Chapter 15 : The Blockade by Vir empire

  Five days had passed since the Verdalian fleet entered the Heaven’s Bridge.

  Jason Amberdunk stood near the observation window of the Vanguard, hands folded behind his back. The stars outside no longer seemed scattered at random—they spiraled in quiet, majestic patterns, guiding them toward the center of all known space.

  They had arrived at the midpoint.

  The heart of the Heaven’s Bridge.

  From here, Jason could see it all. A breathtaking, terrifying sight—the Structured Universe laid bare before him. Eight colossal regions of space, divided by the haunting void of the Dead Zone, now stretched outward like the spokes of a vast cosmic wheel. The bridge itself shimmered across the endless darkness, an ancient and impossibly narrow corridor carved through death itself.

  No civilization had built it. It was older—far older—than any empire, any star. A relic left behind by beings whose names had long since been lost to time.

  Jason’s breath caught as he traced the outline of the quadrants with his eyes. Each quadrant was a world unto itself, a kingdom of stars and galaxies, separated by barriers of collapse, destruction, and silence.

  The First Quadrant, where Verdalia lay, was vibrant, full of thriving systems and ancient cultures.

  The Second Quadrant, which they were approaching, burned with constant wars and the rise of new empires—among them, the Vir Empire.

  The Third Quadrant faded into half-existence, a land of dying stars and blackened space.

  The Fourth Quadrant held the Republic of Saturnite, a beacon of democracy surrounded by uncertainty.

  The Fifth Quadrant whispered of secrets—ancient ruins, remnants of powers no longer spoken of.

  The Sixth Quadrant was a storm of gravity, its very fabric torn and stitched by relentless cosmic forces.

  The Seventh Quadrant glowed cold and bright, home to nations that valued technology over life itself.

  And the Eighth Quadrant—a void untouched by return or memory. No ship that crossed into it had ever been seen again.

  Here, at the core of it all, the eight paths stretched outward like veins from a heart.

  Jason closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sheer enormity of their location sink in.

  This was no ordinary checkpoint.

  This was the true center of the universe.

  A crossroads of fate itself.

  Behind him, the bridge crew moved with quiet discipline. Louis, Jigo, Captain Shin, and Phill all sensed it too—the weight of standing at the axis of creation.

  Their destination lay eight light-years away, deep in the Vokar-17 galaxy, within the Lilliput system.

  Beyond that… uncertainty.

  Jason opened his eyes again, a glint of steel now burning within them.

  Whatever lay ahead—whether peace or bloodshed—he would face it.

  For Verdalia.

  For his sons.

  For the countless worlds depending on their success.

  Outside the ship, the bridge to destiny awaited.

  everal hours had passed since the fleet reached the center of the Heaven’s Bridge.

  The Vanguard’s corridors, once buzzing with cautious energy, now held an unnatural stillness. Sensors had picked up movement—heavy, deliberate.

  On the bridge, red markers flared to life on the central hologram. Eighty warships.

  Eighty Vir Empire ships, positioning themselves like hunters surrounding prey.

  Jason leaned forward over the tactical console, his jaw tightening.

  A blockade—impeccably organized, mercilessly efficient.

  The crew fell into a tense silence as the ships loomed ahead, cutting across every known escape vector.

  The Heaven’s Bridge—their only path through the Dead Zone—was now choked with enemy steel.

  And then, the voice came.

  A low, mocking voice, transmitted not by standard comms but by an ancient voice-carrying technology, cutting directly into the minds of every officer on the bridge.

  "So, we finally meet," the voice said, thick with contempt.

  Jason's eyes narrowed.

  "It's been a long journey for you... Over fifty light-years traveled... and yet, still twenty-five more to crawl before you reach the Lilliput Star System."

  The holographic screen shifted. From the lead Vir ship, a dark figure stood tall—Commander Two.

  His insignia gleamed with the blood-red emblem of the Empire.

  "We are on a sacred mission to conquer the entire Vokar-17 galaxy," the Commander continued.

  "And you… you are feeding the worms. Supplying food and hope to those bastards hiding in Lilliput."

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Jason said nothing. His fists clenched slowly behind his back.

  "You Verdalians are arrogant," Commander Two sneered.

  "You think you can defy the Emperor’s decree? I will report this treason myself… and I will make sure Verdalia burns for it."

  The transmission ended with a sharp, distorted crackle.

  In the sudden silence, the hum of the ship’s engines felt like a heartbeat growing faster.

  Jason straightened, his voice steady, commanding.

  “Maintain course. No provocation. No engagement unless absolutely necessary.”

  Captain Shin saluted crisply. "Understood, Commander Amberdunk."

  Across the bridge, tension tightened like a drawn bowstring.

  Eighty warships ahead.

  Twenty-five light-years still to go.

  Supplies destined to keep hope alive in the Lilliput system hanging by a thread.

  Jason’s gaze hardened into steel.

  If they wanted Verdalia to fall, they would have to get through him first.

  And he would not fall easily.

  several hours had passed since the fleet reached the center of the Heaven’s Bridge.

  The Vanguard’s corridors, once buzzing with cautious energy, now held an unnatural stillness. Sensors had picked up movement—heavy, deliberate.

  On the bridge, red markers flared to life on the central hologram. Eighty warships.

  Eighty Vir Empire ships, positioning themselves like hunters surrounding prey.

  Jason leaned forward over the tactical console, his jaw tightening.

  A blockade—impeccably organized, mercilessly efficient.

  The crew fell into a tense silence as the ships loomed ahead, cutting across every known escape vector.

  The Heaven’s Bridge—their only path through the Dead Zone—was now choked with enemy steel.

  And then, the voice came.

