The shuttle, like a silent metal beetle, traversed the intricate network of lower-level conduits within the Celestial Court.
Eventually, it docked inside a massive structure disguised as an abandoned asteroid processing station.
The hatch opened, revealing not the expected brightly lit, screen-filled laboratory, but a dimly lit spherical space, as if one were in the heart of a nebula.
Countless tiny points of light floated, flowed, and collided in the void, forming a dynamic star map.
There was a peculiar sense of silence in the air, as if sound itself had been absorbed by this data abyss.
They were greeted by an android hovering on an anti-gravity platform.
Unlike the cold research representative at the hearing,
its optical fiber core glowed with a warm amber, and its form was closer to a flowing liquid light mass, with countless tiny data streams flickering within it like neural synapses.
It spoke in a soft, synthetic voice with a unique rhythm, like an ancient star song.
"Welcome, Mark Grayson and Allen, I am the chief analyst of the Abyss Project, codenamed Stargazer."
"Please forgive the… non-standard arrangement of this place; the physical limitations of a conventional laboratory cannot accommodate the objects of our research."
A soft scanning beam fell on Mark, and the Stargazer's gaze held pure inquiry, not greed.
"That pure light within your body… truly awe-inspiring."
"We are short on time."
Mark went straight to the point, his molten-gold eyes sweeping across the data-filled star sea.
"Tell me what you know about the Old Ones, about the Titan Clan, even the slightest detail."
"As you wish."
The light in the Stargazer's core fluctuated slightly.
The surrounding nebula instantly reorganized, condensing into several key images.
This was a vast starfield labeled as the End, its spatial curvature appearing sickly, like wrinkles kneaded by a giant hand.
"Before the birth of the Planetary Alliance, deep space probes discovered anomalies in this region, but they were classified as natural phenomena."
"It wasn't until the Old Ones' contamination incident that we linked the two. The destruction of Vitrum Prime… the energy spectrum of its explosion shows a high degree of commonality with this region."
"This confirms your warning, Mr. Grayson; the Titan Clan's purification and the Old Ones' existence are two sides of the same coin."
The image shifted.
A fragment, clearly part of a massive star map, was magnified, covered with undecipherable geometric symbols and energy flow lines.
The sharp-eyed Mark noticed that its edge precisely overlapped with the Void Graveyard coordinates provided by Trigg!
"This is a map fragment we unearthed from an ancient civilization's ruins, not pointing to conventional jump points, but rather… a more ancient path, utilizing the deep structure of the universe for folding."
"Its destination points to an unrecorded gravity well deep within the Void Graveyard, combined with the information you brought…"
The Stargazer paused.
"We highly suspect that it might… be a 'door' leading to the Titan Clan or the source of the Old Ones, and now the Viltrumite are also searching for it."
"Additionally, through limited textual records of ancient texts and relatively scientific legends, we have roughly restored a model of the Titan Clan's consciousness…"
Under the Stargazer's manipulation, Mark saw the entire starry sky before him transform.
The silhouette of a giant, composed of pure energy, too blurry to discern details, appeared in the void; even as a projected model, it exuded a soul-shaking pressure and a non-human, cold sense of logic.
"Apologies, this is a highly incomplete Titan consciousness model derived from limited data."
The Stargazer quickly withdrew the projection.
"Mr. Grayson, our analysis indicates that the Titan Clan's operational logic is based on some kind of… cosmic-scale entropy reduction protocol. They are not evil, but their methods of purification are a divine judgment for lower-tier civilizations."
"Closing that 'door,' preventing the spread of the Old Ones' contamination, or preventing the Titan Clan from entering this universe, might be the only way to delay the purification."
Mark pinched his brow; the vast amount of information entering his mind was difficult to digest all at once.
But he knew that Trigg was not trustworthy.
The Planetary Alliance… was also not trustworthy.
Now, he was just a tool in someone else's hands…
"You know, Trigg wants me to go to the Void Graveyard…"
Mark opened his eyes, still deciding to relay this information to the Planetary Alliance's higher-ups, and observe their attitude.
But the Stargazer's reaction was not unexpected; it seemed to have known about Mark and Trigg's little schemes all along.
"He has most likely already found the exact location," the Stargazer's core light flickered.
"As the Viltrum Regent, Trigg's intelligence network and survival capabilities should not be underestimated. He wants to use you to get there first, or… set a trap to capture you, as your unique abilities can increase his survival rate when facing the Old Ones or the Titan Clan."
"Even if it's a trap, I have to jump."
Mark's voice was resolute.
"If there truly is a so-called 'door' or a clue to fight the Titan Clan there, then this trip won't be in vain."
He turned to Allen and said,
"We can't rely on the Planetary Alliance's aid; this is the most tangible lead we currently have."
The Stargazer was silent for a moment, then a soft beam of light projected in front of Mark, forming a storage box.
"This is a combat suit optimized based on your biological characteristics and energy attributes, with a blue and black color scheme. Its core incorporates a highly efficient conversion and focusing matrix for Solar Energy, which should enhance your output intensity and endurance."
The box opened, revealing sleek armor components glowing faintly. The energy cores on the shoulder pads and chest were a deep blue, like a condensed universe, while the joints and reinforced parts were a solid black.
The light lay there quietly, exuding a restrained yet powerful aura.
Indeed, Mark was very fond of this combat suit, but he also knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch.
"What's the price? You wouldn't give it away for free, would you?" Mark asked without looking up.
"A little of your blood… and the first-hand data from when you get there. Allen will go with you."
The Stargazer said expressionlessly.
Mark's fingers traced the cool armor plates; a strange resonance emanated from his fingertips, as if the armor was an extension of his power.
"Deal!"
He didn't hesitate at all and began to change.
… …
After bidding farewell to the Stargazer, the return journey to the official residence in the disguised shuttle was unusually silent.
Mark, clad in his new combat suit, stood before the viewport, gazing at the increasingly close, blood-red coordinate on the navigation screen.
The Void Graveyard.
Allen was performing the final navigation checks nearby, his expression grave.
"Trigg's group are not scattered skirmishers."
Allen said in a low voice.
"They are the most elite warriors of Viltrum. Even if Trigg knows something, he's unlikely to tell you. If he's leading you there, this trip is absolutely playing with fire."
"I know."
Mark's voice was calm, but a resolute flame burned deep within his molten-gold eyes.
"So, we're not just going to keep the appointment; we're also going to… change the rules of the game."
He brought up his communicator and sent a brief message to the encrypted channel Trigg had left.
"Coordinates confirmed. Arrival time: 24 standard hours from now. You'd better bring your sincerity and something that can impress me."
The message was sent, like a stone sinking into the sea.
Mark didn't care.
He closed his eyes, feeling the unprecedented smooth connection between the new combat suit and the Solar Energy within his body. His body seemed stronger than ever, and his strength had further improved.
He was not a beggar seeking help.
He was the key, holding part of the answer and bearing the power of purification.
He was the target that both Trigg and the Planetary Alliance wanted to exploit or destroy.
But this time, he would actively step into the center of the vortex and turn this deadly chess game upside down.
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