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【Vision of an Alternate Future】

Arc 2: Return of the Crystal Guardians

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【VAF】Chapter║: 35 ─ One Heart

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Naole slept through most of the journey back to the Entig Republic's Nilrig colony; only awake for the brief time it took to transfer to CCS Cada A2286C. Phulec's Chest Crystal had absorbed his body and his Crystal Armour, and it was now enclosed in a Blue Crystal Sphere with Blue Crystals derived from Naole's Reserve Energy Sphere. Draining 90% of his life force energy into Phulec had exhausted Naole, and he needed the rest for his life force energy to rebuild. Crystalan Life Force Energy requires Divine Light to rebuild, and the Crystalan physiology generates small amounts of Life Force Energy, it would therefore take time and rest before Naole was back to Normal.

By the time the AFS Nala D2586L and the CCS Cada A2286C arrived in orbit around Nilrig all the elements were in place. Commander Elrig had organized; 5 Andronian Federation SkyStriders, 7 Carmak Republic SkyStriders and 15 Entig Republic StarCruisers. The Entig Republic's Nilrig colony was ready to provide the rest of the energy, and as per Naole's requirements the process would take place in low orbit to allow Nilrig to effectively provide its part of the required energy.

Once Naole's energies were fully restored he began to modify the CCS Cada's Enhanced Weapons Array and Point Deflector Shields. The modifications would allow the CCS Cada to absorb the weapons fire of the gathered ships and redirect the energy to Naole's Reserve Energy Sphere. Naole would then use his control of the Blue Crystals in his Reserve Energy Sphere to transfer the energy to Phulec's Chest Crystal now enclosed in a Blue Crystal Sphere.

Naole understood the risks he faced, and given the enormous energies involved any mistake on his part would result in disaster. However the situation called for courage and resolve, and Naole was prepared to risk his own life to see the Spirit Stone return. Naole knew that only the Knowledge contained in the Spirit Stone could save the Human race from Slavery, Indentured Servitude and ultimately extinction at the hands of either the Circleans or their Migon Allies.

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Naole is at the CCS Cada's energy storage centre looking at his Reserve Energy Sphere and Phulec's Blue Crystal Sphere enclosed Chest Crystal. Atola arrives to give him a progress report.

Capt-Atola : " Everything is in place Sir!"

Naole : " Not Everything!"

Capt-Atola : " Did we forget something?"

Naole : " No! It's something that I must do!"

Capt-Atola : " What?"

Naole : " There is still residual Negative Psionic Energy in Phulec's Chest Crystal, and for the link to the Spirit Stone to work I must remove the remaining Negative Psionic Energy!"

Capt-Atola : " How?"

Naole : " The final level of the Crystalan Energy Techniques is Energy Absorption! Amongst Crystalans with Chest Crystals; Energy Absorption is most optimal in those who have mastered the Ascended Form."

Capt-Atola : " Crystalline Form?"

Naole : " The Crystalline Form of Ascended Crystalans with Chest Crystals allows these particular Crystalans full spectrum Energy Absorption."

Capt-Atola : " How? And what about Crystalans without Chest Crystals?"

Naole : " In the Ascended Crystalline Form the Chest Crystal has instantaneous access to the entire skin, and gives the skin enhanced abilities that are directly controlled by the Chest Crystal."

Capt-Atola : " Does the Crystalline Form of Crystalans without Chest Crystals give similar abilities?"

Naole : " Only limited abilities! There is a reason we make the distinctions between the Crystalline Form of Ascended Crystalans with Chest Crystals, the Normal Crystalline Form of Crystalans with Chest Crystals, the Normal Crystalline Form of Crystalans without Chest Crystals, the Various Metallic Crystalline Forms of Lodians and the 2 Metallic Crystalline Forms of Hodians. The Crystalline Form of Ascended Crystalans with Chest Crystals is like becoming a Fragment of the Spirit Stone."

Capt-Atola : " Is it really that powerful?"

Naole : " The Ascended Crystalline Form is about control! Most Crystalans with Chest Crystals live their entire lives without developing the kind of control that would allow them to transform to an Ascended Crystalline Form."

Capt-Atola : " But the Circleans seem to do it so easily?"

