Aisha intercepted a deep-space transmission in the Arbor's control room, her fingers dancing across the console with an urgency that sent ripples through the air. Her voice was tight as she called out, "Emma, you need to see this."
Emma arrived swiftly, the rest of the team gathering behind her. The room buzzed with tension as they leaned in. "What is it?" Emma asked, her heart pounding.
"It's a distress signal," Aisha said, her tone grave. "From a galaxy far beyond known space."
"What does it say?" Emma pressed, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the console's flashing indicators.
"It's fragmented," Aisha replied, her brow furrowed. "But the Arbor's systems pieced some of it together. And it's… it's bad."
The holo-display flickered to life, glitching as it projected corrupted data fragments. The images were jumbled yet haunting—hints of planetary destruction and warped spaces. At the heart of it all was a name: **the Void Leviathan.**
"What is that?" Chloe asked, her voice unsteady, her green eyes wide with fear.
Aisha exhaled sharply. "It's worse than the K'tharr," she said, her voice low. "Ancient records in the Arbor's database mention it—a cosmic entity that consumes entire star systems, leaving behind reality-warping anomalies."
"The K'tharr were fleeing this?" Markus asked, his tone sharp.
"Yes," Aisha confirmed grimly. "They weren't just conquering—they were looking for sanctuary. Their invasion of Earth wasn't just about conquest. They needed an outpost. A place to survive."
The room fell silent, the weight of her words pressing against them.
"And there's more," Aisha added, her voice trembling slightly. "The Void Leviathan—it's drawn to WoodDust. The power we use… it's a beacon."
Emma froze, the realization hitting her like a blow. "We've made Earth a target," she murmured. "By using the WoodDust, by being here, we've… drawn it to us."
"We need to leave," Markus said firmly, stepping forward. His gray eyes were intense, his voice carrying urgency. "Now, Emma. If this thing is coming, we can't be here when it arrives."
Emma turned to face him, her jaw tightening. "We can't leave Earth defenseless," she said, her tone resolute. "We need to prepare them first."
"Prepare them for what?" Markus shot back, his frustration flaring. "A cosmic entity that devours entire star systems? They can't fight that, Emma. No one can."
Emma's gaze didn't waver. "We'll find a way," she said, her voice steady. "We always do."
Markus's frustration deepened, his fists clenching. "You're risking everything," he warned, his voice dropping to a low growl. "The energy spikes—they're closer now. And the Quantum Schism, the Void Rangers… those threats are nothing compared to this."
"I know," Emma said, her tone calm but unyielding. "But we don't run. Not yet."
Outside, the storm clouds churned ominously, their violet lightning streaking across the sky like jagged scars. The WoodDust in Emma's blade pulsed, vibrating in rhythm with the distant hum of the Void Leviathan, as though whispering of the cosmic entity's inevitable approach.