The conversation continues as the spacecraft proceeds into the first stargate amongst many on what is surely a lengthy journey.

Unlike one would expect, even during the process of entering hyperdrive, the inner compartment of the ship made no creaks, the process seamless.

In fact, if one wasn’t looking, you wouldn’t know that the ship was in hyperdrive.

Already, this showcases the difference between this difference between clans.

After all, such spaceships were top tier back at the Red Dragon Clan, reserved for special occasions and usage by the clan head.

—--------

[Clans began using the astral beasts to test their warriors, as a source of harvesting rare materials and to claim glory for themselves, basically outsourcing a means of competition where the clans wouldn’t have to shed each other’s blood as they did before.

Literally and figuratively, the beasts thus became a stepping stone to greatness, no longer a reason for unity, giving the clans a much better way to resist the universal civilizations—and that mindset was passed down to our current time]

"Exemplary..." Ezra mutters, his entire view has morphed, but something is bugging him. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Are you an historian?"

[I’m a mage, I read a lot of books]

"I see"

Ezra leans back against the metallic wall of his quarters, the hum of the spacecraft’s engines reverberating through the room.

Zydrax’s explanation had opened a door in his mind—a door to understanding the intricate mechanisms of power that governed the universe.

Yet, despite the clarity it provided, a nagging sense of unease lingers.

"That is quite a lot to take in" Ezra murmured, his tone measured.

[Knowledge is the greatest weapon, Ezra, and in the act of wielding it, it becomes wisdom]

Ezra smirks. "You always have an answer, don’t you?"

[Would you prefer silence?]

Ezra chuckles, shaking his head.

"No, not really" he responds, but holding his chin with a thoughtful expression. "So, a whole system designed to keep us running in circles, fighting and tearing each other apart, while the real power remains untouchable. How daunting..."

Ezra ends the sentence with a smile.

[It thrives on chaos, ambition, and fear. But remember this: a system, no matter how vast or complex, can always be outmaneuvered by someone who knows its weaknesses]

"Huuuu" Ezra exhales, eyes narrowed.

He thought of his own journey, the trials he had faced until now.

Yet, having already risked much, the stakes were only growing higher.

And as he fathoms just how powerful he would have to become to keep his end of the bargain to Zydrax, it is inevitable that he felt slightly overwhelmed.

"How do I fit into all of this?"

Zydrax regarded him for a moment before speaking.

[You are an anomaly, Ezra. Your potential is unlike any I have encountered. The path before you is yours to shape, but know this: the universe will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine. To survive and of course thrive, you must be prepared to embrace both the light and the darkness within you]

[You’re more capable than you realize. But capability alone won’t be enough. You’ll need allies, resources, and—most importantly—patience.]

"Patience, huh?" Ezra muttered. His gaze drifted to the small window, where streaks of starlight blurred past as the ship traveled through yet another stargate.

As Zydrax spoke, Ezra’s communicator displayed images of the nebula’s most prominent clans: towering citadels, fleets of starships, and warriors whose strength seemed to defy comprehension.

"And the clans? Is there anything I should know about them?"

[They are as diverse as the stars themselves] Zydrax replied. [Some are noble, disciplined and honourable, while others are ruthless, cunning and brutish.

Each clan is a reflection of its history and its goals.

Learn to read them, to understand their motivations and weaknesses. It will serve you well]

[The Scarlet Dragon Clan] Zydrax continues, [while not the strongest, they don’t fall too short of the position but even they are not immune to the pressures of the Crux Nebula]

[Their influence extends far, but they must also be constantly defending their position against both old and new rivals]

Ezra nods, his thoughts coinciding.

He had always known that the path to power would be fraught with challenges, but the scale of the Crux Nebula’s conflicts would definitely be a sight to behold.

—----------

Ezra sat in silence long after Zydrax had left, the overview of the Crux Nebula hovering before him.

He traces the lines of the star systems with his eyes, each one a symbol of opportunity—and danger.

He thought of the Red Dragon Clan, of Thalrok and Aren, and the other candidates aboard the ship.

Each of them was heading toward the same crucible, their fates intertwined in ways they could not yet comprehend.

For Ezra, the Crux Nebula was more than just a destination.

It was a proving ground, a place where he could forge his destiny or be consumed by the ambitions of others.

