Xen'tarza

Spectral Pulse

I

Reunion

The renegade thrashed about in a comatose-like state. With the sensation of being consumed by the magnitude of burning energy, he jumped up from his bed and found himself in the infirmary on Marauder. Shirakaya sat beside him as he felt his body all over, looking around with a mad expression on his face and barely acknowledging the rest of the crew.

Wiping sweat from his brow, he sat back on his bed and breathed heavily. “No. It couldn’t have all been a dream. Tell me I wasn’t drunk.”

“Drunk?” the freelancer responded with a sly grin. “That would be too easy. No, I’m afraid you’re naturally insane. But that’s what I admire about you. And sometimes that special drive within makes you go the extra parsec.”

“What do you mean?”

“You really love her. I wasn’t sure if your feelings were genuine when we talked in the bar back on Pravura. But you truly—”

“Zadoya!” he blurted, rising from his bed.

“Calm down,” the cyborg said from a corner of the room. “I am safe now. Isn’t that what matters?”

Dojin limped over to her in disbelief. “Zadoya? Zadoya…” She looked exactly the same as he’d seen her within the cyber realm. He dared extend a hand; the cyborg caught it before he could touch her face. “It’s really you.”

“Yes,” she responded. “It’s hard to believe, but thanks to Vokken and you, I’m somehow alive. Well, reanimated to be more precise.”

The renegade’s face grew sullen. “Vokken? Where is that piece of shit?”

Shirakaya grabbed his arm, guiding him back to the bed. “According to him, he kept her a secret because he wasn’t sure if he could save her. Vokken’s claim was: Why mention his attempt to save her if, in the end, she’d die?”

“Bullshit! Her memory was dwindling. And there were some weird ass machines in that fucked-up nightmare zone trying to kill me. I’m telling you, he’s up to something.”

“Maybe,” she said pensively. “I was always suspicious of him. But we’ll never know for sure. The server within that network crashed and got erased when you pulled her out. We tried helping Zadoya recover it, but nothing worked. Whether the former Nempada emperor was attempting to rebuild his lost empire, none of us know. I can’t accuse him without definitive evidence. Besides, in a way, it’s thanks to him that Zadoya is alive.”

“Agreed,” the cyborg said.

Dojin sat back down, his mouth agape. “Yeah but…”

“Second chances,” Xorvaj blurted.

The renegade scowled at him. “Fine,” he said with an irritated sigh. At the freelancer’s nod, he went on, “How did you find me?”

“It was me,” Zadoya said in a cybernetic tone. “After your infamous bravado, I awakened in an abandoned server room. Not long after, I hacked Marauder’s network and contacted Shira. I told her what had happened…that you released me.”

“Why didn’t Vokken release you if his intentions were pure?” Dojin inquired, not letting his suspicion dissipate.

Vokken finally manifested on his KLD and responded, “I may have recovered her body and kept her mind alive within the digital realm, but I did not know how to wake her from the virtual universe. Although what you did was risky, your actions of forcing her out ultimately solved the problem.”

“Your words are a disease,” Dojin said, terminating the transmission.

“It’s the truth,” the cyborg said. “Releasing me prematurely could have fried my brain in the real. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.”

“Then what? You searched for me?”

“Yes,” she answered. “It wasn’t easy, but we followed the tram’s railway and eventually found you in a similar underground chamber, unconscious. The mercs and I helped get you back here.”

“True that,” Myris said. “It’s good to have you back, tantrum dude.”

Several members of the crew laughed softly. The sìsô, resting on the oracle’s shoulder, agreed with an urp.

Dojin stared at his hands, wiggling his fingers. “How long was I out?”

“Too long for comfort,” Shirakaya said. “I was hoping you’d wake up sooner. Three days did the trick. Now we can finally move forward.”

“What do you mean?”

“My brother and Del Vayso believe they have found a gateway into the Spectral Pulse. If it’s true, we might be able to enter the dimension where Xen’tarza dwells.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning there’s a chance the myth is more than just a legend. It’s possible that I can genuinely be cured and conjure magic once more.”

“Well then, what the fuck are we waiting for?”

II

Threshold

The crew gathered in the conference room. This time, Khal’jan and Del Vayso were also present. Even the necromancer joined them; Eladoris couldn’t help feel a sense of intrigue, considering this voyage concerned a seven-thousand-cycle-old legend of magic.

“So, what’s the game plan?” Myris asked.

“This escapade is far from a game,” Del Vayso replied. He held up the relic Khal’jan had found a couple of months ago. “The enchanted Eye of Soth’yugon is the key to us entering the Spectral Pulse.”

“Great…what the hell does it do?”

