1626  Dangerous Zones

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

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Ria threw his hands up dramatically. "Great. Just what I wanted—dodging death traps while trying not to get vaporized in the middle of space."

Sersi smirked. "Look at it this way: you'll finally have an adventure worth bragging about."

---

### **The First Route**

The ship's engines roared to life as they veered off the standard intergalactic path. The forbidden routes were uncharted, unpredictable, and filled with anomalies that could obliterate even the most advanced ships. As they entered the first stretch, the atmosphere in the cabin grew tense.

"Scanning the area," Endric announced, his fingers dancing across the console. His voice was steady, but his shoulders were tight. "We're heading into a cluster of gravitational anomalies. They're strong enough to pull us into a black hole if we're not careful."

"Lovely," Ria muttered, gripping the edge of his seat. "Why don't we just paint a target on the ship while we're at it?"

"Focus," Endric snapped. "Sersi, monitor the energy shields. If they drop below 60%, we're pulling out."

Sersi nodded, her fingers deftly adjusting the ship's defense systems. "Got it. Shields at 95% for now, but these gravitational fluctuations are intense. We'll have to tread carefully."

The ship began to shake violently as they entered the anomaly cluster. Streams of warped light surrounded them, bending and twisting as the gravitational forces tugged at the vessel.

"Increase thrust to 120%," Endric commanded. "We need to counteract the pull."

Ria quickly adjusted the controls, his usually playful demeanor replaced with focused determination. "Thrust increased. Let's hope this ship doesn't rip apart."

The ship lurched forward, narrowly avoiding a swirling vortex that appeared out of nowhere. The lights inside flickered as the shields absorbed a massive impact.

"Shields down to 72%!" Sersi called out. "We need to get through this cluster fast, or we're toast."

"Almost there," Endric said through gritted teeth, his eyes glued to the navigational charts. "Just hold it together a little longer."

The ship twisted and turned, dodging vortexes and gravitational surges with barely a moment to spare. Finally, they burst out of the cluster, the light around them stabilizing as they returned to normal space.

"Shields at 55%," Sersi reported, exhaling in relief. "That was too close."

"One down," Endric said, his tone grim. "Two more routes to go."

---

### **The Second Route**

The second forbidden route was known as the **Oblivion Veil**, a stretch of space shrouded in thick, impenetrable darkness. No light could penetrate the veil, and any ship entering it had to rely entirely on sensors and instinct.

"Endric, tell me you've got a plan for this," Ria said, staring nervously at the black expanse ahead. "Because I'm not exactly thrilled about flying blind."

19:52

"Endric, tell me you've got a plan for this," Ria said, staring nervously at the black expanse ahead. "Because I'm not exactly thrilled about flying blind."

"I'm working on it," Endric replied, activating the ship's advanced sensors. "The key is to move slowly and stay close to the energy signature of the veil. Straying too far from it could... well, let's just not stray."

Sersi leaned forward, her silver eyes glowing faintly. "I'll keep the shields reinforced, but we'll need to conserve energy. This place is a black hole for power."

As they entered the veil, the darkness enveloped them completely. The ship's external lights were useless, swallowed by the void. The only sounds were the hum of the engines and the faint beeping of the sensors.

"Stay on course," Endric instructed. "We're following the signature. If you see any sudden energy spikes, alert me immediately."

Minutes felt like hours as they inched forward through the darkness. The air inside the ship felt heavy, the oppressive silence amplifying every creak and groan of the vessel.

"I hate this," Ria muttered. "Feels like we're being watched."

"You're not wrong," Sersi said, her eyes scanning the monitors. "I'm picking up faint life signs. Multiple, actually."

"On screen," Endric ordered.

The monitor flickered to life, displaying blurry shapes moving in the darkness around them. The figures were humanoid but distorted, their movements unnatural.

"Energy shields up to maximum," Endric said sharply. "Prepare for evasive maneuvers."

Before they could react, the shapes lunged at the ship, their elongated limbs striking the hull with incredible force. The ship rocked violently, alarms blaring as the shields absorbed the impact.

"Shields at 38%!" Sersi shouted. "We can't take much more of this!"

"Ria, take the controls!" Endric barked. "Get us out of here, now!"

Ria grabbed the controls, weaving the ship through the darkness as more figures attacked. Sersi worked frantically to stabilize the shields, while Endric activated the ship's weapons systems.

"Targeting the energy signatures," Endric said, firing a barrage of plasma bolts. The projectiles lit up the darkness briefly, revealing dozens of the strange creatures swarming toward them.

