Hyades City, Exterior Ward
Spring Court, Hidden World
Terra, Gaea Solar system
Milky Way Galaxy,
Neutral Free Zone
April 8th, 2019
Sam stepped into the dimly lit chamber, trailing behind Rex and Emily as they entered. The room was already occupied by Sophia and Titus, their expressions grave, illuminated by the cool blue glow of multiple holographic displays. Hovering beside them, translucent projections of Phoebe Yesh and her daughter, Emanu, flickered in and out of resolution, their distant presence a ghostly reminder of the gravity of the situation.
At the center of the room, a massive central hologram dominated the space, displaying a detailed aerial view of Cedar Lake Bridge. The structure loomed over the water, its usual serenity marred by the presence of Golden Dawn operatives, stationed at key positions along its length. Towering metallic pylons, embedded with intricate arcane circuitry, stood at equal intervals, pulsing with radiant energy as they sustained a high-level containment barrier.
Beyond the barrier, a rift churned violently, an unstable portal twisting reality at its edges. Tendrils of distorted light and shadow flickered along its surface, warping the very air around it. The energy fluctuations were erratic, the anomaly a volatile wound in the fabric of space itself.
Sam narrowed her eyes, her gaze fixed on the volatile rift displayed before her. The situation was far worse than she had anticipated. In the back of her mind, Julia's construct stirred—its last message resurfacing with perfect clarity.
Julia had warned her: Golden Dawn and Octagram would soon be forced into an uneasy alliance to deal with the emerging Echo Field over Cedar Lake Bridge, the very place where the Crown had been sealed. A mission was already set in motion—one that would send her directly into the heart of the unfolding crisis.
It would be there, in the chaos of the rift's emergence, that Sam would find the Crown. And with it, the key to healing Leon.
She had said nothing of this revelation to anyone, biding her time as she trained, pushing herself to the edge of her limits in preparation for the inevitable. Now, as she stood among those gathered, she knew that moment was drawing near.
Across the room, Sophia watched her daughter with quiet pride, taking in the hardened focus etched into her expression. She had seen the shift—felt it—in the weeks since Sam had attempted her ascension. The transformation had been undeniable, reshaping not just her abilities but her very essence.
And yet, this was merely the beginning.
Everything was falling into place—the careful orchestration of the Herald's design and Julia Haravok's vision. Soon, Leonard Haravok would be restored, his fate entwined with something far greater than any of them.
And more than that—this world, the cradle of Sophia's ancestors, would at last receive the cure it had long been denied. A cure that had been waiting millions of years to take root.
"Thanks for coming in," Sophia said, her voice steady yet carrying an undertone of urgency.
Sam crossed her arms, her gaze shifting between the faces in the room before settling on the flickering holograms of Phoebe Yesh and her daughter, Emanu. Though she already knew why they were here, her expression still carried the weight of silent inquiry.
"What's going on?" she asked, tone clipped, eyes narrowing slightly.
Phoebe's projection smiled warmly, though there was a somber edge to it. "Samantha! It's been a while. I'm glad to see you holding up. I was sorry to hear about Stella."
Sam felt a dull pang in her chest—less pain, more the empty numbness she had been carrying since her aunt's passing. "Thanks," she said simply, unwilling to dwell on the ache.
Phoebe exhaled softly before pressing forward. "The Celestial Realignment is reaching a critical phase."
Sam's brows furrowed. "I still haven't gotten a proper explanation of what the Celestial Realignment even is."
Phoebe hesitated before nodding. "I suppose we never truly explained it, did we?"
Sophia took the lead, her tone carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "The Celestial Realignment is a universal event—one that occurs when the fundamental balance of cosmic forces shifts. It is a recurring phenomenon that reshapes reality itself."
Sam's expression remained unreadable, but her mind whirled with the implications. "And why is it starting here? Why on Terra?"
A new voice—smooth, confident, laced with something both enigmatic and absolute—cut through the air.