“First, you need to know the legend,” Khal’jan responded with passion. “Soth’yugon was believed to be an extremely powerful wizard. It’s said that those who abuse magic can be tainted and become twisted. He was once such a man. In time, he become cursed and was sentenced to a life of eternal torment.”

“Whoa,” the oracle said. “Seriously?”

“Tap into your divinity and you’ll know it to be true,” Del Vayso responded. “According to the ethos, the gods hunted him down. With his magic, he slipped in and out of dimensions. As clever as he was, however, he couldn’t hide from the god of time. It’s said that Xen’tarza sealed him away akin to how Maz’hura had banished Koth’tura.”

“In theory,” the archeologist began while holding up the relic, “with his incredible power in the palms of our hands, we should be able to go beyond time and space—beyond the twelve dimensions—into the Spectral Pulse. If we can succeed, I have faith Shira can commune with Xen’tarza in order to regain her arcane gift.”

Yarasuro rubbed his chin, leaning on a terminal. “The tale is fascinating but hard to fathom.”

“I’m finding it hard to swallow myself,” the sandstalker agreed.

“Are we able to use the Eye of Soth’yugon anywhere?” Eladoris asked, ignoring him.

“No,” the scientist answered flatly. “It’s one of the reasons why it took us so long. We’ve been searching for a gateway.”

“And thanks to Medeix Et Victum, we found one,” Khal’jan said.

“Potentially,” the scientist commented. “Legend has it that this book comes from another dimension. After translating the ancient tongue, I found coordinates that may lead us to the place of its origin…a realm of pure magic. However, nothing is fact until proven with experience.”

“When do we depart?” Rah’tera inquired.

“Right now,” Shirakaya said, approaching the helm.

Vokken’s snowy-like pixelated face appeared on the bridge’s primary screen. “What are the coordinates?”

“Jai’ryndar,” she called out, “can you upload them to the ship?”

“Absolutely,” the engineer replied. Ejecting a chip from his chest, he inserted it into a console by the main screen. “Upload successful.”

“Received. Processing. Confirmed.”

The battleship pulled away from Gritu and, at a safe distance away from the planet, entered dimensional space by means of the cosmodrive. Flying in the soudarian direction via FTM—faster than magic—Marauder crossed the sea of space and avoided the Drift Void, experiencing only a slight distortion and deceleration in speed. Upon breaching the Torpo Giayan Galaxy, Vokken exited dimensional space.

“My ravaged homeworld,” Xorvaj said to himself out loud, observing the starmap while the battleship passed Zieksar. “One day, I shall return. But far from today.”

Overhearing him, Jai’ryndar turned to the ghensoth. “What happened to your world?”

“Not in the mood to talk about it,” Xorvaj said, grimacing. “Some other time.”

Thirty minutes after passing the devastated ghensoth planet, Marauder slowed down as it approached its destination. Upon entering Oga Vay’tos, a star system filled with fourteen planets, the arcane intelligence changed his course from soudaria to esoria. When the worlds were far behind them, they approached an asteroid belt.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” Vokken began, “but I have detected another star vanish from the map.”

Several crew members grew pale.

“Fuck,” the renegade muttered under his breath.

Yarasuro appeared sullen. “Where did this occur?”

“In the same vicinity as the others: Gydeim Scor, also known as the outskirts of the Drift Void.”

Xorvaj bashed a nearby wall, denting it. “Damn it all!”

“Time is of the essence,” Jai’ryndar commented.

“Now more than ever,” Shirakaya said, a grim expression carved on her face. “But we need to be patient and hold out a little longer. Vokken, what’s our ETA?”

“We’re almost there.”

Shirakaya’s heart raced with anxiety. She couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary in the dark void of space but knew they were approaching a destination that was once thought to be nothing more than a mere fable. Overwhelmed with trepidation, her eyes focused on a nebula shaped like a tidal wave that had appeared as if manifested from a raging tsunami.

“That’s definitely it,” Khal’jan said.

“Even if correct,” Del Vayso started, “I would avoid extreme, definitive proclamations such as ‘definitely’ until proven.”

The archeologist sighed. “You’re right. I’m just a bit excited, that’s all.”

Rah’tera wasn’t too fond of emotional moments, so he intervened with an inquiry, “How do we find the gateway?”

“Excellent question,” the scientist replied, seizing the Eye of Soth’yugon. “This relic was mentioned in Medeix Et Victum as a key of sorts, capable of finding and opening portals.”

With dazzled eyes, Xeza produced an awed sounding urp while gazing at the imbued artifact. Del Vayso approached the primary windowpane at the fore of the bridge, keeping the relic held up high. As the battleship approached the nebula, the Eye of Soth’yugon reacted with a bright glow.

Vokken increased speed, flying through the interstellar cloud. The freelancer stared at the wavy expanse of dust, wondering if what she had been doing meant anything at all or if her actions were futile. Standing beside Del Vayso, she felt a terrible tightness in her chest. She breathed deeply, trying to remain composed.

