Deep Sea Embers
chapter-642

For Duncan, the “Great Annihilation” had shifted from an obscure, secretive enigma to a comprehensible revelation after unearthing a pivotal insight within this ancient, expansive mystery.

The cataclysmic event known as the Great Annihilation was initiated by the collision of different worlds. The fundamental “mismatch” between these worlds altered the outcomes of this monumental event, ushering in the strange and dangerous era that is now our reality. The horrors once dreamed of by the people of Atlantis barely scratched the surface of this vast cosmic conflict.

However, this was just a simplified version of events, suggesting that it was not just two worlds that had collided.

As Duncan unraveled these revelations, he experienced a profound transformation.

For a brief, disorienting moment, his vision dissolved into a swirl of shapeless colors. In this mesmerizing spectrum, he glimpsed the very essence of existence, seeing everything as delicate bursts of celestial light, each shaped by intricate data structures.

He saw a universe constantly on the verge of controlled decay. With their contrasting natures, these entities were caught in an endless cycle of disintegration and reconstruction within this data-driven universe. Duncan felt he was nearing the “ultimate answer” to the world’s numerous contradictions and imbalances…

Yet, this moment of enlightenment was fleeting.

He realized he was missing a crucial element—a vital “variable.”

Snapped back to reality by his logical mind, Duncan opened his eyes, overwhelmed by a cacophony of voices. As the noise faded, his clarity returned.

He now understood more deeply about the Great Annihilation and the emergence of the era of the deep sea. But what was the elusive “key variable”? Despite his new understanding of the universe’s mechanics, what critical aspect was still eluding him?

Overwhelmed by this significant insight, Duncan’s thoughts teemed with these complex and puzzling ideas. He refocused upon noticing Lucretia’s concerned look.

Now was not the time for philosophical reflections.

“It’s okay. I just had an epiphany,” he said casually, brushing off his brief disorientation. He then looked outward, scanning the horizon.

The Vanished was sailing across a gleaming screen, an illusion of sunlight. Intense fires of great power were swiftly consuming this barrier, gnawing at its seemingly invincible structure. The potent energy released was causing distant whirlwinds of brightness and flame.

However, completely breaking through this “luminous barrier” would require more patience.

That is unless a sudden “frailty” appeared within the barrier itself.

…

The once-violent winds that had fiercely torn through the desert began to subside. As their force waned, the previously impenetrable storm veil cracked, sending clouds of sand and fine dust across the landscape.

From the settling dust, a diminishing source of “sunlight” appeared. This artificial sun floated above a vast lake of molten lava, its surface intermittently flickering as if alive.

A gentle breeze began to blow, and from the scattered ashes, a figure started to take shape.

“What are you?!”

A powerful, shaking roar erupted, words in an ancient language mingling with the force of the scream. Beneath the deceptive glow of this artificial sun, the numerous eyes of the Sun Offspring trembled with intensity, focused on the figure rising from the ashes.

Human-like emotions could be seen in its roar: deep anger.

With poised elegance, Vanna lifted her massive sword, her gaze calmly assessing the injured “sun.” “You’re just a remnant of the ancient gods. You’re not as formidable as the legends suggest,” she said quietly.

The Sun Offspring, however, seemed not to hear her, repeating its insistent question: “What are you?”

Vanna’s attention briefly turned to herself.

The last remnants of ash circled her, pulled in by the spectral green flames enveloping her form. Sensations began to return, her once-absent blood now flowing and pulsing through her veins. A human-like heart resumed its rhythm within her, its beat palpable.

She could clearly sense its miraculous regeneration.

“Simply a collection of ashes,” she stated, stepping towards the entity.

“Ashes? No… you’re so much more!” The Sun Offspring countered with a deep, gravelly voice that echoed across the expanse. “Subspace… I detect its unique scent on you. You are an echo, a remnant of subspace that has breached this reality—what are you?!”

Vanna paused in her steps.

A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, quickly replaced by reflection. Piecing together the revelations, she spoke aloud, “So, you’re suggesting I’m a relic of subspace?”

The Sun Offspring didn’t answer, instead emitting a deep, unsettling rumble. It seemed to be wounded yet defiant, as it began to gather flames and light around itself, healing the glowing halo that encircled it.

Yet, Vanna remained composed. She hadn’t expected to learn every secret from this heretical being. Perhaps she believed she had already solved the mystery.

Indeed, Vanna was essentially a silhouette formed from the depths of subspace. This power from subspace had revived the ashes dormant for over ten years, transforming them into the figure now known as “Vanna.” Through this transformation, her soul had been intricately woven by the threads of subspace.

Thus, to describe her as “a creature reborn from subspace” captured her true essence.

