Chapter 1609 Same Occurence Author's Note: Unedited Chapter ------------ With a final, dismissive glance at the Alliance ships, he set his course for his next destination, leaving the frustrated officers and their elusive fugitive far behind. "I dare you to stop me," Gustav's voice echoed from the ship, transmitting it to the Alliance comms as he sped off. --- Gustav's ship cut through the darkness, leaving the Alliance checkpoint and their chaos behind. He had more important matters to attend to, and he wasn't about to let a minor distraction derail his mission. ... ... The expanse of space lay quiet as Endric, Ria, and Sersi drifted through the stars. Their ship seemed like a lone traveler in the vast, cosmic sea. The interior of the vessel groaned softly. The interior dimmed lights further allowed the illumination of the constant glow of data screens to surround them. A week had passed since they'd departed from the flickering teal planet. Their destination now was the third possible location that matched the features Gustav had seen in his brief vision. Endric leaned over the control panel, scanning the incoming data with a focused gaze. He had been tense since the second planet, its eerie similarity to the first unnerving him. A creeping suspicion had started to take root in his mind, one he couldn't shake, despite Ria's and Sersi's attempts to lighten the mood. "I don't know, Endric," Sersi said, reclining in her seat with an amused smile as she twirled a strand of her silvery hair between her fingers. "Maybe it's just a coincidence. It's a big universe, after all. Planets looking alike? Happens all the time, right?" Ria chuckled from the other side, tilting his head to look at Endric with a casual, mischievous grin. "Exactly. Who's to say we haven't just stumbled on some intergalactic copy-paste system? I mean, it would save on decoration costs." But Endric barely glanced at them, his expression tense. "Two identical planets in the same quadrant with no real differences? No, that's not a coincidence. Something's… off. I don't like it." Sersi still tried to maintain her light-hearted tone. "Come on, uncle. You can't take everything so seriously. We're on a wild hunt for a sword across a galaxy—can't we at least laugh a bit on the way?" Endric gave her a sidelong look, unable to fully hide a smirk. "I'll laugh when we've got the sword in our hands and Gustav has what he needs to regain his power. Until then, stay sharp." Ria stretched, placing his hands behind his head with a casual sigh. "Two days out from the next mystery planet. Until then, I'll just be here, kicking back and waiting for the next round of déjà vu." With a weary shake of his head, Endric turned back to the panel, checking their progress. They were indeed two days from their destination, and he intended to use every moment wisely. For now, he was focused on keeping track of the energy signature he'd scanned from the second planet. He wanted to see if it repeated on the third planet or if there was any deviation. Meanwhile, Sersi decided to make her way to one of the quieter rooms of the ship. She knew that of the three, she was the least experienced. Her abilities lagged behind Ria's and Endric's. She sat cross-legged on the floor, closing her eyes as she began to channel her frost-related bloodline. Cold energy seeped from her palms, gathering in a faint mist around her, forming small, delicate snowflakes that drifted down. "I need to be stronger..." she whispered to herself, focusing intently as she continued to train. She didn't want to be a liability in this mission; she wanted to be useful. --- Two days later, the ship emerged from hyperspace as the coordinates of the third location lit up on their map. Outside, the vastness of the new system stretched out before them, and as they approached the designated planet, Endric's heart sank. It was identical to the first two planets. The teal-hued atmosphere gave the world a surreal glow, and the pointy rock formations that rose from the surface looked all too familiar. The pale mist that clung to the ground gave the landscape an eerie stillness, and Endric couldn't shake the creeping sense of dread that had haunted him since the beginning. "Well, here we go again," Ria muttered in resignation. "Same place, same strange feeling. Want to place any bets on finding nothing here too?" Endric ignored him, pulling up his scanner as he began to analyze the energy signature of this third planet. He compared it to the reading he'd taken on the second planet, and though it was similar, there was a subtle variance—a faint difference that added another layer of mystery. "There's a slight shift in the energy signature here," he voiced while frowning. "It's not much, but it's there. We're not dealing with identical planets… just similar ones." Sersi, standing by the viewport, looked out at the landscape with a frown. "Maybe we're on the right track, then. If there's a difference, it could mean we're getting closer to something real." Endric nodded, though he didn't let himself feel hopeful just yet. "Let's search the area, same as before. Be thorough. We're looking for any signs of the sword or anything out of place." They disembarked, stepping into the unsettlingly familiar landscape. The air was thick with an unnatural chill, and the rocks and jagged formations cast long shadows across the ground. They spread out, each scanning their assigned area cautiously. Hours passed, and once again, they found nothing. But just as they were preparing to regroup, Sersi's voice crackled over the comms. "Endric, Ria—there's… there's someone here!" Her tone was laced with strain, as if she were struggling. In the background, a loud explosion rang out, echoing across the empty landscape. "Sersi, what's your location?" Ria asked. "Southern ridge—just hurry!" Her voice broke off as another boom echoed over the comms. Without hesitation, Endric blinked, disappearing from his spot and reappearing at the southern ridge in an instant. He arrived just in time to see Sersi's body hurtling through the air. Her figure was illuminated by the faint teal light as she flew back, disoriented. Endric rushed forward, catching her mid-flight before she hit the ground. "I've got you," he voiced while lowering her gently. Sersi coughed, clutching her ribs as she struggled to speak. "Two… two figures. Dark robes. They came out of nowhere." Endric looked up, his gaze narrowing as he spotted two shadowed figures in dark robes, their faces obscured. The figures turned, glancing briefly at him before they started to flee, vanishing into the mist as they moved with inhuman speed. "You're not going anywhere," Endric growled while handing Sersi off to Ria, who had just arrived. Ria took Sersi's arm as his casual expression got replaced with a steely look. "I'll look after Sersi." Endric nodded as he locked onto the fleeing figures. He vanished from his spot in a blink, reappearing directly in the path of the two robed figures as they hurtled through the mist. He raised a hand, and a telekinetic barrierof pure energy sprang up before them, blocking their path. The two figures halted abruptly, and for the first time, Endric could make out their faces—or rather, the lack thereof. Their features were hidden in shadows, as if they were wrapped in a dark veil, and their eyes glowed faintly with a sinister, otherworldly light. "What are you doing here?" Endric demanded with a low and unyielding voice. The figures exchanged a glance, then one of them laughed—their voice emitted a chilling hollow sound that sent a shiver down his spine. "We are here to protect what you seek, Time Candidate," one of them voiced carried on like a whisper in the wind. Endric's eyes narrowed. "Protect? So you know about the sword. Where is it?" The second figure tilted his head. "It is beyond your reach, child of time. Turn back, lest you meet the fate of those who came before you." Endric felt his patience snap. "I'm afraid I can't do that. You will tell me where the sword is," He raised his hand while silvery blue energy glowed in his eyes. "I'll take the information by force if I have to." The two figures merely smirked as their forms started to flicker like phantoms. "Try if you dare, but know that your meddling here is but a pebble cast into an ocean. The ripples will drown you, Time Candidate." Without waiting, Endric surged forward, reaching for the nearest figure with a swift motion. But as his hand connected, the figure's form dissolved into mist, dispersing into the air with a haunting laugh. The second figure did the same, vanishing into thin air before he could react. Left standing alone in the mist, Endric clenched his fists. 'How the hell did they get away?' Endric thought he had them conered but he could no longer sense their presence. Whoever they were, these figures had knowledge of the sword—and the power to evade him with ease. But their words lingered in his mind. It was obvious they knew something. "Endric," Ria's voice came over the comms. "Sersi's alright. She's a bit banged up, but nothing serious. Did you get them?"