Chapter 34: Echoes of the Forgotten War

The world was silent except for the low hum of the Shard floating above the shattered plaza. Squad Alpha stood motionless, still absorbing the magnitude of what they had witnessed.

Nam stared at his hands. The energy flowing within him hadn't faded—it was alive, pulsing in tune with the Shard's rhythm. It was as if a door inside him had been forced open, revealing a wellspring of power he hadn't known he possessed.

Lan approached, her expression a mix of worry and wonder. "Nam… what happened to you?"

He shook his head slowly. "I don't know. But I can feel it... like the Shard awakened something inside me."

Before they could speak further, the Shard pulsed again.

A holographic projection unfolded from its core—images flickering like ancient memories. Scenes of worlds burning, titanic beings locked in battle, and fleets of dark ships blotting out the stars.

Lan whispered, "Is this… history?"

An ancient voice, heavy with sorrow and wisdom, filled the air:

"Eons ago, before your stars were born, a great war consumed the heavens. Light and Darkness clashed, not for power, but for the right to shape existence itself."

The images shifted.

They saw beings of pure light—the Guardians—standing against an endless tide of shadow. At their center was a figure that looked hauntingly familiar: the Guardian who had saved them moments ago.

"The Shards are remnants of the Guardians' will," the voice continued. "Each Shard holds a fragment of their essence… a spark of their eternal flame."

Nam clenched his fists. "And the darkness?"

The hologram darkened.

They saw the creatures—those same beings they fought—corrupting worlds, enslaving civilizations, leaving ruin wherever they passed.

"The Voidborn," the voice said, thick with disdain. "Children of the abyss, sworn to snuff out all light. Their hunger knows no end."

Lan stepped closer to the projection. "If the Shard chose Nam… does that mean he's…"

The voice answered her unspoken question:

"He is a Beacon now. A bearer of our legacy. Through him, hope endures."

Nam felt the weight of those words settle heavily on his shoulders.

Before anyone could say more, the comms crackled to life.

"Command to Alpha Squad—what the hell happened down there?! We're detecting massive energy spikes across the sector!"

Lan picked up the transmission. "It's… a long story, Command. But the situation is… under control. For now."

Nam gazed up at the storm-torn sky.

If the darkness was truly returning… if the old war was about to begin again… he knew this battle for survival had only just begun.

And this time, he was no longer just a soldier.

He was something more.

The Shard pulsed one last time, sealing itself with a low hum, and descended gently into a containment field generated by their equipment.

Lan turned to Nam, a small smirk playing at her lips despite the tension. "Looks like you're stuck with being humanity's shining hero now."

Nam chuckled grimly. "I never asked for this."

"Doesn't matter," Lan said, clapping him on the back. "You've got it anyway."

Together, they began preparations for extraction, the ruins of the plaza standing silent witness to the awakening of a new chapter in the endless war between Light and Darkness.

And somewhere, far beyond the broken sky, in the cold void between stars…

The Voidborn were stirring once again.