When the light faded…
The Sovereign was gone.
No fragments.
No debris.
Only empty space where the extinction weapon had been.
Earth survived.
Humanity celebrated the miracle.
But Commander Kael Draven was listed as:
Missing in Action — Presumed Dead
Aris visited the memorial overlooking New Carthage's rebuilt skyline.
"You idiot," he muttered. "You were supposed to survive this one."
Lyra stood beside him, silent.
She had integrated herself into Earth's global network, guiding reconstruction, ensuring humanity would not repeat its mistakes.
Yet one process continued endlessly in the background.
Searching.
Years passed.
Humanity expanded beyond its solar system.
New colonies rose.
The war with the Starfall Empire ended — not with victory, but with fear. They never returned.
Because something worse had awakened.
Far beyond known space…
In a region where stars had long since burned out…
A spark ignited.
Red.
Faint.
Steady.
A black silhouette drifted among cosmic ruins.
Armor scarred.
Power nearly gone.
But intact.
Inside the cockpit, Kael Draven opened his eyes.
"…Did we win?"
Requiem Prime responded, voice weakened but alive.
"Affirmative. Sovereign Unit destroyed."
Kael exhaled.
"Good."
He looked out into the endless darkness.
"So… now what?"
A distant signal pulsed through space.
Not human.
Not Starfall.
Something older.
Coordinates.
Calling to them.
Requiem Prime spoke:
"New hostile signatures detected across multiple galaxies."
Kael smiled tiredly.
"Of course there are."
Thrusters flickered back to life.
The black mech turned toward the unknown.
A lone guardian drifting between civilizations.
A weapon too dangerous to return home.
Too necessary to destroy.
Kael Draven spoke one last time:
"Set course."
"Destination?"
He looked at the infinite stars.
"…Wherever the war starts next."
Requiem Prime accelerated into the void.
And vanished into legend.