The air inside the chamber thickened, and the green glow intensified, casting eerie shadows across the smooth metallic walls. Wein, inside the hovering pod, could feel himself levitating in mid-air as if picked by some invisible force, his heart pounding against his ribs.
Outside, the others remained silent as they observed what was to unfold. They each knelt in reverence of the phenomena that was to happen, the sacred passing of title.
The insides of the pods were suddenly engulfed in thick, condensed streams of unidentifiable objects multiplying rapidly. The mist then fully engulfed the two men. For Nielson, the experience was calm, serene even but for Wein, it felt like he was drowning.
It all happened fast, Neilson floating within the strange mist suddenly jolted into a terrible scream. It was a horrible, wrenching sound that echoed through the chamber, his subordinates wanted to help but could not.
As the pain escalated his body began to convulse violently for some time and then he became still, arms and legs stretched out suspended mid-air.
From his eyes, nose mouth, and even ears streaks of lines came streaming out. As they did, they were revealed to be golden-red liquid, streaming as if it had been ripped from his very being.
The lines gathered and condensed together above him in a singular golden-red orb that hovered mid-air.
Neilson opened his blood red eyes amidst the excruciating pain and saw it, the Divine Blood Core.
It was something that defied comprehension and floated there in mid-air pulsing like a living heart. Its translucent crystalline ruby-like structure swirling with a golden-red liquid would bring awe to whoever saw it.
Neilson watching this sight had seen it before when he got it from his predecessor, it was an otherworldly and tempting power not suitable for mortal eyes. The radiant energy coursing through it was ancient and unfathomable, it could reshape the laws of the universe.
He smiled when he saw it slowly disappear.
Then his veins darkened, his skin paled into a near translucent shade and his body aged at an incredible rate. The Core that had been keeping him alive throughout the years was gone, and now death was free to take him, fortunately, he did not die but passed out.
Meanwhile, the unprepared Wein had heard the Baron's screams and was alerted before a brilliant glow emanated in his eyes, forcing him to close them. With his eyes closed, he felt warmth and something ancient calling out to him.
Being curious, he opened his eyes and saw it the Core.
He swallowed hard, he could feel his hands reach out on instinct. Reaching closer it felt like he was harnessing the power of the sun, he tried to pull back, but his body moved on its own.
And then when he touched it, he felt a surprising cold presence, the core melded into him like water slipping through his hands into himself and then his body shook.
A searing, indescribable pain tore through him as if molten fire had been injected into his bloodstream. Every nerve in his body ignited, every muscle, every fibre cried as the Core forcibly merged with him, essentially overriding who he was.
Wein screamed.
The cry was haunting.
Then his bones cracked, and his skin was ripped apart. Blood poured from his eyes in lines, his nose, and ears everything was dripping, and he began to choke on the blood in his mouth.
The pain did not stop there, in fact, it intensified. Wein felt as if his eyes had been poked and ruptured, he felt all his bones break and heal over and over again, feeling a pain so severe that just screaming was enough to alleviate just a little bit. But when he did, he could feel himself drowning in his own blood.
He could feel himself breaking in and out of consciousness with every pain waking him only to knock him out. The chamber shook violently, the energy entering Wein threatening to tear the whole room apart. The green glow filling the chamber was suddenly replaced by a blinding golden inferno that swallowed the whole room emanating outside and filling the entire underground space.
To everyone the scene was divine but for Wein, it was hell. Throughout the entire process, he could feel himself growing weaker, he could feel his organs shutting down and all his senses deteriorating.
His vision became blurred, his ears ringing increasingly, his nerves went numb, and he felt like he couldn't breathe. And then, Blackness.
….
When Wein came to, he found himself in a darkness, large void with no end in sight. He could not control his body, nor could he utter a single word. He felt trapped like he was in a cage within his body, and he couldn't call for help, who could he ask?
….
Meanwhile for Nielson, when he woke up, he was in the med bay once more. He woke up to find Belson and Eric by his side. After the whole transition, he was informed that they took him and Wein to the next destination.
"My lord calm yourself" Eric spoke first as he reached out to help him sit upright.
