The Seraphine's Echo drifted cautiously through the quiet aftermath of the nexus. The Void Ascendant had been shattered, but its fragments were scattered across the galaxy, invisible to ordinary scans. Some had even merged with hidden worlds—planets and star systems long forgotten, existing in the folds between dimensions.
Kael studied the fragment in his hand. "We destroyed its form, but not its essence. The Void is still alive—just hiding."
Elyra nodded, her gaze sharp. "Then we track it. Every hidden node, every forgotten world… we find them before it regains power."
The Marauder's golden eyes glimmered. "There are realms the Void has touched that even I have never entered. Ancient sanctuaries where cosmic beings—some allies, some predators—remain dormant. They will test your strength, your loyalty, and your understanding of the universe."
From the shadows, a new figure emerged: Kael's older sister, Selene, a formidable warrior with an obsession bordering on obsession with Kael's survival. Thought lost in a cosmic war decades ago, she had secretly been tracking the Void, gathering intelligence on its nodes and cults of Void-worshipping entities. Her armor shimmered with alien runes, and a plasma blade hummed in her hand.
"Brother," Selene said, her voice both warm and intense, "I've followed the Void longer than you can imagine. Its remnants are spreading—growing stronger with every moment."
Kael's eyes widened. "Selene… you're alive?"
"I never left," she replied. "And I've learned things you couldn't. There are allies in the darkness… but also enemies older than the stars themselves."
Elyra looked skeptical. "Allies? Enemies? What do you mean?"
Selene gestured to the display of the fragment. "There are cosmic beings who oppose the Void, but they are unpredictable. Some demand loyalty, some demand sacrifice. And then there are creatures born from the Void itself—monsters that think, plan, and kill with precision."
At that moment, a ripple of shadow appeared in the corridor. A massive, serpentine entity, its body shimmering like the surface of a dying star, slithered through reality, eyes glowing with ancient intelligence. Its presence radiated both curiosity and hunger.
The Marauder hissed. "A Sentinel of the Old Void. It was created to guard the Ascendant's fragments. It is far older and more dangerous than any hybrid you have faced. It tests all who approach its domain."
Kael gritted his teeth, gripping the fragment. "Then we fight. Together. Allies, enemies, everything we've learned—it all matters now."
Elyra placed a hand on his shoulder. "And no one fights alone. Not ever."
Selene unsheathed her blade, golden runes sparking. "Good. Then let's show them that the remnants of the Void will find no rest while we breathe."
The team prepared, standing united as the serpentine Sentinel coiled, its colossal body eclipsing distant stars. Around them, the galaxy itself seemed to hold its breath, aware that this confrontation would ripple across hidden worlds, ancient cosmic sanctuaries, and forgotten alliances—shaping the fate of all that remained in the void.
And somewhere, in the deepest shadows, fragments of the Void watched, learning, waiting, and plotting its next strike.
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