The ancient gates of Elysia continued to open.

A deep vibration spread across the entire planet as massive stone doors moved apart after thousands of years of silence.

Dust filled the air.

The ground beneath Aiden’s feet trembled.

From within the darkness beyond the gate…

A blue light slowly awakened.

Everyone stopped moving.

Even the Imperial soldiers looked uncertain.

Grand Admiral Kael Draven stared at the ancient entrance with a mixture of anger and curiosity.

“So this is where the Starborn hid their secret.”

Orion stepped in front of Aiden.

“You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”

The Admiral smiled.

“I understand perfectly.”

“The Starborn disappeared because they feared their own creations.”

“Now humanity will inherit their power.”

Orion’s expression darkened.

“You still believe that.”

“I know it.”

Draven raised his hand.

Imperial soldiers aimed their weapons.

“Take the boy.”

The soldiers advanced.

Orion fired first.

Blue plasma shots crossed the battlefield.

Several soldiers fell, but hundreds more continued moving forward.

Aiden stood frozen.

He had fought drones.

He had escaped a space station under attack.

But this was different.

These soldiers weren’t machines.

They were trained killers.

Orion grabbed his shoulder.

“Aiden.”

“You need to enter the temple.”

Aiden looked at him.

“What?”

“The Starborn Core chose you for a reason.”

“Inside that temple, you’ll find the answers your mother left behind.”

“But what about you?”

Orion looked toward the approaching army.

“I’ll slow them down.”

Aiden shook his head.

“No.”

“We leave together.”

Orion smiled sadly.

“Your mother said the same thing.”

Aiden froze.

“You knew she would say that?”

“She always protected others before herself.”

Orion pushed him toward the temple.

“Go.”

“Find out why she sacrificed everything.”

Aiden hesitated.

Then he ran.

---

The inside of the Starborn temple was unlike anything he had ever seen.

The walls were made of a strange crystal-like material that glowed softly.

Images moved across the surface.

Ancient battles.

Massive ships traveling between galaxies.

A civilization that had mastered the stars.

Aiden walked deeper into the temple.

At the center of the chamber stood a circular platform.

The Starborn Core inside his body reacted instantly.

The platform activated.

A figure appeared.

Not his mother this time.

An alien.

Its body was tall and covered with silver armor-like skin. Its eyes shone like blue stars.

Aiden stepped back.

“Who are you?”

The being looked at him calmly.

“I am Arion.”

“The final memory of the Starborn.”

Aiden stared.

“The Starborn…”

“Are they all gone?”

Arion lowered his head.

“Our civilization ended thousands of years ago.”

“But our mission continues.”

“What mission?”

The alien looked directly at him.

“To protect the universe from the Void.”

Aiden remembered his mother’s words.

A prison.

Not a weapon.

“What is the Void?”

The temple lights dimmed.

A massive holographic image appeared.

A black storm spreading across galaxies.

Worlds disappearing.

Stars dying.

Arion spoke quietly.

“The Void is not a creature.”

“It is a force.”

“A living darkness that consumes energy, memories, and life itself.”

“Long ago, the Starborn created a seal to contain it.”

Aiden’s expression changed.

“And the Imperium?”

“They seek to break that seal.”

“Why?”

“Because they believe they can control the Void.”

Arion looked toward him.

“They are wrong.”

Aiden clenched his fists.

“So my mother died trying to stop them.”

“No.”

The alien’s answer surprised him.

“Your mother did not die.”

Aiden froze.

“What?”

“Elena Vale entered the Void Gate to strengthen the seal.”

“She has been trapped between dimensions ever since.”

For the first time in years…

Aiden felt hope.

“She’s alive?”

Before Arion could respond…

The temple shook violently.

A massive explosion echoed outside.

The Imperial forces had entered.

Arion’s hologram flickered.

“Time is running out.”

“You must awaken the full power of the Starborn Core.”

Aiden looked uncertain.

“I don’t know how.”

“You do not need to know.”

“You only need to choose.”

“Choose what?”

“Whether you will use this power to control the universe…”

“Or protect it.”

The chamber went silent.

Aiden thought about his mother.

About Nova-7.

About every person who had suffered because powerful people wanted more.

Slowly…

He placed his hand on the platform.

“I don’t want to rule anything.”

“I just want to protect the people who can’t protect themselves.”

The entire temple awakened.

Millions of lights exploded across the chamber.

The Starborn Core inside him responded.

A wave of energy spread across Elysia.

Outside, Imperial ships suddenly lost power.

Soldiers stopped.

Even Admiral Draven looked shocked.

“No…”

“That energy…”

“It can’t be.”

Aiden emerged from the temple.

His appearance had changed.

A glowing blue symbol appeared on his hand.

The air around him carried the power of an ancient civilization.

Draven stared.

“You awakened the Starborn Legacy.”

Aiden looked at him.

“This ends here.”

The Admiral smiled.

“No, boy.”

“This is only the beginning.”

Behind him…

The sky above Elysia tore open.

A massive black crack appeared between the stars.

Something on the other side moved.

Something enormous.

Something that had been waiting for thousands of years.

Orion looked toward the sky in horror.

“The Void…”

“It has awakened.”