Cosmic Crucible

Chapter 15: Siege of Crimson Fortress

Lucien Vance hadn’t realized cultivation like this was possible on Earth. With the Astral Glyph doubling his absorption rate, his intake of Stellar Energy dwarfed students like Glenna. He’d likely rank among the elite within the entire Great Yu Imperium.

An entire Starlith crystal soon depleted, swelling the Stellar Energy within him.

He crushed another crystal, resuming absorption.

Abundant Starliths didn’t guarantee reaching peak power within a tier. Impurities required compression—feat achievable only by those cultivated via the Flesh Forging Essence.

Direct absorbers could purge impurities only upon reaching the Harmonizer Tier. Hence their weaker energy, unstable combat power. Their cultivation depended on crystals, yet crystals were scarce—a vicious cycle birthing the terms "Drifters" and "Battle Thralls".

After absorbing all five Starliths, Lucien felt power surge within him. He’d reached the Observer-Tier peak—Earth’s Terra-Tier Apex. One step remained to Scout-Tier. That step required the Essence.

Lucien rested overnight on the villa roof. At dawn, he confronted Glenna. "Spar. Now."

Glenna blinked, incredulous. "Dawn spars? I’m a cultivator, Vance, but also a woman. What man brawls with a woman at daybreak?"

Lucien acknowledged the point but burned to gauge his gap against an academy elite. "Afternoon, then."

"Just get it over with," Glenna sighed, disdain fading only for his Oscillation Palm.

They faced off in a clearing. Ten meters apart. Distant mutant roars echoed. Blood scent rode the wind.

"Strike. I won’t retaliate," Glenna declared, arms folded.

Lucien clenched his fist, then released. Air rippled like disturbed water. He lunged—legs exploding against earth, cracking the ground—closing the distance instantly. His palm slammed out: pure, full-force Oscillation Palm.

The force startled Glenna. Planning a one-handed block, she raised both arms.

CRACK!

Shockwaves tore air. Pressure cratered the earth. Lucien’s blow hammered Glenna waist-deep into soil, leaving a meter-wide pit.

"Impressive," Glenna conceded, flexing stinging arms. "Few Scout-Tier cadets hit that hard. An ambush could kill anyone under Combat Rating 2,000."

Lucien grinned—it had killed Yasta. "Not done!" Another Oscillation Palm hammered down, driving her deeper.

"Enough!" Glenna snapped. "Useless! My Rating exceeds 2,000. You know what each thousand means."

"Last one!" Lucien roared. Starlight flickered over his right hand. A phantom moon orbited his palm, ringed by Oscillation Palm’s air currents. The Stellar Palm.

As he struck, Glenna’s pulse spiked. She phased sideways. His palm hit where she’d stood.

BOOOOM!

A hundred-meter radius disintegrated. Shockwaves radiated out, cracking air, making it shimmer. The detonation echoed for miles.

Glenna rematerialized meters away, eyes wide. "What... was that?"

"My grandfather’s technique," Lucien feigned nonchalance. "Enhanced Oscillation Palm."

Glenna scrutinized him. Unfamiliar, yet... "Oscillation Palm stacking. That felt like a Double."

"Semantics," Lucien shrugged.

Glenna’s arrogance vanished. "Double Oscillation demands monstrous physique. Rare even for Scout-Tiers. None in my academy possess it." Her tone turned measuring. "Reach Scout-Tier, and you’ll rival elites. Perhaps even enter the Astrum Praetorium."

"The Imperium’s apex academy? Me?" Lucien feigned surprise.

"Your physique suggests potential," Glenna conceded. "Now, I’m spent." She turned, striding away.

Lucien watched her go, flexing his hand. Sparring was one goal; testing if he could *beat* her was another. Her reflexes were razor-sharp—true academy elite. *But I held back. When she dodged, I reeled in the Stellar Palm’s true force. If she thinks that was my limit... mistake.*

Crimson Fortress comms remained dead. Lucien ordered Rowena and the others to stay. Glenna ignored them, sparing explanations.

Two days later, Rowena cornered him.

"How long must we wait, Lucien?" she pressed, eyes searching. The turncoat Legion Commanders called this a forward base, but rumors of a Skyforger presence felt... wrong.

"Soon," he deflected.

Rowena opened her mouth, then froze—staring skyward. Lucien followed her gaze. Glenna descended like a thunderbolt, face tight. "Move! Odon’s group attacks Crimson Fortress!"

Lucien grabbed her arm as she hauled him airborne. Rowena gasped—*that armor! Identical to the alien raiders!* Nearby, Silas Third gaped, equally stunned.

Wind screamed past as Glenna flew south, Lucien’s weight slowing her.

"How’d you know?" Lucien shouted over the gale.

"Later!" Glenna snapped. "Goal remains: seize Crimson Fortress! Odon didn’t come alone. His allies eclipse me. Stay sharp!"

Lucien’s jaw tightened. Odon abandoning Glenna meant his chosen ally surpassed her. Yasta’s Rating ~1,500, Odon’s near 2,000, Glenna’s above 2,000. Odon’s partner likely dwarfed 2,000. Possibly not alone.

*Hold the line, Shaw,* Lucien thought, eyes locked south.

Thirty minutes later, they neared Crimson Fortress. Two figures hovered above it. Odon—his Nano-Weave Vambrace visibly cracked. Beside him stood a young man, hands clasped behind his back, radiating icy arrogance.

Millions of survivors stared up in terror. *Two Skyforgers?*

Alarms wailed from Mount Bellcrest. Zane Shaw soared skyward, halting a hundred meters from the pair, face granite. "You."

Odon sneered. "Regret sparing me?"

"Deeply," Shaw growled.

"Too late," Odon crowed. "Meet Senior Treyce Valmont."

Shaw’s gaze shifted. The energy radiating from Treyce chilled his blood—*far stronger*.

Treyce eyed Shaw like a specimen. "A savage with your strength? Unanticipated. Serve me. I grant the stars."

"Senior Treyce, save breath," Odon cut in. "Savages are thick-skulled."

"Did I request your input?" Treyce’s glacial stare silenced him.

Odon stiffened, fury burning toward Shaw.

Shaw tightened his grip on the battle-axe. "Serve aliens? Never." He banked north—*draw the fight away—*

Too late. Shaw flew barely a kilometer when Odon slashed his sword toward Mount Bellcrest. A crescent of energy sheared off the peak. Screams erupted.

"**DAMN YOU!**" Shaw roared. His axe cleaved toward Odon.

Odon met it with a sneering parry.

Minutes later, Glenna and Lucien arrived. Scarred Mount Bellcrest. Survivors flooding from Crimson Fortress. Cracks splitting earth, swallowing streets. Energy distortions shattering buildings. Sky stripped bare of clouds.

Inside the fortress, Zane Shaw spat blood, wobbling on his axe, glaring upward.

Treyce and Odon gazed down impassively. "Commendable strength," Treyce stated, voice like frozen steel. "Top-fifteen material in any military academy." A fractional pause. "Pity you encountered me."