"Because Earth is about to undergo a transformation, much like the one you yourself have begun, Grand-Niece."
Sam turned sharply, instincts flaring as she caught sight of a figure emerging from the shadows at the edge of the room.
She moved with effortless grace, her presence commanding without a word. Mismatched eyes of silver and crimson studied Sam with an intensity that made it clear she was no ordinary being. A rich, fur-lined red jacket draped over her shoulders, accentuating the quiet but undeniable authority she exuded.
Rex stiffened at the sight of her, though his voice remained level. "The Herald, I presume."
The woman smirked, the expression sharp yet vaguely amused. "In the flesh."
The Herald. Sam inhaled sharply, her mind racing. That was the name Leon had been chasing when he first arrived on Terra. And now, here she was.
"Why did you call me 'Grand-Niece'?" Sam asked, her voice edged with wary curiosity.
The woman—Vuelo—stepped forward with slow, deliberate grace, her presence an unspoken command. Sam, instinctively unsettled by the weight of her gaze, rose from her seat, keeping her stance firm as the woman approached.
Vuelo stopped just before her, reaching out with effortless confidence. Cool fingers tilted Sam's chin upward, forcing her to meet those mismatched eyes—one silver, one crimson.
A knowing smile played at Vuelo's lips, equal parts gentle and imposing. "Because, Samantha, the same Vysilleaf blood that flows through me… flows through you and your mother."
Her voice was steady, carrying the weight of lineage and history, a truth spoken as fact rather than revelation.
"My name is Vuelo Vysilleaf."
Sam felt something shift in her chest—something old and unspoken, stirring beneath the surface.
"Like I said before, the transformation you've undergone is about to befall the entire planet," Vuelo said, her tone even but weighted with certainty.
She turned away from Sam, pacing across the room with measured steps, her presence filling the space. Her sharp gaze flickered over each person in the room, ensuring they understood the gravity of her words.
Sam exhaled slowly, settling back into her seat as she processed what Vuelo was saying. A planetary transformation? The idea was staggering.
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying Terra itself is about to ascend?"
"Yes," Sophia confirmed, her voice calm yet resolute. "Planets, like us, are living beings with sentience. They possess a will—one that can grow, evolve, and, when the conditions are right, ascend. The richer a planet's Odic concentration, the greater its chances of reaching that next state of existence."
Sam let that sink in. A planet with a will. With sentience. With the potential to evolve just like any other being.
Vuelo stopped pacing, tilting her head slightly as she regarded them all. "Unfortunately for mankind, Terra's World Core has been sealed for a long time," she said, her tone edged with both frustration and inevitability. "Too long, if you ask me. And now, the time has finally come to ensure that seal is completely broken."
Her gaze locked onto Sam, unwavering. "Because if we don't… the human race on Terra will face extinction."
****
The hovercraft soared through the sky, gliding effortlessly as it breached the shimmering gateway—the invisible boundary separating the Hidden World from the mundane reality beyond. As the craft emerged, the landscape shifted, the mystical obscurities of the hidden realm fading behind them, replaced by the familiar sprawl of the New York state skyline stretching toward the horizon.
At the helm, Emily and Rex piloted the vessel with expert precision, their hands moving instinctively over the illuminated controls as the hovercraft adjusted speed and altitude. The faint hum of the ship's propulsion filled the cabin, a steady pulse against the backdrop of the rushing wind outside.
In the passenger bay, Sam sat toward the back, her gaze flicking across the faces of those seated with her—Rosa, Henry, Callum, and Trini—each lost in their thoughts, the weight of their mission pressing heavily upon them. The tension in the air was palpable. The journey ahead promised no certainty—only the unknown waiting on the other side. Sam, however, was filled with a restless anticipation. This was it—her chance to save Leon, to pull him back from the brink of the sickness slowly consuming him. But as much as that singular purpose drove her forward, she couldn't ignore the far greater burden that had been unceremoniously dropped onto her shoulders.
