The arrival of the fleet changed everything.
A moment ago there had only been Asher, Pantheon, and the endless dark surrounding the black hole.
Now thousands of ships filled the space around him, and none of it was random — every vessel locked into formation at once, space itself tightening as the defensive net sealed every route out.
He wouldn't be able to teleport out even if he wanted to.
They knew that anyone capable of reaching the center of the universe was already powerful enough to manipulate space itself.
A voice answered, carrying authority. "Unknown entity. You have entered a forbidden region under the jurisdiction of the Universal Council. State your identity and your purpose."
Asher looked back at the black hole. "I'm entering the Void."
Silence followed — not the silence of empty space, but of thousands of beings trying to understand what they'd just heard.