“So… the captain truly is a supernatural entity…”

Vanna whispered to herself. After a brief pause, she seemed to detect a change in the surroundings. She looked up intently at the dominant “sun” on the horizon.

The Sun Offspring, feeling her gaze, sensed an unsettling implication in her look. Its exterior, like molten paint, started to ripple and quiver, emitting a growl-like sound—a sound that could be seen as a veiled threat or a warning.

Yet, Vanna appeared undisturbed. She stood poised amid the encroaching heat and the dangerous rays of “sunlight” intensifying around the Sun Offspring.

“Even beings like you can feel fear,” she commented, her tone playful.

Suddenly, the sky exploded.

A vast sea of fire, wild and chaotic like a storm, appeared out of nowhere, quickly covering a large area of the sky. This blaze momentarily cleared the lingering clouds and vapors, acting as a barrier between two worlds before it began to descend toward the earth.

From within this fiery whirlwind, a massive silhouette emerged. It surged forward, seeming determined to tear through the sky itself. As this gigantic form approached, a fleeting golden light flickered at the edge of the fiery mass, seemingly trying to rebuild a shield against this “assault.” But quickly, this temporary barrier shattered, emitting a hauntingly melodic sound. From this tumultuous scene, a massive ship enveloped in flames plummeted from the sky.

The Sun Offspring let out a series of deep, shocked cries, grappling with the reality that the barrier it had carefully built had been effortlessly penetrated by an alien force. The once-controllable flames that decorated its barrier now defied its will. Its numerous eyes, resembling a starry night, were drawn irresistibly to the descending ship.

From the core of this fiery vessel, the ship’s exterior, crafted from glowing flames and light, revealed itself. The tendrils within this incandescent shell instinctively reached out, soaking in the radiant sunlight. Numerous otherworldly eyes fixed on the silhouette of the Vanished, particularly on a figure shrouded in the blaze.

The moment of revelation had arrived.

A strong, resonant voice boomed from above: “Behold my presence.”

In response, the flames on the Sun Offspring’s shell shifted, taking on a spectral green hue. These ethereal green flames, moving with almost sentient intent, spread like wildfire, consuming and transforming the celestial being from within, altering its very essence in an instant.

Despite the fierce onslaught of supernatural flames, the Sun Offspring showed remarkable resilience. It rose from the ground with every bit of strength it could muster, thrusting itself skyward in a desperate bid for survival.

Almost simultaneously, a brilliant, fiery beam erupted from the front of the Vanished.

This beam, a radiant golden arc, surged forth with immense power from the ethereal bow of the ship, aimed straight upwards. With precise accuracy, it targeted the Sun Offspring, which now resembled a blazing comet shooting across the sky. In mere moments, the golden beam struck right through the heart of the fleeing entity.

Yet, despite the severe blow, the Sun Offspring exhibited undying tenacity. It faltered momentarily but then continued its rapid ascent, seemingly determined to escape the bounds of this realm.

For a brief instant, it seemed the Sun Offspring might actually succeed in its escape.

But just as it approached the edge of the atmosphere, about to vanish into the vastness of space, an enormous silhouette emerged, blocking its path.

It was a titanic black goat.

This massive creature, as large as mountains and casting a shadow like an impending storm, had ethereal lightning playing around its curled horns. Its eyes glowed a mesmerizing green, echoing the flames below. The goat’s humanoid body, seemingly crafted from the very flames that filled the skies, continuously morphed in a tumultuous dance. It briefly nodded toward the Vanished, then fixed its piercing gaze on the desperate fireball.

Strategically positioned among the clouds, the goat prepared for a direct confrontation. Lowering its massive head, ready to charge, it suddenly burst forward with incredible speed. As it advanced, the sea of flames behind it seemed to support its cause, creating a blazing trail in its wake. Now resembling a dark, formidable meteor, the goat raced toward its target with such speed that it appeared almost as a blur. Then, with a cataclysmic impact, it collided with the ascending fireball.

The explosion and shockwave from this collision were so powerful that they obliterated the lingering divide between the two realms. Distant mountains crumbled, and a large part of the already fragile landscape was destroyed. In this fierce collision, the Sun Offspring disintegrated. Its remains, both large and small, were immediately engulfed by the haunting green flames and reduced to ashes. A glowing “core,” the heart of the Sun Offspring, plummeted from the sky, but before it could descend further, it was quickly enveloped and consumed by a surge of ethereal flames.

Emerging unscathed from the inferno caused by the massive explosion, the mighty humanoid goat descended from the celestial realm. Landing gracefully beside the Vanished, it took up a regal position before Vanna, ready for the next events to unfold.