New Bronx District, Nova York
Terra, Gaea, Solar system
Milky Way Galaxy, Charlie sector
Neutral Free Zone
January 15th 2019
Weeks earlier
Orion stepped out of the shadows, emerging from the darkness through the enchanted cloak she wore. Shadow-walking was one of its many functions, an invaluable tool for infiltration and assassination—an essential part of Sector Zero's arsenal. She wasn't particularly fond of the cloak, but as a member, she had little choice but to use it.
Her mind drifted back to the fight she had just finished, a battle against the russet-haired Pleiadian—Emily Legens. A friend of Leonard Haravok and Arexander Pendragon. Orion had studied them well, the trio of childhood friends. Out of the three, Emily was the least remarkable. No noble lineage, no renowned bloodline—just an ordinary Pleiadian, indistinguishable from the masses that filled the Federation. And yet, Mallus… that bastard had taken an interest in her.
Orion had discovered that unsettling fact not too long ago, and when she found Emily inside the research lab she had been assigned to eliminate, she couldn't resist testing her strength. The fight had been a letdown. Emily had put up a decent effort, but if Orion had truly wanted to end it from the start, she could have.
Now, she stood inside a space that never failed to impress her. The building's exterior was nothing extraordinary—just another skyscraper towering over the city of Nova York. But within its walls, the reality shifted. It was a constructed space, much like the pocket dimension beneath the research base where she had fought Emily. The architecture defied normal constraints; the interior was vastly more spacious than its exterior suggested—a feat that required powerful magic.
Intricate markings covered the walls, floors, and ceiling, glowing with crimson energy that pulsed toward the massive monolith in the center of the room. The monolith was a towering structure of silver metal, etched with ancient runes and symbols that wove together a story Orion didn't fully understand.
Across from it, standing by the window, was the person Orion had come to see—her Master. Dressed in a red-furred jacket, black pants, and red boots, the woman exuded an aura of command. Her long white hair cascaded down her back, and from this vantage point, she gazed out at lower Manhattan, where countless tiny human figures moved about, unaware of the forces at play above them.
"Master…" Orion began, but her Master raised a finger, silencing her. Then, she pointed toward the city.
"What do you see when you look at them?" she asked.
Orion's gaze followed her gesture. "I see the humans of this planet."
"And…?"
"I see their ignorance—the blissful comfort they live in." A pause. "Sometimes, I wonder what my life would have been like if I had been one of them."
Her Master let out a disappointed sigh. "I'm disappointed in you, Freya Lughter."
Orion's expression tightened beneath her mask. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken that name—her real name, not the alias she bore within Sector Zero.
"Take off your mask," her Master said. "You're not among enemies here."
Obediently, Orion removed it, revealing her pale skin, sharp indigo eyes, and silver hair. Her pointed ears marked her as either Fae or Elven—something that, at times, even she had trouble reconciling.
"Sometimes, I wonder if it was the right choice to place you among them," her Master mused, her voice distant, almost wistful. She was speaking of the Pleiadians—the Federation's elite within Sector Zero.
"It's produced results, hasn't it?" Orion countered.
"Yes… it has," her Master admitted. She reached into her coat and pulled out a crystal ball, which projected streams of glyphs and data reports Orion had sent. Intel on Mallus's experiments. Updates on the situation in Litvain. The fate of Lamentias. Too many moving pieces.
"We succeeded in making the attack on the base appear as an internal incident," Orion reported.
"And the subjects?"
"We executed them," Orion said without hesitation. "A merciful death. At least they won't suffer anymore."
Her Master nodded. "Their sacrifice won't be in vain." Her heterochromatic eyes—one red, one blue—gleamed with the unwavering conviction that Orion had always admired.
"Sector Zero is far from reaching our level," Orion continued, "but they were closer than they should have been."
"Which is why I have told Sophia to proceed with the next phase."
Orion stilled. "The next phase…" Her gaze drifted downward to the streets below, to the people oblivious to the forces about to reshape their world. She held no particular compassion for them, but she could imagine the chaos soon to unfold in their lives. "Isn't it too soon? We don't even know if all of humanity is compatible."
"It is a necessary gamble," her Master replied. She turned away from the window and walked toward the monolith. Orion followed. The war between them and Sector Zero spanned across the galaxy, consuming much of Mallus's attention. But if he were to fully focus on them… it would be too late.
"Every piece we need is already in place," her Master said. "Now is the time to move them according to the path that Fate dictates."
