The moment the power of the Starcore surged within him, Li Yan felt like his soul was being torn apart. The Skymother's presence loomed in his mind, an overwhelming force that sought to warp his very essence. His eyes burned with an unnatural glow, and his hands shook as they gripped the relic, unable to let go.
Bai Ling's voice came to him, but it seemed distant, muffled by the roar of energy inside his head. "Li Yan! Fight it!"
But how could he fight something like this? A force older than the stars themselves, a cosmic deity made of void and destruction. He could feel her fingers curling around his thoughts, her cold voice whispering promises of power, of an end to the endless war.
You are my chosen vessel, Li Yan. Embrace your purpose, and the galaxy will kneel before you.
The words were like poison, seeping into his mind, sinking deep into the core of his being. His heart raced, each beat pounding louder than the last, like the ticking of a countdown. He felt himself slipping, as if the very fabric of reality was unraveling around him.
"Li Yan, no!" Bai Ling cried out, her hands gripping his shoulders. Her voice was the last anchor in his rapidly fraying reality. "Don't let it take you! You're stronger than this!"
Her words pierced through the fog for a brief moment, and Li Yan fought to focus. He wanted to believe her, wanted to break free from the Skymother's influence. But the power inside him was relentless, pushing him deeper into a dark abyss. It was a fight he wasn't sure he could win.
Tala's calm, robotic voice crackled through the comms again, cutting through the chaos. "Li Yan, you must control the relic. You are the key to stopping this. The Skymother feeds on chaos. If you succumb to her will, she will break the galaxy in her image. You are the only one who can prevent that."
For a brief second, the fog in his mind cleared. Tala was right. He was the key. The Starcore had chosen him, but it hadn't made him its slave. It was a weapon, not a master. He could wield it, control it, but only if he fought back.
Gritting his teeth, Li Yan took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. He had to resist, had to find the strength buried deep inside him. His fingers, slick with sweat, tightened around the Starcore. He could feel its power thrumming, a symphony of destruction that threatened to overwhelm him.
But this wasn't who he was. He wasn't some puppet for a dark goddess to control. He had a purpose. He had a future to protect. Bai Ling, Tala, and the galaxy—he couldn't let them fall into the Skymother's hands.
"I won't let you win," he whispered, barely able to hear his own voice over the roaring energy inside him.
The Skymother's laughter echoed in his mind, a chilling sound that made his blood run cold. You have no choice, Li Yan. Your destiny is already written. The stars will burn, and you will be the one to set the flame.
The energy inside him flared again, nearly sending him to his knees. But this time, Li Yan fought back, channeling all his willpower into pushing against the force. He imagined the Starcore not as an anchor, but as a weapon—a tool he could use to fight, not to surrender.
Slowly, the glow in his eyes dimmed, his pulse steadied. The overwhelming force receded, just a little. For the first time since the Starcore had activated, Li Yan could breathe again. The whispers of the Skymother became muffled, and the weight pressing on his mind lightened.
He was still in control.
Bai Ling, watching him with wide eyes, let out a relieved sigh. "You're… you're back."
Li Yan nodded, though he still felt the power of the Starcore thrumming within him. He wasn't free yet, but he had made the first step toward controlling it.
Tala's voice came through the comms again, more urgent this time. "Li Yan, the Federation is aware of your presence. They've sent a fleet to intercept us. We don't have much time."
Li Yan looked at Bai Ling, his resolve hardening. The Skymother's awakening was only the beginning. The Federation would stop at nothing to seize the Starcore, and now that they knew it was in his hands, they would come for him with everything they had.
"We need to move, now," Li Yan said, pushing himself to his feet. "The galaxy's fate doesn't wait."