Chapter 85: A Hope Among the Ashes and the Lord's Endgame
After the Odyssey crash-landed in that crumbling park in the heart of New York City, Kael, Aslan, and Dr. Aris Thorne found themselves in the midst of pure hell. The once-lively streets were now a battlefield of burning buildings, overturned vehicles, and the dark, twisted creatures of the Void. The sky was torn by deadly energy beams raining down from the Void ships, and the sounds of a last desperate stand by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military echoed with the explosions. An "echo" of fear and despair swept over the city.
"We must reach the Terra Crystal… that underground cavern," Kael said, his voice barely audible over the city's noise. "Commander Hill's plan depends on it." The Chitauri core trembled in his palm with the pained wail of the Earth, and at the same time he felt the mocking and oppressive presence of that mighty Void Lord—the entity that Kael had now come to know as "Malakor." Malakor presented this destruction as a "show" for Kael; it wanted to break his resistance, to destroy his hope.
The three of them took cover among the ruins and began to move in the direction known to be the cave. They encountered danger at every turn, a new Void patrol on every street. Kael used all his abilities as the Echo Carrier. With the power he derived from his Chitauri core, he fired precise and deadly shots at the Void creatures, and created temporary energy shields to protect Aslan and Dr. Thorne. The connection he had with the Earth's own echo provided him with a kind of instinctive guidance in this chaotic environment, helping him to anticipate dangers.
Aslan fought alongside Kael with unwavering strength despite his injuries. The blades in both hands performed a dance of death against the servants of the Void. Dr. Thorne supported them with his weapon equipped with S.H.I.E.L.D. technology, while also analyzing the surrounding Void energy and the creatures' behavior to find their weak points.
Along the way, they encountered S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and soldiers who were resisting desperately. Kael joined them, if only briefly, and with the unexpected power of the Echo, he boosted their morale and won them small victories. But the general picture did not change; the world was helpless against the overwhelming power of the Void.
Malakor's presence hung over the entire city like a nightmare. Kael had to constantly repel its mocking whispers that tried to infiltrate his mind, its insidious psychic attacks that tried to fuel his fears and doubts. Malakor aimed not only for physical destruction, but also for spiritual collapse. Perhaps most of all, for Kael's soul...
After hours of desperate and bloody struggle, they finally reached the familiar, abandoned industrial area, the secret entrance to the underground cavern. But the entrance was much different than Kael had expected. Malakor had not left it empty either. The entrance to the cavern was sealed with huge, obsidian-like Void crystals, guarded by the most elite Void warriors and huge, armored Void monsters of a kind they had never seen before. And in the midst of those monsters waited not Malakor himself, but a smaller but still terrifying Void commander who reflected his power.
"So you have come at last, Echo Bearer," the commander hissed, his voice carrying Malakor's mockery. "Our Lord has prepared a special welcome for you. But first, you will have to pass our little test."
That was one last obstacle. Before they could enter the cave, before they could reach the Terra Crystal, they had to get past this dark army and its commander.
At that moment, Commander Hill's voice came desperately through Kael's communicator. "Kael! The situation... is critical! The Void fleet is about to activate a massive energy weapon in the upper atmosphere! If that weapon is fired... the entire planet's magnetic shield will collapse! Everything... everything will be over! You have only minutes... to reach the Terra Crystal!"
This was one of the most difficult moments for Kael. On one side, this deadly army blocking the entrance to the cave; on the other, the massive Void weapon threatening to destroy the entire planet. Their time was running out.
Kael closed his eyes. His Chitauri core trembled with the Terra Crystal's call for help, the painful echo of Earth. He held on to that last shred of hope within him, that undying Echo fire. "Aslan! Thorne!" he said, his voice determined. "We will open this door. No matter what it takes!"
This was not just a battle, but a race of will and time. And Kael had no intention of losing in this race.