Somehow, the fate of humanity itself had been tossed into her lap.
According to her so-called Great-Aunt, Vuelo Vysilleaf, the World Core of Terra was on the verge of awakening—a consequence of the Celestial Realignment now rippling across the universe. It wasn't just a shift in cosmic forces; it was an evolutionary threshold.
Like any living thing, planets were capable of ascension—cultivating power, breaking through limitations, and growing toward their full potential. The idea was staggering, almost absurd at first, but the more Sam considered it, the more it made a strange kind of sense.
Her Terramorphosis ability made her feel a profound connection to the Earth, far deeper than her ties to any other elemental force. It wasn't just an affinity—it was something greater, older, more primal. Now she had come to understand that Terra itself was alive—not in the way organic beings were, but in a manner that transcended mundane comprehension.
And now, that living force was stirring. Waking. Changing.
What it all meant—for her, for Leon, for humanity as a whole—remained uncertain. It wasn't inherently good or bad, at least not yet. It was simply inevitable.
According to Vuelo, the Echo Field that had manifested over Cedar Lake Bridge was directly tied to Terra's awakening. Their mission was clear: enter the field, retrieve the Crown of Stars, and return.
On the surface, it sounded simple. In practice? Anything but.
From what Vuelo had hinted at, retrieving the Crown would be the final catalyst—the last trigger necessary to fully awaken Terra. The specifics, however, were still shrouded in mystery. How the Crown was connected to the World Core, what its true nature was, and why this moment was the tipping point—Vuelo hadn't explained.
And that lack of explanation left a nagging unease at the back of Sam's mind. Because if Terra was on the brink of something monumental… then so was everything that lived upon it.
The hovercraft descended, cutting smoothly through the air as Emily expertly maneuvered toward a landing point near Cedar Lake Bridge. The landscape below came into sharper focus—the towering pylons, the shimmering containment barrier, and the unstable Echo Field swirling beyond the threshold.
As the craft settled onto solid ground, Rex rose from his seat, turning to face the group before they disembarked. His expression was calm but firm, his posture carrying the weight of something unspoken but significant.
"Unfortunately, since Emily and I are Offworlders, we can't take part in Terra's awakening," Rex said, his tone measured. "Our presence would only agitate the nascent will that should emerge once the planet begins its transformation."
"The nascent will?" Rosa asked, her brow furrowing.
"Planets have consciousness," Trini explained before Rex could respond, her voice steady with understanding. "During its awakening, Terra will begin forming an identity of its own—a true sentient will."
Rex gave her a small nod before continuing. "Yes. And unfortunately, Offworlders like us would be seen as a foreign presence—an invading force. Terra's newborn consciousness might interpret us as a threat, and that's not a risk we can take."
"We don't want to provoke an unstable, newly awakened entity," Emily added, her voice serious. "Especially one as powerful as a planet."
Henry glanced between them. "So what are you two going to do?"
Rex adjusted his coat, his sharp eyes flickering toward the shifting sky beyond the bridge. "Emily and I have our mission," he said simply. "We'll be dropping you off here and heading for ours."
Sam studied him for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Good luck."
Emily smirked slightly, the closest thing to warmth she'd shown all day. "You too."
With a sharp hiss, the hatch slid open, releasing a gust of cool, charged air as the team stepped onto the bridge. Behind them, the hovercraft lifted off, its engines humming as it ascended into the darkened sky, vanishing beyond the veil of the Echo Field's distortion.
Sam stood still for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. It had been years since she had last set foot here—not since she had left for college, not since she had run from this place and everything it had taken from her. This was where her father had died.
The weight of that memory pressed against her chest like an unseen force, tightening around her lungs. She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to keep moving, but her fists clenched involuntarily, the tremor in her hands betraying the storm roiling beneath her composure.
