Chapter 17: Whispers of a New Dawn

Weeks turned into months as a fragile peace settled over the Ascended Plane. The victory at Aetherium had bolstered morale, but the scars of the battle remained fresh. The hulks of destroyed Xhosian and Krog ships served as a constant reminder of the war that loomed on the horizon.Vel and Anya, hailed as heroes, became symbols of hope. Their unorthodox approach to Aethel manipulation, a blend of Spasian knowledge and their own ingenuity, was incorporated into Ascended training regimens. They became instructors, sharing their hard-won knowledge with eager recruits, forging a new generation of Aethel wielders.But beneath the surface, a sense of unease simmered. The Xhosians wouldn't remain silent for long. Vel's vision of the grotesque figure, leading a vast army, haunted his dreams. He knew it was only a matter of time before the Xhosian threat returned, this time with even greater force.One day, while leading a training exercise, Vel felt a tremor course through the Ascended Plane. Alarms blared, and a holographic projection flickered to life, revealing a grim-faced Ascended commander."Attention all personnel," the commander boomed. "We have detected a massive Xhosian fleet approaching our borders. They are accompanied by an even larger contingent of Krog warships. Prepare for immediate battle stations."A cold dread washed over Vel. The nightmare was unfolding. He glanced at Anya, her eyes reflecting his own grim determination. They had trained for this moment, honed their skills, and now it was time to put them to the test.Lyra materialized beside them, her face etched with worry. "This is it," she said, her voice tight. "The battle for our very existence."Vel nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for the Aethel Gauntlet nestled on his forearm. It felt like a natural extension of himself now, a symbol of his responsibility and power."We're ready," he declared, his resolve unwavering.Anya gripped his hand, her touch a source of strength. "Together," she echoed, her voice filled with a quiet fierceness.The Ascended Plane thrummed with chaotic energy as warships launched from their docks, forming a defensive line against the approaching Xhosian and Krog armada. Vel and Anya, at the forefront of the battle, took their positions.This time, the Xhosians weren't just testing the waters. Their fleet was vast, a sea of sleek, menacing warships bristling with corrupt Aethel. Leading the charge was a colossal flagship, its silhouette matching the grotesque figure from Vel's vision. It pulsed with a dark, malevolent energy, a chilling confirmation of his premonition.The battle commenced, a symphony of destruction echoing through the void. Xhosian blasts of corrupt Aethel ripped through the defensive lines, met by the shimmering shields of the Ascended vessels. Krog warships unleashed barrages of brutal projectiles, their tactics focused on overwhelming force.But Vel and Anya, drawing upon their months of training and their deep understanding of Aethel, became a whirlwind of coordinated attacks. With the Aethel Gauntlet amplifying his connection to the energy, Vel weaved intricate constructs, crippling enemy ships with pinpoint precision. Anya, her vision enhanced by the Spasian goggles, directed Vel's attacks, anticipating enemy movements and exploiting weaknesses.Their unorthodox tactics, honed to perfection, proved devastatingly effective. The Ascended forces, inspired by their heroes, rallied, their attacks gaining momentum.However, the sheer size of the Xhosian and Krog fleet overwhelmed the Ascended defenses. Ships fell, their crews lost to the void. Despair threatened to consume Vel, but Anya's unwavering spirit kept him focused.Suddenly, a wave of dark energy erupted from the Xhosian flagship, engulfing a section of the Ascended fleet. Panic erupted as ships lost control, their shields failing.Anya gasped, pointing towards the flagship. "The leader! He's unleashing a wave of raw, corrupt Aethel!"Vel felt a surge of anger, a primal urge to confront the source of this destruction. He wouldn't let the Xhosians win. Not today.Focusing all his energy, channeling the power of the Aethel Gauntlet, Vel unleashed a counter-attack. It was a desperate gamble, a concentrated blast of pure Aethel aimed directly at the heart of the Xhosian flagship.The impact was blinding. A wave of energy erupted, engulfing both ships in a swirling vortex of light and darkness. Silence descended upon the battlefield, broken only by the faint crackle of dying energy.As the light faded, Vel held his breath. The Ascended fleet, battered but not broken, remained. And the Xhosian flagship... it was adrift