The emergency alarms in Colorado Fortress faded to a low hum, replaced by the clatter of repair crews and the murmur of relieved soldiers. Elias leaned against a reinforced steel wall, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The afterglow of the three core laws—Space, Life, Destruction—lingered in his veins, a warm, thrumming energy that ebbed and flowed like a tide. The bronze shard against his chest pulsed gently, its golden circle symbol glowing softly, as if celebrating his breakthrough.
Dr. Elena Reeves pushed through the crowd of soldiers, her lab coat fluttering, her face a mix of urgency and awe. "Elias, we need to get you back to the lab—now. Your body's still adapting to the Destruction Law, and we need to run a full assessment before the energy stabilizes."
Elias nodded, letting her lead him away from the breached eastern wall. The corridor was lined with wounded soldiers, their uniforms stained with blood, but their eyes lit up as they recognized him—the man who'd defeated a Void General. A few called out thanks, others saluted, and Elias felt a surge of pride mixed with unease. He was no hero—just a man who'd been given a power he was still learning to control.
As they walked, Elena pulled up a holographic display on her wristpad, showing real-time data from the fortress's sensors. "Your Primal Force signature spiked to unprecedented levels during the battle. The Destruction Law isn't just a weapon—it's a catalyst. It's merging with Space and Life, amplifying all three." She glanced at him, her blue eyes sharp with curiosity. "How did you unlock it? We thought Law Ascension would take months of training, not a single battle."
Elias thought back to the moment the Void General's sword had been raised, the surge of desperation, the bronze shard's violent pulse. "It was the shard," he said. "When I needed it most, it unlocked the Destruction Law. Like it knew what I needed to survive."
Elena nodded, jotting notes on her wristpad. "The shard is more than a relic—it's a sentient vessel, carrying the consciousness of the Creation Guardians. It's bonded to you now, responding to your emotions, your needs, your potential." She paused, her tone softening. "Alan always said the Primal Force wasn't just about power—it was about balance. Space to move, Life to sustain, Destruction to renew. You've unlocked that balance faster than any of us ever dreamed."
They reached the research wing, and Elena led him into a smaller, more specialized lab than before. This one was filled with sleek, silver machinery—scanners, energy amplifiers, and a circular platform in the center that glowed with a soft blue light. Unlike the previous scan, this one was surrounded by holographic projectors and data terminals, all humming with anticipation.
"Step onto the platform," Elena said, gesturing to the circle. "This is the Primal Potential Analyzer—Alan designed it before he left. It measures not just your current power level, but your latent potential, your affinity for the laws, and your connection to the shard. No one's ever tested it on a fully awakened Primal Bloodline user… until now."
Elias climbed onto the platform. The blue light intensified, wrapping around him like a warm blanket. He felt a faint tingle as the scanner's energy merged with his Primal Force, mapping every vein, every cell, every thread of the three laws. The bronze shard pulsed in response, its golden circle symbol projecting onto the holographic displays around him, spinning and shifting as the scanner analyzed their bond.
Elena stood at the main terminal, her fingers flying across the controls. The displays lit up with graphs, charts, and glowing lines of data, all updating in real time. "Primal Force density: 370 units. That's ten times the average for a newly awakened user." She gasped, her eyes widening. "Law affinity: Space (92%), Life (88%), Destruction (95%). You have near-perfect affinity for all three—unheard of. Most descendants have a affinity for one, maybe two, but never all three."
Elias watched as the displays shifted, showing a three-dimensional model of his body, with glowing lines representing the Primal Force flow. The lines were thick and steady, weaving through his veins,集中 (concentrating) around his heart and the bronze shard. "What does that mean—near-perfect affinity?"
"It means you can master the laws faster than anyone else," Elena said, her voice filled with excitement. "You can merge them more seamlessly, unlock advanced techniques, even evolve the laws beyond their basic forms. Alan's research suggested that the Creation Guardians could manipulate the laws to reshape galaxies—with your affinity, you might be able to do the same."
The scanner beeped, and a new display popped up, labeled "Latent Potential: Omega Level." Elena froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. "Omega Level… that's the highest classification. It means your potential is limitless. You could grow stronger than any Primal Force user in recorded history—strong enough to face the Void Sovereign itself."
Elias felt a jolt of shock. Limitless potential? Strong enough to face the ruler of the void? It seemed impossible—he was still the same man who'd been an intern at Yellowstone Park a week ago. But as he looked at the bronze shard, at the glowing golden circle, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe it was true. Maybe he could be the one to end this war.
Just then, the lab's door slid open, and Major Coulson stepped inside. His uniform was dusty, his face lined with fatigue, but his eyes were sharp. "Dr. Reeves, Elias—we need to talk. The Joint Defense Command just held an emergency meeting. They've seen the assessment results."
Elena turned to him, her brow furrowed. "And? What do they want?"
Coulson walked to the main terminal, his gaze fixed on the "Omega Level" display. "They want Elias to lead a team to New York. The portal there is growing stronger—satellite data shows it's expanding by ten meters every hour. If we don't shut it down soon, it will tear a hole in the planet's crust, flooding Earth with void energy and Devourers."
