The image of the ghostly black man with burning eyes and carrying incandescent blades appeared on the hologram.
“Remember the line from the prophecy. ‘He will be black with anger with burning fury in his hands.’ Our experts determined this was his combat form, but we can’t say for sure. Finally, we have speculated that the solar system is protected from destruction by Admins. This may explain the excitement in the central worlds of the Commonwealth and the failures of the all-powerful Admin System. The Guardian Council wants to warn the Homo-54s against the precedent of the Aulto Si civilization. We plan to contact them right now. You are instructed to leave the Guardian Station within three hours of establishment of the connection. The station will be de-energized and mothballed.”
Kaos Lapto said to the Al, “Connect by coordinates – solar system, Earth, priority — extreme importance.”
The main AI of the Guardian station ‘Distant Burrow’ thundered, “Attention! Attention! Response has been received. They are utilizing the protocols and techniques of the ancients. Communication via…” Then, a loud second-by-second countdown commenced.
The Guardians waited, whispering among themselves. They had dedicated their lives to resisting the Admins and were now on the verge of change, with an unshakable faith in the correctness of their path.
“Attention! the station’s main AI spoke. “Five, four, three, two…”
The Guardians saw and heard the terrible hand-to-hand combat between the Homo-54s and… a tidal wave of devilish creatures. Many Guardians screamed at the sight of the undead horde, which looked ever so realistic on the hologram.
“Is that the undead?!” someone yelled.
They jumped to their feet, snatching up their weapons.
At that moment, a small spacecraft crashed into the throng of undead with a gargantuan noise. Many figures disembarked the ship and tried to join the battle, but it seemed unnecessary as the hordes of undead were running away. The crew laughed at their retreating backs.
“Hey, does anyone understand what’s happening?” Kaos Lapto addressed the numb Guardians.
The representative of the Gno-2 civilization, a tall black reptilian with scarlet marks croaked, “Each nation has a different reaction in the face of death. The Homo-54s laugh. The Gno clans, too, will be proud to fight alongside the legendary descendants of the ancients.”
While the audience stared at the lizard, dumbfounded, the position of the Homo-54s changed. The undead went on the offensive again.
The station’s main AI announced, “Attention, Guardians. Individual contact with the head of the Ice Vigor clan, player Phoenix, has been made.”
Alex gazed at the Guardians from the hologram with piercing eyes. Beautiful women with magical power shields stood behind him. In the background, a huge white beast laid into the undead, tearing them apart.
“I, Alex Phoenix, son of Earth, greet you, Guardians,” the Homo-54 said, putting his hand on his heart and bowing.
The head of the Guardian Council returned the gesture. “I am Kaos Lapto. On behalf of all Guardians, I greet you, blessed one! We have gleaned some rather disturbing information about you and your surroundings. Will you heed our warning?”
Alex nodded. “Of course. The people of Earth owe a debt of gratitude to the Guardians. I am listening to you attentively.”
Kaos Lapto informed Alex about the Onuga Haz prison, the imprisoned Guardians, and the precedent with the civilization of Aulto Si. “The Admins destroyed several planets of Aulto Si’s allies and forced this civilization to surrender their leaders.”
The earthling frowned at the mention of Onuga Haz prison. The battle going on behind Alex’s back changed again, as reinforcements arrived to support the attacking undead.
Alex Phoenix turned on his heels. The battle ermine with shining claws could not stop all of the enemies.
The women entered the battle, skillfully covering their leader with their shields and pushing their foes back. Alex Phoenix whispered something inaudible to them and returned to the conversation. “Sorry, I was distracted. Thanks for the warning. As I understand from your words, the Admins will try to blackmail us by destroying the home planets of our allies.”
“That is correct,” Kaos Lapto replied.
The earthling stood still, lost in thought.
Kaos Lapto looked with a shudder at his interlocutor, amazed at his composure despite the terrifying battle going on only yards away, which caused the blood to literally freeze in his own veins.
“We are forewarned, and now we will be forearmed,” Alex said with an intriguing smile. “What do the Admins do with the leaders of the resistance? Do they kill them?”
The Guardian replied, “No. Admins claim to be ‘humane’. Prisoners are sent to Onuga Haz, doomed to oblivion…”
Alex Phoenix chuckled. “Highborn Admins have no idea what Onuga Haz really is.”
Chapter 20. Forward to the Distant Stars
The Earth’s atmosphere and climate improved gradually – people were again able to gaze upon the sun and blue sky, though both had greatly changed. The sky had become brighter, a deeper shade of azure, often interspersed with flashes of mother-of-pearl threads resembling veins. It looked damn beautiful and mysterious, like in a cartoon fairy tale.
On the first cloudless morning without Intellectum rain and magic fog, the people of Earth expected their level-ups to end. However, it sustained. The intensity of gains significantly reduced. Apparently, Intellectum had directly impacted the natural water cycle, and was now a permanent ingredient in this union of water and biosphere.
For several days, Alex and Flash searched for Leach Nekri. They set up ambushes in areas where skirmishes took place day after day, night after night. Time passed in anticipation, quiet conversations, thoughts of upcoming magical developments, and movements from one legion to another. However, Leach Nekri seemed to have vanished off the face of the planet, and thus the hunt turned out to be a waste