“Where is this gateway of yours?” Eladoris demanded.

“Not even I have the precise location,” the scientist responded. “All we know is that it’s somewhere in this vicinity.”

In time, Marauder passed the nebula. The crew appeared confused, especially Shirakaya who no longer looked ecstatic. Steadily approaching one of three suns in the trinary star system, the arcane intelligence maintained his course while the other crewmembers—with the exception of Del Vayso—shared expressions of doubt.

“Um,” the oracle began, “why are we flying directly toward a star?”

Keeping a tight grip on the artifact, Del Vayso answered, “Because the gateway is in the heart of that sun.”

Some of the Shadow Mercs gasped.

“Yowzers,” the oracle muttered, holding Xeza tight.

“No fucking way!” Dojin said, standing up.

“Calm down,” Shirakaya replied, her arms raised. “There must be a logical explanation for this. Isn’t that right, Del Vayso?”

“There is a logical theory.”

Yarasuro gulped heavily. “Theory?”

After an awkward moment of silence, Shirakaya said, “By all means, do tell.”

“My hypothesis is that, eons ago, a sun never existed in this location. In recent millennia, the star must have manifested here. Whether from a black hole or remnants of a supernova, I do not know. However, what I do know is that the gateway is somewhere there, and the only way to breach the Spectral Pulse is by entering the star’s corona.”

Dojin scowled. “This is suicide!”

“I concur with him,” Rah’tera said.

“Perhaps we can find another gateway?” Jai’ryndar suggested.

“Another?” the scientist said. “I conjecture there are hundreds of thousands. But where are they and where do they go? Each doorway can potentially take months to find and may lead somewhere else. My research concluded that this particular gateway can bring us to a primordial realm where ancient magic flourishes.”

“The kind of magic my sister needs,” Khal’jan said.

Xorvaj snorted. “So it seems we have no choice but to deal with entering the sun. Can’t the necromancer create a mana shield for us?”

“I am not a goddess,” Eladoris said, killing the dazzle in her comrades’ eyes.

“Is that so?” Shirakaya replied, assured that she was once stronger than the necromancer. “In that case,” she continued in a prideful tone, “I want our force field at maximum power. The polarized shield should also be active.”

“Aye, my lady,” Yarasuro said, feeling nostalgic.

When the vessel’s defenses were raised, Vokken tripled the velocity. Marauder zoomed past several planets and moons. Within minutes, Shadow Mercs crossed the star system and reached the third sun. Most of the crewmembers remained uneasy. Only the freelancer seemed optimistic, gazing at the star with newfound hope.

“This is it, Xeza,” Myris whispered to the sìsô, kissing her. “It’s all or nothing.”

When the vessel flew directly into the sun, Shirakaya briefly closed her eyes as if deep in prayer. The crew remained mesmerized and unnerved, gazing at the scorching sun. Most of them wondered if a miracle would occur—to survive. Scarcely a minute later, the Eye of Soth’yugon radiated so brightly that no one could look at it without their eyes hurting, including the mutant. A harmless shockwave erupted from the primeval relic, illuminating the bridge. The glow was so radiant that most of the crew squinted. Then there was a flash much like lightning.

Flames engulfed the hull of the ship as it zoomed through an eternal passage enveloped by the sweltering sun. Marauder was on the verge of crumbling into a billion particles, only to become one with the blazing star when time itself abruptly stopped. Its crew stood lifeless for a moment.

Like an unexpected quake stirring, the flames breathed again. For reasons unknown, the fire reversed and dissipated along with the sun. Time unexpectedly returned, allowing the crew to move freely once more. Their ship continued flying straight, roaming through a starless chasm until an explosion of light occurred before them, impacting their eyes.

After a few seconds, the crewmembers regained their vision and soon realized that they were no longer within the third sun of Oga Vay’tos. Instead, they found themselves amid an asteroid belt. Up ahead, one of the planetoids appeared to be vast. More immediately, something seemed to have been built on top of it.

“We’re alive?” Dojin asked, just as surprised as the others.

“By a miracle,” Shirakaya responded with a half-smile. “Yaro, status report.”

“Most of our senses are rebooting after that bizarre phenomenon. I should have some info on the structure ahead in a couple of minutes.”

“You don’t need him to tell you what we already know,” Vokken said.

“Excuse me?” Shirakaya said sharply. “What are you talking about?”

“The gateway we entered was a passage into the Spectral Pulse, which had been sealed by magic eons ago. Undone by the power within your primeval relic, we traversed to a realm so immeasurably far that it begs us to consider—”

“That we are in another dimension?” Jai’ryndar interjected.

