Chapter 717 Land Of The Precursors (2)
The spaceship descended through the desolate atmosphere, a reddish hue casting an eerie glow on the ruins below. Ashton peered out of the viewport, his eyes widening at the sight of Celestria's Verge—the once majestic land of the Precursors, now reduced to a wasteland of run-down structures and barren lands.
The planet's surface bore scars of battles long forgotten. Craters pocked the terrain, evidence of conflicts that had unfolded millennia ago. It was as if Celestria's Verge had witnessed an apocalypse, the remnants of once-majestic buildings standing like mournful sentinels over the aftermath.
Though now dilapidated, the architecture still bore traces of intricate designs and advanced engineering. Symbols etched into the corroded walls told stories of a race that sought to explore the cosmos, leaving an unforgettable mark on the fabric of the universe.
Overhead, the sky was shrouded in perpetual gloom. A reddish tint, possibly due to atmospheric decay, cast an eerie hue on the landscape. The sun, if it still existed in the conventional sense, remained obscured, leaving Celestria's Verge bathed in an otherworldly twilight.
In the distance, Ashton could make out the remnants of what seemed to be a central hub—an ancient Precursor city that once teemed with life. Now, it lay silent, a ghostly reminder of the bustling metropolis it had once been. Tangled, dry vines and metallic debris intertwined, weaving a tapestry of nature, reclaiming the remnants of a technological marvel.
Celestria's Verge, once a beacon of the Precursors' might, had succumbed to the relentless march of time. The very essence of a once-thriving civilisation now echoed through the empty corridors of decay, and the wind carried whispers of a legacy that refused to be forgotten.
"Is this... Celestria's Verge?" Ashton asked, disbelief lacing his words as their ship descended on the barren world.
Lord Rood, seated beside him, nodded solemnly. "Yes, Ashton. This is what remains of your homeland, if you want to call it that."
Ashton glanced about the crumbling remnants of Precursor civilisation. "But... how could one creature be capable of this?"
"The creature of the dark wasn't the only thing working against the precursors," Rood sighed a heavy weight of sorrow in his voice. "Time, Ashton. Time happened. The Precursors were a mighty race, but even we were not immune to the ravages of time. While the creature was the primary reason for their decline, it wasn't the reason why their civilisation crumbled, as against time, they too faced extinction."
"You're not making any sense, old man," Astaroth retorted. "Is that so..." Rood chuckled weakly. "Looks like my old age is catching up to me."
Maybe it was Ashton's imagination, but it felt like Rood was nervous, as if he was hiding something from them. However, rather than comment on it, Ashton decided to keep an eye on Rood for behavioural changes. As the ship touched down on a cracked landing pad, the metallic clank of the doors opening reverberated through the desolation. Ashton stepped onto the crumbling surface, his footsteps echoing in the silent expanse. Rood followed suit, looking around with nostalgia and sorrow.
"We need to find the remnants of Precursor technology that might aid us in defeating Kro'Han," Astaroth explained, his gaze scanning the ruins. "Though it doesn't look like that would be possible..."
Before Ashton could respond, a low mechanical hum resonated through the air, accompanied by an unsettling buzz. The ground trembled as massive robotic insects emerged from the shadows of the ruined structures. Ashton's eyes widened as he observed the unnatural creatures, their metallic exoskeletons glinting in the dim light.
"Fucking hell, what are those?" Astaroth yelled, calling out Raphael in his hands.
"Stay close, Lord Rood," Ashton warned, unsheathing a sleek energy Balmond from his inventory as he charged at the robots together with Astaroth.
However, the robotic insects ignored them, focusing squarely on Rood. Astaroth, unfazed by the robots' ignorance, lunged at them.
"Why are they only attacking Rood?" Ashton questioned, bewildered.
"These are remnants of our automated defence system, designed to protect Precursor technology. You can say they are one of the trials!" Rood exclaimed, raising his blade and attacking the metallic onslaught head-on. "It seems they can't distinguish friend from foe anymore."
Ashton wasn't convinced by Rood's explanation, as the insects seemed aware of his and Astaroth's presence. Strangely enough, both of them had Precursor genetics, which could be why the insects were strictly attacking Rood, a Xyran. Meanwhile, Astaroth engaged the robotic insects, displaying remarkable prowess in combat. His hands crackled with energy as he unleashed powerful strikes against the relentless assailants. Rood's precision with the energy blade complemented Astaroth's raw strength, creating a formidable defence against the robotic onslaught.
Ashton stood a distance away and watched the skirmish unfold. The sight of Astaroth and Rood battling the robots perplexed him, and his thoughts became weirder with each passing moment.
Earlier, he only suspected foul play from Astaroth, but now it felt like both of them could be involved in some notorious scheme, and he was stuck on an unknown planet with people who could betray him. "Something isn't right here..."
In the meantime, the Xyrans were busy dispatching the robots. The robotic insects, however, were persistent. Astaroth destroyed several with precise strikes, but their numbers seemed inexhaustible. Rood, too, fought valiantly, but the mechanical creatures pressed on.
Feeling a surge of frustration, Ashton clenched his fists. He was a Precursor; if they weren't attacking him, there was a chance they might listen to him.
Stepping forward, he approached one of the robotic insects, its sensors locking onto him. Astonishingly, it halted its attack, following Ashton's thought.
If he could control the robots, it would be advantageous for him. After all, he would again have allies whom he could blindly trust. "I think I can communicate with them," Ashton announced, his voice carrying, hiding his true intentions.
Rood shot him a wary glance mid-battle. "Communicate? Ashton, be careful. We don't know how—"
Before Rood could finish, Ashton extended his hand towards the robotic insect, focusing his thoughts on a connection. Surprisingly, the insect responded, its movements less hostile, as if acknowledging Ashton's presence.
"What are you doing, Ashton?" Astaroth called out, momentarily halting his assault.
"Just shut it and put your sword down!" Ashton roared. "They won't harm anyone... for now."
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