Axel stood on the command deck of Astrais, his gaze locked on the star map that now flickered across the main display. The wreckage of the Engineers' spacecraft had yielded more than just materials and weapons—it had given him the most valuable tool of all: knowledge.
A complete star map of this universe lay before him, detailing celestial bodies, space stations, and remnants of the Engineer civilization. Some locations were marked as strategic resource hubs, others as military installations. There were coordinates leading to places that held secrets far beyond what he had uncovered here.
"Chamber, confirm data integrity of the newly acquired star map."
"Data verification complete. No anomalies detected. Navigational routes calculated for all listed points of interest."
Axel exhaled, a smirk forming.
This was it. The turning point.
For nearly two years, he had remained on this planet, scavenging and growing stronger. But now, it was time to move forward.
Astrais had changed significantly since its arrival on this world. Through the wreckage, Axel had salvaged and integrated numerous technological advancements into his ship. The once sleek and compact vessel had been reinforced with Engineer alloys, its defensive shields enhanced with an unknown energy field far superior to what humanity had ever developed.
His weapons systems had been overhauled, integrating directed-energy cannons and particle-based weaponry scavenged from the ruins. The space jumper now allowed for instantaneous travel within limited distances, giving Astrais an edge in maneuverability. The ship's power core had also been upgraded, utilizing a hybrid energy source taken from the Engineers' technology.
But most importantly—the ship bay.
Axel had designed an entire section within Astrais to house Chamber, his Machine Caliber. Now, Chamber could dock within Astrais seamlessly, integrating into the ship's mainframe and acting as both an AI co-pilot and a deployable combat unit if necessary.
"Chamber, initiate final system checks before departure."
"All systems nominal. Astrais is operating at 100% efficiency. Awaiting final flight directives."
Axel sat back in the command chair, staring at the planetary surface one last time through the viewport. This world had given him everything he needed. It had made him stronger, more prepared.
But it had nothing more to offer him.
He wouldn't wait for the plot characters. They were of no use to him.
He had seen the events of this universe unfold before. The chaos, the suffering, the failures. He had no intention of getting involved in a conflict that wasn't his own.
His focus was expansion and survival.
Astrais had the potential to become more. Bigger. Stronger. Unstoppable. But to do that, he needed resources. And this universe had plenty to offer.
Axel's eyes scanned the star map, considering his options. The Engineer records listed several abandoned military stations—potential goldmines of technology, weapons, and knowledge. There were also strategic resource locations, planets rich in materials needed to construct and expand Astrais even further.
He tapped a particular marked coordinate, a distant space station that once served as an Engineer outpost. If the records were accurate, it contained a massive hangar, raw material processing units, and high-level automated defenses—defenses he could repurpose for himself.
"Chamber, set course for the Engineer outpost. Engage long-range travel sequence."
"Acknowledged. Calculating trajectory. Initializing space jump in T-minus 30 seconds."
The ship's engines hummed as power surged through Astrais, stabilizing for departure. Axel leaned back, exhaling slowly. The unknown stretched before him, but for the first time in two years, he felt nothing but certainty.
He wasn't leaving this planet behind because he had to.
He was leaving because he had conquered it.
And now, the stars belonged to him.
As Astrais surged into the void, Axel cast one last glance at the world that had been his proving ground.
Then, with a burst of energy, he vanished into the endless dark—toward a future of his own making.