"The ritual," Orion murmured.
"The preparations are nearly complete," her Master confirmed. She thought of the Celestial Realignment—a cosmic event of immense significance, approaching fast. "With the Celestial realignment drawing near, we cannot afford hesitation. I can almost see it—the culmination of what we Vysileafs have worked toward for millennia."
"And then?"
"And then," her Master said, a smile tugging at her lips, "we will usher in a new age."
She rested a hand against the monolith.
"An Age of Greatness."
****
Astraeus Tower
Starlight Headquarters
Orbital space station
Agartha, Anu Solar system
Divine Federation
Krios 15th Y-1909
Rex was in Admiral Wilcock's office in the Astraeus Tower within the Federation sector—or at least, a projection of himself was. He wasn't foolish enough to leave Terra, not when he was supposed to be on a mission. He had a secluded area within the Mundane world, in the restroom of a cafe, where he was able to make the call.
Still, Rex wasn't reckless enough to make a direct call to the Admiral out in the open. Before projecting himself, he erected a simple barrier spell. He wasn't particularly skilled in the Arcane arts, but he knew enough to perform low-level spells.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he looked around, remembering his childhood here with Leon and Emily. As the Indigo Trio of their generation, they had caused plenty of trouble during their time at Ascension Academy—trouble that often landed them in the Admiral's office for reprimanding. Leon had never cared much for the punishments. His bravado, even against someone as formidable as the Admiral, had always inspired Rex. Those were the days—when they had still been innocent.
Then, after graduation, Rex had broken up the group, taking on the mission the Admiral had given him. The others had no idea what he had become. A hunting dog. The office door opened. Admiral Wilcock entered, followed by another figure.
The Admiral wore his black and silver military uniform, his long trench coat adorned with insignia pinned to his right chest. The other man wore a simple cloak, but beneath it, Rex could see a white long-sleeve shirt and black trousers. A hat covered his silver hair, but there was no mistaking him—Adonis Yesh, the all-powerful King of Genesis.
Genesis was a Tier III civilization, just like the planets within the Federation. Yet, its power alone was enough to challenge the Federation as a whole. That wasn't unique—there were other planetary empires in the Neutral Free Zones with comparable strength. But it was precisely why the Federation preferred peaceful treaties over outright war.
"My boy, Arexander," Admiral Wilcock greeted, still speaking to Rex like he was a child. It didn't faze him the way it probably would have irritated Leon.
"Admiral," Rex acknowledged before turning to the King. "Your Majesty." He bowed.
King Adonis gave him a nod and took a seat behind the Admiral's desk while the Admiral studied Rex closely.
"You look exhausted," the Admiral remarked. "Are you resting?"
"Hunting zealous assholes isn't quite fun," Rex replied dryly.
The Admiral smiled.
Rex's thoughts drifted to the fight he had with one of the agents of Sector Zero. The facility there had been destroyed, leaving behind nothing for him to investigate. There was also the situation with the pillar of light that had transported numerous amount of people. With all the situation going on and Sector Zero's involvement, Rex decided to report his current mission to the Admiral.
The Admiral, however, had something of his own to share—something that explained why they were meeting face to face. As Rex finished his report, he caught the look on the King's face. The Admiral also glanced at Adonis.
"So this Samantha Sinclair, she's connected to the Fallen Star," Rex said after the King explained to him some of the events happening on Terra. He felt like there were some things they were leaving out, but Rex could infer some knowledge with his own intuition.
"What makes you say that?" King Adonis asked.
"Hmm, a guardian of yours happens to have some relation to James Sinclair, a famous Paladin who defected from Starlight to go into hiding," Rex said. "His wife also disappeared along with him, and the daughter they had. And now there's a girl within Terra, a place rumored to be where Fallen stars are hiding, who happens to have some connection to the Sinclair bloodline."
"And you believe such rumors?" King Adonis asked. Rex had to be careful with his words, knowing that he was dealing with an all-powerful being who happened to be responsible for the planet he was currently on.
The Yesh, rulers of the Genesis Empire, had taken it upon themselves to become the Guardians of Terra, solidifying Terra's presence in the intergalactic community. If Terra had once been a dumping ground for galactic criminals and pirates, it had since become a death trap for anyone who dared to prey upon its inhabitants.
"If Leon believes it, then so do I," Rex said. "That guy has been hunting the Fallen stars for so long that I don't think it's a coincidence he ended up coming here, just as the celestial realignment is about to begin."