Naole : " The Circlean transformation is a Crystalline Form but not an Ascended Crystalline Form; It’s a Reducted Crystalan Form! The Circlean transformation is a combination of the Hodian Metallic Crystalline transformation and the Crystalline Transformation of Crystalans without Chest Crystals; slightly more than the Normal Crystalline Form of Crystalans with Chest Crystals. But it does enhance their Energy Absorption capabilities; though they don't have the kind of control of the Ascended Crystalline Form."

Capt-Atola : " Why don't they have control? And why is it so important?"

Naole : " Negative Psionic Energy generates Chaos, and there can never be control in a chaotic environment! Control allows for energy manipulation and transformation."

Capt-Atola : " Is that what you will do to the residual Negative Psionic Energy in Phulec's Chest Crystal?"

Naole : " Yes! First I will absorb the residual Negative Psionic Energy in Phulec's Chest Crystal into my body, and then I will use my Ascended Crystalline Form to transform the Negative Psionic Energy into Electrical Energy."

Capt-Atola : " Is there a risk to you?"

Naole : " Yes, but it's minimal! Now get going, I must begin the Countdown."

Capt-Atola : " On your Command!"

Atola leaves the CCS Cada A2286C, and Naole begins to absorb the residual Negative Psionic Energy in Phulec's Chest Crystal into his body, then he uses his Ascended Crystalline Form to transform the Negative Psionic Energy into Electrical Energy

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Naole then begins to drain the reserve energy of the CCS Cada A2286C into his Reserve Energy Sphere, and once the process starts he leaves the CCS Cada so he can safely control the process.

Naole opens a Communications Channel with Commander Elrig.

Naole : " I've started the Countdown Commander!"

Cmd-Elrig : " Acknowledged!"

Naole : " I'm managing the Energy Absorption process!"

Cmd-Elrig : " Beginning Coordinated Fire sequence in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"

The gathered Ships and the Nilrig planetary Defence Weapons Array fire their Weapons at the inverted Enhanced Weapons Array and Point Deflector Shields of the CCS Cada A2286C.

Naole : " Energy Absorption increasing exponentially!"

Cmd-Elrig : " Move back Naole! The CCS Cada is coming apart, it might Explode!"

Naole : " Moving towards Nilrig!"

Cmd-Elrig : " Explosion imminent!"

Naole : " Activating the mineral Absorption capabilities of the Blue Crystals in my Reserve Energy Sphere!"

Cmd-Elrig : " Energy Critical! Detecting concussions!"

Naole : " Transferring Energy! Aaaaah!" Naole struggles to manage the process "Yeah! Making Contact! Heart of Crystalorb, I hear you!"

Cmd-Elrig : " All ships move back!"

Naole : " Triggering Implosion!"

As the CCS Cada that is being absorbed by the Blue Crystals in Naole's Reserve Energy Sphere Explodes it also Implodes resulting in inverted energy, then Naole uses Phulec's Chest Crystal and his Reserve Energy Sphere to force the inverted energy to converge on a single point, and that forms a wormhole to the Inter-dimensional Pocket.

Cmd-Elrig : " You've done it!"

The opening of the wormhole to the Inter-dimensional Pocket sends Naole and his now 1.12km diameter Reserve Energy Sphere crashing into the atmosphere of Nilrig, and Naole desperately struggles to prevent the Reserve Energy Sphere crashing into Nilrig at high speed. Because Phulec's Chest Crystal was locked into the developing wormhole it was not propelled by the Inter-dimensional discharge.

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Naole managed to slow down the fall of his Reserve Energy Sphere, and when it finally hit the ground it was moving at 250m/s; rolling and coming to rest on a beach with only 100m protruding out of the ocean. Naole landed some 20km away, and even though the landing was rough he had not been harmed. Atola, Bruce and 12 Velrovians race to Naole's crush site to determine his fate.

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In orbit the wormhole briefly enlarges to 10km in diameter and the massive Crystalan Ship Cobalt emerges from the wormhole. Cobalt is also known as the Key of the Forbidden, and was originally bonded to Naole. Once Cobalt is out of the wormhole the wormhole closes. Commander Elrig of the Entig Republic tries to establish communications with Cobalt, but Cobalt is heavily damaged and therefore unable to receive communications.

