I hate it! I hate when the Break throws curveballs like this! Everything was going smoothly; we just needed to endure until the Breakthrough's energy was depleted and that would be it. We would maintain our defenses, avoid casualties, and gather our own after closing the gap in reality. But what now? Of course, the entire strategy of waiting it out is ruined, which is understandable. But what's the next step? How do we stop the six-eyed? He's about to hoist Halley's body onto the slaver's spaceship and then come back for the rest, who are all unconscious. Not just for the unlucky passengers of the liner, but also for Crixus, Rex, and Witold.

And what if, after loading all the bodies onto the spaceship, they don't wait for the Breakthrough to end but just take off? What will happen to the guys? I have no idea, and I don't want to find out. Judging by the looks on the faces of the Knights gathered around me, nobody else wants to check it either.

"First!" I raise my voice. "Don't even think about a frontal assault!"

Nobody likes this idea, but they all seem to grasp its validity.

"Secondly!" It's hard to tear my gaze away from the leisurely procession ascending the spaceship's ramp, but somehow I manage to do it. "Our primary objective is to repel the Breakthrough!"

"We can't abandon our own!" Someone shouts and the others echo in agreement.

"Enough!" I raise my voice again. "If we all get knocked out by the reptilians' emitters, we won't only fail to save our own, but we'll also put the three thousand people behind us at risk."

"Four thousand two hundred," Maya quietly corrects me. "Three thousand are passengers, the other one thousand two hundred are crew members."

"Before swinging your blades, think!" I tap my forehead with my fingers, even though I'm fresh out of bright ideas myself.

"Their plasma doesn't affect real objects!" Thora speaks up.

"So, we can shift into reality, calmly approach the bodies, and pick them up!" Kael, her sister, chimes in.

"That won't work..." Leonidas shakes his head at this suggestion. "Their staffs knock people out with a touch in reality."

"That's only if it hits bare skin or a barely clothed area!" Thora specifies, gesticulating animatedly. "But look, even a barrage from their onboard guns didn't break through the real glass!"

"Let's use this," Kael suggests, pointing to a large cardboard box that once housed large studio speakers and was left behind. "We can make holes for hands, put it on, and..."

"I'll do it!" Maya volunteers immediately.

No one had the chance to object before the girl shifted into reality, ran to the box, and climbed inside. Then, garbed in her cardboard armor, she stepped onto the deck. A volley from four multi-barrels immediately greeted her, but the otherworldly plasma harmlessly sizzled against the real cardboard. We all held our breath as Maya reached the unconscious body closest to the superstructures, grabbed their hands, and began to drag them towards us.

The reptile's shots seemed to have no effect on the girl, which only seemed to infuriate the lizards more than their recent unsuccessful bombardment. Yet, the six-eyed one didn't even blink at this failure, persisting in his slow climb.

"It's working!" Having dragged the body of the passenger to safety, Maya reentered the Break.

I was itching to lecture her about reckless and impulsive actions, but I refrained. I had to. No one would understand me anyway. Now, everyone looked at her as if she was a hero from an ancient saga.

"I spotted more boxes in the assembly hall," Dobrynya raised his voice.

Oh, well... Just what we needed, his 'helpful' input... Everyone immediately rushed to the hall, hauling a dozen cardboard boxes. This flurry of activity provided a distraction from the caster boarding the starship, moving Halley's body into the dark corridors. Understanding that I couldn't suppress this wild impulse of the raigs, I decided to channel it instead.

"First, recover the nearest bodies. Avoid the defense line and the lizards. If they attack, I'll perform a double transition to reality and back. The dual sound of 'raig' should alert everyone, signaling a retreat. Everyone got it? And Maya, I'd prefer if you kept watch rather than joining the frontlines."

"No." The girl stubbornly shook her head and immediately returned to reality, followed by a dozen more Knights, each armed with a box.

Naturally, the reptiles didn't just stand by, but despite their gunfire and cursing, the Break Knights, shielded by cardboard boxes impervious to otherworldly plasma, managed to retrieve the bodies. This impulsive act allowed us to extract all the unconscious passengers at once, but it didn't solve the main problem. Our comrade's bodies still lay behind the lizards' defensive line.

