Chapter 72: The Dark Current's Trap and the Scream of Silence
As the Odyssey entered the eerie confines of the Dark Current Nebula, with its systems enhanced with Aethelburg's Beacon and Aethel technology, the atmosphere on the ship's bridge changed instantly. The familiar glow of the stars outside had been replaced by dark, swirling clouds of gas, distorted refractions of light, and strange energy fluctuations that fooled the sensors. It was a forgotten corner of the universe, a perfect hunting ground for the Void to hide and ambush.
Captain Eva Rostova guided the Odyssey through this chaotic environment with all her skill, while Dr. Aris Thorne constantly analyzed sensor data to detect possible threats and the dangers of the nebula. The Shadow Squad soldiers stood at their weapons, ready to attack at any moment. Kael, at one with the Chitauri core, listened to the ominous whispers coming from the depths of the nebula, and the mocking, icy silence that had replaced the distress call from the Obsidian Citadel.
"This nebula... is not normal," Dr. Thorne said, a look of concern on his face. "The energy readings are constantly changing, and I'm detecting intense Void pollution in certain areas. It's as if... the nebula itself has been poisoned by the Void."
Kael nodded. "The Lords of the Void are polluting not only planets and civilizations, but the very fabric of the universe. This is the perfect trap for them."
And the trap soon revealed itself. As the Odyssey approached the coordinates of the Obsidian Citadel, deeper into the nebula, the sensors suddenly went crazy. They were surrounded by ghostly, translucent Void ships of a type they had never seen before. Instead of conventional weapons, these ships generated psychic waves that struck directly at the mind, spreading fear and despair, and dark fields that drained energy.
"Shields weakening! We are under psychic attack!" shouted Captain Rostova as the ship shook violently. Some of the crew clutched their heads and writhed in pain.
Kael knew that this attack was aimed directly at him. That mocking whisper echoed in his mind again: "The game is just beginning, Echo Carrier. Let's see how long you can last in this darkness."
"Aslan! Shadow Squad! Protect your minds! Do not give in to fear!" shouted Kael. Using the pure Echo energy emanating from the Chitauri core, he attempted to create a temporary psychic shield around the Odyssey. It was a new ability enhanced by the light of the Lantern; a defense against the mental attacks of the Void.
Dr. Thorne shouted in surprise as he saw the effect of this Echo shield Kael had created on his sensors. "Incredible! Kael's energy is neutralizing the psychic waves! But... those ghost ships... Our energy weapons seem ineffective against them!"
"They are not physical, exactly," Kael said, fighting the dark whisper in his mind. "They are echoes of our fears and doubts created by the Void. To defeat them, we must use the Echo within ourselves." Kael turned to Captain Rostova. "Captain! Channel the ship's energy into my core! We will speak to those ships in their own language!"
Rostova hesitated, but she knew she had no choice. The energy from the Odyssey's main reactor began to flow into Kael's Chitauri core, thanks to the risky modification Dr. Thorne had made to the Aethelburg. The core burned even brighter with the immense energy.
Kael focused the energy, creating a massive Echo wave that emanated from the Odyssey. When this wave hit the ghost ships, it destroyed them not only physically, but also by dispersing the dark psychic energy that made up their existence. In a matter of minutes, the sinister fleet around them disappeared, shrieking, into the darkness of the Void.
But this victory had come at a cost. The Odyssey had been badly damaged, and some of the crew had been shaken by the effects of psychic attacks. And worst of all, when they reached the coordinates of the Obsidian Fortress, the sight they encountered was one that would shatter all hope.
The Obsidian Fortress was gone. In its place was a vast, dead planetary shell, completely swallowed by the Void, covered in dark crystals and organic Void structures. Once a powerful stronghold of the Great Seal, that echoing point had now become a stronghold of the Void. And from the center of that fortress, staring directly at Kael, emanated the signature of a mocking and powerful Void entity. It was that voice that had whispered to them.
"Welcome, Echo Bearer," the voice echoed, this time not just in Kael's mind but in the mind of the entire bridge. "We have prepared a special show for you. I hope you enjoy it."
To his horror, Kael saw that on the surface of that dead planet, countless captured Aethel warriors and perhaps beings of other species had been gathered for a dark ritual. And at the center of that ritual, a vast, living Void rift, the likes of which he had never seen before, was about to open. This was not just an invasion, but a ritual sacrifice.
Kael squeezed the Chitauri core. The Obsidian Citadel might have fallen, but if there were still people to be saved, if they could stop the rift that was about to open, then this "game" was not over yet.