Stellar Calendar 4521.7.15** — Ellara's fleet swept through the border sector like a storm. "Captain, **Station 36** has been secured," came the hoarse voice of the *Steel Dove*'s captain over comms. "Enemy remnants are in retreat." Standing on the bridge of *The Nameless*, Ellara let her long fingers tap lightly against the armrest of her command chair. On the holographic star map, former red-marked pirate outposts were turning blue one by one. "Kirah, battle damage report." Kirah adjusted his glasses, data streams reflecting in the lenses. "Three *Wrath*-class vessels lightly damaged, XT-20s suffering energy overload — all repairable." He hesitated slightly. "But… we found something unusual." Ellara raised an eyebrow, silently urging him to continue. "These mining stations… their equipment is too advanced." Kirah pulled up scanned images. "Especially the energy cores — they use military-grade quantum compression tech. This isn't standard gear for common privateers." A sharp glint flashed in Ellara's eyes. Then, suddenly, an alarm blared across the ship. "Unknown energy fluctuation detected!" the radar officer shouted. "Bearing 3-7-2, distance 0.3 light-seconds!" The lights on the bridge dimmed to deep red. On the star map, a massive purple dot flickered ominously, its energy readings skyrocketing. "It's a trap!" Kirah's fingers flew across the console. "Energy signature matches… it's a **Holy Empire phase cannon!**" Ellara reacted instantly. "All ships, emergency evasive maneuvers! Activate all defense systems!" Her voice sliced through the tension like a blade of ice. "*Steel Dove*, cover the XT-20s and pull them clear of the firing zone!" In space, a twisted beam of violet light erupted from nowhere, devouring even the stars in its path. Three *Wrath*-class torpedo boats couldn't dodge in time — struck by the beam, they disintegrated into raw particles in an instant. "Damn it!" Ellara slammed her fist onto the console. "Scan for the source!" "No fixed location!" the radar officer yelled, fear in his voice. "It's like… like it fired from *space itself!*" Kirah's eyes widened. "Captain! Multiple warp signatures incoming! It's… it's the privateers' main fleet! Over two hundred ships!" On the star map, red dots spread like blood. Even more terrifying was that among them were several modified warships equipped with Holy Empire technology. "We're surrounded," came the *Steel Dove*'s captain's grim voice. "They've been waiting for this moment." But Ellara's lips curled into a cold smirk. "No. *We* have been waiting." She pressed the intercom. "All units, execute **Operation Dove Awakening**. Repeat: Execute **Dove Awakening**." Kirah turned to her in shock. "That's—?" "The Saint Core AI's final protocol," she said, her voice low and firm. "Unlock *Nameless*'s full combat permissions." At once, the entire ship trembled violently. The exposed support structures along the hull flared with brilliant golden light. Slowly, the bow of the ship split open, revealing a massive ring-shaped device. "God…" Kirah stared at his datapad, where numbers were spiking wildly. "This ship… it's not just a flagship. It's the Holy Empire's… **Ultimate Arsenal**." The privateer fleet had closed in, hundreds of energy beams lancing forward like a storm. In the final second before impact— The ring on *Nameless* began to spin. A golden energy shield burst forth, absorbing every single attack. "Counterattack." Ellara's voice was soft, but absolute. The ring emitted a deafening hum. A pure white beam tore through space. Struck ships didn't explode — they simply vanished, as if erased from existence like pencil marks wiped away. "A **dimensional erasure cannon**…" Kirah's voice trembled. "This is too dangerous! Overuse could—" "I know the consequences," Ellara cut him off, her gaze locked on the faint purple signal blinking on the star map. "But now, it's time to give our hidden 'friend' a surprise." She opened a hidden control interface, inputting an ancient code from the Holy Empire. "Kirah… remember the ring-world we discovered in the Elam System?" Realization dawned in Kirah's eyes — and horror followed. "You wouldn't dare…" "Oh, I would." Ellara pressed the confirmation key. "Saint Core AI — activate **End Protocol**. Target: Dark matter cloud at the edge of the Elam System." Silence fell over the bridge. Three seconds later, the mechanical voice of the AI rang out: > **"Warning. Activation of End Protocol will awaken the dormant ring-world. Confirm execution?"** Without hesitation, Ellara pressed her fingerprint. "Confirmed." Far beyond the battlefield, at the edge of the Elam System, dark matter clouds churned violently. A colossal ring structure emerged from the void — the size of a small star. Across its surface, countless runes of the Holy Empire ignited one by one. Panic broke out among the privateer fleet. They tried to flee — but it was too late. The ring-world unleashed a beam spanning light-years, striking the hidden purple signal with pinpoint precision. Space shattered like glass — revealing a bizarre black warship lurking within. "I found you," Ellara said coldly. "Ghost Privateer." Realizing exposure, the black vessel activated its warp drive to escape — but the second beam from the ring-world arrived first, sealing off the surrounding space. "All ships," Ellara rose from her seat, her voice echoing through every vessel in the fleet, "this is the moment we've waited for. Prepare for boarding operations — I'm going to uncover this mystery myself." Kirah watched the battlefield calm outside the viewport, suddenly realizing: this wasn't a chance encounter. It had been a trap set months ago by Ellara — the mining stations were never the true objective. From the start, her real target had been the shadow pulling the strings. *The Nameless* slowly turned, heading toward the captured black warship. Behind it, the newly seized mining stations glittered like stars — marking the beginning of a new era. Ahead lay a secret poised to change the fate of the entire galaxy. One truth became clear in that moment: The war had only just begun.
