novelraw Chapter 304 304: Placing the Core into Orbit
Chapter 304 304: Placing the Core into Orbit
Shadow shook his head. "It's too late, Aster. We've already prepared a contingency plan."
He suddenly pressed a hidden button on the control panel. Instantly, the shuttle deployed dozens of small energy disruptors, forming a complex array in space. The devices emitted energy waves at precise frequencies, creating a temporary barrier.
"This will only buy us a few seconds," Shadow said to Rowan, Thor, and Hong. "I need your full cooperation."
He quickly opened a hidden compartment and pulled out four sets of unusual equipment. At first glance, they looked like specialized spacesuits, but the material and design were unlike any conventional protective gear.
"Put these on immediately," Shadow instructed. "These are quantum particle traversal suits. They allow short-range spatial jumps, helping us evade Aster's tracking."
The four of them quickly donned the suits. Shadow carefully placed the glowing blue crystal the Core of the Celestial King into a specially designed container, securing it to his chest.
"Ready?" Shadow asked, his finger hovering above the control panel.
Rowan, Thor, and Hong exchanged tense glances and nodded in unison.
"Then, good luck to us," Shadow said, pressing the activation button.
A peculiar sensation of weightlessness and dizziness washed over them. Rowan felt his consciousness tear apart and then reassemble. When the feeling subsided, he realized they were no longer in the shuttle. Instead, they found themselves inside a completely different vessel a far larger, more advanced warship.
"This is…?" Rowan asked, eyes wide as he scanned the surroundings.
"My backup warship, the Shadow Hunter," Shadow replied, striding toward the control console. "It's been hidden in the asteroid belt of this system in case of emergencies."
He manipulated the controls with practiced ease. The warship's engines roared to life, a deep, resonant hum vibrating through the hull.
"Aster is likely still tracking the shuttle," Shadow explained. "I set up an automated program to keep it flying randomly. That should buy us enough time to escape the system."
Thor looked around the interior, astonished. "Shadow, who exactly are you? No ordinary escort could afford a ship of this caliber, let alone those quantum traversal suits."
Shadow remained silent for a moment, then sighed. "It's time you knew the truth. I'm not just an escort, nor merely the captain of a convoy. I am a special operative for the Black Dragon Empire Intelligence Bureau. This mission was to monitor Aster and confirm whether he was conducting the forbidden Necro-Transformation experiments."
Rowan's jaw dropped. "So you've been monitoring Aster all along? But why help transport that stone chest for him?"
Shadow's expression darkened with complexity. "At first, neither I nor the bureau knew what was inside the chest. We only knew that Aster had been seeking something for years to help him surpass the limits of immortality. When the Third Prince told us that Aster had commissioned him to find a suitable escort team, we saw an opportunity to infiltrate."
"The Third Prince was one of yours?" Thor asked.
Shadow shook his head. "The Third Prince was merely being manipulated by Aster. Aster told him the chest contained a rare energy crystal for advanced weaponry. The prince, eager to please Aster, agreed to help find an escort team. I seized the chance to infiltrate and became the captain."
"So, what do you plan to do with the core?" Hong asked, pointing at the container on Shadow's chest.
Shadow caressed the container gently. "This core holds the essence and residual consciousness of the Celestial King a Crown-Level Immortal who perished tens of thousands of years ago. It's immensely valuable and incredibly dangerous. By regulation, it should be kept under the highest authority of the Black Dragon Empire. But given the circumstances…"
He glanced at Rowan. "Rowan, why can you hear the core's voice? To my knowledge, only someone with a special connection to the Celestial King or a rare innate talent can perceive it."
Rowan shook his head, equally puzzled. "I don't know. From the moment we approached the chest, I heard a faint call, but only today has the voice become clear."
Shadow pondered for a moment. "Perhaps it's not a coincidence. Records indicate that the Celestial King possessed one of the universe's rare telepathic abilities. Maybe your body has a unique gene or energy resonance that aligns with the King's essence."
Thor suddenly pointed at a monitor, alarmed. "Shadow! Look!"
On screen, the shuttle they had previously boarded exploded in space, erupting into a dazzling sphere of light. Aster appeared at the center, enveloped by twisted, warping space.
"He discovered us!" Shadow quickly operated the controls. "Prepare for emergency jump!"
The warship's engines roared at full power, initiating the hyperjump sequence. Yet, just as the jump was about to complete, a massive energy wave struck the ship's rear.
"Damage report!" Shadow barked, hands flying over the console.
The AI responded immediately: "Rear engine damaged 27%, hyperjump system offline. Estimated repair time: 3 minutes."
"Not enough time!" Shadow cursed. "Aster is closing in. We must prepare for combat!"
The warship's weapon systems activated automatically, dozens of energy cannons extending from its hull, targeting the approaching Aster.
"Do you think you can escape?" Aster's distorted voice echoed over the comms. "I am no longer the Aster you knew. I can sense the energy flow of this entire system!"
Shadow remained calm. "Aster, you are no longer yourself. The Celestial King's consciousness is corrupting your mind. Stop now, while there's still a chance."
"Silence!" Aster roared. "I am completely in control! Give me the core, and I may spare your lives!"
Shadow did not respond. Instead, he gave the command: "All weapons, fire!"
The warship's energy cannons unleashed a simultaneous barrage. Tens of beams of concentrated energy streaked toward Aster. Yet, these attacks capable of obliterating a small planet felt like a gentle breeze against him. With a casual wave of his hand, Aster redirected the beams into deep space.
