The Stellar River Relic

After the meditation session, the three felt completely different from before, but they couldn't quite put their finger on what had changed.

Malin seemed a bit sad, and said in a soft and distant voice, "Let me show you the end of another great civilization."

The group returned to the spaceship, and the interstellar craft slowly came to life, swiftly soaring into the sky and into space, flying past star system after star system at a speed that defied their imagination. Inside the cockpit, Rakien, Old Kahn, and Young Kahn stood before the massive transparent viewing window, unable to help but be awed by the sight before them, as if they were immersed in the long river of cosmic history, feeling the insignificance of humanity and the infinity of time.

The spaceship slowly approached a vast interstellar area, and the sight before them was so shocking that everyone was left speechless. Compared to any place they had visited before, this place appeared even more magnificent and filled with endless mystery.

"This is... the Stellar River Relic," Malin said softly, a hint of sadness unconsciously leaking into her usually clear and pleasant voice.

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts were shaken. They only listened as Malin continued to introduce, "This place is a historical witness left behind by a stunning stellar-scale war that occurred billions of years ago. The scope of this relic alone spans more than forty star systems, with a length of 315,000 light-years!"

As Malin spoke, the spaceship, like a light and agile bird, slowly entered the edge of this relic. In an instant, the huge remnants of stars before them unfolded like a scroll. These stars, once shining in the vast universe, have now lost their own source of energy, but their bodies are still incredibly large, like towering mountains. The dim gray light slowly emanates from them, as if they are ancient beasts fallen into a deep sleep, quietly guarding this ancient battlefield sealed by the dust of time.

Looking around, in this vast expanse of the Stellar River, countless broken planets, damaged warship wreckage, and indistinguishable giant mechanical fragments float everywhere. Some drift alone, others collide and interweave, forming a scene that is dreamlike yet filled with a touch of sorrow, as if the dust of the universe stands still, silently telling the story of the distant war's ferocity and grandeur.

"The war took place in the distant past, with civilizations involved far more powerful than our current Interstellar Alliance. They possessed weapons capable of destroying stars, even able to alter the structure of star systems," Malin said softly, "However, this war had no victors. Both the attackers and the defenders all vanished within this Stellar River."

Rakien's eyes widened in astonishment, trying to digest every word Malin had said. Their spaceship flew past a huge piece of mechanical wreckage, the size of which was enormous! It felt as large as several Oklara planets, with a surface covered in countless pits and cracks left by the years, as if telling of its participation in the destructive battles.

Inside the spaceship, there was a silence, as if everyone was stunned by the unspeakable shock before them. Old Kahn stared tightly at the outside of the spaceship, not daring to blink.

"This is... How is this possible?" He widened his eyes, almost at a loss for words, murmuring to himself, his voice filled with astonishment and awe, "They look a thousand times larger than anything in our world! As if they are from another dimension."

"Yes," Malin, standing beside him, nodded calmly, responding to his astonishment, "And these are just the tip of the iceberg. There are more miracles beyond imagination hidden within this ancient relic." Her gaze was profound and distant, as if she had already fathomed all the secrets here.

At this moment, the spaceship was slowly advancing towards the center of the relic. As the distance closed, an intangible sense of oppression surged like a tide, tightly enveloping everyone. That feeling was as if there were a pair of mysterious and unpredictable eyes deep in the universe, silently watching over them, sending a chill down their spines.

Malin seemed to keenly perceive the tension within everyone's hearts, and she gently turned her head, comforting them with a soft yet firm voice, "Do not be afraid, friends. This relic is now listed as a forbidden zone of the Alliance, after multiple investigations, it has been confirmed that there are no active hostile forces here."

Nevertheless, as the spaceship continued to delve deeper, the scenery outside began to become increasingly bizarre. Rakien and Kahn suddenly noticed, in the distant void, there was an enormous circular structure quietly floating. The diameter of this ring was over thousands of kilometers, like a giant fortress lying across the universe. Its surface was densely covered with various complex symbols and strange light trajectories, looking from afar, it seemed like a super machine composed of countless precision parts.

It was a vast expanse of ruins filled with the smoke of gunpowder and the desolation of desolation, where a colossal entity stood quietly. Malin pointed into the distance, her voice trembling slightly, mixed with an indescribable sense of

reverence and deep sorrow, "Look! That is the core of this brutal war left behind - the 'Stellar Punisher'."

As Malin's words fell, the spaceship gradually approached the massive ring. The closer they got to the ring, the more they felt an intangible pressure washing over them. Rakien stared intently at the shocking sight before him, he keenly noticed that despite the long years, the surface of the ring still faintly flickered with extremely faint light. Those lights flickered on and off, as if they were the occasionally blinking eyes of a giant beast in slumber, or a mysterious force lurking in the depths of the dark, ready to stir.

The entire ring was like a giant fortress suspended in the universe, with no end in sight, bringing endless shock. Its diameter was so vast that it was simply staggering, enough to be compared to a small planet. Upon close inspection of this colossal object, one would find the material it was made of was exceptionally peculiar, radiating a mysterious and enticing metallic luster. This metal texture was not commonly seen, seemingly forged from rare materials from an unknown world.

The surface of the ring was covered with dense, crisscross patterns and symbols. These lines were like ancient codes left behind by a civilization, each line was so delicate and complex, as if containing profound scientific mysteries and powerful energy laws beyond imagination. They were interwoven, forming a splendid yet obscure pattern, making one can't help but marvel at the magic and vastness of the universe.

At this moment, the observers inside the spaceship gazed intently at this spectacle from afar. Through the viewing window, they could clearly see a thin veil of light within the ring. That veil of light was like a lively liquid, slowly flowing, constantly changing its shape and color. At times it was as sheer as gossamer, and at times it was as fiery as flames; one moment it presented a deep blue hue, and in the next it turned into a deep purple glow, faintly shining.