"Samatha Sinclair. I hear she shows great promise," the Admiral mused. "Enough that Mallus seeks to eliminate her."
King Adonis raised an eyebrow. Of course. The Admiral had the Diviner working with him. If she was involved, then she was likely aware of everything happening on Terra with her Heavenly Pupil power. Tsk. To think she would be on the other side. Adonis could only lament allowing Fate to steer her toward that damn Pleiadian.
"Sector Zero is making their move," the Admiral said. "It won't be long before they send someone to get rid of her before she becomes a threat. An assassin like Sinutu and Anuntium."
"Really. Mallus would go that far for a human girl. Sinutu and Anuntium aren't just your average Pleiadian," Rex said. He was well aware of those twin brothers. "They're extremely blessed with the House of Pisces' Unique Technique, making them elite assassins." Unique Techniques were the pinnacle of ability applications engraved onto those who had ascended. Only the Awakened could wield them. Which meant these two assassins were going to be a problem.
King Adonis closed his eyes. Images flashed before him—probabilities, calculations, pathways of fate. He was sorting through them, deciding the best course of action. Only one outcome presented itself. One he wasn't sure of. If she survived… her growth would be astonishing.
But it was risky.
If he went through with this, he would have to intervene. That meant spending more currency. It would be costly. Not that he was lacking in funds, but there was always the chance of a fate rebound. Damn it. Everything was happening too soon.
Samantha wasn't supposed to have awakened yet. The seal should have held up for some time, giving them the chance to train her as much as possible. It had only been a year since she became a Guardian, and his daughter started her training. But then the Celestial Realignment changed everything. Adonis could smell it. Someone else had interfered.
"So, what do you say?" the Admiral asked, breaking the silence. "If you want, Rex can take care of them before they even get into Luna."
"No... No," Adonis said slowly. "Let them come."
Rex stared at the King. He must have misspoken. There was no way he was seriously suggesting—
The Admiral grinned.
"I see," Admiral Wilcock said. "Use them to our advantage."
"How is it advantageous to let them into your territory to kill the Sinclair girl?" Rex demanded.
"Samantha is no regular human. She can handle it," King Adonis said.
"You think a girl with no training can kill Sinutu and Anuntium?" Rex scoffed. "Even a peak superior stage Ascendant won't stand a chance against them. What makes you think a girl who has barely awakened can win against them?"
"And what better way to make her grow than by putting her life on the line?" Adonis countered.
Rex couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was true that going through near-death experiences was the best way for one to grow in mastery of Magic power, and expanding of one's soul core, but to think that this man, who should be on this poor girl's side, was going to use such a method to hasten her growth, Rex didn't know what to think.
He turned to the Admiral, who seemed to not be in a disagreement with the King.
"You're okay with this, Sir," Rex asked.
"Nothing we can do about it. The girl is the responsibility of Golden Dawn," Admiral Wilcock said.
"But she's also part of the Divine federation," Rex said. "Surely it is our responsibility to make sure that she stays safe."
"Arexander Pendragon. This is the world of cultivation, where one must put their life on the line to grow and survive. Surely you will not deny the girl her chance to grow." Admiral Wilcock said. Rex didn't know what to say to that, so he kept quiet.
"Right now, you should focus on getting in touch with them," Admiral Wilcock said. "Meet up with Aria. She should give you your next set of instructions."
"Fine. Pendragon out," Rex muttered.
And with that, his projection vanished into the air.
Moments after Arexander cut the hologram call, Admiral Wilcock burst into laughter, striding over to a drawer and pulling out a bottle along with two cups. He poured the deep crimson liquid and turned to King Adonis, who still wore that ever-calculating expression. The Admiral knew the King was always five steps ahead, even if he couldn't discern every detail of the grand design Adonis was weaving. Not even with the Diviner backing him.
"You should have just told him the truth," Admiral Wilcock remarked, passing a cup to Adonis. "The girl won't be in any immediate danger."
"Oh, she will be," Adonis countered, accepting the drink and taking a measured sip. He caught the Admiral studying him.
"There's no point if there's no risk involved."
Wilcock merely shrugged, knocking back his drink in one go. He exhaled, setting the cup down.
"The situation in Lamentias has reached a boiling point," he said. "Congress is still deadlocked, but the Purists are about to make their move." The mention of those vermin made Adonis sneer. As long as they existed, the Federation would always be a threat.
"Then we'd better make ours first," Adonis said.