Introduction
The Xothek Galaxy had long been a testament to the grandeur of civilization, but its progress was reduced to ashes in the wake of an all-consuming war. Warring kingdoms, once masters of industry and exploration, annihilated each other with devastating Xothek Azurevat missiles. The stars trembled as entire planets crumbled, and the final act of destruction came with the cataclysmic collapse of the galaxy itself.
In the chaos, six Asemeri chieftains, knowing their extinction was imminent, seized their fate. They took control of the Defiance Vanguard, one of the last great starships of their people, and fled with thousands of their kin into the unknown. Through a volatile time-space wormhole, they emerged in the Leonia Regnum Binary Star System, where they discovered a strange, terraformed planet: Astashica.
But Astashica was not unclaimed. It was a world watched over by the Ancient Archons, enigmatic guardians of the planet's balance. The Asemeri built a home, naming it New Asemeri, yet peace proved fleeting.
One of the six chieftains, Cosmus, refused to bow to the will of the council. He sought dominion, not mere survival. For his defiance, he was cast out. From the abyssal depths of the Siluran Sea, he nurtured his resentment, waiting for the moment he would return to seize what he believed was rightfully his.
Now, three centuries later, Cosmus's vengeance had begun.
Chapter 1: A World on the Brink
The sky over New Asemeri burned with the light of war.
Crimson streaks of plasma fire crisscrossed the heavens as the once-unified Asemeri League fractured into chaos. Cosmus, now the self-proclaimed ruler of an oceanic empire, had unleashed his wrath, sending the Defiance Vanguard into battle once more. His fleet descended upon Uxnall, reducing it to ruin. When he detonated an Azurevat missile, the force of its impact tilted the very axis of the planet, unleashing tidal waves and storms across the continents.
As disaster spread, the people of New Asemeri looked to their leaders, but fear and hesitation had taken root in the council. With Cosmus in control of the most powerful warship on the planet, resistance seemed futile. The League's armies were outnumbered, its defenses faltering.
But in the far reaches of Verdantis Nexus, beyond the spires of New Asemeri, one young man refused to surrender to fear.
Tlandar, a half-Asemeri, half-human rancher, stood on the precipice of fate, unaware that his life was about to change forever.
Verdantis Nexus: A Farmhand's Last Stand
The Verdantis Nexus was a land of endless green plains, where cattle roamed freely beneath twin suns. It was a place untouched by war—until now.
The sky, once a tranquil blue, had darkened with the arrival of raiding ships. The Ixtielan marauders, loyal to Cosmus, had come. Their purpose was clear: to raze the land, claim its resources, and sow terror among the people.
Tlandar watched from the porch of his family's ranch as the first fires erupted in the distance. The smell of smoke carried on the wind, mingling with the cries of his people. His heart pounded as he saw the marauders approach, their war banners fluttering in the scorching air.
His father, Zaruk, a veteran of past conflicts, stepped forward, his face hardened with resolve. "Get your sisters inside," he commanded. "We make our stand here."
But Tlandar did not run. He clenched his fists, watching as the marauders dismounted their skimmers and unsheathed their blades. They came in a group of twenty, armored in battle-worn steel, their faces obscured by cruel helmets.
His family's ranch was no fortress. The wooden fences and stables would not hold. He had never been a warrior, never held a blade in battle—but if he did not fight, his home would be lost.
He reached for the closest weapon he had: a reinforced plasma staff, used for herding livestock. It would have to do.
The marauders advanced, expecting an easy slaughter. They did not expect the fury of a man defending everything he loved.
A Battle Without Glory
Tlandar moved swiftly, using the terrain to his advantage. He struck first, his plasma staff colliding with the chest plate of the nearest marauder. The force sent the raider sprawling.
His movements were unrefined but fueled by desperation. He dodged a sword swing, ducking low before delivering a precise counterstrike to his enemy's leg. Another marauder lunged—Tlandar twisted, his staff cracking against the attacker's ribs.
One by one, they fell, underestimating the strength and determination of a man unwilling to yield. His father fought alongside him, covering his flank, and together, they drove the raiders back.
Blood mixed with the dirt. The skirmish ended in minutes that felt like hours. Tlandar stood, his breath ragged, his hands aching from the fight. The survivors fled, leaving behind the wounded and the dead.
He had won—but victory felt hollow.
His home, though still standing, was no longer safe. The realization set in like a dagger to the heart: they would return. And next time, there would be more of them.
Zaruk placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder. "We can't stay, Tlandar."
Tlandar turned to face his father, looking into the eyes of a man who had seen too much war. He did not want to run. He did not want to abandon the only life he had ever known.
But he also knew his father was right.
As dawn rose over the burning fields, the decision was made. They would leave for New Asemeri.
And for Tlandar, the road to destiny had just begun.