Aegirarch took great pleasure in listening to the progress reports from his virtual intelligence. Each update was a symphony of data, outlining the immense wealth he had amassed since arriving on the moon.

The vast deposits of Nullite beneath its scarred surface promised a fortune that could elevate him beyond his siblings within the Triumvirate. If the crystals could be harvested and sold soon, his name might ascend to the highest echelons of power, surpassing even the most prominent members of his family.

Anticipating his growing wealth, he had ordered the construction of additional storage capsules. The Nullite would require immense space, possibly even necessitating the hire of another arc ship to carry it all back to his home system. However, ventures into the uncharted regions of the galaxy were rarely straightforward, and Aegirarch's current problem was proving more dangerous than he could have ever imagined: the anomaly.

The creature—or whatever it was—that resided on the moon had been a persistent source of concern. His etheric advisors had reported a disturbing spike in its growth over the past few days, and the implications were dire.

The mention of the etheric plane always brought an edge of unease to Aegirarch's otherwise logical mind. To him, it was a realm of dread and contradiction, a place where speculation outpaced understanding.

Despite centuries of study, the brightest minds in the galaxy had failed to make sense of its true nature. Some claimed it was an alternate dimension, others a spiritual realm, where the dead lingered and deities reigned. Religions had woven it into their teachings, describing it as a bridge between the physical and the divine.

Aegirarch, however, had little patience for such notions. He believed only in what could be measured, and the data before him was clear: the anomaly’s growth was accelerating. His advisors warned that if it continued unchecked, it could overwhelm the etheric barriers guarding even his most critical outposts.

What troubled him most was the anomaly's elusiveness. Despite their best efforts, his forces could not pinpoint its location. Attempts to probe its presence in the etheric plane had led to several of his operatives suffering mental breakdowns. The reports from his etheric advisors were as baffling as they were alarming.

From their descriptions, the anomaly behaved like an incomprehensibly vast network, as though hundreds of thousands of etheric masters had linked their minds together to create a collective consciousness. Billions of thoughts and emotions seemed to flow through it in perfect synchronization.

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He had heard of a few etheric-gifted species developing such systems as a more efficient alternative to machine-run networks, but his advisors insisted that what they were witnessing was far beyond anything previously theorized.

The mere thought of sharing his mind with countless others revolted Aegirarch. He valued his individuality, safeguarding his thoughts behind mental walls of discipline and control. Yet, this thing, this anomaly, operated on principles that defied logic and understanding. It was alien in every sense, a growing threat that eluded explanation or containment.

Predictions from his advisors painted an even grimmer picture: if left undisturbed, the anomaly could dominate the etheric plane in this region, potentially spreading beyond it. This was uncharted territory, and Aegirarch found himself caught in its shadow. For all his wealth and power, he was no closer to understanding how to combat this rising threat.

Frustrated, he set the etheric report aside. If the anomaly couldn’t be tracked in the etheric plane, then he would focus on physical evidence. Aegirarch turned his attention to visual surveys of the area where the creature had last been active.

The site was a grim testament to destruction. The battle-scarred landscape was broken and radiated, a silent wasteland devoid of life. Several survey teams had scoured the region, collecting samples and analysing the aftermath. What they found confirmed his worst fears: the tunnels had collapsed, and there was no sign of activity. The anomaly had moved on, leaving behind a dead, irradiated tomb.

Its migration complicated matters. Without knowing its current location, he was forced to shift strategies. The new factories being constructed on both moons would soon begin churning out wave after wave of combat drones. It would be a war of attrition, one he intended to win by drowning the creature in overwhelming numbers.

The latest designs for the robotic forces had already been finalized, with the first batches set to deploy across the moon’s surface. The cost of such an operation would be immense, but Aegirarch was confident that the wealth of Nullite he was mining would more than offset the expense.

He reviewed the schematics for the robots with a critical eye. Each unit was built for efficiency and destruction, designed to adapt to the moon's hostile environment. They would scour every inch of the surface, seeking the anomaly and any remnants of its forces. Aegirarch envisioned the swarm of machines advancing like an unstoppable tide, eradicating any resistance in their path.

Yet, even as he planned his assault, a nagging doubt lingered in the back of his mind. The anomaly had already proven itself to be unpredictable, capable of feats that defied conventional understanding. Would his machines be enough to contain it? Or was he underestimating the true extent of its power?

Despite these concerns, Aegirarch pressed on. He had come too far to let this threat undermine his ambitions. The Nullite deposits represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance to secure his legacy within the Triumvirate. If eliminating the anomaly was the price of success, then he was willing to pay it—no matter the cost.

As he finalized his plans, Aegirarch glanced at the projections for the next phase of his operation. The factories were nearly complete, and the first wave of drones would be ready within days. It was a race against time, one he was determined to win.

The reports continued to pour in, each one adding to the picture of a growing conflict. His advisors outlined potential strategies for containing the anomaly, while the virtual intelligence updated him on the progress of the mining efforts. The moon’s surface was becoming a battleground, a stage for a clash between him and the monster.