“Evidence supports the premise,” Vokken said. “We are beyond faith and belief. We are upon the precipice of uncharted territory.”

“I’m not sure my mind can accept this,” Shirakaya said.

“It’s hard to fathom, but he might actually be right,” Yarasuro said as his systems started functioning again. “The readings on the map are unusual. Peculiar to say the least. It’s showing we are in space…yet it won’t pinpoint where.”

“Bloody hell,” Myris said.

Xeza produced a scared urp, hiding in the oracle’s pocket.

Dojin, meanwhile, threw his gun at a wall. “Fuck! What if this was a waste of time?”

“There is hope,” Del Vayso said, pointing at the structure atop the gargantuan asteroid that they had spotted a moment ago. “Regardless of where we are, that must be the Source.”

Shirakaya appeared glum but looked in the direction of his outstretched finger. “A pocket of space in Ensar locked away from its denizens, or the threshold of another dimension. Who knows? Whatever that is up ahead, we should at least investigate. Vokken, take us there.”

“Affirmative.”

The battleship accelerated toward the enormous asteroid. Upon approaching, they realized that the structure atop the asteroid was an ancient castle. Many of its turrets had apparently cracked and crumbled apart over a period of thousands of cycles—at least that was what Shirakaya thought.

“The legend reveals itself,” Del Vayso said.

The oracle gawked at the sight. “Whoa…”

“Truly incredible,” Khal’jan said.

“I’m picking up a large reading ahead,” Yarasuro said. “The castle is protected by some kind of force field.”

“I sense it,” Myris said. “It’s a mega mana shield that won’t let us enter.”

“Magic?” the freelancer said, intrigued.

Vokken brought the ship to an abrupt halt while a few pairs of eyes found their way to Eladoris.

“Don’t even ask,” she snapped. “I’m a necromancer, not your maker.”

“I’m afraid I can’t dispel it either,” Myris said.

Del Vayso scrubbed his wrinkled chin. “We might be able to bypass the arcane barrier if we can find a way in from below.”

“You mean finding a way from inside the asteroid?” Shirakaya said. At the scientist’s nod, she went on, “Our battleship is too big for that. But if we can find a cave of sorts, that may work if we go on foot.”

Dojin glanced at her and then turned his attention to the others with a dismal look. “So we found a castle in space. Whoop-ti-fucking-doo. And guess what, guys? We can’t even get inside the damn thing. Doesn’t anyone here think that we’re sort of going half-ass on this crazy shit?”

“Of course,” Xorvaj responded.

Rah’tera also agreed with a nod.

“What do you expect?” Khal’jan said. “We’re trying to restore Shira’s magic. That in itself has been deemed impossible. Everything we follow and do from this point on is from a myth. Almost nothing we do will make sense to the normal mind.”

“Yeah but we need some kind of plan,” the renegade replied. “We can’t just mindlessly go there with our dicks hanging out.”

“Pardon the intrusion, venerable Dojin,” the uganda started, “but I fear a ‘plan’ is no longer an option. We traversed through the Spectral Pulse, an arcane gateway that had been sealed for millennia. Thus, teleporting to the fringes of another dimension. At this point, myth is our only guide.”

“Well, that sucks balls.”

The sandstalker’s eyes were downcast. “Jai is right. Nevertheless, I agree with Dojin. Even if it seems difficult, we must remain vigilant.”

“Indeed,” Vokken responded. “Stability is mandatory.”

Zadoya crossed her arms. “This mission has always been about risk. And last I checked, the leadership hasn’t changed. We continue on Shira’s authority.”

“Agreed,” Yarasuro said.

As anxious as Shirakaya felt, she took a moment to reflect. “I understand where you’re coming from, Dojin. I get it. We could’ve died ten different ways beginning with just trying to approach the sun. Vaporized from the heat. Crushed by the corona’s gravity. Teleported into oblivion. Torn apart and dissected within the gateway. Dying so fast we wouldn’t have even been able to understand how we died. Now we are confronted by this castle and its mysterious shield.”

The mercenaries remained silent, taking in her words.

“Half-ass might be the perfect way of putting it,” Shirakaya continued, shrugging. “But if this is the only way I can get my power back…if this is the only way we can confront and defeat Ashkaratoth, I’d come back again and again. Whatever it takes. No more hesitation. Are you still with me?”

Dojin let out a deep sigh. “Yeah. Just glad you also realize we’re psychotic for going through all this weird shit.”

The oracle and a few others chuckled softly.

“You heard him, Vokken,” the freelancer said confidently. “We’re in this together. Bring us to the bottom of that asteroid.”

III

Legend of the Sorcerer

Examining the asteroid thoroughly, the mercenaries spotted a series of natural holes. Yarasuro performed a scan on the first one, determining it to be a small cave. Initiating a scan on the second hole, he discovered it to be the size of a grotto. Others were similar in size. When he scanned another that was farther away, however, it revealed an immense cavern.