"Where… is Wein, how… is he?"
Neilson was more interested in whether Wein survived the transition and did not care for his health.
"He is currently under surveillance, my lord. After the transition, he lost all his senses, but he is still breathing" replied Belson.
"He will recover soon… tell me the status of everything" ordered Neilson.
"We are currently on route to New Alven. We have taken all measures for the secrecy and security of the trip my lord" replied Eric.
"Good."
….
The vessel they were travelling on was a much smaller, camouflaged and unassuming ship.
After the transition, they had headed for New Alven as per Nielson's instructions which he prepared since long ago.
At the moment, they were flying away from Velmora's airspace and heading towards the two uninhabitable planets closer to the sun. Despite them using a small vehicle and seemingly with no entourage, the space they were travelling through was one of the most secure areas in the entire House Voss domain.
The space was restricted which meant no one other than the Baron was allowed to chart on. No matter how wealthy, influential, or even having higher status than the Baron of House Voss, it was forbidden to chart in that airspace.
….
"We will be arriving in New Alven in a few minutes" Astra's voice echoed, she was the one steering the vessel.
Nielson rose from his bed, wore what was provided to him, and was helped to the bridge of the ship. As expected, it was empty besides the androids helping that were operated by Astra.
The bridge felt too empty but that did not matter, what mattered was the cleared opening ahead of the ship. Neilson knew better, there was a hidden structure besides the space debris that was floating everywhere.
A figure appeared on the ship's monitor. A mid-height alien with a bald, purple head, wrinkled features and black oval eyes. A long strand of white hair hung below his cheek another indication that he was old. He was an Ollank, an alien race known for their unwavering loyalty.
"I greet my lord, Baron of House Voss."
His first words were followed by a respectful bow as Neilson's face came into view on the monitor.
"Sir Oll'k… It is about that time" replied Nielson, his hands behind his back. "Allow my ship's entry into the forbidden space."
"As you command, my lord."
The camouflaged ship suddenly entered a strange forcefield and then without question a large irregular structure revealed itself. It was so large, that Neilson could immediately identify it as a broken world.
The broken planet lay there in orbit, its chunks remaining close. The core of the planet was visible as large chunks of its land were scattered in space forming asteroids and debris.
On top of the broken planet were many artificial structures built connecting the different chunks together, these facilities were undoubtably military. There were multiple ships flying between these facilities, but the vessel bypassed them all.
As the ship flew over the broken planet Neilson took one last look at the planet, it was broken, and the small blue areas of water were located inland in few clusters.
This was Alven the broken planet.
This was the name given to the planet that had been changed to be another military base of House Voss's forces.
…
"My lord, Sir Wein has regained consciousness. He is still blind, but his other senses are returning" notified Astra.
"Thank you, Astra. Have him brought to the bridge when he can."
As the ship flew passed Alven, the full extent of the cloaking technology became evident, all over the area were many similar structures covering a region.
These structures were advanced being able to cloak an entire planet, rendering the entire region undetectable and impenetrable.
Then the ship slowed, and Oll'k reappeared on the screen.
"I have continued to secure the sacred world as you have ordered my lord and I will continue to do so till I die" he spoke, the line carried a sense of pride and honour.
"You have served House Voss as a loyal Knight for decades, Sir Oll'k. May your service continue for many more."?
"That is my vow."
Neilson exchanged one final nod with the old man and then turned to face Eric. He, Eric, Wein, and Belson were the only living creatures on the ship. The others would wait behind and would not participate in the following step.
"Eric, you will come with me and Wein. As you know, New Alven cannot be contaminated with the ills of advanced civilisations for too long, clean him and come."
Eric nodded, he knew the rules better than everyone. In fact, among the Circle, he was the last one to come to New Alven which was an honour so high that most nobles would kill for.
Neilson turned his sight to Belson, who then hugged him being all emotional.
"Goodbye my lord" his voice had a hint of sadness.
As he was hugging Nielson, the doors slid open, and Wein was escorted by an assistant android. The three could tell he was still blind as he stretched his arms out, but his other senses were getting better.