Chapter 27: Prism Helmet Power

Astra Blaze clutched the Prism Helmet, its smooth, obsidian surface cool against her cheek. The weight was reassuring, a constant reminder of the power it held. Ever since she'd retrieved it from the forgotten temple on Lumen Prime, she'd only used it sparingly, overwhelmed by the sheer number of abilities it bestowed. Today, however, with Xanathar Prime's forces looming on the horizon, the time for caution had passed.Taking a deep breath, she activated the helmet. A soft hum filled her ears as the visor flared to life, bathing the world in a holographic overlay. Incoming data flooded her vision – enemy troop movements, weapon specifications, even the emotional state of individual soldiers. The overload was almost too much, but the helmet's built-in processors kicked in, filtering the information and feeding it directly into Astra's brain. She felt her mind sharpen, her thoughts moving at an accelerated pace.Suddenly, a flash of orange on the HUD – their destination, Xanathar's flagship, the Harbinger, loomed within reach. Beside her, Cygnus Vortex grunted, his Gravity Prism humming softly. "Ready, Blaze?" he rumbled, his voice distorted by the helmet's internal comms.Astra nodded, a surge of confidence coursing through her. The helmet displayed Cygnus' vitals on the HUD, a steady green glow reassuring her of his well-being. A flicker of blue caught her eye – Vega Specter was materializing beside them, her Spectrum Prism cloaking her momentarily before solidifying into a shimmering form."Looks like the party's already started," Vega remarked, her voice a faint whisper through the helmet's speakers.As they neared the Harbinger, the helmet's warning system kicked in. A pulsating red alert blared across the visor – incoming plasma fire. Reacting instinctively, Astra slowed down their approach using the helmet's time manipulation function. The world seemed to stretch before them, giving her precious seconds to formulate a plan.The HUD flickered, displaying potential attack trajectories. With a flick of her mental command, Astra propelled herself forward, dodging the blasts with pinpoint accuracy. Cygnus used his gravity manipulation to deflect a stray missile, sending it hurtling back towards the enemy ship. In a coordinated dance of destruction, the Prism Corps weaved through the barrage, their helmets constantly feeding them tactical data and guiding their movements.The closer they got, the more intense the battle became. The helmet's zoom function allowed Astra to analyze enemy weaponry, identifying weak points and vulnerable systems. With a concentrated blast of solar energy from her palms, she took down a plasma cannon, the ship shuddering in response.Suddenly, a searing pain lanced through her mind. The helmet pulsed with a frantic red light – a distress signal from a deactivated Prism Helmet! It originated from within the Harbinger. Her heart hammered in her chest. Could it be...?"Vega!" she shouted, her voice strained. "The distress signal – it's Nebula!"Vega's eyes narrowed beneath her visor. "Nebula Vortex? Here?"Astra gritted her teeth. "There's no time for questions. We need to get her out of there!"A new surge of determination filled her. With renewed vigor, the Prism Corps pressed their attack, carving a path of destruction towards the source of the distress signal. Astra knew that with Nebula on their side, the odds of defeating Xanathar Prime had just shifted dramatically. The Prism Helmet, once a symbol of overwhelming power, now felt like an extension of herself, guiding her every move and fueling her resolve. The fate of the universe, it seemed, rested on the combined might of the Prism Corps and their extraordinary helmets.