On a planet the size of Jupiter, with approximately 70% water and 30% land, whereas the biggest continent occupied almost 20% of the land surface. Despite this, the planet was densely populated, with the highest tiers almost exclusively residing in the main city, more precisely, the planetary capital, "Dham."
Dham was a beautiful city, surrounded by dense forests teeming with a variety of creatures. Its most striking feature, or perhaps the most revered, was the palace, where a sovereign resided.
The palace was constructed entirely of a black, marble-like material that was smooth yet reflected minimal light. It was a majestic building that mesmerized anyone who laid eyes on it for the first time.
The five individuals who had been chasing the streaking ball of light arrived on the planet and headed directly for the castle. However, as they approached, they descended to the ground and began walking instead of flying.
Soon, they reached the massive doors, where a row of Tier 5 guards stood, their intimidating auras palpable. Yet, when these guards saw the five approaching, they saluted and opened the gates to allow them entry.
With the wolf-headed creature leading, the five entered the castle and immediately noticed someone already waiting for them: a delicate-looking elven figure.
The group quickened their pace, stopping before an elven-looking person and bowed slightly. The woman among them spoke first:
"Master Mahanta, why are you here? If you needed to speak with us, you could have simply called."
Mahanta waved a hand dismissively and replied with a questioning tone:
"I was on my way to meet the sovereign when I sensed your arrival in the solar system. As I recall, you five were assigned to the Kirmat front, where Brahm's troops have been showing signs of activity. So, why are you not there and instead here?"
Although Mahanta wasn't exerting any pressure, the five felt it. They knew that lying or making any kind of excuses might very well cost them their lives.
The wolf-headed creature hurriedly spoke, its tone betraying its anxiety:
"Yes, Master, it is as you say. However, on our way there, I noticed a ball of light streaking across near Tel'Rao. The strangest thing was that I couldn't sense it. If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't even have known it was there."
The four standing behind the wolf-headed creature nodded in agreement. Initially, they hadn't noticed the light, and it was only when the wolf-headed creature pointed it out that they became aware of it.
Mahanta's eyebrows arched slightly as he asked in a serious tone:
"Raye, you are aware of the consequences of lying?"
The wolf-headed creature, Raye, frantically shook his head and hands.
"No, Master, I'm not lying! They all saw it too. I swear I'm telling the truth."
Mahanta's gaze swept over the group, and he saw all of them nodding fervently in agreement with Raye's account.
"So, where is this light, then? Did you catch it?" Mahanta asked flatly.
The hearts of Raye and the others sank, they were certain Mahanta didn't believe them, but there was little they could do.
"Master, we chased it for over four hours, but it was too fast. Then, suddenly, it took a sharp turn and vanished, as if it had never existed," the man in the group said, his previous tone of amusement absent.
While they were in the midst of speaking, a sudden quake rippled through the air, shaking them to their cores. It wasn't the ground trembling but the atmosphere itself vibrating with an unnatural intensity.
This phenomenon wasn't limited to their immediate surroundings; it felt as though the very fabric of the solar system they inhabited was quaking. The sensation was overwhelming as if the entire affected space teetered on the edge of collapse.
Without warning, Mahanta disappeared, reappearing in a majestic hall where everyone except three individuals knelt, shivering. The air was heavy, oppressive, and suffocating, but the kneeling figures remained silent.
Standing in the centre of the hall, Mahanta's gaze turned to the throne, where a devilishly beautiful woman sat. Dressed in luxurious black attire, she had four elegantly curved horns resembling a regal crown. Her icy expression was filled with murderous intent, and her glowing red pupils cast a chilling glare.
Mahanta dropped to one knee, bowing slightly as he saluted her.
"Your humble servant, Mahanta, pays his respects to the sovereign."
Suddenly, the quaking stopped, and the oppressive atmosphere vanished as if it had never been. The woman's demeanour returned to what could be considered normal, though her icy expression persisted.
"You may rise, Mahanta. Everyone else except Fovona, Orcen, and Mahanta, leave," the woman commanded in a sweet yet authoritative voice.
Mahanta stood as the others hurriedly rose to their feet, bowed, and quickly departed. Only Fovona and Orcen, who stood to the sovereign's left and right, remained. Both wore puzzled expressions as they awaited her next words.
The sovereign remained silent for a while, her expression unreadable. The silence gradually grew oppressive, but no one dared to speak.
Suddenly, the sovereign flipped her hand, and a floating ball of light appeared before her. As the light faded, the expressions of the three remaining individuals in the hall soured and then a palpable rage appeared not only in their expressions but also in their hearts.