Beside her, Rosa took notice. Her sharp gaze flickered to Sam's clenched fists, then shifted to the bridge itself—a vast stretch of red steel, spanning over the restless waters below. The air around them pulsed with a heavy, unseen force, thick with Odic energy, crackling and shifting like a coiled tempest waiting to unfurl.
The very atmosphere trembled, the bridge was no longer just a structure of metal and stone, but a place teetering on the precipice of something far greater.
And they had just stepped into the heart of it.
Waiting for them at the center of the bridge was Emanu.
She stood tall, clad in form-fitting orange armor, its metallic sheen catching the ambient glow of the charged air around them. A long spear rested against her back, its presence both a symbol of her authority and a silent warning to any who dared cross her. Around her, a group of Golden Dawn agents stood at attention, their stances disciplined, their gazes sharp. Yet, despite their numbers, none of them carried the same commanding presence as Emanu.
She wasn't just holding her ground—she was anchoring the storm.
Even against the disturbing tension saturating the air, the pulsing force of the Echo Field, and the unstable Odic energy rippling across the bridge, Emanu's presence pushed back, holding everything in delicate equilibrium.
Sam exhaled softly, relief flickering through her chest. She hadn't seen Emanu since leaving the Moon, and it felt reassuring to have her here now. Still, as her gaze swept over the gathered agents, she quickly noticed something—or rather, someone—missing.
Phoebe wasn't here.
Before she could ask, Emanu's voice cut through the heavy air, carrying an effortless warmth.
"Guys! I'm glad to see you all in one piece."
A genuine smile crossed her lips as she took them all in, but her gaze lingered longest on Rosa. In an instant, her composure softened, and before Rosa could react, Emanu pulled her into a tight embrace.
"And you…" she murmured, her voice laced with both pride and something deeper. "You accomplished it. Without my help."
Rosa smiled, a rare expression of quiet emotion passing over her usually reserved features. She owed Emanu more than words could express.
It was Emanu who had found her as a child, recognizing something in her that others had overlooked. It was Emanu who had brought her into Golden Dawn, training her in the Mystic Arts, guiding her, raising her, and shaping her into who she was today.
Emanu was more than a mentor. She was the older sister Rosa had never had.
And Rosa knew that, eventually, the day would come when Emanu would offer her something greater—the chance to ascend, an honor reserved only for the most exceptional Low-Tier Guardians. But for now, this moment was enough.
"I wouldn't have made it if it hadn't been for you" Rosa admitted giving her a genuine smile.
"Yes… but how fortunate that you ended up in an Awakening Temple," Emanu mused, her tone thoughtful. "The temple must have played a role in awakening your Soul Core."
Her gaze then shifted, settling on Henry, Callum, and Trini. It wasn't just a glance—it was an assessment, the weight of her experience measuring something beyond the visible. After only a moment, she nodded slightly, as if confirming a truth she had already suspected.
"It seems the same is true for you three as well."
Henry's eyes widened slightly. "Really?"
Emanu's expression was calm but certain. "Yes. I can sense it—your foundation is coming together nicely."
Trini tilted her head, brows furrowed in thought. "But… I haven't experienced any of the pain Rosa went through before she ascended."
Rosa had explained everything to them—the strange soreness in her chest that had lingered after their return from the Echo Field, the way it had worsened during her battle against the Bat Abominations. That discomfort, she later realized, had been the first sign of her Soul Core's awakening—the pressure of a new power struggling to emerge.
"I didn't feel anything either," Sam added, thoughtful.
Emanu smirked, arms crossing over her chest. "Let's just say you guys are late bloomers."
There was no judgment in her voice—just an amused certainty, as if she already knew that when their time came, it would be worth the wait.
"Anyway, now that you're here, I should explain your mission in more detail," Emanu said, her gaze sweeping across the group. "An Echo Field portal has emerged, and within it lies a hidden world waiting for you all."
The words settled heavily in the charged air.
"Echo Field," Sam muttered under her breath.
