The Induction Journey of the Star Shard
After handling their respective affairs, Fa and her companions regrouped in the grand hall of the Light Feather Dome's royal palace. Yuyuer and Kayla immediately guessed from the slightly smug expressions on Salsa, Rex, and TISK's faces that they had carried out a secret operation—evidently, the three had tampered with the corpses of those mutated winged beings while everyone else was busy. However, Yuyuer simply gently stroked the crystal orb on her dragon bone staff, her gaze profound and silent; Kayla grinned, a flash of ice-blue arc crossing her thunder claws, as if intrigued by this hidden achievement, yet she didn't expose it.
Wyrselon stood in the center of the hall, his silver-blue six wings slightly spread, emanating a gentle yet vast aura. He looked at Fa and her group, a hint of relief and anticipation flashing in his eyes. "Since everyone is ready, let us proceed to the location of the Star Shard." His voice was low and solemn, carrying an unquestionable authority.
Under Wyrselon's lead, accompanied by six steady-auraed double-winged guardians, Fa and her companions passed through the deep corridors of the palace and arrived at a massive stone door adorned with ancient runes. The door's surface was etched with intricate star patterns, emitting faint starlight, as if containing the mysteries of the universe. Wyrselon approached the door, placing his palm gently on its center, and softly chanted an ancient incantation. The incantation flowed like water, illuminating the runes on the door one by one, before the door slowly slid open to both sides, revealing a secret passage leading underground.
The passage was not unobstructed. Every certain distance, there was a massive light grid door constructed from pure energy, engraved with complex geometric patterns and winged clan runes, blocking the way. The flowing light on the grid displayed a powerful protective force field. Wyrselon stopped at the first light grid and nodded slightly. The six guardians stepped forward simultaneously, inserting prismatic keys shimmering with different colors (representing different elements and permissions) into the corresponding slots on both sides of the grid.
Hum—!
A low energy resonance sounded. The runes on the keys instantly connected and flowed with the patterns on the grid, like unlocking a complex code lock. The energy field on the grid rippled like water waves, silently sliding open to both sides, revealing the passage behind. The moment the door opened, a purer, vaster aura, as if containing the primal forces of the universe's birth, rushed forth, causing one's soul to tremble.
As Wyrselon flew, he said, "Every month, the six unlocking keys are rotated among different guardians for safekeeping. Only by gathering all seven unlocking keys—including the master key in my possession—can one enter the location of the Star Shard. This is to ensure security and prevent any single force from easily approaching it." Meanwhile, the six guardians unsealed one star-glow energy seal after another.
The first door: The grid presented an ice-blue color. A guardian inserted a frost-white prism, causing the air temperature to drop sharply, with ice crystals condensing on the grid before instantly melting.
The second door: The grid burned hot like fiery red. The corresponding key was like burning lava; upon insertion, heat waves rolled, and the grid seemed composed of flames.
The third door: The grid flowed with verdant vitality. After inserting the emerald prism, vine shadows instantly grew and spread on the walls, then quietly dissipated.
The fourth door: The grid became profound like shadows. Upon inserting the purple-black prism, light seemed to be devoured, leaving only the key's own glow.
The fifth door: The grid flickered with thunder light. Inserting a prism leaping with arcs caused fine electric snakes to slither across the grid's surface.
The sixth door: The grid was pure like diamond, shining with holy radiance. Inserting a prism emitting a gentle milky-white halo caused the lights to intertwine, purifying everything.
The final door, at the end of the passage, was entirely different from the previous six. It was not a grid but a smooth, mirror-like giant door carved from a whole massive star-glow crystal. There were no keyholes on the door, only a palm-print-like groove surrounded by complex runes resembling a star map. Wyrselon stepped forward, steadily placing his long, faintly glowing palm into the groove.
In an instant, the three pairs of silver-blue star wings behind the king moved without wind, their edges suddenly brightening with starlight! A vast mental force like a sea of stars, along with pure star energy, surged from him and infused into the giant door. The dormant star map runes on the door lit up one by one, like awakening constellations in the night sky, connecting to form a grand and profound three-dimensional array. The entire giant door began to emit a warm yet irresistible star glow, illuminating the entire corridor like daylight.
No loud noise, no vibration. The star-glow crystal giant door melted and dissipated silently from the center to both sides like a water curtain, revealing what lay behind.
The Winged Sanctuary!
This was a massive spherical space, as if a corner of the universe had been cut out. The dome and walls were not solid but flowing, rotating nebulae and brilliant star rivers! Countless stars, bright or dim, floated and orbited within, emitting eternal and mysterious light. In the center of the space floated a lotus-shaped platform condensed from pure starlight. At the platform's center, a fist-sized, irregularly shaped crystal quietly hovered.