"We're not gonna make it," Ria yelled. "The exit's still too far!"

"Yes, we will," Endric said firmly. "Sersi, reroute all non-essential power to the engines. Ria, prepare for a full-speed burst."

"But the shields—"

"Just do it!" Endric snapped.

Sersi quickly rerouted the power, and Ria pushed the engines to their limit. The ship surged forward, leaving the creatures behind as they broke free of the veil.

---

### **The Final Stretch**

They emerged into a stretch of open space, the stars shining brightly around them. The silence was deafening after the chaos of the veil, but the relief was short-lived.

"Shields at 12%," Sersi reported, slumping back in her chair. "We're barely holding it together."

"That was... horrifying," Ria said, his hands still gripping the controls. "Please tell me that was the worst of it."

Endric checked the navigational charts, his face pale but determined. "We're almost there. One last push, and we'll reach the real planet."

The team exchanged weary but resolute looks. They had survived the forbidden routes, but the hardest part was yet to come. As the ship powered forward, the distant silhouette of the planet came into view, a stark reminder of the monumental task ahead.

---ss

Miss Aimee didn't respond immediately. Instead, she continued walking forward, with confident and deliberate strides.

 Gustav watched in surprise as the magma-like liquid began to part before her, creating a narrow path through the molten sea.

Gustav's eyes widened in astonishment. "Miss Aimee, what are you doing? I thought you said not to use abilities."

Miss Aimee glanced back at him with a calm smile on her face. "Gustav, I am a transcendent being. My abilities won't affect the integrity of this planet's fragile core. I can create a path for us."

Gustav hesitated for a moment before following her, carefully stepping onto the newly formed path.

The heat radiating from the magma was intense, but the path Miss Aimee created was cool and solid under his feet.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Gustav asked as they walked, his voice a mixture of relief and curiosity.

Miss Aimee's smile widened. "I wanted you to see the magnitude of what we are dealing with. Sometimes, experiencing the journey firsthand is the best way to understand the challenges we face."

Gustav nodded, absorbing her words. "So, where are we headed now?"

"To the heart of this place," Miss Aimee replied. "The path will lead us to it."

They continued walking, the path winding through the sea of molten liquid. The glowing magma cast eerie shadows on the cavern walls, creating a surreal and otherworldly atmosphere. Gustav couldn't help but marvel at the sight, even as he remained vigilant for any signs of danger.

As they walked, Gustav's mind raced with questions. "Miss Aimee, what exactly are we looking for down here?"

"We'll know when we see it," Miss Aimee answered.

Gustav was just curious as to what to look out for but it seemed like Miss Aimee wasn't too sure herself.

As Gustav and Miss Aimee continued their journey forward, the magma-like liquid continued to part before them, creating a pathway that snaked through the vast expanse of molten rock.

The walls of magma rose on either side, forming a corridor that shimmered with intense heat and light. Despite the treacherous surroundings, Gustav felt a sense of calm. His trust in Miss Aimee's abilities were unwavering.

They walked in silence for what seemed like hours, the only sounds being the bubbling of the magma and the soft tap of their own footsteps.

The path beneath their feet gradually began to change, shifting from the rough, uneven surface of the chasm to something more refined and constructed. The ground took on a smoother texture, and intricate patterns began to emerge, etched into the very rock itself.

Gustav paused, glancing around in awe. "The ground here... its... Unscathed."

Miss Aimee nodded. "Yes, kiddo. We're getting closer."

As they continued, the refined ground gave way to an expansive platform that stretched out before them.

It was incredibly large, its surface unscathed by the surrounding magma. The platform's structure was nearly indescribable. It was a blend of intricate patterns and futuristic designs that seemed both ancient and advanced.

At the center of the platform stood a structure that seemed to defy the very fabric of reality. It was both in time and out of time, a paradoxical blend of past and future.

Various technological constructs adorned its surface, their designs sleek and incredibly advanced. Holographic interfaces flickered with streams of data, and strange, glowing symbols adorned the walls.

Gustav's eyes widened in astonishment. "Is this it?"

Miss Aimee smiled, her eyes filled with a sense of reverence. "Yes Gustav, this is Dimension Six."

Gustav stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the structure. "Dimension Six... At last."

However, Gustav couldn't see the system notification alert that he had completed the second five years quest just yet.

He figured that he probably needed to get in first.

