Dravon's ship broke formation and began descending toward the third layer. From a distance, it looked like a drifting belt of broken islands stitched together by force alone. As we drew closer, the scale became clear. This wasn't a single platform or station. It was a clustered region of massive rock fragments, each one large enough to hold cities, all anchored in place by thick bands of Essence and reinforced laws.
Structures rose directly from the stone and stacked as if the rocks themselves had been carved. Streams of Essence flowed openly between them, glowing lines that acted like roads in the void, guiding ships, cargo carriers, and troop transports along fixed paths.
We docked along one of the outer platform. The impact sent a dull vibration through the hull, quickly swallowed by stabilizing fields. As the ship opened, I pulled my cloak tighter and lowered my hood. One by one, the others did the same. Faces vanished into shadow. Only Dravon and Mazikeen remained uncovered.