"Stop!" I shouted at those who were overly confident in their invincibility and were apparently planning to approach the reptiles without leaving their boxes. "Use your heads for once!" I yelled, transitioning back to reality and amplifying my voice with Metatron. "If they decide to use staves, we'll lose you too!"

"Maestro's right!" Ungor's voice echoed from one of the boxes. "We can't all go at once! We need to test with a volunteer first!" The box, which formerly housed a refrigerator and now sheltered the Knight, wobbled forward. "And I'll be that volunteer!"

I don't know how I managed not to facepalm. It must be thanks to the Break. Stopping Ungor was futile. So, like the rest of the raigs, I could only watch as he awkwardly scuttled towards the place where our unconscious comrades lay.

The lizards were in a state of complete frenzy, their fiery assault intensifying even more. However, the impervious cardboard remained unaffected, not even producing a hint of smoke as it withstood the relentless onslaught. Meanwhile, the six-eyed, having left Halley somewhere within the spaceship, returned to cast spells over Crixus's body, which was now levitating above the liner's deck.

The peculiar intersection of reality and the Break never ceases to amaze me. It was a bizarre spectacle to witness Ungor, encased in a box, effortlessly passing through force fields, emitters, and even the reptilians. The raig approached Crixus's body, floating about a meter off the ground, grabbed his legs, and started pulling him towards us. The six-eyed shrieked in protest, gesticulating wildly and intensifying his incantations. The body stopped moving and swung towards the ramp. In response, Ungor braced himself, his boots firmly planted on the deck.

For a moment, I was tempted to close my eyes against the surreal tableau unfolding before me: an unconscious body suspended in mid-air, being tug-of-warred between a cardboard box and an alien psychic, who was chanting some sort of song. All of this was happening against the backdrop of a massive spaceship surrounded by shrieking, upright reptiles. Meanwhile, the reptiles didn't miss a beat, continually firing their plasma staffs at the seemingly adversarial cardboard box. If there were any way to record the happenings in the Break, and we managed to capture this scene, no one would believe us. They'd dismiss it as ridiculous, impossible, and clearly doctored.

Despite the six-eyed's best efforts, it seemed that physical strength was gaining the upper hand. With each passing moment, Ungor was increasingly gaining the upper hand in this bizarre standoff. It looked like he was on the brink of victory: Crixus's body had already descended from the ramp and was almost past the alien defense line.

Almost... Ungor was one step away.

Just one more step.

The infuriated lizard commander ceased his fiery assault, gripped his battle staff with both hands, and started battering the box. This would have been inconsequential if one of his hits hadn't struck Ungor's unprotected hand that was holding Crixus. Instantly, the raig's legs buckled and he collapsed onto the deck, unconscious, his body rolling out of the box. The lizards began to beat him with their rods, venting their pent-up frustration and anger. The reptiles celebrated their victory, but on our end, there was only stunned silence. Thora was muttering something unintelligible through her sobs, but then her sister took her hand, and she managed to choke back her tears.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Stop!" I yell at the top of my lungs, halting the Knights who were about to launch a reckless attack. "I have a plan!" These words have their intended effect, causing everyone to turn towards me.

"Maya, take all the boxed ones, and on my command, start gradually but decidedly moving towards the lizards' defense line. Remember! Slowly!!! This is crucial. Mersk, Baenre, Dobrynya, you come with me!"

Once those I've called out gather around, I lay out the strategy:

"While Maya and the boxed ones distract the lizards, our smaller group will navigate through the partition walls from below and launch a surprise attack from behind the reptiles." My palm traces an upward line. "Wipe them out!" I raise my head. "Order to the rest! If our attack fails, do not attempt to save us! I repeat! Do not attempt a rescue! Your primary objective is to protect the passengers and crew of the ship!"

I grasp "Purity" in a reverse grip and circle those I've summoned with the handle of my wakizashi.

"Well... So, guys... I hope none of you were planning on living forever?"

Without waiting for their response, I plunge through the floor right where I'm standing. Before my head disappears below, I manage to command:

"Maya, start!"

Obviously, there was an alternative - to simply step into reality and try to collect the bodies myself, hoping that Metatron would neutralize the damaging capability of the alien staves. However, I'm not confident in its success, and if the First Angel fails to withstand an attack from the Break... I fear it would result in utter chaos among the Knights and, subsequently, defeat. I'll reserve this risky move for a last resort. Plus, I wouldn't be able to see the ghostly ramp in reality - it would cease to exist for me as an object. The same would happen with the alien spaceship - it would become invisible and imperceptible, meaning I wouldn't be able to board it and retrieve Halley; I would still have to venture into the Break for that. And this shift into Projection could prove fatal, as it would occur under the aim of the plasma staves of the slavers.

