With the S.S. Novarion under their control, Kaelan, Lira, and Elara stood before the entrance to the central archive, a colossal vault hidden deep within the ship. Elara had unlocked its doors with the restored AI’s assistance, but even she seemed apprehensive as they prepared to enter.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?” Kaelan asked, glancing at the intricately carved doorway adorned with symbols none of them could decipher. The energy from the symbols radiated with ancient mana, tingling against their skin.
Elara nodded. “If there’s any place to learn more about Void Essence and what happened to this ship, it’s in here. The archive is where they stored everything: research, records, and classified data.”
Lira examined the symbols, curiosity mixed with unease. “These markings look different… like they were meant to protect something valuable, maybe even dangerous.”
As they entered the vault, the room activated, lighting up with a soft glow that illuminated rows of metallic shelves, data crystals, and holographic screens floating in mid-air. Strange devices lay scattered on tables, some cracked, others humming with faint energy. The space felt timeless, untouched by the corruption that had ravaged the rest of the ship.
“Alright, let’s split up,” Elara suggested. “I’ll handle the data systems, and you two can check out the devices and any records that look promising. Anything that stands out, let me know.”
Kaelan and Lira moved through the shelves, scanning the crystals and dusty manuals. It was like walking through the remains of a forgotten world, preserved for reasons long lost. Kaelan spotted a thin crystal marked with the same symbols they had seen on the entrance. Intrigued, he activated it, and an ethereal figure appeared—a scientist from centuries past.
The projection flickered, its voice distorted but intelligible. “…Project Ascendance… Void Essence… our finest hour, or perhaps our last.”
Kaelan listened intently as the figure continued, recounting the dangers of experimenting with Void Essence and how it was meant to be humanity’s leap forward, but only ended up a dark descent.
“It’s as if they didn’t fully understand what they were creating,” Kaelan said quietly, catching Lira’s attention.
“Almost like they were blinded by ambition,” she replied. “Void Essence was supposed to grant power beyond mana, beyond what any being could handle safely.”
Meanwhile, Elara was working with the main console, her eyes wide as streams of information unfolded before her. She found encrypted logs labeled The Veil Protocol and Soul Fragmentation Trials, and as she read through them, her face grew increasingly pale.
“These experiments… they weren’t just trying to create a new energy source. They were trying to split and control souls,” Elara whispered.
“Split souls?” Lira looked horrified. “That’s dark magic, forbidden for a reason.”
Elara nodded, her fingers trembling slightly as she scrolled. “The scientists thought if they could fragment a soul, they could harness its power without the limits imposed by mana. But the Void Essence corrupted everything it touched, including the researchers. This ship’s AI… it wasn’t malfunctioning; it was a defense mechanism activated to contain the chaos.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Kaelan shivered, his mind racing. “And they couldn’t control it. That’s why the ship was abandoned, sealed off with no escape.”
The AI’s voice suddenly chimed in, echoing softly in the vast chamber. “Warning: Accessing classified data may activate containment protocols. Proceed at your own risk.”
Elara took a steadying breath. “We need to see this through. If there’s any way to purify Void Essence, the answer lies here.”
Kaelan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Let’s finish what they started. Safely.”
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As they moved deeper into the archive, they came across a hidden console marked with a cautionary red glow. Elara carefully accessed it, and a map of the ship appeared, with specific areas highlighted in a pulsing blue color.
“These areas…” Elara muttered. “They’re containment zones. Each one is filled with experiments that were… less stable than the Void Essence.”
“Meaning?” Kaelan asked, his brow furrowing.
Elara glanced at him. “Meaning if we want to fully understand what happened here and ensure we don’t unleash another disaster, we’ll need to secure and possibly shut down these zones.”
Lira drew her weapon. “We’ll be careful. But let’s not forget we’re dealing with forces that pushed the original crew to abandon ship.”
Elara typed a series of commands into the console, and the map zoomed in on one of the zones, labeled Memory Forge. The AI’s voice returned, calm but foreboding.
“Warning: Activation of containment protocols will release residual energy. Proceed with caution.”
Elara looked at her friends. “This is where we’re going next. If we can stabilize this area, we might learn more about the purification process and how to prevent Void Essence corruption.”
Kaelan gave a determined nod. “Let’s do this.”
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Character Status Update:
Kaelan’s Status:
Name: Kaelan Race: Human Level: 17 Constitution: 150 Strength: 160 Agility: 170 Mana: 370 Intelligence: 135 Vitality: 140 Soul: 130 Comprehension: 130 Skills:
Mana Manipulation (Level 10), Enhanced Agility (Level 9), Combat Awareness (Level 8), Dagger Mastery (Level 12)
Unassigned Stats: 5
Lira’s Status:
Name: Lira Race: Wolf Kin Level: 17 Constitution: 125 Strength: 135 Agility: 160 Mana: 350 Intelligence: 150 Vitality: 130 Soul: 120 Comprehension: 125 Skills:
Nature’s Affinity (Level 9), Enhanced Agility (Level 11), Healing Touch (Level 8), Energy Channeling (Level 8), Weapon Mastery (Dagger) (Level 12)
Unassigned Stats: 4
Elara’s Status:
Name: Elara Race: High Elf Level: 18 Constitution: 125 Strength: 105 Agility: 125 Mana: 470 Intelligence: 240 Vitality: 130 Soul: 115 Comprehension: 165 Skills:
Hacking Expertise (Level 13), Energy Manipulation (Level 12), Guardian Control (Level 10), Temporal Awareness (Level 7)
Unassigned Stats: 3
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The team took a last look at the archive room. They had more answers now, but every answer seemed to bring new questions. The Memory Forge awaited, and with it, a confrontation with the depths of the S.S. Novarion’s secrets.