It was the Star Shard.
Its glow was not blinding but a profound, introspective deep blue that seemed to absorb all light, with points of silver-white starlight flowing in its core like living entities. Each barely perceptible pulse tugged at the flow speed of the nebulae in the entire spherical space, emanating an ancient, vast aura as if containing the secrets of the universe's birth. Pure star energy washed over every soul entering this place like invisible tides, gentle yet immensely heavy.
"Go, Fa." Wyrselon's voice carried a strange resonance, as if echoing with the space. "Follow the guidance of your heart and feel it. The Star Shard possesses a faint consciousness; whether it acknowledges you depends entirely on fate."
The Induction of the Fifth Star Shard
Fa took a deep breath, suppressing the subtle throbbing and stinging sensation in her right eye from approaching the shard. The moment she stepped into the Winged Sanctuary, an invisible ripple spread out with her as the center. She walked directly beneath the shard, lifting her head to gaze at this Star Shard.
She tried to mobilize her mental force to touch it, but it was like a stone sinking into the ocean. The shard hovered quietly, showing no response.
"Close your eyes, Fa," a gentle voice came from within Fa's heart. "Do not try to 'control' or 'take.' Feel it, as you feel the pulse of the Star Eye within you. They... are originally of the same source."
Fa obeyed and closed her eyes, clearing her mind. She sank all her consciousness into the vast sea of stars deep in her right eye. At first, there was only darkness and her own heartbeat, but gradually, the eternally rotating nebula deep in the Star Eye seemed pulled by something, its rotation speed quietly accelerating. Strands of cool and vast aura diffused from the hovering shard, gently enveloping her.
The Singularity of Resonance:
The Cold Embrace: A torrent of ancient cold instantly pierced through Fa's consciousness! This was not the terminal stillness of the Chill Void Origin but the absolute zero of cosmic vacuum, the chaotic cold before the birth of stars. Fa felt as if plunged into an ice cave, her soul about to freeze and shatter! The newly integrated Chill Void Origin shard in her body trembled violently, instinctively resisting this more primal and pure cosmic chill.
The Ignition of Starfire: Just as Fa felt her consciousness about to freeze and annihilate, billions of brilliant starfires suddenly erupted from the depths of that cold torrent! Each starfire contained infinite vitality and creative passion, like the instant of a supernova explosion. The extreme contradictions of cold and heat, stillness and life, collided and fused fiercely in the depths of Fa's consciousness! Her Star Eye throbbed violently under her eyelid, the deep blue glow penetrating the cloth strip, illuminating half her face in a ghostly blue. The earth, water, and ice elemental magics in her body flowed uncontrollably, forming faint yellow, blue, and white auras on her skin's surface.
The Co-Dance of Star Trails: The trajectories of the flowing starlight inside the shard began to synchronize wondrously with the rotation of the nebula deep in Fa's Star Eye! It was as if two complex star maps had found each other's missing pieces. The force field ripples emitted by the shard intertwined and overlapped in the void with the Star Eye fluctuations escaping from Fa due to the resonance, forming visible circles of ripples composed of fine star dust, silently spreading out, touching the star-glow crystal walls, and rebounding in echoes. The entire spherical space resounded with a subtle yet grand sound, like billions of wind chimes swaying in the depths of the universe!
The Shard's Whisper: A vague yet vast notion flowed directly into Fa's consciousness—not language, but pure "feeling"—endless wandering, ancient vigilance, obsession with balance, and a hint of... longing and expectation for the "kin" Star Eye. It was like a child who had slept too long, finally sensing the call of a loved one.
The Star Eye's Response: Deep in Fa's Star Eye, the cold will belonging to the black hole, which devoured everything, seemed slightly appeased by this pure star power. A strand of milder, more inclusive star aura flowed from her right eye, actively meeting the shard. In that moment, the shard's deep blue glow suddenly softened, the starlight within leaping like joyful spirits. The shard slowly, like a fledgling returning to the nest, drifted a short distance toward Fa! Though it ultimately hovered in place, the cold barrier of rejection was gone, replaced by a wondrous closeness and connection.
Fa abruptly opened her eyes, her forehead covered in fine cold sweat, her face pale, her right eye aching with exhaustion, but the glow deep in the Star Eye was purer and deeper than ever before. She extended her hand, not to touch, but to hover gently beneath the shard. The shard's flowing deep blue glow gently brushed her fingertips, bringing a cool and comforting solace. It slowly fell into Fa's hand.
"Success..." Wyrselon and Arya erupted with irrepressible excitement and relief in their eyes. "The Star Shard... has acknowledged you! The prophecy... is not in vain!" The guardians also showed shock and relief.