"I won’t be a pawn" Ezra’s resolve hardens. "If they want me to fight, I’ll fight. But I’ll do it on my terms"

As the spacecraft hurtled through the stargates, the stars of the Crux Nebula growing ever closer, Ezra knew that his journey was just beginning.

The path ahead would be treacherous, but he was determined to emerge stronger, sharper, and unyielding.

The Crux Nebula awaited, and with it, the promise of power—and the price it demanded.

—--------

The next few days pass in a blur.

The spacecraft surged through countless stargates, each one a dazzling display of shimmering energy.

Ezra spent his time alternating between rigorous training sessions, pouring over maps and data about the Crux Nebula, and observing the crew’s interactions.

Aren and Thalrok remained professional but distant, their roles as guardians keeping them occupied with the ship’s operations.

Yara, however, had grown unexpectedly chatty, her keen psychic insights peppering their conversations with unsettling truths.

"I don’t mean to alarm you," she said one evening as they sat in the common area, "but you’re being watched"

Ezra froze mid-bite, his fork hovering over a plate of synthesized food. "Watched? By who?"

Yara tilts her head, her eyes glowing faintly as she taps into her abilities.

"Not who. What. There’s a presence. It’s subtle, like a shadow in the back of your mind" she pauses. "And I don’t any of the two guardians is a psychic"

Ezra simply nods, looking clueless. "I will be on guard"

Affirming his words, Yara turns around and leaves.

Ah yes...it had to be mentioned that during the sparring exercises, Ezra learned that Yara is not a gladiator but actually a psychic, the set of people blessed with a certain edge in the realm of the mind, consciousness and telepathy.

Being able to arrive on this ship meant she was one of the most if not the most gifted of her clan.

So it wasn’t too particularly surprising that she could Zydrax’s presence, given that even while only a remnant, his being still held presence, a testament to his actual power.

—-----------

On the eleventh day, the ship emerged from its final stargate, and the view that unfolded before them was nothing short of breathtaking.

The ship had entered a new region of space, the distant glow of the Crux Nebula faintly visible on the horizon.

It shimmers like a jewel, its colors shifting and pulsing with a life of their own.

The Crux Nebula was a living tapestry of light and motion.

Stars of every conceivable hue dotted the expanse, their radiance casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the infinite void.

Massive cosmic storms churned in the distance, their electric tendrils dancing like celestial fireworks.

Ezra pressed his face against the window as he fully captured the sights. "It’s...beautiful?"

His tone felt assertive and questioning at the same time, with his breath fogging the window.

Surely, he had expected something spectacular.

But this? This was...breathtaking!

For a moment, Ezra allowed himself to dream.

The Crux Nebula was a place of trials, yes, but it was also a place of transformation.

Those who emerged from its crucible were not the same as those who entered.

"I won’t just survive" Ezra whispered to himself, his voice resolute. "I’ll rise!"

As the ship hurtled closer to its destination, Ezra felt the weight of his purpose settle firmly on his shoulders.

The Crux Nebula awaited, a labyrinth of power and ambition.

And Ezra was ready to face it head-on.

[Don’t let beauty fool you. This place is as dangerous as it is mesmerizing] Zydrax snaps Ezra out of his reverie.

As the ship glides deep into the star cluster, the scale of its population becomes apparent.

Spaceships of every shape and size crowded the void, from sleek, streamlined cruisers to hulking cargo freighters.

Some vessels bore the markings of powerful clans, their insignias glowing with pride, while others were nondescript, blending into the crowd like shadows.

Ezra’s eyes widened as he spotted a massive ship, its hull bristling with weapons and shields. "What’s that?"

[A class A warship] Zydrax answers.

[It belongs to the universal protection council established by the five universal civilizations. They patrol the nebula, keeping the peace or enforcing their will depending on how you look at it]

The ship’s automated systems guided them toward a designated clearance zone.

Unlike the chaotic queues of lesser vessels, their ship bypasses the crowds entirely, heading toward a separate, heavily-guarded entrance.

"Special privileges for the Scarlet Dragon Clan?" Ezra guessed.

Zydrax affirms. [The clan must hold significant influence here. But don’t mistake that for immunity. Even they have to tread carefully here, because in Crux Nebula, there’s always someone looking to get taste of your flesh]