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Characteristics of Cobalt:

1〙 58km in length, 2〙 8.5km maximum height. 3〙 9.8km maximum width, 4〙 Enhanced Weapon systems, 5〙 3 layer 950m thick Refractive-Reflective Skin/Hull; the first 2 layers were 270m thick, and the third 410m thick.

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Onboard the CCS Cobalt A2211CL Deputy Guardian Commander Isan Lesedi and the other 35 Guardian Armoured individuals he brought with him make an assessment of their situation. There are 100000 Crystal Armoured Crystalans onboard CCS Cobalt; divided equally between Crystalorb Command and Expeditionary Command. 75% of those onboard are Vanglead Armoured Crystalans. Aurora Olen is the Expeditionary Guardian, and her deputy Ralen Olen Commands Expeditionary Recognisance.

However Deputy Guardian Commander Isan is in Command of the mission, and even though Isan does not outrank Aurora he is her senior. Commander Isan brought with him the Guardians of sectors 1-5, and Each Guardian had 2 Deputy Guardians. Aurora brought with her the Recognisance Guardian; Aurora has 5 Deputy Guardians, Ralen has 3 Deputy Guardians, and Each Deputy Guardian in the Expeditionary Command has an Apprentice Guardian.

At the CCS Cobalt's command Bridge Commander Isan, Expeditionary Guardian Aurora and Recognisance Commander Guardian Ralen conduct analysis and planning.

Isan : " Cobalt Report!"

Cobalt : " We are in Normal space! Historical star charts indicate that we are in Entig Republic Space; near the Entig Republic's Nilrig colony. I'm detecting 5 Andronian Federation SkyStriders, 7 Carmak Republic SkyStriders, 15 Entig Republic StarCruisers and a Valiant Class Corvette with designation AFS Nala D2586L."

Isan : " Establish Communications with Alliance forces!"

Cobalt : " Unable to Establish Communications; my primary Communications systems are heavily damaged. Estimated repair time; 2 hours!"

Aurora : " Scan for Crystalan Energy signatures!"

Cobalt : " Detecting one Chest Crystal Energy signature just 1000m away and 5 Crystalan Energy signatures on planet Nilrig; 2 trace human signatures, one trace nonhuman signature, one primary Crystalan Energy signature on Nilrig and one primary Crystalan Energy signature with significant amounts of Negative Psionic Energy on Nilrig!"

Isan : " Circlean?"

Cobalt : " Most likely!"

Aurora : " Ralen; recover the Chest Crystal outside Cobalt!"

Ralen : " On your Command!"

Isan : " While Ralen recovers the Chest Crystal, Aurora; you'll have to contain the Circlean!" talking directly to Aurora "We can't risk him telling anyone of our presence!”

Aurora : " Will do Commander!"

Isan : " Cobalt, I need you to accelerate your minerals processing! We need you battle ready as soon as possible."

Cobalt : " I'll need more reactor fuel Sir!"

Isan : " I'm despatching teams to secure water from Nilrig for your Fusion Reactors!"

Cobalt : " I'll need at least 200 tons of water to accelerate minerals processing and to complete repairs!"

Isan : " The remaining Crystalans onboard will help with repairs!"

Cobalt : " Beginning acceleration of processes!"

Aurora : " Then I'm off! I'm taking my 5 Deputy Guardians and their Apprentice Guardians with me."

Aurora leaves Cobalt for Nilrig, Ralen goes to recover the Chest Crystal outside Cobalt, and two Juvenile Indigo Class Crystalan Ships prepare to collect water from Nilrig

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When Aurora, her 5 Deputy Guardians and their Apprentice Guardians arrive at Naole's crush site they find Naole surrounded by; Atola, Bruce and 12 Velrovians. Aurora instructs her people to stand aside and let her deal with Naole Alone.

Without warning Aurora attacks Naole with Electrolaser Lightning Bolts from her Crystal Lance.

Naole : " Blue shield!" Naole blocks Aurora's Electrolaser Lightning Bolt attacks "A Green Guardian? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Aurora : " You can't escape Circlean!"

Guardian Aurora attacks Naole with a series of Electrolaser Lightning Plasma Energy Balls forcing Naole into the air with Aurora in pursuit.