I am once again reminded that my ability to phase through obstacles far surpasses that of other raigs. And my strategy relies on this. Yes, I took the Padawans away from danger and brought Mersk along to prevent him from making a hasty decision while in command. While those summoned to my squad are phasing through the first partition wall, I've already descended two decks below.

I reach the supposed location of the reptiles' defense about a minute before the rest of the group. Waiting for them is not part of my plan. The Padawans lack experience, and the lizards might come up with something at any moment, which could put Maya's squad at risk.

I grasp my blades, assuming a fighting position. Well then...

Start!

My timing couldn't be more precise as I materialize right beneath the ramp, giving me the opportunity to infiltrate the deck without detection. The enemy's unprotected backs are a mere five meters away. The moulinet technique is generally defensive, but not in this instance.

"Word" slices through the spectral air of the Break, with "Purity" following suit. A soft whistle is the last thing the defensive lizards hear. I'm like a fan, or more accurately, a meat grinder. Together, the blue and snow-white steel of my blades rip and slice the aliens apart, not giving them a chance to aim their turrets and staffs at me.

Only the spellcaster has the time to react properly. Instantly shedding all his pomp and grandeur, he drops onto all fours and bounds onto the starship like a large beast, emitting a heart-wrenching squeal as he does so.

He manages to escape, but most importantly, he leaves Crixus's body behind.

Completing my rotation with "Word," I sever the lizard officer's legs and deliver the killing blow by driving "Purity" into his forehead until the hilt. He was the last reptile on the cruiser. The remaining three dozen defenders were annihilated in an instant.

The Fan of Probabilities isn't functioning as it usually does. The ability is active, I can sense it, but there are no bright lines indicating potential strikes. Instead, there's a faint quivering of some dim cobwebs, signaling danger - cobwebs that are difficult to perceive in the heat of battle, let alone interpret correctly.

However, this time, the Fan's warning is more than clear. My entire body is enveloped in a web of alarm. No matter where I sprint, even using Sliding, I can't escape the quadruple volley of plasma multi-barrels the reptilians have rolled up to the entrance of their ship in time.

Ra-a-a-a-i-i-i-ig!

I transition back to reality a fraction of a second before the high-temperature plasma can touch my Projection. The moment my feet, encased in the plate armor of the First Angel, hit the deck, I push off with all my might. Harnessing the full power of Metatron, I soar four meters into the air. At the apex, I transition back.

Ra-a-a-a-i-i-i-ig!

"Surprise, you flat-faced bastards!" I mentally yell, materializing after the double transition right in the middle of the second echelon of the reptilian defense.

"Word" lets out a muted chime of laughter as it slices through the alien staffs set in a defensive formation.

"Purity" silently reaps its harvest, decapitating them.

I am a whirlwind.

I am a tornado. I am the perfect storm at the heart of enemy lines.

I have to give credit to the lizards: apart from the six-eyed one, who clearly belongs to a different species, none of the flat-faced ones retreated. They didn't attempt to flee, fighting until their last breath. Their resistance was futile, but their tenacity bought the six-fingered one enough time to escape deep into the starship, taking Halley's body with him.

I pivot towards the exit, gesturing with my blades that the path is clear.

But... Before reinforcements could reach me, the spaceship's engines roar to life, propelling it four dozen meters into the air. Simultaneously, I find myself flung aside by an unexpected gravity overload.

Shifting to the Break, Maya Grimm attempts a long jump to reach the edge of the ramp. She falls short by a few centimeters. With a loud hiss, the spaceship's entry lock abruptly shuts, leaving me alone aboard the alien vessel. The overload subsides within a couple of seconds.

Passing through the armor of the alien ship proves to be more challenging than penetrating alloyed steel. I take a quick look outside. Thankfully, we haven't traveled far. The starship, now hovering about five hundred meters above the cruise ship, seems to be stationary.

Being alone on an alien ship is, to put it mildly, unnerving. But, whatever one may say, you can't leave your own. Yes, I can break out and save myself. But what about Halley? Despite my suspicions, he's still a comrade-in-arms, a title that carries significant weight in this world.

