Void Magi: A Space Opera Fantasy Adventure (Star Magi Saga Book 5) Read online

  Damn it, Amanda thought. ~I’ll be up as soon as I can.~

  ~Copy that,~ Matt replied.

  To her right, a figure from a nightmare smashed into the Demiurge. The woman looked like something from an alien film, with black, glossy skin and tentacles that sprouted from her back and tore into the Demiurge. Amanda would recognise Lyka anywhere.

  The Scion Magus savaged her target with wicked claws and furious Magic as he tried to defend himself.

  Amanda hammered one of the clones with another massive barrage of Essentia attacks from all versions of herself. The clone’s Aegis cracked under the weight of the assault and then failed.

  With her defences down, the clone’s soft tissue burnt and ripped apart under her attack. But that was just one of them.

  Beyond, Anka was barely visible between Anastasia’s clones as they combined their might to take Anka on. The rest of Anastasia’s coven snapped into place and joined in.

  ~I’m so glad I got to see you, one last time,~ Anka sent through the general Link.

  ~No, don’t say that,~ the Demiurge cried.

  ~I love you, always.~

  Anka’s Aegis cracked and then failed as the Nomads piled on. She screamed, and then her lifeforce faded.

  The Demiurge wailed.

  With a roar, Amanda hit out at the second Anastasia clone and threw her across the room as Anka’s killers turned to face them.

  Anastasia’s Magic rushed out and enveloped the Demiurge, and then pulled on his Aegis, sucking the Essentia from it.

  In that instant, Amanda knew that they would lose this fight. If they stayed here, if they took Anastasia on now in their weakened states, they would not survive. Anastasia would destroy the Demiurge’s Aegis and consume his power, making Anastasia one of the most powerful individuals in the known galaxy.

  They had to leave.

  Aegises snapped into place around them, conjured by one of Anastasia’s coven in an attempt to contain them. Amanda wasn’t worried. Escaping was not a concern.

  ~We’re leaving,~ she sent over the Link.

  ~No, I can’t leave her,~ the Demiurge replied.

  ~We won’t~ Amanda answered, and her Magic flared. Taking the Demiurge and Anka’s body with her, Amanda dropped out of the universe and snapped back in aboard the Arkady.

  The ship banked wildly as it led the two Dragons on a merry chase. Amanda stumbled and dropped to the floor as the Demiurge wrapped Anka’s inert form in his arms.

  “Amanda, you’re back,” Matt called as he guided the ship on an erratic course. Amanda gripped a nearby bulkhead to keep steady.

  “Yeah,” Amanda answered, unable to summon a smile. Matt looked back and saw the Demiurge cradling Anka as tears fell down his cheeks.

  “Oh, shit.”

  Working her Magic again, Amanda shifted the Arkady out of the universe and back to her Quantum Realm.

  Fracture

  Anka’s Hidden Base, 16,143 Light-years from Sol

  Anastasia stood in the ruins of the room and looked up through a hole that had been punched through the roof, out into open space. Up in the black, she watched as her coven’s Dragons, Kragen and Tallon, wheeled about, chasing the Arkady, only for the ship to wink out of existence with a flare of Essentia.

  Anastasia pressed her lips together and frowned.

  The Demiurge was gone, for now.

  But she’d find him. Amanda couldn’t keep him hidden forever. She’d freed him for a reason, after all. But next time, they’d be ready for her. She wished she had a way to keep Amanda from escaping like that, but she was unaware of one existing.

  “Another wasted trip.”

  Anastasia turned and eyed Ebony, her coven’s Vampire. “No, not really.”

  “Right,” Ebony replied unconvinced.

  “If you have something to say…” Anastasia said, facing Ebony more fully.

  “No, no, my Baal.”

  “Good.”

  “Back to the Nexus, then?” Sapphira asked.

  Anastasia nodded as she looked back up at the spot where the Arkady had been just moments before. “Yes. Back to the Nexus.”

  “I will take my leave, here,” Lyka said, approaching from the shadows.

  Anastasia looked over at the Scion Magus. “You’re leaving?”

  “I am.”

  Lyka rarely spoke, so the whole room listened intently.

