[ Astral Institute of Technology ]
Grandmama Tai Sui portaled Sister Athena and Sophia straight to little Chronos's Lineage Chamber Laboratory after tucking him in. Walking through Grandmama's Dimensional Portal was always an unsettling experience. While the sisters had full confidence in Grandmama's ability and trusted her with all their lives, they could not shake off that lurking feeling of helplessness.
While Sophia was at the Principle Stage in both the disciplines of Time and Space, her Spacial expertise lay more toward gravitational control. Regardless, even Athena who delved into the Path of Teleportation, was unable to traverse long distances, not to mention bring people along with her.
Grandmama's abilities have always been a mystery, all anyone had ever seen her reveal so far was her Spacial Portal and Spacial Manipulation when she sporadically froze Athena or levitated objects.
What was even more befuddling was her head of whitish-silver. While many attribute that to her old age, Sophia knew that it was the same as hers. If Grandmama's main talents were in the study of Time and she had already surpassed them by so much in the Principle of Space, what kind of existence is really beneath her facade of a fragile quirky Grandma?
The Lineage Laboratory flashed in front of their eyes in a matter of moments. Cleaning robots were in the midst of cleaning up the mess Chronos had made when he broke through the Lineage Capsule and blasted through the roof of the institute.
Equipment, once meticulously arranged in rows and columns, was now strewn haphazardly about the room, with pieces of machinery and tools jumbled together in a chaotic heap. Beakers, test tubes, and other lab instruments lay scattered on the ground, broken and shattered.
These futuristic machines, with their sleek metallic bodies and advanced sensors, moved with swift precision as they vacuumed up any stray dust particles and wiped down surfaces with their powerful cleaning arms.
Their red, glowing eyes scanned the room as they went about their work, giving them an almost otherworldly appearance. They moved in perfect unison, never colliding with one another or any obstacles in their path.
As they made their way through the lab, the robots emitted a low humming sound that filled the air, almost like a soothing white noise. It was almost hypnotic to watch them work, like a well-choreographed dance.
"I almost jumped out of my skin~!"
Aerial exclaimed as she fumbled quickly to greet the royal trio. Placing her 8 fingers atop of each other with her thumbs tucked in, she stretched both arms straight while bowing forty-five degrees and gave an Astralian Salute,
"Empress Dowager, Princess Athena, Princess Sophia"
Sophia gave her a light nod before proceeding to brief Grandmama and Athena,
" A Technian operative by the name of Dr.Steel attempted to inject some sort of virus or explosive 20 minutes before Chrono's awakening, luckily my foresight warned me just minutes before."
" What's scary is that Dr. Steel has been a researcher with us for more than 15 years, records show that he had performed his professional duties to a tee, until yesterday..."
Athena's icy eyes squinted, her furrowed eyebrows formed a threatening frown. An aura of spine-chilling killing intent seeped out uncontrollably. She took a deep breath and then coldly said,
" Grandmama I'd like to excuse myself for the rest of the day."
Athena turned around without waiting for a response and vanished after a purple flash.
"Grandmama are you not going to stop her?" Sophia asked, concerned for Athena.
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Grandmama shot her a menacing look veiled in her usual loving smile,
"If it weren't against the rules, I'd be one leading the charge. "
Sophia heard a crackle coming from her Grandmama's clenched fist. There was a faint menacing force coming from within her palm. Just as she shook her fist open, Sophia caught a glimpse of a fading black hole.
'Did Grandmama crush the fabric of space within her palm?' Sophia thought to herself in awe.
The quirky Empress Dowager met her granddaughter's shocked stare with a mischievous grin and said, " Have a detailed report of little Chrono's awakening ready, I'll go make sure that reckless girl doesn't get herself killed."
[ The Astral Knights Headquarter ]
Athena quickly teleported a few times to reach the Astral Knight Headquarters. It was a colossal building made of the same sleek iridescent metallic material as the Astral Colosseum which was located a few minutes south of the headquarters.
Its impressive architecture and advanced technology were clear signs of the incredible power and wealth the Fellowship of Astral Knights wielded.The entrance was a grand archway that glowed with an imperious gold neon light, flaunting its might and extravagance.
Once inside, the main hall of the Astral Knights Headquarter was a sight to behold. The walls were adorned with holographic screens displaying the latest news, mission updates, and various other data.
In one corner of the room, a team of technicians worked on a massive computer, their fingers flying over the holographic interfaces. In another section, a group of scientists examined a new piece of equipment. They murmured excitedly amongst themselves, discussing the possibilities of the new invention.
