The systematic absorption of Voidborn Memorite continued, each crystal dissolving into Achilles’ enhanced physiology like drops of liquid starlight finding their proper constellation.
The memories of the Hive Queen’s impossible gaze lingered in his consciousness, a reminder that after his daughter and the Hive Queen gazed at him from distances across space or time...he had to further elevate his Space-Time Assimilation to prevent such things from happening!
As the final fragments of the rare metalloid integrated into him, a familiar sensation bloomed in his awareness...the crystallization of new capabilities.
| Organic Universal Crystal -- Voidborn Memorite Echelon I (23%)|
1. Stellar Genesis Conversion I: Converts absorbed energy forms into concentrated Voidborn Memorite clusters. Upon reaching critical mass, clusters will manifest and be deployed as stellar emergence bombs with destructive yields equivalent to newborn star formation. This provides a way to form new Voidborn Memorite crystals, and a way to decimate enemies. Effective range: 500,000 kilometers. Detonation force: 10^44 joules(The explosive force of a supernovae)
2. Consciousness Archive Integration I: Absorbs and stores complete memory sets from contacted beings, living or dead. Stored consciousness can be selectively accessed, interrogated, or temporarily manifested as autonomous constructs. Current storage capacity: 10,000.
3. Temporal Memory Projection I: Projects stored memories across dimensional barriers to influence past or future events. Can implant experiences, alter decision-making processes, or create paradoxical information loops. Temporal range: 72 hours past/future.
4. Crystalline Dominion Field I: Establishes zones where Voidborn Memorite responds to user’s will regardless of original ownership. Within field boundaries, all crystalline matter becomes extensions of user’s consciousness. Field radius: 50,000 meters.
5. Void-Memory Synthesis I: Fuses multiple stored consciousness patterns to create hybrid entities with combined capabilities and knowledge. Synthesized beings retain loyalty to creator while possessing enhanced problem-solving abilities derived from merged experiences.
The abilities pulsed through his awareness like weapons waiting to be deployed.
Each one represented a different approach to the systematic accumulation and application of power!
His gaze drifted toward the remaining clusters of Voidborn Memorite that pulsed throughout Aethermoor’s core, and for a moment, hunger blazed in his eyes. The temptation to continue, to absorb every fragment of the precious metalloid, pressed against his consciousness.
But continued absorption would destabilize the planetary core, turning billions of lives into collateral damage for the sake of personal enhancement. There were limits to what could be taken without crossing lines that led to unnecessary destruction!
He blinked, forcing himself to step back from the edge of gluttony, and noticed Arya still engaged in her own systematic consumption of the crystalline formations.
Her small face carried the stern concentration of someone conducting important research, but the rate of her absorption suggested enthusiasm that exceeded caution.
"Little one," he said with gentle amusement, moving to place a hand on her shoulder, "do you know you can get chubby if you eat too much?"
Arya’s expression shifted to one of indignant protest, her cheeks puffing out in a way that made her look even younger than her apparent age.
"Father!" she grumbled, but after a moment her shoulders sagged in reluctant understanding. Her gaze lingered on the remaining Voidborn Memorite clusters with the same hungry intensity he had just forced himself to suppress.
Just like him, she recognized the value of what surrounded them and wanted more than circumstances would safely allow!
But unless he planned to throw their lives away by jumping directly into the heart of the Kythernai Swarm, one of the only methods of obtaining additional quantities would be through the abilities he had just acquired.
His eyes brightened with possibilities as Rose approached, her movements graceful despite the superheated environment that surrounded them. Her smile blazed with curiosity and anticipation as she studied their expressions.
"Good results?" she asked.
"Astonishingly good results," he confirmed with serious satisfaction.
He opened his mouth to begin explaining the full scope of what he had discovered, then remembered that they were not alone in these depths. Archon Stellarix remained positioned at a respectful distance, his enhanced senses undoubtedly cataloguing every word of their conversation.
"Head back up for now," Achilles called out to the planetary ruler, his voice carrying easily across the crystalline expanse. "We will be finished here soon."
The Archon nodded with visible relief, his expression mixing awe and terror as he began ascending toward more survivable atmospheric layers.
Once they were alone, Achilles turned his full attention to his family and began sharing glimpses of what the memory crystals had revealed.
The scope of the Kythernai Swarm, the impossible power of their Hive Queen, the vast deposits of Voidborn Memorite that lay beyond their current reach.
"As of now," he continued, his voice taking on the tactical precision of someone outlining battlefield strategies, "I am hunting the four remaining Kings of the Virgo Stellar Expanse. They are merely Stellar Genesis Embodiment entities, but I haven’t quite reached that level of power yet, so I’m using other means to eliminate them."
His eyes flashed with predatory satisfaction. "One of them is reaching out to the Sovereign Void Imperium, seeking protection under tributary status. This means all our enemies are gathering in one convenient location."
He moved closer to Rose, his gaze locking with hers with intensity. "Do you want something to scorch?"
Her nod carried fierce determination!
Achilles reached out to touch his forehead to hers, their enhanced physiology creating a connection that transcended physical contact. With his eyes closed, he spoke.
"I will give you an entire star system to scorch. But first, our power must rise sufficiently. For now, I will show you how our family...will officially expand into outer space."
Arya’s expression lit up with excitement that could have powered small suns, her enhanced consciousness immediately grasping what her father intended!
She even smiled as she whispered...’The Sea! of! Thalassara!’
Achilles wrapped all three of them in spatial light that bent reality around their forms like protective armor, and in the next instant, they simply ceased to exist in the planetary depths.
The void between stars welcomed them with the cold embrace of infinite possibility.
Above them floated what appeared to be nothing more than an unremarkable meteor drifting through cosmic emptiness...a piece of debris so ordinary that even enhanced sensors would dismiss it as insignificant background matter.
"That," Achilles said, pointing toward the disguised Plane below them, "is Ethemia. But now it will undergo a transformation that will reshape our understanding of what’s possible."
His voice carried across the vacuum through means that transcended conventional physics, each word vibrating with authority that made space itself seem to listen.
"With it as our base, the Sea of Thalassara shall spread to outer space itself. And from there..."
"From there, we reclaim an inheritance that was lost among the stars!"