Meanwhile, within the dark expanse of space, the Rhytil Consulate observed the events unfolding with growing interest—and concern. The Rhytil were an ancient and highly advanced species, their civilization built upon strict hierarchy, and their power was unmatched when it came to warfare. They had watched as Lena and her allies had begun to grow more powerful, and their interest in the Zaltron core had deepened. They saw the potential for the core to either be a weapon to be controlled—or a tool that could shatter everything they had worked for.The Rhytil Consulate had their own secret projects underway, their own experiments with energy manipulation that rivaled the core's power. They had long known that the galaxy's balance of power was fragile, and the emergence of this weapon had set their plans into motion sooner than they had anticipated."We cannot allow them to control it," High Regent Tal'Karr, the leader of the Rhytil Consulate, said to his council. "Lena may be young, but she holds the key to a power that could destroy our entire empire."Tal'Karr's eyes burned with cold resolve. "We have spent centuries building our influence in the galaxy. This core—it must be ours. No one else can wield it."The council murmured in agreement, their voices a low hum of anticipation. The Rhytil understood the true nature of the core better than most—they had encountered remnants of similar artifacts from ancient civilizations. Their technology was advanced, but not even they had fully unlocked the core's potential. Yet, if Lena and her allies could harness its power, the balance of power in the galaxy would shift irreversibly in their favor.And so, the Rhytil began their own preparations, quietly mobilizing fleets and developing secret technologies. They had watched Lena's actions closely, and now they had a new goal: to either subjugate her or eliminate her—before she could unlock the core's true power