  Anastasia turned to the alien-looking woman. “Where are you going?”

  “Centrum, and then…” she trailed off, as if she didn’t know where her path would take her.

  Anastasia cocked her head to one side. “As you wish. Thank you for your support.”

  Lyka nodded, and with a snap, disappeared.

  “You know, I never did like her much,” Azerrad stated. The big man in armour looked visibly relaxed now that Lyka had gone.

  “Careful, she might still be able to hear you,” Thorne replied with a smile.

  “And if she can? So what?” Azerrad asked.

  “Big words,” Throne replied.

  “I ain’t scared of her.”

  “Hmmm,” Anastasia mumbled, and glanced back up through the hole a final time. She wasn’t taking much interest in the back and forth between her coven, instead, her mind was elsewhere, planning her next move. “See you soon, Amanda.”

  Fallen Dynasty

  Mace, Valk Dynasty, 843 Light-years from Sol

  Rizar urged his steed down from orbit, towards the surface of the planet. All around him, tumbling debris from countless Valk ships twisted through space. Far off, pockets of resistance fought on, desperately clinging to the hope that they might survive this.

  Rizar knew better.

  They were finished. The Valk Dynasty was over, like all the other decadent Dynasties of the Nexus. Their reckoning had come. Below, as he soared through the upper atmosphere and down through the sparse clouds, the endless city burned. Rizar could see Dragons gliding above the streets, breathing deadly fire at the ground beneath them.

  It was a glorious sight.

  Finally, the Nexus was getting what it deserved, and it was wondrous to watch. Too long they had ruled the stars, too long they had hunted and killed the Nomads, but now things were different. Now, they would reap what they sowed, and Rizar was grateful that he was alive to see it happen.

  Today, and in the days to come, they would honour their ancestors who left Earth for the stars, and fought with the younger Nexus. Their exile to the deepest reaches of space would be avenged, and it was not a moment too soon.

  Dropping further, the vast, sprawling palace of the Grand Emperor of the Valk Dynasty came into view through the mists and smoke. Its tallest spires had been toppled, and the entire structure burned with Dragon fire.

  It was awe-inspiring.

  Following the summons, Rizar guided Vyko, his Dragon, down towards the grounds in front of the palace. Other Dragons already stood on the churned up lawns, surrounded by Valk ships, troops, and Magi. In the centre of a wide plaza, Aevari Vexxus, Corpus Prime of the Crux Nomads stood and waited, looking up and watching as Rizar approached.

  ~Steady,~ Rizar Linked with Vyko.

  ~I will land with grace and dignity, as I always do,~ Vyko replied as she beat her vast wings and landed on the main path that led up to Aevari.

  With a thought, Rizar Ported to the ground, beside Vyko.

  Ahead, on either side, rows of Dragons and Nomads turned to Rizar and watched him stride towards the Corpus Prime.

  “Welcome Rizar, your Void Riders have done us proud today,” Aevari greeted him, slapping him on the back. “The first Nexus Dynasty to fall. This is a great day, and no doubt, the first of many.”

  Rizar nodded, feeling proud of himself and his Riders. “Indeed, sir. Many Valk perished at my hand.”

  “Excellent. Thank you for answering my request for attendance. I wanted you here for this,” he said and gestured ahead.

  Several metres away, a small group of Magi knelt. Around them, several of the Corpus Nomadica’s most powerful Magi watched over their prisoners, using their Magic to keep a tight hold of the Nexus Magi.

  They were without any Aegises or any Magical protections at all. The Master Nomads around them stopped even the slightest hint of Magic before it started.

  They were defenceless and vulnerable, and the looks on their faces were both desperate and terrified. Rizar swept his gaze over the assembled Nexus Magi and recognised several of them from his research.

  He smiled. “Quite the rogue's gallery we have here.”

  “Indeed,” Aevari replied. “It’s a truly wonderful sight to behold, is it not?”

  “It is,” Rizar agreed. “I am grateful to you for allowing me to witness this.”

  “It is our way,” Aevari answered.

  “Aevari,” one of the kneeling men called out. Rizar turned and regarded the man. He wore tattered finery that had been burnt and ripped, and a cut on his head bled freely, but he still held himself proudly and defiantly.

