Marvel: A Portal to the World of Swallowed Star

Chapter 306 306: A Precious Opportunity

Thor's attention was nowhere near the strange vegetation.

He stood at the edge of the highland, gazing toward the distant regions where lightning storms raged with far greater intensity. His body trembled faintly, not from fear, but from excitement.

"I can feel it," he murmured, his voice low but filled with awe. "That pure, primal force of lightning. It's far more refined than any artificially generated energy I've encountered before. The lightning here… it's not random. It feels alive, like it follows a will of its own."

Shadow and Rowan exchanged a glance, both catching the curiosity in each other's eyes.

"You're saying there's a pattern to it?" Shadow asked.

Thor nodded slowly. "More than a pattern. It's like a dance. There's a rhythm to it, something I can almost grasp but not fully understand yet. If I can synchronize with that rhythm, I might be able to elevate my control over lightning to an entirely new level."

"Then go try," Rowan said with a small smile. "We'll set up camp nearby. If anything happens, call us immediately."

Thor gave a grateful nod. Activating the energy conduit device on his suit, he carefully made his way toward a more active storm zone.

The remaining three began establishing a temporary camp. Shadow unloaded several auto-deploy protective tents from the lander, each designed to withstand lightning strikes while maintaining a comfortable living environment. Hong set up monitoring equipment and began collecting planetary data.

After helping with the camp, Rowan decided to explore the surrounding area. He walked along the edge of the plateau, observing the alien landscape. The distant sky pulsed constantly with lightning, illuminating the horizon like a never-ending celestial display. Far away, a massive wall of storm clouds rolled slowly across the land, occasionally unleashing colossal bolts that bridged sky and earth.

About half an hour later, Rowan discovered something unusual.

A narrow canyon.

It stretched roughly twenty meters across, its depth impossible to determine at a glance. The walls were smooth, almost mirror-like, with a glassy texture that suggested they had once been melted by extreme heat before rapidly cooling.

"Shadow, Hong," Rowan called through the communicator. "I found something interesting. A canyon that looks like it was carved by lightning."

"Send your coordinates," Shadow replied. "We're coming over."

Within minutes, they arrived.

Hong immediately began scanning the canyon with his analyzer. "It was caused by lightning," he said, astonished. "But not ordinary lightning. Based on the degree of melting and the cooling pattern, this area was struck by one or more superbolts. The temperature must have exceeded ten thousand degrees Celsius."

Shadow stepped closer to the edge, peering into the depths. "It goes quite far down. It might be worth exploring. There could be more to discover."

Rowan hesitated. "Thor is out there alone. Is it safe for all of us to leave the camp?"

Shadow tapped the device on his wrist. "I've set up full-spectrum monitoring. If anything happens, we'll know immediately. He also activated his location beacon, so we can track him at all times."

With that reassurance, the three decided to descend.

Shadow retrieved three lightweight flight units from his pack. These compact anti-gravity devices attached to their suits and allowed for controlled descent and short-distance flight.

"Secure your safety lines," Shadow instructed. "Even with these, caution never hurts."

They fastened their lines and activated the devices, slowly descending into the canyon.

The deeper they went, the more unusual the rock formations became. Melt patterns twisted along the walls, forming intricate spirals and curves, as though recording the movement of lightning itself.

"These marks…" Hong said, eyes wide with fascination. "They're not random. The spirals and curves follow a precise mathematical structure. Too precise to be natural."

Shadow nodded. "It does feel deliberate. Almost like… a form of creation."

At that moment, Rowan felt something stir deep within him.

A resonance.

A faint but undeniable sensation, as if something was calling out to him. It reminded him of the connection he had felt with the core of the Celestial Star King, yet this was different. More ancient. More primal. As if it belonged to the planet itself.

"Do you feel that?" Rowan asked quietly. "Like… a call?"

Both Shadow and Hong shook their heads, though Shadow's expression sharpened. "You're hearing something again? Like before?"

Rowan nodded. "Similar, but not the same. This feels older. More… connected to this world."

Shadow considered for a moment. "We continue downward, but stay alert. If anything changes, speak up immediately."

They descended further.

Eventually, the canyon widened abruptly, opening into a vast underground cavern. It stretched hundreds of meters across, with a ceiling nearly a hundred meters high.

What truly took their breath away, however, were the crystals.

The entire cavern was lined with them. Countless crystalline structures embedded in the walls, glowing faintly in shades of blue and violet under their helmet lights.

"What are these?" Rowan asked.

Hong approached one of the crystalline walls and scanned it carefully. His expression shifted from curiosity to astonishment.

"I've never seen anything like this," he said slowly. "These crystals can store and conduct extremely high levels of electrical energy. And…" He paused, staring at the readings. "They're alive."

"Alive?" Rowan and Shadow exclaimed simultaneously.