"A futile struggle," he sneered, advancing slowly toward the warship. "Without the core, my transformation cannot stabilize. What you've taken isn't just an energy crystal it's the key to my ascension as a new Crown-Level Immortal!"
Shadow's expression darkened. "Listen to yourself, Aster. 'New Crown-Level Immortal'? That delusion proves the Celestial King's consciousness is influencing you. No one can achieve such a level by stealing another's power. It requires millennia of accumulation and enlightenment."
Aster laughed maniacally. "Because they never dared to try! I've found the shortcut! Complete the final ritual, and I will fully absorb the Celestial King's power and memories, becoming the most powerful being in the universe!"
He extended his hand, and invisible forces tore at the warship's hull. Metal panels peeled away like paper, drifting into space.
"Engine repair status?" Shadow asked urgently.
AI responded: "Repair progress 75%, estimated completion: 45 seconds."
"Not enough!" Shadow grit his teeth, turning to Rowan, Thor, and Hong. "I need you to buy me time. Rowan, since you can sense the core, maybe you can help."
He opened the special container, handing the Core of the Celestial King to Rowan. "Try to communicate with it. See if it can assist us."
Rowan hesitated, then accepted the core. The instant he touched it, a surge of energy flowed into him. The voice echoed in his mind, clearer than ever before:
"Young one, you've finally arrived."
Rowan's eyes widened. "I I can hear it! It's speaking to me!"
"Ask it how to resist Aster," Shadow urged. "We need its guidance!"
Rowan closed his eyes, focusing on the core. "Please… tell us how to stop Aster."
After a moment of silence, the core's voice replied: "Aster has been contaminated by my residual consciousness. He is no longer himself, but he is not fully transformed. There is still a chance."
Rowan relayed the message to the others.
Shadow nodded. "Just as I thought. His transformation isn't complete, which is why he's so desperate to reclaim the core."
"But how do we stop him?" Thor asked, watching Aster tear through the warship's hull.
Rowan closed his eyes again, concentrating. "Tell us… how can we defeat him?"
This time, the core responded with more complexity: "He has absorbed most of my power; ordinary attacks will not work. But his transformation is unstable. If you can channel my energy through a specific resonance, it can force his internal energy to collapse."
Shadow's eyes lit up. "Resonance! Exactly! If we can generate energy waves at precise frequencies from the core, it will disrupt Aster's unstable energy structure and collapse his transformation."
He turned to the control console. "AI, does the ship have a quantum resonator?"
"Confirmed. The aft laboratory is equipped with a quantum resonator. Frequency adjustable from 0.1Hz to 100,000Hz."
"Activate the quantum resonator and connect it to the main power system," Shadow ordered. "We need to channel the core's energy into the resonator."
Mechanical sounds filled the warship as systems came online. A glowing track appeared on the floor, leading toward the aft lab.
Shadow looked at Rowan. "You need to place the core on that track, so its energy flows into the resonator. But be careful. Once the process begins, Aster will do everything to stop us."
Rowan nodded, carefully carrying the core toward the glowing track. As he approached, the core became unusually active, its internal starlight flickering violently, as if sensing what was about to happen.
"It… it seems to understand what we're doing," Rowan said. "It wants to help us."
Suddenly, the warship shook violently. Aster's voice rang out: "I know your plan! You won't use the core against me!"
The entire ship warped, groaning under invisible pressure. Alarms blared and multiple systems exploded or caught fire.
"We won't last long!" Thor shouted, struggling to maintain balance. The ship's metallic structure groaned ominously, threatening to collapse.
Rowan clutched the Core of the Celestial King, feeling it grow hotter in his hands. Its internal starlight flickered faster and faster, seemingly responding to Aster's assault.
"Now, Rowan!" Shadow yelled from the console. "Place the core on the track!"
Rowan gritted his teeth, stepping carefully across the trembling deck. When he reached the glowing track, the core leapt from his hands as if it had a mind of its own.
"It wants to move itself!" Rowan exclaimed. "It knows what to do!"
He gently set it on the track. Instantly, a blinding blue light burst forth, racing along the track toward the quantum resonator at the aft of the ship. The warship trembled under the influx of energy, but this vibration was different from Aster's destructive influence it was a resonant harmony.
"Energy linkage successful!" Shadow shouted excitedly. "Resonator charging: 60… 70… 85 percent!"
Aster, sensing danger, intensified his attack. Panels of the warship's hull began to peel away, critical systems failed, and alarms blared continuously.
"Resonator fully charged!" Shadow declared, finger hovering over the launch button. "Prepare to fire!"
With a press, an unprecedented energy wave erupted from the aft of the warship, striking Aster. It was a peculiar blue beam, filled with countless tiny points of starlight, like a river of stars flowing through space.
Aster had clearly not anticipated this. The moment the beam hit, he let out a scream that mixed shock and agony. His semi-transparent body trembled violently, the starlight within swirling chaotically.
"It's working!" Hong cried, watching the monitors. "The resonance is destabilizing his internal energy!"
Aster writhed in pain, struggling against the assault. Yet the resonance had begun to take effect. The Celestial King's energy inside him was resonating with the core, tearing his energy system apart.
"Engine repair complete!" the AI suddenly reported. "Hyperjump system online, ready for immediate activation."
Without hesitation, Shadow commanded: "Initiate emergency hyperjump! Destination: Coordinates XJ-921, an uncharted system 3,000 light-years from the Ali Galaxy!"
The warship's engines roared as the hyperjump initiated. Meanwhile, the resonant attack continued, and Aster's struggles grew weaker by the second.