Chapter 7

The Skybreaker's Oath

Location: Aboard the Celestial Drake, en route to the ruins of Veymar Station

POV: Kael Ardent

1. The Weight of Truth

The Celestial Drake hummed softly as it cut through the void, its golden runes pulsing in time with Kael's heartbeat.

"You should not have freed him."

The ship's voice—deep, ancient, laced with the growl of a creature that had once soared through skies rather than space—echoed in Kael's skull.

Sylas Veyne stood at the observation deck, his back turned, staring into the swirling blue maw of a nearby nebula. His armor, once gleaming silver, was now scorched black at the edges, as if he had walked through fire and never fully escaped.

Kael tightened his grip on Dawnbreaker. The sword had been silent since they left the time prison, as if wary of the man who had once wielded it centuries ago.

Lira hadn't stopped staring at her brother since they dragged him aboard.

"He's different," she had whispered. "The Sylas I knew didn't have eyes like that."

Kael hadn't asked what she meant. He had seen it himself—the way Sylas's irises flickered with something older than human.

Ryn, ever the pragmatist, had already run a scan.

"His cells are degrading," the cyborg captain muttered. "Like he's burning up from the inside. Whatever power he sealed away is fighting to get out."

And then there was the prophecy.

"The God-Engine is already waking."

Kael exhaled, watching his breath fog against the cold glass of the viewport.

"We need a plan," he said, finally breaking the silence.

Sylas didn't turn. "Plans won't save us."

"Then what will?"

"A sacrifice."

Before Kael could respond, the Drake shuddered violently.

Alarms blared.

2. The Ambush

Ryn's voice crackled over the comms. "We've got company!"

Kael sprinted to the bridge, nearly colliding with Lira as she scrambled to the weapons console.

On the main screen, three sleek, dagger-shaped vessels locked onto their position.

"Starborn Hunters," Sylas said, stepping in behind them. His voice was calm. Too calm.

"How?" Lira demanded. "We scrambled our signature!"

"They weren't tracking the ship," Sylas said. "They were tracking me."

Kael's stomach dropped.

The first blast rocked the Drake, sending sparks flying from the ceiling.

"Shields at 60%!" Ryn barked, fingers flying over the controls. "They're jamming our thrusters!"

Kael turned to Sylas. "You led them here."

The man didn't deny it. "I had no choice."

Another impact. The lights flickered.

Then—

A voice, smooth and synthetic, filled the chamber.

"Surrender the Starborn, and you will not be harmed."

The Hollow Prophet.

3. The Betrayal

Ryn's hand hovered over the eject cargo command.

"We can't outrun them," the captain said, jaw clenched. "But we can distract them."

Kael saw the calculation in Ryn's eyes.

"You're not seriously considering—"

"It's him or all of us," Ryn snapped.

Lira whirled. "We are not handing over my brother!"

Sylas said nothing.

Kael's fingers tingled, the Starborn energy writhing beneath his skin. "There's another way."

"Oh?" Ryn's voice dripped sarcasm. "You gonna magic us out of this?"

Kael met Sylas's gaze.

"No," he said. "But he can."

4. The Skybreaker's Oath

Sylas closed his eyes.

"If I do this, I can't come back."

Lira grabbed his arm. "What are you talking about?"

He gently pried her off. "The power I sealed away wasn't just mine. It was a weapon. One that breaks more than just armies."

Kael understood then.

"You're going to shatter their ships."

Sylas nodded. "And the Drake's engines. It'll buy you time."

Lira's voice broke. "Sylas—"

"The oath I took was never to protect the Starborn," he said softly. "It was to protect you."

Then, before anyone could stop him, he slammed his palm against the ship's core.

Golden light erupted.

5. The Aftermath

The explosion was silent in the vacuum of space.

One moment, the Hunter ships were there.

The next—

Gone.

The Drake spun wildly, its systems failing.

Kael clutched the console, watching as Sylas's body disintegrated, his form dissolving into starlight.

Lira screamed.

And then—

The Hollow Prophet's voice returned, distorted, triumphant.

"The Forge awaits its master."

The screen flickered.

A planet appeared.

Not just any planet.

A machine.

The God-Engine.

And it was awake.