“I found something on the wescarian quadrant,” the mutant said.

Del Vayso reviewed Yarasuro’s information on the screen. “This is exactly what I was hoping we’d find.”

“Sweetness,” Myris said, rubbing her hands together.

“Whatever,” the renegade blurted out.

“Excellent work as always, Yaro,” Shirakaya said. “Okay listen up, everyone. This will undoubtedly be treacherous. Equip your zitrogen tanks and strongest armor. We’ll need them for the journey ahead.”

“The dhi-cha is with us,” Jai’ryndar said, prepping for the expedition.

Vokken maneuvered the battleship to fly below the asteroid. Reaching the coordinates of the cavern that the mutant had located, he halted Marauder. The mercenaries gathered their equipment and used an X-Phaser, teleporting to the vessel’s entrance. After a short period of time for the pressure to stabilize, the ramp opened.

Shadow Mercs disembarked from the ship, stepping downward. The ramp lined up with the cavern, at which point they were able to enter the asteroid. Initially, the path revealed itself to be narrow. The crew barely fit, especially Xorvaj who had to hunch over. Several meters ahead, they turned at a corner that led to a dead end.

“Um, did we miss something?” Myris said.

Yarasuro shook his head. “Impossible. I scanned the asteroid. It showed a passage that could potentially lead us above.”

“I confirmed it as well,” Vokken said via KLD.

Rah’tera leaned on a wall, pensive. “Yaro, is it possible you forgot which cave we should be trekking through?”

“No,” he said with frustration. “I’ve done this kind of scanning for a long time…too long to make this kind of mistake.”

“This is some serious bullshit,” Dojin said.

Eladoris stepped forward, jostling through the group. Standing in front of the wall, she examined its many textures and shapes. Moments later, she snorted and walked right through it. Some of the crewmembers glanced at each other, mystified.

“It’s called an illusion,” the necromancer said.

“Obviously,” Dojin said, rolling his eyes.

The mercenaries advanced through the illusionary wall where they found an empty passage with little design other than nature’s mark—a rock-strewn, jagged path whose prickly walls curved all the way to the castle’s magical barrier. With little hesitation, Shirakaya strode over to the arcane shield but could not pass it.

“Most intriguing,” the scientist said, scanning the barrier.

“Eladoris, is there anything you can do?” Shirakaya asked.

“I’m ecstatic you think that I can solve all your problems but alas, I cannot dispel such ancient magic. Just hope that whoever conjured this barrier is a benevolent force rather than one of malevolence.”

“You mean someone like you?” Dojin said under his breath.

“What was that?” the necromancer snapped.

Dojin scoffed. “Nothing, your eminence.”

“Let’s find another way,” Shirakaya intervened, resilient.

With no other choice, Shadow Mercs walked around the force field and arrived at the base of the castle. Its aged stonework was nestled into the granite, as if it had purposely been crafted that way. Another kilometer farther ahead, they located the castle’s entrance. Khal’jan and Del Vayso examined it from a distance. Xorvaj, on the other hand, thought about ramming himself through the shield.

Myris gasped. “Don’t do that!”

“What?” the ghensoth said.

“I can sense your frustration. The shield will harm you. Actually, it’ll be fatal. There’s a way in…I’m sure.”

Zadoya used her cybernetic eyes to scan the area. “I don’t see anything that stands out.”

Jai’ryndar gestured at his companions. “Please gather around me.” The crew surrounded him, ready to listen. “I will attempt to use my implants, tapping into augmented reality to create an artificial portal through the shield.”

The freelancer found it difficult to believe but didn’t object to his proposal. Activating tube-shaped wires running throughout his body, he aimed his KLD at the castle’s entrance. After capturing the distance, he entered the coordinates via kinetic link. The data transferred directly to his implants, at which point the augments on his chest activated.

Just then, two portals formed. The crew stood slack-jawed, stunned that Jai’ryndar had summoned gateways without magic—that science, in this instance, had superseded the arcane. Though hesitant at first, the group entered the adjacent portal and teleported beyond the magical barrier, emerging through the second portal at the castle’s threshold.

“Brilliant!” Shirakaya exclaimed.

The crew agreed, most of them cheering on Jai’ryndar who didn’t know how to respond other than with a humble bow. As they heard stones crumble, they broke away from their excitement. Focusing their attention on the castle, the mercenaries moved forward. Passing through the entrance, they came across a collapsed statue whose shattered features could no longer be recognized.

“Unbelievable,” the archeologist said. “This could have been a depiction of Maz’hura or Yun’sara for all we know.”

“You think so, Khal?” Shirakaya responded, genuinely intrigued.

