Chapter 8: The War Beyond the Stars

The stars burned bright in the void.

Kael stood at the edge of the rebel warship's observation deck, watching the wreckage drift in silence. The remains of the Ascended Rift Stabilizer were nothing but scattered metal and dying embers, vanishing into the endless dark.

It should have felt like a victory.

But all Kael felt was the weight of unfinished war.

Behind him, the doors hissed open.

Elyndra's reflection appeared in the glass beside him.

"You should be resting."

Kael smirked. "You should know better than to expect that."

Elyndra exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "The mission was successful. The station is gone. The Ascended's Rift experiments are crippled."

Kael's fingers tightened around the steel railing. "For now."

Elyndra's gaze flicked to him. "You don't think this changes anything?"

Kael turned, meeting her eyes. "We didn't kill them, Elyndra. We just pissed them off."

A long silence stretched between them.

She didn't argue.

Because she knew he was right.

The Ascended didn't suffer losses. They adapted.

And they would strike back harder than before.

🔥 Tensions Rise – Not Everyone Trusts the Reaper

The war room wasn't quiet.

Kael could feel the tension before he even stepped inside.

The gathered rebel commanders stood around the holotable, their voices sharp, filled with quiet hostility.

Kovath the Red was the first to speak.

"Explain to me why you let her go."

Kael sighed. Here we go.

"Seraphis had a kill shot. She didn't take it." He folded his arms. "I returned the favor."

Kovath's fists clenched. "A favor? This is war, Reaper. You don't do favors."

"And yet, I'm still alive."

Kovath's voice was low, seething. "Maybe that's a mistake we should correct."

Kael's fingers twitched toward his blade.

Elyndra slammed her hands on the table.

"Enough."

The room fell silent.

Elyndra's glare could have cut steel. "We completed the mission. The Rift Stabilizer is gone. That's what matters."

Kovath's jaw tightened. "And what about the Ascended's response? They'll retaliate. We've seen what they do when they're wounded."

Kael smirked. "Then we wound them again."

Kovath's eyes narrowed. "You don't get it, do you? We fight to survive, not to play gods like you did in your last war."

Kael's expression darkened.

"You have no idea what my last war was."

Kovath took a step forward. "Then maybe you should tell us."

The room went still.

Kael exhaled slowly.

"Not today."

He turned on his heel and walked away.

For now, he had nothing left to say.

🔥 Meanwhile…

Seraphis knelt in the cold, sterile light of the Ascended Dreadnought's throne chamber.

Above her, Prime Ascendant Zeruel's holographic form loomed, his expression unreadable.

"You failed."

Seraphis' fists clenched.

"The Rift facility was destroyed, but the Reaper still lives."

Zeruel's golden gaze bored into her.

"Why?"

Seraphis' lips parted—but no answer came.

She had let Kael go.

And now, she was paying for it.

"You hesitate, Seraphis."

A new voice cut through the silence.

Seraphis turned slightly as Executor Veyran stepped into the chamber, his golden armor gleaming in the artificial light.

His expression was empty. Cold.

"You were given a mission. You chose weakness."

Seraphis said nothing.

Because she didn't know if he was wrong.

Zeruel's voice remained calm, but absolute. "You have one final chance. Kill the Reaper. Or we will erase him— and you with him."

Seraphis' throat tightened.

She should have felt fear.

Instead, all she felt was doubt.

But there was no choice left.

She bowed her head.

"Understood."

But deep inside, she wasn't sure if it was a lie.

The war was far from over.

Kael knew it.

Standing at the edge of Hollow Bastion's command deck, he watched the void stretch endlessly before him, stars flickering against the abyss.

The Ascended would strike back.

They always did.

He exhaled sharply, rolling the tension from his shoulders. His wounds still ached, but pain was familiar. Pain was simple.

It was the uncertainty he hated.

Behind him, the doors hissed open.

"Reaper."

Kael turned, eyes narrowing.

It was Arkan. The veteran's expression was unreadable, but his posture was tense.

Kael sighed. "Let me guess. Another meeting?"

Arkan shook his head. "Not this time. We've got a problem."

Kael's smirk faded. "Go on."

Arkan stepped forward, lowering his voice.

"One of our outer sentry posts just went dark. No distress call. No warning. Just—gone."

Kael's gut twisted. He already knew what this meant.

"The Ascended."

Arkan nodded. "And they're hunting something."

Kael exhaled sharply.

He didn't need to ask what.

They were hunting him.

The Ascended warship moved like a silent predator through the void, its hull dark against the endless black.

Inside, Seraphis stood alone in the command chamber, her hands clasped behind her back.

The Reaper was close.

She could feel it.

Her orders were clear. Kill him.

And yet, doubt clung to her thoughts like a phantom.

"You hesitate."

She didn't turn. She didn't need to.

Executor Veyran's voice was like sharpened steel.

"Your last failure was not tolerated. This one will not be forgiven."

Seraphis kept her voice even. "I will finish this."

Veyran stepped closer, his golden armor gleaming under the cold light.

"See that you do. Because if you don't…"

His golden eyes locked onto hers.

"I will."

Seraphis clenched her fists.

She would end this.

One way or another.