Elias's heart sank. He'd barely recovered from the battle with the Void General, and now they wanted him to march into a city overrun by Devourers, to shut down a portal he knew nothing about. "I'm not ready," he said. "I still don't know how to control the laws properly, let alone shut down a void portal."
"You don't have to do it alone," Coulson said. "We're assembling a team of elite soldiers—Delta Squad, plus two other squads with Primal Force-adapted weapons. Dr. Reeves will come too, to provide technical support. And we've recovered Alan's notes on portal sealing—he designed a device that uses Primal Force to disrupt the void energy flow."
Elena nodded, pulling up a holographic image of a small, cylindrical device. "It's called the Primal Core. It's powered by a fragment of the bronze shard—Alan extracted a tiny piece before he left, just in case. When activated, it emits a Primal Force pulse that can destabilize the portal's energy core, allowing us to seal it."
Elias looked at the Primal Core, then at the bronze shard. He could feel the shard's energy resonating with the device, as if recognizing a piece of itself. "And if it doesn't work?"
"Then we're all dead," Coulson said, his tone grim. "New York's portal is the first major void gateway on Earth, but it won't be the last. The Void Sovereign is sending more ships, more Devourers, more generals. We need to send a message—we're not going down without a fight. And you, Elias, are our best weapon."
Elias thought of the little girl in the fortress courtyard, of the soldiers who'd fought and died beside him, of Alan's sacrifice. He thought of the Creation Guardians, of their legacy. He couldn't back down. Not now.
"Okay," he said. "I'll lead the team."
Coulson nodded, a faint smile crossing his face. "Good. The team will be ready in twelve hours. Use that time to rest, train, and familiarize yourself with the Primal Core. Dr. Reeves will help you master the law fusion techniques—you'll need them in New York."
As Coulson left, Elena turned to Elias, her expression softening. "Are you sure about this? It's a suicide mission. New York is a warzone—Devourers everywhere, void energy corrupting the air, and who knows what else is waiting for us there."
Elias gripped the bronze shard, feeling its warmth spread through his chest. "I'm sure. Someone has to do it. And besides—" he smiled faintly, "—I've got Omega Level potential, right? I should put it to use."
Elena laughed, a rare sound in the grim lab. "Fair enough. Let's get to work. First, we'll practice merging the Destruction Law with Space—you can create spatial rifts that tear through Devourers. Then, we'll work on Life and Destruction—healing and attacking at the same time. By the time we leave, you'll be able to take on a platoon of high-rank Devourers alone."
As they began training, Elias closed his eyes, focusing on the Primal Force. He visualized the Space Law's spatial distortion merging with the Destruction Law's energy, creating a swirling vortex of power. The bronze shard pulsed, guiding his energy, and a small rift appeared in the air in front of him, crackling with dark golden light. It was small, but it was a start.
Hours passed, and Elias grew stronger. He mastered spatial rifts, learned to heal himself and others while attacking, and even unlocked a new technique—merging all three laws to create a Primal Force barrier that could withstand void energy. The bronze shard's golden circle symbol glowed brighter, and he could feel his connection to the shard deepening, as if they were becoming one.
But as he trained, he couldn't shake a feeling of unease. The bronze shard had been guiding him, unlocking laws when he needed them, but what if it had its own agenda? What if the Creation Guardians' legacy was more than just protecting the universe—what if it was something darker?
And then there was the figure he'd sensed in the Void Sovereign's fleet—the one cloaked in shadow, smiling as he defeated the Void General. Who was it? Why had it smiled? Was it watching him, waiting for something?
Elias pushed the thoughts aside. There would be time to question later. For now, he had a mission. A mission to shut down the portal in New York, to save Earth, to honor Alan's legacy.
As the twelve hours drew to a close, Elias stood in the fortress's hangar, surrounded by Delta Squad and the other soldiers. He wore a new exoskeleton, specially designed to amplify his Primal Force, and the Primal Core was clipped to his belt. Elena stood beside him, carrying a backpack filled with technical equipment, and Major Coulson stood in front of the team, his voice booming.
"Soldiers, this is a mission of vital importance," Coulson said. "You are going into the heart of darkness to shut down a void portal that threatens all of humanity. You will face Devourers, void energy, and possibly another Void General. But you have Elias—our Omega Level Primal Force user—and you have each other. Fight hard, stay alive, and shut that portal down."
The team cheered, their voices filled with determination. Elias gripped the bronze shard, feeling its energy surge. He looked up at the hangar's ceiling, where the golden energy shield glowed, and thought of the world beyond—the world he was fighting to protect.
The transport ships roared to life, and the team boarded. As the ships lifted off, Elias stared out the viewport, watching Colorado Fortress shrink behind them. The dark red aurora loomed ahead, covering the eastern horizon, a sign of the danger waiting in New York.
Little did he know, the portal in New York was more than just a gateway for Devourers. It was a trap—set by the cloaked figure in the Void Sovereign's fleet. A trap designed to test Elias's power, to corrupt his Primal Force, and to unlock a secret that had been hidden since the dawn of creation. A secret that could turn the tide of the war… or destroy everything.