Virtual Reality Cultivator-Chapter 58: Victor’s Shadow

The usually quiet Aurelia Prime system had turned into hell. A settler colony was destroyed in a single night. No distress signal. No warning. Only debris—and one message left on an old military frequency.

"Where is he?""Return Subject P-01."

Ethan stood frozen on the deck, his eyes locked on the broadcast sent by a neutral patrol ship. The video showed the silhouette of a man in a long coat and half-face mask, standing amidst the ruins. Behind him, armed soldiers in black armor surrounded lifeless bodies.

"Victor..." Ethan whispered, his voice full of guilt and fury.

Heated DiscussionIn the tactical briefing room, tension was palpable.

"He wiped out an entire colony just for one person?" Bell asked in disbelief.

Seraphina typed rapidly on her console. "He knows Ember is with us. And he doesn't care who dies to get her back."

Claire clenched her fists. "That's a monster, not a man."

Ethan nodded. "And he's more than just a military commander now. Data from Zenith shows he—like Ember—might have been an early subject of Project Phaethon."

"That means he..." Nova murmured, "...might have powers equal to or even greater than Ember?"

Ember Faces the TruthEmber sat alone in the observation room, watching the footage over and over. Victor's voice—though only a few words—felt strangely familiar, like something she'd heard long ago in hazy dreams.

Lena entered and sat beside her, saying nothing.

"I... I'm scared," Ember said softly. "Scared that I might be just like him."

Lena held her hand. "But you saved me. You're not like him."

Ember smiled faintly. Lena's words were simple, but they touched something deep inside her.

Trail to Victor's StrongholdSeraphina finally intercepted an unencrypted communication channel from Victor's forces. It led them to coordinates within the Aelion Rift system—a long-abandoned military no-go zone.

Ethan stood before the entire crew.

"This could be a trap. But we can't just stand by. Victor will keep hunting Ember, and he won't stop until we're all dead."

Bell grinned with anticipation. "I've been waiting to meet this guy."

Claire sheathed her sword. "Let's show him who's really being hunted."

Into the Aelion RiftThe Ardent Flame launched into the dark silence of the Aelion Rift. In the armory, the crew prepared their gear. Nova double-checked her weapon. Claire sat in meditation, calming her mind. Bell hummed a tune while packing grenades.

In the observation room, Ember stood with Ethan.

"Are you sure you want to come?" Ethan asked.

Ember nodded. "This is my life too. And I won't let you face the ghosts of my past alone."

As they arrived in orbit above the Aelion Rift, the tactical screen displayed one massive ship—far larger than the Ardent Flame, with an old design that had been heavily modified.

"That ship..." Seraphina whispered. "It's not just Victor's base. It's... a mobile laboratory."

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And as they drew closer, a familiar voice greeted them over the radio:

"Ethan. You finally came. And you brought... her."

"Ember, welcome back."

Victor's voice was calm—but carried a terror that cut to the bone.