Fa nodded, feeling the power within her. She knew this power would become her key weapon against the Doomsday Rebirth organization.
Return from Prison and the Sealed Bitter Journey
When Fa and her companions obtained the Star Shard and returned to the royal court's main hall, the remaining thirty guardians and Celestia were already waiting. Celestia was still wearing that rough gray prison garb, with sealing shackles on her hands, feet, and wing roots, her face pale, but her eyes no longer vacant—instead, they burned with a suppressed flame called vengeance. Seeing Fa and the others, she nodded slightly in greeting, her gaze then falling on Wyrselon with a hint of complex guilt that was hard to detect.
"Your Majesty," Celestia's voice was hoarse yet clear. "I am ready." She said no more, but her resolve spoke volumes. Wyrselon looked at her, emotions surging in his eyes, finally turning into a long sigh: "Sit, child. Before embarking on the journey, tell us everything you know about the Doomsday Rebirth organization, about your experiences after leaving... Tell us, and tell your new companions."
Everyone sat around. Celestia took a deep breath, slowly raised her head, and began to recount that journey steeped in blood, tears, and despair:
"The moment I rushed out of the 'Light Feather Dome' carrying the comatose Arius, I had only one thought: find someone who could save him!" Her voice trembled with recollection. "We crashed at the edge of the Eternal Frost Tundra. Arius's condition... was worse than in the dome. His wings began to wither, his skin cold and purple, his breathing so faint it nearly stopped. I carried him on my back, like a headless fly, braving the wind and snow, searching everywhere for healers. I went to five towns and cities, consulted dozens of doctors, but it was all in vain." She paused, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. "The winged clan hasn't appeared before the world for thirty years. Many people, upon seeing us, were either terrified or avoided us, some even slamming doors shut, refusing aid."
Just as I was nearing despair, I arrived at "Teardrop Bay" (a remote fishing village), where a local doctor named "Ohara" approached me voluntarily. Ohara seemed ordinary, but her eyes were unusually sharp. After examining Arius, she produced a syringe filled with eerie fluorescent green liquid: "Try this 'Awakener,' my secret formula. I can't guarantee a cure, but it can make him 'truly' awake for longer." After the injection, Arius not only opened his eyes but could even converse weakly for a moment! Celestia was overjoyed. However, three days later, Arius fell into coma again, and this time even the life condensation dew had minimal effect. Ohara "helplessly" shrugged: "The efficacy is diminishing. Unless... you come with me to a place where there might be a complete cure."
The Trap and Fall
"For that sliver of hope for Arius, I was willing to do anything!" Celestia's voice was filled with regret and self-mockery. "Ohara led me through the snowstorm to an uninhabited island, to a hidden mountain valley fortress. There, I met that person."
Celestia gritted her teeth when mentioning that person and described her appearance:
Appearance and Temperament: She was a female winged being with pure white angelic wings (six wings)! Her wings were full and white, flowing with holy radiance. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, carrying a compassionate, noble, and elegant aura, with a gentle smile always on her lips. Her eyes, at first glance, were full of wisdom and mercy, like a legendary savior.
Lies and Manipulation: She claimed to be a winged clan member who had also been lost in the great war thirty years ago, establishing this "sanctuary" to shelter persecuted kin. She praised Celestia's "courage" and "devotion" to her loved one. "Arius's curse has deep roots," she said compassionately. "The organization is dedicated to exploring the limits and mysteries of life, possessing technology to 'heal origin wounds'! She promised that as long as I served the organization and completed some 'necessary tasks,' they would use the highest resources to treat Arius and make him fully recover!"
Celestia closed her eyes in pain. "At that time... I was already at my wit's end. Arius's brief awakenings gave me illusory hope, and her appearance and assured promises... became my last straw! I... I believed her! So I joined Doomsday Rebirth!"
False Hope: She demonstrated the so-called "treatment progress." She took me to a room full of screens and activated communication. The screens lit up, showing a clean white room where Arius lay on a comfortable bed, his face seeming rosier, with "medical staff" in white robes recording data nearby. Arius even smiled weakly at the camera. "See, he's improving. Every time you complete an important task for the organization, we can advance a treatment phase." Her voice was full of seduction.
Bloodstained Missions: From then on, I became that person's sharpest spear. Relying on my four-winged speed, mental shriek, and shadow shuttle abilities, I carried out one shady task after another for her: assassinating scholars who knew the organization's secrets, seizing ancient artifacts containing powerful energy, eliminating uncooperative faction leaders, and even... participating in capturing "experimental subjects" with special physiques or racial talents. Each time I returned from a mission, I was allowed a brief video call with "Arius." Watching my loved one "gradually improve" on the screen, I could forcibly suppress the torment in my heart and the blood on my hands, telling myself it was all for ultimate redemption. Thus, I earned the codename "Fallen Angel" and was assigned this mission.