  There was no humility in the man’s face, but he guessed that would not come easily to one such as him.

  A Magus stood nearby, leaned in and punched the man for speaking out of turn.

  “Grand Emperor Alex Valk, leader of the Valk Dynasty,” Aevari intoned. “How the mighty have fallen. You may speak.”

  “Talk with me, Aevari. I’m sure we can come to some kind of agreement. There doesn’t need to be any more death.”

  “On the contrary,” Aevari answered. “There needs to be much, much more death.”

  “You’re scum,” a woman called out from beside the Emperor. Rizar recognised her too. That was Xenia Valk, the Emperor’s daughter.

  “No, I am your future,” Aevari answered, and an ornate blade blazed into existence in his hand, wreathe
d in energy. Without another word, he swung the sword and cut her head clean off.

  It fell from her shoulders and thudded to the ground in front of the Emperor, who looked at it with unrestrained horror, his mouth wide. Her body hit the ground a moment later, a pool of blood forming beside her neck stump.

  Aevari sucked in a deep breath of air through his nose, before letting it out with a sigh. “Aaaah, that’s better. Doesn’t the air feel so much clearer now, without her polluting it with her foul words?”

  “It does, Prime,” Rizar replied, as he smirked at the terror he saw in the faces of the other prisoners. One of them, who Rizar recognised as Ambassador Sortheen Vysh, had actually pissed himself.

  “So, you were saying, Emperor? You want to talk? Maybe you wanted to offer me something greater than the utter annihilation of the entire Nexus? I must say, I’d be surprised if you could think of anything.”

  “You did not have to do that,” the Emperor growled.

  “On the contrary, I very much did. We must sweep away the old to make way for the new. We are the cleansing wind that will wipe the Nexus stain off the universe, and there is nothing you can do to stop us.”

  “You can’t do this. The Nexus will stop you. We’ve beaten you before, we’ll beat you again.”

  “Hah!” Aevari laughed. “A history lesson from Nexus scum. Let me tell you about history. You weren’t exiled to the depths of space and forced to rebuild your entire civilisation. You have lived a life of privilege and wealth. So you are in no position to tell me anything. But no, you won’t beat us, not this time. Just look at your exalted Nexus. It fights amongst itself over petty concerns. It’s bloated and decadent, and well overdue to be toppled and destroyed. But fear not, oh Emperor, for we are here. We will cleanse your blight from the galaxy with fire and blood. But you will need to take my word for it, Emperor, because you will not be around to see it.”

  “You underestimate us, Nomad, and you do so at your peril.”

  “Do I? Please, do tell me, who will stop us? Hmm? Who can stand in our way? Your fleet?”

  Aevari swung his sword and took the head off the Valk Grand Admiral. The man, still wearing his medal-encrusted uniform, crumpled to the ground.

  “No, I don’t think so. The Nexus perhaps?” Aevari continued and approached the ambassador.

  “No. Please no. I don’t want to die. Please. I’ll do anything. Anything you want. Please…”

  With another swing, Sortheen’s head was separated from his shoulders.

  “No, they can’t stop us either. So, who’s next? Hmm? Who do you think will stop us? What saviour will stand in our way?” Aevari stood above Altex and regarded him.

  The Emperor kept his mouth shut and looked up at Aevari with pure hatred in his eyes. Rizar could see that he had accepted his fate. He knew what was about to happen to him, but unlike the ambassador, he was not about to beg for his life.

  “Do it,” the Emperor urged, “but know this, you might have won this day, but you will not win the war.”

  “I beg to disagree,” Aevari replied, and removed the Emperor’s head.

  Rizar nodded. The deed was done, and the Valk Dynasty was no more. As his sword disappeared from his hands, Aevari turned away from the carnage he’d inflicted on the Nexus Magi, and with his hands at his back, he took a deep breath.

  “Today is a wonderful day,” he said, glancing over at Rizar. “Care to join me for lunch? Empire toppling is tiring work.”

  “I’d be honoured, sir,” Rizar answered.

  Aevari nodded and set off through the gardens towards a nearby ship.

  “Tell me, how goes the campaign?”