Naole : " I'm not a Circlean!" speaking on an open Coms channel to Aurora "I'm Naole Olen."

Aurora : " Naole is dead!" continuing her assault on Naole "You can't trick me Circlean!"

Naole : " Dead?" a momentary loss of concentration allows Aurora's flying Crystal Lance to get through, but it does not damage Naole's Armour "I'm not Dead!"

Aurora : " You Circleans will pay for your crimes!" Aurora focuses her energy into an attack "Green Wave!"

Naole : " Blue Wave!" Naole counterattacks

The atmosphere explodes as the Energy of the Green Wave collides with the Energy of the Blue Wave. Naole had countered the ultimate attack of a Green Guardian with the ultimate attack of a Blue Guardian. The atmosphere is charged with electrical energy as Green Energy collides with Blue Energy resulting in a spectacular release of electrical energy and other forms of energy.

When the dust settles Naole has crushed to the ground and he struggles to his feet.

Aurora : " Die Circlean!" Aurora charges her Crystal Lance "Lightning Spear!"

As Aurora's charged Crystal Lance heads straight for Naole he quickly charges his Crystal Lance and uses it to deflect Aurora's Crystal Lance.

Naole : " Indigo Form!" Naole transforms to his Ascended Crystalline Form

Aurora : " Emerald Form!" Aurora also transforms to her Ascended Crystalline Form

Naole : " This isn't necessary, we shouldn't be fighting!"

Aurora : " Then just die Circlean!" She raises her energy output while she also charges her Crystal Lance “It Ends here Circlean!"

Naole : " What sort of Crystal Guardian are you?" Naole begins to drain the ambient energy around him, and the atmospheric temperature drops to below freezing for a radius of 2km "Why attack without cause?"

Aurora : " Cause?" Aurora attacks

The next phase of the fighting becomes a clash of the Crystal Lances. Naole quickly realises that Aurora's Crystal Lance generates more energy than his own Crystal Lance, and this forces him to defend against the attacks of a warrior who clearly generates more energy than himself. As they fight in the air at high speed the force of their blows shook the ground and compressed the air into shock waves that created dust storms and brought down trees.

Then Atola, Bruce, Naole's Velrovian Bodyguard Seltha and the other 11 Velrovians witness Naole fall from the sky and crush with a force that shakes the ground. The Velrovians quickly rush to Naole's crush site, Atola and Bruce follow the Velrovians; they find Naole unconscious.

Seltha : " Ultora!" trying to wake Naole "Wake up Ultora!"

Capt-Atola : " Naole wake up!"

They get no response from Naole.

Bruce : " Bloody hell!" he looks up "She's coming!"

Aurora : " Stand aside cretins!"

Seltha : " Never!"

Capt-Atola : " Why are you doing this?"

Aurora : " I won't tell you again! Stand aside!"

Bruce : " We stand with Naole"

Aurora : " Then you will die with him!" she focuses her energy for a maximum power attack "Lightning Wave!"

Naole : " Full barrier shield!"

Just before Aurora released the attack Naole sensed the danger his friends were in and rose to protect them from Aurora's attack. Atola, Bruce and the 12 Velrovians are relieved to see that Naole is still alive.

Seltha : " Ultora!”

Capt-Atola : " Naole!"

Naole : " Seltha! You risked you lives to protect me."

Seltha : " It's my chosen duty my Lord!"

Naole : " Bruce; You came for me!"

Bruce : " Having seen; I believe!"

Naole : " Thank you! All of you! You honour me with your courage! Now get behind me, and let what must Happen be Done!"

Seltha : " But my Lord?"

Capt-Atola : " Naole; no!"

Naole : " No arguments! This Green Guardian is ridiculously Powerful; This may very well be the end for me, but it doesn't have to be the end for all of you; it should not be the end for all of you."

Bruce : " We understand Guardian!"

Aurora receives a Communiqué from Isan.

Isan : " If the Lodians and the monkeys want to die with the Circlean then so be it!"

Aurora : " Hold on, something is different!"

Isan : " End it Aurora!"

Aurora allows herself to fall to the ground; slamming on the ground with significant force just 30m from Naole. Then as Aurora walks towards the battered Naole Atola, Bruce and the Velrovians move away from Naole.

Aurora : " You drained your power and your life force to protect them?"

