*The night was drawing to a close at the *Hungry Comet*...*
Pierre was preparing to head home, determined to follow the advice of his beloved Lady Peyton and focus on his studies. He wanted to become stronger, and wiser—like the connection he felt with her inspired him to be. Peyton was like a mother to him, always offering caring advice. A strange feeling was growing inside Pierre, something he did not yet fully understand but appreciated deeply.
The idea of joining a galactic academy and learning everything about the “Galactic Era” dominated his thoughts. That night, the fun at the *Hungry Comet* felt like the end of a carefree phase. Now, he was ready to focus on his destiny.
It was then that Pierre decided to venture out, piloting a small flying transport—a skill he was just beginning to master. Flying gave him the sense of freedom he deeply craved.
When he arrived at the planet, he was amazed by the Leaf Station, which was in full bloom. The plants glistened in shades of red and gold, attracting tourists from across the Zerg Galaxy. The beauty of the place, contrasted with the starry sky, created an impressive sight for Pierre. It was as if the universe was renewing itself around him, with each vibrant color filling him with new energy.
Guiding the transport down an open road, he laughed as the landscapes around him became a blur with the speed. The wind swept his hair back, and he felt more alive than ever—as if the entire universe was his. A bright star was rising on the horizon, casting a trail of light ahead of him as he confidently maneuvered the vehicle, starting to find his place in the cosmos.
But the feeling of adventure quickly turned to panic.
A horrible scraping sound echoed in the cabin, followed by a violent jolt that made Pierre’s transport shudder. His laughter was replaced by a startled cry. “Damn, damn, damn!” he cursed, trying to regain control of the transport. He had collided with another vehicle, which he hadn’t seen due to the intense glare of the rising star that blinded him for a few seconds.
Before he could step out to see what had happened, a third vehicle appeared, approaching quickly. Pierre’s eyes widened when he realized that this new vehicle was in a fierce chase. In the blink of an eye, a laser beam was fired from the pursuer, striking the other transport with precision.
Adrenaline surged through Pierre. He knew he needed to react, and fast. His thoughts were jumbled, but he tried to remember Volgrim’s teachings. Stunned and with his heart racing, Pierre activated his *Hungry Comet* bracelet, trying to hide his presence. But as he attempted to cast a protection spell, something strange happened—he unleashed a magic he didn’t fully recognize.
An illusory mist began to envelop his transport, concealing it. Pierre felt a strange discomfort, realizing that he had cast an advanced camouflage spell without having full control over it. Fear and survival instinct had triggered something inside him, but he barely understood what he was doing.
The laser exchange continued, causing explosions in the surrounding rocks and turning the scene into pure chaos. Small fragments struck Pierre’s transport as he backed away, still trying to process what he had done. He tried to erase his presence from the minds of those involved, but uncertainty took over—had it worked?
Then, he saw the fireball. The ship hit by the laser plummeted, engulfed in flames and debris.
Something inside Pierre made him act.
Instead of fleeing, as he instinctively planned, he was overcome by a desire to help the pilot. His transport was dangerously close to the crash site. His heart pounded in his chest, the sounds of explosions in the background making the situation even more urgent. He needed to find out if the pilot was still alive.
Dragging himself between the damaged vehicles, Pierre saw the fallen pilot, gravely injured and covered in blood. He hesitated—he had faced intense situations before, but nothing like this. His empathy took over. Kneeling beside the pilot, he began to cast a basic healing spell—something he had recently learned.
But before he could complete the spell, a new laser cut through the air, striking the nearby rocks and scattering debris. Pierre threw himself to the ground to protect himself. Another vehicle was approaching quickly, ready to finish the attack. He felt panic rising, but also a determination he had never experienced before.
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
He needed to protect himself and the pilot.
Using his transmutation magic, Pierre conjured a dense fog barrier around himself and the pilot, trying to hide them from the attackers. But the magic faltered for a moment, and Pierre felt his body weaken—he was on the verge of collapse, exhausted from the adrenaline and overuse of magic.
When the dust finally settled, Pierre realized the attackers had fled. He tried to stand up, still trembling, but the pilot was dead. Knowing there was nothing more he could do, Pierre returned to his transport, deeply shaken. The feeling of failure consumed him as he left the site, unable to save the pilot.
*Days later…*
Pierre returned home, but his mind was still stuck on the events of that night. He parked the transport in the rock vault, remembering the dent on the side of the vehicle where it had collided with the small ship. The old transport was resilient, but what really bothered him was the guilt of having been involved, even if unintentionally, in all of it.
Despite managing to protect himself with magic for the first time, Pierre couldn’t shake the feeling of confusion and regret. Days passed, but there was no news about the incident. No mention of the collision, the chase, or the wreckage.
It was as if nothing had happened.
This disturbed him deeply. Pierre began to suspect that someone powerful had “cleaned up” the scene. The question that tormented him was: who could be behind it? And why were they so interested in keeping it all a secret?
