would be anything but gentle.