The final hours before the battle felt like days. Lena stood on the command deck of the ship, her eyes scanning the battlefield ahead. Her pulse quickened as she watched the enemy ships move into position. The council's fleet was massive, a vast wall of ships stretching across the sky, and yet, Lena knew they were about to face something they hadn't expected."Are we ready?" Lena asked, her voice steady, though her insides churned with anticipation.Elias gave her a small nod. "We're ready. We just need to execute the plan perfectly."The first wave of Arkanite ships shot forward, their sleek, agile forms darting through space like predators. The council responded immediately, sending a barrage of fire toward them. But the Arkanites were faster, their stealth tech making them nearly invisible. They struck quickly, targeting the weaker support vessels on the council's flanks, causing the enemy to scramble their defenses.Meanwhile, the Zyphirians deployed a series of energy pulses, creating false signals that confused the council's navigation systems. Ships collided as the enemy became unsure of where to focus their fire. It was a perfect distraction.But the real surprise came when the Krith phased into the dimension adjacent to the battlefield. They were everywhere, cutting through the enemy's lines with surgical precision. Ships exploded from within, their internal systems sabotaged by the Krith's otherworldly presence.Lena watched the chaos unfold, her heart pounding in her chest. "Now," she whispered.Elias's hand on her shoulder steadied her. "Activate the core."The energy from the core surged through their ship, cascading across the battlefield. It was raw, untamed power, an energy unlike anything they had ever felt. As Lena directed the core's energy at the council's flagship, she watched as the shields around the massive ship began to destabilize, its systems flickering and failing.The council was beginning to realize they were losing. Their retaliatory fire was fierce, but disorganized. They were being overwhelmed—just as Lena had hoped.But this was only the first step. As the battle raged on, Lena knew the real test was yet to come.