The cockpit lights glinted in Valera's calm eyes. At the age of 24, the sharp lines on his face spoke of thousands of hours spent traversing the stars. In front of him stretched the Orion Nebula, like a cosmic watercolor painting – purple and pink swirling together in an eternal dance of light.
"Analysis complete, Captain. No significant anomalies within five astronomical units," came the soft, emotionless voice from a floating metal orb the size of a volleyball beside the pilot's seat. It was Kai, the loyal artificial intelligence who accompanied Valera on every journey.
"Good, Kai. Keep monitoring the energy spectrum. Remember the incident in the Kuiper Belt last time?" Valera exhaled, the memory of being chased by Solarian pirates still bitter.
Valera's ship, Stardust Drifter, was an elegant fusion of combat durability and long-range exploration comfort. Its hull, reinforced with titanium-carbonium alloy, could withstand both small asteroid impacts and medium-grade laser fire. Inside, though compact, it felt warm with synthetic wood panels and gentle lighting.
In a galaxy now home to billions of humans scattered across terraformed planets, massive space stations, and gravity-defying floating cities, the profession of "Relic Hunter" was both revered and perilous. These adventurers dared to explore the ruins of ancient civilizations, forgotten planets, and cosmic anomalies in search of rare and valuable artifacts.
To become an official Relic Hunter, one had to register with the Interstellar Explorer's Guild and carry a license card showing their level of expertise. The ranking system was strict: from the lowest, E, to the highest, S+, reflecting experience, knowledge, and discovery success. Valera, with sharp instincts and often uncanny luck, held the rank of A – a respected position, though he still aspired to join the elite S ranks.
"According to the data you gathered from the Cygnus X-1 black market, the 'Echo Crystal' is said to emit a unique resonance on the Delta-7 frequency," said Valera, tapping the control panel. "Xylos-Beta… not exactly a friendly place, but the reward is worth the risk."
"Note: Xylos-Beta has a corrosive methane atmosphere and a population of nocturnal, aggressive creatures highly sensitive to sound waves," Kai reminded him in his neutral tone.
Valera gave a faint smile. "That's what makes it a challenge, Kai. Rare treasures aren't just lying around on the streets of Elysium."
Elysium. The name given to the star cluster at the heart of human civilization in this spacefaring era. A promise of prosperity and adventure, yet also full of intrigue and unforeseen danger.
The currency used throughout the Elysium galaxy was the Aetheron (AE), a universal value standard backed by a consortium of core planets and traded electronically.
Valera adjusted his harness. "Engage optical cloak, Kai. We're entering Xylos-Beta's atmosphere stealthily. Let's hope Lady Luck's on our side this time."
Stardust Drifter glided smoothly through Xylos-Beta's thick methane atmosphere. On the navigation screen, the planet appeared as an obsidian sphere shrouded in a pale green mist. Passive sensors strained to filter the roar of wind and atmospheric friction in search of Delta-7 energy signatures.
"Atmospheric pressure 1.8 standard, temperature minus 70 degrees Celsius. Biological activity detected beneath the surface, Captain," Kai reported, his data displayed in a floating holographic graph.
"Just as expected. Nocturnal creatures," Valera muttered, his hands deftly steering. "Activate infrared sensors. Let's find any significant structures that might house the artifact."
The surface of Xylos-Beta stretched below them like a nightmarish landscape. Deep valleys yawned in the darkness, interspersed with crystalline rock formations that glowed faintly. Methane winds howled, creating strange sounds that resembled whispers.
"Artificial structure detected at coordinates 47.8 South Latitude, 112.5 East Longitude. Its shape resembles ancient ruins," Kai's report appeared on-screen.
Valera nodded. "That must be it. Take us in, Kai. Slow and quiet."
They landed on a plateau overlooking a dark valley. The Drifter's spotlight pierced the darkness, illuminating the ruins of a building made of glossy black stone. Its intricate carvings looked alien, not of any human civilization Valera knew.
"Delta-7 energy faintly detected inside the ruins," said Kai. "Low intensity, possibly buried or weakened."
Valera donned his light exo-suit, which protected him from the toxic atmosphere and enhanced his strength. He grabbed his multi-tool – a versatile device that could function as a scanner, sonic screwdriver, and defensive weapon.
"You stay here, Kai. Monitor the surroundings and alert me to any movement."
"Understood, Captain. Be careful."
