**
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Sora floated in the void, the echoes of the Keeper's words reverberating through his mind. The vast emptiness around him seemed to pulse with an energy all its own, vibrating with the pulse within him. The Veil of Forgotten Stars was not just a place—it was a test, a space where time itself bent and fractured, where the fabric of existence was not as solid as it seemed.
The figure of the Keeper had vanished into the nothingness, leaving behind only a lingering sense of mystery and a warning. The pulse was more than he had imagined. It wasn't just a force—it was a living entity, and now, it seemed as though his very soul was entwined with it.
"I'm not alone," Sora muttered, his voice lost in the infinite space. The words felt more like an affirmation than a question. His heart beat in sync with the pulse, a rhythm that resonated throughout the entire void.
The ship, though its systems were still unstable, remained by his side, orbiting the edges of the Veil, its presence a constant in this unstable, ever-shifting place. Sora's hand rested on the controls, but he knew instinctively that he couldn't navigate this place using technology alone. The Veil defied logic, bending reality in ways that made the ship's systems feel irrelevant, almost insignificant.
"I need to understand," Sora whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "I need to understand the pulse."
As if answering him, the ship's voice echoed in the stillness, its tone a strange mixture of caution and knowledge. "Captain, I have detected a disturbance in the fabric of space-time. It is unlike anything we've encountered before. A rift, perhaps, a tear in the continuum."
"A rift?" Sora asked, turning toward the ship's readouts. A rippling pattern appeared on the monitor, a tear in the very fabric of space. The light around the rift seemed to warp and twist, as though it were the doorway to another realm.
The ship's voice grew more urgent. "This rift... it is connected to the pulse, Sora. It is pulling at the very energy you seek to protect. If you do not act, the rift will grow and consume everything."
Sora's pulse surged, matching the energy radiating from the rift. "What do I do?" he asked, his mind racing as he processed the ship's warning.
"You must stabilize the rift," the ship explained. "But the pulse, the very energy that binds you, is both the key and the danger. To close the rift, you must harness the full potential of the pulse—but doing so could unravel everything."
The weight of the decision pressed down on him. The choice was not simple. To save the universe, he would have to risk destroying it. The pulse was the key to both creation and destruction, and he was its unwilling keeper.
He reached out, his hand trembling as he adjusted the ship's controls, trying to gauge the balance of energy. The rift pulsed with an otherworldly rhythm, matching the beat of his heart. He could feel it now, in the deepest core of his being—the pulse was calling to him, beckoning him to unleash its power.
But with that realization came the gnawing fear of the unknown. What if he couldn't control it? What if the rift wasn't the only thing at stake? What if the pulse itself was the true threat?
A voice interrupted his thoughts, a familiar voice from the past. "Sora."
He whipped around, his pulse racing at the sound of the voice. But there was no one there. The void around him remained still, the stars nothing more than faint glimmers in the distance.
"Sora, listen to me."
The voice was closer now, more distinct. And then, through the rippling haze of the Veil, a figure emerged. It was a woman, her form shimmering like light itself, her features hazy and shifting, as though she were made of the very fabric of the universe. She was familiar to him, though he could not place where or when he had seen her before.
"Who are you?" Sora asked, his voice thick with disbelief. "How do you know my name?"
"I have been waiting for you, Sora," the woman said, her voice filled with a sense of urgency. "The pulse is not just your burden. It is your inheritance, your destiny. You must understand the true nature of the pulse, or everything will be lost."
The woman stepped closer, and as she did, the rift behind her began to glow brighter, its pull intensifying. "You are at the edge of a choice. The pulse will either save or destroy the universe. But you cannot do it alone. You need to seek the knowledge hidden within the Forgotten Stars."
Sora shook his head, trying to make sense of the sudden appearance. "Who are you?" he asked again, the confusion and fear mounting inside him. "What is happening? Why do I feel like I know you?"
The woman's eyes softened, though there was a sadness in her gaze. "I am a reflection of the past, a part of the pulse that has been lost to time. I was once a Keeper of the Stars, but I am no more. I was—am—a piece of what the pulse once was. Now, it is up to you, Sora."
Her words were like a riddle, each one adding another layer of mystery to his already complicated journey. The pulse, the rift, the Veil—it all seemed so much larger than him. So much older.
"You have to stop the rift," she continued, her voice rising with urgency. "But the pulse's power is unstable. The rift is growing, feeding off it. You must find the hidden key, the one who holds the knowledge of the stars. Only they can show you how to close it without destroying everything."
Sora stared at the woman, his mind spinning. A key? Who held this knowledge? And why did he feel like he was being led into a trap? Every answer only raised more questions. But the rift behind her was growing, and he could feel the weight of time pressing on him. If he did nothing, everything would be consumed.
"I'll do it," Sora said finally, his voice filled with resolve. "I'll find the key. I won't let the rift consume everything."
The woman's figure began to fade, her presence growing dimmer. "You will need strength, Sora. And you will need to trust yourself. Remember the pulse—it is both the key and the curse."
As she disappeared into the void, the rift surged with energy. Sora felt the pull of it once more, but now he understood. The pulse was not just a weapon—it was a living, breathing force, and he was bound to it. The only question now was whether he could wield it without destroying everything he fought to protect.
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