Chapter 711: Moving the Stars
On the edge of the Pandora star system, inside the Eldar cruiser personally commanded by High Farseer Eldrad, the solemn atmosphere reached its absolute peak.
In the center of the bridge, a three-dimensional ritual pedestal constructed of pure wraithbone and crystal hovered slowly.
Eldrad sat upright before the pedestal, his eyes half-closed, his hands hovering over the psychic sensory surfaces on either side of the base.
His consciousness had formed a deep connection with the ship's psychic core, the massive ritual site far away on the surface of the Predator homeworld, and the nascent dimensional portal framework in Pandora's orbit.
Countless fine yet resilient psychic threads, with him at the core, spanned across distances of several light-years, weaving into a massive invisible net that silently shrouded the target planet.
"All nodes report ready," a high-ranking Farseer standing by reported in a low voice, clearly audible in the silent bridge. "The psychic resonance of the Predator homeworld ritual site is at one hundred percent. The spatial anchor is secure.
"The three main resonant rings of the Pandora orbital portal framework are at eighty-nine percent completion, with an available redundancy of two hundred and thirty-seven percent.
"The deployment of the gravitational equilibrium arrays in the Death World receiving zone is complete, and the spatial coordinates are locked."
"And the final coordination with Honored Ryo?" Eldrad's conscious fluctuation transmitted. Though he had not opened his eyes, he was in control of everything.
"The final data stream exchange is complete. The dimensional gateway activation cipher, the traction field synchronization protocol, and the emergency abort command chain have all been bidirectionally confirmed. Honored Ryo states that the stellar energy siphoning arrays in the Death World star system have reached maximum energy storage capacity and are ready to respond at any moment."
"Excellent." A calm resolve flowed through Eldrad's consciousness. "Notify all systems: Initiate the first phase of the 'Planetary Relocation' esoteric rite—'Reality Decoupling'. In the name of the Aeldari, for the future of our race, we pull the stars and guide the heavens."
With the command issued, a silent tremor swept across both star systems simultaneously.
On the Predator homeworld, upon that desolate plateau, the massive ritual site covering several square kilometers suddenly erupted with unprecedented psychic radiance.
All the wraithbone pillars and crystal arrays were like awakened stars, pulsing frantically at a specific frequency.
Visible, overlapping ripples of psychic energy expanded in all directions from the center of the ritual site. This was not a destructive shockwave, but a more subtle and profound power.
They penetrated the rock, seeping into the crust and winding along the planetary internal mass distribution ley lines. Like countless invisible hands, they gently grasped the 'skeleton' of this planet.
The planet itself did not shake violently, but certain deep-seated laws were being temporarily and locally rewritten.
With the spatial anchor at its core, the 'resilience' of the reality structure within the area covered by the ritual site was greatly enhanced, while its 'adhesion' to the star system's overall gravitational background was being ingeniously weakened by the psychic esoteric rite.
On the edge of the Pandora star system, the other Eldar cruiser and the orbital portal framework were operating at full capacity.
The framework's three main resonant rings emitted a low hum, and the space within the rings began to manifest stable, distorted halos of light.
These halos were not offensive weapons, but precise navigational beacons and force field couplers. They were calculating the optimal entry orbit and deceleration path for the incoming 'behemoth', while simultaneously establishing a hyperspace resonant link with the receiving coordinates in the Death World.
Meanwhile, inside the main control center of the Death World base, the giant holographic star map in front of Ryo had been divided into three main windows: the psychic readings of the Predator homeworld ritual site, the status of the Pandora orbital portal framework, and the spatial stability coefficient of the Death World receiving zone. All data streams cascaded like a waterfall.
"The Eldar esoteric rite has been activated. Minor perturbations within the expected range have been detected in the target star system's spatial constants," Techmarine Cassius reported, his bionic eye locked onto the continuously jumping parameters. "The gravitational background peeling process has begun. Estimated time: six to eight standard hours."
"The intensity of the portal framework's resonant field continues to rise. It has established initial coupling with the rite's force field," the orbital construction supervisor's voice came through the comms. "The framework structural stress readings are normal, and the energy flow is stable."
"The gravitational equilibrium arrays in the receiving zone are operating at full power. Spatial anchoring is complete," a Tech-Priest at the Death World base confirmed.
Ryo watched all this in silence. His role was to ensure the precise opening and maintenance of the dimensional gateway, and to provide the necessary energy boosts and coordinate micro-adjustments at critical moments.
At this moment, the ancient Eldar esoteric rite was playing the role of a 'crane' and 'porter', while his dimensional technology would act as the 'conveyor belt' connecting the two locations.
Time slipped by amidst the precise flow of data and the silent surge of energy.
The Predator civilization on their homeworld remained completely oblivious to the monumental changes occurring that concerned the very survival of their planet.
Their sensors might have captured anomalous energy fluctuations in certain regions of the planet, but these were largely attributed to natural phenomena or ritualistic activities—as a martial race, they had not yet developed a scientific framework capable of comprehending spatial manipulation of this magnitude.
"First phase, 'Reality Decoupling', is at ninety-eight point three percent completion," the report from an Eldar Farseer arrived. "The peeling of the target planet from its native star system's gravitational background has reached the critical point. We are ready to enter the second phase—'Dimensional Traction'—at any moment."
Eldrad's consciousness swept over all system statuses before finally establishing a direct connection with the node where Ryo was located.
"Honored Ryo, the first phase is complete. The target is prepared to break away from its original orbit. Please prepare to open the dimensional gateway and synchronize the traction field. We will guide the target toward the portal beside Pandora."
Ryo's gaze grew sharp.
"Confirmed. The Death World dimensional gateway main system is initiating preheating. Coordinates locked: the center point of the Pandora system portal framework. Energy supply connecting... Gateway opening countdown: thirty minutes."
The final preparations at the three cosmic coordinates synchronously entered the final countdown.
The thirty-minute countdown reached zero.
Deep within the Death World base, the unprecedentedly massive dimensional teleportation main device let out a low roar unlike any before, sounding like the awakening of an ancient behemoth.
The colossal amount of energy siphoned from the star was no longer routed through excessive buffering and conversion; it was injected directly into the core of the device.
The space around the device began to violently distort. Light was swallowed, forming a continuously expanding, gloomy void whose edges sparked with ominous dark-purple electrical arcs.
This was not a stable gateway entrance; rather, it was more like a 'wound' leading into the dimensional gap, forcibly ripped open in the material universe.
Its other end was precisely anchored to the center of the orbital portal framework in the Pandora star system.
"Main gateway successfully forced open! Energy consumption has reached its peak! Stabilization system load at ninety-two percent!" a Tech-Priest's voice called out, laced with tension.