[The Foreign Energy in your body’s expanding] Moments after Lord Grania’s departure, the rest of the Granian and Cyclitharan fleets flew through the Gates and were sent to three distinct locations. The first was at the center of the Ethisian half of the Akrina Inner Ring, a hot zone for Ethisian activity. This ring was an Ethisian hotbed because it was closest to planet Edenia. Because of that, the largest fleet was sent to break it apart first, all led by Lord Gravax who was accompanied by the Crimson Knight Cherry and the Blood Bishop Ace. The second and third largest fleets were sent to the left and right side of the Inner Ring where they’d deal even more damage discreetly, making sure to take advantage of the distraction caused in the center of the Inner Ring. With this formation, the Ethisians would "allegedly" be torn on where to send their reinforcements. At the moment, Lord Gravax and a part of his fleet, who had begun conquests on the nearby planets already, were greeted by a sudden and unexpected appearance from more Ethisian soldiers who they were yet to account for. By the time the additional Ethisian troops arrived, Gravax was already hand-tied on one of the many planets he was set to conquer. The planet, though partially deserted, was still swamped with Ethisian miners, slaves, laborers, and soldiers, turning the conquest into an all-out war of sorts. What he anticipated to be a day of battling and killing looked to be something that would take even longer and if he didn’t play his cards right, it could even spell defeat for him. "Lord Gravax," one of the Granians in charge of communications with the fleets in space approached the Granian who was overseeing the ongoing battle, "more Ethisian fleets have arrived and they’re blocking our reinforcements from landing on any of the planets." "Lord Gravax," another came running with despair written all over their faces, their countenance void of any hope of victory or survival, "some of our Behemoth ships are taking serious damage. If we lose them, we could lose more than a quarter of our fleet’s resources. We didn’t prepare for an all-out space war." "Lord Gravax," another Granian ran to Lord Gravax with a screen in their hands. Unlike the others, this one didn’t look as distressed as Gravax had expected. Instead, he looked...shocked, almost as though he didn’t believe what he was about to report. "We’ve received a distress signal...from an Ethisian ship...." While reporting, the said Ethisian ship being discussed flew above Gravax. The Granian Lord and everyone else watched in horror, thinking that the Ethisians turned their attention from the war in space to the war on the ground. "I thought we still had reinforcements keeping the Ethisians from reaching us," Gravax snapped, thinking that the Ethisians were truly coming for his ground forces, "are they really..." "No," the soldier interrupted, "we’re receiving two high Eneraflux readings coming from the ship’s direction." Instead of talking, the soldier turned the screen to Gravax’s eyes, showing what it was he was talking about. "Lord Grania!!" he exclaimed, recognizing the Eneraflux level readings on the screen. "He’s here? But how? I thought he was after the..." At that exact moment, Gravax knew what was going on. Lord Grania’s energy reading wasn’t alone. There was another close to his, one that he had never seen before up until recently. Whoever that energy belonged to must have been... "Gather the Humans to me," he commanded while giving charge of overseeing the battle to someone else while he attended to the falling ship, "if I’m correct, this could either be the chance we get at freeing Ace...or losing him." *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* {COLLISION INEVITABLE} {COLLISION INEVITABLE} Lights beeped all over the ship repeatedly with the shrilling noise of the alarms ringing loudly. A great rumbling shook the ship as it made a gradual descent to the ground. At the speed it was moving, the chances of survival were high but so were the chances of walking out of the wreckage with injuries. {COLLISION INEVITABLE} {COLLISION INEVITABLE} *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* Dıscover more novels at 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱 Behind the descending Ethisian ship were two Granian fighter ships, both rushing quickly to at least save whoever was in it. While one Granian ship followed the descending Ethisian ship, another—carrying Lord Gravax and Ace, followed Lord Grania’s energy readings. "We’re approaching the ship," the pilot piloting the Granian ship announced to their one passenger, Cherry, "ready yourself to jump out in three...two...one...NOW!!" The Crimson Knight, transformed in her Mutant form, catapulted herself from the Granian ship and latched onto the descending Ethisian ship. Without haste, Cherry used strong, sharp tendrils to break the ship’s doors apart before proceeding into it. The ship was noisy with lights flashing repeatedly...but where was the person she was looking for? "Human Cherry," the pilot spoke using a small communicator shared between him and Cherry, "the ship is about to crash. Hurry and get out." "Hold on," Cherry replied, "I don’t see who I’m supposed to..." Just then, the Crimson Knight saw who was "piloting" the descending ship. A passed-out human remained unconscious on the controls with their head gradually pushing the steering downwards. "Skyler?" Cherry marveled as she rushed to her aid. Without wasting time, the Crimson Knight lifted the unconscious fifth human and leaped out of the descending ship, and fell back onto the Granian ship. Once there, she reverted to normal and began devising ways of reviving Skyler. "Who was it?" the pilot asked but Cherry didn’t answer. She was too busy trying to revive Skyler’s cold, unconscious body. ’Her symbiote didn’t evolve her body quickly enough. I don’t know how long she has gone without air...but it’s a good thing we got to her before she crashed.’ As Skyler and her pilot piloting the ship she was in returned to safety, Lord Gravax, his pilot, and Ace were nearing Lord Grania’s energy reading which was motionless at the moment, meaning he was in one place...but so was the other high energy reading. [The Foreign Energy in your body’s weakening] ’She’s here.’ Ace, feeling Ely’s energy expanding in his own body, peered over the ship and looked directly at the High Grade whose body was under Grania’s own, both having crashed a few minutes ago. "Make a landing here," Gravax commanded and then turned to Ace saying, "We are going to attempt lessening her energy output. Once we do... do everything you can to kill her."