The chamber thrummed with tension. Kael's vision of the multiverse-destroying being weighed heavy on every soul.
Time was running out.
⸻
Preparing for the Hunt
Before departure, Seraphael stood before the Vangaurds one final time, wings glowing softly.
"I have shown you all I can for now," he spoke, voice deep with certainty. "This enemy is yours to face. If I intervened directly — there would be no battle. But I will watch… from beyond."
Kael bowed his head.
"Thank you. We'll prove your teachings were not wasted."
⸻
Sharpening Their Blades
Before Seraphael departed, he worked with each Vanguard one last time:
•Kael: mastered the white form he'd awakened — no longer raw, but a refined weapon of will.
•Veyra: her crystalline flames burned with new harmony, pink eyes glowing as she perfected her flow.
•Orion & Lyra: trained as a unified pair — swift, coordinated, and precise, no longer charging blindly.
•Zevak & Cryalis: fused Absolute Zero and thought-formed constructs into seamless shields and counterstrikes.
•Zeraphon: honed his might into focused blows, controlled enough to wield without destabilizing the world.
⸻
Departure
As Seraphael vanished into the higher planes, the Cosmic Tyrants stood ready.
Zero Step triggered the vessel's launch sequence.
"Coordinates locked. Enemy trail detected."
Kael looked to his team, eyes glowing pure white.
"Let's move."
⸻
Across the Void
The ship tore through the fabric of reality — faster than space, faster than time — hunting the energy trail of the unknown destroyer.
Kael shuddered, the vision clawing back into his mind.
Orion and Veyra felt it too — this time stronger. Linked by will, they saw the horror:
A massive, black-red armored being. Grinning. Hands outstretched as it devoured countless realms in an endless wave of destruction.
"So many useless worlds…"
⸻
Approaching the Enemy
Zero Step's voice cut across the chamber.
"Target world ahead. Cataclysm level — imminent collapse."
The vessel burst into a war-torn sector of space — shards of reality twisting in on themselves.
And there — in the heart of the devastation — hovered the destroyer.
It turned toward the ship, cosmic energy swirling in its hands.
A jagged grin splitting its face.
"Ah… you've come to die, then?"
Kael's aura flared.
"No. We've come to stop you."
The Celestial Vanguard's leapt to battle stations — blades drawn, auras blazing.
The fight for the multiverse had begun.
⸻
End of Chapter 35