A massive circular structure dominated the center of the main hall. This circular structure was a technological marvel, with a holographic display which could project three-dimensional images or recordings of duels. It is also able to project real-time simulated battles that occur in the Metaverse.
The Metaverse is a planet-wide network that facilitates the consciousness of any living being connected to a Simulation Pod. It allows for the connection of people from all corners of the world, bridging the gaps between cultures and creating new, collaborative realities.
Athena could feel her blood boiling… The insolence of the Technians to even dare consider assassinating her baby brother. She gritted her teeth at the thought as she made her way to the command post of the Astral Knights Headquarters which was lodged at the furthest north-end of the building structure.
The command post was a high-backed seat with an orb embedded into the armrest. It was elevated by a small flight of steps. The seat itself was dark, made of the same ominous dark metallic material as the walls. Right in front of it was a holographic display which projected a three-dimensional map of the entire Astral Knights Headquarter building.
The high security doors were located behind the seat. On either side of the room were an array of holographic screens and control panels that spanned the width of the room. At the front of the room, a panoramic screen stretched out through the entire wall.
Athena reached down to her waist and grasped a small handle that hung from her belt. As she pulled it out, the handle extended, revealing a sleek and deadly spear that seemed to hum with energy.
A brassy thud echoed as she slammed the base of her spear onto the metallic floor. A pulse of energy swept across the whole headquarters, causing the strong to stumble and the weak to drop to their knees in submission.
" ASTRAL GUARDIANS ASSEMBLE! "
Athena sat regally on the command post, her fiery gaze exuding an air of power and authority. A maroon battle armor started to materialize around her, almost out of habit, she could feel the cold alloy forcing her pulsating anger into a cold unusual tranquility. This was where she felt most comfortable. She is the calm before the storm - her spear, a thunderous guillotine.
She tapped on the armrest of the chair with the fingers of her free hand as one Astral Guardian after another fell in formation, bowing with a knee on the ground.
The Empire of Astral has 2 main offensive forces. First of course, is the Astralian army. Talent from the Astral Military Academy and conscripts across Astrals many territories form highly disciplined regiments.
Second are the Astral Knights. They comprise mostly of highly skilled cultivators, powerhouses who specialize in specific types of dimensional energies. These are the upper echelon of the Astral Empire's strike force; mostly nobles within the Astral Empire. The strongest of which gain the title of Astral Guardians.
However, as revered as they were by the citizens of Astral, there were 3 people that they both feared and respected: the Empress Dowager, Emperor Aion Teleos and finally, Athena, commander of the Astral military and acting Head of the Astral Knights.
Princess Athena had never summoned so many Guardians at once and the last time this happened was amidst the Great War lead by Emperor Aion Teleos 200 years ago; before Athena was even born.
"Why have we been summoned Princess?" Guardian Strongarm, known for his short temper, inquired with a glint of excitement in his voice.
Athena scanned the 20 Guardians lined up before her and proceeded to announce,
"Rise… Stand at ease."
The Guardians stood up uniformly as she declared,
"The Technian abominations sent an assassin to Prince Chrono's Lineage Chamber and so they shall pay their debt."
"The audacity of those scraps of metal! Heh… my old bones have been itching for some action for decades!" Guardian Strongarm grinned, rotating his right shoulder as if ready to engage in battle at this moment.
Guardian Zhuge Tian Gong stepped forward, gave an Astralian salute and questioned,
"Is the young Prince of good health? How did the Technian pass the guards and defensive arrays protecting the Institute?"
"Lil Chronos is fine, the Technian scum had been a sleeping agent undercover as a researcher in the Lineage Department for 15 years so he had access to the Lineage Project, luckily Sophia's foresight anticipated the assassination and handled it before any harm could be done." Athena replied impatiently.
Guardian Daimona took a step forward and queried,
"Are we starting a war with the Technians? The Emperor and Empress have not yet returned…. While I despise those cyborgs more than anyone, is it wise to provoke that old chunk of scrap metal?"
Athena waved her hand and responded,
"If I wanted a full blown war, I wouldn't have summoned only the Guardians."
"Today, we are but debt collectors." Athena proclaimed and grinned sinisterly.
"What? No war?" Guardian Strongarm interjected, his previous excitement perceptibly deflating.
"Don't worry, you'll all get your fair share of action, the 10 Guardians in attendance will head directly to the Technian Capital of Zukun with me right now," Athena dictated as she pricked her index finger and let out a droplet of blood onto the orb embedded into the armrest of the command chair.