Hong nodded, his tone serious. "They exhibit energy patterns and responses similar to living organisms. These aren't just minerals. They are a form of crystalline life."

The call grew stronger.

Drawn by it, Rowan began walking toward the center of the cavern, where a massive crystal stood like a throne.

"Rowan, wait," Shadow warned, but Rowan seemed entranced, unable to stop.

As he approached the central crystal, the entire cavern lit up.

Every crystal began to glow at once. Streams of electricity arced between them, forming a breathtaking network of light, as if the cavern itself had come alive.

Rowan stood before the central crystal, enveloped by a strange energy field.

Then, the voice returned.

"Welcome… Seeker."

"Who are you?" Rowan asked instinctively.

"I am… the Guardian," the voice replied, fragmented yet profound. "The soul… of this planet."

Shadow and Hong hurried to his side.

"What's happening?" Shadow asked, one hand already near his weapon.

Rowan raised a hand to calm him. "There's a consciousness communicating with me. It calls itself the Guardian. It says it's the soul of this planet."

"The soul of a planet?" Shadow and Hong exchanged stunned looks. Such phenomena were extraordinarily rare. Only the oldest or most unique celestial bodies were known to develop awareness.

Rowan closed his eyes, focusing on the ancient voice.

"I can hear you," he said inwardly. "But how can a planet possess consciousness?"

"All that endures… long enough… will awaken," the voice answered slowly. "I have existed… for eons. Lightning and fire… gave birth to me. And now… you have come."

A gentle energy flowed from the crystal into Rowan. It was not invasive, but exploratory, as if attempting to form a deeper connection.

"Why me?" Rowan asked. "Why not Shadow, or Hong, or Thor?"

"You are different. You hear… the voices of the sleeping. You perceive… what others cannot. Your essence… is unique."

Shadow watched closely, tension evident in his posture. "Rowan, tell us everything. What does it want?"

Rowan opened his eyes. "It doesn't seem hostile. It says it's a consciousness formed over billions of years. Lightning and subterranean fire shaped it."

"Fire?" Hong frowned. "We haven't detected any significant volcanic activity."

At that moment, the crystals flared brighter. Thousands of tiny currents danced between them, forming a three-dimensional projection of the planet's internal structure.

Beneath the lightning storms on the surface, vast networks of magma flowed through the crust, intertwining into a complex system.

"The lightning above and the fire below," Hong said in realization. "They interact to form a unique energy cycle. That's why this planet can sustain such extraordinary lifeforms."

Rowan focused again. "What are you trying to tell us?"

"Warning… request," the voice replied. "Many visitors… have come. Some took my children. Some sought… to disrupt my balance."

"Your children? You mean these crystals?"

"Yes… and no. The crystals… are vessels. Fragments of my consciousness. Each one… is part of me."

Rowan understood. "You're worried we might exploit them. Like others did."

"Yes… but more," the voice continued. "You carry… an ancient presence. One like me."

Rowan's eyes snapped open. "It knows about the Celestial Star King's core."

Shadow's expression darkened. "Impossible. The core is shielded beyond detection."

Rowan asked silently, "How do you know?"

"Ancients… recognize each other. Across space… across time. That one… still sleeps… but remains powerful."

"Is it dangerous?" Rowan asked cautiously.

"No. Only if misused… like the one you call Aster."

Rowan was shaken. "You know about Aster too?"

"I perceive… the memories of those connected to me. Your fears… your past… reveal much."

Rowan turned to the others. "It accessed fragments of my memory. It knows about the core and Aster. It says it won't harm us as long as we don't misuse it."

Shadow remained wary. "Ask what it wants."

Rowan nodded. "Why contact us? What do you want?"

"Request… a promise," the voice said, firmer now. "Respect my existence. Do not take my fragments. Do not disturb my balance. In return… I will guide you."

"Guide us how?"

"Each of you seeks something. Your friend seeks lightning. You seek fire. The others seek knowledge… and truth."

Rowan felt a chill. It had seen through all of them.

"Can you help us achieve that?"

"Yes… with mutual respect. Mutual trust."

Rowan opened his eyes and relayed everything.

After a brief discussion, the three agreed.

"We promise," Rowan said solemnly. "We will not take your crystals or disrupt your balance. We are only visitors. We wish to learn."

The cavern softened. The light of the crystals grew warm and gentle, as if the planet itself had exhaled in relief.

"Promise accepted," the voice said, clearer than before. "Now… I will guide you."

The crystals flared again, forming a detailed map of the planet. One region, about fifty kilometers north, was highlighted. A mountainous area.

"There… where fire and lightning meet. The best place… for one who seeks the power of lightning."

"Thor," Rowan said immediately. "Will this help him?"

"Greatly," the Guardian confirmed. "Guide him there."