CHAPTER 80: The Astral Gate of the Void
(ARC 6: THE GREAT ASTRAL SEA & THE PRIMORDIAL LEGENDS)
The boundary between the Central Galactic Empire and the Great Astral Sea was marked by a vast, violent expanse of swirling spatial storms known as the Void Seam.
Here, standard hyper-space corridors were useless. Violent cosmic lightning arced across millions of miles, tearing through abandoned asteroids and creating temporary rifts that could shred ordinary star-vessels into atomic dust.
Gliding smoothly through the chaotic spatial currents was The Sterling Sovereign.
Refitted with the newly extracted cosmic adamantite from the Northern Core and reinforced by the spatial array formations of the Water and Metal Spires, the six-mile-wide flagship moved through the storm without a single tremor. Its dark-iron hull, engraved with the soaring golden dragon crest, absorbed the wild cosmic lightning, converting the raw energy directly into auxiliary fuel for its core engines.
Inside the quiet forward observation deck, Ethan sat in a meditative posture floating three feet above the white-jade floor.
Floating before his chest was the black-jade artifact recovered by Malakor. Resonating with Ethan’s Void-Dragon Heart Core, the artifact emitted rhythmic pulses of golden-and-obsidian light that illuminated the entire room.
THUMP-THUMP!
Ethan’s breathing synchronized with the artifact’s pulse. His dark golden dragon pupils opened slowly, glowing with a deep, primordial majesty as he absorbed the last line of ancient dragon-runes embedded within the seal.
"It’s not just a message," Ethan murmured, floating back down to his feet and grabbing his wooden spear shaft. "The artifact is a beacon key. It’s opening the path through the Void Seam to the first ruined outpost—the Sun-Fall Citadel."
Elena walked up beside him, her azure blade drawn by a millimeter. Her sharp eyes scanned the real-time spatial readouts on the holographic console.
"The spatial density ahead is shifting," Elena reported calmly. "A massive spatial gateway is buried within the lightning storm ahead. It’s dormant, but it matches the energy signatures of the Void-Dragon Lineage."
On the main command deck, Gabriel stood near the grand forward viewport, his arm wrapped comfortably around Evelyn’s waist.
Evelyn wore a refined silver-and-navy travelling gown, her dark eyes shining with serene warmth as she leaned against Gabriel’s shoulder. Even amid the violent, swirling cosmic lightning outside, her presence brought an unshakeable sense of calm to the entire bridge crew.
"The kids are growing stronger every day, Gabriel," Evelyn said softly, a radiant smile gracing her face. "Ethan’s dragon physique is evolving again, and Elena’s spatial sword intent is almost seamless."
Gabriel pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, his dark golden dragon pupils reflecting the roaring lightning outside.
"They carry our legacy, Evelyn," Gabriel smiled warmly. "And under this sky, no storm can stop them."
Gabriel raised his right hand, making a gentle pinching gesture toward the viewport.
SOVEREIGN REALM — SPATIAL CALMING!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The three-thousand-mile swirling cosmic lightning storm ahead froze instantly!
With a simple flick of Gabriel’s wrist, the violent spatial turbulence parted like thin silk, revealing a towering, fifty-mile-wide ancient gateway carved from black star-stone—the Astral Gate of the Void!
The ancient gate hummed to life as Ethan’s Void-Dragon Heart Core pulsed in response, its massive stone doors slowly grinding open to reveal a shimmering, golden-and-violet spatial passage leading straight into the uncharted depths of the Great Astral Sea.
"Engine core... maximum output," Gabriel commanded smoothly, his voice echoing with world-conquering authority.
The Sterling Sovereign accelerated forward, crossing the threshold of the ancient gate and stepping into the next realm of primordial legends.
[END OF CHAPTER 80]