She had spent enough time at Yesh Academy and the Fallen Stars stronghold to become well-versed in most mystical concepts. During her studies, she had come across the true nature of an Echo Field—but even now, standing on the threshold of one, she couldn't help but feel its weight differently. Her eyes flickered toward Rosa, recalling the brief explanation she had given back then. It hadn't done it justice.
An Echo Field wasn't just some mystical anomaly—it was a fracture in time and space, a pocket dimension capable of preserving the memories of reality itself. A place outside of time, yet still tethered to the physical world. The mechanics behind it were complex, even by mystical standards, but the implications fascinated her. The idea that remnants of history, moments long forgotten, could coalesce into an independent existence, untouched by the flow of time, was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
And now, they had to step into one again. Her last encounter with an Echo Field had been nothing short of harrowing.But back then, she had been unprepared. And now? Now, she was awakened. Stronger. More in control. This time, there was nothing to fear.
"As you well know, there are different types of Echo Fields," Emanu began, her voice carrying the weight of experience. "They can take on many forms, each with its own rules and anomalies. Luckily for us, Virginia was able to determine exactly what kind of Echo Field we're dealing with."
At that moment, a figure emerged from a nearby tent, stepping into the open. Ginny.
She strode toward them, a sleek tablet in one hand, its screen flickering with complex data streams. Overhead, several mechanical drones, each shaped like an octopus with multi-jointed tentacles, hovered through the air, scanning the perimeter with soft pulses of blue light. Their movements were precise and methodical—an extension of Ginny's sharp analytical mind.
As she reached the group, she gave each of them a quick, acknowledging nod before her gaze settled on Sam.
"Samantha! I heard you finally reunited with your family," she said, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Sam met her gaze, momentarily taken aback by how casual she sounded. "Thanks," she replied simply, though her mind flickered to their last encounter.
The last time she had seen Ginny, the woman—despite her small stature and youthful appearance—had carried herself with the authority of someone far older and far more knowledgeable than she let on. And more importantly, she had hinted at a familiarity with her mother's family—something Sam still hadn't had the chance to fully unpack.
"Virginia, can you tell us what you've got?" Emanu asked, her tone firm, though there was a flicker of unease in her gaze.
"Oh! Right," Ginny said, snapping back into focus. She gestured toward the floating drones surrounding her, their tentacle-like appendages twitching as they scanned the air, tiny pulses of mana-infused energy rippling from their cores. Sam watched them closely, her senses picking up the unmistakable hum of embedded Odic circuits.
She had heard of Automatons, the mysterious race among the Nine Races, known for their blend of organic intelligence and mechanical precision. Were these drones extensions of Ginny herself?
"After sending in one of my babies," Ginny continued, flashing an affectionate glance at her creations, "I was able to analyze the Echo Field's structure. And from the data we've collected…" She hesitated for only a moment before delivering her conclusion.
"It's a Supreme-grade Awakening Temple."
Silence fell over the group like a heavy shroud.
Emanu's expression darkened immediately. "Supreme-grade? That's too much for them. They can't handle something of that level…"
Sam's brows furrowed. "What's wrong with Supreme grade?"
Emanu turned to her, inhaling deeply before answering. "Echo Fields are ranked by their level of difficulty—by how hard it is to survive them, and by the concentration of Odic energy within. The ranks go from Low-grade, Middle-grade, High-grade, and at the very top—Supreme-grade. Those are the rarest and most dangerous of them all."
Before anyone could respond, Ginny interjected. "And that's not all." She flicked a few commands into her tablet, the screen projecting complex spatial data. "Based on my analysis, the Awakening Temple inside this Echo Field has a specific designation: the Astralis Crucible. It's a temporal Echo Field, meaning it's bound to a fragmented moment in time—located in some forgotten city known as Astralis City."
Emanu stiffened, her hands curling into fists. "Astralis City…" she muttered, her voice tight. "No… That's too dangerous for them…"
Before she could argue further, a projection shimmered to life in the space before them—a translucent figure composed of golden light.