The more he reflected, the clearer it became that, even millions of light-years away, power still dictated the rules. Secrets continued to dominate the darkest corners of the universe, and Pierre knew he was beginning to enter a far more dangerous world than he had imagined.
---
*Elsewhere…*
The Duke of Sologard, Zimmer Sommerfeld, stood beside the preservation capsule where the body of his friend, Count Mash Heshir, rested. The attack had been brutal and without mercy. Mash didn’t stand a chance. Zimmer could hardly believe what he was seeing; his friend, with whom he had fought side by side in the war against the Orcs, was now dead from a cowardly attack. The medical room, cold and silent, seemed to squeeze the air around him. The sound of the machines echoed, but Zimmer only heard the beating of his own heart.
Mash’s vice-commander, *Captain Drexen Vurr*, a man of robust build and eyes darkened by hatred, stood next to Zimmer. He paced back and forth, clearly agitated and consumed by anger. The scars of war were still fresh in his mind, and the attack had only reignited the flames of resentment.
“The damn orcs!” Drexen exclaimed, his voice heavy and grim. “I said they should have been completely eradicated. They’re cowards, always acting from the shadows, ready to strike from behind!”
Zimmer remained silent for a moment, still contemplating Mash’s body. He understood Drexen’s hatred, but there was something more complex about the situation. Something he couldn’t yet see clearly.
“Captain,” Zimmer finally spoke, his voice cold and controlled. “We need proof before accusing anyone. This might be exactly what the enemies want—a rash reaction.”
But Drexen, unable to control his rage, punched the wall with force. *His knuckles bled, but he didn’t seem to feel the pain. * His mind was consumed by thoughts of revenge.
“With all due respect, Duke, I don’t need proof!” Drexen retorted, his eyes blazing with fury. “The orcs never accepted peace! Since the end of the war, they’ve been planning and executing small attacks. This attack, this cruelty, this audacity... it has their mark all over it. They’re monsters, and you know it!”
Zimmer looked at Drexen with a hard, but not cold, gaze. He knew the captain was reacting out of grief and anger, but he needed to think clearly now.
“I understand your pain, Drexen. Mash was your commander, your friend. He was my friend too,” said Zimmer, clenching his fist, trying to keep control of his own emotions. “But if we want revenge, it must be precise. We can’t act in the heat of the moment and create more enemies along the way.”
Drexen took a deep breath, trying to contain his emotions, but the frustration was still evident on his face.
“They need to pay, Zimmer,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “Mash didn’t die for us to stand idle. Not this time.”
“And they will pay,” Zimmer responded, his voice firm and without hesitation. “But we need to understand who is really behind this attack. Orcs may be responsible... or it could be another force manipulating things to reignite old wars. We won’t be puppets in anyone’s hands.”
**As the tension between the two men grew, a soldier entered the room hastily. * It was Lieutenant Corla Venn*, a rigid and methodical figure who had served as a tactical specialist alongside Mash for years. She stopped in front of Zimmer and Drexen, giving a brief salute.
“Duke, Captain,” Corla said, her voice precise. “Initial investigations show signs of advanced technology used in the attack. This wasn’t a common ambush. The ship that hit Mash was equipped with high-energy weapons—not typical of the orcs. Something else is happening here.” Drexen, still consumed by rage, scoffed.
“They could have evolved. Stolen technology, or maybe they have new allies? I don’t care how they did it, what matters is that Mash is dead, and I want justice.”
Zimmer looked at Corla, absorbing the details.
“Continue the investigation,” Zimmer ordered. “I want every detail. We can’t afford mistakes now. And keep this quiet. We won’t spread information until we’re sure what we’re facing.”
Corla nodded and quickly left the room, leaving Zimmer and Drexen alone once again.
“If necessary,” Zimmer said, his voice growing darker, “we’ll do whatever it takes to eliminate any threat. But we’ll make sure we strike the true culprits.”
*Drexen nodded, but his expression remained one of pure determination and anger. * He knew Zimmer was right, but the desire for revenge burned inside him.
“I ask only one thing, Zimmer,” Drexen said, his voice full of restrained emotion. “When we find them, whoever they are, let me be the first to strike the final blow. That’s all I ask.”
Zimmer looked directly into Drexen’s eyes, and for a moment, allowed himself to share in his captain’s rage.
“You’ll have your chance, Drexen,” the Duke said in a grave tone. “Once we know who’s behind this, you’ll be by my side. And they will pay dearly.”
---
*Days Later...*
The investigations continued at an intense pace, but the feeling of unease grew within Zimmer. He knew that whoever was responsible, something deeper was at play. The orcs, whom he had already faced in war, were savage and brutal, but this operation seemed too sophisticated. There was an invisible hand guiding this game.
*Mash Heshir was dead, but his death would not be in vain. * Zimmer and Drexen were determined to hunt down whoever was behind the attack. But the deeper they delved into the investigation, the more Zimmer realized that ancient secrets were being revealed, and the path to the truth could shake the entire Zerg Galaxy.