  A low, mocking voice, transmitted not by standard comms but by an ancient voice-carrying technology, cutting directly into the minds of every officer on the bridge.

  "So, we finally meet," the voice said, thick with contempt.

  Jason's eyes narrowed.

  "It's been a long journey for you... Over thirty light-years traveled... and yet, still twenty-five more to crawl before you reach the Lilliput Star System."

  The holographic screen shifted. From the lead Vir ship, a dark figure stood tall—Commander Two.

  His insignia gleamed with the blood-red emblem of the Empire.

  "We are on a sacred mission to conquer the entire Vokar-17 galaxy," the Commander continued.

  "And you… you are feeding the worms. Supplying food and hope to those bastards hiding in Lilliput."

  Jason said nothing. His fists clenched slowly behind his back.

  "You Verdalians are arrogant," Commander Two sneered.

  "You think you can defy the Emperor’s decree? I will report this treason myself… and I will make sure Verdalia burns for it."

  The transmission ended with a sharp, distorted crackle.

  In the sudden silence, the hum of the ship’s engines felt like a heartbeat growing faster.

  Jason straightened, his voice steady, commanding.

  “Maintain course. No provocation. No engagement unless absolutely necessary.”

  Captain Shin saluted crisply. "Understood, Commander Amberdunk."

  Across the bridge, tension tightened like a drawn bowstring.

  Eighty warships ahead.

  Twenty-five light-years still to go.

  Supplies destined to keep hope alive in the Lilliput system hanging by a thread.

  Jason’s gaze hardened into steel.

  If they wanted Verdalia to fall, they would have to get through him first.

  And he would not fall easily.

  Jason stepped forward onto the bridge of the Vanguard, his gaze steady as the distant Vir Empire fleet hovered before them like a wall of death.

  He activated the communications line, his voice carrying across the space between the two fleets.

  "Where is your Commander One, Arthur?" Jason's voice was composed, almost casual, but every word hit like a blade.

  "Commander Two… you are not the one I seek.

  Let us pass through. Let us complete our mission.

  And if you have even a shred of sense left, do not dare touch Verdalia."

  The crew behind Jason — Louis, Jigo, Captain Shin, Phill — stood stiffly at their posts, tension crackling in the air. No one dared speak.

  For a heartbeat, there was only silence, as if even the stars themselves were listening.

  Then the reply came — laced with arrogance and ice.

  "You think you can lecture me, Verdalian?" sneered Commander Two through the comms.

  "You think you can travel thirty light-years into our domain, supplying food to the enemies of our Emperor, and expect mercy?"

  "Verdalia will fall. Mark these words."

  Jason didn’t flinch. His crew waited for his command.

  He simply said, quietly but firmly:

  "If you wish to stop us…

  Then you will have to attack us.

  Right here.

  Right now."

  The challenge hung between them.

  And then the Vir Empire responded — not with words, but with war.

  From the lead Vir ship, a sudden burst of unknown energy pulsed outward. It was not a weapon in the traditional sense — no missiles, no plasma shots.

  Instead, ancient technology, long forbidden in peaceful sectors, unfolded itself like a blooming flower of destruction.

  A deamon -class energy seal — a weapon spoken of only in classified reports and the dark corners of old space legends.

  Thin golden threads of pure force spread outward, forming a gigantic cage around the Verdalian fleet.

  It happened in seconds.

  Captain Shin gasped. "It's a Demon-class weapon! They're trapping us inside an energy prison!"

  Jason’s mind raced faster than light.

  There was no time for fear.

  "Scatter!" he commanded sharply.

  "Follow emergency trajectory Sigma-A! No formation flying — break apart and find the exit points!"

  The fleet obeyed without hesitation.

  In the vast black sea of space, the Verdalian ships became streaks of light, darting and weaving madly through the forming barriers.

  Small gaps, moments of imperfection in the Veppon's construction, offered brief windows to escape.

  One ship blinked out through a narrow crack.

  Another slipped sideways between two tightening energy threads.

  Another leapt into hyperspace just as the net began closing.

  Jason’s own Vanguard veered sharply upward, engines burning at maximum thrust, narrowly dodging the encroaching golden lattice.

  On the bridge, Louis was shouting course vectors, Jigo was frantically stabilizing the ship's shields, and Captain Shin was steering with expert, almost desperate precision.

  But not all made it.

  Through the forward viewport, Jason watched in grim silence as the Aurora Spear, one of their newer supply carriers, faltered.

  Caught in the full force of the Veppon’s center, the ship's shields shattered like glass.

  In an instant — a flash of blinding white — the Aurora Spear disintegrated, leaving behind only dust and echoes.

  There were no survivors.

  No time to save them.

  Jason lowered his head for a moment, his fists tightening, but his voice remained level.

  "Full speed ahead," he ordered.

  Behind him, the surviving ships reassembled in a loose formation, battered but unbroken.

  The Vir Empire ships did not pursue.

  They had made their point.

  Jason had made his.

  The Verdalian fleet, now lighter by one ship and dozens of souls, fled deeper into the uncharted stars — toward their true mission.

  As the Vanguard accelerated toward the distant specks of the Vokar-17 Galaxy, Jason stood silently at the viewport, watching the trails of light ahead.

  He spoke quietly, almost to himself:

  "We’ll complete the mission. No matter the cost."

  Louis stepped up beside him, face pale but determined. "And after, sir?"

  Jason gave a thin, hard smile.

  "After?" he echoed.

  "We'll take the eighty-light-year road back to Verdalia.

  It’ll be a longer road.

  A harder one.

  But we'll return."

  No one doubted him.

  Not after today.

  They had faced the heart of the heavens — and survived.