I recall seeing the six-eyed dragging Halley's body down the left corridor. Without thinking for long, I enter Sliding and pursue. But literally around the next corner, I'm forced to stop abruptly. I narrowly avoid a deadly surprise, thanks to a warning web that I miraculously spot. As I jump over it, a continuous volley of shots from two anti-boarding turrets mounted on the ceiling passes beneath me.

Lucky for me, whoever installed these turrets didn't equip them with the ability to fire along the ceiling. This allows me to bypass them outside their firing sector and disable their emitters.

This encounter serves as a stark reminder that the space slavers are prepared for intruders. My journey through the ship only reinforces this. I encounter turrets, tripwires, hidden mines, even more primitive traps, and concealed groups of armed reptilians in the most unexpected places.

I doubt any other raig would last a minute aboard this eerie starship, undoubtedly overlooking a deadly trap and subsequently losing their legs to an unexpected plasma burst erupting from the floor, or meeting a similarly deadly fate.

I'm forced to move at a mere ten percent of my full speed, as my Fan is significantly dimmed and less distinct than during my recent training with the Maker. It seems Metatron greatly enhanced this ability, but unfortunately, even such a wondrous armor provides no assistance in the Break.

Nonetheless, I press on, seemingly moving too fast for the reptilians as they fail to establish a prepared line of defense - for example, tightly blocking the corridor with a pair of multi-barrels. If they had, I doubt my speed and foresight would've enabled me to break through the dense plasma fire.

I knew I must be nearing my objective as the traps abruptly ceased, and the austere, spartan corridors of the starship transformed into opulent halls adorned with colonnades.

Sliding.

The command cabin of the spacecraft bore no resemblance to my expectations. In place of monitors, broad viewing windows expanded across the room. Where I anticipated armchairs, enormous, lavishly plush beds were situated. The walls were shrouded in some sort of vibrant orange vegetation. And in the spot I expected to find the ship's helm or its equivalent, a pale, spectral sphere flickered.

Halley's body was suspended close to this sphere.

"Ymppossibre!" one of the six-eyed aliens shouted, having spotted me. He propped himself up on his bed with his elbow. His six-fingered hand quivered in a convulsion of righteous indignation. "Strainger oun thie briedje!"

The familiar six-eyed psyker turned toward me. Bolts of electricity erupted from his arms, charging in my direction. Following the warning web of foresight, I intercepted these lightning bolts with the blade of the "Word."

"Alyarm!" the most elaborately attired six-eyed alien hollered. He even half-rose and, clenching all his fingers into a fist, struck a button at the head of his bed.

"Three..." a voice echoed from the ceiling in flawless French.

My attempt to reach Halley was thwarted by a psyker shield. However, a swift stroke from "Purity" rectified the issue.

"Two..."

I dodged fresh bolts of electricity in the low Sliding. The psyker erected some kind of barrier, but the "Word" bypassed it effortlessly, severing the alien's legs.

"One..."

"Purity," in its entirety, penetrated the alien's open mouth, which was stretched wide in a horrifying scream.

I managed to shove the psyker's corpse aside and lay my hand on Halley's body. For some reason, this action felt incredibly significant to me. A voice echoed from the ceiling:

"Transition!"

Everything around me was sucked into a single point.

Sight.

Touch.

Taste.

Hearing.

Smell.

Consciousness.

An inhuman force compressed and contorted me.

Only my consciousness resisted, conjuring a peculiar image: a child's hand, both minuscule and somehow occupying half the universe, extended towards me. I recognized its scent. I couldn't recall why, but I knew it.

The hand reached out as if to pet me and scratch behind my ear.

I knew I enjoyed the sensation of this palm scratching me.

I stretched towards the hand, extending my slender, elongated snout. Although the hand seemed to draw nearer, it simultaneously receded.

I lunged forward; my feeble, tiny claws tore through space, leaving gashes on the surface of the cosmos.

"Not this time, old fox. Not this time..." an infinitely young, infinitely tender voice resonated. It was a voice laden with regret.

I couldn't grasp the meaning of these words. All I saw was a door slamming shut, concealing the outstretched hand - the hand that held more importance than the entire world.

The door that slams shut...

The door that...

The door.