“It was most likely Xen’tarza,” Del Vayso intervened. “Either way, we’ll never find out for sure.”

“Time out,” the renegade blurted. “What exactly are we fucktarts looking for?”

The ghensoth shrugged with a discouraged grunt.

“Xen’tarza himself?” Myris assumed.

“According to Medeix Et Victum,” the scientist began, “there exists a realm of boundless magic. It is written in this book that only the Eye of Soth’yugon could lead us to such a kingdom. Furthermore, the realm is a sacred sanctuary where one may rejuvenate his or her lost gift of the arcane by means of something referred to as the Source.”

“Sacred sanctuary?” Dojin responded, trying not to laugh. “Take a real good look at this place. I don’t mean to be a dick, but whatever kingdom existed before is fucking gone.”

“Obliterated,” Xorvaj said.

Rah’tera nodded. “Unfortunately, the psycho brutes are right. We’re inside the remains of a dilapidated castle that stands atop an asteroid in outer space. This rock is probably the remnants of a planet destroyed eons ago.”

Shirakaya gritted her teeth.

“Calm down, guys,” Khal’jan said, acknowledging his sister losing hope. “We don’t have all the answers. Maybe the ‘Source’ is a metaphor for Xen’tarza or his blessing. And again, the ‘Source’ is something infinite. Think of it as an eternal wellspring for the soul. No catastrophe can cause it to become extinct. It’s just a matter of us finding it and allowing Shira to commune with it.”

“Sounds dope,” Dojin said. “I just like to keep my feet on the ground, that’s all.”

“That’s bogus,” the oracle blurted out, everyone turning to her. “Are you blind? By a miracle, we managed to get through that massive mana shield. Magic is very much alive here. I sense it.”

Dojin revealed an incredible awe-filled expression, pretending to sense magic.

“Without a doubt,” the scientist said, ignoring the renegade’s idiocy. “Magic is certainly around us. However, we need to remain objective and neutral. The magic herein may not be the same that Shira requires.”

“Either way,” Shirakaya added in, “I didn’t come all this way for wishful thinking or to turn back because I see ruins of a lost civilization. Think of everything we’ve been through. We even discovered the Spectral Pulse and survived it. I have faith that the Source still exists. I have no doubt we will find it.”

“Agreed,” Yarasuro replied. “Let’s not waste more time speculating. Together we shall locate the Source. Right here and now.”

Though several of the crew members struggled to agree, they kept quiet out of respect for their leader. As a team, they followed Shirakaya through the castle. The mercenaries seemed to be inside what had used to be an atrium with areas of the ceiling completely collapsed. Several pillars lay on the cracked floor while halves of others managed to remain standing.

An arched entryway stood before them. Shirakaya brazenly approached and stepped through it, finding herself at the base of a spiral staircase. Though many treads had crumbled over the ages, the crew still scaled the steps. Reaching the second floor, Shirakaya decided to search the dilapidated hall ahead.

Despite there being several holes throughout the marble corridor, the mercenaries avoided them and advanced. At the end of the hall, they entered a destroyed ballroom. Not a single chandelier hung above. Instead, they lay shattered on the ground along with multiple statues and columns. Passing through, the group reached a tower where they located another staircase.

Shirakaya scaled the spiral steps until she reached the top where there had once been a door—now a mere pile of ash. Moving onward, the crew went outside and strode across a cracked rampart that revealed outer space. With the exception of Eladoris who couldn’t care less, the mana shield enveloping them was their only relief.

“Such a waste of time…I might as well have flown up here,” the witch said, brandishing her wings with pride.

Dojin snorted with amusement.

“I prefer we stick together as a team on this one,” Shirakaya said. “I hope you can respect my wishes.”

“For now,” Eladoris said snootily.

The crew were halfway across when a tremor occurred. Khal’jan lost his balance as the castle shook. Seeing the archeologist fall backwards, Xorvaj held him up with his leg and kicked him forward. Just before Khal’jan could reprimand the ghensoth for being so rough, the rampart split. Myris accelerated across on her wheelchair while most of the crew charged ahead as fast as they could. Dojin and Jai’ryndar took longer, doing their best not to fall to their deaths.

“What in the twelve dimensions is going on?” Khal’jan yelled.

“I’m detecting an energy distortion,” Zadoya said. “It’s approaching from the soudarian quadrant of the asteroid.”

“I sense it too,” Myris said, placing a hand on her constricting chest. “Not energy. Not unless you consider it to be no different than magic. It’s incredibly powerful and approaching us fast.”

The mercenaries readied their weapons, trying to find areas to position themselves while the quake persisted. A form of mist with lightning contained within it pulsed toward them from below. When it reached the castle’s rampart, it grew in size and morphed into an aerial entity that resembled a lich whose vapory and eye-less face looked like a skeletal corpse.