Naole : " You left me no choice!"

Aurora : " You would make such a sacrifice for them?"

Naole : " Absolutely!"

Aurora : " That is the virtue of a true Crystal Guardian!" She opens her Armour's face cover "Guardians; Salute!"

From the sky 10 Guardian Armoured individuals descend to just 10m above Naole and Aurora; forming a circle around Naole and Aurora. The Guardian Armoured individuals charged their Crystal Lances holding them with their right hands, and then they extended their right hands such that the Crystal Lances made a 45 degree angle with their bodies and the ground. Electrical energy connected the tips of the Crystal Lances forming electrical arcs in the Air, and then the electrical arcs connected to Aurora's Crystal Lance.

Then the 2 Green Guardian Armoured, 4 Red Guardian Armoured, 2 Gold Guardian Armoured and 2 Clear Guardian Armoured individuals land near Naole and Aurora.

The 12 Velrovians are surprised by the quick turn of events.

Bruce : " The rare and astounding Guardian Salute!"

Seltha : " What just happened?"

Capt-Atola : " It's over!"

Seltha : " Just like that? What changed?"

Capt-Atola : " I'm not sure!"

As Atola, Seltha and Bruce approach they hear Aurora speaking.

Aurora : " Guardians; I give you Naole Olen! Knowledge Guardian! Envoy of the Forbidden!"

Naole : " Pleased to meet you all!"

Aurora : " My apologies Antecedent; I could not recognize you with the Negative Psionic Energy in your body!"

Naole : " I understand!"

Then Aurora removes her Green Guardian Armour, Naole responds by removing his Blue Guardian Armour. Aurora proceeds to introduce her 5 Deputy Guardians; the Green Guardians Omnala and Elnami, the Red Guardians Nosara and Mahila, the Gold Guardian Kanu. Omnala and Elnami are the most senior of Aurora's 5 Deputy Guardians. Omnala is Aurora's younger brother, and Elnami is Ralen's younger sister. Aurora's father and Ralen's father were twins, and their Grandfather 〘Galen〙 was the first to be born with a Green Chest Crystal.

Aurora moves closer to Naole and looks him in the eyes.

Aurora : " Now for the ritual!" Then Aurora puts her hands on Naole's shoulders, Naole responds by doing the same "I open myself up to you!"

Naole : " And I open myself up to you!"

Aurora : " I share my life force with you!"

Naole : " And I share my life force with you!"

The Chest Crystals of Naole and Aurora exchange energies, and there is an electrical discharge that everyone can see.

Aurora : " I see into your Heart!"

Naole : " I see into your Soul!"

Aurora : " I am Aurora Olen!"

Naole : " I am Naole Olen!"

Puzzled; Atola asks Omnala.

Capt-Atola : " What are they doing?"

Omnala: " Whenever Crystalans have a conflict that results in a physical confrontation they must touch each other's soul to resolve any lingering differences."

Elnami : " This ritual helps to heal the rifts, and prevents further animosity."

Omnala: " That's different!" noticing something "Yeah!"

Elnami : " Yes!"

Capt-Atola : " What's different?"

Elnami : " I think she likes him."

Omnala: " Seems like the feeling is mutual."

Elnami : " Interesting!"

Capt-Atola : " Doesn't this kind of thing happen often?"

Omnala: " No!"

Elnami : " At least not with Aurora."

Omnala: " Most Crystalans find their life partner by the time they are 50 years old, but my sister has not been as fortunate."

Elnami : " She is 607 years old, and she has not been able to find a Crystalan to share her Heart with."

Omnala: " But now it looks like she has found one whose energy is compatible."

Elnami : " Cousin Aurora has finally found a match."

Naole and Aurora end their life force energy exchange.

Naole : " I have never felt this connected to another person!"

Aurora : " I have waited my entire life to feel this connected!"

Omnala and Elnami interrupt Naole and Aurora.

Omnala: " We believed you to be dead!"

Naole : " I got that! Why?"

Elnami : " On 11-09-2455 a Casara Class Cruiser serving as a Cargo Freighter stumbled upon an individual buried in a Containment capsule on a colony belonging to the Nabi Federated Kingdom. When the crew opened the Containment capsule they discovered what we had until now believed to be Naole, but we've just learned that Crystalorb was deceived."