"Until... until you exposed this scam!" Celestia suddenly lifted her head, looking at Salsa, her eyes showing genuine gratitude for the first time, her voice choked, tears silently falling, her face full of pain and self-blame: "Until today, I learned the truth. Arius wasn't being cured at all; he had been used as experimental material by the Doomsday Rebirth organization, enduring endless torment. And I had been serving the people harming him." She bowed her head, covering her face, her shoulders trembling slightly, tears dripping onto the sealing shackles with faint pattering sounds.
Wyrselon and the thirty-six guardians were all utterly shocked upon hearing this. The hall fell into dead silence, with everyone's breathing clearly audible. Wyrselon clenched his fists, anger and sorrow flashing in his eyes: "What is her name?"
Celestia lifted her head, took a deep breath, and slowly uttered a name: "Dark Feather Wing · WingSeris."
Dark Feather Wing: The Seventh Member of Doomsday Rebirth
"WingSeris..." The moment this name was clearly uttered from Celestia's mouth, the air in the entire Star Glow Royal Court's main hall seemed frozen by absolute zero!
For the first time, Wyrselon's always calm face showed intense shock! He abruptly stood from his seat, his six wings behind him spreading uncontrollably, the star glow flowing chaotically, his powerful aura condensing the air in the entire side hall! "You said... WingSeris?!" His voice carried incredulous horror and deep pain.
"Your Majesty? You know her?" Fa keenly noticed the anomaly.
Wyrselon closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, those eyes containing a sea of stars were filled with shock, anger, and... the heart-piercing pain of betrayal by a loved one! He slowly sat down, his voice low like suppressing a storm:
"Seris... is my own sister! Thirty years ago, as a high-tier healer and light-wing warrior, she led an elite squad to support the southern front... That war was extremely brutal; we lost many clansmen and lost contact with her! We all thought... she had died on the battlefield..." He gripped the armrests of the throne tightly, his fist slamming heavily onto the armrest with a muffled thud. The star glow in the hall seemed to tremble slightly from his anger. "How could you become like this?!" Flames of rage burned in Wyrselon's eyes. "You were once the gentlest and kindest among us; how could you become a pawn of Doomsday Rebirth? Turning your blade against your own blood kin!"
Elder Ankris sighed and said softly: "Perhaps the war's trauma changed her, or perhaps the Doomsday Rebirth organization offered her some temptation. In any case, her actions have already deviated from the winged clan's faith and honor."
"Why?" Arya asked softly, her eyes full of confusion. "Why would she treat Celestia like this?"
Celestia wiped away her tears, her voice becoming cold and resolute: "I don't know her true purpose. But she exploited my love for Arius, making me her tool. I will personally destroy her and her organization, rescue Arius, and atone for my sins."
Fa stepped forward, grasping Celestia's hand in encouragement: "We will destroy Doomsday Rebirth's conspiracy together. You are not alone."
At this moment, Wyrselon slowly approached Celestia, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Where is she now? Where is that so-called 'sanctuary'?"
Celestia met the king's gaze without flinching, the flames of vengeance burning fiercely in her eyes: "The base of 'Dark Feather Wing · WingSeris' is codenamed 'Holy North Nest,' located on an uninhabited island west of the Eternal Frost Tundra. The Holy North Nest is disguised as a mountain. The entrance has powerful illusion magic and spatial folding traps, but..." A cold arc curved her lips. "I know how to get in. I also know the defenses inside and WingSeris's position."
The storm in Wyrselon's eyes gradually settled into the hardest resolve. He looked at Fa and her unique team beside her, forged through blood and fire, uniting forces from various races: "The Doomsday Rebirth organization's conspiracy has extended its claws to the core of our clan's bloodline. Though the Star Shard has acknowledged you, the crisis is far from over. Celestia's path of atonement will be witnessed by you. And I..."
He descended the throne steps, his six wings folding, that supreme authority of the sky watcher enveloping the hall once more, yet more chilling than ever: "Once I settle the affairs and internal politics of the Light Feather Dome, I will personally lead the 'Winged Clan Guard' and join you at the Holy North Nest! Seris... must pay the price for her betrayal! The shame and blood debt of the Light Feather Dome will be washed clean with the enemy's blood!" His gaze swept over all the guardians. "Prepare immediately! In three months, assemble all forces! We winged clan... will return to the continent! Target—eradicate the Doomsday Rebirth organization!"
The king's command resounded like war drums. The flames of vengeance and the journey of redemption, under the witness of Fa and the others, intertwined into a path leading to the heart of the storm. The shackles on Celestia's wrists reflected a cold light.