  Rizar dipped his head. It’s going well, sir. We’ve made inroads into several other Dynasty territories. Within Arcturus space, we’ve already occupied their capital world, Forge. We’re also making good progress into the Septhian and Solidaire sectors, while attacking Larzentus, Aristax, and Bellaxon territories too. The campaign progresses apace.”

  “Good. This is excellent news. The Nexus will fall soon enough—”

  Ahead, Essentia surged, and four figures snapped into place on the grass before them. Rizar stopped short and stood to attention, recognising their Magical signature the instant he sensed it.

  Two Archons and two Crux stood side by side, their Magical might burning bright in Rizar’s Aetheric senses. There was no mistaking the power of the Crux, or their new allies, the Archons.

  Vine stepped forward, her tall, sinuous, feminine, but alien body moving with poised grace.

  “Aevari,” Vine said in greeting.

  “My lords,” Aevari answered, bowing deeply. “We are blessed by your presence. This is truly a perfect day. The Valk Dynasty is no more, and Rizar assures me that—”

  “Shut up,” Vine cut in sharply.

  “My lords?”

  “This day is far from perfect.”

  “What… What do you mean?”

  “Murmur has been killed and the Demiurge has been freed,” Vine stated, her voice even.

  Shock rushed through Rizar’s mind and body, and he knew his face betrayed his emotions. How could this be? How could someone kill a Crux and free the Demiurge from the Cage?

  “No! How? Who did this?” Aevari asked.

  Beside Vine, the Archon Rizar knew as Lilitu stepped forward. She was the most human-looking of the Archons, with her curvaceous body, long dark hair, and dusky eyes that seemed to pierce your soul.

  “The Demiurge was freed by a Magus called Amanda, with help from Anka, and a few others.”

  “Amanda?” Aevari asked. “Who is this person?”

  “She’s a powerful Magus from Earth.”

  “From Earth?” Aevari asked, his tone displaying his incredulity for all to hear. “Who is this upstart?”

  “Do not underestimate her. She’s favoured by the Aeons, and wields great power.”

  “Is she? Hmmm. This is concerning. Where are they now?”

  “Unknown,” Vine replied. “But we believe she’s headed back to Axia.”

  “Makes sense. And what do you think this Magus intends to do with the Demiurge?”

  “That’s easy,” Lilitu answered. “She intends to kill us. The Archons and the Crux.”

  Worry settled into Rizar’s stomach as he listened to these powerful beings discussing this single Magus woman with awe and caution. If she could kill a Crux, they were right to be afraid of her. If the Crux and the Archons were destroyed, it was highly likely their invasion would gutter and die.

  “Thank you, my lords. I will consult with the Father, and heed his council on this matter.”

  “See that you do,” Vine replied, and the four creatures Ported away.

  Aevari turned to Rizar, his face no longer joyous. Instead, his expression was stony and concerned. “Come, we should both seek the Father’s council.”

  Rizar nodded, and followed Aevari into the nearby ship, bypassing the small crew complement as the pair retreated to a smallish, lightly furnished room. Aevari’s talkative persona had drained away, to be replaced by a stoic, serious manner. But Rizar felt the same way. After coming off the back of this major win for the Crux, this was a comparatively deep low.

  Without saying a word, Aevari gestured to one the chairs, and took one for himself before sitting back and closing his eyes. Rizar did the same, and moments later, sensed the Mental Link between then open up.

  Aware of what Aevari was experiencing, Rizar relaxed and allowed his mind to be taken on a journey. It was several moments later before Rizar’s mind was suddenly flooded with energy, and he found himself stood in a pure white environment beside Aevari.

  He’d done this before and knew what to expect. He waited patiently, standing a little behind Aevari as the powerful Magus reached out, calling to the Father. The creator of the Crux.

  A bright gleaming light burst before them, causing them to shield their eyes before it faded. Looking back, Rizar saw a glowing white, indistinct figure before them.

  Rizar followed Aeveri’s lead, and knelt before him, averting his eyes.

  “Father,” Aevari began. “You bless us with your presence.”

  “Speak. What is the meaning of this intrusion?” the Father asked, his voice deep and resonant.

  “We might have a problem…”

  News from the Front