"The knowledge and power contained here will help you understand your origins. Prepare yourself, Gustav. What you'll find in there, will be beyond your current imagination."

"Bet..." Gustav mumbled.

They approached the structure, the air around them thrummed with energy.

Gustav could feel the power radiating from the platform, a tangible force that seemed to resonate with his very being. The intricate patterns on the ground pulsed with light, guiding their steps toward the heart of Dimension Six.

Miss Aimee and Gustav reached the entry point of Dimension Six, only to find themselves unable to proceed.

An invisible force seemed to push them back, preventing any further movement. The air around them thrummed with a strange energy, and the very fabric of reality seemed to shimmer and distort.

Gustav frowned as his brows furrowed. "Is there some sort of code for access?"

Miss Aimee's eyes scanned the surroundings, "Let's look aroun. The answers are often hidden in plain sight."

Gustav turned his attention to the walls around them, noticing for the intricate artistic depictions that adorned the stone. The carvings were beautiful and elaborate, telling a story through a series of images and symbols. He moved closer, examining them with keen interest.

"These carvings... they tell a tale," Gustav said, his voice filled with wonder. "It's about the creation and access to Dimension Six."

Miss Aimee nodded, joining him in examining the depictions. "Looks like the Slarkovs recorded some of their history and knowledge through art. Let's see what we can learn."

As they studied the carvings, the story began to unfold. The first series of images showed a group of beings, presumably the Slarkovs, standing before a darkened sky. Then a drop of something that looked like a water but certainly wasn't water, fell to the ground.

The ground caved in an some impossible structures came into existence. That was Dimension Six... a place depicted as a realm of infinite possibilities, where wishes could be granted, and resources were abundant.

"Oh?" Gustav mused, "it was like a paradise. A realm where anything was possible."

Miss Aimee pointed to the next set of images. "But look here. The dimension seemed to have demanded something in return."

The images showed a series of warnings, depicted through symbolic representations. The message was clear: the dimension would grant anything you needed, but greed would be met with severe punishment.

The final images were grim, showing individuals who had ignored the warnings being met with gruesome fates.

"So, the dimension punishes greed," Gustav said slowly. "It only grants what you need, not what you want. Those who were greedy faced dire consequences."

Miss Aimee's expression was serious. "It looks like the power of Dimension Six is immense, but it wishes to be respected. It possesses sentience. We must be mindful of our intentions."

Gustav nodded. "There must be a way to pass this barrier. We must be something we're missing."

They continued to examine the carvings, looking for any clues that might help them. Gustav's eyes fell on a small, almost hidden depiction near the bottom of one of the walls. It showed a figure getting something and afterwards getting pushed out.

After the depictions, the images seemed to display some changes. People trying to get in but being unable to.

"There is no access... It's locked... Forever," Gustav came to this realisation.

If the Dimension had been in existence since before the planet got pulled into the stagnant siterus void, there was no doubt that it had been locked for centuries already.

What were they supposed to do about that?

"There has to be some sort of way to get in," Gustav said while moving around.

He went around again and scanned the surroundings multiple times but still came up blank.

It looked like dimension six was throroghly sealed without no form of entry. Did that mean coming here was for naught?

He couldn't possibly let it end here now that they had reached this pivotal point.

"Miss Aimee, can I use my abilities now?" Gustav inquired.

"Yeah sure... Dimension Six blankets the surroundings so the planet's core will be o..." Even before Miss Aimee could answer completely...

Boom!

Gustav had thrown a fist at the invisible barrier preventing them from moving any further.

"I don't think that's gonna..." Before Miss Aimee could caution him again...

Boom!

Gustav fist rammed into it once more, causing the surroundings to tremble immensely.

Depsite the amount of strength Gustav put into his fists, they were unable to punch a hole through whatever was hindering them.

He arched his arm back intensely, letting his energy climb to ridiculous levels as he prepared to strike again.

Miss Aimee's hair and clothes flapped intensely as the air crackled.

'He has really grown,' She couldn't help but smile as she watched him from the side.

Boom!

Gustav's fist drove into the hindrance, causing a devastating clash to ring out as torrents of wind swept across the surroundings.

Even the magma in the surroundings were affected by this, causing a storm of steam to erupt.

After a couple of seconds, the steam slowly reduced and the hindering invisible wall remained unmoving.

Even the ground beneath their feet didn't crack from Gustav's intensity. There was no doubt that dimension six power was astronomical.

"Cohila..." Gustav called forth as rhombus shaped patterns of light surrounded his form.

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