Page 122 of Stars in Aura

‘Always,’ she intoned in a husky whisper.

She swept her hand as yet another surge rippled outward, sweeping over the ship’s complement like an unseen tide, freezing everyone in place.

Gasps of surprise echoed through the bridge as their limbs refused to obey their synaptic commands.

What in Devansi hell was she playing at?

ISSA

The Perseus Prime was a ship of formidable speed, built for endurance.

It traversed entire sectors without refueling, and its defenses were unmatched by most.

Yet it was a mote of dust against the Sacran fleet.

Her heart pounded, and her mind raced as she flicked her eyes from Admiral Rhye to Ki’Remi and the rest of the dreadnought’s higher-ranking team.

They would not endure this.

The Sacran Immortals did not attack like other galactic powers.

They eradicated.

With a thought, they could tear this dreadnought from existence, unravel it to its base particles, and scatter it into the void.

‘Forgive me,’ Issa called out,’ but this is for your good, so we survive this shitshow together.’

She slammed her palm on the primary holo-console, overriding the system, calling forth a direct link to the fleet looming outside.

The transmission engaged at once, the vision shimmering onto the dreadnought’s giant viewscreen.

Revealing the monolithic ships, over a hundred of them, their hulls carved from celestial metal, engraved with ancient sigils, glowing with the cosmos’ power.

They floated in perfect formation, their movements too precise, too fluid, as if they were not bound by standard physics.

At the nucleus was the Saatifa Command Vessel, a bristling ebony and silver ship unlike any other, its design resembling the wings of an ascended seraph.

A second later, the screen shifted, and a figure appeared.

His presence sent a deep chill through the bridge.

An aura of supernatural command wreathed his tall form, draped in the regalia of the Saatifa.

Twas a robe woven from celestial threads of silver and deep violet shifting like living constellations.

As Issa remembered, his face was a sculpted, terrible beauty as if chiseled from the bones of the universe itself.

His hair was a cascade of midnight, and ember gathered in intricate braids at the crown of his head. Each was wrapped in rings of glowing script, oaths spoken to the Divine Immortal, promises carved into his being.

When he gazed down at them with disdain as if gazing at a column of ants, searing through each inconsequential moment they had ever lived, every choice made.

The entire Perseus crew stared at him, transfixed, sensing his power as it pulsed through the transmission.

‘Issandra Elaris Astraeus D’Leqan.’

His voice was smooth as glass, sharp as a blade.

Her stomach coiled.

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