Capt-Atola : " Who deceived Crystalorb? How did they do it?"

Aurora : " Only the Circlean would have had the capabilities to do this!"

Omnala: " The individual found in the Containment capsule looked like Naole, and he even had a Blue Chest Crystal!"

Capt-Atola : " What happened to him?"

Elnami : " A few days after the Casara Class Cruiser found him they were attacked by 5 Migon BattleSpheres, and the ship crushed into a nearby star; there were no survivors. The Council of Elders decided that the possible death of Naole should only be told to Guardians until it's confirmed."

Capt-Atola : " Was it a clone?"

Naole : " It couldn't have been a clone!"

Capt-Atola : " Why not?"

Naole : " Only a female with compatible DNA can carry an embryo of a Crystalan with Red Crystals! So they would have had to recombine the Y chromosome in my DNA with that of another person, and inseminate the egg of a Crystalan woman. They would have had to repeat the process many times to eventually produce someone with significant Blue Crystals to produce a Blue Chest Crystal. The only known sample of my DNA outside Crystalorb is the sample collected when I was captured at the start of the Circlean wars some 560 years ago."

Capt-Atola : " But in the past Hybrid women were able to carry Crystalan embryos?"

Aurora : " That was only possible because the Spirit Stone provided the compatible buffer Energies required!"

Naole : " The Circleans would have needed growth acceleration technology, and my guess is that the Migon must have provided them with it."

Capt-Atola : " But why go through all that trouble?"

Aurora : " The Crystalorb defence Matrix!"

Capt-Atola : " What is the Crystalorb defence Matrix?"

Naole : " It’s part of the Joint Communications Channel, and it allows Crystal Guardians information about the status and location of every Crystalan Ship and Crystalorb Ship."

Aurora : " So that's how the Migon were able to get past our fleets!" An Entig Republic StarCruiser arrives in the skies above them "The Entig are here, we must return to Cobalt for formal talks. Come Naole, there is much information for you to absorb!"

Naole : " Ok!"

They all leave for Cobalt.

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Onboard the CCS Cobalt A2211CL Naole is met by thousands of Crystalans including Deputy Guardian Commander Isan and Green Guardian Armoured Ralen. All of the Crystalans there had been born in the Inter-dimensional Pocket, and they had all heard the stories of the Legendary Blue Guardian, but because they believed him to be dead; they never imagined that they would one day come face to face with Naole.

Once the preliminary greetings are done Naole is taken to the Energy storage centre, and there he finds the 2.5m diameter spherical fragment of the Spirit Stone.

As Naole approaches the Spirit Stone it reacts to his presence to the surprise of everyone.

Aurora : " Wow!"

Naole : " You two, come here!" Naole calls Bruce and Atola closer to the Spirit Stone "I must introduce you to your Legacy!"

Isan : " Wait!"

Naole : " Yes?"

Isan : " Only the Council of Elders can authorise access to the Spirit Stone!"

Naole : " Who told you that?"

Ralen : " That's how it's been for thousands of years!"

Capt-Atola : " Thousands of years?"

Naole : " Access to the Spirit Stone is the right of every Crystalan!"

Isan : " But? …"

Naole : " Let me show you!" Naole interrupts "Blue Heart!"

An aura appears around Naole, and an aura appears around the Spirit Stone, then the Spirit Stone produces a life force energy pulse that reverberates throughout Cobalt, and calmness comes over all Crystalans including Cobalt.

Ralen : " I don't believe it!"

Isan : " How did you do that?"

Aurora : " You access the Spirit Stone like an Elder!"

Naole : " The Spirit Stone is not an object that you control; it's a living force with a will of its own! The Council of Elders are elected representatives of Crystalans, and they express the will of Crystalans, but the Spirit Stone serves the best interest of all Crystalans."

Isan : " Commander Elrig of the Entig Republic has arrived onboard!"

Naole : " I will join you as soon as my Communion with the Spirit Stone is complete! I must update my Knowledge!"

Guardian Armoured Naole then proceeds to touch the Spirit Stone; he upgrades Atola and Bruce's Lodian Armour to an Ilesian Vanglead Armour. Naole then starts his Communion with the Spirit Stone.

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