“What matter of beings are you?” it demanded, its voice cold and eerie.

“I am Shirakaya of Aarda,” the freelancer responded. “This is my crew, Shadow Mercs. We are on a quest to vanquish Koth’tura. During the mission, one of his minions consumed my arcane gift. I cannot hope to defeat the koth’vurians without magic. I have come here seeking a cure. Are you by chance the demigod, Xen’tarza?”

The lich screeched at the mention of such a name.

“Probably not,” Dojin muttered, taking a step back.

“We have traveled across dimensions,” Yarasuro said. “Can you help us?”

Again, the lich did not respond as it examined the interlopers with distaste.

Open mouthed, the scientist rose from crushed stones. “Could it truly be? Are you the legendary sorcerer known as Soth’yugon?”

The lich fixed its eye-less face upon him. “This one speaks with intelligence.” Gazing at the crew, it went on, “There are no cures for such a disease. Only a vile curse can reverse such a defect.”

“Curse?” Khal’jan said.

“Yes,” the lich hissed, growing greater in size. “No cures flourish here, mortals. Gaze beyond the dark, inky veil of this shattered kingdom. The void is empty of hope. This realm is nothing more than an eternal prison. And believe me, it shall remain this way until the multiverse is no more.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Shirakaya said. “Help me reclaim my power.”

The lich gave her a wicked glare. “Do you truly wish to erase what has transpired by means of an irreversible curse?”

“Be careful, Shira,” Yarasuro warned.

Shirakaya acknowledged his concern, pondering the situation. “Whatever it takes,” she finally said.

“A curse it is,” the aerial being said. “However, you shall first be tested. If you can defeat the insurmountable power of Soth’yugon, who is none other than me, I shall curse you with my boon.”

Before they could digest the lich’s identity or the thought of a test, Soth’yugon raised his hands. In an instant, whirlwinds formed from both sides of the cracking rampart. Dojin, Xorvaj, and Rah’tera ported out guns, firing at him. The enchanted bullets went through his misty form, causing his body to appear hazy for a few seconds, but he wasn’t harmed.

“Motherfucker!” Dojin yelled, switching to a plasma rifle instead.

Eladoris flew up as she cast a leech spell that the aerial being repelled. She then hurled fireballs in his direction. To her surprise, he deflected them too. In the meantime, Shirakaya and her bodyguard promptly dropped down the rampart using broken parts of its wall and swiped their enchanted swords at Soth’yugon.

Evading their vigorous attacks, Soth’yugon released a sphere of frost magic that froze both Xorvaj and Dojin. Rah’tera hid just in time, using his cloaking device to avoid detection. The battlement continued to collapse, causing the frozen ghensoth to fall and shatter into pieces. Myris hovered back, horrified. Zadoya carefully pushed Dojin to a more secure part of the battlement and jumped down, her arm transforming into a cannon; she released a fusion beam at the lich, blasting a hole through his vapory form.

Soth’yugon smirked at what she’d done as the hole refilled with mist. He then waved his hand, producing a tempest that lifted the cyborg off the ground and slammed her against a tower, which collapsed on top of her. As this took place, Myris promptly used white magic to unfreeze the renegade who hastily rejoined the battle.

In the meantime, Rah’tera uncloaked from behind and pierced the aerial being with his enchanted daggers while Jai’ryndar emerged sidelong, cultivating dhi-cha and blasting him with it. For a moment, their attacks dazed Soth’yugon. This allowed Shirakaya and Yarasuro to step in and thrust their blades at him. Gaining a burst of courage, Khal’jan stepped out from a corner above, using a laser pistol to fire at the being’s head.

Eladoris continued launching fireballs at Soth’yugon, who abruptly dissipated, his mist reforming right above the necromancer. Dojin shot at the lich just before Eladoris could taste its wrath, at which point it launched bolts of forked lightning at the renegade instead, electrocuting him to death.

“Dojin!” Shirakaya cried out in horror.

The lich turned, summoning a wave of flame below that scorched Jai’ryndar whose body turned to ashes. Rah’tera uncloaked himself across the battleground, hurling poisoned darts. The toxin interfered with the lich’s vapory form, causing him to descend. At the same time, Eladoris blasted Soth’yugon with a fireball and then attempted her leeching spell on him again.

Teary eyed, Shirakaya charged at the stunned being and continuously thrust her sword through him. The mutant joined her—at least until a shockwave knocked both of them off their feet. In that instant, Zadoya burst from the crumbled tower, her eyes releasing steady beams at the lich while discharging bombs from her cannon-shifted arms.

Soth’yugon screeched, gripping the cyborg by means of telekinesis and slamming her multiple times on the ground until her dented body flickered with malfunctioning wires. The oracle saw this and shivered, but she nonetheless emerged from her hidden corner. Descending on her hover chair, she manifested a nimbus of pure light.