Valera stepped out of the Drifter, his boots crunching on the cold, rocky surface. The methane wind buffeted his exo-suit, carrying a sharp, sulfuric scent. He activated the scanner on his multi-tool and carefully approached the ruins.
The wall carvings depicted many-legged creatures with glowing eyes, surrounded by spiraling, unfamiliar symbols. Whatever civilization built this place had long since vanished.
As Valera entered a room that might once have been a grand hall, his scanner picked up a stronger surge of Delta-7 energy beneath the floor.
"Kai, I'm getting a stronger signal down here. There might be an underground chamber."
"Analysis of the floor structure shows cracks and cavities. A hidden space is highly probable," Kai replied.
Valera activated the sonic mode of his multi-tool, aiming it at a crack in the floor. High-frequency sound waves shattered the brittle rock, opening a hole large enough to pass through.
He jumped down into the darkness. The light from his multi-tool revealed a small chamber with an altar at its center. Atop the altar lay a bluish-green crystal, softly glowing—the Echo Crystal.
Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed from a corner of the room. Two pairs of red eyes glowed in the dark. Nocturnal creatures of Xylos-Beta, with lean bodies and sharp claws, emerged from the shadows. They hissed, ready to strike.
"Captain, two aggressive biological entities approaching!" Kai's voice rang from the Drifter.
Valera growled. "Looks like the welcoming party's a bit livelier than I expected." He gripped his multi-tool tightly. The Echo Crystal was within reach, and he wouldn't let these creatures stop him. The battle in the valley of shadows had begun.
Years of honed instincts kicked in. Before the creatures could pounce, Valera dove sideways, dodging claws that slashed at the stone floor. He raised his multi-tool, activating its shock mode.
A blue arc of energy struck one of the creatures. It shrieked and convulsed before collapsing, unmoving. The other hesitated, its glowing red eyes glaring at Valera with hatred.
"Kai, give me a bio-analysis on this thing if you've got it," Valera ordered as he circled the altar carefully.
"Scanning… No match in Elysium species database. Genetic structure shows extreme adaptation to low-light, methane-rich environments. High sensitivity to sound waves," Kai reported quickly.
The remaining creature let out a piercing screech. Valera felt a strange vibration in his skull, as if something were resonating inside his mind.
"Captain, their sound is affecting your brain's frequency! Be cautious!" Kai warned.
Valera grinned. "That's their weakness." He aimed his multi-tool at the stone floor near the creature and activated a low-frequency sonic wave. Powerful vibrations rippled through the ground, disorienting the creature and causing it to howl in pain.
Before it could recover, Valera lunged forward and struck it with the tool's handle, knocking it out. He exhaled heavily, heart pounding.
"Grab the Echo Crystal, Captain. We need to get out – those screeches may attract more," Kai urged.
Valera reached out and picked up the bluish-green crystal. As his fingers touched its cool, smooth surface, a warm energy surged through him. A vision flashed before his eyes: endless starfields, breathtaking nebula formations, and ancient voices echoing from afar.
"I feel it, Kai. Incredible energy," Valera whispered in awe.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. A deep rumble echoed from outside the ruins.
"Warning! Massive surface movement detected! Their numbers are increasing rapidly!" Kai shouted in alarm. "We must leave now, Captain!"
Valera quickly stowed the Echo Crystal in a special shielded pouch. He dashed to the hole in the floor and leapt back into the upper chamber. Outside, a terrifying sight greeted them – dozens, maybe hundreds, of red-eyed nocturnal creatures swarming toward the ruins.
"Damn it! Run to the Drifter, Kai! Now!" Valera shouted, firing at the oncoming creatures with a light blaster from his belt. Red laser beams tore through the darkness, dropping a few, but the horde was relentless.
They sprinted toward Stardust Drifter on the plateau. The creatures chased them with terrifying speed, their shrieks filling the air.
As they neared the ramp, several creatures lunged. Valera deflected a claw strike with his multi-tool while Kai emitted a sonic shockwave from his body, staggering nearby attackers.
"Get in, Captain!" Kai yelled as the ramp lowered.
Valera leapt into the cockpit just as a large creature with serrated jaws lunged. Kai swiftly closed the ramp, and Stardust Drifter shot upward, leaving the howling creatures behind.
"Damage report, Kai!" Valera panted.
"Minor hull scratches. No significant damage."
Valera engaged the main thrusters. The ship roared through Xylos-Beta's atmosphere, the dark planet shrinking behind them. In the cockpit, Valera held the pouch containing the Echo Crystal tightly. They had done it. They had secured the artifact.