Sophia Sinclair.
Her presence was immediate and authoritative.
"It's not up to you, Emanu Yesh," Sophia's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Emanu turned sharply toward the projection, her eyes burning with frustration. A part of her wanted to curse her out right then and there.
Sophia, as always, remained unmoved, her expression serene but unyielding. "If humanity is to survive, our only hope is to send them in."
"Send them in?" Emanu echoed incredulously. "That's a Supreme-grade Echo Field! Whatever trial awaits them in there, it will—"
"—be no different than their battle against the Beast King and his forces in the Inferan Dimension," Sophia interrupted, her voice unwavering. "Do not underestimate my daughter."
Emanu gritted her teeth, her gaze shifting toward Sam and the others. She knew Sophia was right. But that didn't make it any easier. A part of her hated the idea of sending them in there—not when they were still so untested or inexperienced. For the first time in a long time, Emanu felt something unfamiliar. Frustration at her strength. Because if she hadn't surpassed the Awakening phase—if she were still within the threshold of ascension—she could have gone in herself. But the rules of Awakening Temples were absolute: Only the Non-Awakened and those currently undergoing the Awakening Phase could enter.
And so, all she could do was watch.
"Don't worry, Emanu," Sam said, her voice steady, unwavering. "I have no intention of dying anytime soon. Not when I still have to save Leon."
Emanu blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer conviction radiating from Sam. Not long ago, this same girl had been plagued by uncertainty and anxiety, second-guessing herself at every turn. But now?
Now, she stood firm—resolute, fearless. The transformation was undeniable.
Emanu let out a slow breath, finally nodding. "Alright."
Her gaze drifted toward Rosa, and for the first time, a weight settled in her chest. She had heard the stories. Even before awakening, Rosa had faced Greater Realm Abominations—creatures that should have torn her apart. And yet, she had survived, pushing herself beyond her limits. And now, having fully awakened, she was even stronger than the Rosa Emanu had once known.
And it wasn't just Rosa. Her eyes flicked to Henry, Callum, and Trini. Each of them carried themselves differently now—more assured, more battle-hardened. They weren't the same students who had first entered Yesh Academy. They had grown.
Emanu's lips pressed together as an unspoken realization settled over her.
It seems Mother was right. Sending them beyond the Academy's walls… letting them face the unknown, experience the world outside…That was the right decision.
"Now that that's settled, here's a little gift from me to you guys," Ginny said, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
At her words, five of the floating drones hovering around her suddenly shifted. Their metallic bodies began to reshape, contorting fluidly, their multi-jointed appendages retracting as their forms compressed and reconfigured. Within seconds, they had transformed into sleek, silver metallic bands, each one seamlessly binding itself around the arms of Sam and her teammates.
Sam glanced down at the band now wrapped around her left arm, running her fingers over its smooth, cool surface. She had chosen to place it there—her right wrist already occupied by the ward charm bracelet Leon had given her.
A piece of him that she refused to remove.
"What is this?" Sam asked, studying the band with curiosity.
"A communication tab of my own invention," Ginny replied with an air of satisfaction. "It'll help calibrate your environment, analyze conditions, and provide intel on how to navigate the trial inside the Echo Field."
Emanu raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "It can do all that?"
Ginny huffed, clearly amused by the skepticism. "Of course. My drones are outfitted with advanced AI capable of performing Quantum Calculations at a resonance level that can reconstruct temporal events."
She paused, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Do you want to know how it—"
"Uh! Thanks, but that's way too much explanation for me," Sam interrupted, shaking her head.
Ginny snorted, rolling her eyes before tapping at her tablet. "Figures. But, in short, it's how my drones were able to determine what type of Echo Field you're dealing with."
Before anyone could respond, a commanding voice cut through the air, finalizing the conversation.
"Now," Sophia said, her holographic projection flickering as her gaze settled on them. "It's time for you to descend into the field."