The lich scowled at the radiant power. Snatching the chance, Shirakaya swiftly rolled toward the blinding light, striking it to receive its enchanted power. Screaming with rage and vengeance, she hurled the sword of light at the aerial being who gasped and produced an ear-piercing screech. His toxic, misty form started to dissipate as the light enveloped him. Then he vanished altogether.

“That power,” he began, his echoic voice filling the survivors’ ears, “is impressive. You have staggered me. Combined with my immense power, the lot of you may yet stand a chance against the wrath of Koth’tura. Well done.”

“Who gives a damn when you’ve killed half my crew!” Shirakaya retorted, her tone full of rage. “Reveal yourself so I can destroy you completely!”

The aerial being reappeared before her eyes. “I did say this was a test.” He snapped his fingers, reversing time up until the moment of the battle. Just as the mercenaries were flinching at the idea of a test, Soth’yugon announced, “You have passed.”

“What the fuck?” Dojin said. “Passed what?”

“Half of you were killed in the most pathetic way. But you nevertheless managed to show me that together, we have the potential to stop the Lord of Chaos.”

Everyone looked at each other with unease.

“Half of us died?” Khal’jan said, looking pale.

“Correct. But you have nothing to fear. By manipulating the law of arcane astrophysics and creating a tear within the multiverse, I reversed time before the battle started.”

“I wonder who died,” Rah’tera pondered aloud.

Yarasuro shrugged.

“Definitely not me,” Xorvaj said.

The freelancer stood still, pale as a ghost. “You’re alive. You are all alive. She rushed over to Dojin, embracing him. I remember it. I remember every frightening second of that battle. Thank the Goddess you’re all right.”

“Thank me…not your voiceless deity,” Soth’yugon retorted.

“Damn,” the renegade said, pulling away from Shirakaya. “Calm your tits.”

“Sorry,” she muttered, slightly embarrassed. Turning her attention back to the lich, she went on, “So, we passed your test. Tell me, what is this curse you speak of?”

“Ah, yes. The curse. Allow me to start from the beginning. Eons ago, I taped into the tapestry of creation. I was to become an immortal god akin to Xen’tarza. The primordial deity, however, did not appreciate my ingenious power. Ergo, my reward was eternal life in this void. Ironically, shortly after my imprisonment, Koth’tura swept across our dimension and devoured the very soul of Xen’tarza. His self-righteous ego was the death of him. Regardless, I remained herein…forgotten. Until now. Alas, with such a curse, it is impossible to leave this prison…at least in this form.”

“Your harrowing tale is extraordinary, but what does this have to do with me being rejuven—”

Before the freelancer could finish, Soth’yugon rushed toward her and merged his vapory essence with her body. Shirakaya shrieked as she was lifted into the air, hovering while every element ignited within her. She then fell to the ground. The others, especially Khal’jan, were distraught. Without hesitation, they ran to her aid.

“Shira!” Khal’jan cried out. “Shira!”

“By the stars,” Yarasuro said, horrified. “What is transpiring?”

“I understand,” the oracle answered. “Shira can never recover from her curse. Nor can Soth. In order to counter both curses, he fused himself with her. Their souls are now intwined forever.”

“It makes logical sense,” Del Vayso said. “A worthy theory.”

“It’s true,” the freelancer replied, coughing as a slight aura of Soth’yugon formed around her. With the help of her brother, she managed to stand on her feet. “I feel him. I’m not sure if this is a good thing. But if I can contain him and control my body, I’ll be able to channel his power.”

“Incredible,” Khal’jan commented.

“Fuckin’ awesome,” the renegade said. “Does this mean we can get the hell out of this creepy ass place?”

“That and then some,” Rah’tera said.

“Right,” Shirakaya responded. “Don your helmets and zitrogen tanks, mercs.” As they complied, she waved her hand at the mana shield, dispelling it. The crew cheered. Even the necromancer appeared impressed. “Vokken,” the freelancer called out via KLD with a smile, “we’re ready for pickup. And one more thing: When we go through the Spectral Pulse and return to our realm in Ensar, set a course for the Gydeim Scor.”

“Affirmative,” the AI said.

Eyes glowing with renewed arcane power, Shirakaya looked up as she declared, “It’s time we stopped our stars from dying.”

Unity

The selfless are not absorbed by ego. Wisdom and strength guide their motives. For these people are the ground we must walk upon with reverence. Their integrity and altruistic nature are forces that can never be reckoned with. They are the source of eminence we must embrace in order to reach out into the great beyond and transcend. Such is the only way to harmonize the soul and return to our sacred origin—the eternal unity of child and Mother.

Aphorisms of Yun’sara 29:13