The light revealed a two-foot-tall tablet, cracked and broken, floating in the air over the palm.
Mahanta clenched his fists tightly, the space around them began to ripple, threatening to collapse under the sheer force of his anger. Fovona's entire body ignited in flames, her fury manifesting visibly, while Orcen's body trembled uncontrollably, teetering on the brink of losing control.
All three of them exuded an overwhelming killing intent, and the quaking resumed once again. Not as oppressive or palpable as before but this time it was far more chaotic and volatile.
With another flick of her hand, the sovereign made the broken tablet vanish.
Gradually, the three regained control of their emotions, and the violent quaking subsided, though the atmosphere in the hall remained suffused with lethal tension.
Standing to the sovereign's right, Orcen spoke through gritted teeth, his draconic features twisted in fury. His fangs bared, and the sound of his cracking knuckles echoed as he clenched his fists, struggling to suppress his rage.
"Who killed Xenrya? Just give me the word, and I'll tear them apart myself!" His voice rose toward a near-scream by the end.
Fovona's flames, though somewhat subdued, flared again as her rage burned hotter. Her tone, however, was eerily calm, belying the inferno within.
"You're wrong, Orcen. Whoever did this doesn't deserve a quick death. They should be kept alive, begging for mercy, but death should remain a luxury they'll never have."
The flames around her body intensified, reflecting the seething anger in her heart.
Mahanta stayed silent, but his expression mirrored the fury of the other two. His thoughts aligned with theirs, yet he understood that the final judgment rested solely in the hands of the sovereign. Xenerya had been one of the sovereign's closest confidants, just like the three of them.
The sovereign shook her head, her voice calm but tinged with anger as well as slight frustration.
"I don't know who did this. Xenerya's life tablet shattered about ten minutes ago. Her last known life signature appeared in the Wohin sector, disturbingly close to the Yagict forbidden region."
Emotions still ran high among those present, but they hadn't reached their current positions by succumbing to recklessness. They all knew that to achieve anything meaningful, they had to keep their emotions in check.
The sovereign continued, her tone steady despite the gravity of the situation.
"What I can't understand is why her last known signature appeared in the Wohin sector. She wasn't supposed to be anywhere near there. Three days ago, I personally sent her to the Glanek sector to investigate an ancient relic that had been discovered."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to piece together an impossible puzzle.
"She was willful, yes, but she never disobeyed my orders, not once in her life. And I don't need to tell any of you about her escape capabilities. Even if she had faced another sovereign, she could have escaped. For her to die in a sector she had no reason to be in... it's incomprehensible."
Taking a deep breath, the sovereign straightened and spoke, her voice resonating far beyond the confines of the hall. Every member of her faction heard her declaration.
"Xenerya has been killed in the Wohin sector. I want every Tier 8 and Tier 9 officer to head there immediately and scour every speck of that region, as well as the Glanek sector. Leave no stone unturned. I want to know who did this. When we find them, I will personally kill that being and make an example of them."
Across her dominion, every Tier 8 and 9 commanding officer began mobilizing. Among them were the five who had come to report the streaking ball of light. When the sovereign issued a command, there was no room for hesitation.
As the hall emptied, Mahanta remained behind, his mind racing. He couldn't help but ponder what the five had told him earlier about the mysterious light.
Could it be connected to Xenerya's death, or was he simply overthinking? Deciding he couldn't risk dismissing it, he stepped forward and relayed the information to the sovereign.
The sovereign listened silently, her expression as unreadable as ever. She mulled over his words for a moment before speaking.
"Mahanta, investigate this personally. Whether it's related to Xenerya's death or not, something that can escape even my senses which cover the entire span of the solar system, cannot be ignored."
She then turned her attention to Orcen.
"Orcen, you will go to the Kirmat region and assume command personally."
Orcen hesitated, struggling to respond. The sovereign, sensing his reluctance, sighed softly.
"I understand how you feel. Xenerya was a dear friend to you, and you want to avenge her. But we cannot afford to lose the Kirmat region as well. I had intended to send Fovona, but you know as well as I do that Xenerya was like an elder sister to her. Her current state makes her unsuitable for such a volatile situation."
Orcen clenched his fists, his frustration evident, but he nodded in acceptance. He understood the reasoning. Fovona was better suited for delicate situations, but her emotions were currently too raw. If she went to the Kirmat region now, her anger might cause an already fragile situation to erupt further, achieving nothing but chaos.
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Author's Note:
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