Stellaria the beginning

Attack

In the days following Jay's vision, the team in Stellaria worked tirelessly to stabilize the Zero Point and uncover a way back to Earth. Jules had barely slept, her lab filled with the hum of machines and the glow of holographic displays as she researched Nexus energy and possible portal technologies. The tension was palpable; everyone knew time was running out.

But before they could make significant progress, something unexpected happened. The city's protective barriers, which had held firm against the Nexus's distortions, began to flicker and weaken. Alarms blared through the city, and the skies above Stellaria darkened, the air crackling with dangerous energy.

Rizure, Steven, Justin, Jay, and Jules rushed to the control room, where they saw the cause of the disturbance on the main screen: a massive, dark figure floating above the city, holding a glowing shard of immense power. It was Geno, and the shard he held radiated the same chaotic energy as the Nexus—the shard was a fragment of the Zero Point itself.

"Geno," Rizure muttered, his voice filled with dread. "He's here."

Jay's heart pounded in his chest. "We have to stop him! We can't let him destroy Stellaria."

But before anyone could act, Geno's voice echoed through the city, booming like thunder. "Keepers of Stellaria," he sneered, his eyes glowing with malevolent energy. "You've built a nice little sanctuary here, but it's all for nothing. The Nexus's power is mine, and this Zero Shard will be your undoing."

Without warning, Geno unleashed the power of the Zero Shard. A wave of energy surged toward Stellaria, warping reality itself. The buildings twisted and crumbled, the sky above turned into a swirling vortex of chaos, and the ground beneath their feet began to fracture.

Rizure, Steven, Justin, and Jay sprang into action, using their powers to protect the city and its inhabitants. Rizure tried to counter the effects of the shard with his reality-shaping abilities, but the sheer force of the Nexus energy was overwhelming. Justin's flames blazed through the air, forming barriers against the onslaught, while Jay summoned lightning to strike at Geno, hoping to disrupt his attack. Steven moved through the shadows, attempting to find a weakness in Geno's assault.

But it was no use. Geno's control over the Zero Shard was absolute. His attacks battered through their defenses, and one by one, the Keepers were pushed to their limits. Jay was knocked back by a blast of energy, his lightning fizzling out as he hit the ground. Justin's flames were extinguished as he was overwhelmed by the sheer force of Geno's power. Steven, trying to protect the others, was caught in a surge of dark energy that sent him crashing into the rubble.

Rizure, the last one standing, fought with everything he had, but even his reality-warping powers were no match for Geno's relentless assault. The city of Stellaria, once a beacon of hope, was now on the brink of collapse, its protective barriers shattered and its structures crumbling.

As the Keepers lay defeated, bruised and battered, Geno descended from the sky, landing in the center of the ruined city. He looked down at them, his expression a mix of contempt and dark amusement. "Is this the best you can do?" he mocked. "You're nothing compared to the power of the Nexus. I could end you all right now."

Jay, struggling to rise, glared up at Geno, his eyes filled with defiance despite the pain. "You won't win, Geno. We'll find a way to stop you."

Geno chuckled, a cold, sinister sound. "You're brave, I'll give you that. But bravery won't save you."

He raised the Zero Shard, its energy crackling ominously, and for a moment, it seemed as if he was about to deliver the final blow. But then, something changed in Geno's expression. His eyes narrowed, and a twisted smile spread across his face.

"On second thought," he said, lowering the shard slightly, "I think I'll let you live. It's more fun this way—to see you struggle, to watch you fail. Consider this a gift, from me to you. A chance to keep fighting, even though we both know how this ends."

Geno turned away, the Zero Shard still glowing in his hand. "Enjoy your last days, Keepers. I'll be watching."

With that, he disappeared into the vortex above, leaving the city of Stellaria in ruins. The sky slowly began to clear, and the energy dissipated, but the damage was done. The Keepers were alive, but barely, and their home—a symbol of their hope—was now in shambles.

As the dust settled, Rizure managed to stand, looking around at the devastation. His heart sank at the sight of what was once their sanctuary, now reduced to rubble. The others slowly gathered around him, each of them battered and exhausted, but alive.

Jay's fists clenched in anger. "He let us live... Why? Why would he do that?"

Steven, still catching his breath, shook his head. "Because he's toying with us. He knows we're not strong enough to defeat him—not yet. But we can't give up. We've survived, and as long as we're alive, we have a chance."

Jules, who had been watching from the sidelines, her face pale with fear and shock, finally spoke. "We need to rebuild, and fast. If Geno attacked us here, he'll do it again. We need to be stronger, smarter. We need to find a way to counter that shard and fix the Zero Point."

Rizure nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "We will. He may have won this battle, but the war isn't over. We'll regroup, rebuild, and come back stronger. For now, we survive—and we keep fighting."

With that, the Keepers of Stellaria began to pick up the pieces of their shattered city, knowing that their struggle was far from over. Geno had shown them the extent of his power, but he had also given them something else—a reminder of what they were fighting for, and a renewed resolve to see their mission through, no matter the cost.